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Do IT this week: Layering
First-year cornerback shatters records in dramatic turnaround
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Thursday, Dec 18, 2008
BEREA: When it comes to bouncing back from adversity in a disappointing season, Browns cornerback Brandon McDonald has succeeded where most of his teammates have failed.
In his first year as a starter, McDonald experienced what he called the low moment of his football career in a Sunday night game against the Denver Broncos on Nov. 6. He gave up touchdowns of 93 and 11 yards, the latter the game-winner, and dropped at least one interception in the Browns' 34-30 loss.
''I've never had a game that bad. Never,'' McDonald said. ''I stayed up all night thinking about the plays, just wishing I had a chance to go back out there and do it again.''
The next morning, he was the first player in the building to watch film.
''It was awful,'' McDonald said. ''But that's a part of it. You can't just dwell on the good things you do, you have to take into perspective the bad things.''
Browns coach Romeo Crennel benched McDonald for the next game at Buffalo, starting Travis Daniels, but McDonald sat for only one defensive play. While the embattled Crennel has not been able to inspire his underachieving Browns, McDonald's turnaround has been one of the few bright spots in a dismal 4-10 season.
Monday night in a 30-10 loss at Philadelphia, McDonald had two interceptions and broke two of the Browns' single-game records for interception yardage, both set by Bernie Parrish in 1960. McDonald scored the Browns' only touchdown in the past four games with a 24-yard return with 9:11 to play.
With 122 yards in returns, McDonald surpassed Parrish's 115 yards on Dec. 11, 1960, against the Chicago Bears. McDonald's average of 61 also set the team mark for the highest average gain on interceptions in a game (with a minimum of two), breaking Parrish's 57.5 from that same afternoon.
McDonald's 98-yard return at the end of the first half was the second-longest in team history, surpassed by Brodney Pool's 100-yarder in 2007 at Baltimore.
''I've never been a 100-yard dash guy, I'm good for 40 or 50,'' McDonald said afterward.
McDonald knows he still must work on his tackling and his consistency. But the 23-year-old proved something to himself and Crennel by bouncing back from despair against the Broncos. Overall, he might have outplayed fellow second-year cornerback Eric Wright, who started 13 games as a rookie to McDonald's two.
''I always knew I was the type of player who was not going to go into the tank if I have a bad game,'' McDonald said. ''If I get beat, the next play if they throw at me again I plan on breaking it up or picking it off. After that Broncos game I made a vow to myself and to my team and to my family to never let that happen again.''
After McDonald came back against the Bills with six tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and a pass breakup, Crennel lauded him.
''On the field and in life you have to face some adversity. How you respond says a lot about you and about how successful you will be,'' Crennel said. ''It says a lot about how he approaches his job and his prospects for the future. I was hopeful, but you don't know until you put him out there.''
Strong safety Sean Jones also praised McDonald for his resilience.
''He never quit. I knew he was going to bounce back,'' Jones said. ''This past game, he could have had two touchdowns. That shows the tremendous talent he has. He's a great DB and the future's bright for him.''
McDonald is tied for second in the league with five interceptions and the Browns are tied for first in the NFL this week with 22, the second-highest total since the team returned in 1999. The 2001 Browns set the franchise record with 33.
But with the Browns carrying a four-game losing streak into Sunday's home finale against the Cincinnati Bengals, the interception numbers are little consolation for McDonald.
''That's a big accomplishment for us as a group, but this team is not getting the W's,'' McDonald said.
With the Browns trailing 17-3 at Philadelphia, McDonald might have made a difference if he had not been forced to run out of bounds at the Eagles' 7 by receiver Hank Baskett. Crennel said McDonald slowed up to try to juke one player he saw with an angle on him and that let others catch up.
So when McDonald had another chance at the end zone in the fourth quarter, he was determined to score. He did a somersault when he crossed the goal line, which drew ire from Eagles fullback Dan Klecko.
''I can't repeat what he said, but he didn't like it,'' McDonald said.
''Getting two picks as a young guy, I went through some rough games, I wanted to make sure I had fun.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
BEREA: When it comes to bouncing back from adversity in a disappointing season, Browns cornerback Brandon McDonald has succeeded where most of his teammates have failed.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 07:34 AM, 12/18/2008
He has the raw ingredients to be a premier corner in this league.
Brandon McDonald's cute new girlfriend seems to be a positive influence on him.
Stow, OH
Posted 07:41 AM, 12/18/2008
Are we talking about the same pass defenders I have been watching all year get burnt like toast from receivers 6 in. taller than them ?Talk about skewed numbers,with no pass rush to speak of from our linebackers and allowing teams to march up and down the field 6 or 7 times a game there is bound to be many opportunities to intercept the ball after the game is already lost. The Browns record speaks for itself.
Posted 07:51 AM, 12/18/2008
Just wait 'till next year, next year, next year, next year...
Posted 08:29 AM, 12/18/2008
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! This guy stinks. He's lucky to cover himself when he goes to bed at night. In addition to the Denver game who about the Houston game...no one within 5 yards of the receivers.
Terry Pluto could run routes against McDonald. Package him Brayoln/Winslow/Anderson
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 09:37 AM, 12/18/2008
He's another Browns' stiff. I hope they sign him to a long term, high dollar contract after the season so my STEELERS can continue to win AFC North titles and make playoff appearances. GO STEELERS !!!!
Akron, OH
Posted 09:43 AM, 12/18/2008
This kid has had his share of bad games, but he's young. Given time and the right environment, he could evolve into a spectacular CB.
Posted 11:08 AM, 12/18/2008
Allison
Are you out of your mind. He's to short to be a DB. Receivers simply jump over him and make the catch. Put him on the bus with the rest of the LOSERS
Posted 11:15 AM, 12/18/2008
marla, please don't insult the reader's intelligence. brandon mcdonald has been awful this year. that ghost tackle at denver is a candidate for worst defensive play of the year.
norton, oh
Posted 02:10 PM, 12/18/2008
At first glance I thought this was an article about McDonalds and how well the fast food giant is going despite the economy. I was going to request they lower the prices of the items on the dollar menu. I think the 50 cent menu would be more representative of the times.
Posted 08:56 PM, 12/18/2008
i see that the good writers left, but the idiot readers stayed.
