Overview Whittaker has been a rotational starter throughout his time at Texas, as an older, mature player who has ability but could be overshadowed by younger players who were more talented. He began to flash playmaking ability as a senior, but a knee injury prematurely ended his season. He is undersized and has little lateral movement, but he is intriguing as a potential third-down back. His return history gives him added value. Expect him to be taken in the sixth round of the draft. Analysis Strengths Whittaker is a quick-twitched athlete, but that explosion is limited to forward movements. He is quick out of his stance and has good initial vision to see the hole. He is a slashing cutback runner who can struggle inside and likes to bounce it to the edge. When he does go outside, it's a direct motion because he struggles to move laterally. He can be nifty in the open field and is a viable option to pick up a first down out of the backfield in broken passing situations. Weaknesses Whittaker has not started consistently for Texas and has had trouble getting carries. He is undersized, and it doesn't help that he's a straight-line athlete. Whittaker doesn't run between the tackles well, and he lacks the speed to take plays the distance. His 2011 knee injury must be examined closely before a team will use a draft pick on him.
Zac Jackson Fox Sports Ohio Posted Sep 29, 2013 The Browns defense is for real. The defensive front, specifically, is playing a relentless, suffocating brand of football and a young and thin secondary is doing the job. 1 Comment Five things we learned from Browns-Bengals Sunday... 1. The Browns defense is for real. The defensive front, specifically, is playing a relentless, suffocating brand of football and a young and thin secondary is doing the job. No one back there -- and maybe no cornerback anywhere -- is doing a better job than Joe Haden, who in his fourth year has been as advertised as a more mature, more polished player and is locking down opposing receivers. The Browns defense is setting the tone early in games and in Haden and Barkevious Mingo, it has at least a couple rising stars to go with a bunch of guys who are doing their jobs and doing them well. 2. That Browns defense played a role in this on Sunday, but the Bengals are going nowhere unless Andy Dalton starts playing much better. He really couldn't have played much worse on Sunday; his official quarterback rating of 58.2 seems kind of high. The Bengals never found a flow, Dalton never looked comfortable in the pocket and he both forced some throws and missed some others that could have been big plays. A couple drops at the end didn't help his numbers (23-of-42, 206 yards, one interception) but the game was long decided. Here's how the Bengals final eight series ended: Turnover on downs, punt, fumble, punt, field goal, punt, interception, downs. 3. Brian Hoyer is smart. He's undefeated as a starter with the Browns, too, but that's not because of his arm strength or some other standout talent. He's getting the ball out of his hand, getting the offense lined up and finding Jordan Cameron -- who's becoming a star, by the way. While Dalton stood in the pocket most of the day and watched it collapse or made a late decision to get the ball out of his hand, the ball came out of Hoyer's hand quickly and even on throws he missed, he usually put them where the Bengals couldn't get them. The Browns didn't turn the ball over; lo and behold, they won the game. Hoyer's 103.9 quarterback rating Sunday is the kind of number that many Browns quarterbacks haven't been able to post adding two weeks together. Until someone forces Hoyer into a bunch of deep throws and/or sacks, the Browns have their quarterback of the near future, and that alone puts them miles ahead of where they were even a few weeks ago. 4. Finding Cameron (repeatedly), not getting A.J. Green free (or Mohamed Sanu going), running right into the teeth of that Browns defense on a questionable first-half fourth and one call...the Bengals just did not play a very good football game. They missed Leon Hall and Reggie Nelson, certainly, but the defense was left on the field too long by an offense that converted 4-of-14 third downs, had 17 second-half rushing yards and missed opportunities in each half. The Bengals came in on a two-game win streak and off a wild rally for what could have been a breakthrough win last week against Green Bay, but they went flat on Sunday in Cleveland and never really woke up. 5. The AFC North is a mediocre mess. The Browns have to love that, right? The Bengals blew a golden opportunity Sunday, the Ravens went to Buffalo and lost after Joe Flacco threw five interceptions, the Steelers went across the pond, lost again and limp into a bye week at 0-4...and the Browns now have a short week home game with a chance to grab first place. Yes, the Ravens, Bengals and Browns are all 2-2 after the season's first month. The division is a combined 6-10, nobody is running the ball and nobody is getting great quarterback play, but the Browns defense is playing like it wants to lead the push out of the perennial basement. Nothing's going to come easy, and there's a ton of season left, but ugly appears to be en vogue and the Browns are built to win ugly. Confidence can be both dangerous and contagious, and if it's matched with solid defense and a positive turnover margin, we can't say right now with any certainty what might happen. The Bengals have the Patriots next, followed by two road games. They'd better find some confidence quickly
Quarterback Brandon Weeden has recovered from the thumb injury that knocked him out of the lineup in Week Two, but he isn?t returning to the starting job he held before his injury. The Browns are rolling with Brian Hoyer after two straight wins have leveled their record at 2-2 heading into Thursday night?s date with the Bills. Weeden, who called himself the ?ultimate team guy? and said he?s happy about the team?s success with Hoyer at quarterback, isn?t sure whether he?ll be Hoyer?s backup ahead of Jason Campbell this week but said he hasn?t lost confidence in himself. He also said he thinks that he?ll get another chance to start as the Browns say they?re going week-to-week with their quarterback choice. ?That?s my mindset,? Weeden said, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. ?I can?t approach it any other wayW. If I did, I?d be doing a disservice to myself and doing a disservice to this offense. I?m going to work just as hard as I did in the off-season to win the job. I?m going to keep continuing to work just as hard now as I did week one and week two and go from there.? We?re not quite as confident as Weeden. The 2012 first-round pick clearly isn?t the new regime?s choice to lead the offense into the future and they?d probably be starting him now if they thought they could turn a strong performance or two into a deal that nets them more draft picks in exchange for Weeden. Hoyer hasn?t been spectacular, but he?s been better than Weeden was in the first two weeks and there?s a higher curiosity level about what he can do than there is about Weeden among the Browns brass. Should Hoyer continue to put up respectable performances, it?s a good bet that Weeden will continue to be watching from the sideline. *ROFL*
The Morning Kickoff ? Mr. Bones: A half-hour after practice, Willis McGahee walked into the Browns locker room still shivering from a 15-minute session in the cold tub. ?These old bones aren?t 21 anymore,? he said, grabbing his shoulders with both hands. Monday is normally a ?spa day? in the NFL. But when you have a Thursday game, there is no time for your body to recover. Monday is jammed with game review, game plan preview and a light practice. The turnaround from a Sunday game to a Thursday game is a challenge even for a young, healthy player. For a 31-year-old running back with three rebuilt ligaments in one knee and one healed ligament in the other, it is a brutal part of the job. ?Being a running back, you?re hit on every play,? McGahee said after Monday?s practice. ?You?re gonna have more bumps and bruises than the norm. It?s a quick turnaround. The body?s used to resting after a Sunday. But we had to get out there. At the end of the day, you have to be a professional.? McGahee didn?t play in a game for 10 months, and now has played in two in the span of 10 days since joining the Browns as Trent Richardson?s replacement. As McGahee prepares for his third game Thursday against the Buffalo Bills ? the team that drafted him in the first round in 2003 knowing he would miss that entire year because of a devastating knee injury in his last college game ? it is obvious that he will be an integral player with the Browns. ?The leadership he?s bringing and the attitude he?s bringing to the offense, and to our team, I think has really helped our guys,? said coach Rob Chudzinski. Nobody on the team knows McGahee better than Chudzinski, who was his offensive coordinator at University of Miami more than 10 years ago. Winning them over: McGahee joined the Browns on the Friday before the Minnesota game. He was the front office?s choice to replace the traded Richardson. McGahee suited up and ran eight times for 9 yards in that 31-27 win. It wasn?t a memorable debut, but the fact he was able to even compete and give the coaches an option helped the cause. McGahee vowed to be better in his second game after a full week?s work -- and he was. Sunday against Cincinnati, McGahee carried 15 times for 46 yards. In the clinching, 91-yard touchdown drive, McGahee ran the ball six times for 33 yards, including a 9-, 5- and 9-yard back-breaking sequence at the end to set up a 1-yard TD pass to Chris Ogbonnaya. ?I think it showed them that I?m here to play,? McGahee said. ?I ain?t Trent Richardson. But I?m here to play. I?m gonna just be Willis McGahee. ?That drive showed that we wanted it. We wanted to go out there and put it away. Our defense was playing lights out. It was our job to get on their level.? In the locker room after the 17-6 win over Cincinnati, a game that moved the Browns into a three-way tie for first in the AFC North, McGahee emotionally accepted high-fives from teammates. It was a ?Welcome to the team? moment. ?I think Willis, even though he?s been here only a week, he understands where the holes are,? said left tackle Joe Thomas. ?Sometimes you just got to put your head down and run forward for 5-6 yards. Not every run has to be a home run. I think that?s a good understanding of the blocking schemes. ?When you get somebody that can get 5, 6, 7, 8 (yards) a crack, the coordinator?s just gonna keep dialing up runs. I think the line and the running backs did a nice job of finishing the game on that last drive with a physical running game.? Been there, done that: McGahee has 8,152 rushing yards on his record, including 1,000-plus-yard seasons with Buffalo (two), Baltimore and Denver. Upon joining the Ravens and Broncos, he assumed integral roles on teams that made the playoffs. The Browns are one of the youngest teams in the league. Their offense needed a few experienced players to show them the way. Davone Bess is one. Brian Hoyer is another. And now McGahee can make a mark. ?This reminds me of my first year in Denver (2011),? McGahee said. ? It was really a young team. We had Champ (Bailey), an older guy. I was one of them. (Brandon) Stokley was another. But it was really a younger team. That?s what I see in this team. It?s gonna click. It?s gonna happen.? Chudzinski said McGahee ?brings some of that swagger to us.? ?When you start winning, everybody?s swagger?s gonna change a little bit,? McGahee said. ?I?m just easing into it. I?m not trying to be rah, rah, rah right off the bat. You have to earn that.? On Monday, McGahee earned a trip to the sauna after his session in the cold tub. I expect McGahee will earn more than that before this season is over.
I got more on that Bluez. Today there is a story about the Vikings on Yahoo. The article was talking about who Peterson wants at QB. Later in that article it said and I quote" Franchises at the bottom of the league do NOT rebuild with 31 year old quarterbacks that carry a history of flopping". They were not even talking about the Browns but Minnesota. But that quote is how I feel about Weeden. Doesn't have it and as of right now never will. TRADE BAIT!!!!!!! GOOO TRIBE!!!!! I'm going Wednesday! TRIBE ON WARPATH!!!!!!!!!!!
Ahright Els..we have our own DPL rep at the Tribe game . SWEET ..Wish I could go Great week time to be a Cleveland fan ..Lord knows we more than deserve some feel good . *DRINK*
Space still for rent? Ok so I was wrong about the HC not wanting to win games. :rolleyes: 2-0 since I rented out my seat. If that?s what it takes for them to win 8-10 more, then?CHUD I STILL DON?T BELIVE YOU :/ The positives resulting from the events leading to my previous rant, when I bailed and rented out my seat. The run game isn?t any worse w/ out T-Rich than it was w/ him. The extra 1st round pick should be a boon come May. Hopefully they don?t phuq it up. Since T-rich was sent packing. Veteran leadership has elevated to another Level, which is a definite plus. The players are playing better. Message received. Let?s hope it continues. *THUMBSUP* Hoyer has established himself and humbly I agree that Weeden is not likely to get his starting gig back. *SORRY* Irish/TD if you?re gonna let bluez drive the bus you might want to consider visiting these guys, http://www.watercar.com/ for a retrofit, before the wagon ends up in the lake. *HELP* It could take Bluez a while to figure out how to make a right turn off the beltway. *CRAZY* *DRINK* Go Tribe... *YAHOO* Go Browns... *YAHOO* *YAHOO*
Bernie Kosar got a DUI over the weekend in Solon, Ohio. Most people found out about this a couple hours before the Browns kicked off against the in-state rival Bengals. What most didn?t find out was what happened during the arrest, or more importantly, what was said. According to the police report, the officer observed Bernie going 74 MPH in at 50 MPH work zone and he pulled him over. The officer became suspicious when Bernie handed him two credit cards when he asked him for his identification. After observing an odor of alcohol and slurred speech (assuming he was drunk and it isn?t how he sounds sober), the officer had Bernie recite the alphabet starting at E and ending at W. ?Mr. Kosar started E, F, G, P, L ,M, N, O, Q and from there it trailed on with more letters that were not correct and ended at X.? After failing the eye test, Bernie was asked by the officer if he had any problems that would prevent him from performing the one leg stand or walk and turn test. ?Mr. Kosar stated that he had a lot of surgeries on his knees and ankles because his line couldn?t block.? I don?t know whether to laugh or shake my head in shame. Actually, I do. That is hilarious. Unless your an offensive lineman from the Bernie Kosar era. Cop must have been a Pittsburgh fan. Read more: http://www.thundertreats.com/articl...use-his-line-couldnt-block.html#ixzz2gUnEDXcj
Very exciting week here in C-Town! God I love my city by the Lake! Tribe playoff-Weds. Browns on Thurs. I sure am glad I don't go back to work until Monday. Us #310 union laborer's will be at the mill at LTV. Doing what I don't know but It's suppose to go until the 1st of the year. So I'll take it. Santa I guess will be stopping by my house this year. Now all I need is Tribe/Reds World Series, Buckeye National Championship and my Brownies in the playoffs. Then the good Lord can take me. I've seen all I need to see. GO TRIBE!!!!!
Just finished up welding the cage in the Bus .next up pull the motor and punch the Muther 60 over ..we may have to take out a small loan to pay for gas after I get done with it . 8)
Els great minds think alike ..all OH- IO World Series would be COOL !!! Tribe & the Reds play at the same time ..why the hell did they do that *WALL*
After leading the team to consecutive victories, quarterback Brian Hoyer has earned the confidence and trust from the most veteran Browns. After he emerged from the cold tub following Monday?s practice and headed to his locker, Cleveland Browns running back Willis McGahee was asked about his thoughts on quarterback Brian Hoyer. Upon seeing Hoyer lead the Browns to consecutive victories over the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals, McGahee was succinct with his response and complimentary of the fourth-year signal-caller. ?He is a winner; he gets it done,? McGahee said. ?From what I know, he?s a player, and he wants to win. Those are the characteristics that you need as a quarterback.? McGahee is on his fourth NFL team, and feels he knows when a team is about to change its fortunes and start winning. During his first season in Denver, McGahee was on his way to a 1,000-yard season when the Broncos inserted Tim Tebow into the starting lineup in place of Kyle Orton. Between McGahee?s running and Tebow?s knack for inspiring his teammates, the Broncos earned a playoff berth and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wildcard round. McGahee feels the Browns, much like those Broncos in 2011, are one of those teams because of ?their heart, their determination.? ?It reminds me of my first year in Denver,? McGahee said. ?It was a really, really young team. Champ (Bailey), he was an older guy, and I was one of them. It was a really young team, a young O-line that had been together for only a couple years. That?s what I see on this team. It?s going to click. ?I think the coaching staff helps out a whole lot. I?ve been around a long time, and I?ve seen coaches get after you. It?s different. They?re working with guys. They?re helping everybody improve each week.? Hoyer engineered two 90-yard touchdown drives in the win over Cincinnati, and capped off both possessions with scoring passes, the first, a two-yarder to tight end Jordan Cameron, and the last, a one-yard score to running back Chris Ogbonnaya with 4:54 left to play. Following Sunday?s 17-6 win over the Bengals, McGahee was not the only Browns veteran impressed by Hoyer?s leadership capabilities. ?(Hoyer?s) playing well, and it?s contagious,? said veteran wide receiver Davone Bess. ?This winning thing can become contagious. The more and more we continue to work, the more we expect to win, the more expectations we have for ourselves, just as a team. Our heads are down. We?re focused on the next opponent, and that?s the Buffalo Bills. It?d be easy to bite the cheese and be happy, but we?re on a mission. We?re on the right track, and we want to stay on track. ?I?ve been a believer in him for a long time. He was in New England when I was in Miami, so I already knew what he was capable of. I?m really more proud of him with the way he?s handled it because it?s not easy to be thrown in there, especially at his position, to be able to ignite something like this two-game winning streak we?ve got going.?
Actually, the disservice to the offense would be putting Brandon "Colossal Flop" Weeden back into the starting line-up. Dude's a bigger bust than JaMarcus Russell. And if that sounds like hyperbole, consider this: Weeden's QB rating through his first 17 starts: 71.1. Russell's? 76.0.
those crafty Browns fans over on the OBR came up with a tune for Hoyer .it was just a matter of time since we already had Bernie Bernie & Rock around the Strock 8) Ladies and Gentleman its Bryan Hoyer, you ain't never seen no QB more coyer Hes gonna violate defenses til they hire a lawyer might as well call him the secondary destroyer Though his throws have the velocity of Jamie Moyers He still makes secondaries look much more boyer Like little Huck Finn standing next to Tom Sawyer heres a cheer to the Gun Slingin hometown hero Bryan Hoyer [:}
That's absurd SA. Stop patting yourself on the back over Weeden's benching. lol!...Calling him a bigger bust than Russell is nonsense. Nobody believes that... First of all, to be in Russell's category, you have to be a #1 overall draft pick, or at least a very high #1. Weeds is niether..... Just be happy that we've got Hoyer , and leave the ginger alone.... Did you see the game last Thursday night? Bradford was a #1 overall. He is the one you should be comparing....I'd take Weeds over him right now....Can't believe the Rams are still talking about building around that guy....
Too bad about Cooper being cut. He was a chippy guy with sticky fingaz. At the same time, i dont recall seing him on the field this season, so replacing someone whos not really on the field cant be hard. Having 3 slot receivers is a bit much and thats pretty much what we had with him, Bess and Benjamin. I think we can either look for Tori Gurley to be promoted from the practice squad, or look for them to roll with the 4 TE, counting Cameron as a WR/TE and having Barnrige and Gray active with the last guy inactive. Has anyone heard anything about Chris Faulks knee?
Not since surgery... But, it looks like Lauvao could be returning this week...I would be surprised if they don't wait until week 6, with the short week. But, it sounds like he practiced all last week and they just held him out against the Bengals for precaution.
