Cleveland Browns Offseason Talk
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BR1986FBHolmgren shows why he’s the boss
By Les Carpenter, Yahoo! Sports May 26, 12:51 pm EDT
BEREA, Ohio – He is a man in charge of everything now and yet nothing is like what Mike Holmgren’s football world has ever been.
He looms around the Cleveland Browns offices at 61 years old, their new team president on what he calls “the last great adventure.”
In the mornings Holmgren no longer watches game films but instead sits through marketing meetings, makes promotional videos and spends hours phoning former suite-holders begging them to return. Whenever the NFL’s owners meet, he attends, taking the Browns’ seat at the big table next to Patriots owner Bob Kraft.
The other day, during a particularly dreary financial discussion, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones slipped him a note that read: “You need a PHD in economics to understand this.”
“I’m in meetings I’ve never been in before,” Holmgren says, a hint of wonder in his voice.
“Mike’s different,” says Gil Haskell, Holmgen’s longtime offensive coordinator who is a special assistant to him in Cleveland. “He’s smarter than a football man. There’s more to him than a football man.”
Last fall, back when he was on a one-year hiatus from football, he thought he would return to the Seattle Seahawks where he had coached for the previous decade. An executive job was discussed. But the power was all wrong, the organization in too much turmoil.
“It wouldn’t have been the right thing,” he says.
Browns owner Randy Lerner offered a franchise along with the control. It was a chance to remake a team. Such opportunity might never come again. So Holmgren seized it, maybe unsure exactly what it was he was grabbing.
And yet his presence has invigorated a team that has made the playoffs just once in the 10 years since its recreation and was in need of some kind of hope.
“It’s like a giant weight has lifted because the uncertainty was done,” the Browns general consul Fred Nance recently told the Cleveland Plain Dealer about Holmgren’s arrival. “It was clear what direction we were going.”
Still, Holmgren knows the perception lingers that he is only pretending to enjoy the meetings and that his real plan is to stabilize the Browns for a year, learn the organization, then at season’s end, dump Eric Mangini and make himself the coach. How can he not know it? The rumor has been percolating since he took the job in December. Many expected Holmgren to fire Mangini then, given the Browns’ 5-11 record and the fact Mangini was not a devotee of the West Coast Offense like all of Holmgren’s protégées.
The thought appears to disturb him. So many times in his time with the Seahawks he felt he was fending off some kind of assault from the men above him on the organizational ladder, who were believed to be plotting to have him removed. It is not the kind of atmosphere he wants to create in Cleveland.
As a result, Holmgren tries to squelch any longings he might have to coach again, beating them down – if not for the sake of his own stomach, which did not handle defeats well at the end in Seattle – then for Mangini’s sake. He owes his coach the comfort that the boss does not desire his job.
Mangini himself seems to believe Holmgren is on his side, saying he appreciates the fact that as a former head coach, Holmgren can understand what he is going through. “Even though you didn’t share the experiences on the same team, a lot of times there’s carry-over between the type of experiences you have.”
Holmgren remembers how Packers general manager Ron Wolf was with him when he was a new head coach in Green Bay. After particularly grueling defeats, it was Wolf who came by his office to listen.
“I always knew he had my back,” Holmgren says. “I hope with Eric he is comfortable enough with me to know I have his back, and he doesn’t have to deal with this other stuff and free him up to be the best coach he can be.”
“If this is my last job in the NFL, I hope I do what I am doing right now,” Holmgren adds.
Then he is asked if he has lost his zest for coaching.
Holmgren pauses.
“No,” he finally replies.
“Am I contradicting myself?” he asks, pausing again.
“[Last Wednesday] at practice was fun,” he says.
The day before, the Browns held an OTA on their outside practice fields. It was a beautiful sun-splashed morning after a dreary week of wind and rain, and Holmgren celebrated the occasion by donning NFL official issue coach’s shorts and a coach’s shirt and strolled out across the grass. For a few minutes he strayed into the middle of the practice, standing in a prominent spot not far from the huddle in a full-team scrimmage. And it was clear the coaching had never left him.
But he also spent a greater part of the workout on the sideline, talking with clusters of reporters who had been allowed to watch the session. And when he walked, he limped slightly, the result of a painful foot condition that might require surgery. Standing on the field for two hours is not as easy for him as it once was.
As much as he might long to coach again, he also seems to understand it is time to try something else.
“When the actual season comes along, that will be the next test [of his yearning to coach],” Holmgren says with a laugh.
“I’ve thought a lot about this,” he added. “And I’ve committed to being the president.”
Back in the late fall, when Lerner first proposed the job, Holmgren consulted people like Dolphins vice president Bill Parcells and Colts president Bill Polian, to see how they handled their roles. He wanted to understand the job, to see if he could fit into it. He had, of course, been the coach and general manager when he first went to Seattle in 1999 but fell under the controlling hand of team president Bob Whitsitt, who denied him as much influence as he expected. Ultimately Whitsitt forced him to give up the general manager role when the team struggled.
A part of him remains haunted by what happened to the general manager’s job in Seattle. Could he run a team?
“I’m wiser now,” he says.
Looking back he can see his mistakes. He talks about wishing he could have “a couple draft picks back.” He looks back at his first NFL draft in 1999 when he didn’t replace the previous scouting staff and instead tried to merge the old scouts with the new ones he brought in. The two groups had conflicting approaches and the draft was a bust.
This time, when he arrived in Cleveland, he fired many of the team’s scouts and hired his own to give the organization a single philosophy.
Another error he can see was drafting at times to fill needs rather than grab the best player left. This caused the Seahawks to “stretch,” picking players who weren’t good enough to be picked as high as they were. He vows not to do that with the Browns.
Unless it’s a quarterback. Holmgren loves quarterbacks. A former backup quarterback at USC himself, he built his career on developing quarterbacks like Joe Montana, Steve Young, Brett Favre(notes) and Matt Hasselbeck. He loves to tinker with broken-down passers, studying them, trying to figure out how they think. And with the Browns lacking their quarterback of the future, he was not going to let the team pass on former Texas star Colt McCoy(notes) when Cleveland made the first of its two third-round picks this year.
He always liked McCoy. McCoy was smart, had a good personality and seemed to know how to deliver a pass at just the right time. When the team’s third selection came up and McCoy was available, Holmgren would not let the moment die.
“I said: ‘What do you think? Let’s do it,’ ” Holmgren said.
General manager Tom Heckert and Mangini got the hint. They picked McCoy.
“He helped them make the decision,” Haskell recalls, smiling. “How’s that for being diplomatic?”
He is the boss, after all.
On some things, Mike Holmgren will never change.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=lc-bossholmgren052610 -
BR1986FBFive Under the Radar
By Zac Jackson
FoxSportsOhio.com
Posted May 29, 2010
FSN's Zac Jackson looks at five unheralded Browns who could make an impact...
Here's a list of five young, under-the-radar players whose contributions could go a long way towards pushing the Browns to some level of success this season...
1. James Davis -- It's hard to believe he's under the radar, but it's been a long time since his injury last fall (and the ensuing speculation) that ended his promising rookie season. Jerome Harrison went on to blow up, and second-rounder Montario Hardesty has been the subject of much hype and hope this spring. But Davis is a guy who knows how to find daylight and yards, and coming back a year stronger and smarter should only help him pick up where he left off. The one thing the Browns backfield has is a bunch of uncertainty, and I've seen nothing to indicate that Davis is too far behind anyone in the chase for carries as business picks up over the next couple months.
2. Coye Francies -- How and why he didn't get more playing time last year was a decision that was above my pay grade then and isn't worth rehashing now. Here's why he can help this year: Because he's big, fast, presumably learned from whatever was keeping him sidelined on Sunday last year and should have an added comfort level and confidence. You need more corners than the Browns probably have to win over the course of a long season, and this is a guy that certainly won't be physically overwhelmed by anybody on the practice field. I'm not saying he'll be a starter, but he could be a big part of a big upgrade at the cornerback position.
3. Larry Asante -- One of my favorites in this draft class (like Davis was last year), Asante slipped to the back end of the draft because he's an inch too short and a half-step too slow when timed (like Davis was last year). But he is a football player, he comes from a big-time program in Nebraska and one of college football's best-coached defenses, and to me he's as NFL ready as Joe Haden or T.J. Ward. He doesn't exactly have Ronnie Lott and Eric Turner in front of him on the depth chart, either, so he's one to watch this summer.
4. Kaluka Maiava -- He's still a guy that's probably too small to be an every-down linebacker and probably was drafted a round or two early last spring. But he has the smarts, toughness and instincts to be a contributor and a tone-setter, and Maiava has come back noticeably bigger and stronger than he was a year ago. He's always been an outstanding special teamer and now that he has a year of NFL special teams work under his belt, it's hard to see Maiava not winning a spot on the roster and making plays when the games count. Remember: The guy hunts wild boar with his bare hands. When it comes time to scrap, you want him on your side.
5. Evan Moore -- Because Brian Robiskie doesn't qualify as off the radar we go to Moore, a 6-foot-8ish target who caught a bunch of passes at the end of last season in what was essentially a tryout he made the most of. He's still learning the game and the position, and whenever he was on the field last year the Browns certainly weren't running the ball behind him. But a spring's worth of work on his blocking and strength should serve him well, and though he's behind Ben Watson and Alex Smith now those guys probably can't be counted on to be healthy for 16 games. He'll get extended chances and another shot to make the most of them.
http://cle.scout.com/2/973333.html -
royal_k
I like all 5 of those guys....especially Evan Moore. -
Sonofanump
IF this happens, he will be a starter and a very good NFL player. He understand concepts and catches everything thrown at him.wrote:
5. Evan Moore -- ...and whenever he was on the field last year the Browns certainly weren't running the ball behind him. But a spring's worth of work on his blocking and strength should serve him well -
BR1986FBI cut off the Cavs & Tribe stuff....
Terry Pluto's Talkin' ... about the Browns' new atmosphere, Cavs' coaching candidates and the Tribe's need for strong arms
By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer
May 30, 2010, 5:00AM
About the Browns...
1. It's hard to even compare the team during off-season drills to what was happening a year ago. Everything from knowing who will be the quarterback (Jake Delhomme) to the "Big Boss" (as Mike Holmgren has called himself) to who feels more relaxed as coach (Eric Mangini), to a general manager/super scout (Tom Heckert) has to add up to the Browns being a better team.
2. The Browns now have a business model in place that is much like the Baltimore Ravens, where President Ozzie Newsome is the Big Boss. The general manager role (once held by Phil Savage) is Tom Heckert's. Then the coach knows he is there to coach, and not have to worry about the draft, trades, contracts and other front office activities.
3. While some fans were hoping for a coaching change, you can see the wisdom of keeping Mangini and his key staff members. The players and coaches know what to expect from each other. There is a sense of order, discipline and focus. Far fewer players are running laps for missed assignment or penalties than a year ago.
4. That said, it's obvious offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has spent a lot of time with Gil Haskell, a former coordinator who is Holmgren's special assistant. The Browns will not -- repeat, will not -- be a team with a West Coast offense. But they are adding some elements.
haskell-holmgren-jk.jpgJohn Kuntz / The Plain DealerGil Haskell (left) is not the Browns offensive coordinator, and Mike Holmgren is not the coach. But it's hard not to sense how both men have changed the atmosphere in Berea, along with GM Tom Heckert.5. More importantly, they seem to be running wild with ideas for Seneca Wallace and Joshua Cribbs in the double Wildcat formation. They are being bold, showing the media plays where Wallace throws to Cribbs, and Cribbs throws to Wallace. Long snaps can go to either player. They both can run and throw. Cribbs claims it will be nearly impossible for any team to prepare in one week for all the variety the Browns have planned.
6. Never forget that Cribbs averaged 6.9 yards per carry last season, 381 yards in 55 attempts. For his career, Wallace has gained 214 yards (4.0 average) in 54 carries. Wallace may be 5-11 in very tall cleats, but he has a strong, accurate arm and throws well off the run.
7. The Browns have been pleased with Delhomme, who has made few poor throws. One of those was Thursday, firing into double coverage for an easy interception. They are working with him to avoid the risky passes. At 35, he can't fire the ball into those small spaces as he did a few years ago. He has been very receptive. He does a good job keeping the offensive organized.
8. Yes, Brian Robiskie has been the receiving star of the camp, but Chansi Stuckey has quietly impressed, showing excellent hands and precise pass patterns to get open. He had a rocky season with the Browns, joining the team for the final 11 games (19 catches, six drops) after the Braylon Edwards deal. The coaches believe he is returning to the form of 2008 when he gave hints of being a promising possession slot receiver.
9. Talk about a broken play on my part. Mike Knapp emailed: "[Last Sunday] you wrote that Brian Robiskie set career records at Ohio State for catches (118) and touchdown receptions (34). Not even close to being accurate. Robiskie had 127 catches (eighth all time) and 24 touchdown catches (fourth all time). David Boston has the OSU career receptions record with 191 and touchdowns with 34." By the way, Robiskie caught only one pass and played special teams as a freshman for the Buckeyes, then his career took off. Could the same thing happen with the Browns?
10. No idea if we'll be even mentioning this guy in the fall, but the coaches have been impressed with undrafted free agent receiver Jonathan Haggerty (6-1, 195 pounds). It wasn't easy to find information on the all-time leading receiver in Southwestern Oklahoma State (Division II) school history, but Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News wrote this: "Haggerty was a four-year starter and two-time All-Lone Star Conference selection. He caught 54 passes with a 13.9-yard average and six touchdowns in 2009. That didn't get the NFL's attention -- he wasn't invited to the annual scouting combine -- but his workout on campus did. He ran a 4.44 40-yard dash in front of 18 scouts on his pro day."
11. In a recent meeting, the coaches asked themselves, "Has anyone noticed Montario?" What they meant was whether anyone saw Tennessee's Montario Hardesty line up in the wrong spot, run the wrong play, seem unprepared or overwhelmed. They said he doesn't seem like a rookie, because he's been very solid.
12. Because the players aren't in pads and there is no tackling, these camps favor players with speed and underrate those who hit hard and break tackles. That all changes in the summer when training camp starts. Nonetheless, Nebraska safety Larry Asante has been impressive in coverage and with his overall play. That's encouraging, because the best part of the rookie's game is supposed to be his tackling.
http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index.ssf/2010/05/terry_plutos_talkin_about_the_17.html -
BR1986FBAround the NFL: Browns hope Hardesty fills need
By Steve Doerschuk
CantonRep.com staff writer
Posted May 29, 2010 @ 08:51 PM
In retrospect, it seems fairly obvious the Cleveland Browns made a big mistake by passing three times on Shonn Greene.
They headed into the 2009 draft with an aging Jamal Lewis at running back and with three picks in the second round.
With those picks, they chose wideouts Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi along with linebacker David Veikune, who played less on defense than Robiskie did on offense.
When the Browns were 1-11, Lewis was one of the unhappiest men in Berea.
When the Jets reached the AFC title game, General Manager Mike Tannenbaum might have felt like the luckiest man in football. Greene, a 5-foot-11, 230-pound battering ram from Iowa, became the leading rushing in the postseason with 304 yards.
He obliterated the Bengals in Round 1, rushing 21 times for 135 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown.
Maybe Montario Hardesty was a wakeup call.
Whereas the Jets got Greene at No. 65 overall, the Browns traded up in April to draft Hardesty at No. 59.
Hardesty is a bit taller and a bit lighter than Greene. There’s little doubt that the Browns hope he can be a little better.
“I know there have been some good rookie running backs,” Hardesty said during a recent practice. “I want to be a good rookie running back. But right now, I’m not looking that far ahead.”
Head Coach Eric Mangini says he loves big backs, and counts Hardesty as one. Standing next to him, he doesn’t look like a big back.
“I know,” Hardesty said.
Maybe it’s the sleek way he’s put together. The pounds — listed at 224, plenty big for an NFL runner — are all in the right places.
Hardesty talked fast and expressed thoughts in detail. His smile came easily, especially when talking about his high school track career.
The big back is a fast back. He placed second in a state track meet in the 100-meter dash in 10.49 seconds.
“Track was more for fun,” he said. “You’ve just got to hang out with your friends and, really, just before you run, get locked down.
“Football is totally different, something you’ve got to study for. In football, you’ve got to be able to train and run fast on the field ... and if you’re out in the open field, don’t let anyone catch you.”
Easier said than done in the NFL, but Hardesty plans to do it.
“When I get in front? Can’t let ’em catch me. Can’t let ’em do it,” Hardesty said. “Guys get angles now and then, but once I get in front ... (smiling) I’m not going to get caught.”
Hardesty was a captain at Tennessee. The way he handled the responsibility appealed to everyone in the Browns draft room.
“When the Cleveland Browns came up to get me, I was excited,” Hardesty said. “This has been my dream since I was young. I really couldn’t wait to get here. I don’t want to let Mr. (Tom) Heckert or Coach (Mike) Holmgren or Coach Mangini down.”
Hardesty may have to share a little or a lot with fifth-year Brown Jerome Harrison. He laughs off being able to handle a small load, if that becomes his portion.
“I was in both situations at Tennessee,” he said. “Three carries ... 25 carries. Either way, I want to maximize my opportunities.”
If the Browns get lucky, Hardesty will give them almost as strong an inside threat as Greene gives the Jets, and deliver a much bigger outside threat than Green can.
Hardesty has caught on quickly to what Mangini wants the offense to become, a “game-plan-specific” attack that changes every week. Both he and the team see him as having the potential to fit any plan.
The shifty little Harrison provides an outside threat, but Hardesty might, too, in a more threatening body.
“We were a zone-running team last year (at Tennessee),” Hardesty said. “That was our bread and butter.
“I try to press my landmark, press the line of scrimmage and don’t make my first cut until I get on the heels of the offensive linemen. Make my first cut, feel my second cut, and let it go.”
It sounds good. Can he do what Greene did? Make it look good?
A HOLMGREN THING
Jim Brown and Bernie Kosar, Browns icons of decades past, both have less authority with the team than they did in 2009.
Brown basically was Randy Lerner’s top confidant last year, and he probably will continue to stay in touch with the owner. His title of executive adviser, though, is gone.
Kosar had his biggest role with the team since his playing days as last year wore on. He was a regular in the film room, instructed to work with Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll to kick around ideas for the offense.
Kosar came away seeming convinced Daboll can be good. He says game tapes show that his schemes kept getting receivers open, but the ball too often never arrived.
Holmgren wishes to be Lerner’s top confidant. In turn, Lerner is thrilled to have been able to hire Holmgren, and is all about making his president trust him.
Holmgren has no past with Brown or Kosar. His attitude toward them, we believe, is that they’re more than welcome to make suggestions, but there are certain lines that shouldn’t be crossed.
'OLD RIVALS'
In 2005, Montario Hardesty was ranked as the 100th best high school senior football player in the nation by Rivals.com. Some interesting names ranked above the Cleveland Browns rookie that year:
• No. 5, LB Rey Maualuga (Bengals), from Eureka, Calif.
• No. 7, QB Mark Sanchez (Jets), from Mission Viejo, Calif.
• No. 20, OL Alex Boone (49ers), from Lakewood St. Ed’s. He disappointed at Ohio State.
• No. 23, Darren McFadden (Raiders), from Little Rock, Ark.
• No. 29, WR Mohamed Massaquoi (Browns), from Charlotte, N.C. The Rivals.com view: “He already looks like a junior in college and absolutely dominated at the Shrine Bowl.”
• No. 42, RB James Davis (Browns), from Atlanta Douglas. “Has the ability to turn the jets from zero to afterburner in the blink of an eye.”
• No. 45, WR Mario Manningham (Giants), from Warren Harding
• No. 48, OT Michael Oher (Ravens), from Memphis, Tenn.
• No. 51, DL Ndamukong Suh (Lions), from Portland, Ore.
• No. 90, RB Rashard Mendenhall (Steelers), from Skokie, Ill.
Of Hardesty, from New Bern, N.C., Rivals.com said, “Many love him at running back, but he could also be an All-American safety.”
http://www.cantonrep.com/browns/x227916886/Around-the-NFL-Browns-hope-Hardesty-fills-need -
Al CaponeKosar, who accomplished absolutely nothing in the NFL, is a regular in the film room and advises the OC. No wonder Cleveland sucks all the time. hahaha
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pkebkerI actually am confident we are on the right course here. I think we are making progress, and we'll see steady improvement. I also think we are not expecting too much from the team like we did after the 2007 season, when they flopped in 08. I think we'll be able to climb out of the cellar this year and enter mediocrity. Then one more good draft and we are playoff contenders. We're starting to do it right.
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BR1986FB
No real room to go but up. I agree that they have a shot to climb out of the cellar. I think they will be fighting it out with Pittsburgh for last place but I think they will end up 8-8 and we'll be 7-9.pkebker wrote: I actually am confident we are on the right course here. I think we are making progress, and we'll see steady improvement. I also think we are not expecting too much from the team like we did after the 2007 season, when they flopped in 08. I think we'll be able to climb out of the cellar this year and enter mediocrity. Then one more good draft and we are playoff contenders. We're starting to do it right. -
Al Capone
Sorry BR. Steelers 11-5 Clowns 5-11BR1986FB wrote:
No real room to go but up. I agree that they have a shot to climb out of the cellar. I think they will be fighting it out with Pittsburgh for last place but I think they will end up 8-8 and we'll be 7-9.pkebker wrote: I actually am confident we are on the right course here. I think we are making progress, and we'll see steady improvement. I also think we are not expecting too much from the team like we did after the 2007 season, when they flopped in 08. I think we'll be able to climb out of the cellar this year and enter mediocrity. Then one more good draft and we are playoff contenders. We're starting to do it right. -
pkebker
The one thing this team is missing is an impact player. Our team is full of productive role players, but we need that signature go to player on both sides of the ball. That will be the key for this team. Hopefully, this year we fixed most of the holes, and next year we can start drafting those impact players.BR1986FB wrote:
No real room to go but up. I agree that they have a shot to climb out of the cellar. I think they will be fighting it out with Pittsburgh for last place but I think they will end up 8-8 and we'll be 7-9.pkebker wrote: I actually am confident we are on the right course here. I think we are making progress, and we'll see steady improvement. I also think we are not expecting too much from the team like we did after the 2007 season, when they flopped in 08. I think we'll be able to climb out of the cellar this year and enter mediocrity. Then one more good draft and we are playoff contenders. We're starting to do it right. -
krazie45
Actually Kosar made a Pro Bowl and has a SB ring. While he's no hall of famer, only an idiot would say he accomplished absolutely nothing in the NFL (so it's clearly not a surprise you said it.)Al Capone wrote: Kosar, who accomplished absolutely nothing in the NFL, is a regular in the film room and advises the OC. No wonder Cleveland sucks all the time. hahaha
Have you ever wondered how much better your life would be on here if I wasn't constantly making you look foolish on a daily basis?
Oh and as for you 11-5 prediction for the Steelers, I'd say that's about as likely as Big Ben having consensual sex with a woman under 200 pounds. -
pkebker
Just don't respond to him! we were doing so well and you could tell it was bothering him...just ignore him.krazie45 wrote:
Actually Kosar made a Pro Bowl and has a SB ring. While he's no hall of famer, only an idiot would say he accomplished absolutely nothing in the NFL (so it's clearly not a surprise you said it.)Al Capone wrote: Kosar, who accomplished absolutely nothing in the NFL, is a regular in the film room and advises the OC. No wonder Cleveland sucks all the time. hahaha
Have you ever wondered how much better your life would be on here if I wasn't constantly making you look foolish on a daily basis?
Oh and as for you 11-5 prediction for the Steelers, I'd say that's about as likely as Big Ben having consensual sex with a woman under 200 pounds. -
BR1986FB
I agree that we really don't have that one impact player on each side of the ball. Cribbs is the closest thing but he gets limited touches per game.pkebker wrote:
The one thing this team is missing is an impact player. Our team is full of productive role players, but we need that signature go to player on both sides of the ball. That will be the key for this team. Hopefully, this year we fixed most of the holes, and next year we can start drafting those impact players.BR1986FB wrote:
No real room to go but up. I agree that they have a shot to climb out of the cellar. I think they will be fighting it out with Pittsburgh for last place but I think they will end up 8-8 and we'll be 7-9.pkebker wrote: I actually am confident we are on the right course here. I think we are making progress, and we'll see steady improvement. I also think we are not expecting too much from the team like we did after the 2007 season, when they flopped in 08. I think we'll be able to climb out of the cellar this year and enter mediocrity. Then one more good draft and we are playoff contenders. We're starting to do it right. -
wes_mantooth
^^^I really was hoping we would draft that impact player on defense this year(Berry). Unfortunately, I don't think Haden will be that player. -
BR1986FB
I think Haden will be solid but, unfortunately, not spectacular.wes_mantooth wrote: ^^^I really was hoping we would draft that impact player on defense this year(Berry). Unfortunately, I don't think Haden will be that player. -
pkebkerI don't think Haden will be a stellar player this year, but in 2-3 years he could be a pro bowl DB.
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BR1986FBIt's the Bleacher Report so, ehhhh, but it IS football content......
Cleveland Browns Offseaon Moves Have Josh Cribbs Poised for Big Year
J Gatskie by
Written on May 30, 2010
Josh Cribbs is one of the most dynamic players in the entire NFL. He is an explosive bundle of fast-twitch muscle fibers who literally blows by talented defenders as if they were standing still at times.
The additions of Seneca Wallace, Jake Delhomme, Ben Watson, Montario Hardesty, Carlton Mitchell, Peyton Hillis, Tony Pashos, and Shawn Lauvao in the offseason, are going to enhance the ability of Cribbs to affect the game in multiple ways offensively.
In 2009, Cribbs rushed 55 times for 381 yards and one touchdown, while catching 20 balls for 135 yards and one touchdown. I anticipate an increase in all of those numbers.
He returned 38 punts for 452 yards and one touchdown. Cribbs also returned 56 kickoffs for 1,542 yards and three touchdowns.
The only two things Cribbs needs to work on are holding onto the ball, as he fumbled six times in 2009, and refining his pass receiving skills.
Cribbs ran the offense as the quarterback out of the Wildcat formation, but almost always kept the ball, as he only passed the ball four times all season, completing one for 18 yards with one interception.
With the additions of Hardesty, Watson, Delhomme, and Hillis to the Wildcat, defenders will not be able to key on Cribbs and his average of 6.93 yards per carry could actually increase, as could his overall yards.
Even if his numbers don't go up, the new additions will probably accumulate a much greater share of the offense than last season's teammates. Hardesty, Jerome Harrison, and Hillis are all legitimate options for Cribbs to go to with the ball.
If Cribbs decides to throw the ball, all three backs are excellent receivers out of the backfield.
The additions of offensive linemen Pashos and Lauvao will definitely help open up holes for the Wildcat.
The Browns are implementing a package of plays for their athletic quarterback Seneca Wallace called the Cyclone.
The package will likely feature both Wallace and Cribbs in the same backfield, which will be a nightmare for opposing defenses. Either player will be just as likely to take the long snap.
Which player do you key on as the quarterback? Who throws to whom? What if they run the option? Or a double reverse?
How about a standard pass play with new additions, tight end Ben Watson, and receiver Carlton Mitchell, running routes along with Cribbs out of the backfield?
In the standard offense, Jake Delhomme appears to have the starting quarterback spot locked down, and likely will be a vast improvement over last year's maudlin duo of Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn.
Unless the Browns make a move for a veteran receiver, or Brian Robiskie comes on exceptionally strong in training camp, Cribbs will likely open the season as a starting wide receiver opposite Mohamed Massaquoi.
Expect Delhomme to find Cribbs much more often and in space, where he can use his legs to make plays, this year.
Cribbs is likely to be on the field for the majority of the offensive snaps in 2010. Whether it is as a starting receiver, Wildcat quarterback, or Cyclone backfield player, Cribbs will be the Hemi engine that drives the Browns offense.
Between his offseason work and the new offensive additions, Cribbs seems poised for an even bigger year than 2009.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/398713-cleveland-browns-offseaon-moves-have-josh-cribbs-poised-for-big-year?utm_source=newsletter -
royal_k
They definately have a lot more offensive weapons.
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BR1986FBIs Cleveland Browns receiver Brian Robiskie ready to start in his second year?
The opportunity for playing time has never been more wide open for Robiskie. The Browns are in search of another starting-caliber receiver opposite Mohamed Massaquoi, and Cleveland is hoping Robiskie develops into that player this season.
Like Massaquoi, Robiskie was taken in the second round in 2009. But unlike Massaquoi, Robiskie didn't show much in his rookie year. The former Ohio State product struggled and barely saw the field until late in the season. Robiskie finished the year with only seven catches for 106 yards.
But growth for Robiskie is already evident this year in offseason workouts. He has been impressive early and is showing the ability to make plays at the next level. Cleveland is hoping Robiskie can carry that momentum into training camp and eventually earn a significant role in the offense this summer.
A possible starting group of Massaquoi and Robiskie could potentially be the youngest receiver tandem in the NFL this season. Veteran quarterback Jake Delhomme should help develop these inexperienced players, but it will be a work in progress.
Cleveland also continues to keep its options open with possibly adding a veteran receiver to the mix (Patrick Crayton, anyone?). But Robiskie's steady performance in organized team activities is one reason the Browns have stayed put so far with what they have.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/tag/_/name/the-big-question-afc-60110 -
krazie45
I really think the FO missed out on the chance to nab Torry Holt and I'm still hoping they bring in a veteran receiver but I'm thinking more and more that this is the receiving lineup we'll be seeing this season.
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BR1986FBBrowns' Rubin gets high marks for big hits
By Nate Ulrich
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 11:32 p.m. EDT, May 31, 2010
BEREA: Cast aside and ignored by most college football programs, Ahtyba Rubin strapped shoulder pads to his massive body, stomped onto a field in east Texas and dominated anyone who dared to challenge him.
Mark Sartain still vividly recalls the moment he realized Rubin, who's now a defensive tackle for the Browns, had the potential to become an NFL player.
During Trinity Valley Community College's first day of full-contact hitting in the summer of 2004, Rubin, who entered the training session as an overlooked freshman out of Escambia High School in Pensacola, Fla., unleashed his raw power. The all-conference defensive lineman whom Rubin faced in a practice drill became just the first in a long line of victims.
''Tuba just stepped up and stoned him at the line of scrimmage and made him look like a JV player,'' said Sartain, Rubin's coach at Trinity Valley who's now at East Texas Baptist University. ''It just tickled us with laughter. I think it surprised us, and it surprised Tuba. From that day on, nobody messed with Tuba.''
About five years later, Rubin proved himself once again.
After defensive lineman Shaun Rogers suffered a season-ending ankle injury last year in Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Rubin filled the Browns' void at nose tackle. In his five starts, the Browns compiled a 4-1 record, yielding 110.6 rushing yards per game after allowing an average of 159.9 yards on the ground against their previous 11 opponents.
Now the 6-foot-2, 330-pound Rubin is poised to push for a starting job as he enters his third professional season. Browns coach Eric Mangini acknowledged Rubin's emergence has forced his staff to consider moving Rogers to defensive end, so Rubin, who had 38 tackles and a forced fumble last season, can continue to serve as a run-stuffing force in the team's 3-4 scheme.
''I think Rubin did a nice job last year,'' Mangini said. ''I'm excited about seeing his continued growth. I think he played well, and I think he made a really strong case to continue to play and that's a good thing.''
Rubin, however, has resisted falling prey to hype. Production, not expectation, has carried him this far. Last Thursday at organized team activities, Rubin insisted he's not planning to change his approach anytime soon.
''That would be great if that happens,'' Rubin said of possibly starting alongside Rogers. ''I just can't really worry about that too much. I just come out and practice and try to show Mangini that if he does give me the chance, I can make the best of it.''
The likelihood Rubin will receive more opportunities increased when Rogers, who's been sidelined during OTAs while he continues to rehabilitate his ankle, was arrested in early April for possessing a loaded gun at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The severity of Rogers' punishment remains unclear, but a suspension from the league appears imminent.
Meanwhile, Rubin continues to toil toward improvement.
After all, his work ethic helped him excel as an offensive lineman at Trinity Valley and eventually earn a chance to thrive as a defensive tackle at Iowa State. It paid off again when the Browns drafted him in the sixth round (190th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.
Rubin slipped through the cracks during the college recruiting process because of his academic problems, Sartain said, adding Rubin had difficulty reading when he arrived at Trinity Valley.
But with encouragement from his mother, Marion, father, Ronnie, and coaches, Rubin earned an associate degree in kinesiology from Trinity Valley despite hailing from a rough neighborhood that he believes hindered his development.
''Pensacola, Fla., there's not much hope for kids out there,'' Rubin said. . . . ''But my mom and dad supported me the whole way. I had a great family. My mom, she stuck with me through thick and thin, through good and bad times. She knew I was gonna be something successful. She always had my back.''
Since 1986, Trinity Valley has produced more than 20 NFL players. Sartain said he coached 14 of them, and he predicts Rubin's history of triumph will continue to motivate him.
''His best football is still well ahead,'' Sartain said.
''He's kind of gotten somewhere and he's settled in. I really believe he'll prove to be one of the best late-round draft picks that the Browns have ever had.''
Mark Sartain still vividly recalls the moment he realized Rubin, who's now a defensive tackle for the Browns, had the potential to become an NFL player.
During Trinity Valley Community College's first day of full-contact hitting in the summer of 2004, Rubin, who entered the training session as an overlooked freshman out of Escambia High School in Pensacola, Fla., unleashed his raw power. The all-conference defensive lineman whom Rubin faced in a practice drill became just the first in a long line of victims.
''Tuba just stepped up and stoned him at the line of scrimmage and made him look like a JV player,'' said Sartain, Rubin's coach at Trinity Valley who's now at East Texas Baptist University. ''It just tickled us with laughter. I think it surprised us, and it surprised Tuba. From that day on, nobody messed with Tuba.''
About five years later, Rubin proved himself once again.
After defensive lineman Shaun Rogers suffered a season-ending ankle injury last year in Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Rubin filled the Browns' void at nose tackle. In his five starts, the Browns compiled a 4-1 record, yielding 110.6 rushing yards per game after allowing an average of 159.9 yards on the ground against their previous 11 opponents.
Now the 6-foot-2, 330-pound Rubin is poised to push for a starting job as he enters his third professional season. Browns coach Eric Mangini acknowledged Rubin's emergence has forced his staff to consider moving Rogers to defensive end, so Rubin, who had 38 tackles and a forced fumble last season, can continue to serve as a run-stuffing force in the team's 3-4 scheme.
''I think Rubin did a nice job last year,'' Mangini said. ''I'm excited about seeing his continued growth. I think he played well, and I think he made a really strong case to continue to play and that's a good thing.''
Rubin stays focused
Rubin, however, has resisted falling prey to hype. Production, not expectation, has carried him this far. Last Thursday at organized team activities, Rubin insisted he's not planning to change his approach anytime soon.
''That would be great if that happens,'' Rubin said of possibly starting alongside Rogers. ''I just can't really worry about that too much. I just come out and practice and try to show Mangini that if he does give me the chance, I can make the best of it.''
The likelihood Rubin will receive more opportunities increased when Rogers, who's been sidelined during OTAs while he continues to rehabilitate his ankle, was arrested in early April for possessing a loaded gun at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The severity of Rogers' punishment remains unclear, but a suspension from the league appears imminent.
Meanwhile, Rubin continues to toil toward improvement.
After all, his work ethic helped him excel as an offensive lineman at Trinity Valley and eventually earn a chance to thrive as a defensive tackle at Iowa State. It paid off again when the Browns drafted him in the sixth round (190th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.
Rubin slipped through the cracks during the college recruiting process because of his academic problems, Sartain said, adding Rubin had difficulty reading when he arrived at Trinity Valley.
But with encouragement from his mother, Marion, father, Ronnie, and coaches, Rubin earned an associate degree in kinesiology from Trinity Valley despite hailing from a rough neighborhood that he believes hindered his development.
''Pensacola, Fla., there's not much hope for kids out there,'' Rubin said. . . . ''But my mom and dad supported me the whole way. I had a great family. My mom, she stuck with me through thick and thin, through good and bad times. She knew I was gonna be something successful. She always had my back.''
Since 1986, Trinity Valley has produced more than 20 NFL players. Sartain said he coached 14 of them, and he predicts Rubin's history of triumph will continue to motivate him.
''His best football is still well ahead,'' Sartain said.
''He's kind of gotten somewhere and he's settled in. I really believe he'll prove to be one of the best late-round draft picks that the Browns have ever had.''
http://www.ohio.com/sports/95289569.html -
BR1986FBSheldon Brown hopes to mentor young Browns
By Steve Doerschuk
CantonRep.com staff writer
Posted Jun 02, 2010 @ 12:37 AM
Last update Jun 02, 2010 @ 12:47 AM
BEREA —
The Browns always — always — bring in a 30-something cornerback. Why should the latest old man be different?
Here’s why.
The four 30-something cornerbacks the Browns brought in from 2005-08 all had been in and out of starting lineups on other teams, bringing a combined 144 NFL starts before coming to Cleveland.
The new old guy, 31-year-old Sheldon Brown, has made 98 regular-season starts. After two learning years, when he played in all of the Eagles’ games as a backup, Brown started the next six years.
He was an iron man, never missing a game, and starting all but one.
Playoffs? The Eagles were 6-4 in postseason games started by Brown. Six playoff wins reflect well on Brown in his new city, which has seen four NFL playoff wins in the last 40 years.
Brown started all 17 of Philadelphia’s games last season, including a playoff loss. He thinks he has plenty left. One of his heroes is Brian Dawkins, who turned 36 in 2009 after jumping from Philadelphia to Denver. Dawkins started in this year’s Pro Bowl.
All of that said, Brown understands that he might not start for the Browns.
“If I’m not the guy, then I want to make the guy who wins the job better,” he said after a spring practice.
It’s a given that one of the starters will be Eric Wright, a 2007 second-round pick who has panned out.
“He had a great season,” Brown said. “I don’t think he gets enough respect. He’s a heck of a corner. Great footwork, great quickness. They asked him to man up often enough, and he did it well.”
Rookie No. 6 overall pick Joe Haden probably will start at the other spot if he has a good preseason. That would make Brown the third cornerback, which can be a very busy job when the opponent is a pass-first team.
“Joe has been great,” Brown said. “He grabbed me the minute I walked in. He reminds me of when I was coming in.”
The Eagles spent a second-round pick on Brown in 2002.
“Troy Vincent was there with all of his knowledge,” Brown said. “He was willing to give it to me. I’m willing to give it to Joe ... and he’s listening.”
Vincent was 31 when Brown was a rookie. For two years, Brown backed up Vincent, who then left the team, with Brown becoming a starter.
“I modeled my game after Troy,” Brown said.
Now Brown is the old man, tutoring Haden and trying to prove he still can play.
“Having the wits and the smarts sometimes is better than having the speed,” Brown said. “
erformance says it all, not age.”
In Brown’s eight years with Philadelphia, the Eagles went to the playoffs six times. He joins a team that has gone 38-74 since reaching the 2002 playoffs.
“I’m just here to try to make everybody better,” Brown said. “If you get caught up in the past, you’re never going to be anything.”
Always 30-something
Aging free agent cornerbacks the Browns have signed in recent years.
• Sheldon Brown. He was 31 when Browns signed him in March.
• Terry Cousin. Age 33 when Browns signed him in 2008.
• Kenny Wright. Going on 30 when the Browns signed him in 2007
• Ralph Brown. Going on 32 when the Browns signed him in 2006.
• Ray Mickens. Just turned 32 when the Browns signed him in 2005.
Outback of the day
Sheldon Brown’s college career got off to a miserable start. His team, South Carolina, was 1-21 in his first two years.
In the next two years, he helped South Carolina to two of its greatest seasons, both capped by victories over Ohio State in the Outback Bowl.
On Jan. 1, 2002, the Buckeyes rallied from a 28-0 deficit to tie the game at 28-28. The Buckeyes had the ball with a minute left when quarterback Steve Bellisari threw a bomb that backfired. Brown intercepted and gained 37 yards on the return, setting up a last-second 42-yard field goal.
http://www.cantonrep.com/browns/x338992281/Sheldon-Brown-hopes-to-mentor-young-Browns -
BR1986FBMike Holmgren 'absolutely' has way to revive Cleveland Browns
By Jon Saraceno, USA TODAY
The "H-bomb" has landed, and that is good news for Cleveland Browns backers desperate to see the end of the football devastation that has haunted their city for decades.
New team president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert think they can detonate the recent past and construct a new future for the downtrodden franchise. Browns fans pray the partnership can re-energize and reorganize what has been a calamity.
Since re-entering the NFL in 1999, the Browns have endured fits and starts in the front office and the coaching staff. In 11 years, the franchise has employed six general managers and/or vice presidents of football operations, four team presidents and five head coaches.
POWER RANKINGS: Browns barely above 30 in post-draft analysis
The lack of stability weakened them, as did the death of owner Al Lerner in 2002. His son, Randy, an Ivy League-educated lawyer, has been portrayed as being indifferent to owning an NFL team. (The billionaire declined to be interviewed for this story.)
"I think Randy gets a bit of a bum rap," Holmgren says. "His father was kind of larger than life, and the (Browns) were given to Randy overnight. Quite the contrary — he is interested. When he sat in my living room in Arizona (while courting Holmgren), he said, 'Maybe I want this too much for Cleveland, the fans and my family.'
"He really cares."
But the Browns have not reached the postseason since 2002 and have not won a playoff game since 1994. The franchise has not hung a championship banner since 1964.
Naturally, "Dawg Pounders" remain skeptical.
"That is our biggest issue right now," Heckert says. "They have heard all this (rebuilding talk) before. But I think they are willing to give us the benefit of the doubt. That is all we can ask for. Now we just have to prove on the field that we can win."
Holmgren and Heckert have experience at rebuilding franchises.
Holmgren was an NFL head coach for 17 seasons. He helped deliver the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowls after years of futility. The Packers won Super Bowl XXXI after the 1996 season and lost it the next year; the Seahawks fell in Super Bowl XL after the 2005 season.
He seems to have inherited another strong offensive line in Cleveland. Whether rookie Colt McCoy can be molded into a franchise quarterback the way Brett Favre and Matt Hasselbeck were is unknown. Holmgren seems optimistic regardless.
"I am going to attempt to use the same formula that we used in Green Bay to bring back the Pack and what we used in Seattle," says Holmgren, who was stripped of personnel responsibilities while with the Seahawks. "I don't think it's impossible. There are some very simple foundational things that need to take place. And (Lerner) — he is going to let me do it. … We should be able to fix it.
"Now, do you get to the Super Bowl? You need to be a little lucky and all that stuff. But can we get it so that (fans) are feeling better about their football team? Absolutely."
Heckert was the Philadelphia Eagles' director of player personnel beginning in 2001. Although coach Andy Reid had final say on players, the duo helped lead the Eagles to four consecutive NFC title games from 2001 to '04 plus a Super Bowl (loss after the '04 season). Heckert later was promoted to GM.
Whether the Browns' revised blueprint for restoring constancy and productivity includes the long-term retention of the head coach is another matter. During Eric Mangini's maiden campaign in 2009, the Browns stumbled to a 1-11 start.
Team chemistry deteriorated so quickly that, by October, Rolling Stone piled on with a story citing Mangini's unyielding toughness, though linebacker David Bowens told the magazine the coach's door always was open and, "It's not like it's a total dictatorship around here."
None of this is lost on Holmgren, who says he thinks Mangini is a good coach — and will get a chance to prove it."
Holmgren says it is possible he could one day return to the sideline. But he adds, "(The) odds become less and less the longer I'm here, if it takes awhile to fix this."
Mangini has been quite solicitous regarding his new boss, saying he thinks he has someone to lean on for advice and assistance.
"I can go (to Holmgren) and not have to explain the 'why' very deeply, because he gets it," Mangini says. "Tom's been good as well. They understand the type of player that I am looking for. That is something Mike and I talked about a lot before I knew if I was staying. We have stayed true to that approach."
Mangini's problem, particularly in the short term, is trying to assimilate players newly acquired through free agency and the draft with veterans — and trying to continue the momentum gained from last season's fast finish of four consecutive wins.
Clearly the Browns' priority in the offseason was to revamp the secondary, which was torched last season. Mangini and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan often were put in a position of calling for defensive schemes to try to mask the Browns' woeful coverage and tackling.
Heckert dealt for players with whom he was familiar in Philadelphia, Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown and linebacker Chris Gocong. Then the Browns made corner Joe Haden of Florida their first pick in the draft, later adding two safeties. In free agency, the Browns added veteran quarterback Jake Delhomme and linebacker Scott Fujita.
"I think we all want the same type of guys — smart, tough and physical," Heckert says. "We don't have to have the most talented guys, but they have to be tough and love football. Jake and Scott are going to add to the chemistry of the team. That's what Eric wants."
AROUND THE FIELD IN CLEVELAND
Quarterback: With the release of Derek Anderson and the trade of Brady Quinn to the Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers reject Jake Delhomme is the starter — provided he doesn't melt down as he did last season, prompting "Dump Jake in the Lake" detractors. The former Super Bowl quarterback will mentor rookie Colt McCoy after the Browns failed to tempt the St. Louis Rams for the No. 1 overall pick and Sam Bradford. New Browns president Mike Holmgren also has brought in Seneca Wallace, whom he drafted for the Seattle Seahawks.
Running back: Jerome Harrison stepped up at the end of last season, running for 561 yards over the final three games. But he has produced 1,310 yards over four seasons. Cleveland traded up to draft inside power runner Montario Hardesty in Round 2. Newly acquired fullback Peyton Hillis is not a traditional thumper, but coach Eric Mangini loves his versatility in catching the ball and playing special teams.
Wide receiver: This position continues to be a glaring weakness. Mohamed Massaquoi is a likely starter, but after that, who knows? Brian Robiskie, Chansi Stuckey, Joshua Cribbs and Jake Allen are in a mix that could eventually include a veteran free agent. Rookie Carlton Mitchell has size and speed but is very raw.
Tight end: The Browns upgraded with the signing of Ben Watson, who had several productive seasons with the New England Patriots. Evan Moore and Robert Royal remain on hand.
Offensive line: This crew is anchored by Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas and second-year center Alex Mack, whose smarts and work ethic enabled him to displace Hank Fraley last season. Left guard Eric Steinbach is solid. On the right side, Floyd Womack, Tony Pashos and third-round pick Shawn Lauvao will battle for time.
Defensive line: The aging defensive front features Shaun Rogers, Kenyon Coleman and Robaire Smith. But can they hold up? Compounding the problem is a felony charge against Rogers, an imposing nose tackle, on allegations he carried a concealed weapon in an airport, leaving his status uncertain.
Linebacker: This is the focus of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's 3-4 scheme, particularly along the edges. The Browns are loaded with newcomers Scott Fujita and Chris Gocong and returnees David Bowens, who can play inside and out, and versatile pass rusher Matt Roth, a restricted free agent who has yet to sign his tender. They also have bruising inside 'backer D'Qwell Jackson, who is unhappy with his contract status. Vying for snaps are Eric Barton, David Veikune and Marcus Benard.
Secondary: General manager Tom Heckert, who had the same role with the Philadelphia Eagles, added a familiar face when he traded for former Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown. This area was also the focus in the draft. Cleveland added youth, toughness and hitting with top pick Joe Haden plus two safeties — T.J. Ward and Larry Asante.
Special teams: The brightest beacon is Pro Bowl returner Cribbs, who signed a new contract after a contentious debate. He is every NFL team's nightmare to defend with a record eight career kickoff returns for scores. He also leads effective coverage units.
Coaching staff: Tick, tock — Mangini is on the clock. Unless he can show sustained improvement, Holmgren might show the coach he inherited the door. Ryan can be a difference maker as an aggressive play caller.
Outlook: Since returning to the NFL in 1999, this franchise has mostly stumbled about with poor decisions made at the top regarding players and coaches. But the hiring of Holmgren and Heckert is a strong indication ownership is serious about restoring pride and tradition. Strides were made in the offseason, but Holmgren tempers 2010 expectations: "You can't fix everything in one year."
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/browns/2010-06-01-organization-report-browns_N.htm?utm_source=bleacherreport.com -
pkebkerNo mention of Rubin on the d-line. He is one of the key personell in my opinion