"Survivor"....Cleveland Browns Edition

[Earl34]

It isn't very often that a team finds itself with double digit draft picks, much less five of the top 100. This got me to wondering how all of this new blood would fit. It certainly stands to reason that one of two things will happen:

 

1) They use all 10 picks and come out of the draft with 10 new bodies (not to mention the UFA's they sign afterwards)

2) They use some of the lower picks to move up and come out of the draft with less quantity but theoretically better quality.

 

With this in mind you have to wonder where 7 or 10 new bodies would fit. We don't have a clear draft record to go from in the sense that the responsibilities for choosing players will be "shared". Will it turn out looking like a "Heckert draft"? A

"Mangini Draft"? A "Holmgren Draft"? I don't know. Mangini's drafts in NY were remarkable for the fact that many of those players (no matter what round) made the team. The team that Mangini inherited had about 50-60% turnover by opening day last year. One could imagine more of the same this offseason and we're hoping that the on-field product will be significantly better than in 2008 or 2009.

 

Keeping in mind that 10 newly drafted players may show up to try and win jobs, I was going to look at who's on the roster now with an eye towards what 10 players are possibly vulnerable.

 

Going through the roster as of today, here's what's in the cupboard based on what I believe the 53-man roster to be:

QB - Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace, Brett Ratliff

 

Obviously, Delhomme and Wallace are still unpacking. I think the only one who should be anxious here is Ratliff. Holmgren promised the Browns will take a QB, so I figure there's one spot. Done.

 

RB - Jerome Harrison, James Davis, Chris Jennings, Peyton Hillis, Lawrence Vickers,

 

Harrison and Hillis aren't in question. I think that Jennings is certainly vulnerable. While I liked some of the great effort he gave on the field, you can see why he was a CFL guy and guys like that are usually stopgaps. I can't imagine them getting rid of Vickers after his having been a RFA this offseason. As long as he's healthy, Davis gets a chance to build on the promise of last year.

 

WR - Brian Robiskie, Mohammed Massaquoi, Chansi Stuckey, Mike Furrey, Josh Cribbs,

 

I would be shocked if we didn't pick up a speedy WR in this draft (Jacoby Ford, for instance) and I suppose that leaves Furrey the likely man out although I can't imagine that Stuckey is particularly more secure.

 

TE - Greg Estandia, Robert Royal, Evan Moore, Ben Watson

 

This group is about one player too heavy and I suspect that will be Robert "Stone Hands" Royal

 

OL - Joe Thomas, Eric Steinbach, Alex Mack, Tony Pashos, Floyd Womack, Billy Yates, John St. Clair,

 

I don't believe that John St. Clair will be on this team come opening day. Floyd Womack could be a back up but not much more than that, so he's vulnerable.

 

DL- Shaun Rogers, Aytha Rubin, Kenyon Coleman, CJ Moseley, Brian Schaefering, Robaire Smith, Keith Grennan,

 

Rogers isn't going anywhere at this point since he shot his trade value. Rubin is a keeper. Coleman is very good against the run. Moseley is terribly underrated. I have a hard time figuring out if Robaire Smith is a player worth keeping. Schaefering earned his playing time last year and I want to think he's safe but he may not be. Grennan should be looking over his shoulder.

 

LB- D'Qwell Jackson, Scott Fujita, Chris Gocong, Matt Roth, David Bowens, David Veikune, Kaluka Maiava, Marcus Bernard, Jason Trusnik

 

Look at the first five names. I think you have to feel very good about those. I feel SO good about them that I wonder if D'Qwell and Bowens will both make the team as Fujita can play inside and outside. One of the things that Mangini and Rob Ryan wanted to do with this defense was have a LB corps that was flexible enough to the degree that the blitz could come from anyone anywhere. I look at the last four and think that (strange as it may sound) Veikune is the most vulnerable. They don't usually give up on a 2nd round pick in year two but Maiava is a special teams demon and Bernard and Trusnik really played well in their opportunities last year. Perhaps Maiava is vulnerable and Veikune isn't.

 

CB- Eric Wright, Sheldon Brown, Brandon McDonald, Hank Poteat, Coye Francies, Gerard Lawson,

 

I think that this group could go a few ways. You could argue that McDonald is gone. Poteat would be my choice. We don't know why Francies was inactive last year. Was he too stupid? Did he forget how to cover? Did he refuse to play specials? I don't know. Lawson is a young player who contributes on specials.

 

S- Abe Elam, Nick Sorensen, Mike Adams, Ray Ventrone,

 

Ick. I suppose Ventrone and Sorensen could be gone depending on what we take in the draft. If we get a top safety then one is definitely gone.

 

K- Phil Dawson, P- Dave Zastudil, LS- Ryan Pontbriand

 

I don't like speculating about specialists because they generally aren't replaced through the draft but you could see something crazy happen.

 

Thoughts? This is just an exercise. Obviously this all depends on what positions our draft picks play. Who are your ten guys? I'll go with Ratliff, Jennings, Furrey, Royal, St. Clair, Grennan, McDonald, Ventrone, Poteat and Robaire Smith

[ballpeen]

It's hard to say since who we draft is going to impact each position differently.

 

Take WR as an example.....you could almost kick Cribbs out of that group and call him a specialist who is going to make the team, or you could even bunch him in with the QBs...

 

 

I think the team was hoping Vickers would get signed to an offer sheet....I have a feeling things are changing on the team that makes him less viable to keep.

 

I think Hollis is going to man the position much like Alstott or Riggins, or Jim Brown and be a real running fullback....if you even call them those anymore.

 

 

 

 

 

We are going to see him lined up alone, and with some combination of Harrison and Davis.

 

 

 

If we draft a QB, yeah, Ratliff is probably toast.

 

 

OL....I think St.Clair will stick...while I don't want him as the starter, he is a experienced wide body who can at least give you something in a reserve role....The position lists 7 players...with 5 starters, 2 isn't a normal number of reserves....9 would be more like it, so we have some room to draft a couple of players and still keep the 7 listed...I think we will sacrifice in the backer ranks, or RB and just keep 4 runningbacks....including "fullbacks"...I also think we will pare down the TE position to 3 players....Watson, Moore, and 1 other. TE's don't make especially good special teams players so you need some pretty good reason to keep more than 3 on the roster IMO.

 

 

On D, don't separate corners and safeties...we currently list 10.....cut that down to 8-9...a few of those corners could move to safety if needed......but, that is your special team unit of units just above backer backer...so who knows.

 

 

 

At any rate, this is a good thing. It's a good sign when you start talking about cutting players you think you don't want to cut.....it means you are getting better.

 

 

I have always like Mangini, and with Heckert and Holmgren as cross checkers, I like it even more. We have 3 pretty good guys deciding on who needs to be on the team. I like the odds we aren't going to make to many mistakes. And three is the perfect number...if in doubt, you aren't going to have any tie situations on who to keep and who to cut. The odd man out, be it any of the three needs to lick his wounds and understand nobody is right all the time.

 

 

We are going to see a turn around....and maybe as early as next year.

 

 

Go Browns!

[TheClevelandSound]

here are my revisions/thoughts

 

QB - Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace, Brett Ratliff

 

Delhomme is our starter no matter what. He will only start 2011 if he has an exceptional year. Seneca Wallace will be used this season as a WildDawg/WR. Bret is gone. As much as Mangini likes him, theres not much hope if we are drafting a QB of the future.

 

RB - Jerome Harrison, James Davis, Chris Jennings, Peyton Hillis, Lawrence Vickers,

 

We wont draft a running back this year. Harrison will be our primary back, along with James Davis. Peyton Hillis will be our 3rd down/slot guy, and Vickers will do his usual exceptional blocking. Jennings is out.

 

WR - Brian Robiskie, Mohammed Massaquoi, Chansi Stuckey, Mike Furrey, Josh Cribbs,

 

Expect Robiskie to be used alot more as a #2 receiver. Massaquoi is our #1 and will be for awhile (pending Dez Bryant/Marty Gillyard drafting). JC wont be a receiver anymore. I see Stuckey the odd man out (Furrey has tremendous character).

 

TE - Greg Estandia, Robert Royal, Evan Moore, Ben Watson

 

Royal gone. End of discussion.

 

OL - Joe Thomas, Eric Steinbach, Alex Mack, Tony Pashos, Floyd Womack, Billy Yates, John St. Clair,

 

St. Clair is gone for sure. Yates will be on the practice squad. Look for us to solidify the right side with a pick in the later rounds of the draft.

 

DL- Shaun Rogers, Aytha Rubin, Kenyon Coleman, CJ Moseley, Brian Schaefering, Robaire Smith, Keith Grennan,

 

I doubt Rogers will be able to play in the NFL this year due to recent events, or if he is, he will have to serve a suspension. Rubin has showed much promise. Coleman has impressed me. I too thing Moseley is underrated. Look for use to draft two DL's, so Schaefering and Greenen are gone.

 

LB- D'Qwell Jackson, Scott Fujita, Chris Gocong, Matt Roth, David Bowens, David Veikune, Kaluka Maiava, Marcus Bernard, Jason Trusnik

 

This is the best thing about our team right now, and i am proud to say it. I wouldnt know who to cut if I was the coach. I think Bernard or Trusnik will go to the practice squad, although i did like what I saw out of Bernard at the end of last season.

 

CB- Eric Wright, Sheldon Brown, Brandon McDonald, Hank Poteat, Coye Francies, Gerard Lawson,

 

Wright and Brown will be an amazing tandum for years to come. Im calling it now. Poteat should not be allowed to play in the NFL. McDonald unfortunately will stay because he just got a bonus.

 

S- Abe Elam, Nick Sorensen, Mike Adams, Ray Ventrone,

 

Elam and Sorensen out. Eric Berry in.

 

K- Phil Dawson, P- Dave Zastudil, LS- Ryan Pontbriand

 

Don't be surprised if we draft a kicker in the last round. Dawson is getting old, and I only see 2 or 3 seasons left of him. He is my favorite player on the team, but age even wears out kickers.

 

[Earl34]

It's hard to say since who we draft is going to impact each position differently.

 

Take WR as an example.....you could almost kick Cribbs out of that group and call him a specialist who is going to make the team, or you could even bunch him in with the QBs...

 

 

I think the team was hoping Vickers would get signed to an offer sheet....I have a feeling things are changing on the team that makes him less viable to keep.

 

I think Hollis is going to man the position much like Alstott or Riggins, or Jim Brown and be a real running fullback....if you even call them those anymore.

 

 

 

 

 

We are going to see him lined up alone, and with some combination of Harrison and Davis.

 

 

 

If we draft a QB, yeah, Ratliff is probably toast.

 

 

OL....I think St.Clair will stick...while I don't want him as the starter, he is a experienced wide body who can at least give you something in a reserve role....The position lists 7 players...with 5 starters, 2 isn't a normal number of reserves....9 would be more like it, so we have some room to draft a couple of players and still keep the 7 listed...I think we will sacrifice in the backer ranks, or RB and just keep 4 runningbacks....including "fullbacks"...I also think we will pare down the TE position to 3 players....Watson, Moore, and 1 other. TE's don't make especially good special teams players so you need some pretty good reason to keep more than 3 on the roster IMO.

 

 

On D, don't separate corners and safeties...we currently list 10.....cut that down to 8-9...a few of those corners could move to safety if needed......but, that is your special team unit of units just above backer backer...so who knows.

 

 

 

At any rate, this is a good thing. It's a good sign when you start talking about cutting players you think you don't want to cut.....it means you are getting better.

 

 

I have always like Mangini, and with Heckert and Holmgren as cross checkers, I like it even more. We have 3 pretty good guys deciding on who needs to be on the team. I like the odds we aren't going to make to many mistakes. And three is the perfect number...if in doubt, you aren't going to have any tie situations on who to keep and who to cut. The odd man out, be it any of the three needs to lick his wounds and understand nobody is right all the time.

 

 

We are going to see a turn around....and maybe as early as next year.

 

 

Go Browns!

 

Peen....

 

I think this underscores what I like about the Parcells approach that Mangini comes from. You start by turning over roster spots 25-53 and keep turning that over. It really gives you far better depth than trying to find the top 22 and then worrying about depth. Although last year was 5-11, you noticed during the win streak that guys were coming off of the practice squad and contributing significantly. The competition for the roster spots can only make you better.

 

[ballpeen]

Yep.

 

 

I like our position. When building a team people seem to focus on the top 25 guys and not so much the bottom 20.

 

The reason I like our position is the bottom 20 are usually your special team players....and we do well there. As we pick up top of the roster players, that bumps everything downward a notch....or should I say up a notch?? At any rate, you know what I mean.

 

I don't think this team is all that far from being good.

 

The main question on O is QB and maybe a line spot or two....I think we are pretty good in the other areas. On D...a top corner and improved safety play is what is needed...and that is just 2 players away. I think our backer corp and line is at least solid and only going to get better.