mesaSteeler
10-11-2010, 12:32 AM
Cleveland 'had bead on Ben'
Monday, October 11, 2010
By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10284/1094300-87.stm
CLEVELAND -- Your team is 1-4, already buried in the AFC North Division and looking at an eighth consecutive season without the playoffs. You were just beaten at home, 20-10, by the Atlanta Falcons in a game when it became more evident than ever that you don't have a quarterback or an offense of which to speak. But it could be worse. You have that next game to anticipate. It's more than just another game. It's against the hated Steelers Sunday at Heinz Field, a game in which quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will play for the first time this season. If that doesn't get you excited, knowing that a lot of eyeballs across America will be watching to see how Big Ben does, well ...
Trust me, the Cleveland Browns are excited.
"I expect him to come out and be Ben Roethlisberger," Browns outside linebacker Marcus Benard said Sunday. "You hear people say, 'He's a great quarterback. You can't get to him. You can't get him down.' But if you're a pass-rusher like I am, you raise your hand and say, 'I can.' My job is to get after those great quarterbacks. I welcome that challenge. This team welcomes that challenge."
It will be a confident Browns defense that comes to town, that 1-4 record be damned. The unit gave up just one touchdown to the Falcons, a 45-yard pass from quarterback Matt Ryan to Pro Bowl wide receiver Roddy White, who beat cornerback Sheldon Brown to the post midway through the third quarter. "We've been a solid defense from Day 1, but we've been beating ourselves with big plays and miscommunications," Benard said. White's catch was the fourth touchdown pass of at least 27 yards against the Browns this season.
That should make Roethlisberger smile.
Then again, maybe not.
When the Steelers and Browns previously played, the Browns' defense was virtually impenetrable. Despite being ranked last in the NFL and playing without five injured starters, it kept the Steelers from scoring a touchdown in a 13-6 win on a frigid December night next to Lake Erie. Roethlisberger was sacked eight times, twice by Benard. The Steelers converted just 3 of 14 third-down situations. It wasn't just their fifth consecutive loss, effectively ending their playoff hopes. It was one of the worst losses in franchise history. The Browns came in 1-11 and had lost 12 in a row in the rivalry by an average score of 28-12.
"I'm pretty sure Ben remembers that night," defensive back Mike Adams said, grinning.
The Browns are expecting Roethlisberger's best even if he missed the Steelers' first four games and the practices before each because of his NFL-mandated suspension. "I'm hoping he's rusty, but I expect he'll be sharp and come out gunning. He's a vet," Adams said. A more realistic hope for the Browns is that Roethlisberger will try to do too much too soon, that he tries to make up for his suspension all at once. "I know how much he must want to get back playing," linebacker Scott Fujita said. "He's battled back and done all the right things. I'm sure he wants to make sure his past indiscretions are not a distraction for their team."
Players on the Browns' defense won't say so publicly, but they know they are their team's best chance -- maybe only chance -- at Heinz Field. They can't have much faith in their offense. It stinks, to be kind. It was useless against the Falcons after hobbled quarterback Jake Delhomme (ankle) replaced starter Seneca Wallace (ankle) late in the second quarter. It seems unlikely that Wallace will play Sunday. You have to figure the Steelers' defense will love their chances against the more immobile Delhomme.
Then again, maybe not.
The Browns beat the Steelers in December despite a 6-for-19, 90-yard passing game from then-quarterback Brady Quinn. Their defense didn't need much help from the offense. Those eight sacks did the trick.
"We just had a bead on [Roethlisberger] and were able to get him down," Benard said.
It's no secret that will be the Browns' plan again Sunday.
"We'll be talking about it all week," Adams said. "We've got to get after Ben and get him down when we have the chance. He's such a big quarterback. He keeps [on] going. His wide receivers get deeper. We've got to be ready for that. We've got to be ready for everything with that guy."
Know this: The Browns will show up. They know what the pregame build-up will be, that it will center around Roethlisberger's much-anticipated return. They would love to spoil the popular story line that has Big Ben playing a spectacular game and giving notice to the NFL that he's back in a big way.
The mere thought is enough to make a 1-4 record seem a lot less painful.
Ron Cook can be heard on the "Vinnie and Cook" show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan. rcook@post-gazette.com. More articles by this author
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10284/1094300-87.stm#ixzz11xz1t6ba
Monday, October 11, 2010
By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10284/1094300-87.stm
CLEVELAND -- Your team is 1-4, already buried in the AFC North Division and looking at an eighth consecutive season without the playoffs. You were just beaten at home, 20-10, by the Atlanta Falcons in a game when it became more evident than ever that you don't have a quarterback or an offense of which to speak. But it could be worse. You have that next game to anticipate. It's more than just another game. It's against the hated Steelers Sunday at Heinz Field, a game in which quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will play for the first time this season. If that doesn't get you excited, knowing that a lot of eyeballs across America will be watching to see how Big Ben does, well ...
Trust me, the Cleveland Browns are excited.
"I expect him to come out and be Ben Roethlisberger," Browns outside linebacker Marcus Benard said Sunday. "You hear people say, 'He's a great quarterback. You can't get to him. You can't get him down.' But if you're a pass-rusher like I am, you raise your hand and say, 'I can.' My job is to get after those great quarterbacks. I welcome that challenge. This team welcomes that challenge."
It will be a confident Browns defense that comes to town, that 1-4 record be damned. The unit gave up just one touchdown to the Falcons, a 45-yard pass from quarterback Matt Ryan to Pro Bowl wide receiver Roddy White, who beat cornerback Sheldon Brown to the post midway through the third quarter. "We've been a solid defense from Day 1, but we've been beating ourselves with big plays and miscommunications," Benard said. White's catch was the fourth touchdown pass of at least 27 yards against the Browns this season.
That should make Roethlisberger smile.
Then again, maybe not.
When the Steelers and Browns previously played, the Browns' defense was virtually impenetrable. Despite being ranked last in the NFL and playing without five injured starters, it kept the Steelers from scoring a touchdown in a 13-6 win on a frigid December night next to Lake Erie. Roethlisberger was sacked eight times, twice by Benard. The Steelers converted just 3 of 14 third-down situations. It wasn't just their fifth consecutive loss, effectively ending their playoff hopes. It was one of the worst losses in franchise history. The Browns came in 1-11 and had lost 12 in a row in the rivalry by an average score of 28-12.
"I'm pretty sure Ben remembers that night," defensive back Mike Adams said, grinning.
The Browns are expecting Roethlisberger's best even if he missed the Steelers' first four games and the practices before each because of his NFL-mandated suspension. "I'm hoping he's rusty, but I expect he'll be sharp and come out gunning. He's a vet," Adams said. A more realistic hope for the Browns is that Roethlisberger will try to do too much too soon, that he tries to make up for his suspension all at once. "I know how much he must want to get back playing," linebacker Scott Fujita said. "He's battled back and done all the right things. I'm sure he wants to make sure his past indiscretions are not a distraction for their team."
Players on the Browns' defense won't say so publicly, but they know they are their team's best chance -- maybe only chance -- at Heinz Field. They can't have much faith in their offense. It stinks, to be kind. It was useless against the Falcons after hobbled quarterback Jake Delhomme (ankle) replaced starter Seneca Wallace (ankle) late in the second quarter. It seems unlikely that Wallace will play Sunday. You have to figure the Steelers' defense will love their chances against the more immobile Delhomme.
Then again, maybe not.
The Browns beat the Steelers in December despite a 6-for-19, 90-yard passing game from then-quarterback Brady Quinn. Their defense didn't need much help from the offense. Those eight sacks did the trick.
"We just had a bead on [Roethlisberger] and were able to get him down," Benard said.
It's no secret that will be the Browns' plan again Sunday.
"We'll be talking about it all week," Adams said. "We've got to get after Ben and get him down when we have the chance. He's such a big quarterback. He keeps [on] going. His wide receivers get deeper. We've got to be ready for that. We've got to be ready for everything with that guy."
Know this: The Browns will show up. They know what the pregame build-up will be, that it will center around Roethlisberger's much-anticipated return. They would love to spoil the popular story line that has Big Ben playing a spectacular game and giving notice to the NFL that he's back in a big way.
The mere thought is enough to make a 1-4 record seem a lot less painful.
Ron Cook can be heard on the "Vinnie and Cook" show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan. rcook@post-gazette.com. More articles by this author
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10284/1094300-87.stm#ixzz11xz1t6ba