Draft Philosophy

[Solon16]

My draft Philosophy by position: (OFFENSE)
RB: Unless the RB has elite speed and history on tape...I'd never draft them in 1st round. This position has been de-valued in a huge way...gone are the days of edgerrin James and Ricky williams going in top 5. With multiple backs and multiple sets being the norm RB is a diluted position.

2011 draft...I wouldn't take any of these guys in round one. Ingram is a good back but no elite speed. Daniel Thomas is a Fav of mine but Ryan Williams is my favorite RB in this draft and if we could somehow land Kendall hunter in the 4th I'd say he's the perfect complimentary back to hillis and hardesty.

WR: I really shy away from this position in the Top 15 of the draft.
This is a problematic position for me for two reasons... They bust really well, and usually never contribute Early(year 1)... Mike Williams from Syracuse and TB really an exception to the rule and a 4th rounder. Unless they run like Calvin Johnson or Andre Johnson with that incredible wing span and size,I wouldn't take one in top 10. I think jones "might" meet my requiremnt, rather have him over Green.

2011 draft ~Julio Jones will be better than Green IMO... both won't contribute much this year, if we play football. A big fan of the depth this year at the Wr position. I like guys like Austin Pettis Boise, Jeremy Kerley from TCU, any of the little scat back wr's from Houston. etc...later rounds. Greg Little will be a great Diva Wr...And I think our lockerroom can handle a guy like that...but you can only have 1 or 2, at most of those kind on your team.

TE: Second round and beyond...

2011 ... Kyle rudolph makes it to #37 and I think we have to take a look at him...TE is a fundamental escape hatch for young QB's and Rudolph can block , catch and run well...is a huge target for Colt and with Watson injuries(rarely if ever played the full year)..I like evan moore as a mismatch when spread out wide...but not a true TE. Rudolph would make our wr corp better and IMO...Momass and Robo Have to really perform well this year or will be out of football for the Browns.

O-line.. LT top 10, RT 15~25 or later , C/G second round....Now my Philosophy has always been about Value ~ meaning they Must be able to play Guard if your a center and Center if you are a guard, and either Guard position...RT should be able to step in at LT in a pinch etc...

2011 draft.... WEAK! A nate solder might fall to us at #37 might not...Picking up a bookend at RT, would make me happy...and he meets my criteria. One of the weakest O-line drafts in a while.

QB: Number 1 position in football...If you need one you must get one...no other option. If you are in Doubt about the Qb at all...You need to get one. And you must have a minimum of 2 good Qb's on your team. To me the Browns are in Doubt

2011 draft: Weak.... if Mallett (captain douchebag) is there at #37...(he won't be ,IMO) you have to entertain it...I'd entertain Cam Newton @ #6. My preference is Andy Dalton if he's there @ 4th round...won't be...I trust holmgren to find a later round QB.

[Vegasdogg]

Originally Posted by Solon16

WR: I really shy away from this position in the Top 15 of the draft. This is a problematic position for me for two reasons... They bust really well, and usually never contribute Early(year 1)... Mike Williams from Syracuse and TB really an exception to the rule and a 4th rounder. Unless they run like Calvin Johnson or Andre Johnson with that incredible wing span and size,I wouldn't take one in top 10. I think jones "might" meet my requiremnt, rather have him over Green.

Of the top 10 WR's last season, I think 2 were first rounders, and 4-5 were 7th rounder or non-draftees. I can find as many WR's after the 1st round as I can any other position in the NFL. It is just a fact - most of your better players are found in round 1, but a majority of them bust out, especially WR.

[Brown Warrior]

The absolute worst position for top 10 busts is defensive tackle.

[Enigmatic Evil]

I'm not sure in regards to personal philosophy because I'm not as big a draftnik as some of you guys but overall. You got to believe the team's strategy going into the draft revolves around IMPROVEMENT.

Overall, we have a lot of gaps on both sides of the balls, I think there's a hand full of positions we could lean on and take a guy at #6 where it could be a pick worth cheering for. I really hope we can take an impact guy on D, regardless of position, we need another difference maker on that end of the ball. If there's a player on the offensive side, most likely a WR and Heckert is sold on his talents. He WILL pull the trigger, I believe that.

Overall, I am anxious for the draft to come to a close so we can move forward. There's other issues at hand, for one: will we even be playing football this year?

I'm looking forward to the draft but the hype has been tainted by really, all the CBA drama and I don't want to go there. Overall though, we need to make the team better and that's Heckert's strategy, bar none I believe.

[Solon16]

Defensive draft philosophy for a 4-3 :

DT: To me it starts with DT's...much like the Williams brothers in Minny. Two stout interior lineman. someone to pair next to Rubin...playmaking space-eaters to put interior pressure on QB(best way to get to rothlisberger) and to free up MLB. I'd build a defense the same way you build a defense in baseball...up the middle. {Dt's MLB Safeties}

2011 draft...LOTS OF prospects, making it much easier to pick up this type in second round because of the depth in this draft. I think Marvin Austin goes in the first... The kid from Temple might slip or might grab big daddy from Baylor...or whoever...as long as they can penetrate inside.

DE: This is the hardest to fill effectively...I believe Quinn is a stud and if we could get him... I think we'd be set for 5-7 years. He has all the intangibles and all the tangibles. Usually the last piece to add but when you can get a stud out of the gate...you do it.

2011 Draft: I like Cameron Jordon, and smith from Missou if we trade down..I'd be happy with Watt but #6 too early for my taste.He's the type player you add opposite a guy like Quinn. De's never last long and don't like the quality I'm hearing at DE later in the draft.

LB's: My favorite position on D and what we have SORELY missed since the days of Mike Johnson 20 years ago...and he was just better than average. There are really no Studs at MLB this year. So I can wait 1 year with DQ given a chance to prove he isn't an epic Bust.

OLB's I love Von Miller and would play him at DE... Again Value...He will be a stud and I can live with Von Miller @#6. Again I'd use his best attribute...rushing the QB and he could play OLB well(mix it up)... The rest of the 2011 class is less than stellar. I really like the kid from Washington...can't think of his name of the top of my head.

Corners...NEVER enough. I have advocated for years the intertwining of Corners at the safety position. I'd draft the corners who are a tad slower but can hit and make them safeties...Guys that can cover!!! It is a passing league and if you have injuries(which always happens) You have flexibility...I'd draft corners all day and make them Safeties...

2011 Draft: If Petersen is there...I'd start him Immediately at safety and we'd be set with TJ on the other side...for next 5 years. He brings value from a PR stand point and can play good corner but his long term value is safety. I'd also play him on Offense.
Corner is another weak position in this draft.

Safties: see corners...not many in this class worth note.

[Brown Warrior]

I agree on a couple things, S: Drafting corners to be safeties is gonna get bigger and bigger, I think. Earl Thomas is sort of a prototype, a safety who covers like a corner.

On pass rushers... well, it's the most important element of a defense these days. It's the closest thing to a quarterback and left tackle as far as prime positions in the league.

Von Miller weighs 235 right now. He won't be playing DE for anybody. In fact, his size is a bit of a concern for his natural position, 3-4 OLB, and he'll be expected to get up to 250.

[Solon16]

Originally Posted by Brown Warrior

I agree on a couple things, S: Drafting corners to be safeties is gonna get bigger and bigger, I think. Earl Thomas is sort of a prototype, a safety who covers like a corner.

On pass rushers... well, it's the most important element of a defense these days. It's the closest thing to a quarterback and left tackle as far as prime positions in the league.

Von Miller weighs 235 right now. He won't be playing DE for anybody. In fact, his size is a bit of a concern for his natural position, 3-4 OLB, and he'll be expected to get up to 250.

He is prototype 3-4 backer...but if we got VM I'd use him like we used Jamir Miller...all over the place!!! Is my point!

[Solon16]

no one else has a draft philosophy? come on...

[YtownBacker]

My philosophy is simular to what Heckert has laid out as his. You look at your roster and determine your needs no only for impact players but depth also. You set your board based on BPA according to needs (not biggest need only or 1st), depth of draft at positions of need and you make your picks.

You never pass on a potentially great player to reach for a player who isn't rated as high just to fill a need. When that happens you get guys like Veikune in the second round.

Our needs as most know are WR, DE, DT, OT, CB and FS. You consider those needs as you draft but you don't pass on a potential great player just to find a DE, WR or DT. Once you get to round 4 you take the BPA and forget needs. After round 4 you are looking for anybody who can make your team regardless of position and are not trying to address needs specifically. We have so many needs that I don't think taking the BPA in rounds 5, 6 and 7 would be duplicating talent at positions where we are over stocked.

That said, I love Green and Jones at #6 better then any defensive players. I'd take Peterson and don't care if we took a CB last yea at #7.. I'd trade down, no lower then #16 if I had the chance to get another 2nd rounder because there are some great value picks in the 2nd and 3rd round this year. I don't think taking Quinn, Bowers or Frailey over a WR when you have guys like Austin, Sheard, Bailey and Ballard available @37 is really using the board and strength of the draft well. I'd trade down and take Watt or Cam Jordan before I'd take Quinn or Bowers. I wouldn't limit myself to WR and DE in rounds 1 and 2 because you may be letting other players at positions of need that could be graded much higher slip through your fingers. You have to consider the BPA at any position of need.

Projecting mocks are fun but you never know who will be there when it's your pick or who will be on the phone trying to make a trade.

[BernietheKid]

Successful draft philosophy

Published: April 6, 2011 at 06:38 p.m.
07:43 – What are the keys to a successful draft? Get insider draft philosophy from the "Path to the Draft" crew.

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