Wading Through the Wide Receivers
So long as Braylon Edwards remains a Brown (and it appears to me he isn’t likely to go anywhere at this point) he is going to be the #1 WR option this year. The big question, as far as the wide outs go, is who gets the #2 position opposite Edwards? We’re assuming Stallworth is out of that picture (even though things are technically still in the air with the ‘indefinite’ suspension). Here are the options-
Brian Robiskie (R), 6′3″ 209 lbs. If you read Terry Pluto’s Sunday column, then you would be led to believe that Robiskie has the edge in this competition. First year receivers don’t have a history of making an immediate impact however. It may work to Brian’s advantage that the entire offense is learning a new system. There should be plenty of reps for each route and play, and we have been told over and over that Robiskie runs very precise routes. Will it be enough to compensate for his inexperience?
Josh Cribbs, 6′1″ 215 lbs. Word out of Berea is that Cribbs’ primary job duties will stay on special teams, but that he is taking reps at WR. Nobody can argue that Josh Cribbs in open space is a good thing. Will the new regime succeed where their predecessors failed? Can Cribbs be made into a weapon opposite Edwards? I’d say the odds are stacked a little bit against him, but then that hasn’t stopped Josh in the past.
Lance Leggett, 6′3″ 200 lbs. I’ve been told that Mangini likes Leggett’s size. Does he have the hands and route running to match? The jury is very much still out on Lance.
Paul Hubbard, 6′2″ 225 lbs. Probably the longest shot of all the WRs on the roster. Still, the raw talent is there for the former Badger.
Mike Furrey, 6′0″ 195 lbs. The veteran is probably the fall back here. (As an aside I consider Patten and Massaquoi to be slot receivers, and thus not really in competition for this position. By no means am I saying that they don’t have the potential to be the Browns first or second options on plays, just that they won’t fill the role of lining up on the opposite side of the field and beating the man across the ball from them.) A smart signing because he won’t cost much, and if the Browns feel comfortable with the younger players they can release Furrey.
How about it? Do you think Norwood deserves in the conversation? Who would you rather see get the starting nod?
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I like Robiskie as a #2…i think he will do well on third down…he has to make the routine catch to be successful as he got caught up in trying too hard at OSU at times…
I think Patten will succeed where others in the slot have failed…when in the slot, theres nothing wrong with catching the ball and getting as much as you can without trying to “make things happen” and diving forward rather than getting smeared by a blindsided hit from a 245 lb linebacker…
I would hope that they give Cribbs some time in the 4 wr spread…maybe a few dumpoffs, nothing that really requires any assemblence of a polished WR-type route or reads…kep it simple for him…kinda like Forrest Gump…point him in the right direction and have him go…not that I’m insulting his intelligence, just that it would probably be an easier initial adjustment…
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:28 pm
i before e except after c
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Boom. Roasted.
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:32 pm
yeah, yeah pick on the guy who wrote this in like 18 seconds because we didn’t have anything else going up….
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I think we may see more from Cribbs just because of what Mangini did with Leon Washington. That guy was a beast (in terms of fantasty numbers) cause they found interesting ways of making him work in different situations. Sounds like a good recipe for Cribbs as well.
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Furrey used to play defense. Your #6 WR is going to do a lot of special teams tackling. I can see him making the team. Hubbard might have been Savage’s worst hour.
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:49 pm
What are the early thoughts on Massaquoi?
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Cribbs is also a lot like Brad Smith on the Jets, a former spread-offense college quarterback who’s a serviceable receiver and an ace on special teams.
In the few Jets games I saw out here, Smith didn’t exactly set the world on fire, but Mangini found plenty of ways to use him well and create tons of match-up problems on offense.
June 22nd, 2009 at 3:16 pm
I agree with Mark…..Cribbs is closer to Brad Smith whereas Harrison fills the role of Leon Washington.
It will be interesting to see if Daboll is as good as lil’ Schott at gameplanning to create matchup problems for the defense.
June 22nd, 2009 at 3:20 pm
I’d rather see Cribbs playing as a 3rd down RB than as a WR.
June 22nd, 2009 at 3:21 pm
What if you had Harrison and Cribbs in the backfield on 3rd down?
June 22nd, 2009 at 3:32 pm
England just got rid of the i before e except after c rule.
June 22nd, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Has to be Robiskie. Though he might not ever be a #1 WR, he was arguably the most NFL-ready WR in the draft. He has the size, enough speed and the route-running ability to thrive off the attention that defenses must pay to Edwards. And personally, I think Robiskie is at his best when he is not the first option; he really did a lot of damage his sophomore year at Ohio State, when he was a 3rd option behind Ginn and Gonzalez.
I think Robo needs to the be the #2 WR and I think he’s going to be a very good second option behind Edwards. We shall see.
June 22nd, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Was wondering the same thing @7
What are the early thoughts on Massaquoi?
June 22nd, 2009 at 4:21 pm
yeah, i can’t believe he was right behinf Robo, but no one talks about him
June 22nd, 2009 at 4:21 pm
@ Ike – I think just about anyone would clean up at #3 behind Ginn and Gonzo.
June 22nd, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Massa wasn’t thought to be “as ready” as Robo. So, it shouldn’t be surprising if he is not being hailed in the same conversation.
If it is true that he isn’t as ready to go…then starting the year off behind Patten at the slot woudn’t be a bad idea.
June 22nd, 2009 at 9:29 pm
No, I think the reason Massa isn’t being talked about as much, especially here, is that he isn’t from Ohio State. I honestly think he is going to be the better receiver in the long run, more able to make the big play. Most the people on here are huge OSU honks and will talk more about those guys. Not to say Robo can’t be good as a 2, I think he can be, but I think down the line Masa could end up as a 1.
June 22nd, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Where it Steptoe in this too? He will make a bid for the 3rd WR. I think either Furrey or Patten could be out after camp and that Robo will be the 2nd WR. I disagree with you Jeff because even draft ‘experts’ (not from OSU) were saying the robiske is the most NFL ready WR, though he lacks a lot of ‘upside.’ I would agree that Massa has the potential to be better. I actually think Mangini drafted him to fill in Edwards spot after this season. Still, Robiske has to be the #2 guy. To me, its getting a younger and faster Joe J.
As for Cribbs, I really want to see him at RB. He would definitely get the ball, could still go out for short passes, and also have the wildcat option. I hated last year when they lined Cribbs up as ‘QB’ last year but then always ran it to one side. At RB he would be most dangerous in my opinion. Right now he’d be 3rd on my depth chart.
June 22nd, 2009 at 9:38 pm
HONK HONK HONK HONK!!!
June 22nd, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Guys wondering about Massaquoi: READ THE STORY.
“(As an aside I consider Patten and Massaquoi to be slot receivers, and thus not really in competition for this position. By no means am I saying that they don’t have the potential to be the Browns first or second options on plays, just that they won’t fill the role of lining up on the opposite side of the field and beating the man across the ball from them.)”
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:51 am
@Bobby – you related to or the agent for Steptoe by any chance? He’s heinous.
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:58 am
I think Steptoe should be gone by the end of training camp…he’s way too small and looks completely petrified on the field…
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:02 am
I think the guys asking about Massaquoi were just asking how he was doing in general.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:09 am
I think – HONK HONK HONK.
Obviously the only reason people say Robo has the edge is because he went to tOSU. Not the fact that he performed better overall while in college than Massa did. HONK HONK HONK.
I was really excited for the pickup of Massa, though I still kind of question the timing (right behind Robo). He was solid at UGA, should develop well.
That and I love OSU and it makes me blind to any sort of balanced opinion. Ever. Back to honking…
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:22 am
I was just saying Steptoe because he did have a few good plays last year, and with the crap that we have, he may very well be in the mix for the #3. He is also a decent returner should we ever need a back-up.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:44 am
HONK.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:56 am
@5
I think Harrison will be the more Leon Washington type on offense than Cribbs. Cribbs hasn’t shown me anything yet on offense. Besides “oh look Cribbs is taking the snap” and he gets a few yards.