Cribbs masterSFlbof field for the Browns

Akron Beacon Journal

CLEVELAND

At this rate, Josh Cribbs will be kicking field goals and punting by the end of the season.

After all, those are about the only duties he has not yet dabbled in during his career with the Browns.

On Saturday, Cribbs continued to redefine his versatility when he lined up at safety for one play during his team’s intrasquad scrimmage at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

In his lone appearance on defense, Cribbs blitzed and later noted he would have had a sack if he had been playing in a real game instead of an exhibition in which tackling was prohibited.

Cribbs is already known as one of the top return men in the NFL.

He’s also well-versed in making special-teams tackles, and running back, quarterback and wide receiver are on his r sum , too.

But safety?

“I don’t want to put my foot in my mouth, but Coach really likes me back there, and he wants to give me a shot,” Cribbs said. “So I’m gonna take advantage of the opportunity when it comes.”

Cribbs will receive plenty of chances this season, especially when it comes to making plays on offense.

A member of the White team in Saturday’s scrimmage against the Brown team, Cribbs took a snap out of the Wildcat formation and ran for 14 yards during his squad’s first offensive play from scrimmage.

Although the White team suffered a 14-6 loss, Cribbs finished with five catches for 29 yards and two carries for 15 yards.

“The more times you get the ball in his hands, the more chances he has of making explosive plays,” Browns coach Eric Mangini said. “You saw some of the things that we’ll do with him, and I’m sure we’ll do a lot more as well.”

Of Cribbs’ five receptions, four came from quarterback Seneca Wallace, who’s expected to play a significant role this season, even though Jake Delhomme is favored to become the team’s starter.

Cribbs and Wallace give the Browns plenty of options when they’re on the field together, especially when they appear in the Wildcat at the same time.

“With me and Josh Cribbs both being back there, it can be really exciting,” said Wallace, who completed 17-of-23 passes for 152 yards Saturday. “Obviously, he’s gonna make his plays.

“It can be a run. He can throw it. I can be back there. I can throw it to him, or we can run a reverse, whatever. The sky is the limit for both of us on the field at the same time.”

During the offseason, the Browns traded a 2011 draft pick to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for Wallace. The move allowed Browns President Mike Holmgren to acquire a player with whom he built a relationship during his days with the Seattle Seahawks, and it gave Cribbs a new running mate.

“It’s like none other,” Cribbs said of his connection with Wallace. “You’ve got two quarterbacks out there just [having fun] and playing football, and that’s what it’s all about.

“I look for him to throw me the ball, and he looks for me to catch it. That’s the chemistry that we’re getting in practice, and it’s gonna [transfer to] the game as well.”

Obviously, Cribbs and Wallace share respect for one another. But both players know they have yet to unlock their full potential as a one-two punch.

“There’s always gonna be some bugs to work out,” Wallace said. “Obviously, that’s why we have training camp — to work out some of those bugs. Since we’ve started training camp, me and him (have) been on the same page. But obviously, there’s a lot of room for improvement.”