By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio — After the Browns' discouraging 27-17 loss to the Bengals, coach Pat Shurmur said that teams can often make major improvements between their first and second games. Seeing a team in regular-season action brings clarity and creates opportunities for adjustments.
With that in mind, I wrote down some ideas to make the team better and asked fans on my Facebook page to do the same. They had to be realistic changes that could be made this week as the Browns head to Indianapolis to face the Colts on Sunday.
Here are my top 10, not necessarily in order:
1. Defensive coordinator Dick Jauron wisely took the blame for the failure to call timeout when the Browns gave up a 41-yard touchdown pass on a quick-snap play by the Bengals. But a couple of veteran defensive players said they should have called a timeout.
He empowered two of them -- perhaps D'Qwell Jackson and Scott Fujita -- to quickly call a timeout when the team isn't ready. Don't wait for a word from the sideline.
2. This suggestion came from Randy Tolen and others: Less Brian Robiskie, more Greg Little. I would also add Joshua Cribbs. Little was on the field for more snaps (57) than any other receiver. Then came Robiskie (47), Mohamed Massaquoi (41) and Cribbs (26).
Robiskie and Little each were thrown three passes. Only one was caught -- for 12 yards by Little. The coaches should write down these four names: Massaquoi, Little, Cribbs and Robiskie. Rate them as playmakers. Put the most talented guys on the field for the most snaps, then try to get them the ball.
3. Ken Keller pushed for more passes to the tight ends to create less defensive attention on the receivers. But Ben Watson and Evan Moore were thrown 13 passes (caught six). The four receivers were thrown 16. Not sure that is the answer.
I would prefer to see the accent on getting the ball quickly to the receivers on short, quick slant patterns -- some of the crisp passing shown early in the preseason. Go for the YAC -- yards after catch.
4. Jason Liphniak suggested more formations with two tight ends and two running backs. Moore (a poor blocker because of his knee problems) is really a wide receiver in a tight end's body. That should be easy to pair him with tight end Watson.
Chris Holko wanted "more Evan Moore." He played only 13 snaps but was targeted with six passes. He caught three, but he also failed to come up with a rather catchable -- and possible touchdown -- pass. He did catch a TD pass and is a valuable weapon.
As for two backs, I would like to see more of Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty together. Hardesty played only 14-of-73 snaps.
Some fans complained about Owen Marecic, but the rookie fullback played only 25 snaps, and I had no real problems with his performance.
5. Chuck Segall suggested some help in terms of position for right defensive end Jabaal Sheard, who was run over by Bengals blockers and back Cedric Benson. I would suggest more playing time for Marcus Benard (11 snaps). Sheard was on the field for 62-of-69 defensive plays, probably too much for the rookie.
The Browns must make some adjustment to bolster the right side of the defensive line, as the Bengals ran that way about 70 percent of the time.
6. Myles Simmons, Joe Murdock, Michael Shreffler and millions of other Browns fans stated the obvious, but it must be repeated every day at practice: Cut out the dumb penalties -- false starts, illegal formations, jumping offsides, too many men on the field. Of their 11 penalties Sunday, seven would be considered "unforced errors," not committed in the middle of a play.
7. Colt McCoy needs to get rid of the ball quicker when the heat is on. He was sacked twice and took six other hits after he threw the ball. He has to stay healthy and away from the rush. His two best passes were when he rolled out, and he may have to do more of that with the offensive line being so shaky on the right side.
8. Michael Eadeh, Adam Bertoni and thousands of Browns fans want more of a commitment to the run. Shurmur said the team had a respectable run/pass balance heading into the fourth quarter -- 27 passes, 21 runs. In the final period, it was 13 passes, six runs.
A big problem was the ridiculous first quarter, in which three false starts and Shurmur accidentally bumping into an official near the sideline created long-yardage situations and took away possible running plays.
9. I would simply suggest using Hillis better. Shurmur talks about "touches" for a
player, and Hillis had 23: 17 rushes and six catches (he had two other passes thrown in his direction). He didn't seem to have much room to run. The Colts ranked No. 24 against the run last season and gave up 167 rushing yards in last week's opener, so they are vulnerable.
In his two years calling plays for the Rams, Shurmur found a way for Steven Jackson to run for more than 2,600 yards. So he does have a sense of a running game and creating space for a back to work. He needs to implement it.
10. Several fans suggested to "fix" the offensive line. I'm all for it, just not sure how to do it. Shurmur mentioned center Alex Mack and rookie left guard Jason Pinkston as having the best days on the offensive line. Shawn Lauvao had two false starts at guard. Right tackle was split between Oniel Cousins (28 snaps) and Artis Hicks (45). According to profootballfocus.com, those two allowed seven "quarterback pressures."
Somehow, the Browns have to simply accelerate the learning curve for their two young guards (Pinkston and Lauvao) and figure out something that works at right tackle. They can help with a fullback and/or tight end as extra blockers. But this is a major challenge.
To reach Terry Pluto: terrypluto2003@yahoo.com, 216-999-4674
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