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Do IT this week: Layering
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 09:42 p.m. EST, Nov 29, 2009
CINCINNATI: Nose tackle Shaun Rogers was carted off with 3:31 remaining, as four Browns defensive starters left with injuries in Sunday's 16-7 loss at Cincinnati.
Rogers (ankle), free safety Brodney Pool (head), defensive end Kenyon Coleman (knee) and outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley (knee) did not return.
Rogers was rolled on from behind on a running play. Browns coach Eric Mangini and several teammates came off the bench to console the three-time Pro Bowl selection, who was holding his left leg and appeared to be in serious pain as he departed.
Fellow defenders did not seem optimistic about Rogers' return this season.
''I saw him. He's really upset,'' Browns linebacker David Bowens said. ''Shaun's a guy who wants to be in the fire, no matter how bad, how good it is. Shaun loves to play ball. I could see that in his eyes. He's really upset.
''Kenyon, Shaun and Kamerion, those are very critical guys to our defense. A lot of stuff we do is based on their abilities. With those guys going down, it really hurts a lot. We're going to have to figure out how we're going to bounce back.''
Defensive end Robaire Smith said: ''It's frustrating. Three leaders on our defense just got hurt. You've got two defensive linemen and a linebacker who plays a lot on our defensive line, so it's discouraging. It's like one of your brothers getting hurt.''
Smith, who came back from an Achilles injury in 2008, offered Rogers some advice.
''Like I told him, everything happens for a reason, and whatever he's got to do to get it right, the key is to jump on it early,'' Smith said.
Pool has suffered at least four concussions during his five years in Cleveland and another could be career-threatening. Hank Poteat and receiver Mike Furrey saw time at safety in his absence.
Williams, C.J. Mosley and Ahtyba Rubin will see more action if Coleman and Rogers are sidelined, with Rubin probably starting for Rogers. If Wimbley is unable to play Sunday against San Diego, the Browns could start Jason Trusnik and Matt Roth at outside linebacker and Bowens and Kaluka Maiava inside. Nordonia High School product Trusnik recorded a career-high 10 tackles against the Bengals.
Keep-away from Cribbs
In the teams' first meeting this season, Browns' Pro Bowl special teamer Joshua Cribbs returned three kickoffs for 103 yards and six punts for 120 yards. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis didn't want a repeat, so he had kicker Shayne Graham and punter Kevin Huber avoid Cribbs at all costs.
Cribbs had no punt returns with one fair catch, with Huber sending three out of bounds and one into the end zone. Cribbs returned two kickoffs for 38 yards, with another going out of bounds and one into the end zone.
''They did a good job taking the ball out of my hands on their coverage units,'' Cribbs said. ''It's very frustrating. Other teams talk to me. I'm begging them to kick me the ball. I'm like, 'Just give me the ball one time.' They're like, 'Why would we do that? You're the best returner in the league. We're not stupid.' It's respect, but at the same time, it's smart.''
Cribbs said he heard that from Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco after a Bengals punt out of bounds.
''Chad came up to me, 'They're not kicking you the ball today, so didn't even try to return one,' '' Cribbs said.
Asked what the Browns can do, Cribbs said: ''That's a question for the coaches. I do what I'm told. We've got to go back to the drawing board.''
Cribbs still managed to become the first player in NFL history to amass 1,000 kickoff return yards in each of his first five seasons. Cribbs ran his total to 1,015 yards on Sunday.
He nearly made a fatal blunder on the opening kickoff, not downing the ball in the end zone. Running back Jerome Harrison alertly came to the rescue.
''I assumed it was going out of bounds and it didn't,'' Cribbs said. ''That was recklessness on my behalf. That's why we've got teammates who had my back.''
Some encouragement
Browns' quarterback Brady Quinn said he received a phone call from Carolina's Jake Delhomme before last weekend's game against Detroit. Quinn responded with his highest rating of the season in a 38-37 loss to the Lions.
Panthers quarterback Delhomme has also been struggling this season, but wanted to offer encouragement.
''Hang in there, keep fighting, keep working,'' Quinn said of Delhomme's message. '' 'It's part of our job that things don't always work out the way you want them to. You have to keep fighting, keep swinging. Eventually, things will work out the way they're supposed to, the way God intends.' ''
Quinn said Delhomme's main point was to stay positive and keep working.
''I don't think you can sit there and get down about things and try to sulk and say, 'Woe is me,' at this point,'' Quinn said. ''Our team just has to keep fighting.''
Quinn's razzle-dazzle
Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll exploited Quinn's athletic ability for the Browns' lone touchdown in the third quarter.
Cribbs took a shotgun snap and tossed an 18-yard pass to Quinn for a first down. Cribbs lofted the ball over linebacker Brandon Johnson and Quinn had to leap to get it.
''That was drawn up perfectly, worked perfectly,'' Cribbs said. ''It was tough because I couldn't see him. I just knew where he was supposed to be and he was there. He went up and grabbed the football out of the air.''
Quinn said he hadn't caught a pass since his days at Dublin Coffman.
''I think I caught one in my homecoming game my senior year. That was for a touchdown. That was fun,'' Quinn said.
His catch made him the Browns' second-leading receiver in terms of yards, trailing only Chansi Stuckey with 44 yards. The last Browns quarterback to catch a pass was Tim Couch, who pulled in one for minus 3 yards against Oakland on Oct. 12, 2003.
Quinn finished the drive with a 9-yard rushing touchdown, the first of his career, on a quarterback draw. Quinn fumbled in the middle of the end zone, resulting in a scrum, but the touchdown was not debated by the officials.
''Once I got across, I hit the ground and the ball popped out, but I knew I'd broken the plane,'' Quinn said.
Roth starts
The Browns were awarded Roth off waivers from the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday and the former second-round pick ended up starting at left outside linebacker. Trusnik moved inside with Bowens.
Roth finished with seven tackles (three solos), a sack, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry.
''I got laid over on Wednesday at the airport. I didn't get in until late at night,'' Roth said. ''My uncle [in California] died on Thanksgiving. It's been a tough week, but the guys were good in welcoming me.''
Another untimed score
For the second week in a row, a Browns opponent scored on an extra play with no time left on the clock. Last week it was Detroit tight end Brandon Pettigrew's game-tying TD pass from Matthew Stafford.
It struck again at the end of the first half, when Rogers was penalized for a horse-collar tackle on Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer on Rogers' 1-yard sack. The 15-yard penalty moved the ball to the Browns' 35 and Graham kicked a 53-yard field goal for a 13-0 lead.
Brownies
For the second consecutive game, second-round picks Brian Robiskie and David Veikune were inactive. It was the fourth game this season that Mangini sat down Robiskie, the receiver from Ohio State who was taken 36th overall. This time Robiskie's playing time went to receiver Jake Allen, whom the Browns were awarded off waivers from Green Bay Wednesday. . . .The Browns did not commit a turnover for the second consecutive game.
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.
CINCINNATI: Nose tackle Shaun Rogers was carted off with 3:31 remaining, as four Browns defensive starters left with injuries in Sunday's 16-7 loss at Cincinnati.
Rogers (ankle), free safety Brodney Pool (head), defensive end Kenyon Coleman (knee) and outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley (knee) did not return.
Rogers was rolled on from behind on a running play. Browns coach Eric Mangini and several teammates came off the bench to console the three-time Pro Bowl selection, who was holding his left leg and appeared to be in serious pain as he departed.
Fellow defenders did not seem optimistic about Rogers' return this season.
''I saw him. He's really upset,'' Browns linebacker David Bowens said. ''Shaun's a guy who wants to be in the fire, no matter how bad, how good it is. Shaun loves to play ball. I could see that in his eyes. He's really upset.
''Kenyon, Shaun and Kamerion, those are very critical guys to our defense. A lot of stuff we do is based on their abilities. With those guys going down, it really hurts a lot. We're going to have to figure out how we're going to bounce back.''
Defensive end Robaire Smith said: ''It's frustrating. Three leaders on our defense just got hurt. You've got two defensive linemen and a linebacker who plays a lot on our defensive line, so it's discouraging. It's like one of your brothers getting hurt.''
Smith, who came back from an Achilles injury in 2008, offered Rogers some advice.
''Like I told him, everything happens for a reason, and whatever he's got to do to get it right, the key is to jump on it early,'' Smith said.
Pool has suffered at least four concussions during his five years in Cleveland and another could be career-threatening. Hank Poteat and receiver Mike Furrey saw time at safety in his absence.
Williams, C.J. Mosley and Ahtyba Rubin will see more action if Coleman and Rogers are sidelined, with Rubin probably starting for Rogers. If Wimbley is unable to play Sunday against San Diego, the Browns could start Jason Trusnik and Matt Roth at outside linebacker and Bowens and Kaluka Maiava inside. Nordonia High School product Trusnik recorded a career-high 10 tackles against the Bengals.
Keep-away from Cribbs
In the teams' first meeting this season, Browns' Pro Bowl special teamer Joshua Cribbs returned three kickoffs for 103 yards and six punts for 120 yards. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis didn't want a repeat, so he had kicker Shayne Graham and punter Kevin Huber avoid Cribbs at all costs.
Cribbs had no punt returns with one fair catch, with Huber sending three out of bounds and one into the end zone. Cribbs returned two kickoffs for 38 yards, with another going out of bounds and one into the end zone.
''They did a good job taking the ball out of my hands on their coverage units,'' Cribbs said. ''It's very frustrating. Other teams talk to me. I'm begging them to kick me the ball. I'm like, 'Just give me the ball one time.' They're like, 'Why would we do that? You're the best returner in the league. We're not stupid.' It's respect, but at the same time, it's smart.''
Cribbs said he heard that from Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco after a Bengals punt out of bounds.
''Chad came up to me, 'They're not kicking you the ball today, so didn't even try to return one,' '' Cribbs said.
Asked what the Browns can do, Cribbs said: ''That's a question for the coaches. I do what I'm told. We've got to go back to the drawing board.''
Cribbs still managed to become the first player in NFL history to amass 1,000 kickoff return yards in each of his first five seasons. Cribbs ran his total to 1,015 yards on Sunday.
He nearly made a fatal blunder on the opening kickoff, not downing the ball in the end zone. Running back Jerome Harrison alertly came to the rescue.
''I assumed it was going out of bounds and it didn't,'' Cribbs said. ''That was recklessness on my behalf. That's why we've got teammates who had my back.''
Some encouragement
Browns' quarterback Brady Quinn said he received a phone call from Carolina's Jake Delhomme before last weekend's game against Detroit. Quinn responded with his highest rating of the season in a 38-37 loss to the Lions.
Panthers quarterback Delhomme has also been struggling this season, but wanted to offer encouragement.
''Hang in there, keep fighting, keep working,'' Quinn said of Delhomme's message. '' 'It's part of our job that things don't always work out the way you want them to. You have to keep fighting, keep swinging. Eventually, things will work out the way they're supposed to, the way God intends.' ''
Quinn said Delhomme's main point was to stay positive and keep working.
''I don't think you can sit there and get down about things and try to sulk and say, 'Woe is me,' at this point,'' Quinn said. ''Our team just has to keep fighting.''
Quinn's razzle-dazzle
Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll exploited Quinn's athletic ability for the Browns' lone touchdown in the third quarter.
Cribbs took a shotgun snap and tossed an 18-yard pass to Quinn for a first down. Cribbs lofted the ball over linebacker Brandon Johnson and Quinn had to leap to get it.
''That was drawn up perfectly, worked perfectly,'' Cribbs said. ''It was tough because I couldn't see him. I just knew where he was supposed to be and he was there. He went up and grabbed the football out of the air.''
Quinn said he hadn't caught a pass since his days at Dublin Coffman.
''I think I caught one in my homecoming game my senior year. That was for a touchdown. That was fun,'' Quinn said.
His catch made him the Browns' second-leading receiver in terms of yards, trailing only Chansi Stuckey with 44 yards. The last Browns quarterback to catch a pass was Tim Couch, who pulled in one for minus 3 yards against Oakland on Oct. 12, 2003.
Quinn finished the drive with a 9-yard rushing touchdown, the first of his career, on a quarterback draw. Quinn fumbled in the middle of the end zone, resulting in a scrum, but the touchdown was not debated by the officials.
''Once I got across, I hit the ground and the ball popped out, but I knew I'd broken the plane,'' Quinn said.
Roth starts
The Browns were awarded Roth off waivers from the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday and the former second-round pick ended up starting at left outside linebacker. Trusnik moved inside with Bowens.
Roth finished with seven tackles (three solos), a sack, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry.
''I got laid over on Wednesday at the airport. I didn't get in until late at night,'' Roth said. ''My uncle [in California] died on Thanksgiving. It's been a tough week, but the guys were good in welcoming me.''
Another untimed score
For the second week in a row, a Browns opponent scored on an extra play with no time left on the clock. Last week it was Detroit tight end Brandon Pettigrew's game-tying TD pass from Matthew Stafford.
It struck again at the end of the first half, when Rogers was penalized for a horse-collar tackle on Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer on Rogers' 1-yard sack. The 15-yard penalty moved the ball to the Browns' 35 and Graham kicked a 53-yard field goal for a 13-0 lead.
Brownies
For the second consecutive game, second-round picks Brian Robiskie and David Veikune were inactive. It was the fourth game this season that Mangini sat down Robiskie, the receiver from Ohio State who was taken 36th overall. This time Robiskie's playing time went to receiver Jake Allen, whom the Browns were awarded off waivers from Green Bay Wednesday. . . .The Browns did not commit a turnover for the second consecutive game.
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.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Posted 10:23 PM, 11/29/2009
Uh, might be smart to start playing our draft picks to see what we have. One would think that with all of the injuries to linebackers, that Veikune could get some time on the field.
Could he be that bad?
Dayton, Md
Posted 07:20 AM, 11/30/2009
Veikune is bad. The person that drafted him is worse! Fire him!
Cleveland, Oh
Posted 07:51 AM, 11/30/2009
What do you do when the rest of your 32nd ranked defense goes down to injury? Well at least we know they cant go further down in the rankings. Hey my grandmother played a little defense in high school. She might be a good pickup for the Browns. This team is starting to look like the team the Browns had in the 1987 strike year. Wait a second that team actually won a couple of games.
Powell, OH
Posted 08:51 AM, 11/30/2009
Ehh...scan the waiver wire and start some guys on 2 or 3 days notice. 1-10: the first time a Browns team EVER started 1-10. Way to go, Eric. Way to go.
Posted 09:11 AM, 11/30/2009
If ever I've seen a 1-15 team then this is it. The burning question is how in the world did they win a game ?? The injured players are the lucky ones. They don't have to play for this embarrasment any more this year.
Posted 09:35 AM, 11/30/2009
mangini has 11 picks in the next draft. perhaps he could trade veikune now and pick up an extra 6th round pick, then we would have 12 picks for him to show us what a great judge of talent he is. and throw in robiskie for free.
Canton, OH
Posted 10:14 AM, 11/30/2009
we sux. . .
Akron, Oh
Posted 11:20 AM, 11/30/2009
This team is worthless, glad I didn't renew my tickets this year.
Posted 12:08 PM, 11/30/2009
Lerner had better get his head out of his _ _ _ & hire someone with clout to run the organization (as opposed to an inexperienced no name). If he doesn't there will be little/no interest in the 2010 season & the stadium will be half empty for all home games next year. This is the worst season in franchise history!
cleveland, oh
Posted 03:15 PM, 11/30/2009
so eric mandumy you left your qb with no other option at wide reciever when u made brian robiskie inactive and dont telll me the guy you picked up from green bay off of the trash wire is more ready then brian ? whats going here is this personal mandummy it sure looks like it and for that you should be fired you put your team in a postion not to win !
AKRON, OH
Posted 03:55 PM, 11/30/2009
Are we honestly going to let Mangini be the coahc when we go to draft again. Mangini is a terrible evaluator of talent. My jaw nearly hit the floor in disbelief when Mangini drafted Robiski in the second round. I thought then either this truly is the mangenious, or the dumbest guy this side of Romeo Crennel. I've been a faithful Buckeye fan for years and spent last season hoping Tressel would recruit some decent WR's for Pryor to throw to;I.E. I thought Robiski was a mediocre college player that probably would have slipped out of D1 were it not for his family lineage. Last year Mangini drafted 3 players in the second round, and somehow 2 of them are not good enough to play on this pathetic team. Way to go Mangini. All I want for Christmas is to see Mangini go away, far far away.
cleveland, oh
Posted 05:58 PM, 11/30/2009
top 4 draft picks only two are playing one is a guy they could have drafted in the second round but no we slid all the way down to 20 something for a center ? we need a running back a right tackle, a center, and then some diva in the later round !
akron, oh
Posted 07:16 PM, 11/30/2009
They should look into our eyes and see how mad we are from watching them and listening to their bull.
new york, ny
Posted 10:19 PM, 11/30/2009
We Buffalo Bills should be ashamed of ourselves,ruining a perfect season!!
akron, Oh
Posted 04:55 AM, 12/01/2009
wow, thought modell moved the browns to baltamore??? wanna know why Akron doesn't have a pro football team???? if they had one cleveland would want one also.
Cleveland, Oh
Posted 05:57 AM, 12/01/2009
As I look at all the articles about the Browns injury woes youd think this team was headed to the playoffs. Ive never seen so many non articles about a non story. Must be because there is absolutely nothing else to write about. The reason so many players are hurt is because, you got it, they're practicing too hard.
