|
Don't worry about Jurevicius, he'll catch on |
|
|
|
|
Written by JEFF SCHUDEL, Morning Journal Writer
|
|
Wednesday, 06 September 2006 |
 BEREA -- Joe Jurevicius' name is listed among the players who caught passes for the Browns in the preseason. It takes a football-sniffing dog and a trained search party to find it, but it's there, right after Carlton Brewster and Jason Wright and just before Brandon Rideau. Jurevicius ranked 13th of 21 receivers in the preseason with two catches for 18 yards. This, from one of the players the Browns eagerly presented to the media on the first day of free agency in March along with LeCharles Bentley and Kevin Shaffer. Fans keep asking, ''What's wrong with Jurevicius? Why don't they throw him more passes? Doesn't Frye look for him?''
The questions make coach Romeo Crennel smile. He knows exactly what he has in the nine-year veteran from Lake Catholic High School and Penn State by way of the Giants, Buccaneers and Seahawks. Games start to count Sunday when the Browns open the season against the Saints. Jurevicius might be thrown enough passes to quiet the unrest. Then again, he might not be.
One thing is certain; Jurevicius isn't worried or complaining. Fans who think he is don't know Joe.
''I think people notice him and they don't mind that he's not an out-front kind of guy,'' Crennel said. ''Maybe its part of being a good professional to be low-key. He goes about his job, runs his route hard and goes down the field and blocks to gain yards. Part of the reason we might gain yards is because Joe puts a good block on the linebacker.
''Maybe he's not as spectacular as some people might want a receiver to be. But it helps the team win because he moves the football. There are some good things about not being spectacular.''
As personalities go, Braylon Edwards is like that car you pull up to at a traffic light. Unintelligible music is blaring so loud from speakers that must be nine feet in diameter you can't hear your own car radio. Rolling up your windows helps, but only a little.
Jurevicius is a quiet candlelight serenade by comparison.
Both are excellent football players. It is Frye's job and offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon's job to involve both in the game plan. A major reason the Browns made the calculated decision to sign Jurevicius to a four-year contract and not re-sign Antonio Bryant (1,009 yards receiving last year) is they know Jurevicius won't whine for the ball.
''Joe's great,'' Frye said. ''He didn't play that much in the preseason. He's awesome. He's a good leader. He's one of the guys that are well-respected on this team. I really enjoy him as a person, not just as a player.
''Joe's going to be a big part of this offense -- not just catching balls. He's going to be a mentor for Kellen and Braylon also. He's going to be working on and off the field.''
Jurevicius caught 55 passes playing with Seattle last year. He had 10 touchdown catches, nearly matching his total of 13 from the previous seven seasons with the Giants and Bucs. He started 11 games -- a career high. The point is he has proven he is more than a downfield blocker and a locker room shrink.
''The starters and the guys who play are going to play a lot more than in preseason,'' Jurevicius said. ''If those opportunities come, like I've done my whole career, I'll step up.''
Crennel won't say who will start at wide receiver Sunday. Edwards and Jurevicius seem like logical choices but Frye and Dennis Northcutt worked well in preseason -- during practice, anyway -- and Crennel might be tempted to start Northcutt, bring one of the other two off the bench on third down and then move Northcutt to the slot on those plays.
Jurevicius has been the third receiver more than he has been a starter during his career. He played in 104 games prior to joining the Browns and came off the sideline in 70 of them. Whether it is as a starter or a sub, he is fired up to play for his hometown team in the season opener in Cleveland Browns Stadium.
''I'm looking forward to stepping out there when the Stadium is packed and the Muny Lot is packed,'' he said. ''I'm going to let it sink in then.''
The only regular season game Jurevicius played in Cleveland was in 2000 when he was with the Giants. He came off the bench and caught one pass for 10 yards in a game the Giants won, 24-3.
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
©The Morning Journal 2006 |
