Browns' Fate is in the Hands of Their Linebackers

With the loss of starting safety Sean Jones for four to six weeks for knew surgery, the Cleveland Browns have been dealt yet another blow to their depleted secondary. The focus has been on the Browns’ defensive backfield since cornerback Daven Holly was lost for the season during off-season OTAs.

That combined with the youth of starting cornerbacks Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright, both second year players, has left the Browns wafer thin at corner. The loss of Jones for an extended period combined with Brodney Pool’s struggles with his third concussion in four years leaves the Browns even more depleted.

The development of these young players is important but it is not the defensive piece that will determine the Browns’ fate in 2008. That burden falls on the Browns linebacking core. The Browns’ secondary may be young but they should improve. The Browns linebacking core is a mix of under performing veterans and young players who have failed to develop.

In the 3-4 defense it is up to the defensive line to occupy blockers, thereby freeing up the linebackers to make plays. Shaun Rogers looked formidable at Nose Tackle in his Browns debut. Corey Williams has taken some time to adjust but I feel he will be able to fit in after a few weeks. Robaire Smith and Shaun Smith were effective last year and will only benefit with their pairing with Rogers and Williams.

That leaves the onus to make plays on the Browns linebackers. In the three plus years that the Browns have employed the 3-4, they have failed to do so. Andra Davis is a smart player, but his lack of speed leaves him a step, or two, behind when attacking the line of scrimmage. Willie McGinest is in his last season in the NFL and is hampered by injuries frequently.

The younger linebackers the Browns have failed to step up as well. D’Qwell Jackson appears to be too small to be an effective inside linebacker and jut doesn’t make enough big plays. He, like Davis, is the king of the tackle four yards downfield. Leon Williams is a physical specimen but seems to struggle mentally which has kept him off the field. Rookie draft pick Beau Bell has been out since training camp due to knee surgery.

On the outside the Browns were hurt by the loss of Antwaan Peek for the season as he was supposed to take the heat off of Kamerion Wimbley. But this was the year Wimbley was supposed to showcase a new repertoire of pass rushing moves. After one week, he still only has one move, the speed rush from the outside. Until he adapts, the Browns are lacking that pass rush from the outside the 3-4 defense needs.

Look at the linebacking cores that the successful 3-4 teams employ. The Pittsburgh Steelers have LaMar Woodley, James Farrior, Larry Foote and James Harrison. The Baltimore Ravens utilize Ray Lewis, Bart Scoot, Terrell Suggs and Jarrett Johnson. The New England Patriots have a mix of youth and experience with Tedy Bruschi, Miek Vrabel, Jerrod Mayo and Adalius Thomas. All of these linebackers make plays at or behind the line of scrimmage on a regular basis. The entire list is playmakers that can alter the outcome of the game.

The Browns may have some depth concerns in their defensive backfield but in the end it is the linebackers that must make the plays. Until the Browns’ linebacking core can consistently do that they will hold the team’s success back accordingly. That, and not the secondary, will be the biggest factor in determining the team’s fate in 2008.

Romeo Crennel Lost Me at "Field Goal"

Romeo Crennel is a very nice man. He is classy, up front and one of the most honest head coaches there is today. He is active in the community and a positive role model. I have always hoped that he would have success with the Browns for those reasons and many more. But he lost me when he called the field goal team onto the field for a field goal on 4th and 3 from inside the Dalls Cowboys’ 20 in a 28-7 game with 10:13 left.

That call accomplished one thing and only one thing. It made the score 28-10, nothing more, nothing less. It did not reduce the number of scores the Browns’ needed to tie the game, they still need three, two touchdowns and a field goal instead of three touchdowns. It provided no moral victory or change of momentum to the Browns’ favor. It gave them no better opportunity to win the game.

If anything it accomplished the exact opposite. It sent a message to the team, fans and especially the Cowboys that he felt the Browns could not get three yards nor win the game. It sent a message that making the score “look better” was more important than trying to win the game. Worst of all it showed that Crennel had no faith in his players to be able to compete with their opponent.

The decision to call for the field goal in that situation could only be the result of three lines of thinking:
+ Trying to minimize the margin of victory to save face
+ Lack of confidence in the team to succeed in that situation
+ Pure stupidity as it did not reduce the number of scores the team needed with little time left in the game

I am going to throw out the last possibility because I do not think Romeo Crennel is a stupid man. But because of the decision to kick the field goal in that situation I now think he is a bad head football coach. To quote Herm Edwards, “you play to win the game,” not to save face. If you don’t think your team is capable of succeeding in a situation it doesn’t excuse the fact that you should to try to win the game.

I have seen the Browns come out flat and un motivated too many times over Crennel’s tenure as head coach. I attributed some of it to the youth on the team and the time it takes to turn around a franchise. I wasn’t surprised when it happened yet again in Week 1 of 2008 versus the Cowboys, but I wasn’t happy about it either. The call to the field goal was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Romeo Crennel may be a very nice man but I no longer feel confident that the Browns will have any sort of sustained success during his tenure as head coach. Maybe he will see the error of his ways. Maybe he will improve and learn from his mistakes, but it has been four years and the same trends keep appearing. I can not say that I see that happening.
I, and every Browns fan, hope he proves me wrong. But until that happens, I for one will be praying that Randy Lerner takes a Brinks truck town to North Carolina and lures Bill Cowher out of retirement no matter what the cost.

The Browns Table: Dallas Debacle and Steelers Week

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Browns Table, a season-long look at the 2008 season for the Cleveland Browns from the point of view of the Browns fans here on Bleacher Report.

As always, I would like to thank my fellow Browns fans Dustin Haley, Scott Miles, David Nethers, and Michael Taylor for voicing their opinions, especially after a particularly frustrating opening weekend, again. Kudos, gentlemen!

This discussion is not just meant for the contributing Browns fans. Please feel free to comment on any of the questions or any of our answers below. We welcome any comments and an open discussion about the Browns below.

Well, the Browns laid a giant stink pickle on the Shores of Lake Erie in Week 1 versus the Dallas Cowboys. Unfortunately, we look back at the “Dallas Debacle” that makes the Browns 1-9 in season openers since 1999.

It doesn’t get any easier for the Brownies in Week 2 as the hated Appalachian Inbred, Pittsburgh Steelers, come to Cleveland for an AFC North showdown on Sunday Night Football. The Stoolers, er, Steelers are fresh off a Week 1 whoopin’ of the Houston Texans.

Without further ado, Let’s talk Cleveland Browns football…

Well, the Browns are 0-1 after the 28-10 thumping by the Cowboys. What was more surprising to you, the actual result or how the Browns played to get to that result?

Dustin Haley: By far it was how the Browns played that were the key to the loss. The defense performed about how I figured they would, actually better. I don't think they played great, but I don't feel they played as badly as some say they did. Sure, there wasn't much of a pass rush and there were a lot of blown coverage’s, but they did hold the Cowboys to under 30 points. Less than what I thought Dallas was going to put up. The offense was non-existent. Even with the injuries we had I feel they should've performed much better. I do not feel Jamal Lewis had enough touches. Braylon Edwards dropped two passes that were easily six from my vantage point in the family zone. We apparently have seen the arrival of Derek Vick, but aside from the one good decision to run he had, he needs to get out of that mindset. On a positive note we only gave up one sack.I stated that the offense was going to have to score over 34 to win, not even close.

Scott Miles: Surprised we lost? No. Surprised we rolled over and died like that? Umm...Cleveland teams have historically underachieved and caved when they have high expectations (see: Indians, 2006 & 2008). Now, I know it's only one week, one game...but come on fellas, really? That's the effort you put forth in a home opener on national TV against a legit Super Bowl contender? Especially after you tanked in the preseason and everyone started doubting you, and that didn't give you any extra incentive to try a little harder?

David Nethers: Two areas that were most surprising to me are:1) The most surprising: How the Browns defensive line was unable to pressure Tony Romo. I expected more than that.2) How the Browns defense was unable to stop the run. I expected trouble in the secondary but once Marion Barber penetrated the Browns ineffective blitzing he had almost no resistance whatsoever. The Browns offense had not played together during pre-season so, as mentioned last week, I anticipated that there would be timing and foul problems and there were. I also mentioned that the defense after the pre-season left me under whelmed and nothing has changed there. Our secondary is porous and can be exploited by any team with good receivers who watches game film

Jeff Smirnoff: The latter. The Cowboys are a much better team than the Browns, that doesn't mean that the Browns couldn't win but it was a difficult task. But I expected the game to be competitive and the Cowboys to wear the Browns down not the Browns to come out looking totally unprepared and overmatched like pre-season. The offense was totally out of sync, which wasn't totally surprising, but failed to take advantage of any opportunities. The muffed snap on the first drive and the DA pass that was launched 20 years over Edwards' head on 3rd and 1 on the opening drive of the 3rd quarter were game killers. And the defense? Good lord. NO game plan. No adjustments. Jason Witten was uncovered about half the time. At least the Browns didn't kick a field goal, down by 21, with only a little more than 10 minutes left in the game... Wait a second!?!

Michael Taylor: We all knew that this was going to be a tough game from the start, so the fact that the Browns lost this game, I was able to accept. The Cowboys are a damn good football team. Though, the way that the Browns played was the bigger surprise to me. The offense didn't look too bad early on and was able to move the ball, but that didn't matter. There was no room for error because of that terrible defensive performance. The Browns could ill-afford to make any mistakes, let alone continuously drop passes, not set formations, tackle, cover, get any pass rush, you name it. It was an all-around bad day. Kind of like the a$$-whooping they received during last season's opener.


I think it's safe to say that everyone felt the Browns' biggest weakness coming into the season was the defense. That definitely was the case on Sunday. After seeing it "live" which aspect of the defense has you most concerned for the rest of 2008?

Dustin Haley: That’s a pretty tough question for me. I don’t feel like there is concern on one aspect of the defense over another. They all made plays, they all blew plays. It’s more of the defense as a whole for me. What adjustments in play calling need to be made to stop the run, or at least get around the three yards per carry mark? Do we blitz more on passing downs? Basically, what do we need to do to maximize our defensive efforts? These sorts of things are what concern me.

Scott Miles: Can I answer, "the whole unit"?Shaun Rogers is as advertised. The rest of the D-Line stunk. The linebackers didn't do anything to stand out. The secondary played about as well as expected, which is sub par. But I think it all comes down to the play of the line. Name a Super Bowl winning team that wasn't strong on the offensive or defensive lines. Our D-line has to improve, and quickly - as in by Sunday against the Steelers - if we want to turn this around.

David Nethers: Wow... there’s so much here, referring to my answer to the first question, I think the worst of the problems is the porous secondary. Kudos to Dallas, they have a great offensive line there and the Browns pass rush WILL get to quarterbacks this year. Mark my word that was NOT an indication of how the whole season will go on the line.

Jeff Smirnoff: The linebacking core. We all knew the defensive backfield was young, inexperienced and would struggle. It will but it will get better. The retooled D line, especially Shaun Rogers, showed some signs of some impact that was supposed to free up the linebackers to make plays. That did not happen. They key to the 3-4 defense is linebackers who can make plays. Look no further than the Pats, Ravens or Steelers. All have impact linebackers. The Browns do not and they are all slow to boot. Willie McGinest and Andra Davis are exceptionally slow except when Davis blitzes. D'Qwell Jackson looks like he can't get it done at the line of scrimmage. Leon Williams appears to get confused all the time. Kamerion Wimbley still only has one pass-rushing move. Until the linebackers start making plays the Browns D is in big, big trouble.

Michael Taylor: I was furiously upset over the pass rush again. The Browns paid big to bring in Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams, and all they had from them was no rush and a couple of tackles. Maybe more upsetting is the continued lack of development by the group of linebackers, especially on the outside. They did get to Romo and bust his chin on one play, but again there was little to no penetration or pressure.That matched up with mismatches on the outside was a recipe for disaster. The young corners need some help from the line if they are to stay with the leagues best.


Nine straight. 15 of the last 16. 22 of 25 since 1994. Those numbers make every Browns fan sick. What do the Browns have to do to actually have a chance to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2, 2008?

Dustin Haley: This is the most important game of the year for us, if there is such a thing. It may determine the AFC North. Stopping the Parker and Mendenhall is a top priority. The Steelers rely on their running game for their offensive flow and we cannot allow them to average over 5 yards a carry as we did Dallas. This is all up to the linebackers with Jones out for arthroscopic knee surgery.Offensively Lewis will need more than 13 touches he had, and we also need to convert more third downs. I know Chud likes to pass, but what's the point in having a back like Lewis if we do not utilize him on his strong points?

Scott Miles: 1. Braylon must play like he's capable of playing - that is, record more catches than drops in a game, especially on those game-changing deep balls.2. The defensive line MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST get some pressure on the quarterback and at least slow the running game.3. Romeo needs to take a chance or two for once in his career.

David Nethers: Don’t Panic! Week 1 the Browns looked pitiful and the Steelers looked great. Look at their opponents. Week 2 is going to be a good game and I actually like the match up. I predicted last week that the Browns could go 3-1 at the Bye and, maybe its too much FAN here and too little objectivity, but I still think that’s possible.I really think that once this offense gets more work in together and Braylon Edwards stops dropping balls this will look like a completely different team.

Jeff Smirnoff: Show up, care and believe they can win. It all starts with that. Until the Browns actually believe they can beat the Steelers they won't do it. It has to start there. Despite their shortcomings in some spots, the Browns do have some talent. And despite their dominance, the Steelers do have some weaknesses. Against Dallas the Browns looked like they didn't believe they could beat the Cowboys. If they let the Steelers get even a whiff of that, they are dead meat.

Michael Taylor: Stay within themselves and execute their game plan. As bad as last week was, the Browns still have the weapons to contend in the AFC North, but they have to prove it starting Sunday night. Again, being able to control the line of scrimmage will be key in any game against the Steelers. They run the ball and apply pressure defensively. The Browns must control the game in the trenches and let their skill players do the rest.

After watching the Steelers' dismantling of the Texans which aspect of Pittsburgh is your biggest concern: the physical, efficient offense or the hard-hitting relentless defense?

Dustin Haley: I’m more concerned with stopping this offense that put up 38 points last week. Ben was 13-14 for 137 yards and Parker rushed for 138 yards on 25 attempts. That is beyond efficient, that’s downright nasty. Never mind Hines Ward had 6 receptions for 76 yards and two TDs, Keeping this offense off the field and maintaining control of the clock is key to winning this game. With what happened against Dallas, this is bad news.

Scott Miles: I didn't get a chance to watch the game - the Columbus market was treated to the JV teams (Cincinnati and Baltimore) snooze-fest - but the first thing I always think about when I think Pittsburgh (besides vomiting) is its defense. They held Houston to 234 total yards - over 130 of which came in the fourth quarter when the game was over - and forced three turnovers. That defensive performance, coupled with the way the Browns offense looked Sunday, is a bit of a concern.

David Nethers: There is no question the Steelers have a talented defense. Contain Worthlessburger, stop that annoying run ability of his, and I think you have less to worry about from their offense. Their defense is talented, but so is the Browns offense and I’m not willing to say one is better than the other at this point, unless of course, the Browns offense is misfiring as badly as it did in week 1.

Jeff Smirnoff: think if we actually practice well and prepare for the game, which after watching the Dallas game is 50/50, I feel that our offense can have some success against the Steeler D. It won't be easy, but I like how our O line showed up versus the Cowboys and the Steeler secondary is still a bit shaky, even with Polamalu looking like he is 100%.But the Pittsburgh offense scares me. The Texans actually pressured the Steelers, got some sacks, are experienced and the Steelers totally carved them up. Willie Parker ran wild, Roethlisberger was 13-14 and the receivers were open all game. Unless we figure out a way to exploit the Steelers revamped O line I don't see us stopping them.

Michael Taylor: Well, after watching the Browns against the Cowboys, the physical, efficient offense is worrisome. I mean, how many times have we seen the Steelers control the game with over 200 yards rushing as a team. If Sunday was any indication of this D-line, Sunday may again be a long night.

It's Steelers Week. Now that Joey Porter is wallowing in Miami which player do you dislike the most: Big Dumb Roethlisbozo, The Cheap Shot Artist - Evil Chipmunk Whines Hard, or someone else?

Dustin Haley: LaMarr Woodley. A Wolverine to Steeler, I can’t possibly hate someone more than that.

Scott Miles: I rooted for Big Ben when he was at Miami (come on, who from Ohio didn't) and though I absolutely despise him, I cannot say I dislike him the most. Far and away it's Hines Ward, with that stupid (expletive deleted) smile he always has on and all his cheap hits. I wish we still had Brian Russell so he could lay him out like he did Chad Johnson a few years back. "How'd Bodden do, guys?"

David Nethers: Worthlessburger grew up in Findlay Ohio. I talked with him last year in the Steelers practice facility locker room about what the Browns/Steelers rivalry meant to him when he was a kid and he told me essentially that he knew there was one but he never got caught up in that. Claims to have been a 49ers fan as a kid. he told me this..."being from ohio obviously you understand the love when you are in ohio for the browns and the bengals but being in pittsburgh you understand the hatred, you understand where its coming from." "Hatred"? Ben? Maybe from someone who grew up in Pittsburgh, but from an Ohio boy? His play on the field aside, how can you like anyone who grew up in Ohio and "understands the hatred". That’s just plain annoying. Let’s hope the defense closes those gaps this weekend and gives him something to really hate.

Jeff Smirnoff: Roethlisbozo. Whines Hard may play dirty now and then and it just as bad of a taunter, if not more so than TO or Ocho Cinco who are more playful, but it's Roethlisberger for a simple reason. He is from Ohio and said he grew up "hating" the Browns, and the Bengals, and the respective cities. Now if you don't want to root for the teams or like the cities, or you didn't like them, that's fine. But to me the word hate is a very serious word. Maybe you were a front-runner, which is why you liked John Elway and the Broncos, fine, but don't hate on my hometown for no reason. He doesn't respect us, so I don't respect him.

Michael Taylor: How about 'D', all of the above including Troy Polamalu. It is really hard to pick just one. I may go with Polamalu just because he always seems to be making big plays against the Browns in the backfield or intercepting a pass at opportune times for the Steelers. Plus, you just want to reach into the TV screen and pull his hair out.

Browns Suffer Déjà vu in Humbling 28-10 loss to Dallas

On what would have been founder Paul Brown’s 100th birthday the Cleveland Browns decided to celebrate by reliving last years opening day 34-7 debacle against the Pittsburgh Steelers by getting pummeled by the Dallas Cowboys, 28-10. The deficit may have been slimmer but the beat down that the Browns received was just as large as last year’s.

The bad news started before the game even began as both WR/KR Josh Cribbs and S Brodney Pool were ruled out of the game due to lingering issues with their ankle and a concussion, respectively. To everyone’s surprise, however, WR Donte Stallworth was ruled out of the game when he strained his groin in pre-game warm-ups This left second year players Syndric Steptoe and Steve Sanders to fill is in the already thin receiving core.

The game started with the Browns receiving the opening kick-off and drove to the Cowboys’ 45 where they were faced with a 3rd and 1. QB Derek Anderson and center Hank Fraley muffed the exchange and the Browns were forced to punt. Dave Zastudil’s punt bounded into the endzone and Dallas too over at their own 20.

Tony Romo then effortlessly led the Cowboys 80 yards down the field in ten plays in 5:15 to go up 7-0 on a Marion Barber touchdown run. The drive included a 19 yard conversion to TE Jason Witten on a 3rd and 9, one four plays of over 10 yards on the drive. Yes, of the ten Dallas plays, four were over ten yards, a trend that would continue all day. All in all, Romo was 5-5 on the drive for 66 yards.

The Browns offense looked to be going nowhere but an illegal hands to the face penalty prolong the drive on 1 3rd and 6. Anderson then hit WR Braylon Edwards in full stride for what would have been a 53 yard touchdown pass, but Edwards dropped it, his first of four drops on the night.

The Browns recovered thanks in part to great catches by tight ends Kellen Winslow and Steve Heiden and ended up with a 1st and Goal on the Cowboys’ 4 yard line. It looked like the Browns would stall in the red zone but a pass interference penalty on CB Adam Jones on 3rd and 3 gave the Browns the ball 1st and Goal on the 1. Anderson hooked up with Winslow for a 2 yard touchdown to knot the score at 7-7. That was as close as the Browns would get the rest of the afternoon.

Dallas answered the Browns’ drive by putting together a scoring drive of their own, once again taking advantage of the big plays. An 18 yard pass to WR Patrick Crayton and a 23-yard run by Barber set up a 35 yard TD strike from Romo to WR Terrell Owens who burnt CB Brandon McDonald horribly to put the Cowboys up 14-7.

The Browns responded by going three and out twice while the Cowboys drove down the field right before halftime, again without much resistance. This time it was a methodical ten play, 69 yard drive that featured four more plays of ten yards or more. A 3rd and 8 that Romo completed a 13 yard pass to Barber on proved key as Dallas was able to score right before the half on another Barber one yard run to take a 21-7 advantage at halftime.

At the end of the half the score might have been 21-7 but the stat sheet told a much different story. The Cowboys out gained the Browns by a tally of 239 yard to 110. Dallas had 11 plays of ten yards or more out of the 27 plays they ran. The Browns had 5 such plays. The Cowboys looked like a Super Bowl contender. The Browns looked like they did in pre-season: outmatched, unmotivated and unprepared.

Both teams traded three and outs to start the second half but on Dallas’ second possession of the third quarter they put the game away. Another ten play drive, this one 86 yards, culminated with a Felix Jones 11 yard touchdown run right up the middle, for a 28-7 lead. Ballgame.

The Browns were unable to do anything on offense, other than the hard running of RB Jamal Lewis. But a 21 point deficit is not conducive to a lot or running and with Anderson missing on nine consecutive passes after his touchdown connection with Winslow, the Browns were never able to mount a comeback.

The Browns did mount at the beginning of the fourth quarter behind the running of Lewis and a short hot spell by Anderson. Catches by Winslow, Steptoe and Sanders put the Browns in the red zone but the drive stalled and the Browns were faced with a 4th and 3 from the Cowboys’ with just over ten minutes to play.

Now the Browns are down 21 points. That is three scores. If they kick a field goal the score is 28-10 and they are still down three scores. Unfathomably, Head Coach Romeo Crennel called for the field goal unit and made the score 28-10 with 10:13 left in the game. The Browns never got the ball back as the Cowboys burned the clock after the ensuing kick-off.

The final score may have been 28-10 but the statistics were much worse. Dallas out gained the Browns 487 yards to 205, including a whopping 320 to 114 via the pass. This included Romo completing 75% of his passes (24-32) for a whopping 10.0 yards per attempt.

The first downs were even more lopsided 30-11. The Cowboys were 8-11 on third down. The Browns were 3-9. This resulted in a 37:29 to 22:31 advantage for Dallas in time of possession. And the final tally for Cowboy plays over ten yards? Twenty-two.

`It wasn’t that the Browns’ lost again on opening day, as they are now 1-9 in openers since their reincarnation, but how they did it in the same fashion as last year. The pre-season injuries definitely played a factor as the team looked out of sync and rusty, especially on offense. They failed to make big plays on offense and allowed a plethora on defense.

The lack of depth in the secondary and was apparent as Tony Romo and Jason Witten had a field day as Witten looked to be uncovered more often than not. Safeties Sean Jones and Mike Adams were picked apart and were unable to make many plays in the running game wither. Owens burned McDonald early while Crayton and Isaiah Stanback caught crossing routes and converted third downs all afternoon in from of McDonald and Eric Wright.

More evident is the total lack of production from the linebacking core, sans Kamerion Wimbley. The revamped defensive line of Shaun Rogers, Corey Williams, Robaire Smith and Shaun Smith got solid penetration for most of the game but the linebackers were unable to capitalize. Willie McGinest is still slow and Andra Davis and D’Qwell Jackson are the kings of the tackle for a 5 yard gain. Wimbley was able to generate some pressure but with no help from anyone else, his presence was nullified all game.

Offensively, Jamal Lewis continued to get better as the game wore on, as he always does, but the deficit made his efforts moot. Kellen Winslow one again played a great game, but without veterans Stallworth and Joe Jurevicius the Dallas defense was able to keep him quiet most of the second half. Anderson didn’t turn the ball over but was unable to generate anything on the offensive side of the ball for almost the entire second and third quarters.

Not a good beginning to the season, just like in 2007, but the Browns have a chance to rebound against the rival Steelers on Sunday Night Football next week. But if the pre-season and Week 1 are any indication the Browns are anything but primetime players.

The Steelers carved up the Houston Texans to the tune of 38-17 and looked dominating in doing so. Their offensive line did look as little bit shaky as Ben Roethlisberger was harassed most of the game, but the Appalachian Inbred still put up 38 points and 305 yards of offense. I shutter to think of what they can do to a defense that in unable to get pressure on the quarterback or generate turnovers.

So that is the Cleveland Browns task at hand, and it is not an easy one, especially when just getting focused and motivated for any single game is difficult for them. If the Browns are going to live up to the pre-season hype that preceded the season then they need to wake up and wake up soon or the Steelers will put them to bed on Sunday night.