Are You Ready for Some Free Agency???

[Enigmatic Evil]

With Robo and MoMass, you add some young flare to the mix with Carlton Mitchell maybe finally getting a shot after doing nothing last year and Greg Little who WILL make plays for us this coming season, mark my words. Add a Johnathan Haggerty into the mix who I hope can come back and continue right where he left off impressing the coaching staff.

There's five names with some promise and I honestly don't expect we will bring in one WR let alone two but it wouldn't be surprising if they didn't.

The way i see it, we need Robo and MoMass to step up where they did not last year. Too many times, Robo just disappeared last year. He started a handful of games but only really had one good game offensively for us. MoMass looked downright awful at times and I am still not convinced he's anything more than a potential slot receiver.

Cribbs looked good at moments even after his injury, if he's healthy I think he will be just that, another body but not someone I expect to step in and be a #1 guy... though I would hope that he could do that. I like his presence because he brings a sense of leadership and 'veteran' attitude to our offense and our WR corps... he's not as experienced in WR as we want but he CAN do it. I think he's good enough. He had times where he looked better than MoMass and Robo last year but all anyone ever did was rip on his injuries.

If NOBODY is going to step up and be a consistent contributor in our WR pool, we will have no choice but to look to free agency for someone that can produce.

Originally Posted by Riffer X

I like Robo in this scheme, a lot. We need solid guys who can catch and run disciplined routes, they will get theirs because this offense is all about attacking weak spots with all the skill set guys. Zone defenses can only cover so much, and the beauty of having a QB who can read it quickly and deliver accurately is it is almost unstoppable if executed correctly. The key to your receivers is making the tough catches, and that is something Robo can do.

I have a great feeling about Mitchell this year too.

Originally Posted by Alo

Before Cribbs' toes were chopped off, he actually did some decent work as a deep threat. He's never become a precise route runner, but he's got enough speed to get downfield.

Mitchell certainly has the jets to do the same, but he'll have to start bringing in the ball. And unless he absolutely floors the coaching staff, he may have to prove himself on specials to dress every week.

[Alo]

Interestingly, scUM product Alan Branch appears to have turned his career around, playing well as a rotational guy in AZ. And at 6'6", 320+, he fits what Jauron looks for in his DTs. He could steal some naps from Rubin & Taylor, thereby making sure that the fat guys don't wear down.

Because he's had some effort and injury issues, Branch wouldn't be a surefire solid signing, but he could be a nice risk/reward addition to get the Browns over the salary floor.

[Riffer X]

Originally Posted by Alo

Interestingly, scUM product Alan Branch appears to have turned his career around, playing well as a rotational guy in AZ. And at 6'6", 320+, he fits what Jauron looks for in his DTs. He could steal some naps from Rubin & Taylor, thereby making sure that the fat guys don't wear down.

Because he's had some effort and injury issues, Branch wouldn't be a surefire solid signing, but he could be a nice risk/reward addition to get the Browns over the salary floor.

Absolutely, that would be a nice 3 man rotation of sumo wrestlers and Branch wouldn't be counted on for too many snaps a game. He could be very effective coming in fresh after Rubin and Taylor wear down the oline.

[Brown Warrior]

I'm sticking to this: Schaefering is gonna be a good 3-tech, a more traditional version than Taylor and nice for the rotation, especially on passing downs.

Vikings are sounding more and more like a team that will start Robison and let Edwards walk. The Browns might be the team that pays the shit out of him. We'll have to do that with 4-5 players... and LDE would be a very nice place. I'd add FS, RT, and WR.

We need depth at linebacker but none of the guys who will be out there will be all that expensive. I wouldn't mind if we snatched Brandon Carr away from KC and let Wright walk.

[Alo]

Last year, the Iggles had four DTs (Patterson, Bunkley, Dixon, Laws) and an end/inside pass rusher (Tapp) on their 53 man. The Browns could add a guy to the stable and still see what Schaefering can do.

I'd also add an undrafted guy to challenge the vets: word is the team's new d-line coach is a smart dude, so give him a chance to coach up a youngun. Martin Parker's a guy who impressed the hell out of me at the East-West Shrine Game practices: I'd go Shep-QB-crazy if the team brought him in.

[Brown Warrior]

Originally Posted by Alo

Last year, the Iggles had four DTs (Patterson, Bunkley, Dixon, Laws) and an end/inside pass rusher (Tapp) on their 53 man. The Browns could add a guy to the stable and still see what Schaefering can do.

I'd also add an undrafted guy to challenge the vets: word is the team's new d-line coach is a smart dude, so give him a chance to coach up a youngun. Martin Parker's a guy who impressed the hell out of me at the East-West Shrine Game practices: I'd go Shep-QB-crazy if the team brought him in.

When you talk DL and DL depth, I'm extremely on board, Mister McFunnypants.

[Alo]

I took a quick look at Alan Branch: he's got a quick first step comparable to our current fatties -- I'm always amazed how well these guys move -- and the strength to collapse the pocket on passing downs. He was a bit better pass rusher than I expected.

On the other hand, his agility is below average -- he ends up on the ground too often -- and the motor issues do pop up now and then. It doesn't look like he reads blocks very well either.

Overall, he has the look of a solid depth player who's a better fit for Jauron's system than AZ's quasi-3-4 D. He'd be the third best d-tackle on the team and should get a nice just below starter $ deal.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Alo

I took a quick look at Alan Branch: he's got a quick first step comparable to our current fatties -- I'm always amazed how well these guys move -- and the strength to collapse the pocket on passing downs. He was a bit better pass rusher than I expected.

On the other hand, his agility is below average -- he ends up on the ground too often -- and the motor issues do pop up now and then. It doesn't look like he reads blocks very well either.

Overall, he has the look of a solid depth player who's a better fit for Jauron's system than AZ's quasi-3-4 D. He'd be the third best d-tackle on the team and should get a nice just below starter $ deal.

This is a very good idea IMO. I remember Branch being a beast at the school up north. If he gets in the right scheme or has the right coach tapping into his assets, it would be a good addition. At a 3 technique, the quickness for his size prolly supercedes the agility thing when you think about the small area he will be responsible for.

There's definitely some questions that remain like:
1) Will Jauron play Schaefering inside or outside?
2) The answer to the first question may depend on how stout the pass rushers on the edge are at containing the run.
3) What's Robaire's situation at least in terms of rotation and contract?
4) D. Robinson showed me some quickness - will it ttranslate well for a 4 man line scheme?
5) Is Jayme Mitchell still here under contract?

[Enigmatic Evil]

My two cents on the points you've raised Tom:
1) Depending on what Jauron wants, I bet Schaefering could play from anywhere on our line if he's that good of a depth guy. He's been a DE on our team so far, hasn't he? How is the transition from end to tackle?
2) Yes. We may bring different personnel packages too depending on what kind of D we're going for on a given play too, pass vs run attack.
3) I think Robaire is an unrestricted FA? He signed for 4 years in 2007, so this past season was the final season of his contract. He can start for us (in a pinch), and he can play DE or DT, he's done so in the past for us. I think he's essential for this period of time. Not a starter essentially but someone who can and will fill in when needed
4) Derreck Robinson is a name you guys threw around a lot late last season but he's a player I saw next to nothing from (much like Schafering, IMO) but he doesn't strike me as someone who will be a starter on our D. End of story... He had career highs for us last season, for what it's worth, a meager 13 tackles and .5 of a sack.
5) I read something that said Heckert wants to re-sign Mitchell ASAP. My biggest beef is if he impressed the brass so much last season, how come he didn't even play one snap when we could have used him surely?

[Alo]

It's unclear what the Browns will do with Schaefering. The buzz during the draft season was that they liked him as a 3-tech, then they proceeded to draft an entirely different type of defensive tackle. Heckert & Jauron have said that they want their d-tackles to be able to play both one and three-technique, which Schaefering may lack the versatility to do.

Perhaps he'll carve out a niche as a nickel rusher: he's flashed pass rush ability in the past -- the Jets game is a good example -- but he hasn't done it consistently. Maybe playing lighter will lead to more success and open up a swing LDE/DT role for him.

In the second half of the season, Derreck Robinson quietly played about twenty snaps a game. He's definitely got some quickness, but, as EE noted, he hasn't jumped off the screen. But I do think he could compete for a roster spot, especially if Robaire's gone (I assume he will be) and Schaef slides into a different role.

[Brown Warrior]

Heckert's made it pretty clear he likes Jayme Mitchell a lot and he's in the Browns' plans. I personally think Shaefering is a three-tech (he played DT in college) and brings something different from Rubin/Taylor. I think those four guys and Benard give us a nice starting point... and I'm also under the impression that the Browns expect Robaire Smith to be on the team.

I think we're Ray Edwards from being really strong on the DL, and that's awfully damn important.

[Flugel]

This has been a good conversation. Alot of good points made about the dline stuff EE, Alo and Shep. I LIKE Schaefering's flexibility to play inside or outside. And here's the thign to remember most about Schaefering OR Robinson, they're rotation guys that can bring us some degree of reliability when called upon. If we remember the difference between Rubin standing straight up and losing leverage at the snap as a rookie to playing with much better leverage as a 2nd year player - Robinson is capable of learning the same types of things. I tend to think both Robinson and Schaefering are better suited to play in 4 man line schemes than a 3 man front. Remember how much better Michael Dean Perry looked when when he got the schematic green light to play 1 gap football in many-an-opponents' backfields? I mean we're talking asslit upfield giddyuppage here. As a stationary 2 gapper, he was pretty ho-home bodering on liability.

REALITY is the 4-3 should have been the type defense we invited Corey Williams and Dunking-Doughnuts-instead-basketballs Rogers to or it was an epic waste of time overpaying both players to play a scheme they aren't best suited for. My guess is the Yale Grad Jauron can take a look at what we have and offer up some variations of schemes up front. There's DCs that like 2 gap football; but LOVE to mix it up with some 1 gap styles that slant to power/strength of the offense or toward the wide side of the field. Some LOVE to use the X-stunts. I don't know WHO remembers when Jauron had Bryce Paup down in Jax; but they did alot of outside stunts with their OLBers and DEs. Last I heard, Jauron wasn't sure if he wanted to stand Benard up or use him out of a 3 point stance. IMO, he's far more explosive coming out of a 3 point stance.

As you know I'm real Sicka-Sucky so I'm coming from a homer angle with the enthusiasm of I can't wait to see how the young group of dlinemen respond to the new schemes that will be installed. Personally, I've had enough of the 3-4 to last me a lifetime. Just keep in mind that ALOT of DCs out there have been coaching a LONG time; so they they may not always remain stuck on pause in in preference of 2 gap or 1 gap upfront. I know some people are worried that Jauron wants more of the 2 gap style. In particular, when we talk about the pass rush off the edge - he LIKES the DE to maintain outside leverage all the way through the pass rush. He doesn't like the inside olay move from his DEs, which is WHY he loves X stunt where he'll have the DE 1 gaping the outside shoulder of the OT while the OLBer shoots the inside gap of tackle. When this happens, the pass rusher is the backer and the DE cannot lose that outside leverage and contain under any circumstance. In fact, if there's a swing pass coming up over that blitzing backer - guess who better be there? The DE in that X stunt. Again, I'm looking forward to seeing what we do with the personnel we have. Some of these guys might pleasantly surprise us.