Brown waits for chance to carry load
DAVIE — The deeper the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes advanced in the 1999 Georgia high school playoffs, the more coach Frank Barden fed the ball to his star running back.
First he gave Ronnie Brown 36 carries in a win over Dodge County in the state quarterfinals. Then 20 carries for 109 yards in a win over Appling County in the semis, then another 20 carries for 180 yards and three scores to beat Hart County in the title game.
"He got stronger as the game went on," Barden said. "He basically played fullback, halfback, wherever we needed him, and wherever he was, we gave the ball to him."
If only Brown's coaches with the Miami Dolphins had the same faith in him. He was drafted No. 2 overall in 2005, yet he rarely has been given the workload of a top running back.
Brown has 20 or more carries in just eight of his 30 games as a Dolphin. Miami is 6-2 in those eight games, but new coach Cam Cameron gave Brown just 11 carries in each game this season. Miami, largely abandoning the run in the second half, is 0-2.
Cameron said repeatedly this week that Brown's lack of work this season has had more to do with game circumstances than his ability. Cameron said Brown "will have a significant role" Sunday against the New York Jets, whom Brown burned for 237 yards in two games last season.
Cameron also went of his way to point out how "young" Brown is as a runner - he never topped 175 carries in any of his four years at Auburn, and hasn't had 250 carries in an NFL season - and how much Brown still needs to learn.
But Brown once again is hearing the same criticism that he heard at Auburn, when he shared the backfield with Carnell "Cadillac" Williams: He's too soft. He can't hit the hole. He's out of shape. He can't handle 25 carries a game.
And Brown is tired of it.
"I think that's just speaking of ignorance," he said. "Until a situation happens and I prove that I can't do it, that's one thing. But to say that someone is not capable of doing something before they actually go out and do it, that's a whole different situation."
Like in his first two seasons, Brown has had to deal with a pass-oriented offense while sharing rushing opportunities. He has just 65 yards on 22 carries this season, and journeyman Jesse Chatman has 10 rushes for 42 yards. In comparison, Trent Green has thrown 78 times.
In 2006, when Brown was forced into a bigger role after Ricky Williams' suspension, the Dolphins went 3-2 when Brown carried more than 20 times. They were 2-6 when he didn't. He missed three games because of injury.
This year, Cameron has used Brown sparingly in two losses, though said that happened because the team was forced to pass often after falling behind.
"It sure seems like he doesn't have confidence in him," said former Dolphins running back Jim Kiick. "Most running backs, the more they run the better they get. But until (Brown) gets that opportunity, no one will ever know."
Since training camp, Cameron also has given ammunition to Brown-bashers.
Against Dallas, Cameron benched Brown in favor of Chatman in the fourth quarter and didn't call a running play for the final 22 minutes, although the Cowboys didn't lead by more than 10 points until four minutes remained.
Cameron temporarily placed Brown on kick-return duty during camp though Brown had never done so at any level, which many believe was Cameron's way of telling Brown to get his act together.
Publicly, Brown continues to flash his incandescent smile and say all the right things.
"I've never gone out and just questioned the coach's play-calling and told him that I want the ball a lot more," Brown said. "Obviously, we can state our opinions as adults, but at the same time I don't ever want it to seem like I'm questioning his ability to coach."
Brown waits for chance to carry load
Brown waits for chance to carry load
Theres no stoppin' us, no holdin us back. This is the trick of our trade, this is exactly what we do best!
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