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By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 03:28 p.m. EDT, Oct 11, 2008
1. Giants running game vs. Browns defense.
The Giants pit the league's No. 1 rushing attack against a defense ranked 22nd in that category. Running back Brandon Jacobs, 6-foot-4 and 264 pounds, gave free safety Brodney Pool a concussion in a preseason game Aug. 18 at the Meadowlands. As Browns coach Romeo Crennel observed, ''Jacobs is an offensive lineman with speed. You get him started with that body lean, it's hard for one guy to tackle him.'' Jacobs ranks 10th in the league in rushing with 380 yards, but his 5.8 yards per carry is the lowest of the Giants' top three backs. Derrick Ward (217 yards) and Ahmad Bradshaw (119 yards) average 6.6 yards per carry. After finishing last season ranked 27th against the run, Browns defenders think they're improving weekly. ''From the Cowboys game to where we are right now, we've made pretty good strides,'' linebacker D'Qwell Jackson said. ''Every day [defensive coordinator] Mel [Tucker] emphasizes techniques and fundamentals and understanding what we do. He's up there in the guys' [faces] asking questions. Right now I feel pretty comfortable. This is a big test for us.''
2. Plaxico Burress.
The Giants' star receiver was suspended for last week's game against the Seahawks for missing a meeting and not contacting the team. Burress said he was taking his son to school for what he described as a family emergency and didn't second-guess himself despite the consequences. ''Football is the best temporary job I am ever going to have in my life and my family is going to be here forever,'' Burress said last week. Burress, who has become quarterback Eli Manning's favorite target since signing as an unrestricted free agent from Pittsburgh in 2005, has 18 catches for 259 yards (14.4 average) and one touchdown in three games. He said he felt he let the team down by his action and might want to make up for it against Browns' second-year cornerbacks Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright.
3. Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers vs. Giants center Shaun O'Hara.
Cleveland's most talented defender, Rogers leads the Browns in sacks (two) and is tied for third in tackles (22). If the Browns have any hope of slowing down Jacobs, it likely will fall to Rogers, 6-4 and 350 pounds, who was limited in practice last week with a shoulder injury. Much of the task of slowing down Rogers will fall to O'Hara, who made the Browns as an undrafted rookie free agent from Rutgers in 2000. O'Hara, who has started his past 97 games, signed a five-year, $19 million contract in March, 2007 that included a $7.5 million signing bonus.
4. Browns quarterback Derek Anderson.
ESPN's Tony Kornheiser ripped the Browns on Aug. 18, expressing his woe that he'd have to watch them three more times this year. If Kornheiser's mind is to be changed, Anderson will have to get the Browns off to a good start. He has shown little resemblance to the player who went 10-5 last season, threw 29 touchdown passes and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl. His rating of 49.9 ranks next to last in the league, bettering only Kansas City's Tyler Thigpen (40.9). A decent fourth quarter at Cincinnati might have been the spark he needed. Continued poor throws and bad decisions could force Crennel to make a quarterback change.
5. Browns receiver/returner Joshua Cribbs.
Cribbs said Monday he has all his gears back after a high ankle sprain suffered Aug. 18 kept him out of two preseason games and the opener. While Crennel is not the gambling type, it seems time for offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski to unleash Cribbs on offense. Considering what's on the line, the Browns should play like there's no tomorrow and get their most exciting player more touches than just on kickoff and punt returns.
1. Giants running game vs. Browns defense.
The Giants pit the league's No. 1 rushing attack against a defense ranked 22nd in that category. Running back Brandon Jacobs, 6-foot-4 and 264 pounds, gave free safety Brodney Pool a concussion in a preseason game Aug. 18 at the Meadowlands. As Browns coach Romeo Crennel observed, ''Jacobs is an offensive lineman with speed. You get him started with that body lean, it's hard for one guy to tackle him.'' Jacobs ranks 10th in the league in rushing with 380 yards, but his 5.8 yards per carry is the lowest of the Giants' top three backs. Derrick Ward (217 yards) and Ahmad Bradshaw (119 yards) average 6.6 yards per carry. After finishing last season ranked 27th against the run, Browns defenders think they're improving weekly. ''From the Cowboys game to where we are right now, we've made pretty good strides,'' linebacker D'Qwell Jackson said. ''Every day [defensive coordinator] Mel [Tucker] emphasizes techniques and fundamentals and understanding what we do. He's up there in the guys' [faces] asking questions. Right now I feel pretty comfortable. This is a big test for us.''
2. Plaxico Burress.
The Giants' star receiver was suspended for last week's game against the Seahawks for missing a meeting and not contacting the team. Burress said he was taking his son to school for what he described as a family emergency and didn't second-guess himself despite the consequences. ''Football is the best temporary job I am ever going to have in my life and my family is going to be here forever,'' Burress said last week. Burress, who has become quarterback Eli Manning's favorite target since signing as an unrestricted free agent from Pittsburgh in 2005, has 18 catches for 259 yards (14.4 average) and one touchdown in three games. He said he felt he let the team down by his action and might want to make up for it against Browns' second-year cornerbacks Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright.
3. Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers vs. Giants center Shaun O'Hara.
Cleveland's most talented defender, Rogers leads the Browns in sacks (two) and is tied for third in tackles (22). If the Browns have any hope of slowing down Jacobs, it likely will fall to Rogers, 6-4 and 350 pounds, who was limited in practice last week with a shoulder injury. Much of the task of slowing down Rogers will fall to O'Hara, who made the Browns as an undrafted rookie free agent from Rutgers in 2000. O'Hara, who has started his past 97 games, signed a five-year, $19 million contract in March, 2007 that included a $7.5 million signing bonus.
4. Browns quarterback Derek Anderson.
ESPN's Tony Kornheiser ripped the Browns on Aug. 18, expressing his woe that he'd have to watch them three more times this year. If Kornheiser's mind is to be changed, Anderson will have to get the Browns off to a good start. He has shown little resemblance to the player who went 10-5 last season, threw 29 touchdown passes and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl. His rating of 49.9 ranks next to last in the league, bettering only Kansas City's Tyler Thigpen (40.9). A decent fourth quarter at Cincinnati might have been the spark he needed. Continued poor throws and bad decisions could force Crennel to make a quarterback change.
5. Browns receiver/returner Joshua Cribbs.
Cribbs said Monday he has all his gears back after a high ankle sprain suffered Aug. 18 kept him out of two preseason games and the opener. While Crennel is not the gambling type, it seems time for offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski to unleash Cribbs on offense. Considering what's on the line, the Browns should play like there's no tomorrow and get their most exciting player more touches than just on kickoff and punt returns.
Comments
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Posted 11:35 AM, 10/12/2008
It is very simple....If we can't run and by running work the clock...and Help the passing game WE CAN'T WIN...
We cannot run against a great defense with the same of boring stuff...Lewis up the Middle followed by Lewis up the Middle again..He is a great back but no back can make yards with that type of "creative" Running plan....
We must threaten the Ends With HARRISON and/or Cribbs...Dump off passes...Pitch outs after a fake inside to LEWIS....That will help loosen up the Defense in the middle enough for Lewis to do his thing. Vickers isn't fast enough to threaten the ends or elusive enough...WRIGHT is not quite Fast enough and runs so up right is fairly easy to bring down...and does not break tackles
Harrison With his speed and elusiveness Can put enough pressure on the ends to Help Lewis.
Get the running game going and everything else falls into place...The tight ends get a little more open because the Linebackers can't drop quickly back into coverage...The wide outs have a little less pressure from the corners who must also defend the run...THE QB will have a little more time because the Backers and corners can't sell out their position to rush...
CHUD SAYS HE CAN'T play both Harrison and Lewis in the same Backfield...If he truly believes that..FIRE HIM NOW.. We will never get better ...I think he is hung up on his days in SD when he had Lorenz Niel (a great Blocker and runner) working with LT and how much they lost when Niel left....IF SO HE IS EVEN MORE of an Idiot ...WHY..Because HE HAD with LT a Fast tail back and a blocker we have a Power Tail back and a Blocker (who is not a great runner)...HE HAD..LT who could threaten the ends ...With Vickers and Lewis we have no one who can turn the corner..The Defense stays inside and stuffs the run.
Posted 01:36 PM, 10/12/2008
Who cares what Tony ESPN says! You can pick this game apart and match people out all you want Marla but it comes down to who has the most heart. The Browns are capable of making plays and scoring touchdowns and Derek Anderson is capable of being as good as Eli Manning. I can't stand these ESPN reporters that think no one is as good as the New York teams. How are the Yankees doing in the playoffs?
Posted 07:47 AM, 10/13/2008
The Browns have won the one game they will win. Trade Anderson while they can and get Quinn ready for next year.
Posted 08:52 AM, 10/13/2008
Run Metcalf up the middle!
Then move the franchise to Baltimore.
This is a "Major League" deja vu all over again...
Cleveland, OH
Posted 08:57 AM, 10/13/2008
1) Watch the Browns lose on national TV.
2) Watch the Browns fans call for Crennel's head.
3) Watch the Browns Organization replace Anderson with Quinn.
4) Watch Quinn get smushed, crushed, bruised and beat up.
5) Watch Steelers fans sit back and smile!!!!! PRICELESS
Akron, OH
Posted 10:00 AM, 10/13/2008
I love how Steelers fans thing they're so superior to the Browns. Last I checked, the Steelers are only up one game on the Browns in franchise matchup history.
That being said... I love my Browns, but I am not expecting anything from them tonight. With Winslow out, we don't have much of a passing game. We can't rely on the run to beat a team like the Giants. I hope our boys have some tricks up their sleeves!
Posted 10:24 AM, 10/13/2008
Roy hit the nail on the head here. The Browns need to get a running game going early. And that means getting Harrison involved early. Why start with Harrison? Because Lewis says he doesn't get warmed up until about his 15th carry, though he did prove himself wrong in that first series against Cincy.
The gamble is that Harrison hasn't showed much promise when it comes to throwing a block, so if he's in on a passing play DA would have to get rid of the ball really quick on a short pass - something that he still does not excel at.
There's another question to deal with as well. With McGuinest back, how much time will Hall see. Obviously Hall has the advantage in speed, but the general consensus seems to be that he still lacks experience. All in all, I think I would rather take my chances with giving up the big plays to a guy who is inexperienced than to a guy who just doesn't seem to have enough left in the tank to get to the ball.
It's time for the Browns to take their chances with new guys like Hall, and with the Flash package that we heard about all through camp, but have yet to see. And yes, if DA is missing his targets and throwing interceptions then it's time to give Quinn a shot. It's not as if we'd be sacrificing the season at this point.
San Antonio, TX
Posted 12:01 PM, 10/13/2008
I'd love to see Harrison and Lewis being used like Mack and Byner. Stiil hit the edge instead of the middle all the time. Use Rucker as they would K2 and put K2 as the number two wide receiver and use Heiden as a blocking back or on double tigh end jummbo looks.
Posted 01:14 PM, 10/13/2008
This is gonna be painful....
Posted 03:07 PM, 10/13/2008
I got 2 words for you Browns fans out there ''Braylon Edwards'' tonight is the night that he breaks out of his slump and stops dropping all of these easy passes that my grandma can catch. I think that he will catch atleast 7 passes for around 140 yards.
Posted 06:17 PM, 10/13/2008
"Any Given Monday," to coin a phrase. The Browns can do what the Bengals almost did in week 3.
