Now that was football.  The kind you watched in the old NFL Films footage from the 50’s and 60’s.  The kind you and your friends went out and played when the first snow of the season covered the ground.  It wasn’t antiseptic, under a dome, or in a warm weather climate.  It was good, old-fashioned football.  What made it even better was the Cleveland Browns moved one step closer to a playoff spot with an 8-0 win over the Buffalo Bills.  The Brownies are now 9-5 for the season, and have just their second winning season since 1999.

 

GM Phil Savage probably had a day like yesterday in mind when he signed Jamal Lewis to a one year contract last spring.  In fact, he was undoubtedly thinking about the entire months of November and December.  Lewis has been a force the last five games, averaging over 110 yards per contest in that stretch, capping it with a 163-yard performance against the Bills.  The running back ran through and around the Buffalo defense, getting better as the game went on.  He now has gone over 1,000 yards on the season, and has shown he is worthy of a contract extension since he is only on a one-year deal.

 

The Browns dominated the game until the last two minutes when the Bills mounted a drive to tie the game.  It made me wonder why Buffalo had not attacked the defense like that sooner, but they had a first down on the Browns’ 15-yard line with less than a minute to go.  But, on fourth down and five from the ten, they curiously called a screen pass that was snuffed out by Chaun Thompson for virtually no gain, which preserved the victory.  It was a miserable day for offense, but the Cleveland defense did a better job stopping the ground game than their Buffalo counterparts.  Controlling Marshawn Lynch was the key for the defense.

 

Offensively, the Browns set a tone that they were going to be aggressive on the first play when Derek Anderson went deep for Braylon Edwards.  The passing game made just enough big plays, including a 25-yard catch by Joe Jurevicius off a deflection, and a great grab by Edwards to set up the team’s second field goal.  Kellen Winslow couldn’t make connections with his QB in the first half, but wound up grabbing a couple key balls in the second half.  Until the Bills’ last drive, Cleveland’s passing game was better as well.

 

Perhaps the special teams were the biggest reason for the win.  How Phil Dawson made the 49-yard field goal in those conditions was unbelievable.  I couldn’t believe the team was actually going to attempt the kick.  But, kick it he did, and his line drive just cleared the crossbar.  Also, the Bills’ special teams gave the brown and orange a safety when they snapped the ball over punter Brian Moorman’s head.  Even Dave Zastudil got into the act with a 56-yard punt that he landed on the Buffalo one-yard line.

 

With a win next Sunday at Cincinnati, the Browns clinch a playoff spot.  They won’t be backing into the post-season either; winning would mean a 10-win season.  Jamal Lewis battered the Bengals for over 200 yards the last time these two teams met, so look for more of the same punishing running attack from the Browns’ offense.  Defeating a divisional foe on the road is no easy task, however.  Despite Cincy’s 20-13 loss to San Francisco Saturday night, they will be ready for the Browns. 

 

JD

 

Let’s talk real baseball, hot stove baseball.  The Mitchell Report came out yesterday, so most of the conversation on the national pastime has to do with performance enhancing drugs, but there weren’t any real surprises on the list. 

 

One more comment.  It is a joke that Barry Bonds holds the all time home run record.  He can deny taking steroids or HGH all he wants, but he doesn’t pass the eye test.  Our eyes tell us he did something to get that big in his late 30’s.  That said, Roger Clemens is just as bad.  Watch Clemens’ 20-strikeout game against Seattle in the late 1980’s, and compare the guy who pitched that game to the guy who started Game 3 of the ALDS last season.  He fails the same test.

 

Now, onto the game on the field.  It has been rumored that the Indians are in conversations with Oakland for starting pitcher Dan Haren.  Haren has been one of the top starting pitchers in the American League since he was acquired from St. Louis after the 2004 season.  He is under contract for 2008 and 2009, with a club option for 2010 at a relatively low cost.  He would be a tremendous pick up for the Tribe.

 

The Tigers are building with offense, much like the Indians from 1995-2001.  They arguably have the best line up in the game right now after picking up Miguel Cabrera from the Marlins.  Remember, how many world championships those Cleveland teams won?  None.  The way to combat good offense is good pitching.  Getting Haren would give the Indians a true big three of C.C. Sabathia, Fausto Carmona, and Haren, backed by Jake Westbrook and Paul Byrd.  That’s a pretty good rotation.  Arguably the best in the game.

 

These rumors have speculated that Shapiro would have to give up Adam Miller in the deal to acquire Haren.  There is no question that Miller is the Tribe’s best mound prospect.  However, he has also had injury problems in two of the last three years.  The front office will tell you Bartolo Colon had some arm problems when he was young, but became very durable after he turned 22 years old.  I don’t know if lightning will strike twice this time.  To get a 27-year-old starter of this caliber, one who is under contract for three more years, I think I would include Miller in the deal.

 

Shapiro is said to be balking at including Asdrubal Cabrera in the deal, and I would agree with the GM on this front.  Cabrera figures to start at 2B for the Indians in 2008, and if he is dealt, it means the ball club is back to Josh Barfield.  The organization wants Barfield to start the year in Buffalo to correct the offensive problems he had last season.  There is little depth on this front, in fact, the Indians traded for utility infielder Jamey Carroll from Colorado to fortify the middle infield.  Carroll is a veteran, but a slap hitter with the bat.  He does draw some walks, but has very little power.

 

Getting Haren would also fortify the organization if Sabathia would leave via the free agent route following this season.  The ball club would still have two solid starters at the top of the rotation.  Keep in mind, with Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers, both of whom have already pitched in the majors, and Chuck Lofgren and David Huff, who likely will be at Buffalo and Akron respectively, the team has some depth among starting pitchers.  It would also be a nice Christmas present for Indians’ fans to find three aces under the tree from Mr. Shapiro.

 

KM

 

 

LeBron James never ceases to amaze me, which is why he is most definitely The King.  James returned to the Cavaliers’ lineup after missing five games with a sprained index finger.  He asked Mike Brown to not start him, but rather to bring him into the game with holdout Anderson Varajao to minimize any booing the Brazilian might receive.  I think we all knew what a great player LeBron James is, but we forget that he is a great teammate as well.

 

James played and the wine and gold put together a 118-105 win over the Pacers at The Q last night, as the boys were finally back in town.  It was the first time since the NBA Finals that the Cavs had all of the pieces to the puzzle together, and the result was quite impressive.  Granted, nobody is comparing Indiana to the San Antonio Spurs, but after a six game losing streak, it looked like a work of art.

 

Varajao’s return was an initial success, as he scored six points and had nine rebounds in his season debut.  The bigger story was the much maligned Larry Hughes.  Hughes scored 36 points in his second straight good game.  He looked like the man who teamed with Gilbert Arenas for a potent backcourt with the Washington Wizards before signing with Cleveland.  He hit shots from outside, he went to the basket, and he hit the open man.  Maybe Hughes is finally healthy, and perhaps he will show why Danny Ferry gave him the big cash three years ago.  It is only two games, but it is something to build on.

 

All of the injuries and holdouts have one positive; they have given Brown a deeper roster.  Dwayne Jones showed he could be effective in spots.  Devin Brown does a solid job off the bench at the big guard and small forward.  Even Shannon Brown did well with some extended minutes.  Last night, Daniel Gibson didn’t even play after having his wisdom teeth removed on Monday.  The added depth will mean players will be fresher as the regular season winds down, provided the coaching staff uses all of the squad’s pieces.

 

Keep in mind, there is still four months to play in the NBA regular season.  The Cavaliers have played three more road games than home games, and they are in a part of the schedule where they are starting to play some of the lower ranked teams in the association.  There is plenty of time to ascend to the top of the Eastern Conference standings, or at least in the top four so they can secure home court advantage in the first round.  With all of its parts intact, this is a good basketball team.

 

With LeBron back in the lineup, the Cavs can make up ground quick.  Also, his return also meant the play where the ball goes to Zydrunas Ilgauskas in the post has returned.  For his next unselfish act, perhaps James can teach his mates how to get the ball in the low post.  The boys are back in town.  Let’s see how the real Cavs play for a while.  Remember, before James was injured, this team beat the Celtics the night before. 

 

JK

 

Right about now, I think the Jets have tried another onside kick.  Seriously, yesterday’s 24-18 win by the Cleveland Browns over New York at The Meadowlands was a must win game for the Browns’ playoff hopes.  This win, coupled with Tennessee’s overtime loss against San Diego, puts the brown and orange in the driver’s seat for a playoff berth.  It wasn’t a flashy performance, just one that got the job done. 

 

The Jets are a bad football team.  They couldn’t score on a 1^st and goal at the Cleveland 1 yard line early in the second quarter.  Two line plunges failed, and then Kellen Clemens threw an interception so the Jets came away empty.  Meanwhile, Derek Anderson took what the defense gave him for the most part, throwing underneath to his backs.  In fact, the Browns took a 7-3 halftime lead on a nice play fake and toss to Jamal Lewis for a 7 yard touchdown pass.

 

The second Cleveland touchdown was a record tying 13^th TD reception by Braylon Edwards.  He tied Gary Collins club mark set in 1963.  It is notable that Collins’ mark was set in a 14 game season, and Edwards’ catch came in the 13^th game.  It was a legitimate equaling of the mark.

 

The play was like many of the hook ups between Anderson and Edwards this year; the quarterback throws it up and trusts the wide receiver to come down with it.  Edwards has been remarkable making these adjustments all year, thus allowing the coaching staff and fans to ignore his seemingly one drop per game.

 

Lewis had his third 100-yard game of the season, and put the contest on ice with his 31 yard run in the fourth quarter where he literally bulled his way into the end zone, breaking several tackles.  Lewis is on record as saying he wants 25 carries per game, and he came up four short yesterday.   He is running well, and should be a tremendous weapon as the weather worsens in the last three games of the season.

 

Defensively, Cleveland gave up a lot a yards allowing Clemens to dink and dunk his way up the field, hoping he would make a mistake.  Twice he threw interceptions, the aforementioned one on the goal line and another by rookie Brandon McDonald, who continues to impress.  He also took four sacks, as the Browns continue to put more and more pressure on opposing passers as the season goes on.  However, once again, the prevent defense almost prevented a victory in the fourth quarter.

 

Next Sunday’s game against the Bills shapes up as a playoff game, particularly for Buffalo.  A Browns victory will virtually eliminate the Bills from the playoff race.  The schedule works in Cleveland’s favor also since two of the last three games are at home, where the Brownies are 5-1 in 2007.  I know many people would have said it would have been nice to be 8-5 at this juncture, but Romeo Crennel’s crew has to finish the deal now.  They have to make the playoffs.  If they continue to win at home, they will be playing on the first weekend in January.  That’s correct.  Post season football will return for Browns’ fans.

 

JD

 

 

 

The Cleveland Indians didn’t make any roster moves, didn’t report any serious injuries, and didn’t lose a major free agent at the Winter Meetings in Nashville this past week.  However, they did lose some ground in the AL Central when the Detroit Tigers traded for the best right-handed hitter on the market, Miguel Cabrera.  This was a guy the Tribe needed, but they came up empty.  Despite the Indians getting to the seventh game of the ALCS last season, it will be the Tigers that will be favored to win the division crown in 2008.

 

Although I think GM Mark Shapiro does a terrific job putting together a ballclub, the one weakness I think he has is overvaluing some of the prospects he has collected.  It appears Shapiro did not want to part with the same type of prospects the Tigers traded away.  Maybe negotiations with the Indians and Marlins never progressed to the point where names were discussed, but Detroit gave up two of their top farmhands in Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller.

 

Maybe those two will become perennial all-stars, but then again, they might wind up being just average players.  In return, Detroit gets a current all-star, one of the best young hitters in the game.  And he’s just 24 years old.  I can understand the hesitancy in dealing prospects for players in their 30’s that are on the decline, but Cabrera is hardly that.  In fact, Cabrera is younger than Ben Francisco, one of the Indians’ better prospects.

 

That isn’t even mentioning the Motor City Kitties also received former 20 game winner, Dontrelle Willis, in the deal.  Willis has not been effective over the past two years since winning 20 in 2005; he had an ERA over 5.00 last year in the National League.  However, he can be an effective 4^th or 5^th starter in Detroit, or could also be a trade piece in another deal with a National League team.  He will only be 26 years old next season, although there is a lot of mileage on his arm.

 

There were a few rumors involving the Tribe, the most notable involving Pittsburgh and outfielder Jason Bay.  As we have written before, Bay does not get me turning cartwheels.  I was intrigued by Toronto outfielder Alex Rios being on the market.  Rios is just 26 years old, hit 24 dingers last season, and struck out slightly over 100 times in more than 600 at bats.  His batting average has hovered around the .300 mark the past two seasons.  I would definitely be more interested in Rios than I would be in Bay.

 

Another hot name at the meetings according to Baseball Prospectus.com was Andy Marte.  If the Tribe is thinking of moving Jhonny Peralta to 3B soon, they should trade the former Brave prospect before they are backing into a corner at the end of spring training.  Personally, I would like to see Marte given the job and seeing what he can do.  Casey Blake is always there if the youngster doesn’t come through. 

 

Shapiro is correct in saying he doesn’t want to make a move out of emotion.  He does need to do something to keep the Indians on top of the division.  Getting Masahide Kobayashi to help the bullpen is a start, but he has to improve the offense.  Time will tell if parting with some of the surplus in the farm system will bring another bat to the Tribe.

 

MW

 

There is no question that LeBron James is the best player on the Cavaliers by far.  There are some, myself included, who think he is the best player in the NBA.  That said, there is no excuse for the Cavaliers performance last night in a 100-79 defeat at the hands of the New Jersey Nets at the Q.  At the end of the game, someone threw one of the orange souvenir balls out on the court, presumably because they couldn’t find anything else. 

 

Now while I don’t condone heaving stuff on the court, as Chris Rock says “I understand”. 

 

Granted, losing James means the wine and gold lose their best scorer and playmaker, as well as one of its better rebounders.  They also lose their smartest player.  It’s obvious that without The King, the Cavalier players do not understand the game of basketball.  How else can you explain Zydrunas Ilgauskas getting a total of six shots in last night’s contest?  The big man is the team’s second best offensive player, but since James has been out, he has taken an average of eight shots per night.  With LBJ in the line up, he routinely gets around 14-15 per game.

 

Doesn’t anybody on this team realize that getting the ball to Z is a better option than jacking up jump shots, including the relentless stream of bad 3-pointers this team takes.  I watch the games, and when the opponents are starting a run, the Cavs answer by taking a poor outside shot, instead of getting the ball inside or taking the ball to the hoop.  Usually the culprit is Sasha Pavlovic or Damon Jones, both veterans.  After the success this team has had the past few years, you would think these guys would get it.  Also, their long-range jumpers aren’t as open as when James is on the floor.

 

Without LeBron on the floor, perhaps the coaching staff cannot rely on the players on the floor to make decisions as to who takes the shots.  Maybe Mike Brown and his staff have to turn into Pat Riley and call a specific play every time down the floor.  I’m sure the players wouldn’t be happy about this, but they have demonstrated a high basketball IQ.  Really, there is no excuse for this type of performance at home by a team that went to the NBA Finals, even without the best player in the game.

 

It looks like Anderson Varajao will be back soon after he signed an offer sheet with the Charlotte Bobcats, which the wine and gold have matched.  Although the Cavs miss his energy and rebounding, and need another big man, it’s not a great deal for Cleveland.  He can be an unrestricted free agent after next season.  The Wild Thing will be back soon, but I still wouldn’t be surprised if now that he’s back, GM Danny Ferry will still try to deal him before the deadline

 

The Cavs waived Demetris Nichols to make room for Varajao on the roster, so maybe they were not showcasing Shannon Brown, as some have speculated. 

 

It doesn’t appear LeBron will be back in the lineup tonight against the Wizards, so the Cavs need to play a much more intelligent game starting tonight.  In addition to all of his physical gifts, it’s apparent the Cavaliers need LeBron James so they make sure they play the game the correct way as well.

 

JK

 

Kellen Winslow probably was forced out of bounds on the last play of yesterday’s 27-21 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, but the Cleveland Browns did not deserve to win that game anyway.  They made too many mistakes to win, particularly on the road.  Four turnovers, ill-timed and stupid penalties, and the inability to stop the run late caused this defeat more than a possibly missed call.  In fact, Cleveland was the beneficiary of some horrible calls earlier in the game.

 

Besides the two interceptions and fumbled snap by Derek Anderson, I thought the offense wasn’t patient enough against Arizona.  The Browns seemed to move the ball effortlessly by running the ball and going underneath the Cardinal defense, letting the running backs catch short passes and run for good gains.  However, the quarterback and offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski seemed intent on forcing the ball downfield and the result was two picks, one of which was returned for six.  I understand the Browns like to attack, but sometimes discretion is the better part of valor.

 

Defensively, Cleveland did a good job containing the Cardinal passing attack.  Because of the turnovers, Kurt Warner worked with a short field much of the game, but never could really get anything going without standout receiver Larry Fitzgerald.  It was pointed out that with Fitzgerald out, the Browns really clamped down on Anquan Bolden.  Once again, though, when it really mattered the defense could not stop the Edgerrin James and the Cardinals running attack.  James got the usual 100 yards against Todd Grantham’s crew, and allowed the Cards to run valuable time off the clock in the fourth quarter.  It was telling that when Romeo Crennel was asked about how the defense performed despite the turnovers, he said their play was not good enough.

 

Even Joshua Cribbs got involved in the mistake game.  Maybe he was frustrated by Arizona not kicking the ball to him, Cribbs made an ill-advised attempt to field a short punt, and muffed it.  The Cards recovered the ball, and they marched in for a touchdown and an 11-point lead.  I’m all for a guy trying to make plays, but once again a little patience needs to be exercised.  Remember, this is a young team for the most part, and these guys are playing for a playoff spot for the first time.  This is where the coaches and veterans have to exert some leadership.

 

Now, on to the officiating.  Apparently these crews are assigned early in the year, because the zebras were beyond bad.  Cardinals’ coach Ken Whisenhunt challenged two calls that should have been overturned and weren’t.  Instant replay really worked yesterday.  To my eyes, Sean Jones did not catch the deflected pass late in the second quarter.  On replay, the ball clearly hit the ground.  Then, in the third quarter on Braylon Edwards 67 yard touchdown reception, the Arizona defender hit Edwards’ leg causing him to go down.  If that’s not a tackle, I don’t know what one is.  And I’m not even bringing up, the silly Leigh Bodden kicking the ball (yes, it was silly, but really who cares about it), and Winslow’s catch to end the game. 

 

Next week, the Browns have the opportunity to show they are a playoff team.  They should go to the Meadowlands and beat a mediocre Jets team.  If they do just that, with two winnable home games (Buffalo and San Francisco) remaining, they can end up at 10-6, which should be good enough for a playoff spot.  However, they have to eliminate the silly mistakes.  They also have to get off to a good start.  You can’t allow a bad team to think they have a chance to win.  If you can get up on New York early, they might just pack it in.  Yesterday’s loss wasn’t catastrophic; it was a speed bump on the road to the post-season.

 

JD

 

 

Next week is the Hot Stove League lover’s dream.  The annual baseball winter meetings are being held in Nashville.  This is where deals are made, groundwork is laid for other trades, and serious negotiations are made with free agents.  The moves are made here so the front office people can rest a little during the holiday season knowing their teams are virtually ready for spring training in a little over two months.

 

The Indians made their first splash of the off season a couple of weeks ago, inking Japanese relief pitcher Masahide Kobayashi to a two year deal, with of course, a club option (a Shapiro trademark) for a third season.  Considering the White Sox just signed Scott Linebrink, who is coming off a bad year, to a four-year deal worth $19 million, the Tribe made an excellent signing in Kobayashi.  The right-hander, who has saved over 200 games in Japan, will bolster the bullpen, hopefully giving Eric Wedge another option in the late innings.  He is also an alternative should Joe Borowski struggle early next season.

 

Will Mark Shapiro do anything else in Nashville?

 

Shapiro has gone on record as saying he would be happy to go into the 2008 season with the same group that finished the American League Championship Series in Boston.  They picked up the options of Paul Byrd and Joe Borowski.  However, I think the GM would like to get another solid right-handed bat, and the Tribe lately has been a stealth organization.  They work under the radar.  With all of the rumors flying around baseball this month, not one mentioned the Indians were going to sign Kobyashi.  All of a sudden, a press conference is called to announce the acquisition.  So, don’t take the lack of rumors as proof the Indians are not interested in making a move.

 

As for the big bat, obviously we have gone on record as saying the Tribe should get Miguel Cabrera.  He is the best hitter available, bringing to mind a young Manny Ramirez.  The other hitter mentioned has been Jason Bay of the Pirates.  My problem with him is his lack of contact.  Bay fanned 150 times in 2007, which is too many for a team who ranked second last in the AL in making contact last season.  Although Bay would provide more pop than the current group of leftfielders, he will be prone to slumps due to the lack of contact.

 

Carl Crawford from Tampa Bay should be off the table with the Rays trade of Delmon Young this week.  That deal created room in their outfield for Justin Upton, thus they no longer have a surplus.  However, Shapiro might look at some role players like a Mike Lamb, who kills right handed pitching and can play multiple positions as a guy who can help out.  There are reports the Indians have talked to pitcher Matt Clement, who is coming off shoulder surgery, but I think they should take a look at old friend Bartolo Colon, who is also coming off arm problems.  Colon would be a good buy on a one-year deal, and would provide starting pitching depth.

 

Another thing to keep an eye on is the Rule 5 draft of minor leaguers to see who will be picked out of the Cleveland organization.  OF Brian Barton is the most surprising player not protected by the Tribe, but his age (25), being in Class AA, and the fact he regressed a little from his monster year in Kinston in 2006 led to this decision.  Last year, the Indians had two players drafted, but they were both returned before the season started.  The Tribe’s organizational depth makes them a prime target for other teams.

 

It might just be a slightly different Indians ballclub a week from now.  It’s always fun keeping up with the rumors.  At the very least, it will keep your mind off of LeBron’s index finger.

 

KM

 

It was another virtuoso performance by LeBron James last night in the Cavaliers overtime victory over the previously once beaten Boston Celtics at The Q yesterday.  The King had his own pair of helpers as Zydrusas Ilgauskas had 15 points and 14 rebounds and Drew Gooden scored 24 points in the 109-104 triumph.  The wine and gold have won four straight, and the concern, which swirled around the team after the first week of the season should be subsiding.

 

Why?  Because the Cavs winning record comes despite playing a difficult early schedule.  There are currently 15 teams in the NBA with over .500 records.  Cleveland has played nine games against those teams.  Of the squads thought not to have any chance at the playoffs this season, the Cavaliers have played just three games (New York, Minnesota, and Sacramento).  Eventually, the wine and gold will play those teams, and can give their record a boost by collecting wins against the league’s dregs.

 

Also, the Cavaliers have won five road games in the young season.  Only three other squads have won more to this point of the campaign:  Orlando, Phoenix, and New Orleans.  Winning on the road is an indicator you have a pretty good basketball team.  The combination of a difficult schedule and winning on the road means you should be very optimistic about this team, which of course, won the Eastern Conference title last season.

 

That’s the thing we forget about the Cavaliers, they are the reigning conference champs.  And they played like it last night.  They played the Celtics to send a message to Boston that you still have to come through Cleveland if you expect to get to The Finals.  They showed a swagger that has been missing all season long.  Also, it helps to have the best player on the planet.     It almost sounds crazy, but he most definitely has improved from a year ago, and he is still just 23 years old.  ESPN’s Chris Broussard said it is frightening to see how good LeBron will be in a year or two, because he is clearly the best player in the NBA.

 

Speaking of frightening, that’s the word to describe the delusion that Anderson Varajao is suffering from.  The Wild Thing’s contract demands are ludicrous for someone who averages 6 points and 6 rebounds per game.  It would be interesting to see if Varajao would be as effective on a bad team.  Some guys are good players on bad teams and can’t adjust if they are on a contender.  The same is true for good role players on very good teams.  They go to a team that is losing and suddenly they are required to do more than they are capable of.  I think Varajao is in that class.  If he were dealt to Sacramento, for example, would he be a 15 point, 12 rebound guy?  Maybe? Maybe not.  Either way, we all will get an opportunity to find out because my guess is he has played his last game with the Cavaliers.

 

The brutal schedule continues for the wine and gold with a three game road trip to Detroit, Toronto, and Boston, three of the better teams the East has.  That makes last night’s win even more important.  If and when GM Danny Ferry can get a quality defensive oriented big man to back up Ilgauskas and Gooden, the Cavaliers will take their place in the upper level of NBA teams.  In the meantime, I can’t wait to see what #23 has in store for us each and every night.

 

JK

 

 

There is an old saying in football that says if you have two quarterbacks, you don’t have one.  On the defensive side of the ball, I say you can never have enough good cornerbacks.  Last week, the Cleveland Browns lost rookie, starting cornerback Eric Wright for several weeks.  Yesterday, they discovered another rookie, Brandon McDonald, who played very well and had an interception in yesterday’s 27-17 win over the Houston Texans at Cleveland Browns Stadium. 

 

The corner is the key position on defense.  If you have good ones, who can cover man to man, it enables you to have many options in terms of how you defend your opponent.  It allows you to blitz more frequently, it frees up safeties to play the run, and it just gives you multiple looks.  With Leigh Bodden, Wright, Davin Holly, and now McDonald, the Browns are building some depth at this key spot.  The defense needed someone to step up against a good Texan offense, and McDonald did just that.

 

I’m not saying Todd Grantham’s crew has turned into the ’85 Chicago Bears on defense.  However, yesterday’s effort showed improvement.  They created three turnovers, had two sacks, and most importantly, held the Texans under 100 yards on the ground.  Is it a coincidence that the success against the running game came about as Sean Smith was switched back to nose tackle, his natural position.  Remember, the brown and orange signed Smith as a free agent to start taking over for Ted Washington in the middle of the line.  Injuries forced Smith to play defensive end until yesterday, but perhaps this move alone helps the defense against the run.  Also, having D’Qwell Jackson back at inside linebacker helped as well.

 

For the offense, it was another week, another game where they score at least 27 points.  Remember last year when getting 20 points in the game was considered a good game?  These Browns do that on a regular basis.  Yesterday made six consecutive games Cleveland has scored 27 points, and they have done it 8 times this season overall.  Against the Texans, the Browns took the lead by passing the ball and controlled the contest by ramming it down the throats of the Houston defense.  Jamal Lewis had his second 100-yard rushing game in 2007, and the offensive line allowed Derek Anderson to be sacked just once.

 

Conversely, it was just the second time the Cleveland defense held their opponent under 20 points, the other time being the first Ravens game.  In reality, if Grantham’s boys can hold teams to around this number, the Browns have a pretty good chance of winning.  The defensive coordinator is going to have to be creative the rest of the season.  If the Browns are decent on defense, they will win.

 

It’s on to Arizona for a date with the Cardinals next Sunday.  Arizona lost to the 49ers yesterday for the second time this season, and allowed more than 30 points in doing so.  Look for another high scoring affair, and since it is a road game, it will be a good test for the Browns.  In fact, the next two are away from home, with the Jets following the Cardinals.  Both are winnable games.  The Browns are in the driver’s seat in terms of the playoffs.  If they keep it going, a remarkable turnaround will be a fitting holiday gift for football fans in northeast Ohio.

 

JD