So, You Want to Be an Indians Fan
May 4, 2011While We’re Waiting… Hargrove in the Booth, Tribe in Control and Bloggers with Access
May 5, 2011Assuming there is an NFL season, which is not a guarantee by any stretch, the Browns will certainly be relying on several members of the 2011 draft class to have an instant impact on the team. The Browns and their fans aren’t the only ones thinking that way it seems. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper has pegged second round selection Jabaal Sheard as an immediate impact type of player-
Jabaal Sheard, DE, Cleveland Browns (Round 2, No. 5)
The impact: As a team, the Browns notched just 29 sacks in 2010, good for 25th in the league. Sheard has a nice variety of pass-rush moves and could quickly move to the top of the depth chart on the edge in this scheme. He holds up very well against the run when he can sidestep or gain enough leverage on massive offensive tackles. A good two-way player, he fills an immediate need.
The hurdle: Sheard is athletic, but it’s yet to be seen whether he can be a truly explosive pass-rusher. If he’s asked to drop, there are questions about whether he’ll be a liability in the open field.
For Cleveland’s sake, he and first round pick Phil Taylor need to be impact players.
Both should become starters for the Browns right away because of the lack of players (impact or not) on the defensive line. The Browns have 4 defensive lineman under contract for this season- Ahtyba Rubin, Travis Ivey, Ko Quaye and Brian Sanford. If the CBA includes restrictions on free agents similar to what was in place before (which is up for debate) the Browns would have exclusive rights to Titus Adams, Marcus Benard and Brian Schafering. (Auston English and Scott Paxson have non-guaranteed agreements for next season.)
Who are your 4 starters from that group?
Which is exactly why the Browns went defensive line with both of their first two picks. You can all but pencil in Sheard, Taylor and Rubin, and assuming they can sign him, Marcus Benard. That is unless the Browns become players for bigger fish in the free agency pond, but that seems a little unlikely. Simply by starting right away Taylor and Sheard would be making an impact on the team, but much more is needed if the Browns are to have any success defensively. Taylor and Rubin will be charged, along with the MLB, with stopping the running game up the middle. Sheard will be responsible for some outside containment on extended running plays, but will need to be a force in the pass rush game as well.
By no means am I limiting this draft’s immediate impact to just Taylor and Sheard however. Many fans might point to WR Greg Little as a guy that should have an instant impact with the offense. While he does seem to have the physical skills, history suggests that receivers don’t usually make a splash in year one. In addition, Little sat out last season because of an NCAA violation. Not only that, but when he went to UNC it was as a running back. He is still learning quite a bit how to be a wide receiver, and he will have to do that at the highest level possible.
To the end, Jordan Cameron is probably the more likely of the two to make an impact in the passing game this season, despite the depth at the tight end position. But if you are looking for the offensive draft pick most likely to make his presence felt this season, look no farther than FB Owen Marecic.
As has been speculated, the selection of Marecic will probably mean the end of the Vickers era in Cleveland. If that is indeed the case, Marecic will have to become Vickers. He will be charged with opening holes for Hillis and Hardesty. He will also have to pick up protection schemes and keep McCoy upright. A few catches out of the backfield won’t hurt either.
Statistically speaking, Marecic and Taylor might not show up in the box score much. But their contributions will be major factors in the success of the offense and defense this season.
OL Jason Pinkston will have a shot to win the right tackle spot, but the norm for late round offensive linemen is to build strength and technique for the first season or two before moving into a starting role. I am still holding out hope that the Browns invest in a quality RT for the upcoming season. A guy can dream can’t he?
Photo credit: Joe Rubino
14 Comments
I still want the Falcons’ RG (?) that’s available this offseason. Get him and our line is gold.
Agreed on Little. He was a fantastic selection IMO but, receivers in general need some polishing before they can make an impact. With that said guys like Hakeem Nicks have stepped in first year and made an impact, and then blown up their second year. I’m hoping Little can be that guy.
Btw, year three tends to be the make or break year for receivers. I’m wondering what we’ll see out of MoMass this year. He hasn’t been bad…but he also hasn’t been very good either.
I’m actually excited about our young defensive linemen. Pairing them with Rubin, hopefully, will make big strides in the run defense. I still wish we had another shutdown corner (Peterson), but maybe Eric Wright will come back to form (if he is still here this year) or Sheldon Brown will get younger.
what about Jayme MItchell? thought the HoHeMer were high on him…
Mitchell is a free agent. The Browns will likely make an offer, but he can sign with another team if he chooses.
Why is no one mentioning Matt Roth? I know the free agency situation is up in the air, but isn’t he a guy that we’d like to keep around? He seems like he’d fit nicely as a 4-3 DE.
You may have forgot a few FAs that played with the browns last season on the DL. Roth could be considered a DE if he wants to be on the line. Jayme Mitchell has also been talked about as if he will sign here and start at DE (from what Heckert has said). I would pencil in a line with Mitchell-Taylor-Rubin-Sheard. Then the others you mentioned can become back-ups. Bernard will only be entering year 3 also… so I thought he was still under contract. I would expect him to fill in for Mitchell on 3rd down passing situations.
Also- how do you figure Jordan can have a bigger impact then Little? I dont see a 3rd TE having more of an impact then a 3rd or 4th (starting out) WR. Now that said, I am not big on Little or shall I say expect him to contribute right away. He has had 1 season playing WR and that was followed by a year out of football.
As for Pinkston, Shurmer has said he will start out at G then potentially move to T. I hope he moves out fast because Lauvao (? forgot his spelling) shows he can start RG.
In the end, I think Taylor and Sheard will be starters, Little will probably start opposite of MoMass (though I will not be disappointed if he doesnt because I do not think its fair to expect him to), and Marecic will be starting FB. Jordan Cameron and Pinkston may contribute here and there and I have no expectations for Hagg (right… the S from Neb?).
a few notes
1. Heckert has already said that they drafted Pinkston as an OG and that he could be an OT in time (meaning don’t expect him to be our RT now).
2. DL needs to mention Jaymie Mitchell. I realize he is an UFA, but he is not going to get a better chance to start anywhere else in the NFL and Heckert didn’t spend all that offseason chatter talking him up if he didn’t think he was going to resign him.
3. My way-too-early pick for DL starters
RDE Sheard
RDT Rubin
LDT Taylor
LDE Benard – I’d like to think Mitchell is as good as Heckert says, but my money would be on Benard.
4. the FAs I would love to see the Browns pursue outside of our own:
DE: Ray Edwards (more likely: Brian Robison – actually Ray might be more likely depending on the CBA)
LB: Barnett – need the Packers to trade or release. they just re-upped ILBs Bishop and Hawk. David Harris would also be great. (more likely: Stephen Tulloch or Stephen Cooper)
S: Eric Weddle (more likely: Donte Whitner – due to the Jauron connection)
CB: Carlos Rogers (more likely: Dashon Goldson…ouch, this one drops off fairly quickly)
WR: Sidney Rice (more likely: Malcolm Floyd or James Jones)
OL*: Jammal Brown (more likely: Ryan O’Callaghan)
RB: Michael Bush (more likely: Jerious Norwood)
*note: I don’t think Gaither, Clabo, or Free have any chance of leaving their clubs.
Bobby- wouldn’t surprise me if they did try to sign Roth. Again, my point was that there is a lot up in the air when it comes to the D-line, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the Browns decided to give these draft picks the opportunity to play right away.
As for Jordan over Little, I really can’t imagine that a guy who has only played the WR spot for one season in his life is going to be the kind of route runner from the start that fits in a Pro West Coast offense. I hope I’m wrong and this kid is terrific.
Jordan started his college career as a WR and grew into a TE body. He is an exception athlete and should see time in the red zone especially because of it. Sure, he’s behind Watson and Moore, but Moore has been used as a WR before, and don’t be surprised if the Browns don’t do more 2 TE sets with Moore or Jordan as a wing or flank.
Correct me if im wrong but I believe Grossi said the other night that Little came to UNC as a receiver. He was then moved to running back because of a backlog of receivers (Hakeem Nicks and a few others that I cant recall)
Rick I share you concerns with Little. But I dont really think you can take what the previous coaching staff did with Moore and apply it to Cameron. Actually, going by college positions, Moore would more likely be flanked out as a WR in sets and Cameron at TE- Moore did not play any TE in college. I dont really think we can speculate much though without it being just randomly thrown up since no one knows what the O will look like.
As for mgbode- I would be pumped if they got Whitner. I am no OSU homer or anything but he will be an upgrade over anything we had and is ranked in the top 10 S for the league (done by ESPN Power Rankings- I dont really buy it that much but its the easiest thing for me to share why I would want him). Whitner is still young and could create a young, good tandem with Ward.
Rick I may have misread/restated what you said about Moore/Jordan also….
Why does everyone think that selecting Marecic automatically means Vickers is out? Marecic was a 4th round pick. Not many fourth rounders become starters their first year. We need to keep Vickers or the offense will take a huge step backwards. Let the best fullback in the league mentor the new kid while he plays special teams.
I’d love to see Marecic start right away. Vickers was a great blocker, no doubt, but he can’t catch a cold. WCO needs fullbacks that can pave the road, and catch the play action pass….case in point – see William Floyd 49ers early-mid 90s. Dude sometimes grabbed 10 balls a game, and did well blocking. Marecic is almost identical to that mold. Come mid season we will be praising him, just as we praised Hillis last year.
I am giddy thinking of Marecic and Hillis in an I-formation inside the 10-yard line. Either one could score…..and hello wide open TEs on play fakes by McCoy.
Automatic TDs every time….no more 3’s by Dawson.