Cavs Offbeat: New Team Shop is an Eye-Opener
October 6, 2010Tribe Season Review: The Outfield
October 6, 2010
It’s no secret that I’m not always very much of a fan of Brian Daboll’s play-calling. It’s also no secret around these parts that I am a fan of Michigan sports. So, when Denny (remember him?) and I got to talking the other day about college football as we often do, he suggested an idea for a piece about how the Browns could take a note or two from Michigan’s offense and its quarterback Denard Robinson. I believe Denny called him a “mini skinny Cribbs”. And in many ways, he is. Tremendous athlete; college QB; run-first option at QB; can still throw when given the opportunity; both wear #16 and have sweet dreads. Okay, that last one doesn’t matter as much.
It’s obviously not apples-to-apples to say that the Browns can employ a college-style spread into their Wildcat/Flash/Cyclone package and expect it to work; NFL defenses aren’t as slow as UMass’s and Indiana’s defenses, of course. But, Rich Rodriguez and Calvin McGee find ways to use Denard Robinson that exploit defensive tendencies that I think the Browns could explore in an effort to open things up and make Cribbs more of a weapon.
The knock on Robinson last year as a true freshman—when he wasn’t a starter because he couldn’t pass, and thus was beat out by, gulp, Tate Forcier—was that when he was in the game defenses could just key on the run because Robinson was no threat to pass. And, given what we’ve seen from Cribbs when he lines up at QB, the Browns’ opponents can basically do the same.
No one—especially me—would argue that Robinson is a totally balanced QB this year. What they have shown, however, is an increased willingness to let him throw the ball. To wit, on Michigan’s game-winning drive on Saturday against Indiana, he ran three times and then threw a big 41-yard strike down to the four yard-line after sucking the defense in with the repeated runs. In addition, they’ve incorporated a Tim-Tebow-at-Florida style of play where Robinson fakes the QB draw/iso, stops after a couple of steps, and fires a pass over the defense that has bitten on the run fake.
See the following for examples; 4:50 for the run-fake-pass, and 12:25 for the last drive where they use the run to set up the pass:
The last big pass down to the four yard line was set up because Michigan got single coverage on the outside; Indiana simply assumed Robinson would be running the ball. But, what really could be a big tool for the Browns with Cribbs is that first pass at 4:50. If Cribbs gets five snaps a game at QB, wouldn’t it make sense to throw one of those hesitation passes in there?
We’ve seen Cribbs throw a couple of passes in his career, including a sweep/screen to Seneca Wallace that went for nine yards in the first game against Tampa Bay this year. But, Cribbs has carried the ball only nine times for 41 yards to this point, a 4.6 yard average. Consider that last year Cribbs carried 55 times for an almost-seven-yard average. Defenses to this point are keying on Cribbs-as-runner, and I think exploring some wrinkles and allowing Cribbs to throw a bit more will open things up.
It certainly has for Robinson and Michigan’s offense. With a dearth of playmakers on offense, the Browns should look at every opportunity to get the ball to Cribbs and allow him to make plays.
24 Comments
They ran the hesitation pass play on a 2 pt conversion a couple years ago, probably my favorite offensive play ive seen run with Cribbs. DA was in at QB with Cribbs in the backfield, DA turned to the side pretending to audible and motion to the wideouts and they direct snapped to Cribbs. Josh took a few steps towards the line then jumped and passed to I think the tight end in the end zone to convert the 2pt attempt.
Would love to let Cribbs pass the ball. But, only if they do it right.
Don’t give it to him on a reverse and expect him to throw a pass on the run. I’m guessing the guy doesn’t throw the ball as much as he did in college, let’s not make things harder on ourselves.
Either line him up as the QB and let him throw, or like DP suggested, a couple hesitation passes.
For the love of God, do anything to get him the ball. He and Hillis are our only hope.
Skinny Cribbs, bro. Skinny Cribbs.
That was against Arizona, Kory. Winslow leaked out into the endzone and it was pitch and catch. You’re right… that was a beautiful play call. It was also Rob Chudzinski who was the OC then.
Sad face.
Fixed, Denny.
“Tim-Tebow-at-Florida style of play”
Needs more jump passes
I remember a couple of years ago they had Cribbs throw deep to the endzone. It was desperation, I believe, since we were down and the other team had double or triple coverage so the pass was defensed, but aside from that it looked like a really well thrown ball. I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing that again.
I feel like the Browns are forcing Cribbs into the mold of a traditional receiver which he may or may not be suited for.
IMO Cribbs will always be more of a hybrid guy that needs to be used inside and out. For all the talk that was going on preseason there has really been zero creativity in this offense (SHOCKER) and that doesn’t bode well for Josh.
Oh no, If things ever go sour w Cribbs I can hear it now…
“You guys only hate me cause WFNY compared me to a UM player.”
I really thought we were going to have a huge bag of tricks with our offence. I figured we’d line Cribbs and Wallace up in the backfield, snap to Wallace and let him pass it to Cribbs one down, snap to Cribbs and let him pass it to Wallace the next.
I am getting more and more disappointed that we are not using our (as I see it) greatest weapon to full advantage.
Cribbs never even looks downfield to pass in the “Flash” because Daboll is cleverly playing opossum. Pass option may be dramatically unveiled in the all-important last two games of the season, if deemed prudent given particular game situation, team morale and field conditions.
I saw in a little blurb at the bottom of the ESPN Randy Moss article that we traded an undisclosed 2012 draft pick to Minnesota for a DE so they could make room for Moss on the roster…..hopefully that pick wasn’t any higher than a 7th rounder…they guy has 1 tackle this year
@ #12 – I also saw on a Vikings blog that the author was disappointed they couldn’t get more for “a guy that talented”. It’s hard to break into a lineup when 3 of the 4 starters are perennial Pro-Bowlers.
For what it’s worth, Jayme Mitchell was a 2nd stringer behind a stacked defensive line. With the Browns line banged up, he could step in and help like Roth did last year.
Needs more talk about firing Daboll
@12…that one tackle was also a sack though
As I see it, the only way to “set up” anything is to keep Cribbs back there for more than one play. For a moment, imagine a scenario in which the browns take the field with Cribbs at QB, and the “actual” QB is on the bench.
How awesome would it be to see Cribbs run a pass-option offense for an entire offensive sequence. The defense would actually have to guard against the run AND the pass, and if they went no-huddle, the defense wouldn’t be able to make substitutions.
When you have Cribbs take a snap and run on 1st down, you need to keep him in on 2nd down to either run or pass. Otherwise, you just wasted 1st down on an obvious run.
@12, the Vikings defensive line is stacked. The Browns getting a guy that can make Minnesota’s roster is at worst, good young depth.
@6….You mean this awesome Florida Tebow-style jump pass?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ybYYpz565Y
Seems to work for the 2010 Florida Gators.
you want wrinkles in the offense? then how will I befuddle my friends when I predict the playcall by the formation?
then again, does it matter if the defense knows what is coming if Vickers and Hillis is what is coming?
Instead of the wildcat how about handing Cribbs the ball for a run with Peyton and or Vickers in the backfeild…??? I think Terry P said … “its not against the rules ya know” that certainly would mix it up as well
Perhaps Mike Holmgren should buy Daboll a copy of Madden 11 so he can learn how to call plays. He certainly couldn’t be any less creative.
“No one—especially me—would argue that Robinson is a totally balanced QB this year.”
I don’t know what “totally balanced” means, but 98 runs that go for an average of 9.5 yards each and 96 passes that go for an average of 10.5 yards per attempt with a 70% completion rate and 180.0 passer rating seems pretty darn balanced to me.
@19 that’s what Ive been saying forever. We are in Ohio for crying out loud. Run it down they’re throat!!!!!
[…] actually get open for a change. I’d like to see Brian Daboll wearing his Big Boy Pants enough to mix up some Flash/Cyclone looks that the Falcons won’t have seen on film. On defense, the Browns’ rushing defense has been good […]