Events Calendar
In This Section
McMANAMON: Promises look promising for Browns
Browns single-game tickets on sale July 11
Judge asked to release Stallworth crash video
Browns, Clinic sued over staph
More tickets available to Hall of Fame Game
Browns need to put end to secrecy
RIDENOUR: Browns need to put end to secrecy
Most Read Stories
Blogs:
Pets:
Summit teams up with Rescue Waggin' to save dogs
The Heldenfiles:
Songs for an American Day
Patrick McManamon:
For your Saturday entertainment …
Akron Zips:
Opponent outlook: Northern Illinois
Browns Bulletin:
Single-game ticket sales begin July 11
Tribe Matters:
Laffey making it tough on self
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth test showed marijuana
Kent State Sports:
Men's Basketball Scheduling update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Updated: Free Agency: Another Gone - Apparently
All Da King's Men:
IPCC Already Wrong About Global Warming
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Wow….Sarah Palin Resigns Governorship
Akron Law Café:
Abraham Lincoln and the Fourth of July
Varsity Letters:
Highland senior receives honor
See Jane Style:
Picnic Wear
Car Chase:
Where do We Go from Here?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Hate Crime in Fort Worth Texas: "That F***t had it Coming"
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Linda asks-where is the Ohio Chautauqua?
Sound Check:
Rundgren fans rejoice!: Second night of AWATS at The Civic added
HRLite House:
Morscruethal Behaviors or Just Lip Service?
Akron Gamer:
Hot link: Best of Nintendo at E3
Ridenour breaks down battle of the winless
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 05:32 p.m. EDT, Sep 27, 2008
1. Bengals receivers Chad Ocho Cinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh vs. Browns cornerbacks Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright.
Ocho Cinco, formerly known as Johnson, greatly respected cornerback Leigh Bodden, traded to Detroit in the off-season. Now the task of covering the flamboyant Ocho Cinco falls to McDonald, in his first year as a starter, and Wright, in his second season in the lineup but being outplayed by McDonald thus far this season. No. 85 has just eight catches for 88 yards and no touchdowns in 2008. But in 14 games against the Browns in his career, Ocho Cinco has 73 catches for 1,043 yards (an average of 5.2 and 74.5) and eight touchdowns. In a 51-45 Browns victory on Sept. 16, 2007, he caught 11 passes for an AFC season-high 209 yards and two TDs. Houshmandzadeh leads the Bengals this season with 18 receptions for 180 yards and two TDs, including 12-146-1 last week against the Giants. He scored three times in two games against the Browns last year.
2. Bengals cornerback Leon Hall vs. Browns receiver Braylon Edwards.
The matchup of former Michigan Wolverines and first-round draft choices should favor Edwards by a landslide. But he's been plagued by dropped passes after missing three weeks of preseason with a lacerated foot. Edwards admitted he's been pressing and trying to do too much, but vowed to spend extra time with quarterback Derek Anderson to get back the timing they had early in camp and last year, when Edwards scored 16 touchdowns. Hall moved into the starting lineup in the second half of 2007 and tied a Bengals rookie record with five interceptions. Cincinnati has no picks this season.
3. Browns quarterback Brady Quinn.
While embattled coach Romeo Crennel decided to stick with Anderson as his starter this week, he said Monday he would ''definitely try to get the other guy ready to go.'' The other guy is Quinn, the 22nd overall pick in the 2007 draft who attempted just eight passes last season, all in the season finale. A Columbus native, Quinn is smart enough to say all the right things, but the Browns will have to choose between him and Anderson after the season. ''Last time I checked Derek is our starter,'' Quinn said. ''We have a must-win game right now. Nothing's really changed.'' It might change today before the clock strikes 00:00 if Anderson repeats his three-interception effort last week in Baltimore.
4. Bengals offensive line vs. Browns defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer has been sacked nine times this season after going down only 17 times in 16 games in '07. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis didn't seem alarmed. ''That's about the same number we had early in the year last year, unfortunately,'' Lewis said, although the number was only four through three games. ''I think we'll get things sorted out. Last year we were able to get it righted and end up second lowest in the league again.'' Rogers has just one sack and one QB pressure, but has been the Browns' most fearsome rusher thus far.
5. Crennel.
While there does not seem to be a qualified successor on his staff, another blowout loss and a 0-4 start could spell the end for Crennel in his fourth season. Owner Randy Lerner won't care he gave Crennel a two-year contract extension through the 2011 season. More questionable decision-making, disorganization and a lack of offensive production (a league-low 26 total points and an average of 194 yards per game) may not be tolerated. Going into the weekend, Cleveland's 28 penalties were tied for most in the league with Carolina, Green Bay and Dallas. Presumably Crennel's decision to stick with a 3-4 defensive scheme despite sub-par play from his linebacking corps could also be questioned. By the way, 60 teams have started their season 0-4 since 1990, and only the 1992 San Diego Chargers made the playoffs.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
1. Bengals receivers Chad Ocho Cinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh vs. Browns cornerbacks Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright.
Ocho Cinco, formerly known as Johnson, greatly respected cornerback Leigh Bodden, traded to Detroit in the off-season. Now the task of covering the flamboyant Ocho Cinco falls to McDonald, in his first year as a starter, and Wright, in his second season in the lineup but being outplayed by McDonald thus far this season. No. 85 has just eight catches for 88 yards and no touchdowns in 2008. But in 14 games against the Browns in his career, Ocho Cinco has 73 catches for 1,043 yards (an average of 5.2 and 74.5) and eight touchdowns. In a 51-45 Browns victory on Sept. 16, 2007, he caught 11 passes for an AFC season-high 209 yards and two TDs. Houshmandzadeh leads the Bengals this season with 18 receptions for 180 yards and two TDs, including 12-146-1 last week against the Giants. He scored three times in two games against the Browns last year.
2. Bengals cornerback Leon Hall vs. Browns receiver Braylon Edwards.
The matchup of former Michigan Wolverines and first-round draft choices should favor Edwards by a landslide. But he's been plagued by dropped passes after missing three weeks of preseason with a lacerated foot. Edwards admitted he's been pressing and trying to do too much, but vowed to spend extra time with quarterback Derek Anderson to get back the timing they had early in camp and last year, when Edwards scored 16 touchdowns. Hall moved into the starting lineup in the second half of 2007 and tied a Bengals rookie record with five interceptions. Cincinnati has no picks this season.
3. Browns quarterback Brady Quinn.
While embattled coach Romeo Crennel decided to stick with Anderson as his starter this week, he said Monday he would ''definitely try to get the other guy ready to go.'' The other guy is Quinn, the 22nd overall pick in the 2007 draft who attempted just eight passes last season, all in the season finale. A Columbus native, Quinn is smart enough to say all the right things, but the Browns will have to choose between him and Anderson after the season. ''Last time I checked Derek is our starter,'' Quinn said. ''We have a must-win game right now. Nothing's really changed.'' It might change today before the clock strikes 00:00 if Anderson repeats his three-interception effort last week in Baltimore.
4. Bengals offensive line vs. Browns defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer has been sacked nine times this season after going down only 17 times in 16 games in '07. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis didn't seem alarmed. ''That's about the same number we had early in the year last year, unfortunately,'' Lewis said, although the number was only four through three games. ''I think we'll get things sorted out. Last year we were able to get it righted and end up second lowest in the league again.'' Rogers has just one sack and one QB pressure, but has been the Browns' most fearsome rusher thus far.
5. Crennel.
While there does not seem to be a qualified successor on his staff, another blowout loss and a 0-4 start could spell the end for Crennel in his fourth season. Owner Randy Lerner won't care he gave Crennel a two-year contract extension through the 2011 season. More questionable decision-making, disorganization and a lack of offensive production (a league-low 26 total points and an average of 194 yards per game) may not be tolerated. Going into the weekend, Cleveland's 28 penalties were tied for most in the league with Carolina, Green Bay and Dallas. Presumably Crennel's decision to stick with a 3-4 defensive scheme despite sub-par play from his linebacking corps could also be questioned. By the way, 60 teams have started their season 0-4 since 1990, and only the 1992 San Diego Chargers made the playoffs.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Posted 02:33 PM, 09/28/2008
If the Browns don;t start Quinn in the second half, they can WATCH me walk away from supporting them at all. Down 6-3. DA making stupid throws all over the place. Throwing the ball into the ground instead of at Heiden. He's gotta go!
