The Morning Kickoff ? Roster re-exam: With the draft over, the 2013 roster makeover by the Browns is probably 90 percent complete. But there could be a few free agent additions made before training camp. Let?s re-examine the depth chart and see where possible position needs remain. Quarterback Projected starter: Brandon Weeden. Others: Jason Campbell, Thad Lewis. Analysis: Weeden survived free agency and the draft to remain the starter so far. During the draft, NFL Network?s Ian Rapaport reported the Browns talked to the Cardinals about a trade for Brian Hoyer. That doesn?t appear to be going anywhere. Last word: Did the Browns stock up on extra 2014 picks to provide the means to make a move on the next year?s top quarterback prospect? Weeden could dispel that speculation by showing significant improvement in the new offense under QB-friendly coaches. Wide receiver Projected starters: Josh Gordon, Greg Little, Davone Bess. Others: David Nelson, Travis Benjamin, Jordan Norwood, Josh Cooper. Analysis: The addition of Bess finally filled the role of a respected veteran to lead the young guys by example. Bess is a slot receiver who probably will push Little back to the outside, where he was less effective. The time may be right, however, for Little to take his game to a higher level, and he can do that on the outside. Last word: I?m fine with this group. Tight end Projected starter: Jordan Cameron. Others: Kellen Davis, Gary Barnidge, Dan Gronkowski, Brad Smelley. Analysis: Entering his third season, Cameron will be given the chance to blossom as a No. 1 under the new coaching staff. Davis will be the in-line blocker. Barnidge is a low-risk flier with one year experience in coach Rob Chudzinski?s offense in Carolina. Last word: Kellen Winslow? Forget it. Let?s see what Cameron can do. Running back Projected starter: Trent Richardson. Others: Montario Hardesty, Chris Ogbonnaya, Dion Lewis. Analysis: A sub on third down? I don?t recall Emmitt Smith coming off the field. LaDainian Tomlinson, either. Last year former Browns linebacker and current Giants radio analyst Carl Banks told me, ?The Browns are doing defenses a favor by taking Trent Richardson off the field on third down.? Offensive coordinator Norv Turner probably will make that call during training camp. If Richardson is seen as a third-down back, he will need a series off each half. And then Hardesty and Ogbonnaya could be used. What about Lewis? Some say he?s Turner?s Darren Sproles ? a pint-sized third-down playmaker. We?ll see. Last word: As long as Richardson?s healthy, they?re OK here. Fullback Projected starter: Owen Marecic. Others: None. Analysis: Turner has always used a traditional, smash-mouth lead blocker. Perhaps Marecic can reset his career as that without having to worry about flare-out pass routes. Last word: Unsigned free agents include Ovie Mughelli, Corey McIntyre, Earnest Graham and Owen Schmitt. Offensive line Projected starters: Joe Thomas, John Greco, Alex Mack, Shawn Lauvao, Mitch Schwartz. Others: Oniel Cousins, Ryan Miller, Jason Pinkston, Jarrod Shaw, Dominic Alford, Garrett Gilkey. Analysis: Pinkston, the former starting left guard, has been cleared to resume his career after recovering from a blood clot. The guards in Pat Shurmur?s offense were not agile enough. Turner is known for his power running game, so agility might be less of a need now. If so, there are enough guards on hand to compete for the starting positions. Last word: One-time Jets Pro Bowler Brandon Moore, 32, is an unsigned free agent. Defensive line Projected starters: Desmond Bryant, Phil Taylor, Ahtyba Rubin. Others: Billy Winn, John Hughes, Ishmaa?ily Kitchen, Brian Sanford, Hall Davis, Armonty Bryant. Analysis: At minicamp, Rubin said he was excited about moving to defensive end in the 3-4. He lost about 15 pounds in the offseason. Hughes and Kitchen are prototypical nose tackles, so there seems a surplus there. Last word: This may be the strongest position on the roster. Linebacker Projected starters: Paul Kruger, James-Michael Johnson, D?Qwell Jackson, Barkevious Mingo. Others: Jabaal Sheard, Quentin Groves, Craig Robertson, Tank Carder, L.J. Fort, Ryan Rau, Adrian Moten, Kendrick Adams. Analysis: The eventual starting four could instead feature Sheard ahead of Mingo or Robertson ahead of Johnson. We listed them this way because of Mingo?s draft status and unmatched quickness and Johnson?s size advantage over Robertson. Last word: Unsigned free agent Karlos Dansby has the preferred size (6-4 and 250) and experience for the inside linebacker position next to Jackson, but he?s 31 and not as fast as he was five years ago. Cornerback Projected starters: Joe Haden and Leon McFadden. Others: Buster Skrine, Trevin Wade, Johnson Bademosi, Kevin Barnes, Chris Owens, Prince Miller. Analysis: The pressure will be on in camp for third-round pick McFadden to win the starting job. If he does, relegating Skrine to the No. 1 nickel back role, the top three cornerbacks would measure 5-11, 5-9 5/8 and 5-9. Bademosi (6-0) and Barnes (6-1) are the only ones with decent height. Last word: Fifteen projected starters switched teams in free agency. The best one left unsigned, Quentin Jammer, is 34. Safety Projected starters: T.J. Ward and Tashaun Gipson. Others: Eric Hagg, Jamoris Slaughter, Kent Richardson. Analysis: A ball-hawking free safety would seem to be the team?s biggest void at this point. Gipson was a free-agent find of the last regime and probably would have been the starter under the old coaching staff. The new staff likes him, too. But what other choices does it have? Slaughter is still not 100 percent recovered from Achilles surgery in September. Last word: The best one unsigned is Kerry Rhodes, 30, who spent the last two seasons in Ray Horton?s defense in Arizona.
The fact that the current FO is about as shady and untrustworthy as they come. They don't seem to have that desire to WIN sooner rather than later. Oh yeah they say we will more games than last year, but dont' expect a 13-3 type season. WHY? Are we supposed to be happy w/ 6-10 and another top 10 draft selection? :/ I'm sick and tired of hearing the mantra wait till next year. "Next year will be better." "We"ll be competitive in 2-3 years." It's too bad that Jim Bob is buying into the BS that Banner is feeding him. This team CAN be competitive NOW. The F/O and Coaches just need to BELIEVE it, and demand it from the players.
@AdamSchefter: Former Colts and Eagles OT Winston Justice is visiting the Steelers today and is scheduled to go to Cleveland on Wednesday
i heard a report about legal action involving flying j on monday, but didn't realize the connection till i read this board. the good news is, the report stated that witness tampering charges were either being dropped, or not filed to begin with (think it was the former). so he's got that going for him
Who knows? Historically, if the Feds are sniffing up your britches, there well could be some truth to the story. I personally don't think it will ever come to the seizure of his assets, including the Browns. Just venting my frustration with MY perceived notion of our non-performing front office.
I assume you're talking about Jimmy Haslam. He is, in fact, pretty crooked. He'll likely lose possession of the franchise and someone else will have to fill that power vacuum. The good news is that Banner is a partial owner, as is Randy Lerner, so we should have some stability once Haslam relinquishes the team. No, but you need to plan your expectations accordingly. This is a bad football team. Only the Detroit Lions have a worse record since 1999 and only the Lions and Rams have a worse record over the past five years. Worse, those teams have young, franchise-type quarterbacks to build around. We do not. They didn't say it would take two or three years... they said not to expect 13-3 next year. That's reasonable. You don't go: 4-12 5-11 5-11 4-12 5-11 ... and then suddenly become an unstoppable juggernaut of a team. Especially when you've had five GMs, four head coaches, two presidents and two team owners over that same span. With what? No one on this roster scares opposing teams, yet. The bad news is, it's a below-average roster. The good news is it's a young roster and the needle is pointing up. Unlike the 2009 - 2010 years when Eric Mangini was starting a retirement home in Berea, we actually have some youth to develop. Now, we just have to hope the players keep their noses clean, the coaches are able to draw their talent out and the general managers were competent enough to pick the good players in the first place. To use an old quote from a familiar face:
No I was referring to Banner and Lombatard. I have NO faith in either of those guys. Haslam said early on that he wanted this team to win sooner rather than later. It was only after Banner and Lombatard told him that his expectations might be too high too soon that he backed off. That?s why I?m planning on huntin and fishin this fall SAS. There?s more talent there than you are willing to give them credit for SAS. They just need a coach that sees the talent and utilizes it to the best of their ability. Unlike the previous coaching regime. Again that?s your opinion and you?re entitled to it. And yet, everywhere I turn all I hear is that they are building to be competitive in 2-3 years. See above. At some point they need to take that next step in the process instead of rewinding the tape and playing it over again and again?
Jordan Cameron remains the Browns' No. 1 tight end. The Browns issued Cameron a huge vote of confidence when they opted not to draft a single tight end. It leaves him on top of the depth chart in an offense that features the position. Cameron, a natural pass-catcher at 6'5/254, will be moved all over the formation and is emerging as one of fantasy's premier sleepers for this season. Kellen Winslow, Antonio Gates and Greg Olsen have all had career years under new Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski.
I have seen him many times live . great show and a very nice guy to chat with before & after he is playing . he will and has signed anything and everything . his new CD will be dedicated to the late great Luther Allison whom i had the pleasure of seeing once before he passed away . we saw him at the Queen City Bluez Fest in the summer of 95 ..great show . RIP Luther thank you for the music & the memories Let me know was written by Luther
[video]http://youtu.be/11YBsNslmrc[/video] a instrmental he wrote for his wife . sweet guitar work on this track . the hair on your neck will stand up on this one !
