Imagine if they had a defense
By Marla RidenourPerhaps the most amazing part of Cleveland's 8-5 season is that the Browns have a legitimate shot at a wild-card playoff berth despite fielding the league's worst defense.
Coach Romeo Crennel didn't sugarcoat that fact when asked by an out-of-town media member last week what concerned him about the defense.
"The thing that concerns me is that we're not good," Crennel said. "We're not good enough. We're going to work and try to get better — to get guys to play technique longer and get them in position better, to fit better. If we can do some of those things, we'll be better."
Pressed on why the defense is not good, Crennel added, "All you have to do is look at the stats. When you look at the stats, we can't stop the run and we don't rush the passer efficiently enough. Those are some of the things."
He didn't seem to care how that message goes over in the locker room.
"I don't ask them. They know how I feel about them," he said. "They know we need to be more consistent. The stats are what they are. It doesn't do you any good to sugarcoat them. We need to be more consistent on defense. At times, our defense has played well and we've made some stops when we had to that helped the team win some games. But consistently, we haven't been able to do it enough.
"The kids on defense, they've worked very hard and are very conscientious. They want to be good. We just aren't consistent enough."
In a 24-18 victory over the New York Jets Sunday, Cleveland surrendered 387 yards, 175 in the fourth quarter. The Browns have allowed a 100-yard rusher in 10 of their 13 games, most recently the Jets' Thomas Jones, who totalled 106 yards on 24 carries. Crennel attributed some of those 175 yards to the Jets running against the sub defense.
But looking at the bigger picture, he can't pinpoint one problem.
"It’s always a number of things - injuries are one," Crennel said. "Sometimes it's gap control, sometimes it's run fits, sometimes it's pursuit angles, you just keep harping on those things. When you have different defenses, guys end up playing multiple positions. You now have a defensive back playing a linebacker position and he has to learn all the linebacker run fits. All of that goes together and it's some of the reason for the inconsistencies."
Whatever the reasons, Cleveland will certainly spend most of its time and money in free agency and the draft upgrading the defense, even if it fails to acquire the No. 1 pick it gave up for quarterback Brady Quinn.
December 10th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Note to Browns Romeo Crennell and the Browns: Keep working on the defense. In the mean time you may have to score even more points to beat teams like Indianapolis and New England in the playoffs.
The way to do that is have the offensive coordinator work up more gadget plays utilizing Josh Cribbs from Kent state. You have to start now integrating him into the offense so the other team doesn't look for him everytime he comes onto the field. I would rotate him from 1st to 2nd to 3rd down so he is on the field 3-6 times per drive. That way you can pull a gadget on any down and they won't be looking for it.
I would like to see things like triple laterals where derek Anderson catches the ball in the endzone and things like that.
Mark
Long beach, ca
December 10th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Mark,
You are a moron.
-Joe
December 10th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
One of the big problems that I see with the defense is that we play too much soft coverage and we play prevent at the end of games. We need to finish playing games on defense just like we start games.
December 11th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Defense can be fixed. It is years since we have had an offense. What a pleasure to watch the games again. Anderson is doing a great job and our receiver corps is next to none.
It reminds me so of the Sipe years. He was a quarterback that came from nowhere to make the Browns very exciting.
December 11th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Look out Browns. I'm a Bills fan and this team has character and drive surpassing any you've seen or will see all year. They are fast, will stuff your run, and force you to beat them through the air. They will give up yards, but they won't give up points. It's too bad you're playing the Bills this week, because they are hungry and will be excited to stampede over the dogs in their own town. I am very excited for this game - I think these teams are relatively evenly matched, and both have a history of loosing which means those showing up in the stands are loyal and loud - better bring your loudest bark this week, because your team will need all the help it can get from its 12th man to beat the resillient bills…
December 11th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Wes is right. A prevent defense is just what it says. It prevents you from winning. Rushing three gives the quarterback (especially a mobile one) more time to throw. You could have 10 players guarding one receiver and given enough time he will eventually be open because he knows where he is going and the defense doesnt'.
December 14th, 2007 at 8:00 am
I still think the Browns can win their division with 3 wins, and Pittsburg with 2 losses and 1 win.
Fans shoulld not criticize the Browns. They know how to win, they know what the problems are, the trouble is they have done little about it….ha ha ha
Go Browns….I know you can do it…..all you need is to stay positive and listen to the coach…..the prevent defense does work for the proper situation…
December 14th, 2007 at 9:04 am
I would like to further elaborate on Joe's point.
Mark,
I also think you are a moron
Josh
December 14th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Joe and Josh are right Mark is a moron. I like Josh Cribbs but no one can play every down. If you want a decoy, go buy a duck.
Also, the prevent defense does work if you play it right. That's why they call it prevent. You prevent a team from making the big play, it's okay to let them pick up short yardage but prevent the touchdown.
This is to Marla Ridenour, we do have a defense and you know what it's not that bad even though it's probably still rated last in the NFL. That guy last week wouldn't have gotten near 100 yards rushing except for the last drive. We do play soft and have been in the fourth quarter because were trying to run out the clock. It's been pretty successful, sometimes a little too conservative. But we wouldn't be 8-5 if we didn't have a good solid team.
December 14th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
I don't think Mark meant to say put Cribbs in on every down, but rather throughout a quarter have him in one time on first down, another time on third down, etc., just to get the defenses used to see him out there. Then surprise them with something unusual.
As for the defense, Dan it sounded like you were saying that the Browns play a soft defense to run out the clock. Personally, I'd rather see the Browns' offense chewing up the clock than the opponent's. Let's face it, when it comes to "bend but don't break" our defense seems just a little too elastic sometimes. I'd like to see them tighten it up if for no other reason than for the fans with high blood pressure.
Seriously, though, I'm looking forward to this game. I'm hoping for a big early lead to force the Bills away from their running game and maybe let Wimbley catch up on his sacks.
December 15th, 2007 at 9:31 am
No, Mark is not a "moron." He didn't say to put Cribbs in on every down, he said to do so 3-6 times a drive, and I agree. As it is right now, opposing D's know that when Josh comes in on O he is probably going to be involved in the play. Mix him in a little more often, and they won't be sure. This can potentially free up Edwards or Winslow, or go ahead and give it to Josh if those guys are covered up.
Pretty simple.
December 19th, 2007 at 8:04 am
I am not a moron!
December 20th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
All last year and the year before Romeo Crennel kept saying that the Browns are not a good football team. I don't care for that kind of confidence booster. If you tell someone they're no good, after a while they're going to believe you.
You're right Bob it did sound like I said that the defense would place off to run out the clock and I would much rather see the offense do that. A prevent defense will work though, (even to help run out the clock) if the defense keeps everything in front of them and doesn't give up the big play. They also need to keep the running backs inbounds. That helps to chew up the clock as long as you don't give up too much yardage. In conclusion I'm happy with the way the defense played against Buffalo. It seems like everything is coming together at the right time. We did stop the run against Buffalo and they have a pretty good running game. We have to be on our "A" game to beat Cincinnati in Cincinnati. I like our chances. Go Browns! Beat those Bengals!
December 20th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
What I would really like to see is the Browns put up a big enough cushion that they could risk bringing Quinn out on to the field. Next year the Browns are probably going to end up getting rid of either him Anderson, and it would be nice to know what Quinn really has before they make that decision. In fact, I would like to see that in both the Cincy and San Fran games. The only down side is that if he flops his trade value goes down and we're maybe stuck with an overpaid backup.
But none of that will come to pass unless the defense (which has been making some improvements through the season) makes a solid stand for 4 quarters in each of the next two games. Here's hoping for the best.
February 7th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I am disappointed with the failure of the Black players particularly Lee Boden (except Braylon Edwards) to support the African American Community here in Cleveland. First, they inevitalby reside as far west as possible resulting in all white communities. Lee Boden was found not guilty yesterday by an African American jurist and jury yet his attorneys were both white. He could have patronized excellent Black Lawyers from James Willis, Deanna Robertsom, Jeffrey Safflod, Donald Butler, Vicki Lynn Ward and James Carson to name a few. He obviously chooses not to be a part of out community until he needs us and even then we are insulted by his choices. I will not yell so loud for him on Sunday afternoons anymore! Go the rest of the Browns!!!
March 10th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
How about updating this post, I'm sure that there's some new news out there.