T.K.O.
09-19-2009, 07:02 PM
A Closer Look: Cleveland Browns
By Gray Caldwell
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Coming off a win that ended with one of the more miraculous plays in franchise history, it would be easy for the Broncos to get caught up on last week.
That's not the case. While the team will certainly ride the wave of momentum Brandon Stokley's 87-yard game-winning touchdown into Week 2, their focus is squarely on the Cleveland Browns, not their own highlights.
"That's the great thing about the NFL -- good game, bad game, come Wednesday you kind of put it behind you, move on and get ready for the next week," Stokley said.
This week's matchup with the Browns gains even more importance because it is the club's home opener. INVESCO Field at Mile High will open its doors for the first regular season game of 2009, and the team is excited to kick off the home schedule on the right foot.
"It is a high priority for our team to start fast and play well here in front of our home crowd," Head Coach Josh McDaniels said. "Any time you can get the energy in the stadium at a fever pitch early in the game, it always helps your performance and makes it tougher on them."
And the Broncos will want to make it as tough as they can on the Browns, who pose challenges in all three phases of the game.
One of their biggest threats on special teams and offense is Joshua Cribbs. The main place Cribbs can take over a game is on kick and punt returns. In fact, McDaniels said the fifth-year returner is, in his opinion, "the best in the league."
"We are going to have a huge challenge with him because he is so dangerous, so explosive," McDaniels said. "If you are playing in tight games and that guy is back there returning kicks, it could be one play and that change the result of the game. (He is) one of the most dangerous players we will play all year, no doubt about it."
To that point, Cribbs scored his seventh career special teams touchdown last week in the second quarter on a 67-yard punt return.
But the threats on the Browns don't end there. Braylon Edwards has shown the ability to be a playmaker on offense at the receiver position, and Jamal Lewis has rushed for 1,000 yards both of the seasons he has spent with the Browns.
McDaniels said Lewis' physical style is what makes him so tough to stop.
"(He's) quick through the hole, if you give him a crease he can get through it and once he is into the secondary you have got to tackle him because he is a big guy," he said.
Former Brown Andra Davis said the team will have to make stopping Lewis a focal point, because stopping the run allows the defense to pin its ears back and go after the passer, as well.
The passer in this case is Brady Quinn, who made his first start in the NFL against the Broncos last season.
"Last time I was facing Denver it was tough considering it was only about a day and a half of preparation because we had a short week," Quinn said. "But I've continued to grow and mature not only in this offense but as a player in general."
Quinn earned the starting job to start the season, and threw for 205 yards, a touchdown and an interception in Week 1, just the fourth start of his career.
Brian Dawkins said preparing for an inexperienced quarterback like Quinn is no different than preparing for a veteran the likes of Tom Brady.
"You want to disrupt the quarterback," the safety said. "No matter if he has been in there for two years or 13 or eight or whatever, you want to disrupt. You don't want to sit back there and let him feel comfortable in the pocket. This week will be no different for us as a defense."
For the offense, it will hopefully be a game with a little more production on first and second downs throughout the contest. Stokley said the unit will look to limit its mistakes against a tough Browns defense that brings a variety of blitz packages.
Brandon Marshall said the Cleveland defense is "really physical, they're smart and they fly all around the field."
"I think (Browns Head) Coach (Eric) Mangini is doing a great job with the guys, just getting them to do what they're supposed to do, do their job, and it's making it tough on opposing offenses," Marshall said.
All in all, the Broncos will have to play well in all three phases of the game if they want to pick up their first win at INVESCO in 2009 and head into their first division matchup with a 2-0 record.
"It's going to be a challenge for us," Correll Buckhalter said. "But we're ready to face the challenge."
By Gray Caldwell
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Coming off a win that ended with one of the more miraculous plays in franchise history, it would be easy for the Broncos to get caught up on last week.
That's not the case. While the team will certainly ride the wave of momentum Brandon Stokley's 87-yard game-winning touchdown into Week 2, their focus is squarely on the Cleveland Browns, not their own highlights.
"That's the great thing about the NFL -- good game, bad game, come Wednesday you kind of put it behind you, move on and get ready for the next week," Stokley said.
This week's matchup with the Browns gains even more importance because it is the club's home opener. INVESCO Field at Mile High will open its doors for the first regular season game of 2009, and the team is excited to kick off the home schedule on the right foot.
"It is a high priority for our team to start fast and play well here in front of our home crowd," Head Coach Josh McDaniels said. "Any time you can get the energy in the stadium at a fever pitch early in the game, it always helps your performance and makes it tougher on them."
And the Broncos will want to make it as tough as they can on the Browns, who pose challenges in all three phases of the game.
One of their biggest threats on special teams and offense is Joshua Cribbs. The main place Cribbs can take over a game is on kick and punt returns. In fact, McDaniels said the fifth-year returner is, in his opinion, "the best in the league."
"We are going to have a huge challenge with him because he is so dangerous, so explosive," McDaniels said. "If you are playing in tight games and that guy is back there returning kicks, it could be one play and that change the result of the game. (He is) one of the most dangerous players we will play all year, no doubt about it."
To that point, Cribbs scored his seventh career special teams touchdown last week in the second quarter on a 67-yard punt return.
But the threats on the Browns don't end there. Braylon Edwards has shown the ability to be a playmaker on offense at the receiver position, and Jamal Lewis has rushed for 1,000 yards both of the seasons he has spent with the Browns.
McDaniels said Lewis' physical style is what makes him so tough to stop.
"(He's) quick through the hole, if you give him a crease he can get through it and once he is into the secondary you have got to tackle him because he is a big guy," he said.
Former Brown Andra Davis said the team will have to make stopping Lewis a focal point, because stopping the run allows the defense to pin its ears back and go after the passer, as well.
The passer in this case is Brady Quinn, who made his first start in the NFL against the Broncos last season.
"Last time I was facing Denver it was tough considering it was only about a day and a half of preparation because we had a short week," Quinn said. "But I've continued to grow and mature not only in this offense but as a player in general."
Quinn earned the starting job to start the season, and threw for 205 yards, a touchdown and an interception in Week 1, just the fourth start of his career.
Brian Dawkins said preparing for an inexperienced quarterback like Quinn is no different than preparing for a veteran the likes of Tom Brady.
"You want to disrupt the quarterback," the safety said. "No matter if he has been in there for two years or 13 or eight or whatever, you want to disrupt. You don't want to sit back there and let him feel comfortable in the pocket. This week will be no different for us as a defense."
For the offense, it will hopefully be a game with a little more production on first and second downs throughout the contest. Stokley said the unit will look to limit its mistakes against a tough Browns defense that brings a variety of blitz packages.
Brandon Marshall said the Cleveland defense is "really physical, they're smart and they fly all around the field."
"I think (Browns Head) Coach (Eric) Mangini is doing a great job with the guys, just getting them to do what they're supposed to do, do their job, and it's making it tough on opposing offenses," Marshall said.
All in all, the Broncos will have to play well in all three phases of the game if they want to pick up their first win at INVESCO in 2009 and head into their first division matchup with a 2-0 record.
"It's going to be a challenge for us," Correll Buckhalter said. "But we're ready to face the challenge."