WFNY Top 10 Cleveland Sports Stories of 2011: #10 – The Colt Concussion
December 21, 2011WFNY Joins 92.3 The Fan Tonight
December 21, 2011
ESPN’s Todd McShay, the NFL Draft guru who’s not known for his hair, published his first mock draft of the season as it’s all several teams really have to look forward to as Week 16 approaches.
Here’s what he had to say about the Browns, the team who McShay pegs as selecting fourth-overall.
Trent Richardson, RB, AlabamaRichardson is a more complete back than former Crimson Tide teammate Mark Ingram, the No. 28 pick to New Orleans in 2011. Richardson has a rare combination of size, speed, power, agility, burst and versatility, and is the rare exception to the don’t-take-an-RB-in-the-top-10 rule.
For what it’s worth, McShay has Cleveland passing on wide receiver Justin Blackmon, the explosive wide receiver out of Oklahoma State, as well as quarterbacks du jour in Baylor’s Robert Griffin III and USC’s Matt Barkley. With the Atlanta pick, McShay feels the Browns take Kevin Reddick, linebacker out of North Carolina.
Have at it, folks.
90 Comments
@49
Greg Little 57rec 669yds 2TDs (and a boatload of drops)
Julio Jones 42rec 772yds 5TDs (not as many drops, but still some)
Also, Julio Jones has Roddy, Gonzo and Turner to keep the defenses attention and Matt Ryan to get him the ball. Just saying that last year’s trade down may workout pretty well and we shouldn’t disparage that strategy moving forward 🙂
It’s a shame that Braylon’s incredibly generous and classy act didn’t make the site today. I just forgave him for EVERYTHING based on this alone:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Braylon-Edwards-gave-79-students-10-000-for-col?urn=nfl-wp14415
RG3 at #4 would be a steal. This guy is gunna be a superstar. Sorry Colt, but the upside is unparalleled. With the Atlanta pick and the 2nd round pick we should go RT and LB, in whatever order makes more sense.
Resign Hillis.
Sign a playmaking WR (hello DeSean Jackson, meet your old friend Tom Heckert)
Address CB in FA.
This is how the team takes the next step. But it all starts with a SuperStar under center
So McShay thinks the Browns, a team who’s offense is predicated on the pass, should takE a running back with their top pick. Got it.
Just take RG3…please. His escapability will hide some offensive line issues. Plus, he’s tall enough to see over the line. Look…Colt seems like a great guy, but name me one team heading to the playoffs this year that doesn’t have a top tier QB or a guy named Tebow. Houston doesn’t count…Schaub did the heavy lifting before getting hurt.
Also, if you were about to say ‘What about Alex Smith?’, just keep in mind that while he hasn’t always been great, he’s going to break 3,000 yards this year with a 3 to 1 TD to INT ratio.
either blackmon or RG3 with this pick…browns better draft well and really hit free agency hard if this year ‘didnt count’ for them
Richardson to the Browns only makes sense if the Browns are picking like 8th and Blackmon and the QBs are off the board. Richardson at 4 will never happen. McShay is just too lazy to update his mock draft from last week when the Browns were picking 8th.
i’d be in favor of RG3 or Blackmon. But i think the Browns could (gasp!) trade down a few slots and still get RG3.
Ideally, I’d love to draft Blackmon and then package atlanta’s pick and next year’s number 1 to move up for RG3. I wonder if that would be enough?
Keep Hillis. He is a good back who got injured this year. He can be effective.
Lastly – the Browns have 2 Pro Bowl OL’s, we don’t need a whole line of pro bowlers (though it would be nice). I’d settle for a 2nd round OL.
Saggy…you sir, are a genius!
Seriously, that idea is fantastic. If they keep hillis somehow and get RG3 and Blackmon, this team is instantly transformed into a playoff contender.
I’m with you on the offensive line idea too. There’s a mentality among some fans that you need ‘all the pieces’ before you can draft the franchise QB and move forward, and it’s just unrealistic. You choose a strength, build it, and hope it’s enough to cover your deficiencies.
Just look at the Packers. They have decided to be the most ridiculous pass offense in the league. Do they need to hold opponents below 20 points per game. No…because they score 35+ on a regular basis.
You CAN’T have it all.
Let’s set the ‘Saggy Plan’ in motion!
Who is the last USC quarterback to actually be any good?
– Carson had a few years, but that’s gone.
– Cassel didn’t even play while at USC, also he’s pretty average.
– Leinart. No.
– John David Booty. Is he still in the league?
– Jets fans really don’t like Sanchez anymore.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ac-6813296
tl;dr DON’T DRAFT BARKLEY
There is no way RGIII gets past the Skins. Being a Cleveland fan in the DC area that is all they talk about (Griffin and to a lesser extent Barkley).
I want RG3 or Barkley.
@37 – I LOL’d.
One reason I would think about RG3…Baylor is 9-3. Baylor is the Browns of the Big XII. Griffin is THE reason they’re 9-3.
Where a QB went to college has nothing to do with how good he will be. I remember people talking about how ‘overrated’ Cal QBs were when Rodgers was in the draft (which is part of the reason he slipped). How’d that work out?
RG3 is 6’0″ tall. What O-line is he seeing over?
Would love to see Barkley come here. Also, please don’t talk about all the QBs we have ‘ruined.’ Instead, try and show me the last QB we had here that was talented. Colt is tough and has a great attitude. Unfortunately that doesn’t make you a good QB
2 thoughts –
1st, drafting in the top 10 is not as risky as it was in 2010 with the new CBA. It’s not like we will be paying a RB 20 million a year as the 4th pick. He will get paid a rookie wage just like all the other 1st round picks. Teams can now draft best available and not the least risky. (we should draft the best QB available regardless)
2nd, We do not need to pick O-line in the first round. We will have 4 quality starters next year with Pinkston moving to RT (he was drafted as a tackle). We can pick up a guard prospect in 2nd or 3rd round.
4 = Pinkston, Mack, Steinback, and Thomoas.
Thoughts….
Focus on offense in the draft….the defense is decent and fairly young. They will continue to get better…Haden and Sheard have all pro potential…focus on defense in free agency for a few more pieces
Take RG3 if available…he will absolutely be better tahn McCoy as a pro….If not WR and OL….do NOT take a RB…Resign Hillis and with Obie, Jackson coming back you will be ok…Dump Hurtesty, he will never make it…too injury prone…
Do Not take Barkley….ughh….Brady Quinn repeat…Remember one thing, RG3 won at BAYLOR !…anyone can be a winner at Texas, USC and any SEC school…trust me Baylor has less talent in there best year than USC has in there worst…
Is it me or does it seem like our D is just missing that killer instinct like PGH and BLT has…..and we are really not that far behind them…..
Squirmer is in over his head….i just have a bad feeling about him…like we are going to waste a few years with potential on the team and him holding us back….
Would love to get Lamicheal James in the 2nd or 3rd round….Him and RG3 together…..Speeeeeeed….hes not an everydown back but has a Darren Sproules potential…..Speeeed….
How can we always lead the league in dropped passes???…is it something in the air in Cleveland…or are we just cursed…
All for now
Sorry…typo on last post…meant ” their ” not ” there”….ughhh
RG3 is listed at 6’2″ for what it’s worth.
@ben – who was the last Baylor QB to make it ‘to’ the NFL let alone make it ‘in’ the NFL?
you definitely have to factor in the system and evaluate the skills and can utilize the other QBs who have been in that system. and, I have some doubts on Barkley, some of it coming from those (his floating deep ball is my biggest concern).
Has to QB, we wont get a better chance than this
Next has to be RT, 2nd round WR followed by
LB then FS
@bossman – Pinkston was drafted as an OG, which is why he slipped in the draft. Heckert went out of his way to state that he drafted Pinkston as an OG after the selection.
could he make the transition? maybe, but if our talent evaluators specifically put him at OG, I’d feel better if we drafted a RT replacement and kept him at RG (assuming Steinbach can come back healthy)
You have to upgrade the QB position, otherwise you’re just gonna be stuck in neutral. I would even be cool with McCoy going into next year if he were a decent manager of the game, but he’s not. Take RG3 or Barkley, or trade-up for Luck. RBs can be found anywhere in the draft. As far as 1st round running backs go, the last great one was Peterson, none of the others have panned-out since then.
Heckert had a good QB in Philly, Holmgren’s always had good QBs, and Shurmur (ex QB coach) has coached some good ones. You mean to tell me that these three don’t want to get a good QB and would rather get a RB with one good year under his belt at pick #4? Doubt it.
@59 SaggyBall begins now!
may i point out that the listing old usc quarterbacks, specifically listing only bad usc qbs, provides no useful information which can be used as part of a critical evaluation of matt barkley’s potential success in the nfl?
This would be a lot easier if we had just taken Julio Jones last year and gotten our playmaker WR when he was there to take.
no jim, you may not. but you can fire shurmur.
I’d rather draft Barkley than anyone. I certainly do not want to draft a running back.
If the comments on this post are any indication, it seems that the fans have thrown in the towel on McCoy.
I would like this pick since it seems Hillis will go elsewhere and I personally feel Richardson is a great back. Rumor mill is pumping out a first round pick of QB, but is it really Colt’s fault he’s on his back majority of the game? Switching out QB’s has not been a good pattern in CLE, and I honestly fell Colt can do big things with the right weapons. Passing on Richardson or Blackmon would be a mistake, and depending on who you choose the next picks have to go to the offensive line because let’s face it, the right side is just plain offensive.
Thankfully we won’t be able to make the mistake of drafting Barkley this year…
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/ncf/story/_/id/7380760/matt-barkley-usc-trojans-says-staying-school
Bad teams draft RB’s early. Good teams draft the guys who opened up the lanes for the RB’s.
Brian Greise
Scott Dreisbach
Todd Collins
Elvis Grbac
Michael Taylor
Demetrius Brown
Jim Harbaugh
Steve Smith
John Wrangler
Rick Leach
Dennis Frankin
What do these guys have in common??? They were Michigan’s starting QB’s before Tom Brady. Take it for what it’s worth….
@jim,
may I point out that the “only” quarterbacks listed by Ben are the only QB’s to start more than “1” game from the past 10 years for USC? You make it sound like Ben cherry picked a few names to prove an exception to the rule. You have a bad habit of bending facts to fit your opinion. Please though, by all means list the successful starting quarterbacks from USC that Ben missed. No? No answer? What if I give you 20 full years to go back? Not going to throw Mike Van Raaport, Brad Otton or the immortal Rob Johnson in there to prove that Ben selected just that failures from USC’s QB history.
And yes you can derive usefull information from looking at past QBs. If a coach’s program consistently turns out successful college players with a common weakness exhibited in the pros than one should at least worry about it. Pete Carrols (and Kiffin as a disciple) system surrounds a QB with so much talent that a lot of QB shortcomings can be hidden. The common fault of all the pro USC guys has been work ethic. Leinart, Palmer, and Sanchez have all had there off field work ethic called into question. You can develop a theme of guys who don’t like to work hard and prefer to be surrounded by really talented guys.
Does this mean Barkley is one of those guys? no, in fact I really like him, but it is absurd to not take into consideration the history of his predecesors when judging him.
You said “no usefull information” I would say that if you as a GM had also interviewed Leinhart and he (Barkley) answers questions in a way that sounds similar than you have gained very useful information. Thats why stable teams seem to “find” players, they have front offices that know what a player that fits their system looks and sounds like.
Barkly goes back to USC to get some of that fine SoCal tail. Being the QB at USC is best job in the world apparently. None of those guys ever leave early. No matter how high they are predicted to be drafted.
I’m banging the drum for Andrew Luck. The Rams will trade the pick. The Colts might. Luck in brown and orange is possible.
No one knows what a great QB can do for your franchise more than Holmgren. Give up the farm! Get the golden boy.
And to those people saying that USC QBs are overrated…
Name one other school with as many starting QBs in the league right now.
The Browns haven’t had a starting caliber QB in 25 years. I’ll take a dude who’s good enough to play in the NFL. We’d be lucky to have John David Booty right now.
Those Tedford guys at Cal were all washouts. (until Rodgers). The USC guys are NFL starters and almost all of them went to the playoffs.
@ 51
Did you watch Jones and Little? Yea, their stats are somewhat simmar (not yac or yards per reception) but Jones played in less games. More importantly when watching the two it is very clear Jones makes plays and is a beast who can change outcomes of games while Little is simply solid. A playmaking WR is always more valuable than a DT unless it’s like Sapp or Suh. Julio > Taylor + Little
2012 draft for the browns:
1 – STUD WR, (PERSONALLY DONT LIKE BLACKMON) PREFER MICHAEL FLOYD
2 – OL – STEINBACH AT LG, NEED A RT TO REPLACE PASHOS
3 – RDE OR RB OR LB : DEPENDING IF HILLIS STAYS OR DQUELL STAYS.
THESE ARE OUR PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT DRAFT, IF COMPLEMENTED WITH FREE AGENCY, WE COULD MAKE A CONTENDER.
ABOUT THE QB, ITS SIMPLE, BUILD THIS YEAR AROUND COLT, IF HE SUCKS, IN 2013, SELECT A QB IN FIRST ROUND.
ITS SO OBVIOUS EVEN FOR A PORTUGUESE GUY.
PAULO
Blackmon is not as explosive as you may think. He has no 2nd gear in his speed. I’d rather take Baylor WR Kendall Wright with the Browns’ 2nd-1st round pick anyway.
They need to trade for the #1 pick and get Luck.
I understand it’s risky. But ask yourself this:
If you could have traded three #1 picks (two net) and two #2 picks in a past draft to get Peyton Manning, would you do it?
I’ll consider anything less than Luck a failure for the Browns draft. To win a Super Bowl, you need an elite QB. They have to try to get that now.
We’re no where near a super bowl. To win a super bowl you need a line. Please build the right side of the line. We also need a mean OLB and DE. We play in the AFC North. No need to go get another QB and watch him tore up all season. No sexy pics this year just pick solid interior players and some depth. Hell trade the 4th pick if you can but don’t move too far down(asking a bit much I know). But if we have to use the 4th pick on a skill player, might as well be Blackmon(he definitely is solid). Just wait on QB til next year please.
1. Build both lines
2. Get depth on both lines
3. Tough pass rushing OLB
4. Focus on skill players(QB mostly) in next year’s draft