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Browns defensive lineman gives opponents something to worry about
By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Saturday, Nov 22, 2008
BEREA: The Browns are 4-6 this season, just 1-4 at home. Their run defense ranks 28th in the NFL.
Yet, ask opponents what they fear the most about facing the Browns, and the name of nose tackle Shaun Rogers always seems to come up.
Earlier this week, it didn't matter who was asked — many of the Houston Texans players already had nightmares of Rogers dancing through their heads.
Rogers, 6-foot-4 and 350 pounds, is making a huge impact on the defensive line. He leads the line with 53 tackles (44 solo, 9 assists), which puts him third on the defense.
He also leads the team with 4 sacks and has added seven tackles for loss, 12 quarterback pressures and one blocked field goal.
Rogers does so much for the Browns defense that Texans coach Gary Kubiak concedes that his undersized center, Chris Myers at 293 pounds, is going to need some help handling the hulking Rogers.
''We, as coaches, better figure out a way to get [Myers] some help,'' Kubiak said. ''Because you can't sit there and put him on an island all day. So, scheme-wise, you have to do some things to help him out. It's going to be hard enough to block [Rogers] with two guys, even if you're coming down on him with the guard.''
Some NFL players might be offended by the mere notion that they might be in over their head.
Not Myers.
''You look week-in and week-out, and [Rogers] has been all over every single center,''
Myers said. ''So, whatever it takes to get the job done, we're going to do it.''
The Browns landed Rogers in an offseason trade, dealing cornerback Leigh Bodden and a third-round pick to the Detroit Lions. He then signed a six-year contract to anchor the Browns' 3-4 defense.
''[The] 3-4 [defense] poses different matchup problems for you especially with these guys because they have Shaun Rogers in the middle, who is just a massive man,'' Texans offensive tackle Duane Brown said. ''He makes it hard for you in the run game.''
Added Myers: ''Last year, [Rogers] was in Detroit in a 4-3, so he's got a completely different game scheme now with a 3-4 defense. [Yet,] he's getting used to it and he's doing wonders.
''He's the star of their defense. He's their glue. He holds everything together. You just watch every single week, different centers and different guards having trouble on him.''
Rogers was recognized as the NFL's Defensive Player of the Week for Week 8 after making five tackles, a sack and blocking a field-goal attempt in the fourth quarter to help the Browns beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-17 on Oct. 26.
''They've got one of the best, if not the best guy in the middle there, in Shaun Rogers,'' Texans tight end Owen Daniels said. ''He's a load. I'm sure he's close to 400 pounds. He just clogs things up inside.''
Rogers, 29, has been to two Pro Bowls, in 2004 and 2005, and is making a strong bid for a third trip.
''Not only is he big, but he's a big guy that can still move,'' Texans running back Ahman Green said. ''As a runner, we basically want to run away from that, to run away from him. He knows that. So, in terms of the passing game, our offensive line has to be ready because like I said, he's a big guy, but he's still quick. He can get around blocks very well.''
When Texans offensive tackle Eric Winston was asked specifically what problems Rogers causes on his side of the line, Winston said: ''Shaun's on both sides of the line. When he plays in the middle, he's on both sides of the line because he's that big.''
Texans quarterback Sage Rosenfels knows about Rogers, too.
''The big guy in the middle,'' Rosenfels said. ''I'm telling you what; I played against him in college. Shaun is as good as there is in this league. Not only just on run plays, usually guys as big as him just play on run plays, he plays first down through third down. And when his motor's running, he's very, very impressive.''
The accolades for Rogers come in bunches from his coaches and teammates, too.
''He is a guy that can command double-teams that free other guys up,'' Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker said. ''He can always win one-on-one in the run and the pass game. He has done that for us game-in and game-out. He is very dependable. We know what we are going to get out of him every week.''
And that comes no matter how many offensive players opponents assign to Rogers.
''There's always three guys on him,'' Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson said. ''[When] they try to send everybody at him, it just frees me up. He's a playmaker. It's impossible to stop a big guy like him.''
Rogers deflected quarterback Trent Edwards' pass on the first play of Monday night's game against the Buffalo Bills, resulting in an interception by linebacker Kamerion Wimbley.
On another play, defensive back Brandon McDonald was able to intercept an Edwards pass while Rogers was being blocked by three Bills players but somehow still managed to push the pocket.
''I wish I could have played with him all seven of my years,'' linebacker Andra Davis said. ''Fortunately, I got to play with him this year.''
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com.
BEREA: The Browns are 4-6 this season, just 1-4 at home. Their run defense ranks 28th in the NFL.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 11:19 AM, 11/22/2008
It's been said/written before but bears repeating: Imagine where the Cleveland D would be were it not for Rogers. As stunningly, imagine how little the Browns would be getting from their ILBs without Shaun's absorbing so much focus, so many blockers.
The good news might be that it should be that much easier for Cleveland to entice some free-agent ILB to come play behind such an advantage. But that is just another way of saying: Wait til next year.
Akron, Oh
Posted 10:28 AM, 11/23/2008
Why is it that if it takes 3 guys to block Shaun we still cant get to the quarterback?????????
