Is there a fridge in the backfield?
Posted October 30th, 2008 by Luke Chandler
Dan waxed philosophically a few weeks back about creative ideas to get the Browns on track. Well, apparently the coaching staff agrees and decided to get creative. The Browns are exploring the idea of putting nose tackle Shaun Rogers at fullback.
Rogers could get some reps down on the goal-line, which would be both entertaining and effective. The Brown lack of toughness therre, discussed in my Recap of the Jaguars game, shows. They cannot keep play action faking the ball or throwing to the fullback.
The article posed a few other possibilities:
Shaun Smith also playing fullback.
Joshua Cribbs to cornerback
Eric Wright to receiver.
Phil Dawson to offensive tackle (move over Joe Thomas!)
Of course all of these moves are theoretical and just for fun. So within reason, I came up with a few that would intrigue me. Much like Chris Palmer's final game as the Browns coach, I would be pulling all rabbits out of the hat. Without Kevin Johnson to play QB, I'd have to be creative…
(Note: These are all unlikely to ever happen, but just for fun.)
Shaun Rogers at ILB: Baltimore will do this from time to time with Haloti Ngata. He lines up on the weak-side at linebacker and runs a blitz. It becomes a wedge buster, and opens up a massive hole between the tackle and guard. If they ran a delayed blitz or a stunt behind it, it can clear a path to the backfield and be effective.
Joshua Cribbs at RB: On third downs, keeping Cribbs in the backfield would keep teams guessing whether he is getting a direct snap, or actually acting as a receiver out of the backfield.
Joe Thomas at TE: The Browns have run the off-balanced line in the past, but utilizing Thomas as a receiver would be a new fold. Thomas was athletic enough to play some defensive end at Wisconsin, so why not try out this as another play on the goal-line?
Sean Jones at QB: In what could be another variation on the Browns Flash formation, Jones could line at QB. Jones played defensive end and QB at high school, and when Butch Davis was the coach he had envisioned moving Jones all over the field (linebacker in nickel/dime defenses, receiver, rover, to name a few).
Nick Sorensen at LB: While at Virginia Tech, Sorensen played QB, LB, & S. Why not drop him down in the box to create some confusion?
So if you had your way, what sort of craziness would you make happen for the Browns?
October 30th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Man, I'll tell ya, I really don't want to see Rogers at fullback. He can barely breath holding up on defense. Any extra work and his heart may blow.
Personally, I still like my idea of Winslow lining up like Jurevicius at receiver and Heiden at tight end. It's moderately logical, and wacky at the same time!