News hounds (5/24/12)
Fenwick vs. Felicity
Meadowdale graduation 2012
Home > Blogs > Dawging the Browns > Archives > 2008 > April
April 2008
Making sense of the draft
It ended with a seventh-round choice, Alex Hall, from a small school in Raleigh, N.C., who might turn into something.
The draft also ended with no cornerback or backup running back added to the roster.
General Manager Phil Savage seemed pleased, however, with the Browns’ five picks Sunday: linebacker Beau Bell, tight end Martin Rucker, receiver Paul Hubbard, nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin and defensive end Hall, a long-range project who will be converted to an outside linebacker.
Factoring in earlier trades, you can say the draft looks like this:
Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame
Corey Williams, DL, Green Bay Packers
Shaun Rogers, DT, Detroit Lions
Beau Bell, LB, Nevada-Las Vega
Martin Rucker, TE, Missouri
Ahtyba Rubin, NT, Iowa State
Paul Hubbard, WR, Wisconsin
Alex Hall, DE, St. Augustine’s
Where’s the cornerback, you ask? Well, the Browns’ looked at their needs this way: Inside linebacker, outside linebacker, tight end, cornerback, in no particular order apparently. They addressed three of the four.
“I think there’s always some soft spots on your roster,” Savage said, “but I think we’re comfortable with the players we have. We’ve made a lot of strides. Offensive line, defensive line and quarterback seem to be fairly solid, and those are three good places to start.”
As for sacrificing next year’s third- and fifth-round picks for better traction in this year’s draft, the wisdom of that can be debated, but Savage defended it by saying they had put so much effort into scouting second-day picks that he didn’t want that work to go to waste, especially if they could acquire players such as Bell and Rucker. Both were among the top 50 or so on their board and, by that logic, bargains where they were taken.
Plus, “Beau and Martin were in a group above the next level of corners in our mind,” Savage said.
The sleeper, I think, is Hubbard. The Wisconsin receiver missed half of his senior season with a knee injury and caught just 14 passes, but he’s big and fast and some teams might have forgotten about him or downgraded him just because there wasn’t a lot of tape of him doing much last season.
Hubbard can’t be any worse than Travis Wilson, a 2006 third-rounder who is shaping up as a colossal bust. Or Tim Carter, who did next to nothing last season after being acquired from the Giants.
Beyond Bell and Rucker, I think Hubbard has the best chance to contribute right away and certainly he’ll be in the mix in ‘09, by which time Joe Jurevicius figures to have retired.
Rubin will compete with Louis Leonard, primarily, for the backup nose tackle spot.
On the running back issue, an NFL Network analyst left Savage puzzled when he criticized the Browns for not taking one to back up Jamal Lewis.
“I don’t know why people keep saying that,” Savage said. “We were pretty pleased with (Jason) Wright and (Jerome) Harrison. We have no complaints.”
With no prompting, however, Savage listed cornerback and running back as two of next year’s likely draft needs.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment |
Bell tolls for Browns
Shortly after noon, the NFL draft finally started for the Cleveland Browns.
Trading their fourth- and fifth-round picks to the Dallas Cowboys, they moved up 18 spots in the fourth round to select Nevada-Las Vegas linebacker Beau Bell, a 6-foot-1, 250 pounder with injury issues.
Then they got together with the Cowboys again, dealing next year’s third-round choice for another fourth-rounder, which they used on Missouri tight end Martin Rucker.
The Browns, who did not have a pick in the first three rounds, entered the day with the No. 23 pick in the fourth. But General Manager Phil Savage coveted Bell and didn’t want to risk that he wouldn’t fall that far.
Bell mainly played outside linebacker in college, but the Browns are drafting him to play inside and were not deterred by the knee injury, a bone bruise, he suffered during practice for the Senior Bowl.
At his pro day, Bell ran a disappointing 4.9 in the 40-yard dash, but that was mainly because the injury cut into his training. Before hurting the knee, he ran in the mid 4.7s.
“I’d like to thank the whole organization for believing in me and choosing me,” the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year said on a conference call. “I can’t wait to get started and play some football.”
Bell described his style as “real physical at the point of attack. I like to run around and hit people.”
Browns starting cornerback Eric Wright, a second-round draft choice last year, was Bell’s teammate at UNLV for one year.
“He said it’s cold out there, but it’s real fun and the team’s on the rise,” Bell said. “I’m really excited to come to Cleveland. Being on the inside could really bring out the best in me.”
Rucker (no relation to Reggie) started all 14 games for Missouri as a senior and led the nation’s tight ends with 84 receptions.
One disquieting scouting report on Rucker: “Not physical, plays too tall and lacks functional strength.”
“Most of our blocking was done in space,” Rucker said. “I’m eager to prove to everyone that I can (block).”
Rucker, 6-foot-4, 251 pounds, is the brother of Mike Rucker, a Pro Bowl defensive tackle who recently retired from the Carolina Panthers after a long and productive career.
Rucker’s father is a member of Congress from Missouri, which led to this criticism by Pro Football Weekly: “Has a sense of entitlement coming from a very successful family and must learn what it really means to work.”
Rejecting that notion, Rucker said, “There’s going to be nothing but hard work out of me.”
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment |
Draft day is all about the food
Back in 1999, when the franchise was just rising from the expansion ashes and co-owners Al Lerner and Carmen Policy were hoping to ingratiate themselves, draft day brought more than just Tim Couch.
There was dinner, served to the media at our work stations.
I think I recall prime rib or chicken being the options. Maybe not. It’s been a while. But I do remember thinking they went to an awful lot of fuss, and appreciating it with every bite.
Nine years later, the food remains a highlight, but it’s cafeteria-style these days. No waiters taking orders. But there’s ice cream, which is important.
And with the Browns not expected to do much of anything Saturday because they don’t pick until Sunday, I’m thinking there will be more time for eating and schmoozing, which are the two constants at any draft.
Distractions were more important in those early years anyhow, especially with the picks the Browns were making, although we didn’t know exactly how abysmal some of them actually would turn out to be.
You don’t have to be Mel Kiper (or Todd McShay for that matter) to know the Browns did not draft well from 1999 through 2003. Three of their first four first-round draft choices (QB Couch, DE Courtney Brown and RB William Green) have been out of the league for two years and the other, defensive tackle Gerard Warren, is with his third team, hanging on by a thread.
It helps to remember the past so we don’t repeat it, right? So, to review: Dwight Clark and Chris Palmer passed up Donovan McNab to take Couch. Later, Butch Davis passed on LaDainian Tomlinson and Richard Seymour to take Warren, then passed on Clinton Portis to take Green, then passed on Eric Steinbach to take Jeff Faine
Is it any wonder the Browns have made the playoffs just once in nine seasons?
With the exception of 2004, when Davis drafted Kellen Winslow and Sean Jones, draft day in those early years was nothing but heartburn and heartache for Browns fans.
Then Phil Savage showed up.
Since taking over as general manager in 2005, Savage’s first-rounders have been Braylon Edwards, Kamerion Wimbley and Joe Thomas.
Edwards and Thomas already have made the Pro Bowl and Wimbley’s been more than solid.
That’s a pretty good batting average for a guy who had never been a GM.
Now the challenge is to hit on some of the lower-round picks because that’s all the Browns have this year after trading away their top three.
It’ll be interesting to watch what happens. Between trips to the cafeteria, of course.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment |
Bengals QB rips Browns
The Browns should need no added motivation to beat the Bengals, who basically knocked them out of the playoffs last season.
But if they want some, here it is.
It seems that news of the Browns’ five prime-time national TV appearances next season already isn’t sitting well with Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer.
In case you haven’t read it elsewhere, here’s what Palmer, normally a classy professional, had to say Wednesday during a media availability in Cincinnati:
“I was as shocked as anybody to see that because they’re still a ways away from being a …”
Apparently sensing he had said too much, Palmer finished that sentence after a pause by adding, “They weren’t even in the playoffs.”
True enough, the Browns were a game away from the postseason, finishing 10-6. They fell short on the final day of the regular season when Tennessee beat Indianapolis.
“I think it’s a lot of hype early,” Palmer reportedly huffed. “Just like every year, there’s hype around one or two teams early.”
And then there was this prediction from Palmer on the hype surrounding the Browns:
“It’ll fizzle out once they start playing games.”
You don’t usually hear too much trash talk in the spring. Before the draft yet. At the very least, Palmer’s comments should give fans of both teams something to talk about between now and when the teams first meet Sept. 28 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Permalink | Comments (20) | Post your comment |
Only six schedules tougher
If this were college football or basketball, the Browns would have a leg up on most of the league in the strength-of-schedule department.
It’s a minefield from opening day at home against the Dallas Cowboys to the final game at Heinz Field against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
One saving grace, however: Based on last season’s records, nobody in the AFC North has an easier road, and the Steelers’ schedule is the toughest in the league.
Keeping in mind that some of these teams may not be who we think they are (subtle tribute to Dennis Green there), here are the 10 toughest schedules, showing ‘07 winning percentages, wins and losses of this year’s opponents:
Pittsburgh Steelers-.598-153-103
Indianapolis Colts-.594-152-104
Jacksonville Jaguars-.559-143-113
Minnesota Vikings-.551-141-115
Baltimore Ravens-.551-141-115
Tennesee Titans-.551-141-115
Cincinnati Bengals-.547-140-116
Houston Texans-.547-140-116
BROWNS-.547-140-116
Detroit Lions-.543-139-117
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment |
Schedule looks brutal up close
Are the Browns ready for prime time? Somebody thinks so, because they are scheduled for five nationally televised prime-time appearances.
The five prime-time regular-season games are the most ever for the Browns, who haven’t played on national TV since 2006 and haven’t been on Monday night since 2003.
Their three Monday night games are the most since 1988, back when Bernie Kosar was still slinging it to Webster Slaughter. Only once in nine seasons, Dec. 8, 2003, has the new franchise played on Monday night, and it didn’t go so well as Kelly Holcomb threw a couple of damaging interceptions in a 26-20 loss to the St. Louis Rams.
We knew who the Browns would be playing, but to see the ‘08 schedule as a finished product, with times and dates, makes you wonder where the wins are going to come from, doesn’t it? Maybe just a little bit?
OK, so they’ll win their share, but they had better be more than a little bit improved, because there is very little breathing room with this slate, let me tell you.
Should be interesting, though, with all the Monday Night Football appearances, including one at home Oct. 13 against the Super Bowl champion New York Giants. Plus a Sunday night game and a Thursday game.
Obviously the networks think the Browns are back on the map after last season’s 10-6 record left them a win short of the playoffs.
“It is always an exciting time of year when the league announces the regular-season schedule,” Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. “We are excited for our fans, the city of Cleveland and the Browns organization that we will have the opportunity to be showcased in front of a national audience on several occasions.”
The closest thing to a breather might be the Nov. 23 home game against Houston. They always seem to beat the Texans, especially at home.
Sun., Sept. 7 vs DALLAS COWBOYS, 4:15 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 14 vs PITTSBURGH STEELERS, 8:15 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 21 @ Baltimore Ravens, 4:15 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 28 @ Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.
Mon., Oct. 13 vs NEW YORK GIANTS, 8:30 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 19 @ Washington Redskins, 4:15 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 26 @ Jacksonville Jaguars, 4:05 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 2 vs BALTIMORE RAVENS, 1 p.m.
Thurs., Nov. 6 vs DENVER BRONCOS, 8:15 p.m.
Mon., Nov. 17 @ Buffalo Bills, 8:30 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 23 vs HOUSTON TEXANS, 1 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 30 vs INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, 1 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 7 @ Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m.
Mon., Dec. 15 @ Philadelphia Eagles, 8:30 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 21 vs CINCINNATI BENGALS, 1 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 28 @ Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment |
Much of the work is done
As they ponder which obscure linebacker or defensive back to take in the fourth round of the draft, the Cleveland Browns — with the possible exception of knucklehead cornerback Kenny Wright, who got arrested — can feel good about how the offseason has gone so far.
A glance at the roster, position by position, actually shows few glaring weaknesses:
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Derek Anderson is the man, but having Brady Quinn on hand is excellent insurance, with the cerebral Ken Dorsey acting as a coach/mentor. Grade: B
Running back: Re-signing Hall of Fame-bound Jamal Lewis was an obvious move executed flawlessly. Jason Wright is a competent backup, but if Lewis stays healthy, there will be little reason to use him or Jerome Harrison much. Grade: A
Receiver: Signing Donte Stallworth in free agency provides someone to work the middle who can run after the catch and also go deep. Another exciting weapon for Anderson, who already had a couple of nice targets in Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr. Whatever Joe Jurevicius brings to the table after knee surgery will be a bonus. Grade: B+
Tight end: Winslow is one of the game’s best. Steve Heiden is the backup. Darnell Dinkins is a short-yardage blocker/special teams type. Only question, as always, is Winslow’s health, but he plays through pain better than most. Grade: A
Tackle: Can’t get much better than Joe Thomas on the left side. One season. One Pro Bowl. Kevin Shaffer adapted OK to right tackle last season after being displaced by Thomas. Not a whole lot of depth to speak of, but Ryan Tucker might split time with Shaffer if not needed at right guard. Grade: B+
Guard: What’s not to like about Eric Steinbach? Good player. Great guy. Well worth what they paid to pry him away from the Bengals. Competition at right guard might be interesting between free-agent signee Rex Hadnot, Seth McKinney, Tucker and whoever else. Grade: B
Center: Hank Fraley could be supplanted by a healthy LeCharles Bentley, but Bentley has missed the past two seasons and it seems unlikely. Fraley does a solid job. Grade: B
DEFENSE
Line: Corey Williams (Packers) and Shaun Rogers (Lions) should give this unit a boost, teaming with holdovers Shaun Smith and Robaire Smith. Quality depth might be lacking, but it can’t be worse than it was. Neither can the pass rush. Grade: B
Linebacker: Kamerion Wimbley regressed last season, at least in terms of his sack total, but teams paid more attention to him and there was no pass rusher on the other side to worry anybody. D’Qwell Jackson is solid in the middle, though undersized. Antwan Peek should be healthier and Leon Williams should continue to push Andra Davis. Grade: C
Cornerback: Last season’s emergence of Brandon McDonald allowed for Leigh Bodden to be traded to Detroit in the Rogers deal. Bodden will be missed, though, mainly for his experience. Eric Wright is on the other side, with Daven Holly in reserve. More depth needed here. Grade: C
Safety: Brodney Pool and Sean Jones got it together after a shaky start last season and should only get better. Depth is lacking. It will help if Gary Baxter can make it back, as expected: Grade: B
SPECIAL TEAMS
Returner: Joshua Cribbs made the Pro Bowl and even had his own TV show. That says it all. Grade: A
Placekicker: Phil Dawson enjoyed one of his better years and will be hard to dislodge: Grade: A
Punter: Dave Zastudil: As solid as you’d want. Grade: A
Long snapper: Ryan Pontbriand made the Pro Bowl. Grade: A
