Browns Secondary Needs Help
Cleveland Hopes Youth, Inexperience won't Spoil Playoff Hopes
A 10-win season in 2007and the return of a high-flying offense have fans, commentators and the like expecting nothing less than a postseason birth for Cleveland.
But as powerful as Derek Anderson's arm or acrobatic Braylon Edwards' cathces might be, those playmakers won't be able to help the young cornerbacks coacn Romeo Crennel will start on Sept. 7, when the Browns host the Dallas Cowboys.
Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright have the speed, strength and knowledge to shore up the outside for this franchise for the foreseeable future. Still, shutting down or even containing the prime-time pass-catchers on this year's arduous schedule, might be a bit much to ask for at this point in their careers.
Browns' Tough Schedule
The team traded away solid corner Leigh Bodden to Detroit in the Shaun Rogers trade in March before losing Daven Holly to injury. Now, McDonald and Wright, with a combined 18 NFL starts, must be the pillars of Cleveland's defensive backfield. Thursday's 24-20 preseason loss to the New York Jets proved there's not much roster support behind them.
"On those plays, we got ran by," Crennel told the Plain Dealer regarding two touchdowns that amounted to 141 yards against defensive backs like A.J. Davis, who is pencilled in as McDonald's backup.
"If we underestimated the guy's speed or we lost our focus, those things happen."
Cleveland hasn't found a trading partner to add depth at corner, but might watch upcoming roster cuts to find a quality player. McDonald and Wright played well against the Jets, and they must keep it up - there won't be much time for skill-honing once the games begin to count.
In the season's first two weeks, Browns DBs will line up against Terrell Owens, Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes. It gets no easier, as Plaxico Burress, Andre Johnson, Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison will all matchup against Cleveland this year.
Cleveland's Defense
By trading future draft picks for Rogers and former Green Bay Packer Corey Williams, Cleveland believed an improved denfensive line could amass more sacks than last year's 26th ranked team. If the line, along with linebackers like Kamerion Wimbley, can confuse quarterbacks, they'll have less time to expose McDonald and Wright, who might be outmactched at times by taller talents like Owens and Burress.
Crennel and defensive coordiantor Mel Tucker also hope safeties Sean Jones and Brodney Pool can continue their leadership growth and provide more support for the corners in coverage. That, too, could be a tall order for the duo that spent parts of last year looking overwhelmed by tight ends like Pittsburgh's Heath Miller and Ben Watson of New England.
"We have 100 percent confidence we can (make plays)," Pool told NFL.com during training camp last week. "It's a close-knit group, just like this team is.
"We're not worried about T.O. or Dallas or any other game on our schedule yet," he said. "We are getting ready for them all in this work. That time will come."
That time is rapidly approaching, and the secondary aims to prove doubters wrong by winning games. Cleveland's front office could make that a much stronger possibility by keeping a keen eye on the corner market and hoping for the same luck that landed them Derek Anderson off waivers in 2005.
Much of the Browns' success could depend on it. At least more than some over-zealous fans might care to admit.
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