Browns to see if they're up to speed vs. Panthers

CLEVELAND - Like a politician pushing the party platform, Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel repeated one phrase more than any during his first training camp. The mantra: slow and steady.

Day after day, injuries, practices, rookie Braylon Edwards' contract negotiations and the Browns' progress were succinctly summed up by Crennel as "slow and steady."

On Friday night, the pace must quicken.

The Browns, unbeaten in their first two exhibition games, will face their toughest matchup of the preseason as they host the Carolina Panthers, a squad Crennel and his players consider one of the NFL's best.

"It's a great test," said Browns quarterback Trent Dilfer. "They have a very active defense, a defense that brings pressure, which quarterbacks love. Hopefully, it will open up a chance to make big plays."

The Panthers (1-1), who have looked real good (zero turnovers in a 28-10 win) and real bad (six turnovers in a 27-21 loss) in their two exhibitions, may be without Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers. He didn't practice this week because of a foot injury and it's doubtful he will play.

Peppers' absence notwithstanding, the Panthers should be a good gauge for Crennel to determine how much the remodeled Browns have grown after a month of practices. Typically, the third preseason game is when starters get their most playing time, making it a dress rehearsal for the season opener.

"I think Carolina would be a good game anytime because they are a good team," Crennel said. "I told the team that two years ago Carolina was in the Super Bowl. If it hadn't been for the injuries they had last year they might have been back there again."

Crennel devoted much of camp to teaching his system and installing a new 3-4 defense, which remains a work in progress to New England's former defensive coordinator.

"This defense has a chance to be effective," Crennel said. "We might not shut out anybody, we might be lucky to win, but we have a defense installed."

Cleveland's offense has been slowed by penalties. Last week in Detroit, the club was flagged 12 times for 109 yards. A week earlier against the New York Giants, the Browns had 15 penalties for 121 yards.

Crennel won't tolerate much more. In the second quarter against the Lions, he yanked veteran offensive tackle L.J. Shelton after an offside call.

"I understand the meaning behind it," Shelton said. "There wasn't any ranting or raving about it, but I got the point."

It's one Crennel won't hesitate making again if necessary.

"I hope that they understand that penalties will get us beat," he said. "That's the message that I'm trying to send to them. We improved on the penalty situation, but we still had too many of them."

Cleveland's running game suffered a blow last week when Lee Suggs sustained a high ankle sprain. He'll miss the final two preseason games and his status for the opener is in doubt.

Crennel plans to start Reuben Droughns, who missed the first exhibition game with a hamstring injury and rushed for 30 yards on eight carries last week.

Six turnovers and two big plays doomed the Panthers a week ago in their loss to the Giants, snapping Carolina's 10-game preseason winning streak.

Coach John Fox had to juggle his first-team defense this week, moving first-round pick Thomas Davis from linebacker back to safety after starter Colin Brach suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Giants.

Davis began training camp at safety, but was switched to outside linebacker. He's on the fly again.

"I can hope this is it, but who knows?" he said. "It may not be it. I will try to play well wherever they line me up."