WADE WORRIED ABOUT CLEVELAND'S SKILL
By TIM SULLIVAN
Wade Phillips has an offense loaded with stars. Tony Romo, Terrell Owens, Marion Barber, Jason Witten, take your pick.
But as the Cowboys prepared this week to begin their season of great expectation - a season trained for under the watchful eye of HBO - all the Dallas coach could talk about was the offensive skill of this week's opponent. Forget about the stars with the stars on their helmets. He was worried about the emerging star from Cleveland, who has nothing on his helmet.
"Derek Anderson does a good job of identifying blitzes. He's sharp enough to see them and points out blitzes to his line and changes protections," he said. "Pressure is always important. Just hitting the quarterback, not just sacks but getting pressure, causes mistakes. If you can rush four, great. If not, you have to rush five or six."
Consider Anderson warned, as his Browns prepare to host the Cowboys in one of the week's marquee games. Dallas - coming off a 13-3 season before its surprise playoff elimination - is a 5 ½ point road favorite for the 4:15 p.m. Sunday tilt (Ch. 5).
The Browns come in with lofty expectations, as well. Cleveland went 10-6 last year, only to lose out on a wild-card berth on a tiebreaker. But Anderson made a name, throwing for 3,787 yards and 29 touchdowns. Jamal Lewis took his share, rushing for 1,304 yards and nine scores, while Braylon Edwards began to live up to billing. He caught 80 balls for 1,289 yards and 16 scores.
"Derek Anderson was in the Pro Bowl. He's sort of Romo-ish, unheralded," Phillips said. "He doesn't get sacked, gets rid of the ball. He's also a big guy, sees the field well, that helps him get rid of the ball."
Often, those balls end up in the hands of Kellen Winslow, another name Phillips lauded. Winslow had 1,106 yards and six touchdowns last year.
"Kellen Winslow is one of the toughest tight ends to cover," Phillips said. "He's a first round pick and a good one. They're tough."
We'll find out just how tough Sunday.
Wade Phillips has an offense loaded with stars. Tony Romo, Terrell Owens, Marion Barber, Jason Witten, take your pick.
But as the Cowboys prepared this week to begin their season of great expectation - a season trained for under the watchful eye of HBO - all the Dallas coach could talk about was the offensive skill of this week's opponent. Forget about the stars with the stars on their helmets. He was worried about the emerging star from Cleveland, who has nothing on his helmet.
"Derek Anderson does a good job of identifying blitzes. He's sharp enough to see them and points out blitzes to his line and changes protections," he said. "Pressure is always important. Just hitting the quarterback, not just sacks but getting pressure, causes mistakes. If you can rush four, great. If not, you have to rush five or six."
Consider Anderson warned, as his Browns prepare to host the Cowboys in one of the week's marquee games. Dallas - coming off a 13-3 season before its surprise playoff elimination - is a 5 ½ point road favorite for the 4:15 p.m. Sunday tilt (Ch. 5).
The Browns come in with lofty expectations, as well. Cleveland went 10-6 last year, only to lose out on a wild-card berth on a tiebreaker. But Anderson made a name, throwing for 3,787 yards and 29 touchdowns. Jamal Lewis took his share, rushing for 1,304 yards and nine scores, while Braylon Edwards began to live up to billing. He caught 80 balls for 1,289 yards and 16 scores.
"Derek Anderson was in the Pro Bowl. He's sort of Romo-ish, unheralded," Phillips said. "He doesn't get sacked, gets rid of the ball. He's also a big guy, sees the field well, that helps him get rid of the ball."
Often, those balls end up in the hands of Kellen Winslow, another name Phillips lauded. Winslow had 1,106 yards and six touchdowns last year.
"Kellen Winslow is one of the toughest tight ends to cover," Phillips said. "He's a first round pick and a good one. They're tough."
We'll find out just how tough Sunday.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:59 AM
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