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[Shep]

He didn't get an opportunity at WR last year? Sure he did! He just doesn't get open.

I would never use him as a one or two. He has to come in when there are two "real" WRs on the field, for the threat of a screen or end around.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Shep

He didn't get an opportunity at WR last year? Sure he did! He just doesn't get open.

I would never use him as a one or two. He has to come in when there are two "real" WRs on the field, for the threat of a screen or end around.

That's NOT what was said at all. I said, when he's taking snaps from center - he's not lining up at WR. When he's coming in on 4th down to be a GUNNER on punt coverage - he's off the field on 3rd down so he has fresh legs for the demand of the next play. In the red zone, he doesn't have to worry about this and we can see him on 3rd downs. When he returns a kickoff 50 yards - he's not in the huddle for 1st down. Pretty much the same situation when he's returned a punt for any extended length.

It doesn't seem like the work week has get open and catch the ball as priority #1, 2 or even 3. I'm hearing how easy it is to learn and play WR in this league. Why else do you suppose you NEVER knew who Miles Austin was in spite of him being in the league since 2006? It's not an easy trade to learn, especially if your work week requires you to make your first priority STs and direct snaps from center.

For me to conclude Cribbs wasn't getting open on days DA goes 2 of 17 passing is absurd. I wish I could say Quinn was alot better but Holmgren saw the film and now Quinn lives in Denver.

Look, Cribbs was good at running the ball from the direct snap SOME weeks; but who here honestly thinks that fad doesn't come to an abrupt halt real soon? Did Miami improve in 2009 or get worse? WRs do nothing but practice playing WR unless they want to be as memorable as Antwan Randle El. Cribbs is practicing covering kickoffs, punts and returning both and taking snaps from Center. HOW LONG are these practices all you guys are telling me he's been busting tail trying to learn and master the WR craft? IMO, I thought the message was "if we're gonna ask the kid to be a WR - we're gonna better prepare him to be a WR." In saying I agree with the message - I've got a bandwagon of people telling me Cribbs doesn't have the attributes to be a WR. Was I the guy that originated this article? OR, did it originate from a source under the assumption Mangini was told by new GMsies "if we're NOW PAYING him to be more than a part time WR - he needs to be a fulltime WR." Out comes the Mangini HATERS as if Holmgren never had any such influence on this NEW direction. Mangin semed content to STAY with business as usual with Cribbs so what would spark such a change in mindset? Is this the next step with all the Mangini naysayers? We WANT Holmgren to give Mangini guidance and direction but when we disagree we pretend Holmgren has zero to do with a NEW idea?

I'm also talking to alot of people that have already written off Robiskie and MoMass as rookies; but we've allegedly had perfect QBing and those clowns just let the QBs down. That school of thought also cuts a Miles Austin AND a Lance Moore prematurely while labelling a Robert Meachem a bust from seasons 1 and 2. The other side of it is WR is a complex position to learn in a division with zone blitz schemes and safeties like Ed Reed and Polly. Even when our WRs might have made the blitz adjustments - I'm not sold DA (aka Dumb Ass) made the adjustments. Today everybody is suddenly certain DA was flawless and Cribbs just sucked as a receiver. Just curious - why do you suppose ALL the receivers we auditioned haven't impressed in the last 4-5 years? And we're gonna be PATIENT with a rookie QB here????? Seriously? We better rethink some things if this is how we do it.

Rationale for Cribbs: If you are the BEST person on your team releasing off the line vrs a double team aggressive press as a punt coverage gunner - why CAN'T you get open against a 3rd corner from the slot or even a 2nd corner on the perimeter? If you're the BEST person in the NFL on kick returns - I gotta believe you have the giddyup and elusiveness to BEAT 2nd and 3rd corners on the other team from the slot. Sorry. I'm seeing more evidence you can't be a fulltime WR off of part time preparation than he sucks. You guys ACT like Donte Stallworth was so much better and I counted only 17 receptions & 1 TD in exchange for 2 hefty signing bonuses while Cribbs had 20 receptions and 1 TD as a part timer in 2009. By all means, get Stallworth back here - and chase Cribbs away from open fields for 3 yards and a cloud of dust orchestrating the wishbone without a pitch. I'm under the assumption you want your most elusive player in open fields like the slot receiver position can do for a guy. I'd play him in the slot and I'll bet everything I own that's where Holmgren will advise he's used most frequently.

My arguement differs from everyone else's in the sense that I don't think the Browns are practicing the 4 hour length that would alow Cribbs to focus on WR after he's done practing the STs coverages, returns and wildcat gimmick. Aside from that, these WRs needed at least 3 years to emerge with fulltime attention/reps to the position: Miles Austin, Lance Moore, Robert Meachem, Sidney Rice, Hines Ward, Wes Welker, Vincent Jackson. Isn't it funny the Heckert we want to put on a pedastal says we're all set with the same Robiskie and MoMass everyone else wants to cut and insult to no end? What would Heckert know anyway?
- Tom F.

[Enigmatic Evil]

Originally Posted by Flugel

Rationale for Cribbs: If you are the BEST person on your team releasing off the line vrs a double team aggressive press as a punt coverage gunner - why CAN'T you get open against a 3rd corner from the slot or even a 2nd corner on the perimeter? If you're the BEST person in the NFL on kick returns - I gotta believe you have the giddyup and elusiveness to BEAT 2nd and 3rd corners on the other team from the slot. Sorry. I'm seeing more evidence you can't be a fulltime WR off of part time preparation than he sucks. You guys ACT like Donte Stallworth was so much better and I counted only 17 receptions & 1 TD in exchange for 2 hefty signing bonuses while Cribbs had 20 receptions and 1 TD as a part timer in 2009. By all means, get Stallworth back here - and chase Cribbs away from open fields for 3 yards and a cloud of dust orchestrating the wishbone without a pitch. I'm under the assumption you want your most elusive player in open fields like the slot receiver position can do for a guy. I'd play him in the slot and I'll bet everything I own that's where Holmgren will advise he's used most frequently.

My arguement differs from everyone else's in the sense that I don't think the Browns are practicing the 4 hour length that would alow Cribbs to focus on WR after he's done practing the STs coverages, returns and wildcat gimmick. Aside from that, these WRs needed at least 3 years to emerge with fulltime attention/reps to the position: Miles Austin, Lance Moore, Robert Meachem, Sidney Rice, Hines Ward, Wes Welker, Vincent Jackson. Isn't it funny the Heckert we want to put on a pedastal says we're all set with the same Robiskie and MoMass everyone else wants to cut and insult to no end? What would Heckert know anyway?
- Tom F.

Glad to see you fighting for Cribbs Flugel, and I like the tenacity you're taking into this but I really can't see Cribbs making a huge impact in our offense too far beyond what we were establishing him into it last season. I think we just want a little more versatility from him. With a bigger paycheck comes bigger responsibilities and he'll have to step it up to show he deserved that nice big pay raise. His play was great last season, I won't argue that, but I thought his pay-increase was a bit steep compared to what I was expecting.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Enigmatic Evil

Glad to see you fighting for Cribbs Flugel, and I like the tenacity you're taking into this but I really can't see Cribbs making a huge impact in our offense too far beyond what we were establishing him into it last season. I think we just want a little more versatility from him. With a bigger paycheck comes bigger responsibilities and he'll have to step it up to show he deserved that nice big pay raise. His play was great last season, I won't argue that, but I thought his pay-increase was a bit steep compared to what I was expecting.

Thanks bud! Like Ytown said - let's see how it all unfolds this year and we'll go from there.

I'd like to see us drop the direct snap stuff because I think it's gonna be easier to catchup to than people think. OR, if we want him running the ball then make him a RB because it's WAY easier to learn that skill than it is WR. Doing both spreads him too thin and I think the WR part becomes the 1 thing that suffers most. Part timing the WR gig reminds me of Randle El - full-timing it reminds me of Hines Ward. One is an All Pro - the other is forgettable.
- Tom F.

[Riffer X]

Why are some of you guys so negative about Cribbs? This guy is one of the game's best players, he needs to be on the field. He is still green at WR/slot and wasn't exactly coached up last year with DA and Queen throwing bricks his way. Don't you guys want this guy having the ball in his hands? It has to be more than just as a wildcat, he needs to be legitimately involved in the offense to make a difference. It may not be as a prototype wideout, but the coaching staff needs to find ways to get him the ball on quick hitters in stride. Last year was an aberration, we had no concept how to get him the ball and when there was opportunity the QB's botched it or he had no rhythm. He is a guy you make plays for with pick action slants and a QB that can hit him quickly in stride, why is he not capable of doing that? If you like those reverses and such than he has to be in the game somewhere, that somewhere should be slot and occasionally in the backfield.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Riffer X

Why are some of you guys so negative about Cribbs? This guy is one of the game's best players, he needs to be on the field. He is still green at WR/slot and wasn't exactly coached up last year with DA and Queen throwing bricks his way. Don't you guys want this guy having the ball in his hands? It has to be more than just as a wildcat, he needs to be legitimately involved in the offense to make a difference. It may not be as a prototype wideout, but the coaching staff needs to find ways to get him the ball on quick hitters in stride. Last year was an aberration, we had no concept how to get him the ball and when there was opportunity the QB's botched it or he had no rhythm. He is a guy you make plays for with pick action slants and a QB that can hit him quickly in stride, why is he not capable of doing that? If you like those reverses and such than he has to be in the game somewhere, that somewhere should be slot and occasionally in the backfield.

Much better said than I. Thanks Riff! You powered all that into just 1 paragraph.
- Tom F.