Cleveland Browns Offseason Talk

• BR1986FB

  Two down (safety, RB) and one to go (O-Line).
• spartan

  i hope we didnt trade up that much for it
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Fail.
  
  You don't trade up for that.
• BR1986FB

  Browns Hope They Have their Big Play Safety
  
  By Site Staff
  
  Posted Apr 23, 2010
  
  With safeties disappearing off the boards, the Browns grab a big-hitting Oregon State defensive back, T.J. Ward. Fred brings the team's comments on the selection from Berea.
  
  BEREA— T.J. Ward scored a lot of points with Buckeye fans when he said Jack Tatum is a player he would like to model his game after.
  
  Ward said he admired Tatum and the Steelers’ Troy Polamalu and tried to model his game after theirs.
  
  “If I had to pick two safeties I would study they would be Jack Tatum and Troy Polamalu.”
  
  Tatum helped the Buckeyes win the 1968 national title and went on to have a stellar career with the Raiders. He was known as a hard hitting, ball-hawking player.
  
  “Being from the Bay Area, I followed Jack Tatum with the Raiders,” Ward said. “My dad said he modeled his play after him, as well.”
  
  Ward’s father, Terrell Ward, played at San Diego State and was a seventh-round draft choice of the Eagles.
  
  The Browns have tried to find the game-changing safety that has been preeminent in their division like Polamalu and the Ravens’ Ed Reed.
  
  “I’m hoping I can be the Browns answer there, but I have a long way to go,” Ward said. “I’m just hoping that I can end up being their answer.”
  
  There is no question the Browns have made a concerted effort to upgrade their secondary. Using their first two picks to land Joe Haden and Ward, the Browns are expecting both players to step in immediately and be productive.
  
  “Obviously, we think we’ve really helped our secondary in the off-season,” Tom Heckert said.
  
  In addition, to the top two draft picks, they acquired Sheldon Brown in a trade.
  
  Heckert said there was no doubt they liked Ward’s hard-hitting ability.
  
  “There’s no question about him,” Heckert said. “His ability in lighting people up and that was intriguing to us.
  
  “We think he’s a really, really good football player,” he said. “He’s a super tough kid. We think he can cover and adds a lot to his defense.”
  
  Ward said he puts everything he has into hitting people.
  
  “I am pretty good at exploding on the ball carrier when I hit him,” Ward said. “I use all my strength and energy every time I hit someone.”
  
  Ward missed five games after suffering a high ankle sprain in the season opener against Boise State. He still ended up fifth on the team in tackles with 68, despite missing nearly half the season. He had 10 tackles against Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.
  
  Heckert said they liked Taylor Mays and Nate Allen, but after Allen was selected just before their turn by the Eagles, they selected Ward.
  
  Heckert said he didn’t know why Ward wasn’t rated as high as some of the other safeties.
  
  “It might be the missed time because he only played in six games or so.”
  
  Ward said his injuries are behind him and he’s ready to go from day one.
  
  “I’m 100 percent and going to be ready for this first minicamp coming up.”
  
  Heckert said the Browns had their eye on Ward since the end of round one.
  
  “We think Taylor is a good football player, but we spent a lot of time with T.J. and felt very comfortable with him,” Heckert said. “He’s had a little history of injuries, but we brought him in and our doctors felt comfortable with him.”
  
  Jim Brown introduced the Browns selection as they took the safety from Oregon. The 5-11, 211 hard hitting safety has the reputation of being not only a hard hitter, but a secure tackler.
  
  “Just having a Hall of Famer like Jim Brown say my name was great.”
  
  Heckert said he expects both Haden and Ward to be in the running to start this season.
  
  “We hope these guys come in here and start,” he said. “We want football players who are tough and smart and can contribute.”
  
  Heckert said Ward is very versatile.
  
  “In the passing game his ball skills are fine,” he said. “They did use him in the box quite a bit.”
  
  “This year’s draft of safeties was a pretty talented group,” Ward said. “I can play both positions and corners. I think I am pretty diverse and can play a lot of different ways.”
  
  Ward was a walk on at Oregon in 2005 and said there was no secret to his rise to being the 38th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.
  
  “It was just a lot of hard work and focus on what needed to be done.”
  
  http://cle.scout.com/2/965052.html
• krazie45

  

  Perplexing pick to say the least. Hardesty could've been had in the 3rd at least. Epic fail for not pulling the trigger on Colt McCoy there.
• Mulva

  

  No wonder I'm so unhappy with this draft. Holmgren is sitting in the background and not running the show.
• BR1986FB

  I like the Hardesty pick. As I mentioned before, I was wondering whether all of the Colt McCoy "love" was a smokescreen. They obviously don't like him THAT much.
• BR1986FB

  Mulva wrote: No wonder I'm so unhappy with this draft. Holmgren is sitting in the background and not running the show.

  Holmgren was a pretty shitty GM. I'm glad he's not running the draft.
• spartan

  what did they give up?
• BR1986FB

  spartan wrote: what did they give up?

  Our first 3rd and two 5th's.
• iclfan2

  

  BR1986FB wrote: I like the Hardesty pick. As I mentioned before, I was wondering whether all of the Colt McCoy "love" was a smokescreen. They obviously don't like him THAT much.

  Why do you like it? Don't we need a RT, WR, and QB? Our rb wasn't THAT big of a need imo.
• spartan

  iclfan2 wrote:

  BR1986FB wrote: I like the Hardesty pick. As I mentioned before, I was wondering whether all of the Colt McCoy "love" was a smokescreen. They obviously don't like him THAT much.

  Why do you like it? Don't we need a RT, WR, and QB? Our rb wasn't THAT big of a need imo.

  need either a right tackle or guard,
• BR1986FB

  iclfan2 wrote:

  BR1986FB wrote: I like the Hardesty pick. As I mentioned before, I was wondering whether all of the Colt McCoy "love" was a smokescreen. They obviously don't like him THAT much.

  Why do you like it? Don't we need a RT, WR, and QB? Our rb wasn't THAT big of a need imo.

  They needed a bigger back which they don't have on the roster. It was said earlier that safety, RB and O-Line would be addressed. I'm expecting to see O-Line and possibly a WR soon. They will likely grab a developmental QB later. I'm hoping for either Kafka or Shelton.
• iclfan2

  

  BR1986FB wrote: They needed a bigger back which they don't have on the roster. It was said earlier that safety, RB and O-Line would be addressed. I'm expecting to see O-Line and possibly a WR soon. They will likely grab a developmental QB later. I'm hoping for either Kafka or Shelton.

  I wouldn't mind Kafka, and was ok with Haded, but I feel that Ward and the rb were big reaches. Obviously I trust these guys more than my own opinion, but just seems strange.
• krazie45

  

  BR1986FB wrote:

  spartan wrote: what did they give up?

  Our first 3rd and two 5th's.

  Got bent over on that one....giving up 3 picks to reach for a position we don't have a pressing need at. That's embarassing...
• devil1197

  Our RB is as big a need as a QB right now.
  
  Harrison ran good on shitty team and Davis has played an NFL down yet. Jennings may not even be with the team.
• BR1986FB

  devil1197 wrote: Jennings may not even be with the team.

  After this pick, he won't.
• Cha'DIch

  Cleveland has a lot of guys who shouldn't be on the team.
• RedBlackAttack

  

  So... RB was not a need? News to me.
• Sykotyk

  

  To me, RB wasn't the need it was made out to be. We have Vickers as a quality FB. And can mix it up with Harrison and hopefully Davis. This pick definitely means Jennings is done. I liked him, but after that scuffle at a night club, this pick sealed his fate.
  
  I still would've liked McCoy without having to trade up to get him.
  
  If he falls to us again (relatively possible), and we pass again. Then that means there's something horrible about McCoy that all the scouts know but aren't telling anyone.
  
  Sykotyk
• BR1986FB

  Browns Get Their Big Back
  
  By Fred Greetham
  OBR Browns Reporter
  Posted Apr 23, 2010
  
  Can Montario Hardesty follow in the footsteps of another big Tennessee back? The Browns hope he comes back from injury with a similar vengeance, as the team makes their first pick on offense.
  
  BEREA—The Browns finally made their first trade of this year’s draft.
  
  There was much talk about using their 10 draft picks to move up. After selecting T.J. Ward in the second round, the Browns moved up to the end of the second- round (59th overall) and selected running back Montario Hardesty from Tennessee.
  
  The Browns traded three picks in order to move up from their first pick in the third round at number 71. In addition, they gave the Eagles their first two picks in the fifth-round (134th and 146th overall).
  
  When the trade was announced the initial speculation was that Colt McCoy would be the pick.
  
  However, Heckert made the move to go get a big back to off -set Jerome Harrison. By selecting Hardesty in the second-round, the Browns are thinking Hardesty could be their feature back.
  
  “We felt comfortable going up and getting him,” Heckert said. “That’s what we envision him (being a featured back).
  
  “There’s no question he’s very physical,” he said. “He’s more than just a banger. He ran a 4.4 something.”
  
  The Browns are hoping Hardesty will turn out like another former Volunteer running back, Jamal Lewis, who had an outstanding career with the Ravens and Browns after recovering from knee injuries in college.
  
  Hardesty (6-0, 225) underwent multiple surgeries to repair anterior cruciate ligament damage in his right knee in 2006. In 2009, Hardesty rushed for 1,345 yards, the fourth-best season total in Tennessee history. He averaged over 103 yards a game in 2009 and carried the ball 282 times. His season best production was 179 yards and three touchdowns against Kentucky. He had 171 yards and a score the week prior against Vanderbilt.
  
  In his career, Hardesty gained 2,391 yards with 26 touchdowns on 556 carries (4.3 avg.). He also caught 38 passes for 405 yards.
  
  Heckert said there is no concern about Hardesty being healthy.
  
  “He is a very talented guy,” Heckert said. “We think he is healthy. That’s why we have doctors and trainers and they feel comfortable with him.”
  
  Heckert said the Browns have been true to their pre draft assessments.
  
  “We said we were going to take the best available players and we’ve done that.”
  
  http://cle.scout.com/2/965070.html
• RedBlackAttack

  

  Sykotyk wrote: To me, RB wasn't the need it was made out to be. We have Vickers as a quality FB. And can mix it up with Harrison and hopefully Davis. This pick definitely means Jennings is done. I liked him, but after that scuffle at a night club, this pick sealed his fate.
  
  I still would've liked McCoy without having to trade up to get him.
  
  If he falls to us again (relatively possible), and we pass again. Then that means there's something horrible about McCoy that all the scouts know but aren't telling anyone.
  
  Sykotyk

  Maybe the pick had less to do with the Browns desperately needing a RB and more to do with Hardesty being the kind of talent that Heckert fell in love with? That is the vibe that I am getting from the trade and pick. I'm pretty excited that the FO was so intrigued by this particular RB that they were willing to part with three draft picks, including a 3rd rounder which is like gold to these guys.
  
  If we can sure up the right side of the line, we may have a nice little combination of skilled backs that do some serious damage.
• dat dude

  I love the Hardesty pick. He was on my wish list prior to the draft. I think he will turn out to be a very good back.
  
  Now, if we can just finish with Jacoby Ford, I'll consider today a success.
• Sykotyk

  

  RedBlackAttack wrote:

  Sykotyk wrote: To me, RB wasn't the need it was made out to be. We have Vickers as a quality FB. And can mix it up with Harrison and hopefully Davis. This pick definitely means Jennings is done. I liked him, but after that scuffle at a night club, this pick sealed his fate.
  
  I still would've liked McCoy without having to trade up to get him.
  
  If he falls to us again (relatively possible), and we pass again. Then that means there's something horrible about McCoy that all the scouts know but aren't telling anyone.
  
  Sykotyk

  Maybe the pick had less to do with the Browns desperately needing a RB and more to do with Hardesty being the kind of talent that Heckert fell in love with? That is the vibe that I am getting from the trade and pick. I'm pretty excited that the FO was so intrigued by this particular RB that they were willing to part with three draft picks, including a 3rd rounder which is like gold to these guys.
  
  If we can sure up the right side of the line, we may have a nice little combination of skilled backs that do some serious damage.

  True MH or Heckert obviously saw something in the kid to take the leap. So, I admire that desire to go after him. But, this is one of those things that I'll judge them on later. Right now, they get the benefit of the doubt with every decision as I'm not about to say they're not the pros and I'm the fan.
  
  Sykotyk
• dat dude

  Colt!