The 5-Hole, CBJ News and Notes – 9/23/08
September 23, 2008Danny Ferry, put the phone down and walk away slowly…
September 23, 2008I thought that we were all due for a little Browns news today. All we have really discussed since the loss to Baltimore has been more or less griping about either Romeo Crennel, Derek Anderson or our linebackers. Who’s been worse, the offense or defense? How long until Brady comes to save the day? What’s up with Donte Stallworth?
Thankfully, Lane Adkins of the Orange and Brown Report came to the rescue to break things up a bit. This time around, he does his best to shut down some of the recent rumors that have been tossed around message boards and radio talk shows for the past 48 hours. Among them:
“For those Bill Cowher followers – Cowher did not recently purchase a home in Strongsville, Ohio.”
“There was a radio report late last week of fighting in the locker-room, but we have heard it didn’t escalate into the brawl some would have led you to believe.”
“While [Derek Anderson] is not the lone reason for an 0-3 start, there has been a member of the offensive unit that has alluded to the QB being the primary issue due to his misfiring and misreads…”
That final one is definitely intriguing. There are several other blurbs over in Lane’s piece, definitely worth checking out. I’m sure there will be more as things develop.
14 Comments
Cowher actually bought a house in Brecksville. Wrong city…
And for $110 a year, we can read the rest of Lane’s story…
No thanks.
Anderson’s value was at it’s peak at the end of the season, and instead of cashing in, we as Brown’s fans have once again cashed out. There’s always next year…..
Yegley – I still think the idea behind keeping Anderson for this season made sense. Savage had invested all of this money into the D-Line, which he believed would take this team to the next level and make them into a bona fide contender. Between that and the Stallworth signing, Savage was probably of the mind that the Browns could have a shot to win it all. In Savage’s mind, it didn’t make sense to put this entire apparatus in the hands of a second year QB with zero career starts. However, Quinn did provide an insurance policy and at least a chance that everything wouldn’t go in the crapper if Anderson went down and/or stunk.
As we’ve seen, the defense stinks, and Anderson is looking more and more like a fraud. But everyone seems to think Anderson looked great before that concussion, so we may never know what would’ve happened had the preseason and training camp proceeded normally instead of what happened with the monsoon versus the Jets, the debacle against the Giants and the slew of injuries.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but I’m still inclined to say that Savage made the right move at the time. Plus, DA’s contract was structured so that the Browns could cut bait at the end of this season if he stunk up the joint.
I wouldn’t say the defense sucks, I mean we held Pitt to 10 points, and the Ravens to ten points it was the offense that gave the Ravens 14 points and put us out of the game. The Cowboys game is nothing different than they have done to everyone they’ve faced.
Just speculation, but Winslow to me would be the one expressing his emotions. I can see it in his body language on and off the field on the sideline.
Like I said before, and once again. Someone ship me a pink Quinn jersey, I’m aboard the bandwagon!
I’m a charter member of the “Fire Romeo” club, but even with him and with shaky QB play, this team could iron things out and get to 4-5 and make a run for the playoffs. Remember there is a ton of attrition in the NFL due to (eventual) injuries, and the Browns still have things to fall into place.
I’m not printing Super Bowl tickets, but let’s just say they right the ship and win the next two – wouldn’t you have to say there is potential – especially given the certainty that Big Ben is not going to play 16 games… ????
Bridgecrosser: (In my best Jim Mora voice), Playoffs?!!! Playoffs?!!!! You are talking about Playoffs????
If 10-6 didn’t make the playoffs last year, we are 0-3 now, two back in the division, an offense that has been terrible. If we rally and get to 8-8 it would take a huge miracle. I see this team maybe winning four games at this point.
I wonder if Braylon is blaming DA for all his dropped passes…
I still dont think that DA is a bust. Unfortunately, he is throwing crappy to crappy recievers (by NFL standards, Steptoe or Sanders would school me any day). Winslow is our only consistent threat and Braylon is making strides. Too bad we cant keep DA for another year without paying him gobs of money or taking playing time from our QB of the future.
Its up to a head coach to keep his locker room under control, to keep everyone happy, and to keep everyone focused on the game. Obviously, Romeo is not doing that
The only reason that Derek Anderson took the league by storm last year was that no team could prepare for him. There was no decent game footage to scout the man. Note the last 3 games of last year when teams were able to scout him – note his tendencies, see where he likes to go in certain situations, etc – that the man has not performed.
Great quarterbacks change things up like a good poker player to keep the defense off-balance. Peyton Manning & Tony Romo have a myriad of options to go to so that their pass selection does not become repetitive and predictable. Anderson hasn’t been able to do that.
It’s not all on Anderson mind you, the offensive playbook is like a loaf of bread – if it isn’t kept fresh, it’s gonna go stale in a hurry. And if there is grumbles in the huddle, Anderson has to be the man to stop it – I don’t think he is. Hard to think someone like Bernie Kosar or Brian Sipe tolerating bickering going on in the huddle.
I listened to Sam Rutigliano on ESPN Radio 850 and I had to chuckle at his suggestion of moving Winslow to wide receiver and using Heiden as the every day tight end. But I tell you, the more I thought about it, the more I agreed with the thinking behind it – to put your most talented players on the field at all times.
Sorry for the rant, but ever since that debacle last Sunday – I have been stewing over this and felt the need to sound off a bit. Thanks again for the great site.
Love the idea of Winslow as a receiver, since that’s what he really is anyways. This way we don’t need him to make crucial blocks. Atleast give it a shot until Stallworth and Joey J come back. Hell, what do we have to lose?
I think that’s why they drafted Rucker and once he’s healthy you’ll very likely see Winslow move to wide receiver.
Now one thing I’ve noticed is our receivers never seem to get any separation this season, or find the open space. I watch every other team and they seem to be able to this fine, even the Texans and Lions, but DA seems to be throwing the ball to the guy who has two to three players on him.