From: mocnik@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Browns News - Steeler game review
Date: 12 Oct 92 12:52:12 EST

Browns News - Oct 12th
----------------------

Steelers	3	3	3	0	-9
Browns		0	3	7	7	-17

First Qtr
---------
Pitt - FG Anderson 25 yds (9:28)
       Drive: 63 yards, 12 plays
       key: Browns do a 3-and-punt on opening series. Barry Foster runs
            the ball down the field on handoffs and swing passes.

Second Qtr
----------
Pitt - FG Anderson 36 yards (8:34)
       Drive: 40 yards, 7 plays

Cle - FG Stover 51 yards (13:56)
      Drive: 34 yards 8 plays

Third Qtr
---------
Cle - Mack 1 yard run (Stover PAT) (9:40)
      Drive: 90 yards, 9 plays
      Key: Metcalf 31 yard run and Bavaro 23 yard reception on consecutive plays

Fourth Qtr
----------
Pitt - FG Anderson 40 yards (1:08)
       Drive: 69 yards, 12 plays

Cle - Jackson 47 yard pass from Tomczak (Stover PAT) (4:16)
      Drive: 65 yards, 6 plays
      Key: Metcalf 30 yard Kickoff return, and Tomczak to Jackson for 15 yards


Some stats:
-----------         Pitt    Cle
First downs          20     12
Third Down Eff.     3-13    4-11
Fourth Down Eff.    1-2     0-0
Total NET yards     350     253
  - rushing yds     122      85
  - pass yards      228     168
Total Plays          64      45
Sacks                2-13    1-3
Fumbles              1-2     1-1
Time of Possesion    34:47   25:13

Passing stats:
O'Donnell        25-32-241 yds-0 TD-0 Int
Tomczak          10-17-171 yds-1 TD-0 Int

Rush stats:
Foster (PITT)    24-83 yds-long of 12
Hoge   (PITT)     3-12    -         9
O'Donnell (P)     2-9     -         9
Stone (PITT)      1-17    -        17

Mack (CLE)       12-32 yds-long of 8-1 TD
Metcalf (CLE)     7-49    -       31
Tomczak (CLE)     5-(minus) 3-     3
Vardell (CLE)     3- 7    -        6

Receiving stats:
Graham (Pitt)    8-87 yds- long of 16
Foster (Pitt)    6-49    -         12
Green (Pitt)     3-36    -         16
Stone (Pitt)     3-31    -         17
Mills (Pitt)     2-21    -         13
Hoge (Pitt)      2- 9    -          7
Cooper (Pitt)    1- 8    -          8

Metcalf (CLE)    3-48 yds- long of 17
Jackson (CLE)    2-62    -         47-1 TD
Rico Smith (CLE) 2-21    -         18
Bavaro (CLE)     1-23    -         23
Mack (CLE)       1- 9    -          9
McCardell (CLE)  1- 8    -          8

Notes:
1. Steelers controlled the first half of game, but were only able to score 6 
   points. They had 3 drives into Browns territory. A TD on any
   one of those drives, changes the chances of the Browns coming back and
   winning. Foster was running very well and also was able to take swing/screen
   passes down the field for much yardage. Each time the Browns defense would
   stiffen, The Browns got lucky on one play, when the Steelers had
   a TD called back due to a holding call on Tunch Ilkin.

2. Gary Anderson missed a field goal on the second of those first half drives.
   The ball hit the left upright and bounced away.

3. Matt Stover made a 51 yard field goal just before half time. This gave the
   Browns the momentum and confidence they showed in the second half.

4. Eric Metcalf had a 31 yard run from scrimmage that ignited the team. The
   Browns had just been pushed back to their 10 yard line after a penalty.
   Eric took the handoff and started up the middle, but swung towards the 
   outside, since there was a big hole there. Eric turned on the jets and
   sped down the sidelines. This play got the Browns out of the hole and
   got the team and crowd fired up. The Browns eventually score as Kevin
   Mack barrels over from the 1. On the drive Kevin Mack leveled Gregg Lloyd.
   Gregg hit Kevin in the backfield, but Kevin kept moving for a 3 yard gain. 
   Gregg stayed on the ground, with a bruised shoulder.
   He eventually cam back in the game.

5. Mike Tomczak definitely forces the ball, way too much for my tastes, but
   was able to avoid the interception. Carnall Lake dropped an inteception
   which would have been a TD. This was the closest the Steelers came to 
   stealing the ball. Mike did lose the ball on a fumble as he was being 
   pressured in the first half. This was around mid-field, but the defense
   forced the Steelers to punt.

6. It was good to see the Browns make the adjustments to stop Barry Foster.
   Early in the game Barry was running through big holes and also was taking
   little dump passes and turning them into good gains. Part of the adjustment
   was in the scheme used to tackle Barry. 
   The Browns were tackling Barry too high, such that there were
   many missed tackles. David Brandon had atleast 4 that I counted.
   The Browns started gang tackling and going for Barry's feet. This proved
   to be very effective.
   The defense gambled at times and got lucky. They blitzed on more than one
   occasion and were able to sack O'Donnell or rush him into throwing an
   incompletion. On one play both safeties rushed up the middle. Eric
   Turner was able to sack O'Donnell for a loss. If Eric doesn't get O'Donnell
   it's an easy TD.

7. The offensive line played well again. Tomczak was sacked only once.
   He had time to throw the ball most of the day. Also the line opened
   a few nice holes for Eric and Kevin to run. This was the first sack since
   the Miami game. It's a shame in a way, that the Browns are so loaded at
   running back. Someone will not get the ball as often as they deserve.
   The Browns used the stacked backfield with Mack, Vardell, and Wolfley
   when Mack scored his TD. Vardell drove his man backwards into the end zone.
   Kevin Mack didn't follow an earlier block by Tommy that led to Kevin
   being stopped on a 3rd and short in the first half. Playing together
   will help this tandem.

8. Neither team really impressed me. The Steelers are an average team.
   The NFL is loaded with average teams. One week these teams will look real
   good, the next they will look bad. Of the teams I have seen, the only ones
   who are not average are Miami,Buffalo, Houston, Kansas City in the AFC
   and Dallas, Philly, San Fran, and Minnesota in the NFC.
   The NFL has their parity again.

   I like coach Cowher and feel he will have the Steelers competitive in 
   every game. The problem with the Steelers is that they are a young team 
   with a new coaching staff. It will take time to jell.
   They have some good talent, Woodsen, Eric Green, Barry Foster just to
   name a few. If they can avoid injuries, they should have a shot at the
   playoffs. Note; Just about all the average teams have this potential. IMO.

   The Browns are also an average team. Their weaknesses are at wide receiver,
   offensive line and secondary. They still need atleast one more good draft.
   I'm still waiting for the defense to give up a lot of points. This 
   bend-but-don't break defense eventually will be beaten badly.
 
9. Injuries:
   - the wet field led to many pulled muscles.
     (as of this post, I don't know who will be unable to play next week)
     - Frank Stamms
     - Frank Minnifield (Frank saw limited action in the game. He came into
                         the game with a slightly aggrivated muscle injury.)
     - Rico Smith (WR) (Rico did not play in the second half.)
     - Randy Baldwin

   - Jay Hilgenberg and Dan Fike were slow getting up after plays, but
     both were able to continue.

10. Green Bay is next on the schedule. It is a home game also. The game will
    be blacked out, since 14,000 seats remain. Over 200 of the local bars who 
    have been pirating Browns "blacked-out" games were given notice by the NFL,
    to stop showing the games. The NFL will have "spies" in the area looking
    for violators. The bars on the other hand have threatened a "boycott"
    of the beers that pay the advertising for each game. (ie Miller, Bud...)
    A showdown may be forthcoming. 

11. Lawyer Tillman should return this week. He is eligible to come off the 
    P.U.P. List. He has been practicing with the team for over a week now.

    Bernie Kosar is still a few weeks away from playing. He still has a cast 
    on the ankle. The original cast was replaced last week, with a smaller 
    "walking" cast. This will allow Bernie to start lifting weights, to 
    overcome the atrophy from wearing the cast. Bernie still has a crutch.
    I feel he is still 3-4 weeks away from returning. 

    Todd Philcox will not return until late November, according to reports.

    When the Browns added Minnifield to the roster, Alfred Jackson CB,
    was waived. This happened on Saturday.


Later,


Don Mocnik