Browns Season-in-Review: 2006
The 2006 Season
Record: 4-12
Following a surprising 6-10 season, the front office decided to add some veteran pieces in the offseason. The Browns signed LeCharles Bentley to stabilized the offensive line, Joe Jurevicius to help teach the young wide receivers, and Ted Washington and Willie McGinest to give some veteran leadership to the defense. The Browns also had a very solid draft, they added depth to the defense by drafting linebackers, Kamerion Wimbley and D’Qwell Jackson, in the 1st and 2nd round. Other notable draft picks were RB Jerome Harrison (5th round, Washington State) and FB Lawrence Vickers (6th round, Colorado). The Browns made some more QB changes, this time trading disgruntled veteran Trent Dilfer to the 49ers, a trade in which the Browns received QB Ken Dorsey and a 7th round pick. The season took a turn for the worst on the first day of contact drills. Prized free agent, LeCharles Bentley was lost for the season after injuring his knee on the first play of practice. Even with the loss of Bentley, the Browns showed promise in the preseason, add in the return of offensive weapons Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards, and the Browns were expected to take the next step.
The Browns again started the season at home, this time against the new look New Orleans Saints, with electrifying rookie Reggie Bush and newly signed QB Drew Brees. On the first play from scrimmage, Charlie Frye connected with Braylon Edwards for a 74 yards touchdown, which was then promptly called back on a Kevin Shaffer holding call; the Browns would go 3-and-out. Kellen Winslow in his first game in almost two years had 8 receptions for 63 yards and 1 touchdown, but the Browns would lose to the Saints by a score of 19-14. The Browns looked like they would get their first win of the season in week 3, against the Baltimore Ravens. With the Browns up 14-3 heading into the 4th quarter, Steve McNair and Todd Heap connected on a 3-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 14-9. Shortly after, the Ravens would cut the lead to 14-12 on a Matt Stover field goal. With 3:28 left in the game, and the Browns knocking on the Ravens goal line, looking to put the game away, Chris McAllister was able to able to pick off Charlie Frye to give the Ravens the ball at their own 20. 12 plays later, the Ravens took the lead on another Matt Stover field goal, which gave the Ravens the 15-14 win. The Browns would have to wait until week 4 to get their first win, a 24-21 win over the Oakland Raiders. The Browns fans would have to wait till week 8 to see the Browns win again, this time in controversial fashion. With 1:06 left in the game, and the New York Jets on the Browns 24-yard line, Jets QB Chad Pennington threw a sideline pass to Chris Baker, who caught the ball, but landed out-of-bounds. The Jets argued that Browns safety, Brodney Pool had pushed Baker out before he could get both feet down, however the play stood, and the Browns would win by a score of 20-13, giving them a record of 2-5. In week 9, LaDainian Tomlinson and the Chargers eviscerated the Browns defense, LT was able to run for 172 yards on 18 carries and 3 touchdowns, as the Browns lost by a score of 32-25.
In week 10, the Browns were able to contain the Michael Vick experience, as they were able to take down the Falcons in Atlanta by a score of 17-13; the win pushed the Browns record to 3-6 on the season. Week 11 was the straw that broke the camel’s back (if it wasn’t already broken). The Browns held a 20-10 lead with 4:24 left in the game. However, on the next play, the Steelers were able to score a touchdown on a Willie Parker 1-yard run, to make the score 20-17. The Steelers scoring drive lasted 17 plays, taking up 5 minutes of game time, and was helped out by 3 Browns penalties. With the defense in desperate need of a breather, the offense promptly went 3-and-out on their next drive. The Steelers then went on an 11 play scoring drive, which gave them a 24-20 lead with 39 seconds left. The Browns were able to move the ball to the Steelers 22-yard line, but the potential game winning pass to Braylon Edwards fell incomplete, as the Browns would lose by a 24-20 final score, dropping their record to 3-7. The next week the Browns were shutout by the Bengals by a score of 30-0. The Browns would get their last win of the season in week 13, against the Kansas City Chiefs. Down 28-14 early in the 4th quarter, and with Charlie Frye out of the game because of an injury, Derek Anderson was forced into the game. Anderson would throw two 4th quarter touchdowns to Steve Heiden, one with 35 seconds left in the game, to tie the game at 28-28, and send it to overtime. A Phil Dawson 33-yard field goal would give the Browns the win. The Browns didn’t do much right in the last 4 games of the season as they would lose all 4, giving them a final record of 4-12.
Pro Bowl: None
All-Pro: None
Offensive Stats
Total Points: 238 (30th)
Total Yards: 4,233 (31st)
Passing Yards: Charlie Frye – 2,454
Passing TD: Charlie Frye – 10
Passing Int: Charlie Frye – 17
QB Rating: Charlie Frye – 72.2
Rush Att: Reuben Droughns – 220
Rush Yards: Reuben Droughns – 758
Rush TD: Reuben Droughns – 4
Rec: Kellen Winslow – 89
Rec Yards: Braylon Edwards – 884
Rec TD: Braylon Edwards – 6
Defensive Stats
Total Points allowed: 356 (22nd)
Total Yards allowed: 5,515 (27th)
Tackles: Sean Jones – 111
Sacks: Kamerion Wimbley – 11.0
Int: Sean Jones, Daven Holly – 5
— Chris Sladoje (@CST_Doje)
Photo via spokeo.com
Cleveland Browns: Season in Review
