STEELERS 13, BROWNS 6

Random rants on a sad Sunday:

On October 5, it was Browns 33, Steelers 13. Today it was Browns 3+3, Steelers 13.

Five turnovers. Four unsuccessful trips to the red zone. Three games this season with scoring a touchdown. Two field goals to show for a first quarter’s work of 22 plays and 112 yards. One offensive play of 20 or more yards. Zero chance of improving on last year’s record.

In many ways, our defense played a great game. They surrendered a mere 59 yards passing. There were fewer missed tackles than in weeks past. But ultimately they failed, because they couldn’t force any turnovers of their own. Cris Crocker’s drop of an easy interception is the obvious, but not the only, example of a big-play opportunity lost. If there’s a ball-hawking safety (like the Ravens’ Ed Reed, who played for Butch in college) available in the draft, the Browns ought to snatch him.

Obviously, though, the offense was this game’s prime culprit. The worst of the five turnovers: Holcomb’s goal-line interception to Brown-killer Brent Alexander. It was a terrible attempt to force a ball where there was no room. I understand a guy wanting to make a play on third down, but a field goal brings the Browns to within one point with more than a quarter to play.

It was a wise choice to replace starting wide receiver Andre Davis as the kickoff returner. But Lee Suggs, in his limited playing time so far, hasn’t shown the burst or the moves needed to make a difference. Not yet anyway. He’s just not ready; otherwise I think we’d have seen him run the ball in those fruitless goal line situations. I still think Jamel White is the best choice for returning kickoffs right now, with Quincy Morgan next. With the season all but lost, it would also be nice to see C.J. Jones activated.

Tight end Chad Mustard looks like he has some good hands to go with his massive frame. I’d like to see the Browns send him or Darnell Sanders up the seam more often to split those two-deep zone defenses. It looks like Browns tight ends usually catch the ball out in the flat, thus losing the benefit of forward momentum in gaining yards after the catch.

I’m getting pretty sick of Quincy Morgan’s egotism. Dude catches one ball the entire game, and he preens, points, and poses as if he’s God’s gift to the wide receiving profession. I don’t remember the greats like Jerry Rice and Steve Largent acting like that. I think all that posturing is Morgan’s over-reaction to an underlying insecurity, the same problem that causes him to fumble and drop so many passes. And I’ll say this for KJ: he found ways to get open, and he held onto the ball.

Two seconds left in the first half, Browns have the ball on their own 43. Frisman Jackson checks into the game for the first time. Were you like me, hoping they’d let the strong-armed receiver hurl a Hail Mary into the end zone? Alas, it wasn’t to be. Holcomb threw underneath, incomplete.

Yes, it was a shame that Dennis Northcutt’s punt return for a touchdown was nullified by a holding call on Roosevelt Williams. It would have given the Browns a 10-0 lead. But put it in perspective: without the hold, it’s not likely Northcutt would have sprung free down the sideline. By the way, Butch Davis said he had “a great view of it.” So was it a good call by the officials? Butch paused, then said, “Next question.”