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Latest dirt on Cleveland Browns running game is positive

Friday, August 03, 2007
Tony Grossi Plain Dealer Reporter


Through seven practices, these have been the sounds of Browns training camp:

Groans for the passing game. Cheers for the running game.

Thursday's session in shorts was typical. The quarterbacks were largely unimpressive, the receivers worse. Braylon Edwards, Travis Wilson and Josh Cribbs had drops.


How much does it matter at this stage of the long season? Well, if they're dropping balls in shorts without cornerbacks and safeties making contact with them, how will they fare with Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed shooting at them in the first month of the season?

"There've been some dropped passes," asserted coach Romeo Crennel. "We're going to keep concentrating on it and try to be better at it."

The running game, now that's a different story.

"The running game is on another level we haven't been," said right tackle Ryan Tucker.

Earlier this week, the offense was superior to the defense in an inside running drill with players in full uniform. Now, the defensive guys aren't going to be laying themselves out in the first week of camp. But the Browns haven't seen the offense whip the defense like that in a running drill since Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner were in uniform.

What's going on?

For starters, most of the attention to the offense in the off-season was devoted to the elements of the running game - new linemen Eric Steinbach, Joe Thomas and Seth McKinney, and a new back in Jamal Lewis. Also, second-year back Jerome Harrison packed on 12 pounds of muscle, mostly in his legs.

Lewis, current cover boy of Sports Illustrated, has the fantasy football industry agog. He's trim (down about 11 pounds from his Baltimore playing weight), hungry and healthy.

"Awesome. I love it. The dude's a stud," Tucker said.

Harrison spent part of the month of July working out with Lewis in Atlanta. Harrison led the Browns in rushing in his rookie preseason. He is a more confident and more physical presence in this camp.

"He has looked pretty good because he makes people miss," Crennel said. "He has that extra gear. We plan to use him as a change-of-pace guy."

But the real source of optimism in the running game is rooted in the upgraded offensive line.

"Guys are playing together," Tucker said. "We've got good athletes and they're physical."

Steinbach was the big free-agent signee in the off-season. He left behind one of the league's top five offensive lines in Cincinnati.

"At Cincinnati we were fortunate to have a good offensive line and could run the ball, and I'm telling you there's no drop-off here. We can be even better," Steinbach said.

"I'm really impressed so far. I think this coaching staff and the organization did a great job of putting together an offensive line. The group of five guys we've got out there now, if we can stay healthy and learn how to play together, we're going to be a dominant, physical offensive line."

Now here's where it gets interesting. The group of five Steinbach referred to includes Kevin Shaffer at left tackle. Shaffer is still lining up ahead of No. 3 overall rookie pick Thomas.

When Tucker gets a breather, Shaffer moves to right tackle and Thomas slips in at left tackle. Whoever wins that left tackle job -- and it would be a surprise if Thomas does not -- the other one becomes the top backup tackle. Are they actually creating depth, too?

Good health, of course, is a luxury the Browns have not enjoyed in recent times. But so far, nobody has stepped in an open sewer on the way to practice.

"I tell everyone this," Steinbach said. "One of the key ingredients to be successful in this conference is being able to run the ball and having a physical offensive line. We're only a week into camp. When we play four preseason games, we're only going to be better. Offensive line is all about cohesiveness and playing together."

Tucker, who has seen the team's best-laid plans blow up many times in his five years with the Browns, offers some caution.

"I don't want to put a lot of false hope out there," he said. "We have a long way to go. At the end of camp, when we're getting into the season, that's when I can answer these questions with more validity."

Everyone will be asking, no doubt.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

tgrossi@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

Still dropping passes? I think the accepted line is that as the running game improves so will the passing game. Well, it won't if the basics of catching a ball cannot be accomplished.

C'mon Chandler! Drill anyone who drops a catchable ball.

We can run the ball... this means the line has finally improved enough where we can try it and do it effectively. They're still dropping passes, I'm willing to pass this off to the learning curb, meaning I'm willing to put up with it as long as it gets better and I see marked improvement when they take the field.

I really can't imagine our passing game being any worse, at least, than last year, which I guess could be seen as a positive.

Charlie Frye will have more time to make mistakes this year, keeping the defense off the field a bit longer

Yeah winslow, why don't you just give up then? See I think Frye will do great. I think we will win games. I think everything is better than before. I think I won't judge players till they play.

We really need to be more optimistic. I remember when the browns fans were thought of the eternal optimists around the legue. Everyone who talked to me during the dark times (ie no team) used to say that. Now??? I wonder. Don't let it get to you. We will be great one day soon, and until then at the very least..............we are still the Cleveland Browns. Cheers

Nothing like taking a positive artical and throwing a negative spin on it....Go Browns Huh

i agree charlie frye will have a good running game this year

he just may be the 2nd QB to hit 1000 yards.. lol

Quote:

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I just think Frye makes alot of bad decisions

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Once again the recievers are dropping balls, yet some boob is going to blame the QB

man... this article isn't good for my boy Barclay.. I dont even see him mentioned.

The article is referencing dropped passes in camp.....

Alright well if Frye made great decisions and was a great QB then why did we trade a 2nd round and 1st round pick for a QB?

I'll be waiting for your answer.