Box Score - 11.6.08
Team	1	2	3	4	Final
	7	3	3	21	34
	7	13	3	7	30

Show hope. Insert dagger. Twist.

There hasn't been a more painful stretch in a span of five days since the Browns returned to the NFL. After having a two-possession lead in two home games late in the game, we came away with two losses. Our record should be 5-4, right in the thick of the wildcard and divison playoff race. Instead, we're 3-6, with our only playoff hopes coming down to going undefeated the rest of the way. That isn't going to happen.

The offense played very well in the debut of Brady Quinn as the team's starting quarterback. Considering the fact that we played a conservative gameplan and scored 30 points, that definitely adds to the excitement he'll provide this team in the future. Right now, the concerns shift back to the defensive side of the ball. They are at the forefront of this week's goats...

Goats of the Game (Unbelievably Bad)

1. Brandon McDonald: It's beginning to become a little more evident as to why McDonald was a fifth round draft pick last season. That may be a little too harsh of a statement after he played "well" over the first stretch of the season. Over the past two weeks though, he has not faired well against Mark Clayton, Eddie Royal, Brandon Marshall, or anybody else that he has covered. When the potential "makeup" plays came his way, McDonald dropped an interception. Our defense as a whole deserves just as much blame, but McDonald was attacked the most and therefore shoulders the blame.
   
2. Kamerion Wimbley: I planned on listing Kellen Winslow here, but because he deserved a game ball and a goat award at the same time, I am cancelling them out (and will discuss him in the general notes section). Wimbley had a sack on Jay Cutler, but never mind that. The play that stands out to me came when he was basically carried several yards by Broncos fullback Peyton Hillis to the sidelines on a running play. That, coupled with the fact that we consistently saw rookie linebacker Wesley Woodyard make sure-tackles against us, just drove me nuts.
   

Awarding Game Balls (Gold Stars to Put on Their Locker Door)

1. Joshua Cribbs: After returning to form last week against the Ravens, Cribbs kept his antics up for he second game in a row. He averaged 27 yards per kick return, but you could just tell on each of them that he was a shoe string tackle away from taking the kick another 20-30 yards. Then, on offense, the Browns utilized him more than any other time in history. It was only three times, but it paid off as he carried the ball 3 times for 48 yards.
   
   Quinn has an impressive debut but came away with a loss.
   
2. Brady Quinn: His worst drive was probably his last drive. Overall, it was a great game for Quinn. I could sit here and nitpick on a few other throws, but that would really be unfair. This was Quinn's first career start in the NFL, and he played very well. His first touchdown throw to Winslow was threaded perfectly. And, although it was called back due to offensive pass interference, his rollout throw in the fourth quarter to Braylon Edwards shows the extra dimension he adds to the offense. Next time, we'll see if the team allows him to sprinkle in some deep bals.
   

General Thoughts (Random Tidbits on the Game)

1. Jamal Fails to Reach 100: For most of the game, I agreed with the play calls of offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, an upgrade over the past few weeks. Jamal Lewis was on pace early on to go over the 100-yard mark for the first time this season with ease. Instead, he didn't even get close. He totaled 60 yards on 19 carries, as he was mostly stuffed at the line of scrimmage after the first quarter. With how porous Denver's defense is, that should not have happened as often as it did.
   
2. Not Working, Use Harrison: This was the problem I had offensively against Denver. Jerome Harrison and Jamal Lewis each got some carries early, and both were very effective. Then, Lewis couldn't find room to run, and it appeared to be because he wasn't quick enough to make a move to the open area. Why not insert Harrison back into the game, make him stretch the defense to the outside again for positive yardage, and then attack inside with Lewis again? Instead, we tried to go inside and outside with Lewis (on pitch plays). It failed.
3. The Touch: A returning Donte Stallworth had an effective game. In particular, I enjoyed watching his first reception, in which Quinn threw a perfect touch pass over his shoulder, allowing him to pick up yards after the catch. Derek Anderson might have completed that pass too, but it would've been a rocket at his hip. That would've stopped Stallworth's momentum, allowing the defense to come up and stop him just shy of a first down. Those differences can go a long way.
   
4. What's the Deal?: Although McDonald was a goat, there was no excuse for constantly allowing him to be in single coverage. The only reason Denver didn't score more early on is because Marshall dropped a few passes in which he was wide open. In the fourth quarter, full-well knowing that Cutler was going to heave the ball over and over again, we left McDonald out on an island on a 93-yard touchdown pass. On the inevitable game-winning touchdown, Marshall easily beat McDonald on the play, with no safety help. On the previous play, Denver ran the same exact play and we had the same exact defense. We were lucky they didn't score the first time, and yet we let them try it again one play later. 
   
5. Good Winslow: The good Kellen Winslow caught 10 passes for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns, all season highs. I said it earlier this season -- Winslow would not start performing this season until Quinn was under center, because the frustration between him and Anderson just seemed to be too high.
   
   Late in the game, Winslow had three critical miscues.
   
6. Bad Winslow: The bad Kellen Winslow showed up three times in the fourth quarter. Each time contributed to the loss, because twice it put our struggling defense back on the field, and the third time it prevented us from moving the chains on our final drive.
   
7. Kind of Embarrassing: I think the approach that Jay Cutler took against our defense was smart -- throw it up and let my guy muscle it our of the air. When he was able to use that philosophy not once, not twice, not three times, not four times...heck, I could keep on counting. When he was able to use that philosophy so many times, it tells you two things:
8. Reason 1 - Linebacker Coverage: Our linebackers are horrible in pass coverage. How do you allow a hobbled tight end, Tony Scheffler, to find the comfort zone between four defenders? There's such a thing as being aware of where the quarterback is planning on throwing the ball before he throws it. Our linebackers are just standing somewhere for the sake of standing there.
   
9. Reason 2 - Not Physical: We weren't physical enough. When Mike Adams had a shot for an interception down at the goal line, he quickly went down because of offensive pass interference. He needs to take charge and make that play happen. With so many jump balls, Denver's receivers should have been telling Cutler, "hey, I don't like all these jump balls...you're hanging me out to dry against an oncoming defense". Instead, not only were the Denver players not getting hit, they were coming away with the football. We had one good hit -- from Willie McGinest -- and that broke a play up.
   
10. Missed Opportunities: What happened to the defense that was able to feed off of the home crowd against the Giants? For every opportunity late in the game against Denver that the defense had, we blew it. I already mentioned McDonald's drop. On a tipped pass by Corey Williams, D'Qwell Jackson also failed to come away with an interception. When the Broncos ran it with their fullback on fourth-and-one, he was driven back by our defensive line getting a push up front. Instead of our linebackers coming from the side to make a clutch tackle, Hillis just shifted to the side and dove forward for a first down.\
11. Get Back Soon: This message goes to fullback Lawrence Vickers. All of these flat passes to fullback Charles Ali are too reminscient of when Maurice Carthon would get the ball to Terrelle Smith in the flat. The results are always the same -- no gain with the risk of a fullback getting stripped.
12. Brownies: Again, Seth McKinney wasn't great, but he did okay filling in for Eric Steinbach...I do wish we would've taken a more serious crack down field to Braylon Edwards...Steve Heiden came away with a few more Jurevicius-like catches...Phil Dawson is again money from beyond 50 yards, and opposing teams still cannot field his kickoffs.

The Brady Quinn era should not have started with a loss. In post-game press conferences, he played the leader role by taking the blame, but everyone knows that the defense was atrocious. We've got the Buffalo Bills up next after what ends up being a "second bye week", and we'd like to make some changes on the defensive depth chart. But...what can you really change?

Terry Cousin over Brandon McDonald?

Nice depth. Oh, yeah...and real playoff contenders -- the Washington Redskins and the New York Jets -- just signed DeAngelo Hall and Ty Law, respectively.

With the regular season about to start, three teams have reportedly made offers (official or not) to defensive back Ty Law, according to FOX 8's Tony Rizzo. Each of the teams that have extended an offer fall under the Bill Belichick tree, of course: the New York Jets (Eric Mangini), the Cleveland Browns (Romeo Crennel), and the New England Patriots.

I've said throughout the offseason that the odds of us giving or wanting to give the best offer to Law were slim. With that said, considering the conservativeness and lack of depth we've seen in the preseason, I would love to see a former Pro Bowler come to Cleveland. He may not be a stud anymore, but I look at him helping us like Daylon McCutcheon did towards the downside of his career.

1. Frye Excels: If I dissed Charlie Frye for playing poorly last week, it's only fair that I give him credit this week for a nice Monday Night effort against the San Diego Chargers. Frye was 19-of-29 for 219 yards and 2 touchdowns. He left the game with a 17-10 lead in the fourth quarter, but the Chargers had a late drive and a two-pointer to win 18-17. Frye probably would've played the entire game had he not hurt his knee during his final drive.
   
2. Regarding Cuts: Yesterday, the Browns only made one move in waiving DB Damon Jenkins. The team has until 4 PM today to make four more cuts.
3. Anderson Out: Finally, Browns QB Derek Anderson has been ruled out of Thursday's game against the Chicago Bears. He has not yet been medically cleared to return from his concussion. I'd expect backup QB Brady Quinn to play longer than a series or two, which is the norm for a "starter" in the preseason.

Remember to check back often to see the Browns' first string of cuts, or any updates on the Ty Law situation.

Do you know why I like Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto? Any time I read one of his columns, I come away completely satisfied (and not only does he discuss the Browns, he discusses the Indians and Cavs too). Where as other media outlets have been reporting the following...

-Browns need help at cornerback
-Browns could trade for Lito or Law
-Why isn't Kellen Winslow in camp?

...Pluto covers a breadth of topics, ensuring that other players do exist in Berea at these practice sessions. Here is a recap of Pluto's latest editorial, with some added notes by me:

PLUTO ON BILLS CB ASHTON YOUBOTY

"He's traded draft picks for players, players for draft picks -- and even made a few player-for-player trades, which aren't that common in the NFL. That means he'll take a risk, and it's safe to assume he will make some sort of trade to get a cornerback. Yes, Buffalo's Ashton Youboty is a possibility. Buffalo has soured on the former Ohio State star, and the Bills have brought in veteran corner Will James and drafted three cornerbacks (including Akron's Reggie Corner). So he is available.

Can Youboty help? He's played in only 14 games in two pro seasons, and has not made much of an impact. He had the dreaded high-ankle sprain last season. In 2006, he had a rough rookie season as his mother died. He is only 23 and was a third-round pick in 2006. There was a feeling at OSU that he left school a year too early. He played for Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker at OSU, so Tucker will have a major say in how hard the Browns pursue him. Not speaking directly about Youboty, Savage said: 'There is another Daven Holly out there, a guy another team has given up on him and can help us. We just have to find him.'"

-Terry Pluto, Cleveland Plain Dealer

I know I said this would be a recap, but I was compelled to quote Pluto's entire section on Youboty because of it's importance (and, it's a unique perspective deriving away from Lito and Law).

Can Youboty help? Maybe I'm being a little biased because I'm somewhat of an Ohio State Buckeyes fan, but I agree with Pluto's assessment that Youboty is exactly the type of player that Savage is looking for. Rotoworld.com picked up on Pluto's assessment as well, and are reporting that it'd probably only take a sixth-round draft pick to acquire him.

CB Ashton Youboty intercepting a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles.

I know the logic exists out there to trade Travis Wilson to a team that's thin at the receiver position, but player-for-player deals are less attractive than acquiring another draft pick. Rotoworld also suggests that we trade away one of our inside linebackers (Andra Davis) to the Bills in exchange for Youboty. That might be an attractive proposal, but then again it would put us in a predicament at linebacker if Leon Williams or Beau Bell were to go down.

Speaking of Bell, Pluto thought he looked good in practice, and has already stated that it wouldn't be a surprise if he pushed Davis for playing time early on in the season. When someone makes that impression in the first couple of OTA sessions, Davis' chances don't sound too good. D'Qwell Jackson was reportedly the best of our inside linebackers, to no surprise.

ON GARY BAXTER'S STATUS

"Then there is Gary Baxter. As Savage said, if he makes a full comeback after tearing both ACLs, "it will be a miracle." But it is possible that Baxter might be able to come back enough to help as a backup safety and/or nickel back. He has stayed close to the team, and is making progress. More will be known when the Browns wear pads and begin to hit during veterans camp this summer."

ON LECHARLES BENTLEY'S STATUS

"Here's the latest with LeCharles Bentley. He needs to have his surgeon clear him to play, then he needs to pass the Browns' physical. He skipped the voluntary OTAs to continue to work on his knee with his personal trainer. From a practical view: Until Bentley is on the field taking part in practices with blocking and tackling, there's really not much to say about him."

-Terry Pluto, Cleveland Plain Dealer

In other words, it's hard to project if either of these guys can make a contribution to the Browns this season (and, it's now or never). Until they are in practice or on the field though, it's best not to set any expectations for them. After all -- if we wouldn't have been so excited about the "potential" of Baxter and Bentley coming back last season, we would've been less disappointed when they were placed on the shelf.

Other quickies:

-Jamal Lewis was in excellent physical condition.
-Donte Stallworth struggled a bit, but nothing worthy of concern at this point.
-Re-trying Brodney Pool at the cornerback position may become an alternative.

Browns WR Donte Stallworth (picture credited to OBR's Jeff Wills)

While I'm at it, here is Sunday's link collection:

Youboty to Browns? (Buffalo Rumblings, SB Nation)

OTA photo gallery from the OBR (Orange & Brown Report)

A 17th game is not as easy as it seems (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Browns not showing interesting in Lito Sheppard (Bleeding Green Nation, SB Nation)

13 new things I can't wait to see in NFL '08 (Sporting News)

Hey, Tony! Your Browns questions answered (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

Denver Broncos CB Domonique Foxworth could be one of the players on the Browns' radar in the coming days. Browns GM Phil Savage has already stated that the team will be investigating trade opportunities, but that top-tier corners, such as Lito Sheppard and Ty Law, are out of their price range.

Broncos CB Domonique Foxworth, left, stretches with CB Champ Bailey, right, during a practice session. Picture credited via d.yimg.com.

On paper, Foxworth would be the right addition at the right time. He is entering the final year of his contract with the Broncos, and is not in the running for a starting role. However, it's pretty hard to be a starter when Champ Bailey and Dre Bly are ahead of you on the depth chart. Besides the fact that Foxworth has three years worth of experience on the Broncos, he was once clocked running a stunning 4.22 in the 40-yard dash. I can run probably a 4.4 on my best day, so I know a 4.22 has to be blazing molten hot fast (I've listened to Randy Jackson talk too much).

Foxworth has 174 tackles and 3 interceptions during his three-year stay with the Broncos. His playing time has been limited to a nickel back role the past few years -- however, that's the type of player that Savage is going to be looking for. Here's the catch, of course: Denver probably isn't exactly with a "surplus" of defensive backs either; they're just better off than the Browns are right now. The Broncos would love to have another stud receive after losing WR Javon Walker. The only receiver the Browns would probably be willing to part with is Travis Wilson. However, if something were to develop, I'd bank on the Browns having to give up Wilson and a draft pick next season (note: we've already sacrificed our 2009 third- and fifth-round choices).

I asked for a blurb from our Denver Broncos correspondent, John Bena, over at Mile High Report. I got a lot more than a blurb, and if I enjoyed the read, I'm sure all of you will too, especially since Bena knows what he's talking about (he's very familiar with the Cleveland area)...

"When dissecting the Domonique Foxworth rumors, let's start with the source. Bill Williamson covered the Broncos the past 4 years as the beat writer for the Denver Post.  Needless to say he wasn't very popular in town.  He wasn't a Denver guy and really didn't get Broncos Football(kinda like Bill Livingston in Cleveland).  He knows the Broncos floated Foxy's name before the draft and that Foxy wants to be a starter.  Those days were part of the Ted Sundquist era, however, and most Foxworth trade rumors ended when Sundquist and the Broncos parted ways.

As for this specific rumor, Williamson has no fact to base it on other than his bit knowledge of the Broncos and their supposed "depth" at corner.  They do have depth, with Champ Bailey and Dre Bly manning the starting jobs and Karl Paymah slotted as the "Big Nickel".  The Broncos also drafted Kent St. alum Jack Williams in the 4th Round.  Foxworth will see plenty of action as well, and will be the first in line should someone go down.  The Broncos like that depth and plan on going into the season with it.  Can the Browns do something to get their attention?  Sure.  A 2nd Round pick would do it, but that would be crazy, especially considering the Browns have already moved 2 of their '09 picks already. A combination of players and picks?  The Browns really don't have a surplus at a position the Broncos need.  Wide Receiver may come to mind, but the Broncos have plenty of depth, and the Browns really couldn't offer anything the Broncos don't already have(we would be happy to take Josh Cribbs off your hands!)

But Foxworth is a Free Agent after this season, right?  He sure is.  In days past, those words meant the Broncos would try and make a move.  The idea now is to build through the draft.  Sure, Foxworth could walk away after 2008, but the Broncos would surely receive draft pick compensation.  A 4th rounder
for Foxy, after getting production from him all year would be better than trading him for that same 4th rounder now.

In the end, I just don't think there is much substance to the rumor, knowing the source (Williamson) and the teams involved.  I'm sure Tony Grossi will post it front and center tomorrow morning, insinuating the deal is forthcoming. I put the chances at 20%."

Major props to Mr. Bena for taking the time to vent there, and again, check out more of his fine work at Mile High Report. (Note: Cribbs is off the table ;))

Relatedly, the Browns signed CB Daven Holly and will move him to the injured reserve, the club announced today. If you guys have further candidates you believe the Browns might seriously consider, whether they be a free agent or trade possibility, post them here and I'll try to do a write-up on them.

via media.ohio.com

After the OBR reported CB Daven Holly suffered a knee injury during yesterday's practice, it was confirmed by several sources overnight that his injury is indeed serious.

"Daven Holly did suffer a knee injury today," Bill Bonsiewicz, Browns vice president of communications, confirmed Tuesday night. "We will have more details on his condition tomorrow."

If you remember from last week, I stated that the media is allowed to attend OTA sessions on Wednesdays. That means that there will almost surely be updates regarding his status later today (i.e. timeframe, when someone will be signed, etc).

On the OBR, reporter Lane Adkins made an interesting point that the Browns have not been very interested in Ty Law, and probably will continue to be off of the team's radar. Adkins also states that the team is not too excited about the cornerbacks currently on the market.

It seems possible that the Browns will be keeping a very close eye on June cuts -- if someone catches their eye, they could be all over them before any other teams have a chance.