Combine Readings

Sadly, the NFL Combine is over. Now we get to spend the next couple of months dissecting everything that went on and endlessly discussing how it impacts Player X's draft stock. We'll probably all be wrong, but it's fun. Here's some links to Combine reports that should be pretty interesting:

Behind the Steel Curtain, a Steelers blog, put out this review of the Combine. Credit goes to Chris Pokorny of Dawgsbynature.com for pointing me to it.

This mock draft from writer Jon Dove at Mockingthedraft.com shows how the Combine may have impacted the draft order. You can compare it to his earlier mock draft to see who the winners and losers were.

ESPN has of course covered the Combine in detail. If you missed Todd McShay, one of ESPN's draft experts, on Sports Center, his big winners of the Combine are Julio Jones (put up impressive numbers despite a broken bone in his foot), JJ Watt (finished top 5 in every drill), Marcel Dareus (impressive showing), and the whole defensive liine group in general.

Waiting For Next Year has excellent coverage of Cleveland sports, and they've been covering the Combine as well. Take a few minutes to comb through their stuff because there's plenty of good information there.

As always, stay tuned. There's more to come.

Browns Notes and Randomness

Photo courtesy of cleveland.com.




Recently-released Browns defensive tackle Shaun Rogers has been busy this week. He has already visited Washington and Kansas City, and he hopes to eventually be signed by Houston. In his radio interview, he spoke glowingly of departed defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. Like many fans and players, myself included, Rogers liked Ryan's excitement and energy level that he brought to the defense.

ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay now believes the Browns will select Marcel Dareus, DT from Alabama. McShay believes that, when healthy, Dareus is a more complete player than projected number one overall draft pick Nick Fairley. It's not exactly relevant to his success on the field, but it would be interesting to see Dareus reunited with Colt McCoy, whose season he ended in the BCS Championship Game. Dareus is a capable pass rusher and has the versatility to play in many schemes. He could conceivably fill the (large) hole vacated by Shaun Rogers.

While head coach Pat Shurmur is in his first head coaching gig, the Browns have two other coaches with head coaching experience. Defensive coordinator Dick Jauron and senior defensive assistant Ray Rhodes. Both have also been awarded Coach of the Year honors in previous seasons. This combination of new blood and experience should bode well for the Browns in the coming years.

GM Tom Heckert took some veiled potshots at departed coach Eric Mangini. In order to give credit where it is due, I didn't take much note of this article until I read this piece at Waiting for Next Year by Craig Lyndall. I agree with the vast majority of Craig's take on the subject, and I'm getting sick of hearing potshots going back and forth from current Browns personnel and former Browns personnel. It seems like it never ends.

The last I heard, there has been no significant changes with the CBA negotiotiations. I'm starting to get a little discouraged due to the complete lack of movement, but I'm still optimistic that there will be football in 2011. Time will tell. As always, stay tuned for more news and analysis.

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.





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