Dawgbeat

Quinn makes the Browns a legitimate football team.

by Eric Brown

08/28/2007

      I've heard, listened to, and thought about all the positive and negative comments to letting Brady Quinn start the football season as the Browns 1st team quarterback. I've watched patiently, intently, and with an open mind as I believed Quinn should start from day one (see past articles).  I tried to find one or several reasons why he should not start, but have come empty. There are several reasons why many Browns fans shudder at the thought of Quinn starting against Pittsburgh on September 9th. However, there are another set of fans shuddering at the though of Quinn starting that game also and they wear black and gold on sunday afternoons. Brady Quinn makes the Browns a legitimate football team that can win football games...now!

      Sure you can believe that Quinn's successful pre-season is just a product of playing against a shell of players that won't compare to what the Steelers will put on the field on September 9th, but I see it another way. First off, just to make a point, that throw to Joe Jurevicius was a thing of beauty, and a touchdown. It's too bad Crennel didn't see the play or he would have challenged it, and gave his "young quarterback" even more confidence than he already has. Quinn has been basically flawless, unflappable, and downright brilliant in his first two appearances. Not counting the four spikes that counted as incompletions against Detroit, he is 20-27 for 256 yards and four touchdowns (I'm counting that throw to Jurevicius). But lets forget the statistics, and look deeper into what we have witnessed the past two games.

      Here is an individual who missed the first eleven days of training camp playing a position that everyone believes you need to be there from the very start. Here is a young kid that has never played a down of football in the NFL before. A quarterback that after a training camp holdout has the entire city of Cleveland feeling leary about his motives and actions. A kid with basically everything stacked against him and set up to fail early on. And how does Quinn respond? Not only does he show that he is competent, he shows that he just might have the ability to make Browns fans forget about every quarterback that has donned a Cleveland Browns uniform. I'm sorry folks, I watched Bernie Kosar, and Brian Sipe, and listened to my father and grandfather talk about Frank Ryan and Otto Graham. I understand these players are Browns legends and Graham, an NFL legend. Quinn has the talent and ability at age twenty two to become one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history.

      Quinn's physical and mental makeup as well as his experience gives him an advantage that no college quarterback coming into the NFL has ever had. Quinn started at Notre Dame as a freshman and worked hard to become one of the best college quarterbacks ever. He also was fortunate enough to benefit from Notre Dame hiring Charlie Weis. Weis had already molded a young quarterback named Tom Brady into one of the NFL's finest and most clutch quarterbacks. Quinn's tutoring fom Weis has been very apparent in the first two games he has played. The numbers are great, but three main attributes are what have me excited about Quinn's future.

          1- Huddle presence- for a rookie quarterback, Quinn's ability to take charge in the huddle and will his team down the field was a breath of fresh air. He got a group of bunch of young players down the field and on the same page for two scores. Please forgive me for saying this about Charlie Frye, but his version of the two minute drill is a Chinese fire drill. I love Charlie's guts and toughness but his leadership ability in clutch time leaves alot to be desired. Quinn couldn't be expected to make the Detroit game close in the final ten minutes with a bunch of players we'll never remember, but that's exactly what he did.

          2-Decision making-Too many times I have seen young quarterbacks trying to do too much at times when the defense was just waiting for them to make the big interception. I saw Quinn taking exactly what the defense gave him and making the right decision with the football. I saw him reading defenses and going through his receiver progressions. Again, refreshing to see a quarterback actually read a defense instead of the defense reading our quarterback. Quinn displayed patience and took what the Detroit defense gave him, and he put touchdowns on the scoreboard. I have watched Frye and Derek Anderson and I do not see the same decision making process or ability.

          3- Ability to look off defenders-Quinn has the ability to focus on a receiver and then turn his attention to another one and make a quick throw. His ability to read a defense allows him to do this. Quinn can feign defenders by looking in a certain direction and knowing which receiver, and when they will be open because of his initial fake. This ability can be taught but rarely perfected, you either have it or you don't. Quinn is a perfectionist with this attribute. It is going to be very fun when Quinn burns a Pittsburgh blitz by showing the appearance of locking on a receiver at the line and then quickly turning his attention to a slant to another reciever (just think back and remember Kosar's quick slants to  Webster Slaughter and Brian Brennan).

      So, I haven't even mentioned Quinn's stronger than reported cannon for an arm, or his much better than reported accuracy. Well I don't want to build the kid up too much. Whether Quinn starts on September 9th or November 9th, won't make much difference in my career, but I sure wouldn't want to be Romeo Crennel if he starts Frye and begins the season on a losing note. In that situation, whoever takes over for Crennel may very well look like a genius for beginning the Brady Quinn era. If it was my job, there is too much to lose  to not start Quinn...now. There is no better option on this football team and his field presence and production has shown that he is ready. If Quinn follows through with another overwhelming performance against the Bears on Thursday night, I believe the Browns have left the door open to name him the starter. If he fails against the Bears, the door is still open to go with Frye, Anderson or Ken Dorsey. In any situation, there are going to be several teams kicking themselves for letting this kid slide past them on draft day, and the Browns will remember April 28th, 2007 as the day the franchise turned the corner.

Superstars not a necessity to succeed in 2007

by Eric Brown

08/14/2007

      For eight seasons weve been waiting for the Cleveland Browns to rise to the top of the NFL heap of solid if not elite teams. This is the season that the Cleveland Browns win the respect of the NFL. Im sure as you are reading this you might think I'm a bit crazy as most NFL prognosticators have predicted another dismal season in Cleveland. But the fans as well as the media are missing the message the Cleveland Browns area bout to send to the NFL, we have arrived.

      Fans and media alike have liked what they have seen from the off-season transactions of the Browns but still figure it not enough to make an impression in the win column, I however strongly disagree. Each season, a team that no one expects to be a factor comes from nowhere to surprise the league. The 2007 Cleveland Browns will be that team for many reasons. Too many times "experts" look to pick out what is wrong with a team instead of what is positive and key to being successful.

       The 2007 Browns made a move during the offseason that will prove to be the foundation of winning in the future as well as the present. The signing of Eric Steinbach and Jamal Lewis as well as the drafting of Joe Thomas, and the continued continuity and progression of the defense  will be the reason the Cleveland Browns make a quantum leap in 2007. Forget the quarterback confusion right now as that will work itself out and become less of a factor as the season wears on. Whether it's Charlie Frye or Brady Quinn running the offense at season's end will be a non-issue. Why do you ask? Because the running game, offensive line, and defense will be the trademark that this team stands behind. The quarterback who is playing at the end of the season will be the one that is smart enough to make the least mistakes. If Frye proves he can do that early on he will remain the starter. If not, the job may go to Quinn who has been proclaimed by Charlie Weis as the most ready to play in the NFL college quarterback since Peyton Manning. I will concede, though, that the quarterback position may prove to be a factor in how long the playoff run continues (yes I said playoff run).

      Jamal Lewis is rested, healthy, and still just 28 years old. He has at least three more productive seasons in his body. Behind a revamped offensive line featuring Hank Fraley, Eric Steinbach, Kevin Shaffer, Seth McKinney, Joe Thomas, Ryan Tucker, and possibly LeCharles Bentley, Lewis will return to a form close to that which allowed him to rush for 2,000 yards. This offensive line will be source of strength in Cleveland that we haven't seen since the return in 1999. Steinbach and Thomas will quickly establish themselves themselves as one of the best left side of the lines in the NFL. Thomas will feed off of Steinbach's experience and get better each week. He has already shown a knack for learning from mistakes and seemingly getting better with each practice. The running game alone will begin to carry this team on a weekly basis after a few weeks of working together.

      The defense is about to embark on it's third season in Todd Grantham's system. That, along with the addition of several talented, athletic plyaers is reason for excitement and a possible job promotion for Todd Grantham. The additions of Robaire Smith, Shaun Smith, Antwan Peek, and Eric Wright coupled with the return of Leigh Bodden, elevation of Brodney Pool, and continued progress of Daven Holly, Sean Jones, Leon Williams, Dqwell Jackson and Kamerion Wimbley makes this defense more athletic and aggressive. Add to that the veteran leadership of Ted Washington, Willie McGinest, Andra Davis, and Orpheus Roye and there is reason to believe that his defense may finally arrive in 2007 and make a name for itself. If this defense stays healthy it has the potential to be a top ten NFL ranked defense. The pass rush should be better with Wimbley getting a boost from Peek who is a threat as a pass rusher also. The run defense should be better by adding the Smith boys to stop the run. The pass defense looks to have several individuals capable of being solid NFL players for years to come.

      All in all one theme is consistent for the 2007 Cleveland Browns team. Right now, there are no pro bowlers or superstars. Truthfully, they don't need to be superstars to win in the NFL. They just to need to contibute solid seasons and do their part. If everyone accomplishes just that much the 2007 season will be more succesful than anyone could have predicted.

The Bottom Line

by Eric Brown

08/02/2007

      Brady Quinn still hasn't signed yet, Orpheus Roye is having surgery that may cause him to miss some time, Travis Wilson isn't living up to expectations of a third round pick, Kevin Shaffer is moving to right tackle, Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson don't seem to be taking a step forward as camp swings into high gear. All of these and many more story lines are developing as the season gets closer and closer. To a fan they are all interesting, but, only one thing really matters now...winning football games.

      The man responsible for winning football games in Cleveland is Romeo Crennel. Crennel is on the hot seat in Cleveland as Phil Savage believes the talent needed to win is available to him. The 2007 season may end very quickly for Crennel as the NFL schedule makers were not friendly to his future. Crennel is 1-11 in AFC North games in two seasons. The first four games feature home contests against Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Baltimore. Quite an overwhelming task for a man that has failed to get his troops ready for big contests in the past. But the past is the past and Crennel now has one more shot to prove he is worthy of a head coaching position.

       Browns fans are loyal if you win their trust and unforgiving if you let them down. However, winning seems to cure all evils and that is what the 2007 Browns must, must do. They must win football games and show that they are headed in a positive direction. Another season like last year and I fear that what loyalty is left among Browns fans will dissipate...quickly. The task at hand for Crennel and the Browns in 2007 is a very simple one. Find out what your strength is and stick to it. The offensive line seems to be coming together in the early stages of training camp and may end up being the rock this team is built upon. That is a great thing for us as fans as we have watched several years of exactly the opposite. If the 2007 Browns can establish the running game early on and give the team an identity, it could be a very fun and surprisingly successful (at least to media pundits) season. The running game as well as an improved defense could be the ticket to a improbable playoff flight for the Browns.

      No matter what happens and what stories are written during the off-season and training camp, one thing needs to be focused on in Cleveland...winning. Winning games will take care of everything else. No matter who is in the lineup at certain positions, no matter what injuries occur doesn't matter. The depth on this team has been upgraded and players need to step up and make plays. It is time to quit with all the excuses and blaming this and that, it is time to win football games in Clevleand, and that's the bottom line.

Notes/Observations from camp:

• Brady Quinn has all but thrown away a chance at starting in 2007. A starter will be named soon, possibly next week after the Chief pre-season game and Quinn hasn't practiced yet. Good luck Brady, it was nice to have had you as a Brown for a few minutes, but we have to play football games soon.
• The secondary of this team, maligned by NFL experts may end up being a surprise strength, there is alot of talent and depth in the group.
• Look for the Browns to scour the waiver wire or explore trades for another veteran receiver. Jurevicius is solid but aging and is better suited as the third receiver. Carter, Wilson, and Cribbs remain unproven and none have stepped up in their effort to become a starter aside Braylon Edwards.
• Leon Williams, at some point in 2007 will take over one of the middle linebacker spots and become a star in the league.
• Antwan Peek will be the starter at left outside linebacker, unseating Willie McGinest and pushing him into a 3rd down pass rushing defensive end.