Cleveland Browns Coaches Are Clueless

Maybe it is time to part ways with Eric Mangini at season’s end.

 

If the guy hasn’t figured it out after nearly four years as a head coach, there’s a chance he never will.

 

The Browns played the Baltimore Ravens tough for a half last night, heading to the locker room at 0-0.

 

The Ravens’ coaches made adjustments, the Browns’ coaches didn’t.

 

Here’s the kicker: The Browns’ coaches had two weeks to prepare for this game, the Ravens’ coaches had one.

 

On the first possession of the second half, Brady Quinn had two passes knocked down at the line of scrimmage.

 

They punt.

 

The next possession, Quinn throws a slant pattern behind Mike Furrey and Baltimore’s Chris Carr picks it off.

 

Later in the game, the Browns’ defense was not lined up properly and instead of calling a timeout to get the correct personnel on the field, the Ravens snapped the ball and Ray Rice ended up in the endzone.

 

As soon as it became 7-0 Baltimore, the game was over. The Browns can’t score touchdowns.

 

Heck, they couldn’t even get the ball past the Ravens’ 45-yard line.

 

Rob Ryan didn’t call a timeout and neither did Eric Mangini. Incompetent coaching staff.

 

The Ravens’ defensive coordinator decided to throw everything at Quinn, including the kitchen sink, and the Browns offense had no chance.

 

In the second half of games this year, the Browns have been outscored 117-29.

 

Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has no business calling plays.

 

If you’re Ryan, what in the world are you supposed to tell your defense, who shuts out the Ravens in the first half?

 

“Sorry, fellas. I guess you’re going to have to pitch a shutout because the offense is incapable of scoring touchdowns.”

 

Mangini was supposed to be an upgrade in this department over Romeo Crennel. Braylon Edwards even was quoted as saying that Mangini’s ability to make halftime adjustments was going to be a welcomed addition. Now it looks like the coach’s abilities were overrated.

 

Randy Lerner needs to do the right thing for his franchise and fire Mangini at the end of the season.

 

The team has 11 draft picks next year. Can Lerner really afford to have Mangini screw up a draft that could potentially help turn this team around?

 

If Lerner brings in a credible voice to overlook the football decisions, is he really going to agree to work with Mangini, especially if he doesn’t want Mangini there as the head coach?

 

Last night Mangini was on the sidelines with a disappointed look on his face.

 

He has no one to blame but himself.

 

He’s the one that traded Kellen Winslow for peanuts and wanted Robert Royal who couldn’t catch a cold if he was sitting in a freezer in his underwear for five days.

 

He’s the one who drafted a center with his first pick instead of taking either one of the USC linebackers or a quarterback he could groom for the future.

 

He’s the one who brought in two career backup linemen and decided to make them starters on the right side of the offensive line.

 

Mangini gets no sympathy from me and he shouldn’t get any from the fans either.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Browns Players, Coaches Have Much To Prove In Season’s Second Half

Jerry Glanville was famous for once saying to a referee, “This is the NFL, which stands for Not For Long.”

 

This popular quote that has fit the league’s cut-throat business will be ringing loud and clear for the remaining eight games in Cleveland, Ohio.

 

Several coaches and players on the Cleveland Browns will be under heavy scrutiny for the remainder of the season. The first half of Eric Mangini’s inaugural year as head coach could not have gone any worse as the team has scored five offensive touchdowns and 78 total points.

 

The New Orleans Saints’ defense has accounted for six touchdowns and Tom Brady threw five touchdown passes in the snow and sleet in one quarter against the Titans.

 

Not that Browns fans, coaches, or players had to be reminded of those two mind-numbing statistics.

 

As the team turns to the next page of the season, these coaches and players need to show owner Randy Lerner and the fans that they’re in this for the long haul:

 

 

Coaches: Eric Mangini and Brian Daboll

 

Mangini is quite possibly the most unpopular sports figure in the city of Cleveland and in the state of Ohio. He brought over four defensive starters from the New York Jets and the run defense is second to last in the NFL, surrendering 170.5 yards per game.

 

Eric Barton is out for the season with a neck injury and Abram Elam has been non-existent through eight games. Mangini needs to start winning some games or he could be on his way out at season’s end.

 

With the exception of the Cincinnati game, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s playcalling has been suspect at best. It will be interesting to see if the playcalling will continue to be conservative with Quinn back under center.

 

Not all the blame can be put on Daboll, with the team starting two rookie wide receivers and a 30-year old running back. The offensive line’s right side has been less than average as well.

 

With nothing to lose at 1-7, Daboll needs to show some creativity and more aggressiveness with his playcalling.

 

 

Players: Brady Quinn, Brian Robiskie, and David Veikune

 

Brady Quinn will have one more chance to prove to this coaching staff that he is a starting quarterback in this league. Mangini has been encouraged by Quinn’s work ethic and positive attitude since his benching, so maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel.

 

Quinn needs to play the final eight games, no exceptions. Derek Anderson is nothing more than a backup quarterback, but Quinn remains an unknown. He has started five games in two and a half seasons. He’s completed 59 percent of his passes for 409 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions this season.

 

During his three-year career, he has played in eight games (half a season) and thrown for 972 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions.

 

Tight end Steve Heiden’s health could be a key factor in how successful or unsuccessful Quinn is.

 

The Colts didn’t give up on Peyton Manning after his rookie-record 28 interceptions. Give the kid a better supporting cast and a full season before making an accurate assessment on him.

 

The rookie wide receiver from Ohio State has been possibly the most disappointing player so far this season. A sure-handed kid, whose father is a wide receivers coach with the Atlanta Falcons, has one catch for 23 yards. He needs show something positive offensively, or the “bust” label could begin to be associated with this once-promising prospect.

 

Clay Matthews Jr. has four sacks and a forced fumble and Rey Maualuga has 36 tackles and a sack with the first-place Cincinnati Bengals. David Veikune needs to start making plays and having a positive impact on the run defense.

 

Mangini didn’t think highly enough of either Matthews or Maualuga so he spent a second round pick on a defensive end from Hawaii. The USC linebacker that Mangini did select, Kaluka Maiava, has 20 tackles and a pass defended, but has lost his starting job to David Bowens.

 

At 1-7 and possibly a worst showing than the 1999 expansion team, this team has nowhere to go but up. The coaches and players will be playing for their jobs and the fans have lost patience.

 

Not a good combination. A far cry from the two AFC powerhouses that registered the game of the season last night in Indianapolis.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Browns Players, Coaches Have Much To Prove In Season’s Second Half

Jerry Glanville was famous for once saying to a referee, “This is the NFL, which stands for Not For Long.”

 

This popular quote that has fit the league’s cut-throat business will be ringing loud and clear for the remaining eight games in Cleveland, Ohio.

 

Several coaches and players on the Cleveland Browns will be under heavy scrutiny for the remainder of the season. The first half of Eric Mangini’s inaugural year as head coach could not have gone any worse as the team has scored five offensive touchdowns and 78 total points.

 

The New Orleans Saints’ defense has accounted for six touchdowns and Tom Brady threw five touchdown passes in the snow and sleet in one quarter against the Titans.

 

Not that Browns fans, coaches, or players had to be reminded of those two mind-numbing statistics.

 

As the team turns to the next page of the season, these coaches and players need to show owner Randy Lerner and the fans that they’re in this for the long haul:

 

 

Coaches: Eric Mangini and Brian Daboll

 

Mangini is quite possibly the most unpopular sports figure in the city of Cleveland and in the state of Ohio. He brought over four defensive starters from the New York Jets and the run defense is second to last in the NFL, surrendering 170.5 yards per game.

 

Eric Barton is out for the season with a neck injury and Abram Elam has been non-existent through eight games. Mangini needs to start winning some games or he could be on his way out at season’s end.

 

With the exception of the Cincinnati game, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s playcalling has been suspect at best. It will be interesting to see if the playcalling will continue to be conservative with Quinn back under center.

 

Not all the blame can be put on Daboll, with the team starting two rookie wide receivers and a 30-year old running back. The offensive line’s right side has been less than average as well.

 

With nothing to lose at 1-7, Daboll needs to show some creativity and more aggressiveness with his playcalling.

 

 

Players: Brady Quinn, Brian Robiskie, and David Veikune

 

Brady Quinn will have one more chance to prove to this coaching staff that he is a starting quarterback in this league. Mangini has been encouraged by Quinn’s work ethic and positive attitude since his benching, so maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel.

 

Quinn needs to play the final eight games, no exceptions. Derek Anderson is nothing more than a backup quarterback, but Quinn remains an unknown. He has started five games in two and a half seasons. He’s completed 59 percent of his passes for 409 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions this season.

 

During his three-year career, he has played in eight games (half a season) and thrown for 972 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions.

 

Tight end Steve Heiden’s health could be a key factor in how successful or unsuccessful Quinn is.

 

The Colts didn’t give up on Peyton Manning after his rookie-record 28 interceptions. Give the kid a better supporting cast and a full season before making an accurate assessment on him.

 

The rookie wide receiver from Ohio State has been possibly the most disappointing player so far this season. A sure-handed kid, whose father is a wide receivers coach with the Atlanta Falcons, has one catch for 23 yards. He needs show something positive offensively, or the “bust” label could begin to be associated with this once-promising prospect.

 

Clay Matthews Jr. has four sacks and a forced fumble and Rey Maualuga has 36 tackles and a sack with the first-place Cincinnati Bengals. David Veikune needs to start making plays and having a positive impact on the run defense.

 

Mangini didn’t think highly enough of either Matthews or Maualuga so he spent a second round pick on a defensive end from Hawaii. The USC linebacker that Mangini did select, Kaluka Maiava, has 20 tackles and a pass defended, but has lost his starting job to David Bowens.

 

At 1-7 and possibly a worst showing than the 1999 expansion team, this team has nowhere to go but up. The coaches and players will be playing for their jobs and the fans have lost patience.

 

Not a good combination. A far cry from the two AFC powerhouses that registered the game of the season last night in Indianapolis.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Jon Gruden’s Ohio Roots Could Land Him in Cleveland

The former coach also known as “Chucky” appears to be content in the Monday Night Football broadcast booth.

 

Then again, money talks, it always does.

 

Ex-Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden is one of many former coaches who could get back into the game within the next few years. Tony Dungy, Mike Shanahan, and Bill Cowher are other names currently out of coaching jobs.

 

The one-time Super Bowl champion and Sandusky, an Ohio native, grew up a Cleveland Browns fan. He and Mike Holmgren have a history that goes back to 1990, when he hired Gruden as one of the first quality control coaches in the NFL. At the time, Holmgren was the offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers.

 

Holmgren eventually moved onto Green Bay where he became the Packers head coach and he wanted Gruden to join him and take over a wide receiver coaching position.

 

Gruden then went on to become the Eagles’ offensive coordinator in 1995 and to Oakland for his first head coaching gig. His first and only Super Bowl victory came in 2002 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against his old team, the Raiders.

 

With all the speculation of Browns owner Randy Lerner being hot after Holmgren to run his football team, the possibilities are endless. If Holmgren does decide to become the Browns’ Director of Football Operations, Gruden could be his first choice as head coach.

 

One common denominator with both of these individuals are they are proven winners and have experience and success working in the positions that they would be assigned in Cleveland.

 

Holmgren was the general manager and head coach in Seattle and posted seven winning seasons in 10 years. He brought in a backup quarterback from Green Bay by the name of Matt Hasselbeck, and when healthy, he is a Pro-Bowl caliber player.

 

He drafted players such as linebackers Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill, cornerback Marcus Trufant, and tight end John Carlson.

 

One knock on Gruden is his inability or unwillingness to develop young quarterbacks. He signed Rich Gannon from the Kansas City Chiefs when he was head coach in Oakland.

 

When he took the Bucs’ head coaching position, he signed Brad Johnson to a lucrative contract, but ended up winning a Super Bowl with him. He later brought in Jeff Garcia in 2007 and was reportedly very close to signing Brett Favre last season before he went to the New York Jets.

 

However, his defenses are solid and that’s something that has lacked in Cleveland.

 

Coaching players such as Rod Woodson, Charles Woodson, Sam Adams, Derrick Brooks, Simeon Rice, and John Lynch would give Gruden instant credibility and he, unlike Eric Mangini, has proven he can handle high profile, “loud” players like a Keyshawn Johnson and Bill Romanowski.

 

Randy Lerner has struck out twice with his head coach and general manager selections. Maybe the third time will be a charm. Bringing in Holmgren and Gruden would put him on the right track.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Brady Quinn To Start Against Baltimore Ravens? Sources Say Yes

Brady Quinn might get another chance after all.

 

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Quinn will start against the Baltimore Ravens next Monday night.

 

The irony of this potential move is that Quinn was pulled at halftime against Baltimore in favor of Derek Anderson in Week Three.

 

Head coach Eric Mangini said he wouldn’t make an announcement until Wednesday and hasn’t spoken to either quarterback yet.

 

On the season, Quinn has completed 59 percent of his passes for 409 yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions. If he takes 70 percent of the offensive snaps, he is due an escalator of $11 million at the end of the season. He is mathematically unable to reach that number if he plays the final eight games of the season.

 

Anderson proved to be much worse than Quinn, completing just 42 percent of his passes with two touchdowns to nine interceptions. His 36.2 quarterback rating is the worst among NFL quarterbacks. Since his breakout game against the Bengals, Anderson has completed 36 passes for 322 yards, to go along with one touchdown and five picks.

 

Both quarterbacks have been plagued by dropped passes from their receivers. Part of this can be attributed to splitting reps during training camp and practices. Both throw different balls and neither quarterback has been able to find a comfort zone with his receivers.

 

This is squarely on Mangini for not declaring a starter in camp. If he knew he didn’t have a starter NFL caliber signal caller, he should have drafted one in April. Two years ago, the team thought it had two potential franchise quarterbacks and now they may come to realize they have none. What a coincidence, the old saying, “When you think you have two quarterbacks, you really have none” has proven true in Berea.

 

Not all the blame can go on Quinn and Anderson, with Kellen Winslow catching everything in sight in Tampa Bay and Braylon Edwards in New York. Joe Jurevicius is retired and Jamal Lewis is all but done as a starting NFL running back.

 

It’s really not going to matter who the starting quarterback is right now. Mangini may not even be here in February when the team decides what to do with Quinn and Anderson. Not one of the Browns’ top-10 players right now is a guy that Mangini brought in.

 

Owner Randy Lerner can say he has Mangini’s back all he wants, but what’s he supposed to say? Whoever Lerner ends up bringing in to run the football operations will want their own head coach. Mangini brought this situation upon himself and these last eight games could be his final as a head coach period.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Bernie Kosar as GM Could Save Brady Quinn’s Career in Cleveland

If there is one person in the Browns’ organization who should hope Bernie Kosar is indeed the future general manager of the franchise, it’s Brady Quinn.

 

I have tried to avoid the quarterback topic as best I can this season because this team has problems everywhere. Quinn was probably pulled too early, which is easy to say now, after seeing how poorly Derek Anderson has looked.

 

If there is one man who knows this team inside and out, it’s Kosar. He can practically call what’s coming during preseason games (but with this offense, who can’t) and has been around the team since 1999.

 

He speaks highly of Quinn, and I’m sure he feels that Quinn wasn’t given a fair shot at quarterback. Kosar knows the supporting cast isn’t good enough and would need to get that taken care of before anything else. This means a proven veteran receiver, an above average right tackle and an explosive running back. A vertical threat at tight end wouldn’t hurt either.

 

It would be risky handing over the GM duties to someone who has had no previous experience in selecting players and coaches, but neither did Ozzie Newsome.

 

Like Newsome, Kosar was on the same team that went to three AFC championship games in the ’80s and knows the necessary parts to build a contender. He knows the current personnel on the team, unlike someone Randy Lerner would hire outside the organization. He also understands how desperate this city is for a winning football team and wants to see it succeed as well.

 

I’m not sure what Kosar’s opinion is on Mangini at this point, but it would not surprise me if Kosar dismisses him if and when he takes over as GM.

 

It’s hard to believe that the Browns are doing this again. This will be the fourth new general manager (yes, I’m counting Butch Davis) for this team in 11 years.

 

Lerner knows he made a mistake hiring Kokinis, which means he could be thinking the same with Mangini. He may say the two are on the same page in terms of the direction of the organization, but this squad could possibly be worse than the one the 1999 regime threw onto the field.

 

If given the reins, Kosar’s legacy in Cleveland will only enhance if he is able to turn this franchise around. Fans will love him even more if Quinn is at the center of it.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Is Marty Schottenheimer on Randy Lerner’s Radar Screen?

Forget about it Browns fans, Bill Cowher isn’t coming to Cleveland in any capacity.

 

Which brings me to another possible candidate to become the team’s director of football operations: Marty Schottenheimer.

 

There was speculation that owner Randy Lerner was considering bringing in the former Browns head coach for an interview to take over that same title. Lerner decided to clean house and fire the general manager and head coach and start over.

 

The Miami Dolphins hired Bill Parcells to take over its football operations and he infused a mass of talent that went 11-5 and won the AFC East last season.

 

Schottenheimer essentially built the current San Diego roster, drafting players such as LaDainian Tomlinson, Philip Rivers, Vincent Jackson and Shawne Merriman. He has a past relationship with Bernie Kosar, who is now a team consultant.

 

He obviously can evaluate talent and he is the type of figure who would draw immediate respect within the Browns’ organization.

 

One aspect of bringing in Schottenheimer is the way he handled the Chargers’ quarterback situation back in 2006. The team had Drew Brees as its starting quarterback for two seasons.

The team decided to part ways with Brees and let their former first-round pick take over. Since 2006, Rivers has thrown 88 touchdown passes and over 12,000 yards.

 

He committed to a quarterback and the team rallied around Rivers after Brees solidified himself as a more-than-capable starting quarterback.

 

The past Browns’ regime mishandled the quarterback situation and now both Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn seem lost.

 

Schottenhemer built a solid line through the draft, bringing in players such as Marcus McNeil and Nick Hardwick.

 

The Browns already has a solid foundation with Joe Thomas, Eric Steinbach and Alex Mack.

 

Schottenheimer was also had a voice in drafting cornerbacks Quentin Jammer and Antonio Cromartie.

 

These two physical corners have formed one of the best duos in the league, a trait that neither Eric Wright or Brandon McDonald have earned in their early careers.

 

The area that the Browns obviously need huge upgrade at is the linebacking corps. Right now, Kamerion Wimbley and D’Qwell Jackson are the only reliable linebackers on the team. Jackson is out for the season, but the current regime thinks extremely highly of him.

 

If Lerner brings in Schottenheimer, he may not think the same. Merriman and Jackson are two different types of linebackers and Jackson may not fit Schottenheimer’s ideal linebacker description.

 

San Diego also drafted defensive end Shaun Phillips and converted him to linebacker. It took Phillips a year to adjust to the transition but since then has been a consistent pass rusher for the San Diego defense.

 

If Lerner does indeed pick someone to fill this position, Schottenheimer would be a solid candidate with his history with the Browns, relationship with Kosar, and his history in building the San Diego Chargers.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Jamal Lewis Admits This Is Probably His Last Season

Maybe he’s accomplished everything he can in his career. Maybe it’s the wear and tear on his body. Maybe it’s just the losing.

 

It’s quite possibly none of those things, it could be each of those reasons. Either way, Jamal Lewis has apparently had enough.

 

The Browns’ 30-year old running back told the Cleveland Plain Dealer he will “probably” retire at season’s end.

 

He has yet to record a rushing touchdown and the team has not had a running back get into the endzone since late November of last season against Buffalo. On the season, Lewis has carried the ball 98 times for 349 yards (3.6 yards per carry).

 

With his 69 yards on the ground yesterday, Lewis moved into 21st place on the all-time rushing list with 10,456 yards. He passed both Eddie George and Tiki Barber.

 

Backup Jerome Harrison has shown that he is capable of filling in on a limited basis, but it is unknown if he could keep it up for an entire season. Rookie James Davis is currently on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Both will more than likely remain on next season’s roster, but the Browns could look to draft a running back early or acquire one in free agency.

 

It would be a great story if Clemson running back C.J. Spiller was reunited with the other half of the Tigers’ great running back tandem of two seasons ago.

 

Lewis has definitely lost a step and hasn’t shown the burst that he displayed two seasons ago. Former Browns general manager Phil Savage signed Lewis to a one-year contract and he ran for 1,304 yards and nine touchdowns.

 

The team then rewarded Lewis with a new three-year deal.

 

After his rookie season where he carried the Ravens’ offense to the franchise’s first and only Super Bowl title, Lewis made the postseason only twice, playing in one after he was placed on injured reserve during the Ravens 2001 training camp.

 

As all Browns fans know, Lewis set a then single-game record with 295 yards rushing in one game back in 2003. A fourth of his yards that season came against the Browns (500).

 

As much as Lewis can attribute his decision to retire due to the Browns’ losing, they did help revitalize his career as a feature back when the rest of the league believed his best days were behind him.  

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Thoughts on Browns Quarterbacks, Brian Robiskie, and the Secondary

At least Derek Anderson is as disgusted about his statistics as the fans are.

 

Anderson told the Cleveland Plain Dealer this week that his stats are “garbage.” He says he believes he’s “improving,” but that is arbitrary at this point.

 

He has a 40.6 quarterback rating and 43.8 completion percentage, both dead last in the NFL. He has averaged 4.42 yards per completion, which also ranks last in the league.

 

However, he probably doesn’t have to worry about losing his job anytime soon. Head coach Eric Mangini appears adamant about sticking with Anderson over Brady Quinn.

 

Speaking of Quinn, if he takes 70 percent of the snaps this season, he is due an $11 million bonus. Mangini and the Browns’ front office don’t think it’s wise to pay that to a guy who they aren’t sold on as a franchise quarterback.

 

This is understandable, and if they want to keep his trade value at a respectable level, not playing him on this pathetic offense is the smart move. Teams that are looking for a quarterback in the offseason will still view Quinn as an unknown and may be willing to surrender a mid-round draft pick.

 

So, unless Anderson gets hurt, expect Quinn to stay on the bench. The offense isn’t going to all of a sudden start putting up 30 points a game if he starts. They’re starting two rookie wide receivers, a rookie center, and no reliable receiving tight end.

 

Which leads me to one of those rookie wide receivers, Brian Robiskie. The Chagrin Falls native has one catch for 23 yards and doesn’t seem to warrant the attention that fellow rookie Mohamed Massaquoi is getting from Anderson. It could be that Anderson knows that Massaquoi has big-play potential, or it could be that Robiskie just isn’t getting open.

 

Mangini will continue to play both rookies and allow them to grow together. It just makes me wonder if Robiskie would be where Massaquoi is right now had he arrived to training camp on time.

 

Finally, the second weakest position on this team next to the quarterbacks has to be the secondary. The cornerbacks and safeties looked lost on long touchdown passes to Green Bay’s fullback and wide receiver Donald Driver.

 

I understand Eric Wright could have lost his life last weekend in a car accident, but he cannot give up those types of plays to opposing wide receivers. He and Brandon McDonald are not physical, they cannot tackle on a consistent basis, and you hardly ever see them play bump-and-run to disrupt the receivers’ routes.

 

The coaches need to find out if Coye Francies is any better than McDonald, who is better suited for a nickel role.

 

Safeties Abram Elam and Brodney Pool were also nowhere to be found on those touchdowns until Green Bay’s fullback and wideout were arriving at the end zone.

 

It’s almost impossible to think what they are looking at before and when the ball is snapped. There is absolutely no help over the top for the corners, and you hardly ever see either safety deliver a hit over the middle like an Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu.

 

The Packers probably have the best cornerback tandem in the league with Charles Woodson and Al Harris. They also have an underrated safety in Nick Collins, who is always around the ball.

 

When Mangini was with the Jets, he helped turn safety Kerry Rhodes into a Pro Bowl ballhawk and drafted cornerback Darrelle Revis out of Pittsburgh, who has transformed into a shutdown corner. It’s hard to think that Mangini believes he has either of those right now on the Cleveland Browns.

 

Unless these defensive backs start playing like they care about football, expect a complete personnel makeover this offseason.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Hank Fraley at Tight End Not Helping Cleveland Browns’ Offensive Struggles

In a span of 12 months, the Cleveland Browns went from having a Pro Bowl tight end in Kellen Winslow Jr. to a guy who manned the center position for the three previous seasons.

 

With Robert Royal and Steve Heiden both nursing injuries, Hank Fraley has been utilized at the tight end spot, primarily for blocking purposes.

 

Head coach Eric Mangini has been starting rookie Mohamed Massaquoi since Week Four and Brian Robiskie has seen more reps as well.

 

No wonder Derek Anderson and the offense is frustrated right now. Chansi Stuckey hasn’t caught a pass since he arrived in Cleveland, and has been the target of several drops.

 

Royal has been slowed by a hamstring and finger injury, which hasn’t been helping him in the receiving game. On the season, Royal has eight catches for 93 yards, but his season lowlight is probably the dropped would-be touchdown against Buffalo.

 

Last week, the Browns picked up Michael Gaines, who was released by the Chicago Bears. He ended up being the Browns’ leading receiver last Sunday against Green Bay with two catches for 30 yards. Not the best sign when a guy who was picked up in the middle of the week is your top pass catcher in the next game.

 

The team right now is in search for an offensive identity (where have we heard this before). Derek Anderson was firing the ball all over the place against the Bengals with Massaquoi breaking out in his first start.

The next game against Buffalo, it was running back Jamal Lewis where he collected his first 100-yard rushing game since 2007. Josh Cribbs was the star against the Steelers in the Wildcat formation.

 

That’s what happens when the offense doesn’t have one consistent player it can rely upon week after week. It used to be Braylon Edwards (if you want to consider him consistent) and now they have two rookie wide receivers starting, no receiving threat at tight end, and a 30-year old running back.

 

Today, Mangini said that Jerome Harrison needs to improve on his pass protection in the backfield, a problem that has slowed him for his entire tenure with the Browns. When you’re not a complete player, it’s difficult for the team to count on you every game.

 

Maybe this is the week the offense starts to show some promise, maybe not. Mangini stated the reason Anderson remains the starter is because the team is able to move the ball when he’s in there. They just can’t punch it in the endzone when given the opportunity. The offense had the ball inside the five-yard line late in the game and were unable to advance it any further.

 

Right now, players are just auditioning for next season. They are auditioning for Mangini, as well as for other teams that may find some interest in them. It looked like the team had given up early last week against Green Bay when the Packers fullback scored on a 40-yard touchdown pass.

 

If that’s the case, it’s going to be a long final two months of football.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Next Page »

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010