A Cleveland team looks to beat a Miami team at last ... and it won't be easy.
View full sizeJust figured we'd use this picture of Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne in his Michigan days in case any Browns fans needs an extra incentive to root against him when Cleveland visits Miami on Sunday.Gee, if that's true, wouldn't Sunday be a good time for the Browns secondary to take their talents to South Beach? We mean, geez, it's like Florida OWES a Cleveland team one, after what happened last night. And we won't even talk about 1997 and the whole Marlins thing.1. Make the Browns one-dimensional. This is really the most obvious key for the Dolphins. ... The Browns are 3-1 this year when Peyton Hillis runs for over 100 yards. Hillis is really what makes this Cleveland offense go. If you can keep his impact on the ground somewhat limited, you then force the Browns to turn to the air - and Jake Delhomme.
With rookie quarterback Colt McCoy likely out on Sunday (he hasn't practiced this week), Delhomme will start his third game of the season. Though he is 1-1 in his two previous starts this year, Jake has thrown six interceptions in three games -- including two last week against the Panthers.
The Dolphins should be able to drop an eighth man in the box to contain Hillis when you consider that the Browns don't exactly have a threat on the outside at receiver. Their leading receivers are Hillis and Ben Watson. No receiver has over 300 yards receiving. And outside of Josh Cribbs, who is still slowed a little by a foot injury, the Browns have no speed threat. If I'm Mike Nolan, I'm going to use a ton of run blitzes to fill any running lanes and force Jake Delhomme to beat me with his group of receivers.
2. Protect the football. I said yesterday that the easiest way for an inferior team to steal a win was by making big plays on special teams. But I should have said that great special teams play was the second easiest way. The reality is that bad teams can steal wins when they create turnovers. That's the easiest way - and that's what the Browns have done this year.
The Browns have forced 23 turnovers through 11 games this year - the third most in the league. And ten of those turnovers were forced in their four wins - including wins over the Saints and Patriots. If Cleveland can force Drew Brees to throw four interceptions, then Chad Henne needs to be careful.
Josh desserts
No Colt McCoy this week. He's still nursing that high ankle sprain. Which, with a record of 4-7, is OK. Get right and get well, cuz this young man could be the guy under center for the Browns for a long, long time. That means that Jake Delhomme will get another start. Which, as we noted above, means the Dolphins' secondary could get a chance to pad their stats.
But on the plus side, it looks like returner/wideout Josh Cribbs will be on the field, despite his foot injury, according to nfl.com.
Just out of curiosity, would that extend to blocking out under the basket? Or maybe making a field goal? Or even -- gasp! -- delivering a hard foul? If so, Dan Gilbert's number is ...Cleveland Browns wide receiver and Pro Bowl return man Josh Cribbs didn't practice Friday, but the the versatile offensive weapon will likely play against the Miami Dolphins, coach Eric Mangini told reporters Friday.
"I think we're a week further along than we were last week," Mangini said of Cribbs. "A lot of this is getting his maximum, the best he can be for Sunday. So, I didn't have him practice (Thursday). It wasn't a setback. More of an adjustment of the plan."
Mangini was asked to what extent Cribbs would be available in a game situation. "The starting point will be as kick returner/punt returner, and then we'll go from there," he said. "There will be a package of things that he will do if he's available."
From The Plain Dealer
Beat writer Tony Grossi talks about the wildcat offense, which because of injuries to Josh Cribbs, Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace hasn't been the weapon envisioned earlier this year. It got most of its notoriety in Miami, where Dan Henning is offensive coordinator. But before that, it appeared in Carolina ... where Henning was offensive coordinator and Jake Delhomme was the Panthers' QB, but was out with an injury. But the 'Cat could be on the last of its lives, Tony reports.
Tony's Browns Insider includes a segment with linebacker extraordinaire Matt Roth, who was waived by the Dolphins almost a year ago. Roth acknowledges wanting to beat the team that cut him loose, but beyond that, insists that it's just another game.
Right. And Dom Perignon is just another fizzy drink.