Browns vs. Arizona Cardinals

Sunday, 4:15 p.m. in University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.

Record: 6-7.

Last game: Beat 49ers, 21-19, Dec. 12 in Glendale.

Coach: Ken Whisenhunt, 41-41, fifth year.

Series record: Browns lead, 33-12-3.

Last meeting: Cardinals won, 27-21, Dec. 2, 2007, in Glendale.

League rankings: Offense is 22nd overall (23rd rushing, 20th passing), defense is 21st (19th rushing, 23rd passing) and turnover differential is minus-11.

Offensive overview: Ken Whisenhunt seeks to run a derivative of the Don Coryell West Coast offense, which uses a power running game to set up vertical throws to tight ends and receivers. When fully healthy, they want to play off the hard running of Beanie Wells and get the ball to receiver Larry Fitzgerald and tight ends Todd Heap and Jeff King. But injuries have beset quarterback Kevin Kolb, Wells and Heap. Just as Kolb was finding some rhythm after missing four games with a foot injury, he suffered a concussion. Backup John Skelton has functioned OK, but he is less experienced, less mobile and less accurate. Wells has played through a knee injury and effectively shed the label of lack of toughness. Fitzgerald is fighting through excessive attention on the field. Whisenhunt has tinkered a little with cornerback Patrick Peterson on offense, but he hasn’t been able to lessen coverage on Fitzgerald.

Defensive overview: New coordinator Ray Horton is trying to duplicate Dick LeBeau’s zone-blitz Steelers scheme. The team’s recent resurgence is a result of the defense getting comfortable after adjusting to the 3-4 scheme. All the pieces might not be in place just yet, but the front seven has been formidable of late. Rookie outside linebacker Sam Acho has come on and displaced former starter Joey Porter. Ex-Steeler Clark Haggans is the other rush linebacker. End Calais Campbell and tackle Darnell Dockery have been very good. The areas of pressure have been unpredictable. The last two games they have had five sacks, each time from different players. First-round pick Patrick Peterson has had a learning experience at cornerback. Adrian Wilson is one of the league’s unknown good safeties.

Special teams overview: Peterson leads the NFL with four punt returns for touchdowns and is second in average at 16.3 yards. The kick return game is not as explosive. Kicker Jay Feely is 13 of 18 in field goals with a long of 51 yards. He is 29th with 14 touchbacks. Punter Dave Zastudil is 13th in gross average (45.7 yards) and 23rd in net (37.4). Calais Campbell has two field goal blocks.

Players to watch:

• Cornerback-returner Patrick Peterson: The rookie joined three other players for the most punt returns for touchdowns in a season. He has scored from 89, 82, 99 and 80 yards. He’s added two interceptions and a sack at cornerback.

• Receiver Larry Fitzgerald: One of the league’s consistent playmakers will be making his first career appearance against the Browns. He already is over 1,000 receiving yards for the sixth straight season and has his best yards per catch average (17.6) of his career.

• Defensive end Calais Campbell: He has posted unusual numbers for a 3-4 defensive end — seven sacks, 13 quarterback hits, one interception, six passes defensed. Not to mention the two blocked field goals.

Injury report: QB Kevin Kolb (concussion) had to leave the last game. Beanie Wells (knee) will be limited. OT Brandon Keith (ankle) left the last game.

Small world: Former Browns include receiver Chansi Stuckey, safety Hamza Abdullah, defensive tackle Nick Eason, quarterback Richard Bartel, guard Rex Hadnot and punter and Bay native Dave Zastudil. … Running back Beanie Wells is an Akron native and played at Ohio State. … Head coach Ken Whisenhunt was Browns special teams coordinator in 1999. … Director of pro personnel T.J. McCreight is from Willoughby and was Browns personnel director (2005-08). … Strength coach John Lott had same position with Browns (2005-06). … Special teams coordinator Kevin Spencer was Browns assistant coach (1991-94).

There stands Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Plopped on top of the hole from which Municipal Stadium was exterminated.

Off on the north edge of town.

Closer to fish than to humans.

Empty. Out of sight. Locked out of mind.

Well? How do you like it?

Think back to Municipal Stadium, if you are old enough to remember it. Do any images come to mind?

A few occur to us.

The popping sound that echoed everywhere when somebody stomped on an upside-down cup during an Indians game.

The dense roar that arose during Dave Logan’s 1980 catch against the Packers.

The swarms of people coming and going beneath the giant Gate A sign.

The odd quiet when Brian Sipe threw the Red Right 88 interception.

The chief on the roof.

The impossible comeback against the Jets, with people who had left, frantically trying to get back in.

What the old place lacked in beauty, it made up for in personality. It was one glorious monster when it was full and the game was good.

The new place opened in 1999. The stadium rules were different. There was too much secret service in the tone of building security. That was part of what led to complaints that linger still, to a perception of Browns Stadium

as “antiseptic.”

Our two cents — The only serious problem with Browns Stadium is a want of winning.

I have thought that since Sept. 17, 2000, from the moment Courtney Brown sacked Kent Graham on the last play to preserve a win over Pittsburgh.

It sounded like the old stadium that day.

It has sounded and felt that way just a few times since. Teams that fall out of contention early and finish poorly have been the rule.

This roller-coaster ride has been one way, always slow and looking up, never the thrill ride down, never the release. Browns Stadium suffers from guilt-by-association syndrome.

It struck me one night while walking to the stadium before a night game. The place looked positively glorious with the lights gleaming and a residue of sunset painting the lake.

I have walked every inch of the place at one time or another, finding it to offer interesting and varied views of the water, of docked ships, of jet runways, of the skyline.

If the team ever mounted a real hot streak, the atmosphere would take care of itself, I think. The building, a cold symbol of defeat at this point, would warm up.

For now, though, the lockout is on, and a lot of people can’t even stand to look at the place.

Motion penalty?

Failing to find the right answers once, twice and too often more has been a big problem for the expansion-era Browns.

They have made big changes at these key positions at least three times in the last five years (2006-10):

Personnel chief — Phil Savage, Eric Mangini and Tom Heckert took turns running drafts in 2008, ’09 and ’10, respectively.

Defensive coordinator — Todd Grantham, Mel Tucker, Rob Ryan. Dick Jauron takes the reins in 2011.

Offensive coordinator — Jeff Davidson, Rob Chudzinski, Brian Daboll. Enter Pat Shurmur in 2011.

Right tackle — Ryan Tucker, Kevin Shaffer, John St. Clair … and now Tony Pashos.

Right guard — Shawn Lauvao could be the latest entry, following Cosey Coleman, Seth McKinney, Rex Hadnot and Floyd Womack.

Nose tackle — Ted Washington, Ethan Kelley, Shaun Rogers, Ahtyba Rubin. Rubin remains but must adapt to a new scheme.

Left defensive end — Orpheus Roye, Corey Williams, Kenyon Coleman. Those three are gone, and the left end in the new 4-3 is … stay tuned.

Right defensive end — Alvin McKinley, Robaire Smith, Shaun Smith, Brian Schaefering. Enter 2011 Round 2 pick Jabaal Sheard.

Some turnover in the NFL is inevitable. Epidemic turnover is unhealthy.

Extra points

Kellen Winslow tells the Tampa Tribune knee pain that has bothered him for years is gone. Six years ago this month, Winslow rode to Canton to watch a stunt motorcycle show, then rode to a Cuyahoga County parking lot, laid on the accelerator, and broke a kneecap in a crash. More than a year later he told us his body would never be the same as it was. He turns 28 next month.

Winslow was the No. 6 overall pick of the 2004 draft. 2010 was his second year with Tampa Bay. He caught 66 passes for 730 yards. Ben Watson, the No. 32 overall pick of the ’04 draft, joined the Browns as a free agent in 2010. He caught 68 passes for 763 yards.

The Ohio State marching band takes turns playing in Cleveland and Cincinnati for Browns-Bengals games. The band played in Cleveland last year, meaning it is committed to Cincinnati this year. Thus, if the Sept. 11 Cincinnati-at-Cleveland is wiped out, it doesn’t kill a date for the Script Ohio people. The Browns are scheduled to play at Cincinnati Nov. 27.

Doerschuk is the Browns beat writer for the Canton Repository. Reach him at steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com.

There sits Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Plopped on top of the hole from which Municipal Stadium was exterminated.

Off on the north edge of town.

Closer to fish than to humans.

Empty. Out of sight. Locked out of mind.

Well? How do you like it?

Think back to Municipal Stadium, if you are old enough to remember it. Do any images come to mind?

A few occur to us.

The popping sound that echoed everywhere when somebody stomped on an upside-down cup during an Indians game.

The dense roar that arose during Dave Logan’s 1980 catch against the Packers.

The swarms of people coming and going beneath the giant Gate A sign.

The odd quiet when Brian Sipe threw the interception.

The chief on the roof.

The impossible comeback against the Jets, with people who had left, frantically trying to get back in.

What the old place lacked in beauty, it made up for in personality. It was one glorious monster when it was full and the game was good.

The new place opened in 1999. The stadium rules were different. There was too much secret service in the tone of building security. That was part of what led to complaints that linger still, to a perception of Browns stadium as “antiseptic.”

Our two cents: The only serious problem with Browns Stadium is a want of winning.

I have thought that since Sept. 17, 2000, from the moment Courtney Brown sacked Kent Graham on the last play to preserve a win over Pittsburgh.

It sounded like the old stadium that day.

It has sounded and felt that way just a few times since. Teams that fall out of contention early and finish poorly have been the rule.

This roller coaster ride has been one way, always slow and looking up, never the thrill ride down, never the release. Browns Stadium suffers from guilt-by-association syndrome.

It struck me one night while walking to the stadium before a night game. The place looked positively glorious with the lights gleaming and a residue of sunset painting the lake.

I have walked every inch of the place at one time or another, finding it to offer interesting and varied views of the water, of docked ships, of jet runways, of the skyline.

If the team ever mounted a real hot streak, the atmosphere would take care of itself, I think. The building, a cold symbol of defeat at this point, would warm up.

For now, though, the lockout is on, and a lot of people can’t even stand to look at the place.

MOTION PENALTY?

Failing to find the right answers once, twice and too often more has been a big problem for the expansion-era Browns.

They have made big changes at these key positions at least three times in the last five years (2006-10):

• Personnel chief: Phil Savage, Eric Mangini and Tom Heckert took turns running drafts in 2008, ’09 and ’10, respectively.

 

•  Defensive coordinator: Todd Grantham, Mel Tucker, Rob Ryan. Dick Jauron takes the reins in 2011.

 

•  Offensive coordinator: Jeff Davidson, Rob Chudzinski, Brian Daboll. Enter Pat Shurmur in 2011.

 

•  Right tackle: Ryan Tucker, Kevin Shaffer, John St. Clair … and now Tony Pashos.

 

•  Right guard: Shawn Lauvao could be the latest entry, following Cosey Coleman, Seth McKinney, Rex Hadnot and Floyd Womack.

 

•  Nose tackle: Ted Washington, Ethan Kelley, Shaun Rogers, Ahtyba Rubin. Rubin remains but must adapt to a new scheme.

 

•  Left defensive end: Orpheus Roye, Corey Williams, Kenyon Coleman. Those three are gone, and the left end in the new 4-3 is … stay tuned.

 

•  Right defensive end: Alvin McKinley, Robaire Smith, Shaun Smith, Brian Schaefering. Enter 2011 Round 2 pick Jabaal Sheard.

Some turnover in the NFL is inevitable. Epidemic turnover is unhealthy.

EXTRA POINTS

•  Kellen Winslow tells the Tampa Tribune knee pain that has bothered him for years is gone. Six years ago this month, Winslow rode to Canton to watch a stunt motorcycle show, then rode to a Cuyahoga County parking lot, laid on the accelerator, and broke a kneecap in a crash.

More than a year later he told us his body would never be the same as it was. He turns 28 next month.

•  Winslow was the No. 6 overall pick of the 2004 draft. 2010 was his second year with Tampa Bay. He caught 66 passes for 730 yards.

Ben Watson, the No. 32 overall pick of the ‘04 draft, joined the Browns as a free agent in 2010. He caught 68 passes for 763 yards.

•  The Ohio State marching band takes turns playing in Cleveland and Cincinnati for Browns-Bengals games. The band played in Cleveland last year, meaning it is committed to Cincinnati this year. Thus, if the Sept. 11 Cincinnati-at-Cleveland is wiped out, it doesn’t kill a date for the Script Ohio people.

The Browns are scheduled to play at Cincinnati Nov. 27.