Browns Defensive Line, Tight Ends

Now that Randy Starks has been released, no doubt some knucklehead somewhere will list defensive end as a "need".

But seriously, the defensive line is well-stocked.

Ray Horton sounded pretty high on Danny Shelton, saying that he wants Danny to stay on the field for the majority of the game, and that the second year player will be a "big part" of the defense.

Horton's defense doesn't use a true nose tackle.  The "middle" defensive lineman lines up in the strong side A-gap between center and guard.

While it's possible Ray could use him outside, shaded to one side or the other on the right tackle, it's more likely that Danny will be in the A-gap.

Shelton isn't what you'd call a penetrator, but he does have a surprisingly fast first step.  Shelton a couple weeks ago talked about losing some weight.  Probably, Ray had talked to him about playing more snaps, and the fact that in this scheme he would be attacking.

Here's a point most people don't get: Shelton's biggest technical problem last season was getting "too tall".  He lost his leverage, and got pushed around.

Well, this happens when you get tired.

Assuming Shelton succeeds in dropping a few pounds (note: at his age, and with his genes, he should gain 5-8 lbs in muscle mass from the weight room), he can make a mess.

Depending on blitzes, he will attack the right guard, the center, or (more often) the gap itself with a vertical rush. 

As I've mentioned before, he is the only option for the center to double-team without looping behind left guard, and because the center sets up in front of the other linemen, he has a bad angle.

Danny Shelton humiliated the best seniors in the country in his Senior Bowl, and that was why he shot up the draft boards.  He was unblockable there.  If he stays low, he'll be a huge challenge for NFL centers and guards here.

This is the NFL, so some blockers will do a better job against him than others, but that's okay.  If the center is involved, he can't be blocking linebackers, and the right guard can't help the right tackle block the defensive end.

I don't believe Ray Horton wants to literally keep Shelton on the field for the whole game.  He'll rotate him in and out along with the other guys to keep everybody fresh.  I believe what Ray meant was that Danny would be in on some obvious passing downs.

Jamie Meder is the most likely relief for him there, and I'm sure Ray is happy about that.  John Hughes could fill this role, too.

Desmond Bryant is probably the right defensive end, lining up in the weak side B-gap between left guard and left tackle.  He got five sacks last season.  He can get more in a Horton defense.

Xavier Cooper, entering his second season, has a good chance of overtaking John Hughes at left defensive end.  Cooper is more explosive and quicker, and overmatches a lot of right tackles.  

Cooper has a strong punch, and can often land it before a blocker is ready.  The punch (really palms to pads) upsets the blocker's balance and elevates him.  When Coop lands that first punch, he can dart right by the blocker.

In Horton's scheme, he would sometimes slice inside at an angle, with a clear path to the quarterback, since the right guard is on Shelton.

Hughes is a powerful leverage guy who can win the majority of his matchups, and is perhaps the best run defender in this group.  Who starts here is almost irrelevant, since he'll play a lot; Cooper more vs the pass, and Hughes at multiple spots and more vs the run.

These five guys are a pretty good group.  Cooper and Shelton enter their second seasons, when players typically make their biggest leaps.  Meder is a veteran, but hasn't played that much himself.

The Browns will probably carry six of these guys, and I don't know if there might be somebody already here who could be the sixth.

Jim Dray is also gone.  These two releases freed up more cap space, some of which we hope can re-sign some or all of the Browns' pending free agents.

This should elevate EJ Bibbs.  Bibbs is yet another Ray Farmer undrafted free agent discovery who really impressed in his rookie preseason.

As I've mentioned, Bibbs could spell Malcomb Johnson's doom, because he can play fullback as well as H-back and tight end.

Guys I respect have said that EJ has the size to play tight end, but I can't get past the fact that he's a shade over 6'2".  Am I making too big a deal over a couple inches?

Probably.  He's developing as an in-line blocker, and was always willing.  He can certainly go into the slot.  His future is bright.

Randall Telfer may not make it.  In his favor is the fact that he's a fine in-line blocker.  But some scouts felt he wouldn't hold up in the NFL, and he's not a good receiver.  Farmer drafted Telfer before he knew he could have Bibbs.

As you know, Braxton Miller is my guy atop the second round if he's there, and screw the needs.  But Hunter Henry is the best tight end in this draft, and is the total package.

I don't think he'll get past Denver, but if he does (and Miller isn't there), Hensley is almost a no-brainer.

Tight end isn't really a need, either, but Bibbs might really be a hybrid type Swiss army knife more than a true tight end, and Hensley can most certainly run-block.

Jim Dray is gone because he couldn't.

With Henry, two tight end sets would present big problems for defenses.  Normally, the second tight end is just a blocker, and the defense doesn't have to worry about him as a receiver.  With Barnidge and Hunter, they'd have to worry about both tight ends as receivers.

Ok but Miller first.