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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > November > 30 > Entry
CB Leon Hall’s startling discovery
YEAH, YOU’RE DARN TOOTIN’
CLAYTON IS PRETTY GOOD
CATCHING AND THROWING
Bengals cornerback Leon Hall discovered that Mark Clayton is a quality receiver. A pretty fine passer, too.
Clayton caught five passes for 164 yards on Hall, including a 70-yard touchdown, and tossed a 32-yard TD pass to fellow wideout Derrick Mason, who beat Hall on the route. Both big plays came during a 2-minute, 19-second span in the third quarter.
Mark Clayton
Leon Hall
“It was a rough day,” said Hall, summing up the Bengals’ 34-3 loss to the visiting Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. “It’s just one of those things where I have to go back, look at film and check out what I have to do better.
“Indianapolis (next week’s opponent) is definitely going to look at that, and I have to try and come back and have a great game.”
Clayton’s 45-yard reception down the left sideline set up Matt Stover’s 27-yard field goal for a 3-0 Ravens’ lead. The fourth-year receiver was just warming up. Sandwiched among catches of 8, 33 and 8 yards was the 70-yarder on a streak down the right sideline.
Hall had him closely guarded, but Clayton reached out with his right hand, making a one-handed stab at the Bengals’ 30-yard line, keeping his balance and sprinting into the end zone.
“It was one of those plays that maybe was a great catch or what not,” Hall said. “But at the same time, I’ve got to make those plays, especially in a game like this with the Ravens having a great defense. You’ve got to make those kind of plays.
“Same thing, same issue, with the first one. As a corner, those are plays that you want. You want to have the ball come your way so you have an opportunity to make those plays.”
Clayton, a 5-foot-10, 190-pounder, had no idea he’d turn into Superman for a day.
“It just happened,” he said. “Every week, our goal is to just get better offensively and just win the game. Somebody makes a play and then it snowballs. Today it just happened to come my way.”
Clayton is clearly in sync with rookie QB Joe Flacco. They’re developing a close relationship that’s built on trust.
“It’s collectively just growing,” Clayton said. “Joe has been able to hit everybody across the board. Obviously, as you progress, you get a lot more confident in the product you put out on the field.”
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By Derrick
December 2, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
Promise to never again draft a player from Michigan or Ohio State. They can’t play NFL football. Hall needs coaching 24/7. He is quickly turning into another draft bust.