Disclaimer: Read this and enjoy for the sole purpose of entertainment. I am one person doing these write-ups on all 32 teams. I'm going to miss some things on your team so feel free to chime in and tell me where I may be steering your franchise wrong.
The Draft so far...
1. Luke Joekel, OT (KC)
2. Jarvis Jones, OLB (JAC)
3. Star Lotulelei, DT (OAK)
4. Eric Fisher, OT (PHI)
5. Dee Milliner, CB (DET)
On offense:
Last year we were among the four teams that selected a quarterback in the first round. If only we had taken Russell Wilson instead of Weeden!! Oh well, you can't play the game with hindsight (unfortunately) and we have to evaluate where we stand now. Being the new GM, it's up to me whether we give Weeden another shot or if we go in a different direction. Part of me sees that he looked pretty good at times in his rookie debut and an argument can be made that we should give him another year or two in order for us to gauge his progress (or lack thereof). He had moments where he looked good and others when you just had to shake your head, but that's the case with most rookies. His number one receiver was a rookie as was his running back so that could have effected him as well. Another part of me sees that he looked erratic and was not a very nimble guy. I also see an old rookie. At 30, is he going to develop quickly enough for us to benefit? Behind Weeden is former third round pick Colt McCoy who is a very good guy waiting in the wings. His starting days are over, but he can win games if he's called upon to play.
The strength of our offensive line is another reason I may be willing to give Weeden a bit more time. A young QB needs to feel comfortable in the pocket and we have one of the better lines in the league. Our blind-side protector, Joe Thomas, has lived up to his hype and is among the elite talents at left tackle. We don't have anyone else at that level of talent, but the other guys are no slouches either. If any position could stand an upgrade, it would have to be right guard, where Shawn Lauvao was the worst player of a good line.
Our skill positions haven't been league leaders to say the least. We used our second rounder in this year's draft to take Josh Gordon in last year's supplemental draft. He had a few red flags, but so far, that investment is paying off. In 2012, he came in after missing most of the off season and took only a few games to start showing flashes of the star he could be, but he still has improvements to make. His partner in crime, Greg Little, has shown very inconsistent hands. It's a shame too because when the Browns traded away from Julio Jones, I thought they made a great move by picking up Little. He has the physical tools, but it's looking more and more like he lacks the mental focus to be a reliable target. We only have two other guys currently, and they both came out of the 2012 class...one was undrafted. Receiver is a position that we need to address and luckily, this draft class appears deep at the position. At tight end, I feel this organization made a big mistake in letting Evan Moore go. I really liked his upside and he seemed like a guy on the rise. We lost Ben Watson to free agency and are left with 2011 fourth rounder Jordan Cameron and not much else. Our real offensive star is playing running back. Trent Richardson is a beast that defenses will have trouble containing for a long time. Our depth at running back is good as well with Montario Hardesty and Chris Ogbonnaya.
On defense
We're switching to the 3-4 defense and when you do that, you need to find players that can fit that scheme. We have our nose tackle with Phil Taylor. He's been playing in our 4-3 scheme, but he's much better suited to plug as the nose in a 3-4 line. We also have big John Hughes to rotate in or to use alongside Taylor in obvious run situations. We needed some help at defensive end so we picked up Desmond Bryant in free agency. He had four sacks in eight games last year when playing for Oakland and if we can get six to eight sacks from a defensive end in the 3-4, we'll be very happy with the decision to sign him. At the other DE spot, we have a few guys that will compete for the starting position, but depth is needed and we could use a rookie to give these guys competition.
Our linebackers are looking good. Jabaal Sheard has the physical talent to excel in this scheme at one of the outside linebackers spots. We brought in Paul Kruger from our division rivals, the Baltimore Ravens to man the other side. His experience will help him be an immediate team leader and it never hurts to bring in players with a Super Bowl ring to inspire the others. Our inside linebackers are a bit of a question. I think we'll move D'Qwell Jackson to the weak-side spot, but we really need to find out who's playing next to him. Chris Gocong is decent, but he's more of an all-purpose backup guy. We'll give last year's draft choices, James-Michael Johnson and Tank Carder fight it out in training camp for the starting position.
In the secondary, we have one of the top young corners with Joe Haden, but upgrades could be had opposite him and for our slot corner. Sheldon Brown is no longer with the team in the tooth and Buster Skrine seems to draw more flags than any corner in the league. In the middle of the secondary, we like having T.J. Ward at strong safety, but we could stand a top-flight guy next to him.
On to the draft...
Looking over the prospects, I see a couple guys that we really need to consider. A guy I like a lot in this draft is defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd. He's right around 300 pounds and if he can play defensive end in the 3-4, he'd be at least another pressure playing opposite of Bryant. We could also seriously consider Geno Smith. I really don't like how old Weeden is and being a new regime, we have no loyalty to him. A third guy I'm strongly considering is OLB/DE Dion Jordan. I love this player! I really believe he has a chance to be named Defensive Rookie of the Year. After tossing the names and going over the positives and negatives, with the sixth pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select, Sharrif Floyd, defensive tackle, Florida. Our scouts have told me this guy could be the next Warren Sapp as far as the pressure he put on opposing quarterbacks. I didn't go with Geno Smith because Weeden was only a rookie last year. We need to give him time to develop chemistry with Josh Gordon and we need to give him other quality weapons before we decide he can't play. As for Dion Jordan, well, we brought in Kruger so Jordan would have been somewhat of a luxury pick.
With no second round pick, we look to round three. There, we'll consider the players at corner, safety and tight end. We see a controversial corner with big upside is still on the board and we scoop him up. We'll gamble our third round pick on The Honey Badger, Tyrann Mathieu. A lot of people are down on him, but he simply has too much talent at a position of need for us not to take a shot on him. When you're a franchise that's been down this long, you have to take chances to compete. In rounds 4-7, we'll concentrate on corner, safety, tight end, inside linebacker, wide receiver, and guard: taking the best combo of players we can as the draft moves along.
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1.L.Joekel....2. S.F;oyd....3. D.Jorden,,,,,,4.D, Milliner....5. E, Ansah...6. Browns (trade down 1st option) or take G. Smith (2nd option) Jarvis Jones who plays exactly like D. Jorden (does not engage), (3rd option) or C. Warmack (4th option).....Bark"vicious" (physical player and engages Tackles, but does not shed them as well as Ansah) is a long shot....P.S. watch some game tape on E. Ansah, you'll be impressed. he's physical, unlike D. Jorden who simply ALWAYS rushes the QB around the outside edge of the Tackle.....I do my homework too!!!! Take Care H-Man
ReplyDeleteHey, I love having people post who do their homework. Good stuff. I like Ansah a lot, but I'm not sure he fits with Sheard and Kruger entrenched as starters. I watched some game tape of him and watched him in the Senior Bowl (and he looked awesome against the top seniors). He'll make someone very happy and really could go as high as five to Detroit. I don't think he does though, only because teams are worried about his lack of experience (only played football since 2010).
DeleteI do like Jordan though too, mainly for his versatility. As an OLB in the 3-4, your main responsibilities are to rush the passer and cover. He can do both VERY well.
Thanks for the feedback. Hope to see you back with a sign in H-Man.
I like Dion Jordan here. Cleveland needs playmakers on both sides of the ball. He is great value, is versatile as you say, and can definitely rush the passer. This franchise needs a little excitement.
ReplyDeleteOnly problem with Jordan here is, what do you do with Sheard, who you spent a high pick (37th overall) on in 2011? He was the best pass rusher for Cleveland last year and he should do even better in the 3-4 since his body type fits that scheme a little better (he was only a 255 pound DE in the 4-3). Then you brought in Kruger and you didn't bring him in to sit on the bench. What do you do with one of these two if you draft Jordan?
ReplyDeleteI hear what you are saying. I guess I would let the coaches figure it out. It gives them the opportunity to formulate complicated blitz packages. On passing downs, keep Sheard at DE & have Kruger/Jordon be your OLB's. This is a passing league. Their division has Flacco, Big Ben, Dalton/AJ Green. The AFC has Brady, Peyton, Luck, Schaub/A Johnson. I think there is a premium on pass-rushers these days on the defensive side of the ball.
ReplyDeleteCleveland needs to take chances & get playmakers...think a little outside the box. I think they need more than a 'safe' defensive tackle...and I really like this Oregon kid. They have been the bottom-feeders of the AFC North for a long time.
Of course...reasonable minds can disagree. :)
Yeah, we're usually on the same page, but not in this case. Sheard cannot play DE in a 3-4 defense. Those guys are at least 290 pounds. It would be like asking a tight end to line up and play right tackle. At 255, he would get demolished by the opponents offensive line. The hole at the line was the reason I took Floyd (over 300 pounds).
DeleteI think Jordan made the most sense for this team before the Kruger signing, but when he was brought in, I think they have to switch to either DE or QB. JMO.
Thanks for the feedback.
I can understand your argument in taking Floyd over Jordon due to overlap in talent...but I don't understand why Sheard couldn't play DE in a 3-4 in PASSING situations. Whether he is a DE in a 4-3 or 3-4, he will be lined up against a huge O-Tackle. This isn't about stopping the run...it's the pass. I honestly don't see what difference it makes IF you do it in a certain passing situations. I wouldn't line him up there on first & 10...but I would on 3rd & 10...and if they want to run the ball, fine. If not you have 3 potential pass rushers that can make a play on the QB.
ReplyDeleteJordon is WAY to good to pass up here IMO...where we are in agreement is that he could definitely contend for defensive rookie of the year. His upside is off the charts. I would find a way to make it work if I were the Browns & he was available.
You could definitely line him up on passing situations. Then, you either sit your sixth overall pick on those passing situations, or your high priced FA. Then, on first and second down, you have Sheard, a 37th overall pick, on the bench. On top of that, you don't have a great defensive end like you would if you chose Sharrif Floyd.
ReplyDeleteIn my scenario, I have a front three of Bryant, Taylor, and Floyd as my front three and Sheard and Kruger as my OLBs. On third down, I can move Floyd to the inside along with Bryant (both can really get after the passer) and have Sheard and Kruger as DEs.
I guess I just don't like sitting talent and if you draft another OLB, you're sitting either Sheard or Kruger on every play and you're leaving a hole on the defensive line. As for talent, Floyd is being considered as a top three player overall by some. It's not like I'd be passing on Jordan for a slouch. There's simply no way to make a defense work with three OLBs where they could all play the majority of downs.