Cleveland Browns vs. Oakland Raiders Preview: Josh Cribbs Talks About Facing Big Leg of Sea Bass

Saturday, October 15, 2011

By Daniel Wolf
Senior Writer

The Cleveland Browns take a trip to the West Coast to face the Oakland Raiders in Week 6 of the 2011 NFL season.

Oakland is coming off a highly emotional win, after the passing of their owner Al Davis, last weekend. Not to downplay the passing of a great NFL mind, but sometimes when a team has such an emotional victory, it takes a lot out of the team the following week. The Browns are hoping this is the case in their attempt to move back to a winning record, currently sitting at 2-2 this year.

***UPDATE: Cleveland Browns CB Joe Haden Reportedly Out Against Raiders, Can Dimitri Patterson Step Up?

One of the biggest matchups between these two teams is not on offense or on defense, but on special teams, as Josh Cribbs faces the big foot of Sebastian Janikowski.

Janikowski, or better known as Sea Bass, is known for having a kicking leg—not seen in NFL history in a long time—and he can hit one 50-plus yard field goal attempt after another. In fact, he did just that last weekend and nailed three 50-plus field goals in the Raiders victory.

Those three field goals tied an NFL record for most 50-plus field goals made in a single game.

Cribbs, on the other hand, is the NFL record holder for most kickoffs returned for a touchdown in a career and he faces a kicker who never needed the league to move the kickoff spot before this season.

"It was like that already because [Janikowski] was doing that before the ball was moved up five [yards]," said Cribbs.

The Browns returner also cited that not only does Sea Bass have a big leg, but the Raiders punter, Shane Lechler, has a big foot too.

"Janikowski has a big leg, even their punter, he outkicks the coverage," said Cribbs, who continued to talk about why outkicking the coverages is a good thing too.

"We love for them to outkick their coverage because that gives them the disadvantage. He might think that it’s a good thing for them to give them the opportunity to pin us back, but I believe we have a great return unit and the guys really get after it."

Cribbs, then, discussed how he will approach having to face Sea Bass's powerful boot.

"[S]o to combat that we will take deeper drops. I’m going to be standing back there like I was the first game against Cincinnati, I will have my foot on the edge of the end zone ready to bring them out," said Cribbs. "We’re going to make it happen when they give us an opportunity."

The Browns defense will also face a big challenge against Oakland's No. 2 ranked rushing attack, led by running back Darren McFadden. Cleveland's rush defense is ranked No. 25 in the NFL.

Cribbs versus Sea Bass and the Raiders run attack versus the Browns run defense are where this game will be won or lost. One shall stand, one shall fall in Oakland this Sunday.


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