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Browns seek to amend passing game

Rutigliano doesn't want repeat of Steelers' defense by Ravens on Sunday

By Marla Ridenour Beacon Journal sportswriter

Published on Friday, Nov 16, 2007

BEREA: Former Browns coach Sam Rutigliano had a DVD in hand and was eager to study how the Pittsburgh Steelers shut down the Browns' passing game in the second half Sunday.

Rutigliano thought he already knew, and he figures the Browns will see more of the same when they visit the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday for an important AFC North game.

''Baltimore will do exactly what Pittsburgh did,'' Rutigliano said. ''This is the biggest copycat league. They'll see what Pittsburgh did and spend the entire week on it.''

In last week's 31-28 loss at Pittsburgh, Browns quarterback Derek Anderson completed 16 of 35 passes for 123 yards. After the Browns went to the locker room with a 21-9 lead, he completed only 6-of-19 for 43 yards. On the last possession, Anderson completed 3-of-7 for 32 yards, including three spikes.

So in the third quarter and most of the fourth, Anderson was 3-of-12 for 11 yards.

The Browns' big three receiving corps of 6-foot-3 Braylon Edwards, 6-5 Joe Jurevicius and 6-4 tight end Kellen Winslow provide tough matchups in most instances. Against the Steelers, they accounted for 10 catches for 93 yards and two touchdowns, but totaled only three receptions in the second half.

All four of Winslow's catches came during the Browns' 16-play, 71-yard game-opening drive that culminated with his 4-yard touchdown. Jurevicius had two of his five catches on that march and two on the final possession. The other was a 9-yard grab in the third quarter during a three-and-out. Edwards' 16-yard toe-tapping touchdown came in the second quarter.

Before Rutigliano saw the game again, he said the Steelers decided at halftime to have their cornerbacks run with the Browns' receivers. Rutigliano thought Anderson lost confidence as the Steelers kept chipping away at the Browns' 21-6 second-quarter lead and wouldn't risk
throwing into that tight coverage, even if it was one-on-one. Anderson has been making good decisions, having thrown only one interception in his past 163 attempts.

Edwards isn't sure the Ravens can re-create what the Steelers did.

''It's not the easiest thing to copy, especially when you don't have the personnel on the back end like they did,'' Edwards said. The Steelers ''have been consistent all year; they haven't had injuries. Pittsburgh plays so well at all levels.''

Anderson seemed confident the Browns would make adjustments.

''Their scheme is different,'' he said of the Ravens. ''We'll have a good plan and will adjust to things (the Steelers) did to us.''

The Ravens will be without starting cornerback Samari Rolle (undisclosed illness), and cornerback Chris McAlister (strained knee) is trying to return. In last week's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Ravens replaced their cornerbacks with Corey Ivy and Derrick Martin, but Ivy was hurt in the first quarter.

Ravens coach Brian Billick, when asked if he will follow the Steelers' strategy of dropping back and not rushing Anderson, said: ''You do both. With Derek, with pressure, one of the concerns you have to have is that he does get the ball off quick. That can be good, and it can be bad. If you can force him into a quick throw before the receivers are ready, that's a good thing. If he gets it into the hands of somebody and you don't have enough people behind him, then that can be very dangerous. You have to do a combination of things.''

Browns coach Romeo Crennel said his offensive linemen would like it if the Ravens backed off.

 

''That means they're not blitzing as much, and you don't see the multiple pressure packages that way,'' Crennel said. ''If you take away the deep ball, then you have to take the short, underneath stuff.''

That underneath stuff was no fun for Edwards, who acknowledged he was frustrated by the Steelers' defense. The Browns averaged 7.7 yards per reception Sunday, well below what had been the team's average of 14.1.

''I would be lying if I said it didn't,'' Edwards said. ''I know that's going to happen from time to time. I have to work on other parts of my game, like running other kind of routes, getting other guys open, blocking when I have to. I'm learning to deal with it. I feel I handled it pretty good on Sunday.''

Edwards didn't sound worried that the receivers will be an afterthought this week.

''We still have weapons, and we have to get back to that this week,'' he said. ''Utilizing our other options.''

Injury update

The Browns' three ailing linebackers — D'Qwell Jackson (ankle), Antwan Peek (knee) and Willie McGinest (hamstring) — practiced on a limited basis. Peek said he plans to play Sunday.

''I thought I was going to miss Pittsburgh,'' he said. ''I said, 'I've got to go.'''

Also limited were cornerback Leigh Bodden (back) and defensive lineman Shaun Smith (knee). For the Ravens, tight end Todd Heap (thigh) did not practice for the second consecutive day. McAlister and safety Ed Reed (back) were among those limited.

Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.

 

BEREA: Former Browns coach Sam Rutigliano had a DVD in hand and was eager to study how the Pittsburgh Steelers shut down the Browns' passing game in the second half Sunday.

Get the full article here.



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