LeBron Injured During Team USA Scrimmage
July 22, 2008Now THERE’S the Tribe I Know…
July 23, 2008Yesterday the Browns came to terms with all of their draft picks. According to the Plain Dealer, all of them received 4 year deals. All we be in camp as it starts today. Two players not participating are Joe Jurevicius and Ryan Tucker who were added to the PuP list. Tucker is recovering from the surgery he had in June. He is expected to begin practicing in August and will be dropped from the PuP list before the roster cut-down date, ensuring he can play week one. Jurevicius, as detailed earlier, is in for a longer rehab.
There are plenty of good articles around the net about the start of the Browns season. I for one am glad that we aren’t reading about trying to fill 5 or 6 positions on each side of the ball this year. There are in fact few ‘position battles’. There are a few spots where the talent may be equal in the second string player however. Take Willie McGinnest and Antwan Peek for example. WIllie has already made it clear this is his last year, and the Browns will miss his leadership, but Peek has shown flashes of being something special, and hopefully with another year to learn from one of the best, he will blossom.
The player that I have my eye on is CB Brandon McDonald. If McDonald can hold his own, and lock down the second corner spot the Browns are in much better shape defensively. Veteran Terry Cousin was brought in to provide depth and leadership in the secondary, but if he is forced into that starting role it could end up a long season for the secondary. If McDonald struggles early in camp or in the preseason games expect to see the Browns forced to make some kind of move to bring in a CB. Obviously the Browns could not afford an injury to McDonald, starter Eric Wright or Terry Cousin either.
In addition to secondary, all eyes will be on the 3rd WR position. It should be Travis Wilson’s job to lose, but in training camp Wilson has lost these spots before. If not Wilson, Kasper should get the nod. Here’s hoping that one of these two wins the job outright.
What players/positions are you looking at? Who needs to have a good camp and solidify their role? Who are you excited to see?
10 Comments
with JJ out what does the wide receiver depth chart look like?
Hoy
Defensive line all the way is what I am looking at this pre-season. The D-line has been a constant source of pain, but we never talked about it much because the offensive line was also really terrible in the early years.
Now, with some continuity (and excellence) returning on the O-Line from 2007, we can have 2008 be the year of the remade D-Line.
I am hoping that Rogers and company will have a profound impact on the rest of the defense. I am hoping that they will allow the LB’s to play at lighter weights. The Orange and Brown report indicates that guys like Davis were asked to carry unnaturally high weight last season.
I am also hoping that a remade D-Line will neutralize the necessity of the defensive secondary. The secondary has taken a lot of the blame over the last few years for the lack of success on the defensive side of the ball. As we all know, success in the secondary is a result of how much time the QB has to throw and how successful the running game is. If we can reduce the success of the running game and get some pressure on opposing QB’s then the secondary will take care of itself.
So, that was a long-winded way of saying I am looking at the D-Line.
I want to see Roethlisberger running for his life and being tracked down by the Browns’ LB’s this season.
Hoy, it’s looking like Edwards and Stallworth on the outsides. Wilson appears to be the starting slot – which is just crazy to me given his two career catches. They’ll likely try Cribbs there as well.
Others in the mix Kevin Kasper the friendly ghost, and Paul Hubbard.
Im unsure about Steve Sanders and his injured ankle, Syndric Steptoe, and any other practice squad WR.
Is bringing Henry in a justifiable calculated risk? All the $ spent and progress from last year can be offset by weak pass protection from the unproven corners. This is cearly the Brown’s weakest position, so it might be worth bringing in a talent like Henry, even with his baggage.
Anthony or Travis?
Anon- I think that there would be other options out there if the Browns decide Kasper or Wilson isn’t a good option. Especially after cuts are made.
I’m thinking that he’s talking about chris henry…
Obviously, he’s talking about trading for Titans RB Chris Henry.
I’d like to see Josh Cribbs win that 3rd receiver in the slot role. If he can improve his route-running in training camp then I think he’s a natural for the position. He’s an electric playmaker, and I’d love to see his role expanded beyond punt returns, kick returns, and the occassional wide receiver reverse or end-around.
On defense I 100% agree with Craig… our secondary problems weren’t actually secondary problems, they were defensive line problems. The Browns weren’t getting to the opposing quarterback and their numbers were pitiful at best. I hope Rogers comes to camp knowing that he can have a huge impact (pun intended) on a playoff caliber team if he just works hard and stays out of trouble.
I have a thought about Chris Henry but it would just get censored so I’ll just say, LOL.
He was arrested 5 times in three years, two of those times while he was awaiting reinstatement from the league. No thanks.