Cornerback or Bust

[BernietheKid]

Cornerback or Bust

CB Sheldon Brown

By Fred Greetham
OBR Browns Reporter
Posted Jul 22, 2010

Fred Greetham continues his look at the Browns roster. A battle for a starting spot looms...

BEREA—After seeing the Browns were abysmal against the pass, Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert made it a priority to revamp the secondary as the Browns finished 29th defending the pass in 2009.

The Browns traded for a starting cornerback and drafted one with the seventh overall pick in this year’s draft, as well.

Eric Wright has been solid at left cornerback since being drafted in the second-round of the 2007 NFL Draft and most likely will hold down the left side. Brandon McDonald and Mike Adams combined to start on the right side in 2009 with Adams replacing McDonald for the final six games.

Adams could end up at safety due to the inexperience at the position, but he was working mostly at cornerback in the OTAs and at minicamp.

Sheldon Brown or Joe Haden are expected to battle for the right cornerback spot with one ending up as the third cornerback in passing situations.

Many thought Haden—considered to be the best cornerback in the draft—would be high on the Browns’ wish list. However, after a slower than expected time in the 40-yard dash at the Indianapolis Combine and the Browns trade to acquire Brown, many thought the Browns would address another need with their first pick in the draft.

When it was all said and done, the Browns selected Haden after a much better time in his Pro Day at Florida.

However, recently NFL.com’s Mike Lombardi said:

“According to coaches around the league, Browns first-round pick Joe Haden has not been very impressive in camps and might not have enough speed to play corner. Maybe all that talk about some in the organization wanted to take Kyle Wilson over Haden was true.”

Haden comes to the Browns after not allowing a touchdown pass thrown his way in his four-year college career with the Gators.

Wright, Brown and Haden are expected to be the top three corners with Adams, McDonald and Francies battling for the fourth spot.

As the Browns prepare for training camp, here are the candidates to play cornerback:

Sheldon Brown (5-10, 200) – Brown was a key off-season acquisition as the ninth year veteran from South Carolina came over in the trade with LB Chris Gocong for LB Alex Hall and two draft choices. Brown is expected to step in and play at one of the cornerback positions immediately. Brown has started 128-straight NFL regular season games and had five interceptions in 2009. He was originally a second-round draft choice of the Eagles in the 2002 NFL Draft.

Eric Wright (5-10, 190)– Started all 16 games at left cornerback in 2009. He started 45 of 46 games in his first three years with the Browns with eight career interceptions. He had 65 tackles last season, which was fourth on the team, including four interceptions and 14 passes broken up.

Mike Adams (5-11, 200) – Adams finished the season as the Browns starting right cornerback. He had six starts at right cornerback and three at safety. He finished the season with 61 tackles, one sack, eight passes broen up and a fumble recovery. Adams is a very valuable player, who might end up playing more at safety with the inexperience at that position.

Brandon McDonald (5-10, 185) – McDonald was used as the whipping boy in 2009 after playing pretty respectable in his first two seasons with the Browns. He had 47 tackles, one sack, one interception and 10 passes broken up in ten starts in 2009 before being benched. He had one forced fumble last season and has eight career interceptions.

Coye Francies (6-0, 185) – Francies was active in six games and had two tackles and a pass broken up. He was inactive for seven of the final eight games in his rookie season.

Gerard Lawson (5-10, 195) – Lawson was active for five games and played only on special teams. He made the team as an undrafted free agent from Oregon State in 2008.

Ramzee Robinson (5-10, 190) – Claimed by the Browns off waivers on Dec. 2 from the Eagles and played in the final four games of the 2009 season with no tackles. Robinson played with the Lions and Eagles before joining the Browns out of Alabama.

Chris Roberson (5-11, 190) – Four year veteran from Eastern Michigan who signed as a free agent in the off-season.

DeAngelo Smith (5-11, 200) – Smith is in his second-year out of Cincinnati. The Browns signed him as a free agent after he was released by the Lions.

Joe Haden (5-11, 190) – The overall seventh pick in this year’s NFL Draft, Haden is being counted upon to contribute to step in and play right away. A slow time at the Indianapolis Combine had him fall off the radar for some teams, but he ran a much better time in his Pro Day and ended up being a top 10 pick.

Chris Chancellor (5-9, 180) – An undrafted rookie free agent from Clemson will try to catch someone’s eye in the preseason.


Scout.com: Cornerback or Bust

[Danamal]

I am soooooooooo frickin tired hearing about a rookie who has yet to have any camp time getting trashed.
WTF?
If he sucks ass through camp and shows no game in the pre season then it's fair game till then STFU.
Defensive backfield will be the best we have had since 99,enjoy it.

[onefellswoop7]

I think we have a lot of Young guys who are going to compete HARD. I'm excited to see Wright pushed. Him and Bmac are now forced to compete and get better to keep a job. They now have Haden Francies and the group pushing them...not forgetting S. Brown who already nabbed a starting role.

This plus the fresh legs at safety is going to be fun to watch. There was NO competition in the backfield last year.

[onefellswoop7]

Originally Posted by Danamal

I am soooooooooo frickin tired hearing about a rookie who has yet to have any camp time getting trashed.
WTF?
If he sucks ass through camp and shows no game in the pre season then it's fair game till then STFU.
Defensive backfield will be the best we have had since 99,enjoy it.

Agreed! Training camp and preseason will give us some actual insight. OTAs are nothing but a meet and greet with some dry runs while everyone gets the plays down and back into the swing of things.

[Pedros Gaff]

Im looking forward to seeing ward and asantes hard hitting capabilities

[YtownBacker]

Old story and old knows. Shame on OBR for quoting an unfounded opinion from Lombardi instead of doing some investigative work and printing there own story.

[mohican]

I read in the PD a week or so ago that the indication is that Sheldon Brown will be one of the starting corners, period. Forget about him at safety for now. The Corner spot that Haden takes will be Wrights, FWIW.

[YtownBacker]

Actually, I think the Browns will start 3 corners and one safety against teams that play 3 WRs (which are quite a few). Reason being is that 2 corners (Brown and Haden) are solid in run support.

Mangini has said he envisions a defense where he could have 4 CBs on the field at one time. I think he would be talking more about using Adams over McDonald.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by mohican

I read in the PD a week or so ago that the indication is that Sheldon Brown will be one of the starting corners, period. Forget about him at safety for now. The Corner spot that Haden takes will be Wrights, FWIW.

I appreciate you bringing that up Mohican because I've read that same thing all along. He indicates he's coming off one of his best seasons playing the corner position so he doesn't want to change that just yet. Can't blame him.

This will work out better than people think for Haden too. Keep in mind, Anthony Henry snagged us 10 INTs in his rookie season as our 3rd corner covering the opponent's 3rd best WR/Slot. Our defense is going to rotate alot of players in so we'll see Haden as much as most of the starters on the dline.
- Tom F.

[Alo]

Originally Posted by BernietheKid

However, recently NFL.com’s Mike Lombardi said:

“According to coaches around the league, Browns first-round pick Joe Haden has not been very impressive in camps and might not have enough speed to play corner. Maybe all that talk about some in the organization wanted to take Kyle Wilson over Haden was true.”

Haden comes to the Browns after not allowing a touchdown pass thrown his way in his four-year college career with the Gators.

Unfortunately, both of these bits of info are inaccurate. Though Haden's '09 tape is stellar, he gave up a TD to Armon Binns in the 2nd half of the Sugar Bowl.