Cleveland Browns 2010 1st Round NFL Draft Preview

The 2009 version of the Cleveland Browns looked like an expansion team for most of the season and had their share of distractions to boot.  The distractions were in the form of butter fingers and bad attitude.  Each were eliminated when malcontent Braylon Edwards was sent packing to New York.  The Browns also fired GM George Kokinis during the season.  As result chaos ensued and the offense was putrid to say the least.  Then something astonishing happened in the 2nd half of the season- the Browns looked like a legitimate football team.  Head Coach Eric Mangini rallied the troops resulting in a four game winning streak to end the season.  Near the end of the season veteran Head Coach Mike Holmgren was hired as the team’s new President.  Speculation arose that Mangini would be sent packing but he survived the storm.  Former Philadelphia Eagle GM Tom Heckert, JR. was brought in at the same position with the Browns.

As the NFL playoffs continue, talk of the 2010 NFL Draft increases.  The draft “gurus” act more like soothsayers instead of football analysts in their tabloid style reports.  Their projected drafts change more than Tiger Woods’ personality and have as much substance.  Instead of the typical rhetoric and quarterback hyperbole, we will focus on team needs and player evaluations.

It has been long debated what are the most important positions in football.  Obviously, QB is the first position that comes to mind and few teams can win without at least an adequate QB.  Teams such as the 2008 Baltimore Ravens and the 2009 New York Jets have won with sub-par play behind center but their margin for error is miniscule.  Left tackle is also another position that is quick to mind.  However, like in baseball where teams build up the middle, the same applies to football where d-tackles are essential as are middle linebackers but the most important position may in fact be the safety position.

In the 2009 season the Pittsburgh Steelers lost All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu for the majority of the season.  Their vaunted defense, which led them to the 2008 Super Bowl, wasn’t the same as Pittsburgh limped to a 9-7 record.  The New Orleans Saints defense was given little respect after the 2008 season until they signed grizzled veteran Darren Sharper.  The team became more aggressive and forced turnovers behind the passion and instincts of Sharper.  The Denver Broncos also had a horrible 2008 season on the defensive side of the ball which prompted them to sign veteran safety Brian Dawkins.  Dawkins made an immediate impact as he became the emotional leader just as he was in Philly.  Granted, the safeties mentioned are extremely good but from a Browns’ perspective the same situation occurred in 1991.

The Browns drafted head hunting safety Eric Turner out of UCLA with the second pick of the draft in 1991.  His arrival coincided with the arrival of new Head Coach Bill Belichick.  Although the Browns were mired under .500 for three seasons it wasn’t a result of their play on the defensive side of the ball.  Turner dramatically impacted the defense and made wide receivers squeamish when coming across the middle.  In their lone playoff season under Belichick, Turner led the league with nine interceptions and was a member of the Pro Bowl squad.  Will the Browns follow the 1991 draft?  There are two safeties who could be elite.  The first is Eric Berry from Tennessee.  He is a ball hawking safety who lacks size but has the ball skills an instincts that defensive coordinators dream of.  He will likely be gone when the Browns pick at # 7.  Their only likely shot at safety will be hard hitting Taylor Mays.  Many pundits have dropped Mays down do to what they feel are lack of coverage skills.  The fact is the 6’3”-230lb Mays is incredibly fast for a player his size and would be very effective against the run and most importantly pack the lumber.  If they do not choose a safety the linebacker position is the obvious choice.

The Browns have the defensive tackle position solidified with monster Shaun Rogers but the linebackers struggled throughout especially with the injuries to starters Eric Barton and D’Qwell Jackson.  The Browns not only lack sure tacklers and physical enforcers but also emotional and spiritual leaders.  The signing of Matt Roth certainly helped but if they do not take a safety they should go to the best linebacker in the draft, Alabama’s Rolando McClain.  McClain was the leader of one of the best defenses in the nation both in the huddle and in the field of play.  He is smart, instinctive and a head thumper as he stands in at 6-4 and 258 lbs.  He would step on the field and start immediately.  He would be the glue to the Browns defense for years to come while calling out the pre-snap reads and being a vocal leader.

In summary, if the Browns land Berry, Mays or McClain fans will have a player they can be proud of and a player that will make a impact.  Remember Browns fans, Mangini is largely responsible for what happened with the Jets.  He turned in the same record as Rex Ryan did this season when he received overblown accolades.  With Holmgren, Heckert and Mangini-the Browns future is finally looking bright.

Stemavo Rheulus, Senior Writer

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Eric Mangini will return to coach the Browns in 2010.  Speculation rose, despite the four game winning streak to end the season, that new Browns President Mike Holmgren would oust the heavily scrutinized Mangini.  Mangini met the Browns brass the last two days which led to the announcement today.

This is a good move for the Browns.  Yes it was a miserable season but with consideration to the hand he was dealt, Mangini did a great job in the 2nd half of the season.  The team played hard and improved as the season wore on.  Key players such as Josh Cribbs and Jerome Harrison excelled over the final four contests and will be key to a successful 2010.  Mangini’s system is a complicated but his philosphy and team concept is even more difficult for players to grasp.  The fact that Mangini was able to clean house (sending malcontents Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow packing) and still show improvement is a testament to his coaching style and doctrine.  He believes firmly in high character guys who believe in team first.  The future may finally be bright in Cleveland with Holgren overseeing the organization, Mangini as the Head Coach and defensive guru Rob Ryan coaching the defense.

Keep checking in with ohiosportstime.com as we will have updated needs for the team and draft previews.

Scott Dryden, Senior Writer

Tonight’s National Championship game will be filled with NFL prospects.  For the Browns, the one that matters is Rolando McClain.  Yes the secondary struggled and the offense was inept for most of the season; however, in a 3-4 defense linebackers are key.  None are better than the studious McClain.  He is the leader of the best defense in the nation and has a rare combination of size and speed- the kind defensive coordinators drool over.  There is no doubt the Browns defense would instantly be better with McClain on board.  The junior linebacker will have his hands full tonight against Colt McCoy and the Texas Longhorns.

Scott Dryden, Senior Writer

The Browns end their season with the Jacksonville Jaguars in a game which only impacts their position in the draft.  The Browns look to finish the season with four straight wins under the watchful eye of new President Mike Holmgren.  The Jags are still scratching their heads on a season that got away.  Speculation grows surrounding the drafting of college phenom Tim Tebow.  Next week we will review the 2009 Browns and offer a glimpse of the 2010 draft.

The Bengals sit at 10-5 as they travel to New York to face the 8-7 Jets on Sunday night.  The only movement for the Bengals is possibly moving up to a number three seed.  All will be settled before the game kicks off so there may be little drama.  The Jets will most likely still need a win to get in the playoffs.  The Bengals best match-up in the playoffs would be a Jets team that severely struggles on the offensive side of the ball.  As result it would behooves the Bengals to rest their starters and prepare for the wild card game to be played in Cincinnati.  Next week we will have a complete preview of the Bengals 1st round game and the playoffs as a whole.

Enjoy week 17!!

Scott Dryden, Senior Writer

Ohio State vs. Oregon

Rose Bowl

January 1st 4:30 ET ABC

To some the 2009 season was a success as the Buckeyes won an outright Big Ten Title and earned a Rose Bowl appearance, to others it’s a season of what could have been.  The 10-2 Bucks lost to a USC team in Columbus which had a horrible season by their standards.  Their second loss was even worse as they were beaten by a sub .500 Purdue team.  Many fans will view the 2009 season as an opportunity lost; where a Rose Bowl appearance isn’t good enough to take away the sting of not playing for the BCS trophy.

The 09 season was filled with dominating performances by a defense that is one of the best in the nation.  DT Cameron Heyward, DE Thaddeus Gibson, LB Brian Rolle and Safety Kurt Coleman were stalwarts of the stingy defense.  On offense, as usual with a Jim Tressel coached team, the play calling lacked imagination; often keeping lesser teams in the game and clearly cost the Buckeyes the game against USC.  Finally, the much maligned offensive line started to gel as OSU racked up significant rushing yards in a critical three game stretch to end the season.  The two headed attack of Brandon Saine and Boom Herron controlled the clock leading OSU to victories over Penn State, Iowa and Michigan.  Sophomore QB Terrelle Pryor progressed as the season wore on showing glimpses of greatness.  Coach Tressel finished the regular season in typical fashion with a victory over rival Michigan.  The victory moved Tressel to 8-1 against Michigan.

The Oregon Ducks started the season on an auspicious note not only losing to Boise State but they also lost their stud RB LeGarrette Blount as he threw a punch after the game.  Despite all that, Head Coach Chip Kelly managed to rally the troops as Oregon put it all together.  The Ducks won seven games in a row following the Boise State loss which set up a
pseudo Pac 10 title game against rival Oregon State.  The Ducks won the civil war in dramatic fashion 37-33.  The 10-2 Ducks are led by unorthodox QB Jeremiah Masoli who threw for 2,066 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for 659 yards and 12 scores.  Freshmen RB LaMichael James was sensational rushing for 1,476 yards and 14 scores.  Another addition to an already stacked cupboard is Garrett who returned to the field during the Oregon State game.

Prediction: Much has been made regarding Ohio State’s struggles with a spread offense.  They will get their chance to vindicate themselves when they face the versatile offense of the Oregon Ducks.  The Bucks will have to maintain gap integrity and prevent Masoli, James and Garrett from getting in space.  OSU will put eight in the box in an attempt to force Masoli to beat them through the air and apply pressure with a fantastic front four.  On offense, OSU will play conservatively while pounding the ball with Saine and Herron.  The key will be to get Saine as many touches as possible through the air.  When linebackers cover Saine it’s a tremendous mismatch.  Although Pryor is suffering from a knee injury he will make big plays with his feet and to fellow sophomore, WR Devier Posey.  Ohio State’s defense dominates the game as the Buckeyes break their bowl skid.  Ohio State 31 Oregon 20

Scott Dryden, Senior Writer

Cincinnati vs. Florida

Sugar Bowl

January 1st 8:30 ET FOX

The Cincinnati Bearcats will take the field for the first time since their thrilling victory over Pittsburgh.  The victory not only sent the Bearcats to a BCS Bowl but preserved an undefeated regular season.  On December 5th walking off of Heinz Field in the bask of a big victory, all was rosy in the Queen City.  Bearcats fans were elated with the upcoming announcement of the biggest game in the school’s history which turned out to be powerhouse Florida.  Then the ball dropped, the magic ended, the euphoria was silenced; the announcement came that Head Coach Brian Kelly had accepted the head coach position at Notre Dame.  Fans were outraged and players were stunned, yet that is the nature of the hypocritical NCAA.  With the incredible amount of time between the last game of the season and the bowl game, coaches are forced to make a decision during that time span.  Brian Kelly built the UC program then when he reaches what could be their pinnacle, leaves his team to fend for themselves.  This happens in no other sport.  The NCAA needs to forbid teams from speaking to a coach who is involved in a bowl game.  The interim coach will be Jeff Quinn who has already signed on to be the Head Coach at Buffalo.

The defending National Champion Florida Gators have experienced some drama in their own right.  The Gators suffered a tough loss in the SEC Championship game to Alabama which ended their pursuit of a repeat.  Many speculated the Gators would not be motivated for a game against the Bearcats, then the Urban Meyer news broke.  Reports surfaced quickly that Meyer was leaving Florida due to health reasons.  Not only would Gator Nation watch the last game of the greatest player in their history but they would also watch one of their greatest coaches in his last game.  The news stunned the college football world but soon thereafter Meyer had a change of heart.  Meyer is now stating he will only take a leave of absence to get his priorities and health in order.  He plans to coach against UC then take a leave of absence until August.  No doubt, despite all of the drama the Gators will come to play.

Prediction: Despite their perfect record, the Bearcats haven’t faced the talent level of Florida.  On both the offensive and defensive lines, the Gators will have the advantage.  Despite the big play ability of the Bearcats, the Gators hold the overall speed advantage on both sides of the ball and will unleash a fierce pass rush.  The Bearcats will use three step drops and quick slants routes to avoid the pressure of the Gators.  Stud WR Mardy Gilyard will need to have a big game for the Bearcats to have a chance as will QB Tony Pike who will look to bounce back from a miserable performance in last year’s bowl game.  Cincinnati may also use backup QB Zach Collaros who is a multidimensional threat.  On defense, Cincinnati will have to contend with one of the greatest players in the history of college football, Tim Tebow.  Tebow, a former Heisman Trophy Winner, has led Florida to two national championships.  Tebow is a machine on the ground and a fearless leader.  He is the heart and soul of the Gators.  The difference in the game will be the Bearcat defense which has struggled mightily of late.  They will not be able to stop the depth and speed of the Gator offense.  Tebow will have a monster game in his farewell performance as the Gators chomp the Bearcats.  Florida 47 Cincinnati 31

Scott Dryden, Senior Writer

Oakland Raiders at Cleveland Browns

December 27th 1:00 ET

The Cleveland Browns had a record breaking day at Kansas City, at least two of their stars did.  In the 41-34 victory Jerome Harrison set the single game Browns rushing record and Josh Cribbs broke the career kickoff return for touchdowns record.  Harrison ran for 286 yards which included three touchdowns while Cribbs broke the record then returned another kickoff for a touchdown with each 100 yards or greater.  On defense the Browns struggled mightily against both the pass and the run.  As typical when they face an average QB, the Browns defense was vanilla and as result was lit up.  QB Matt Cassel threw for 331 yards and two scores and Jamaal Charles ran for 154 yards and a score.  The defense is missing several key components due to injury but the secondary has no excuse for their performance.  Skirt (Brandon McDonald) should at the very least be benched for his obvious lack of effort.  Each week he avoids contact and gets burnt routinely.  The secondary must be addressed either in the draft or via free agency this off season.

Tom Cable’s Raiders are now 5-9 on the season and 3-2 in their last five.  In their last game, the Raiders defeated rival Denver on the road 20-19.  QB Charlie Frye was injured in the game which forced the much maligned JaMarcus Russell into action.  Russell was solid leading the Raiders to the winning touchdown but the story of the game was the running attack.  The Raiders rushing attack was tremendous and their run defense was as well.  Oakland ran for a whopping 241 yards while holding the Broncos to 80 yards.

Prediction: Charlie Frye will likely be the starter when he returns to his old stomping grounds.  In a twist of fate he will face the QB that replaced him, Derek Anderson.  The Statue will once again be the starter following the season ending injury to Brady Quinn.  The Browns defense struggled mightily last week against the Chiefs and will find no lesser of a challenge when they face the three headed rushing attack of the Raiders.  Michael Bush, Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden.  They should find some success but the Browns may be able to limit their effectiveness by stacking the line and forcing Charlie Frye to beat them.  On offense the Browns will attack the line of scrimmage with Jerome Harrison (who should have been getting the majority of the carries for the past two seasons) in a conservatively called game.  If the Statue (Derek Anderson) doesn’t turn the ball over the Browns should get the victory.  In new President Mike Holmgren’s first game, the Browns pull out an ugly victory in front of the home faithful.  Cleveland 23 Oakland 13

Scott Dryden, Senior Writer

Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs

December 20th 1:00 ET

The Cleveland Browns are coming off of their biggest victory of the season as they defeated arch rival Pittsburgh.  The Brown’s offense struggled but their defense played with heart and passion; harassing Ben Roethlisberger throughout.  Josh Cribbs was magical as usual and the defense accumulated eight sacks giving the Browns their first victory over Big Ben.  King Kong Bernard came out of nowhere getting two sacks as did Brian Schaefering who also sacked Big Ben twice.

The 3-10 Chiefs are coming off a lackluster home loss to Buffalo.  RB Jamaal Charles was sensational rushing for 143 yards and a score.  QB Matt Cassell struggled again throwing four interceptions on the day.

Prediction: The crowd will be a factor as Arrowhead Stadium is still a very difficult place to play.  The Browns defense was hold Jamaal Charles in check and force Cassell into mistakes.  Brady Quinn and the offense is starting to gel.  They are not turning the ball over and have very few penalties.  Against the Chiefs, Quinn and WR Massaquoi will have to make big plays for the Browns to gain a victory.  In the end, Mangini keeps the momentum going as players are starting to get it.  Cleveland 27 Kansas City 20

Scott Dryden, Senior Writer

Cincinnati Bengals at San Diego Chargers

December 20th 4:00 ET

The Bengals traveled to Minnesota to face a very good Vikings team.  Against the Vikings the Bengals proved they are not yet ready to play with the big boys.  They were dominated throughout showing that when they fall behind they are in big trouble.  Carson Palmer threw for only 94 yards in the 30-10 loss.  The defense made some plays but eventually fell apart against the powerful running game of the Vikings.

The San Diego Chargers faced the Cowboys in their new digs and were unfazed.  The Charger running game struggled but the aerial attack is one of the best in the league.  Phillip Rivers was solid throwing for 272 yards and a score.  Stud WR Vincent Jackson hauled seven balls for 120 yards in the 20-17 Charger victory.

Prediction: This game could potentially decide the #2 seed in the playoffs which results in a first round bye.  With a win the Bengals will claim the AFC North title.  The Chargers are on a roll and one of a handful of teams that could win the Super Bowl.  The Bengals will attempt to keep the San Diego offense off the field by pounding the ball behind Cedric Benson.  The Chargers will air it out and test a Bengals secondary which has played well.  In the end, the Chargers passing game will execute at a very high level and be the difference.  San Diego 34 Cincinnati 17

Scott Dryden, Senior Writer