It looks like Jim Brown wasn't the only running back not to show up on Sunday, writes CantonRep.com reporter Steve Doerschuk. Jerome Harrison also didn't show up. Doerschuk writes that Harrison might have a problem with coach Eric Mangini. In Game 13 of the 2010 season, Harrison broke Brown’s single-game franchise record by running for 286 yards in a 41-34...
Running back Jerome Harrison.It looks like Jim Brown wasn't the only running back not to show up on Sunday, writes CantonRep.com reporter Steve Doerschuk. Jerome Harrison also didn't show up.
Doerschuk writes that Harrison might have a problem with coach Eric Mangini.
In Game 13 of the 2010 season, Harrison broke Brown’s single-game franchise record by running for 286 yards in a 41-34 win at Kansas City.
In Sunday’s 16-14 loss to the Chiefs, Harrison got off a decent run of 8 yards, but otherwise gained just 25 yards on 15 carries. One of those carries was a fumble that led to a Chiefs field goal.
It remains to be seen how Harrison’s role will shake out in a running back platoon with Peyton Hillis, who squeezed 35 yards out of eight carries and applied his power to a 1-yard touchdown run.
Harrison didn't have a comment following the game. How could he have explained the Cleveland Browns' lackluster rushing game? Coach Mangini tried.
“I felt like we should have run the ball better, more effectively, and that was a collective effort,” Mangini said.
In two games, the Browns are averaging 88.5 rushing yards, way down from their final figure of 130.4 in 2009.
Former coach returns
Former Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel made his return back to Cleveland on Sunday as the defensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Crennel left with a victory. Ohio.com columnist Marla Ridenour writes:
The Browns might have two of the brightest young minds in the game in Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, but the team seems paralyzed by overanalysis.
The Chiefs held Harrison to 33 yards on 16 carries. Some of the credit should go to Crennel, who looks to be shoring up the Chiefs' run defense with an emphasis on fundamentals and technique.
The Browns have several issues on offense, including not having any real playmakers on offense other than Josh Cribbs.
That puts even more of a burden on the coaching staff to find a way to cook a gourmet meal with generic ingredients. Crennel can certainly tell Mangini how that tastes.
Sights and sounds
News-Herald reporters Bob Finnan and David S. Glasier break down what they saw and heard on Sunday.
When it comes to the numbers, the Browns rushing game continues to sputter. The Browns averaged 2.8 yards per carry.
5-10: Seneca Wallace's record as a starter with the Seahawks and Browns.
20: Browns cornerback Sheldon Brown hauled in his 20th career interception.
130: Games Brown has appeared in during his career, second-most among all active defensive backs.
229: Field goals by Browns kicker Phil Dawson, who needs six more to surpass team leader Lou Groza (234). Dawson missed a costly 42-yarder in the second quarter.
Sunday was also the Ring of Honor ceremony. Joe DeLamielleure was one of the legends that participated at halftime.
DeLamielleure said he'll never forget one play from his illustrious career.
"What do I remember from my years in Cleveland?" he asked. "Red Right 88."
The late interception sealed the Browns' fate in a 1981 wild-card game against Oakland.
"But I also remember what a great player (quarterback) Brian Sipe was and how many great players we had on that team," he said.
Good and bad
The Cleveland Browns are 0-2 and fell to 1-11 in home openers since they returned to the league in 1999. ESPN's James Walker also writes how he liked how well the defense played for the second straight week. The Browns didn't allow an offensive touchdown on Sunday.
But there were also a few things Walker didn't like.
What I didn't like: The Browns' offense was shut down in the second half for the second straight game. Quarterback Seneca Wallace provided a spark by throwing for 229 yards and a touchdown. But his interception in the second quarter went the other way for a touchdown and was a huge play in the game. Cleveland also struggles making adjustments after intermission as it blew it's second straight lead in the second half.
Cleveland Browns/Kansas City Chiefs game stories:
The News-Herald: Familiar ring.
Medina County Gazette: Browns lose to Chiefs.
CantonRep.com: Mistakes, second-half struggles doom Browns again.
Ohio.com: Browns' game plan goes awry again.
Kansas City Star: Chiefs grind out win over Browns.