Browns crushed in Denver,next stop Baltimore

The Cleveland Browns had little offense in the first half in Denver,yet trailed only 10-6 at the half and just 13-6 entering the final quarter.
But the defense finally wore out in allowing two fourth quarter touchdowns in a 27-6 pummelling in Denver.
I wish that I could say things will get better this week,but a trip to Baltimore makes 0-3 seem inevitable....

Brownie Bits

1) Brady Quinn either doesn't want to look more than ten yards down the field,cannot throw the ball with accuracy that far or lacks the confidence that he can do so.
One of those reasons is why he doesn't/can't throw down the field and until he at least tries to do so,the Quinn reign is destined to be undistinguished.

2) Cannot blame it all on Quinn though,the play calling looks straight out of high school ball.
After recovering the opening kickoff that was handed to them and a nice pass for a 14 yard gain from Quinn to Braylon Edwards,the Browns had first and goal from the Denver five and a chance to establish themselves early in the game.
The Browns decided to end that thought themselves with Jamal Lewis up the middle for a yard,Lewis up the middle for two and a horrible looking incompletion to Mike Furrey ended the drive with a Phil Dawson field goal.
The Browns had a chance and blew it as Denver looked at the drive as a triumph and Cleveland lost all momentum despite a 3-0 lead.
Too Vanilla!

3) Rushing game?
What is that?
The Browns were outrushed 186 to 54 by Denver,showing that they cannot only stop the run,cannot run themselves.
Jamal Lewis cannot turn the corner,so he forces the team to run up the middle,where the are weakest with rookie Alex Mack and mediocre Pork Chop Womack,along with Eric Steinbach.
Not that anyone is on the bench that can turn the corner either.

4) More offensive line.
Those of you that read the Browns preview might remember how little I thought of free agent signee John St.Clair and thus far St.Clair is living down to expectations.
Between his various penalties and inability to stop Elvis Dumervil (4 sacks,Yes FOUR), St.Clair is looks more like a waiver wire candidate than a starting NFL tackle.
But again,is there anyone on the bench better?

5) The Browns handed Denver the ball deep inside their own territory on a fumble by Quinn,but again-I cannot place blame for the fumble on Quinn,Although I can blame him for not falling on the ball.
Quinn tried to pick it up and run and Denver recovered the ball,but Alex Mack dribbled a grounder to Quinn that looked like a practice snap from Manu Manu the slender in Necessary Roughness.
Mack has a lot to learn and I like his toughness,but the center needs to be able to snap in the shotgun!

6) Nice to see Eric Wright fail to make a tackle again on a breakaway TD run.
I can understand being shoved aside by Adrian Peterson,but Correll Buckhalter?
Wright is more of a cover corner than a physical tackler,but this is getting ridiculous.

7) Ridiculous?
Try commentator Steve Beuerlein,who claimed Wright is one of the better corners in the league!
He may be the best of the Browns motley crew,but the league????

8) Want a reason to not believe in Mangini and George "Gilligan" Kokinis?
After all their draft day maneuvering to end up with 4 picks in the first two rounds,it has resulted in a starting center that struggles to make snaps, a wide receiver with one catch,another that was not even on the active list for the game and a linebacker that plays special teams and has not seen a snap on defense!
Worried yet?

9) Maybe Mohammed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie would make a difference last week or the next few,but after investing second round picks on them and considering the chaff ahead of them,shouldn't the Browns at least try to get them on the field more???

10) Nice thing to say-Kicking game was fine.
Phil Dawson 2 of 2 and Dave Zastadil put three punts inside the 20.

11) One final thought.
Look at the schedule-not one likely win anytime soon.
at Baltimore,home against the improved Bengals,at the could be 2-0 Bills,at Pittsburgh,Green Bay at home,at Chicago,home against Baltimore before a week 11 battle in Detroit.
That could feature the 0-10 Browns against the 0-10 Lions.
Cleveland does finish the season with three weaker teams in the Chiefs (road) ,Raiders and Jaguars (home),so I do think they will win a game or two,but I don't see it happening before week 11.

Editors Note
Two roster moves for the Browns.
Tight end Martin Rucker waived to make room for former Jacksonville TE Greg Estanda.
Defensive back Marquis Floyd out in favor of former Steeler Anthony Madison.
More on these moves tomorrow....

Photo Credits
Snap:David Zalubowski-AP Photo
Quinn:Joshua Gunter-AP Photo