Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Injury Bug or "Out-of-Shape"

You know nothing ever seems to go right in Cleveland. At least not since Jim Brown donned a #32 and broke ever major rushing record in the books. Fresh off their devastating loss to Pittsburgh, Cleveland suffered another major blow to the team. As if we weren't thin enough on the defensive side of the ball, starting defensive end Robaire Smith has been placed on injured reserve with an Achilles tendon tear and will miss the remainder of the year. That's just freakin fabulous. We already were using a 4-man rotation and cutting it down to 3 will cause problems for the Browns defense the rest of the season. There is no proven depth behind the front 4 of Smith, Smith, Rogers and Williams. Everyone else has seen little or no game time at the NFL level and, in all likelihood, will struggle mightily against NFL competition because of their lack of inexperience and skill. Cleveland isn't exactly known for producing All-Pro caliber defensive lineman at least not since their rebirth into the league in 1999.
If you ask me, the numerous injuries that occur in Cleveland on a daily basis can be attributed to the coaches more so than the players themselves. And the reason i say this is because of a recent quote by Romeo Crennel in which he stated the Robaire Smith is "out-of-shape". How the hell is he playing professional football and not just playing, but STARTING, if he is out-of-shape? That is a direct reflection on the coaches inability to sell the system to the players. If a coach cannot convince his players to trust what he is saying and doing he will not be a successful coach. Up to this point in Romeo's career he has been successful only as an understudy and never as the lead which brings in to question his leadership qualities. Does he have what it takes to take control of an NFL franchise? I would have to say no, emphatically. On the other hand, however, Robaire should know what it takes to be in the NFL and more importantly what it takes to WIN in the NFL. He has been in the league long enough to understand that if your fat, lazy and out-of-shape than you don't belong on the field. Shaun Rogers found that out the hard way when Detroit ousted him from their squad.
This cat and mouse bullcrap needs to stop and if it means bringing in a new coach, I hear Lane Kiffin will soon be on the market. If it means simply finding better talent or players who want to be in Cleveland than so be it. If you don't want to win a championship then get out.

P.S. I hope Derek Anderson takes some aggression training courses or something because he is as soft as a freshly baked muffin.

No comments: