I know this will sound crazy to some of you, but the Browns may have lost Sunday’s game in Denver on the very first offensive series.
Think about how important it is for a touchdown-challenged, psychologically beaten team such as the Browns to somehow get the ball in the end zone — especially on the road in their first possession.
The Browns were only 7 yards away from the end zone. They had a first down.
Then Jamal Lewis ran for 1 yard.
Then Lewis ran for 2 yards.
Then Brady Quinn threw a horrible pass on a strange down-and-out pattern to Mike Furrey on the 1-yard line.
Then I wanted to scream as the Browns settled for a field goal.
I know, the final score was Denver 27, Browns 6.
I know, the Browns’ defense collapsed in the fourth quarter.
But I also know this: When you are the Browns and you have scored only one offensive touchdown in seven games, you have to throw the ball into the end zone at least once!
How about a fade to Braylon Edwards? He made an excellent catch for 14 yards to put the team in great scoring position.
How about a fake to the running back and a pass to the tight end, who often is open in the end zone when the ball is inside the 5-yard line?
How about something besides three of the most boring, unimaginative plays possible?
Quinn said Furrey was being defended one-on-one, and any time he sees that situation he should throw Furrey the ball. But the defensive back jumped in front of Furrey, and Quinn said rather than risk an interception, he fired the ball into the ground and settled for the field goal.
Think back to the first half of the Browns’ 34-20 loss to Minnesota in the opener. The Browns had a first down on the opponent’s 6-yard line, but didn’t score a touchdown.
They didn’t throw the ball into the end zone on those three plays, either.
I have scanned the play-by-play sheets from the first two games. Unless I am missing something, they have yet to throw the ball into the end zone.
Yes, there was so much more wrong with the Browns than this missed opportunity in the first moments of the game.
But when you have an offense that has not scored a touchdown in a meaningful part of the game since Nov. 11, 2008, you have to take a shot to cross that goal line.
Remember that Denver had a 13-6 lead after three quarters.
Remember the Browns led the Minnesota game, 13-10, at the half. If the Browns’ offense could hang on to the ball for a while, score a touchdown or two, then maybe the defense would not be dragging by the fourth period. This game just begged for Quinn to grow up as a pro and lead the Browns on a long drive, ending with a touchdown. It pleaded for Quinn to make a big throw, to do something to “manage the game.”
That’s a coach really saying, “Take no chances, don’t mess up.”
But there comes a point when chances must be taken, when the possibility of failure has to be stared straight in the eye and the quarterback can’t blink.
Quinn knows this. He played smart, but boldly, at Notre Dame. Right now, Quinn looks as if he’s afraid to make a mistake. His arm looks weak. His sense of exactly what he wants to do seems unclear.
Coach Eric Mangini, rookie offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and Quinn need to look hard at the offense. They need to encourage Quinn to not immediately go to the easy, short pass. My guess is this was discussed in preparation for this game as Quinn threw the ball to Edwards seven times, the receiver having a superb game with six catches for 92 yards.
But that was about the extent of the good news.
In two games, Quinn has been sacked nine times, has fumbled twice and thrown only one TD pass – with 28 seconds left in the 34-20 loss to Minnesota. The Browns have converted on only 6-of-26 third-down situations.
This is not about dumping Quinn after two games for Derek Anderson, who certainly can throw deep. But it is about Quinn needing to play with more confidence, and when the Browns are near the goal line, the play-calling showing more confidence in him.
