Weeden, Richardson

First off, Heckert and Shurmer fooled me.  I sincerely thought that they liked Colt McCoy enough to give him a shot with a better line, recievers, etc.  Clearly, they were lying.

No-no, no problem there.  I'd lie too.  They sort of had to, didn't they?  If they'd said "We feel we need to replace Colt McCoy", then you can forget about Weeden at 22.  Somebody would have jumped up and headed him off at the pass.

I'll stick with my own opinions, that he's still a possible Montana or Garcia.  That yeah his arm is on the weak side, making low-trajectory "stick"-throws difficult, but that with a decent team around him, he can excel.  Maybe the Coach and GM think that too, but regardless, they obviously liked Weeden a lot better.

Even after the pick last night, I was expecting them to pretend to have an open competition, which I expected McCoy to win because he enters his third season, and his second in the West Coast.

But I'm glad they're out of the closet now, pretty much naming Weeden the new starter.  It's pretty clear that all the BS was for tactical reasons, and I respect that.  I bet even Colt McCoy gets it, too--it's business, period.

I would have traded down for more picks, and went with Colt for now, unless Weeden slid a little further.  But Tom Heckert is better at this than I am, and I admit it.  (You know the Bleacher Report was grading the draft picks as they occured?  Unbelievable! Yeah Tom can add that "A" he got for the Richardson pick to his resume...)

Anyway, I really like everything about Weeden except his age.  Never said different.  His physical skills/tools are certainly NFL-ready, and look at how he outgunned all the other Super-quarterbacks!

But he'll have some problems here.  This is a West Coast offense, which is complicated, and for all his maturity, and the intelligence he showed Tom Gruden, he only has a few more games under his belt than Tannehill, and is still a rookie.

We can expect his learning curve to be a little accellerated because of his maturity and work habits, but he's still going to make some mistakes, and will--like Colt--get blamed for blown routes and drops.  Too many frustrated fans here will now expect/demand that the Browns win 9 or more games in 2012, and demand firings and hangings and beatings and stuff if it doesn't happen.

Richardson will help immensely.  At first the trade-up ticked me off, but I believe Heckert: Speilman was up front about his offers and he would otherwise have lost him.  (I know I lobbied for a trade-down but he's Tom and I'm just me and I don't need your vote so call me a flip-flopper big deal).

Update: 2 days later

Colt McCoy is getting a raw deal.  Teams may be asking about him, but why would they trade him to Green Bay to be a backup there...instead of having him back up here?

One possible answer is politics.  If Colt is here, I'm telling you he probably outshines Weeden in preseason.  Then, when they start Weeden anyway--well I'm getting my pitchfork and rope out, ya know?

I understand: they know that the Browns won't be ready to make the playoffs this season.  They believe Weeden has more upside, and want to develop him on the field ASAP, even if McCoy is initially better.  But this is unfair, and it ticks me off.

This is the only reason, other than at least a high third round draft pick, that the Browns would trade maybe the best West Coast backup quarterback in the NFL DUHHHHHHHHH.  Maybe Green Bay would trade a pizza and a 40 for Wallace.

But it is what it is.  They get paid for this, so I'll shut up...for now.

Schwartze surprised me, but I'm used to it now.  It's Tom.  Schwartze was the most experienced right tackle with proven durability, and is ready to step in and start.  The pundits, from whom I get much of my info, rated him lower, so I was stunned.  Like the season before last, when he picked TJ Ward, and last season when he picked Sheard.

I have almost zero doubt that Schwartz will likewise be a stud.

Wide reciever and right tackle were both needs, and he took who he thought was the best player, period.  And again, between Tom and you, I'll bet on Tom being right, until I see different.

Hughes was for sure a shock, but I do get it.  Ignore the ratings--they're for commercial consumption and don't involve the research (and knowlege) the real professionals use.  Tom made the pick based on HIS best information.

Hughes is a run-stuffer who can relieve both defensive tackles.  There's no question that he's not like Rubin ot Taylor, but on run downs he plugs holes and makes tackles--while somebody else is sucking oxygen and not getting beat up.
Depth is a key component to a strong defensive line.  If they can't rotate, they wear out, and get hurt.

Travis Benjamin sounds like a Joe Adams clone, and I reckon Heckert liked him better.  This guy is strictly a slot reciever with world-class speed.  He played for a run-oriented, pro-style, Miami team vs. top level competition, and (unlike Adams) didn't turn the ball over.  The key thing is that he most likely can be used in the slot right away, whereas Adams and the rest all needed work.

I can't get much info on him, but I strongly suspect that he runs more disciplined routes, and runs ALL the routes, as well.  He can make big plays, and maybe Tom prioritized that over a big target like Toon.

James Micheal-Johnson is a very solid prospect who can back up Jackson and may be tried outside--despite the commercial scouting report that says he can't.  He's probably not a starter yet, but a good special teamer and backup.

Or I could be wrong and he might start...I mean on this planet Fujita can't cover anymore, because he's slowed down (sorry--I know he's good-looking and all that but you got to think with your brain ok?)

I'm a little confused, because I can't find Jordan Norwood on the roster, but I'm sure he's still on the team.  Anyway, Norwood was a bright spot from the slot last season, but he can play outside.  You don't HAVE to be 6'2", 210 lbs. to play outside, ok?  You have to be able to beat the bump and get open.

The Browns needed an outside reciever, but they got Benjamin.  Norwood, along with Rodney Mitchellfield and others, will be tried outside opposite Little.  I'm not sure how effective Norwood would be out there on the edge, but as a slot guy he did get open, did show great hands, and he is very fast.

Just spit-ballin' now, but, mixing in a little Cribbs, the Browns could already have their WR crew right now--especially if Mitchell, (entering his third season after being drafted as a raw project), emerges.  (And by the way, that's 50-50---not 9:1 against like everybody seems to ass ume.)

Either Norwood or Mitchell can make big plays.  Benjamin is the fastest guy on the field.  Stand by for Cameron and Moore and...RICHARDSON, and yeah--WR might just be looking pretty good!

Maybe.  I hope.  Possibly.....