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Marla Ridenour breaks down matchup
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 08:28 a.m. EDT, Sep 14, 2008
1. Steelers running back Willie Parker vs. Browns' defense.
Parker set the Steelers' single-game rushing record with 223 yards against the Browns on Dec. 7, 2006. His longest career run (an 80-yard touchdown) came against the Browns on Dec. 24, 2005. Parker has faced the Browns six times (starting in 2004) and rushed for at least 100 yards four times. He has carried 125 times for 657 yards (5.3 average) with three touchdowns, all in different games. Parker has notched 22 100-yard games, and the Steelers are 19-3 when he hits that mark. In their nine consecutive victories over the Browns, the Steelers have averaged 174.7 rushing yards per game. The Browns gave up 167 yards on the ground to the Dallas Cowboys last week and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is certain to feature Parker, coming off a 138-yard, three-touchdown game against the Houston Texans.
2. Ben Roethlisberger's ability to escape.
The former Findlay High School and Miami University star was the most sacked quarterback in the league the past two seasons, going down 93 times (99, including playoffs). Seven of those were at the hands of the Browns (five last year). But some of the signature moments of the series have been the 6-foot-5, 241-pound Roethlisberger slipping away from trouble to make a huge play. Last November, he avoided a tackle by linebacker Willie McGinest and ran for a 30-yard touchdown that gave the Steelers a 24-21 lead in a 31-28 victory. Browns coach Romeo Crennel was so conscious of that, he might have used a running back in practice to mimic Roethlisberger's scrambling. ''In both of those games we had a chance to win, we couldn't make a first down, and we couldn't get him on the ground,'' Crennel said, including a 24-20 loss to the Steelers in November 2006. ''If we could have done either of those things we probably would have won.'' As a starter, Roethlisberger is 17-4 against the AFC North.
3. Steelers center Justin Hartwig vs. Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers.
The Steelers enjoyed a parade of Pro Bowl centers in Mike Webster (1974-88), Dermontti Dawson (1988-2000) and Jeff Hartings (2001-06). Hartwig, signed as an unrestricted free agent from the Carolina Panthers, is the third man to play the position in three years, replacing Sean Mahan. Rogers, a two-time Pro Bowler from the Detroit Lions playing his second game for the Browns, was one of the few bright spots in last weekend's loss to the Cowboys. He made four solo tackles and two pressures against a Cowboys line that had its best performance in 20 years, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. Rogers will likely be double-teamed but could be more of a factor against a Steelers line that still has much to prove.
4. How the Browns handle the Steelers' zone blitz.
Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, in his 50th NFL season as a player or coach, is considered the creator of the ''fire zone'' or ''zone blitz.'' ''That's what they do best on defense is blitz,'' Browns running back Jamal Lewis said. ''If you don't stop it, they're going to keep bringing it,'' Browns quarterback Derek Anderson said. ''Their zone pressures and the things they do on defense are different. Radically. In their own certain special way they're just a little bit different. But that's what makes them good. They make you think, they make us communicate, but we also can do some things to make them communicate and hopefully pop some guys open.'' Asked if he was waiting for LeBeau, 71, to retire, Anderson said, ''That would be nice.''
5. Will Browns' headsets work?
The Browns have had problems with their helmet headsets since preseason. Last week, Anderson said the battery was out, and it didn't work three or four times in the red zone and about six times total. On Friday, offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski sounded concerned. ''I hope we have them fixed,'' Chudzinski said. ''It has been a couple different issues. I know that they are working hard and trying to get that solved. The toughest thing about it when it happens, it's intermittent because sometimes it happens and you are still able to get the play in, but you've lost some time and now you are rushed at the line of scrimmage. The whole operation is rushed, that is the thing that has made it tough.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
1. Steelers running back Willie Parker vs. Browns' defense.
Parker set the Steelers' single-game rushing record with 223 yards against the Browns on Dec. 7, 2006. His longest career run (an 80-yard touchdown) came against the Browns on Dec. 24, 2005. Parker has faced the Browns six times (starting in 2004) and rushed for at least 100 yards four times. He has carried 125 times for 657 yards (5.3 average) with three touchdowns, all in different games. Parker has notched 22 100-yard games, and the Steelers are 19-3 when he hits that mark. In their nine consecutive victories over the Browns, the Steelers have averaged 174.7 rushing yards per game. The Browns gave up 167 yards on the ground to the Dallas Cowboys last week and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is certain to feature Parker, coming off a 138-yard, three-touchdown game against the Houston Texans.
2. Ben Roethlisberger's ability to escape.
The former Findlay High School and Miami University star was the most sacked quarterback in the league the past two seasons, going down 93 times (99, including playoffs). Seven of those were at the hands of the Browns (five last year). But some of the signature moments of the series have been the 6-foot-5, 241-pound Roethlisberger slipping away from trouble to make a huge play. Last November, he avoided a tackle by linebacker Willie McGinest and ran for a 30-yard touchdown that gave the Steelers a 24-21 lead in a 31-28 victory. Browns coach Romeo Crennel was so conscious of that, he might have used a running back in practice to mimic Roethlisberger's scrambling. ''In both of those games we had a chance to win, we couldn't make a first down, and we couldn't get him on the ground,'' Crennel said, including a 24-20 loss to the Steelers in November 2006. ''If we could have done either of those things we probably would have won.'' As a starter, Roethlisberger is 17-4 against the AFC North.
3. Steelers center Justin Hartwig vs. Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers.
The Steelers enjoyed a parade of Pro Bowl centers in Mike Webster (1974-88), Dermontti Dawson (1988-2000) and Jeff Hartings (2001-06). Hartwig, signed as an unrestricted free agent from the Carolina Panthers, is the third man to play the position in three years, replacing Sean Mahan. Rogers, a two-time Pro Bowler from the Detroit Lions playing his second game for the Browns, was one of the few bright spots in last weekend's loss to the Cowboys. He made four solo tackles and two pressures against a Cowboys line that had its best performance in 20 years, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. Rogers will likely be double-teamed but could be more of a factor against a Steelers line that still has much to prove.
4. How the Browns handle the Steelers' zone blitz.
Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, in his 50th NFL season as a player or coach, is considered the creator of the ''fire zone'' or ''zone blitz.'' ''That's what they do best on defense is blitz,'' Browns running back Jamal Lewis said. ''If you don't stop it, they're going to keep bringing it,'' Browns quarterback Derek Anderson said. ''Their zone pressures and the things they do on defense are different. Radically. In their own certain special way they're just a little bit different. But that's what makes them good. They make you think, they make us communicate, but we also can do some things to make them communicate and hopefully pop some guys open.'' Asked if he was waiting for LeBeau, 71, to retire, Anderson said, ''That would be nice.''
5. Will Browns' headsets work?
The Browns have had problems with their helmet headsets since preseason. Last week, Anderson said the battery was out, and it didn't work three or four times in the red zone and about six times total. On Friday, offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski sounded concerned. ''I hope we have them fixed,'' Chudzinski said. ''It has been a couple different issues. I know that they are working hard and trying to get that solved. The toughest thing about it when it happens, it's intermittent because sometimes it happens and you are still able to get the play in, but you've lost some time and now you are rushed at the line of scrimmage. The whole operation is rushed, that is the thing that has made it tough.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
Comments
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niles, oh
Posted 09:18 PM, 09/13/2008
I HAVE 5 MORE THINGS TO WATCH FOR :1 Crennel's pile of fast food wrappers on the sideline. 2 look to see if all the Browns have their shoes on.3 making sure there is plenty of crutches on the side line for the out of shape players to lean on.4 the gathering lack of behinds in seats.5 the puddle of tears in front of Crennel as he makes up more excues for losing again and why he called for a one more lame 4quarter field goal. Savage and Crennel must go.
Posted 11:38 AM, 09/14/2008
I can think of only one question: "Will the Browns cover any receivers on defense?" Really? Is there any other questions?
Posted 12:11 PM, 09/14/2008
Can the Browns ever beat the steelers???If Brownies cannot come out on top....forget about winning AFC North!They must do no worse than split with Steelers. No more excuses, no more losses...if Romeo cannot handle the steelers...then pack him up and ship him to Cincinnati(they will be looking for a coach too)Can you say....Bill Cohwer in 2009?????!!!
cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 04:16 PM, 09/14/2008
romeo crennel won at new england because he and his head coach there are liars and cheats, and we don't need that kind of leadership and character speaking from the brownie's pulpit...why hasn't the press grilled this sad leader about his own involvement in stealing plays from teams? why the kid gloves handling? his play calling, his personnel choices, his ability to deal with other teams and the game plans...all atrocious; we aren't supposed to be waiting for crennel to become a grownup coach, so why are we? you could pick any other coach and they couldn't be any worse... maybe crennel will run the ball every play this week, just to be different, when he isn't kicking meaningless field goals and savage has hung his hat with this guy, so he better wake up and smell the coffee...we didn't need ozzie's assistant; we needed ozzie
cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 04:23 PM, 09/14/2008
if you don't have anything to say except "let's kick", why the need to fix the headsets? not that a headcoach should be concerned about a thing like that going on for weeks... absurd, but not the problem; what is being called into those headsets when they ARE working is the problem
AKRON, OH
Posted 12:02 AM, 09/15/2008
i can tell u the 5 things to watch for watch the clowns lose their next 5 games lmao GO STEELERS
