By MIKE McLAIN
Tribune Chronicle
CLEVELAND - It looked a lot like two weeks earlier for Browns running back Trent Richardson, with the exception of staring at uniforms of a different color.
In the season opener the rookie was held to 39 rushing yards in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. In a 24-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Richardson seemed to be running into a brick wall for three hours as he finished with 27 yards on 12 carries.
The only good news for Richardson was a 6-yard touchdown run on what turned out to be his longest run of the game.
"The Bills have a strong defensive line, hands down," Richardson said. "The creases were there. It just takes a little time and the second half was much better than the first half. We had a slow start, and playing teams like that with a good defensive line, we can't have misses like that."
Richardson stepped up as a leader during a practice last week when he called his teammates together for a brief pep talk. Like many players that come from a successful college program - Alabama won the national championship last season - Richardson doesn't like to lose.
"You've got to keep trying to motivate the team, and I've got to keep motivating myself," he said. "As far as me stepping in the role of being a leader, I have to make sure I'm doing everything correctly at all times. We're 0-3, but we have another game Thursday (in Baltimore), so we've got to go right back to the drawing board and try to find a way to win, no matter what it takes."
NO HELP: Like many of his teammates, safety T.J. Ward didn't like hearing Buffalo fans chanting in a near empty stadium near the end of the game. It particularly bothered Ward to hear the chants when the outcome hadn't been decided.
"It was embarrassing," Ward said. "It felt like at times like you're not the home team; not even when the game wasn't all the way at the end."
ORGANIZATIONAL WOES: Ward suggested that defensive changes have resulted in some problems in terms of individual responsibilities.
"I don't know what's going on, but we have to fix it," Ward said. "There is some uncertainty going on because we keep getting picked. Just in the communication and knowing what's supposed to happen."
SHOWING UP: Tight end Jordan Cameron was finally visible after failing to catch a pass in each of the first two games. Cameron set career highs for receptions (five) and yards (44).
MOVING UP: Joshua Cribbs had 85 yards on kick returns to move ahead of Michael Bates (9,110) for sixth place on the NFL career list. Cribbs is at 9,178.
CHANGING OF THE GUARD: Linebacker Scott Fujita is fading from the defensive plan. He gave way to Craig Robertson in the starting lineup and failed to register a tackle in sparse duty.
Robertson led the defense in tackles with eight. He tied his career high set against the Eagles.
NOT THAT BAD: Rookie offensive right tackle Mitchell Schwartz followed up a solid showing against the Bengals a week earlier with a decent performance against Mario Williams, who signed the richest deal ever for a defensive end when he moved from Houston to Buffalo. Williams was credited with 1.5 sacks and four tackles.
BIG DROP: Free safety Eric Hagg took a mighty tumble in one week. Hagg began working with the first team defense from the first day of training camp and was the starter in the first two games.
Hagg was benched in favor of Usama Young against the Bills. In fact, Hagg wasn't on the 45-player active roster.
INJURY REPORT: Receiver Mohamed Massaquoi left in the third quarter with a hamstring injury. Cornerback Buster Skrine remained on the ground for several seconds after helping tackle fullback Corey McIntyre. He returned to action shortly thereafter.
The Bills suffered a major loss when running back C.J. Spiller left in the first quarter with what appeared to be a left shoulder injury on a tackle by Young. Spiller entered the game as the NFL's leading rusher. He was starting for Fred Jackson, who is out with a sprained knee. Jackson is expected to return next week.
INACTIVES: Sitting for the Browns were quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, receiver Jordan Norwood, Hagg, running back Brandon Jackson, linebacker James-Michael Johnson, offensive lineman Ryan Miller and tight end Alex Smith.
Out for the Bills were quarterback Tavaris Jackson, Jackson, defensive end Kyle Moore, linebacker Kirk Morrison, tackle Sam Young, center Colin Brown and receiver Ruvell Martin.
