How ‘Bout Them...Browns

After a miserable 4-12 season in 2006 that landed the Cleveland Browns the third pick in this year’s NFL draft (which they used on OT Joe Thomas) the Cleveland Browns sit at 5-3 and in second place in the AFC North at the midway point in the NFL season. Charlie Frye started as the signal caller after winning a pre-season coin flip. Following a miserable 34-7 loss to Pittsburgh in the opener, Frye was shipped out of town and Derek Anderson has stepped in and performed brilliantly. The 24-year-old Anderson’s play has quieted the Brady Quinn talk, relegating the Notre Dame star and first round pick to backup duty with no end in sight.

The offensive triumvirate of QB Derek Anderson, WR Braylon Edwards and TE Kellen Winslow is playing great and all three are worthy of Pro-Bowl consideration. With the Big-Three, a productive offensive line and solid play from Jamal Lewis, Jason Wright and Joe Jurevicius, the Browns offense is clicking. The unit ranks fourth in total offense and fourth in points scored in the NFL. The firepower is largely through the air as the running game ranks 17th despite a respectable 4.3 yards per carry.

Defense, however, is another story. Romeo Crennel, the defensive minded head coach and architect of the New England Patriots’ championship defenses, still has work to do to make the Browns defense respectable. The 2006 Browns ranked 27th in total defense and the 2007 squad is worse statistically, ranking last in total yards and third-worst in points per game allowed, surrendering over 411.8 yards and 29.1 points per contest, respectively. If Crennel can have more success building a defense than Marvin Lewis, another defensive guru turned head coach of an offensive team, has had in Cincinnati, the future may be bright again for the Cleveland Browns.