Tuesday, April 30, 2013

The Shaft Of The Draft

My thoughts on the draft after putting in endless hours reading, YouTubing, and watching Mel Kiper's hair get bigger and bigger and bigger.

The Cleveland Browns
Ho Hum! Cleveland took the wait till next year approach to the draft. The late George Allen who coached the Washington Redskins to their first SuperBowl in the early 70's once said..."The future is now." Fast forward to the present and you could hear Brown's GM Michael Lombardi mumble, "What's the rush?" Other than LSU outside linebacker hopeful, Barkevious Mingo, who was selected with the sixth pick overall, the team of Banner and Lombardi phoned it in.

More On Mingo
I like Mingo's skill set and the many ways Browns Defensive Coordinator Ray Horton will use him. Although he registered only four and a half sacks last year at LSU, he's led the team in quarterback pressures the last two seasons. I don't think there was much difference between Mingo and Dion Jordan who went to the Dolphins with the number three pick.

What Could Have Been
The tandem of Joe Haden and Alabama's Dee Milliner at the corners would have been fun to watch. Not since "Mighty Minni" (Frank Minnifield) and "Top Dawg" (Hanford Dixon) have the Browns had two solid cornerbacks. The Browns failure to bring in a top flight cornerback in free agency made that position priority one in my eyes. By not having a second round pick and selecting "Little Leon McFadden" from San Diego State with the third pick gave the team absolutely no wiggle room in this draft. McFadden is a nickleback just like "Bitty Buster Skrine." Who's going to cover Cincy's receivers when they line up Tyler Effert at 6'5", A.J. Green at 6'4", and Germaine Gresham at 6'5"?

Never Trade Within Your Division
Two words...Haloti Ngata

The Winners
Those of you who are watching, "The Vikings" on the "History channel will take note that when they come at you, they come at you hard and ferociously. The Norsemen then clean up and take anything that's not anchored down. That pretty much described the Vikings of Minnesota in the "Land of Goodell." The Vikings came out of Thursday night with Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, Florida State cornerback Xavier Rhodes, and Tennessee wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, all of whom could step in and start as rookies. Kudos to the team's President of Player Personnel, Rick Spielman for positioning his team to not only conquer the division but to challenge for this year's championship.

Character Matters
In his book, "You Play To Win The Game," former N.Y. Jets and Kansas City Chiefs coach Herm Edwards descibes character as, "What you do when the lights go out." For the Browns seventh round draft pick  Armonty Bryant, defensive end out of East Central who sold marijuana to an undercover police officer twice while with the team, let's hope coach Chud, "Leaves the light on!"

 

    
    

Thursday, April 11, 2013

The Perfect Browns Draft

"May I have the envelope please...". With the sixth overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft, Browns GM Mike Lombardi and CEO Joe Banner have an opportunity to right the team's ship. If they heed this fan's advise it will be full steam ahead.

1st Round - If they can obtain an additional pick in the second round...DO IT! If not, the logical choice would be to grab Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner. This would give the team the best set of corners in the AFC Central. Not since Dixon and Minnifield have the Browns had that kind of talent at such a critical position. Fall Back Pick - Tavon Austin / Wide Receiver / West Virginia.

2nd Round - Should they obtain this pick, D.J. Swearinger, South Carolina's hard hitting safety would add much needed POP to an otherwise soft secondary. According to Pro Football Weekly Draft 2013, "Swearinger plays with a tough hard-nosed old school swagger and brings an intimidating presence to the middle of the field." The team never addressed the secondary in free agency so I believe this pick would allow "D - Coordinator" Ray Horton to be creative in certain blitz packages. Fall Back Pick - E.J. Manuel / Quarterback / Florida State.

3rd Round - Gavin Escobar the 6'6' tight-end from San Diego State would eliminate a competition at that position. He reminds me of Aaron Hernandez of the Patriots. Another weapon for whoever tosses the rock.    
Fall Back Pick - Brian Winters / Guard / Kent State.

4th Round - Tyler Bray / Quarterback / Tennessee...A hunch here that Browns owner Jimmy Haslam whispers in Joe Banner's ear and grabs the fellow Volunteer. Fall Back Pick - Nico Johnson / Inside Linebacker / Alabama.

5th Round - Kapron Lewis-Moore / Defensive End / Notre Dame...Perfect size, speed, and motor for the 3-4 defense. Team captain on a pretty good Irish team. Fall Back Pick - Jared Smith / Defensive End / New Hampshre

5th Round - Jelani Jenkins / Outside Linebacker / Florida...Browns need a linebacker who can cover a running back who slips out of the backfield. Jelani's your man. Although undersized has the speed to come in on third and long situations.Fall Back Pick - Nick Kasa / Tight End / Colorado

7th Round - Zach Boren / Fullback / Ohio State...Official escort for Trent Richardson. Great late people mover pick! Fall Back Pick - Onterrio McCalebb / Running Back / Auburn

7th Round - Caleb Sturgis / Kicker / Florida...Joe Banner likes to draft replacement kickers. Accurate from beyond 40 yards. Phil who? Fall Back Pick - Jordan Rodgers / Quarterback / Vanderbilt