Here?s a slant on the Browns? depth chart that might interest you. We?ll list all of the positions but rank them according to how dramatic the change is likely to be between 2012 and 2013. Just the offense in this post. WIDE RECEIVER Spring 2013: 1, Josh Gordon; 2, Greg Little; 3, Davone Bess; 4, Travis Benjamin; 5, David Nelson; 6, Jordan Norwood; 6, Josh Cooper; 7, Mike Edwards*; 8, Keenan Davis*; 9, Cordell Roberson*; 10, Dominique Croom*; 11, Perez Ashford* Fall 2012: 1, Gordon; 2, Little; 3, Mohamed Massaquoi; 4, Benjamin; 5, Cribbs; 6, Cooper Difference: Gordon exceeded 800 yards as a rookie coming off a missed 2011 college season. He should take a jump. Bess is the experienced producer last year?s team lacked. Little might come into his own. Nelson is a new 6-foot-5 target with experience. Benjamin is a burner whose playing time as a rookie is important. QUARTERBACK Spring 2013: 1, Brandon Weeden; 2, Jason Campbell; 3, Thaddeus Lewis Fall 2012: 1, Weeden; 2, Colt McCoy; 3, Lewis Difference: It?s not a precise calculation, but do the math. Weeden with experience plus a coordinator who suits him. If he doesn?t have ?it,? things won?t change enough. If he does ... RUNNING BACK Spring 2013: 1, Trent Richardson; 2, Montario Hardesty; 3, Chris Ogbonnaya; 4, Dion Lewis; 5, Jamaine Cook* Fall 2012: 1, Richardson; 2, Hardesty; 3, Ogbonnaya; 4, Brandon Jackson Difference: Richardson sees himself as healthy and headed for Hawaii. Both he and his 3.6 yards per carry were hurting in ?12. Scatback Lewis adds a new option. TIGHT END Spring 2013: 1, Jordan Cameron; 2, Kellen Davis; 3, Gary Barnidge; 4, Dan Gronkowski; 5, Travis Tannahill*; 6, Garrett Hoskins* Fall 2012: 1, Ben Watson; 2, Cameron; 3, Alex Smith; 4, Brad Smelley Difference: Watson was the man the last three years. Cameron goes from bit player to big factor. The free agency pick-ups, Davis and Barnidge, are fairly faceless at this point. The danger is this position sliding from ?OK with Watson? to ?well below average.? Cameron is an elite athlete who must prove he grasps football. LEFT GUARD Spring 2013: 1, Jason Pinkston; 2, John Greco; 3, Caylin Hauptmann* Fall 2012: 1, Greco; 2, Jarrod Shaw Difference: Pinkston lost most of '12 to a medical issue and is a big question mark now. Greco is a serviceable replacement. FULLBACK Spring 2013: 1, Owen Marecic; 2, Brad Smelley; 3, Gronkowski Fall 2012: 1, Alex Smith; 2, Marecic Difference: Marecic seemed to become disoriented last year, inexplicably dropping routine swing passes en route to getting benched. If his mind is right and he meshes with the new coaches, well, Tom Heckert thought he saw something. RIGHT TACKLE Spring 2013: 1, Mitchell Schwartz; 2, Ryan Miller; 3, Garrett Gilkey; 4, Aaron Adams* Fall 2012: 1, Schwartz; 2, Miller Difference: Schwartz should be better as a second-year pro. He was pretty good as a rookie, as one would hope of a high Round 2 pick. RIGHT GUARD Spring 2013: 1, Shawn Lauvao; 2, Jarrod Shaw; 3, Dominic Alford Fall 2012: 1, Lauvao; 2, Shaw Difference: Lauvao could come into his own in his fourth year under coach George Warhop, his third as a starter. CENTER Spring 2013: 1, Alex Mack; 2, Braxston Cave* Fall 2012: 1, Mack; 2, John Greco Difference: Mack is in a contract year, but he has played well and seems level-headed, so nothing should change much. LEFT TACKLE Spring 2013: 1, Joe Thomas; 2, Oniel Cousins; 3, Chris Faulk*; 4, Martin Wallace* Fall 2012:, 1, Thomas; 2, Cousins Difference: Negligible, unless the sky falls and Thomas, 28, misses any action for the first time in his NFL career. Cousins, 28, also is a sixth-year pro. *-undrafted rookie ? ? ? Josh Cooper was brought in last spring partly to help make Weeden more comfortable. Cooper must be a little antsy in this camp, with five undrafted wideouts having been added by the new regime. ? ? ? Joe Banner and Michael Lombardi haven?t quite been an earthquake in terms of roster upheaval, but they definitely have a different slant on things than Tom Heckert. Heckert?s final practice squad last year included DL Kendrick Adams, OL Bryant Browning, TE George Bryan, DL Ricky Elmore, OL Garth Gerhart, DB Jordan Mabin, WR Rod Windsor and OL D.J. Young. None of those gentlemen is on the spring roster with its cast of thousands. ? ? ?
The Morning Kickoff ? Undrafted and undaunted: If the draft is the lifeblood of the NFL, then the larger pool of players not drafted is the league?s conscience. Undrafted players carry the heaviest chips on their shoulders. The stigma of not being drafted never leaves them. The stigma drives them even after they establish themselves and sign their second contracts. James Harrison, meanest man in pro football -- undrafted. Arian Foster, 2010 NFL rushing champion -- undrafted. Wes Welker, NFL?s most prolific pass catcher since 2007 -- undrafted. Adam Vinatieri, best post-season clutch kicker of his time, if not all time -- undrafted. Some other active players who were not drafted: Antonio Gates, Tony Romo and, yes, new Browns receiver Davone Bess. Oh, Desmond Bryant, too. The new Browns defensive end was signed by Oakland as an undrafted free agent in 2009. This March, the Browns signed him to a $34 million contract over five years. Odds favor the undrafted: There are more undrafted players on NFL rosters than first-round draft picks. That may be a shocking statement, but it is a bit misleading. There are only 32 first-round draft picks each year (since 2002). There are more than 400 undrafted players, on average, that are signed each year. So the sheer numbers of undrafted players increase the odds of some of them making a mark. One advantage of being undrafted is you can never be termed a bust. Because nothing is expected of you. Since the Browns were reborn in expansion in 1999, their best undrafted player has been Josh Cribbs. He is the best special teams player ? returner and tackler ? in the franchise?s history. Cribbs was one of 10 players on the Browns? 53-man roster who were undrafted. That?s right. Almost 20 percent of their team was not drafted. The others: Phil Dawson, Ray Ventrone, Josh Cooper, Jordan Norwood, Johnson Bademosi, Craig Robertson, L.J. Fort, Tashaun Gipson and Ishamaa?ily Kitchen. Cribbs, Dawson and Ventrone were not retained by the Browns this year. But two other players signed to offseason contracts joined the ranks of undrafted ? guards Dominic Alford and Jarrod Shaw. Other Browns of recent vintage who made the team as undrafted: Brian Schaefering (2008), Marcus Benard (2009), Auston English (2010), Benjamin Jacobs and Armond Smith (2011). Some other players on other NFL rosters who were brought into the league by the Browns as undrafted free agents: Saints receiver Lance Moore (2005), Bengals receiver Andrew Hawkins (2008) and Packers quarterback Graham Harrell (2009). Kurt Warner, who took two teams to a total of three Super Bowls, winning one, was the ultimate undrafted player. He was undrafted in the regular NFL draft in 1994 and undrafted in the Browns expansion draft in 1999. The 2013 crop: All of which brings us to the newest crop of 18 Browns undrafted free agents. Drum roll, please. Aaron Adams, OT, 6-5, 305, Eastern Kentucky. Perez Ashford, WR, 5-11, 190, Northern Illinois (Shaker Heights). Josh Aubrey, CB, 5-10, 200, Stephen F. Austin. Braxston Cave, C, 6-3, 305, Notre Dame. Jamaine Cook, RB, 5-9, 210, Youngstown State (Middleburg Heights). Dominique Croom, WR, 6-2, 190, Central Arkansas. Keenan Davis, WR, 6-2, 220, Iowa. Mike Edwards, WR, 5-11, 200, Texas-El Paso. Paipai Falemalu, DE, 6-3, 240, Hawaii. Chris Faulk, OT, 6-6, 330, Louisiana State. Caylin Hauptmann, OT, 6-3, 300, Florida International. Garrett Hoskins, TE, 6-2, 250, Eastern Michigan. Dave Kruger, DT, 6-5, 285, Utah. Cordell Roberson, WR, 6-4, 205, Stephen F. Austin. Justin Staples, DE, 6-4, 245, Illinois (Lakewood). Travis Tannahill, TE, 6-4, 255, Kansas State. Ricky Tunstall, S, 5-11, 195, Delaware. Martin Wallace, OT, 6-6, 305, Temple. Kruger is Browns? linebacker Paul Kruger?s younger brother. Another younger brother, Joe, was a seventh-round pick of the Eagles this year. Faulk might be the most interesting of the group. He started 13 games at left tackle for LSU in 2011 but played only one game in 2012 after injuring a knee at practice. He had separate surgeries on a medial collateral ligament and anterior cruciate ligament. Despite the major surgeries, Faulk decided to skip his senior year and turn pro. If he can be healthy for training camp, some believe he can compete for a roster spot at guard.
Thanks Fellas. I use to go on CBS but I never posted anything. So one round on me if you will. Look forward about talking some Brownies and not having to defend them. The first game I remember watching is when I was 6 and it was the Raider Red Right 88 game. My hearts been breaking ever since. LOL! Being from the Slavic Village football is in my DNA. My brother played flag football with one of Gene Hickerson's grandsons. He gave My dad, my brother, my grandfather and I an autograph. He was older then but real cool. Still have it. He talked about the glory years of the Browns. Said there will never be another Jim Brown.
Pretty sure he dogside . I was hoping to hang onto both Gerhart & Ricky Elmore who is perfect for the 34 defense at OLB . coming out of Arizona he was a beast at rushing the passer and could cover as well . why they let him go is baffling . he was a bookend to Brookd Reed who the Texans picked .the Eagles snatched up Elmore with good reason . they are switching to the 34 front ..dumbass FO strikes again ..DOH!
Els my first live Browns game was in 68 ..Browns vs Cowchips at the grand old lady by the lake ..i miss her & the atmosphere .we put a beatdown on the Chips that day . perfect for football ..grey skies mixed with rain & sleet ..football weather ! Gene Hickerson a HOF Guard .Leroy Kelly once said all i have to do is follow # 66 .. so true ! those were the days . the Browns were one of the best teams in the league at the time . my love affair started then .
Time to go sling some Ohio Dirt .Limaland bound ..first stop Texas Roadhouse for a big ass porterhouse steak . ========================(_) Round on the Hound here ..have a good one guys / gals . Enjoy !
Welcome Els! My first browns game was in 03 against the raiders. 10 rows back in the dog pound with my orange jumpsuit on and a michael myers mask painted like a browns helmet. We won that game thanks the a catch ruled out of bounds with time winding down.
I have the a replica of the painting with Hickerson pulling at guard. Its hanging in my basement as we speak or chat. The autograph is taped to it. It took the HOF a long time to induct him I thought. Don't make them like him anymore. Very nice guy very approachable. He was one of my dads favorite Browns. I guess he passed that on to my brother and I. The love for the Browns.
Lost in the draft and its aftermath have been the legal troubles of Browns owner Jimmy Haslam. The family-owned truck-stop empire Haslam runs faces an ominous FBI and IRS probe into fraud against customers. As the wheels of the criminal justice system grind slowly, several of the allegedly defrauded customers have pulled the rip cord on the civil justice system. Pilot Flying J already faces multiple lawsuits, including several class actions. (Courts use class actions when numerous persons have suffered a sufficiently similar injury to allow the entire situation to be bundled into one case.) At least four class actions have been filed in recent days, and at least eight total lawsuits have been filed by customers who allegedly had rebates and discounts manipulated in a way that generated extra revenue for Haslam?s company. The lawsuits flow from the 120-page affidavit that triggered a search warrant of the company?s headquarters. At least one employee of Pilot Flying J secretly recorded conversations and meetings regarding the alleged practice of preying on trucking companies deemed not sufficiently sophisticated to realize their pockets were being picked. One trucking company recovered $146,000 from Pilot Flying J before the search warrant hit the fan. W.N. Morehouse Truck Line in Omaha, Nebraska spotted the discrepancy and pushed until Pilot Flying J rectified the situation. According to the Omaha World-Herald, one of the recorded conversations in the federal investigation specifically related to W.N. Morehouse?s failure to track the money owed via rebates. ?The trucking industry as a whole has a poor reputation for not being the smartest people, but I think we proved that not to be true because we caught them,? office manager Curt Morehouse said. ?There?s probably some people [at Pilot] who think they?re sophisticated who don?t have a job today.? There also may could be some people at Pilot who end up being sophisticated federal inmates. In the interim, Haslam is trying to hold his business together. He has hired an independent outside investigator, whose independence necessarily is compromised by the fact that Pilot Flying J is paying the bill. Moreover, Pilot Flying J has launched a fairly transparent effort to keep customers by offering double points in its rewards program. ?Not only do we want to reward our loyal customers for their patronage, we want to demonstrate our industry-leading appreciation to the hardworking and inspiring drivers who keep this country moving,? Haslam said. The fact that Haslam didn?t call the move what it is ? a desperate P.R. ploy launched after the company apparently was caught with its hand pressed against the bottom of the proverbial cookie jar ? suggests that Pilot Flying J continues to underestimate its customers. Allegedly.
Jason Campbell is currently penciled in as the No. 2 quarterback in Cleveland, behind Brandon Weeden. But Campbell believes he can start. And the Browns think he has a real chance to beat out Weeden in a competition that will span most of the next four months. Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Browns are reluctant to hand the job to Weeden, and that Campbell has a legitimate shot to win the job. That meshes with what Browns coach Rob Chudzinski is saying (or not saying): Chudzinski is refusing to tip his hand when asked about the team?s quarterback situation. For his part, Campbell says it still sticks in his craw that his best chance to prove himself as a starter, in 2011 with the Raiders, was cut short: Campbell started the first six games and was playing well, and the Raiders were off to a 4-2 start and in contention to win a weak AFC West. But Campbell got hurt in Week Six, the Raiders traded for Carson Palmer, and with that Campbell was done in Oakland. ?I was off to the best season of my career,? Campbell said. ?To wake up and find out about the trade [for Palmer] and know I wasn?t starting anymore, it was a tough pill to swallow. . . . I feel I was really taking off, really blossoming, really having an opportunity to control the line of scrimmage and see some things and change a couple plays here and there based off what I?ve seen before and having experience in that offense.? In Cleveland, Campbell says he wants to start, but he?s also eager to help Weeden in any way he can. ?It?s not about egos and things like that,? he said. ?I?m going to help Brandon as much as possible, but at the same time, I?m going to push him and compete.? That?s a competition Campbell may very well win.
Football season returns (sort of) to Cleveland this week, when shooting for the NFL-related movie Draft Day begins. Via WKYC-TV, the bulk of the filming starts in and around Greater Cleveland on Wednesday. Shaker Heights and Berea, where the Browns are headquartered, appear on the list of sites where scenes will be shot. FirstEnergy Stadium will host some of the filming, too. (The dude from the Factory of Sadness video deserves a cameo, in his Pontbriand jersey.) On Saturday, a casting call was held for football players in the 18-25 age range. Filming in Cleveland at the same time will be Captain America: The Winter Soldier, with Cleveland playing the role of Washington, D.C. Some scenes from Draft Day already have been shot at Radio City Music Hall, in conjunction with the actual NFL draft. The films stars Kevin Costner (who plays the Browns G.M.), Jennifer Garner, and Denis Leary. Several NFL players appear in the film, including Texans running back Arian Foster. The movie originally was scheduled to be filmed in Buffalo, with a focus on the Bills. Ohio ultimately offered a better tax deal than New York, so the Browns scored the victory.
24. Cleveland Browns QB: Brandon Weeden RB: Trent Richardson WR: Josh Gordon WR: Greg Little WR: Davone Bess* TE: Jordan Cameron LT: Joe Thomas LG: John Greco C: Alex Mack RG: Shawn Lauvao RT: Mitchell Schwartz Offensive Overview: The Browns are ranked relatively low here, but they're a quarterback away from being a playoff team. And it certainly isn't out of the question that QB gurus Rob Chudzinski and Norv Turner mold big-armed Weeden into a viable short-term fix for their vertical passing attack. The offensive line is a mauling young group that graded out positively in the 2012 ratings of both Pro Football Focus and Football Outsiders. The only front-five starter that may not return is left guard Jason Pinkston, who claims he's medically cleared from last year's blood clot scare and is potently backed up by Greco anyhow. Richardson's 3.56 YPC average is a lock to rise as he moves past last year's double knee surgeries and multiple rib fractures. Long-ball wide receiver Gordon is an ideal fit for what Chud and Norv want to do in the passing game. Little, Bess, and sneaky breakout candidate Cameron complement Gordon as chain movers. LE: Ahtyba Rubin RE: Desmond Bryant* NT: Phil Taylor ILB: D'Qwell Jackson ILB: Craig Robertson OLB: Paul Kruger* OLB: Barkevious Mingo* LCB: Joe Haden RCB: Leon McFadden* FS: Tashaun Gipson SS: T.J. Ward Defensive Overview: Keep in mind Jabaal Sheard isn't even listed here. He's been the Browns' best pass rusher the past two seasons, but seems to be in a state of limbo after the Mingo pick. Under the direction of brilliant new playcaller Ray Horton, Cleveland could boast a high-octane pass-rushing rotation if they don't trade Sheard before the season. The Browns' front seven looks excellent on paper following the additions of Kruger and Calais Campbell clone Bryant, who was perhaps the most underrated defensive signing of the 2013 free-agency period. Cleveland has solid secondary starters in Ward and Haden, but right cornerback and free safety are up for grabs. Old Horton pupil Kerry Rhodes would make a ton of sense in the latter hole.
Irish we go at it again this week in FBB ..I came close to the upset the last time we met . this week i am pulling the upset . call Vegas put your bets down on Bluez . drops a boulder on Wile E Coyotes head for that stupid super duper ACME Draft kit i bought from him . it didnt work in either football or baseball .. Stupid Coyote .
So, this is the new DPL, good, how much to ship a 10"x10"x10" 5lb package from Pittsburgh to Atlanta?
The Morning Kickoff ? On second thought: What if we could do the Browns? 2013 draft over again? What would we do? How would we do? We have the benefit of hindsight from what happened 10 days ago in the real draft. What we don?t have is the background check info that is privy to all NFL teams. We don?t know the Wonderlic scores, medical reports, drug test results, criminal checks and other background data about each prospect that influence all selections. If we did, our picks might be different. Make no mistake, this column is rife with classic second guesses. We apologize for that. But it would be fun to redo the Browns? draft, and that?s what this is all about. First round: The Browns believe they picked an elite defensive player in LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo, who will move to outside linebacker in coordinator Ray Horton?s 3-4 Steelers-style scheme. If Mingo is the next Von Miller or Aldon Smith, this will be an excellent choice, impossible to argue against. But for fun, let?s take the St. Louis trade offer ? even though it falls about 160 points shy on the trade value chart. (To offset that, we would demand there would be no flip-flop of third-round picks, as St. Louis received from Buffalo.) The trade would move the Browns down to 16th in the first round in exchange for the Rams? second- (46th overall) and seventh-round (222nd) picks. At No. 16, the choices for the Browns would include Georgia outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, LSU free safety Eric Reid, Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert, and cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes of Florida State and Desmond Trufant of Washington. We would choose Reid, a physical and aggressive free safety with the athleticism to cover deep. Second round: Recouping a top 50 pick (spent a year early on receiver Josh Gordon) is the signature move of this draft. With the 46th overall pick, we would take cornerback David Amerson of North Carolina State. At 6-1 and 205 pounds, he ramps up our concerted effort to add size to the secondary. Third round: The real Rams? trade with the Bills called for the teams to flip third-round picks. We would insist on waving that condition. Our pick at No. 68 would be Damontre Moore, the Texas A&M defensive end who would move to outside linebacker and join the rotation of Horton?s pass rushers. Moore assumed Von Miller?s ?joker? position in 2011 and then was moved to defensive end in 2012. He was considered a first-round talent upon leaving as a junior, but suffered poor workouts and free-fell into the third round. Moore lacks Mingo?s explosiveness, but outproduced him in college, netting 21 sacks his last two seasons. Fourth round: We would not trade out of this round and certainly would not have handed the Steelers the player they wanted. We would use the 111th pick on the top-rated fullback, Medina-native Kyle Juszczyk, who is a solid lead blocker and can also catch. Juszczyk would displace Owen Marecic and give coach Rob Chudzinski and coordinator Norv Turner the traditional fullback they always have favored. Fifth round: We would not trade out of this round. But hold on to your hats ? we?re taking the top-ranked punter, Jeff Locke of UCLA. The job on the Browns currently belongs to Spencer Lanning, who was in their camp last year and has never punted in an NFL game. Locke would serve two other roles ? holder on place-kicks and also would be a kickoff specialist (Browns kicker Shayne Graham can?t reach the end zone). Locke finished his four-year UCLA career with a gross average of 44.2 yards ? second on the school?s all-time list. He also is left-footed. Bill Belichick has always employed a left-footed punter as New England coach because he believes the different spin on the ball makes it harder to field. Sixth round: With the 175th pick, we would turn to offense and select Brice Butler of San Diego State, a 6-3 wide receiver with good speed. He would add to the stable of taller, bigger targets assembled by the new coaches. Seventh round: The trade with the Rams would net a third pick in this round for the Browns. We would choose: Arkansas tight end Chris Gragg with the 217th pick, Chadron State tackle-guard Garrett Gilkey (the Browns? pick at No. 227) with the 222nd pick, and North Carolina linebacker Kevin Reddick with the 227th pick. Reddick would play inside in Horton?s scheme. Comparing the lists: The Browns? draft class was: 1/6th overall, OLB Barkevious Mingo, LSU. 3/68th, CB Leon McFadden, San Diego State. 6/175th, FS Jamoris Slaughter, Notre Dame. 7/217th, DE Armonty Bryant, East Central (OK). 7/222nd, OL Garrett Gilkey, Chadron State. Our revamped draft would be: 1/16th, FS Eric Reid, LSU. 2/46th, CB Dave Amerson, North Carolina State. 3/68th, OLB Damontre Moore, Texas A&M. 4/111th, FB Justin Juszczyk, Harvard. 5/139th, P Jeff Locke, UCLA. 6/175th, WR Brice Butler, San Diego State. 7/217th, TE Chris Gragg, Arkansas. 7/222nd, OL Garrett Gilkey, Chadron State. 7/227th, ILB Kevin Reddick, North Carolina.
Absolutely! Pretty good punter, even better human being. Helps that we also have a glaring need there.
They can't stop blasting this draft. Gotta suck to have that much anger over solidifying two huge needs (OLB, CB), adding some quality depth and picking up a veteran WR who can help mentor the young guys along. Anything to dump on Lombardi, I suppose.
