Cleveland Browns vs Jacksonville Jaguars

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

yahoo.com

12/1/05

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560>Jacksonville (8-3) at Cleveland (4-7)

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Jacksonville (8-3) at Cleveland (4-7)</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=ysptblclbg3 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2 height=5><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD> Game Info: 1:00 pm EST Sun Dec 4, 2005
TV: CBS </TD><TD noWrap align=right>Add to Calendar
Buy Tickets </TD></TR><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2 colSpan=2 height=1><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR><TR class=yspwhitebg><TD colSpan=2 height=15><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>The Jacksonville Jaguars were dealt a potentially damaging blow to last week when starting quarterback Byron Leftwich broke his ankle.


Backup David Garrard hopes to keep the Jaguars on course for their first postseason berth since 1999 while Leftwich recovers when they visit the Cleveland Browns.

Leftwich suffered the injury last Sunday on the Jaguars' first offensive play of a 24-17 road win over the Arizona Cardinals. Leftwich said he will not have surgery to repair the ankle, and the Jaguars haven't placed him on injured reserve, meaning they hope to have him back at some point this season.

"(A month) is the most conservative outlook that I can give," said Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio. "It could be more, I doubt it could be less. For the next two weeks, he'll be in a non weight-bearing state and allow the leg to heal.
"After that, we'll just have to see where he's at and take it from there. He has responded well to injuries in the past."

Leftwich believes his history of bouncing back following an injury may not repeat itself with the broken ankle.


"I know I've been fortunate enough in the past to move up a few weeks on certain injuries, but you're talking about a broken bone," Leftwich said. "It's not like a broken wrist. If it's a broken left wrist, I could still play. It's a broken ankle. It's hard to play on a broken ankle. How can you really rush that? You can't."

The Jaguars will now trust Garrard with their offense. He takes control of a team that has won four straight to put itself in good position to secure one of two AFC wild-card spots. The Jaguars are three games behind the undefeated Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South race.

Garrard will be making only his fourth career start Sunday. He is 45-of-89 with two touchdowns and one interception in his three previous starts.

Garrard filled in for Leftwich twice last year, but this time he may have to start for the remainder of the regular season.

"It's exciting," Garrard said Wednesday. "I feel sad that Byron's not going to make it back during the regular season because he got this team to where it's at right now. But I want to be able to take over and do what I can to keep the ship moving.
"I don't want to be Superman and try to go out and make every play. I just want to go out and make the plays that present themselves. That's all I'm here for right now -- to keep the ship going."

Garrard should rely on running back Fred Taylor to help carry the load. Taylor has rushed for 462 yards and five touchdowns in three career games against the Browns.

Browns quarterback Trent Dilfer injured his right knee in last Sunday's 24-12 loss at Minnesota, and an MRI showed tendinitis in the joint.

Browns coach Romeo Crennel says he plans to play Dilfer if he's healthy enough to go instead of turning to rookie Charlie Frye.

"You can drive with your wife who's been driving for say 10 years, or you can drive with your daughter who hasn't driven before," Crennel said Wednesday. "Who are you going to choose?"

However, even if Dilfer gets the start, Crennel knows giving Frye snaps this season may be a key for Cleveland's future.

"If we leave this year without knowing what he can do ... then that hurts us going into the draft and free agency," Crennel said. "We need to give him a couple of consistent series to see how he handles those.

"Maybe a full quarter, then I think we'll begin to find out what he can do." Two more Cleveland defeats would leave the Browns with their third straight losing season.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

link

12/3/05

browns-jaguars matchups
Saturday, December 3, 2005 <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Sunday, 1 p.m., Cleveland Browns Stadium (Channel 19)

QUARTERBACKS
Jaguars David Garrard (6-foot-1, 244 pounds) is built thicker than Browns inside linebacker Ben Taylor. Safety Chris Crocker says Garrard runs like Daunte Culpepper. The 2002 Round 4 pick out of East Carolina makes his fourth NFL start.
Browns Trent Dilfer’s passer rating was sub-80 on sound legs. It’s hard to argue a wobbly Dilfer whose team is 4-7 offers a better chance to win than Charlie Frye. If Frye makes his first NFL start, the Browns get interesting ... if Frye is any good.
The edge Jaguars ...
Garrard is healthier than Dilfer, more seasoned than Frye.
RUNNING BACKS
Jaguars Fred Taylor, pushing 30, isn’t the man he was in rushing 145 yards against the 2002 Browns, or even the man who rushed for 1,572 yards in 2003.

Browns Injuries and Reuben Droughns have put Lee Suggs and William Green out of business. Over the previous two seasons, Suggs and Green totaled 560 carries for 2,177 yards. This year’s total: 78 yards.
The edge Browns ... Droughns looks as good as his numbers.
RECEIVERS
Jaguars From 1996-2004, only Marvin Harrison had more receiving yards than Jimmy Smith’s 10,976. In 2005, Smith ranks No. 23 in the NFL with 685 yards, including 70 (seven catches) last Sunday.
Browns Rookie No. 21 overall pick Matt Jones, 6-foot-6, has given the Jags 28 catches for 338 yards and three TDs. Rookie Browns No. 3 overall pick Braylon Edwards has 27 catches for 426 yards and one TD.
The edge
Browns ... Tight end Steve Heiden is built for cold weather.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Jaguars Rookie left tackle Khalif Barnes, a late second-round pick, can be confused. Ex-Michigan Wolverine Maurice Williams is an elite right tackle. Chris Naeole, who will turn 31 on Christmas Day, is a top guard.
Browns Left guard Joe Andruzzi (calf) might miss his third straight game. His absence was felt at Minnesota. Trench connoisseurs might enjoy watching center Jeff Faine, undersized but playing smart and with a mean streak.
The edge Jaguars ... Three former Round 2 picks and a first-rounder form talented group.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Jaguars The Browns had trouble with one big veteran tackle (Pat Williams) last Sunday. Now they’ll get a dose of two, John Henderson (No. 9 overall pick, 2002) and Marcus Stroud (No. 13 overall, 2003).
Browns A unit that was average when healthy has all three of last week’s starters (Orpheus Roye, Ethan Kelley, Alvin McKinley) on the injury report as questionable. That trio has combined for six sacks.
The edge Jaguars ... Ends Reggie Hayward and Paul Spicer have 12 sacks, three less than all the Browns.
LINEBACKERS
Jaguars Middle linebacker Mike Peterson, who emerged with the Colts after getting drafted 36th overall in 1999, is in his third year as the Jags’ top tackler.
Browns Jacksonville’s Daryl Smith (No. 39 overall pick, 2004) and Cleveland’s Chaun Thompson (No. 52 overall, 2003) are physical specimens, both with three sacks.
The edge Browns ... This has emerged as a solid corps.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Jaguars Cornerbacks Rashean Mathis (Round 2 pick out of Bethune-Cookman, 2003) and Kenny Wright (Round 4, Vikings, 1999) have been made to look good by the pass rush. Deon Grant is a top free safety.
Browns In July, you’d have guessed young former Round 2 picks Sean Jones and Brodney Pool would be growing into starting safety roles. Young veterans Brian Russell and Chris Crocker, though, are the guys, and might be in 2006.
The edge Jaguars ...
Jacksonville is second in NFL in passing yards allowed.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Jaguars Rookie Derrick Wimbush (6-1, 220), undrafted out of Fort Valley State, has been a find at kick returner. Kicker Josh Scobee, 23, has been shaky on field goals tried between the 40 and 50.
Browns Rookie Josh Cribbs trails Wimbush, 26.1-25.2, in kick return average. Dennis Northcutt, who will turn 28 three days before Christmas, might be in his final days as a Brown, with 162 punt returns (10.3 average) on his résumé.
The edge Jaguars ... The Browns probably should have kept punter Derrick Frost.
COACHING
Jaguars Jack Del Rio, just 10 years past his NFL playing career, has a staff featuring older assistants with Browns backgrounds - Dave Campo, assistant head coach; Carl Smith, offensive coordinator; Ray Hamilton, defensive line.
Browns Defensive Coordinator Todd Grantham frustrates fans with soft coverages, but his unit ranks 20th in total defense. Offensive Coordinator Mo Carthon is finding yards but not points. The edge Jaguars ... Romeo Crennel needs to clean up clock management. STEVE DOERSCHUK
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[NJ-Buckeye]

don't look now.. but we have a QB controversy...

Frye just hit Edwards for the second TD of the day...
and if Dawson doesn't miss a chip shot earlier...
it'd be 17-3

[buckzip]

The score would be even better if Bryant didn't drop 2 first down catches.
He is replacing Quincy Morgan well.

[scarletngrey11]

Amazing how the [censored]ing refs can ruin the whole [censored]ing game. Thats four bull[censored] game changing penalties in the [censored]ing second half and thats why we are going to lose this [censored]ing game. We suck enough where its hard to win, let alone win with bull[censored] [censored]ing calls. Its ridiculous.

They just [censored]ing blew another challenge, and missed pass interference on the play after. Well, we all know whose dick the refs are sucking after the game, Jack del Rio.

EDIT: Wow. Another cleveland browns first round pick is most likely out for the year again, we are cursed.

[NFBuck]

This really sucks if Braylon is done. Him and Frye look like they could be quite a tandem. If I was entering the draft, I'd be terrified about being drafted by us. God truly hates the Browns.