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Do IT this week: Layering
Team's pass defenders burned, bruised, beaten by a new set of Broncos
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Monday, Sep 21, 2009
DENVER: Eric Wright was carried 7 yards into the end zone by 30-year-old running back Correll Buckhalter.
Brandon McDonald was burned on Kyle Orton's 49-yard pass to receiver Jabar Gaffney to the Browns' 2 to set up a touchdown.
Nickel back Hank Poteat had fits with slot receiver Brandon Stokley and just about anyone else he had to cover.
All in all, it was not a good day to be a member of the Browns' secondary.
The Browns lost 27-6 to the Denver Broncos on Sunday at Invesco Field at Mile High in a lackluster effort that was characterized by offensive ineptitude.
Amazingly, the Browns' defensive backs weren't victimized by the usual suspects. They held the Broncos' star receiver, Brandon Marshall, to three catches for 34 yards, and No. 2 Eddie Royal managed just three receptions for 20 yards.
But Stokley, the star of the Broncos' miraculous 12-7 victory last week against the Cincinnati Bengals, was nearly unstoppable. He totaled five receptions for 70 yards, four of them going for first downs.
Poteat was burned on a 37-yard pass on third down during the Broncos' 76-yard field-goal drive to take 10-6 second-quarter lead. Poteat was also called for pass interference on Stokley late in the second quarter, but Broncos kicker Matt Prater's 39-yard field-goal attempt was wide left on that possession.
''I guess I didn't turn around,'' Poteat said of the penalty.
''He's a good savvy vet,'' Poteat said of Stokley, an 11-year veteran who also had some big games against the Browns while with the Baltimore Ravens. ''He kept moving until he was open and made big third downs. He's a good slot receiver.''
Asked if he felt like Orton was picking on him, Poteat said, ''Probably eventually.''
Poteat, a nine-year veteran signed in free agency from the New York Jets, is the second player to be tried at the position. Ex-Raven Corey Ivy was released in final cuts.
Wright's blunder came on Buckhalter's run with 8:24 remaining for the Broncos' final touchdown.
Asked what happened, Wright said: ''I don't know from a front standpoint, but the guy broke through, made a move downfield. I don't know where I initially got him, but with the score being what it was, it was essential to get the ball out. Unfortunately I ended up riding him into the end zone.''
Wright wasn't sure if he came close to forcing a fumble.
''I'm not sure. I had my hand on it, but he did a good job securing it,'' Wright said.
McDonald played his part in the second-half blowout on Gaffney's 49-yard catch to the 2. On the next play, running back Peyton Hillis scored to give the Broncos a 20-6 lead.
On that big play, McDonald said the Browns were in a blitz coverage, and he was playing off.
''I got kind of caught at the line of scrimmage trying to disguise, trying to give Orton a different read than what we were playing, but by the time he snapped it, my leverage was basically ate up,'' McDonald said. ''All I needed to do was come out of that break at a better angle and try to make an immediate tackle.
''I took a bad angle as far as running out of my break; he was able to get a quick throw. As soon as he turned around it was on him, so he just turned it up inside and all I could do was just try to catch him before he could get in the end zone.''
In a 34-30 loss to the Broncos in 2008, McDonald was victimized on two touchdown passes and dropped two interceptions.
Edwards rebounds
After catching one pass last week against the Vikings, just the fifth time in his five-year career he'd been held to a single reception, Browns receiver Braylon Edwards bounced back with six receptions for 92 yards. His longest and toughest catch was a 24-yarder early in the third quarter when he went over Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey.
Elam reportedly fined
Yahoo Sports' Michael Silver reported that Browns coach Eric Mangini fined a player $1,701 after he failed to pay $3 for a bottle of water at the team's road hotel on a preseason trip.
Profootballtalk.com reported the offending player was strong safety Abram Elam, who arrived in a draft day trade with the Jets and spent the past two seasons playing under Mangini. According to Silver, the strange amount of the fine was the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement.
Told of the report after the game, Elam said: ''Huh? I don't know where that came from.''
Womack injured
Right guard Floyd ''Pork Chop'' Womack limped off the field with an ankle injury late in the first quarter and did not return. He was replaced by Hank Fraley, a 10-year veteran who was beaten out for the starting center job by rookie Alex Mack.
Robiskie, Davis inactive
Rookies Brian Robiskie and James Davis were among the Browns' inactives. Davis, a running back, suffered a shoulder injury in last weekend's season opener against the Vikings and had been listed as questionable. Robiskie is not injured, but has been running as the fifth receiver. Among the other inactives was tight end Martin Rucker. Among those active was defensive back Ray Ventrone, a 5-foot-10, 200-pound special teams standout who was signed Wednesday.
Brownies
Former Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe, now a studio host for CBS Sports, was inducted into the team's ring of honor at halftime. Sharpe parachuted into the stadium during pregame festivities, but was strapped in tandem with another man. . . . Each week, KUSA-Channel 9 in Denver has Gidget the sea lion from the Denver Zoo predict the winner of the Broncos' game. A handler throws two Nerf footballs painted with the teams' colors into the water and whichever ball the sea lion retrieves is the pick. Gidget, who went to the Browns ball, is now 0-2. . . . Browns linebacker Blake Costanzo, claimed off waivers from the Buffalo Bills in June, forced and recovered Hillis' fumble on the opening kickoff, setting up a 21-yard Phil Dawson field goal. Costanzo also played for the Jets during his three-year career. . . . Was former Browns linebacker Andra Davis fired up to face his old team? In his first home game with the Broncos, he had nine tackles in the first half, one shy of his career best for 30 minutes, and finished with 10, two for losses. Davis said it was the first time in his eight-year career he's started 2-0. . . . The Browns have never had a 100-yard rusher in 26 games against the Broncos, including three AFC Championship Games. Jamal Lewis led the Browns with 38 yards on 14 carries (2.7 average).
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.
DENVER: Eric Wright was carried 7 yards into the end zone by 30-year-old running back Correll Buckhalter.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 06:30 AM, 09/21/2009
I live in Virginia. I thought that I'd subscribe to the NfL season ticket so I could watch all the Browns games. Direct TV offered the 1st week free. I'm afraid I will have to bow out of this offer; I've got better things to do on Sundays.
Sagamore Hills, Oh
Posted 06:31 AM, 09/21/2009
There were times yesterday I actually thought the DBnacks had forgotten to go on the field. I don't think I ever seen so many pass plays where you could not see a defender until after the pass was caught. Good news is the Tribe has 13 games left and the Browns only have 14. Bad news is it'll take the Browns a little longer to get there.
everywhere, oh
Posted 07:07 AM, 09/21/2009
Didn't Wright get picked up and THROWN off the field by Peterson last week? Undersized or under strength. Keep this under talented guy, he might help the browns get Tebow.
Cincinnati, OH
Posted 07:07 AM, 09/21/2009
This current batch of Browns are going to look like last year's Lion except not as competitive.
We wanted NFL football back in Cleveland in the worst way. It appears we got what we asked for.
Stow, OH
Posted 07:33 AM, 09/21/2009
@ honda,
Where in the world would you put Tebow ? After watching Florida's game on saturday I don't think he will even go in the first round and certainly not as a QB. He is nothing more than a big guy playing a QB option 99% of the time. The only postion I could see him at is tight end ,and what team wants to take the time to retrain a guy that played QB his whole career in college.Yes we did it with Cribbs , but he brings a lot of speed with him .
Posted 07:56 AM, 09/21/2009
the browns make the lions look like a super bowl team. and they really know how to draft. a center in the first round that cannot snap or block, and 2 second rounders of which only one gets on the field for a few plays. look where everyone else's 1st and 2nd rounders play and how they do. it is not on the bench.
Mogadore, OH
Posted 08:08 AM, 09/21/2009
The good news is the Browns play Detroit in week 11...
Canton, OH
Posted 08:08 AM, 09/21/2009
& The Beat Goes On ". . .
, OH
Posted 08:13 AM, 09/21/2009
This team has a legitimate shot at heading into detroit 0-9 in late November
akron, oh
Posted 08:22 AM, 09/21/2009
This was the best comedy show I ever watch on tv. I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes.
akron, oh
Posted 08:54 AM, 09/21/2009
If Mangini wants his job, he needs behave like he does. Before the season and pre-season, Mangini stayed in the media's spot light too much. Perhaps Mangini should have replaced more players.
NorthernWestVirginny, WV
Posted 09:47 AM, 09/21/2009
Honda...not only does Wright get his *ss kicked around, then he gets up and talks sh*t like he did something.
everywhere, oh
Posted 09:49 AM, 09/21/2009
Sarcasim there Wiley, as in being able to draft first......
Lorain, oh
Posted 11:31 AM, 09/21/2009
Tebow won't be picked in the first round jabroni.
He prob wont be picked on the first day
akron, oh
Posted 11:52 AM, 09/21/2009
We need to draft a safety and two cornerbacks in the next off-season.
tallmadge, OH
Posted 12:14 PM, 09/21/2009
Wake me when it's over.
Stow, OH
Posted 12:33 PM, 09/21/2009
@ honda ,
Gotcha ,I see said the blind man.
Henderson, Nv
Posted 02:09 PM, 09/21/2009
@HONDACBX
"Didn't Wright get picked up and THROWN off the field by Peterson last week? Undersized or under strength. Keep this under talented guy, he might help the browns get Tebow."
TEBOW? How about Gino Toretta, or Danny Wuerfel, or Rex Chapman? And they're not even right-wing "KooK' christians.......
Henderson, Nv
Posted 02:10 PM, 09/21/2009
Correction: Rex Grossman
Paradise, Oh
Posted 02:35 PM, 09/21/2009
Our football team smells funny.
Henderson, Nv
Posted 04:45 PM, 09/21/2009
An Open Letter from Randy Lerner to all Browns Fans:
If I could have resurrected Nick Skorich and hired him I would have. I thought Coach Mangini was the closest Coach alive to Nick with a pulse. All Browns fans need to give Coach the same chance that Nick got. Even though the PD, at the time, printed a photo the day after what would be Nick's last game as Head Coach of the Browns of Nick hanging from his neck in effigy from the upper deck at old Municipal Stadium. It was a sight as a young Browns fan that I've never forgotten. That's why I hired Coach Mangini. I felt bad for Coach Nick. And I thought Coach Mangini was run out of New York prematurely. Coach Mangini will eventually prove that Nick Skorich was given the "bums" rush, no pun intended. But aside from all that, it's MY MONEY AND MY TEAM, so you tailgating Monday morning quarterback wannbees can go back to wishing Art Modell was still the owner. Meanwhile, I'll be enjoying my winning soccer team more than fretting over whether or not I provide all you sick, pituitary cases happiness or not.
Eel pie, anyone?
Sincerely,
Randoph Lerner
