Gameday Thoughts – Browns/Chargers

Good News…..Bad News 

The Cleveland Browns host the San Diego Chargers today in a game that will be shown on local television, as the Browns were able to avoid a blackout by selling all of their tickets by the end of the day Friday. A number of businesses and organizations stepped forward and purchased the remaining 4,000 tickets or so to some local charities and children organizations. That’s the good news. The bad news…..is that with the recent rash of injuries, it might be more charitable to give these kids come blindfolds, as with the recent injuries, this game could become unwatchable real fast.

Will Brian Robiskie Finally Get Another Chance?

Rookie WR Brian Robiskie has been inactive for the past couple games. The reason for Robiskie being inactivated has been because he has not impressed the coaches throughout the week. To make matters worse, less than two weeks ago, the Browns plucked Jake Allen off waivers, signed him, and activated him instead of Robiskie. Robiskie was released by the Packers this season, and is in his second season in the NFL. I’ll save the question of “What the heck are they doing?” because that’s just too obvious and doesn’t take much thought at all. Anyone with half a brain for football can see that if you spend a second-round draft pick on a receiver, and have NOTHING to play for this season, then the best learning tool is against ‘live’ competition on game day. Well, because Robiskie has had better practices this week, according to offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, the former OSU standout is rumored to be active for today’s game.

While that is real progress for Robiskie, it may be the war of attrition on defense that has forced the Browns hand. The defensive secondary is so thin due to injury, Mike Furrey, who has played both offense and defense at times this season, may be required to play defense full-time. So with Furrey playing defense, that opens the door for Robiskie to maybe to see some action on offense. If the Browns are to see what they have in Robiskie, let’s hope he gets a number of snaps today, and for the rest of the 2009 season.

The Future is Now for the Browns Backfield

Jamal Lewis’ season, and likely his career in the NFL after his comments on retiring early this season, is likely over after he was placed on IR this week with concussion-like symptoms.

The Browns elected not to sign another running back off the street this week, and will have only Chris Jennings and Jerome Harrison active for the game. Jennings will start, and will be spelled by Harrison. It is horrible that Lewis is still having issues with the effects of a concussion, and I wish him all the best. Some good will come from this though as the Browns finally will be forced to see what they really have in Jennings and Harrison. There are questions at essentially every position as the Browns look to the 2010 season. Getting a good long look at Harrison and Jennings, is helping the Browns determine exactly how desperate they are for another running back next season.

This may be premature, and a lot will be determined over the last few games of the season, but I am thinking they may just want to add some depth with a late round pick. My target for next season would be in free agency and presently gets only limited playing behind one of the best backs in the league (Adrian Peterson). The guy I would target would be free-agent-to-be, Chester Taylor. Taylor would give them a solid back to start for a couple seasons, and a seasoned veteran that the young backs could learn from. First things first though. I’ll go further into what the Browns need and should target, in a few months. For now, let’s see what our young guys can do!

If The Chargers Wouldn’t Mind Starting 10 on Offense, It Would Be Appreciated

As the Browns defense continues to be depleted due to injury. Aside from the previous players lost for the season, which were numerous, the Browns will be down four more starters this week, and maybe even more, as compared to who started the game last week in Cincinnati. Defensive tackle Shaun Rogers was put on IR this week, as was safety Brodney Pool. Defensive end, Kenyon Coleman will also be Out for this game, and linebacker Kamerion Wimbley will likely be out as well. Oh and if that weren’t bad enough, starting cornerback Eric Wright is doubtful. The Browns have six interceptions this season, Poll has four, Wright has two. As Steve Martin said in the movie “The Jerk” when about to view a cat juggling video, “Roll the ugliness”.

Tags: Brian Robiskie, Brodney Pool, Chris Jennings, Eric Wright, Jerome Harrison, Kenyon Coleman, Shaun Rogers