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Robaire Smith making an impact for Browns

By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer

POSTED: 08:16 p.m. EDT, Aug 30, 2009

CLEVELAND: Robaire Smith still has days when he feels a twinge in his left Achilles and remembers what a difficult comeback he's attempting.

But the 31-year-old Browns defensive end usually pays it no mind.

''That's the best way for me, to not even think about it,'' Smith said. ''Just go out there and play. There will probably be times where I play a couple plays and I'm like, 'Oh, man, it's kind of tight.' Most of the time when I'm out there, I don't too much care.''

In Saturday night's 23-17 preseason victory over the visiting Tennessee Titans, Smith made a big impact, showing no effects of the surgery required after he ruptured the Achilles last Sept. 14.

In the second quarter, Smith blocked a 27-yard field-goal attempt by Rob Bironas that would have given the Titans a 10-3 lead.

Then in the third period, Smith applied the pressure on a Vince Young pass that was intercepted by Browns outside linebacker Alex Hall and returned 11 yards for a touchdown.

Smith said the play on the field goal was a point of emphasis by Browns coach Eric Mangini. He said he was one of three linemen to get penetration, along with Corey Williams and Ahtyba Rubin.

''Coach had been stressing all week to get our hands up once we got penetration,'' Smith said. ''We did a good job doing what he wanted.''

Smith said Bironas' kick didn't just glance off his fingertips.

''I got all hand,'' he said. ''I don't think I can dunk anymore, but I think I got all hand.''

As for his part in Hall's interception, Smith said it was his job to contain Young.

''I realized it was boot a little earlier than they thought I would,'' Smith said. ''Vince had to get rid of the ball. I made him alter the throw. Alex did the best job being where he's supposed to be, getting the ball and making something happen once he got it.''

During his toughest days of injury rehab, Smith might not have dreamed of making such an impact this soon.

''I never really gave myself a timetable to come back to play,'' Smith said. ''I knew I was going to do whatever it takes to get back on the field, no matter when it was. I did a good job listening to the doctor after I had surgery. The most important thing was the first month and a half. I gave myself a chance to come out and be able to play today.''

Mangini praised Smith last week, saying he'd been impressed by his ''excellent work ethic.''

''When he's on the field, he works, and he works hard,'' Mangini said. ''You understand why guys hang around for a long time when you just watch them work. It will be one-on-ones, and he may be set for two reps, he's going to try to get four. There may be some younger guys who are willing to give him his two and Robaire's willing to take them. The younger guys will go home and Robaire will still be here.

''I saw it with Otis Smith. Rodney Harrison used to kick the rookies off the show team because they weren't giving a good enough look. The veterans know the value of work.''

But Mangini couldn't say whether Smith will be an every-down player at right end.

''I don't know what his role will be, big picture, because it will probably fluctuate each week based on who we're playing,'' Mangini said.

Early in training camp, Smith said the hardest part of his rehab was learning how to walk and put pressure on his left leg.

''It's just a matter of getting the strength back in my calf and my ankle,'' he said. His doctors told him it may not feel totally right for a year.

Starting his 10th season, Smith said he never considered retirement.

''I don't know if it's the competitiveness in me, but it never really crossed my mind,'' he said. ''It's my first time being hurt where I had to sit out a season, so it kind of like gave me life again for my body.''

Strange penalty

 

Mangini said he had never seen an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty like quarterback Derek Anderson was called for against the Titans. Field judge Terry Brown was knocked down after a Kerry Collins bomb to the sideline intended for Kenny Britt sailed incomplete and Anderson was called for being outside the Browns' sideline tarpaulin.

''It's not going to be pretty tomorrow,'' Anderson said, fearing Mangini's reaction. ''I was paying attention to what was going on, I was watching it on the scoreboard and I realized, 'Oh, here comes the ball.' The ref kind of turned and ran into me. Sorry about that, guys.''

 

Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns.

CLEVELAND: Robaire Smith still has days when he feels a twinge in his left Achilles and remembers what a difficult comeback he's attempting.

But the 31-year-old Browns defensive end usually pays it no mind.

''That's the best way for me, to not even think about it,'' Smith said. ''Just go out there and play. There will probably be times where I play a couple plays and I'm like, 'Oh, man, it's kind of tight.' Most of the time when I'm out there, I don't too much care.''

In Saturday night's 23-17 preseason victory over the visiting Tennessee Titans, Smith made a big impact, showing no effects of the surgery required after he ruptured the Achilles last Sept. 14.

In the second quarter, Smith blocked a 27-yard field-goal attempt by Rob Bironas that would have given the Titans a 10-3 lead.

Then in the third period, Smith applied the pressure on a Vince Young pass that was intercepted by Browns outside linebacker Alex Hall and returned 11 yards for a touchdown.

Smith said the play on the field goal was a point of emphasis by Browns coach Eric Mangini. He said he was one of three linemen to get penetration, along with Corey Williams and Ahtyba Rubin.

''Coach had been stressing all week to get our hands up once we got penetration,'' Smith said. ''We did a good job doing what he wanted.''

Smith said Bironas' kick didn't just glance off his fingertips.

''I got all hand,'' he said. ''I don't think I can dunk anymore, but I think I got all hand.''

As for his part in Hall's interception, Smith said it was his job to contain Young.

''I realized it was boot a little earlier than they thought I would,'' Smith said. ''Vince had to get rid of the ball. I made him alter the throw. Alex did the best job being where he's supposed to be, getting the ball and making something happen once he got it.''

During his toughest days of injury rehab, Smith might not have dreamed of making such an impact this soon.

''I never really gave myself a timetable to come back to play,'' Smith said. ''I knew I was going to do whatever it takes to get back on the field, no matter when it was. I did a good job listening to the doctor after I had surgery. The most important thing was the first month and a half. I gave myself a chance to come out and be able to play today.''

Mangini praised Smith last week, saying he'd been impressed by his ''excellent work ethic.''

''When he's on the field, he works, and he works hard,'' Mangini said. ''You understand why guys hang around for a long time when you just watch them work. It will be one-on-ones, and he may be set for two reps, he's going to try to get four. There may be some younger guys who are willing to give him his two and Robaire's willing to take them. The younger guys will go home and Robaire will still be here.

''I saw it with Otis Smith. Rodney Harrison used to kick the rookies off the show team because they weren't giving a good enough look. The veterans know the value of work.''

But Mangini couldn't say whether Smith will be an every-down player at right end.

''I don't know what his role will be, big picture, because it will probably fluctuate each week based on who we're playing,'' Mangini said.

Early in training camp, Smith said the hardest part of his rehab was learning how to walk and put pressure on his left leg.

''It's just a matter of getting the strength back in my calf and my ankle,'' he said. His doctors told him it may not feel totally right for a year.

Starting his 10th season, Smith said he never considered retirement.

''I don't know if it's the competitiveness in me, but it never really crossed my mind,'' he said. ''It's my first time being hurt where I had to sit out a season, so it kind of like gave me life again for my body.''

Strange penalty

 

Mangini said he had never seen an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty like quarterback Derek Anderson was called for against the Titans. Field judge Terry Brown was knocked down after a Kerry Collins bomb to the sideline intended for Kenny Britt sailed incomplete and Anderson was called for being outside the Browns' sideline tarpaulin.

''It's not going to be pretty tomorrow,'' Anderson said, fearing Mangini's reaction. ''I was paying attention to what was going on, I was watching it on the scoreboard and I realized, 'Oh, here comes the ball.' The ref kind of turned and ran into me. Sorry about that, guys.''

 

Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns.



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Jason Dawg

Posted 01:30 PM, 08/31/2009

I live in AZ & watched the tape of the Titan game last night on NFL network. Although I thought both QB's played well, the most incouraging thing I saw was the run defense. They did a pretty nice job against a team with one of the league's strongest running attacks. If they can get consistency in stopping the run, we should be competitve. The return of Big Baby (Shaun Rogers) should also give us a boost. Go Browns!
















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