TGS 2007 Football Preview Bonus: Cleveland Browns

CLEVELAND—When things aren’t going well for a team, front office types can often come up with the darnedest excuses for the continued losing. Take Cleveland GM Phil Savage, for example. Hardly comfortable that his Browns regressed (from 6-10 to 4-12) in their second year under his head coach, Romeo Crennel (left), Savage became quite creative this offseason when looking for scapegoats. Would you believe some old Cleveland Hall of Famers? “They (the current players) are being measured to a Jim Brown, Otto Graham, or Lou Groza,” said Savage. “It’s a lot of pressure to live up to, and when it doesn’t go well, we have to figure out the equation.” Savage added that a lot of his players weren’t even born when those legends were playing, but might as well have included the parents of some of the present-day Browns, and himself, too.

But we doubt even the most diehard old-time Cleveland fans are expecting reincarnations of Jim Brown and Otto Graham these days. They’d probably be just as happy with the second comings of Bill Nelsen, Mike Phipps, Bo Scott, Milt Morin, and Fair Hooker. After four straight double-digit loss seasons, even a whiff of .500 and a playoff chase would probably satisfy most of the long-suffering supporters. But following a couple of years of spinning their wheels under Crennel, is that sort of move up the standings imminent?

Perhaps things began to change for the better at the draft, when the Browns were universally lauded as one of the big winners of the festivities by nabbing a pair of potential building-block components in the first round (bulldozing OT Joe Thomas from Wisconsin, and QB Brady Quinn (right) from Notre Dame). The machinations involved in Quinn’s capture (which included the Browns sacrificing their number one pick next season) are well-chronicled, and many believe the addition of Thomas & Quinn represent a change in the team’s fortunes. Still, despite their considerable upside, we need a bit more evidence that Crennel’s “O” has a pulse before getting too excited.

With his defensive background, Crennel has been reliant on his assistants to mold the offense and game plans, but missed the mark completely when entrusting o.c. duties to the overmatched Maurice Carthon. After a “Mo’s Gotta Go” movement reached a crescendo last October, Carthon resigned after a 17-7 loss to Denver, and Crennel is starting from scratch this season with Rob Chudzinski (recently on Marty Schottenheimer’s Charger staff) as the new coordinator. Chudzinsk, whose play-calling and ability to mange an offense can’t be any worse than Carthon’s, would like the offense to set a faster “attack” tempo, but has to first settle on a QB between Quinn and holdovers Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson. Despite the hullabaloo surrounding Quinn’s arrival, sources indicate the best early bet remains 3rd-year man Frye, who has taken the bulk of the snaps the past two seasons. His hold on the job figures to be tenuous, however, especially if he continues his penchant for mistakes (17 picks and 7 fumbles LY). The consensus opinion on Quinn is that he will eventually get his shot later in the fall, perhaps sooner if Frye is struggling, or maybe not at all if Frye somehow manages to keep the Browns in the playoff hunt.

But an offense that ranked 31st in total yardage and 30th in points scored (a mere 14.9 pg) has other concerns, some of which Savage hopes to have answered before the draft. In particular, vet RB Jamal Lewis arrives via free agency from Baltimore as a short-term solution (he’s been signed to a 1-year deal) to bolster a a sluggish ground attack that also ranked near the bottom of league stats. The good news is thatreceiving targets such as former number one picks TE Kellen Winslow (right; 89 catches in ‘06) & WR Braylon Edwards (61 receptions) each showed what they could do when healthy a year ago, although Crennel and Savage are still expecting more from Edwards. The additions of Thomas and Cincy FA G Eric Steinbach figure to begin shoring up a suspect OL.

Burdened by the weight of an ineffective offense that compounded its feebleness by committing too many TOs the past two campaigns (42 giveaways last year alone!), Cleveland’s stop unit has held up fairly well under the circumstances. Still, improvement was needed up front in Crennel’s 3-4, especially with vet NT Ted Washington pushing 40 and little pass rush being generated to disrupt enemy QBs. Doing a better job slowing enemy ground attacks is also imperative after allowing a permissive 4.5 ypc in ‘06.. Although not as publicized as the additions of Lewis and Steinbach offensively, Savage’s signing of FA NT Shaun Smith from the Bengals could turn out just as important, especially since he can also swing to DE if needed to give another FA edition, ex-Titans DE Robaire Smith, an occasional breather. Crennel is justifiably excited about the potential of last year’s number one pick, LB Kamerion Wimbley (left), the most-disruptive force on last years defense when managing to record 11 sacks in ‘06 without getting much help. Speaking of help, the 2ndary needed a lot last season after a slew of injuries thinned the ranks, which is why Savage immediately focused on CBs in the draft (UNLV’s Eric Wright & Memphis’ Brandon McDonald) after landing Thomas and Quinn to help the offense in the first round.

Bottom line...For the sake of both Savage and Crennel, Cleveland had better start winning soon, or at least look like a team that could win soon. Major areas of concern at QB, RB, both lines, and the 2ndary were all addressed, but since it’s unlikely Quinn can help right away, and Frye might not be up to even offering short-term relief at QB, we’re not sure if the Brownies can do enough to prevent another major housecleaning next year.

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