Browns' castaways bolster Denver defense

By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
PITTSBURGH -- The biggest change the Denver Broncos made last offseason was embellishing their defensive line with Cleveland Browns castaways.
The Browns traded defensive tackle Michael Myers and defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban to Denver for running back Reuben Droughns, a trade that has worked well for both teams.
Released by the Browns, defensive end Courtney Brown (the top pick of the 2000 NFL Draft) and defensive tackle Gerard "Big Money" Warren (the third selection in the 2001 NFL draft) were signed by the Broncos as free agents.
In last Saturday's playoff win over New England, Myers, Warren and Brown were starters on the defensive line alongside defensive end Trevor Pryce.
Sunday at 3 p.m., the former Cleveland players will get a look at some familiar faces -- their former division rivals Steelers in the AFC Championship Game.
This time, the stakes will be as high as ever as they'll be playing for a Super Bowl berth.
Starks has a theory
Why are the ex-Browns who struggled in Cleveland playing for a conference title? Steelers right tackle Max Starks has a theory.
"They have better complementary players in their linebackers and secondary," the second-year player said of their new team. "[Linebacker] Al Wilson, [cornerback] Champ Bailey, [linebacker] D.J. Williams and [safety] John Lynch -- they have some great guys behind that front four."
Left guard Alan Faneca said familiarity doesn't matter because the Steelers are focusing more on schemes than personnel.
"We watched some [film on Wednesday], but it was more what they were doing [as a unit]," Faneca said.
Starks said the offensive line's role will be "to stick to our game plan and play whatever they present in front of us."
Linemen are smiling
The Steelers' recent success through the air has some of the linemen smiling at their new reputations for deception.
"Every defense every time is going to have to pick their evil," Faneca said. "They have to pick a defense and go with it. We've been passing the ball a little better."
In last Sunday's 21-18 upset over the Colts, Roethlisberger completed 12 of 17 passes for 172 yards in the first half of the Division playoff game in the hostile RCA Dome.
"You have to give a lot of credit to the offensive line," said Roethlisberger of his second-year progress. "I'm able to stay in the pocket longer and they are giving me time to be able to do that, to sit in there and make plays.
"The receivers are making plays down the field -- it's definitely not just me -- it's all those guys helping me to see the field better."
Another reason the Steelers feel they have played so well on the road is that they've been fighting for their lives ever since Dec. 4 when they lost to the Bengals and fell to 7-5.
"It's gotten us into that mode where every week was do-or-die for that last month of the season," Faneca said. "And I think it helped us move forward and start to play better."
Low blows by blockers
Defensively, the Steelers have to be concerned with the Broncos' tendency to cut-block (think low blows to the legs of defensive linemen).
"What they do is legal," said defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen said of the Broncos' tactics. "They are fine -- it's up to us to defend it. That's part of the game and been there for a long time."
Von Oelhoffen says the Carolina Panthers use similar schemes but no one the Steelers played in 2005 does. He said the Steelers are preparing by having the practice team simulate those moves.
Von Oelhoffen said the Broncos have struggled to run against 3-4 schemes like the Steelers use.
"It's a good scheme and it will be up to the defensive line to stop the run, for sure," von Oelhoffen said.
Asked if the Broncos cut or chop, von Oelhoffen smiled and said, "Both."
williams@vindy.com