The former Houston practice squad runner had his biggest day as a Brown, rushing for a career-high 115 yards and his first NFL touchdown.
View full sizeChris Ogbonnaya's second-quarter TD run got the Browns on the scoreboard Sunday, and his 115 yards helped keep the offense moving. "He gets better and stronger every week," said left tackle Joe Thomas, "and we're getting more comfortable with him."CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Truth is, Chris Ogbonnaya was running out of time. The Browns running back has been in Cleveland for four weeks now. Sunday against Jacksonville, the time had come for him to really impress.
After all, Montario Hardesty, the tailback who tore his calf muscle three weeks ago and created the opening for Ogbonnaya, began jogging again last week. He could be ready to play next Sunday at Cincinnati. Peyton Hillis, the Madden NFL 12 cover boy with the hamstring injury, still plans on returning before the season ends.
So the Browns' 14-10 victory over Jacksonville likely marked Ogbonnaya's last opportunity to show what he could do as the featured back. In his fourth game for Cleveland, Ogbonnaya showed some workhorse potential while logging a career-high 115 yards on 21 carries, scoring his first NFL touchdown on a one-yard dash in the second quarter.
It might not have been explicitly an audition, but Ogbonnaya certainly passed any implied trial.
"I don't really look at it as something like that," he said after the game. "I don't feel that type of pressure. I just go out and play, prepare every week like you're the starter, whether your role is relegated to special teams or you get a few offensive snaps or whatever. We have good backs here. Peyton is a good player. Montario, also. To have them back will definitely help. I don't really care what my role is as long as I'm still a part of it."
Ogbonnaya will admit that he tried to impress, particularly in the second half. All but 17 of his yards came after halftime, when the Texas product said he refocused after realizing he'd missed so many opportunities.
"I left some yards out there," Ogbonnaya said. "There was one particular play where I felt like I stumbled on, and if I didn't stumble, we had a chance to make a decent gain. I was a little disappointed in that and wanted to make up for that."
Ogbonnaya had nine carries in the first half, with his longest run being his first one, for six yards. Twice he was smothered by Jaguars defenders for no gain. Halftime adjustments and reminders helped Ogbonnaya realize what he was missing. Suddenly, something clicked.
"He gets better and stronger every week and we're getting more comfortable with him," said left tackle Joe Thomas, who called Ogbonnaya one of the smartest running backs he's played with. "He's more comfortable with how we block lanes and some of the runs we're calling in our offense."
That showed in the fourth quarter, when Ogbonnaya broke free for a 40 yards that helped set up a field-goal attempt. Though Ogbonnaya grabbed at his right hamstring at the end of his run, he said his muscle merely cramped, and that he wasn't hurt.
Ogbonnaya likely passed his final test with the Browns. After struggling for two years to make an NFL roster -- the time he spent on the Houston Texans' practice squad -- it's a big step.
"I have no problem putting him in there," Browns head coach Pat Shurmur said. "I trust him, just like I do every other player we put on the field. He's showed up and done a nice job. It's a credit to what he's done. ... He's done good work for us, and he ought to feel good about himself."
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/11/chris_ogbonnaya_provides_a_pro.html
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