Saturday, September 27, 2003
Isolation booth: Braham vs. Davis
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Bengals have to run the ball successfully against the Browns to win Sunday.
That means running back Corey Dillon must get 22-25 carries and 120-some yards. Dillon is likely to start his 52nd consecutive game despite a strained groin suffered last weekend against the Steelers.
Dillon runs best between the tackles, and the middle of the offensive line, starting with center Rich Braham, will have to give him room to make his dangerous cutbacks.
Braham, who started 56 games at center for the Bengals since the start of the 1999 season, was signed in the offseason as insurance for the middle of the revamped line. Mike Goff opened the season at center, rookie Eric Steinbach at left guard and Matt O'Dwyer at right guard. After a Week 1 flop against Denver, Braham was inserted at center and has started the last two games while Goff and O'Dwyer split time at right guard.
Standing in the way are an improved Cleveland defensive line and a new starter at middle linebacker, Andra Davis. He leads the Browns with 40 tackles and is the heart of a retooled linebacking corps that also includes outside starters Ben Taylor and Kevin Bentley (also second-year players).
Baltimore's Jamal Lewis gashed the Browns for a record 295 rushing yards in Week 2, but the Browns held 49ers running backs to 32 yards on the ground.
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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL SATURDAY
Miami 42, UC 37
Ohio St. 20, Northwestern 0
Florida 24, Kentucky 21
Bearcats bracing for a dogfight
UC-MU telecast falls victim to labor strike in Oxford
Bucks' second season begins
Gators hope freshman QB gets offense firing again
Louisville's start more than luck to Petrino
Big off-field changes coming in college football
Irish mum about starting QB
Top 25 games today
BENGALS / NFL
Battle of Ohio cooling down
Isolation booth: Braham vs. Davis
Bengals' keys to victory
Dillon ready to run against Browns, but Schobel doubtful
NFL notebook
PREP SPORTS
Injured athlete voted homecoming king
Hughes 12, Western Hills 7
Colerain 51, L. West 0
Danville 26, Highlands 25
Elder 49, Covington Catholic 21
Anderson 42, Glen Este 28
Beechwood 62, Ludlow 14
Reading 28, Madeira 12
Clinton-Massie 25, Batavia 20
Shroder Paideia 22, Aiken 18
Your 'Audible': Kings 49, Norwood 43 (3 OT)
Roundup: Ohio's other games
Roundup: Kentucky's other games
Scores, how poll teams fared
Friday's results
Today's schedule
•
Predict the winners
• 'Call An Audible'
REDS / BASEBALL
Saturday's Game: Reds 4, Expos 2
Friday's Game: Expos 5, Reds 1
Reds interview Minaya today for GM post
Notes: Reith gets to take starting shot
Robinson touched by statue
• Sound off in our Barry Larkin poll
• 24 photo gallery of Larkin's career
Family too busy for Clemens' finale
NL: Wild-card berth belongs to Marlins
AL: Tigers edge closer to infamous mark
WORLD CUP SOCCER
Hamm's final World Cup shaping up to be her best
Americans excelling at set pieces in World Cup
MOTOR SPORTS
Sadler claims pole at Talladega
GOLF
Armour holds slim lead in Texas
HORSE RACING
Crafty Shaw attempts to repeat today at Turfway
ON THE AIR
Sports on TV, radio
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