For all its storylines, this game has actually been pretty tame so far. Still, the Browns are down 7-3 to the Steelers after a first half in which James Harrison injured Josh Cribbs and Mohammed Massaquoi with some violent helmet-to-helmet hits.
I'm going to start with that. I'm not going to profess that I know that much about the NFL rule book, but I know if Harrison had made the same hit on a high profile quarterback, say Tom Brady, as he did on Cribbs the flags would've flown all over the field and it would be a sure thing that he'd get fined. The commentators didn't even mention the fact that Cribbs was taken down helmet-to-helmet when it happened. Later, when Massaquoi was knocked out, they said that he was defenseless and that wasn't the case with Cribbs - as if Harrison should have been penalized - but then the flag was thrown for a "delay of game" on the offense because center Alex Mack kicked the ball out of bounds in case it was ruled a fumble. Again, I don't know the rule book that well, but I do know that when anyone tries to hit a QB like that, the field gets littered with yellow hankies. I just wish they could do the same thing for all players.
Now, offensively the Browns haven't done a particularly bad job. You've got Colt McCoy who is making his first start, yes, and now he has two of his weapons taken away. Cribbs was also playing a lot in the Wildcat, and now that we don't have that weapon either, I really don't envy Daboll's position of having to coordinate this offense in the second half. On the flip side, Peyton Hillis looks like he might get the most rushing yards off of the Steelers so far this year as he has 9 rushes for 33 yards in the first half and the Steelers have only let up a 42 yard rusher total.
Defensively, Rob Ryan has come through yet again today so far as the Steelers only have 80 passing yards from Ben Rothlisberger in the first half. That being said, I'd like them to do a little bit better against the run with Mendenhall, as they're just not tackling well so far.
I don't expect the Browns to win today (who does?) but I'm pleased with the way they competed in the first half. Hopefully it keeps up for the second. See you after,
~MAS
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