Cleveland Browns Need To Better Utilize Josh Cribbs If Teams Kick Away From Him

The Cleveland Browns are now 0-2 in the 2010 regular season after losing, 16-14, to the Kansas City Chiefs, even though many thought the Browns would be 2-0 right now when the schedule was released.

One big thing attributed to this record is the fact that, in the first two games, Browns opponents were able to either kick away from the Pro Bowler Josh Cribbs or keep him at bay with great special teams coverage.

In the first game, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers held Cribbs to averages of only 15.3 yards per kickoff return and only 9.7 yards per punt return. Adding in the six touches he had on offense, and the Bucs kept Cribbs from making plays.

Against the Chiefs, Cribbs managed to make an impact as a wide receiver, catching three passes for 74 yards, and a touchdown, but he had nothing in the return game once again.

Obviously Chiefs head coach Todd Haley remembers the two returns for touchdowns that Cribbs had in 2009, and Haley decided not to kick to Cribbs even once all game long. A wise move by Haley, but the Browns failed in getting Cribbs more involved outside of his contributions as as receiver in the game.

Besides his three catches, Cribbs only touched the ball three other times: once on a kick return when he was the up man and rookie cornerback Joe Haden was the deep man. This was a brilliant move to get the ball to Cribbs, who returned it 19 yards. The other two times was a run for one yard out of the Wildcat and a punt return for five yards.

Not the way to use your team's playmaker.

The Browns' play-calling is failing miserably when it comes to Cribbs, especially since he just got a new contract. Rather than playing a conservative second half of football as the Browns and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll have called, Cleveland needs to just get the ball into the hands of Cribbs.

It's not that hard.

Cribbs is a playmaker who needs at least 12-15 touches per game outside of his usual returning duties.

If the Browns can get Cribbs that many touches per every game, then you can better believe the Browns will have a better shot at winning games in 2010 instead of losing games.

(Also posted on Dawg Scooper: THE Cleveland Browns Blog)