Browns Draft Dumb Comment Corrections continued

"The Browns need help at linebacker": I truly wish that those of you who are clueless would quit repeating stuff you heard clueless sportswriters say!
It's like saying "utilize" instead of "use"--it only impresses even dumber people!

And stop throwing out season statistics! NEW coaches, players, and systems!!! What the hell did you expect for the first half of the season? THROW OUT the first eight games, and put the weight on the games they played as the players got used to eachother and their systems, and once rookies caught onto how to compete in the NFL.

If you have the common sense to do that, you see a lot of sacks, much improvement vs. the run, and turnovers.

So ok Wimbley, despite some improvement under Mangini, still isn't the sack machine we thought he'd be. He has quietly turned into an elite all-around linebacker who could start for a lot of 4-3 teams.

Matt Roth IS a sack machine, and will still be here.

Trusnik showed some real emergent ability, and can play inside.

Benard was a rookie phenom who can rush the QB, and will only get better with the experience. HE may be able to play inside as well.

Veikune was a ROOKIE SMALL COLLEGE DEFENSIVE END BEING CONVERTED TO I N S I D E LINEBACKER and it's IDIOTIC to declare him a bust based on his ROOKIE season!! He's as strong as offensive linemen and faster than most tight ends.

D'Qwell Jackson in NOT too small, and has already proven it to any rational person. His tackles are NOT all downfield, but often at or behind the line of scrimmage. He covers a lot in this defense, and does so extremely well--that's valuable!!

Barton is a solid, underrated "hold-the-fort" guy who played out of position. Barton is like Jackson--a WEAK inside linebacker who can tackle and pursue but isn't meant for engaging blockers.

That's why, when David Bowens moved over there, things improved: Bowens can defeat or stifle blockers. Like Veikune and Roth.

Isolate the last six games, and it is OBVIOUS that outside or inside linebacker is NOT a priority need for this team! You got run stopping, pressure, and coverage (except vs. KC--I suppose you want to cherry-pick that game out and disregard the other FIVE?)

"We need a quarterback". that's not dumb, but is presumptive. I thought so too, but recent comments by Holmgren--which admittedly might be deceptions--sound like he's thinking of letting Quinn try again.

I want to disagree. I mean, when you talk about developement, you mostly mean mental developement. Quinn's issues are not in reading coverage or making good decisions. His ONLY issue is accuracy.

Yes, Quinnbots, some passes were dropped--but way too many missed by a mile. STOP RATIONALIZING! They did TOO run the right pattern! Anybody but Quinn, right? He MISSES!!!

And it's not Daboll's fault. And he's not some fragile hothouse flower who wilts because he's not guaranteed anything...uh...I don't think...

I mean, he was never very accurate, but did well enough earlier. I was looking foreward to some footwork tweaking and an improvement in accuracy. But he got WORSE! No, Brady--you're supposed to improve with experience, not get worse!

I didn't think so before, but now I do think that he should cut back on the iron-pumping.

At any rate, if anybody can fix him, it is Mike Holmgren. And if anybody can make that decision, it's Mike. Quinn's contract is team-friendly, and even if he's not the long-term future, if he's okay for a season then he's got some real trade value.

It does also sound like this will be a type of West Coast offense, and Quinn has everything you need there except the accuracy. (He DID complete passes earlier--remember? I mean, sometimes they didn't even have to dive or slow down--HONEST!!!)

However, Mikey might indeed be blowing smoke. Bradford or Clausen could actually be there at number seven. Mikey has never drafted a QB that high, but this does not mean he never will. Do not assume.

But I have heard reports that they've shown extra interest in Tony Pike of Cincinnati, who should be there in the second. He would ideally need a season or so on the bench, but all the scouts insist that he has all the goods.

He was undefeated this season until they hit Tebow's buzz saw in the Orange Bowl (David and Goliath). In that game, vs. that defense, Pike was sacked 4 times, but completed (I believe) 27/45 for three touchdowns in a Bowl game vs. elite competition.

And what if Tebow does somehow slide into the second round? Wyche says his delivery is fixable and he's smart like Montana and Esiason. Might Mikey not love to get his hands on that? Could you blame him?

Anyway, if you think you know more about quarterbacks than Mike Holmgren, and are ready to burn him in effigy if he doesn't do what you want, you are retarded. You shouldn't be allowed to serve on juries, vote, or drive. Maybe you should be institutionalized.

Cleveland is full of NFL talent scouts and GM's. Walk into any bar and you'll find at least a couple. It's a wonder Lerner never toured the bars and interviewed the experts there! Could have got his coordinators and coaches there too!

Anyway in reality the Browns need:

ONE cornerback
1-2 safeties
ONE wide reciever
A right tackle (maybe)
A QB (probably).

That's it.

Oh. Since the Browns will probably use some two-back, I guess a big back would be nice, but actually people forget that Cribbs can play halfback or tailback. I mean, the Broowns a very deep at running back (and Vickers). If you got a Gerhart or some other big guy who can run, it would be better.

Hell, I don't deny that linebacker could be improved, either. EVERY position could be upgraded! I can find ways to upgrade the Colts and the Saints rosters!

But I know what the word "NEED" means. I suggest more of you look it up in your Funk&Wagnalls.

YOU STAND CORRECTED.

Rational Thoughts on the Browns Draft

First, the Cleveland Browns don't need either an outside or inside linebacker. Jackson IS a rover, who is all over the field; notably in coverage. Deflections and interceptions, along with tackles both in positive and negative territory, are not a statistical anomoly.

The Browns have "thumper" candidates to help him out in Roth, Trusnik, Bowens, Veikune, and I wouldn't even count out Benard.

Veikune? OF COURSE! If you count on a small college defensive end converting to NFL linebacker before his second season, you are mentally challenged. It's far more likely that this tremendously gifted YOUNG man will challenge for and win a starting role than it is he will not!

Can the unit be upgraded? Always! Sure! Until you have a Pro bowler at every position, every position can always be upgraded! Sure, there are some prospects in this draft you wouldn't kick out of bed for eating crackers, but you DON'T waste a draft pick on a guy who will force you to release a guy who will go somewhere else and maybe START!

And the secondary: Wright is a GOOD starter, Adams is a great backup at three postions, and a nice nickel back, Elam is a solid hold-the-fort guy, Furrey is okay. Sure, they need a starter opposite Wright and another safety, but that's about it. Two players, and the depth is already here.

Coye Francies did nothing as a rookie. Something you need to know about rookies: They don't have any experience. They're often not ready for the NFL. In their second and third seasons, they understand things better and tend to be improved.

Just thought I needed to point that out. I mean, probably over 90% of the league's starters didn't start, or even play much, as rookies. They were not ready. But later on, they were ready DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

Francies is going to challenge for a starting role this coming season, and has the talent to win it. Sure, he might crap out, but the most likely scenario is that he turns into a nice backup and nickel or dime guy.

Ignorant people tend to exhaggerate and generalize a lot. They tend to talk about "gaping holes", and call a secondary need at right tackle a need to "replace the right side of the offensive line".

They also tend to utterly ignore every player on the practice squad, assuming they will never be anything more than that. Ignorant people don't comprehend complex stuff like growth, maturity, learning, or improvement.

Last season the Browns grabbed Jason Capizzi from the Steelers, who now has all of three years NFL experience. The Steelers signed him as an undrafted free agent out of the powerhouse called Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Love 'em or hate 'em, they know talent.

I don't know if you know this, but the Steelers are located in Pennsylvania, and so are a lot of their scouts.

Anyway he's 6'9", at least 315, athletic, a bulldozer, and has now had time to acclimate himself to the pro game. He got a lot of positive write-ups in the Steeler press. Entering his fourth season, he could very well take over at right tackle.

Yeah, I said it. A lot of pros think he can play LEFT tackle, he has the wingspan and the feet, so why the hell not? And I seriously doubt that he's only 315 anymore. I'll bet he's at least a 330-lb. mauler who can protect the edge.

I didn't just guarantee that, or say that the Browns should not draft any offensive linemen. I would like to see the entire line look like Mack and Thomas. But in the real world, teams can't afford that.

Also in the real world, you don't draft an offensive tackle seventh overall, pay him MORE THAN Joe Thomas, and use him at right tackle. That is idiotic. A tall athletic guard can play right tackle. A lot of you goobers would have two Joe Thomas's and a Mack and not be able to pay for any wide recievers or quarterbacks. Please stay away from my business and my accountant.

Who runs that draft site that mocks the Browns drafting a 190 lb. waterbug running back atop the second round? Why do we need another Harrison?

And who told Grossi et al that the Browns need a big back? they've got one of the two best fullbacks in the NFL, Chris Jennings showed promise, and James Davis was very effective throughout college in short yardage.

Sure, if that 245-lb. Senior Bowl mutant is there in the third or the fourth--okay. Sure, ideally you got Harrison, Peterson, AND Jim Brown--but it's not a NEED!!!

Harrison is like a legion of short every-down backs who went before him including Kiki Barber, Priest Holmes, Emmit Smith, and a lot of others. He's hard to hit and doesn't take a lot of punishment. These guys outlasted most of their taller contemporaries, who took a whole lot more punishment.

Think I'm wrong? Stay tuned to Adrian Peterson.

Adam Caplan, Moore was not a fluke. He's a fast tight end who gets open and can catch. He's a play-making tight end. The Browns don't NEED a playmaking tight end. For that matter, Moore can do everything Jurevicious did. He's a converted wide reciever with the same speed, height, and hands.

I didn't just say the Browns don't need a wide reciever. They do. Sort of....I'll take this up with my next blog.