Was THAT Cribbs???

[Flugel]

Cribbs can ONLY score or help us if he's running routes or IN the game to do so. Seeing how teams are kicking away from him - aren't we gald we haven't given up on using him as a WR? That was THE Eric Berry he embrassed on the play. Not only that, but ask yourself what Safety was more impressive today - Eric Berry or TJ Ward?

As far as the first half - what was STINGING us more: the playcalling or the TURNOVERS and penalties?

Re-vist after half 2:


So much for that! More stupid penalties like that play by Coleman. FANTASTIC call by the ref. He led with the crown of his helmet - it's there on the replays. Just stuff I never stop seeing. Courtney Brown did the SAME freakin thing in the playoffs vrs Pitt. SAME thing.

If these were supposed to be PROFESSIONALS I'd buy the coaching thing a little more.

But who wants to tell me that call a play on 3rd and 20 is an easy thing to do? If so, why haven't you quit your day job yet?

It's not our opponents turning the ball over in there own territory - its our QBs and RBs the first 2 weeks folks.

And what coach do we need to blame for Dawson MISSING the only thing he's paid extremely well to do? Seriously, are we gonna pretend someone else on the sidelines deserves more accountability than the player? Again, if these junior and senior high school players - I'd buy the coaching excuses a LITTLE more. I'll blame Mangini because I didn't like the look on his face.

Harrison is running where hands are bringing him down. If anyone is finding that impressive - fell me in on what I'm missing. Too much John Travolta dancing and not enough football player lately. I'd rather see James Davis if we want change of direction instead of hittin the daylight and running hard.

It's hard to blame to our defense either week with the positions our offense put them in. The D was tired and they didn't have much field to defend.

And not for nothing but 2 years in a row I've seen a measurement vrs Pittsburgh come up 2 inches short where they were given the first down and now replays showed that last attempt on 4th down never made the line to gain. The commentators saw we saw. BUT refereees lookign at teams like Detorit and Cleveland say it's only Detroit or Cleveland so let's finish this thign asap and get our paychecks.

I imagine the wishlist of Head Coaches begins again. Ever since the late 80s early 90s - that's just been the real EASY answer. I'm gonna put my vote in for Houdini. The naysayers are gonna be tickled because soooo many GREAT football coaches want to come to Cleveland these days...

Watch how FEW players will get held accountable for today. Dawson makes that kick, Harrison doesn't fumble and Wallace avoids the pick 6 and what are we looking at? What the KC Chiefs are looking at. Did their offense even need to score a TD? Not when our offense gives them TDs or the ball in make FG position. There's 10 points today alogn with the 3 dawson didn't give us. HAS to be Daboll's fault and I'm just too tired to battle that crap any more.
- Tom F.

[Tobalaz]

I'd like to point out that that was the same route that Wallace/ Cribbs would have had a guaranteed td against Green Bay in preseason but Nick Collins made some ungodly leap in the air and deflected.
It's about time Dabs ran that one again.
Maybe Wallace and Cribbs have some decent chemistry between them and should be on the field together more often.

[Legacy Fan]

Originally Posted by Tobalaz

Maybe Wallace and Cribbs have some decent chemistry between them and should be on the field together more often.

Naaa... That would look too much like we were going to run a wildcat formation, and that would confuse people.

Tops of the "list of confused" - Opposing defenses.

[Enigmatic Evil]

Screw confused opposing defenses...

How about confused fans?

I think one of the major pluses that can be taken away from today's game was Josh Cribbs' play. He looked good out there and lead the team in receiving yards.

[Alo]

Does anyone think Cribbs is going to develop into a starting receiver? A 65 yard TD is great, but he isn't consistently moving the chains.

[Enigmatic Evil]

Im not convinced, but if he's getting open -s- we don't seem to have anyone else stepping up.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Alo

Does anyone think Cribbs is going to develop into a starting receiver? A 65 yard TD is great, but he isn't consistently moving the chains.

When you say such a thing - who's warranting keeping him OFF the field in lieu of them as better alternatives receiving right now? Like I said, he needs to be consistently IN the game to be considered for consistency. We keep faking a reverse to him which means we're rollign Seneca out to the other side of the field on those kinds of plays.

Seemed to me like he led us in the preseason and COULD do so now if we use him every play. We don't though so all our fans that like to say he's not consistent can say so without being fair. FWIW, when Stuckey got in - he made catches too. I could say he was inconsistent today and be accurate because he didn't play enough to have any chance at beign considered consistent.

I'm just frustrated so I'm venting MORE than I'm conversing.

We gave Cribbs a HUGE raise so we can keep the ball away from him? Not sure I get the whole thing folks. How many times was he targeted today? Was he not wide open when he scored? I saw another catch he made that went for 9 yards when he wasn't the primary target. The former QB Rich Gannon that called our first game didn't understand the reluctance to use Cribbs either and I'm guessign former NFL starters and league MVPs understanding the passing game a little better than myself.

TWO big/common complaints used to be he didn't get seperation or watch the football all the way in. I don't think that was the problem today to be honest. We've seen improvement from him throughout the preseason and today was more of that. He's our ONLY scoring weapon right now next to Hillis.
- Tom F.

[DawgFan]

Originally Posted by Alo

Does anyone think Cribbs is going to develop into a starting receiver? A 65 yard TD is great, but he isn't consistently moving the chains.

I loved the TD...but I am not yet sold on Cribbs as a WR. Even on that play, it took the S totally biting on a fake into the line for him to get open...and even then it was by half a step and took almost a perfect throw....and how often is that going to happen.

Cribbs seems to need the non-scripted, wide open spaces of kick returns to really showcase his talent. It almost seems that he is overthinking his routes and not running naturally...which leads to CB's staying right in his hip pocket.

He may develop...but for now I prefer seeing him focus on the returns..which have suffered immensely this year.

[Sez.EJ]

Even a blind squirredl finds a nut once in a while.. Cribbs is still a poor route runner and below average reciever.

It was a great play though.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Sez.EJ

Even a blind squirredl finds a nut once in a while.. Cribbs is still a poor route runner and below average reciever.

It was a great play though.

Amen for you going popular opinion Sez. Gee, that took alot of guts to stay on the bandwagon. So honestly, Cribbs hasn't look like he improved his route running this year to anyone but me? Seriously? You got ZERO from him all preseason and yesterday folks? I didn't see a corner contesting either hip on 2 receptions DAWG Fan. What RAC was doing because he knows Wallace doesn't like staying IN the pocket was he had people lining up over our Tackles forcing them back them to depths where Wallace had to bellybach much further than he wanted to on rollouts/pocket escapes; and it's what made our short passing game look strained. Hard to blame the WRs for the time it took to adapt to what was going on. If you can stomach watching the game again, watch how far Wallace had to bellyback on his rollouts and it completely threw off chemistries/adjustments.

SOMETIMES guys giving up on their routes because QBs can't see them does NOT mean they suck. The DEEP pass was a designed playaction where Wallace threw the ball straight down the center of the field as far as he could. It wasn't a read and chuck to a WR breaking open. The ONLY thing lucky about Cribbs' TD reception was the QB threw the strike. He got the seperation and caught the ball, which were supposed to be his biggest weaknesses. We haven't exactly had QBs seeing the field well or throwing the ball in front of people since Cribbs has been trying to learn the WR position on a part time basis here.

I'll give you an example of a frustrated WR giving up on routes when he KNOWS the QB ain't looking at him. Larry Fitzgerald with Derek Anderson as his QB. I saw their matchup week 1 w/ St Louis. I also saw the final score of their matchup yesterday. If NOBODY knew Larry's resume and they caught him trying to run routes for Dumb Ass against St Louis - they'd never know this was an elite All Pro WR who could outleap anyone or outfight anyone for the football when he's reasonably well covered. Then again, Warner could thread the needle when his receivers were well covered. Anquan Bolden and Larry Fitzgerald are finding their NEW QBs can't do such a thing. That DOES matter and always has. If DA can't put the ball in his area code - Larry's assets never get witnessed if you will. Not saying Cribbs is that good - I'm trying to show what promotes growth and what frustrates from someone brand new to a position.

If some are gonna point out we can't expect Harrison to get into the flow without getting 25 carries - how can we expect consistency from Cribbs when his playing time at WR is so inconsistent? I've ALWAYS contended this was more of the issue stunting growth and still believe that beside that crappy QBs prior to 2010.

All that said, if anyone has a better scoring threat from our WR position in mind - let's hear it. Alot of people are piling on without me hearing WHO is so much the better alternative fetching passes here. I wouldn't mind us experimenting with James Davis as a slot receiver since we're completely wasting his cutting ability and open field goodies on the sidelines. I don't mind open debate IF you can give me something a little more evolved than "he sucks." If so, you should have at least 2 better alternatives hushing my excitement about Cribbs' improvement as a receiver.
- Tom F.

[Enigmatic Evil]

There are no alternatives, Flug, aside from bringing somebody outside of the system in. Cribbs was productive and made the most of the opportunities that he received. I don't think we have that go-to guy and a lot of people who were nervous about this in the off-season NOW is probably the time for the I told you so's.

Where's Robiskie? He's had like what, 2-3 catches so far this season? He was supposed to help elevate this offense but I haven't seen anything like that from him.

Hell, where's MoMass?

Our pass attack is anemic, it seems that only the Tight Ends are getting consistent production and maybe that's a good thing but maybe not. I just find very little to feel good about our pass attack right now. That pick-six REALLY hurt us, as did Dawson's missed FG.

It wouldn't have looked like a "game" so much as the Browns pretending they're a professional football team if we didn't get that TD and the game ended 16-7.

[Sez.EJ]

Originally Posted by Flugel

Amen for you going popular opinion Sez. Gee, that took alot of guts to stay on the bandwagon. So honestly, Cribbs hasn't look like he improved his route running this year to anyone but me? - Tom F.

I'm not saying his route running has not improved. it has improved. he has brought it up to lousy.. from the depths of amazing suckage.. Sorry. I see cribbs as a guy who is a great special teamer.. decent wildcat option.. however, if he played on any other team but ours.. he would never play reciever. (Ok..maybe on tampa)