A soft landing in Seattle
Posted September 11th, 2007 by Marla Ridenour
Charlie Frye could be upset or bitter at the way the Browns' quarterback competition was handled this summer, but he's not that kind of person. He's probably more excited about where he ended up when he was traded to Seattle Tuesday. As recently as Monday night, ex-Browns tackle Doug Dieken said he thought Frye was a West Coast quarterback. As the Jeff Garcia experiment showed, the Browns have never known what to do with those type players. They also haven't shown any knack for building a team around what their players do best. Heaven forbid Brady Quinn turns out to be a West Coast guy.
Frye can learn under Matt Hasselbeck and coach Mike Holmgren. Ex-Browns quarterback Trent Dilfer raved about the time he spent with Hasselbeck and chances are he told Frye the same thing in the past few hours. Holmgren may not have been able to handle general manager duties, but he got the Seahawks to the Super Bowl after the 2005 season. He has another quarterback who can run in Seneca Wallace, so there should be plenty in the Seahawks playbook that will fit Frye if he's called upon. Plus, Seattle comes to Cleveland on Nov. 4. It's not likely to happen, but just imagine a Frye vs. Quinn matchup….
Listening to general manager Phil Savage Tuesday brought no clarity to the Browns quarterback situation except for the fact that they refuse to rush rookie Brady Quinn. They're presumably willing to sacrifice wins to keep him from getting shellshocked by the tough defenses they face the first six weeks. Derek Anderson couldn't handle the pressure when he was handed the quarterback job at the start of training camp, so how will he react to merely keeping the seat warm for Quinn? Not exactly an easy assignment.
Let's hope that Frye, a good guy to the end, enjoys his football life in what has to be a less-dysfunctional organization. After Quinn's holdout, the Browns wanted Anderson to be their starting quarterback all along. Now opposing defensive backs who have incentive clauses for interceptions in the contracts must be licking their chops.
Savage tried to dispel the notion that there's no experimenting going on in Berea. Whatever they're doing, it may result in forcing Quinn to the fore long before the Browns wanted.
September 11th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Maria:
I couldn't agree more- I hope Charlie does well and forgets about the bad coaching he got here. I watched him at Akron and he only got worse the longer he was here. The Browns never did things that featured Charlie at his best. In fact, I think that joke of a quarterback competition only made both guys look worse. Anderson and Frye are completely different types of QB; the smart thing would have been to make a decision early and then focus your practice on what that guy did best- your whole offense would look better. Instead, they split reps until the week before the opener- as a result our offense only had half of the reps with the main qb as any other team- no other team waited until after the last preseason game to name a starter. Crennel has to go- he is in over his head
September 11th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
Charlie Fry is the scapegoat for Sunday's embarrassment.
Previous writer Len hit the nail on the head - the Browns should have named a starter early in preseason and given him the majority of the reps. I watched Denver, Chicago, and Detroit play their first string quarterback at least the whole first half. Why? The reps are needed to prepare them for the season. Why can't our coaches figure that out?
Charlie was in a lose-lose situation. After his interception and the knucklehead fans boo'ed him and started chanting "Brady, Brady, …" he became conservative in hopes of not yet another interception. That resulted in him holding the ball longer which resulted in the sacks. He knew it was just a matter of time until he was replaced by Quinn.
Where was that running game that was supposed to help our young quarterbacks out so much? 46 yards total rushing - is that Charlie's fault?
The punter's fumbled snap - is that Charlie's fault?
What about J. Lewis fumble - is that Charlie's fault?
Brodney Poole's blown coverage - is that Charlie's fault?
The defense allowing the Steelers to march the ball down the field after halftime - is that Charlie's fault?
Obviously the coaching staff did not prepare this team for the Steelers - is that Charlie's fault?
September 11th, 2007 at 11:23 pm
Poor decision making - Charlie's fault!
Holding on to the ball faaaaaar to long - Charlie's fault!
Inability to read a blitz - Charlie's fault!
Throwing into triple coverage while others are wide open. - Charlie's fault!
Doing perouettes in the backfield with oncoming blitz - Charlie's fault!
Not being prepared for a team when you only have six months for preparation - Charlie's fault!
Overall lack of accuracy - Charlie's fault!
September 12th, 2007 at 4:18 am
Len, thanks for for the stating the obvious, very informative. On another note…who is this Maria person you are writing to?
September 12th, 2007 at 10:28 am
Cleveland needs to take a very close look at the owner's and the coaching staff. This coach needs to gooooooo !!!!!!
With these owner's the Browns will alway's be a below par team. It' time to CLEAN HOUSE or sell the Team so they can learn how to when again.
September 12th, 2007 at 10:52 am
Yeah, RT, I hope one of Modell's two adopted kids buys the team. And maybe Andre Rison could be a minority owner. Then it's all smoooooooth sailing.
September 12th, 2007 at 10:52 am
Thanks for article Maria/Marla.
It shows that someone in NEOhio has the proper perspective.
It also soothes this Fyre fan, now stuck with my recently purchased #9 Browns jersey. Oh well, I'll add it to my collection that includes a McDonald's Tim Couch #2 memento, and my "Forever" edition Jim Thome Bobblehead, and my #24 Ramirez ballcap, and my signed Rocky Colavito baseball.
John: actually its the fault of OJT rookie O-coordinators and a head coach that has no idea how to develop a QB, particularly one that would run through a brickwall if asked to (or play with a fractured wrist as he did the last game of 2006).
Accuracy? Check Charlie's last season completion percentage — see where it stands in Cleveland Brown history.
September 12th, 2007 at 11:44 am
chuck frye is a horrible qb. was he the most awful aspect of the browns organization? it's looking like crennel and savage are in tight competition for that honor. since lerner is a no show we'll never get to know if he is the worst aspect of the team until he threatens to move the browns to l.a.
September 12th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
The Last Frye Fan, major pet peeve here. Distinguish between your "Cleveland Brown history" and the history of the prior Cleveland franchise. Yes, it's the Cleveland Browns. Same city, same name, but two different franchises. Putting Frank Ryan's stats next to Charlie Frye's stats is well … incredibly dumb, to say the least, albeit I know local yokels like Terry Pluto actually do this, as well. It's like listing the Charlotte Hornets' stats in the mix together with the Charlotte Bobcats' stats. It's retarded.
September 12th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Okey - Marla how long have you been watching the Browns play. I've been a season ticket holder for 29 years. I've seen the great Browns, the drive, the fumbel you name it. As a fan, I'm tired of seeing this revolving door. However, Charlie played Sunday like he had played football in his entire life. I don't blame the owner. When Al was alive he said he puts people in charge to do the work he knew nothing about football. I do believe that Phil Savage knows what he's doing - Romeo I think needs to go - but I don't want another 5 years of rebuilding if they fire the coach down the road.
There is talent on that offensive line - why it isn't working I don't know. You need a leader on that team and I don't see any one person on that line stepping up to be that person. Wide receivers need to catch the ball, offensive line needs to open up holes for the running back, and the quarterback needs to know what he's doing.
The defense is good however on Sunday they were just plain tired.
And the NFL giving 3 divisional games in one month is the most stupidest thing they;ve ever done.
That's only my opinion.
September 12th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Who hired the Browns' head coach, Dan Gilbert? Savage hired Crennel, Savage is the ultimate decision-maker. If Savage indeed "knows what he's doing," then he's got a pretty funny way of showing it.
September 13th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Good for Frye and I think it's 50/50 on him and the organization he had to deal with here…or lack of organization that is…he's in a better place…we need someone who will bring discipline to the team…Bring in Cowher
September 13th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
I'm sad. Growing up a browns fan in NE ohio, and then graduating from Akron, i felt a real connection and enthusiasm for charlie. I wanted to believe in him, in the possible resurgence of a once great and powerful organization. Now seeing the brutal reality of football, of business, of childhood dreams that slowly pass asway; it seems to only bring into sharper focus that our team is not what it should be. it commands no respect. it is dysfunctional, aenemic and unfocused. all the best to charlie as he enters a new phase of his life. i'm fine with realizing he's probably not joe montana but he certainly was not able to see his full potential here in our shabby little organization.
September 13th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
All the best to Charlie! He came as a blue collar quarterback with the basic skills, a great attitude and the work ethic to succeed. What he needs, and deserves, is somebody who knows how to develop those gifts. If Holmgren and company can furnish the right teaching and support, they just may have made the deal of the decade!
As for the Browns, I might be back when their front office is cleaned out. Then again, maybe not. Considering the performance of two Browns franchises, over too many disappointing dysfunctional decades, why should I? Go Seahawks!
September 13th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
VETERAN [and I use that term very loosely with regards to Braylon Edwards] receivers lining up incorrectly: Not Charlie's fault.
Offensive lineman not maintaining their blocks or getting run over: Not Charlie's fault
VERY POOR game plan: Not Charlie's fault.
Good luck in Seattle, Charlie. From worst to first.
For the sake of us Browns fans, let us hope that Quinn is able to read the defenses as well as Kosar is still able to — or that he learns very quickly. If Crennel goes, we start all over — AGAIN.
September 14th, 2007 at 10:44 am
WOW!!!..So much venting..lol. A lot of good points I have read here for sure and also some not so good. From watching Charlie Frye high school on up to the Browns, when he was drafted I knew he had the heart. Always was (is) a gusty kid and not afraid to throw his body out there to get a win. But in reality, I didn't think he would make a first team QB. As we all know there is a problem with the offense and its line, all the changes in last 5 years is just totally horrible. I remember Crennel from the expansion Browns, and he did a good job with what he was handed in such short time. Was actually surprised they hired Butch Davis instead….Never was a fan of hiring head NFL coach straight from college, and then alone giving him GM too. I truly believ Crennel knows what is going on. I also Beleive in what Savage is doing. From the Expansion on through to today….they never even had anyone close to knowing what to do until now. Crennel into a Butch Davis mess, off the top of my head 4 of Butch's picks are not even footbal anymore. SO it is just like starting over.
I have not heard anything on the defense. As hard as it is to play for so long sometimes I still dont think they should have alloed 5200 yds for the year Miami offense, if any would look was no better last year hardly and their defense was on the feildalmost same time and Miami "D" anly allowed only 4800. With PIttsburgh atthe top with only 4100. The defense is easiest to make successful. I think the players are good enough to succeed and be in the tops of the league. But after watching for three years The defense should be better. But being a small bright spot on the team makes them look better than they are. SO next game you watch. not only look atplayers…but look at how they line up. a so called "blown coverage" is not always blown. Its an out coaching. After three years its time for a new defensive coordinater.
September 14th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Ooops correction…on the defense. Should not have allowed 5200 yds
September 14th, 2007 at 10:50 am
Correction on the defense part. it should be not have allowed 5200 yds…
September 14th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Very confusing, earlier this week a comment was made that the Browns dug themselves in a hole (17-0) before half time that was too big to over come. But last year that was not the case for Pittsburgh when the Steelers were down to the browns by 10 points late in the 4th quarter. The coaching staff is not able to get the team prepared to win a game regardless of who the QB is. The excuses are terrible, if what they say about a team takes on the personality of their coach is true it looks like the Browns are in trouble. Romeo does not get the players fired up. Where was the new offence with all the shifting and motion? It was the same old crap.