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Cleveland Browns 2006 Draft Discussion (official thread)

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theOBR.com

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=storytitle colSpan=3>Q'Dwell in the Middle </TD></TR><TR><TD class=primaryimage vAlign=top>
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</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By: Fred Greetham

Date: Apr 29, 2006

The Browns believe that D'Qwell Jackson will be an immediate impact player for the Browns at inside linebacker. GM Phil Savage is ecstatic to have acquired two potential starting linebackers in the first two rounds of the draft. Fred Greetham has the story...

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BEREA – Phil Savage wasn’t kidding when he said he wanted to address the front seven. After snagging Kamerion Wimbley with the first pick in the draft, Savage pulled off a trade up in the second round to get inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson from Maryland.
Savage said one of his goals was to find a mate to Andra Davis for the other inside linebacker spot in the 3-4 to fill the spot vacated by Ben Taylor who signed with the Packers as an unrestricted free agent.
“D’Qwell was our next highest rated player on the board,” Savage said. “We added two players we see on the right side. We think we have two excellent candidates to fill the two right side spots.”
Savage stopped short of saying Jackson would start, but did say he would be a leading candidate to win the inside job opposite of Davis.
“Someone described us as having a hole on the inside linebacker spot as big as Lake Erie,” Savage said. “He’s certainly going to be a candidate for that spot. We see him playing along side Andra. This is really a quality football player.
“He’s got excellent football instincts and we think he’s going to be a good player for us,” he said. “He has the demeanor and mentality to come in and compete for a starting position for us. He plays with a quiet confidence and handles himself like a pro already.”
Jackson had an excellent year as he was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award. Jackson amassed 447 tackles, including 24 tackles for loss.
The Browns moved up nine spots by flip-flopping places with the Saints in the second round and sending Jeff Faine to New Orleans.
Savage the Browns decided there was no use waiting 10 more spots when they had the chance to get the guy they wanted.
“What really happened is coming in we had three linebackers who we thought were second-round values,” he said. “DeMeco Ryans and Rocky McIntosh were gone and we had a chance to get who we wanted and get something for Jeff.”
Savage couldn’t hide his enthusiasm in obtaining Jackson.
“He’s been extremely productive,” Savage said. “He’s a football player. He’s a guy who is very well thought of.
“I’m extremely thrilled to get D’Qwell,” he said. “If someone would’ve told me back in the fall we could get Wimbley and Jackson, I would’ve done it right then.”
Savage knows a little about linebackers after watching Ray Lewis develop into one of the NFL’s best while he was in Baltimore.
“I’m not saying this guy is Ray Lewis but I think he’s an extremely good football player,” Savage said. “He’s one of the few linebackers who can get outside and make some plays behind the line of scrimmage.”
Savage admitted he was in shock as to how the first two rounds went for the Browns.
“I’m a little in shock, but it’s a reality: Kamerion Wimbley and D’Qwell Jackson are Cleveland Browns.”


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theOBR.com

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=storytitle colSpan=3>Kamerion Wimbley: Shaped by Adversity </TD></TR><TR><TD class=primaryimage vAlign=top>
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</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By: Fred Greetham

Date: Apr 29, 2006

The Browns top pick in the draft has been through some tough times and has been shaped by them...
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Berea – Browns No. 1 draft choice Kamerion Wimbley has the moniker of a good guy. He’s one of those guys who came from a troubled background and has found a way to put his best foot forward.
After his parents divorced, his mother was arrested for possession of drugs with intention to sell and he moved in with his grandmother.
“Just growing up I faced some adversity,” Wimbley said. “My parents divorced and we moved form Alaska to Kansas. My mother was a single parent and when she had to go to jail, my grandmother adopted us. I was with her from third grade to the eighth grade.
Later on, his father moved to Kansas and Wimbley lived with him. Football became a way to help Wimbley overcome some of the troubles he faced.
“I got involved in football from the eighth grade through high school and then went to Florida State,” he said.
Wimbley said there’s been a happy ending with his mother.
“My mom is doing great,” he said. “She moved to Florida with me the past couple of years.”
Wimbley admitted his background helped him to decide on being a social work major and working with youth in the city.
“(My background) played a major role because there were many people who were influential in helping me get to the point that I am now,” Wimbley said. “I want to show my appreciation to those who have helped me and work with kids.
“It helped me to learn to adjust and adapt to situations that I have been in,” he said. “I was fortunate to have many people help me in a positive way. I had some key people to point me in the right direction.”
Adapting to new situations in football should be a breeze compared to what he has had to adjust to in life.
“I don’t think it will be too hard of an adjustment to switch from end to linebacker,” Wimbley said. “My position coach at college thought I could make the switch pretty well. Everyone has been impressed with the way I handled the switch at the pro days and at my workouts.”
Wimbley ran a 4.67 in the 40-yard dash and bench pressed 346 pounds.
“As a pass rusher, I think speed is definitely one of the assets I have,” he said. “My ability to get low and my flexibility will definitely help me get better at the next level.”
Wimbley is eager to learn from Pro Bowler Willie McGinest.
“Willie McGinest is a great player and I’ve watched him with the Patriots,” he said. “It’s a great situation for me to step in there and learn from one of the best players in the league.”
The soft spoken Wimbley said he will be able to help the Browns.
“I think I will be able to come in and contribute and help the Browns be a successful ball club,” he said. “If I do the best I can I think I will produce for the ball club. I never stop learning. If you stop learning, you’re not getting better. I’m eager to learn and I think I’m not at my peak physically. I think I will get bigger and faster.”
“It’s a blessing to be considered to be a good enough player to be taken in the top half of the first round,” he said. “I think some of the coaches and scouts were able to see me move around and that helped me.”

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