No Matter the Position, the Cleveland Browns Need More Josh Cribbs

Thursday, October 20, 2011

ClevelandBrowns.com

By Kris Knox
NFL Writer


Cleveland wide receiver/special teamer Josh Cribbs loves being a member of the Browns.

He respects the fan base and shares their passion for Browns football. His hard working, no non-sense attitude embodies what the Browns stand for, and every Sunday Cribbs gives his all for the Browns.

After a pair of special teams mishaps led to a tough 24-17  loss to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, Cribbs made it clear he will even go so far as to defy the Browns in order to help the Browns.

"I'm very insignificant on offense, so I need to be out there heavily on all special teams," Cribbs said after the game. "I got the ball only twice, so that's insignificant right there. Snaps, it's insignificant. I want to help my team win. You get the ball to your athletes. I feel like where I'm an asset on this team is special teams, and I want to refocus on what got me into this league."

Cribbs even hinted if the coaching staff is unwilling to insert him into special teams packages, he would simply insert himself.

"I make tackles on special teams. I led the team every year when I was on coverage and I'm a dynamic special teams player. I don't remember a touchdown being scored on us being out there. I feel like we have enough receivers on offense to get things done. My touches this game are insignificant to the value I can bring to special teams." Cribbs said. "I ain't got to ask. I'm a vet, I just do. I'm on [special] teams. Get somebody else out [as a receiver]."

While Cribbs' passion and willingness to play in an area of the game, that most stars in this league shy away from, is commendable, this sounds like a clear-cut case of a player calling out the coaching staff.

The rebuilding Browns do not need the distraction of one of their biggest players publicly questioning new head coach Pat Shurmur only five games into his tenure. However, while Cribbs' thoughts would have been better shared privately, he is right. The Browns lack playmakers and as one of the few, Cribbs should be hearing his name called far more than he has.

As Cleveland's third receiver behind starters Mohamed Massaquoi and rookie Greg Little, Cribbs has produced 14 catches for 183 yards and one touchdown this season. Those are not eye-popping numbers, to be sure, it does not indicate that Cribbs is not having an impact on offense.


Just ask any Browns fan about the impact of Cribbs' spectacular leaping touchdown catch that helped the Browns secure their second win of the season against the Miami Dolphins.

Cribbs is currently on pace for a 44 catch, 585 yard season, which is almost exactly double the production he had last year under Eric Mangini.

The real question is, why isn't Shurmur finding ways to get the ball to Cribbs even more?

For starters, Cribbs is still adjusting to the receiver position, even in his seventh season. As a Kent State quarterback turned special teams player, Cribbs never notched more than 10 catches prior to the 2009 season and he reached his career high last year with 23.

Second-year quarterback Colt McCoy has looked in Cribbs' direction plenty of times this season, but it often seems the two are not on the same page.

Of course, the lockout-shortened off-season and the implementation of the West Coast offense (WCO) have not made things easy, especially for a player like Cribbs who has limited experience at the receiver position. The WCO relies heavily on timing and precise route-running, and the lack of an adequate adjustment period has led to a lot of miscommunication on offense, specifically between McCoy and Cribbs.

Perhaps Shurmur needs to simplify the way he uses Cribbs on offense.

Cribbs has the straight-line speed to beat the coverage on vertical routes if McCoy can get the ball to him deep (another issue all together), and his skill-set as a returner make him perfect to work the underneath routes out of the slot. Cribbs is seemingly custom built to snag the ball on quick routes and work in open space.

Or perhaps Shurmur just needs to let Cribbs run the ball more, and idea that has often been brought up. This is an area in which Cleveland needs help as the Browns are currently ranked 30th in rushing with a mere 81.6 yards rushing per game.

Related: Cleveland Browns Should Still Consider Josh Cribbs at Running Back

In two the two seasons under Mangini, Cribbs carried the ball 75 times for 447 yards and a respectable 5.96 yard per carry average. However, most of Cribbs' carries came out of the Wildcat package, which Shurmur is not a fan of.

Shurmur is a fan of getting Cribbs the football, and if the Browns' 24th ranked offense is going to improve, he needs to find more ways to do it.

Related: Cleveland Browns HC Pat Shurmur Has Big Things in Store For Josh Cribbs

If that isn't going to happen, then Shurmur should consider letting him go back to covering kicks and returning everything possible. Heck, he should let Cribbs do anything he wants to do, just to get him on the field because he is a playmaker. Period.

"Sure. Absolutely. Put him out there the whole game," Shurmur said, regarding Cribbs' desire to be more involved.

Browns fans couldn't agree more.


Follow National Football Authority on Twitter: @NFAuthority & @Kris_Knox
For more NFL coverage, follow @NFA_NFL
And don't forget to like NFA on Facebook too!


More stories on the Cleveland Browns:

Cleveland Browns Sign RB Chris Ogbonnaya: What Does He Bring to the Table?

Cleveland Browns Need to Throw to Their TEs 'Moore' if WRs Cannot Step Up