Browns' front four comes up big

CLEVELAND - The injury situation for the Browns defensive line has caused coach Eric Mangini to scramble to put players at the position group on the field.

Lost for the season with injuries are Shaun Rogers and C.J. Mosley. Kenyon Coleman is out with a knee injury.

The starting linemen against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night were Ahtyba Rubin at nose tackle, Robaire Smith at an end and Corey Williams at the other end. Williams started in place of Coleman.

But despite all that, the Browns beat the Steelers, 13-6. The make-shift defensive line set the tone by sacking Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger eight times for losses of 60 yards.

Rogers went down against the Bengals 12 days ago. Mosley suffered a leg injury last Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.

The Browns have been fortunate in getting a healthy season from Smith. He suffered an Achilles' tendon injury early last season and missed the rest of the season. That all changed last night when Smith walked off the field in the first quarter with a hip injury, but he was on the field for the next defensive series.

Williams has been the odd man in the group. He struggled to get playing time when other linemen were healthy, which has led him to complain about where he stands in the plan.

NEMESIS: Browns returner Joshua Cribbs has had plenty of success against the Steelers. He returned a kick 98 yards for a touchdown earlier this season in Pittsburgh. Three of Cribbs' six kick returns for a touchdown have been against the Steelers.

Cribbs put the Browns in position for a Phil Dawson field goal with a 55-yard return of a punt to the Steelers' 9 in the first quarter.

ON TARGET: The chemistry that developed between Brady Quinn and tight end Evan Moore last week against the Chargers continued in the first quarter when the two hooked up on a 24-yard play. Moore, who had six receptions against the Chargers, pulled in the pass with one hand.

PRESSURE!: Browns linebacker Marcus Benard recorded the first sack of his career. He took Ben Roethlisberger in the second quarter on a third-down play to force a punt.

Williams made the most of increased playing time with two sacks in the first half. Williams entered the game with two sacks.

The Browns had five sacks in the first half, including two by Benard and two by Williams.

Benard made the Browns' roster as an undrafted free agent from Jackson State, where he had 17 sacks last season.

THE WILDCAT: The Browns continued to use Cribbs in the wildcat formation. He had four carries for 64 yards in the first half, including a gain of 37 yards. It was the longest run for Cribbs in his career.

A FIRST: Chris Jennings showed a burst a speed in turning the right corner on a 10-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter. It was Jennings' first career NFL touchdown and the first by a Browns running back this season.

Jennings showed speed around the edge that wasn't seen when Jamal Lewis was the primary runner. Lewis suffered a concussion recently and was placed on injured reserve.

BRRRR!: The temperature at the start of the game was 15. With a strong wind blowing in off of Lake Erie, the wind-chill factor was minus-6.

CHANGES: The Steelers had to play without safety Troy Polamalu for a third straight game. He was replaced in the lineup by Tyrone Carter. David Johnson started at fullback for Carey Davis.

mmclain@tribtoday.com