Browns Gaining Edge at the Right Time

by ChrisPokorny on Oct 17, 2008 9:25 AM EDT in General News Comment 12 comments

Even with the terrific home victory over the New York Giants, the Cleveland Browns still need something that will give them an "edge" over the next couple of weeks. Even when this team has been at their best, they have tended to struggle on the road. On the road against the Washington Redskins this week, the Browns just might have that edge.

Redskins RB Clinton Portis (hip flexor) did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, and it doesn't look like he'll practice today either. At the moment, he is still expected to play, but he shouldn't be near 100%. Also, talented backup RB Ladell Betts is already out for the game. How huge would it be if newly-signed RB Shaun Alexander got the start? Assuming nothing has changed since last season, Alexander should be just as bad as William Green was.
The Redskins' secondary is hurting at the same time the Browns' passing attack looks to be on fire. Shawn Springs tweaked his calf muscle in Thursday's practice, and Fred Smoot is doubtful with a groin injury. Carlos Rogers, the team's best corner, is still scheduled to start, but he has been limited with a calf injury in practice.
S Sean Jones is scheduled to be back and starting this week, meaning it'll be the first time this season that we'll get a look at our entire starting secondary. With Brandon McDonald, Eric Wright, and Brodney Pool all having superb seasons thus far, the group should be fun to watch. Our depth will now improve, with a fairly-talented Mike Adams being able to get more work as a nickel back again.
Defensive lineman Shaun Smith has been ruled out already, but he could be ready in another week or two. Offensive lineman Kevin Shaffer's status is up in the air, so he hasn't been ruled out yet.
No official word has been given on Kellen Winslow yet, although as of Thursday, he was not medically cleared to practice. The big sign will be whether or not he practices today.

The Redskins are coming off their worst performance of the season against the St. Louis Rams. I know "flukes" happen, but if the Rams are able to take out the Redskins on the road, that should be some encouragement for us. Currently, the Redskins are favored by about seven points.

Poll

Will the Browns be able to take down the Redskins on the road?

Yes, three wins in a row, here we come!

113 votes

No, we're not proven enough on the road

32 votes

No, simply because Monday Night was a FLUKE

22 votes

167 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Only 17 votes in, but 82% of Browns fans think we’ll win?

What a difference a week makes, I guess :p

Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.

by ChrisPokorny on Oct 17, 2008 11:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I haven’t voted because there wasn’t a cautious “Yes” option. I’d vote for “Yes, thanks to momentum and timing”.

You know Selig? Ombudsman.

by rolub on Oct 17, 2008 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was looking for a cautious optimism option as well, but then I figured that was just a momentum sapper, and there’s gotta be enough karmic debt out there to indicate a Browns win. Of course, karma by itself won’t win a game, but I think the Browns might finally have something clicking. My biggest concern is actually the fact that Jones is coming back, considering how long it took everyone else (except Tucker) to get back into form after an injury. But if he syncs up right away with the other DBs, then I think the Browns will be okay. If memory serves (and that’s hardly a given in my case) the "skins haven’t been scoring a lot of points, despite the yards they put up. I think if the Browns put up over 24 points, they’ll have the game.

by JustBob on Oct 17, 2008 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, it will come down to our offense being able to score. Or maybe Cribbs. Or maybe Eric Wright again. Anyway, points for us = victory.

by rufio on Oct 19, 2008 3:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Last Monday Night was unbelieveable compared to what we suffered through for the first four games. I suppose it is one thing to find an edge but will they be able to sustain it on the road? How does a QB go from looking like the reincarnation of Spergyn Wynn to Bernie K in one week?

The one thing I took from that game was that the Browns were ready to play some football! They seemed focused and prepared and guys were high-fiving and bumping each other. I don’t know if I have seen that with this group before. Man, you gotta love that kind of “edge”. I hope they take it with them to DC.

Oh The People You Meet When Your Out of Ammo.........

by Juannieboy on Oct 17, 2008 2:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I told you DA couldn’t be as bad as he was playing.

I don’t think Ryan Leaf was even that bad.

Now when his highs and lows even out, where is he? That’s the question. Glad I don’t have to answer it. Except in Madden.

by rufio on Oct 19, 2008 3:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention their porous special teams. Hope Josh can bring one back!

by ClevelandPND on Oct 17, 2008 3:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Right time indeed

I see a Cleveland team on the rise after humbling start to the season, starting to get healthy again, and finding it’s rhythm offensively and identity defensively. I also see a Redskins team, possibly on the down swing, with potentially some key players sitting out on Sunday, and retread back Shaun Alexander.

I’m guessing Browns win by 7. The Skins are a solid team, though don’t particularly excel at scoring, never having broken 30 points this season. Cleveland will continue to spread the field nicely with Stallworth back in the line up, using the pass to open up things nicely for the rushing attack. I’m hoping the reunited secondary will come up big for the Cleveland defense, but it was a shortened practice week, and the extra time before New York paid off in spades. Wright and McDonald are young and talented, but it should be interesting to see how they play after big win on a short week.

Maybe we’ll even see Shaun Alexander get eaten alive like he was in the Seattle game last year.. too bad he left the cast or whatever that thing on his arm was.. GO BROWNS

by ouched on Oct 17, 2008 11:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Chris, if you were right and Stallworth really did help the offense out that much, I think it is pretty clear where we need to spend a few draft picks:

OLB (early)
WR
DB
OT
Another LB
Probably another WR (because they are pretty difficult to project to the NFL)

If one or two injuries can take us from 10-6, young “hot” team to 0-3, couldn’t look much worse…time to bolster our depth in those positions.

Don’t look now, but Tennessee and Denver might be the only two teams on the schedule I am truly worried about. Not saying we’ll be 11-5, but 8-8 isn’t looking impossible if we keep our offense off of milk cartons.

by rufio on Oct 19, 2008 4:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs