Before addressing the subject posed in the title of this post, I'd like to take a look at the biggest areas of need on the current Browns roster. While the jury is still out on Brandon Weeden, Quarterback is not the greatest position of need. So what are the main positions that the Browns need to address, preferably sooner rather than later?
1) A speed Edge Rusher. In the 3-4 Defense, that usually means an Outside Linebacker. The Paul Kruger signing is a nice addition, and would be a decent supplement to an elite pass rusher on the other side, but unfortunately that person is not currently on the team. I'm very skeptical that Jabaal Sheard is going to be able to transition to Outside Linebacker, and I wouldn't be surprised to see his role reduced this year. The Browns have needed an elite pass rusher for a very long time now. They should be able to find their man with the first pick if they choose.
2) Defensive Back. As I see it, the Browns are currently short at least 2 Cornerbacks & a Free Safety, as well as depth at all positions in the Defensive Backfield. Joe Haden is good, but not as good as most Browns fans think he is. T.J. Ward is solid, at least against the run, but has trouble staying healthy. That's it. I don't think I can take another year of watching undersized Buster Skrine flailing around against Receivers, and either committing a penalty or giving up the big play. The Browns should be able to address their need at one of the DB positions, should they choose to do so.
3) Tight End. Jordan Cameron looks pretty shaky to me. He may still pan out, but right now he looks like a project that isn't going to result in a quality starter. They also lost 2 players at this position, so depth is needed. See yesterday's post for how I would hope they approach filling this need.
4) Kicking & Special Teams. They've basically cut loose of everyone who they had in the key positions on Special Teams, and using a very late round pick on a Kicker or Punter is probably not a bad idea. Travis Benjamin, among others, should be able to step into the Return slot vacated by Joshua Cribbs.
5) Overall Depth. Just about every position needs more bodies who can play. Not start, just give them solid play when they are called upon. This is one of the things that set the Patriots Super Bowl teams apart. Yes they had Brady and some play makers on both sides of the ball, but they also had quality rotational guys who they could plug in situationally while giving starters a breather.
I do not believe in drafting based on need alone, but I don't think you can just take the guy you have rated as the best player on your board. Ideally, there should be some fusing of the two, although I put more weight on taking the best player over pure need. You win with elite play makers on both sides of the ball. Being solid at all positions will probably result in a .500 team. More often than not, if it's well coached, elite talent wins out.
In the First Round of the 2013 Draft, there are really 3 players that I would be quite happy with, and it's quite possible that all three will be on the board when the Browns go on the clock at the No. 6 position. Those players are:
1) Chance Warmack, OG Alabama. In my opinion, the best player in this draft.
2) Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB Brigham Young. Raw but athletic, has the tools to dominate from either edge position.
3) Dee Milliner, CB Alabama. Has the size and speed to be a true shut-down Corner.
If any one of those three's name gets called, I'll be very pleased with the selection.
However...Ideally, I would try and trade down to 11 or 12 and see if I could acquire a 2nd Round pick to replace the pick forfeited to the Supplemental Draft selection of Josh Gordon. I would then use my First Round pick on Chance Warmack. We currently have a decent to good Offensive Line, not a great one. I think Warmack would make it great. This would in turn speed the development of Trent Richardson and hopefully, Brandon Weeden. Warmack is a masher, a road grader who would open holes for Richardson to run through. Trent would look like a different player from his rookie season. The line could be: future HoF Joe Thomas at LT, future Pro-Bowler Chance Warmack at LG, Alex Mack at C, Jason Pinkston or Shaun Lavauo at RG, and talented youngster Mitchell Schwarz at RT. I know RG is a little weak, and Mack isn't as good as most Browns fans think he is, but that would make for an elite Offensive Line.
The obvious monkey wrench in the works is if you trade down to 11 or 12 and Warmack goes off the board somewhere between 6 and 10. So there is risk in this approach, and if it happens, it's very likely that neither Milliner or Ansah will be there when the Browns would pick at 11 or 12. My fallback option would probably be Jarvis Jones, OLB Georgia, but there is some risk involved with that pick, as well as regret, because I'd rather have Ansah or Milliner than Jones and the 2nd Round pick.
Ezekiel Ansah is a newcomer, relatively speaking, to the game of Football. A big, fast guy with long arms and tons of athletic ability. He seems to be a "natural" at the sport. I think he'll be able to play either Outside Linebacker or Defensive End, and dominate at either position. His long arms will serve him well when dropping back into underneath coverage or swimming past an OT. I think he's going to be a beast, and he'd look great in Orange and Brown.
Milliner is big, fast, and possesses great instincts. He plays the ball as well as he plays the man, and has the leaping ability to go up and defend against the "jump ball" type of pass. The latter will come in handy when defending A.J.Green. Has been a little banged up, but has the tools to be an elite Defensive Back. Hard not to like this pick, and most Mocks have Milliner to the Browns at 6.
So, projecting the Browns Draft as I hope it will fall, rounds 1-4:
Round 1 - Warmack/Ansah/Milliner depending on trades and how the board plays out.
Round 2 (if a trade is made) - The best available Cornerback on the Browns board, assuming we don't take Milliner in Round 1.
Round 3 - Travis Kelce, TE Cincinnatti
Round 4 - Bacarri Rambo, FS Georgia
Hopefully these players will still be on the board when the Browns select in the respective rounds.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Some Things the Browns Should Not Do With Pick No. 6 of the First Round
Let's take a look at some of the possible moves the Browns could make in this draft that would be bad moves for the team. The obvious bad move is using the No. 6 overall pick on one of the Quarterbacks available in this draft. I was not in favor of using a 1st Round pick on Brandon Weeden last year. I wouldn't have taken a 29 year old Quarterback, period. By the time you have enough quality guys in place around him to contend for a title, he's 33-35 years old and on the downside of his career. Then you have a team with some talent, but a Quarterback who isn't able to take the team across the finish line, and because you had a good team, (just not good enough,) you aren't in position to draft one of the elite prospects coming out of college. That's not a good position to be in. Beyond that, however, you can't throw away a goodly portion of your last two drafts by giving up on Weeden and selecting another quarterback that you hope has what it takes. Ditching Weeden now means you essentially traded Julio Jones for Phil Taylor and T.J. Ward. Great trade, huh? It also means that a 1st round player at a different position than quarterback in last year's draft was passed on for nothing. You just can't do this kind of thing. That's how losing franchises stay losing franchises. I get it that Quarterback is the most important position in all of sports, other than Head Coach. I get it. And I know that because of his age, Weeden has to catch lightning in a bottle fast, in order to take the Browns to a championship. I get it. I know that because of this smaller window, they have to hit on most of their picks down draft for the next couple of years, and surround him with some elite talent. I get it. The Browns are not in a good situation here. The window is small and they have to have some luck. I get it. But folks, there are no "can't miss" elite Quarterbacks in this year's draft. Well, what about the hidden jewel like Russell Wilson, you ask? That's a rare thing, and there may not be another Russell Wilson in this draft either. If the Browns are hell bent on drafting a Quarterback in 2013, my advice would be to see if Tyler Bray of Tennessee is there in the 4th round. He may be as good a prospect at the position as there is in this draft, and you're not risking too much. We have to see what Weeden will do in Norv Turner's offense. It should play to his strength, which is that big arm, and have him operating out of the shotgun more, which he is more comfortable with, due to familiarity with the formation at Okie St. I know that last year he was not very accurate, locked in on receivers, didn't read defenses very well, and didn't feel the rush well, even running into several sacks. Ball security was a bit of an issue as well. Let's see what he can do in Norv's vertical offense before we give up on him. He's got that big arm, and it's like height in Basketball: you can't teach it. If it becomes apparent that he's not going to be able to get the job done, we can address it next year, with hopefully a better selection of talen to choose from.
I will add: I've heard some people speak very highly of E.J. Manuel, QB Florida St. I can't comment, as I've seen him play very little. The times I did, accuracy seemed to be a problem. I am not a Matt Barkley fan. If the Browns take him in any round, I will not be a happy camper. He has a weak arm and puts way too much air under the ball on a regular basis. His passes float, and NFL DBs will eat that up. I was right about Leinert, and this guy is somewhere between Leinert and Sanchez. Avoid!
Very recent mock drafts from a couple prominent NFL Draft wonks have had the Browns using their first round pick on Tyler Eifert, TE Notre Dame. If they do that, the line waiting to jump off the 480 bridge will be miles long. Do we need a Tight End? Yes. Can you fill that need down draft without burning your first round pick on a Tight End? Ye.., well, maybe. Travis Kelce of Cincinnati may be still on the board when the Browns make their selection in the 3rd Round. This would make infinitely more sense. You'd get a player who's almost at the talent level of Eifert, (or the kid from Stanford, for that matter,) at a fraction of the cost. While Eifert's a nice player, he's no can't miss game-changer. I was fine with the Browns taking Kellen Winslow II in 2004 at 6, but he was potentially the best player in that draft, and should have been the best Tight End ever. He had all of the tools, except between the ears, and he threw away that talent on brashness and foolishness.
Having said all that, taking a Tight End at 6 is a luxury we can't afford now, and there is no monster talent at the position sitting there that we can't pass up. If Banner and company do this, they will regret it down the road.
Some people want the Browns to draft another Receiver at 6. This is not advisable for some of the reasons stated above. No elite players at the position in this year's draft, (though Tavon Austin will be an exciting Slot Receiver,) and more pressing needs at other positions. I happen to be one of those who think that Josh Gordon is going to be an elite Receiver, and Greg Little will be a solid No. 2. I probably wouldn't draft a Receiver at any point in this draft, but certainly not the First Round.
Tomorrow, I'll discuss what the Browns should do in this draft.
I will add: I've heard some people speak very highly of E.J. Manuel, QB Florida St. I can't comment, as I've seen him play very little. The times I did, accuracy seemed to be a problem. I am not a Matt Barkley fan. If the Browns take him in any round, I will not be a happy camper. He has a weak arm and puts way too much air under the ball on a regular basis. His passes float, and NFL DBs will eat that up. I was right about Leinert, and this guy is somewhere between Leinert and Sanchez. Avoid!
Very recent mock drafts from a couple prominent NFL Draft wonks have had the Browns using their first round pick on Tyler Eifert, TE Notre Dame. If they do that, the line waiting to jump off the 480 bridge will be miles long. Do we need a Tight End? Yes. Can you fill that need down draft without burning your first round pick on a Tight End? Ye.., well, maybe. Travis Kelce of Cincinnati may be still on the board when the Browns make their selection in the 3rd Round. This would make infinitely more sense. You'd get a player who's almost at the talent level of Eifert, (or the kid from Stanford, for that matter,) at a fraction of the cost. While Eifert's a nice player, he's no can't miss game-changer. I was fine with the Browns taking Kellen Winslow II in 2004 at 6, but he was potentially the best player in that draft, and should have been the best Tight End ever. He had all of the tools, except between the ears, and he threw away that talent on brashness and foolishness.
Having said all that, taking a Tight End at 6 is a luxury we can't afford now, and there is no monster talent at the position sitting there that we can't pass up. If Banner and company do this, they will regret it down the road.
Some people want the Browns to draft another Receiver at 6. This is not advisable for some of the reasons stated above. No elite players at the position in this year's draft, (though Tavon Austin will be an exciting Slot Receiver,) and more pressing needs at other positions. I happen to be one of those who think that Josh Gordon is going to be an elite Receiver, and Greg Little will be a solid No. 2. I probably wouldn't draft a Receiver at any point in this draft, but certainly not the First Round.
Tomorrow, I'll discuss what the Browns should do in this draft.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
The 2013 Draft Is Approaching
With the 2013 Draft fast approaching, it's time to take a look at the Browns options for this year. We have a new, untested regime in place, so I'll comment on who we should take at No. 6, as well as speculate who we might take.
In my opinion, the change of the Offense to a more vertical, downfield attacking Offense will be a big improvement. I expect much more positive results even with just our existing roster, even if we don't come out of the draft with any major additions on Offense. I'm not so keen on the switch to a 3-4 Defense, however. The strength of the Browns Defense is in it's Interior Linemen, positions that are generally reduced in number and importance in a 3-4. Some of the additions in Free Agency are going to help quite a bit, but probably not be a complete solution on the defensive side of the ball.
The pre-Draft Mocks have varied quite a bit over time. The early ones I saw had Cleveland taking Damontre Moore, DE Texas A&M or Bjoern Werner, DE Florida St. Then, after the hiring of a 3-4 Defensive Co-ordinator, Dion Jordan, LB Oregon and Jarvis Jones, LB Georgia started getting some love. Lately, they've coalesced around CB Dee Milliner of Alabama. Of course, some chatter has the Browns reaching for a Quarterback at 6.
In my opinion, the change of the Offense to a more vertical, downfield attacking Offense will be a big improvement. I expect much more positive results even with just our existing roster, even if we don't come out of the draft with any major additions on Offense. I'm not so keen on the switch to a 3-4 Defense, however. The strength of the Browns Defense is in it's Interior Linemen, positions that are generally reduced in number and importance in a 3-4. Some of the additions in Free Agency are going to help quite a bit, but probably not be a complete solution on the defensive side of the ball.
The pre-Draft Mocks have varied quite a bit over time. The early ones I saw had Cleveland taking Damontre Moore, DE Texas A&M or Bjoern Werner, DE Florida St. Then, after the hiring of a 3-4 Defensive Co-ordinator, Dion Jordan, LB Oregon and Jarvis Jones, LB Georgia started getting some love. Lately, they've coalesced around CB Dee Milliner of Alabama. Of course, some chatter has the Browns reaching for a Quarterback at 6.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
My "For The Browns" Board
I haven't had time ahead of the draft to go into the detail I would like, but before the draft starts, I want to publish by Draft Board as pertains to the Browns. I'll elaborate more post draft. The first guy still available is who I want them to select.
My "For The Browns" Top 10:
01) Patrick Peterson
02) Marcel Dareus
03) Von Miller
Three absolute studs. I had a very hard time picking between the top 2. If the Browns have any of these 3 fall to them, I will be downright giddy.
04) Robert Quinn
05) Nick Fairley
06) Da'Quan Bowers
07) Mark Ingram
I would be very happy with any of these as well. Edge rushers are very hard to come by, and we've needed one for nearly as long as I can remember. I'm not sure why Fairley is dropping down many boards. He's a player. In fact, Dareus & Fairley are that rare kind of Defensive Tackle that can not only stop the run, but also collapse the pocket and put pressure on the Quarterback. Mark Ingram is the most underrated player in this draft. He has the same body type and running style as Emmitt Smith, and running behind our line would pile up yardage. He would pair nicely with Peyton Hillis. I was one of the few back in 1990 who thought Emmitt Smith was the best player in that draft, despite falling to Dallas at No. 17. I'm not guaranteeing that Ingram will equal Emmitt Smith, but I think he'll be a Pro Bowler for years to come. The only reason I don't have him rated higher is because I haven't given up on Montario Hardesty.
08) A.J. Green
09) Julio Jones
10) Tyron Smith
If we end up with any of these 3, I would prefer it to be after having traded down. (Yes, I know Green is coming off the board early.) Jones is good, but reminds me of Braylon Edwards. Hope I'm wrong, as most mocks have us taking him.
My "For The Browns" Top 10:
01) Patrick Peterson
02) Marcel Dareus
03) Von Miller
Three absolute studs. I had a very hard time picking between the top 2. If the Browns have any of these 3 fall to them, I will be downright giddy.
04) Robert Quinn
05) Nick Fairley
06) Da'Quan Bowers
07) Mark Ingram
I would be very happy with any of these as well. Edge rushers are very hard to come by, and we've needed one for nearly as long as I can remember. I'm not sure why Fairley is dropping down many boards. He's a player. In fact, Dareus & Fairley are that rare kind of Defensive Tackle that can not only stop the run, but also collapse the pocket and put pressure on the Quarterback. Mark Ingram is the most underrated player in this draft. He has the same body type and running style as Emmitt Smith, and running behind our line would pile up yardage. He would pair nicely with Peyton Hillis. I was one of the few back in 1990 who thought Emmitt Smith was the best player in that draft, despite falling to Dallas at No. 17. I'm not guaranteeing that Ingram will equal Emmitt Smith, but I think he'll be a Pro Bowler for years to come. The only reason I don't have him rated higher is because I haven't given up on Montario Hardesty.
08) A.J. Green
09) Julio Jones
10) Tyron Smith
If we end up with any of these 3, I would prefer it to be after having traded down. (Yes, I know Green is coming off the board early.) Jones is good, but reminds me of Braylon Edwards. Hope I'm wrong, as most mocks have us taking him.
Everyone has us taking a receiver.
The wide majority of mock drafts I've looked at have the Browns taking a Wide Receiver. A.J. Green if he's available, Julio Jones if Green is gone. Most comments indicate that the selector thinks it's the team's greatest area of need, and usually throw in something about helping Colt McCoy. While I think the odds are that they will be fine players, I think going in this direction would be a mistake.
At pick number 6, you should have the opportunity to draft an impact player. If your goal is to make the playoffs, you draft a Wide Receiver. If your goal is to win the Super Bowl, you draft a defensive player. Despite the rules changes that have made the NFL a pass happy league, defense still wins championships. That and Quarterback play. A Wide Receiver will typically touch the ball 5-10 times a game, making his impact limited. I'm not saying Wide Receivers don't matter, but that position is a luxury you can draft *after* you have the other pieces in place. There are too many defensive impact players at the top of this draft to justify taking a wide receiver.
Secondly, which is the better draft strategy? Drafting for need or drafting the best player available on your board? The mocks I've read seem to favor the "need" approach. I don't agree with that drafting technique, but I don't think it's an either/or situation either. I think your draft has to be weighted towards selecting the best player available, favoring your positions (plural) of need. In other words, If I really need a safety, but there are no highly rated safties in the draft, I'll pass on that "need" player, and select the best player available. At the end of the day, I'm looking for impact players. Players who will upgrade the talent level of my team significantly, not just plug a hole. Likewise, let's say Colt McCoy has a good year, but our defense can't keep anyone out of the end zone, and we go 1-15. Even if Colt shows that he can play, do you think that there's any way I don't take Andrew Luck? Not on your life. I'm running to the podium to make that selection. So it's not a cut and dried thing, there's no absolute formula. It is a judgement call that weighs team need with talent available, and makes the best selection based on projecting what kind of a difference that player will make to your team 3-5 years from now.
At pick number 6, you should have the opportunity to draft an impact player. If your goal is to make the playoffs, you draft a Wide Receiver. If your goal is to win the Super Bowl, you draft a defensive player. Despite the rules changes that have made the NFL a pass happy league, defense still wins championships. That and Quarterback play. A Wide Receiver will typically touch the ball 5-10 times a game, making his impact limited. I'm not saying Wide Receivers don't matter, but that position is a luxury you can draft *after* you have the other pieces in place. There are too many defensive impact players at the top of this draft to justify taking a wide receiver.
Secondly, which is the better draft strategy? Drafting for need or drafting the best player available on your board? The mocks I've read seem to favor the "need" approach. I don't agree with that drafting technique, but I don't think it's an either/or situation either. I think your draft has to be weighted towards selecting the best player available, favoring your positions (plural) of need. In other words, If I really need a safety, but there are no highly rated safties in the draft, I'll pass on that "need" player, and select the best player available. At the end of the day, I'm looking for impact players. Players who will upgrade the talent level of my team significantly, not just plug a hole. Likewise, let's say Colt McCoy has a good year, but our defense can't keep anyone out of the end zone, and we go 1-15. Even if Colt shows that he can play, do you think that there's any way I don't take Andrew Luck? Not on your life. I'm running to the podium to make that selection. So it's not a cut and dried thing, there's no absolute formula. It is a judgement call that weighs team need with talent available, and makes the best selection based on projecting what kind of a difference that player will make to your team 3-5 years from now.
Monday, April 25, 2011
A Quarterback at 6?
First a quick word about the prospect of drafting a Quarterback this year-
Some Browns fans would like the Browns to draft a quarterback in the 2011 draft, some even want them to use the 6th pick in the draft on a QB. They argue that Colt McCoy has not shown himself to be a sure-fire franchise quarterback, and since it is the most important position on the field, it's imperative that the Browns have a first rate player at that key position. That sounds reasonable enough, but I don't agree that we should take a QB.
First, I saw enough in Colt McCoy's performance last year to give him the job this year. Does that mean he's our guy? Well, not necessarily, but he's got to prove to me that he's not before I give up on him. His biggest liability is his frame, and by that I don't mean his height. He's pretty slight of build, and I'm not sure that he'll be able to take the pounding over the long haul that NFL quarterbacks have to take. His other weakness is his arm strength, but the West Coast Offense has a way of minimizing that liability. On the plus side...He's smart, makes quick reads, he's accurate, fairly mobile, and throws well on the run. This last quality is often underestimated. The ability to throw on the run is a huge asset, as at that point the play is progressing along and the receiver has had a chance to get into space. Accuracy while moving allows the QB to get the ball to the receiver in space, where he has a chance to gain big yardage after the catch. It can have the same affect as a long bomb, so just because a QB doesn't have a cannon arm doesn't mean he can't make big yardage plays.
Also, the quarterbacks in this draft all have huge question marks. To be honest, I'm not really excited about any of them. Cam Newton has a huge upside, with his size and athleticism, but he hasn't played much under center or ran a Pro-style offense, so his ability to handle the reads and his understanding of NFL defenses is an unknown, and undoubtedly a work in progress. Still, he's the QB that would most merit a high pick, but I'd be extremely reluctant to take that gamble. I like Ryan Mallett's arm and accuracy, but his footwork is terrible and he may turn out to be a head case. Jake Locker is tough, athletic, and has a decent arm, but he's terribly inaccurate. What I've seen of Blaine Gabbert has not impressed me. He seems way too average in his skill set to justify all the talk of a top 5 pick that has been bandied about.
If we had a shot at Andrew Luck, that would be a different matter. The team that picks number 1 next year will get a true franchise quarterback. Someone called him the best QB prospect since Elway, and that may not be far off. Needless to say, I hope a couple of these quarterbacks do go in the top 5. It will result in better players falling to the Browns at 6. However, if I was drafting for the Browns, I would not take a QB at 6, and would not take one down draft either. I know Holmgren has said that they will draft a QB at some point this year, but that may be a bluff. With the many holes on this team, a development project QB is a luxury that we can't afford, and the pick is better used elsewhere, in my opinion.
Some Browns fans would like the Browns to draft a quarterback in the 2011 draft, some even want them to use the 6th pick in the draft on a QB. They argue that Colt McCoy has not shown himself to be a sure-fire franchise quarterback, and since it is the most important position on the field, it's imperative that the Browns have a first rate player at that key position. That sounds reasonable enough, but I don't agree that we should take a QB.
First, I saw enough in Colt McCoy's performance last year to give him the job this year. Does that mean he's our guy? Well, not necessarily, but he's got to prove to me that he's not before I give up on him. His biggest liability is his frame, and by that I don't mean his height. He's pretty slight of build, and I'm not sure that he'll be able to take the pounding over the long haul that NFL quarterbacks have to take. His other weakness is his arm strength, but the West Coast Offense has a way of minimizing that liability. On the plus side...He's smart, makes quick reads, he's accurate, fairly mobile, and throws well on the run. This last quality is often underestimated. The ability to throw on the run is a huge asset, as at that point the play is progressing along and the receiver has had a chance to get into space. Accuracy while moving allows the QB to get the ball to the receiver in space, where he has a chance to gain big yardage after the catch. It can have the same affect as a long bomb, so just because a QB doesn't have a cannon arm doesn't mean he can't make big yardage plays.
Also, the quarterbacks in this draft all have huge question marks. To be honest, I'm not really excited about any of them. Cam Newton has a huge upside, with his size and athleticism, but he hasn't played much under center or ran a Pro-style offense, so his ability to handle the reads and his understanding of NFL defenses is an unknown, and undoubtedly a work in progress. Still, he's the QB that would most merit a high pick, but I'd be extremely reluctant to take that gamble. I like Ryan Mallett's arm and accuracy, but his footwork is terrible and he may turn out to be a head case. Jake Locker is tough, athletic, and has a decent arm, but he's terribly inaccurate. What I've seen of Blaine Gabbert has not impressed me. He seems way too average in his skill set to justify all the talk of a top 5 pick that has been bandied about.
If we had a shot at Andrew Luck, that would be a different matter. The team that picks number 1 next year will get a true franchise quarterback. Someone called him the best QB prospect since Elway, and that may not be far off. Needless to say, I hope a couple of these quarterbacks do go in the top 5. It will result in better players falling to the Browns at 6. However, if I was drafting for the Browns, I would not take a QB at 6, and would not take one down draft either. I know Holmgren has said that they will draft a QB at some point this year, but that may be a bluff. With the many holes on this team, a development project QB is a luxury that we can't afford, and the pick is better used elsewhere, in my opinion.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Why start blogging on the Cleveland Browns draft now?
I'll begin with the purpose of this Blog -
As any fan of the Cleveland Browns knows, the team has generally done a dismal job of drafting college football talent since coming back in to the NFL in 1999. As someone who follows the team and it's personnel moves, I've had my own choices over the years as to who the Browns should have drafted, at least regarding the 1st and 2nd rounds. My picks have generally turned out better than the actual picks the team's front office has made.
The drafting fortunes of the Browns may have taken a turn for the better since the selection process has come under the control of Tom Heckert with input from team President Mike Holmgren. The 2010 draft yielded some real talent that will help the Browns going forward, and there's no reason to suspect that 2011 won't be likewise fruitful. Nonetheless, given the convenience that the internet affords, I've decided to publish my draft preferences in this Blog, with a view to comparing how the players selected compare over time with my choices.
There is less than a week to go til the draft begins. I'll be publishing analysis daily, covering the players that many of the pundits predict to be available at the top of the draft this year.
As any fan of the Cleveland Browns knows, the team has generally done a dismal job of drafting college football talent since coming back in to the NFL in 1999. As someone who follows the team and it's personnel moves, I've had my own choices over the years as to who the Browns should have drafted, at least regarding the 1st and 2nd rounds. My picks have generally turned out better than the actual picks the team's front office has made.
The drafting fortunes of the Browns may have taken a turn for the better since the selection process has come under the control of Tom Heckert with input from team President Mike Holmgren. The 2010 draft yielded some real talent that will help the Browns going forward, and there's no reason to suspect that 2011 won't be likewise fruitful. Nonetheless, given the convenience that the internet affords, I've decided to publish my draft preferences in this Blog, with a view to comparing how the players selected compare over time with my choices.
There is less than a week to go til the draft begins. I'll be publishing analysis daily, covering the players that many of the pundits predict to be available at the top of the draft this year.
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