Dawgbeat 07/13/2007: Chip on the shoulder may equal surprise success.
Chip on the shoulder may equal surprise success
by Eric Brown
07/13/2007
If being talked about in a negative light is what drives players and teams to be successful, than the 2007 Cleveland Browns should have a burning fire lit under them right now. Most media prognosticators have predicted hope for the future, but a season of failure in the win column for the Browns. Each facet of this organization should have an enormous chip on their shoulder heading into the 2007 season.
Starting with Phil Savage who engineered a trade for the ages when he acquired blue chip quarterback prospect Brady Quinn to add to his franchise left tackle Joe Thomas. Savage then made another trade for Eric Wright, all three of these draft picks may end up being considered the reason Cleveland Browns football returned to dominance. Savage certainly needs these three players to produce quickly to show his plan is heading in the right direction. Romeo Crennel, is a head coach that remembles a dead man walking. Most media outlets predict him as the first head coach to be canned in 2007. Even most Cleveland Browns don't expect him to be around long and are talking about the likelihood of Bill Cowher or Marty Schottenheimer returning to save the franchise. Crennel certainly has something to prove to the football world in 2007 and that may benefit the franchise.
Quinn, who believed he was worthy of being the first pick of the draft still has a chip on his shoulder from his well documented "free fall" on April 28th. His draft day demise may always be in the back of his mind and raise his level of play to superstar status. Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson have been considered nothing more than marginal talents and according to several preseason magazines, are a part of the worst quarterback situation in the NFL for 2007. (Although I'll never understand how the likes of Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson and Brooks Bollinger, as well as Josh McCown and Jamarcus Russell rank higher.) Frye, Anderson, and Quinn certainly have something they want to prove to the NFL.
Jamal Lewis has been considered as "washed up" by most NFL "experts" during the 2007 off-season. I'm sure Lewis appreciates those kind sentiments toward him. Truth is, Lewis spent one season being out of shape because of his unfortunate incident and spending prime workout months in prison. He also spent the 2006 season with ankle spurs which surgery corrected after the season. He's had a full offseason to keep in shape, rehab the ankle which he proclaims should be 100 per cent by training camp and be ready for a big 2007 campaign. It is my prediction that behind an offensive line that may now rank in the NFL's top ten that Lewis will run for 1600 plus yards and be a candidate for comeback player of the year. Cleveland will not be the only team in pursuit of his services when his contract expires after the 2007 season. And speaking of the offensive line, once considered the weaknesses of the team will now be looking to prove that they are the strength. Jerome Harrison, is still chomping at the bit to prove he is a talent in the same category as Reggie Bush. The 2007 season is a key season for Harrison to step up.
Braylon Edwards spent the 2006 season running his mouth more than he did with the ball. He was challenged by Crennel and Savage to become a leader on the team. Edwards should be fueled by offseason trade rumors involving him and the lack of respect he has received from Cleveland media. If you think about it, Edwards, coming off major knee surgery, could have taken his paycheck and sat out for most of 2006. Edwards instead chose to work his tail off and try and help the team win. I don't always agree with the way Edwards expresses himself, but you can not question his heart. Tim Carter always seems to be on the brink of becoming a legitimate NFL receiver during training camp and preseason before fizzling outwhen the real bullets fly. The New York Giants gave up on him and most scouts see him as depth or an afterthought in the grand scheme of things in Cleveland. Carter has the talent and now must prove he can produce on a weekly basis. Travis Wilson and Josh Cribbs are other options at receiver that have something to prove if they are to establish themselves as legitimate NFL talent.
The defensive line is considered an aging veteran group mixed with untalented reserves that is the weakness of the football team. That alone should be enough to drive Orpheus Roye, Ted Washington and Robaire Smith to elevate their play and prove the prognosticators wrong. Simon Fraser, Shaun Smith, Orien Harris, Ethan Kelley, and JVonne Parker are others that aren't given much of a chance to be anything other than role players. In some ways, this defensive line reminds me of the Browns defensive lines of the mid to late eighties. Sam Clancy, Carl Hairston, Bob Golic, Reggie Camp and Al Baker were guys considered near the end of their careers or marginal players that produced just enough so that an excellent linebacking core could make plays. Much like the late eighties, the Browns current squad is extremely talented at the linebacking position. The defensive line has something to prove in 2007 and will be counted on to be a disruptive run stopping force.
The defensive backfield is another area that has something to prove in 2007. Leigh Bodden, considered one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL by many receivers, is, for the most part unheard of by media outside of Cleveland. Eric Wright was considered a top talent on the football field, but one off-field issue dropped his draft status to the second round area. Wright and Bodden may very well prove to be the best set of cover corners Cleveland has seen since Frank Minnifield and Hanford Dixon. They definitely want to prove to the league that they should be considered legitimate NFL talent. Daven Holly is another player that was seen as a training camp body until last season. Holly made several big plays in 2006 and may really excel in the nickel back role where he will be assigned to teams 3rd and 4th receivers. Holly played well against top talent in 06 and will benefit from his experience. Still, most consider him as a depth player and he wants to prove he is a solid NFL corner. DeMario Minter, Brandon McDonald, and Jereme Perry are three other talented corners that want to separate themselves from being NFL misfits and into the ranks of solid NFL players. Sean Jones took a quantum leap in 2006 as the Brown starting strong safety. Many even believe he was worthy of a pro bowl berth. I tend to agree but the decision would have been clear cut if a) the Browns were a more successful team, and b) Jones made key interceptions to seal victories in the latter part of close games. In at least three games last season Jones dropped key interceptions that could have led to the Browns being able to seal a game late in the fourth quarter. One of those games was in a late season matchup against the Steelers. This is a key season for the development of Brodney Pool. Pool has shown flashes of being an impact player but could never do enough consistently to unseat Brian Russell. Russell left for Seattle in free agency and Pool must now prove he was worth the second round pick in 2005.
Kellen Winslow is another guy that went from being a scorned individual by Cleveland Browns fans to one of the most respected. His hard work and dedication to the game is admired by fans, and his play on the field is something that was sorely missing. Winslow had off season knee surgery to clean up some issues that made it hard for him to walk on non-game days. I have no doubt after seeing the heart he displayed last season, that he will be even better in 2007. Alot of media had written him off for 2007, and again he has to prove he is healthy.
Two other players that could be key in the Browns 2007 success are guys whose hearts are bigger than their bodies. Gary Baxter and LeCharles Bentley have been through major injuries and at one point both of their futures seemed in doubt. Now, both Bentley, whose life was even in doubt after a fight with a staph infection, and Baxter have worked hard enough so that they can consider contributing in 2007. They both have something to prove, but mainly to themselves. I am proud to have both of these individuals on the Cleveland Browns football team. I can only hope the spirit that lives in their heart and soul can be mirrored by every other player on this team. I look forward to seeing their hard work off the field translate into victories on the field.
So many parts of this organization have something to prove and have been discounted as nothing more than a team treading water toward another unsuccessful season. If these players channel their anger from being disrespected into driving them to be successful and win football games, it could very well lead to a surprisingly successful 2007 football season. Here's to winning football in Cleveland again.