By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer
SAN FRANCISCO -- Maybe the Browns just needed another trip out west to locate their missing West Coast offense -- one that's ranked 27th with only 16.2 points per game.
"It's the pink elephant in the middle of the room," said receiver Greg Little.
"We're all scratching our heads," said quarterback Colt McCoy.
"It's frustrating," said tight end Evan Moore. "It's not that hard."
But it has been for the Browns, and it won't be a trolley ride Sunday against the 5-1 49ers, especially without starting receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (concussion) and perhaps running back Peyton Hillis (hamstring). The 49ers are 11th in total defense -- second against the run.
"This will be the best defense we've played all year," said McCoy.
Not exactly what this points-challenged offense needs right now, is it? Consider some of these numbers:
• The Browns are 31st in the NFL with 4.3 yards per play;
• They're 29th with only 10 touchdowns;
• They're 31st with only 13 trips inside the red zone; and
• They've have been outscored, 34-3, in the first quarter.
But tight end Alex Smith indicated that a change of pace will be in store.
"We have a couple of things up our sleeves to try to try to get our tempo generated," he said. "It's not radically different. We'll just try to be fast-paced and keep the defense off it's toes. Until we get our tempo right, I don't think we'll have success."
Could the Browns be planning to open in the no-huddle to bust out of their first-quarter slumber?
"That's another aspect of it, but at the end of the day, it's about executing the plays as fast as we can," said Smith. "If we can pick up the pace, it will help us out a lot."
McCoy insisted that the current protocol, beginning with 15 or so scripted plays, is progressing just fine. "I think we're going to keep doing what we're doing," he said. "[But] the no-huddle has been a good part of our offense when we've got our backs against the wall. We work on it a lot in practice, so we'll see."
More than anything, McCoy said, it's a matter of this young offense continuing to hone the West Coast scheme.
"You go back and watch it from Joe Montana to Steve Young to anybody's who's run it, it's an offense where it's rhythm, it's timing [that makes it succeed]," said McCoy. "You get the ball out and let guys make plays -- and we're going to stick to that. It's what we do, and we're getting better week-to-week. The one positive from last week is that we stayed on the field for 40 minutes. Now we've just got to get in the end zone."
That type of ball control will be difficult against the 49ers' second-ranked run defense – which yields 74.7 yards per game. They're the only team in the NFL not to give up a rushing touchdown this season and haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 28 straight games, the longest active streak.
"We faced the best run defense last week [in yards per carry] and now we're facing the second-best," said running back Montario Hardesty, who churned out 95 yards against the Seahawks. "They defend the run very well with seven guys in the box. It all starts with their linebackers. They're tough, physical and fast to the ball, but we're up to the task."
Browns left tackle Joe Thomas gushed over the 49ers' front seven in general.
"There's big-time studs across the front, they're built to stop the run, and in my opinion they've got the best linebacker in the NFL in Patrick Willis," said Thomas. "He doesn't miss any tackles. You look at their guys on the outside, they're outstanding, They do everything you want out of a front seven, so it's going to be a great challenge for us."
He knows he'll get a tough battle from former Bengals right end Justin Smith, who leads the 49ers with an amazing 32 pressures.
"Justin is one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL," said Thomas. "He's been doing it a long time, he's extremely durable, he's big, he's fast, he's physical. He plays with a relentless motor. He's a guy that's going to be really hard to block. I remember playing against him my second game of my career [against Cincinnati] and it was a battle every single play."
But 32 pressure in six games? Can that be right?
"In Cincinnati, he didn't always have a lot of sacks, but he hit the quarterback all the time," said Thomas. "He's a guy who never quits. Even if he's blocked, he's still getting through at the last minute. He's good and underrated."
The 49ers have also held opposing quarterbacks to a 77.7 rating, fifth in the NFL, and they rank first in the league with 49 passes defensed. They're tied for third with 14 takeaways.
"Their defense is playing lights out right now," said Little. "With Mohamed out, I definitely want to take on the responsibility of being a bigger playmaker."
Josh Cribbs will replace Massaquoi in the starting lineup and second-year receiver Carlton Mitchell will see action on offense as well as special teams.
"We're fighting, we're clawing, we're trying to do everything we can to score points," said McCoy. "I can't tell you how hard we work. I've spent a lot of time with the receivers, and it's going to happen. We'll be ready this weekend and hopefully we'll start fast and play well."
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