49ERS San Francisco won't abandon passing game against Browns

By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Even though the Cleveland Browns allowed Baltimore Ravens tailback Jamal Lewis to shatter the NFL's single-game rushing mark Sunday, coach Dennis Erickson of the San Francisco 49ers isn't ready to chuck his passing attack for this week's game against the Browns.
In a telephone interview from the Niners' headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., Erickson said Tuesday that tailbacks Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow most likely will get their usual amount of carries in Sunday's game against the Browns at 3Com Park in San Francisco.
"They gave up some big plays for a lot of that yardage," said Erickson, referring to Lewis' touchdown runs of 82 and 63 yards that helped the Ravens beat the Browns 33-13. "Other than that, they played pretty solid. In fact, their front four is as good as we face."
Not fooled by record
Erickson said the Niners (1-1 after Sunday's 27-24 overtime loss to the Rams in St. Louis) aren't being fooled by the Browns' 0-2 record.
"They are a solid team that was in playoffs last year," said Erickson, adding that it doesn't matter which quarterback the Browns use to finish the game.
"They're both good," Erickson said of starter Kelly Holcomb and former starter Tim Couch.
By the time the Browns arrive at the stadium formerly known as Candlestick Park (their home since 1971), the Niners might be over their anger from the Rams loss.
Don't count on it.
"We played really well in the first half, but we didn't take advantage of our opportunities," said Erickson after the 49ers out-gained the Rams 191-67 in the first half but only led 10-7 at intermission. "We had a lot chances in the first half to get a big lead, but we didn't score."
Only one drive succeeded
Four drives began on the Rams' side of the 50, but only one generated a score (wide receiver Tai Streets catching a 16-yard pass from quarterback Jeff Garcia in the first five minutes of the game). The Rams lost three fumbles in that half.
Erickson was impressed that his team rallied twice in the second half to force overtime.
"We showed a lot of togetherness when we fell behind," Erickson said. "But defensively, we didn't do what we had to in the second half. Against a team like that and in an environment like that, you just can't do those things."
Penalties were a major problem -- the 49ers were flagged 13 times for 121 yards.
"We had six on offense I believe and five of those were off-sides," Erickson said. "We shot ourselves in the foot --that is not our football team."
Especially costly was a 37-yard pass interference call against safety Zach Bronson on a third-and-18 play in the fourth quarter.
Moments before regulation ended, Garcia hit wide receiver Cedric Wilson in stride at about the Rams 30.
Didn't call time-out
Instead of falling to the turf and calling time-out to give Jeff Chandler a chance for a long game-winning field goal, Wilson kept running and was tackled at the 22 as time expired.
"Nobody feels worse about it than he does," said Erickson who added that his staff blundered. "We reminded [primary target wide receiver] T.O. [Terrell Owens] to fall [as soon as the ball was caught], but we didn't tell Ced."
Although Garcia and Owens missed time against the Rams after hard hits, Erickson said both will start against the Browns.
All five starters on the offensive line have injuries, but only left guard Eric Heitmann (ankle) won't play.
Tackle Scott Gragg, who had started 113 consecutive games before sitting out last week with an ankle injury, is expected to start.
"He should be back at full speed and will start practice [today]," Erickson said.
Tackle Derrick Deese, guard Ron Stone and center Jeremy Newberry are nursing ankle pains but will play.
williams@vindy.com