Thomas, Ware set for battle

CLEVELAND — You can credit the emergence of Derek Anderson as a Pro Bowl quarterback for the offensive explosion by the Cleveland Browns in 2007.

You also can credit the emergence of Rob Chudzinski as a play-caller and the resurrection of Jamal Lewis as an elite runner.

Credit one and all for the turnaround by the Browns last season. They won 10 games and finished eighth in the NFL in offense. Just make sure you put the name of Joe Thomas at the very top of that list of credits.

“He’s been the key that unlocked the door,” Browns general manager Phil Savage said.

Thomas was the third overall selection in the 2007 NFL draft by the Browns. He was a three-year starter at left tackle for Wisconsin, a two-time All-Big Ten choice and the Outland Trophy winner in 2006.

Thomas was a walk-in starter as an NFL rookie, allowing only 11‚Ñ2 sacks in 16 games. He became only the fourth rookie offensive linemen since 1970 selected for the Pro Bowl, joining Chris Hinton (1984), Richmond Webb (1991) and Marcus McNeill (2007).

Thomas’ talents give Browns hope on Sundays

To have a chance in the NFL, you must keep your quarterback upright. To do that, you must slow down the parade of elite speed rushers on the quarterback’s blind side. Thomas gives the Browns hope every Sunday.

Thomas is a key reason the Browns have a chance in the season opener Sunday against the defending NFC East champion Cowboys.

DeMarcus Ware is one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL for the Cowboys. But the Browns can counter him with one of the NFL’s best pass protectors.

That was by choice of Savage.

In his first season as general manager in 2005, Savage watched as his quarterbacks were sacked 46 times. That ruined any offensive flow, and the Browns wound up winning only six games and finishing 26th in the NFL in offense.

Savage vowed to fix the problem that off-season. He signed Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley to a six-year, $36 million contract in free agency, with $12.8 million of it guaranteed in the first season.

But the Browns never got that first season out of Bentley. He blew out a knee in the first drill on the first day of training camp. Without Bentley, the plight on the offensive line worsened. The Browns were sacked 54 times in 2006 and sank to 31st in offense, winning only four games.

Savage has history of success with tackles

Savage was the director of college scouting for the Baltimore Ravens when they selected UCLA offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden fourth overall in the 1996 draft. The Ravens passed up glittery offensive playmakers Eddie George, Terry Glenn and Marvin Harrison to draft a blocker.

Ogden would go on to play in 10 consecutive Pro Bowls from 1997-2006 and anchor an offense that would win an NFL championship in 2000. So Savage learned the value of a left tackle early on in his scouting career.

“If you’re constantly trying to find a left tackle in a passing league with all the pressure you see,” Savage said, “you never get beyond that to go work on the other aspects of the team.”

So Savage targeted Thomas early in the 2007 draft process, again passing up a host of glittery offensive playmakers — Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch and Brady Quinn — to select a blocker.

Savage also signed guard Eric Steinbach away from AFC North rival Cincinnati in free agency, giving him a seven-year, $49.5 million contract, with more than $17 million of it guaranteed.

“I don’t know if you can ever quantify the residual impact Joe has had,” Savage said. “Once we signed Steinbach and decided to take Joe, that nailed down the left side of our line. Everything seemed to emanate from there.”

The Browns allowed the third-most sacks in the NFL in 2006. After plugging in Thomas and Steinbach on the left side in 2007, the Browns allowed the third-fewest sacks in the NFL with 19.

Great blocking allows everyone to thrive:

In his first season as an NFL offensive coordinator, Chudzinski generated the first 400-point season by the Browns since 1966.

In his first season in Cleveland, Lewis gave the Browns their first 1,300 rusher since Jim Brown in 1965.

High numbers ruled for 2007 offense

In his first full season as a starter, Anderson gave the Browns their first 3,700-yard passer since Bernie Kosar in 1986 and their first 29-touchdown season since Brian Sipe in 1980.

Edwards set franchise receiving records with his 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns, and Winslow turned in the first 1,000-yard season by a Cleveland tight end since Ozzie Newsome in 1984.

Thomas also received his share of the credit. He became Cleveland’s first rookie selected to the Pro Bowl since linebacker Chip Banks in 1982 and the first offensive lineman since Cody Risien in 1987.

“I thought Joe would come in and be a very solid player,” Savage said. “For a rookie left tackle with all the things people were going to throw at him, Joe surpassed anything we could have imagined.”

The Cowboys always like their chances with Ware coming off the edge. The Browns like their chances with Thomas protecting that edge. Pro Bowler versus Pro Bowler Sunday. What an entertaining way to start the season.

XRick Gosselin is a sports writer for The Dallas Morning News.