Pittsburgh Steelers: What can the Browns do to you?

Derek Anderson went 2 for 17, against the Bills nonetheless, and still won. The game was one of, if not the most pathetic NFL game ever played by an offense let alone 2 of them.

Honestly, this was so bad if I had owned either team I would have fired my Coach immediately after the game. Actually I would have made my decision by the end of the 3 rd quarter. And as amusing as this sounds, I am dead serious. This game would have had to improve, to be called a bad game.

That same disoriented garbage team in confusion is coming to Pittsburgh. Last week the Steelers played a team that is actually better than Cleveland but horrific in its own lovable way, in the Lions. I thought the Steelers played down a bit to there opponent. So what should we expect?

Well, the Browns have not faired well against the Steelers lately but they have played like a Divisional match up during many of those games. There should be no shot of that happening this week. Will that happen? I don't know, but we should expect it from the Steelers. More so because the Browns, really are that bad.

Thanks to the Bills the Browns only are ranked 24 th in points allowed. 34,27,34,20 is what they allowed in there first 4 games. The 20 was against the mighty Bengals. So the 3 points allowed against Buffa-woe helped their defensive stats. They are ranked a respectable 10 th against the pass. That is because they can't stop anyone from running the ball. So why throw? They allow an amazing 170 yards on the ground per game average! That counts holding the Bills to 145 yards rushing.

Attention Bruce Arians, Ben Roethlisberger and MikeTomlin. Have you watched the film? If you can't run this team over, and I do mean literally RUN them over, you should start planning for a Super Bowl run in 2010 instead of 2009. Yes if ever there were a game to practice running and get the offensive line some confidence, it would be this game.

Oh sure have some fun with the air attack, but please for the love of all logic will you actually do what you said you planned to do this season? Run a balanced offense. Again I don't care if it is 50/50. But if you throw the ball against the Bills 30 + times and run it less then 20, you clearly have no intention of being balanced. Because this Browns team is embarrassingly bad and you should be able to do whatever you want. And you need a dominate, clean offensive game to get the machine running smooth.

It doesn't matter if the score is 65 to 7 if you don't establish an effective balance. The dominance should be in the statistics this week and time of possession.

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On offense the Browns should go like 1 and 12 on 3 rd downs. They ran 59 plays verses the Bills, the should run about 30 against you. Seriously, they stink! I have never ever, ever once thought for a millisecond that a Division 1 school could play an NFL team, but I think Florida could play Cleveland and compete. That should be unthinkable.

Willie Parker appears to be slated for return so I see him getting some love. Which is fine against this lame excuse for an NFL team. But please let Mendenhall be the feature back? Please? For the millionth time I love Willie Parker, but he is not going to hold up anymore and he is not who he was just a couple seasons ago. But I won't be surprised if Parker carries the ball more assuming he is near 100%. But the Steelers should have the ball for so long that Parker, Mendenhall, Moore, and any other back they have should have some carries. Mendenhall did miss some practice with flu like symptoms this week.

Troy Polamalu is likely to return. Maybe the defense will get it's dominance back. Although against the Browns it is almost impossible not to look dominate. They usually shoot themselves in the foot, actually feet is more accurate.

My worst fear is that the football bizarro odds will come into play here. What are the chances that Cleveland could look that bad 2 straight weeks? Sometimes weird things happen to sort of even out the overall stats. Frankly it is not possible for them to play any worse then last week so it is likely they will play better.

SUMMARY:

On defense – Stop Jamaal Lewis and Cleveland rushing attack. Maybe attack is over stating it but I'll be respectful. Get some turnovers and stack up some sack numbers!

Offense – Run a methodical, systematic, and balanced offense. 35 throws, 30 rushes. I would prefer against the Browns 35 rushes and 30 throws but I won't be picky. Pile up yards and TD's and eat the clock.

Special teams – I see a Stefan Logan return this week. Not because the Browns stink either.

Overall – few penalties and lots of physicality. No mistakes! No pick 6 BEN!

But the Steelers should still dominate. Yes they should! Steelers 28 to Cleveland 6.

NOTES: With Aaron Smith done for the season, Rashon Harris was promoted from practice squad. Harris 6'5” 300 pounder was plucked off of the Carolina practice squad. The absence of Smith may also mean more Ziggy Hood since Smith was a DE and Hood is a back up at defensive end.

The Steelers also re-signed DE Nick Eason. They cut RB Isaac Redman to make room on the 53 man roster.

For a team that is reportedly battered, the Steelers appear reasonably healthy as far as the injury report goes.

By: Andy Natalie
ProFootball-fans.com Pittsburgh Steelers Correspondent