BEREA –The 3-4 defense is made to allow the inside linebackers to make plays
ala Ray Lewis. Browns inside linebacker Andra Davis likes what he sees of the
new scheme.
“If you look at the scheme--like in Pittsburgh or Baltimore—it gives the
linebackers a chance to make plays.”
Davis started the first 11 games at middle linebacker in 2004 for the Browns
before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Cincinnati on Nov. 28. He
had 89 tackles and three interceptions. He had his breakout year in 2003 with
170 tackles, including five sacks.
Switching to the 3-4 could only make those numbers swell, but that isn’t
Davis’ top priority.
“I want us to win as a defense and win as a team,” Davis said. “That’s the
most important thing to me.
“The defense is designed exactly for the linebackers to make a lot of plays,”
he said. “The linemen create gaps for the linebackers to fill.”
“The defense is new to most everybody on the defense,” Davis said. “Orpheus Roye and Jason Fisk have played in it, but it’s new for everyone else, including
myself.
“With coach (Romeo) Crennel and coach (Todd) Grantham having experience in
the 3-4, it really has been a lot of fun.”
After having very little success against the run in the last couple of years,
run defense has become a focal point of the Browns defense this year.
On Wednesday, the defense got the best of the offense in the goal line
11-on-11 drill, stopping the offense on four-straight plays from the three-yard
line.
“Goal line situations are just attitude,” Davis said. “The offense scored on
all four plays the first day we did that, so we buckled down and stopped them
the next time.”
Andruzzi Quiet Leader: G Joe Andruzzi said he leads on the field by his
actions. The unrestricted free agent signed with the Browns soon after free
agency started to be a key component of the Browns revamped offensive line.
“I’m not a rah-rah guy,” he said. “I’m not going to yell and scream out on
the field. I told Romeo and coach (Jeff) Davidson that when I came here.
“I’m going to lead by example and give everything I have on the field.”
Andruzzi was a key player for the Patriots in the three Super Bowl wins.
Pool, Droughns, McCutcheon Miss Practice: DB Daylon McCutcheon continues his
absence due to migraine headaches. Rookie S Brodney Pool was held out of
practice because he was ‘dehydrated’. Crennel said he should be back for the
Friday afternoon practice. Droughns missed practice with a strained hamstring.
“I’m just trying not to aggravate it anymore,” Droughns said. “I did it on a
running play Thursday where I just felt a tweak.”
Droughns said it was the first time he’s had a hamstring injury.
“I don’t want to be on the sidelines,” he said. “It’s upsetting to me when I
miss working with the guys. Hopefully, I’ll be back really soon.”
Family Fun Night: The Browns are calling Saturday night’s 7 p.m. practice at
Cleveland Browns Stadium “Family Fun Night”. Tickets are $5 and available at Ticketmaster locations or ticketmaster.com. Crennel said the offense will
scrimmage against the defense.
“It will allow us the chance to get our communication between the coaches in
the press box and the coaches on the field down,” Crennel said. “I was
originally thinking of dividing up into two teams, but by keeping it offense
versus defense it allows the units to work together like they would in a game.”