What’s the toughest job for the Cleveland Brown offense? Keeping their high ranking in points scored without the benefit of playing the Browns’ defense. Yesterday, the biggest key in the Browns’ 27-20 victory over the winless St. Louis Rams was Rams’ running back Steven Jackson’s injury. The Cleveland defense has no answer for Jackson in the first quarter as the Rams took a 14-0 lead. However, after Jackson left, St. Louis could muster just six points on two field goals, and the Browns won their second straight for the first time in four years.
If the Browns do not make the playoffs, and I still consider it a long shot at best, the reason will be the defense. Even in the win, the Brownies still gave up almost 400 yards in total offense. Thankfully, I believe Maurice Carthon snuck onto the Rams’ sideline and started calling plays. Twice in the contest, the Rams faced 3rd and 1 situations, and ran the ball in the middle of the line on both third and fourth downs. Had St. Louis put the ball in the air in both situations and picked up a first down, the game may have had a different result.
Remember, the Browns were coming off a bye week, yet made no changes to a defensive line that has become a sieve. The two weeks off begged for at least one personnel change, but none occurred. Terry Pluto wrote in this morning’s The Plain Dealer that Ted Washington no longer should be on the roster, and he is absolutely correct. The Falcons just released a decent nose tackle in Grady Jackson, and Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel talked about “other factors” as reasons not to pick him up. The guy is obviously a locker room problem, but the Browns could make the playoffs if they upgraded the defensive line.
On offense, Cleveland continues to shine. At this pace, we are going to hear Rob Chudzinski’s name bandied about for head coaching jobs in the off-season. Another week, another performance where the brown and orange approach 30 points. Jamal Lewis’ foot was bothering him a bit, but the squad still ran for over 140 yards as Jerome Harrison continued to look good as his replacement. The latter took advantage of his opportunity against the Dolphins, and ran with it, no pun intended.
Derek Anderson fired three more touchdown passes, and now trails only Tom Brady in the entire NFL in that statistic. Braylon Edwards continues to make me look stupid, and showing that he is one of the best wide receivers in the league. Kellen Winslow is making big plays, and Joe Jurevicius is making the drive extending third down receptions. However, the biggest reason for the offensive re-birth is the line play. The rebuilt line is opening holes in the running game and giving Anderson and the receivers enough time to make plays. It reminds you that the adage that the game is won up front is true. And the Browns are halfway there.
Next week, Seattle comes to Browns’ Stadium as Cleveland goes for it’s third win in a row. It’s a winnable game. However, it’s also another game that will come down to how well the defense will play. Playing an NFC team at home is a victory you have to have if you have playoff aspirations. Will the front office and coaching staff make any changes to the defense this week? They should. The Browns have the offense to win 10 games this season; will the defense allow it to happen?
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 