Browns hope to take advantage of Ravens' weaknesses
<p class="MsoNormal">The Browns really should have taken advantage of that rest stop in California.
<p class="MsoNormal">Flubbling a game-ending field goal at Oakland deprives them of all comforts implied by a 2-1 start.
<p class="MsoNormal">Before they get to a lull against the Dolphins, followed by a bye week, odds are they'll have four flat tires.
<p class="MsoNormal">Today's opponent, Baltimore, and next Sunday's, New England, are a combined 30-8 during the last 13 months. What expectation can that leave the only NFL team whose 2006 opponents have combined for triple figures in scoring?
<p class="MsoNormal">There was a touch of hope in Browns Defensive Coordinator Todd Grantham late in the week.
<p class="MsoNormal">"They do play hard," he said of his 31st-ranked unit.
<p class="MsoNormal">Baltimore isn't New England. The balance is suspect.
<p class="MsoNormal">The Ravens' offense is averaging 332.7 yards a game, a modest number given a defense that keeps getting the ball back.
<p class="MsoNormal">Cleveland's offense is averaging 362.3 yards despite a defense tending to leave the field only when the other guys score.
<p class="MsoNormal">True, the Browns' No. 9 league rank in yards gained is skewed by getting to go against that Cincinnati sieve. But Baltimore faced the Bengals, too, and lost.
<p class="MsoNormal">The Browns came close to winning a third-straight home game against Baltimore last year. So there's hope.
<p class="MsoNormal">Browns quarterback Derek Anderson denies any drama.
<p class="MsoNormal">"It's just another division opponent for us," he said.
<p class="MsoNormal">By the same token, it's just his career. He's playing against the team that picked him in Round 6 in 2005, cut him before the season and was stunned when former family member Phil Savage blocked his path to the practice squad by waiver wiring him to Cleveland.
<p class="MsoNormal">He's playing to stay ahead of rookie Brady Quinn, who will start taking snaps if the record goes south or Anderson falters.
<p class="MsoNormal">He's playing to prove he won't be the erratic type who beats the Bengals, 51-45, one week and chucks two interceptions in short order against Oakland the next.
<p class="MsoNormal">He really does seem to work hard at not letting his mind race.
<p class="MsoNormal">"Take what they give us, not forcing things," he says, as if talking to himself. "Keep preparing every week. Try to make good decisions."
<p class="MsoNormal">Anderson gets a break in that Baltimore's 2006 sacks leader, Trevor Pryce, is out with a broken wrist. There's a twist, though, in that Pryce's replacement is Anderson's former Oregon State teammate, Dwan Edwards.
<p class="MsoNormal">Edwards told the Baltimore Sun on Friday: "(Anderson) will make mistakes. One thing I learned from playing with him ... he will try to force some throws. But we won a lot of big games in the Pac-10.
<p class="MsoNormal">"If he's hot and gets on a roll, he can make all the throws. If you can get some pressure in his face, he can be rattled."
<p class="MsoNormal">It will help Anderson if running back Jamal Lewis can deliver a 100-yard game against his old team. Lewis is eager to prove he can do more for a team than his Raven replacement, Willis McGahee.
<p class="MsoNormal">Baltimore quarterback Steve McNair is battling a groin injury. The Ravens have been using Kyle Boller on some series.
<p class="MsoNormal">Anderson gets another break in that cornerback Samari Rolle is out with an illness.
<p class="MsoNormal">"We're gonna take some shots here and there," Anderson said.
<p class="MsoNormal">How much pressure is there to land a knockout punch here and now?
<p class="MsoNormal">How bad is it if the Browns fall to 1-3 with New England waiting?
<p class="MsoNormal">Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com
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