Fichtner has no play calling experience that I am aware of (off-hand) but he has been a big part of the development of Antonio Brown and his tenure at QB coach coincides with Ben Roethlisberger turning a corner in his career, which in all honesty is a pretty big deal considering Ben's age is past what most would consider the developmental portion.
Alright I looked at the 1st 4 rds of the draft and heres what I came up with. 1 (12) Andrus Peat OT Stanford move Schwartz to guard plus he can move to LT when Thomas retires. 1 (19) Kevin White WR WVU or if gone Jalean Strong WR ASU both are big WR's 2 Erik Kendricks ILB UCLA won the BUTKIS enough said! 3 Markus Golden DE Missouri They say he is more NFL ready than Shane Ray his team mate. 4 Jesse James TE Penn St. he is big, can catch and block I have covered the RT problem with Schwartz. As I said move him to RG. Speed rushers kill him. Then I got us a legit #1 WR for when we hopefully trade Pothead in White or Strong. Both of these guys are above 6-2 with good hands and speed. After that I have 1 of the top 2 ILB and Butkis award winner Erik Kendricks. He plays fast and hits hard. He's a BALL HAWK! With our defense getting ran all over we need a BALL HAWK in the middle. In the 3rd rd. I would try to take Markus Golden DE, Missouri. Most scouts say he is more NFL ready than Shane Ray his 1st rd team mate. In the 4th rd I take Jesse James TE, Penn St. James is big, can catch and block. I like Cameron but he makes 1.7m now. He is real injury prone and going to want even more money. I say in the 4th rd we take James and let Cameron walk. James is not as fast as Cameron but is a 10x better blocker. With no FB in our offense right now James could help block for those RB's which is the strength or our offensive weapons. Especially if Hoyer and Johnny are going to be a QB's. So to sum it up. 1. Peat RT 1. White/Strong WR 2. Kendricks ILB 3. Golden DE 4. James TE I can honestly say I see 3 starters if that's what I could get and that depends on if we resign Cameron and Sheard.
Matt Chatham of NENS news just wrote an article on yahoo about how the Browns should part ways with Manziel if they can't trust him to put in the work to become a good NFL quarterback. Again I second that motion.
Part ways 3 months before OTAs begin?? That is asinine considering the investment made. They need to at the very least wait out the down time to see what they have once the team comes back together in April. One thing that actually shocked me. It was said BY MANZIEL, that after a short vacation, he will be staying in Cleveland this off season to work out with familiar people. I don't know EXACTLY what that means, but my hope is that the receivers are staying in Cleveland as well and they are going to work out and become a coherent unit. Guys, I IMPLORE you to take most of what you read with a grain of salt... Are you familiar with Matt Chatham? He is a blow hard who is attempting to use his former athlete status to break into the world of Sports "Reporting" He uses shock value to get his name out there. Also, he writes for a small website called Football by Football designed for former athletes who want to make money in broadcasting or reporting. NESN, which is a Boston sports venue btw, simply picked up his article as filler on their site. In other words, his opinion means a MILLION times less to me than yours does Els..I would rather see an article written by you on the merits of getting rid of Manziel right now, than this hack who just wants to shock people into reading his material in order to make money in the future. Now, I am not arguing the merits of parting ways with Manziel...I am adamantly suggesting that the Browns keep a keen eye on the young man over the next several weeks to see EXACTLY what he is doing with his spare time. It was IMMEDIATELY reported about his partying the day he left Cleveland in South Beach..The media jumped aboard the same 'ol, same 'ol band wagon and many of us did as well. Manziel himself said he was taking a short vacation, then getting right back to work this off season...Even though he also said he needs to figure out whether he will put in the work needed to succeed (not very convincingly). However, that was over a week ago and he has not been heard of since last weekends drinks thrown in his face partying on the weekend... Is the vacation over? I guess that is all I am trying to say. A one week of blowing off steam on what had to have been a disappointing start to his career...well who wouldn't have expected that from him? Even his supporters, I'm afraid. The point to my rambling is this..If he comes back in April showing signs of MARKED improvement, it would give the front office the confidence going forward that they need to put the effort into developing him. If by the draft, he has done nothing for himself, then make the decision of whether he becomes a distraction and detriment to the team and see if you can get a mid round pick for someone else in dire need of QB help to take a flyer on him. If not, then seclude him as much as possible and humble him by releasing him and attempting to sign him to the practice squad. If he cannot/does not...then he is out of our lives forever. Cutting bait on a first round draft pick less than 12 months later is almost as ridiculous as 6 OCs in 6 years...OH wait... *WALL*
Irish ..even if Manziel takes the NFL serious puts in the time required I still doubt his skill set to play on Sunday . IMHO he cant play from the pocket . until he does all teams will do is stack the box keep him in the pocket . put a spy him and make him beat them throwing the ball . we need a QB even if he somehow matures . a big strong armed traditional QB with some mobility . are the Colts the luckiest team on planet earth or what ? they have ONE bad season and Luck is there for the taking . in the meantime we cant get out of our own way *WALL*
And the beat goes on and on and on The Dysfunction Express continues to roll at 76 Lou Groza Blvd. And why not? It has been moving along at a stunningly rapid (and unsuccessful) clip for the Browns for the vast majority of the last 16 seasons. Why stop now? The latest round of dysfunction comes in the form of the Browns Thursday permitting offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to leave after just one season and the firing of quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains. Just like that, the two brains responsible for making the Cleveland offense go (during the early stages of the season) and then stumble badly in reverse (the rest of the season) are gone. That means the Browns once again will have a new philosophy on the attacking side of the football this season. That will (sarcasm warning) thrill (end sarcasm warning) those who operate on that side of the ball. Yep, another change in philosophy. Just when players are starting to get comfortable with one style of play, along comes someone else with a completely different approach. No wonder they grumble when coaches leave almost as quickly as they arrive. Whoever is anointed the new offensive boss will be the unlucky 13th man to hold the job since the resurrection in 1999. Think about that. That?s 13 new philosophies in 17 seasons. No wonder the Cleveland attack suffers year after year after year. Since 1999, the Browns? offense has been guided by Chris Palmer, Pete Carmichael, Bruce Arians, Terry Robiskie, Rob Chudzinski (who held the position twice in different seasons), Maurice Carthon, Jeff Davidson, Brian Daboll, Pat Shurmur, Brad Childress, Norv Turner and Shanahan. Arians ran the offense for what can now be considered a record three seasons (2001-03), while Robiskie ran it before taking over the head reins for the final five games of the 2004 season after Butch Davis quit. Palmer and Shurmur were head coaches who ran their own offenses. No matter whom the Browns bring in to replace the departed duo, unless he?s a combination of greats like Paul Brown, Sid Gillman, Blanton Collier and Don Coryell, you can count on only token improvement of the offense. Adapting to new philosophies, new nomenclature, new system, new everything takes time for an offense. It doesn?t gel just like that. Offenses are predicated on rhythm and timing. It?s the opposite for defense, where belligerence and aggression are essential requirements. An offense runs more as a total unit whereas the defense does not require the precision of all 11 men to be successful on a play. That?s why in training camp, exhibition games and the early part of the regular season, the defense is clearly ahead of the offense. Most good offenses start catching up a few games into the season. The mutual parting of the ways by Shanahan and the Browns did not come as a surprise. Speculation he might be leaving arose when other National Football League clubs inquired about his availability for at least a lateral move, if not one that involved a head coaching vacancy. When it was learned his father, Mike, wanted to return to the league, it was only natural that Shanahan?s name was linked to the possibility of his father hooking up with some team. Shanahan leaves an offense that was predicated on the running game, which, to his credit, was the single greatest improvement on the team this season on either side of the ball. The Cleveland running game, which broke down in the last month of the season, was well respected around the NFL until then. When a team goes from four rushing touchdowns in 2013 to 17 this past season, Shanahan must get a majority of the credit. His zone-blocking scheme was the main reason the Browns gained nearly 350 more yards in 2014. It also allowed rookie running backs Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West to emerge as definite threats with the ball. The only drawback was Shanahan?s reluctance to involve his running backs in the passing game. What hurt the offense ultimately was the inability of whoever was under center to be proficient enough and dangerous enough to get the opposition to back off crowding the line of scrimmage. Once teams realized the best way to beat the Browns was to put as many as eight men in the box, take away the run game and force the quarterback to throw the ball more than he or his coordinator wanted, the offense sputtered badly. The result was a season-ending five-game losing streak. Maybe that?s why coach Mike Pettine at the end of the season called his quarterback situation ?messy? and General Manager Ray Farmer did not slam the door on selecting a quarterback in the next college football draft. Pettine holds the key to where the Browns are headed offensively. He makes the calls on his coaching staff. In choosing Shanahan, he obviously was a fan of the running game. Shanahan?s successor most likely will have the same philosophy if Pettine has anything to say about it. It?s a tricky situation because the offense has the potential of becoming something better than decent. (Full disclosure: I hate potential. It does not necessarily guarantee success. Only hope.) The good news is Alex Mack will be back. That?s a huge difference right there. The offensive line struggled after the Pro Bowl center was lost for the season after breaking a leg in game five. Farmer has two first-round draft picks to play with and wide receiver, a position that suffered all season despite his protestations to the contrary, is certain to be one of his targets. Depending on what happens with Josh Gordon and in free agency, as many as two might be taken. There is no question, though, the Browns definitely need a quarterback better than whom they have now. In his brief time with the Browns, Shanahan could not solve the passing game problems. That should be the top priority for his successor. However, Browns fans should not expect whomever that man is to arrive and right the ship immediately. That?s not going to happen. The learning curve for the sixth different offensive coordinator in the last six seasons will be painfully slow. It will be even slower for the players, who face the tough task of learning a completely new system. Don?t expect much from the new Cleveland offense right away. That?s because the club clearly took a step back Thursday. Posted by Rich Passan
Rich's Rants Forty-one years in The Plain Dealer sports department. Twenty-three years on Cleveland radio airwaves. Five years with the Orange and Brown Report. Now, a whole new place to piss people off.
About Me Rich Passan Ranting and raving on the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians from a longtime Cleveland newspaperman and sports-talk show straight shooter. Agree or disagree, I'll make you think.
He DID play from the pocket his senior year at A&M...a wondrous thing happened, his stats were even more impressive when he did... He is capable, but he needs the maturity to trust the line to hold... I don't know if he will get the maturity overnight, which is why I fear all may be lost.
Regardless of who or what Matt Chatham is or what his agenda is, here is the cold hard fact on cutting Johnny Manziel; For 2015 - his contract calls for him to paid $1,874,681. To cut him would cost the Browns $6,498,851 in 2015, $4,624,170 in 2016 and $2,374,553 in 2017. That's a total of $13,497,574 in dead money. Still want to second that motion?
Actually Lym, those are the numbers for each year, if he was cut...If cut now, he would cost $6.5M, but wouldn't cost anything against the cap in subsequent years..His entire contract was only worth $11M guaranteed including his $4.318 signing bonus... BUT, that $6.5M is certainly enough to keep him around for 2015!!
This is good news for the Brownies! http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...or-dick-lebeau-parts-ways-pittsburgh-steelers
I don't know Lym do want to keep wasting 1st rd picks year after year? That's what the Browns are best at! He's a F#$@! They should trade him, get rid of him! Along with POTHEAD! These 2 are born losers! 1 a drunk, the other a POTHEAD! yeah they are going to lead us to the super bowl! But lets waste another 15 years to see if they can turn their lives around, get real man! I think we are the only people in the universe that think the Browns are not dysfunctional! They cant even keep an OC for longer than 1 year! WOW!
Fire O'neil and HIRE DICK LEBEAU NOW!!!!!!!!! Get a winner in here. The article from above at DVLDAWG said he was resigning not retiring. That's his words. The interview was from his home in OHIO! JUMP ON IT JIMMY! Wasn't Lebeau a Brown before he went to Detroit? Greatest defensive mind in the last 25 years. He knows TALENT! A thing this organization doesn't! DAWG u got me excited again, baby! Thanks! Get it done NOW!
I haven't seen it reported yet, apologies if it was, but: Greg Roman has been granted permission by the 49ers to speak with the Browns. They are meeting on Monday. Looks like Farmer is looking for a coordinator proficient with a mobile QB.
The word of the day for the BROWNS should be CREDIBILITY! In this organization for 15 years they have zero, zip, zilch, none! From the ownership on down. This past season has shown that. From the owner, not GM, drafting the team and calling plays. To a drunk QB, dope smoking pro bowl WR, revolving door for a RT, wide receivers who drop balls, non tackling defensive lineman, bust draft bust CB and disagreement amongst the coaching staff. CREDIBILITY! Every news outlet in america are calling the Browns dysfunctional! 6 offensive coordinators in 6 years! That's dysfunctional! When the team lost Mack and started losing Haslam PANICKED! point blank. Then started making rash decision like starting a not ready partying, drunk QB that told his GM to draft! Now it turns out that Manziel played Haslam. That 21 other teams saw the truth. Haslam of coarse didn't. Now a QB that was taken in the early 2nd rd, Carr, is outplaying the party boy on a worse team, The Oakland Raiders. With no pro bowl LT, LG on his team. On a team that has been just as bad as the Browns. If Jimmy Haslam is going to continue his Al Davis, Dan Snyder type of ownership this team is doomed to repeat mediocrity. It starts with ownership putting in a front office that can bring in talent to match the coaches scheme's. Farmer and Pettine along with the other coaches need to find the talent that can execute the game plan. There was rumbling before the draft that stated Bridgewater who was available when we picked 22 DIDN'T WANT TO COME HERE! Why would a poor college student who is about to make an ungodly amounts of money say he wouldn't play here. If what Lym stated about Manziels contract is right, then why would he not want to make that money and sign here? Credibility! the word after that is dysfunctional. For 15 years there has been no Credibility and nothing but DYSFUNCTION! That's why I said call the best DC in the league. Why not? what coach either side of the ball was as good as Lebeau since we have been back. NO ONE! You think that may be a problem? I would call every good OC and DC available. The Browns are already looking for an OC, again! They are going to have to bring in another QB because Hoyer may leave and Manziel sucks! This team after having its best year in some time has to look for a new QB and OC. Only the FACTORY OF SADNESS! CREDIBILITY fellas is needed in every business you are in. To bad for the Browns, their owner is not credible. Who suffers, not the city of Cleveland, they make money with people going down there and spending the money. Not the Browns, Haslam makes boat loads of cash off this team. Its the fans! We are the ones that have to deal with this train wreck. Get made fun of, get embarrassed by there performances on Sundays or when we were the ones stupid enough to draft a drunk and a Pothead with a 1st rd pick and 2nd. ONLY THE FACTORY OF SADNESS, FELLAS. Only here in Cleveland.
If that's what Farmer is looking for he is going in the wrong direction. Roman's success came from working with pocket style QBs and mainly as an offensive line coach/assistant, not as an OC. His stint in San Francisco is considered a disappointment and a lot of people point the finger at him for not only the failure to improve Kaepernick's game but aiding in Colin's regression. If the Browns are looking to continue to improve the ground game Roman makes some sense. If they are looking to try and continue to develop Johnny they are looking in the wrong direction.
