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Browns' Davis might have to shoulder load with Lewis sidelined
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Friday, Sep 25, 2009
BEREA: James Davis felt his welcome-to-the-NFL moment for probably a week.
In the fourth quarter of the opener against the Minnesota Vikings, the Browns' rookie running back from Clemson caught a swing pass on the Browns' sideline and was met by the unstoppable force that is 5-foot-9 Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield. Davis stayed down for a few minutes before leaving the game with a shoulder injury.
''He hit me pretty good,'' Davis said. ''It's the game of football, you're going to get hit. It's all about how many times you keep getting up.''
Browns coach Eric Mangini described the first game for rookies as ''usually a wake-up call'' and that was certainly the case with Davis. After averaging 7.8 yards on 24 carries in the preseason, the Vikings held Davis to 5 yards on four carries and three receptions for 4 yards. The Vikings have led the league in rushing defense for three consecutive seasons.
During his debut, Davis said his mentor Jamal Lewis, who played at the same high school in Atlanta, offered some words of wisdom.
''He told me, 'It's kind of intense here. That's what you're going to see all year,' '' Davis said. ''I said, 'OK.' ''
After sitting out last weekend against the Denver Broncos because of the injury, Davis might have to shoulder some of the load Sunday at the Baltimore Ravens. Lewis missed his second day of practice Thursday with a hamstring problem.
Mangini has been reluctant to play rookies except for center Alex Mack. If Lewis is inactive against his former team, Mangini could start fourth-year man Jerome Harrison, the third-down back, who has been removed from the injury report after being sidelined in preseason with a knee problem. If Lewis is unavailable, both Davis and Harrison should get plenty of
snaps.
Mangini does not seem to agree with former coach Romeo Crennel, who liked to see an injured player participate on Thursday in order to play.
''The most important thing is that they're healthy and they are ready to play physically and mentally,'' Mangini said. ''Without being able to see it or have a sense that they will be able to do that, it makes the decision more difficult.
''With Jamal . . . he's working at it. We'll have to see where it goes during the week.''
Mangini said Davis should be ''more aware'' of what it takes now that he's experienced the speed of a real game.
''It really is hard to convey to rookies the dramatic change from the preseason to the regular season,'' Mangini said. ''You talk about it, you show it and you've got to go feel it.''
Davis admitted the game against the Vikings was a shocking experience.
''I really didn't expect the speed to change dramatically that much. I got used to it as the game went on,'' he said. ''You've got to know exactly what you're doing on each play, and you've got to know before it happens.''
Unfortunately for Davis, he will be facing another elite defense. The Ravens are ranked first against the run.
''They're both fast, they're both physical, they're both tough,'' Mangini said of the Vikings and Ravens. ''I don't even know how old he was when Ray came into the league.''
Davis was 10 years old when the Ravens' 10-time Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis was drafted in 1996. Getting hit by Winfield might have been the warm-up act, at least when Lewis is concerned. Last week, he made one of the best plays of his career when he dropped the San Diego Chargers' Darren Sproles for a 5-yard loss on fourth down.
Asked if he'd had nightmares of Lewis yet, Davis said, ''No. But I have seen that play on SportsCenter.''
Brownies
It appears that Hank Fraley will start at right guard for Floyd ''Pork Chop'' Womack. Neither Womack, who suffered an ankle injury against the Broncos, or Rex Hadnot, still recovering from an Aug. 6 MCL injury, practiced Thursday. . . . For the Ravens, left tackle Jared Gaither (illness) and strong-side linebacker Jarret Johnson (shoulder) missed their second consecutive day of practice, but left cornerback Fabian Washington (illness) participated fully after sitting out Wednesday. . . . Mangini defended the play-calling of first-year offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. ''I think Brian's done a good job with creating formations, with the plays that we have going in. Collectively we can do a better job of executing it.'' . . . It appears rookie receiver Brian Robiskie of Ohio State might be inactive for the second consecutive game. He was working on the scout team on punt returns. . . . Rookie center Alex Mack was named to the Sporting News' all-decade college football team. Also included was ex-Browns tight end Kellen Winslow and former OSU players James Laurinaitis and Ted Ginn Jr. Ohio State's 31-24 double-overtime victory over Miami was the game of the decade. . . . Defensive back Marquis Floyd (waived Tuesday) was signed to the practice squad and receiver Lance Leggett was released.
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.
BEREA: James Davis felt his welcome-to-the-NFL moment for probably a week.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Canton, OH
Posted 05:51 AM, 09/25/2009
Different Coach. . .Different Approach. . .
Bethesda, MD
Posted 07:35 AM, 09/25/2009
Remember these names "Pork Chop", Hadnot (don't you love the irony), Davis. In one year they will all be gone.
akron, oh
Posted 07:42 AM, 09/25/2009
but same results
Akron, , OH
Posted 08:39 AM, 09/25/2009
once the line starts blocking.......... it will happen.
akron, oh
Posted 10:05 AM, 09/25/2009
We are 2 years away from having a good O-line.
Tallmadge, Oh
Posted 11:26 AM, 09/25/2009
Ravens are 1st against the run because it's been easy to pass against them.
That stat is truly misleading.
akron, oh
Posted 03:29 PM, 09/25/2009
food for thought what fans can do.......
Ryan sent a voicemail message to season ticket holders last week, urging the fans to make things "miserable" for Tom Brady and the Patriots.
The fans answered that call, and after the victory, Ryan said they were the difference in the team beating New England at the Meadowlands for the first time since 2000.
