Holmgren Speaks

I got the impression that he doesn't like either QB to be the starter next year.Also,that he'd be in on the draft.He said he had listened to others before,and not done so well,and had learned his lesson.He thinks he/the team will do a much better job at drafting.He'll have his experts,and they'll come to a joint decision.Of course,we're just guessing.Like the 4-3/3-4,or if that's even what Holgrem was talking about.All speculation.

I said it on a different thread, but I sure as heck wish that one of the reporters at the teleconference would have asked Mr. Holmgren if he was going to have a part in training the QB.  with the list of QB he has molded (Montana, Young, Favre & Hasslebeck...i think i missed one) it sure would be nice to see BQ or DA get to be as good as either of those guys or even if he brings in someone that can be groomed into a star that'd be awesome, too.  How come the Press can't think of these questions? how come it takes a FAN to think up stuff like this...those dudes get PAID to ask him ?'s and you KNOW all they wanted to know was if Mangini was going to be fired or not...seems like they HAVE to throw something about that in every article they spit out. 

What kind of a name could we make up for Mr. Ryan's 5 LB, 6 DB defense????  would it be a 0-5-6? you couldn't call it a 5-6 because that would insinuate that there would be 5 linemen and 6 LB.  Nonetheless, I kind of like the set...it is innovative and different.  Almost defensive wildcat different. 

Yeah the Cleveland reporters make me mad too

I said it on a different thread, but I sure as heck wish that one of the reporters at the teleconference would have asked Mr. Holmgren if he was going to have a part in training the QB.  with the list of QB he has molded (Montana, Young, Favre & Hasslebeck...i think i missed one) it sure would be nice to see BQ or DA get to be as good as either of those guys or even if he brings in someone that can be groomed into a star that'd be awesome, too.  How come the Press can't think of these questions? how come it takes a FAN to think up stuff like this...those dudes get PAID to ask him ?'s and you KNOW all they wanted to know was if Mangini was going to be fired or not...seems like they HAVE to throw something about that in every article they spit out. 
What kind of a name could we make up for Mr. Ryan's 5 LB, 6 DB defense????  would it be a 0-5-6? you couldn't call it a 5-6 because that would insinuate that there would be 5 linemen and 6 LB.  Nonetheless, I kind of like the set...it is innovative and different.  Almost defensive wildcat different. 

-hvlkbrownsfan

The end of that made me laugh. That's awesome. "Almost defensive wildcat different". :D

I've been thinking about a trade the last couple of weeks and I wasn't sure enough about it but last weeks game against Jacksonville has me more convinced that it could be a good idea. Before the year started the Patriots traded Richard Seymour to the Oakland Raiders, in return they got a first round choice. My trade proposal would be to trade fan favorite Shaun Rogers for a first round choice. Rogers is 30 years old and didnt make it all the way through the year because of an injury. His replacement Ahtyba Rubin was key in stopping Maurice Jones Drew, Darren Mcfadden/Michael Bush, and LT/Sproles to under 100 yards rushing. Although the reasons the Browns might want to trade Rogers could be the same reasons other teams wont feel inclined to give them a 1st round pick. If so, Rogers on field production should still be enough to land a 2nd and 3rd round pick which I would also seriously consider. 

I still love Rogers but I think he only has 1 or 2 years left of playing at an elite level and his much younger/cheaper replacement seems to have a good upside. I wont be disappointed if this doesn't happen but I find myself wishing we had 2 first round picks a lot and the defense played well with Rubin starting at NT.

  If we go 4-3 next year,that could mean Rogers AND Rubin starting in the tackle spots. I am good with that.
   Whatever happens,though,you are correct that Rogers is a valuable commodity.Maybe Holgrem could look at the draftboard,and decide who's worthy,and then,if they're available,try to make a deal for Rogers,while his value is up.Heck,he could call every team from the start of the draft,and let them know he's available.Maybe we'll get a gift from some team looking to fill that NT need "now".

That is true there's a high possibility we could switch to a 3-4. Even if Corey WIlliams could start inside with Rubin and we should be fine. But I think it would be a wise choice to add some youth on the d-line. My draft choices would be 2nd or 3rd rounders Jared Odrick, Tyson Alualu or Mike Neal

I thought Brian Schaefering played very well,and was surprised he wasn't playing sooner.(Mangini did leave some guys on the bench too long,it appears).I like Odrick,but I doubt he'll be around in the second.I have him third behind Suh/McCoy,for interior DLs.I'd say he'll go the Pats,in round 1.Aluala and Purduean Mike "Muscles" Neal are good players,but with Rogers/Rubin/Williams/Schaefering/and Robaire Smith,I think the D needs an edge rusher,linebacker,and DBs more.
  As of now,I'd like to,and think we can get McClain(run stopper,Hello?),and put him in the middle,with Roth/Jackson playing the OLBs,and have Rubin/Williams in the middle,then try to trade Rogers for Dez Bryant(WR-OkSU) pass rushing DE(Jason Pierre-Paul,SFlor),or possibly Mays,if he's not picked by the 49ers with the 16th pick.
 Pick on Mays all you want,he's a force in the middle of the secondary.
Then in the second,Patrick Robinson(CB-Fla.St.)

We'd have:
Orlando McClain            MLB
Dez Bryant/for Rogers    WR  or Pierre-Paul DE
Robinson                       CB

 If we do that,I'll be doing handsprings!

I'm hoping we'll get WR/TE help in free agency.Like I said before,there's the Broncos guys,Marshall and Sheffler,both supposedly with attitude problems.I want them both.

Of course,we're gonna have to wait until sometime between Feb.27th,when free agency begins,and the draft,to know which way to go,depending on who we get in FA.(Troy Palumalu  ? ).And double of course,we'll know by March if there's a new CBA in place,or we're going uncapped for a year.

Go Browns!!!

As far as drafting LBS go I think we need a MLB more then edge rushers. Obviously like Rolando if hes there and Berry isn't. But if we don't pick him up I'd love us to draft Brandon Spikes with out first pick in the second round I think we have a good chance he could fall there BUT if Gresham is there we'd have to take him. 

I like Gresham,but I liked Martin rucker,too.A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,so I'd rather we went and got Tony Scheffler.
  He was a good recieving tight end,and he didn't have any problems,until this year with that wonder boy HC they got.
  He's a free agent in 2010.Now.I'd make him an offer on day 1 of free agency.He only made around 1/2 a mil last year.And I'd cut Royal.

Haden/Spikes or McClain/Robinson with our first two picks?

In 4 thousand words or more,why?

His name is Rolando McClain... Not Orlando.    

Thanks,Fonzie,for catching the typo.

See?You do have a purpose.

Anything about the subject?

Haden/Spikes or  McClain/Robinson?Which would you rather draft,if you had to choose between the two?

I question Spikes' quickness, and I'm not sure I like him to be in Cleveland.

I'll take McClain and Robinson. I'll take sacrifice the lesser corner to bolster the front 7 to make the secondaries job easier.    

Also, Robinson is a guy that's creeping into the first round, and is easily first round talent in any other draft. To get two first round talents would be amazing.

I'm still not sold on Spikes' ability to shed blocks, his quickness, or his character.    

I agree with every word you said.I'm marking the time,and the date.

 I  can't imagine a better outcome for the Browns in the first two rounds,than to land McClain and Robinson.
 
 I see us in some mocks taking Haden,with McClain still available.I would have to go McClain.
  I noticed Robinson hanging around into the second,and that would be ideal.But now updated mocks are putting Robinson in the first,as well as Spikes.The more I read on Haden,the more he's getting put on a pedestal.I read somewhere that he was 5'-9" at the beginning of the year,now he's listed at 5'11".the only knocks appear to be his backpedalling(nitpicking),and staying with elusive route runners,on their break.Who does?Last time I checked their weren't any clairvoyant CBs.
   The other guy that's sticking out,IMO,now,is Dez Bryant.He's being compared to T.O.,but with better hands.Not bad for a guy who sat out this year.Hopefully we'll bring in a FA WR before the draft,and remove any notion of taking him.The other rumor I heard has us trading down,and getting Brian Bulaga in the middle of the round.Their reasoning is that if we just protect the QB,and give him time to throw,we can move the ball with lesser talent at the reciever positions,as opposed to bringing in a stud reciever,then not get time to get the pass off.Also,with a stud like Bulaga,we won't need to keep a TE in to help with the protection.By trading down (for Bulaga) we could also pick up another second rounder,and we all know we have many holes to fill.We could end up filling three holes instead of two,in the first two rounds.It also gives us a young,talented O-line.I can't help but think how terrible it was that we took Robo over Eben Britton.Robo will really need to excel next year to change that.I hope Mangini let's him start with a clean slate.
  Last I heard the Bills want Anthony Davis(LT) from Rutgers,so we wouldn't have to worry as much about them taking Bulaga,so we could trade with the Seahawks(giving them two in a row),and pick up Bulaga,then have picks 38 and 40 in the second.
 
   With 38 and 40 we might be able to get Mays and Spikes!
 
 
   Go Browns!!!
 
PS-I hope we somehow get Toby Gerhart,if he slips far enough.I think he could be a good 1-2 tandem with Harrison.And our goal line/short yardage go-to guy.

I think when drafting a RT we will target Ciron Black. He's a complete Mangini guy and he can play both RT and RG. He will most likely be there with our 1st pick in the 3rd round and he might be able to start right away but not being pressured to (with Womack doing a good job at the end of the season) he will benefit. Yeah I'm noticing that a lot of mocks have us taking Haden even with McClain there. Wimbley-Bowens-Jackson-Roth doesn't sound that bad but Bowens is getting old and knowing Mangini he might have Barton start over him. Our secondary is terrible and our LBs arent as bad so I can understand the pick. Bottom line is I think both McClain and Haden are going to be stars in this league and I will be fine with either one. 

In the case of Brandon Spikes, last year James Laurenitis and Rey Maulaluga were both expected to go in the 1st round during the regular season but when the draft came they fell into the second. BUT they both have very productive rookie seasons. I expect the same out of Spikes. 

     Ciron Black would be one way to go.I'd rather we get a stud/at least better than Womack,so we can bring in Tony Sheffler from Denver,and let him go catch balls.BQ needs a RT.Or we can watch the same garbage next year.

     Either McClain or Haden,both will help immediately.

   Spikes could be productive right away.He won't be around for us,though,unless we trade down.He won't last to the second round.After Mays gets through with the combines,I don't see him making it past the middle of round one.

    With something like 212 guys hanging in the balance,everyone is going to have to wait and see if the CBA gets done.

     The Browns need to get Harrison,Jackson,and Roth signed,along with Pool and Elam,likely.
 (although I'd rather see us get better at the safety spots).

Womack played well when he started at RT. I think spikes can last to our second round pick but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't. And I wouldnt be surprised if Pool isn't brought back, his safety is too much of a concern.