Browns lose the opener, and look bad doing it
Sunday, September 7th, 2008It's really impossible to fathom losing nine of 10 season openers at home. That's an indication that a team is either a) really not very good or b) really not prepared or c) a really not very good and not very prepared or d) really, really unlucky. This Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys were far and away the better team. But the Browns didn't play like a well-prepared team.
Too many mistakes, silly penalties (illegal formation trying to block an extra point, apparently for lining up right over the center, a no-no this year) and too much of one offensive guy having to tell another offensive guy where to line up. The defense was overmatched, and though Shaun Rogers had some pressure now and then, the pass rush was nonexistent. Browns players said it's a "pick your poison" thing with Dallas' offense. If you rush a bunch, you're vulnerable in the secondary. If you drop back, you get no rush. Bottom line: That shows the Browns knew they were not good enough to stop the Cowboys.
Dallas made it look easy.
The offense seemed to collapse when it learned that receiver Donte Stallworth had injured himself in pregame warm-ups. That's right. Pregame warm-ups. Think about that next time you see an NBA guy go down shooting layups in pregame. Never heard of it? That's because it never happens. Well, hardly ever, apparently.
"That was like, ‘Wow! How does this happen?'" running back Jamal Lewis said of Stallworth's injury. "To me as a running back, that's my meal ticket." Lewis went on to say that the absence of Stallworth left the Browns with basically the same team they had last year. Minus Joe Jurevicius of course. Which again highlights how big it was to lose Jurevicius. His absence took away a third-down receiver and wiped out the receiver depth. Dallas doubled Braylon Edwards and dared Syndric Steptoe to step in and beat them. He didn't, the vaunted Browns offense scored just 10 points and players seemed to spend a lot of time telling teammates where they should be lining up.
No, I do no understand Romeo Crennel's decision to take a field goal down 28-7 with 10 minutes left in the game. He said he wanted points to have some kind of momentum, and said had he gone for it on fourth down and failed he'd have been asked why he didn't kick a field goal. Hate to disagree, but I disagree. I don't think anyone would have asked why he didn't try a field goal. That's because going for the touchdown was the logical choice - if there was any real hope to win the game. It was simply a strategy decision I did not agree with.
Some other observations:
—No, I've never heard of a guy pulling a muscle - groin, quad, hamstring - in pregame warm-ups. Not sure how often it's happened either.
—Shaun Rogers was very active in the middle of the Browns line. He was the only guy who got occasional pressure on Tony Romo, and showed the qualities that have people saying he's unblockable when he wants to play.
—By game's end, Rogers and the rest of the big guys on the defensive line were pretty worn out, though. That's a negative to the big guys. They will wear down if the defense can't stop folks.
—Right now it seems like the defense can't stop folks, but they did face a huge, physical line and they did face one of the better offenses in the league. That's the going line at least.
—Dallas had 30 first downs, Cleveland 11.
—Dallas had 11 rushing first downs, Cleveland had 2.
—Expect NBC and ESPN to petition the league today to move the "flex schedule" start date up a couple months.
—Yes, the Browns offense should be expected to score more than 10 points. And they did have one nice drive. But the 10 points was what they deserved. We can say all we want that they should score more than 10, but if they fall apart to the extent that they did because one receiver is out, well that's just not good.
—Sunday's game against Pittsburgh has large implications. Win and the Browns are 1-1 and feeling pretty good. Lose and …, well … you know. Personally, I cannot and will not pick the Browns to beat Pittsburgh until they actually do. But if they want to erase a downer of an opener, a win over Pittsburgh on night-time national TV would be a very good step. Me, I just can't see it happening. Not the way this defense played, and not the way Pittsburgh's offense played. Geesh. An 0-and-2 start after all this offseason hype?







