Browns vs. Bengals Preview

[BernietheKid]

Browns-Bengals Preview
		By Don Delco OBR Browns Reporter Posted Nov 25, 2011 Simple formula could bolster Browns’ chances on Sunday against Cincinnati. 0 Comments
It is simple and effective to the point of becoming cliché. In order to win football games teams need to run the ball and stop the run. Of course, the game can and is more complex, but at its essence, accomplish those two goals and the chance at victory is great. The Browns got a victory last Sunday against Jacksonville by achieving those two goals. It was the first time this season the Browns had a running back rush for more than 100 yards while holding the opposing team’s feature back to less than 100. Aiding in the Browns victory was Jacksonville’s one-dimensional offense. This Sunday, the Browns do not have that luxury. While the Bengals also feature a rookie quarterback, Cincinnati’s offense is far from a one trick pony. Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton has improved since his first career start Sept. 11 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. This season, Dalton has completed 59.3 percent of his passes for 2,239 yards with 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. “I thought he was pretty good coming into that first game,” Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauron said on Nov. 23. “He’s certainly more experienced. It seems to me this guy has been a good player throughout his whole career. He’s got 10 games under his belt and he’s got good experience in the NFL now. He’s really doing a very good job with their offense.” Ah, the opener. It is hard to forget that game. The Browns led 14-13 entering the fourth quarter until the Bengals took the lead with 4:28 remaining on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Bruce Gradkowski to A.J. Green on third and long. The play caught the Browns defense napping and it cost them a chance at victory. In conjunction with Dalton, Green has also emerged. He has quickly established himself as the Bengals’ No. 1 wide receiver. In nine games, Green has 635 yards and six touchdowns receiving on 41 catches. He missed last Sunday’s game after hyperextending his knee on Nov. 13. His status for Sunday is “wait-and-see” according to head coach Marvin Lewis. Aside from the big play to Green, the one big difference in the first meeting was the 121 yards rushing by Cedric Benson. Meanwhile, Peyton Hillis led the Browns ground game with 57 yards rushing on 17 carries. Unable to establish the run and unable to stop the run led to the Browns’ inability to close out the game. Cincinnati enters Sunday’s game losers of two consecutive to Pittsburgh 24-17 on Nov. 13 and Baltimore 31-24 on Nov. 20. The Browns are coming off that win over the Jaguars, which was arguably Cleveland’s best performance. Offensively, the Browns scored two — count ‘em — two touchdowns. In his last two games, Browns quarterback Colt McCoy is 37-for-51 passing for 417 yards with one touchdown and one interception. “I think they’re getting more and more comfortable with each other, the receivers,” Browns coach Pat Shurmur said on Nov. 21. “It’s important the timing and where they are going to be, getting used to seeing where they are going to be and being able to make those throws. I think the practices have been good. The guys that are in the game are being able to practice, so they get used to working together, which was good last week. The practices were generally efficient, so you like to think that’s going to help Sunday’s performance.” Greg Little has emerged as McCoy’s top target. This season, Little has 42 catches for 438 yards and each week is showing improvement. In the first meeting with Cincinnati, he caught one ball for 12 yards. On the ground, the Browns have turned to Chris Ogbannaya. Last week, he had 115 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Hillis was hurt and he’ll be out again this week. Montario Hardesty has missed the last two games. He has been limited in practice this week, but his status for Sunday is up-in-the-air. That may mean even more carries for Ogbannaya. “Chris has been very productive,” Shurmur said. “He’s done things for our team that will warrant him playing, at least some, when our other guys come back. We’ll just see how it goes when they come back. I’m not concerned about that. That’s a good problem to have, when you have a line of guys that you feel good about.” Cincinnati is better than expected when the season started, but the Browns have a chance in this game by establishing Ogbannaya and shutting down Benson. It doesn’t sound so cliché when you add names. If those things happen, a second-consecutive win could be in store.

Scout.com: Browns-Bengals Preview

[hiwaygal]

how come the bungles always seem to have the UGLIEST QB's?!?!?!??!

[YtownBacker]

Funny how it always ends up coming back to running the ball and stopping the run....................

You got to win the battle in the trenches, even in this passing league.

Stop the run and put pressure on Dalton and he will make mistakes. 15 TDs and 12 Ints. His bad games have been when teams put pressure on him.

That said, you know they are going to come after Colt. I hope the game plan gets him moving out of the pocket and playing more from the shotgun and up tempo. He has shown he can play well when given time. Now he needs to show he can get it done when he gets pressure. 5 of these next 6 games will have defenses coming after him so I'd hope or expect the coaches to change up the game plan or he might not make it through all 6.

[next2nothing]

Originally Posted by YtownBacker

Funny how it always ends up coming back to running the ball and stopping the run....................

You got to win the battle in the trenches, even in this passing league.

Stop the run and put pressure on Dalton and he will make mistakes. 15 TDs and 12 Ints. His bad games have been when teams put pressure on him.

Excellent points Ytown.

Look at the 49ers last night. Ravens shut down Gore and that led to 9 sacks of Alex Smith. Smith in turn showed he was nothing more than what he's showed for his whole career, that he is a manager of the game and when he has to win games for them, he can't do it.

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

I think we have a chance to win this one. Without Gradkowski under center, I don't see how the Bengals move the ball at all on our amazing defense.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by next2nothing

Look at the 49ers last night. Ravens shut down Gore and that led to 9 sacks of Alex Smith. Smith in turn showed he was nothing more than what he's showed for his whole career, that he is a manager of the game and when he has to win games for them, he can't do it.

Eggs-actly! At the end of 11 weeks, Alex only has 13 TD passes in spite of 3 first rd WRs at his disposal. Doesn't mean he can see the field ANY better than the next Kyle Boller or Joey Harrington so he's FUBAR when a team can shut down Frank Gore. Can you imagine if Alex was starting here? We would still be searching for our 1st offensive TD throwing the ball. Pretty much EVERY adult on our board understands this.

I like that McCoy isn't showing us it's gonna take 7 years to only throw 13 TD passes in 11 weeks with 3 first round WRs in the house. I wonder if there are any WINNING fantasy football rosters starting 1 WR from SF. I know there aren't any in either of our 2 leagues.

If the blitz pickup is what made last week alot more fun - I think we can keep improving off of improvement. If we remember the first Browns-Cincy game - McCoy actually outplayed Dalton and he snagged us a lead in the 2nd quarter. The defense not getting out of the huddle for the Gradkowski TD pass to Green and a 63 yard TD run by Benson was the only damage I remember by their offense.

[OzDawg]

do I actually sense optimism?
w/l is all that matters, we all know that...not enough w's.. you sit on the couch and watch the playoffs.
what I like is that the young players don't WANT to accept that. maybe there is a future in all this

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by OzDawg

do I actually sense optimism?
w/l is all that matters, we all know that...not enough w's.. you sit on the couch and watch the playoffs.
what I like is that the young players don't WANT to accept that. maybe there is a future in all this

Well put Oz! It's easier to get our game faces on before Sundays when we have some positives to build on. Fair or unfair, I was REALLY getting worried that Shurmur was in WAY over his head. I want to be a little more careful than I was not to get too committed either way with a premature conclusion Shurmur.

I take losses really hard. I'm not always fair within the week and especially if I see the same mistakes repeated ad nauseum. Truth be told though, my actions speaking louder than words/complaints reveal I wouldn't be watching if I wasn't holding out hope for us turning the corner for the better. When someone says "you're a Browns fan - aren't you used to losing?" I say it's alot like someone that lives near one of the Great Lakes during the winter. They may have experienced a ton of frigid sub-zero temperatures; but they NEVER get USED TO IT and they'd love to change it as soon as possible.

[BernietheKid]

Nov. 26, 2011 6:53 p.m. - by Marty Gitlin - 3 Keys to a Browns win: No. 1 - A potent run-pass mix
The offensive success last Sunday was gained through a strong running game and stout run blocking, combining to give QB Colt McCoy both room and time to throw. The same formula is necessary against Cincinnati. Browns RapidReports

Nov. 26, 2011 6:52 p.m. - by Marty Gitlin - 3 Keys to a Browns win: No. 2 - Contain A.J. Green
Bengals WR A.J. Green must be contained. CB Joe Haden will almost assuredly go solo against Green most of the time and he's rarely beaten deep. But Green can't be allowed to snag one in the end zone. Browns RapidReports

Nov. 26, 2011 6:51 p.m. - by Marty Gitlin - 3 Keys to a Browns win: No. 3 - Put pressure on Dalton
The pass rush hasn't been racking up sacks, but it has hurried throws in recent weeks. Forcing Bengals QB Andy Dalton out of the pocket and to get rid of the ball early would help the DBs and force the offense off the field. Browns RapidReports

Cleveland Browns - CBSSports.com RapidReports

[OzDawg]

on #2 contain aj green.. if hadens knee is right ...consider green contained...
rest of it....hellifiknow

[Thaid_Up]

Happy that Hillis is back and hope he takes it out on the Bungles. We've seen a little more diversity from the offense the last couple of weeks so if Hillis is running strong and Obi can continue his play (I don't see Hardesty making an impact this time) that should make our passing game effective. Bungles will stack the box early to contain Hillis and that will be their downfall.

I'm a little concerned with our pass defense. Haden got flagged a couple of times last week and I don't see him getting that veteran consideration from the refs like Revis and some others. But I want to see him take on Green. Two up and coming players should be fun to watch.

Browns 27-17

[DawgFan]

About Cedric Benson, he has had 80 yards or more only 2x this year, and averaged over 4.0 y/c only 2x (same games, Cle & Buf) all year.

Add into that this fact about the Browns rush defense:
Although it has given up the 29th most yards per game (139.3), it has only given up the 18th(T) most yards per carry (4.3), are tied for 14th with 7 rushing TD's, and the longest run from the line of scrimmage is only 39 yards, (good for 11th best).

In other words, the comments that teams don't pass on us because they can run are not really true. The fact is, the run because they CAN'T PASS. And because our offense isn't scoring, it is often enough even though the defense is middle of the road vs the run.

In fact, if you just take out the HOUSTON debacle, the Browns have given up only 3.9 y/c and 4 rushing TD's. Considering Houston has the #2 rushing attack in the NFL, well, I can understand that anomaly.

Further, the AFC North are ranked as follows:
Steelers: 17th y/g and 15th(t) y/c
Ravens: 23rd y/g and 23rd(t) y/c
Bengals: 19th y/g and 23rd(t) y/c

I am not worried about their run games with the Browns young DL getting better as the season has gone along.