Indianapolis offense vs. Cleveland defense

	COLTS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	18
	Pass	6
	Tot. Yds.	4
	Scoring	3
	Int's allowed	16
	Sacks allowed	14
	BROWNS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	31
	vs. Pass	15
	Total yds. allowed	31
	# of Ints.	8
	# of Sacks	25
	Turnover differential	-10

The impressive thing about the Colts is their ability to adjust. Watching film becomes a schooling session on how to tweak schemes and balance the attack in order to exploit defensive tendencies. Obviously, when you have talent like the Colts have, the job of the offensive coordinator is made much easier, but this is still a technically sound group that has the capability to break any defensive look because of their adaptability.

Perhaps the most important player in the entire system is RB Edgerrin James. It is true that without an offensive line, strong receiving corps and Pro Bowl quarterback that James would be much less effective, but the manner in which he finds a way to contribute in all facets of the game is special. James is a proven runner, blocker and receiver, which make this offense so diverse.

Take a look at last week's film. The Redskins dedicated their entire defensive scheme to stopping the run, which they did successfully in the first half, limiting James to just 19 yards rushing, but James then contributed a 37-yard touchdown reception before the end of the half. This type of production plants the seed in the defenses' mind and will change the aggressive nature of the unit, as evidenced when the Redskins backed off some in the second half and James struck for 70 yards.

All of this said, the Browns are in over their heads against the Colts' offensive attack. Despite the fact that they held Jacksonville relatively in check, only allowing 24 points, the Colts are more consistent in their attack, and should be able to methodically sustain scoring drives on the league's worst run defense -- yielding 174.4 yards per game on the ground.

Injuries have forced Indianapolis to spread the production around in the passing game, and they have been extremely successful doing so. James' role has increased as a receiver out of the backfield because of injuries to No. 2 receiver Jerome Pathon.

E.G. Green has also had to step up his level of play, moving from the nickel receiver to the second spot, although consistency has been a problem for Green. He looked to be having a breakout game with two big first-down catches in the first half last week against the Redskins, but then proceeded to drop an easy catch late in the third quarter. Green will play a critical role in the passing game this week as he needs to draw attention from the No. 2 receiver position in order to free up some room in the secondary for Marvin Harrison to work.

Daylon McCutcheon is the Browns top cover corner, but he will cover Green instead of Marvin Harrison for a couple of reasons. First, McCutcheon plays the right cornerback position and does not move sides for fear of footwork and technique problems. Also, if McCutcheon takes Green out of the game, it leaves the rest of the secondary to cover Harrison and the tight ends.

The Browns, especially with the injuries on the line, are incapable of establishing a running game. Too many times RBs Karim Abdul-jabbar and Terry Kirby get to the line of scrimmage and find absolutely no crease or running room to work with. The Browns are facing too many second-and-long and third-and-long situations, and the Colts are not a team you want to get in those situations against.

However, if Indianapolis has one weakness, it is a run defense that ranks just 15th in the league, surrendering over 4.1 yards per carry. The Browns, especially with Couch out of the lineup, will take their chances on the ground early on. The problem Cleveland cannot overcome is the shape of its offensive line.

The popular thinking would be to open up the offense and take some more chances in the passing game to neutralize the blitz, but the Colts are one of the top pass defenses in the league, and their zone-blitz scheme is going to give QB Ty Detmer problems in just his second start this season.

The Browns must make some serious precautions against the blitz this Sunday. In this their last game, the Browns need to find a way to protect their quarterback. Too many seven-step drops and not enough help from tight ends and running backs in pass protection have resulted in a league-high 60 sacks.

The Colts have had a steady edge pass rush, mostly in part to great upfield burst from DEs Chad Bratzke, Bernard Whittington and Mark Thomas. OTs Lomas Brown (knee) and Orlando (suspension) are out of Sunday's game, which means the Browns are stuck with Steve Zahursky and Chris Ruhman at the tackle position and the Colts are going to target this position in the blitz package. Cleveland is going to have to motion and align TE Irv Smith back and forth to give him some assistance to his tackles on passing downs as well as in the run game.

The problem is going to be when defensive coordinator Vic Fangio goes to his athletic "34" look, replacing a defensive tackle with OLB Mike Peterson. Fangio has been extremely successful using his athletic personnel to create a greater pass rush, and it should create tremendous problems for an offensive line that is depleted by injury and slow-footed as whole.

Chris Gardocki has now attempted 100 punts, averaging 43.9 yards per attempt. The Browns coverage units have been horrid this season, especially the tackling. The unit has allowed 10.8 yards per punt return and a costly 72-yard kickoff return two weeks ago.