The Barking Hard 2nd annual first round pick poll.

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

Just like last year ....this is not about who you want the Browns to draft, but rather who you believe they will draft.

Last year, I had Rolando McClain as my pick, with Haden as my second choice. This year, I am not yet sure who I am going with ...but I believe if Green, Dareus, or Miller are not available, we will try our hardest to trade down, perhaps snagging a Kerrigan, Watt, or Tyron Smith. I used Mayocks top 31 for the poll selections.

This is a public poll, and you can not change your pick.

[BernietheKid]

Originally Posted by TheBestPlayersPlay

Just like last year ....this is not about who you want the Browns to draft, but rather who you believe they will draft.

Last year, I had Rolando McClain as my pick, with Haden as my second choice. This year, I am not yet sure who I am going with ...but I believe if Green, Dareus, or Miller are not available, we will try our hardest to trade down, perhaps snagging a Kerrigan, Watt, or Tyron Smith. I used Mayocks top 31 for the poll selections.

This is a public poll, and you can not change your pick.

That is why I picked Kerrigan. I believe Heckert thinks it's better to sure up potentially four positions in the top 104 instead of just three.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by TheBestPlayersPlay

Just like last year ....this is not about who you want the Browns to draft, but rather who you believe they will draft.

Last year, I had Rolando McClain as my pick, with Haden as my second choice. This year, I am not yet sure who I am going with ...but I believe if Green, Dareus, or Miller are not available, we will try our hardest to trade down, perhaps snagging a Kerrigan, Watt, or Tyron Smith. I used Mayocks top 31 for the poll selections.

This is a public poll, and you can not change your pick.

My Johnson says Jones, in the football sense. HOWEVER, I followed your directions. Green seems like he'll be gone before #6. I think Julio will be a VERY strong temptation; but in the end a corner that runs 4.3s that can press up at the line, stay on the hip and contest the short passes many pass rushes can't get to is too invaluable for best player available consideration. Plus, he can fall back on one or 2 more roles if necessary like punt returns and moving to a Safety position. As fans we do this stuff for fun, which often has pressing need swaying us toward posting why we want somebody. Heckert does this for a living and he's not just whistling Dixie when he says it's important to remain focused on best player available in lieu of pressing need.

I was a Julio fan way before the Indy Combines added a new cluster of Julio fans. When people are holding dropped passes against a fresh & soph - they're not allowing upside and work ethic interventions. The improvements and progress witnessed against an elite conference of competitors that stockpiles the first few rounds of every NFL draft HAS to be taken serious. I'm sure he dropped occasional passes in 2010; but the frequency was considerably less. I remembered watching TO dropping more passes than he should have during one of his best statistical seasons so we need to remind ourselves that even some of the best in the business have an occasional concentration lapse or bad day. If he's got a game against his best matchup where he has a great statitistical day but dropped one pass after catching 9 or 10 - how much do I need to dwell on the one drop? Depends on my agenda and what I need to sell I guess. Again, I'd take Julio; but I'd be extremely comfortable with either pick.

IF we add the pic 6 at pick 6, I think we go the Shepstirfry.com route in round 2 with DE, Jabaal Sheard or the Riffer's-Rated-X route of DE Cam Heyward with a DE that can play inside techniques as well. Then we snag WR Leonard Hankerson in round 3 and join hands to sing Koombaya. After that, we have 5 more selections to witness. It's all good.

We're not gonna solve every need in just this draft; BUT we could really address the playmaker thing. In doing so, all those close games we lost by 1 or 2 big plays gets reduced significantly. While I ADORED the blue collar work ethic that said we won't ever quit; reality kicks me right between the lookers with not enough playmakers. When our oline had 2 guys in the Pro Bowl with Eric Steinbach as an alternate, we got the lunch pail guys. Now we need the scoreboard changers. Peterson scores, CAUSES sacks, disrupts passes and helps get his offense the ball. Above all, contesting SHORT PASSES from quicker throws is a bigger need than we might be considering.

[nickers]

With great uncertainty I picked Julio Jones...just a gut but Im probably wrong lol

[Enigmatic Evil]

I went with Quinn, I think he'll be there at #6 and if there isn't an obvious option over him. I get the feeling he is who we will take.

[Alvis27]

Gotta be Peterson. What the Browns need is stability in some area of their team and having that in their defense will take a lot of pressure off the offence which is still lacking some key prices before it comes outta its shell. Think Ravens the year they won the super bowl. that year their defense scored more points that their offence or at least the numbers were close. Build your defense so the other teams cant score so your offence doesn't have so much pressure on them and mistakes will go down. Also with Peterson the secondary will be complete with no weak points. Wright is a good CB but he was the player they targeted every game. with Peterson the deep pass and most plays 15+ will be eliminated. And if the ravens game where T.O. scored, what was it 3?, TD's isn't proof enough well then i don't know what to tell you.

[Vegasdogg]

Julio Jones.

Green will be gone and so will Peterson. Besides Dareus, there are too many ??? with the D-linemen to take them high in the draft, and Dareus will also be gone.

Unless a curve ball arrives in the name of Von Miller.

[PlaygroundLegend]

JULIOOOOOO!!!

We have talked for like.... 4 years about how we have lacked speed on both sides of the football. Ever since Braylon left (and maybe even while he was here) we have suffered at the WR position and needed a #1. We have a potentially exciting supporting cast with Cribbs and Robiskie that need some coverage drawn away from them to get to the next level. Heckert has actually, a pretty extensive history of picking HIS GUY no matter what pick he has (ex: Ward last year). Rumors have been flying that the scouting staff likes Jones over Green, especially in the WCO. Colt Mccoy REALLY needs a weapon this year to keep his confidence up and make a huge second year progression.

WE MUST NOT FORGET WHAT THIS REGIME HAS BEEN BUILT TO DO, AND HAS BEEN PREACHING SINCE THEIR ARRIVAL!!!

OFFENSE FIRST, OFFENSE FIRST, OFFENSE FIRST

Its where our big brains are, its what were going for

Heckert, Haskell, Holmgren, Shurmur VS. Jauron

I think we know who wins that one

[Brown Warrior]

I went Green, but I could've just as easily gone with Jones. My third pick would be Quinn. In a trade down, Quinn, Jones, Kerrigan, or Aldon Smith make sense.

I wouldn't have bitched at all about a Dareus pick. Total pass on Fairley and Bowers. Somebody who isn't a DL or WR? Uh... pass. Get real.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by PlaygroundLegend

JULIOOOOOO!!!

We have talked for like.... 4 years about how we have lacked speed on both sides of the football. Ever since Braylon left (and maybe even while he was here) we have suffered at the WR position and needed a #1. We have a potentially exciting supporting cast with Cribbs and Robiskie that need some coverage drawn away from them to get to the next level. Heckert has actually, a pretty extensive history of picking HIS GUY no matter what pick he has (ex: Ward last year). Rumors have been flying that the scouting staff likes Jones over Green, especially in the WCO. Colt Mccoy REALLY needs a weapon this year to keep his confidence up and make a huge second year progression.

WE MUST NOT FORGET WHAT THIS REGIME HAS BEEN BUILT TO DO, AND HAS BEEN PREACHING SINCE THEIR ARRIVAL!!!

OFFENSE FIRST, OFFENSE FIRST, OFFENSE FIRST

Its where our big brains are, its what were going for

Heckert, Haskell, Holmgren, Shurmur VS. Jauron

I think we know who wins that one

The draft doesn't always make sense to us fans looking at need only. Last year we went Haden and Ward first right? I think you might be very surprised at what the offensive minded Bill Walsh did with his 81 draft while a younger version of Mike Holmgren was learning under him.

In order for "The Catch" to be possible and meaningful - the opponent had to be kept in check by the defense first. That being the case, here's a very compelling excerpt of an article that speaks of a draft that speeded up SF's transcendence into NFL prominence before the Roger Craigs and Jerry Rices were added:

In the 1981 draft, the 49ers selected Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright and Carlton Williamson in the first three rounds. Toss in a free agent named Dwight Hicks and the 49ers fashioned an All-Pro defensive backfield in one off-season.
Other gems included Joe Montana in the third round in 1979, Pete Kugler in the 6th round in 1981, Jesse Sapolu in the 11th round in 1983 and Michael Carter in the 5th round in 1984.
Success came quickly in the 1980s. Late on a winter's day in the NFC Championship Game, Montana attempted to evade a sack by the hard-rushing Dallas Cowboys line by tossing a ball high in the end zone, too high, he believed, for anyone to catch.
Clark leaped in the corner of the end zone and ... THE CATCH. The 49ers won 28-27 and two weeks later clinched their first Super Bowl crown with a 26-21 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

If one was in diapers or awaiting birth - they might also need to understand the meaning of the 14 point swing that came from the goal line stand SF's defense had on Cincy's offense.

Anyway, seems to me like your BETTER organizations use the FULL draft. Dwight Clark was an All Pro drafted out of Clemson in round 10 as well as other finds mentioned in that article. Joe Montana was gift wrapped to them in round 3 just like Colt McCoy did to us here. Anyone think Holmgren thought of that when he thought of Colt McCoy as his next winning horse?

I'm still a HUGE Julio Jones fan; but Heckert isn't a fan. He's a front office guy that just reminded reporters a week or 2 ago that he has to be careful about avoiding the best player available on his board in lieu of reaching for need. Therefore, I tried to follow the directions of what TBPP asked of us in going with what we thought Heckert would do at #6 overall. If it was up to this blowhard, I'd pick Julio.

[Brown Warrior]

I don't disagree with that, Tom... using the whole draft. There are positions that present good value in 3 and 4 (interior DL, 4-3 LB, guards, 2nd or 3rd corners, etc.) and others that you'd really have to get lucky.

But we're talking about the today's NFL, the realities of what it's become quite by design, and the wisest architecture of a winning team.

Yes, it's still mostly about quarterback, pass protectors, and pass rushers. That's the solid common wisdom that doesn't get reduced by the NFL becoming a passing league. Rules have made it harder than ever to "cover your way to success," so pass rushers are even more important than before.

An interesting development (think Suh) is pressing the pocket from the inside, which also helps the outside rush. Interior DL will be asked to do more than occupy blockers. You'll want a guy who can collapse the pocket, either get their or lead the prey to the lion. That's what Mayock was saying about Aaron Smith in the 3-4.

Teams want #1 WRs and #1 corners, but more wise men than not will tell you not to draft the outside or backside guys high up. Sure as hell none of them are recommending building around those two positions, like drafting them in the top 10 two years in a row.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Brown Warrior

I don't disagree with that, Tom... using the whole draft. There are positions that present good value in 3 and 4 (interior DL, 4-3 LB, guards, 2nd or 3rd corners, etc.) and others that you'd really have to get lucky.

But we're talking about the today's NFL, the realities of what it's become quite by design, and the wisest architecture of a winning team.

Yes, it's still mostly about quarterback, pass protectors, and pass rushers. That's the solid common wisdom that doesn't get reduced by the NFL becoming a passing league. Rules have made it harder than ever to "cover your way to success," so pass rushers are even more important than before.

An interesting development (think Suh) is pressing the pocket from the inside, which also helps the outside rush. Interior DL will be asked to do more than occupy blockers. You'll want a guy who can collapse the pocket, either get their or lead the prey to the lion. That's what Mayock was saying about Aaron Smith in the 3-4.

Teams want #1 WRs and #1 corners, but more wise men than not will tell you not to draft the outside or backside guys high up. Sure as hell none of them are recommending building around those two positions, like drafting them in the top 10 two years in a row.

I hear what you are saying and you've mixed insome very good points. BUT, I think what Walsh did to get his secondary in tact and COMPLETED within 365 days was add Lott, Williamson and Wright in 1 draft while adding Dwight Hicks as a free agent. His first 3 round were DB and that was an offensive mind willing to be that unprecedented.

It all depends on your situation. Nobody that watched Sheldon Brown's tired legs and Eric Wright's unwillingness to even get into a competitive presnap stance thinks we're anywhere close to being set or complete in the secondary. We're 1 injury from football follies in our secondary truth be told.

We could have the BEST outside pass rush on the planet; but that seldom matters when we refuse to contest the quicker and shorter throws. One way to do it better is to improve the 3 technique via a pocket collapser that you spoke of or an ultra quick upfield penetration guy. Pittsburgh and Chicago were all about the outside pass rush when they faced Aaron Rodgers so they found little comfort in matching up with his quick throws off 3 step drops. The edge guys seemingly remained a time zone away from Rodgers all game. There's innovation getting rewarded IMO.

When Buffalo used to beat Marino's quick release virtually every post season, they pressed up the 180 pound Marks Brothers and heavily contested the short routes. They did alot of inside blitzing and they pressured Marino like noone else dared to. A more modern version of this is what the NY Jets did to Tom Brady's short passing game with 2 first round corners (they gave Cromartie Booklyn, Long Island and Staten Island to sign there so they committed quite heavily).

There's different ways to contest a short passing game. If given the choice between the best 3 technique and the best outside pass rusher, a 3 technique should factor into more plays and disrupt more things like that run defense we sucked at last year while it helps the otuside cage everything in. Also keep in mind how often the outside pass rushers in upper round one have failed.

This draft is unique in that it seems like there's 64 first round prospects. There's really alot of exciting choices and we'll have 7 more selections after round 1.