When the Cleveland Browns open their 2010 training camp on July 31st, no less than four spots in the defensive back field will be up for grabs. When you are coming off a 5-11 season, no one's job is safe.
Last year the Browns starting corner backs were Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald. Safety Mike Adams replaced the erratic McDonald at corner late in the season.
Brodney Pool and Abe Elam manned the safety positions for most of the season with Adams seeing plenty of time as well. Pool has since moved on to the New York Jets. Elam, who had no interceptions in sixteen starts, returns.
The Browns made it very clear they were not pleased with last years play in the secondary by taking a corner and two safeties in this year's draft. Cleveland also made a trade with the Philadelphia [...]
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Poor tackling in the Browns secondary has been a problem that has plagued the team for several years. Wide receivers running free in the defense has been a sight all too familiar to Browns fans for way too long. On a team that has struggled to keep their opponents out of the end zone, the last line of Cleveland's defense has been very weak.
Every rule change in the NFL has been designed to help the offenses, especially the passing game. If a team does not put emphasis on strengthening their secondary, they will continue to struggle defensively. Sound familiar Browns fans? Last year Cleveland had only ten interceptions. Only the Rams, Lions and Raiders had fewer. They tied for last defensively, in forced fumbles with just eight. The Browns were also one of just four teams that failed [...]
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At the end of last season, I was impressed with the way Rob Ryan had the Browns defense playing. You can look at the statistics that said they ranked either last or next to last in most categories but I'd rather go on what I saw.
When both inside linebackers, D'Qwell Jackson and Eric Barton, went down with season ending injuries, Ryan made do. When he lost Shaun Rogers for the season, Ryan didn't panic. After Brodney Pool suffered yet another concussion, ending his season, Ryan had to shuffled the deck in an already weak secondary. After all these injuries, I saw a Rob Ryan coached defense continue to fight, thus finishing the season strong.
This year Ryan has some new toys to play with. First round pick Joe Haden should help solidify the cornerback position along with former Eagle, [...]
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Will the Cleveland Browns be better in 2010? Can the Browns be competitive within their division? I like to think so. In fact I'll go on record as saying they will be. One reason why they should be improved is quality competition within the team.
In the past, competition on the Browns meant, Frye vs Anderson or DA vs Quinn. Average vs average. All other positions were awarded by default. In other words, no quality depth behind the starters, just bodies.
With the selections of Joe Haden, TJ Ward and Larry Asante in last weeks NFL Draft, the secondary has gone from a weakness to a strength. At least on paper, last years defensive backs pale in comparison to this years players. Starting corners, Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald, had no one to push them. Same with safeties Abe Elam and [...]
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April 29, 2010 by
Lars Hanson |
Aaron Curry,
Antonio Gates,
Brady Quinn,
Carolina Panthers,
Dallas Cowboys,
Denver Broncos,
Dez Bryant,
earl thomas,
Eric Berry,
jake delhomme,
JaMarcus Russell,
Jason Witten,
Jimmy Clausen,
Joe Haden,
jonathan stewart,
Josh McDaniel,
Kyle Orton,
Leroy Hill,
Lofa Tatupu,
matt moore,
Miles Austin,
Phillip Rivers,
Ryan Mathews,
Sam Bradford,
San Diego Chargers,
Seahawks,
Shaun Alexander,
Taylor Mays,
Tim Tebow,
tony romo,
Walter Jones
The 2010 NFL Draft sent a loud and clear message to the entire college football world, with the exception of seniors. If you aren't in the top 10-15 don't declare for the draft. Jimmy Clausen suffered the worst fall of any draft prospect this year, similar to another Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn.
However you can make the argument that Clausen will have a more successful and quicker impact in the NFL than No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford will because of who he was selected by. The Carolina Panthers and John Fox.
Clausen will make about $40-45 million less in guaranteed money than Bradford will in his first NFL contract however he [...]
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With the 2010 NFL draft now officially over, it's time to give my thoughts on how the Cleveland Browns fared. In their first draft under Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert, I was impressed.
Cleveland addressed their most glaring weakness by selecting a cornerback and two safeties. Joe Haden, rd.1, TJ Ward, rd.2, and Larry Asante, rd.5. With those three picks the Browns secondary just got more talented and physical. I wanted Eric Berry but I'm very happy with who we got.
For those who wanted Dez Bryant in the first round, Tom Heckert drafted Carlton Mitchell in the sixth round. Mitchell is a 6-4 WR from South Florida with very good speed. I felt wide receiver was a need, just not real high on the list. For the record, I like this pick.
The steal of the draft may turn out to be Colt [...]
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The Cleveland Browns entered the NFL Draft with some serious needs. After three rounds, the Browns have managed to address some of those weaknesses.
I have let it be known that I wanted the Browns to get help in the secondary, which I felt was the teams biggest need. Evidently Tom Heckert, Mike Holmgren and Eric Mangini felt the same way by selecting a corner back and a safety with their first two picks. Getting a quarterback late in the third round was a shrewd move. Coming up with a running back in the second round was a bit of a surprise, i didn't see that one coming. Cleveland also selected an offensive guard with pick number 92.
With three picks left in the final four rounds, numbers 160, 177 and 186, here's a look at the newest members of the Cleveland Browns.
Round [...]
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April 23, 2010 by
Lars Hanson |
2010 NFL Draft,
BRANDON GRAHAM,
Charlie Whitehurst,
Chris Clemons,
CJ Spiller,
Deon Grant,
Detroit Lions,
earl thomas,
Ed Reed,
Eric Berry,
Jim MOra Jr,
Jimmy Clausen,
Joe Haden,
John Schneider,
Kansas City Chiefs,
Mike Holmgren,
Pete Carroll,
Roger Goodell,
Russell Okung,
Seahawks,
Seattle Seahawks,
Taylor Mays,
Troy Polamalu,
Walter Jones,
Washington Redskins
Pete Carroll has been on the NFL version of a recruiting trip over the last few months leading up to the 2010 NFL draft and once Eric Berry's name was called with the fifth overall pick the wait was over.
History in the making, not only was it the first draft selecting for both Pete Carroll and John Schneider as Seahawks executives but it was also a very important boom or bust selection.
Get it right and it can send Seattle on the fast track during this rebuild however if it turns out to be a bust then it sets the Seahawks franchise back even further. So who was Pete Carroll's first draft selection [...]
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The Cleveland Browns continued to strengthen their secondary by taking Florida corner back Joe Haden with their first pick in the NFL draft. Haden, who was considered the top corner back in college football, joins newly acquired Sheldon Brown and Eric Wright to give the Browns three quality corners.
The selection of Haden was a mild surprise considering safety Earl Thomas was still on the board. The Browns still need to get a safety although Sheldon Brown could possibly make the switch if needed. Haden is a physical corner who is excellent against both the run and the pass.
It was rumored that Mike Holmgren wanted to trade up with the St. Louis Rams to take Sam Bradford but a deal could not get done. The Rams went on to take Bradford with the first pick.
Cleveland has the [...]
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April 20, 2010 by
David Nelson |
2010 NFL Draft,
CJ Spiller,
Dan Williams,
David Nelson,
Derrick Morgan,
draft,
earl thomas,
Eric Berry,
Jacksonville Jaguars,
Jaguars,
Jaguars Draft,
JASON PIERRE-PAUL,
Jimmy Clausen,
Joe Haden,
NFL draft,
Rolando McClain,
Tim Tebow
The week has finally come, and the NFL Draft is less than three days away.
After an incredibly impressive 2009 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars are looking forward to the possibility of hitting some more home runs in the upcoming draft on Friday.
Unlike other years, this year's draft seems to have plenty of question marks in terms of where many players will land. Aside from the top four players - Bradford, Suh, McCoy, Okung - there will be a lot of surprises as to who will fall where.
The Jaguars are sitting with the 10th overall pick in the first round and their options are starting to be narrowed down in terms of who will be available at their selection:
Jason Pierre-Paul DE/South Florida - Pierre-Paul is not somebody I would take with this pick, but [...]
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