Browns put focus on fundamentals

09.28.2009

Eric Mangini's first solution to turning things around following the Browns' rough start? More hard work.

Speaking Monday afternoon, the Browns' head coach said his team needs to focus on fundamentals as it goes forward and prepares for another AFC North game this week, this one at home, against the 2-1 Bengals.

"Nobody's happy with where we are right now," Mangini said. "That's across the board. Now it's doing something about it, doing something to change the outcome. That has to be deliberate and it has to be collective. That's working on fixing the things that need fixed day in and day out, night in and night out.

"There's nothing secret about what we have to do. We have to focus on fundamental things and improve those, be more sound in all three areas. We're going to address it and work on it from a scheme perspective and from a players perspective.

"We're going to get those things better moving forward."

The Browns turned the ball over four times in Baltimore, gave up three rushing touchdowns and were unable to avoid playing from behind, something the Ravens' defense thrives upon.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was 25-of-35 for 342 yards, with the highlight coming on a 72-yard touchdown bomb to Derrick Mason early in the fourth quarter. For most of the game Flacco threw short passes and the Browns missed tackles that allowed the Ravens' receivers to create big plays.

"Against the Ravens, the first thing you have to do defensively is be able to stop the run," he said. "You have to eliminate the big plays, then you have to find a way to somehow disrupt Flacco. We didn't do any of those things."

The Browns did get a solid performance from running back Jerome Harrison, who made his first start of the season in place of the injured Jamal Lewis. Harrison ran 16 times for 52 yards and caught 5 passes for 33 yards.

"Jerome did some nice things running the football," Mangini said. "On some of the plays he'll see that maybe could have had a few more yards. That will come with experience."