Good old Peter Smith (Spin Zone) never fails to impress me, and it happened again with his seven round Browns mock draft. Well, mostly. Peter went overboard on defensive linemen later on.
Peter may well be right about more of a 4-3 base coming if Jamie Collins is retained, so taking another true defensive tackle makes sense. Four down linemen, including two powerful, disruptive tackles, protects the linebackers from those big bully offensive linemen.
But later in his mock, Peter just keeps drafting defensive linemen. He's sort of just writing off Nassib and Ogbah, not to mention Meder, and everybody else, for that matter.
Des Bryant? Well I think Pete has a point there. The guy is pushing 32 and makes too much money. Nothing personal, but...
Anyway, Peter starts out with Myles Garrett, who is a defensive end (with OLB potential). This would give the Browns three with Ogbah and Nassib, including two who can stand up. Cam Johnson, Nate Orchard, and another "OLB" are also passrushing defensive ends, so Pete, we can leave that alone now, okay?
As I've posted, I can't argue with Garrett. He is just amazing.
Next, with the first round pick from Wentz, Pete picks CB Quincy Wilson. Since Wilson is a big 6'1", I like this pick a lot too. The Browns don't need cornerbacks. They need BIG cornerbacks (who can tackle by the way), and this addresses a real (as in not hallucinated) need.
I don't agree with those who think Joe Haden is washed up. I love Calhoun, Taylor, and even Howard. But all of them are at a big disadvantage vs big receivers, and they don't tackle well (except Calhoun, which is another reason I like him so much).
Washington State QB Luke Falk is why Pete doesn't take a quarterback first overall. He's another spread quarterback, but there is a timing element to his offense. He throws with anticipation, and does need to read coverage and check down.
He threw almost 1500 yards in three games and completed 70% of his passes. He plays on a mediocre team at a low level of competition, and has only started for one season. His scheme doesn't have him going deep much. He's shifty, but not a dual threat.
Unfortunately, as it stands, Falk is leaning toward returning to his college team for another season, so this might be much ado about nothing. But I like Smith's pick here, although if Falk does come out, he could go higher.
With Tennessee's second rounder, Pete picks TE Jake Butt, who is 6'6"/250. Jake is a real tight end who can block as well as catch. He's not a big play guy but is reliable. With Barnidge aging (and not a good in-line blocker), Telfer a good blocker but not good receiver, and DeValve more a huge wide receiver than tight end, this pick makes sense.
I must pause here to point out that Wilson and Butt add to the Wentz haul.
Atop the third round, Peter picks cornerback Adoree Jackson. Adoree might also return to college, but is a playmaker. Here I'm bothered by Pete's overestimating the Browns needs at cornerback, and ignoring the offensive line.
If you add the big tall cornerback in the first round, still have Haden, and now Calhoun, with Tracy Howard and Marcus Burley in the wings, you are in pretty good shape.
The Browns secondary has been torched by incorrect coverage calls and a lack of experience, continuity, and pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Cornerback needed to be upgraded, and has been by Calhoun, who is now starting opposite Haden.
Indeed, Joe Haden is the guy they throw at now. Give the man his props.
Atop the fourth, Pete crosses his fingers and hopes Pat Elflein out of Ohio State lasts this long. Pat is a stud center OR guard, and I like this one a lot, even if Cooper turns into a seventh overall draft pick.
This would actually give the Browns too many centers and guards, but as I've mentioned, Greco is getting up there, and I have to mention: He was not playing well when he got injured. In fact, he could find himself on a the bubble in 2017.
As I've mentioned, Coleman, Erving, Drango, and Paztor (who is actually better inside than outside) are all potential right tackles next season. Paztor rates as average now per PFF, so right tackle will be above average next season one way or the other. Adding a young guard/center is a great investment for a rebuilding team.
With a 4th round compensatory pick, Pete likes Jaleel Johnson, a wide-bodied disruptive defensive tackle out of Iowa who stuffs the run, but also had 7.5 sacks.
Pete sees him next to Shelton in a 4-man front meant to generate pressure without blitzing, and protect Collins, Kirksey and company from those big bullies.
I had high hopes for X Cooper and love Jamie Meder, but it's just not working. The presence of Joe Shobert, Scooby Wright, Jamie Collins, and Carl Nassib describes a 4-3 (or at least four man line) front, and...
I'm not so sure Ray Horton will be back.
Pete then drafts a 195 lb safety, a running back, a defensive end, a 6'7" defensive lineman (note: Tanoh Kpassagnon, who Doug Dieken hopes isn't drafted by the Browns, is a specimen. I couldn't argue with him in the sixth round. But he's a man among boys, and we'll see how he looks at the Senior Bowl).
As you will eventually see, I am right and Pete is wrong:
1: The Browns don't need a safety.
2: The Browns don't need more defensive ends (although I like Kpassagnon).
So I agree about 91% with Peter Smith on this mock draft. I really hope Luke Falk enters the draft. For all Pete or I know, Hue isn't as impressed by him as we are, but his entry would at least add to the field, and increase the chances that Sashi can draft Superman Garrett or.......trade down.
Notes on this: Falk would not be expected to start immediately. RG3 could pull something out in the last four games, and Kessler has showed enough to be a bridge guy, once he gets over his taste for pigskin and figures out how to hit Pryor in stride for a change, and throw to the big guy in the middle once in awhile.
He did run a spread, does have things to learn, does have bad tendancies and mechanical flaws.
Today the Browns play the Bengals in the cold and snow. The Bengals got the dirtiest player in the NFL back on defense this time, but are missing Green, Wright, and Bernard this time, giving Rg3-led, Cooper at right guard Browns a chance this time.
Well, GO 49ers (except that brainwashed POS quarterback)
No comments:
Post a Comment