Cleveland Browns (2011 season)

[strohs]

I know this has nothing to do with the draft but Roth is not very happy in Cleveland and is unrestricted so he probably will be gone.

Not happy? the guy was a nobody before the browns got him, he should be ecstatic to even have a job in the NFL.

I'm liking the draft right now, browns needed DL and WR and so far thats what they have taken, plus they have stockpiled picks. So far so good... But I wouldn't have minded them staying at 27 in the first round taking Heyward...

 

[3074326]

I'm really liking what the Browns are doing.

Managed to get a potential game-breaker WR in the second round, as well as what appears to be a pretty beastly DE. If the injury concerns are indeed false like has been reported, they got a mountain in the middle of the d-line.

Add that to Haden and Ward, the defense looks like it's coming together nicely. The offense desperately needs Little to overperform his draft number though.

 

[buckiprof]

Browns putting together a good draft so far.

Yes they are!

To get 5 picks (4 if you don't count the swap of 1st rounders) for Jones was a great get for the Browns.

Browns have sucked the past however many years against the run, consistently pathetic run defense year in and year out, so drafting a huge DT to pair with Rubin is a step in the right direction. Especially playing in the division the Browns play in. Some stats to illustrate how bad the Browns have been against the run: 2008 28th in NFL at 151 yds/game (last in division); 2009 28th in NFL at 144 yds/game (last in division); 2010 27th in NFL 129 yds/game (last in division).

So yeah, I am alright with the Browns front office who can see these same stats, and realizes that if you really want to win you have to stop the run. A front office that knows consistently being 27th or 28th in the league against the run and consistently last in your division against the run is simply the wrong way to do it.

Sheard at DE and Little at WR for 2nd rounders are exactly what was needed today.

Yes the Browns are putting together a very good draft so far.

 

[Bucklion]

I agree today was (hopefully) better than the 2009 second round disaster. A lot of the guys on set seemed high on Little, saying if he had played last year he was a mid-first round type. He is raw and hasn't played much, but I'd rather go there at the end of the second with him than early first with Quinn. If the DE from sPitt can turn out to be a fixture on one end and Taylor can stop the run, this draft hasn't been too bad.

 

[Bucklion]

What we also need to remember is that we have 2 first round picks next year, so that could really, really help to build us to compete in the division in 2012. If we aren't thrilled right now, we could be sitting pretty a year from now.

 

[billmac91]

I'm actually pretty disappointed in this draft....I feel for Colt especially. He really needed another big-time weapon and they are getting a converted RB in the second round at WR.

I'm not trying to be too pessimistic, especially the way Ward turned out, but other than Ward I thought last years draft was shaky. They were lucky Colt slid as far as he did and Haden was a no brainer. I thought the late round picks were pretty brutal especially with a lot of the guys they passed on.

Taylor's tape is really sub-standard. I'm assuming he just lit up the senior bowl but I haven't seen impressive tape yet for a guy who played at 340lbs in college. When I think run stuffer, I think of a guy that gets penetration, but in Taylor's videos he actually gets knocked off the ball quite a bit and in single blocks.

I watched at least 3 or 4 Pitt games last year and don't remember Sheard ever jumping off the screen or just dominating.

And Greg Little is an impressive athlete, but very raw and a converted RB. I do like his underneath route running abilities with the yard after catch threat. If they can acquire Michael Floyd for a second rounder in the supplemental draft I am all for it though. They still don't have a #1 receiver on the roster.

I'm just not seeing it truthfully. I really hope Colt can play successful enough next year so people stay on the bandwagon. I'm a bit concerned if the season ends up a trainwreck Colt will be the fall-guy and we'll be looking for another franchise QB in 2012 which would be really disappointing.

On another note...I just love the drafting strategy of teams like the Chiefs and Bucs over the last 2 years come second round and later. They take established, brand name stars, and I think it has really limited the bust factor. Guys like Javier Arenas, Dexter McCluster, Tony Moeki, Brian Price, Arrelious Benn, Mike Williams, Dekoda Watson...

This year the Chiefs have taken:

Rodney Hudson (2nd)
Justin Houston (3rd)
Allen Bailey (3rd)

and the Bucs have taken:
Da'Quan Bowers
Mason Foster

These are just high quality and value picks that have paid off for them in spades. I'm just starting to feel like Heckert and Holmgren are trying to out-think the room. IMO, Taylor and Sheard are both risky and I think there was a lot of value lower in the draft and I'd have preferred a safer impact player on offense.

Going into tomorrow my wishlist includes:

Casey Matthews (Oregon)
Clint Boling (Georgia)
Justin Boren (tOSU)
Chimdi Chekwa (tOSU)
Jerrell Powe (Miss)
Tandon Doss (Indiana)
Greg Jones (someone is getting a steal late - MSU)
Cliff Matthews (South Carolina)
Terrence Tolivar (another late steal - LSU)
Derrick Locke/Dion Lewis will both be great depth guys in the league IMO
Darell Scott is a burner for 220 lbs (Maryland)
John Clay (Wisconsin)
Eugene Clifford has matured and blew up at Tennessee State...could be a late round pro-bowler
Jay Valai (Wisconsin)
Kenny Rowe would be a steal in the 6th or 7th round (Oregon)
Nick Claytor could be a 7th rounder (Ga Tech)

I don't know...just a quick list I put together after my frustration levels with some guys I think were reaches or a poor move to trade up and get.

I wasn't shocked at all to see Drake Nevis get snatched up by the Colts, who do a great job at making value picks. Martez Wilson and Jurrell Casey were also steals in the third, IMO.

Irregardless, I hope all of the Browns picks blow up and make me look stupid. There's nothing better than successful Cleveland sports teams...the world is a better place for it.

 

[exhawg]

I'm actually pretty disappointed in this draft....I feel for Colt especially. He really needed another big-time weapon and they are getting a converted RB in the second round at WR.

I'm not trying to be too pessimistic, especially the way Ward turned out, but other than Ward I thought last years draft was shaky. They were lucky Colt slid as far as he did and Haden was a no brainer. I thought the late round picks were pretty brutal especially with a lot of the guys they passed on.

Taylor's tape is really sub-standard. I'm assuming he just lit up the senior bowl but I haven't seen impressive tape yet for a guy who played at 340lbs in college. When I think run stuffer, I think of a guy that gets penetration, but in Taylor's videos he actually gets knocked off the ball quite a bit and in single blocks.

I watched at least 3 or 4 Pitt games last year and don't remember Sheard ever jumping off the screen or just dominating.

And Greg Little is an impressive athlete, but very raw and a converted RB. I do like his underneath route running abilities with the yard after catch threat. If they can acquire Michael Floyd for a second rounder in the supplemental draft I am all for it though. They still don't have a #1 receiver on the roster.

I'm just not seeing it truthfully. I really hope Colt can play successful enough next year so people stay on the bandwagon. I'm a bit concerned if the season ends up a trainwreck Colt will be the fall-guy and we'll be looking for another franchise QB in 2012 which would be really disappointing.

On another note...I just love the drafting strategy of teams like the Chiefs and Bucs over the last 2 years come second round and later. They take established, brand name stars, and I think it has really limited the bust factor. Guys like Javier Arenas, Dexter McCluster, Tony Moeki, Brian Price, Arrelious Benn, Mike Williams, Dekoda Watson...

This year the Chiefs have taken:

Rodney Hudson (2nd)
Justin Houston (3rd)
Allen Bailey (3rd)

and the Bucs have taken:
Da'Quan Bowers
Mason Foster

These are just high quality and value picks that have paid off for them in spades. I'm just starting to feel like Heckert and Holmgren are trying to out-think the room. IMO, Taylor and Sheard are both risky and I think there was a lot of value lower in the draft and I'd have preferred a safer impact player on offense.

Going into tomorrow my wishlist includes:

Casey Matthews (Oregon)
Clint Boling (Georgia)
Justin Boren (tOSU)
Chimdi Chekwa (tOSU)
Jerrell Powe (Miss)
Tandon Doss (Indiana)
Greg Jones (someone is getting a steal late - MSU)
Cliff Matthews (South Carolina)
Terrence Tolivar (another late steal - LSU)
Derrick Locke/Dion Lewis will both be great depth guys in the league IMO
Darell Scott is a burner for 220 lbs (Maryland)
John Clay (Wisconsin)
Eugene Clifford has matured and blew up at Tennessee State...could be a late round pro-bowler
Jay Valai (Wisconsin)
Kenny Rowe would be a steal in the 6th or 7th round (Oregon)
Nick Claytor could be a 7th rounder (Ga Tech)

I don't know...just a quick list I put together after my frustration levels with some guys I think were reaches or a poor move to trade up and get.

I wasn't shocked at all to see Drake Nevis get snatched up by the Colts, who do a great job at making value picks. Martez Wilson and Jurrell Casey were also steals in the third, IMO.

Irregardless, I hope all of the Browns picks blow up and make me look stupid. There's nothing better than successful Cleveland sports teams...the world is a better place for it.

I feel sorry for you. At this point H&H should have earned enough credibility to give their picks a chance before you dismiss them. The Taylor pick yesterday is sounding better to me today than he did yesterday. The DE today sounds like the best on the board at the time not counting Bowers since no one wanted him. Little sounds like he might be the 3rd most talented WR in the draft this year if he had been able to play last season. I'd rather pick a guy with that upside than a 4th or 5th year player that is limited. I'd still be willing to throw next years 2nd round pick at Michael Floyd if he ends up in the supplemental draft this summer. Give me Chekwa and Casey Mathews in the 4th and I'll be thrilled with the draft. Best yet if the Browns find them one player away from being a contender like Atlanta thinks this year they could package their 2 first round picks and probably get almost any player in the draft.

 

[billmac91]

I feel sorry for you. At this point H&H should have earned enough credibility to give their picks a chance before you dismiss them. The Taylor pick yesterday is sounding better to me today than he did yesterday. The DE today sounds like the best on the board at the time not counting Bowers since no one wanted him. Little sounds like he might be the 3rd most talented WR in the draft this year if he had been able to play last season. I'd rather pick a guy with that upside than a 4th or 5th year player that is limited. I'd still be willing to throw next years 2nd round pick at Michael Floyd if he ends up in the supplemental draft this summer. Give me Chekwa and Casey Mathews in the 4th and I'll be thrilled with the draft. Best yet if the Browns find them one player away from being a contender like Atlanta thinks this year they could package their 2 first round picks and probably get almost any player in the draft.

I understand the credibility argument after Ward and McCoy panned out. They have built some credibility from me, but I'm not completely sold either. Maybe because I'm from Cleveland?

In terms of decisions though. Haden was a no-brainer last year, so I'll give some credit for not [censored]ing the pick up, but that was the choice.

I admittedly disliked the Ward pick, but it turned out to be a good call. I thought the pick of Hardesty, a continually banged up RB at Tennessee was an awful choice, and he proved he can't stay healthy.

They were also insanely lucky to snag McCoy...there's no chance in hell he should have even been available. In that case, we're watching Seneca Wallace and Delhomme all of last year.

Larry Asante was an awful choice, especially with a proven guy like Kurt Coleman available until the 7th.

Carlton Mitchell was a brutal pick and he'll never make an impact.

I liked the Geathers pick so I won't knock it, but thatdidn't work out.

In this draft there were value picks to be had...Drake Nevis is going to be a star in Indy. Jurrell Casey was rated as one of the top DT prospects last year.

A guy like Kenny Rowe or Jerrell Powe could be future studs in the league, but those don't seem to be guys the Browns management like to go after. IMO, I just like the approach of the Chiefs and Bucs who take proven, brand-name guys.

I wouldn't be shocked at all if Taylor doesn't pan out, especially after watching his less than impressive tape, and Sheard should be serviceable but I'm not sure how much of a pass rush he will be able to muster with zero penetration up the middle.

 

[y0yoyoin]

im not sticking a fork in mitchell just yet...i would like to see what he is able to do with shumurs new offense...guy has great size and could have alot of potential

 

[Mike80]

Given what we all thought the Browns had last year and how they nearly got themselves into contention for the playoffs, mainly due to HOW the picks that Holmgren and Heckert picked, I'd say they get the benefit of the doubt.

So far, the draft has been decent. It's not the damned end of the world and I don't think they're going to the Super Bowl quite yet, but a stout and deep defensive line is a great start in the AFC North.

 

[stowfan]

The Browns have 6 more picks. They need to take the best RT on the board next. After that they can take the next 5 best players available.

 

[billmac91]

im not sticking a fork in mitchell just yet...i would like to see what he is able to do with shumurs new offense...guy has great size and could have alot of potential

ya, that was probably a bit harsh but after seeing him in limited action, I doubt he ever makes a significant impact. And if he does, at whose expense? Robiskie's or maybe Little doesn't see the field much?

I guess if he were that talented, I'd of expected him to dominate in college, but his stats were pretty pedestrian. He had a great combine, but those skills haven;t really translated to the field.

 

[billmac91]

I think there is a pattern in how the Browns operate these trade-ups. I think they target a guy ahead of their "choice" player and when that guy is taken they strike to make sure they get their player.

This year their "target" was Adrien Clayborne and when he was taken the Browns moved on Taylor. My guess is the Browns circled Taylor as their choice and were willing to wait until the 27th pick unless Clayborne came off the board. At that moment they moved on their man to make sure they got him. Last year Toby Gerhardt and Ben Tate were taken right in front of Hardesty and the Browns traded up after the Tate pick to lock up a RB.

The Browns also reached on TJ Ward although it seems to have worked out, but Nate Allen was picked directly in front of Ward forcing the Browns hand early in the second round.

I think its more of a strategy they incorporate. They're willing to reach on a position of need if he is the highest rated player left on their board and that includes trading up.

Just heard on ESPN that the Browns thought there would be a run on D-Lineman once Clayborn came off the board so they made a move.

My theory is looking better....

 

[Mike80]

what theory? I'm not seeing a theory

 

[cjmik_75]

This draft has been "decent" but put me in the wait and see group.

The UNC receiver is the only real playmaker so far and that's what this team desperately needs, especially on offense. Hopefully one or both of the first two guys proves me wrong. RT, another WR and RB then another DL, LB and DB.

I would have been thrilled if Heyward and Bowers were there instead of Taylor and Sheard. Plus they'd still have a third rounder...