CLEVELAND — An offensive line is a complex organism.
Five 300-plus-pound men are asked to meld into a cohesive unit. They communicate with grunts and gestures. They pull and trap in unison. They share meeting rooms, dinner tables and hunting trips.
An offensive line is a complex organism. It’s never the same two years in a row, a painful lesson the Browns have learned.
The line was the strength of the team last season. It allowed Derek Anderson to be sacked just 14 times in 15½ games and paved the way for Jamal Lewis’ 1,304 rushing yards.
Despite most of the key contributors coming back, this season has been a struggle for the line, which has had a negative impact on the entire offense.
“It took us a few games to figure out we’re not the same line we were last year, even though we have a lot of the same guys,” left tackle Joe Thomas said. “We had to find what we’re going to be good at this year. That’s the process for any offense.
“It just took maybe a couple more games than we wanted.”
Thomas, left guard Eric Steinbach, center Hank Fraley and right tackle Kevin Shaffer are back after starting all 16 games in 2007. Ryan Tucker started the final eight games at right guard, but was only healthy for one game this season before being placed on injured reserve Saturday. Rex Hadnot, a free-agent pickup from Miami, has stepped in at right guard.
“Communication is critical,” coordinator Rob Chudzinski said. “The longer they play, the more they understand each other, know each other’s nuances, how they do certain things together.”
The line hasn’t been bad, it just hasn’t been as effective as it was last year. That’s most glaring in pass protection.
“We’ve got to block better for him,” coach Romeo Crennel said of Anderson. “If we block better for him and don’t let the pressure get to him, he won’t make as many mistakes.”
Anderson isn’t the same player when he’s under pressure, and through a 3-4 start he’s been sacked 10 times. In the three wins, he’s been sacked just twice.
“We know our job is to protect the quarterback and not let him get hit, so that’s in our mind pre-snap,” Steinbach said. “When Derek has time back there, he can pick apart any defense.
“Just like any quarterback, if he starts getting hit a couple times early on, that’s going to throw off your timing with the receivers.”
Anderson’s effectiveness has risen with that of the offensive line. He’s thrown five touchdowns against one interception in Cleveland’s 3-1 stretch the last month, posting an 85.8 rating.
Anderson would never throw a teammate under the bus, so he played diplomat when asked if he’s had less time in the pocket this year.
“Sometimes, but I don’t think it’s crazy,” he said. “It’s not like guys are running free at all.”
Anderson said the sack numbers look worse than the line’s performance should indicate. He said a couple of sacks have come from defensive schemes that took advantage of knowledge from coaches who’ve worked with Chudzinski, and he blamed himself for holding onto the ball too long on a couple of others.
“The guys have been playing good and the communication has been better,” Anderson said.
The line’s maturation was delayed by injuries. Hadnot missed time in the preseason and didn’t play in the opener, then Steinbach was out for Week 3 and Shaffer for Week 6.
“They’re coming along,” Chudzinski said. “Chemistry at that position is so critical, and I see that really helping.”
The line will be severely tested today against the second-ranked Ravens defense, which has 12 sacks and uses a variety of blitzes to stress the line and abuse the quarterback. Linebacker Terrell Suggs is the best of the pass rushers with four sacks, including two in a Week 3 win against the Browns.
“It’s really the communication factor,” Fraley said. “They present a lot of different looks for you and you’ve got to be prepared for everything. Suggs is lined up left, Suggs is right. Ray (Lewis) is left, Ray’s right.
“They’re always a defense that’s going to show you something new when you get out there and you’ve got to be able to handle it when you’re out there.”
The Browns have also struggled to get the running game going consistently. Lewis has yet to rush for 100 yards in a game and has been stuffed at the goal line four times in the last two weeks.
“Some of the same runs we did last year weren’t working as well this year,” Thomas said. “So we tweaked some things and now we feel we’ve got things going in the right direction and it’s helping us win games.”
For Browns players, coaches and fans, it’s about time the line lived up to expectations.
“Last year was kind of a, not a freak thing, but we jelled early on and were successful,” Steinbach said. “This year, more stuff has come up. The offense as a whole, we weren’t really clicking. It’s hard for one position group to click when everyone’s not clicking.
“As a whole we’re clicking more and more.”
An offensive line is a complex organism.
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

MARQUEE MATCHUP

Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Browns CB Brandon MCDonald

When the Browns met Joe Flacco, he was a rookie quarterback with one game of NFL experience. They frustrated him into a 13-for-19 day with 129 yards and two interceptions, but still lost 28-10 when the Ravens turned two Derek Anderson interceptions into a
21-point third quarter.
Since that meeting in Week 3, Flacco has matured and earned coach John Harbaugh’s endorsement as the starter for the rest of the season. His numbers aren’t great — 119-for-191 (62.3 percent) for 1,216 yards, three touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 70.5 rating — but the Ravens are a surprising 4-3 and Flacco is growing by the game.
“He’s doing a little bit more. They opened up the offense,” Browns linebacker Willie McGinest said. “The kid’s growing a little more confidence and not playing like a rookie, not making a lot of mistakes.”
Flacco’s gone 47 passes and two games without an interception — a sure sign of his development — but cornerback Brandon McDonald is out to end the streak.
McDonald has one interception and eight pass breakups and is quickly developing into a top-notch cornerback in his first year as a starter. He will be matched up often with Derrick Mason, a strong, experienced possession receiver who has 34 catches and a touchdown. McDonald is also physical, so it should be a rough-and-tumble battle.
But Mason can’t catch the ball without Flacco doing his part, and the Browns are hoping to pressure him into some mistakes. He’s got a big arm, but has thrown some interceptions when forced to scramble.
“We’re going to come after him,” McDonald said of Flacco. “We’re going to try to get after the quarterback and disrupt his throws.”

NICKEL COVERAGE: Five points of interest in today’s game

1. Welcome back?

Tight end Kellen Winslow is back after a one-game exile, and it will be interesting to see how he fits. The Browns are 2-0 without him, had their two best offensive games and got good production — not to mention better blocking — from backups Steve Heiden and Darnell Dinkins.
Winslow wants the ball when he’s in the lineup, but the ideal scenario would be for him to tone it down and not bully Derek Anderson into throwing his way too often.
“Obviously Heiden and Darnell have been doing a great job,” Winslow said. “But I’m back and I’m ready to go.”

2. Too much time on their hands

The Browns offense better be efficient, because it probably won’t have the ball for long. The Ravens lead the NFL in time of possession at 33:38 a game, while the Browns average 28:13. In the first meeting, Baltimore held the ball for 37:48, including all but 102 seconds of the fourth quarter.
The key to ball control is the running game, and the Ravens are second in the NFL with a 547-yard differential — rushing for 997 and allowing 450.

3. Encore performance

Shaun Rogers played his best game as a Brown — and one of the best games you’ll ever see from a nose tackle — with five tackles, a sack and a blocked field goal last week. The Ravens will certainly be focused on slowing him down, so it will be interesting to see if Rogers can dominate again.
He’s already had a huge impact in his first season in Cleveland, ranking third on the team and leading defensive linemen with 32 tackles. Rogers leads with 31/2 sacks and has added two tackles for loss and 10 quarterback pressures. 

4. Early success

In their first 1 o’clock home game of the season, the Browns better be ready early. The Ravens excel when they get a lead, which allows them to pound the ball on offense and pressure the quarterback on defense.
The Browns also must have quick success within possessions. Steady gains on first and second down will let the Browns avoid third-and-long — and the sacks and interceptions that follow. Overall, the Ravens allow just 31.9 percent of third downs to be converted.
“If they get you in third-and-long, you might as well get the punter out,” Kellen Winslow said.

5. A brick wall

Running back Jamal Lewis said he has no regrets about leaving Baltimore for Cleveland — “I love it here. Everything’s right here,” he said — but he may want to rethink that after butting heads with the Ravens defense.
Baltimore has allowed one rushing touchdown this season and a league-low 16 rushing first downs (Pittsburgh’s 28 are second). It hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in an NFL-best 26 games and leads the league in rushing yards allowed per game (64.2) and per attempt (2.8).

TODAY’S GAME

WHERE: Cleveland Browns Stadium
WHEN: Today, 1 p.m.
RECORDS: Browns 3-4; Ravens 4-3
LAST WEEK: Browns beat Jaguars 23-17; Ravens beat Raiders 29-10
SERIES: Ravens lead 12-7
SERIES AT CLEVELAND: Ravens lead 5-4
LAST MEETING: Ravens won 28-10 on Sept. 21 in Baltimore
COACHES: Romeo Crennel is 23-32 with Browns and overall; John Harbaugh is 4-3 with Ravens and overall
TV/RADIO: Channel 19, with broadcasters Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon; WMMS 100.7-FM. WTAM 1100-AMNFL RANKINGS (OUT OF 32 TEAMS): Browns — offense 30th (26th rushing, 26th passing), defense 21st (24th rushing, 10th passing); Ravens — offense 24th (5th rushing, 27th passing), defense 2nd (1st rushing, 3rd passing)
BROWNS UPDATE: Cleveland’s 1-2 at home after going 7-1 last year. Four of the next five games are at home.
• QB Derek Anderson hasn’t thrown an interception in 105 attempts.
• TE Steve Heiden’s 73 receiving yards against Jacksonville were his most since a career-high 104 in 2005.
• The Browns have outscored the opponent 13-7 in the first quarter. They’ve been outscored 45-9 in the third quarter.
• WR Braylon Edwards leads the team with 22 catches for 371 yards (16.9 average) and two TDs.
RAVENS UPDATE: This is the first of three straight road games.
• LB Terrell Suggs is the fifth-youngest player to reach 50 sacks. Eleven have come in 11 games against the Browns.
• The Ravens have an interception in eight straight games against the Browns, including three in the September meeting.
• LB Ray Lewis averages 13.4 tackles against Cleveland.
• K Matt Stover needs nine more extra points to set an NFL record with 372 in a row without a miss.
BROWNS INJURY REPORT: Out: OL Ryan Tucker (knee); Doubtful: FB Lawrence Vickers (ankle); Questionable: DE Corey Williams (shoulder), S Mike Adams (hamstring), S Sean Jones (knee), LB Shantee Orr (foot), DL Shaun Smith (hand), WR Donte Stallworth (quadriceps).
RAVENS INJURY REPORT: Out: S Dawan Landry (neck), TE Daniel Wilcox (thigh); Doubtful: CB Chris McAlister (knee), CB Samari Rolle (neck); Questionable: T Jared Gaither (neck), RB Willis McGahee (ankle), T Adam Terry (knee), CB Frank Walker (thigh); Probable: LB Brendon Ayanbadejo (ankle), WR Yamon Figurs (knee), TE Todd Heap (neck), RB Le’Ron McClain (ankle), S Ed Reed (shoulder, neck).
THE PICK: The Browns won’t get swept by Joe Flacco and the overachieving Ravens.
Browns 24-13.

Tucker done for season

BEREA — Offensive lineman Ryan Tucker’s 2008 season consisted of one game.
The 12-year veteran returned from a broken hip to play Oct. 13 against the Giants, but his left knee was so sore after the game he hasn’t been able to practice since. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve Saturday and will have arthroscopic surgery this week.
“I’m looking forward to getting my body completely healthy and returning to play in 2009,” Tucker said in a statement. “This has been a tough process, first working my way back from a hip fracture and now having to recover from a knee injury. I know that once I’m healthy, I still have a lot of playing days ahead of me.”
Tucker, 33, joined the Browns in 2002 and has played 75 games with them. He’s signed through 2009 and is considered by some the team’s best lineman.
“We are disappointed that Ryan will not be able to play the remainder of the year,” general manager Phil Savage said in the statement. “His ability and experience will certainly be missed.”
Kevin Shaffer will continue to start at right tackle, where he’s started 22 of the last 23 games.
To fill the roster spot, receiver Steve Sanders was signed from the practice squad.

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