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.