Quick Draft Thoughts.....

I love the draft, but this waiting two extra weeks is brutal.  I'm sick of hearing people blast prospects.  I'm sick of hearing about how Teddy Bridgewater is dropping down draft boards, about how Tom Savage is shooting up them, about how the Browns need to do this or do that.  I'm sick of it all.  Put the draft back where it was.  By the time the draft finally gets here on Thursday every fan of every team is going to be mad about the player that their team drafts because of all the negativity that has been thrown at every prospect coming out.  I'm just ready for it to happen. 

I'm going to say that today, three days before the draft, I trust Ray Farmer.  I like him, I like the way he played out the Alex Mack situation, I like the way he talks to the media, I like the guy.  That said, there are certain things that can happen over the course of the three day draft that will change my opinion of him.  And I reserve the right to waiver in that, because I can convince myself after the fact that it's going to be okay, a la Brandon Weeden.  But still, I am nervous about Thursday.

The Browns needs are pretty clear and pretty well documented.  The three big ones are WR, QB, and CB, followed by OG and LB.  I expect the first three to be filled by picks 4, 26, and 35.  You can tell me all about Brian Hoyer, and I hope he does well, but I'm not ready to anoint him.  If you believe this team is on the cusp of being pretty good, and you don't expect them to be picking in the top 5 anytime soon, then you would expect them to take a quarterback at 4.  That's what I want them to do.  I want Johnny Football.  People in Cleveland, for some unknown reason, are afraid to roll the dice on a quarterback, the most important position in sports.  I don't understand it.  It makes no sense.  If you want to know why the Browns have been so shitty since 1999 it's because they have taken 1 qb in the top 20, that being Tim Couch.  You have to have a good qb to win consistently in the NFL, and I believe Johnny Manziel has the qualities that are needed to be successful and to lead these Browns to the playoffs.  I don't know if Ray Farmer agrees.  We'll soon find out.  I also am a Teddy Bridgewater fan.  I think he's going to be really good, and I just don't understand the criticism he's taking over a poor pro day.  Because that guy can play.  I'd be more than happy with him as well.  The other guy that has been talked about the most is Derek Carr.  I liked him during the season, but I've really really cooled on him.  His footwork is a mess and he's very easily rattled under pressure.  I can't think of a quarterback that has ever overcome an unwillingness to stand in the pocket and deliver.  The bowl game against USC game was an abomination.  People talk about Bridgewater's hand being too small, but they are bigger than Carr's.  So, at 4 I'm hoping for Manziel if they decide to go quarterback.  I'd love Bridgewater at 26 if they went a different way at 4, and I'd hate Carr, anywhere, especially if they have to trade picks to go up from 26 to get him.  This draft is chock full of starters in the mid-rounds.  Please don't trade up for Carr, Mr. Farmer.

The other position that is most talked about at 4 is wide receiver.  The name that has been talked about the most is Sammy Watkins.  I like Watkins, I don't want him at 4.  I get that people saw him torch Ohio State, and I think that's why Browns fans want him so much.  My problem with Watkins is that is he's 6'0 tall, and he never won't be.  I'd rather have Mike Evans, he's 6'5 and you can't coach that.  He's plenty big, plenty fast, his catch radius is ridiculous, and he can go up over cornerbacks and high point the football.  He, Gordon, and Cameron would be lethal.  Watkins will probably be pretty good, I'd bet on Evans being really really good if I were drafting.  If they were to take Manziel at 4 and wait on a wideout, there will be some good ones that will potentially be available at 26.  Odell Beckham is awesome but will probably be gone.  Marqise Lee or Brandin Cooks would look great on the opposite side of Josh Gordon as well.  Allen Robinson, Donte Moncrief, or Cody Latimer will probably be considered as well.  There is tons of wide receiver talent in this draft.  I'm a huge Jared Abbrederis fan and think he'd be a GREAT pick in the 3rd.

And finally, cornerback.  Joe Haden is a stud.  Mike Pettine knows the value of having great corners having coached Revis and Cromartie in New York.  The Browns will be looking for a cornerback, probably as early as 26.  I'd love Darqueze Dennard if he dropped.  That would be ideal.  He has size and swag, two things you need as a corner.  Jason Verrett or Kyle Fuller would be great as well.

So I'm hopeful.  But nervous.  But hopeful.  I'd love to see Johnny Football as a Brown come Thursday.  I'm hopeful that Ray Farmer values the quarterback position more than the previous regimes.  I'm hopeful that we'll have a new wide receiver so that I don't have to watch stonehands Greg Little anymore.  But more than anything I'm just ready for it to happen.  I'll put out a mock draft in the next day or so.  Thursday can't some soon enough.

Post Combine Browns Mock Draft

Bored today, and with the combine ending I figured I'd throw out a Browns mock draft.

This is how I think the top 3 will shake out

1.  Houston  - Blake Bortles QB UCF.  Dane Brugler from CBSSports, whose opinion I respect and who had Eric Fisher going number 1 to the Chiefs before anyone else last year, has had this penciled in for a while.  There are multiple dots that connect the two, starting with Bill O'Brien's preference for a big strong pocket passer, the fact that O'Brien came up under George O'Leary, Bortles' college coach, and O'Brien's recent hiring of Bortles' college quarterback coach George Godsey.  Bortles could be walking into an ideal situation, as he's going to need coached up and BOB is a good one.


2. St Louis - Jake Matthews OT Texas A&M.  The Rams, for all the picks they added in the RG3 trade, are not exactly brimming with offensive talent.  They have failed to give Sam Bradford anything to work with, (although I'm a Tavon Austin fan, and if they had a coach that knew how to use him he would be dangerous).  That said, they also have the 13th pick in a wide receiver rich draft, and that's why I can see them passing on Watkins.  I think they'll try and move the pick, and may get a bite from a team that likes to make a splash like Atlanta.  If they stay I think they chose the more refined Matthews over Greg Robinson, Fisher had Bruce Matthews (Jake's dad) with the Oilers and knows what he's getting.  Matthews is good, maybe better than his former teammate Joeckel who went 2nd last year.


3.  Jacksonville - Jadaveon Clowney DE South Carolina.  Yes, Jacksonville needs a quarterback.  They can use a wide receiver also.  They are another team that is not overflowing with talent.  What they do have is a great young coach in Gus Bradley, who just watched his former defense in Seattle dominate the Super Bowl with a devastating pass rush.  They also coached at the Senior Bowl, where quarterbacks that may be around in the 2nd round like Derek Carr or Jimmy Garoppolo may have impressed them.  They may just realize that Clowney is the type of talent that you don't pass on, and personally I think a coach like Bradley may be just what Clowney needs.  People can knock Clowney for his "motor" but some guys just want to get paid to play football.  Clowney would have been a top 5 pick after his freshman year, a top 5 pick after his sophomore year, but he had to go back to school for a third season.  He also saw teammate and potential first rounder Marcus Lattimore have his leg turned into a sock full of parts after a nasty hit, and fall into the fourth round.  Clowney is awesome, just remember that over the next couple months as people take shots at him.  He possesses rare Hall of Fame talent.  Plus he'll be good and pissed at Houston, who Jacksonville plays twice a year. 



And now for the Browns (Browns only for now....)

4.  Cleveland - Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M.  Going into the season, I liked Johnny Football.  I never expected him to be a top 5 pick in the draft, and I never thought I'd want the Browns to take him over Teddy Bridgewater should they have the choice.  I now think he's exactly what the Browns need.  He's much better in the pocket than people give him credit for, he has intermediate and deep accuracy, and he has the "it" factor that this team so desperately needs.  I'm not taking Manziel just for that, but I like that he has it.  I'm not concerned about his height, I think that is overblown a little bit.  He makes plays, he gives his receivers chances to make plays, he understands the game.  He's also only 21 years old, and may still be growing (Size 15 shoes).  Some of his improvisation looks panicked, but to me there is something instinctive about the way he recognizes what is happening around him.  He'll have to learn to avoid getting hit in the NFL but they all do.  I see a franchise changing player when I watch him, and hopefully that franchise is the Browns.  I like Teddy Bridgewater, I really do.  But right now I just like Manziel more.  I could link a hundred different articles that would have probably a hundred different opinions.  But I won't.  Here are a couple that I think are fair.

Here's a thorough evaluation by Brendan Leister at Draft Browns

Here's another by Sigmund Bloom

And here's his page over at Draft Breakdown



26.  Marqise Lee WR USC - Full disclosure I really really want Odell Beckham from LSU but I just don't see him dropping to 26.  If Beckham is there I pounce if I'm the Browns.  That said Lee is a pretty nice consolation prize.  He has decent size at 6'0 and 190 lbs.  He was an absolute stud his freshman and sophomore seasons before falling off a little this past year possibly because of injuries, quarterback questions, and all the turmoil around the coaching changes.  He showed the ability to make plays and get into the endzone in college, and would make a great complement to Josh Gordon.  He's a crisp route runner with above average hands, he'd probably come in and push for a starting spot early.  I'm a fan.  There is good depth at receiver if they wanted to wait, but Lee is pretty damn good and worthy of the 26th pick.  He gives Johnny a legit weapon to pair with Gordon and Cameron.

Draft Breakdown page here



35.  Troy Niklas TE Notre Dame - This is a bit off the radar but I'm a big fan of having multiple good tight ends and value the versatility they can provide for NFL offenses.  With the emphasis on matchups in today's NFL, having good tight ends limits what a defense can do against certain formations.  An offense can line up in a power formation and then in a spread look without substituting if they have good enough tight ends.  They can control tempo and create matchup nightmares.  See the Pats with Gronk and Hernandez.  That's why I liked Eifert so much last year, and like Niklas here this year.  Niklas is a huge, old school inline tight end and a great complement to Jordon Cameron.  He's 6'6 270 lbs with good hands and good athleticism.  He can play flexed out or inline, and would also give the Browns another huge redzone target.  He may be a work in progress but should have the time to develop with Cameron here.  He had big games on the big stages, against Michigan and USC, and then again in the bowl game.  I'm a big fan, I think if he would have gone back to school he'd be a top 15 pick next year.  I'm taking him now, and giving JFF a full toychest to play with.

Draft Breakdown page here

71.  Joel Bitonio OG Nevada - Guard will be addressed, either in free agency or the draft.  Shaun Lauvao simply is not good enough to start, and there exists the potential that Alex Mack will walk and John Greco will have to slide over and play center.  Bitonio was a tackle in college but will play guard, he can fit into a zone blocking scheme if Kyle Shannahan brings that along.  I've read more about him than seen him, but he seems like a logical fit at that spot.  I should add that I love Jared Abbrederis and really really want him to end up on the Browns.  I just cannot in this scenario (as fantastical is it may already be) go QB WR TE WR in this draft.  But honestly if there is a player outside of the first round that I really really want on the Browns its him.

Draft Breakdown page here


83.  Jordan Zumwalt LB UCLA - Craig Robertson had a rough second half of the season, either due to an inability to adjust by Ray Horton or by deficiencies in his game. Regardless, linebacker is a position that should be addressed.  Enter Zumwalt, a versatile tackling machine with the temperament you want in a linebacker.  He has experience in a multi front defense and has played both inside and outside.  At worst he should step in and contribute immediately on special team.  I love the guy I'm a big fan,  He nearly knocked Logan Thomas off of planet Earth in the bowl game.  He's the kind of guy that will give everything he's got. 

Draft Breakdown page here

102.  James Hurst OT UNC - Was pretty highly regarded going into his senior season.  He broke his leg (badly) in the bowl game and may be a good value here, but may be looking at a redshirt rookie season.  At worst, he provides depth at both tackle spots, and at best he possible kicks Mitchell Schwartz inside or moves inside himself and turns into a starter. 

Draft breakdown page here







123.  Tyler Gaffney RB Stanford - I expect the running back position to be addressed in free agency, and Dion Lewis and Edwin Baker showed promise last season, so I don't believe running back will be a high priority.  Gaffney is just a solid back who doesn't really stand out in any one thing but does everything pretty well.  He ran faster than expected at the combine which may move him up a little.  Taking him here with the expectation that it will be a backfield by committee with him, Lewis, a free agent, and possibly Baker.

Draft Breakdown page here








133.  Ricardo Allen CB Purdue - At this point I'm deferring to players I've seen play rather than some of the small school guys that will surely get looked at by team.  Allen is a smaller corner but every time I've seen him he plays bigger than he is.  I'm a big fan, I think he can make this team as a backup corner and special teams player.  I'm not as down on Leon McFadden as everyone else is also, and that's why I'm okay waiting this long to take a DB.

Draft Breakdown page here

164.  Connor Shaw QB South Carolina - Someone else had the Browns taking Shaw late, and I actually like the strategy of taking two quarterbacks in one draft.  I like Shaw, I think he can play.  He's also limited by his size, but he has pretty good speed and a decent arm.  He's a developmental quarterback behind Manziel and Hoyer.  The only quarterbacks in this draft I really like are Manziel, Bridgewater, Brett Smith from Wyoming, and Shaw.  I'm coming around on Aaron Murray, but still...

Draft Breakdown page here






195.  Colt Lyerla TE Ex-Oregon - He may be long gone, or he may be undraftable.  He's a knucklehead with an unbelievable amount of talent.  He was kicked off the team at Oregon (or left) and apparently loves cocaine and booze.  HOWEVER, here I'd take him and see if I can get him sorted out.  Read the article below and you'll understand why someone as talented as him may still be on the board.  But I think in this mock I've taken enough good character good football guys that I'm okay with the risk.

A Troubled Talent

Draft Breakdown





There you go - first Browns mock of the season.  I never commented on the Banner Lombardi thing, all I'll say is that I'm more confident in the direction of this team and front office than I have been in a long time.

Week 2 - 2013

The Browns suck.  Again.  It's official.  One touchdown in two games.  Moronic coaching decisions, bad offensive line play, dropped passes, and a lousy quarterback.  And another loss to Baltimore, even though they shut the Ravens out in the first half and allowed only 14 points the entire game.

I'm done defending Brandon Weeden.  He's not any good, he's not a starting NFL quarterback.  He can't process what's happening fast enough, he locks onto his primary target, he takes bad sacks.  I'll never buy the "no quarterback can win with this team" argument.  Tom Brady just won a game on Thursday with receivers (somehow) worse than the Browns have.  How?  He made the one pass that he needed to when he needed to.  Brandon Weeden couldn't accomplish that, missing an absolutely wide open Chris Ogbonnaya on the one play that the Browns were able to successfully execute.  Here's the sideline reaction to that abortion.  Think they believe in this guy?

Greg Little is another one.  I'm done defending him also.  3 dropped passes and then 3 more traffic violations after the game.  If Chud wants to send a message to this collection of scrubs benching Greg Little would be a great place to start.  No separation and lousy hands is no way to play receiver in the NFL, son.

3 delay of game penalties.  That probably falls as much on the coaches as it does on Weeden.  They stunk too.  Another game, another fourth quarter with no touches for Trent Richardson.  In a one possession game.  Pass rush causing problems?  No screens.  No draws.  Nothing to slow them down.  As sad as it sounds I'd kill to see this team lose 35-31.  Just some offense, please.

 

The game as a whole was awful.  Watching other football games make it seems like the Browns are playing an entirely different sport than the rest of the league. 

Our defense is one starting caliber cornerback away from being extremely good.  Mingo looked like a legitimate double digit sack threat.  The front seven has shut down the run in the first two games.  What game are the Browns going to win this season 6-3 that is going to cost this team a chance at the first pick?  Any takers?

I'm stunned I thought this team would be any good.  Because they aren't.  Their problems extend past the quarterback, but that's where it starts.  Question I've been pondering for the past few weeks, and please feel free to weigh in.  Hypothetically, if Philip Rivers is the quarterback of this Browns team, are they a playoff team?  Rivers has had no receivers, a good (but now old) tight end, and a decent running back for the past few seasons.  Poor offensive line.  San Diego's defense has been good but not as good as the Browns have this season.  And he's had the Chargers at 8-8 or 7-9 the past two years.  So, hypothetically, if Rivers was the Browns quarterback do they make the playoffs?  I say yes. 

But again, for the quarterback doesn't matter crowd, if you put Weeden on the Ravens yesterday, is there anyway that they win that game? 

Nothing says Browns football more than this fourth down failure yesterday.

After seeing Brandon Weeden for 2 games this season, there will be a new quarterback in Cleveland next year.  It will more than likely be one of these guys.



Teddy Bridgewater - Louisville




He's athletic and extremely accurate and comes from a pro style offense.  6'3 and lean.  Does the little things like sells play fakes and looks off defenders.  I've seen him play the least of any of the top guys but he's the consensus top qb at this point from most experts.  An RG3 type player.  draftbreakdown.com has 10 games here






Tajh Boyd - Clemson



He's thicker and shorter than Bridgewater, but also extremely accurate.  Plays from the spread.  Has won a lot of games at Clemson and is a guy I really like.  I use Steve Young as his comp, he can be my quarterback for sure.  Ten games from draftbreakdown.com if you're bored here

Marcus Mariota - Oregon

Probably my favorite of the qbs that will be eligible.  He's big at 6'4 fast and accurate.  He's playing in Oregon's offense so people will dismiss him but he's way better than Dennis Dixon or Darren Thomas.  He's going to be most successful in a more wide open fast paced scheme but that's the way the NFL is going.  Kaepernick-like skills.  Highlights here






Johnny Manziel - Texas A&M

Despite all the chatter today about how the Browns were "scouting" him at the Bama game, there were also a ton of other prospects that they were probably looking at.  So don't buy that nonsense, it's far too early for that.  I just don't see him as the Browns qb. Short and fast with huge hands.  He's a great college player and I'm torn about whether he'll be a legit NFL quarterback but I don't see the Browns taking that chance.  This regime's future hinges on whatever quarterback they choose and I can't see them banking on Manziel.  I like him though, probably a turnover machine in the NFL.  Vids here

Brett Hundley - UCLA



I haven't seen him play enough but some people really like him.  I'd rather have any of the guys listed above including Johnny Manziel, but I reserve the right to change my mind.  Highlights







So yeah, this is where we're at.  The Monday after the second game of the season it is already time to figure out which quarterback will be the next one ruined by this sad sack franchise.  AWESOME.  Browns football everybody.



Random gifs

Best gameday sign ever

William Moore with the body slam

OU's band is awesome, especially when they cover the What Does the Fox Say song