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Random Thoughts: Week 16

By Brandon Rastok
NoLogoNeeded.com staff writer

Here are my ramblings as the Browns get run over by the bumbling Bengals.

The biggest problem with this Browns team is that they can't stop the run. The biggest key to winning in the NFL is running the ball and stopping the run. Cedric Benson was just the latest example of a running back having a field day against the Browns. He tallied 171 yards on 38 carries. Hopefully this off season the Browns dedicate themselves to stopping the run.
Please no more talk of the Browns needing a cornerback. The Browns just lost to a team that had two wins coming into the game and threw the ball a total of 9 times. They ran the ball 46 times and won. Again, if you can't run the ball and stop the run, you can't win in the NFL.
Putting all of Braylon Edwards' comments, dropped passes, and poorly run routes aside, the last thing a struggling player needs is more pressure on them. With a third string quarterback, no Winslow, no Heiden, a struggling running attack, and no resemblance of a No. 2 receiver, the Browns rely heavily on Edwards and force the ball to him. This allows defenses to focus on stopping Edwards. This is why Leon Hall's interception return for a touchdown came as no surprise.
Speaking of Edwards' poorly run routes, when is this guy going to give his full effort? Dorsey's third interception came as a result of Edwards stopping on a slant route. We have seen this time and time again this season. He is only interested in deep sideline routes. Teams know he is the Browns only option and he won't go inside so covering him is not all that difficult right now.

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Running an option out of the Flash package was a nice way to creatively get more out of Josh Cribbs. I think that this season we have learned that he just isn't a receiver. He would be more dangerous as a running back.

While the frigid weather may have deterred some fans, it looked like the fans were making a statement to Randy Lerner as the stadium was possibly a quarter full. Browns fans are dedicated and will deal with the elements to support the team. They are tired of supporting miserable football though.

Jamal Lewis looked fresh this week. He ran hard, hit holes hard, and lowered his shoulder. He had 76 yards and managed 4.8 yards per carry. Even the offensive line looked fired up about run blocking as they opened some gaping holes. Then again, this was the two-win Bengals' defense.

The biggest positive from the game came, ironically, on a 44-yard run by Cedric Bbenson straight up the middle of the Browns' defense. Eric Wright caught Benson and ripped the ball out of his hands for a great fumble recovery.

The other positive note was that the Bengals' top wide receiver did not manage to catch a pass. T.J. Houshmanzadeh was kept without a catch.

Donte Stallworth managed one catch for four yards. This catch came with three and a half minutes left in the game. That gives him a total of 16 catches for 158 yards on the entire season. Please have your bags packed and your bus ticket in hand at the end of next week's game. Unless you are willing to redo your contract to 1/8 of its current value as your statistics are what they should be for two games.

Third string quarterbacks are usually players that know the offensive system very well and help teach the starter. In most seasons there isn't a chance that they see the field. For this reason, I have been pretty understanding of Dorsey's play. However, this was his third game against a weak Bengals team. He managed just 68 yards and three interceptions. He has just been bad. He needs to rediscover some of his collegiate winning magic.

Enter quarterback No. 4 for the season. Dorsey has continued to get pummeled and left with a rib injury. Bruce Gradkowski entered the game and showed why he was available at this time in the season. He gets a pass though as he has only been with this team for a couple of weeks and was only in for the two-minute offense. Hopefully he can improve as he gets a better understanding of the offense.

Mercifully there is only one game left this season. If fans can make it one more week, everything turns positive as we can look forward to rebuilding this once proud franchise.

In other notes, the Lions have a real shot at going 0-16. At least we aren't Lions' fans.