Josh Cribbs continues to evolve as an offensive threat as he expects to play a large role at receiver for the Browns in 2010.
View full sizeJosh Cribbs has been a valuable player for the Browns as a returner and out of the wildcat formation, but coaches say he is making great strides as a receiver as the team gets ready to begin the regular season.BEREA, Ohio — Browns receiver Josh Cribbs watched himself on film the day after the Detroit preseason game making a 30-yard sideline catch and felt like he was having an out-of-body experience.
"I definitely looked at that play when I caught the ball and I was like, 'Hey, look at him! Look at that guy!' " Cribbs said. "I was just kind of looking at myself in the third person. I saw the growth and saw how far I had come at being a wide receiver -- being comfortable, begging for the football, just wanting it and having that drive of being a legitimate wide receiver."
That sideline catch of a Jake Delhomme throw -- one that led to a TD -- came as no surprise to coach Eric Mangini, who kept insisting last season that Cribbs would be a good receiver despite all the raised eyebrows and snickers.
"I really believed it last year, and he caught 20 balls," said Mangini. "I think the difference now is that he's got the routes, he's got the system and he's adding the subtleties of the position and that's been really fun to watch.
"He's got excellent hands and he's made some impressive catches. That one on the sideline was a big-time catch. Not only that, but he blows people up when he's blocking. You can run him on reverses, play him at quarterback -- he makes me happy."
Cribbs finished the preseason fourth on the team with eight catches for 77 yards with one TD, a 15-yarder from Seneca Wallace against the Rams. He led the team with five catches that game for 30 yards, and caught a 9-yarder from Delhomme on a fourth-and-3 to the Rams' 10. The Browns scored two plays later.
"Josh is always going to have the element of playmaker with him because that's the way he is," said Delhomme.
He recalled that some people questioned receiver Steve Smith in Carolina, and Smith responded with a breakout year. "Those playmakers," Delhomme said, "they just have a way, a sense, a feel of how to get open. They're just special."
Cribbs is using his background as a quarterback at Kent State to help him in his new role.
View full sizeCribbs has been working on improving his receiving skills."One thing I've worked on is showing late hands," he said. "A lot of receivers, when the ball is coming, they're running with their hands [out]. . . . Wait until the last possible second to put your hands out there and it fools the defensive back. He's keying on your eyes and hands. I also try not to make my eyes get this big when the ball is coming. It's real tough.
"And I've been crying wolf a lot on running plays, acting like I'm getting the ball and running a go, so when it's actually coming, they downplay it and I'm able to catch the football."
His doubters have been a tremendous help, too.
"Oh yeah, that's the motivation I'll use throughout the year -- the negative comments or naysayers about me being a receiver," he said. "I thrive on proving people wrong."
Besides lining up at receiver in different formations -- with two, three and four receivers -- Cribbs will also still get reps in the "flash" package and Wallace's "cyclone" package -- both versions of the wildcat. But defenses have more to think about now.
"I'm not just the gadget guy anymore," he said. "I'm a legitimate receiver. A lot of it has to do with coach believing in me, saying 'you're the man, so strap up.' I feel somewhat of a swag about myself, but at the same time staying humble enough to be on my responsibilities."
Of course, Cribbs is just as happy making a good downfield block as he is a catch. With his size (6-1, 215) and strength, it's a jolt to defenders.
"We're trying to make ourselves known as one of the toughest receiving corps in the league," said Cribbs.
"When you play us, you better be on your game. The safeties, they fear us, so we want that reputation and we want to let them know, 'we're going to block you as well, so back off.' "
Cribbs had amazing chemistry with Wallace all preseason, and developed it with Delhomme toward the end when Mohamed Massaquoi was out for a while with a hamstring injury.
"Jake and I hooked up a couple of times in the Detroit game, and I'm getting as comfortable with Jakes as I was with Seneca throughout [preseason]," he said.
Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll acknowledged that Cribbs will have plenty of chances to touch the ball on offense as well as kick returns.
"I'm looking for him to have a good year, both at receiver and whatever else we ask him to play," said Daboll. "We do have a lot of stuff in for him because he's a very good playmaker. I hope he's excited about it. I hope he goes out and he does a really good job with the multitude of things he's going to have to do."