First, there's something I never told you, because I'm so humble: I was, at one time, a contender for the Olympics. My events were the conclusion-leap and gun-jump. That being said....
Alex Hall is way way way ahead of schedule. He's obviously a very fast learner, and my also have been underestimated by most scouts--including Phil Savage.
Understandable. He was a defensive end, and he played at the lowest level of competition in football. Savage himself projected him as "an '09 player". But Hall has come into camp and NOT been dominated by NFL blockers, or been utterly lost at his new position.
I've heard nothing pro or con about how he has looked in coverage, or many other details. But Romeo Crennel, who throws compliments around like manhole covers, has used this word: "impressed", about Hall. Translating from Romeo-eze, that means: "WOW! This kid's GREAT!"
This could well mean that Hall is ahead of schedule. He has the physical tools (and instincts) to fill roles on possibly every special teams unit this season, and be on the active roster. While we can't expect him to displace the versatile, surprisingly quick Shantee Orr, McGinest, or Peek--it begins to look as if he will stick around.
Developing an outside linebacker out of a small-school defensive end usually takes some time, so of course his primary purpose would be special teams this season, but he can help situationally as well. One thing he can do--and is probably being focussed on right now--is rush the passer. He's faster in games than most of the rest, and has the height and reach to keep blockers off him. Right now, he's working extra-hard on hand techniques (dirty tricks).
Lance Leggett appears to be a keeper-though on the practice squad. I'm weary of hearing about how skinny his legs are. He gets open and catches the ball. He's 6'3" and in time will be bigger than Edwards. Travis Wilson, unless he reverses course or is injured, will not only make the roster, but could well become the third wide reciever. Jasper, Sanders, and more guys are in the mix to fill out the WR roster--but Leggett has a good chance of making it to the nursery.
Ditto Chase Ortiz? I frankly have no idea of he can play linebacker. He has the right tools on-paper, and could fit inside as well as outside down the road. They'll try to keep him of he can mirror, read, and cover.
AJ Davis and M'ilvon James are both doing surprisingly well at cornerback, with niether really pulling ahead. The point is, BOTH, EACH of these TWO kids is so far looking like quality players who will be READY TO PLAY by the regular season.
The vedderrunn cornerback hysteria is just assenine. The year they had to sign Perry and Holly, these guys were signed in an emergency after the season had started. By the end of that season, Holly had become a viable starting cornerback. (Perry appears more limitted). These guys were here the first day of camp, and are PROVING themselves to the Coaches, if not to Chicken Little.
Brian Schaefering has been dinged, and hasn't stood out. However, I feel he has a chance to make the final roster. His weight on the roster is 295 lbs. If that's accurate, he's bigger than he was coming out of college. He played nose tackle at Illinois, which might well have hidden him from the scouts, and which means he's a handful one-on-one, accustomed to run-stuffing, and has shown surprising speed, hand-technique, and passrush ability.
I also think that Louis Leonard has the edge over Rubin. It's been written that Leonard is strictly a nose tackle. That's wrong. He can also play defensive end.
Kolo...I'll stop there.,,is a huge Polynesian TE/FB. He's a very strong in-line blocker and a good reciever. He lacks speed, but is reliable. He has been worked at fullback in this camp, leading some to leap to their own conclusions. They have decided that since he is a tight end and we have so many that he doesn't have a chance.
Look: Darnell Dinkens is a great special teamer and good blocker--but what makes you think the Browns don't want to upgrade depth at his expense?
As I've pointed out before, this is a two-TE base offense, Heiden played a lot at fullback last season--I mean, are you blind, or just stupid? Chud enters only his second season implementing his system. Vickers is the fullback. The backup fullbacks will be tight ends. They roster will include four "tight ends" and one fullback DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
Rucker is more a Winslow type than a Heiden type. Heiden is the in-line blocker/short reciever/lead-blocker. Kolo has a chance to make the roster--or at least the practice squad, because he is a similar player...though a little slower and bigger. Dinkens is probably gone.
Bell is stiff, and still stumbling around. To be expected. No sweat.
NEW GUYS:
Brad Cieslak was stashed on the practice squad last season, but came from New England, and enters his 4th season. He is like a Heiden clone. He probably prevents Kolo from making the active roster.
This renders the Browns 3-deep at fullback (PS they've been lining Winslow up back there as well--which means so will Rucker, eventually--so maybe it's 5-deep) and 4-deep at tight end. 2 Winslow types and two Heiden types. 3-TE sets, jumbo formations, reliable short and intermediate recievers.
Well, there we go. Laugh at me now but believe me later.
Alex Hall is way way way ahead of schedule. He's obviously a very fast learner, and my also have been underestimated by most scouts--including Phil Savage.
Understandable. He was a defensive end, and he played at the lowest level of competition in football. Savage himself projected him as "an '09 player". But Hall has come into camp and NOT been dominated by NFL blockers, or been utterly lost at his new position.
I've heard nothing pro or con about how he has looked in coverage, or many other details. But Romeo Crennel, who throws compliments around like manhole covers, has used this word: "impressed", about Hall. Translating from Romeo-eze, that means: "WOW! This kid's GREAT!"
This could well mean that Hall is ahead of schedule. He has the physical tools (and instincts) to fill roles on possibly every special teams unit this season, and be on the active roster. While we can't expect him to displace the versatile, surprisingly quick Shantee Orr, McGinest, or Peek--it begins to look as if he will stick around.
Developing an outside linebacker out of a small-school defensive end usually takes some time, so of course his primary purpose would be special teams this season, but he can help situationally as well. One thing he can do--and is probably being focussed on right now--is rush the passer. He's faster in games than most of the rest, and has the height and reach to keep blockers off him. Right now, he's working extra-hard on hand techniques (dirty tricks).
Lance Leggett appears to be a keeper-though on the practice squad. I'm weary of hearing about how skinny his legs are. He gets open and catches the ball. He's 6'3" and in time will be bigger than Edwards. Travis Wilson, unless he reverses course or is injured, will not only make the roster, but could well become the third wide reciever. Jasper, Sanders, and more guys are in the mix to fill out the WR roster--but Leggett has a good chance of making it to the nursery.
Ditto Chase Ortiz? I frankly have no idea of he can play linebacker. He has the right tools on-paper, and could fit inside as well as outside down the road. They'll try to keep him of he can mirror, read, and cover.
AJ Davis and M'ilvon James are both doing surprisingly well at cornerback, with niether really pulling ahead. The point is, BOTH, EACH of these TWO kids is so far looking like quality players who will be READY TO PLAY by the regular season.
The vedderrunn cornerback hysteria is just assenine. The year they had to sign Perry and Holly, these guys were signed in an emergency after the season had started. By the end of that season, Holly had become a viable starting cornerback. (Perry appears more limitted). These guys were here the first day of camp, and are PROVING themselves to the Coaches, if not to Chicken Little.
Brian Schaefering has been dinged, and hasn't stood out. However, I feel he has a chance to make the final roster. His weight on the roster is 295 lbs. If that's accurate, he's bigger than he was coming out of college. He played nose tackle at Illinois, which might well have hidden him from the scouts, and which means he's a handful one-on-one, accustomed to run-stuffing, and has shown surprising speed, hand-technique, and passrush ability.
I also think that Louis Leonard has the edge over Rubin. It's been written that Leonard is strictly a nose tackle. That's wrong. He can also play defensive end.
Kolo...I'll stop there.,,is a huge Polynesian TE/FB. He's a very strong in-line blocker and a good reciever. He lacks speed, but is reliable. He has been worked at fullback in this camp, leading some to leap to their own conclusions. They have decided that since he is a tight end and we have so many that he doesn't have a chance.
Look: Darnell Dinkens is a great special teamer and good blocker--but what makes you think the Browns don't want to upgrade depth at his expense?
As I've pointed out before, this is a two-TE base offense, Heiden played a lot at fullback last season--I mean, are you blind, or just stupid? Chud enters only his second season implementing his system. Vickers is the fullback. The backup fullbacks will be tight ends. They roster will include four "tight ends" and one fullback DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
Rucker is more a Winslow type than a Heiden type. Heiden is the in-line blocker/short reciever/lead-blocker. Kolo has a chance to make the roster--or at least the practice squad, because he is a similar player...though a little slower and bigger. Dinkens is probably gone.
Bell is stiff, and still stumbling around. To be expected. No sweat.
NEW GUYS:
Brad Cieslak was stashed on the practice squad last season, but came from New England, and enters his 4th season. He is like a Heiden clone. He probably prevents Kolo from making the active roster.
This renders the Browns 3-deep at fullback (PS they've been lining Winslow up back there as well--which means so will Rucker, eventually--so maybe it's 5-deep) and 4-deep at tight end. 2 Winslow types and two Heiden types. 3-TE sets, jumbo formations, reliable short and intermediate recievers.
Well, there we go. Laugh at me now but believe me later.
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