Posted on Wednesday 11 October 2006 by G @ 5:39 pm
I know we’re piling on with the criticism of Maurice Carthon, but he keeps giving us more amunition.
As a former fullback, Carthon seems to be obsessed with proving that fullbacks can and should do more than block. I remember reading an article last year in the Plain Dealer in which Terrell Smith was expressing his enthusiasm with Carthon’s goal to get him more involved in the offense. Terry Pluto addresses the now infamous Vickers pass last week and sums up the problem very well:
This play highlights a problem with Carthon’s approach, one that coach Romeo Crennel must address. In the end, the play calling is the responsibility of the head coach. He put Carthon in charge a year ago, the first time the former fullback has ever called plays.
He must tell Carthon, “If you want to get a couple of inches for a first down in the key part of the game, don’t give the ball to a fullback.'’
You might recall that Vickers was tackled for a loss in a similar situation during the opening loss to New Orleans.
Crennel also needs to say, “Hey, Maurice, fullbacks are here to block. We don’t need them running sweeps. We don’t need them throwing passes. We don’t need them split out wide as a receiver (as they sometimes do with Smith).'’
In fact, it’s absolutely ridiculous to have two fullbacks on the field at the same time, especially since Droughns (now a tailback) was a fullback early in his career and has some blocking skills.
I’m gald someone else noticed the fact that the Browns sometimes split out the fullback as a receiver. That’s just idiotic.
guess what – fullbacks are for blocking. and guess what also – droughns, harrison, and wright are all quicker, faster, and better at running with the ball at any time, in any game, in any situation than smith or vickers will be.
that is common sense, and if you can’t accept that you are a fool.
This is the NFL. Linebackers, defensive ends and even inside defensive tackles are faster than normal. Why do you think that the option isn’t run in the NFL to any success?
If you want to give the ball to a fullback, then make it a quick hitter or a trap. But whoever has seen a fullback that could make the corner or get any yardage in a sweep? The sweep depends on turning the cornerback in to get the corner or finding a quick hole that is created by a moving defense. Either way it takes time to develop and a fast runner to get to and through the hole when and if it develops.
Fullbacks may lead for a sweep, find a man to block, but never be the runner on one. Sorry, Maurice, but it looks dumb and the results are even dumber, almost like asking a fullback to throw a pass (oops you tried that also).
You just can’t take possessions against good teams like the panthers for granted! They will eventually make you pay, thats why it would make more sense to run the ball on 3rd & inches to keep the drive going & to have a new set of downs to try score a TD!! You have to put your players in the best postion to win or be successful!!!!!
Rediculous,
Crennel is backing his coach to his demise. He is the head coach and will answer for all this teams shorcomings in the long run. What gets me irked is that everyone on and off the field knows what play will be run based on the formation. The opposing players know, the opposing coaches know, the fans in the stands know, the fans at home know, the media knows, the opposing teams mascott knows. We run in a run set, we pass in a pass set, we don’t throw any wrinkles, no huddle, quick counts, Qb sneaks, or anything else imaginative. We run first & second down and pass on third down. Yes Crennel, we cant have it both ways, we say run Droughns more, run Droughns less. OH YES IT IS POSSIBLE, run when the defense has 6 or 7 DB’s and Pass when they have 8 in the box. Didn’t kenny Rhoda point out we have no games scoring more than 30 points? And thats against some pretty bad defenses like Detroit, Oakland, and Houstan over the last few years. You make adjustment to what the defense gives you, an obvious ineptness of Carthon. MAKE THE CHANGE CRENNEL!!! Before it’s too late.
terry couldn’t have put it any better. it’s time for savage to clean house with the current coaches. they can’t manage the time, they call plays (ie. passes to fullbacks) that make you wonder how they can coach pee wee football, and they show no enthusiasm for going out and winning. there is no wonder that the browns play with so little enthusiasm, just look at their coach.