By Mark Curnutte
Cincinnati Enquirer

The Cleveland Browns used the 16th overall draft pick to take former Boston College running back William Green and improve their running game.

No such luck. Through nine games, the Browns are last in the NFL with 72.3 rushing yards per game.

Waiver-wire pickup Jamel White, not Green, has been Cleveland's best runner with 409 yards. But White is out this week with a separated shoulder, leaving the job to Green.

Green has a 2.3-yard average on 71 attempts, but the Browns are determined to see him carry the ball Sunday against the Bengals.

"I have no reservations about him," Browns coach Butch Davis said.

This week could be the time for Cleveland to have success.

The Bengals, ranked 29th against the run at 137.3 yards per game, will be without the anchor of their defensive line. Defensive tackle Oliver Gibson was lost for the season with an Achilles tendon tear.

Glen Steele will start in Gibson's spot. Steele is a career backup who's not short on experience, with 67 NFL games. This start will be his fourth.

The return of defensive end Vaughn Booker also should help. He's good against the run and will help maintain depth.

Steele, his fellow defensive linemen and Bengals linebackers can't let the Browns do anything positive on the ground. They have to stop Green, who is much less of a challenge than Baltimore's Jamal Lewis.

The Bengals need to force Cleveland quarterback Tim Couch to try to beat them solely in the passing game.

The Bengals did a good job against the Browns' rushing game Sept.15. Cleveland had 75 yards on 27 carries, the fewest rushing yards allowed by the Bengals in a game this year.

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