What Has the Combine Done for the Browns?

Julio Jones may have been one of the biggest winners from this year's Combine. If the Browns are unluck enough to miss out on A.J. Green, then Julio Jones might be the best thing to happen to the Browns in a while. His 4.39 40-yard dash and 11'3" broad jump (best in the Combine this year) are eye-popping when you consider that he is 6'3" tall and weighs 220 lbs. Wow. His numbers certainly qualify for "physical freak" status, and the fact that he did all of this with a broken bone in his foot is just icing on the cake. His draft stock right now is probably as high as it has ever been and the Browns could certainly do worse. His strength and speed mean that he should be able to get yards after the catch and he is not afraid to go across the middle of the field. This is important for a budding West Coast offense.

Marcell Dareus is another player that has helped out his own cause. In a deep defensive draft he has been able to seperate himself from most of the rest, and he could go anywhere in the top 5. His impressive size (6'3", 319 lbs.) and his athleticism (sub 5.0-second 40) have helped him, while the other top tackle prospect, Nick Fairley from Auburn, came in much smaller than anticipated and hurt his own stock. Dareus has also shown versatility in stopping the run as well as rushing the passer, which means he could be a good fit anywhere, especially next to Ahtyba Rubin in the Browns' new 4-3 defense.

J.J. Watt has not been generally seen as a high first rounder, but he was solid in nearly every drill and, at 6'5" tall and 290 lbs., has great size for a strongside defensive end in a 4-3. He has a great motor and is well-rounded as a player. If he somehow falls to the second round I believe he would be an absolute steal, but I doubt he does. If the Browns trade down in the first round he would fill a big need for a team that lacks quality 4-3 defensive linemen.

From what I can gather, Patrick Peterson helped his stock but not a lot. He was already seen as the consensus best defensive back in this draft, and he maintained that billing. He's big, fast, strong, and has excellent coverage abilities. Because he didn't blow the doors off of the Combine, he could potentially slip to the Browns at #6, but I see less of a need for him now that the Browns have given Eric Wright a second-round tender. Peterson would undoubtedly be an upgrade, but the Browns have much bigger holes to fill.

Since the Combine, Mel Kiper has updated his illustrious Big Board. After the top 5 his Big Board is Insider-only, but there was some movement in the top 5 that might reflect who might be available for the Browns at pick number 6. Patrick Peterson claims the top spot, while Nick Fairley fell to the second spot. Da'Quan Bowers, Marcell Dareus, and Von Miller round out the rest of the top 5. Some notable absences are any receivers or quarterbacks. A.J. Green may still be available, and top QB prospects like Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert might be used as leverage for the Browns to trade down and acquire more picks.

As always, we'll keep monitoring the Browns, the draft, and the looming lockout. A one week extension to the CBA has reportedly been agreed upon by all parties, so we will see what happens. Stay tuned.

Browns Roundup

Photo courtesy of Cleveland.com.

For the first time in a while, it feels like it's actually been a busy week in the football world. Labor negotiations are ongoing, and some progress has reportedly been made. The NFL Combine started yesterday, franchise tags have been thrown around all over the place, and some free agents have already changed teams. It's a fun time.

The Browns have not been standing still while all of this is going on. Longtime Cleveland kicker Phil Dawson received the franchise tag, which will keep him in brown and orange for at least one more year.



Josh Cribbs was involved in a PR uproar involving less-than-beloved Lebron James.



Mike Holmgren has been in the news for his comments about quarterbacks and the team's draft needs. Holmgren still has his support fully behind young Colt McCoy, but he will also be meeting with other quarterbacks in the draft. This will help him gauge their value in potential trade-downs. He is also well-known for selecting a quarterback at some point in nearly every draft he's been a part of. Holmgren also wants "a home-run hitter." To me, that means A.J. Green and I would be ecstatic if that came to pass. However, Green is hardly the only "home-run hitter" in this year's draft.


It's getting to be a busy time in the NFL, so check back soon for more updates and news.

The Case for A.J. Green, Part 2

On Monday we looked into the Browns' current receiver situation and why an explosive playmaker is needed. If you missed it, here it is. Today we'll be looking more closely at one of the most exciting players in the draft, the much-discussed and much-hyped A.J. Green, receiver from Georgia. Does he deserve the hype and the attention? Let's see.

For the sake of the discussion, let's start with the simple stuff. He stands 6'4" tall and weighs approximately 208 lbs. The combine (starting tomorrow) will provide more measurements that will help us quantify his talents even better. His size is prototypical for a receiver, and it gives him a wide range for a quarterback to throw a pass into. However, he could easily afford to add a few more pounds to his lean frame to better absorb the big hits that NFL defensive backs and linebackers like to dish out.

I'm sure Cleveland fans, who were forced to put up with Braylon Edwards for several years, will be ecstatic to see that A.J. Green's most outstanding talent is his hands. He just catches everything. In the Youtube clip I posted on Monday, his coach at Georgia mentioned that it was highly irregular to see him drop a single pass throughout the course of practice. In his (lengthy) highlight reel of catches, we see that he catches the easy passes as well as the ridiculously difficult passes. Potentially coming into a West Coast offense, it's important for him to catch every ball that comes his way, and I think he can do that. His ability to make tough catches while tightly covered also foretells his ability to be a reliable, go-to guy for young quarterback Colt McCoy.

When watching Youtube clips (my best resource for game film) of his highlights, one aspect of his game that really stood out to me was his ability to slip tackles. He doesn't have an overpowering stiff arm or the leg power of a running back to break tackles, but he seems to have a slippery quality that allows him to slip out of a lot of tackles. With so much poor tackling in the NFL he should have ample opportunities to catch a short pass, slip a tackle from a corner and scamper into the end zone. Right now Josh Cribbs is the only football player in Cleveland with that ability, but his skills as a receiver do not allow him to have as many of these opportunities as A.J. Green.

Some aspects of a player that are hard to quantify are the most important when drafting a player, especially with such a high pick as the Browns have. Attitude, work ethic, focus, injury history, and football intelligence are some that scouts will try to keep track of. Personally, I believe that a football player's intangibles are more important than any of his other attributes. While some have characterized him as a diva, I don't see his attitude as harmful. Interviews with Green himself, as well as family, teammates, and coaches would be very useful in divining his attitude towards football, but I can only go on what I see in the media. What I see is a hard working, focused football player. From looking back at his stats from high school and college, he never seemed to have much of a down year. His receptions from his freshman year of high school to his junior year of college are as follows: 57, 75, 60, 87, 56, 53, 57. I believe that this shows he maintains his focus and continues to work hard every season. The quote I mentioned earlier about how he practices also shows that he has a good attitude. He was suspended for four games at the beginning of his junior season for selling a game-worn jersey. I don't think that indicates anything a professional team has to worry about. It's worth noting that Green missed 3 games in his sophomore season due to a shoulder injury. He did, however, return for the Independence Bowl that year and recorded six catches for 57 yards. I don't think he has any significant health questions, and I believe his intangibles will take him far in the NFL.

On the downside of all of this discussion, our friends down south in Cincinatti could easily take him at the fourth overall pick and steal him away from us. I sincerely hope that they don't do that, and I've been trying to rationalize reasons that they won't. Cincinatti's coaching staff was the staff that coached the North team in this year's Senior Bowl. They got to see first-hand the strengths and weaknesses of the seniors going into this year's draft. However, since he declared as a junior A.J. Green was not a participant. It's not inconceivable that the Bengals will stick with drafting players they are more familiar with, especially considering that they are well known for not having a conventional scouting department.

However, it's not all roses and butterflies around here. There is always an inherent risk with drafting a wide receiver high in the draft. This position is often seen as a luxury position that should be strengthened when a team has a more solid foundation. The Browns have many holes to fill on their roster and those may take priority, especially considering the depth of defensive talent in this year's draft. The Bengals are in a very similar position. As James Walker of ESPN writes, "I am strongly against taking receivers in the top 10, no matter how talented they are. Teams picking that high usually have a bevy of needs," and I usually agree with this philosophy. However, Walker continues, "this year might be the exception for my theory of drafting receivers in the top 10." This is also how I feel, but there are more concerns, as well. Green has a very lanky, thin body and he might not be able to hold up to the pounding that occurs over 16 (or even more) games in the NFL season. Youtube clips do not give the best perspective on route running, and I have seen some report that his is not as crisp as it could be while others praise his route running. I think his routes are adequate, but it's very possible that with his outstanding physical talents he has never developed the crisp route running that characterizes great West Coast receivers. The NFL Combine will tell us more, and we might be nitpicking here, but he might not have top-end speed like DeSean Jackson or Mike Wallace. I think 40 times are vastly overvalued and I think Green's open-field speed is good enough to allow him to break away from defenders and score on long runs.

Overall, I think if he is available at #6 for the Browns he is the best option. He is a playmaker, he can find the endzone in many ways, and he has a very low "bust factor." His size, leaping, timing, and hands will quickly make him one of the best jump-ball receivers in the league and his ability to slip tackles also makes him a home-run threat on any given play. These skills would open up the Browns' offense and give Colt McCoy a reliable target to throw to in pressure-packed situation. Hopefully the dice will roll our way on draft day this year and we can add this high-octane talent to our otherwise dreadfully boring offense.

As I've been writing this "argument", much has gone on in the world of the NFL and the Browns. On Friday we'll have a roundup of the relevant news that has been going on. As always, stay tuned.

The Case for A.J. Green

This duo has proven to be less than dynamic.

Instead of doing a straight draft profile like many others (who have much more experience scouting than I do), this will hopefully be a more comprehensive look at the Browns, their receivers, and the reasons why A.J. Green would make this team much better. To be fair, there are also reasons that the Browns should go another direction that I will also get in to.

To start with, let's take a quick look at the Browns' current situation. Last season, the Browns were 30th in the league in receiving touchdowns, with a paltry 13 scores coming from a pass. They weren't much better in receiving average, with their 10.8 yards per catch good for 26th in the league. I'm not going to beat around the bush here, that is pathetic. There are certainly attenuating circumstances, such as the revolving door at quarterback and having to deal with Jake Delhomme for half of the season. However, with two recent high draft picks being put into the receiving corps (Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie, pictured above, were second round picks in 2009) there should be more production. According to Football Outsiders' advanced statistics, the best Browns receiver was Massaquoi, who weighs in as the 72nd best wide reciever in the NFL. The only other Browns receiver listed in the top 85 is Chansi Stuckey at 82. To cheer us up a little bit, Ben Watson was ranked as the ninth-best receiving tight end by Football Outsiders. To sum up, the Browns need help here.

I think it's pretty clear that the Browns have a need at wide receiver, and it most likely can't be filled by anyone on the roster currently. In addition to our pair of second round picks, we also have Josh Cribbs, Chansi Stuckey, Carlton Mitchell, Demetrius Williams, and Jordan Norwood on the roster. I think the only player here with #1 receiver potential is Carlton Mitchell, but he is far from being a capable starter. Cribbs is an electrifying talent, but I believe his best contributions are on special teams and certain pass plays. He doesn't have the skills right now to be a #1 receiver that can attract the attention of a defense and still make plays. Massaquoi, our current #1 receiver, has a lot of talent, but he is inconsistent and could benefit from having the burden of the heaviest coverages taken away. Robiskie has not shown much of an ability to get open in his two seasons, but he could potentially find a role as a possession receiver in the Browns new West Coast offense. Adding a dynamic, talented receiver to the offense would force defenses to roll coverages away from these guys, and would also make Ben Watson and Evan Moore's jobs in the middle easier. Having defenses backed off from the line of scrimmage would also leave more running and receiving room for our second-leading receiver and all-around monster, Peyton Hillis.

Without an every-down threat to take it the distance, defenses were able to stack the box later in the season and shut down overworked Peyton Hillis. The West Coast offense is traditionally not as reliant on a vertical threat as other schemes, but it does need to keep the defense honest so they aren't continually packing the line to stop the run and prevent short passes. One way to do that is to have receivers that are capable of slipping a tackle and scoring. A West Coast offense receiver also needs to have reliable hands and good route running. These attributes are desirable in any receiver, but they are stressed more in a short passing scheme than other schemes.

This brings us to A.J. Green. He is, by most accounts, the best wide receiver prospect in this draft and some say the best since Calvin Johnson went second overall in 2007.

Well, this is getting a little longer than I intended, so stay tuned for Part 2 on Wednesday. In the second part we'll be looking more specifically at A.J. Green, as well as other receivers in this year's draft. Just to hold you over until Wednesday, here's a relevant video to whet your appetite.

Browns Getting Younger

Browns coach Pat Shurmur will go without an offensive coordinator in his first year as head coach. Image courtesy of Chuck Crow of the Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com.

In keeping with the theme of change this offseason, the Browns have released six veteran players. The six players released yesterday were TE Robert Royal, NT Shaun Rogers, RT John St. Clair, DE Kenyon Coleman, LB David Bowens and LB Eric Barton. None of them are under 30 years old, so this will open up more room for younger players. Coleman, Barton, and Bowens came with Mangini from New York. Shaun Rogers is the biggest name on this list, but he has underachieved the last two seasons after his best year in 2008. The losses of Rogers and Kenyon Coleman reduce depth on the defensive line, but open up spots for defensive linemen that fit a 4-3 scheme better. Robert Royal is best known for his amazing lack of hands, but he was a reliable veteran presence. Bowens had some outstanding moments last season (his two interception game in New Orleans), but the 33-year old would likely not have been able to earn playing time this season. For the most part, the release of these veterans is not unexpected and they will not be missed very much. As a fan, I thank them for their efforts and I wish them the best, but it's time for the Browns to move on.





ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay projects the Browns to take Marcel Dareus, DT from Alabama. The entire draft is Insider Only, but ESPN AFC North blogger James Walker broke down the relevant picks for us. The release of some veteran linemen definitely opens the door for a young, dominant defensive lineman. We will likely see more predictions like this one as long as A.J. Green, WR from Georgia, is expected to go to the Bengals to appease Carson Palmer. As Walker points out, both Cleveland and Cincinatti need dynamic pass rushers at the defensive end spots.





As expected, head coach Pat Shurmur has declared that he will run the offense this year. Shurmur spoke at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards show. For those that remember Eric Mangini's controversial treatment of Shaun Rogers when Mangini arrived in Cleveland, there are no such issues with coach Shurmur. He met with Josh Cribbs at the event, and he believes the two are on the same page. Hopefully the fact that our coach introduces himself to players will allow our team to be successful this season.





This doesn't involve the Browns, but Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle was quoted as saying "there were times where we hope [Michael Vick] gets hurt." Buehrle is a well-known animal rights activist, so obviously his morality is above questioning while Michael Vick is a well-known felon. Buehrle said that "something bad needs to happen to these guys." Being imprisoned for 19 months is not enough of a punishment according to Buehrle, so vigilante justice from the NFL's linebackers is probably a more fitting punishment that will make Buehrle feel better. I won't pretend to be impartial on this subject, because Vick was caught, sentenced, imprisoned, and (hopefully) rehabilitated. He has paid his debt to society, as decided by a judge and jury. Dogfighting is a horrific crime that should be stopped entirely, and Michael Vick is now doing his part to help put an end to it. He has raised awareness of the issue and he has been speaking in schools about the horrors of dogfighting. Education and awareness are the best preventative measures that will keep this form of cruelty from occurring. Hopefully these actions will help change the culture that sees dogfighting as acceptable, and will move that culture in a more positive direction.





Agree? Disagree? Feel free to comment. Around Pro Football welcomes all commenters to share their opinions.

First Look at the Panthers' Draft

The Carolina Panthers will make the first selection in April's draft, and while a lot can happen between now and then to change the stocks of certain players, there appear to be four major candidates at the moment:  Clemson DE Da'Quan Bowers, Auburn DT Nick Fairley, LSU CB Patrick Peterson, and WR A.J. Green.

Green might be the most ready-to-play of the four, but in this day and age it's hard to justify drafting a receiver with the top pick, especially when your quarterback position is not settled.  Besides, as long as Steve Smith sticks around, the Panthers should have a pretty good group of receivers.  David Gettis and Brandon LaFell improved dramatically throughout the season as rookies last year, despite awful play from the passers.  Green could still be an option if the Panthers want to trade the pick, or if they get an inkling that Smith will be gone. 

Fairley, at the moment, is the most logical choice.  The man has been labeled as a dirty player, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, especially for a team that needs to re-develop its edge.  He is adept at overpowering blockers and getting into the backfield to cause trouble.  Fairley isn't as good as last year's second pick, Lions DT Ndamukong Suh, however.  This really is a weak draft right at the top - at the moment, no one really stands out.

Bowers reminds people of Julius Peppers - for better and worse.  He is a freak of nature athletically but has a tendency to take plays off, just like Peppers.  I think I'll pass; besides, defensive end is not a position of need on this team, especially if we can retain Charles Johnson (11.5 sacks last year).

If the Panthers do not choose Fairley, LSU's Peterson is the best option.  Yes, it would be unusual and a bit risky to take a corner with the number one spot, but if you think this guy can be as good as Nnamdi Asumogha, Darrelle Revis, Champ Bailey, or Charles Woodson, then you take him with the first or second pick in a draft like this.  Peterson is fast, physical, and intelligent and can be the kind of shut-down corner that really elevates a defense.  With Richard Marshall most likely to leave, cornerback is a big area of need for the Panthers.

While quarterback remains the biggest need, it looks as if the Panthers won't fill it in the first round without trading the pick.

Follow me on Twitter: @JasonBlackwood.

An Intro to the Draft: Cleveland Browns

In honor of Mel Kiper Jr.'s first mock draft of the year, let's take a quick look at the upcoming draft and where the Browns stand. It's commonly understood around Cleveland that one of the Browns' most glaring needs is a big-play, talented wide receiver. Fortunately, or unfortunately if you had to sit through every Browns game this season, the Browns own the 6th overall pick in this year's draft. Putting two and two together, it's not rocket science to anticipate the Browns selecting either Julio Jones, wide receiver from Alabama, or A.J. Green, wide receiver from Georgia, with that 6th overall pick. These two players both have NFL size and big-play ability, which goes along well with their exceptional levels of talent. As the draft approaches we will be going into more detail about each player, as well as others that may have an effect on the Browns' draft.

Without going into too much detail, Mel Kiper Jr., draft expert, had the Browns taking A.J. Green in his shiny new mock draft. This would certainly be popular around Cleveland, however, there's certainly a chance that he won't be there by the time pick number 6 rolls around. Just for reference, here are the top six picks in the draft this year:

1. Carolina Panthers
2. Denver Broncos
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Cincinatti Bengals
5. Arizona Cardinals
6. Cleveland Browns

None of these teams are known for having an exceptional receiving corps, and a prodigiuos talent such as Green or Julio Jones would certainly help any of these teams. However, since they are all picking very highly in the draft, it is safe to assume that each team has many glaring needs that would take priority over a wide receiver, which is typically seen as a bit of a "luxury" pick. This year's draft is particularly loaded at the top with defensive linemen, and Kiper predicted three to be drafted in the first six picks. With so many talented linemen available and so many more pressing needs, hopefully that will leave A.J. Green or Julio Jones to the Browns at number six.

Currently on the Browns' roster at the receiver positions are Mohamed Massaquoi, Brian Robiskie, Chansi Stuckey, Josh Cribbs, Carlton Mitchell, Demetrius Williams and Jordan Norwood. Massaquoi and Robiskie were recent second round draft choices of the Browns two years ago, but neither has shown much ability to play receiver in the NFL. Stuckey is a small, quick receiver who thrives on short throws and gaining yards after the catch. Mitchell was a late round draft pick who was taken because of his upside, but he is very raw and cannot be relied upon yet. Cribbs is probably the team's most dynamic offensive player, but his skills are not as well-adapted to the receiver position as some would hope.

Clearly, there is a spot on the team for a receiver that can fill the void left by the departure of Braylon Edwards. While I'm sure we are happy he is gone, it cannot be denied that having a player with that level of talent opened up the field for other players and stretched defenses vertically, something that was sorely lacking on last year's team. A young quarterback, such as Colt McCoy, would also appreciate having a reliable go-to guy that he can target in critical situations and trust that he would move the chains. Last season that guy was TE Ben Watson. While Watson is a skilled pass catcher, he does not have the big-play ability that a player like Green or Jones would bring to the table.

As the draft approaches you will see more in-depth analysis of the Browns and their needs on the field. We will also be keeping a close eye on the Browns' coaching situation, with several spots still open. Bill Musgrave, quarterbacks coach of the Atlanta Falcons, has interviewed for the offensive coordinator position. Dave Wannstedt, most recently the head coach at the University of Pittsburgh, will soon be interviewing for the defensive coordinator position.