Browns learn lesson in versatility

09.24.2009

The training camp strategy of rotating offensive linemen and exposing players to multiple situations paid dividends for Browns Head Coach Eric Mangini when right guard Floyd Womack exited Sunday's game in Denver.

Ten-year NFL veteran Hank Fraley made the switch from his primary position at center to anchor the right side of the Browns offensive line with tackle John St. Clair.

"It was a little different," Fraley said of the position change. "It was fun after the first play. You have more time to do stuff. It was actually nice. As a line, we communicate with the quarterback always. Playing o-line, we all have to be on the same page."

Communication is a key to success at all levels of sport. When a team is going into a hostile environment, like the one the Browns will face in M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore Sunday, noticing abnormalities in the defense or hints of pressure could help the offense catch the Ravens off-guard.

However, that will not be an easy task, especially with Ray Lewis in the middle of the Ravens defense. Lewis, the most-tenured member of the Ravens, has been the heart and soul of their defense since the first day he put on the uniform.

Even though he has a lot of games behind him, Lewis is still making plays, like the fourth down stop that sealed a 31-26 victory in San Diego last Sunday.

"He's such a student of the game," Fraley said of Lewis. "He just sees things before it actually happens. That fourth down play, I don't know if they called a blitz or not, but he knew the play, probably from film study. That's what a student of the game does."

"With Ray, he's a special guy," Mangini said. "It's tough when you take into account all the other people that you have to block in that front group. It's not one of those situations where you say, ‘Okay, I think we can take care of these guys this way and then, we'll emphasize taking care of him.' You can't do that with this group. You've got to deal with them collectively."

Playing 60 strong minutes of mistake-free football against the Ravens is difficult because of their explosiveness at the line of scrimmage and their relentless pursuit of the football. Since he is a veteran, of the NFL and AFC North, Fraley plans on setting an example for his teammates.

"We've definitely got the talent in this room," he said. "It's just putting four quarters together. The first game, we played two. The second game, we played three. Hopefully, this game, we play a whole 60 minutes or whatever it takes to win.

"It's a new year," he added. "It's '09. It's not '08, '07, '06 or 2000. This is our team. It's whatever we want to do and we've got to take care of it."

PRACTICE SQUAD MOVES: The Browns signed defensive back Marquis Floyd to the practice squad. Floyd takes the spot of wide receiver Lance Leggett, who was released by the team.

Floyd was waived by the Browns on September 22nd after being claimed off waivers from the Seahawks on September 6th. Floyd was inactive for the Browns' first two games of the year.