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Coaches will take Frye's calls |
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Written by JEFF SCHUDEL, Morning Journal Writer
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Saturday, 09 September 2006 |
 BEREA -- Giving a quarterback an option to change a play at the line of scrimmage is like giving a teenager keys to the car; a little freedom is fine, but certain restrictions apply. Charlie Frye has Romeo Crennel's blessing to call audibles, but only in certain situations. As long as Crennel is the Browns' head coach, Frye will never be allowed to run back and forth between the tackles shouting out plays and changing things at the last second as Peyton Manning does with the Colts, although Frye did that as a junior at Akron. Offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon, standing on the sideline, will select a play tomorrow in the season opener against the Saints and relay it to Frye via the radio transmitter in Frye's helmet. Frye is allowed to change the play only if he sees the defense is in a formation to stop the play sent in.
''I tell him, "If on this play, they give you this (defensive look), you can change the play,''' Crennel said. ''If they don't give you this, you can't change the play.'''
This is Frye's second NFL season. Trent Dilfer was in his 12th season last year and was under the same restrictions from Crennel. In fact, Crennel said Frye has some options that were not available last year. Part of that is because the Browns are in the second year of the same offense.
How much those restrictions played into the feud between Dilfer and Carthon is unclear. What's more, Frye does not care. The system is fine with him he said before practice yesterday.
''That was Trent's opinion,'' Frye said before practice yesterday. ''This is my team, now. What we can change to is limited but I think it's going to be effective. I feel comfortable with what we're doing. I don't want to get into detail, but it has to be something we've worked on all week. I can't just change it to anything.
''This is our offense. This is the way we do things. We're going to go out and make it happen.''
Frye said he and Carthon have a good working relationship. They spent hours and hours together over the winter breaking down tape. Frye is comfortable enough with Carthon to make suggestions, which is no surprise. When he was in eighth grade he would stand on the sideline during Willard High School games and suggest plays to coach Terry King.
King listened. So does Carthon.
''Charlie has done a tremendous job with our offense,'' Carthon said. He's done a tremendous job with his teammates and he has the respect of his teammates. That's what helps you win.
''I really don't like to speak about players who aren't here and who are not going to help the Cleveland Browns win right now. Charlie is here and Charlie is going to do the best that he can to help us win and so am I.''
Frye said the Browns won't have success if he and Carthon are not working in harmony. He said he was unaware of a rift between Carthon and Dilfer and said Dilfer never told him about one.
''Mo likes me making suggestions,'' Frye said. ''I'm always thinking ahead. When one play is over I'm thinking about the next play that will work. I wish we had two-way (radio) communication. Whether he listens to my suggestions is his call and I respect that.''
Frye played in seven games last year. He was 2-3 starting the last five. He completed 98-of-165 passes for 1,002 yards with four touchdown passes and five interceptions. He had a 72.3 passer rating.
Frye was 25-of-38 in the 2006 preseason for 148 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He had a 79.7 passer rating.
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©The Morning Journal 2006 |
