Poll: Who Should See Reps at the Wide Receiver Position?

by Chris Pokorny on Nov 4, 2011 9:13 AM EDT

Why isn't Jordan Norwood getting more snaps?

Why hasn't Carlton Mitchell been featured prominently in the offense yet given his "potential?"

These two receives were elevated on the depth chart last week due to Mohamed Massaquoi being out (concussion) and Brian Robiskie on the verge of being cut. Both Norwood and Mitchell have had fans who have been vocal about their wishes to see each player be involved in the offense. The question is this: just how involved should they be in the offense, given the fact that three receivers are ahead of them on the depth chart? (Side note: Shurmur confirmed that Mitchell would be active again this week).

I think the person who is least likely to have reps taken away from him is Greg Little, given the team's investment in him and the fact that he has received the most reps at the position this season. Joshua Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi don't have a lot of catches, but each of them have made some clutch receptions late in games.

I know that really good teams like the Green Bay Packers would have no issues mixing in their fourth- and fifth-receivers, but given our ineptness offensively this season, it seems like it would be easier said than done for Pat Shurmur and the Browns.

This is an open-ended poll with two questions:

-Should Norwood and/or Mitchell be much more involved in the offense (more so than they were last week)?

-If so, who should see less reps at the receiver position between Little, Cribbs, and Massaquoi?

Feel free to share a rep ratio for the five wideouts.

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Comments

at this point, we really should try anything and EVERYTHING to revive our offense. or whats left of it. give the ball to everyone. if someone can make a freakin catch, then we use them. if someone drops the ball, they should be forced to do pushups on the sidelines in front of the whole crowd.

Smile big, hug bigger. Talk big, act bigger. Stop judging do something, shut the fck up do something.

by pwndabear on Nov 4, 2011 9:17 AM EDT reply actions

Little, Norwood, Massaquoi, Cribbs, Moore.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Nov 4, 2011 9:25 AM EDT reply actions

Those should be the five that see reps, the first three should see most of the reps.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Nov 4, 2011 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions

I like this, assuming that we also throw in Moore at the tight end position a few times too (two tight end sets). Little, Norwood, and Massaquoi seem like a good group. Then, when Cribbs does come in the game, he can be a threat on reverses, quick bubble screens, or down-the-sideline passes. He’s shown that he’s not one-dimensional, so I don’t think having him in every so often would tip off the defense as to what play we planned on running.

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by Chris Pokorny on Nov 4, 2011 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Norwood showed serious signs of life last week. I like having him in the top 3 as well, but Massaquoi is supposed to be the #1 guy. I know he’s been out, but we need to keep him as involved as we can. As for Cribbs, we haven’t really utilized his offensive abilities in respect to reserves or “creativity” (which may just feel more dramatic in comparison to how often we saw the Wildcat in the past). He made a couple of beautiful catches when we needed ‘em, but I’d rather see more balls going to Little and Massaquoi.

by Ponycakes on Nov 4, 2011 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Little, Norwood, Cribbs/mass splitting 3rd spot. I feel like I’ve seen momass run some lazy routes or give up too early. Plus everyone knows to hit him hard in the head and he’s done for the day. No clue about Mitchell yet.

Resident of Believeland.

by browndawgbacker on Nov 4, 2011 10:16 AM EDT via iPhone app reply actions

I like this combo the best so far. Little has proven he deserves it. Norwood showed some good things last week. Cribbs is too much of a playmaker not to try and get him the ball but he’s not the best receiver. MoMass can make a big catch, but he’s been showing some frailty on the field and I think that will affect his aggressiveness.

Even Doug Dieken admits Joe Thomas is the real #73

by Doc's Kid on Nov 4, 2011 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Joe Thomas, Greg Little, Mo Mass, Norwood… There has to be a reason why Shurmur won’t get Moore more involved and I don’t think that’s going to change the rest of the year.

At any rate, they need a consistent lineup each week if we’re going to see any progress here. And stop dropping passes.

"That’s the reality of it and I live in that reality." Shurmur

by LocalMan on Nov 4, 2011 10:42 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

JT was just assumed to be our #1 I believe for all positions.
Moore does deserve to play more downs I think just due to the match up problems he creates.

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by browndawgbacker on Nov 4, 2011 11:37 AM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions

I thought it was because when Pashos was injured before, we needed to put Alex Smith to help block but out seems thats not the case because Pashos is no longer injured.

by macdowellm03 on Nov 4, 2011 11:56 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I think we still need Alex Smith to help block. Pashos is not close to impressive.

by shep615 on Nov 4, 2011 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions

empty refrigerator box > Pashos

"That’s the reality of it and I live in that reality." Shurmur

by LocalMan on Nov 4, 2011 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Pashos > Tebow

"Mixed emotions. Rather see him hit PEDroia [with that pitch]. I don’t care if he is in the dugout"

by Gradysmanldy on Nov 4, 2011 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Dropped passes are a huge disappointment. I’ve seen a number of drives collapse because guys just aren’t holding onto the ball.

Browns dropping the ball

Colt is the answer, winning is the question...

by Skaughtto on Nov 4, 2011 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Not sure if this was just a joke or whatever, but after watching not one, but two lineman go for big gains against us last week, I came away not mad that they beat us with that, just mad that we weren’t the ones to use it first.

I realize that defenses might not bite as hard on our run threat as teams do with the 49ers, but when your offense is struggling as much as ours, it seems like its time to get extra creative to at least get something going. Then when you realize it was a rookie HC on their side of the field also, it just makes Shurmur look bad.

by TKilbane on Nov 4, 2011 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

They don’t seem like the trick play types or at least not good trick plays.

by HenryDawg on Nov 4, 2011 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I sincerely think Moore should be moved into a Jurevicious type role as a slot receiver. Then find some creative ways to get the ball into JC’s hands… jet sweeps, direct snaps.. something, anything, he’s too talented to not be getting carries when the offense is this anemic.

@LancelotSchmidt

by L Train on Nov 4, 2011 10:49 AM EDT reply actions

Wasn’t Jurevicious here the one time in expansion we had a decent offense?

by HenryDawg on Nov 4, 2011 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

That is a correct statement, he was here in 07 and was the 3rd down go too guy. When we needed 10 yards he got us 13, hardly anything ever got by him, wish we still had him.

by Steve n NC on Nov 4, 2011 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Side note: Andre Jonhson didn’t practice again yesterday. One writer over at Battle Red would be really surprised if he plays this week.

Perhaps they feel they can do it w/ out Johnson and they give him an extra week rest.

"That’s the reality of it and I live in that reality." Shurmur

by LocalMan on Nov 4, 2011 11:41 AM EDT reply actions

avg score w/ johnson :27
avg score w/o johnson: 25

i forget where i saw this stat this morning.

Smile big, hug bigger. Talk big, act bigger. Stop judging do something, shut the fck up do something.

by pwndabear on Nov 4, 2011 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Norwood looks good to me, keep him playing. I think we give mitchell waaay more playing time. I mean how can our offense possibly be any worse?

by macdowellm03 on Nov 4, 2011 11:53 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

It could be worse by him dropping more balls than any of the other guys. He has a history of it.

Resident Tim Couch Apologist.

by Dawg Nuts on Nov 4, 2011 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d like to see the two rookie 6’3" receivers(Little/Mitchell) out there on the field for an entire game to see what they have to offer and if they step up their play during game time. Cribbs and Norwood could switch off in the slot, but Cribbs seems to flourish most in traffic. Use him creatively at running back. direct snap it to him or try some end arounds… if it isn’t productive at least it’ll be fun to watch.

Colt is the answer, winning is the question...

by Skaughtto on Nov 4, 2011 12:06 PM EDT reply actions

Hillis just left practice because of an injury.

"That’s the reality of it and I live in that reality." Shurmur

by LocalMan on Nov 4, 2011 12:17 PM EDT reply actions

what do you mean Hillis just left practice with an injury

by Steve n NC on Nov 4, 2011 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

As in a few weeks long injury. Hammy blew out.

In Golan we trust.

by SpecialBrownie on Nov 4, 2011 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d like to see Little, MoMass/Norwood, Mitchell on a regular basis. Run Cribbs out of the backfield and when we run a two tight end formation with Watson and Smith have Moore spread wide with little on the other side and Hillis/Cribbs in the backfield.

by Steve n NC on Nov 4, 2011 12:23 PM EDT reply actions

I’d love to see Mitchell get more attention. However, my perception is that the offensive line just isn’t good enough to allow time for Mitchell to get downfield and for McCoy to set his feet to make a good throw. Norwood is the better choice for now as he can get open quickly.

by NM Dawg on Nov 4, 2011 12:23 PM EDT reply actions

personally i would really like to see mitchell get featured a whole game just to see what he can do. If he is this log threat that everyone says he is, why dont they try him out because even if he isnt that great its better than what they have now. But as an order of receivers if i was shurmur i would have it like this : Little Mitchell, MoMass Norwood.

Moore should be peppered in throughout the offence but since he is versitile to what poisiiton he plays i have a hard time fitting him into that list.

where is cribbs you ask? i think him as a receiver has been tried and he has panned out to be nothing but a space filling receiver, i really really really want to see him at running back, i think cribbs is at his best when he has the field infront of him

by nickmar19 on Nov 4, 2011 12:28 PM EDT reply actions

Greg Little is a big, strong receiver with good ability for YAC, and he should continue to get the most playing time. I’d like to see Norwood in the slot, running some quick routes, trying to get him some nice matchups. MoMass does a serviceable job on the other side. When one of the most tantalizing options for our offense is splitting a tight end (granted, one with good hands and a lot of unrealized potential) out into the slot, it speaks volumes.

Spergon for the Wynn

by WassicaboaMouse on Nov 4, 2011 1:37 PM EDT reply actions

Little, Norwood and MoMass.

by Bernie19Kosar on Nov 4, 2011 3:51 PM EDT reply actions

After last week, I would definitely like to see more Norwood. He appears to be the only one fast enough to get open on this team.

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by Adrock2099 on Nov 4, 2011 3:57 PM EDT reply actions

I love Little and he needs to be featured as much as possible. I also like Norwood and momass teaming up for the 2/3 role and cribbs maybe getting some reps.

I would also like to see mitchell, but I am not going to be advocating playing him a ton. He has nice deep speed, let him run some deep patterns every once in a while. Out of 3-4 WR sets, I’d like to see him running some deeper routes.

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by bross09 on Nov 4, 2011 5:42 PM EDT reply actions