Friday, September 19, 2003
By DAVE DEVEREUX
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NILES -- While the Cleveland Browns' 0-2 start places the team in a precarious situation, wide receiver Quincy Morgan says the team's attitude is positive as they prepare for Sunday's road test at San Francisco.
"You have to stay positive in this league. If you don't, you're going to end up 0-16 or 3-13," Morgan said. "We got 14 more games to go. We're definitely not going to quit."
Morgan, the Brown's third-year receiver from Kansas State, spoke Monday at an appearance sponsored by the Ohio Browns Boosters at Kahunaville in the Eastwood Mall.
"It's fun," Morgan said, referring to the Browns' enthusiastic fan base. "You know, no matter what your record is or how you're playing, when you go home there is gonna be 70,000 screaming fans.
"And to come out and do something like this where people show up just to see you and have an autograph signed -- it's fun," Morgan said. "I love it."
Following Sunday's 33-13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Morgan said he has certainly heard the questions surrounding the quarterback position -- whether the Browns should replace Kelly Holcomb with Tim Couch.
However, Morgan didn't give his endorsement for one over the other.
"That's not my call," he said. "That's coaches' call. I can play with either one."
Not much passing
So far this season, the Browns' passing game has shown little resemblance from the display they showed against Pittsburgh in January's AFC wild card playoff game.
Holcomb, who passed for 429 yards in the 36-33 loss to the Steelers, has thrown for 329 yards combined in the Browns' first two games this season.
He has completed one touchdown pass and has four interceptions as the Browns have managed just one touchdown.
"Holcomb gets greedy sometimes, which is good," Morgan said. "He takes shots but sometimes he takes the wrong shots. I think he's realizing that he just has to be Kelly Holcomb and that's not throwing for 400 yards all the time.
"Yeah he might force it sometimes but he's still a very good quarterback." Morgan said.
Deep threat
Morgan, who emerged last season as a deep threat for the Browns, has also gotten off to a slow start. He set career highs last year in receptions (56), yards (964), and touchdowns (7), while leading the NFL, with a 17.2 yards per catch average.
Against the Ravens, Morgan caught one pass for 14 yards, which followed up a two-reception, 18-yard performance in the Browns' 9-6 season-opening loss to Indianapolis.
Morgan said the offensive production has been frustrating for everyone, himself included.
"We've seen a lot of plays that we could have hit that we didn't hit. And that's the bottom line," Morgan said. "Hopefully we can pick it up. I can pick it up and put up big numbers."
Morgan denies coach Butch Davis' claim that the receivers weren't getting open enough.
"Not to try and sound cocky but I don't think there's really too many people out there that can press me one-on-one," he said. "Coach gets frustrated like everybody else sometimes, but I wasn't on lockdown. I just wanted to let you all know that."
Niners next
Looking ahead to Sunday's game against the 49ers, Morgan said he believes the game plan is going to be the same. He said the execution is what has to be different.
"We're gonna stick to the script," Morgan said. "There are a lot of big plays out there that we just have to hit."
Morgan said while he doesn't believe this should be considered a must-win game, he said he anticipates a high level of focus this week.
"I know we're going to be extra hungry this week in practice and on Sunday," he said. "We talk a lot about the talent we have and I know people say they haven't really seen it yet. But we do have a young good team. We're going to show it."