TIM COUCH Using turmoil as the turning point

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
BEREA -- The line of demarcation does not seem clear.
It would be hard to say that Tim Couch became a better quarterback on Oct. 6, when he lashed out at Cleveland Browns fans for cheering when he was injured during a 26-21 loss to Baltimore.
Statistically, Couch has had his good days and bad days since then.
Former Browns coaches and players said at the time that Couch's emotional outburst could be the turning point for the No. 1 pick in the 1999 draft.
In hindsight, with Couch playing two of the best games of his career the past two weeks against Cincinnati and New Orleans, even Couch admits the obscenity-laced tirade may have helped him.
"It was kind of the game where a lot happened and I kind of got some stuff off my chest," Couch said. "Ever since then I've been more relaxed and more confident about the way I've played."
Going into Sunday's home game against Carolina, Couch is now completely recovered from the elbow injury that forced him to miss the first two games. He's thriving since the Browns have found a running game with rookie William Green.
Growing up
Coach Butch Davis is starting to come around to the idea that the Baltimore experience helped Couch.
"There was good and bad about that," Davis said. "It was bad that we lost the game, it was bad what happened in the stands. But maybe in the long run, two or three years from now, we may look back and say most of it was good. Maybe it did put a chip on his shoulder and make him a little tougher, emotionally and everything."
Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said as much earlier this month.
In reference to Couch's comments after the Baltimore game, Arians said, "There are times in your career where something needs to happen for you to take another step. He needed to be toughened in a mental area."
Couch's teammates have seen a change in him since that night.
"I don't think he's become a different player," running back Jamel White said. "It probably made him more mad than anything. He's really motivated. His confidence changed a lot. It probably took that for him to get his confidence. When people are down on you, when you get backed into a corner, you feel like you have to fight your way out.
"I wasn't here with him in '99, but since I've met him, he's been through so many different things, people booing him, wanting to get rid of him, Kelly Holcomb. He had his back against the wall and he came out swinging. You've got to respect a person like that."
Tough season
Couch's fourth season may have been his toughest. Even when he came back after suffering torn scar tissue in his elbow, it took weeks for him to regain his arm strength.
When backup Holcomb went 1-1 against Kansas City and Cincinnati and was a helmet toss away from 2-0, Couch's critics wanted the Browns to stick with Holcomb.
On Sept. 11, injured linebacker Jamir Miller said Couch needed to become more vocal and assert himself as the team leader on both sides of the ball. Miller said Couch needed to interact more with defensive players so they would play for him.
"It all motivates you as a player," Couch said of the criticism, including Miller's remarks. "Some guys say they don't look at it and it doesn't bother them. I think you use everything as motivation. You want to prove people wrong who say you can't do this and that. There's nothing better than doing something people say you can't do."
The situation came to a head after the Baltimore game, when Couch suffered a mild concussion on a hit by linebacker Peter Boulware.
"I'm lying in the end zone hurt and they're cheering," Couch said afterward, adding another phrase with expletives.
Turning point
Tight end Mark Campbell also thinks that was the turning point for Couch.
"Now that I look back at it, it looks like it was," Campbell said. "He did respond at that moment. He stood up like a man and put some more responsibility on himself. Ever since then his confidence has grown. Every week he's getting better and better. His presence in the huddle has been amazing the last couple weeks.
"When he's a little more emotional, you know he's playing good. He's full of confidence and he's a little more leader-oriented. He's telling people what's going on. That's when he's at his best."
As ugly as the fan reaction was that night in October, Campbell said Couch may have needed to go through it.
"It could have cleared his conscience a little bit," Campbell said. "Since he's been here, that was his first outbreak. He's been taking it and taking it, that's the first time he's really responded.
"I don't think he wanted to have an outburst like he did, but I think he really matured from it."