Friday, February 16, 2007

A No Brainer for the Browns

For those who, like myself, bleed Brown and Orange every Sunday afternoon from late August through late December (and sometimes January, if we’re lucky), the NFL Draft has become almost like a national holiday. A chance to briefly take a break from Major League Baseball and the NBA, to find the smallest glimpse of hope that perhaps this is the year that our beloved Cleveland Browns can turn it all around. The time of year when we can all put on our respective GM hats, and speculate as to which over-priced, over-hyped young prospect the powers-that-be might select.

The problem, as always, is that the Browns need help everywhere. They could use a Running Back or a Quarterback, they could use help throughout the Offensive and Defensive Lines, they could use help in the Secondary and at Linebacker…to put it bluntly, the Browns have more holes to fill than Justin Timberlake at an after-Grammy’s party. The fortunate thing is that once again the Browns have the honor of selecting in the top 5 (the 5th time in 9 years we’ve had such an honor), and will no doubt have the opportunity to find a premier player at any one of those positions.

So which direction will the Randy Lerner, Phil Savage, and Romeo Crennel decide to go on April 28th? Since the Browns will draft either #3 or #4, depending on the coin flip with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they will have any number of different options to go with. Personally, I believe there is an obvious choice as to which player they should be thinking about drafting, and if he’s available, cannot afford to pass him up.

That still won’t stop me from laying out the rest of my top 5, in order, as to who I would like to suiting up on the shores of Lake Erie next season (Note: this is assuming that we could choose whomever we want, regardless of draft position, although I do make note as to whether or not I believe each player will be available. Also, I’m assuming that the Browns continue the status quo and lose - this time the coin flip and will draft #4).

So without further ado, here is my Top 5:

5.) Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech – According to most “experts”, Johnson is the biggest guarantee in the entire draft. True, Wide Receiver is not the most pressing of needs for the Cleveland Browns, but Johnson is #1 on Mel Kiper’s and Scout’s Inc. big board. He is 6’4, 225 who is fast for his size (with a 4.4 – 40), and is compared to Terrell Owens in ability without all the baggage. The Buccaneers are expected to take him with their pick, so he probably won’t be available at #4, but if he is, he’ll be tough to pass up.

4) Alan Branch, DT, Michigan – Most recent mock drafts that I’ve seen project the Browns to take Branch with the first pick. Romeo Crennel is a defense-first guy and will no doubt want to shore up his 3-4 Defense with a dominant run-stopper who can play either NT or DE. Branch is big at 6’5, 330 pounds, but has one huge flaw – he’s from Michigan and I don’t think I can handle the Browns selecting another Wolverine in the first round (or another defensive lineman for that matter). The Browns need some serious help on the D-line, though, and Branch would be a perfect fit.

3) Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma – Peterson has most people in the Dawg Pound salivating. He’s 6’1, 220 lbs, and runs 4.46 – 40 yard dash, with a great combination of size, power, and speed. Reuben Droughns has been a durable back, but adding Peterson will give the Browns that #1 type back that they’ve passed up on in previous drafts (see Tomilinson, LaDanian). So why do I have him at #3? He hasn’t shown any signs of durability, having suffered injuries in all 3 of his years at Oklahoma (shoulder, ankle, and collarbone). A guy with that kind of injury history will have the Cleveland Clinic salivating instead of the Pound. With Peterson’s injury history, combined with Cleveland’s, is he somebody we would want to gamble on? I say yes.

2) Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame – JeMarcus Russell is almost definitely heading to Oakland with the #1 pick, which leaves Quinn playing the 2007 role of Matt Leinert. He could (and should) go in the top 5, but could get passed up by Detroit and the Browns which would most likely send him down to the Texans at #8. Most in Cleveland don’t like Quinn, mostly because he played at Notre Dame and secondly because he never won the “big game”. All valid points, but at 6’3, 224 lbs with good size and a great arm, he doesn’t have too many flaws as a Quarterback. Let’s not forget that Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Carson Palmer didn’t have great college resumes, all of which Quinn is compared to (and I would argue that each of those QBs had better players surrounding them). Not to mention he is an Ohio boy. Plus, Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis are close; so don’t think that he won’t get a long look.

But the player that the Browns need the most:

1) Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin – Understandably, Browns fans are desperate for a winner. However, for the amount of analysis that is debated every Monday through Sunday during the regular season, the fans have an unusually short attention span. What is the #1 complaint that all Cleveland loyalists have had since the return in 1999? That is a rhetorical question, of course, because anyone who has wasted 5 minutes watching the Browns knows that the answer lies with their pathetic Offensive Line. But many fans, including myself, get excited about the possibility of bringing in a franchise Running Back or a franchise Quarterback, or a big-time Wide Receiver, and forget that ultimately the battle is won and lost in the trenches. True, he’s not the “sexy” pick, but he’s the #2 overall player according to Scouts, Inc. and we can finally get that big-time left tackle that can anchor our line for the foreseeable future. This is the Browns #1 need and if he’s available, they HAVE to take him.

Now, everything depends on what the Detroit Lions do. Like I said, JeMarcus Russell will go #1 to the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay will probably take Calvin Johnson at #3. The Lions have a need at Quarterback and on the Offensive Line, so they will most likely take Thomas or Quinn with the #2 pick. Ideally, the Lions take Brady Quinn, which is one less decision for the Browns to have to make, and drop Joe Thomas right into our lap at #4 (Adrian Peterson is almost guaranteed to be there for us).

I would look no further than the New York Jets as a team to mirror. Last year, they made the smart pick at #4 by drafting D’Brickashaw Ferguson (T, Virginia) and then they used the #29 overall pick for Nick Mangold (C, Ohio State). Both started as rookies and anchored a revamped line which led them into the playoffs. I’m not saying they’ll make the playoffs next year, but finally with that big left tackle in Cleveland, the Browns will take a huge step towards getting there.

Now all they have to do is fire Romeo Crennel and hire Marty Schottenheimer (but that’s topic for another blog).

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Couldn't agree more... If Joe Thomas is available when the Browns draft and they do not take him I will spend at least five to ten mins deciding if I really want to be a Browns fan. Then like most Browns fans (and former NBA players) I will fall in love with the pick only to take it from behind for another losing season.

The only other pick here is Alan Branch from Michigan. Branch is big, fast, and would be a perfect fit the 3-4. The Browns need to replace Big Ted Washington (he just started collecting Social Security) soon, Branch would fill that spot and bring youth and speed to the defensive line.

The rest of your top five makes me want to vomit. I'll start Brady Quinn, just because you mention his short comings in your "pro-Brady" spiel doesn't mean they don't exist. Fine maybe he didn't have the best talent surrounding him in College, but I bet ND had better receivers than Akron. Sure Brady might have tremendous upside, but the last thing we need to do right now is waste this opportunity to increase the overall value of the Browns immediately. Especially when they can possibly sneak a home town boy that is dying to play in Cleveland in the 3rd round.

Adrian Peterson will get hurt, especially if he has the same terrible offensive line. End of story just cross him off your list. I know it rarely makes sense to apply fantasy rules to real life but I call this the Fred Taylor (pre Jones-Drew) dilemma. Cross him off your list and let him be someone else’s head ache.

And finally Calvin Johnson, have you no sole. The last thing the Browns need is another over-hyped primadona wide receiver to go with Edwards and K2. Stock up on the WRs, that play is working out great for Detroit. His name should not be in the conversation.


Bright Side:As least next season we can all talk about who the next coach will be.
Side Note: Carson Palmer had a very impressive College Resume winning the Heisman Trophy and holding the majority of passing and scoring records for USC and the entire PAC 10.

Unknown said...

Joe Thomas is the pick if he's there. I liked how you touched on the short attention spans of Browns fans. How quickly people forget what our biggest weakness is. I'm not as high on Quinn and it has nothing really to do with his ability. We need our first-rounder to make an impact right away and QB's (and WR's for that matter) take a year or two to develop. As a fan, I don't want to wait to see some improvement. That's why my second choice is Peterson and third is Branch. They are immediate upgrades at their respective positions and will contribute right away.

Unknown said...

If you have to go 3 players deep then Peterson has got to be 3rd. Big Ted Washington could go at any time, a man that big who has played that long... The ONLY reason not to draft Branch would be if we could get that franchise solid left tackle. I lean toward Joe Thomson because I've watched this line get beat year in and year out. If I take a step back and look at the Browns as an outsider, they NEED a replacement for Washington in order to run the 3-4.

Buckeye Muck said...

Guys - Good analysis going on here. Few quick points. First, (obviously) I disagree about Brady Quinn. I like Charlie Frye as a Quarterback, but if you look at the most successful teams in the NFL, they all have great Quarterbacks (with the exception of the Ravens, Bears, and Steelers, but they have Championship-caliber defenses to bail them out of trouble - and Cleveland’s defense isn’t even on the same planet as those teams). Right now, I don’t think Charlie Frye will be a great Quarterback in this league. So if we have the chance to get a Hall of Fame caliber Quarterback, it will be tough not to do so. True, it’s taking a slight step backward, but it doesn’t look like the Browns will be making any Sports Illustrated covers anytime soon.

And look, I love Troy Smith as much as the next guy, but what happens if a team like the Chiefs, Vikings, Panthers, or Texans take a flyer on him in the second round? I’m not sure that Savage and Crennel will pin their last hope on Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson. Do they bring in David Carr or Damon Huard? This is why Quinn would be a good choice for the Browns.

Now, I should clarify myself. Carson Palmer, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady each had great college careers (they would have to in Palmer and Manning’s case to be drafted #1 and #2 overall). My point is that none of them could win the big game in college. Palmer had 3 horrible years at USC before catching fire in his last 8 games. True, he did rewrite the record books at USC and so did Peyton at Tennessee, but Brady Quinn did the same at Notre Dame (notching his name in most categories ahead of Joe Montana and Joe Theisman).

Branch would be a good pick because (since we can all agree that Crennel won’t be here after next year), he can play in a 3-4 and a 4-3 style defense.

Let’s just hope Thomas is there and Savage picks him.

Buckeye Muck said...

OK, "Hall of Fame caliber" might be a little over-zealous...

Armpit, OH said...

I have a little beef with Joe Thomas. Could he be the next Robert Gallory? We all remember what happened to the big 10 in bowl games this year. That was due to a extremely weak big 10 overall. Joe Thomas faced 2 major opponents this year (Michigan and Arkansas). Joe was nonexistant and his team had no offensive production. They did win the Ark game but that was due to a few large turnovers by ARK. Wisconsins offense was outgained bigtime in both games. All we heard all year was how PJ Hill was abe to run behind that massive line led by Joe Thomas. Here is how those stats looked:
Rushing vs ARK - 28 attempts for -5 yards.
Rushing vs Mich - 20 attempts for 54 yards.
Is Joe Thomas really the impact player everyone says?
I say Adrian Peterson all the way. He is the most freak running back coming out of college in years. He and Droughns could make a solid 1-2 punch. Browns should make a big push for offseason Olineman such as Steinbach and let AP run wild.........I know, I know, wishful thinking.