Offseason Browns Rumors

The Browns' pursuit of Matt Schaub is understandable.  As Chris Simms said, last season was really Schaub's only bad one.

Schaub himself, however, will resist coming to a team which is likely to draft a quarterback high, not to mention one which (I hope) wouldn't guarantee him the starting gig over Brian Hoyer.

But the market is the market, so Schaub's options might be limited.  It's really between the Browns and the Raiders, and there's a lot for him not to like with both teams.

The Raiders give him a better chance of being the default starter, but has less talent, and is in cap purgatory.  The Browns have more talent and appear poised to add more, but (I hope) want to give the much younger Hoyer a legitimate chance to win the starting job--and have those draft picks locked and loaded.

I'd like Matt here more than I'd like a Campbell or about any other venerable geezer, and believe that Chris Simms knows what he's talking about: The guy can still be pretty damn good, and already knows Kyle Shanahan and his offense.

I'm a big Hoyer fan, so I almost hope this falls through.  If the Browns land Matt Schaub, there's a good chance that Brian won't even get his chance, and will be a default backup, at least until/unless Schaub proves that he really is done.

I personally won't bash the move, if it happens.  Hoyer is learning a new system and lacks experience.  He's only had about seven quarters as a starter.  Schaub was, until last season's collapse, an elite quarterback.

With Hoyer, I could be wrong yet again, and he might not be all that after all.  With Schaub, if he returns to the QB he was through 2012, this Browns team could immediately contend for the Division and the playoffs.

And yes they could.  I'm really sick of hearing about "too many holes to fill" with over 50 million in cap space and ten draft picks.  I think Cleveland's school system really needs to upgrade it's math curriculum.  For that matter, why don't they teach critical thinking?  Oh yeah--politics nevermind.

My pal Waittilnextyear boldly predicted that the Browns might shock everybody and draft Khalil Mack at four.  I could see them using their first pick on Mack, but think it would be much smarter after a trade-down (if Bridgewater or Bortles don't fall to them, which I hope one does).

I hadn't realized before how versatile Mack is, and thanks to Tony Grossi and one of his smarter askers, I now know that he could play inside in this defense, helping to fill that new and enhanced hole at ILB.

Mack would drasiticly upgrade the whole defense in that role, and could play either of the two positions.  For that matter, he could play any of the four positions, and in sub packages and situations could line up just about anywhere as a joker.

Tony has them drafting CJ Mosely at 26...can you imagine that?  Mack and Mosely inside?  

But Peter Smith (Dawg Pound Daily) hopes the Sammy Watkins hype is a smokescreen, and prefers Odell Beckham at 26.  The link leads to his really thorough and in-depth analysis of this wide reciever (and returner).

Terry Pluto is also very thorough in trying to figure out Mike Pettine and his philosophy.  Thanks to him, I now know that Pettine is a speed freak.  As Terry quotes in the article, Pettine said that the easiest thing to do with a player in the NFL is make him stronger.  It's a lot harder to speed him up.

That's why he likes Mingo so much, and having his druthers might have made that draft pick himself.

Beckham fits.  He's a big-play guy who can play outside or in the slot.  Peter is most impressed by his improvement as a reciever, which might be what sold me.  When a guy gets this much better this quickly, his dedication and work ethic are self-evident, and he should keep improving as an NFL rookie.

Based on both Pettine's comments and Shanahan's semi-West Coast system, Beckham is a perfect fit, as he excels in the open field and after the catch.

I still like Mike Evans a lot--what a monster!  But he won't be there at 26, and if it's a trade-down I'd now take Mack over him.

Regarding that trade-down, Tony Grossi said that Aaron Murray is not a franchise quarterback.  I'm not sure what he bases this on.  His average arm strength, or perhaps his height, I'd guess.  But two of the top safeties I heard interviewed at the combine would probably disagree.

Murray is really advanced.  He "moves" safeties with his eyes, and reads defenses.

And at yesterday's Ohio State workout, at least Gil Brandt had the courtesy to mention QB Kenny Guiton, who he feels will probably go undrafted and start out as somebody's fourth quarterback.  I still think this guy could be the hugest sleeper in history.

Gil said he played "pretty well" in relief of the starter, which I found rediculous.  He was lights out spectacular.  But then Gil is always understated that way.

Tony still thinks Bortles will be there at four.  He has Houston rolling the dice on Manziel with the first overall pick.  I hope he's right, but think he's wrong.

Back to elementary mathematics and fixing the team in one offseason:  

WR: The Browns need a Y reciever opposite Gordon.  It would be cool to get another stud with number one potential, but this is not a need.  They might or might not need a slot reciever, as Benjamin will return and Josh Cooper showed some good stuff late in his second season, but we'll stipulate: Let's add one.

That's two recievers in a draft and free agent market that are deep in them.  Julian Edelman is just one of many veteran free agents who could come here and start instantly without breaking the bank.

For the hell of it, let's say they draft Beckham at 26, and sign one middle-tier free agent.  WR fixed.  Remaining draft picks everything except 26.

The "need" for a running back is, as I've said, massively overstated due to the presence of Rodney Obgannayafield, Rodney Bakerfield, and the zone-blocking rushing attack which will be used.  But of course you can always get better, so they'll draft one in the middle rounds.  Like Alfred Morris (zone blocking see how that works?)

The "need" for a right tackle does not exist.  I fell for it, too.  No, they need guards.  Athletic, mobile guards who can zone-block and block in space.  There are at least two of these in free agency who would hardly put a dent in the cap.

In addition, this is a special sort of player which man-blocking teams (ie the majority of teams) won't neccessarily want.  This type of guard isn't neccessarily a road-grader.  He might well be labelled a "wall-off" type of blocker, which other teams will pass on.

John Asamoah would be an inexpensive and really nice upgrade.

Corey Linsley, the center at OSU will probably be a third day pick because his arms are a little short and he's a tad over 300 lbs., but he clocked under 5 flat and ran agility drills almost like a tight end.  Fourth round or lower, and there are a bunch of these guys.

So far I haven't used the #4 draft pick, or the second rounder, or either of the third rounders, ok?

Tight end?  Well yes, another one like Cameron would really help.  Kyle Shanahan doesn't use conventional in-line tight ends much, and although Barnidge is highly overdissed as a reciever, the backup situation should be upgraded due to the system.

But this is not a big need, as this offense can function with a third or fourth wide reciever in lieu of a tight end, and Barnidge is, after all, not as bad as most fans think.

Fullback is another position which is easy to fill out of the discard bin in the lower rounds, as the blocking fullback is not a popular position in today's NFL.  Even the free agents are woefully underpaid for what they do.

Among the free agents, I like Henry Hynoski (was a NY Giant).  He'll be cheaper than dirt, because after being signed as an undrafted free agent, he first injured his knee, and then his shoulder, missing all but three games in 2013.

Hynoski is a 6'2", 260 lb. battering ram and more than that.  He's a superior athlete who can catch the ball and run with it.  He's highly intelligent and was an academic all-american.

He'll be fully recovered from his fractured shoulder (he got it catching a pass, and I'm guessing that he landed on it).  The two injuries will deprive him of leverage, and are nothing to ignore, but they don't as yet prove fragility.

Jordan Cameron through his first couple seasons seemed to be injured all the time.  Prior to the 2013 season, he worked out with Tony Gonzales, and altered his workouts somewhat to enhance his durability.  It seems to have worked out.

If the Browns can land Hynoski and he can remain healthy, he'll be a major asset.

I read one report which said that Hynoski wasn't offered a tender, but that they intended to try to sign him.  Well, they signed the guy who replaced him when he was injured, and I doubt that the Giants want to carry two blocking fullbacks on their roster.

Naturally the most important position is quarterback, but the Browns already have Rodney Hoyerfield, might sign Schaub, they might draft Bortles or Bridgewater (or Murray or even Guiton)--but let's just say they use number four on a QB, and there you go: the offense is fixed!

Ramaining picks: the second rounder, both third rounders, a fourth rounder etc.

They don't need any defensive linemen, and don't really need any OLB's either.  They now need two ILB's.  Well they can't get Mack or Mosely any more (unless Mosely somehow manages to drop into the second round), but there are several other really good ILB's to be had right through the fourth or fifth rounds.

Ryan Shazier (OSU) is one of these, in the second round.  Shazier is faster than most wide recievers, but is a little smallish and is a run-and-hit/cover guy that you don't want taking on guards.  He's the guy who would return Roberts to a backup role, and the other position would still need to be filled by a different type of player.

Arthur Moats might be that guy (he can play inside).  

So now I've used the second rounder.  The rest of the picks still remain for cornerbacks and safeties.

As for that, the safety position, like fullback, is undervalued, and some really good ones are usually there in the middle and even late rounds.

The Browns are already looking hard at Jarius Byrd in free agency, and I believe they like him more than TJ.

That is a system thing too, as Pettine favors a Belichickian cover two with twin safeties for whom coverage is the priority.

Rodney Gipsonfield is this type of player, and fortunately they are ignoring those of you who think he should be replaced.  TJ is undervalued in coverage, however, and is a great fallback position.

Rodney Aubreyfield also fits this role nicely as a really talented ball-hawking backup, and in sub defenses.  He's just a little short at 5'10", and offenses would try to match him up with skyscrapers.  Aubrey is really kind of a cornerback/safety hybrid.

In other words, one way or the other, safety is already covered--there is no need here.  

Which leaves cornerback.  Sam Shields just re-signed with the Pack dammit, but there are still free agents who could help if Farmer doesn't land a semi-sleeper in the third round or something.

That's the math of it.  The whole team can be fixed in one offseason without using much of their cap space.  Thank you for attending Remedial Mathematics 101.

Oh yeah and no thirty year old Steelers, please.