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Terry Pluto: Terry's Talkin'
by Terry Pluto Plain Dealer Columnist
Saturday September 06, 2008, 10:30 PM
ABOUT THE BROWNS ...
Today will be our first look at what is supposed to be -- and must be -- an improved Browns defense. The front office traded away a second- and third-round pick to bolster the line with Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers. Head coach Romeo Crennel pushed for assistant Mel Tucker to replace defensive coordinator Todd Grantham (now an assistant with Dallas). The idea is Tucker / Crennel will be on the same page and revive the defense.
There are three defensive areas where the Browns generally have been dismal for years:
1.) Stopping the run.
2.) Rushing the passer.
3.) Creating turnovers.
They need to do at least two of them to be a legitimate playoff team, especially against this demanding schedule. They ranked 27th against the run and 28th in sacks last year. But they did rank 14th in interceptions -- which is middle of the pack. It's up to Crennel / Tucker to create a defense that either can pressure the quarterback or not be destroyed on the ground.
Ideally, the Browns prefer to play the cover-2 defense this season, which is rather passive and gives help to young cornerbacks Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald by keeping the safeties deep. But in the preseason (two sacks in four games), the only pressure on the quarterback came when the Browns sent a safety or a cornerback to rush. That's not how they want to play because it makes the pass coverage vulnerable.
Williams had seven sacks in each of the past two seasons in Green Bay's 4-3 defense, rushing from the inside. Now on the outside of the Browns' 3-4 -- a tough adjustment for him so far -- the Browns are hoping Williams can get to the QB. Part of his preseason struggles had to do with a shoulder injury, which supposedly is feeling much better now. For all the talk of Shaun Rogers being a key to the line, they also need Williams to produce. They did trade a second-rounder for him.
All four members of the defensive line are at least near the weights the team would like: Rogers (360), Williams (325), Robaire Smith (320) and Shaun Smith at 335 is a little bigger than they'd like, but not much. A year ago, Robaire Smith joined the team and had an invisible preseason much like Williams just experienced, then emerged as the team's top lineman in the regular season. The hope is Williams will respond the same way as he adjusts to his new team.
The defense can have a player with a radio helmet to get orders from bench -- only one at a time on the field. The plan is for Andra Davis and Leon Williams to each wear a radio helmet, so the two inside linebackers won't be on the field at the same time unless Williams changes to a regular helmet. Williams is better at pass coverage than Davis, so that won't happen often.
Linebacker Shantee Orr was working out at a health club near his home in Houston when Browns cap specialist Trip McCracken tracked him down and said the team wanted him back to replace the injured Antwan Peek -- after cutting Orr last weekend. Orr immediately left for Cleveland. This was a break for the Browns, because other teams were starting to show an interest in Orr. One more day, and he'd have signed elsewhere and the Browns would have had to bring back David McMillan, who has showed little in his three seasons. Orr played well enough in the preseason and never should have been cut. He signed for the veteran minimum of $605,000.
It's not talked about much, but the Brodney Pool concussion issue could be very serious for him and the team. This is the third since 2005, and his comeback has been slow as the Browns are wisely being careful. But without the hard-tackling Pool, the Browns not only need good play from Mike Adams (18 career starts) -- but special teams man Nick Sorensen could be on the field often. Sorensen has played in 84 NFL games, but never as a starter. He has only seven career tackles, aside from his solid special teams work.
ABOUT THE COWBOYS GAME ...
Watch the right side of the Browns offensive line, where Seth McKinney and Kevin Shaffer will be challenged by the Dallas pass rush, especially defensive end Marcus Spears and linebacker Greg Ellis. The Cowboys believe they can break down the Browns' right side. For the Browns, some good news is that guard Rex Hadnot is progressing faster than thought and may be healthy for the Pittsburgh game. He brings desperately needed depth to the line.
The left side of the Browns defense had better be ready to stop the run -- that's especially you, Willie McGinest / Alex Hall, Corey Williams and Andra Davis. According to the great stat guys at Pro Football Prospectus, the Cowboys ranked No. 1 in the NFL in rushing the ball around right end (4.9 yards) -- they were 27th off left tackle, 31st around left end. The Browns have to know this, just wonder if they can do anything about it.
Last year, the Browns were outscored, 85-60, in the first quarter. Dallas was outscored, 88-61. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo had a 62.8 rating in the first quarter with seven interceptions, by far his worst of any part of the game. Derek Anderson was just as bad with a 56.4 rating and seven interceptions. If one of these guys gets hot early, it could dictate the entire game.
Part of me wants Joshua Cribbs (high ankle sprain) and Jamal Lewis (hamstring injury) to play -- because without them, the Browns don't seem to have a chance to win. But the rest of me fears they will play, one will be seriously hurt, and the Browns could mess up their entire season in the opener. So I'd rest both of them, and that same discussion has taken place in the front office as the active list for today's game is prepared. Yes, it's important, but the Pittsburgh game means even more because it counts double as a division game -- a win for the Browns nails Pittsburgh with loss at the same time.
This is hard to believe but the Browns had only about 10 practices before this week with Kellen Winslow, Braylon Edwards and Donte' Stallworth all healthy at the same time. The three key pass catchers did not play in the same preseason game. Stallworth had a very good week of practice, and the Browns are starting to feel very good about him fitting in.
One scout told me: "The Browns will be in trouble if you see Dallas completing passes over the middle. They need [Leon] Williams and [Sean] Jones to do a good job on [Jason] Witten, because he is the key to their offense -- not T.O. [Terrell Owens]. They also have to get some pressure on Romo, and it is most likely to come from Kamerion Wimbley." But he also said Wimbley needs more than just his outside move around the tackle, which he used in most of his first two seasons.
http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index.ssf/2008/09/terry_pluto_terrys_talkin.html
by Terry Pluto Plain Dealer Columnist
Saturday September 06, 2008, 10:30 PM
ABOUT THE BROWNS ...
Today will be our first look at what is supposed to be -- and must be -- an improved Browns defense. The front office traded away a second- and third-round pick to bolster the line with Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers. Head coach Romeo Crennel pushed for assistant Mel Tucker to replace defensive coordinator Todd Grantham (now an assistant with Dallas). The idea is Tucker / Crennel will be on the same page and revive the defense.
There are three defensive areas where the Browns generally have been dismal for years:
1.) Stopping the run.
2.) Rushing the passer.
3.) Creating turnovers.
They need to do at least two of them to be a legitimate playoff team, especially against this demanding schedule. They ranked 27th against the run and 28th in sacks last year. But they did rank 14th in interceptions -- which is middle of the pack. It's up to Crennel / Tucker to create a defense that either can pressure the quarterback or not be destroyed on the ground.
Ideally, the Browns prefer to play the cover-2 defense this season, which is rather passive and gives help to young cornerbacks Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald by keeping the safeties deep. But in the preseason (two sacks in four games), the only pressure on the quarterback came when the Browns sent a safety or a cornerback to rush. That's not how they want to play because it makes the pass coverage vulnerable.
Williams had seven sacks in each of the past two seasons in Green Bay's 4-3 defense, rushing from the inside. Now on the outside of the Browns' 3-4 -- a tough adjustment for him so far -- the Browns are hoping Williams can get to the QB. Part of his preseason struggles had to do with a shoulder injury, which supposedly is feeling much better now. For all the talk of Shaun Rogers being a key to the line, they also need Williams to produce. They did trade a second-rounder for him.
All four members of the defensive line are at least near the weights the team would like: Rogers (360), Williams (325), Robaire Smith (320) and Shaun Smith at 335 is a little bigger than they'd like, but not much. A year ago, Robaire Smith joined the team and had an invisible preseason much like Williams just experienced, then emerged as the team's top lineman in the regular season. The hope is Williams will respond the same way as he adjusts to his new team.
The defense can have a player with a radio helmet to get orders from bench -- only one at a time on the field. The plan is for Andra Davis and Leon Williams to each wear a radio helmet, so the two inside linebackers won't be on the field at the same time unless Williams changes to a regular helmet. Williams is better at pass coverage than Davis, so that won't happen often.
Linebacker Shantee Orr was working out at a health club near his home in Houston when Browns cap specialist Trip McCracken tracked him down and said the team wanted him back to replace the injured Antwan Peek -- after cutting Orr last weekend. Orr immediately left for Cleveland. This was a break for the Browns, because other teams were starting to show an interest in Orr. One more day, and he'd have signed elsewhere and the Browns would have had to bring back David McMillan, who has showed little in his three seasons. Orr played well enough in the preseason and never should have been cut. He signed for the veteran minimum of $605,000.
It's not talked about much, but the Brodney Pool concussion issue could be very serious for him and the team. This is the third since 2005, and his comeback has been slow as the Browns are wisely being careful. But without the hard-tackling Pool, the Browns not only need good play from Mike Adams (18 career starts) -- but special teams man Nick Sorensen could be on the field often. Sorensen has played in 84 NFL games, but never as a starter. He has only seven career tackles, aside from his solid special teams work.
ABOUT THE COWBOYS GAME ...
Watch the right side of the Browns offensive line, where Seth McKinney and Kevin Shaffer will be challenged by the Dallas pass rush, especially defensive end Marcus Spears and linebacker Greg Ellis. The Cowboys believe they can break down the Browns' right side. For the Browns, some good news is that guard Rex Hadnot is progressing faster than thought and may be healthy for the Pittsburgh game. He brings desperately needed depth to the line.
The left side of the Browns defense had better be ready to stop the run -- that's especially you, Willie McGinest / Alex Hall, Corey Williams and Andra Davis. According to the great stat guys at Pro Football Prospectus, the Cowboys ranked No. 1 in the NFL in rushing the ball around right end (4.9 yards) -- they were 27th off left tackle, 31st around left end. The Browns have to know this, just wonder if they can do anything about it.
Last year, the Browns were outscored, 85-60, in the first quarter. Dallas was outscored, 88-61. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo had a 62.8 rating in the first quarter with seven interceptions, by far his worst of any part of the game. Derek Anderson was just as bad with a 56.4 rating and seven interceptions. If one of these guys gets hot early, it could dictate the entire game.
Part of me wants Joshua Cribbs (high ankle sprain) and Jamal Lewis (hamstring injury) to play -- because without them, the Browns don't seem to have a chance to win. But the rest of me fears they will play, one will be seriously hurt, and the Browns could mess up their entire season in the opener. So I'd rest both of them, and that same discussion has taken place in the front office as the active list for today's game is prepared. Yes, it's important, but the Pittsburgh game means even more because it counts double as a division game -- a win for the Browns nails Pittsburgh with loss at the same time.
This is hard to believe but the Browns had only about 10 practices before this week with Kellen Winslow, Braylon Edwards and Donte' Stallworth all healthy at the same time. The three key pass catchers did not play in the same preseason game. Stallworth had a very good week of practice, and the Browns are starting to feel very good about him fitting in.
One scout told me: "The Browns will be in trouble if you see Dallas completing passes over the middle. They need [Leon] Williams and [Sean] Jones to do a good job on [Jason] Witten, because he is the key to their offense -- not T.O. [Terrell Owens]. They also have to get some pressure on Romo, and it is most likely to come from Kamerion Wimbley." But he also said Wimbley needs more than just his outside move around the tackle, which he used in most of his first two seasons.
http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index.ssf/2008/09/terry_pluto_terrys_talkin.html
