Browns news and notes - Terry Pluto

[SJ_Browns]

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index....out_the_17.html

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- On a lazy holiday weekend, there's plenty about the local pro teams that prompt Terry Pluto to be talkin' ...

About the Browns...

 

1. It's hard to even compare the team during off-season drills to what was happening a year ago. Everything from knowing who will be the quarterback (Jake Delhomme) to the "Big Boss" (as Mike Holmgren has called himself) to who feels more relaxed as coach (Eric Mangini), to a general manager/super scout (Tom Heckert) has to add up to the Browns being a better team.

 

2. The Browns now have a business model in place that is much like the Baltimore Ravens, where President Ozzie Newsome is the Big Boss. The general manager role (once held by Phil Savage) is Tom Heckert's. Then the coach knows he is there to coach, and not have to worry about the draft, trades, contracts and other front office activities.

 

3. While some fans were hoping for a coaching change, you can see the wisdom of keeping Mangini and his key staff members. The players and coaches know what to expect from each other. There is a sense of order, discipline and focus. Far fewer players are running laps for missed assignment or penalties than a year ago.

 

4. That said, it's obvious offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has spent a lot of time with Gil Haskell, a former coordinator who is Holmgren's special assistant. The Browns will not -- repeat, will not -- be a team with a West Coast offense. But they are adding some elements.

 

5. More importantly, they seem to be running wild with ideas for Seneca Wallace and Joshua Cribbs in the double WildDawg formation. They are being bold, showing the media plays where Wallace throws to Cribbs, and Cribbs throws to Wallace. Long snaps can go to either player. They both can run and throw. Cribbs claims it will be nearly impossible for any team to prepare in one week for all the variety the Browns have planned.

 

6. Never forget that Cribbs averaged 6.9 yards per carry last season, 381 yards in 55 attempts. For his career, Wallace has gained 214 yards (4.0 average) in 54 carries. Wallace may be 5-11 in very tall cleats, but he has a strong, accurate arm and throws well off the run.

 

7. The Browns have been pleased with Delhomme, who has made few poor throws. One of those was Thursday, firing into double coverage for an easy interception. They are working with him to avoid the risky passes. At 35, he can't fire the ball into those small spaces as he did a few years ago. He has been very receptive. He does a good job keeping the offensive organized.

 

8. Yes, Brian Robiskie has been the receiving star of the camp, but Chansi Stuckey has quietly impressed, showing excellent hands and precise pass patterns to get open. He had a rocky season with the Browns, joining the team for the final 11 games (19 catches, six drops) after the Braylon Edwards deal. The coaches believe he is returning to the form of 2008 when he gave hints of being a promising possession slot receiver.

 

9. Talk about a broken play on my part. Mike Knapp emailed: "[Last Sunday] you wrote that Brian Robiskie set career records at Ohio State for catches (118) and touchdown receptions (34). Not even close to being accurate. Robiskie had 127 catches (eighth all time) and 24 touchdown catches (fourth all time). David Boston has the OSU career receptions record with 191 and touchdowns with 34." By the way, Robiskie caught only one pass and played special teams as a freshman for the Buckeyes, then his career took off. Could the same thing happen with the Browns?

 

10. No idea if we'll be even mentioning this guy in the fall, but the coaches have been impressed with undrafted free agent receiver Jonathan Haggerty (6-1, 195 pounds). It wasn't easy to find information on the all-time leading receiver in Southwestern Oklahoma State (Division II) school history, but Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News wrote this: "Haggerty was a four-year starter and two-time All-Lone Star Conference selection. He caught 54 passes with a 13.9-yard average and six touchdowns in 2009. That didn't get the NFL's attention -- he wasn't invited to the annual scouting combine -- but his workout on campus did. He ran a 4.44 40-yard dash in front of 18 scouts on his pro day."

 

11. In a recent meeting, the coaches asked themselves, "Has anyone noticed Montario?" What they meant was whether anyone saw Tennessee's Montario Hardesty line up in the wrong spot, run the wrong play, seem unprepared or overwhelmed. They said he doesn't seem like a rookie, because he's been very solid.

 

12. Because the players aren't in pads and there is no tackling, these camps favor players with speed and underrate those who hit hard and break tackles. That all changes in the summer when training camp starts. Nonetheless, Nebraska safety Larry Asante has been impressive in coverage and with his overall play. That's encouraging, because the best part of the rookie's game is supposed to be his tackling.

 

[SJ_Browns]

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index....out_the_17.html

 

1. It's hard to even compare the team during off-season drills to what was happening a year ago. Everything from knowing who will be the quarterback (Jake Delhomme) to the "Big Boss" (as Mike Holmgren has called himself) to who feels more relaxed as coach (Eric Mangini), to a general manager/super scout (Tom Heckert) has to add up to the Browns being a better team.

 

2. The Browns now have a business model in place that is much like the Baltimore Ravens, where President Ozzie Newsome is the Big Boss. The general manager role (once held by Phil Savage) is Tom Heckert's. Then the coach knows he is there to coach, and not have to worry about the draft, trades, contracts and other front office activities.

 

4. That said, it's obvious offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has spent a lot of time with Gil Haskell, a former coordinator who is Holmgren's special assistant. The Browns will not -- repeat, will not -- be a team with a West Coast offense. But they are adding some elements.

 

11. In a recent meeting, the coaches asked themselves, "Has anyone noticed Montario?" What they meant was whether anyone saw Tennessee's Montario Hardesty line up in the wrong spot, run the wrong play, seem unprepared or overwhelmed. They said he doesn't seem like a rookie, because he's been very solid.

 

 

1. I'm glad to hear the Browns are off to a good start. I used to be sick to the stomach with the past off-season sloppiness. Regular season performance is molded and shaped by off-season practice!!!!

 

2. It's about time the Browns had a real fo structure with qualified people to run it.

 

4. I think Gil Haskell will help get the offense together.

 

11. I can't wait to see what Hardesty can do!