Cribbs SHOWS Critics He CAN Improve as a WR

[YtownBacker]

Originally Posted by Flugel

Absolutely. And it would be nice to see a QB that's GOOD at throwing the slants in front of guys the way McCoy threw a PERFECT slant to MoMass for a TD on the beach of Revis Island.

I got the impression Holmgren realizes Cribbs has never fully committed to WR without too many collateral distractions. NOW, Holmgren has HIS offense being implemented; and i think he's looking forward to seeign what Cribbs can do.

IF the WR thing doesn't work out - this is what I said above:
If we learn Cribbs can't master the new system and Hardesty can't get healthy, we COULD use Cribbs as a RB fetching short passes out of the backfield or taking handoffs from the QB.

It looks like Ytown was thinking the same thing. Cribbs has talent - we just gotta find the best way to tap into. I've been saying all along I'd LOVE to see him in the slot and unfortunately, we've never had accurate/consistent QBs to make that worth the while. I'd at least like to see us BEGIN the year with him getting reps in the slot. If it doesn't work and Hardesty isn't ready to rock yet - Cribbs would be a great guy to use as a RB with his muscular 215 pound frame.

I always though Cribbs would be better lining up in the backfield then out wide. He could create some big time mismatches coming out of the backfield. I also like handing him the ball in the "I" with Hillis in front of him.

We do need RB depth..............................I just think the guy has a lot of talent and we haven't utilized it to the fullest.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by YtownBacker

I always though Cribbs would be better lining up in the backfield then out wide. He could create some big time mismatches coming out of the backfield. I also like handing him the ball in the "I" with Hillis in front of him.

We do need RB depth..............................I just think the guy has a lot of talent and we haven't utilized it to the fullest.

I'm enjoying where you are coming from Ytown. A slot receiver today is used much like a wingback from yesterday IMO.

I also love knowing if the WR thing doesn't take off in what is supposed to be the best passing environment to date - RB is a very nice option for Cribbs. I'd PREFER to see Cribbs in the backfield rather than taking a direct snap from Center; BECAUSE we don't give up our passing game VERY predictably and Cribbs could be a swing pass dump off option if routes downfield are disappointing. One of the things pro football has evolved away from is the quick pitch in lieu of the overhead swing pass forward/slightly backward. Either way, I think our franchise has always lacked the imagination to get Cribbs in space coupled with the reality that our QBs since the day he arrived struggled with accuracy up close and where-ever.

As we witnessed, the overuse of Hillis ran into some injury complicatiosn toward the end of the year. IF Hardesty isn't healthy enough for significance yet; Cribbs COULD mean we don't have to blow a draft pick on RB with the understanding of how many other spots the cupboards are bare in.

[Brown Warrior]

We only really have Robiskie, Massoquoi, and Cribbs at WR. I don't think he's going anywhere. And as Grossi pointed out, we may lose something with the new KR rules, but we might gain something with Cribbs in a quick strike WCO. Same thing we've been saying about YAC.

If we don't get Green or Jones, I could see us going for a "home run hitter" speed guy in two to fit into that group: Young, Jernigan, or a surprise in Edmund Gates, who I think will go higher than expected.

I've been into Hankerson, but he seems almost too much like the others. He's NOT explosive.

[Sez.EJ]

Right now we still have the sorriest WR corpse (yes corpse) in the NFL. It needs an enema... 2 free agents and Green ( or tradedown for Julio) .. let them fight it out for jobs.. and when I say free agents.. I don't mean dinasaurs.

[Brown Warrior]

Sez, I'm there. It's not that I don't like defense... because I love it when it belongs to my team (like my son's team last year). But I can't lie: I really would love to see the Browns offense attacking people, staying a step ahead, looking better and smarter and faster.

Kinda like Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.

[Sez.EJ]

Shep, You and are are not really very far apart this year as we have been in past years.. Matter of fact we are pretty much of the exact same mind on what we want, which is Green at #6. and/or DL players. Our only real difference is that if we can't get Green. I think we have to at LEAST put Peterson in the picture for consideration at #6; where you would not.. Otherwise.. we are of a like mind... WR(s) and DL are the absolute biggest needs of the team. I'm sure you know I have been begging for DL picks for about 5-6 years now.. This will be the year we get 1 or 2 in the top 4 picks. I'm thankful the draft is pretty stacked in that department this year.. we need some playmakers.

Last years draft looks pretty good right now.. The year before is still VERY much in doubt but it's not dead yet. We need another good draft this year, and next, we can be a playoff team.. if Colt turns out.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Brown Warrior

We only really have Robiskie, Massoquoi, and Cribbs at WR. I don't think he's going anywhere. And as Grossi pointed out, we may lose something with the new KR rules, but we might gain something with Cribbs in a quick strike WCO. Same thing we've been saying about YAC.

If we don't get Green or Jones, I could see us going for a "home run hitter" speed guy in two to fit into that group: Young, Jernigan, or a surprise in Edmund Gates, who I think will go higher than expected.

I've been into Hankerson, but he seems almost too much like the others. He's NOT explosive.

Good points made. A guy that's starting to intrigue me and make me feel ignorant for never mentioning him as a tradedown scenario is Torrey Smith. The guy can blaze and he's 205 pounds for a 6'1" frame. I gotta believe with some good coaching and strength training the next couple years, this is a guy with tremendous upside. On top of all that, he put up these numbers as a junior:
67 rec 1065 yds 15.7 ypc 12 TD

That would have projected pretty well for a senior year, which of course would have translated to a higher draft projection in 2012. Seeing how they got a new HC and OC at Maryland, he didn't want to risk the numbers dipping for reasons outside of his control.

We can go paralysis by analysis on virtually anyone. I like to look at a guy once I've learned his physicality and go straight to the numbers to see how much of it translates into being a football player now and how much possibility a guy has for upside. For instance, Julio Jones had to sharpen some concentration weaknesses to promote more consistency. He made considerable PROGRESS and would have projected a killer good senior year. Right now, he's often found taking a back seat to AJ Green in comparison. I do that to him too; but that doesn't have to be at the expense of growing very fond of Julio. Julio's glaring improvements are already exemplifying upside. NOBODY knows who will turn out to be the better pro.

More examples of upside vrs upside down: Didn't it seem obvious Matt Leinart was destined for better things than Matt Cassel? Guess what factored in? Upside. Alot of people don't realize Danny Kanel started OVER Brad Johnson at Florida State so that played out very similar to the USC Matts in terms of nobody saw it coming. This example can be used for any position like former Penn State pass rusher Cameron Wake not being draftworthy. Meanwhile, pass rusher Aaron Maybin from Penn State was drafted at #11 overall by Buffalo in 09. Wake was the guy that finished the 2010 season with 14 sacks. Maybin is now being mentioned in the same sentence with Mike Williams up in Buffalo and that ain't good.

I think the GOOD NFL talent evaluators know the difference between a Kam Wimbley and LaMarr Woodley. We could have had Woodley in round 2 without feeling compelled to reach on the guy we did in round 1. Heckert was able to land a pass rusher like Trent Cole in round 5 for the type of defense his team was using. Then there's fanny greasers like Phil Savage that feel obligated to thank college programs for the accesiblity to reach on guys like Antonio "I'm-coming-Mother" Perkins, Travis Wil-u-catchit-son, Brodney "U-also-have-shoulder-pads" Pool.

[Solon16]

Kam wimbley leaves cleveland and become franchised by the raiders...he has never been bad...I wish we had him back here to play his real position...4-3 DE!

[Brown Warrior]

Yeah, I'd like to have Wimbley right now, damnit.

Tom, I worry about Smith's short space quickness. He's kind of a straight line guy. In the WCO, if we can't get a true #1, you look for a guy who explodes in a phone booth. For my nickel, I like Young and Jernigan for that role.

Neither will be there in round 3. If the Browns end up taking Bowers (the only guy who might be there and makes sense who isn't Green or Jones)? I could see Young or Jernigan in 2.

[Enigmatic Evil]

Worrying about Wimbley is worrying about spilled milk, he's gone, chalk it up to another first round draft pick that did not work out for The Browns... with Heckert here, hopefully the frequency of that occuring will drop dramatically. He's 1-for-1 I'd say...