It was a curious strategy against a quarterback who is 6-foot-5. Nonetheless, it proved to be effective.
Kent Graham, who had five passes batted at the line of scrimmage in the 23-20 loss in Cleveland, said it looked to him as though the Browns were intentionally laying back and timing their jumps to block his throws.
Once that started happening, Graham said he began throwing through passing lanes and "not throwing over people." As a result, he said, he did not have a pass batted in the second half.
"They were playing it," Graham said yesterday after watching the game films. "A lot of times they were sitting back and trying to jump. They'd be on an offensive lineman and pull back and, all of a sudden, jump up. It was a strategy on their part."
Graham, though, has not had a history of throwing a low ball that could be deflected. And, at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, he is not exactly an undersized quarterback.
Graham agreed with what Coach Bill Cowher said the other day -- that he didn't think he was staring down the receiver before the pass was batted.
"I don't know if they could tell when the arm goes back and gets rid of [the ball], if they can tell, timing-wise, what I was trying to do," Graham said. "It's tough to figure that out. But, as the game progressed, I was trying to figure out what I could do to combat this. The second half, I thought, we were more successful."
Still, Graham shook his head.
"They were all open guys."
Browns' defensive strategy makes Graham stand tall 
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