Thoughts on Loss # 2

Here are some of our thoughts on the Browns 34-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday and the state of the team as it stands today.

On Sunday there was plenty of negative, and not much positive. Since we prefer to end on a good note, we'll start with the problems we saw.

Concerns:

- The defensive front seven continues to struggle, despite the personnel changes made in the offseason that were expected to shore up the run defense and pass rush. We've had our doubts concerning the signing of Ted Washington all along. While there is no debate regarding Washington's massive size, his ability to "shut down" the opponent's running game is questionable. We've wondered all along why if Washington was such a valuable asset in stopping the run (one of the unquestionable keys to winning football games) his career has taken him from team to team year in year out. Don't such valuable assets in one of the most crucial facets of winning football games normally find a more permanent home???

- Outside of Leigh Bodden, the cornerback play has been suspect. Gary Baxter is not 100% physically and his production on the field has suffered. Daylon McCutcheon has been one of the most reliable players the Browns have had since their rebirth in 1999 and losing him for the season is a significant blow to the depth in the defensive backfield. We still are trying to figure out what type of incriminating photos Ralph Brown possesses of Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage - there can't possibly be any other reason for his continued presence on the 53-man roster.

- The offensive line continues to struggle to open any holes for the Browns' running backs. While a lack of chemistry caused by a dearth of time together on the practice field can be cause for miscommunication on pass protection, the run blocking should be second nature by now. Effective run blocking is a byproduct of determination, attitude and physicality. Unfortunately, the early returns we've gotten show the Browns offensive line lacking in these three key areas.

- Not capitalizing on opportunities. We certainly don't like to overanalyze things, but with the Browns lack of experience and average level of talent they absolutely must capitalize on every opportunity they have to make a play. Failure to capitalize on these opportunities has been, and will continue to be the nail-in-the-coffin for this football team as long as it continues. On Sunday alone we witnessed Andra Davis drop an easy interception, Braylon Edwards drop passes and Charlie Frye miss a wide open Steve Heiden on a critical third down. This team must start to take advantage of the opportunities it is given.

The Good:

- While the cornerbacks have struggled in coverage, the play of the Browns' safeties has been noticeably improved since last year. Sean Jones has begun to show his potential as a playmaker in the secondary, while Brian Russell has been adequate in coverage and a physical presence when closing in on opposing players. Russell's hit on Chad Johnson in the fourth quarter is something that should be lingering in opposing wide receivers' minds for quite a while.

- Leigh Bodden has emerged as one of the better cornerbacks in the league. Bodden did a solid job covering Chad Johnson on Sunday. The few times Johnson made plays in the Bengals' passing game the Browns were playing a zone defense. Bodden has impressed us to the point that we have more confidence in his one-on-one coverage ability than any other Browns' cornerback since the team returned in 1999.

- Charlie Frye doesn't look intimidated. While the offense has yet to find any sort of rhythm or flow, Frye has stood in tough and maintained control. When plays have broken down Frye has continued to do what made him so successful at the University of Akron in improvising and trying to make big plays out of broken plays.

Overall Observations:

- In traditional Browns-fan fashion, many of the Orange and Brown faithful have begun to over-react to the disappointing 0-2 start with calls for Maurice Carthon's job and complaints about the quarterback position. Fans need to keep certain things in mind. First, this team is extremely young. Nobody doubts the playmaking abilities possessed by Frye, Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow, yet we all need to keep in mind the relative youth and inexperience of the team's "Big Three." Frye will be starting just his eighth NFL game this Sunday, while Edwards will be participating in just his 15th and Winslow only his fifth. Although it is painful to be forced to wait through the developmental phases of these three players' careers, everyone needs to be patient. While all three may show flashes of their potential stardom at times, it will take time for them to develop and become comfortable not only in the Browns' offense, but in the professional game. That is what this season is for: trials, tribulations and the team growing as a whole.

- Maurice Carthon needs to go back to what he did in week one. Sure, the Browns' running game suffered in the loss to the Saints, but Carthon did a masterful job of exercising creativity in the playcalling and utilizing the element of surprise. While fans and media complained about the failing running game after-the-fact, Carthon showed the guts to throw last year's playbook out the window and attempted to win with THIS year's strengths in week one. In Cincinnati, Carthon gave in to outside pressures to force the running game, despite the fact that running the football is no longer this team's strength.

Sure, Reuben Droughns ran for over 1,200 yards last season. However, that was last year's team. Braylon Edwards wasn't starting, Kellen Winslow was injured and Charlie Frye didn't have a complete grasp of the offense. The Browns were forced to focus on running the football by default. Now this team boasts a more confident Frye to go with a healthy Winslow and Edwards. THIS is where they find their mismatches with opposing defenses. Conversely, when was the last time anyone thought the Browns offensive line proposed a mismatch for opposing defensive lines?

The running game can't be abandoned, but it shouldn't be the bread and butter of this offense. Droughns is a talented back, but he isn't a game-breaker. Edwards and Winslow are the gamebreakers. Lets not fool ourselves - this offense should be built upon the playmaking abilities of Frye, Winslow and Edwards and supplemented with a solid running game - not the other way around.

We'll have more before Sunday's contest with the 2-0 Baltimore Ravens...