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13 Nov 2008
Jaws Confirms Browns' "Lack Of Enthusiasm"
Mary Kay Cabot from the Cleveland Plain-Dealer spoke to Football Outsiders super BFF Ron Jaworski about the rumors that the Browns were quitting on plays. He confirmed what Jamal Lewis had been whispering.
Meanwhile, rumors on PFT are saying that it's defensive tackle Shaun Smith who's carrying himself like he's been to "25 Pro Bowls". In all fairness, they don't say whether he was just a big fan of the beach football competition and flew out each year when he was a kid.
Is it Smith, Browns fans?
7 comments, Last at 14 Nov 2008, 11:18am by Noah of Arkadia
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Comments
Re: Jaws Confirms Browns' "Lack Of Enthusiasm"
To me, the PFT rumors sound like an individual motivated by retribution towards Smith.
There was nothing in what Jamal Lewis or Josh Cribbs said that pointed to one player. It sounded like a problem with a mentality throughout the team which points toward the coaching staff.
The truth of the matter is that the Browns are overmatched talent-wise at the linebacker and defensive back positions. Depth is non-existent throughout the defense and there is little tinkering to be done with the current roster or lineup. Meanwhile, Phil Savage continues to show a general malaise when it comes to bringing in players. Deltha O'Neal, Fernando Bryant and Justin Miller have all been available this season, not magic workers but all have more experience than Brandon McDonald. At the minimum, such an acquisition would allow McDonald to play the nickel, replacing the statuesque Terry Cousin.
Shaun Smith has a reputation as a talker, which is ostensibly something that endeared him to teammates during training camp. However, regardless of whether he was the one quitting, the defensive efforts from the past two games reflect more on the coaching and personnel failures on that side of the ball than a simple "lack of effort", in my opinion.
Re: Jaws Confirms Browns' "Lack Of Enthusiasm"
The problem with unnamed sources is that you don't know who they are. (Yogism)
It's a much greater problem in the news media than with a website that openly calls itself a rumor mill, but, you're right, there is no way to judge the potential motivation of an unnamed source. Particulary one as vaguely labelled as 'a league source'. Consider Dilfer's recent criticism of the Browns for benching Anderson. Since we know the source we can judge for ourself whether it's fair or just a matter of sour grapes. With the stuff on PFT there's no way to know.
(Full disclosure, overreliance on unnamed sources and claims of legal priviledge by the news media are pet peeves of mine.)
Smith's chatter may have gotten on Lewis's nerves, but unless Lewis names names that's just speculation.
Concerning Jaws, I'm guessing he'll point out a player or two should the Browns do poorly in Buffalo. I would guess he'll talk about a receiver or a DB (suspect tackling) as those are the easiest to spot.
Speaking of the Browns DBs I'm not as down on them as you and lots of other folks. The lack of QB pressure has forced them to maintain coverage much longer than they should. The lack of any sort of playmaking from their LBs is killing them though.
Re: Jaws Confirms Browns' "Lack Of Enthusiasm"
My problem with the DBs is less what it's been popularized as (ie, young cornerbacks) and more about the safeties and the depth behind the young cornerbacks.
I'm bullish on Eric Wright and think McDonald has room for improvement too. However, I think Sean Jones is overrated as everything other than the 8th guy in the box and I'm still amazed at how lost Brodney Pool looks matched up against a tight end, especially a good route runner like Tony Scheffler. Then there's Terry Cousin and the end of the bench, Daniels and Lawson. I gather we'll be seeing more of Daniels against the Bills, which is probably good since the season's effectively over and everything. Whatever the case, the fact that Savage couldn't do better (Holly injury is noted, but it happened in June) than Cousin, Daniels and Lawson is a pretty big failure of personnel management. He had to have known McDonald getting torched (or some kind of injury) was a possibility.
Re: Jaws Confirms Browns' "Lack Of Enthusiasm"
Jaws said he studied the film and found that Lewis's claims were true, that a few players were playing "without enthusiasm". He also said he would give names if he saw those same guys did it again on Monday Night.
I think Jaws is more honest than your average media guy, and I don't believe he will simply point out a few players out of his butt if the Browns play poorly, if that's what you're hinting at above, mawbrew. And I'm sure he won't need guys that are "easy to spot", since he's both knowledgeable and he's watched the film and prepared himself for the game.
And since, with the magic of TV, we have the benefit of instant replay, I believe he will also show the audience exactly what he means, if he does indeed point out Brown players playing "without enthusiasm."
Re: Jaws Confirms Browns' "Lack Of Enthusiasm"
I didn't mean to suggest that Jaws would point the finger at guys indiscriminatly. My point is that judging a player's 'enthusiasm' is an inherently subjective task. Trying to judge it for players on the OL/DL that are involved in contact on every play is very tough especialy if you don't know their assignments on that play. Much easier to see a WR/TE giving up on a route or not really making a solid effort to block. Ditto with a DB that seems to go out of his way to avoid tackling a big RB coming at full speed. And if you're going to suggest that a guy is mailing it in, you want to be sure you're right.
Re: Jaws Confirms Browns' "Lack Of Enthusiasm"
Romeo?
"Dead Man Walkin' . . . Dead Man Walkin'"
Re: Jaws Confirms Browns' "Lack Of Enthusiasm"
I don't know, mawbrew. I would think lack of pursuit is a pretty big tell, for the whole defense. As for the OL, well, you may be right, but in general, stopping before the play is over, especially when it seems possible the player might make a difference downfield is a good sign of "lack of enthusiasm." I've also seen OL stop on pass protection because they "think" it's been long enough, and if the QB hasn't got rid of the ball, well it's his problem.
So maybe it's not so hard after all.
And, as a teammate, you have the additional advantage of seeing a guy's attitude after he gets beat -especially if it happens a lot: is he grim and frustrated, is there vengeance in his eyes, or is he joking around and thinking about next game's paycheck?
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