Sunday, September 10, 2000
Dillon knows he's target
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Corey Dillon has experienced a pattern in his three-year NFL career: The teams he has big rushing games against always come back at him harder and with intent to shut him down.
Tennessee comes to mind. Dillon set the NFL rookie record with 246 yards rushing against the then-Oilers in December 1997 at Cinergy Field.
The next season he got 91 and 124 yards against them. Last year he was held to 66 and 33 yards in the two meetings.
That's why Dillon expects the Cleveland Browns, today's opponent, to be keying on No.28 in black.
“I saw them play Jacksonville, and Jacksonville was struggling with them,” Dillon said. “We've got to bring our A Game. I just got to put on my hard hat and go to work.”
Dillon torched the Browns for 360 of his 1,200 running yards in 1999. On Dec. 12, he had 192 yards rushing and three running touchdowns in less than three quarters.
“They got some different personnel up front,” he said of the Browns, who start an entirely new front four. “Their defense looks real tough. The teams I seem to get a lot of yards on come back stronger each time, so it's not going to be easy.
“Just from the experience with Tennessee, after I broke the record, they've been real tough, real stingy. It seems like they've got a vendetta out for me. It's going to be the same thing with Cleveland.”
Cleveland coach Chris Palmer respects Dillon and the guys who work for him.
“Their offensive line did an outstanding job blocking,” Palmer said of the 1999 games. “Our defensive line, hopefully, we've improved in that area. But Corey Dillon is an outstanding running back.”
Palmer expects to see plenty of Dillon today. But he also said the Bengals will definitely mix up their plays so the Browns can't focus entirely on Dillon.
Bengals tackle Willie Anderson knows the offensive line, Dillon and the Browns will come to play.
“You're not going to see 200 yards rushing from Corey,” Anderson said. “Cleveland is a better team this year. Our goal is to come out and have a good, solid, efficient running game when we need it. Let's pick up yards when we need it.”
Dillon also would like to see a developing trend take root in Cincinnati. That's when running backs help their quarterbacks who are members of the heralded Quarterback Class of 1999. Bengals QB Akili Smith was one of the five quarterbacks taken in the first round.
Donovan McNabb got 201 yards rushing from Duce Staley in Philadelphia's victory at Dallas.
Duante Culpepper got 109 yards on the ground from Robert Smith in Minnesota's victory over Chicago.
Cleveland quarterback Tim Couch got 64 yards of support from Errict Rhett in the Browns' loss to Jacksonville.
“Why not me and Smith?” Dillon said. “It's our time. Hey, it's his second year. He's mature. I don't see why we can't go out there and put something together.”
Dillon, who held out for 20 days, has his weight down to 222 from 230.
“I feel quicker,” he said. “I feel better.”
Look for Dillon to run right at the Browns defensive line, between his tackles. That's where he has gained most of his 3,459 career yards.
“That's where I make my living,” he said. “Over the years, I've gained some size and lacked a little speed, so my tendency is to get up between the tackles and get the quick four yards. It's kind of tough running outside to outside when you've got these ends and these corners that are real fast.”
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Dillon knows he's target
