Savage continues to remake Browns

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class="" vAlign=top width=560><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Savage continues to remake Browns</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By Patrick McManamon, Beacon Journal staff writer

General manager Phil Savage looked at the NFL Draft as a benchmark for the 2005 Browns.

"I think the draft lets us know how far we really have to go with the team," Savage said after the Browns had picked eight players in two days. "We feel we've made some strides. If you go back and look at what we did in free agency and combine that with the draft, we feel we're in pretty good shape from where we were three months ago."

Savage carries himself with a southern gentility. He speaks thoughtfully but quietly. Coach Romeo Crennel is a gentleman. He rarely criticizes and always seems understated. Their outward demeanor, though, belies their actions. They have attacked their jobs with the passion they seek in their players, and they have almost overhauled the roster.

A projected starting lineup, which includes kickers, shows 13 new starters. That's more than a 50 percent change -- in just more than three months.

The value of the changes will be decided on the field, but there is no debating that Savage and Crennel have taken the roster by storm. The changes include new players at every key skill position (quarterback, No. 1 wide receiver, running back) and allowing two former first-round draft picks on the defensive line to move on:

Quarterback



Then: Jeff Garcia, Kelly Holcomb, Luke McCown.



Now: Trent Dilfer, Charlie Frye*, Josh Harris.



Savage has completely changed this position, bringing in a veteran he respects along with two young quarterbacks. It's a roll of the dice. Dilfer hasn't started 16 games since 1998, and Frye and Harris have yet to take an NFL snap. But Savage trusts Dilfer. He also signed Harris with the Baltimore Ravens a year ago, and every time Savage and the Browns scouts looked at Frye on tape he was making something happen. Anyone who completely changes the quarterback spot has to have great trust in his abilities to find players.



Running backs/fullback



Then: William Green, Lee Suggs, James Jackson, Adimchinobe Echemandu, Terrelle Smith (FB).



Now: Reuben Droughns, Suggs, Green, Echemandu, Smith.



Savage has added a 1,200-yard rusher in Droughns to a tandem that already had talent. Problem was with that talent came questions. Droughns gives the Browns an inside back that they think they can trust. Suggs provides the outside running in the tandem. Green? He's a wild card that the Browns have unsuccessfuly tried to trade.



Offensive line



Then: Ross Verba, Paul Zukauskas, Enoch DeMar, Jeff Faine, Kelvin Garmon, Ryan Tucker, Kirk Chambers, Melvin Fowler.



Now: Verba, Joe Andruzzi, Faine, Cosey Coleman, Tucker, DeMar, Chambers, Jon Dunn*.



Savage wasted no time jettisoning last year's guards to make room for Andruzzi and Coleman. Andruzzi is the emblem for the "new" Browns -- a hard-working player, a good guy who's involved in the community and a dependable, not flashy professional. Depth remains a concern; one or two injuries could do much damage. Too, it would behoove Savage to consider the future at tackle. Tucker will be 30 and Verba's contract is up after this year.



Receivers



Then: Andre' Davis, Quincy Morgan, Dennis Northcutt, Andre King, Frisman Jackson.



Now: Braylon Edwards*, Davis, Northcutt, Antonio Bryant, Jackson.



There is no questioning the drafting of Edwards, who could become the No. 1 receiver whom the Browns have lacked. If Edwards reaches his potential, it will be a major boost to an offense that needs playmakers. His abilities are needed. Davis has fought injuries, Bryant showed ability but still carries baggage from Dallas and Northcutt is the perfect third receiver.



Tight end



Then: Kellen Winslow, Steve Heiden, Aaron Shea.



Now: Winslow, Heiden, Shea.



This is one position Savage was not about to change. He sees Winslow as an immense talent. Anytime anyone mentioned the notion of trading Winslow for more draft picks, Savage acted as if the person were speaking Greek. Rumors have swirled that Winslow has been slow to bounce back from his broken fibula, but the team discounts the rumors. Winslow, the Browns say, is doing fine.



Kicker



Then: Phil Dawson.



Now: Dawson.



Savage wisely ignored the cries to draft Mike Nugent. He simply had too many other needs to take a kicker this year. Too, Dawson has been dependable as can be since he has been with the Browns. He struggled in a couple of games last season, but that doesn't come close to wiping out his valuable contributions.



Defensive line



Then: Courtney Brown, Gerard Warren, Orpheus Roye, Kenard Lang, Ebenezer Ekuban, Mike Myers, Alvin McKinley, Corey Jackson, Amon Gordon.



Now: Roye, Jason Fisk, Alvin McKinley, Jackson, Gordon, Andrew Hoffman*.



It takes courage and confidence to send former first and third overall picks packing, but that's what Savage and Crennel did. Warren's departure was a matter of production, Brown's a matter of money. No matter, they're both with the Denver Broncos now, and the quiet pro, Roye, continues to play for the Browns. Crennel and his coaches will be challenged as the Browns make the defensive transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4 front. The lack of proven talent will require smart juggling of the players on the roster, as well as smart coaching calls to utilize what is left.



Linebacker



Then: Warrick Holdman, Andra Davis, Kevin Bentley, Chaun Thompson, Brant Boyer, Mason Unck, Barry Gardner, Eric Westmoreland.



Now: Lang/Matt Stewart, Davis, Ben Taylor, Thompson, Boyer, David McMillan*, Nick Speegle*, Unck, Westmoreland.



Thompson and Davis could benefit from the switch to the 3-4. Their skills seem to match the requirements. Taylor will try the middle, and Crennel has asked Lang to try linebacker. He is simply too small to play the end in the 3-4. Changing the front seven will be a big job and a key to the defense. Savage got a chuckle out of all the questions about losing last year's defenders. He answered by asking: Wasn't this team ranked 32nd in run defense a year ago?



Secondary



Then: Daylon McCutcheon, Anthony Henry, Robert Griffith, Earl Little, Lewis Sanders, Chris Crocker, Mike Jameson, Leigh Bodden, Michael Lehan.



Now: McCutcheon, Gary Baxter, Brian Russell, Sean Jones, Brodney Pool*, Antonio Perkins*, Crocker, Bodden, Lehan.



Three-fourths of the starting secondary is new. There is no true "shut-down" corner in the group, but some now question if any corner can shut down a receiver given the way rules favor wide receivers. How Jones responds to a missed season due to a knee injury will be interesting. Some observers think that Pool, the team's second-round draft choice, could be starting before year's end.



Punter



Then: Derrick Frost.



Now: Kyle Richardson.



Signing the veteran Richardson was a shrewd move. It covers up one of the goofs of 2005. Frost was not ready to take over for Chris Gardocki even though he was forced into the position. If Frost responds to competition from Richardson and wins the job, he'll have earned it. * -- indicates draft pick


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[exhawg]

I like that Savage is picking up local guys. Having players like Frye, Fraser, Cribbs, and Mahl with give fans players to cheer for. I think it would be cool to see the former Akron QB throw a pass to the former Kent QB.

Cribbs gets a shot as free agent

Browns will try KSU quarterback as receiver

[size=-1]By Gary Estwick[/size]

[size=-1]Beacon Journal staff writer[/size]

<!-- begin body-content --> KENT - Joshua Cribbs won't have to travel far to start his professional football career.

The former Kent State standout is expected to join linebacker Eric Mahl on Thursday, and sign a free-agent contract with the Browns.

After earning all-Mid-American Conference honors as a quarterback, Cribbs will enter minicamp as a receiver.

``I would have hoped to play quarterback, but I've got to fit in where I fit in,'' Cribbs said.

He opted for the Browns despite a late push from his hometown team, the Washington Redskins.

``I heard from them a little late,'' said Cribbs, a native of the Washington, D.C., area.

``The Browns showed interest early, they got on me, they called me to secure a spot.''

The Redskins pursued Cribbs as a quarterback.

At this time, no such opportunity is available with the Browns.

``I really believe I made a good choice,'' Cribbs said. ``The Browns are interested in me, and I'm going to give them my all -- receiver, special teams, all-purpose.''

Cribbs still is learning his new position.

In recent weeks, he has come to understand the conditioning associated with being a receiver.

Running routes. Running downfield to block. Running back to the huddle after catches.

``There's a lot more to it,`` he said.

His route running also is improving. He credits receiver Darrell Dowery, who will attend a tryout this week with the New England Patriots.

The Patriots were expecting to be short on receivers in camp, so former KSU coach Dean Pees called Dowery.

``This weekend was full of a lot of highs and lows,'' Dowery said. ``But I'm going somewhere, so I'm going to make the best of the opportunity.''

A record 11 Mid-American Conference players were selected in last weekend's NFL Draft, including University of Akron quarterback Charlie Frye.

None were picked from KSU.

Last season, Dowery led the Golden Flashes with 68 catches for 712 yards and four touchdowns.

``I'm learning from the best,'' Cribbs said of Dowery. ``I try to mimic him.''

Mahl anchored the top-ranked defense in the MAC with 96 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions.

``I think it's a good fit for me, with their new defense they're putting in,'' Mahl said. ``I think with their linebacker situation, I think there may be a spot for me.''

After agreeing to sign with the Browns, Mahl has spent his free time reading player bios.

KSU cornerback Abram Elam, offensive lineman Chad Bandiera and running back David Alston could find themselves on NFL rosters later this week.

Browns sign Fraser

Ohio State defensive end Simon Fraser agreed to terms on a free-agent contract with the Browns, who are switching to a 3-4 defense this season under first-year coach Romeo Crennel.

The 6-foot-6, 288-pound Fraser was a two-year starter and played all four years for the Buckeyes. He expected to be taken in the NFL Draft over the weekend but wasn't picked.

His agent, John Geletka, said that the Browns had been in constant contact with Fraser and that they were one of eight teams that he spoke with during Sunday's final rounds.

The Browns are not expected to announce the signing of Fraser or any other free agents until the players pass physicals.

A co-captain last season, Fraser had 28 tackles and 2 ½ sacks starting at left end.