Author: John Blake (Page 15 of 68)

New season, same old story. The offensive line for the Browns continues to be as ineffective as ever and once again proved Sunday to be an Achilles heel for this team. The Bentley injury was ages ago and can no longer be used as an excuse. The line against the Saints was basically non-existent. They couldn’t provide any running lanes for Droughns and Harrison and had Frye running for his life all day long. Will Smith is a great rusher and ate Kevin Schaffer for lunch early on, but last time I checked the Saints were among the worst teams in the league last season when it comes to run defense. You know you have problems when your quarterback outrushes your two running backs combined. Something has to change because if this is a sign of things to come, this offense is in for a long and troubled season.

A defense that was pretty stout against the run during the preseason wasn’t so against McAllister, Bush, and the Saints. The two-headed monster combined for 151 yards on the ground as the Saints’ offensive line handled the Browns defensive line with ease. The defense really clamped down and showed some toughness in the red zone but were easy to pick on between the 20s.

It is said time and time again that to be victorious a team must win the battle up front, something the Browns failed to do on both sides of the ball. The O-line has some leaks and looked as it always has in the past and the D-line was frequently being beaten off the ball. The opener was a perfect example of what happens when a team loses the line battle. As an offense, if you can’t block or protect your quarterback, it results in a minimal rushing attack and your QB running around like a chicken with his head cut off, like what happened with Frye. As a defense, if you fail to control the line of scrimmage, a team runs down your throat and controls the clock while your defense is sucking wind out on the field. Like it or not, the Browns are in the rugged and brutal AFC North, one of the toughest divisions in the league, and it is imperative that they get tougher up front.

What is it about season openers for the Browns? Since they returned to the NFL in 1999, only once have they won on opening day. The Browns were snakebitten once again as some key penalties and an inept offense played a factor in their 19-14 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

The Browns were, well, pitiful in the first half and played as bad of a half as you possibly could. Charlie Frye, who finished 16-of-27 for 1 TD and 2 INT, struggled in the first half, throwing a pick and botching a hand off to Jerome Harrison. The game was frustrating all around as the offensive line failed to open up any holes for Reuben Droughns and allowed five sacks on Frye. The plays they did make in the first half were called back because of penalties.

Trailing 9-0, the offense was finally able to kick it in gear with their first series of the second half. Frye hooked up with Kellen Winslow, Jr. for an 18-yard touchdown pass. The Saints later responded with a Drew Brees touchdown pass to make it 16-7. The Browns rallied again with a Frye touchdown run but they wouldn’t get any closer. A last ditch effort was erased as a Braylon Edwards’ dropped pass on the final drive resulted in an interception.

As Week 1 is on our heels, the majority of national analysts believe the Cleveland Browns should be victorious this Sunday as they host the New Orleans Saints. Out of 8 expert panelists on ESPN.com, 5 pick the Browns. Six experts on CBS Sportsline make their picks and five go with Cleveland. Yahoo’s four analysts, however, were split in their opinions. Here’s a look at a few other national views on the game.

Vinnie Iyer, SportingNews

New Orleans at Cleveland. In the most anticipated Lake Erie debut since LeBron James, Bush will have his moments, but not too many against Romeo Crennel’s well-coached and significantly upgraded 3-4. The Browns, however, don’t need to face that same problem in the Saints’ woeful linebacker corps, and they should take the game out of Charlie Frye’s hands with a successful dose of Reuben Droughns. Browns 20, Saints 10.

Peter King, Sports Illustrated

It’s not an ideal debut for Reggie Bush, losing his opener and getting pelted with milkbones at the same time, but I have a feeling he’d better get used to it — at least the losing part.
Cleveland 20, New Orleans 17

All 32 teams at this point are entering the 2006 season with high hopes and believe they can go into Week 1 with a real, legitimate shot at winning that first game. We as Browns fans are no different. Roughly 88% of the voters on the team’s web site pick the Browns to beat the Saints. Optimism is reigning supreme around Brownstown as we enter the season. In all seriousness though, this game is one that the Browns can and should win. Like they have for each of the past seven seasons since they returned to the NFL, the Browns will open up a season at home. As inconsistent as the Browns’ offense has looked thusfar in the preseason, they should be able to exploit a weak Saints defense, especially on the ground. In front of the soldout home crowd, the Brownies pull out a win. Browns 17, Saints 13.