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Williams Benefiting From Low Mileage; Today He'll Benefit From Cleveland Run D
According to Associated Press sports writer Will Graves, DeAngelo Williams understands that backs on the wrong side of 30 are considered the football equivalent of a MySpace page: used up and outdated. Yet here he is at 32, coming off the most productive game of his decade-long career running with a fearless style that proves there is life for the Pittsburgh running game even with All-Pro Le'Veon Bell done for the year with a right knee injury.

"I don't think we can hide him anymore," joked guard Ramon Foster.

Signed in the offseason following a long run at Carolina — where he is the franchise's all-time leading rusher — Williams was only supposed to be a placeholder while Bell served a two-game suspension to start the season. Williams played brilliantly, running for 204 yards and scoring three touchdowns. Yet he receded into the background without complaint once Bell returned, well aware of the pecking order.

Call it a byproduct of his time with the Panthers, where he spent years as either the one or the two in the one-two punch along with Jonathan Stewart. The system that worked for Carolina, even if it prevented Williams from ever really getting into a rhythm.

That won't be an issue now, with Bell done for the season and newcomers Jordan Todman and Isaiah Pead still getting comfortable with offensive coordinator Todd Haley's playbook. Williams was on the field for 80 of Pittsburgh's 85 offensive snaps last Sunday, darting for 170 yards against a defense that began the day second in the league against the run.

But clearly, the key to Williams' success isn't the years, it's the lack of miles.

Williams and Reggie Bush are the only backs taken in the 2006 draft — a group that includes Laurence Maroney, LenDale White and Joseph Addai — still in the league. And Williams' 1,522 carries are fewer than LeSean McCoy, Chris Johnson, Marshawn Lynch and Matt Forte, all of whom began the season in their 20s.

Williams isn't likely to start showing his age today.

If he was able to rush for 170 yards against the Raiders, what might Williams do against the league's worst rush defense?

The Browns, who give up 147.6 yards on the ground per game, are going to find out.

How bad have the Browns been against the run?

Tennessee and Baltimore are among the worst running teams in the NFL, and they ran for 181 and 166, respectively, against Cleveland.

Expect a big day.