Cavaliers Scrambling to Find a PG?
January 22, 2010Am I a Blue Jackets Fan Now?
January 22, 2010Now that The Big Show Mike Holmgren has shored up his front office roster, it’s time for him–and for us–to look at the team’s roster. We’ve borrowed from the Department of Homeland Security and will be looking at each position group day by day, finishing with a roster upgrade ranking based on need. Check back each day this week for a new position group. Previous Reports: RB, OL, WR/TE, QB
The 2009 Season
The 2009 Cleveland Browns across the board epitomized Forrest Gump’s famous about about life and a box of chocolates: “you never know what you are gonna get.” That can be said about two of the three facets of Browns football. The one area that you could always count on were the Special Teams. The man who headed the unit, Brad Seely, took over a group that already was one of the best in the league and made them even better.
Under Seely’s watch, the Browns kickoff and punt coverage team did not allow a TD the entire season and for the most part never allowed a big return that hurt the team. Many ex-Eric Mangini/Seely guys joined the fold to make the Special Teams special. Blake Costanzo was voted by SI.com’s Peter King as his all NFL Special Teams player:
No player can match his production on teams this year: 14 tackles, two forced fumbles, three fumbles recovered.
Ray Ventrone, Jason Trusnik, and Nick Sorenson all did their parts to make this unit extra strong. Then we move to the man himself.
Josh Cribbs cemented his already building legacy as perhaps the greatest return man of all time, adding three kickoff return TD’s and one punt return to the house. He was electrifying every time he stepped on the field, whether it be as a return man, or the gunner on punt coverage. He is this generation’s Steve Tasker, only he is the best return man in the game on top of it.
As for the specialists; Punter Dave Zastudil was having perhaps his best season of his career, dare we say all pro, until a knee injury to his non-punting leg sidelined him for the last eight games. His 44.7 average (49 punts) was the best of his career. Sub-punter Reggie Hodges (39.8 on 45 punts), Mangini’s punter in New York in 2008, did nothing to distinguish himself either good or bad. He will be best remember to me for alligator arming the deflected snap in the end zone in Kansas City. Zastudil will be back strong in 2010. Hodges will be looking elsewhere for work.
Kicker Phil Dawson also battled injury this season, a pulled calf muscle that cost him five games. When he was healthy, he was money as usual, going 17-19 on field goals. Couple that with deep kickoffs and Dawson stays on the list of the most reliable kickers in the game. Credit Billy Cundiff for doing a solid job replacing Dawson when he was out, making all five of his field goal attempts and eventually turning his Browns extended audition into a full time gig with the playoff-bound Baltimore Ravens.
Long-snapper Ryan Pontbriand once again was stellar and showed why he was probably the best draft pick Butch Davis ever made. You know a long snapper does a good job when you never hear his name. Other than that fluky play in Kansas City, his play was perfect.
Contract Situation
KR/PR Josh Cribbs – His six-year, $6.77 million contract runs through 2012. Do we really need to rehash this one again? PAY DAT MAN HIS MAAAAAANEYYYYY.
K Phil Dawson – Enters the final year of his five year, $7.1 million deal. This is an interesting one. Over the last two offseason’s, Dawson has made it known he wants a new contract. There is no doubt he deserves an extension. He is the only kicker the “new” Browns have ever had and is one of the best in the league. He is clutch (see the entire 2007 season), tough, and knows how to handle the tricky Cleveland Browns Stadium wind. Another guy that Holmgren and Tom Heckert would be wise to take care of.
P Dave Zastudil – Scheduled to make $1.41 million in 2010 before hitting free agency. This is just like the Dawson situation, with one caveat – Zastudil is a Bay Village native. Good punters who know how to handle the elements are hard to find. The Browns have one in Zastudil. A no-brainer to me – see how he recovers from the knee injury and if he does it well, extend him and call it a day.
LS Ryan Pontbriand – His four year contract runs through 2011. This guy should be a Brown for life. Rarely makes mistakes. Plays on Special Teams. Keeps his mouth shut and done his job. An ideal employee.
Browns Roster Upgrade – Low
If there is any area of the team that doesn’t need touching, its the Special Teams. As a whole, you can bring back this entire group and be totally fine. I’m not sure how you can do any better than Dawson and Zastudil as your specialists, an all-pro long snapper in Pontbriand, the best return man in the game in Cribbs, and Costanzo leading the coverage units.
The key obviously is taking care of Cribbs. Two positives came about in the last week on the “pay that man” front. First and foremost, Dawn “this contract offer will be the same tomorrow, the next day, and in September” Aponte is no longer with the club. More importantly, this morning’s PD quoted Cribbs’ agent, J.R. Rickert as saying he and his client are seeing a much clearer indication that something can be worked out and that it’s not just lip service.” Talk about great news.
The Dawson situation is also one to watch. All you have to do is watch this year’s NFL Playoffs to see how important a top quality Kicker is to the success of your team.
Overall Grade for the Special Teams is easily an “A.”
7 Comments
You had me confused with this article, seeing that the picture says high… We have the best special teams in the league, it’s about the only thing we did outstanding this year haha
and of course as a I write that and refresh the page, the picture has been changed … of course
The Browns best part of their entire team – special teams!
Interestingly enough, it is the special teams area that could swing the other way if Josh Cribbs and Phil Dawson hold out…
Getting Phil re-signed is a big issue also. Yes he is only a kicker, but a damn goo one. Vineateri, Kaeding, Rackers, etc. are some of the best, yet they missed big field goals in crunch time. Phil is every bit as good and has made big kicks, in bad weather, in big spots. He’s real important.
[…] Now that The Big Show Mike Holmgren has shored up his front office roster, it’s time for him–and for us–to look at the team’s roster. We’ve borrowed from the Department of Homeland Security and will be looking at each position group day by day, finishing with a roster upgrade ranking based on need. Check back each day this week for a new position group. Previous Reports: RB, OL, WR/TE, QB, ST […]
[…] need. Check back each day this week for a new position group. Previous Reports: RB, OL, WR/TE, QB, ST, […]