The rash of injuries to key Browns doesn't have Terry feeling optimistic this afternoon.
BALTIMORE, Md. -- My pregame scribbles from the Browns and Ravens.
1. I felt terrible about the Browns' odds of winning this game all week -- and even worse when I arrived at the stadium. No Brian Robiskie (hamstring). No Shaun Rogers (ankle). There never was going to be D'Qwell Jackson, who was a long shot to try and come back from that pec injury. Jackson had surgery to repair a torn left pec last season. He injured the right one this year and tried to avoid surgery, but it didn't work so he's done for the year. Jerome Harrison (thigh) also is out.
2. A good guess is the Browns will try to hammer the ball in Baltimore's line with fullback Lawrence Vickers blocking for Peyton Hillis. Good luck with that. Hope I'm wrong, but I don't have much confidence in James Davis in a game like this.
3. Baltimore may be 1-1, but its defense has yet to allow a touchdown. If the Browns do find the end zone, a good guess is it will be a broken play where Seneca Wallace scrambles and scores himself or finds a receiver with a daring throw. Could be a good day for tight ends and running backs to catch passes. There should be a lot of Wildcats with Joshua Cribbs, because they don't have many other options.
4. Reader Geoff Beckman (Olmsted Falls) emailed some interesting stats. In their four victories to end last season, it was run and run and run some more. Pittsburgh: 37 rushes and 19 passes. Oakland: 46 runs and 17 passes. Jacksonville: 49 runs and 11 passes. Kansas City: 49 runs and 18 passes.
5. But in the first two games against teams that were not supposed be to strong against the run, it's 69 passes to 49 runs vs. Tampa Bay and Kansas City. Also from Beckman: When Wallace throws 30 or more passes, his team is 1-7. He has 11 touchdowns compared to eight interceptions in those games. When he throws 20-29 passes, his team is 4-6 ... he has 14 touchdowns compared to five interceptions.
6. Some fans have complained that the Browns ran Harrison inside too much. Beckman went through play-by-play sheet from the 286 yards on 34 carries that he had against Kansas City last season -- and discovered he ran up the middle 19 times for 167 yards. That's between the center and two guards. He did not run up the middle in last week's 16-14 loss, where he had 33 yards in 16 carries. Of course, Chiefs defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel stacked the center of his line.
7. In his big game at Kansas City last season, Harrison had 68 yards on nine carries to the left side -- compared to 23 in seven tries in last week's loss. To the right, it was 53 yards in five carries in Kansas City -- 10 yards in nine carries last week.
8. I understand why the Browns and other teams have called about Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb, but it's far too early for Philadelphia to even consider trading him. Michael Vick is 30. He has not been a full-time starter since 2006, and he does have those legal problems in his past. It would be dangerous to make a quick deal on Kolb (unless the Eagles think he can't play) and let Vick run the show based on a few good games.