When the Browns traded for Shaun Rogers, all the negative publicity from Detroit followed him to Cleveland. Lazy. Takes plays off. Overweight. Overpaid. But then people started to tell me that when he wanted to play, Rogers was nearly unblockable.
Well that unblockable Shaun Rogers showed up Sunday in Jacksonville. He was primarily responsible for the Browns win with a destructive game from his nose-tackle spot. Rogers had nine tackles (an almost unheard of total for a nose tackle), one for a loss. He blocked a field goal and even recovered the block.
If that Rogers would show up each and every game, the Browns defense will be able to challenge anyone. This win over Jacksonville actually showed the defense the Browns wanted in the offseason. Strong against the run, don't allow the big play in the passing game. Rogers led the way. His game was as impressive as I've seen from a nose tackle.
Some other thoughts:
That was a very, very good game. Well-played. Players competed. A lot of effort given on the field. Big plays for both sides. And it went right down to the last two plays. Had Matt Jones managed to snag that second-last pass, the attitude would be different now. But he didn't. And the Browns can celebrate a win.
I'm worn out by the Kellen Winslow saga. I stand by what I wrote last week, that if it were my team I'd release him now. He's not going to be part of the Browns long-term, and it's questionable just how much value he'll have on the trade market if teams know the Browns have to get rid of him. His knee is so bad he might not have more than two more years to play. But the team does not seem inclined to release him, so the best all can hope is that Winslow returns, there are no more problems and the team benefits.
Steve Heiden, though continues to play well with more playing time. His three catches for 73 yards included a 51-yard catch and run on fourth down in the first half. Heiden clearly has a role in the offense, with or without Winslow.
As well as the Browns defense played, a lot of credit has to go to Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard. He ran for a team-high 59 yards and threw for 283. Pretty impressive. … Jamal Lewis continues to impress for the Browns – 20 carries for 81 yards. … The Browns only penalty of the day was a shaky roughing the passer call on Rogers. … The Browns had a stretch of six plays in a row in the second half when they did not gain a yard. … Four of those plays came after first and goal from inside the two. … The inability of the Browns to score from that position for the second week in a row was disquieting.
I hate to be an optimist, but if the Browns win Sunday they will be back to .500. And after a dismal start and way too much upheaval for one team, they will be back in the playoff hunt if they do reach .500. Who would have thought that possible after the first three games.
I hate "tackles" statistics. They're bogus. It took me awhile to find this link, but I remembered reading a good column regarding this issue.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/080608dnspoinsidethenfl.141e71c8.html
And I'm not saying Rogers didn't have a good game against Jacksonville, or anything, but what was the deal with him and his 850 pounds sucking down an oxygen container after blocking that field goal? You'd think he'd just finished climbing Mount Everest. No way this guy ever makes it to 55-years-old.
It's interesting that the offense seems to run better when Winslow is out. I don't remember Heiden ever being an option when Winslow is in the game. Is it possible that they try too hard to get him involved when he is in? Without him they look for other options?
It's revisionist history, Matt. A coincidence. The offense didn't seem to run too smoothly those two years he spent in a full body cast. It also helps when Edwards limits his drops to one a game instead of the usual 50.
inconsistency is the hallmark of the crennel era. washington tried to give the browns the game but they wouldn't take it. and yesterday jacksonville did everything they could to lose yet it still came down to matt jones in the end zone. 3-4….big fn deal. the lombardi trophy is assured to be anywhere but near the cuyahoga river while the savage/crennel circus is in town.
i love how savage got off scot-free with pat's k2 assessment. regardless of what a d-bag winslow is this organization is classless. telling winslow to lie and then mistakenly accusing him of going off on a p.r. chick is more than disturbing-it is sad.
nothing has changed from the rat modell days. the conspiring and lying continue with the lerner family. no surprise since al helping put the knife in cleveland's back in '95. s.o.s. in clevetown. makes me glad i left.
Shaun Rogers is a BEAST. Prior to moving here 2 years ago I had lived in Detroit as a Browns Season ticket holder. He got a bad rap up there because the Lions stunk. This guy is by far the most dominant D Lineman in the League. Yeah he may take a play off here and there, but he is absolutely unblockable.
Ill be the first one to trash the clowns who are always squawking about staying positive bla bla bla, but the truth is we are 1 game out of the Playoffs right now and a win next week against Baltimore with a NY Jets loss, we are tied for the wildcard. Its a long season and if the team that we saw Sunday against Jacksonville, shows up more often then not we will make the Playoffs this year.