Despite the critics, Browns' 3 new linebackers are a hit

Trio played well vs. Colts, turns attention to Ravens

CLEVELAND - Nobody likes to bring home an "F" on their report card.

So imagine how members of the Cleveland Browns' linebacking corps felt when they were assigned the lowly letter grade before even taking their first exam.

During the offseason, The Sporting News graded each positional group in the NFL. Only one received a failing mark.

"You want to prove everybody wrong," Browns second-year linebacker Ben Taylor said. "If someone says you can't do something, what do you do? Your first reaction is to prove them wrong."

The Browns' linebackers did just that in their regular-season opener - a 9-6 home loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

With all three making their first NFL start, Taylor, Andra Davis and Kevin Bentley combined for 29 tackles and two interceptions. They helped keep one of the league's most potent attacks out of the end zone and limited the Colts to 271 total net yards.

Now, they look to contain Browns nemesis Jamal Lewis in tomorrow's game against the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Lewis has rushed for an average of 135.7 yards in his past four meetings against the Browns.

"Last year, he was good, but he was still coming off his knee [injury]," Bentley said. "This year, I think he is 100 percent. He's back totally, running hard, fighting for extra yards. He is a bigger back, powerful and quick." The kind who have had their way with the Browns' porous defense in recent seasons.

Despite reaching the playoffs last season for the first time since returning to Cleveland in 1999, the Browns ranked 21st in the NFL in total defense and 27th against the rush.

Those grim numbers, coupled with the franchise's being $25 million over the salary cap, led to an offseason housecleaning at linebacker. The Browns jettisoned all three of their starters - Dwayne Rudd, Earl Holmes and Darren Hambrick.

In their place, coach Butch Davis inserted three second-year players with zero combined starts.

The inexperience led to The Sporting News' letter grade, and a rough start to the preseason contributed to other forecasts of doom.

Before the final preseason game, Davis boldly predicted his young linebackers would play well, shifting the blame to a high-priced defensive line that struggled last season.

Though disappointed with the last-second loss to the Colts, the coach gained a measure of vindication with the play of Taylor, Davis and Bentley.

"I've told people for five or six months that those people are not going to be the weak link on this football team," Davis said. "Those guys are athletic. ... They're instinctive. They're smart. Those guys are going to get nothing but better."

Davis raves about the intellect of all three linebackers and how quickly each has learned the schemes installed by new defensive coordinator Dave Campo.

"I'm sure those guys brought home good grades in school," Davis said.

Tell it to The Sporting News.

"I think we set the tone for the season, and we can get so much better," said Bentley, who made a one-handed interception at the goal line to stop a first-half Colts drive. "We've still got improvement we can make, and that's a good thing.

None of the starting linebacker is listed at more than 255 pounds. The Browns' emphasis on defense is speed, and all three run well to the ball.

With the Ravens coming off a 34-15 loss at Pittsburgh and starting a rookie quarterback in Kyle Boller, the Browns' focus is clearly on Lewis.

They limited Edgerrin James to 67 yards on 15 carries.

The Browns did not yield a play that went for more than 18 yards. Quite a contrast from a season ago when they allowed more than 100 plays that netted 20 yards or better, Davis said.

Lewis victimized them with a 75-yard run in the Ravens' 26-21 win in Cleveland last October en route to a 187-yard performance.

"We have to gang tackle, same as last week," Bentley said.