These ‘Boys are big: Size of Dallas’ offensive line to be huge test for Browns’ defense
Scott Petrak | The Chronicle-Telegram
BEREA — Easing into the season isn’t an option for the Browns’ revamped defensive line.
The Cowboys are better known for their high-flying passing offense with Tony Romo, Terrell Owens and Jason Witten, but the running game can be just as potent.
Marion Barber III rushed for 975 yards and scored 12 touchdowns on his way to the Pro Bowl last year. He runs behind a behemoth line that features no one shorter than 6-foot-4 or lighter than 308 pounds. Left tackle Flozell Adams is 6-7, 340 pounds.
“It’s the perfect team for us to see where we’re at as a defense,” defensive end Corey Williams said Friday.
The Browns, who host the Cowboys on Sunday in the opener, ranked 27th versus the run last year, allowing 129.4 yards a game. They traded for Williams and nose tackle Shaun Rogers to try to fix the longtime weakness.
“I saw some signs that we can be better,” coach Romeo Crennel said of the preseason.
The starters didn’t play much in the preseason, but when Rogers (6-4, 350) played extensively in Detroit, he dominated with the strength and athleticism that made him a target of general manager Phil Savage.
“Every day that guy surprises me,” inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson said. “He’s a big guy, he’s quick and he’s good with his hands. It’s definitely a benefit to have him.
“Those big guys up front, they don’t let anybody through. I’m totally confident we’ll go out there and play pretty good.”
Barber is considered an up-and-comer. He was a fourth-round pick out of Minnesota in 2005 and shared time with Julius Jones in his first three years.
Jones left for Seattle in the offseason and Barber signed a seven-year, $45 million deal despite starting no games last season and averaging 13 carries.
“They’re going to get their money out of him,” linebacker Andra Davis said. “He’s a real good back. He has a huge offensive line and weapons all around him, so it makes his job a lot easier.”
Barber is 6-foot, 225 pounds and averaged 4.8 yards a carry in each of the last two years. He doesn’t shy away from contact, which shows up on the film and the opponents’ bodies.
“He always tries to get extra yards,” Jackson said, mentioning Barber’s tendency to use a stiff arm near the sideline. “He’s never trying to run out of bounds, he’s trying to run through you.
“He’s a powerful runner and pretty fast. We’ve got to be on our A-game.”
Williams played against Barber last year while he was in Green Bay. He came away impressed.
“He’s the type of guy you got to hit him, you can’t arm-tackle him,” Williams said. “He’s a good second-effort guy.”
Cleveland running back Jamal Lewis is a good judge of talent at the position. In his nine years in the league he’s played against some great ones — Jerome Bettis, Marshall Faulk, Curtis Martin, Eddie George — and ranks just a notch below with 9,105 rushing yards.
“He has good balance, good eyes and knows how to find the end zone,” Lewis said of Barber. “He’s a special running back. I like his style. He’ll be around for a long time.”
Barber better rest up today, because he could be a busy man Sunday. The Cowboys have just three healthy receivers — Owens, Patrick Crayton and Isaiah Stanback — and may turn to the ground game.
“They might choose to run the ball more to save their receivers,” Crennel said. “They’ll probably look at what we did last year against the run and feel like maybe they’ll run the ball.”
The defensive line better be ready.
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.
NEXT UP
WHO: Cleveland vs. Dallas
WHAT: Season opener
WHEN: Sunday, 4:15 p.m.
WHERE: Cleveland Browns Stadium
TV/RADIO: Channel 8; WMMS 100.7-FM
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Filed by Scott Petrak | The Chronicle-Telegram September 6th, 2008 in Sports. Popularity: 10% |
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