Dawgbeat

The 2007 Cleveland Browns: Learning for the present and future.

by Eric Brown
11/20/2007

     The 2007 Cleveland Browns season will be remembered for several reasons, the offensive outburst, the coming of age of several key players, the emergence of Derek Anderson, the "Cardiac Kid-like" moments, and likely, the memorable playoff run. However, the most important reason that the players will remember the 2007 season is the learning experience. Let's examine, game by game what the Brown's have learned that will key the progression of this team in the future as well as the present as the time drives for the playoffs.

GAME 1 vs Pittsburgh 

   The team learned that Charlie Frye was not the quarterback of the future or the present. Frye's ineptness and inability to read NFL defenses continually landed him on his back or chasing down opponents defenders. It also learned that the offensive line was hindered by Frye's inability to make quick decisions.

GAME 2 vs Cincinnati

   The team learned that offensively they have very capable playmakers and that quite possibly Derek Anderson would be worth another look as the team's starting quarterback, holding off Brady Quinn. The Browns also see that Jamal Lewis still has some gas left in the tank as he runs for 216 yards.The team also had a hint that the loss of Brian Russell may be a bigger loss than anticipated as the secondary was repeatedly out of position on coverages, a responsibility that Russell was successful at.

GAME 3 at Oakland

   The team finds out the hard way that you must bring your A game to the football field every Sunday. You can not rest on the performance you had a week earlier and think that any game will be easy. The players learned that no matter the record of the team you are playing, you must give 110% on every play in every game. This game should be shown and reminded of to the players each week over the next six as the combined record of the Browns last six opponents is 22-38. Do not assume anything! The team also learned the pitfalls of the opponents head coach calling a timeout before a potential game-winning kick. 

GAME 4 vs Baltimore

   The team, apparently upset with the previous weeks loss to Oakland, is determined to rite their wrongs as they blow out to a 24-6 halftime lead against one of the better NFL defenses. The team is starting to believe that Derek Anderson is a capable NFL quarterback. The players hold their lead against the Ravens and go on to win 27-13. A huge division win that brings their division record to 2-1. At 2-2, the team sees a glimmer of hope for a season that started as dismal as you can get.

GAME 5 at New England

   The team learns about the effect costly turnovers have against Super Bowl-calibur teams. Two Derek Anderson interceptions lead to 14 New England points, and a third Interception in New England's end zone take away another opportunity for at least a field goal. A Kellen Winslow fumble on the last play of the game leads to another New England touchdown. If you add it up this game was alot closer than the score indicates, but the team finds out firsthand what good teams do with turnovers and how the momentum of the game can shift because of them. 

GAME 6 vs MIAMI

   The team, determined to not repeat the mistake of week 3 in Oakland jumped out to a 27-10 halftime lead. The Browns start to fall back in the third quarter but the Anderson to Edwards connection locks things up in the fourth quarter sealing a 41-31 Browns win. Lesson learned! The Browns did not take the Dolphins lightly and put them away when they had the chance.

GAME 7 at St.Louis

   Coming off the bye week at 3-3 the Browns seem flat against a winless team.  The horrors of losing to the Rams become real as they spot the Rams a 14-0 lead. The Browns storm back to a stunning 27-20 win behind the arm and hands of Anderson and Edwards again. The Browns caught themselves mid- game with a reminder of the Oakland game and were able to turn things around. Edwards seems to be discarding the image of a bust and becoming an elite NFL receiver. Derek Anderson throws three touchdowns against no interceptions for the second straight week and is becoming the leader of the offense. Expect this scenario to play out over and over again the final six weeks of the season as Anderson, Edwards, Winslow, and Jurevicius take advantage of less talented and injury hampered secondaries.

GAME 8 vs Seattle

   In one of the most exciting games that the world didn't see thanks to the New England-Indianapolis game, the Browns started to come of age against a playoff tested team. While not in the same category as the afforementioned teams, Seattle is just one season removed from being the NFC champion and Super Bowl opponent of the hated Pittsburgh Steelers. Derek Anderson again proved to be a viable NFL quarterback as he led the team back from a 21-6 deficit. Jamal Lewis capped off four scoring drives with touchdowns and Kellen Winslow put on a performance rivaling his father's New Years Eve 1982 show. The team is learning how to beat playoff calibur teams, and that they have potential superstars in Anderson, Winslow, and Edwards. The team also now knows that it's offensive line is a strength of this club as Anderson throws 48 times without being sacked.

GAME 9 at Pittsburgh

   At 5-3 the Browns play a playoff type game against the 6-2 steelers. The game starts of very well for the Browns as they pull off a nine minute drive culminating in an Anderson to Winslow touchdown. Anderson throws two other touchdowns after short drives that were the results of a Josh Cribbs kickoff return and Brodney Pool interception. The Browns lead at haltime 21-9. Here is where the learning began. The Browns learned that they must put teams away when they have them down. As they trotted out onto the field for the first second half possession, a drive and some points were needed to reassert their dominance of the first half. That did not happen and once again a turnover fuels a momentum swing to Pittsburgh after a Jamal Lewis fumble. Ben Roethlisberger leads a second half comeback that results in a 31-28 loss. Not lost in the loss is the consistent Eric Metcalf-like play of Joshua Cribbs. Cribbs turned a near game ending mistake into a kickoff return for a touchdown to give the Browns a 28-24 lead at the midway point of the fourth quarter. The team learns that it has a another superstar in Cribbs. The biggest lesson learned, however is after the loss in the locker room. Instead of pointing fingers about the loss and who to blame, Willie McGinest takes the heat for the team's loss, but Braylon Edwards will have none of it, instead stepping into the circle and accepting blame himself. Many players followed suit (including Cribbs who had nothing to be sorry for) until the entire team rallied around eachother in learning that they win as as team and lose as a team.

GAME 10 at Baltimore

   In what could be a season defining game the Browns prevailed following one of the wildest endings to a game that the NFL has ever witnessed. In this game, the Browns learned that it's not over until the shapely woman sings. The Browns seemed to put the game away late in the third quarter when Brodney Pool returned a Kyle Boller interception 100 yards for a touchdown giving the Browns a 27-14 lead. But some change in defensive philosophy allowed Boller to storm back and give the Ravens a 30-27 lead with 26 seconds left in the game. However a bonehead decision by Brian Billick to kick to Joshua Cribbs proved fatal as he gave the Browns excellent field position at the Browns 41. Two Derek Anderson completions later and let the fun begin. Phil Dawson's 51 yard field goal skodoinks the left upright then skodoinks the extension of the cross bar landing the ball on the field side of the cross bar (oh boy!). The referees confer and hesitantly wave no good. I admittedly wasn't sure of the ruling myself but after hearing the announcers claim it should be a good field, I immediately feel "here we go again, its bottlegate all over again". But then just as so many fortunes of Cleveland sports seem to be changing the ruling is changed and we play overtime. Again fortunes turning in our favor, the Browns win the coin flip and quickly march to a winning field goal. In the game Jamal Lewis is just 8 short yards of attaining 100 yards, proving he still has gas left in the tank. We will need him down the stretch for more 90-100 yard performances.

All in all this team has learned many lessons this season so far that should help them over the final six games of the campaign and the future. It has been a fun and exciting season and I can't wait for next week and beyond. GO Browns!


   In addition to 2007 being a season of learning, it may also end up a season of record breaking. Derek Anderson, Kellen Winslow, Braylon Edwards, and Josh Cribbs may end up etching their names into the Browns record books for this seasons accomplishments.