tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Browns Offense Sputters, Again!!!!!!

The Cleveland Browns were defeated by the San Francisco 49'ers yesterday and the score was not indicative of how bad the Niners beat the Browns. Once again the Browns offense was absolutely putrid. Granted they were without Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty pulled up lame early in the game but its not an excuse for the terrible play calling. When Pat Shurmur was hired we thought that because he was an offensive coordinator with the Rams that the Browns offense would take a step forward from the Mangini-Daboll era. But what we have seen over the first 7 games makes me yearn for the days of the Wildcat and the hurry-up offense, which by the way seems to be the only way this offense can move the ball and Shurmur refuses to use it more.

One of the criticism of the Daboll offense was when the Browns needed 6 yards for a first down, there would be a dink pass to a receiver or back that would go for 3 yards and then they would have to make up the remaining yardage for the first down. Invariably the punt team was coming onto the field. We saw more of that yesterday which really begins to make me wonder if the Browns don't truly need an offensive coordinator. Early on many people criticized the Browns for having Shurmur call the plays. At the time, I didn't think it was a bad move since Shurmur was (supposedly) an offensive-minded coach and there are other head coaches in the league who call their own plays. But it's becoming increasingly apparent to me that Shurmur is in over his head. I am not calling for a new head coach but I'm suggesting that he needs help on the offensive side of the ball.

Josh Cribbs' comments after the game are a little bit annoying. Cribbs hopes that Browns fans are not going off the deep end and that while they started off slowly they finished the game like a Super Bowl team. Really, Josh!!! Super Bowl team??? Are you kidding me??? Cribbs says that we should be proud of the fact that this team doesn't quit. Josh, you guys get paid millions of dollars and how dare any of you quit. As fans we expect you and your teammates to play hard every down. Quitting is not an option.

I watched some of Colt McCoy's press conference last night and the kid gets it. McCoy basically said that its not enough to say that we kept fighting, that we didn't quit. The kid quarterback said: "its about winning. We have to start winning." That's the thing about McCoy that makes you want to see this kid succeed. He's been a winner at every level. You could tell on his face that he was sick about that game not to mention the physical beating he took. But I still wonder if this kid has the ability to take the Browns to the Super Bowl. Shurmur has not figured out a way to use McCoy's strengths: his ability to throw on the run, he's athletic and he's smart. I honestly believe that is why this offense moves the ball in the hurry up sets and if you remember the Browns were successful in the hurry up last year with McCoy at quarterback.

Nobody expected the Browns to be a playoff contender this year. However, we did expect to see some progress. Defensively, I believe this team has improved. The goal line stand yesterday was impressive and they basically won the game last week against the Seahawks. But offensively this team has regressed. If anything it should be plain as the nose on your face that this team misses Peyton Hillis but somehow I have a feeling that the Browns will let him slip away. The jury is still out on Hardesty but it seems clear that this kid is injury prone. In the meantime, Browns fans must continue to deal with an offense that is inept. It's as bad as when Luke McCown was quarterbacking in 2004. Things are so bad that many of us who live outside of Cleveland have to consider dumping the Sunday Ticket. There are certainly better things to do on a Sunday than watch an offense which couldn't beat any of the top college teams in the country.

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I'll comment on the Leafs loss to Ottawa tomorrow in Tuesday's Thoughts along with the constant whining and complaining of Bills fans about the games in Toronto. Don't forget Wednesday Part II of Yankee Rumblings.