There's a title of a movie released in 2000 that would suggest something else should happen to Romeo Crennel. That may be a bit harsh, but the fact of the matter is that Crennel's days in Cleveland should be numbered.
In just over three-and-a-half years as head coach of the Browns, Crennel has a record of 23-34 (.403). Of those 23 wins, ten came last season when the Browns were the Cinderella story of the National Football League and snuck up on the league.
After that ten-win season last year, expectations around Cleveland were extremely high. Some would say the expectations were unfair.
Nonetheless, Crennel got a two-year contract extension after last season and was expected to take the Browns to the next level.
Three wins and six losses is not the next level. Perhaps even worse is the way they have earned that miserable record. The Browns beat the 1-7 Cincinnati Bengals to earn their first win of the season. They then defeated the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants in a Monday Night Football game, but that seems to have been an aberration. The only other win for the orange and the brown came over the Jaguars, who happen to be the only team that the dreadful Bengals were able to defeat.
The offense has lacked spark all season. They have already switched quarterbacks, switching from Derek Anderson to Brady Quinn. Braylon Edwards leads the league in most celebatory dances after mediocre plays.
Looking to ignite the bismal offense, Crennel elected to start the fan-favorite Quinn during a short week. The Browns lost Sunday to Baltimore, then had Monday off, practice Tuesday and a walk-through on Wednesday. Quinn made his first NFL start with one full practice with the first team under his belt. Made sense to start Quinn with one practice, rather than waiting one more game, especically considering the next game for the Browns is a Monday night game. That would've allowed Quinn an extra three days to prepare. Hmmm.
Perhaps more frustrating is the Browns defensive unit. Crennel is supposed to be the defensive mastermind, the man who was the architect of those great New England defenses that dominated en route to winning championships.
This Browns defense, coordinated by Mel Tucker, is ranked 25th in the NFL in points allowed per game (19.1 ppg). They can't stop the run, and they can't stop the pass. The unit is ranked 25th in passing yards and 22nd in rush yards allowed in 2008.
To be fair, some of the on-field mistakes have to be placed on the shoulders of the players. But the terrible time management that Crennel has continuously displayed, as well as his inability to deal with players such as Kellen Winslow Jr. and Braylon Edwards suggests its time a change.
Who is out there to name head coach? Some speculate former Steelers head coach, and one-time Browns player/coach Bill Cowher may be worth giving a call. Cowher would probably demand an extremely high salary, as well as the ability to get involved in player personnel.
Is Cowher the answer? Maybe, we don't know. The only thing we do know is that Crennel is not the answer. If you're not part of the answer, than you're part of the problem.
No comments:
Post a Comment