Roster Under Flugel's Microscope

[Flugel]

Team Analysis

WR: M Massaquoa, C Mitchell, S Aikens Major Need
TE: B Watson, E Moore, A Smith
LT: J Thomas, F Womack
LG: E Steinbach, S Lauvao
C: A Mack, B Yates
RG: B Yates, S Lauvao, F Womack
RT: T Pashos, F Womack Need
Slot: C Stuckey, J Cribbs
WR: J Cribbs, B Robiskie, C Stuckey Major Need
FB: L Vickers
RB: P Hillis, M Hardesty, M Bell
QB: C McCoy, S Wallace

DE: M Roth, J Mitchell
DT: A Rubin, D Robinson, M Ivey Need
DT: S Rogers, B Schaefering, M Ivey
DE: K Coleman, M Benard Need
OLB: S Fujita, J Trusnick
MLB: D Jackson, Titus Brown Need
OLB: Chris Gocong, D Bowens
CB: S Brown, M Adams Major Need
S: A Elam, N Sorenson Major Need
S: T Ward, R Vetrone
CB: J Haden, M Adams

P: R Hodges
K: TBD Need
KR: J Cribbs
PR: J Cribbs

From the way this team competed in 2010, losing 60 minute games by a margin of 1-2 big plays or 1-2 blunders necessitates more big play guys at skilled positions on both sides of the ball first and foremost. Like it or not, our roster setup follows the route the NY Jets went to try to get better. In 2009, they were 7-7 with the final 2 regular season opponents taking a knee. Most of their success was predicated off the running game behind an efficient oline making life easier for the young QB. Their biggest plays on offense in 09 came from the TE position. Try to think what the Jets addressed in their last offseason: Santonio Holmes as playmaker on perimeter making matchups easier for Braylon on the other side. PLUS, they were compelled to add Cromartie after Manning surgically removed them from the playoffs in 09. Different story in 2010 with 2 more playmakers on board.

The Jets began things with draft picks like: D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Nick Mangold, Darrelle Revis, and David Harris. Seemed like they went oline and corner first, which gave them a reliable running game. Well, this year we had 2 of our young olinemen in the Pro Bowl meaning conference elites while the much maligned Steinbach was a Pro Bowl alternate I’m told. Peyton Hillis adored these guys. The Right side always seems to cave into wear and tear and age. Right Tackle is a need and we have a personnel evaluator here that handle this challenge of replacement. As a group, they gave Hilllis the best year of his career and finished strong in 09 with Cleveland finishing 8^th best at running the ball out of 32 teams. Unfortunately, 5 guys can’t block 8-9 men in the box because we had goose eggs at WR; especially after our only deep threat received 4 dislocated toes.

The OTHER deep threat was Evan Moore a TE, who also got injured late in the year. Watson had one of the best years of his career so that’s cool. Adding 1-2 X-factors at WR from seemingly the best list of free agents coming available plus a draft day gem would really help. Look at the perks Arian Foster gets with NOBODY able to cheat into the box when Andre Johnson is outside. It must be a lot of fun playing gridiron chess with that group. We can’t even consider a WCO with this group of WRs today so you can count on this position being addressed.

Defensively, I’ve NEVER become comfortable with our LBer corps so knowing we only need 3 soothes a little discomfort. Our secondary has 2 guys with talent, upside and excitement. While Sheldon Brown might be one of our best tacklers, he’s losing steps with age and he’s becoming a liability. Secondary is a major need. We’ve got 2 slow white guys backing up our Safeties so aside from footspeed what’s the name of that movie again? “White Men Can’t Jump!” Joe Haden was nothing short of awesome without the security blanket of a wonderful pass rush.

It would be nice to improve the pass rush. It would be even better if we had the approriate personnel for whatever schemes the new staff wants to employ. I'm looking forward to a 4-3. Again, I'm thankful a guy like Heckert is sizing up the horses for this.

Understanding the number of holes that need to be filled, I won't be surprised with any of the picks Heckert makes. I don't want to jinx the guy or anything; but I have a lot of trust in his ability based on his resume and our first draft. Thanks for reading this!

[Sez.EJ]

I find it interesting a lot of guys cried about Watson when we picked him up saying he cannot catch.. Funny those guys disappeared the minute he hit the field. I'm with you on what our needs are although I think DE is a more of a major need vs safety. Sorry I don't mean to nitpick.. they are both big needs... .but overall..I'm right with you on our needs/major needs.. it's not a mystery.. However with the possibiility of no free agency.. We will be lucky to fill 2-3 of the 7-8 holes this year.. If there is free agency..we may fill 6.. I believe we are still 2 GREAT drafts away from really filling all the holes..however.. a team can go all the way with some holes if they play well as a team.

[Brown Warrior]

Don't forget Jayme "Why Am I Here?" Mitchell (actual quote). The answer is that the Browns knew they were going to a 4-3 this year and he's a promising young DE.

My hope is that we have Roth, Mitchell, and Benard as DEs and then draft one in the second round, a guy with some edge ability like Jabaal Sheard. We have Rubin, Rogers, and Shaefering at DT and there's room for another one. We have a lot of DTs on the roster who can fight for that last spot.

I hope Gocong can play a linebacker spot. Maybe he CAN be a MLB now that he's half-stepped through ILB, which he'd never played before. I want Jackson back. Fujita's a lock at SSLB, I think. Maiava might have a shot at the roster. We need another WSLB type for sure, probably round 3.

I don't see us doing a hell of a lot in the defensive backfield at a real high level given that we have good safeties and a #1 corner... but we could do something in free agency and later in the draft.

On offense, we need a developmental right side blocker to groom behind Pashos and Womack, both of whom can be very effective if healthy, at least for a year. But mostly we need a #1 WR and probably a slot guy, too.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Brown Warrior

Don't forget Jayme "Why Am I Here?" Mitchell (actual quote). The answer is that the Browns knew they were going to a 4-3 this year and he's a promising young DE.

My hope is that we have Roth, Mitchell, and Benard as DEs and then draft one in the second round, a guy with some edge ability like Jabaal Sheard. We have Rubin, Rogers, and Shaefering at DT and there's room for another one. We have a lot of DTs on the roster who can fight for that last spot.

I hope Gocong can play a linebacker spot. Maybe he CAN be a MLB now that he's half-stepped through ILB, which he'd never played before. I want Jackson back. Fujita's a lock at SSLB, I think. Maiava might have a shot at the roster. We need another WSLB type for sure, probably round 3.

I don't see us doing a hell of a lot in the defensive backfield at a real high level given that we have good safeties and a #1 corner... but we could do something in free agency and later in the draft.

On offense, we need a developmental right side blocker to groom behind Pashos and Womack, both of whom can be very effective if healthy, at least for a year. But mostly we need a #1 WR and probably a slot guy, too.

Good stuff Shep. Don't forget, before Coleman had a high ankle sprain - he was playing some of the best football of his career outside very early in the season. That's a difficult position to stay effective when/if someone is playing through a high ankle sprain and there was an obvious difference in the performance. I'm not sure where Rogers is with his gas tank/mileage remaining; but if he could return to the 1 gap football that resembled MD Perry's upfield quickness - we're better for it. Derrec Robinson looked good last preseason for rotation and had some decent games as well as some forgettable games. If we knew we were switching to a 4-3 I'm puzzled we didn't keep Corey Williams. Not only was he FINALLY getting the 3-4 here via Bryan Cox; BUT he had a terrific year back in a 4-3.

Anyway, I went onto to some websites that had mock drafts and there was 1 site that had about 6 different guys projecting us taking DT/DE Marcel Dareus. Unfortunately, I don't recall Green going any later than pick #4 on any of those. GOOSEFRABBA!!!!

A couple years ago sooooo many of us fans were looking at consensus projections to determine Clay Matthews wouldn't have been good for where we were picking while Aaron Curry was Mr Consensus Top 10. The REASON I mention this is if a pick feels right where we are selecting I'd prefer us to go after a Julio Jones instead of a Dareus. That said, I haven't seen alot of Dareus without the the Bigger guy that used to command 2-3 blockers. There's only 1 highlight of Dareus returning a fumble for a TD; so I'm weary of him at #6 overall.

[Brown Warrior]

The Dareus projection is a little curious given that he's mostly seen as a 3-4 DE or a 4-3 tackle... and that's just gilding the lilly in my book. Our draft needs (in my ever so humble opinion) are a #1 WR, a quicker, more athletic 4-3 DE, and a WSLB who can cover (like Lawrence Wilson of Connecticut, as an example).

We'll have to do other things, but I'd take those three positions with the first three picks. If by some miracle DaQuan Bowers fell to us at six, he'd be really tough to pass on.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Brown Warrior

The Dareus projection is a little curious given that he's mostly seen as a 3-4 DE or a 4-3 tackle... and that's just gilding the lilly in my book. Our draft needs (in my ever so humble opinion) are a #1 WR, a quicker, more athletic 4-3 DE, and a WSLB who can cover (like Lawrence Wilson of Connecticut, as an example).

We'll have to do other things, but I'd take those three positions with the first three picks. If by some miracle DaQuan Bowers fell to us at six, he'd be really tough to pass on.

I haven't studied the draft as much as others. However, residing in TN puts me in the midst of a conference that is about to take round one of the NFL draft by storm.

My favorites that I've seen a tremendous amount of are WRs Green and Jones. If, for some reason, the brass' plan is defense - it wouldn't suck if Fairley fell to our doorstep. He could be an absolute terror inside. I'm not nearly as excited about Marcel Dareus; and would rather us trade down for more picks. I don't have a big body of work to be comfortable with him so that could have been a very ingorant statement on my part.

I'm not a DE in round 1 fan as you will remember when I preferred Lavar Arrington to Courtney Brown back in 2000. Teams are always looking for the next Reggie White and Bruce Smith off the edge; but they often end up with a Gholsten or a Gaines Adams. Meanwhile some gems like Aaron Schobel, Jared Allen or Rob Burnett can be found in the mid to late rounds. Wasn't Michael Strahan a late round pick too? Try to think of what kind of impact Mario Williams has been on the Houston Texans to date for a #1 overall. Remember when Mike Mamula aced all the combine fitness tests and became an upper first round DE? He never justified the last minute hype. Look at all the promising 1st round DE prospects out of Florida State that have disntegrated at the next level. We can't afford to whiff on a #6 overall. That's why I have some real worries about Robert Quinn. He's got as impressive of a first step as I've seen. Unfortunately, his biggest fans don't like seeing how bad he played the run vrs Costanzo. It may only be 1 game; but that might be the only NFL starting caliber tackle he faced. Scouts are gonna want to see what he had vrs the run in that game because of what I just alluded to.

Some will say WR is just as high of a risk and rightfully so. Considering where we are with what we want to be - #6 overall is a pretty nice opportunity to put our passing game on the map.

[YtownBacker]

Originally Posted by Brown Warrior

The Dareus projection is a little curious given that he's mostly seen as a 3-4 DE or a 4-3 tackle... and that's just gilding the lilly in my book. Our draft needs (in my ever so humble opinion) are a #1 WR, a quicker, more athletic 4-3 DE, and a WSLB who can cover (like Lawrence Wilson of Connecticut, as an example).

We'll have to do other things, but I'd take those three positions with the first three picks. If by some miracle DaQuan Bowers fell to us at six, he'd be really tough to pass on.

Shep, I agree to a certain extent. We do need an impact player on the DL. A DT that can push the pocket and get up field can make what we have at DE look quite a bit better. A DE tqaht can rush the passer is important for this new offense also. But, I think our best LB may be Fujita playing the WSLB position. Everything else is up in the air.

I agree a top WR may provide a better return in the short term and long term. They have to do something to help McCoy in his development. You need more then him being a good fit for the WCO. You need some playmakers so that WCO can work.

[YtownBacker]

As we talk about draft picks and DL needs I came across an interesting read while the site was down. I read that Dick Jauron has reached out to Shaun Rogers to gauge his interest in playing for Cleveland next year. Rogers played under Jauron when they were with the Lions. Rogers made a pro bowl when Jauron was his DC.

Part of it is that Rogers may have to restructure his contract and have some incentives put in for playing time and weight clauses.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by YtownBacker

As we talk about draft picks and DL needs I came across an interesting read while the site was down. I read that Dick Jauron has reached out to Shaun Rogers to gauge his interest in playing for Cleveland next year. Rogers played under Jauron when they were with the Lions. Rogers made a pro bowl when Jauron was his DC.

Part of it is that Rogers may have to restructure his contract and have some incentives put in for playing time and weight clauses.

Thanks for that info Ytown! I think Rogers will be more interested in a 4-3 scheme that enables him to be Michael Dean Perry getting upfield instead of Jery Ball occupying an area code to the right and left of him. #1 concern about Rogers was the loss of interest in football. It's not like he's had a lot of wear and tear with the amount of reps he misses in games and practice the last 2 years.

Back to the topic about the attempts to transition the offense to better things and how I see it paralleling the NY Jets from a personnel standpoint. Where NY got better first was on the oline and began with a commitment to running the ball. Think about their evolution. Ferguson, Mangold, and vets like Faneca and then Woody later. Their big play guy was TE Dustin Keller and they had a young promsing QB they didn't want to overwhelm with too much too soon. It all made sense. They didn't add Edwards until after the first month of 09 and they added Holmes after the 09 season. That being the case, their big play person for most of 09 was TE Dustin Keller and then Edwards started to make some. When Holmes and LT fine tuned the puzzle - Edwards began to see the 2nd best corner of the opponent. NOBODY could load the box vrs their running. When it ALL came down to playcalling and head coaching vrs Pittsburgh - guess what failed miserably inside the 3 yard line?

Our foundation established on offense is Thomas, Steinbach and Mack. Don't even CONSIDER what the OBR concludes about Steinbach. They're wrong about him. When this offense attempts to block 9 men in the box with only 5-6 bodies upfront (while running right isn't always a good option) - I promise you Thomas isn't blocking all 9 guys playing run by himself. Ben Watson gave us the Dustin Keller equivalence and even more. Meanwhile Hillis took our running game to new heights. Just as the Jets added Holmes, Edwards and LT as final pieces, we need to find the WR on the perimeter that will remove 1-2 Safeties from the box. And then we need to find our version of a Damien Woody veteran at RT. And if McCoy can stay healthy, he's a promising leader just like Sanchez is.

I'm less worried about scheme than I am about legit weapons that can dictate Hillis facing only 7 men in the box. He excelled vrs that before 4 dislocated toes from Cribbs removed the only deep threat our opponents perceived. If Josh Cribbs and Evan Moore were our biggest deep threats, this is easily the most pressing need. Caution about Breaston without guys like Fitzgerald and Boldin drawing the best corners from the opponent - he could be a false positive as a solution. We need a guy that can be a #1 playmaker to see if anyone else can be the type of beneficiary Breaston hs been able to become in a great environment. Hope that all made sense.

[DawgFan]

Guys...the DE position is a TOTAL MESS...

Mitchell is a FA, we traded for a guy that is a 4-3 projection with a 1yr contract. Unless we sign him to a longer contract, we lose him. Add in at 285 he is bigger than the typical Dick Jauron DE (Dick Jauron likes smaller guys, the Eagles had nobody over 270 playing the position)

Roth is a FA. He had a bit of a coming out party in the 3-4...but as a 4-3 in Miami he was getting diminished playing time. Was it political??? I don't know...but he wanted out LAST YEAR...so what makes us think he wants back in THIS YEAR?

Derreck Robinson is on the large size for a typical 4-3 DE (295) so he is more likely to be moved to DT if anything. Juaron again likes small guys for DT (most between 295 and 305).

Brian Sanford is a 1 year guy who never saw the field...and again, at 280 is bigger than Jauron usually likes...but may be able to work his way into the mix.

Brian Schaeffering...see Derreck Robinison (295)...he is a scrapper and may be a good DT rotation guy.

Robaire Smith...at 34 is probably on his way out anyway...especially with his back injury...but again, TOO BIG!!!

Kenyon Coleman...ANOTHER 295 GUY! Sure, he was playing decent..but these guys just don't fit the defense Jauron runs.

The only guys that fit the SIZE PROFILE of what Jauron typically likes are:
Chris Gocong...don't see him as a DE
David Bowens...old man and LB to boot
Marcus Benard - I think his aggressive play may make him work here
Matt Roth - see above on contract status, but may be our best DE at this moment

This is a HUGE MESS....we need a TRUE DE for the 4-3, not a hybrid (Roth and Benard) and a bunch of old guys or big slow guys.

The key to Jauron's defense is QUICK PASS RUSHING DE's...and we have only 1 of those under contract!!!

[DawgFan]

On the offensive side of the ball...funny thing...I am far less concerned. I know the entire WR need thing...but hear me out.

Name me the standout WR in the St. Louis offense. If you guessed Danny Amendola you either watch St. Louis religiously, or are a complete stats freak. I never heard of the guy...and he caught 85 balls from ROOKIE Sam Bradford. Amendola is a 5'11" POSSESSION RECEIVER who averaged 8.1 y/c and actually only started 6 games.

My point is this...they don't have a BIG PLAY WR...and still ranked 21st with a rookie QB.

I think we may have a few possession guys on this club.

Chancey Stuckey showed that he can catch...and that he can get open on the quick hits...something we didn't run nearly enough in my opinion. Put the offense in a true WCO and Stuckey may just have a breakout year.

Brian Robiskie...many think of him as a bust...but look at the LATE SEASON production and you can see he benefits from Colt McCoy. I think the two of them have a very nice timing and will be good going forward.

MoMass...to me he actually may be the odd man out if we go get another guy. He was brought here to be a game breaker and can't seem to beat the #1 guys. His routes are still not crisp and he struggles with pressure defenses.

Our TE's are actually VERY GOOD on the receiving side...and our RB's are EXCELLENT on the receiving side.

So, if we go to a ball control WCO, don't be surprised if we just go for a single speedster in FA to stretch the defense a bit...after all...it's not like NE has a GAME BREAKER either.

[Sez.EJ]

Dawg fan.. I hear what your saying here.... and what others have been saying that we cannot bring in one of the top #1 free agent WR's due to our being a nonplayoff contender. Those guys won't want to come here. I don't completely agree with that argument..but.. If that IS the case..There are a TON of really great #2 type guys who are young with experience we could bring in and still make a monumental leap in talent at our WR position.. I do disagree that we can just give the current WR"S a pass again after what was a complete failure last season. If we cannot get that #1 guy.. Getting 2 of the following.. makes a lot of sense.. Steve Breaston, Malcom Floyd, James Jones, Legadu Naanee, Mike Simms-Walker (actually a #1 we could get) and are young enough to grow with the team..