While We’re Waiting… Browns linebackers, defensive metrics and Bradley Beal?

While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com.

Good analysis of the Browns LB corps and those available in the draft– “In most respects, the Browns have been victims of poor timing. Two years ago, Eric Mangini and pseudo-GM George Kokinis passed on Brian Orakpo and Clay Mathews. A year later, Tom Heckert was tasked with trying to find 3-4 talent, which meant that Jason Pierre-Paul was overlooked. In shifting from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense, the Browns missed out on some dynamic outside linebacker talent in Von Miller, Aldon Smith and Ryan Kerrigan last April.

In lieu of the draft, the Browns are currently looking at another season of Chris Gocong and veteran Scott Fujita at outside linebacker. Gocong flashed enough skill to land a contract extension, while Fujita ended his second consecutive season on injured reserve. While each player is serviceable, the Browns desperately need to add an injection of youth and athleticism. Fortunately, recent draft history would suggest that Heckert is targeting a linebacker upgrade. In the past two years, Heckert has addressed the secondary and defensive line.” [DK/The OBR]

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A must read interview for stat-heads about the Indians– “The Indians are generally regarded as a sabermetric-savvy organization. A recent piece at the website Fangraphs.com suggested the Indians were an organization that incorporated sabermetrics into their scouting, statistical analysis and business operations. Do you think this assessment of the organization is fair?

I think that’s fair. Obviously we do employ three full-time analysts which implies a certain amount of commitment to quantitative analysis and sabermetrics. I would say our organization is data driven and process driven as a whole. The people at the top try to gather as much information we can on players before making decisions. That includes not only the stuff that we do as analysts but also opinions from our expert scouts, medical information, information on a guy’s make-up. Then we try to quantify and catalogue that information so that we can later look back at how our process is working and how we should be weighing each piece of information.” [Let’s Go Tribe]

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Taking a look at draft prospect Bradley Beal– “Unlike Austin Rivers, Beal closed the year very strongly. Instead of NCAA coaches figuring him out; he began mastering the college game. Over the last 10 games, in 35 minutes, he averaged 15.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.7 turnovers, 1.5 steals, 1.5 blocks and shot 47 / 35 / 78 (60% TS and this included the 1 of 10 UK game). Everything about that looks great, and each number represents an improvement over his first 27 games.

Like everyone else, I am high on Bradley Beal. He’s extremely skilled for an eighteen-year old and by all accounts, he works hard and possesses excellent “basketball IQ”. Most comparisons include Ray Allen and Eric Gordon. I’m going on a quick tangent and saying that it is silly to compare any 18 year old to Ray Allen; he’s a singularly unique player, maybe the greatest shooter of all time, a man that may score 25000 points and drain 3000 three pointers. It’s a strained comparison, like Bismack Biyombo to Ben Wallace, another once in a generation player. They’re eighteen years old; unless they blistered the college game for a year like Kevin Durant, no need for hyperbole.” [Hetrick/Cavs the Blog]

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We’re not the only ones confused about what the Browns might do- “PROP 9: Will the Cleveland Browns draft Ryan Tannehill with the fourth overall pick? Yes: -115 No: -115 Analysis: Your guess is as good as ours.” [National Football Post.com]

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Former Cavalier (and current Bobcats) coach Paul Silas facepalm timeline. Awesome. [NBA247365]

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Finally, Buster Skrine gets a keepsake from last season. [WFNY Tumblr]