It's simple for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at the Pittsburgh Steelers --- run, and run some more. Morning-Journal reporter Jeff Schudel writes this type of ground and pound offense is what led the Browns to victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. And there's only one way the Browns can help rookie quarterback Colt McCoy, and that's to establish a running game....
Peyton HillisIt's simple for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at the Pittsburgh Steelers --- run, and run some more.
Morning-Journal reporter Jeff Schudel writes this type of ground and pound offense is what led the Browns to victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
And there's only one way the Browns can help rookie quarterback Colt McCoy, and that's to establish a running game.
But that will be difficult against the Steelers.
“The Steelers have seven guys up front that really know how to play the scheme,” left tackle Joe Thomas said in the locker room Thursday. “They know how to play their gap. They’re very fundamentally sound.
“They’re not going to beat themselves. We have to beat them. We’re an offense built on running the ball. We’re not always going to run the ball more than we pass the ball, but for us to win we need to be efficient in the running game. We need to do well on first and second down so we’re not in hard third down situations where we have to a make a play downfield.”
Peyton Hillis has been the workhorse for the Browns, but he missed practice Wednesday and Thursday. Newcomer Mike Bell is ready to play, but will he have enough time to learn the offense?
Worries
The odds are stacked against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, especially since they will start a rookie quarterback against the top defense in the league.
That's not all.
Reporter Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram writes how the Browns' running game (the strength of the team), is in trouble because Peyton Hillis is injured and several offensive linemen are not 100 percent.
The Steelers have allowed one 100-yard rusher in the last 38 games and limited Tennessee’s Chris Johnson to 34 yards on 16 carries in Week 2.
“They’re good because they tackle, they get penetration, they have a great blitz game, they cause some confusion,” tight end Benjamin Watson said. “A lot of what they do is based on the blockers getting confused. The biggest thing for us is identifying who’s who and then put a hat on a hat. Simple as that.”
Bell
New Browns running back Mike Bell says this is his fifth team in four years, so he's ready to find a place to stay.
And if he plays well on Sunday against the Steelers, the Browns and fans hope he stays here for a long time.
Browns fans will begin to find out Sunday as Bell, who also went to camp with the Houston Texans, could get a few — or even plenty — of carries as Peyton Hillis' backup Sunday at Heinz Field, pending the condition of Hillis' injured quadriceps.
''I played with Peyton in Denver,'' Bell said. ''He did a great job in Denver, and he did a great job in college. He's a good athlete, he's got great hands and he's a smart player.''
Dominant
There are no undefeated teams in the NFL, but that doesn't mean there are no dominant teams, writes ESPN's James Walker.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are the most dominant team, writes Walker.
Here is why the Steelers are the NFL's most dominant team:
Roethlisberger is back: This has been a huge story this week, but it cannot be overstated. Roethlisberger is a top-five quarterback and a two-time Super Bowl champion. It's like acquiring a $100 million free agent in Week 6 to boost an already strong team. The Steelers' passing game is last in the NFL (136 ypg.), but it will improve dramatically with Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh won with defense and special teams, and now the team can beat opponents with all three phases.
"We're truly a 53-man roster, instead of a 52-man roster," Steelers left tackle Max Starks said. "It makes things more comfortable. It allows us the opportunity to do whatever, because we have [Roethlisberger] ... Now we have that full family."