Interview With Gridiron Brownies

The Kansas City Chiefs host the Cleveland Browns Sunday as they will be blacked out on local TV for the first time in nearly 20 years.  If a game is played between two of the league’s worst teams and no one can watch it, does it exist?  We’ll assume it does, so I sat down with Ward Peterson to catch up on Cleveland.  Ward is the Browns correspondent and gives you everything you need to know at Gridiron Brownies.

Ryan Jones: Josh Cribbs is a lot of fun to watch and certainly has a fan in Chiefs coach Todd Haley, but it seems like he has yet to get the attention he deserves.  Is there anything we shouldn’t expect from him Sunday?

Ward Peterson: If Cribbs were playing for any major team (Cowboys, Giants, etc) or in a major market, he would be WELL known.  Look at what happened when Devis Hester broke out in Chicago.  He was an instant superstar and cashed in.  I dare to say Cribbs is even better.  He is the most versatile guy on the field.  Not only is he probably the best KR in the league right now (he returns punts and kickoffs), he is also the teams leading TACKLER on special teams, so he plays punt and kick coverage as well.  Add in that the former college QB is a threat to throw the ball, and runs like a running back, and you have a WR (his current “actual” position) who is a threat in many ways.  I would expect him to be in the wildcat formation for about 10 snaps on Sunday.

RJ: This is the second week in a row the Chiefs face a team giving up nearly 150 yards per game rushing.  For a struggling team this might be a loaded question, but what has been the biggest issue for the Browns on defense?

WP: Careful with your stats.  The 150 yards per game is skewed by them getting run on like crazy early in the season by the likes of Adrian Peterson.  In last three weeks, no opponents has rushed for more than 100 yards a game.  The biggest challenge for the defense is the number of injuries they have dealt with (are presently starting five new players on defense)…including NT Shaun Rogers who was arguably their best defensive player.  The problem for the team has been that they have been on the field too long.  The team has been VERY competitive in the first half of most games….only to have the offense do little to keep the ball.  With the offense being more productive the past three weeks, the defense has been able to get a little rest between series’ and thus stay fresher.

RJ: It seems like all season there has been a ton of controversy surrounding Browns coach Eric Mangini.  Has the heat gone down at all around him?  Any chance the franchise makes a change?

WP: Actually not at all.  He is still very much on the Hot Seat.  I think there is a strong likelihood that a change is made.  The Browns owner, Randy Lerner, has been aggressively searching for what he calls a new football “czar” to head football operations.  Rumor is that Mike Holmgren was offered the position this week.  Not sure if he will take it or not.  Regardless, the football “czar” will be in charge of football operations and the head coach would report to him.  Chances are the new czar will bring in how own guy, unless Mangini blows him away during meetings and with the team’s performance the final weeks of the season.

RJ: Every team has a player that has avoided the national spotlight (these two teams have plenty of those!) but all they do is make plays.  Who will surprise Chiefs fans on Sunday?

WP: I think the Chiefs fans will be surprised by RB Chris Jennings.  Jennings is an NFL rookie, an undrafted free agent, who played in Canada last season and started the season on the practice squad, was released, then re-signed to the practice squad and now with Jamal Lewis saying this is his last season and then going on IR with concussion symptoms, Jennings is now starting.  He is a one-cut runner who hits the holes fast and runs with power.  He is built a lot like Lewis in his younger years.  I think this could be a battle of young RBs with Jenning and Jamal Charles starting.

RJ: What’s your best guess at a final score?  Player of the game?

WP: I think the Browns win this game, 23 – 20.  Player of the game will be Josh Cribbs who will score on special teams and offense.

Tags: Chris Jennings, Cleveland Browns, Eric Mangini, Josh Cribbs