More On Leading With the Helmet
October 24, 2011Thome: “The Future in Cleveland Looks Great”
October 24, 2011The Browns used their first two picks in this year’s draft on defensive linemen Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard. So far the Browns are getting just what they wanted from the pair.
Starters from game 1, the rookie duo have been disruptive to opposing offenses. Sheard is second among NFL d-line rookies in sacks with 2.5, and Taylor is tied for third with 2. They are 1st and 2nd in tackles when measured against other d-line rookies. Measured against all defensive linemen, Taylor and Sheard stack up as well. Taylor’s 23 tackles ties him for 9th while Sheard is 16th. (By the way, Rubin is 4th.)
Jabaal has been very effective pressuring the QB using the speed rush, but did have some success yesterday with the bull rush as well. He has forced a pair of fumbles this year already. Both look like keepers as the Browns evaluate talent and move forward.
The defense, aided by yesterday’s performance against Seattle (137 yards) is now 4th in the league in yards allowed per game at 291. They are 8th in the league in points allowed per contest at 20. For comparison’s sake, last season the Browns allowed 350 ypg, and 20.8 ppg. There are still 10 games left to play.
The Browns also spent a second round pick on WR Greg Little. Little had 5 catches yesterday, bringing his total to 25 on the season. Would you like to know who the top three rookie receivers are? By reception, the top three are A.J. Green (29), Julio Jones (25) and Little (25). Greg has 234 yards receiving, which places him 5th among NFL rookies. His 9.4 yards per catch average scream for more downfield throws however.
At least statistically speaking, these picks are stacking up against their rookie class counterparts. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?
19 Comments
Browns have a ton of rookies, or players not yet played 16 games in their careers….McCoy, Hardesty, Marecic, Pinkston, Luavao, Little…and I don’t know how many games Moore has played….but that’s 6-7 out of the starting 11 players.
Maybe there is something to the idea of being patient and letting them “grow”….I dunno.
Heckert knows how to draft. That’s all there is to it. This is why the D looks so much better then the O since thats what they focused on in the past 2 drafts. Hopefully they see an o right tackle and wide out available when they pick next year.
Next year, get a 1st round receiver, shore up the offensive line and if we still have picks add depth (how much work does our O-Line actually need? It looks like a LOT). Sign an aging quarterback who knows he’s gonna warm the bench and collect a paycheck to be McCoy’s mentor (or get a retired one on as a QB coach?).
Give McCoy a second full year with an offensive coordinator, protection that doesn’t break down, and a mentor. Our running game will improve with a few good receivers to spread the D. MoMass will improve with a lights-out receiver to take the pressure off him. Cribbs would make a great slot receiver.
Hopefully Shurmur will get a handle on just what is needed of a head coach somewhere between now and training camp…
Is it any wonder this blog is called WFNY?
With all the young guys, I want to see how the mold together. Better than bringing in over the hill, downside of career veterans.
Like everything said @ #3.
Pieces like this help take some of the sting out of the Browns offensive performance on Sunday. (PUNS!)
It is very encouraging that the Browns have had 2 strong drafts in a row.
Agree with Chris. Rookies are looking real good. O-Line and WR need to be addressed in the draft. Maybe RB as well, depending on what happens with Hillis and Hardesty.
We don’t look that good right now, but the foundation is there on defense. If Heckart can do the same for the offense in the upcoming draft we will be in pretty good shape.
We’re certainly moving in the right direction from a talent perspective (not necessarily coaching) with last year’s draft and now this year’s.
We need to nail next year’s picks (2 firsts, a second, a third, and 2 fourths). Maybe add another d-lineman, an OLB, and a right tackle. You could argue that this team has the most talent of any team since ’99.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Julio Jones missed his second straight game due to injury. Just sayin’.
Ah, draft strategy in October: only in The Cleves.
This regime does not absolutely need to take a receiver in round 1. If Mr. Field Stretcher is there, fine, but no need to reach. So far this FO finds the talent and ignores the noise from amateur draftniks.
In Heckert We (increasingly) Trust.
[speaking of receivers, I’ve not heard alarm bells about MoMass’s second concussion in one year. It would be physically dangerous for Colt to lose even his limited production. Might have to run 45 times every game]
@Harv – I’m terrified for the concusions to both MoMass and Watson. That is 2 of our top 4 receiving options possibly out (with Hillis already out leaving only Greg Little).
as for the rookies, yeah they might need the vets to carry their pads one of these weeks with the way they have come on (as a symbolic gesture of course)
Hillis has pretty good hands. If his hammy is healed maybe we can line him up out wide. 🙂
Maybe we don’t need a 1st round pick, but my point was that we need an impact WR next year. My point wasn’t necessarily to lay out a draft strategy (knowing that’s exactly what I did), but it was just to say that we have so many needs it’s hard to see what we have. Is McCoy the guy? Who knows. Is Hillis just a flash in the pan? Again, too soon to tell.
Our whole offense sucks, so are these flashes of brilliance outlyers, or the real deal?
Between Haden, Ward, Rubin, Sheard and Taylor, the Browns have a nice/solid/young nucleus to its defense and it’s already paying dividends. It’s great to see these guys just blossoming into good, solid pros.
This is why I laugh when people nitpick at Heckert. The guy knows what he’s doing..
I like how Sheard seems to have a mean streak. I mean I know about the art gallery incident and all, but he looks like he’s about to repeat on those reporters. Hate to be the QB on the receiving end of that…
Also, since it’s already draft season, I think the Browns will once again focus more on defense (much to the dismay of everyone not named Tom Heckert). It has the dual effect of “defense wins championships” and “don’t get too good, too fast” and end up with mediocre draft picks and mediocre O/D/ST.
Hard not to wash away that ugly game with draft fantasies. Our 3 picks from the first and second rounds all look good. Heckert’s two fifth-round picks – Pinkston and Tiny Buster Skriney – are actually contributing as rookies. Think about that. [Granted the fourth round picks look a tad experimental, maybe Heck’s warning shot to other GMs, “I’m crazy enough to take the guy you keep staring at right now … wanna talk?”].
Just identifying legit NFL players without overthinking, getting too clever and sticking your foot in it after the first round, year after year, is a huge step up. How sad is that.
The defense has been great this year. It’s nice to finally have a GM that knows how to draft players.
With two first rounders and all of our picks in rounds 2-5 we’re in a really good position heading into next year. Everyone is bitching about our offense but in two drafts we already built a top 10 defense. In Heckert I trust. We’re 3-3 and playing with a bunch of kids. Ya, our wins are against terrible teams. But we are figuring out how to win as a team. Heck, we were terrible vs Oakland and still had a chance to tie it up at the end.
From an overall assessment of the team, the youth and the draft picking of Heckert are the only 2 things I can get excited about right now. It is a great strategy to build on, and for that I can at least suffer through some of the embarrassment on the field this season.
Going forward with the draft, is it time to go for playmakers and not trade down for depth? I sure hope so. I’d like to see the next draft dedicate 3 of the first 4 picks to the offense, specifically with one top-notch WR who demands special defensive attention.
I also wouldnt mind just one top-notch FA. Im not saying to flip our strategy of building through the draft on its head, but one stud FA on the o-line or at LB or in the secondary would be nice and I dont think it compromises the team’s mission if the price is fair.