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Do IT this week: Layering
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Sunday, Nov 22, 2009
1. Brady Quinn
Regaining his starting job Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens, Browns quarterback Brady Quinn struggled, throwing two interceptions that led to nine points in a 16-0 Ravens victory. Browns coach Eric Mangini praised Quinn for his prowess running the no-huddle the entire game, but he completed just 13-of-31 passes for 99 yards and a 23.5 rating. Quinn showed little touch on the short pass as both intercepted balls (intended for tight end Robert Royal and receiver Mike Furrey) would have been tough catches, Mangini said.
Quinn is not happy with the way he's throwing.
''Unless it's perfect, never,'' Quinn said. ''It's never going to be as good as I'd like it to be.''
Lions coach Jim Schwartz loves to blitz, so he'll turn up the heat on Quinn from the first snap, likely targeting right tackle John St. Clair and perhaps rookie center Alex Mack. Quinn also has to hope that Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs has no friends on the Lions' roster. Several defensive players are upset over Quinn's low blow that left Suggs with a sprained right knee, sidelining him for this weekend's game against the Indianapolis Colts and costing Quinn a $10,000 fine.
2. Calvin Johnson
The second overall pick in the 2007 draft, the Lions' 6-foot-5 receiver comes in with 32 catches for 436 yards and a touchdown. A year ago, he finished with 78 catches for 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns (tied for first in the league) and was voted a Pro Bowl alternate. In 2008, Johnson had 21 receptions of 20 or more yards, which is the Achilles' heel of the Browns' defense, giving up 39 plays of 20-plus in nine games.
Johnson's sideline spat with rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford two weeks ago against the Seattle Seahawks seemed to have born fruit. In last week's 27-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Johnson caught a season-high eight passes for 84 yards.
Mangini and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan likely will try to get Johnson matched up on cornerback Eric Wright as much as possible.
''He's gifted physically,'' Wright said of Johnson. ''We'll have some chances, we'll see how it goes. It's going to be fun. I'm excited.''
Ryan called Johnson ''a megatron at wideout'' and lamented that Johnson had returned from an injury that forced him to miss Games 6 and 7.
''He's really something special,'' Ryan said. ''He and Stafford have real good timing. Everyone plays this big guy the same way, they try to hit him up front and keep somebody behind him. He does a great job releasing off the line and going after that football. He's definitely one of the better receivers I've seen on tape.''
Cornerback Brandon McDonald wasn't surprised that the Lions threw to Johnson 13 times last week.
''Being 6-5, [236], you've got to get that guy the ball. If it was me, I'd throw to him 13, 15 times,'' McDonald said.
3. Browns receivers
Ex-Lion Mike Furrey might take rookie Brian Robiskie's place in the starting lineup this week opposite rookie Mohamed Massaquoi. The Lions' pass defense ranks last in the league, and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll should try to go deep, especially when the Lions aren't blitzing.
The Lions have had seven new defensive backs since Sept. 4 and four of them are off the roster, after cornerback Jack Williams (a Kent State product) suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Vikings and was placed on injured reserve Wednesday. Massaquoi, who played in college with Stafford, has caught just 10 passes in five games since his eight-catch, 148-yard performance against the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 4.
Stafford wasn't surprised when Massaquoi was elevated to No. 1 receiver after the Browns traded Braylon Edwards to the New York Jets on Oct. 7.
''I knew he was extremely talented,'' Stafford said of Massaquoi. ''He's going to make plays, he's an extremely reliable guy. I didn't know it was going to happen this fast. I'm really happy for him, the guy works harder than anyone I've ever been around.''
4. Matthew Stafford
The No. 1 overall pick in the draft became the first Lions rookie quarterback to start the season since Greg Landry in 1968. At 21 years, 218 days old, Stafford was the youngest quarterback to start a season opener since Drew Bledsoe (21 years, 203 days) with the New England Patriots in 1993. Stafford was making steady progress until he injured his right knee Oct. 4 against the Chicago Bears and missed two games, then played through pain in the past three. He threw five interceptions against the Seahawks on Nov. 8. He now has 12 for the season, with just six touchdowns, and his 59.5 quarterback rating ranks second-to-last in the league.
''He's a physically imposing kid who got a big weapon in that right arm,'' Ryan said. ''Hopefully we can make some plays on him. We got a glimpse of him in the preseason and I was real impressed.''
Browns inside linebacker David Bowens said the defense will use disguises to try to confuse Stafford as much as possible.
''As great as he is and as great as he's going to be . . . early in your career it takes awhile to get that quarterback savvy,'' Bowens said. ''The way we play, we have guys running all over the place; disguise is key. He's a good quarterback now if he sees the read.''
Since the franchise's return in 1999, the Browns have faced rookie quarterbacks nine times (seven different players) and gone 3-6, giving up an average of 172.1 passing yards per game. Stafford is one of two No. 1 picks in that group, along with the Houston Texans' David Carr in 2002.
5. Familiar faces
The Lions are loaded with ex-Browns, including receiver/returner Dennis Northcutt, cornerback Anthony Henry, fullback Terrelle Smith, strong safety Kalvin Pearson and center Melvin Fowler, signed on Wednesday. Northcutt, Henry and Fowler were Browns draft picks.
Northcutt, in his 10th season, has caught 23 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown, and has returned 13 punts for a 9.2 average and two kickoffs for a 16.0 average. Henry, a nine-year veteran acquired in a March 2 trade with the Dallas Cowboys, has started five games and has recorded 27 tackles (22 solos), an interception and five pass breakups.
Prediction: Lions 21-7. Ridenour's record: 9-0.
— Marla Ridenour
1. Brady Quinn
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Port Saint Lucie, Fl
Posted 08:14 AM, 11/22/2009
Da Brownies go to 1-9.Detroit is bad but at least they score some points in their loses.Game should not be that competitive.Detroit 24 Cleveland 6
Leesburg, Fl
Posted 09:46 AM, 11/22/2009
What an exciting game! The "Original Toilet Bowl".
Maybe the winner can hope to play Tampa Bay in the "Super Toilet Bowl".
Prediction: This will be Mangini's last game coaching in the pros.
medina, oh
Posted 10:07 AM, 11/22/2009
Anyone who spends their Sunday afternoon watching the Cleveland Browns needs to have their head examined; life is way too short. I say we start a petition to kick them out of Cleveland. They are an embarrasment to our city and state. We would be better off with no team at all than have one that is dismally bad decade after decade. BROWNS, GET OUT OF CLEVELAD NOW. GO EMBARRASS SOME OTHER CITY!!!!
Canton, OH
Posted 11:31 AM, 11/22/2009
5 things to watch Browns/Lions:
1). Will a TD be scored by the Browns team ???
2). Will Quinn cheap shot another defensive player on one of his oskeys ( interceptions ) ???
3). Will Calvin Johnson have a HOF type game against our DB's ???
4). Will Mangini leave Quinn in the whole game ???
5). How many times will D'Cutt burn his former team with catches & returns ???
cleveland, oh
Posted 04:29 PM, 11/22/2009
the browns lost !
Cincinnati, OH
Posted 04:30 PM, 11/22/2009
How do you give up 38 points to the freakin' Lions?!? Don't even talk about a Pass Interference call on the final interception.
For crying out loud, Randy. Call an end to the season and refund the balance of the ticket prices. The only thing playing any more games will do is get people hurt.
cleveland, oh
Posted 06:06 PM, 11/22/2009
has anyone seen lerner oh i forgot he is watching his soccer team.
cleveland, oh
Posted 06:08 PM, 11/22/2009
hey randy make me a offer eric mandummy looks lost out there !
