BROWNS Chiefs' return man Hall is main focus

Cleveland knows that Dante Hall can turn a game around in a matter of seconds.
BEREA (AP) -- The Cleveland Browns can punt the ball high or out of bounds, but at some point Sunday they're going to have to tackle Dante Hall.
The speedy Kansas City return man has gone three games without a special teams touchdown.
But the Browns know Hall is just a key block or stutter-step away from doing it again.
"He hits the hole. He gets going in a hurry and he's got good guys in front of him," kicker Phil Dawson said. "If the hole is not there, he finds one."
Hall's streak
Hall's record-setting run of touchdown returns in four straight games are a big reason why the Chiefs are 8-0.
The elusive Hall had a game-winning punt return against Denver on Oct. 5 where he retreated about 6 yards -- usually a cardinal sin in the return game -- before darting 93 yards into the end zone. The play looked like it should have happened on a playground, not against an NFL special teams unit.
"You know when you play football with your little brother or your big brother, you just run around trying to escape from him. It's kind of like that," special teams player Sherrod Coates said.
Browns coach Butch Davis said he has emphasized this week that punter Chris Gardocki needs to put significant hang time on the ball. Davis said he'll sacrifice some yards for more time to get downfield and contain Hall.
Gardocki said the Browns' strategy in defending Hall will depend on the weather at Arrowhead Stadium. Punters lose hang time in cold weather and a stiff wind could make things even more difficult.
As for punting the ball out of bounds, Gardocki said it's risky if the Chiefs put on a solid punt rush.
"That's all good and easy to talk about, but it's not that easy to do," he said.
Efficient tackling
Dawson doesn't have the luxury on kickoffs of putting the ball out of bounds, which results in a penalty that puts the ball at the 40.
That brings the Browns back to tackling.
"It's going to be a challenge," Coates said. "You can't be too overly aggressive and make the big hit. ... It's impossible to get a big hit on him."
Hall can turn a game around even if he doesn't reach the end zone by giving running back Priest Holmes and the potent Kansas City offense a shorter field.
"They're in an enviable situation in that they're getting points put on the board with their punt returns and kickoff returns," Davis said. "When they're not putting points on the board they're getting huge, great field position."
The Browns haven't done either this year.
They have no special teams touchdowns, and while Hall is averaging 21 yards per punt, Dennis Northcutt is averaging just 6.6 yards.
"He really hasn't had a lot of great opportunities to return the ball," Davis said. "He's averaging probably one good opportunity a ball game."
Coaches preach that games are won and lost on special teams, but with Hall that old adage is magnified.