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No Logo Needed: Browns fans' daily guide to news, notes and analysis

Browns fans' daily guide to news, notes and analysis

Browns News

What We Watched: Week 6

Photo by The Associated Press By Aaron Ziraks
NoLogoNeeded,com Staff Writer

I can't say I didn't expect the Browns to lose to the Steelers, but it is still disappointing every time it happens. I just hate the Steelers so much. At this point we are all looking for progress. If the Browns give us more, like a win, that is just gravy.

So let's talk progress. Browns quarterback Derek Anderson progressed from last week. He also solidified my belief he should not be a starter in the NFL. Browns receivers caught more passes this week, but the drops are still something that needs to be fixed. Catching is a fundamental aspect of football, come on guys.

Another fundamental aspect is tackling. This is something that the Browns don't do very well. Brandon McDonald doesn't do at all. I have a feeling once coaches watch the game tape, we won't be seeing Brandon McDonald on the field very much, if at all.

Let's move on to what we watched.

Can the Browns Break the Cycle?
Not this week. Maybe the Browns can pull the upset with the backing of their home crowd next week, but don't hold your breath. The Browns played decent against a very good football team. Don't let the 4-2 record fool you, the Steelers will be making a run in the playoffs again this year. They simply have too much talent.

Was The Browns Discipline a Fluke?
Surprisingly, no. The Browns played another disciplined game in terms of penalties: four for 45 yards. Turnovers were another story. The Browns had four. Although the turnovers did not contribute to the loss, the interception by Anderson in the fourth quarter sealed the Browns' fate. The problem is the Browns cannot mount any offensive attack, which leads us to...

Which Derek Anderson Shows Up?
The Derek Anderson that showed up is his true self. The guy that can throw the deep ball, but doesn't have any touch on short passes and makes costly mistakes. I have said this time and time again, he simply doesn't have what it takes to be the quarterback that takes this team to the next level. I know he is young and some think he will grow into the role, I am not one of those people.

Can the Browns get to the Steelers Subpar Offensive Line?
The Browns had three sacks and three tackles for losses. They were more aggressive than they have been in previous games, which is nice to see. Rob Ryan is taking baby steps to see how aggressive he can be before he gets burned. He knows, as does Mangini, this is a lost season. The Browns' brass needs to know by the end of this season exactly what they have and where to rebuild.

7-10 Offensive Touches for Cribbs
Thank God!!! Brian Daboll must be reading No Logo Needed, or his common sense kicked in and he finally realized he has a legitimate weapon in Josh Cribbs. Today, we saw the Flash package for the first time since Minnesota in week one. Cribbs ended the game with six rushes for 45 yards, he was targeted once in the pass game and threw two incomplete passes ... Oh, and he also took a kickoff back 98 yards for a touchdown.

Anyone who can't see the Browns' running game is more dangerous the second Cribbs is involved is blind. For some reason the Browns got away from using Cribbs in the Flash in the third quarter, but as soon as they returned to the formation, Cleveland was able to move the ball on the ground.

Cribbs in the Flash package also makes Harrison much better. Based on this game, we should see a steady dose of Cribbs moving forward.

Comments

One of Cribbs' passes was an INT.

Posted  October 18, 2009 at 11:47 AM by Blaine

I have been a fan of the Browns for over 40 years. I am a Canadian that loves his Browns. I think even though our record is pretty dismal I have a feeling that our team is not as bad as it looks. I truly believe that Brady Quinn should be the starting QB for the remainder of the year regardless of the outcome. If if doesn't workout than we need to address that area via trade or draft. Why don't we ever get a head coach that bucks the system and sticks with a QB that either shows improvement or fails. As I indicated every year has been the same with the QB position. I am a firm believer that Brady can do an adequate job if we open the offense wide open and let the chips fall where they may. I don't want to wait another year - lets find out if he can handle the job. Oh incidentally I wasn't a big fan of Brady when he was at Notre Dame but if he runs it normally created good positive yards.

Posted  October 18, 2009 at 3:03 PM by george lidster

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