Pretty much most Browns fans and a majority of the media (both national
and Cleveland area) believe Charlie Frye isn’t the quarterback for the
Browns. The Browns brass is also
very lukewarm concerning Charlie’s ability to be the man for the
Browns.
Don’t count me among them.
Do I think Charlie has proven he is the guy—no way, but I am convinced
now is not the time to give up on him.
His year to prove he can be player is coming this fall. This will be his
third year. He has some much needed
experience behind him. He needs a
fair look. Our line was miserable
last year, our running game non existent.
He looked very good against the Ravens in Cleveland. It wasn’t his fault our pass protection
scheme was all wrong on that slant pattern to Edwards. Go look at the tape. He did well against the Chiefs, when he
finally had a running game.
Another thing, we played against some of the best
defenses in the league last season.
Everyone up my way was talking about the progress Bills QB JP Losman was
making. Well he was, until he
played a defense like the Ravens.
It is not that I think Charlie is definitely the guy; it
is just the wrong time to write him off.
Phil Savage says a lot of things, playing both sides of the fence on key
issues concerning the team.
This is
understandable given it is draft time and Brady Quinn may be on the horizon.
When Savage says Frye (or possibly
Anderson for that matter) may be capable of doing the job with the right support
system, he may indeed be correct and telling the truth.
There is pressure for the Browns to win now—at least for Crennel if not
Savage. A rookie QB won’t provide
that, nor will any of the low ranking free agents out there. I say try to pick up Troy Smith, perhaps
in the third round. I think he can
play. Develop him. Let Frye be the veteran in ’07 and build
a real team around him and whoever eventually takes the reigns at QB.
In terms of Smith, I am concerned he will be picked right in front of us
by Tamba Bay with the last pick in the second round. Sobo had that in his
mock draft a few weeks back and it could happen. I don't want Smith to
show too well right now, that is better for us. This way he will be there
in the third round.
On thing I would like to express, I am not an Ohio State fan, though I
like their program, I actually am a big Notre Dame fame. I like Quinn
alot, but I am not 100% sold on him. It is that accuracy thing. I
will never forget the SC game at ND when he was a junior. All he had to do
was hit his back out of the backfield on third down to run the clock out and he
missed him. If he makes that throw the back walks in and SC's late Leinert
score is meaningless.
At his time we really don’t know who to draft with our first round
pick until the first wave of free agency ends. Let’s see how that plays out before we
lock into a certain player. Right
now, my first choice would be Joe Thomas, my second choice would be to trade
down and my third choice would be AP.
If ever there was an opportunity to trade down it is this year. Most observers believe Tampa Bay covets
Calvin Johnson. Good. Let’s move down if Thomas isn’t there to
about 7, 8 or nine. The Vikings would love Johnson and the
Dolphins allegedly want Quinn.
But first let’s see how things shake out with the early signings of free
agency.
Are you going to tell me, if the Browns somehow got lucky and
signed BOTH, YES I MEAN BOTH, Steinbach and Diehlman and drafted Thomas, Charlie
wouldn’t be able to get the job done?
Think about it. It is
possible. Sign both guards, draft Thomas, pick up Michael Bush in round 2, and
now you have something. Maybe
Steinbach and Diehlman are a bit of a dream, but Savage did say he could very
well sign two offensive linemen.
Go for it Browns and don’t right Charlie off yet. With experience under his belt he may
yet prove to be the guy.
Very few
quarterbacks ever looked good in their first and second seasons regardless of
what type of mechanics they had, good or bad. If Charley bombs, and the rest of the
offense is in place, we can pick up a veteran in ’08 or perhaps Smith might be
ready to take over. At the very
least Smith can be the backup in ’08.
That is assuming Smith won’t go to Tampa at 64.
I will have more to offer in my next entry regarding who I think we
should look at in a trade down scenario.