March 25, 2011
Last year the Browns drafted a player who many thought was "sliding" (Joe Haden) and another who had an injury history and went early than most expected (T.J. Ward). If they follow a similar path this year consider possibly Nick Fairley or Da'Quan Bowers (Bowers fits both categories) in round 1 and maybe someone like WR Vincent Browns from San Diego State, DE Cameron Hayward from Ohio State or TE Kyle Rudolph from Notre Dame in the second round.
March 23, 2011
This is about the time of the NFL Draft process when people magically rise on some teams' draft boards and some players drop for no apparent reason. If you remember this time last year many pundits were thinking CB Kyle Wilson from Boise State was going to be the best CB in the draft because he happened to run a slightly better 40-year dash than Joe Haden. Now, one year later, Joe Haden has a nomination for NFL Rookie of the Year under his belt and Kyle Wilson has 4th string CB attached to his name. Who is going to be this year's Joe Haden vs. Kyle Wilson?
March 21, 2011
Thought for the day...am I the only one who thinks the aggressive comments coming from all the players toward Roger Goodell and the owners are a little harsh? The owners and the NFL seem to be handling the labor dispute in a professional manner whereas the players seem like 7-year olds throwing a temper-tantrum because they aren't getting their own way. I know in my house VERY RARELY does a temper-tantrum lead to a positive outcome for my kids so we'll see how it ends with the big kids in the NFL.
March 16, 2011
First, for those of you who keep coming back to check out my site...THANK YOU! I'm up to a whopping 125 visitors so far, which is 124 more than I thought I'd get when I did this initially. Now...if each of you could send ONE friend the link to my site I'd be even happier. I don't think that's much to ask for my thrilling commentary and draft insight.
For my comment today...the longer this lockout goes the worse the Browns' chances are at fielding a respectable team this season. With no contact with players and a new head coach, new offense, a young, inexperienced QB and switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense there isn't another team in the NFL who'll be further behind than the Browns if/when we play football again.
For my comment today...the longer this lockout goes the worse the Browns' chances are at fielding a respectable team this season. With no contact with players and a new head coach, new offense, a young, inexperienced QB and switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense there isn't another team in the NFL who'll be further behind than the Browns if/when we play football again.
March 15, 2011
Holmgren speaks...but doesn't really say anything. The one interesting thing I heard from Mike Holmgren today was that their season ticket sales are better now than at the same time last year. It's interesting because they ended 2019 with four straight wins and fans knew they were actually playing football in 2010. Now, the Browns were garbage to end the season and who knows when we'll have football again. Working in sports this is very interesting to me...that's why it's nice to be the NFL sometimes!
March 13, 2011
Without a new CBA before the draft, no teams can trade PLAYERS during the draft but they can trade draft picks. Additionally, with a very likely "Rookie Wage Scale" the salaries teams have been paying for top-10 picks is going to be reduced meaning there will probably be more suitors willing to trade up if there's a player on the board they like. If Cam Newton and/or Blaine Gabbert are on the board at #6 there might be a team who'd want to move up to grab one of them...possibly the Titans (#8), Redskins (#10) or Vikings (#12). That could translate into an additional second or third round draft pick for the Browns. With the depth at the top of this draft, and the Browns numerous needs, I think I'd pull the trigger on that deal in a heartbeat.
COMBINE COMMENTS
Ryan Mallett may not say all the right things but when I see him throw, the way he moves his feet, and the way he carries himself I think Ben Roethlisberger. A lot of people see Andy Dalton as a sleeper at QB, but his throws looked really weak. Don't look too much into Cam Newton's lack of accuracy...they're throwing to receivers they don't know anything about and have NEVER thrown to before. I still think he's JaMarcus Russell but I also still believe he goes #1 overall.
There are no huge name RB's in this year's class like Adrian Peterson, but here are a couple to keep an eye on. Mark Ingram runs like Peyton Hillis and is quick for a thick, stocky RB. One RB I do like who is getting no love is Dion Lewis from Pitt. He's tiny (5' 6") but ask Maurice Jones Drew how that works for him. I also like the kid from UConn, Jordan Todman, and Roy Helu from Nebraska.
I think the crop of O-lineman is deep this year...I really like Nate Solder from Colorado who is a converted TE which means he'll have the agility to succeed at LT in the NFL. I really like Anthony Castonzo from Boston College too. Another sleeper on the inside is Stefen Wisniewski a C/G from Penn State.
The thing that sticks out at me from this year's combine is how Marcell Dareus has magically jumped over Nick Fairley on people's draft boards due to a couple running drills. REALLY? Fairley is a beast with a mean streak...I like Dareus too but I think Fairley is dominant while Dareus will be good, but not great.
Based simply upon watching combine coverage one random guy I liked who I've never heard of and don't know anything about is DE Brooks Reed from Arizona. He did every drill at 110% and just looks and moves like a football player.
There are no huge name RB's in this year's class like Adrian Peterson, but here are a couple to keep an eye on. Mark Ingram runs like Peyton Hillis and is quick for a thick, stocky RB. One RB I do like who is getting no love is Dion Lewis from Pitt. He's tiny (5' 6") but ask Maurice Jones Drew how that works for him. I also like the kid from UConn, Jordan Todman, and Roy Helu from Nebraska.
I think the crop of O-lineman is deep this year...I really like Nate Solder from Colorado who is a converted TE which means he'll have the agility to succeed at LT in the NFL. I really like Anthony Castonzo from Boston College too. Another sleeper on the inside is Stefen Wisniewski a C/G from Penn State.
The thing that sticks out at me from this year's combine is how Marcell Dareus has magically jumped over Nick Fairley on people's draft boards due to a couple running drills. REALLY? Fairley is a beast with a mean streak...I like Dareus too but I think Fairley is dominant while Dareus will be good, but not great.
Based simply upon watching combine coverage one random guy I liked who I've never heard of and don't know anything about is DE Brooks Reed from Arizona. He did every drill at 110% and just looks and moves like a football player.
March 10, 2011
Did you know the Browns didn't offer Chansi Stuckey a restricted free agent offer? Thank goodness! Despite leading the team in receptions, how many times do you remember having third and short or medium and Stuckey running a route one yard short of the first down marker? That's the difference between him and receivers like our old friend Joe Jurevecius who moved the chains all day long.
March 8, 2011
Consider how good the Browns running game was last year with only Peyton Hillis carrying the load...next year we'll hopefully be able to add a healthy Montario Hardesty to the mix again making defenses cringe every time they'll be facing the Browns rushing attack. Don't forget Hardesty dominated in the pre-season and in practice before getting hurt last year.
March 5, 2011
When you're thinking about who the Browns may consider at #6 overall this year think of these things...
1. Name three current Browns defensive linemen
2. Do you take a #1 WR or #1 DE or take a #2 DT, #2 DB or #2 LB?
3. Look at the Eagles and Seahawks past drafts (prior to 2010) for clues as to what the Browns may do
1. Name three current Browns defensive linemen
2. Do you take a #1 WR or #1 DE or take a #2 DT, #2 DB or #2 LB?
3. Look at the Eagles and Seahawks past drafts (prior to 2010) for clues as to what the Browns may do
