Flugel

Aside from your points, I'd be surprised if he didn't draft a DB somewhere in this draft.

In 68, I was only 4 years old. Any 1st impressions I had of Bill Nelsen thru 1972 were from whatever my dad saw and said. I got the sense he liked Bill Nelsen and appreciated him trying to play despite the 2 bad knees.

Yeah, who knows? You might be right Ballpeen. If you are right - the good news is a lot of productive college tackles (lacking arm length) get drafted to play OG creating a bigger supply of Guards (ie: Joel Bitonio was a Tackle in college) overall. This also means we wouldn't have to draft one in round 2 in order to secure a good one. Besides, we don't need immediate impact at OG with Bitonio and Teller so they can defer to a later round for a developmental guy. Just thinking out loud here. I think we have more depth inside at this time than at LT. Michael Dunn can play LG extremely well; and I'm guessing he could do the same at RG if we needed him to (that's an easier transition from 1 side to the other than OT). He helped us beat SF without Bitonio. They just signed a backup RG Germain Ifedi (who would only play RT if both Conklin and Jones are injured). Luke Wypler will also be counted on to backup Center an OG spot. Right now, I don't think we have a backup LT on the roster that anyone would have a great deal of confidence in (unless I'm forgetting someone I shouldn't be). There's been mentions and thoughts on our board about moving Dawand Jones to LT. I've warmed up to this idea more than I thought I would. However, trying this the 1st training camp after a serious knee injury that landed him on IR and a surgery table might not be the best time to try this. Like Dutch reminds us, we're not having any luck keeping Conklin healthy so we'll probably see more of Jones than Conklin at RT again. My guess is we'll go LT with our first pick in round 2 unless a run on the position depletes the supply of them too far to consider what's left for round 2 value. Very possible this could happen. Stay tuned...

I have to agree. I think we're begging for trouble pretending 1 more year of Casper the Friendly Ghost at Left Tackle helps this team in any way. This was like 2022 when the Browns pretended DT wasn't important at all. End result? This team couldn't stop the run or keep offensive linemen off the LB Corps. In fact, we had portions of the 2022 season where the entire 1st string of LBers were injured because of it. Yeah, Wills under contract but does that light his fanny or make him feel entitled 1 more time? I don't see a lot of playoff teams that have their biggest weakness upfront at Left Tackle. There may be some exceptions to that - like the Browns at the expense of needing 5 different QBs. When Wills went on IR, the Browns won 4 of their last 5 games. The only one they lost in that stretch was in Cincy. That day, they rested a lot of valuable starters while starting Jeff Driskell at QB. Unfortunately, none of this means they'll take a LT. There's probably going to be a run on them before we draft in round 2. We'll see what happens...

He had some good records in Cleveland when he played. Fans seemed to like him. After 1968 you could see the drop-off in his TD/INT ratio. Here's his record each season played & TDs/INTs: 1968: 11-2 & 19 TDs 10 INTs 1969: 10-3-1 & 23 TDs 19 INTs Pro Bowl 1970: 6-6 & 16 TDs 16 INTs 1971: 9-4 & 13 TDs 23 INTs 1972: 0-1 & 0 TDs 3 INTs

IMO, Left Tackles are somewhat like QBs in the sense teams will reach for them. For example, Lindy's Draft Mag has Kiran Amegadije going to KC at #64 overall in their Mock Draft - even though they had him as their 13th highest rated Offensive Tackle as a 4th round projection. He didn't make the Top 100 Rated Players posted in this mag based on consensus opinion of Field Level Media analysts. That said, the entire Ivy League got snobbed from that list. My other Draft Mag from Athlon Sports has him rated #76 overall in their Top 100 players. Before I share where this Mock Draft has him going - there's been some trades between when this was printed vrs the other Mag. This mag's mock draft also has KC taking Amegadije but this version has KC doing it at #63 overall. I think the most up to date version has KC drafting in the 64th spot. In either case, KC has a franchise QB to protect. Both Mock Drafts acknowledge the importance of that in terms of reaching above the ratings/projections into a limited supply of Left Tackles available to shield off the blind side of passer.

Easily my 2 faves leading both versions of Kardiac Kids in the 80s.

The truth shall set you free Michigan. The best sports program at the University in Annie's Arbor this side of the year 2000 is the Women's Gymnastics team that won the only undisputed, asterisks-free National Championship in 2021. The desperation to win with integrity is well summarized above. It's been pretty much impossible as clearly articulated by the dialed-in fan above. Just tell the truth, as painful as it always seems to be, and you can exhale again. Okay, so you're only 2nd or 3rd or 4th best again. The Vanderbilt Commodores would give anything to be in your shoes on the gridiron; even though they've won a National Championship in baseball in 2014 and 2019.

I hear ya! Let's hope some of these young men are thinking Clevelandofopportunity.

Could you imagine if we drafted 2 kids from Yale in the same draft?

Yes; and he never even played football there. James Harrison was also an undrafted free agent from Kent State. That said, Harrison got cut numerous times before he found the right blend of secret potions.

For example, NE drafted Kent State QB Julian Edelman in round 7 who began returning punts/kickoffs before he emerged as a Pro Bowl WR. Prior to that, Cleveland signed another former Kent State QB Josh Cribbs as an undrafted free agent who excelled as a Kickoff/Punt Return Specialist. He also played WR and some QB in the WildDawg. He made 3 Pro Bowls and earned a 1st Team All Pro honor. He was also recognized as a member of The NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2000s. I wouldn't mind an equivalent find this year...

Well said. If we're ever gonna waste another draft pick on a kicker - I'd rather have it done here (especially if we have more than one 7th round pick). The 3 we drafted never survived their 1st contract in Cleveland. Having said that, the Browns brought the last one back just in case we lose our starting kicker to a severe hamstring pull again. A couple years ago, I was flipping back and forth between the 2 networks covering the draft in the final hour. One of the networks was saying when you get to the 7th round - it's almost better for the player if they end up being an undrafted free agent. This way the player has a chance to pick a best fit situation his skillsets among teams interested. Makes sense. On the other hand, many kids dream about getting drafted. How about a Brock Purdy being the last pick of the draft 2 years ago?

I'll buy them another round of depressants while I'm celebrating another Big 10 Championship for Ohio State.

🤣 Look what it takes to temporarily beat Ohio State...

What me? Unleash a bunch of blowhard with my excitement about a prospect? 😁 Okay, but it's not uncommon for a best player on a team to be a team leader or voted a team captain by his teammates. Lindy's Draft Magazine says Amegadjie has been a cornerstone of the Yale football program since his freshman year. Amegadjie led an offensive line that went to the Ivy League Championship twice, winning both. Here's a short excerpt from Athlon Sports NFL Draft: Amegadjie finished his outstanding Yale career this fall, helping Yale win an Ivy League title for the second straight season. He earned third team All-America honors from Stats Perform, was a first team All-Ivy selection for the second straight season and was named the Ivy League's offensive lineman of the year by analyst Phil Steele.

🤣 I thought Cal hi-jacked your pc for a second. I miss that guy; but skydiving with 2 bad knees can cause brain damage especially if you forget the parachute... Like I said in the thread "Who Are The Browns Going to Pick at #54?" LT Kiran Amegadjie - Yale, 6-5 321lbs 37 inch arms - 2 time All Ivy League 1st Team Selection. Strong, fast, fierce and agile. Led his team to 2 Ivy League Championships. In 2015, the Bucs drafted Division 3 OG Ali Marpet out of Hobart in the 61st slot overall and he eventually made the Pro Bowl. 1 Mock Draft in Athlon Sports Draft Mag has the KC Chiefs drafting Amegadjie at #63 overall to protect the blindside of Mahomes. Right now LT is a glaring weakness on the blindside of QB the Browns have invested a lot of money in. LTs go fast in the draft so it might be very well worth the reach.

😆 Exactly!

Not bad Gumbs; but if the Browns boycott OL - they're prolly asking for trouble. I liked your mindset in the other thread of Payton Wilson at #54 and Kiran's Amega-Tackle at #85. That seems more like a football wood factor going from balsa to sequoia.

My spelling test says that's A-mega start to our draft Gumbs! That Y for Yale just gave you a Y for Yahtzee. I was wondering where you were; and you didn't disappoint. Well done!

Understood. I need my day job so I don't buy the magazine/guide to try to be like Mel Kiper Jr; and I hope no one else does either. It's more of a last minute Cliffs Notes summary of research and rankings of guys at all positions - many that weren't televised in the region I live in very often. For example, a guy like BYU WR Puka Nacua last year or Brock Purdy (Mr Irrelevant) in 2022. Most of the guys we've heard/seen a lot about are often drafted within the 1st 2-3 rounds of a 7 round draft. On the 3rd day of the draft when it starts moving faster - names of selections appear and sometimes you don't even see their quick highlights until 10-15 minutes later. That's when I'm really happy to have the resource to look up the guy the Browns picked. As for the price, they stamp those prices right on the bar card on the bottom left corner of the magazine cover. And if they're going to over-charge a consumer - you're the guy I'd hand select to argue that all the way down to a discount Ballpeen. Lindy's Sports Pro Football Mag was only $10.99 so I drank less beer that weekend. Unfortunately, that still didn't help me find the 6 pack in my mid-section. Should I put that on a milk carton? "Has anyone seen Pus-Gut Flugel's Abs since 1982? Okay, did anyone ever see them before that?" Athlon Sports NFL Draft was a little more at $12.99.

I hear ya; but he made 2 Pro Bowls in his 2nd and 3rd seasons. His 4th year in Houston they started purging their roster; but he had the highest passer ratings of his career in spite of it. Some of this is on the coaching staff to know why they wanted him and how they were going to use him. Being suspended 11 games in 2022 didn't help after not playing all of 2021. Our fans don't want to hear the excuses I just gave; and rightfully so. My question to myself here - does this type of talent heading into the prime of his career just wake up 1 day with a Charlie Frye skill-set at age 28? No. 2021 Didn't play 2020 70.2 comp% 4,823 yards 33 TD 7 INT 112.4 rating 2019 67.3 comp% 3,852 yards 26 TD 12 INT 98.0 rating Pro Bowl 2018 68.3 comp% 4,165 yards 26 TD 9 INT 103.1 rating Pro Bowl 2017 61.8 comp% 1,699 yards 19 TD 8 INT 103.0 rating This is how he compared in his last year with the rest of the QBs in 2020. PASSING YDS 1 Deshaun WatsonHOU 4,823 2 Patrick MahomesKC 4,740 3 Tom BradyTB 4,633 4 Matt RyanATL 4,581 5 Josh AllenBUF 4,544

🤣 For the part in bold. I remember Mudfly stopped in right after the trade to remind us that outside of Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, this franchise has been best known for messing up 1st round picks. It was 10 years between selecting Joe Thomas and Myles Garrett/David Njoku (who took a while to meet expectations). When Watson plays like the National Champion QB who buried Ohio State and Alabama (loaded w/ 1st and 2nd round prospects on their defenses); and the Pro Bowl QB he was in Houston for 2 years - very few will worry about what the Browns gave up.

And yet, you missed me. Look at all the attention you wanted me to have. 3 posts! 😁

Multiple? Just College Football since you never post about the Browns. You do know this was originally setup as a Cleveland Browns Board right? Anyway, college football pits the local Ohio Team vrs a hated Rival Michigan team. Right now, Michigan and it's HC needed to be disciplined for stealing signs in the most recent football season. Of course I'm going to have fun with that busting your chops. If Ohio State having the majority of wins in the rivalry this side of the year 2000 and the majority of fans makes you nervous - maybe you should seek out a message board that gives you the common bond you need? The other alternative is understanding it's only me - and I'm just busting your chops.