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'Freaky' rhythm benefits Browns

Anderson, Edwards connect in defeat of New York Giants

By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Friday, Oct 17, 2008

BEREA: On Monday night, a passing glance was all it took for Browns quarterback Derek Anderson and receiver Braylon Edwards to communicate.

The pair's nonverbal skills were so on-point that Edwards described it as ''freaky.''

''There were some things I did and in the back of my mind I'm thinking, 'I should not have done that,' and here's the ball right on me,'' Edwards said.

That was most evident on an 11-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter that gave the Browns a 13-point lead en route to a 35-14 victory over the previously unbeaten New York Giants.

Edwards explained he was supposed to go outside of Giants cornerback Aaron Ross, get to the back of the end zone, run in three steps, then go back out. It didn't exactly work that way, but it worked.

''I went to the outside and he jumped outside hard,'' Edwards said of Ross. ''I came back inside and he fell. I said, 'It doesn't make
any sense to go back and come back out out, just go up and stop.' I went up and sat down and [Anderson] said, 'Cool, he's there' and he fired it low where nobody could get it and we scored.

''That's the chemistry. It was just one of those nights.''

Anderson said that when he saw Ross fall, he and Edwards, ''kind of met eyes, I guess. Then I knew he was going to sit there, and I let it go. It was good to have that connection.''

Whether that special communication continues will be key as the Browns (2-3) take a two-game winning streak into FedExField on Sunday against the Washington Redskins (4-2). The angry 'Skins, coming off a 19-17 loss to the previously winless St. Louis Rams, are a seven-point favorite.

Last season, Anderson threw 29 touchdown passes, and Edwards set a Browns single-season record with 16 touchdown receptions. Monday's score was just Edwards' second this year. Set back in preseason with a foot laceration that caused him to miss three weeks, Edwards pulled in five passes for a career-high 154 yards against the Giants, including passes of 70 and 49 yards, and a 2-point conversion.

''We were in a freakish rhythm, and if we continue this rhythm, who knows what can happen,'' Edwards said. ''I told D.A., 'I've never seen you play like this.' He was in a zone. It's the kind of guy we need to finish the rest of this season.''

Anderson said one of the keys to that rhythm was their preparation, which included a bye week. He said he and Edwards had a good bead on what the defense was doing.

''The safeties, Braylon and I would look at each other, he knew what I was doing, what they were doing, where they were rolling, the coverages they were playing,'' Anderson said. ''We get that way sometimes, when he knows what I'm going to do and what I'm thinking. That's part of just being a football player.''

Anderson believes the chemistry and confidence is returning to the Browns, who went 10-6 last season with the league's eighth-ranked offense. After rolling up 454 yards on the NFL's third-rated defense, the Browns' offense rose to 28th this week.

''It hasn't been that far off,'' Anderson said. ''We haven't always executed at the right times. We've still got to continue to work. We've got a lot ahead of us.''

Winslow back

Tight end Kellen Winslow was spotted by an Associated Press reporter in the hallway of Browns headquarters Thursday. Coach Romeo Crennel said there's a chance he could practice today.

Winslow has been recuperating at home from an undisclosed illness that landed him in the Cleveland Clinic for three nights last week. On Wednesday, Crennel said Winslow's status for Sunday would be questionable.

Coaching connection

Redskins offensive line coach Joe Bugel, 68, was Crennel's position coach for three of Crennel's four years when Crennel played both ways on the offensive and defensive lines at Western Kentucky University. Because of teammates' injuries, Crennel filled in at left tackle during part of his senior season, when Bugel had departed for Navy.

''Joe motivated you,'' Crennel said. ''He had a stretch where he started the 'Hogs' with the Redskins (1981-89), and when I was with the Giants we played against him several times. It was always hard for us. His guys come prepared.''

Asked if Bugel had a role in Crennel becoming a coach, Crennel said, ''He had a role in me becoming a decent football player.''

Off the field

Also missing practice Thursday was fullback Lawrence Vickers (not injury related), while right tackles Kevin Shaffer and Ryan Tucker (sore knee) were limited.

Shaffer said he had a setback last Wednesday in his return from a Sept. 28 concussion.

''All the symptoms, a headache, feeling mentally slow, feeling closed in and nauseous, those type things kind of came back because that was the first time I went to a meeting and went back on the field,'' Shaffer said.

He started feeling better Sunday, he said.

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

BEREA: On Monday night, a passing glance was all it took for Browns quarterback Derek Anderson and receiver Braylon Edwards to communicate.

Get the full article here.



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KWP
Port Saint Lucie, Fl

Posted 11:05 AM, 10/17/2008

Gotta play one game at a time,and be consistent.Cleve.beat a weak Cinci. team and caught the Giants with their pants down.True,the Giants could have regrouped at half and played like Super Bowl champs but didn't.The 94yd.TD interception sealed the game; without that game changer who knows the outcome.Intensity and consistency are the keys to a successful season.


Jason Dawg

Posted 01:27 PM, 10/17/2008

Good post Kenneth! Also, winning the turnover battle is always a key. If Anderson can stay "pick free" again, I believe the Browns will have a good chance to pull off another upset. The QB from the Skins hasn't thrown a pick yet, so he is overdue! Go Browns!

Jason Dawg


KWP
Port Saint Lucie, Fl

Posted 02:31 PM, 10/17/2008

To Jason Dawg; turn over ratio is BIG factor between winning and losing.The offensive line(top notch when healthy) was the key in the Giants game.Also, gotta become more aware on offense and knock off the silly 5yd.penalties














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