Browns add tight ends MarQueis Gray and Keavon Milton to roster, Jasper Collins to Practice Squad
September 1, 2013While We’re Waiting… Waiver claim Sunday for the Browns
September 2, 2013With the six waiver claims from earlier today, the Browns needed to add three more names to the list of released players in tight end Kellen Davis, running back Brandon Jackson, and linebacker L.J. Fort. They came in the form of offensive linemen Jarrod Shaw and Caylin Hauptmann and tight end/back Brad Smelley.
Shaw was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Tennessee in 2011 and spent time on the practice squad in the past two seasons. Hauptmann was an undrafted rookie free agent out of Florida International. Smelley was taken with a compensatory pick in the seventh round out of Alabama of the 2012 draft and played in two games last season.
With the cuts, the roster is at 53. However, the team still needs to find a kicker, so expect one more cut from either the offensive line or linebackers. The roster includes a stunning 9 undrafted rookies.
QB (3) – Weeden, Campbell, Hoyer
RB (4) – Richardson, Ogbonnaya, Rainey, Johnson
WR (4) – Little, Benjamin, Cooper, Bess
TE (4) – Cameron, Barnidge, Gray, Milton
OL (11) – Thomas, Greco, Mack, Lauvao, Pinkston, Schwartz, Gilkey, Cousins, Lewis, Butler, Wallace
DT (7) – Taylor, Rubin, D. Bryant, A. Bryant, Kitchen, Winn, Hughes
LB (10) – Kruger, Sheard, Jackson, Robertson, Mingo, Groves, Hazel, Martin, Carder, Magee
DB (8) – Haden, Skrine, Ward, McFadden, Owens, Gipson, Bademosi, Aubrey
Specialists (2) – Lanning, Yount
7 Comments
Technically 2 cuts from the OL and LB groups, one for a kicker and the other when Gordon returns from suspension. Apparently Cameron and Gray could see action as a flex TE, or lined up as a WR; that and more insurance with using 2 and 3 TE schemes.
What about Hardesty? I’m surprised by the moves at RB for me I’d be scared you know what that Richardson stays healthy. I’d have loved to have seen the secondary improved instead of so many linebackers too.
Most of those end LBs are going to be more for special teams than anything else. We don’t have FBs or other RBs on the roster to play those roles.
I’ve also got to believe that part of the thinking on RB depth is twofold:
1) Anyone they are bringing in needs to fit specific roles to make sense for the long term; and
2) that if Richardson goes down, they’ll have to pick someone up anyway, so instead of wasting a roster spot on an insurance back that has no long-term utility, they just keep it for those Dion Lewis type roles. At that point, perhaps a Michael Turner or the like becomes more intriguing to fill in for T-Rich.
Agreed on Cameron splitting out wide, especially considering how Norv likes to motion people out for mismatches. If the Browns send in a ‘big’ package including two TEs and Ogbi, they can then motion Cameron and Ogbi split wide and someone’s going to be 1-on-1 with a LB or create a deep opportunity for a WR. (For that big pass to Gordon in the preseason setting up a TD that’s what Lewis did – motioned out wide, taking a LB with him and forcing a S up to the line, leaving Gordon 1:1 on the outside.)
I would have thought they could have addressed those same special teams positions with secondary players but at this point it doesn’t really matter. Well other then the secondary is plain scary.
As far as the RB depth goes that group is equally as scary for me as the secondary. Entirely putting to much on Richardson’s shoulders for my liking considering his health issues in the past. I’d feel better had they done the exact opposite to what you said and that is have a viable backup on the roster. Heck that viable backup could get 10-12 carries easy in a game but it looks like Richardson better PED up now ‘cuz he’s gonna need it.
I forgot about Turner. Having played in SD under Turner he’d make sense.
Exactly.
I hear your point on the easing of the workload, and that’s why I was surprised to see them let go of Jackson. But perhaps they’ll just be throwing a lot more… then going for 2 every time. 🙂
I don’t really understand any of this. I get that they’re backups but some of them seemed pretty useful and at least knew the system already. These new guys are hardly plug’n’play especially the RBs. How many scatbacks does a team need?