Breaking News: Browns’ Hardesty Out For Season
September 3, 2010While We’re Waiting… Pryor’s development, Browns RB options, and Tribe gets shut out
September 4, 2010Thank you Colt McCoy. Thank you for showing that given adequate reps in practice you are at least a #3 quarterback in this league. It makes one decision in Berea a lot easier. No, Colt wasn’t going to be cut, but the Browns can rest easy letting go of Brett Ratliff. Other decisions will not be as easy.
Here are my guesses at who stays and who goes.
QBs: Delhomme, Wallace and McCoy. Delhomme’s job coming into camp was to limit turnovers (at least interceptions) and run the offense efficiently. He was successful in that aspect and then some. Here’s hoping that when the regular season rolls around he keeps that poise and efficiency. Wallace proved to be a very capable back-up. He will see time regardless of Delhomme’s success.
Cut: Brett Ratliff. If he isn’t picked up by another team, there is a chance he could see the practice squad.
RBs: Harrison, Hillis, Davis, Vickers, Hardesty. Here’s where it gets a little dicey. If Hardesty’s injury is serious it would not surprise me to see another name added to this list. For the record I had Davis making the team prior to Hardesty’s injury. With Harrison’s FA status next season, and the Browns’ reluctance to hand him the starting job or a contract extension, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him bolt after this year. Letting Davis get picked up by another team would be foolish.
Cut: Chris Jennings. Unless that knee of Hardesty’s puts him on IR or the PUP list. He would be another practice squad candidate if he made it through waivers.
OL: Lauvao, Mack, Pashos, St. Clair, Steinbach, Thomas, Womack, Kooistra. The Browns did well in drafting Lauvao. The only spots left in doubt are RT and back-up center. Womack and Pashos both probably moved ahead of St. Clair on the depth chart, but that still won’t be enough to send the big man packing. The Browns will likely look hard at anyone with center experience that is cut the next few days. That could send Kooistra to the practice squad.
Cut: Paul Faniaka, Pat Murray, Billy Yates, Joel Reinders. The Lauvao at center experiment last night probably sealed Faniaka’s fate. Reinders’ own performance was his undoing.
WRs: Cribbs, Massaquoi, Mitchell, Robiskie, Stuckey. I think the Browns keep Haggerty as well, but he probably goes to the DL. Engram is the wildcard here.
Cut: Jake Allen, Bobby Engram, Syndric Steptoe. Of all the spots I’m probably wrong on, Steptoe is the most glaring. I ask you however, what about Steptoe can’t you get from the players above? Plus the Browns have shown they are quite willing to move a TE out wide.
TEs: Moore, Smith, Watson. Wait a minute, that means…
Cut: Robert Royal. Yep. The Browns have never liked his hands. Yes, he is the best blocking TE on the squad. But Vickers and Hillis could fill that role on occasion, and Ben Watson has been around the league long enough to know some tricks. Evan Moore and Alex Smith both can line up wide and help the WR corps. Like I said, these are my picks. I’m probably wrong. Sue me.
DL: Adams, Coleman, Geathers, Mosley, Rogers, Rubin, Schaefering, Smith. The Browns need to rotate in as many guys as possible along that front to keep them fresh. I think Titus Adams and Brian Schaefering made real progress this off-season.
Cut: Travis Ivey, Swanson Miller, Derrick Robinson, Brian Sanford, Kwaku Danso. Robinson was one of my last guys cut. I think he makes the practice squad easily.
LBs: Barton, Benard, Bowens, Costanzo, Fujita, Gocong, Jackson, Roth, Maiava. Tough group to make cuts. I think I could be wrong on two or three of these easily.
Cut: Titus Brown, Jason Trusnik, David Veikune. I only think one of the kick coverage specialists gets a roster spot this year, meaning a battle between Trusnik, Costanzo and Sorensen. Even before Nick’s concussion he was on shaky ground because he is the worst of the group at his natural position (safety). Would I be surprised if trusnik made the team? No, but I would be a little surprised if he made it over Costanzo.
DBs: Adams, Asante, Brown, Elam, Haden, McDonald, Smith, Ward, Wright. A lot of youth here. A lot of potential. This group needs to grow as the season progresses and I believe they will. DeAngelo Smith gets the 53rd spot on my card. Congrats.
Cut: Chris Chancellor, Coye Francies, Nick Sorensen. Coye had a decent showing in the final preseason game. It is probably too little too late.
ST: Dawson, Hodges, Pontbriand. Can’t forget everyone’s favorite longsnapper!
25 Comments
Hardesty will end up on IR, so that opens one spot for Jennings or maybe an extra LB. I think Trusnik definitely makes the team. I think there’s a good possibility that with Heckert and not Mangini having final control over the roster that Bowens or Barton could be cut. Barton looks completely washed up.
Barton will still be effective in cold and sloppy weather when everyone slows down a hair. This guy was a defensive captain last year. I think he makes the team. Trusnik made very few plays before last night, and I don’t see him getting many reps at all in the base defense.
Don’t disagree, but Veikune and Francies – yikes! Not a ringing endorsement of 09’s draft. Here’s hoping H&H got it better this year.
@Rick,
Are you confusing Barton with Bowens?
No, Barton was a captain last year. Bowens may be a little faster, but they play different spots. Barton is an inside backer.
You gotta think Mangini will have some influence over the last 3 or 4 spots and will lobby to keep Trusnick. Pretty sure he’s got a man crush on him.
Ok J-Dub, but you have to say who gets the boot.
eric barton? The guy with serious health concerns?
I wouldn’t dream of Mangini cutting an Ohio-boy, young, special teams massacre (and all around decent LB) like Trusnik.
Final roster or final cuts?
The better teams will end up cutting some decent players at overloaded positions. There should be a better RB than Chris Jennings available this weekend. And there better be defensive linemen, some of those above have looked pretty brutal so far.
If I had my choice I’d cut Hodges. His average has been brutal.
I also think Engram makes the team if only as a mentor to the young WR’s on the team. With Hardesty IR’d I think he’d take that spot.
I THINK MCCOY GETS CUT! CAUSE HE’S STINKY AND NO GOOD!
@Rick,
My apologies, you are correct about Barton. I forgot that Barton was initially a defensive captain. I was remembering Bowens stepping in and being made a captain after Barton went out with his neck injury. Many people, including the coaches were impressed with Bowens’ move to ILB for the remainder of the season.
I had to pull up this PD article to straighten myself out.
“David Bowens’ stellar play earns praise, election as captain”
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2009/11/david_bowens_stellar_play_earn.html
Idk if it’s a type-o or just mis information, but the depth chart at cleveland browns.com shows something different
McCoy is 4th string…. No Hardesty
http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/depth-chart.html
@Travis- that depth chart hasn’t changed since the first preseason game. If you will notice, there is no chart for the defense.
put me in the Trusnick over Barton camp. At least Trusnick helps the team on ST’s while I cannot really say what Barton helps the team with these days.
i like giving Mitchell a chance over aging Engram or enigmatic Steptoe.
Hardesty’s injurty should give the spot to Jennings if for nothing else than a reward for the Pitt game last year.
Alex Smith and Watson block just well enough that Royal should be gone.
i’d like to give Chancellor a shot, but really can’t argue with the guys you have ahead of him.
also PS rules eligibility would make me think Ratliff and Jennings are not eligible. they can’t be on the 53-man roster for more than 9 games or be beyond 3 years in, right? Or is that requirement the 45-man active gameday roster?
Francies over Smith (because he is a draft pick)
Trusnik & Veikune over Barton and Bowens (why do we need a bunch of old linebackers)
Ivey & Robinson over Adams & Mosley (Mosley starts off season on IR)
Totally agree with you about TE Royal is and overpaid bum…
Engram is such a wild card…
Why would you take up a roster spot to have Engram mentor anybody? Cut him and make him a coach if you love him so much.
I believe Titus Adams was cut in the first cuts wasnt he? There is definitely a lot of room to change things, but no way Jennings stays on. Brutal preseason, and a host of RBs ahead of him. Doesnt do anything for ST either.
I’ll get behind previous statements that Barton’s injury last year and his age make it likely that Trusnik will make the roster over him, especially since Trusnik doubles as a S/T threat. Barton’s production (and veteran leadership) can be replicated more easily by Bowens, Fujita and Gocong (not to mention Jackson, Roth and Benard will be better as pure LBs) so Trusnik’s ability to help in other areas does more to elevate the team.
So far:
Browns waived WR Jake Allen, OL Casey Bender, DB Coye Francies, TE Joel Gamble, OL Joel Reinders, WR Syndric Steptoe.
even though this is an uncapped year.. money is still money. even to randy l.
i was only able to find 2009 salaries. — http://is.gd/eTQpw — based on this, i would think coleman, barton, royal, and st. clair could go. if yer makin 2MM you better be starting.
Pretty surprised at Reinders and especially Francies getting cut…Francies was a steal, I don’t get it…
@20
I’d be amazed if Coleman is cut. D-line is anemic when it comes to experienced depth.
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Sorry… Titus Adams went to the IR not cut… my bad.