New year, but the same old problem: Browns can’t get into the end zone

CLEVELAND — It’s been so long since the Browns offense scored a touchdown that guard Eric Steinbach was stunned to learn Jerome Harrison’s sizzling, 72-yard scoring blast in Buffalo on Nov. 17 on Monday Night Football was the most recent time.

“Um, I didn’t even know that,” Steinbach said. “I remember the play. I didn’t realize that was the last one. That’s probably the last positive long run we’ve had in a while. It’ll be good to get things rolling this year. I have full confidence in the offense and the coaches to run the ball and throw the ball effectively.”

Touchdowns were almost as hard to come by for the Browns last season as victories were for the winless Lions, who visit the Stadium tonight in the second preseason game. The Browns went the final six outings of last season without a TD and picked up where they left off last year by getting shut out, 17-0, by Green Bay last week.

“I didn’t read any of your guys’ papers, but I’m sure it said seven games with no touchdowns, right?” said center Hank Fraley. “We’ve just got to out and execute. We moved the ball, especially with the first team. We moved it down the field and had a hiccup there and of course I get the hold on the field goal, so that erased three points. And then the two-minute, we had another one there in the red zone. You take that out, it’s 10-14 going into the half, and you’re like, ‘All right, it’s a decent preseason.’ But there definitely [are] things we have to work on, and that’s what we’re out here doing.”

Brady Quinn admitted that getting the ball in the end zone was the biggest thing the Browns worked on all week. You name it, they went over it a thousand times: red zone, goal-line, no-huddle, long passes, short ones, bursts up the middle, trick plays, unlikely receivers — anything to get the darn thing in.

“How important [is it to score a TD this week]?” Quinn said. “It’s important every game. But it’s obviously vital to us as this point.”

That being said, the current unit doesn’t deserve all the heat for last year’s woes. After all, Quinn only started one of those TD-less games (with a broken finger), Derek Anderson started one (and suffered a season-ending knee injury), Ken Dorsey started four, and Bruce Gradkowski started one.

“We don’t think about it,” said Quinn. “It’s a new year. Last year is last year. And we’re just working on things with this offense, getting better with this group and this team.”

Coach Eric Mangini, who has yet to name a starting quarterback for the game, stressed that crossing the plane is just one of his many objectives.

“I always feel urgency to get in the end zone and keep [opponents] out of the end zone,” he said. “We want to do both. I’d like to see big returns, and them not have big returns. I also want to see good football. That’s what I’m looking for, good football and being able to eliminate mistakes.”