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Do IT this week: Layering
Browns players study game film for weaknesses and watch television show for fun
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Wednesday, Sep 03, 2008
BEREA: Browns players, like most people, watch television.
With the opening game Sunday, defensive lineman Shaun Smith and cornerback Brandon McDonald have taken a look at one show in particular, Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Dallas Cowboys, which airs on HBO. That's for fun, however.
McDonald knows that the Cowboys on the TV series aren't the ones who will take the field at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The hard work preparing for ''America's Team'' began a while ago with actual film study, McDonald said.
McDonald, his running mate, Eric Wright, and the rest of the Browns' defensive backfield face a difficult challenge: keeping wide receiver Terrell Owens (81 receptions, 1,355 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2007) and
tight end Jason Whitten (96 receptions, 1,145 yards and seven touchdowns) in check.
It will be no small feat.
''They're a great team. They've got a lot of big weapons, a lot of guys who play well at their positions,'' McDonald said. ''Like any other NFL team, they have a bunch of weapons they're going to try to utilize.''
Owens is the primary concern for McDonald. The second-year defensive back knows what he's up against and ticked off all of the receiver's attributes one by one.
''Big-bodied guy. Great receiver. Great hands. Great route-running ability. Pro Bowl starter,'' McDonald said. ''We've got a few of those guys ourselves. We're going to try to prepare the best we can and get ready for him.''
While expectations remain high for the Browns' offense, the defense, which saw an overhaul in personnel — especially on the line — remains a question mark. Last season, the Browns ranked a woeful 30th in the league in overall team defense.
They acquired Corey Williams from the Green Bay Packers and Shaun Rogers from the Detroit Lions to plug a run defense that gave up 4.5 yards per carry. Smith came to the Browns the year before as a restricted free agent and is excited he has someone to help in the trenches, but even he can't guess how the defense will perform, especially against the run.
''We'll know Sunday after 4:15 [p.m.]. As of right now, we've got six guys working together and we have [linebackers] Andra [Davis] and D'Qwell [Jackson] on the back end, and we're just trying to get better,'' Smith said. ''As long as we win, that's what matters. They could have 200 yards rushing, but if we have the 'W,' it doesn't matter.''
The defensive linemen have been working together during organized team activities, minicamp and training camp, but have they had enough time to gel as a unit? Smith thinks so.
''I felt we got enough time for practice and playing in preseason games. Just those reps and playing together, we know each other and we know each other's strengths and weaknesses, so we feed off each other and play off each other,'' he said.
Browns players are well aware they will have to contend with Tony Romo, a quarterback who McDonald likened to Peyton Manning with respect to smarts. He expects Romo and the Cowboys' offense to come at him and Wright because they are still young. Is he viewing it as a test?
''It is, but I'm going to try to be up to the challenge,'' he said.
''I like it. I like it when they think that way. If you come at me, I'm going to try to be in position to make the plays. . . . If I can get it done, it's great for the team.''
Smith views the Cowboys game as a test of a different sort. He knows that doubts remain about the Browns because of the schedule they played last year.
''It could let everybody know that the Browns are for real, if we could beat them. It's just a matter of timing. The guys are happy to be back and playing something for real now and we have to get after them. They're an elite team.''
The Browns picked up Smith from the Cincinnati Bengals in 2007, but he spent all of 2003 on the Cowboys' practice squad.
''I started my career there. It's more exciting for me to play against them, and some of the guys who were there when I was there are still there,'' he said. ''We just have to go do what we have to do.''
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/sportsblitz/
BEREA: Browns players, like most people, watch television.
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