Eric Mangini wants to avoid using Brady Quinn again if at all possible. We get it.
What doesn't make much sense is Cleveland's refusal to get more creative on offense to manufacture some yards. Other than Mohammad Massaquoi, the Browns receivers just don't get open. Isn't this where coaching should help?
Josh Cribbs ran six times against Pittsburgh two weeks ago for 45 yards while taking the direct snap from the Wildcat formation. Last week Cribbs touched the ball once. He's clearly one of the few explosive weapons on the team's offense -- perhaps the entire AFC -- but his transition to wide receiver hasn't worked very well.
With that in mind, the Browns are considering using Cribbs at running back. The former Kent State quarterback rushed for 3,670 yards with 38 touchdowns in college.
Look for the Browns to use the Wildcat more often Sunday, and possibly Cribbs as a traditional running back, against a Bears team that was run over in Cincinnati last Sunday. It couldn't hurt.
Browns could use Cribbs at running back
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 31, 2009 1:18 PM ET
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Cribbs is a flat out football player. Tougher than a bag of nails. He deserves better.
Yeah, as much as I love Cribbs he just hasn't looked very good at WR. There was some talk in the off-season of trying to teach him to play safety since he has such great speed and ball skills...guess that isn't going to happen. Gotta find a way to keep him on the field, he is a touchdown waiting to happen. He struggles at WR, so yeah definitely line him up at RB. He's a very physicaly guy so I dont think picking up a blitz would be that big of a deal for him. He has great speed and vision obviously...it definitely cant hurt to do it. Anything that can move the ball for the Browns should be tried.
That's the stupidest thing I've heard in a while.
Eric Mangini is clearly over his head as a coach, like Bill Belichick told him he would be.
haha. that's idiotic. running between the tackles will just get him injured.
bearsrule, that is exactly what I was going to say. Some guys are just football players, and Cribbs is one of them.
Why not give him a try at QB, since that's where he came from? Could he really be any worse than Anderson or Quinn at this point?
Prophet of the light and fragmentb. Both of you have shown how little about football you know. For you to say using Cribbs at RB is stupid and/or idiotic is....stupid and idiotic.
The only problem I have with it is why they didn't do it sooner. Not that they have yet. Them saying something like that usually means he'll get one carry at RB...and whether he gains 1 yard or 54 yards, we'll never see it again.
Josh Cribbs is an exceptional talent but it is going to take a lot more than a one offensive scheme before the Browns can claim they have an NFL caliber attack. If DA's quarterbacking is so bad this week that people in Cleveland can smell the stench radiating from Solider Field back in Ohio, it is time for make a change. Mangini has no excuse for not doing so. I doubt Ratcliffe is any better than DA but he should be given a chance. If not, Mangini and Daboll need to be given the boot.
This refusal to give Quinn another chance is all about Mangini's ego. He is afraid to admit he might have been premature in changing QBs. A head coach should putting winning above other considerations. I do not know how much truth there is to the rumor about Quinn's contract being the major reason Mangini won't play him. All I know is as the weeks go bye, it looks more like this whole dilemma is more a product of a Quinn / Mangini ego conflict than anything else.
Use Josh Cribbs as quarterback. He's easily the most talented quarterback on the roster.
Might as well break him while he's playing cheap.
Pay the guy already. He's clearly the best player on your team.
Hope the antics the fans are setting up start getting to ownership and the higher ups. They screwed the pooch on this one.
Wow, don't you people have any imagination? It's not like we're talking about sending Wes Welker up the middle here. Cribbs is 6'1", 215 lbs. He has more than enough size to play running back in the NFL. In fact, he's bigger than a lot of guys who actually do play RB.
Or you can just stick your head in the sand and continue doing things the way they're "sposed" to be done.
Hey Eric, why not just let Cribbs play QB, RB, WR/KR......Then he can play every position on the defense!
Mangini's wildkitty offense. Cribbs to cribbs!
seriously they could use him at all 11 spots.... maybe even on defense.... i wonder if he could kick the ball as well..... its not like they could be worse...
given the talent on that team, they ought to play him at quarterback.
I would love to see Cribbs play other positions. But, in reality, who cares? As long as the Punter stays healthy, the Browns are ready for the game.
"Wow, don't you people have any imagination? It's not like we're talking about sending Wes Welker up the middle here. Cribbs is 6'1", 215 lbs. He has more than enough size to play running back in the NFL. In fact, he's bigger than a lot of guys who actually do play RB."
Thank you. I immediate think of Chris Johnson when I think of Cribbs at RB. Similar skills, similar styles.
GoBrowns19, you convinced me that Cleveland fans don't deserve a better team. You haven't seen good football in so long, you wouldn't know what it looks like.
I really can't see Cribbs being successful at RB. Nothing against him, but the line really isn't making holes for these guys. It works for things like a reverse, but not for a standard running play.
It couldnt hurt, Cribbs is probably the best player on the team, offense or defense. It s not like they are going to win the game, just provide some excitment for us the dumb die-hard fans.