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Cowboys @ Browns, Part IV: Rushing against Cleveland

September 5, 2008

The matchup of Dallas’ rushing attack against Cleveland’s rush defense provides the most intrigue, because it has the least carryover from last year. Both teams have re-armed, Cleveland on its defensive line and Dallas in its backfield and at tight end.

The Browns were uniformly bad on defense last year, ranking in the bottom quarter in both rushing and pass defense. The D-backs had respectable YPAs in one-on-one matchups, which suggests Cleveland had a poor rush and played a lot of zone to minimize the exposure to their secondary. The team’s woeful sack totals bear this out.

Cleveland was even worse stopping the run, allowing an average of 130 yards per game. GM Phil Savage and HC Romeo Crennell understand that if you can’t stop the run, you can’t stop anything and they paid a steep price this offseason to beef up their front seven. They traded Cleveland’s 2nd round pick in this past year’s draft to Green Bay for 320 lb. DT Corey Williams, who was immediately installed at LE in the Browns’ 3-4 front.

The team later traded its 3rd round pick and starting CB Leigh Bodden (a very good corner, BTW) to Detroit for DT Shaun Rogers. The Lions had grown tired of Rogers’ continual tease; he’s good but only in short doses, because he’s 350 lbs. and wears out quickly. The Browns penciled him in at nose tackle and plan on rotating him with 325 lb. backup Shaun Smith, in order to keep the new Shaun fresh.

Rogers will line up against Andre Gurode, who’s coming off a Pro Bowl ‘07 and who looked very good blocking big interior linemen. He got the better of Jamal Williams last month, though it must be said that Williams had only returned to practice two days before that game. Nonetheless, Gurode’s weakness has been getting out in space and cutting off quick linebackers. He’s better suited to playing big boys right in front of him, because he’s strong and can outquick nose tackles who are usually bigger than him.

Outside, Williams will square off with Marc Colombo, who had a very strong preseason. Colombo played with an injured ankle last year and he looked much stronger this summer. Dallas was decidedly left handed in it’s runs even before Kyle Kosier injured his foot. When Dallas does run inside, look for them to go behind Colombo and 355 lb. Leonard Davis.

The questions entering game one are how often the Cowboys will run early and with whom? As I mentioned yesterday, Dallas’ strategy in the brief Jason Garrett era has been to pass heavy early, wear out opposing defensive lines and then hammer Marion Barber late. Barber had an incredible second half line last year attacking fatigued defenses.

He’s the starter now, but I suspect the Cowboys will use the same formula. Look for them to pass a lot early. Also look for them to run wide a lot, to keep the Browns big fatties running. Dallas has favorable matchups on the edges, where Pro Bowler Jason Witten will match up against OLBs’ Willie McGinnest and Kamerion Wimbley. Both Browns are huge (McGinnest goes 270 and Wimbley goes 255). They’re going to play the entire game, however, since the Browns lost key rotation OLB Antwaan Peek to injury.

Dallas ran a lot of tosses to its right and I look for that tendency to continue, at least in the first half. It will also be interesting to see how Dallas mixes Barber and new RB Felix Jones. Last year the Cowboys balanced their carries, with Barber averaging 13 carries a game and Julius Jones getting 10. I think Barber will get a lot more carries, closer to 18 to 20 this year. That said, I think the new Jones will get his early touches.

The Cowboys ran a lot of passing plays for Felix. When he carried the ball, the calls of choice were off tackle plays, tosses and draws. I think he’ll figure heavily in the Cowboys’ game plan against that thin linebacking corps. While Dallas throws early to wear out the linemen, I think Garrett will also run Felix wide and get him out in space on short passes. Then, in the second quarter, the dose of Barber will increase. Dallas could come out and try butting heads with the Browns, but that hasn’t been Garrett’s style.

Special Teams

Injuries are the story here. The Browns have lost elite return man Joshua Cribbs to injury. That’s a relief for Dallas coverage teams that continue to be inconsistent. The injuries to Dallas’ receiving corps have messed with the team’s special teams rotations. Miles Austin and Sam Hurd were the team’s primary gunners last year and both are out. The lack of depth here was one reason why Alan Ball was kept and Evan Oglesby was cut when the Cowboys re-signed Keith Davis. Ball excelled at gunner at the end of preseason and may be active Sunday to play that role.

Isaiah Stanback’s injury may also scramble the team’s kickoff return plans. He and Austin were the team’s two designated kickoff returners and I wonder if Stanback will return kicks, being the only healthy WR behind T.O. and Patrick Crayton? Watch the Cowboys active roster tomorrow to see if Danny Amendola has been activated to play. The more likely candidate is Orlando Scandrick, who will likely be active as the 4th CB and as a kick cover man.

One returner who should play and who could impact the final is Adam Jones. He got two returns in preseason and showed he’s just as dangerous as he was in ‘06, when he rivaled Devin Hester as a top return man.

Prediction:

I wrote earlier that some teams are not fully ready for week one. The Browns look like one of those teams to me. A large number of key starters have not been able to practice much of the preseason. Derek Anderson only returned to practice this week after suffering a concussion three weeks ago. Braylon Edwards missed almost all of pre-season with a gashed foot. He too returned to practice this week.

Jamal Lewis is nursing a sore hamstring and has barely practiced the past couple of weeks. Safety Brodney Pool may not play because of a concussion.

It’s one thing to be a bit ragged because you didn’t play much in the preseason games. Cleveland is hoping its skill position core can step on the field and light it up with little preparation. They’re talented guys but they run a timing offense, so their task is harder.

The Cowboys offense has been smooth this preseason. If they can avoid turnovers, they should be able to move the ball.

Dallas 31, Cleveland 21

Written by Rafael Vela · Filed Under Previews | 22 Comments 

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