2021 Browns Depth Chart

[gumby73]

on the youtube docket tonight at 9pm.... these chat rooms get some really interesting takes while being in them live.

@TheOBR

Join us at TheOBR YouTube as we march on with our Chalk Talk series. Last week we discussed the #Browns use of single-high coverages w teaching points. This week we shift to two-high looks focusing on Cover 2, 4, and perhaps 6.

Starts at 9p. Be there!https://buff.ly/3yeO166 

4h

• if your Thirsty Thursday date night leaves you stranded? 🤣 click here ^^
• https://247sports.com/nfl/cleveland-browns/Article/obr-chalk-talk-two-high-coverages-167269456/
• edit-- live on youtube every Thursday 

[Orion]

On 6/30/2021 at 3:48 PM, tiamat63 said:

Maybe it's just me, but I fail to see the upside in the running back room that Felton brings over DJ? 

You have to keep this brain-trust's mantra in mind:  Speed.  It's in just about every draft pick they make.  D'J is not fast.  He has adequate speed.  I've been saying since the draft that Johnson would be cut.  But I don't dislike him.  He saved us a game last year when the RB's were out, dinged & tired, and he had to carry the load late it the game.  And he came through getting us two rushing first downs in like 4 or 5 plays to eat up the rest of the clock and preserve the win.  I wish him well.

[tiamat63]

3 hours ago, Orion said:

You have to keep this brain-trust's mantra in mind:  Speed.  It's in just about every draft pick they make.  D'J is not fast.  He has adequate speed.  I've been saying since the draft that Johnson would be cut.  But I don't dislike him.  He saved us a game last year when the RB's were out, dinged & tired, and he had to carry the load late it the game.  And he came through getting us two rushing first downs in like 4 or 5 plays to eat up the rest of the clock and preserve the win.  I wish him well.

By this logic, our front office would take Matt Breida over Alvin Kamara because "SpEeD"...   also, felton ran a 4.6.  So his tiny ass ain't fast either.

So.....  yeah.  You're telling me these guys are possessed by the spirit of Al Davis? Not likely.

[Tour2ma]

On 6/30/2021 at 2:48 PM, tiamat63 said:

1. but as a pure ball carrier I'm just not seeing it.
2. why would Malcolm be expendable as our best "true" MIKE?

1. How about when you consider Fenton's receiving skills and RB/WR versatility? Agree D'J would land on another roster... Isn't it great to make cuts that will?
2. Because Berry does not value LBs highly? Because Phillips and JOK develop to point where Smith's PT dwindles? Because Walker is our new DQB?

Clearly Mack is first LB to go... with Taki on his heels... Meander? Not great name for an athlete... but seems to be seen as a JOK understudy who will contibute to STs as he "studies".

 

[Tour2ma]

3 hours ago, tiamat63 said:

You're telling me these guys are possessed by the spirit of Al Davis?

Al was fast?

[Tour2ma]

Anyway.... now that we are all agreed that we trade Smith in-season...

Here are a couple more trade candidates...

3. Porter Gustin

2. D'J

1. Mack W(?)... well if we could trade TR, I guess anything is possible.

https://dawgpounddaily.com/2021/07/01/3-cleveland-browns-trade-bait-2021/

[tiamat63]

2 hours ago, Tour2ma said:

Anyway.... now that we are all agreed that we trade Smith in-season...

Here are a couple more trade candidates...

3. Porter Gustin

2. D'J

1. Mack W(?)... well if we could trade TR, I guess anything is possible.

https://dawgpounddaily.com/2021/07/01/3-cleveland-browns-trade-bait-2021/

Who supplants Porter? 

[Ibleedbrown]

4 hours ago, tiamat63 said:

Who supplants Porter? 

Stout.

Ba dum chh...

[Orion]

17 hours ago, tiamat63 said:

also, felton ran a 4.6.  So his tiny ass ain't fast either.

Yeah, that's been pointed out before...and it's a thing...but they drafted him...knowing that they had D'J...so he must be really quick to get up to speed.  IMO, it's Felton's job to lose.

[Zombo]

17 minutes ago, Orion said:

Yeah, that's been pointed out before...and it's a thing...but they drafted him...knowing that they had D'J...so he must be really quick to get up to speed.  IMO, it's Felton's job to lose.

IMO Felton is competing against Natson for a KR / Gadget Player role, DJ is our third running back.

[SdBacker80]

13 hours ago, Zombo said:

IMO Felton is competing against Natson for a KR / Gadget Player role, DJ is our third running back.

Yep.  Beat me to it.  I agree.

Hodge, Natson, Felton are IMO fighting for one spot.    I think if Hodge somehow has a monster camp we may trade away one of our WRs...but I can’t see him sticking come September.

Hodge doesn’t really have anything in the return game so it’s between Felton and Natson.  And Natson can’t offer anything in the run game.

So it points to Felton unless he does poorly in camp. 

[tiamat63]

3 minutes ago, SdBacker80 said:

Yep.  Beat me to it.  I agree.

Hodge, Natson, Felton are IMO fighting for one spot.    I think if Hodge somehow has a monster camp we may trade away one of our WRs...but I can’t see him sticking come September.

Hodge doesn’t really have anything in the return game so it’s between Felton and Natson.  And Natson can’t offer anything in the run game.

So it points to Felton unless he does poorly in camp. 

Hodge is, to my knowledge, the biggest receiver on roster.   Which says quite a bit.  Also helps that he's pretty damn good on special teams. (Lead ST on tackles a couple years ago)  

edit:  Looking at some mini camp pics, the biggest WR we have looks like DPJ now.   So my bad. 

[SdBacker80]

1 hour ago, tiamat63 said:

Hodge is, to my knowledge, the biggest receiver on roster.   Which says quite a bit.  Also helps that he's pretty damn good on special teams. (Lead ST on tackles a couple years ago)  

edit:  Looking at some mini camp pics, the biggest WR we have looks like DPJ now.   So my bad. 

OBJ, Landry, Higgins, DPJ, Schwartz 

Do we or can we carry 6?If we keep Fenton 

[Orion]

On 7/2/2021 at 9:09 PM, Zombo said:

IMO Felton is competing against Natson for a KR / Gadget Player role, DJ is our third running back.

That's a good theory.  Mine is Schwartz in for Natson and Felton in for D'J.  But it could be Schwartz for Hodge and Felton for Natson.  Either way, draft day wasn't a good day for Natson.

edit and add:  I think the brain-trust expects all draft picks to make the team, year one.  With the possible exception of a 7th round flyer pick, the drafted guy has to be damn near a total fuckup to not make the roster.  It's just very hard to admit ya made a bad draft pick at the end of the guy's first TC.

[calfoxwc]

On 7/3/2021 at 1:38 PM, Orion said:

That's a good theory.  Mine is Schwartz in for Natson and Felton in for D'J.  But it could be Schwartz for Hodge and Felton for Natson.  Either way, draft day wasn't a good day for Natson.

I see the Browns keeping D'Enernest Johnson no matter what. Felton is a serious addition to the roster at rb. And and with Schwartz just seems like J. J. catches on with another team. Too bad, never got to see much of him ever.

[Orion]

On 7/3/2021 at 2:46 PM, calfoxwc said:

I see the Browns keeping D'Enernest Jackson no matter what.

...would you like to make a little wager that nobody by that name makes the roster this year?

[calfoxwc]

1 hour ago, Orion said:

...would you like to make a little wager that nobody by that name makes the roster this year?

lol. A slight erroneous I made.Wasn't even typing too fast.

dammit. JOHNSON.

[Tour2ma]

On 7/3/2021 at 12:38 PM, Orion said:

Mine is Schwartz in for Natson and Felton in for D'J.

Being a draft pick is the tie-breaker... but I don't see both "vets" in the same boat.

Natson is a 27-1/2 yo never-was in three cities and counting whereas DJ is still young.

[Tour2ma]

3 most underrated moves of the Cleveland Browns offseason

3. Drafting Demetric Felton

2. Replacing B.J. Goodson with Anthony Walker Jr.

1. Drafting Richard LeCounte

 

#3 and #2 have gotten their share of attention around here, but #1? Not so much...

 

[SdBacker80]

2 hours ago, Tour2ma said:

3 most underrated moves of the Cleveland Browns offseason

3. Drafting Demetric Felton

2. Replacing B.J. Goodson with Anthony Walker Jr.

1. Drafting Richard LeCounte

 

#3 and #2 have gotten their share of attention around here, but #1? Not so much...

 

As others have noted, I didn’t think Goodson was that bad last year. Walker obviously provides more athleticism to the position.

I don’t count on either LeCounte or Fenton to have significant roles on this team.  6th rounders on teams with SB aspirations don’t usually account for significant reps and playing time. 

[Orion]

20 minutes ago, SdBacker80 said:

6th rounders on teams with SB aspirations don’t usually account for significant reps and playing time. 

Yup.  But ya just don't know where the injury bug will strike.  Peoples-Jones had to play quite a bit for us last year.

[Tour2ma]

1 hour ago, Orion said:

Yup.  But ya just don't know where the injury bug will strike.  Peoples-Jones had to play quite a bit for us last year.

And there are always STs...

[Tour2ma]

https://www.espn.com/blog/cleveland-browns/post/_/id/28654/projecting-browns-defensive-depth-chart-revamped-roster-sports-big-upside

 

And the O-side from late May...

https://www.espn.com/blog/cleveland-browns/post/_/id/28639/projecting-browns-offensive-depth-chart-continuity-depth-could-unlock-full-potential

[Zombo]

4 hours ago, Tour2ma said:

3 most underrated moves of the Cleveland Browns offseason

3. Drafting Demetric Felton

2. Replacing B.J. Goodson with Anthony Walker Jr.

1. Drafting Richard LeCounte

 

#3 and #2 have gotten their share of attention around here, but #1? Not so much...

 

Two late round picks and a one-year contract ... this guy is on the rosy glasses end of the spectrum.

Z

[Ibleedbrown]

I wonder how many meters Demetric will rush for this season? 

[gumby73]

On 6/4/2021 at 7:54 PM, gumby73 said:

 

39 locks, is the way i see it..  

FB: Andy Janovich

Janovich gave the Browns' rushing attack more punch last season, especially in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Janovich was on the field for 380 snaps.

Might want to push that early roster lock total to 40 players?

D'Ernest/ Felton

 

https://brownswire.usatoday.com/2021/07/08/browns-training-camp-battle-preview-dernest-johnson-demetric-felton-4th-rb-return-specialist/ 

edit-7/27- the wires projected 53 https://brownswire.usatoday.com/lists/the-browns-wire-consensus-53-man-roster-projections/

 

[Orion]

15 hours ago, gumby73 said:

D'Ernest/ Felton

 

https://brownswire.usatoday.com/2021/07/08/browns-training-camp-battle-preview-dernest-johnson-demetric-felton-4th-rb-return-specialist/ 

D'E is slower.  IMO the new Browns, under Stef & Berry, are all about speed.  Plus Felton played WR.  But D'E can catch too.  It will be an interesting thing to watch play out.

[Tour2ma]

A topical article...

 

... or is it "topicle artical"?

 

English... what a language...

 

https://brownswire.usatoday.com/2021/07/08/browns-training-camp-battle-preview-dernest-johnson-demetric-felton-4th-rb-return-specialist/

 

[Tour2ma]

On 7/7/2021 at 5:50 PM, Zombo said:

Two late round picks and a one-year contract ... this guy is on the rosy glasses end of the spectrum.

Don't see this....

Late round picks should be underrated...

... and length of a UFA deal is irrelevant. Walker was a highly rated UFA for his playcalling (QB-ing of the D, if not his individual play, which some questioned based on the quality of the D around him... some of which was the result of his calls).

[Zombo]

1 hour ago, Tour2ma said:

Don't see this....

Late round picks should be underrated...

... and length of a UFA deal is irrelevant. Walker was a highly rated UFA for his playcalling (QB-ing of the D, if not his individual play, which some questioned based on the quality of the D around him... some of which was the result of his calls).

From the fan base, I think these are the most over-rated topics this off-season:

1. Andrew Billings. Seems we've all decided that his guy is all of the sudden some "force in the middle" when he was average at best in Cincy.

2. RB/KR Felton. Seems every year the fanbase falls in love with a late-round draft pick, and it seems like Felton is this year's choice. If D'ernst Johnson has a weakness as a 3rd string rb, I don't know what it is. Maybe this guy will be a good kick returner or develop into a decent receiver out of the backfield, but he's small and I don't see the kind of speed that makes me think twice about him, actually.

3. Rashard Higgins returning. I love the guy, but with OBJ back, Peoples-Jones with a year under his belt and Schwartz added to the stable, I don't think he's going to get as many targets as some may think.

Sneeky good moves that are maybe not getting enough attention:

1. Signing CB Troy Hill. That slot corner position has become increasingly important, and we wrapped up one of the best in his career prime with a four year deal.

2. Fourth Round Beef. DT Toga Toga and OT James Hudson are the kind of depth picks that keep the big train rolling. They may not be rookie breakouts, but they will solidly replace expiring contracts over the next year or two.

3. UDFA Marvin Wilson Now this is an acquisition that seems to be putting the right prospect in the right spot to succeed. This guy could be starting next year and we didn't even spend a draft pick on him.

Zombo