Detroit Lions vs atLanta faLcons JOHNSON'S Mega-PURSUIT 2012 ...

CLiff avriL
Defensive End
Purdue 5th Year
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 260
Born: 4/8/86 Green Cove Springs, Fla.
Draft: ‘08, R3c (92)-Det
Complete biographical information available on Detroitlions.com.
MANE FACTS
¾ Twitter: @cliffavril
¾ Having not started playing football until the 11 th grade, avril looked
up to rB Barry sanders and rB emmitt smith. When he started playing
football, he’d pay attention to lB DeMarcus Ware and guys that
played in the 3-4 scheme.
¾ avril enjoys playing basketball, but has slowed down a little now that
he dedicates much of his time to football. He also likes to sit at home
and play video games.
¾ During the offseason avril likes to go home and chill out with his family
since he doesn’t see them much for half of the year.
¾ after football, avril would like to own a couple of businesses. He
wouldn’t mind owning a few clothing stores, or a few stores in the
mall back at home.
TRANSACTIONS
¾ Drafted by the Detroit lions in the third round (92 nd overall) in the
2008 Nfl Draft.
¾ Designated as the lions franchise Player March 5, 2012. signed tender
august 5, 2012.
PRO
Now in his fifth Nfl season, avril has proven effective as a pass rusher and
has a knack for forcing fumbles while taking down opponent’s quarterbacks.
¾ Has played 71 career games (58 starts) and amassed 159 tackles (118
solo), 39.5 sacks (288 yards), 12 pass defenses, 16 forced fumbles, 5
fumble recoveries (1 returned for a touchdown), and 1 interception
(returned for a touchdown).
¾ leads the lions in sacks in 2012 with 9.5 through 14 games.
¾ 39.5 sacks ranks fifth in lions history in sacks since 1982.
¾ set career-high with 11 sacks during 2011 season, and added fumble
and interception return touchdowns to season resume.
¾ Named NfC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 8 (2011), first of
career, following his performance against the Denver Broncos that
included 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and a fumble return for touchdown.
¾ in 2010, registered 8.5 sacks, despite missing three games due to injury.
¾ it didn’t take long for avril to prove himself as a pro during his rookie
season (2008) as he quickly emerged as a regular contributor in the defensive
end rotation. among all rookie pass rushers in 2008, he finished
tied for first with 5.0 sacks and was first with four forced fumbles. He
finished season starting the final four games
2012: opened the regular season against the rams (9/9) with a sack and
two tackles, including the final stop of the game against QB sam Bradford
with :02 seconds remaining to seal the win for Detroit. Currently leads the
lions with 4.5 sacks so far this season.
¾ Part of a defensive line effort that tallied four sacks total in the game
and held rams rB steven Jackson to only 53 yards rushing
¾ recorded five tackles (three solo and one tackle for loss) in Week 3
at Tennessee (9/23).
¾ Combined for half a sack and also had three total tackles (2 solo) and a
pass defensed in the lions’ 20-13 loss vs. Minnesota (9/30).
¾ registered two sacks for the sixth time in his career in Week 6 in the
lions’ 26-23 overtime win at Philadelphia (10/14). led the lions’
defensive line to three sacks total in the game, including back-to-back
sacks in the eagles’ opening drive of overtime to force Philadelphia into
a punt from their own end zone.
¾ also contributed to the lions’ season-high 10 tackles for loss with three.
¾ finished with three tackles (2 solo) in the lions’ 13-7 loss in Week 7
at Chicago (10/22).
¾ Had one solo tackle in the lions’ 28-24 win over seattle in Week
9 (10/28).
¾ Had one solo tackle in the lions’ 31-14 win at Jacksonville in Week 9
(11/4). The lions defensive line limited the Jaguars to only 64 yards
on the ground, Detroit’s lowest total of the season.
¾ recorded two solo tackles, including one tackle for loss, in Week 10
at Minnesota (11/11).
¾ avril’s force of a loss of 15 yards on a pass completion sunday at Minnesota
(batted pass back to QB Christian Ponder and tackled him for a
loss) was the largest loss on a completed pass play in the Nfl since
the san Diego Chargers forced a 20-yard loss against the Cincinnati
Bengals December 20, 2009.
¾ registered one sack (5-yard loss) and two tackles in Week 11 vs.
Green Bay. avril now leads the team this season with 5.5 sacks. since
the beginning of the 2011 season, avril has 16.5 sacks, including a
career high 11.0 in 2011.
¾ avril, who after that game reached 35.5 career sacks, became the fifth
lions defensive player since 1982 to record 35 career sacks.
¾ sacked Texans QB Matt schaub twice and finished with two solo tackles
PLayer ProfiLes
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on Thanksgiving Day vs. Houston (11/22).
¾ recorded his second straight game with a forced fumble and finished
with two solo tackles and a sack in Week 13 vs. indianapolis (12/2).
since the beginning of the 2011 season, avril has 19.5 sacks, including
a career high 11.0 in 2011.
¾ Had one of the lions’ three sacks for a loss of nine yards on QB aaron
rodgers in Week 14 at Green Bay (12/9).
¾ Had one solo tackle in Week 15 at arizona (12/16).
2011: Team’s starting left end. finished season with 36 tackles, Career-high
and team-high 11.0 sacks, 3 pass defenses, 6 forced fumbles (2nd in Nfl),
3 fumble recoveries (tied for 2nd; 1 returned for TD) and 1 interception
(returned for TD).
¾ first lions defensive player since sacks became official in 1982 to register
10+ sacks, 1 fumble return TD and one interception return TD in the
same season. He is only the sixth player in the Nfl to accomplish that
feat since 1982 and the first since Cowboys lB DeMarcus Ware in 2006.
COLLEGE
avril moved to defensive end in his final two seasons for the Boilermakers
and registered 30 of his 35.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and
12.5 of his 13 sacks from the left end position. in 40 games at Purdue, he
started in 35 contests, with 12 starts coming at strong-side linebacker
and the other 23 at left defensive end. He was 12 th in school history with
13 sacks for minus-79 yards and finished 11 th in Purdue annals with 35.5
stops for losses of 137 yards.
¾ Named all-Big Ten Conference by the Nfl Draft report and secondteam
by the league’s media in 2007 after starting all 13 games at left
defensive end, where he led the team and tied for tenth in the conference
with 6.5 sacks and returned an interception for a touchdown
¾ started the first four games at strong-side linebacker in 2006 before
shifting to left defensive end for the final 10 games.
¾ Played in 10 games as a sophomore in 2005 before a midseason back
fracture forced him to sit out for the rest of the year and limited him in
drills the following spring.
PERSONAL
attended Clay High school (fla.) where he earned second-team all-state
honors as a defensive end as a senior and was rated the 37 th best outside
linebacker in the nation by rivals.com
¾ Named to the florida Times-Union super 24 team and twice earned
all-Conference accolades.
¾ as a senior led the team to an 11-2 record and registered 80 tackles, 9.0
sacks, 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage and four passes defensed.
¾ Named to Class 3a all-state team by the florida sports Writers association
in his senior year.
¾ lettered in basketball, track and field and weight lifting.
AVRIL’S SINGLE-GAME BESTS
Tackles: ..................................................................................................................................... 8 vs. Min 12/11/11
sacks: ............................................................................................................................................3 vs. Chi 12/5/10
Pass Defenses: ..........................................................................................................................2 vs. stl 11/1/09
interceptions ..............................................................................................................................1 vs. sD 12/24/11
interception return yards: ....................................................................................................4t vs. sD 12/24/11
interceptions return Touchdowns: ..........................................................................1 vs. sD vs. sD 12/24/11
long interception:.....................................................................................................................4 vs. sD 12/24/11
fumbles forced: .......................................................................................................................2 at Den 10/30/11
fumbles recovered: .................................................................................... 1 (5 times) last vs. Min 12/11/11
fumble return yards: ...........................................................................................................24 at Den 10/30/11
fumble return Touchdowns:.................................................................................................1 at Den 10/30/11
long fumble return: ..........................................................................................................24t at Den 10/30/11
special Teams Tackles: .................................................................................... 1 (twice) last vs. stl 11/1/09