May 24, 2013

NFP: Mitchell Schwartz is “tough, nasty”

April 27, 2012 by 3 Comments

I don’t know anyone who would love to be called nasty, except when talking about football players. These are the kinds of adjectives you want to hear about prospective offensive linemen though. The National Football Post is using them for the newest member of the Cleveland Browns Mitchell Schwartz.

Schwartz is a tough, nasty kid who loves to get after it in the run game and finish opponents through the whistle. He played left tackle at Cal and will be asked to move to the right side in the NFL. However, he’s a great fit to handle the power side because of his ability to gain leverage, stick through contact and hold the point of attack vs. the pass.

At this point, it would just be nice if Schwartz would help us forget names like Pashos and St. Clair. Reminding Browns fans of Ryan Tucker wouldn’t hurt either.

[Related: Video: Browns get their tackle, taking Mitchell Schwartz]

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The Best Browns Since 1999 – Right Tackle

February 14, 2012 by 2 Comments

Ryan Tucker has always been a fan favorite even as he struggled with drug suspensions.  Something about the big, tattooed guy was just so lovable.  He was a good player too when he was on the field.  That’s why it isn’t surprising at a position like right tackle where the Browns have struggled so hard to fill it, that fans showed love for Ryan Tucker.  Tucker scored 72% of the first place votes. [Read more...]

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NFL Draft Rumor: Browns Linked to Buckeye Mike Adams?

January 25, 2012 by 45 Comments

We all know that the Cleveland Browns need to figure out the right side of the offensive line as betting on Tony Pashos only paid off when compared to John St. Clair if at all.  Apparently the Browns could be placing a high priority on it as well in the draft according to WalterFootball.

Word is that the Cleveland Browns have serious interest in Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams. He has been inconsistent in Mobile, and that was his track record with the Buckeyes. Still, Adams plays a position with a high demand, and at the Senior Bowl he has also taken reps at right tackle. Cleveland could target Adams with their second first-round pick (from Atlanta) to upgrade their right side and replace veteran Tony Pashos. Adams could be a good bookend on the other side from Joe Thomas.

Too often Cleveland Browns fans who are also Ohio State Buckeyes fans start to clamor this time of year for the Browns to draft their favorite college players.  This is one of those times where there is some actual synergy to the possibilities.  Adams is a great athlete who would fill a position of need and at 22 in the first round probably isn’t being tremendously overvalued in some homer Buckeye fan manner.

Currently, NFLDraftScout.com has the giant 6’7″ Adams ranked as the fifth best offensive tackle and projects him in the second round.  CBS sports has him ranked 5th positionally and 38th overall while potentially landing him in the mid to late 20s of the first round in a couple of mock drafts.

[NFL Playoffs Teach Us that Building Teams is Hard Work]

[H/T to Jim Kanicki]

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The Bright Side For Jason Pinkston and Browns Fans

August 31, 2011 by 17 Comments

When it comes to the NFL and health issues, you just have to look at the bright side sometimes.  Guys get hurt in the NFL. We all know this.  Yesterday on the radio Andy Baskin was talking about how he doesn’t buy into the Madden curse with Peyton Hillis.  I couldn’t agree with him more.  NFL players – especially running backs – get hurt.  Even if Peyton Hillis gets hurt this year it doesn’t prove out some magic dust theories.  I digress.

This is about Jason Pinkston taking over for Eric Steinbach.  As was discussed yesterday, Pinkston will get the first (and every) opportunity to fill the massive hole left by Steinbach’s back surgery.  The Browns certainly didn’t want to thrust their fifth round rookie draft choice into a starting role this year any more than they wanted to thrust their third rounder, Shawn Lauvao into action a year ago.  Big difference being that Lauvao had to play on the inside of noted turnstile John St. Clair.  If the Browns have to push a rookie, whom they feel very good about into a starting role, it is a luxury to be able to put him between Alex Mack and Joe Thomas. [Read more...]

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If Healthy, Browns’ Offense Should Be Improved

August 9, 2011 by 9 Comments

Despite having to continue to talk about question marks in the receiving corps, it is important to note that the Browns haven’t really stood pat with their offense as a whole. The Browns traded out of the Julio Jones slot in the draft and ended up drafting one of the biggest defensive linemen available in the entire draft.  This followed a year where they made Joe Haden a first round Cleveland Brown.  Despite eschewing offense for defense at the top of the draft for the last two years, the Browns have made some calculated bids to improve the team’s offense.

The biggest signing for the Browns this off-season was clearly Brandon Jackson.  Jackson gives Peyton Hillis a true, capable partner to help carry the load for this team.  It is no secret that Peyton Hillis got banged up last season.  His violent running style contributes to that, but there is little doubt that he was also overused.  Hillis had 331 touches last season between carries (270) and catches (61.)  In Green Bay, Brandon Jackson had 233 between carries (190) and catches (43.)

If both of those guys stay healthy, they are going to make each other better, not to mention a second-year QB learning a new offense.  The running game is a young quarterback’s best friend.  Just ask Ben Roethlisberger, who got over 1700 yards of production out of Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley in his rookie season.  It also should give opposing defensive coordinators one more player to think about each week rather than dialing in on Hillis.  If the Browns get production from Montario Hardesty or my sleeper pick Armond Smith this season those are just bonuses.  Those runners should really help the Browns set up the pass this season and make things easier for the wide receivers and tight ends. [Read more...]

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Cleveland Browns News and Notes

August 19, 2010 by 3 Comments

Today, some quick hitters from around the net, and the recesses of my mind.

On “The Turnstile” John St. Clair- Seems that the only Browns lineman on the right side able to go right now is the one that I least want to see over there. Brent Sobleski of the OBR wrote a piece critiquing the line play (subscription required) in last week’s game against the Packers and had this to say about St. Clair-

A favorite whipping boy for some fans, St. Clair had a solid first effort. Although somewhat lumbering at times, St. Clair was able to get to and effectively block on the second level. He was only beaten clean once when he missed his punch. As a result, the defender had a clear path to the quarterback. The result? Seneca Wallace’s athleticism took over, he rolled to his left, and threw a strike to Brian Robiskie for a 13-yard a touchdown. As an potential starter, St. Clair may be ideal since he plays over his toes, he does not have a naturally deep kick step and he struggles on angles at times. Even with those attributes, St. Clair was not a liability against Green Bay.

[Read more...]

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Cleveland Browns Depth Chart News: The Turnstile Still a Starter

August 10, 2010 by 10 Comments

It’s not too late. Before pushing the big Orange and Brown panic button, fans should remember of course that this is merely the first preseason game. A lot can still happen. But as of right now, John “The Turnstile” St. Clair is still your starting right tackle.

Last year I sat down to watch the season opener and became instantly concerned with the man the Browns had chosen to replace Kevin Shaffer-

I am concerned about St. Clair. It doesn’t appear to me that we have solved the right tackle problem at all. I hope that I am wrong, but it seems like our new tackle is a lot like the old one (Shaffer) in that he will struggle against the speed rush from the edge.

The rest of the season did little to change that point of view. St. Clair earned the dubious nickname of “The Turnstile” from me, which in case you are wondering is not good for an offensive lineman. In our “Holmgren reports” during the winter I implored the Browns to make a move at the RT spot- [Read more...]

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Browns Beat the Steelers!

December 11, 2009 by 58 Comments
Getty Images / Greg Shamus

Getty Images / Greg Shamus

Boy do I feel thankful today.  How can you not be at least somewhat thankful the morning after a seven point win over a hated rival that no longer considers games against you a rivalry matchup?  How can you not be thankful knowing how many of those Steelers fans infiltrated Cleveland Browns stadium in order to wave their snot rags and watch their team win again?  Being a Browns fan is tough every year of late, but a victory over the Steelers raises the season a tiny notch no matter what.

[Read more...]

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A Different Browns Fan Protest Option

November 11, 2009 by 26 Comments

I am not a big fan of the idea of the “Brown out” protest scheduled for this Monday night.  It appears that a lot of people aren’t all that excited by this protest, to be honest.  Cleveland Frowns is so much against it that he has found a few venues to “debate” Dawg Pound Mike on the subject.  The problem that I have with the “protest” (and what Frowns so eloquently pointed out) is that we really don’t have any idea what the protest is for.  When you protest you are supposed to have a demand like better wages, having a law repealed or for rights by someone.  In this case, the idea was that fans “wanted to be heard.”  And then the reclusive owner of the Browns had a private meeting with Dawg Pound Mike and the other guy who used to dress up like Charlie’s Fryes or whatever.  So, in the end, they are protesting even after they presumably got what they wanted.  Very strange indeed.  I have a better plan. [Read more...]

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NFL Trade Rumors: A Laundry List of Browns

October 20, 2009 by 17 Comments

Abram Elam, Eric ManginiWith the trade deadline approaching at 4PM today, it may be worth listing the members of the Cleveland Browns that could be on the move.  Typical NFL seasons have little action around this time despite flurries of rumors.  But as we have all seen, this is far from a typical season.  Two first-round draft selections have been traded, our backup quarterback took over three games in, and the only accolades received were due to our punter getting a slew of chances to down balls inside of the 20-yard line.

With that said, here’s a quick list (in no particular order) of who could be on the move within the next six hours… [Read more...]

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Where is the Running Game?

September 1, 2009 by 27 Comments

On the heels of the news that the Browns have parted ways with the oft-injured Ryan Tucker, I am left wondering about the status of the running game for this season.  In the first three pre-season games, the Browns haven’t had wild success running the ball behind this “re-vamped” offensive line.  The Browns have been without Tucker and Rex Hadnot, but I was under the assumption that the Browns still expected to be able to get some sort of push from guys like St. Clair and Womack.  The numbers thus far tell a wildly different story.

In the game against the Titans, Browns’ starting RB Jamal Lewis averaged 2.3 yards per carry on 10 carries.  James Davis averaged 5.6 yards on 5 carries including time against the backup defense.  Against the lowly Lions, Lewis’ average was 3.3 yards on 7 carries.  James Davis’ average was 9.7 yards, but after you remove the 81 yard touchdown run it goes all the way down to 3.2 yards on 11 carries.   In the Packers game Lewis and Davis ran 7 times and 2 times respectively with averages of 2.4 and 2.5 respectively. [Read more...]

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NFL Free Agency: Browns Ink Veteran John St. Clair to Three-Year Deal

March 18, 2009 by 27 Comments

john-st-clairWith the future of Ryan Tucker still in limbo and Kevin Shaffer having been released, the Cleveland Browns have added veteran offensive lineman John St. Clair.  Flashy he is not, but the front office was quick to point out his much-lauded versatility with their press release.

Playing for the Chicago Bears last season, St. Clair suited up for all 16 games; undoubtedly a plus with a team that seems to get obliterated by injuries every season.  An even bigger plus is the fact that he played both tackle positions as well as left guard.  To add to the mix, St. Clair was actually an All-American center during his days at Virginia, where he was also a very solid student – for what it is worth.

[Read more...]

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