Ace Davis' Weblog

September 2007 - Posts

• RUNNING IT UP

  In only three games as a Brown, Jamal Lewis already is among the top dozen "new" Browns (1999-present) in rushing yards. His total of 307 (at a healthy clip of 5.8 yards per carry) propels him past teammate Jason Wright, fellow former Raven Errict Rhett, and deposed QB Charlie Frye into the 11th spot. He should pass Dennis Northcutt and Karim Abdul-Jabbar this Sunday against his old team to surge into the top 10 with a bullet. Barring injury, Lewis' first (and only?) season in Cleveland will almost certainly place him between third and sixth on this less-than-auspicious list.       Even odds question: who will end the season higher -- Derek Anderson or Jerome Harrison?     Posted Sep 26 2007, 09:09 AM by Anonymous with no comments Filed under: The Team Today

• MO JOB SNOW JOB

  I have asked the Arizona Cardinals to change their website's bio of Maurice Carthon, their running backs coach. An excerpt of my email to them:   In two places, it states that Carthon spent the past two seasons as offensive coordinator of the Browns. In fact, Carthon resigned his position on or about October 23, 2006, after just six of the Browns' 16 games. Of couse, he was actually forced to resign or be fired. Though I would hardly expect you to publicize the manner of his departure, it is dishonest to allow readers to believe that he actually served the Browns for two years when he left Cleveland well before the midpoint of the second season. The fact that Carthon's bio claims that he "helped tutor" Kellen Winslow Jr. and then cites Winslow's statistics for the full 2006 season makes the misleading impression of Carthon's length of service all the more flagrant. Also incorrect is the following sentence: "Carthon joined the Browns in 2005 and led an offensive unit that finished the season ranked 8th in the NFL with 1,601 yards from scrimmage (1,232 rushing and 369 receiving)." Perhaps the writer confused "an offensive unit" with "Reuben Droughns," because those are his individual statistics for that year. In fact, the 2005 Browns' offensive unit led by Carthon finished dead last in points scored and 26th out of 32 teams in yardage. My personal opinion (published at the time and borne out by subsequent events) is that the Browns overused Droughns that year to the longer-term detriment of the team and the player himself. Regardless, the objective facts beg for correction on their own terms.  I'll update this post with any developments. Posted Sep 25 2007, 06:08 PM by Anonymous with no comments Filed under: Fan Focus

• ROMEO: IT'S THE PLAYERS

  It's abundantly clear where Romeo places the blame for yesterday's deflating loss to the woeful Raiders: the poor effort and performance of his own players.   In his brief post-game comments, the beleaguered honcho threw most everyone under the bus. The guys in uniform anyway. The offense lacked "focus and concentration." Regarding QB Derek Anderson, "there was some pressing and trying to make some plays."   The defensive-minded head coach offered no defense for his defenseless D.   "We couldn't stop the run, no matter what front we seemed to be in, they was able to run through us. We were out of position, and they gained over 100 yards rushing. That seems to be par for the course around here." Sounds like a pretty helpless and hopeless position for the poor coaches, huh? Maybe not. You could always seize the opportunity after a tough loss to publicly threaten to demote a rookie corner who sold out in run support: "If you got other people to take a look at, maybe you try and take a look at other people if they can't stay back and do their job." Don't let it affect your confidence, Eric Wright. That's just leadership on display.   Getting suckered by a screen pass on third-and-23 couldn't have anything to do with being in the wrong defense, right? Hey, it's not coaches' job to tackle. This was clearly just a case of "overpursuing a little bit instead of maintaining good angles on the ball."   Yep, the problem with Romeo's boys was that they were just too darn aggressive. Except when they weren't. Like on the would-be game-winning field goal.   "When you relax, you get them blocked.''   Ouch.   For the record, the Browns' wall of protection on the blocked field goal was, from left to right: Darnell Dinkens, Ethan Kelley, Nat Dorsey, Seth McKinney, Ryan Pontbriand, Hank Fraley, Joe Thomas, Kevin Shaffer, and Steve Heiden. The successful surge split Dorsey and McKinney. McKinney angrily refuted the notion that he would relax on the game's ultimate play, so that leaves the onus squarely on the broad shoulders of a reserve tackle.   Leave it to the newly matured Detroit Diva to put it all into perspective. "It's a tough lesson," wideout Braylon Edwards said, "but it's one we'll definitely eat up and swallow and - whatever - regurgitate. Mental bulimia is the logical conclusion here. Better than choking, right?     Posted Sep 24 2007, 07:55 AM by Anonymous with no comments Filed under: The Team Today

• FIVE-STAR EFFORT

  The skill players sure did put up some gaudy numbers, but the Fantastic Five from this game aren't DA, Jamal, Wheelie, Braylon, and JJ. They were good, no doubt, but I want to single out the guys named Thomas, Steinbach, Fraley, McKinney, and Shaffer.   The difference from last week to this was immense, validating the value of continuity. Of course, the Steeler defense far exceeds Cincy's, but Thomas was playing his first real NFL game, and Steinbach and Shaffer were just returning from injuries. In their second game as a unit, their accomplishments shone not only as reflected in the skill players' stats but also through: no sacks allowed only one QB pressure allowed not a single false start, hold, or penalty whatsoever no batted balls or broken plays attributed to the line flawless performance from the placekicking and punting units There's always room to improve. A better short-yardage push could have helped Vickers convert on fourth-and-one or let Jamal ice the game from the Bengals' one in the fourth quarter.   But all in all, "this absolute entertainment-galore extravaganza" (in the words of the NFL Network host) was made possible with the generous support of the quiet quintet up front. That foundation, at long last, more than anything, lends substance to the fresh hope that the Browns' offense may duplicate this spectacular performance. Posted Sep 17 2007, 08:05 AM by Anonymous with 1 comment(s) Filed under: The Team Today

• THIRD STRING PLUCKING

  The PeeDee's Tony Grossi thinks the rule about third quarterbacks is "dumb."   However, his summary of the rule lacks context. He wrote: If a third quarterback is inserted before the fourth quarter, a team’s first two quarterbacks cannot be used in the game at any position. It is a coach’s decision as to whether a third quarterback will be used. The active quarterbacks do not have to be injured for a team to use its third quarterback. The big picture is that teams have 53-man rosters, but only 45 players, plus a third quarterback, can dress on game day. This mitigates the effect of injuries. If there were no exception for the third QB, he would very often be designated inactive, since the odds on needing him are long. The provision actually prevents the farcical and potentially dangerous scenario of two QBs hurt and a trained backup stuck in street clothes.   If a team wants to deploy three quarterbacks without restriction, it may activate them as part of the 45-player allotment. Posted Sep 16 2007, 09:07 AM by Anonymous with no comments Filed under: General

• SIGNAL CALLER OUTER

  North Olmstead native Brian Hoyer, now the starting QB for Michigan State, was quoted in the Lansing State Journal (found via the OBR Newswire and Yahoo Sports) as disavowing his Browns fandom because they drafted Brady Quinn. "I can't root for them anymore, ever since they drafted that guy from South Bend... He lives in the same city as my girlfriend, and the last time I was there I saw him driving around like three times," Hoyer said.   Hmmm. What color are those Spartan uniforms?     Posted Sep 16 2007, 08:40 AM by Anonymous with no comments Filed under: Fan Focus

• QB: THE SAVAGE RECORD

  At the end of the 4-12 train wreck of 2004, the Browns' quarterbacks were Jeff Garcia (injured reserve), Kelly Holcomb (unrestricted free agent-to-be), Luke McCown (rookie fourth-round pick), and Josh Harris (rookie waiver claim). Here are all the QB transactions since Phil Savage took over as general manager in January 2005.    2005: 2/22: Released Garcia (currently the starter for Tampa Bay) 3/4: Buffalo signed Holcomb (currently a backup for Minnesota) to a four-year, $6.6 million contract.  3/5: Traded a fourth-round pick to Seattle for Trent Dilfer 3/8: Signed Dilfer to a four-year, $8 million contract 4/23: Drafted Charlie Frye with a third-round pick (67th overall) 4/24: Traded McCown to Tampa Bay (currently their second-stringer) for a sixth-round pick (203rd, used on Andrew Hoffman) 4/28: Signed UDFAs Lang Campbell and Daniel Wimprine 5/6: Waived Wimprine 6/20: Signed UFA Doug Johnson to a one-year contract 7/29: Signed Frye to four-year contract after brief holdout 8/29: Waived Campbell 9/4: Waived Harris 9/22: Claimed Derek Anderson off waivers from Baltimore. Released Johnson.   2006: 1/6: Signed Campbell (later allocating him to NFL Europe) 5/4: Traded Dilfer to San Francisco for Ken Dorsey and a seventh-round pick (202nd, traded to Chicago for Lennie Friedman) 5/5: Signed UDFAs Dustin Almond and Darrell Hackney 6/23: Waived Almond 8/29: Waived Campbell 9/2: Waived Hackney (currently on Denver practice squad) 12/26: Placed Anderson on IR. Signed Campbell.   2007: 3/17: Declined to offer Campbell (currently on Arizona practice squad) a contract 4/26: Drafted Brady Quinn with a first-round pick (22nd) acquired from Dallas for their second-round pick (36th) and 2008 first-round pick 8/7: Signed Quinn to a five-year contract after 11-day holdout 9/1: Waived Dorsey 9/11: Traded Frye to Seattle for a 2008 sixth-round pick. Signed Dorsey to a one-year contract.   So, in summary, that's Two past Browns starters gone without compensation Three other Browns starters traded for less value than was used to acquire them Three first-day draft picks used on two Ohio-born QBs, who both held out and missed some rookie training camp Five young prospects waived without ever playing a regular season snap Zero quarterbacks signed to the practice squad Two very limited young veterans acquired and released, one re-signed soon thereafter as a quasi-coach A current roster with a combined record as NFL starters of 1-12 A whole lotta thin-shelled eggs in one basket, soon to be carried by a certain 22-year-old whose initials backwards spell QB. Posted Sep 13 2007, 11:58 PM by Anonymous with no comments Filed under: The Team Today

• HEIDEN INDEED

  Fascinating if unsurprising example of how the Browns' web site reflects a rapid response PR war room mentality:   Let's start with some reportage from the Canton Repository's Steve Doerschuk on Tuesday: Tight end Steve Heiden, a co-captain who came to the team in 2001, let out the most provocative player observation of the Monday after. Asked if he thinks Quinn is ready to start, Heiden said: "You'd have to ask Brady that, but from what I've seen, I think he is.' " So guess what's on the official site as I write this?       Would you be surprised if I told you that the quote about Quinn didn't make it into the article? How about if I told you that the words "Brady Quinn" did not even appear in the entire piece? Posted Sep 12 2007, 03:51 PM by Anonymous with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Fan Focus

• REVOLUTION #9

  When you've been blogging for nearly five years, there may come a time when it turns out that you were actually right about something.   Back on draft day, right after the Joe Thomas pick, I posted an item entitled "Round One Goes to Charlie," in which I quoted Phil Savage's previous votes of confidence in Frye. Obviously, that verdict proved premature. When the GM pulled off the first of his three Dallas draft day deals and landed Brady Quinn as well, I was supportive, although I wrote, "I can't imagine Frye and Quinn co-existing for long."   So I hereby extract that selected sentence to declare my prescience.   It's a storyline that transcends football. In 2005, you had the makings of a classic rags-to-riches tale: the rural kid who didn't have the eye-popping physical measurables or the stand-out stats. Settling for a mid-level area university whose program lacked both reputation and continuity, the fair-haired farmboy did apparently have that one quality you can't teach: "it." Those preferring brand-name descriptors arrived at "moxie."   His lifelong favorite team chose him on the draft's first day, immediately grooming him as the quarterback of the future, as the Browns' new regime began a concerted push to stock up on local talent as part of its rebuilding effort.   Old hand Trent Dilfer, wearing #8, was the Browns' eighth starting quarterback in seven years. By December of his rookie year, Frye, #9, became the ninth. Dilfer wanted out and got it. Frye was handed the starting reins from early in 2006, but the team's sclerotic scheme, patchwork line, erratic receivers, and slow backfield left blame to spare when the team's record backslid to its pre-purge .250 level. Still, where was all that moxie? Where was the upbeat music that movies of this type play when the hero starts to turn heads?   It all turned topsy-turvy: The guy who scouts said just made things happen instead was revealed as a dink-and-dunker who locked onto receivers, scrambled into sacks, and forced the ball where it wouldn't fit. The ex-Zip who extended plays with his wheels got hurt and was replaced by a pocket-passing Beaver, who somehow won that game with the team's longest run of the season. Frye's bum wrist cost him 3 1/2 games, but it wouldn't end his season. No, not when the alternative --- once Derek Anderson's shoulder gave way -- was the pocket change received in the Dilfer trade, the much-maligned Ken Dorsey. They mustered just two field goals in losing to woeful Houston. The keys to the car, granted unconditionally before the season, were yanked and thrown up for grabs. Some handicappers thought DA had the reach; others felt Charlie had more "ups." No one figured Dorsey for either. But what if they jangled onto the floor? Then came April 28. The Willard guy who, just two years ago, had been featured, along with his Bernie Kosar poster, in so many feel-good local-kid stories, watched the Browns giddily yield two high picks in order to give his job away. And to whom? Another Ohioan -- suburban, telegenic, pro schooled at Big Name U -- whose spotlighted slippage, complete with blonde hottie companion and cutaways to his pre-school Bernie jersey, become the top drama of the draft. Then the new offense. The brave front. The open competition. The Quinn holdout. The coin flip. The rotating series. The rookie's sudden surge. The short starting leash dangled before Frye, game by game by game. And finally, the opener that became a closer. What of the mettle-forging adversity and much-vaunted increased mental toughness? After a full season as the unquestioned starter, Frye was yanked before halftime. He played with all the confidence you'd expect of someone whose successor had already been hired by his bosses (for more money up front than he's earned to date) and been heralded rhythmically by the hometown crowd that had not so long ago once dressed up as fast food to celebrate his own delicious arrival. Then he was sent west, young man, whither Dilfer had whenced. Dumping Charlie made new room for the QB the Browns had wanted to keep but not field, not even for a meaningless season finale. That's the "veteran mentor" Ken Dorsey, a full four months older than Frye and with 12 NFL games under his belt, compared to Frye's 21. An unsmiling Phil Savage told the press that Frye was "a good soldier all the way through," but ultimately the production was lacking. Took too many sacks. Two-plus years into developing a guy they were glad to get in the third round, they were glad to discard for a future sixth. Luke McCown, hell, even Spergeon Wynn yielded a better return.   And when Tony Grossi asked what the experience level of the remaining QBs said about the team's immediate prospects, Savage snipped: "Our team is serious about winning. Some people think we're doing some kind of experiment up here, but we're not. We are trying to win."   Glad for that clarification. But then not five minutes later, the GM quoth: "We develop Brady Quinn in the right way: that is the most important thing that we have to do this year, and that's what we're attempting to try to do. And win."   The Browns don't want to do to Quinn what they did to Tim Couch. And now Charlie Frye.    So when the Seattle Seahawks fly into town Nov. 4, the first home game after the bye week, the Willard boy will witness how well the Browns have accomplished their "most important thing." And win. Posted Sep 12 2007, 02:04 PM by Anonymous with no comments Filed under: The Team Today

• OPENING ODDS

  If not for a systematic bias by the NFL schedule-maker, the odds that the Browns would start the regular season at home for each of the nine years of the expansion era are one in 512, or 0.2%. The weather is one obvious explanation. Looking at the final four regular season games of the year, Cleveland hasn't hosted more than two since 1956. Since 1999, just 42% of the season's fourth quarter has been scheduled at home. The need for equal road and away games makes season openers more likely to be at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Plus, the first game of the reborn Browns in 1999 rightly was played here (though not played rightly). Still, those factors might drive the odds of nine straight home openers down to, say, one in 100. There may be something else happening here, but I don't know what it is. Do you? By the way, so far the Browns are 1-7 in their openers. They're just 2-11 in the 13 home games they've played in the last quarter of the season. Don't know what that means either, but it ain't good.   Posted Sep 05 2007, 08:24 AM by Anonymous with no comments Filed under: General

• 53 IN THE FOLD

  Here's an update to the projected roster I posted at the outset of training camp. Bold and strikethrough type indicate changes from the pre-camp view. This provides a quick glance at the impact that training camp had on Browns personnel, compared to the conventional wisdom as I saw it then. QB Starter: Charlie Frye Backups: Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson Cut: Ken Dorsey RB/FB Starters: Jamal Lewis, Lawrence Vickers Backups: Jerome Harrison, Jason Wright, Charles Ali Practice squad: Chris Barclay Cut: Jerome Jackson, Charles Ali, J.R. Niklos IR: Jerome Jackson TE Starter: Kellen Winslow Backups: Steve Heiden, Darnell Dinkens, Ryan Krause Practice squad: Jonny Harline Cut: Buck Ortega, Ryan Krause OL Starters: Joe Thomas, Eric Steinbach, Hank Fraley, Seth McKinney, Ryan Tucker, Kevin Shaffer Backups: Kevin Shaffer, Kelly Butler, Lennie Friedman, Isaac Sowells, Nat Dorsey Suspended: Ryan Tucker PUP: LeCharles Bentley Practice squad: Cliff Louis, Rob Smith, Fred Matua Cut: Nat Dorsey, Andrew Hoffman, Pete Lougheed WR Starters: Braylon Edwards, Joe Jurevicius Backups: Travis Wilson, Josh Cribbs, Tim Carter Practice squad: Syndric Steptoe, Steve Sanders Cut: Kendrick Mosley, Mike Mason, Maurice Mann, Efrem Hill, Steve Sanders DL Starters: Orpheus Roye, Ted Washington, Robaire Smith Backups: Shaun Smith, Simon Fraser, Ethan Kelley, Orien Harris Practice squad: Melila Purcell, Chase Pittman, Babatunde Oshinowo Cut: J'vonne Parker, Babatunde Oshinowo, Orien Harris, Chase Pittman, Alvin Smith NFIR: Alvin Smith OLB Starters: Kamerion Wimbley, Antwan Peek, Willie McGinest Backups: Antwan Peek, Matt Stewart, Jason Short Willie McGinest, David McMillan, Chaun Thompson Cut: Jason Short, David McMillan, Kris Griffin IR: Matt Stewart ILB Starters: Andra Davis, D'Qwell Jackson Backups: Leon Williams, Kris Griffin Mason Unck Cut: Chaun Thompson, Clifton Smith, Kevin Sears IR: Mason Unck CB Starters: Leigh Bodden, Eric Wright Backups: Daven Holly, DeMario Minter, Kenny Wright, Brandon McDonald, Jereme Perry PUP: Gary Baxter Practice squad: Brandon McDonald, Tim Mixon Cut: Jereme Perry, Therrian Fontenot, DeMario Minter S Starters: Sean Jones, Brodney Pool Backups: Justin Hamilton, Mike Adams, Gary Baxter Cut: Justin Sandy, Jeremy LeSueur, Justin Hamilton Specialists K Phil Dawson P Dave Zastudil LS Ryan Pontbriand Cut: Jesse Ainsworth, Kyle Basler NFIR: Kyle Basler Last year when I did this, only the linebacker positions were accurately anticipated in my pre-camp post. This year, it's the position that's gotten as much ink as any: the quarterbacks. Actually, the entire offense managed to break camp according to form, with Tucker's suspension and Nat Dorsey's ascent to adequacy the only real surprises. On defense, most of the surprises stem from injuries. Vets McGinest and Baxter made the final 53, though they won't be ready to dress on game day for a few weeks yet. Meanwhile, injuries played a role in the release of 2006 draftees Justin Hamilton and DeMario Minter, as well as Jason Short, who I figured would be a lock as a special teams demon, especially with Mason Unck and Matt Stewart on the shelf. Chaun Thompson, now in the final year of his rookie contract, and Kris Griffin, who had 22 special teams tackles for the Chiefs last year, stepped up in camp. Also, breaking camp with just six defensive linemen, given the age of the starting trio, is shocking. I'm disappointed that Baba's gone bye-bye. Doug Dieken has more influence than I thought. I've been intrigued by the kid ever since I profiled him in the January 2006 Bernie's Insiders (now the Orange & Brown Report) Magazine. If those inside backers can't fill the run gaps in a hurry, hopes for this season will get ground to a pulp before the first snows fall. Posted Sep 04 2007, 07:08 AM by Anonymous with 1 comment(s) Filed under: The Team Today