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The Browns are 3-6 through nine games this season. Three games is more than many people said the 2005 Cleveland Browns could win. This team is far from perfect and far from being competitive at the current moment but Romeo Crennel has this team in every game. This year the Browns have fought and fought hard. Stupid mistakes and the overall lack of talent has been the downfall. Usually that’s the case for all teams that are in the rebuilding mode.
Offense: D+
Defense: B
Special Teams: C
Offensive Rookie of the mid-season: Braylon Edwards- This guy deserves to be the starter in Cleveland. Opposed to a few rookie mistakes he has been on target and found himself wide open many times this season. The problem isn’t Edwards, the problem is getting the ball in the direction of Edwards. This guy can make the play, he just needs the chance to make a play. With Dilfer at helm its hard to say if he can make many plays.
Defensive Rookie of the mid-season- Brodney Pool- Pool has come to play and he is definitely worth a second round pick. He was a definite steal at that spot. Pool is playing amazing when given the opportunity and is making some very NICE tackles out on the field. He has been a nice addition to the Browns. He has a sack, an interception and 25 tackles this season. He will eventually break into the starting spot at one of the safety positions before the seasons end.
Offensive MVP of the mid-season- Reuben Droughns- WOW that’s all I can say about this guy. WOW!!!!! He has been the best running back the Browns have had since the 1980’s. He has run all over people. Droughns runs the way a running back should run. He reminds me of a Jerome Bettis, without the offensive line that he had in front of him and the speed. Droughns is a faster Bettis with a average-below average offensive line blocking for him. He has earned every yard and has forced physical punishment on those that try to tackle him. He has also been a pleasant surprise in the passing game. He currently has 251 yards receiving and 702 yards rushing. That equates to 953 total yards for Droughns for the Browns offense. That is production. I feel Droughns is the running back for the future.
Defensive MVP of the mid-season- Orpheus Roye- This one is hard because Andra Davis is having a monster year and should at least be mentioned in this. Roye though has had an amazing year. I am being serious too. He is having a pro bowl year. Right now he is on pace for 100 tackles in a season which is unheard of for a defensive end in a 3-4 defense. Especially with Jason Fisk at one side of him who has done nothing but get pushed backwards by opposing teams centers. Roye has faced double teams and has come away successful. Roye currenly has 59 tackles, which beats his previous career high in a year of 58 (considering this is only week 9 of a 16 week season that in itself is impressing), he has blocked a field goal and has recorded one sack. Roye is playing defensive end like a young rookie right now. His great play could be because he is in the final year of his contract. It could also be Romeo’s influence that has helped him play better than he has ever played. Roye should be resigned in the off-season. He is the only defensive lineman the Browns have that is worthy of keeping.
Biggest Surprise:
Well this selection was an easy one to make. The Browns, as many know started basically from scratch. Defensively a new defensive scheme, same for the offense and both sides of the team last a significant amount of its players. The Browns lost nearly half of their entire roster from last year. Only four defensive starters remain starting from last years roster and only three on offense. With this I will say the most impressive unit so far this season has been the Browns defensive unit. They have excelled greater than I could imagine. Andra Davis and Orpheus Roye have dominated. They have been very consistent in the red zone and have just all around played outstanding. Week by week this defense continues to improve and I feel that they are the biggest surprise this year.
Final Notes:
I know many Browns fans are complaining about the play of Trent Dilfer. It is nine games into the season and many are already calling for Charlie Frye. In my personal opinion, I like Frye too, but I just cant agree with starting him now. Some say its just to test him out and see what he’s got. That isn’t true. Browns fans think this season is salvageable and the only way we can revive the season is to get Frye in there. Most are in denial if they say that’s no the reason. Frye is from the MAC, which isn’t known for producing the best football players. I would give Frye atleast an entire year to learn. The Bengals gave Palmer one whole year of not playing, and eight games into the next season he came out on fire. Give Frye his chance to learn from Dilfer. Don’t call for Romeo to throw him out their. It makes no sense. There is no reason to throw him out now. If they throw him out to the wolves now, they wont be able to bench him later. He has no business out their starting with only nine games into the year. Sorry but that is my opinion. Keep Frye on the bench and wait for the future.
The Browns have three of their final seven games against teams with losing records. They have a chance to win all three. I see a 6-10 season coming for the Browns. Which is pretty good for a team that wasn’t expected to win more than two to four games.
