Browns - Ravens Post-Mortem

Browns – Ravens Post Mortem

Let’s start by stating we won't take any shots at Romeo like everyone else will. As we stated in our previous entry, this is not all his fault. Unfortunately, in this business, the head coach goes before the GM does 99% of the time.

The fault is mostly on the wiz-kid Phil Savage.

He’s the one who played it safe in the off-season and kept DA when the team had numerous needs that could have been addressed by trading Anderson and turning the reigns over to Quinn.

Savage is the one that entered the season without acquiring a proven cover corner on the roster or a first-tier linebacker to help a defense ranked 30th in the NFL year ago.

The wiz-kid is the one who overpaid for Donte Stallworth – a career mediocre #2 receiver at best who has played – when he’s actually been on the field - for almost as many teams as Kenny Lofton – almost.

I could go on, but you get the point.

Here’s what is going to happen however. The media will of course be out for Crennel’s head. Savage, who already threw him (RC) under the bus last week by calling the Steelers’ game “the biggest game we’ve played recently,” will say all the right things. Behind the scene, he will be laying the groundwork for Crennel’s firing if the Browns lose in Cincinnati. In other words, he will be telling the Lerner family its Romeo’s fault – not his.

Meanwhile, Crennel has very few options heading into week #4. Remember, he has no leaders in the locker room – none, zero!

On the field, he currently fields a weak defense, an underachieving offense and mediocre special teams. There’s no need to cover the defensive flaws – they are ALL still there from a year ago.

Offensively, his quarterback is shell-shocked from actually being hit for the first time in his career and from missing open receivers. DA is finding out it’s more difficult to complete passes with people in your face – something he didn’t deal with AT ALL in 2007. In fact, his two TD passes on the year came on a 2-yard toss in the opener and a screen versus the Ravens. Savage’s “Homer Run Hitter” is turning into a dink and dime signal-caller for fear of turning it over or getting sacked.

The offensive line, the team’s strength a year ago, is floundering both in the running game and in pass blocking.

As for the special teams – so far in ’08, there’s nothing special about them.

Notice I didn't mention injuries once. There is ABSOLUTELY nothing that has happened on the field to indicate the Browns would be any better than 0-3 with ALL their personnel present and accounted for. If anyone tells you otherwise, they are playing you for a fool. There isn't a team in the NFL without injuries.

So what should Romeo do? He has two choices – get back to work this week and try it again at Cincinnati with the same personnel, or change quarterbacks and hope for a spark.

Changing quarterbacks at this point is unfair to all concerned, but it’s what you do in the NFL when a team is floundering. In baseball, they fire the manager, in football, they change the signal-caller.

Will it help? I have no idea. This isn’t the way it should have happened. Savage should have dealt Anderson when his value was at its peak in the off-season. We’ve covered this before.

Now, he has one quarterback who has lost his confidence and much of his trading value, and another one who is thrown into the fire after a 0-3 start, and all he'll be asked to do is salvage the season and the head coach’s job. Nice.

Remember during the off-season when Crennel was quoted as saying there would be open competition at QB. That was followed the very next day with Savage stating Anderson was the starter. That was unprecedented – a GM smacking down his coach.

Savage just gave Anderson a huge signing bonus and a three year deal. He obviously wanted to see a return on his investment. Well, he got it, a 0-3 start.

If this corner’s observation is on target, Romeo will make the change this week. What does he have to lose? His job is now already in jeopardy and Savage can’t stand in the way of a change at QB after a 0-3 start and two offensive TDs in three games.

Like we stated early – this mess is more Savage’s than Romeo’s. No one else will write or say this. The media will start the “Romeo Watch.” That’s just the way it is. But keep your eye on the big picture. The power struggle has begun. The backstabbing will ensue. The locker room could splinter.

The only thing that could save the season is if someone rides in on a shiny white horse. We like Quinn a lot, and have been calling for him to play since day 1, but this situation is officially a mess, not likely salvageable in ‘08, and created by a GM who played it safe.

What would I do? Since you asked, I’ll tell you.

•Call Arizona and see if they will do a straight up B. Edwards for A. Boldin deal. One disgruntled receiver comes east and one who is slowly wearing out his welcome in Cleveland goes west.

•Make a second call to Minnesota, among other clubs still in need of a QB, and see if DA has any value left. If you can still get a #2 and a #3, and/or can acquire a quality WR or corner, make the deal as fast as possible. Unfortunately, his (DA’s) stock has fallen the past three weeks – another residue effect from this horrid start. Remember, it’s not all on him. He’s had plenty of help.

•Sign Joe Horn and Ty Law immediately. We called for these moves weeks ago. Unless there are off-the-field issues involved with these two, they are both better than players we have playing at those positions RIGHT NOW. That is unless you enjoy watching Cedric Steptoe run around with his head cut off and E. Wright tackle receivers after first downs. The Browns are reportedly several million under the cap. Why not use some of that money to bring in some immediate veteran help and try to salvage the season? Stop-gaps can be effective.

•Try some basic 4-3, the defense the team’s two new acquisitions up front are more comfortable playing in. To play the 3-4, you need at least four GOOD linebackers. The Browns do not have four good linebackers. Period. This will also allow K. Wimbley to do what he does best - rush the QB from the end position instead of dropping in coverage and looking like a duck out of water. I know, I know, you can’t make this kind of switch in-season. Why not? It’s not as though what they are doing has worked the past two years. The off-week can certainly be used to tinker with the defense.

•Do not fire RC in-season. The organization will be tempted to do so if they lose to Cincinnati next week. The “Romeo Watch” has officially begun. The media will want a scapegoat and I’m afraid Savage might cave to cover his $#@. However, unless you have someone CLEARLY BETTER ready to take over (i.e. Marty of Bill Cowher), it serves no purpose other than to deflect attention from the real problem – the team was never as good as its 10-6 record in 2007 based on ground we have covered in the past. The same morons (Lerner/Savage) who gave him (RC) a contract extension pre-maturely, need to now show some PATIENCE and give RC a chance to get himself out of this mess.

There you have it. And please don’t tell me most of the above is not possible. The Browns need to shake things up in the non-traditional way. Don’t put it all on the head coach. There are still 13 weeks remaining. The organization owes it to the paying public to make every attempt to get better NOW.

It's only September.