Plan to shut down Winslow works to near-perfection

CLEVELAND — The Dallas Cowboys’ defense had a game plan centered heavily on one Cleveland Brown — Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow.

Tight ends had been known to tear apart Cowboys defenses in the past. They found coverage advantages and took advantage. But the Browns couldn’t do so against the Cowboys’ defense Sunday.

Dallas kept Winslow and all his big-play Browns teammates from changing the game in a relatively easy-looking season-opening 28-10 victory at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Winslow scored Cleveland’s lone touchdown but was mostly harmless the rest of the game and finished with five catches for 47 yards.

"In the past tight ends have been our Achilles’ heel," linebacker Bradie James said. "Once you stop the run and stop Kellen Winslow, you can pin your ears back and try to make some plays after that."

In the second half, Winslow had only one catch for 9 yards and was the centerpiece of the Cowboys’ strategy of slowing the Browns’ stars. Dallas held Cleveland (eighth in total offense in 2007) to 205 yards of offense, Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Anderson to 114 passing yards and running back Jamal Lewis to a quiet 62 rushing yards.

Also, Pro Bowl receiver Braylon Edwards had just two catches for 14 yards and never got in sync with Anderson.

It was all about game planning to stop the son of legendary Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow. When the Cowboys went to their new dime formation, Winslow was covered by cornerback Anthony Henry. That’s a change from last year, when safety Roy Williams covered tight ends.

The Cowboys also gave Williams help on first and second down with, get this, outside linebacker Greg Ellis in coverage keeping Winslow from a free release off the line.

"At times we showed what kind of defense we can be, but we can play better," Pro Bowl safety Ken Hamlin said.

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips believes his defense can be better this year after having another year in his 3-4 system with talent upgrades. Now, the Cowboys feel much better about their depth. Last year when cornerback Terence Newman was out, the rest of the Cowboys’ defense didn’t know what would happen.

"In the off-season we went out and got talent," James said. "Like, last year when T-New was out, it was like a panic. We have enough people to hold it down until he gets back, and that showed up today."

Adam "Pacman" Jones, starting in place of Newman, didn’t give up any big plays as he fought off the rust, and the Cowboys applied pressure despite only one sack, by DeMarcus Ware.

The Cowboys’ only real flaw was giving up a 16-play, 78-yard touchdown drive in the first half that consumed 8 minutes, 57 seconds.

Nose tackle Tank Johnson, who expects to make an impact on the improved unit this season, was already looking ahead to next week. He had more of a glass-half-empty look at the game.

"We’re not dominant; we’re not the best," Johnson said. "We were good and we won. A win is a win. We’re not putting too much stock into beating a team in Week 1."

(star-telegram.com)