Aggressive offense excites players

By Tony Grossi

Cleveland Plain Dealer

BEREA

If you knew Joe Thomas, you’d realize that money alone wasn’t the reason he agreed to bypass free agency and sign a new contract with the Browns for $84 million over seven years.

Teammate Tony Pashos joked, “Joe’s so frugal, you can double [the contract number]. He’s never going to spend any of it. It’ll just keep growing. He’s a smart man.”

Thomas explained that he believes the direction of the franchise now is pointing the right way. He said something else that should not be discounted.

“I really like having an offensive head coach, that’s another reason why I wanted to be here,” Thomas said.

“I think Coach [Pat] Shurmur’s an awesome person, a great coach, a hands-on coach. That’s something I haven’t had because we’ve had defensive coaches here. To have him in every gameplan meeting, running the offensive strategy meetings, that’s fun to be around.”

Fun is the operative word when players describe the change in offense. Not only the change in scheme to the West Coast system, but also the change in mentality. It appears that years of setting up field goals and protecting field position under the auspices of defensive-minded Butch Davis, Romeo Crennel and Eric Mangini are being vanquished in four weeks of training camp under Shurmur.

“We’re attacking,” said receiver Josh Cribbs. “We’re West Coast offense, pass first, run second. Even in the red zone.

“The days of running the ball up the throat, of being a running team, AFC North, those days are over. This is the West Coast-style offense and they want straight passing.”

Shurmur’s aggressiveness as a play-caller has been evident through two exhibition games. Last week against Detroit, the Browns advanced to the Lions’ 11 and went run, pass and pass for a 2-yard touchdown to tight end Evan Moore.

Later, a Jordan Norwood punt return of 20 yards gave the offense the ball at the Lions’ 21. First play, Shurmur went for the throat and called a pass play that resulted in a touchdown to Moore. The next time the Browns got inside the red zone — after a sequence of penalties — they threw twice from the 13. Greg Little caught the second one for the touchdown.

“Certainly we’re not conservative gameplan-wise,” Thomas said. “We’re going to throw the ball, going to attack the defense. The things that Coach Shurmur has brought in, his philosophy, is very offensive-minded, very exciting to be part of.”

Red zone efficiency is the hallmark of a strong offense. Scoring touchdowns instead of field goals not only lights the scoreboard but emboldens a team. A year ago, the Browns ranked 25th in red-zone efficiency. It’s only the preseason, but the Browns have scored TDs each of the three times they’ve reached the red zone.

“I think you’ve got to be aggressive everywhere, and that doesn’t mean you’re always throwing it,” Shurmur said. “You could be aggressive running the ball as well. I think if you’re going to be a team that’s going to score points, you have to be able to throw it and throw it efficiently.”