2011 NFL Draft: Browns GM Tom Heckert confident in his skills and in relationship with coach Pat Shurmur

[BernietheKid]

2011 NFL Draft: Browns GM Tom Heckert confident in his skills and in relationship with coach Pat Shurmur
NFL Network's Charlie Casserly still confident Da'Quan Bowers will go in first round
By Nate Ulrich
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 04:48 p.m. EDT, Apr 13, 2011

BEREA: Browns General Manager Tom Heckert believes he can watch film with a fellow personnel whiz and detect something the other guy can't.
So what has he been focusing on while evaluating prospects leading up to the NFL Draft, which starts two weeks from Thursday

''It could be anything. It's just effort or lack of effort,'' Heckert said. ''The day after the draft, you get all those grades from all the media people. You can throw those out the window 'cause no one knows. We don't even know. But I just think the more tape you watch, the more little things you can find. Everybody knows if the guy's a really good athlete or if he's a bad athlete. That stuff's easy. It's the other stuff.

''And it's not just the tape watching. It's the interview process and talking to the coaches. You have to find football players. They don't have to be what everybody writes about: 'Oh, this guy has 15 sacks.' That's great. If you can get the guy that has 15 sacks and he's tough guy and he's smart, that's the perfect guy. Those guys don't exist very much.''

New Browns coach Pat Shurmur said he and Heckert have similar opinions about the types of players the team should draft. The duo established an understanding while working together for the Philadelphia Eagles.

''We're looking for football players that are passionate about their sport, are productive and then basically are people that the Browns can be proud of,'' Shurmur said. ''But it all comes back to them being able to play the game and play it at a high level.''

Heckert doesn't want the Browns' needs at certain positions to dictate which prospects he chooses. Instead, he wants to select the best player available, especially when the
Browns are put on the clock with the sixth overall pick.

The objective is easy enough to understand, but how does Heckert determine which players are better than others?

''There's a lot of glamorous picks that everybody can make,'' he said. ''If you stick to what you believe in with the character stuff and with the love of the game, [you'll narrow down the candidates]. If you have eight draft picks, like we do this year, you don't need to pick eight superstar athletes.

''They have to be good football players, and I think sometimes people lose track of that. They want the guy that ran really fast, and had some character [issues]. They say, 'Well, he'll be fine when we get him here.' I don't believe in that.''

Heckert is also skeptical of players whose performances at the NFL Scouting Combine overshadow their production in college.

''You go back and look at [tape], and then you make the decision,'' Heckert said. ''You say, 'Well, maybe I did miss on him.' Or you say, 'Nope. He's a great workout guy, but he's not a very good football player. He's not as good a football player as some people think he is.' You do have to at least check it out, but you can't just go by whatever happens at the combine.''

Brownies

Heckert, Browns President Mike Holmgren and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will participate in a conference call Thursday with season-ticket holders, club-level members, suite holders and corporate partners. For more information, visit ClevelandBrowns.com. . . . According to reports, the Browns have hosted or are expected to host the following prospects during visits this week: defensive ends

Da'Quan Bowers of Clemson and Robert Quinn of North Carolina, wide receivers A.J. Green of Georgia, Julio Jones of Alabama and Jerrel Jernigan of Troy, cornerbacks Patrick Peterson of LSU and Prince Amukamara of Nebraska, defensive tackles Marcell Dareus of Alabama and Nick Fairley of Auburn, linebacker Von Miller of Texas A&M and quarterback Cam Newton of Auburn. . . . Positive and negative reports surfaced after the medical recheck of Bowers' surgically repaired right knee this past weekend.

NFL Network analyst Charley Casserly doesn't think Bowers will fall out of the first round despite the uncertainty surrounding his health. ''The feeling is the knee is an issue,'' Casserly said Wednesday during a conference call. ''But you're gonna find somebody out of the 32 teams that will figure the price is right and will take that shot.''

Ohio.com - 2011 NFL Draft: Browns GM Tom Heckert confident in his skills and in relationship with coach Pat Shurmur

[YtownBacker]

Great stuff. What I really love is the fact that he doesn't seem to be swayed by workouts over game film. I've always said that some players workout in shorts a lot better then they play on game day.

Heckert seems to have his ducks in a row and I love his approach to the draft.

[Brown Warrior]

Was it just me, but between the lines I heard him saying, "No fucking way I'd draft top 10 corners in back to back years?"

[Sez.EJ]

WOW. I think your drumstick must be worn down to a tiny nub. dont' poke your eye out.

So when we draft someone other than Peterson..which everyone on the board is alo hoping happens.. if we get the other guys we like..are you going to proclaim you were right?.. pfft

[Brown Warrior]

Well... way to take a joke.

[Sez.EJ]

joke followed by a joke..

[Brown Warrior]

Originally Posted by Sez.EJ

joke followed by a joke..

Hmm?

Anyway... I was making fun of myself.

[Vegasdogg]

Originally Posted by BernietheKid

''It could be anything. It's just effort or lack of effort,'' Heckert said. ''The day after the draft, you get all those grades from all the media people. You can throw those out the window 'cause no one knows. We don't even know. But I just think the more tape you watch, the more little things you can find. Everybody knows if the guy's a really good athlete or if he's a bad athlete. That stuff's easy. It's the other stuff. ''And it's not just the tape watching. It's the interview process and talking to the coaches.

You have to find football players. They don't have to be what everybody writes about: 'Oh, this guy has 15 sacks.' That's great. If you can get the guy that has 15 sacks and he's tough guy and he's smart, that's the perfect guy. Those guys don't exist very much.''

LOL....Heckert just laughed at all the scribes and told them they basically don't know squat. I dig Heckert and we could really use a payoff this draft that was larger than 2010's. He has had a year in place, has the WCO coach, and the 4-3. Make it happen.

The more I read the more I like. And yes, I drink increasingly larger quantities of Holmgren and Heckert kool aid, and go back and ask for seconds.

[Riffer X]

Sounded like Heck just described JJ Watt to me.

[PlaygroundLegend]

Im going to tell you guys what I see, because you cant stop me (haha!)

Yes im going to sway this to cater to my personal interests..... but here it is anyway

We need offense and that is why we brought in who we did, Mccoy needs a weapon, rumors say JJ is high on our draft board...

Look at Joe Haden... please...

Joe Haden is a great guy, he is extremely coachable, in no ways self centered, and TOUGH!!!
He is tough as nails... and his attitude is AMAZING... he just sponsored a local little league team when they asked him on twitter!

What guy in the top ten is alot like Haden...

Julio Jones... he may not be as well spoken..... he's kind of quiet, but he is tough as nails! He played with a broken hand, he hits DB's, he ran at the combine with a god damn broken foot... and he knew about it and still took the chance at injuring it and dropping his stock with a slow time.

I saw a recent interview with him, where people kept trying to get him to talk about 40 times and how fast he is, he deflected and wanted to talk about how he could better himself as a player, he kept talking about his coachability and his experience in a pro offense and how that can help him at the next level, he kept trying to take attention away from himself, and talked about team. He talked about how he loves to block and help the RB get yards, and how it helps the team. The other day, he was asked about Cleveland and his face lit up.....

This guy is the offensive version of Joe Haden, and thats why I think the browns will select him at 6, he's a Heckert guy, and I think... for some crazy reason... he wants to be a brown

I really hope we make the right choice on draft day

[Vegasdogg]

PGL I am buying what you're selling. If that's all true this dude is perfect. Everything I'd want a player to say and do is all wrapped up in Jones.

I've got a slight concern about him being nicked up a little more than I'd want, but who besides Green, PP, Dareus and Miller doesn't have an issue or two.

I'm in the Jones corner with you. Sold!!!

[Brown Warrior]

I don't even know if it makes any sense, but I find myself wanting Julio even more than A.J., too. Love the toughness, picture him running over a corner or two. God, I hate corners.

Did I tell you my wife left me for a corner? Little fucker.