Browns’ passing game dented with loss of Jurevicius

By Connor Byrne  |   Tuesday, September 12, 2006  |  Comments( 1 )

Cleveland Browns
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After a disappointing 19-14 opening-day loss to the New Orleans Saints this past weekend, the Cleveland Browns received even more bad news on Monday. The winless Ohioans found out that one of their biggest offseason acquisitions, wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, will be out four to six weeks with broken ribs.

"We missed him. He's a big part of this offense," young quarterback Charlie Frye told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, following the defeat.

Jurevicius, a native of Cleveland, caught 55 passes and 10 touchdowns with the Seattle Seahawks last season, earning him a four-year, $10 million contract from the Browns. He was supposed to be one of the team's three major options in the passing game, forming a cohesive trio with fellow wideout Braylon Edwards and star tight end Kellen Winslow.

With the sudden and unfortunate loss of Jurevicius until fall, the Browns suddenly find themselves scrambling to find a viable No. 2 receiver for young Frye to throw to. The 31-year-old Jurevicius, who has won a Super Bowl, is one of the most underappreciated pass catchers in the game; he gets the job done and understands how to teach younger players the nuances of the game and, specifically, the WR position. Equally as important is Jurevicius' physicalness that comes from his 6-foot-5, 232-pound frame.

Sans Jurevicius, there's a good chance Cleveland's offensive coordinator, Maurice Carthon, will turn more to veteran Dennis Northcutt. Unfortunately for the Browns, the 28-year-old has never proven to be much more than a speedy, inconsistent wideout in his six-year career. On Sunday, the 5-11, 171-pounder caught four passes for only 37 yards.

In the event Northcutt fails to step into the other starter's role, Travis Wilson and Joshua Cribbs would need to become more viable options. Wilson, a third-round rookie, was inactive for the game; Cribbs, who is primarily a return man, went catchless in the Browns' loss.

The Cleveland Browns' passing game looked poor in the opener against a relatively weak Saints defense, so it probably isn't going to fare well against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals' unit in Week 2. Cincy's defense stymied a top-notch Kansas City Chiefs attack this past weekend, meaning Frye and friends probably aren't going to enjoy themselves in the Queen City.

--Got feedback? Connor J. Byrne responds to readers' comments and questions each day: cbyrne@realfootball365.com.

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