DMN Blog: You think Cowboys have WR problems? Look at Cleveland's CBs

[WoodysGirl]

You think Cowboys have WR problems? Look at Cleveland's cornerbacks

11:04 AM Mon, Sep 01, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg E-mail http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg News tips

The Cowboys WRs vs. the Browns CBs should be a major mismatch Sunday.

Yes, the Cowboys' lack of depth at receiver is a concern, with Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton the team's other healthy WRs. But T.O. and Crayton could have a field day in Cleveland against a sorry secondary.

The Browns, who had the league's 24th-ranked passing defense (230.1 yards per game) last season, have a couple second-year guys starting at cornerback. If Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald can't cover Giants third-stringer Domenik Hixon, how do you think they'll fare against T.O.?



http://www.***BANNED-URL***/images/ice3/icons/blog.gif Comments (3) Leave comment | http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg E-mail entry

 

[Brandon]

We should actually clean Cleveland clocks on Sunday. I expect them to have their way with our defense early on. But once we get into a rhythm, I can see Derek Anderson on his back a lot in the second half.

 

[dueyhemlock]

We should actually clean Cleveland clocks on Sunday. I expect them to have their way with our defense early on. But once we get into a rhythm, I can see Derek Anderson on his back a lot in the second half.

If Anderson is playing horizontally Sunday, that melon won't last long and they'll be seeing their second stringer Quinn. They'll also be seeing our second stringers because that's a recipe for a blow out.

 

[LeonDixson]

I bet we at least try to attack them and exploit their weakness. Unlike the Seattle playoff game where they were decimated.

 

[SDogo]

I bet we at least try to attack them and exploit their weakness. Unlike the Seattle playoff game where they were decimated.

I was just going to say, we never seem to attack the other teams weakness and I doubt this game will be any different. With the issues we have at WR we are almost forced to tone down the game plan. It's horrible timing.

 

[BouncingCheese]

That defense of theirs is absolutely terrible... outside of Kamerion Wimbley, Dquell Jackson, Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers, who only plays for about half the season anyways, that defense is atrocious. Williams and Rogers are going to be facing Leonard Davis and Gurode respectively, so good luck to them getting into our backfield.

I think the approach Savage was going for was to have so much pressure up front that it might nullify or hide the play of the defensive backfield, but I don't think that will work, or at least not as much as they hope.

That offense still scares the **** out of me though.

 

[Pick6TerenceNewman]

The Browns could be in for a very long day come Sunday as their secondary doesn't match-up very well with our WR's.

I was checking out the Browns depth chart and found that the Browns DON'T have one corner of six foot tall.

The Browns best corner is Eric Wright who is listed at 5'10 and 190LB's. It's safe to say that Wright will be matched up with Terrell Owens who is listed at 6'3 and 220 Lb's. T.O. has 5 inches and 30 pounds. Mismatch!! Advantage T.O.

Their second CB is Brandon McDonald. McDonald is listed at 5'10 and 184LB's. He will be match-up against Patrick Crayton who listed at 6' and 205LB's. Not a huge advantage but an advantage none the less.

Now for all the Cowboy fans that have been worrying about not having a slot WR, not to worry, Witten to the rescue. Check out this match-up.

When Witten goes into the slot, he will be matched-up against 33 year old Terry Cousins. Cousins is 5'9 and 185LB's. Witten is 6'5 and 266Lb's. Do I need to say that this is a mismatch? Well, it's not even close. You do the math!

Let me say that if the Browns try to match Witten up with a Linebacker, that's O.K. because there is no LB in the NFL that can stay with Witten IMO.

Witten is just as big as their LB'ers, if not bigger. Their LB'ers are list from OLB'er are 255 and 270LB's respectively. Their MLB'ers are 240 and 250Lb's respectively. Their best Linebackers are Wimbley at 6'3 and 255 LB's and Willie McGinest who is 36 years old and is 6'5 and 270 LB's.

As you can see, Witten's size is very comparable to their LB'ers. I can't see any of their LB'ers, let alone their nickle CB to stop Witten.

Let me go just a little further, if you will, if you are concerned over not having a nickle or slot WR. Let me introduce to you Martellus Bennett.

Just like Witten, Bennett is a Big Man! At 6'6 and 252LB's. As training camp and the preseason went along, Bennett looked to be everything that the Cowboys saw in him when they drafted him. Bennett has displayed good hands, route running and blocking. With more maturity, he will become a Two-Headed Monster with Witten.

So there you have it. I think it's going to be a long, long day for the Browns secondary. If the Cowboys give Romo the proper time, Romo will pick this defense apart.

I see huge days from Romo, Owens and most of all Witten. Forget about not having a Slot WR because we are covered by Witten!

 

[MetalHead]

2008 Cleveland Browns Secondary:The Burn Unit II

Watch them every Sunday on TVs near you.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

We should actually clean Cleveland clocks on Sunday. I expect them to have their way with our defense early on. But once we get into a rhythm, I can see Derek Anderson on his back a lot in the second half.

therein lies the problem....this defense should be to the point where teams STOP having their way.....the defense is fast, big, deep, young veterans.....and should be hitting their peak. We cannot continue to feel our way into games on defense. We need to dictate to the opposition early on that they cannot run, throw and will be in a for a long day.

 

[Mansta54]

I was just going to say, we never seem to attack the other teams weakness and I doubt this game will be any different. With the issues we have at WR we are almost forced to tone down the game plan. It's horrible timing.

This may have been the case when BP was HC but I don't see this happening with JG running the O. I bet we strike deep and often with TO and Crayton and I see Witten killing them down the seam. JG is a very aggressive play caller. Our WR issues won't stop JG from attacking their D. TO, Crayton, and Witten are still on the field and our oline is outstanding in giving Romo time to throw. We're gonna be just fine!!!

 

[Pick6TerenceNewman]

There is just no way that the Browns can stop the Cowboys. See my post that I had earlier where I broke down their size vs our WR's.

 

[MONT17]

Browns won't be as good as last year they will take a step back. I hope. So the boys should win this 1 but I'm not betn on it. The browns d is really bad and when u add a bunch of guys it takes a while to figure out what u really have. Cowboys 30 browns 28

 

[Chuck 54]

I expect them to give a lot of help on TO and hope they can cover Crayton with one guy.

I expect Witten to have a huge day.

I expect Crayton to have a breakout year, even moreso than last year.

 

[Sarge]

Browns won't be as good as last year they will take a step back.

Totally possible based on their schedule alone - it's brutal.

 

[SDogo]

This may have been the case when BP was HC but I don't see this happening with JG running the O. I bet we strike deep and often with TO and Crayton and I see Witten killing them down the seam. JG is a very aggressive play caller. Our WR issues won't stop JG from attacking their D. TO, Crayton, and Witten are still on the field and our oline is outstanding in giving Romo time to throw. We're gonna be just fine!!!

You may have a point, I'm like a Vietnam vet when it comes to Parcells. the whole experience was so horrible I still have flashbacks.

 

[miamicowboy21]

When you have a secondary this bad you have two options. 1....Sit back in a deep zone and try and keep everything in front of you. 2... Just completely sellout and bring the house and hope romo is off. I can't see the browns just sitting back, because if the cowboys score on their zone coverages the crowd will start booing. They have to force the action and keep the crowd on there side.

 

[LeonDixson]

When you have a secondary this bad you have two options. 1....Sit back in a deep zone and try and keep everything in front of you. 2... Just completely sellout and bring the house and hope romo is off. I can't see the browns just sitting back, because if the cowboys score on their zone coverages the crowd will start booing. They have to force the action and keep the crowd on there side.

If the sell out for the blitz and Romo hits Barber or Felix on a little flare pass a couple of times that will slow them down some.

 

[dmq]

I bet we at least try to attack them and exploit their weakness. Unlike the Seattle playoff game where they were decimated.

I still shake my head on that one.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I think it's going to be a good game but I expect Dallas pull away eventually.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I was just going to say, we never seem to attack the other teams weakness and I doubt this game will be any different. With the issues we have at WR we are almost forced to tone down the game plan. It's horrible timing.

I doubt we tone anything down, Garrett is one of the most aggressive coordinators out there