OBR Roundtable-Breakthrough Season

[BernietheKid]

OBR Roundtable
		By OBR Staff Posted Jun 23, 2011 Which Brown will enjoy a breakthrough 2011 season? 1 Comment
While the NFL is still stuck in a labor abyss and players are enjoying an extended vacation, the OBR staff took the opportunity to engage in a roundtable discussion regarding some of the more intriguing Browns’ storylines heading into the 2011 season*. *Assuming such a thing occurs. What follows is the fourth in a series of questions posed to OBR writers. Today’s topic regards which current unheralded player will come out of nowhere and have an impact on the 2011 Browns. Or, let’s just call this the Peyton Hillis Award. Fred Greetham Last year during training camp, it was apparent that Peyton Hillis was a pretty good player. He made a lot of plays during training camp, but since it was just practice, those watching thought there must be some reason he was thrown into the trade for Brady Quinn. As the preseason games began, it became apparent that Hillis was indeed a good player and the Browns were planning on using him in their offense. Hillis surprised many people with his emergence, including the coaching staff and front office. Eric Mangini insisted that Hillis was a big part of the Quinn trade, but the Browns also made a big trade to select Montario Hardesty in the second round. If we talk about a player coming out of nowhere to emerge as Hillis did, he really wouldn’t be coming out of nowhere, would he? But here’s an estimate of a player or two who might be on the edge of emerging and playing a key role for the Browns. Offensively, Carlton Mitchell might be the dark horse of the group of wide receivers. Tom Heckert drafted him, but Mangini didn’t play him. Pat Shurmur and Heckert think alike and Mitchell might be a receiver the Browns think can excel in the West Coast Offense. Other than Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi, someone has to emerge and if it’s not Mitchell, it could be Greg Little. Because he was drafted in the second-round, he really isn’t coming out of nowhere, but the return of Hardesty could be huge. Hillis has a huge target on his back and Hardesty could be the type of player to explode on the scene. Defensively, Jabaal Sheard is going to be the player to make the biggest impact. He will provide the pass rush the Browns have been lacking in years and because he wasn’t the first round pick, he will be a little under the radar. Don Delco Carlton Mitchell did not catch a pass in 2010. His official rookie stat line read one rush for nine yards and zero catches. Not exactly what you’d like from a wide out. That does not take away the fact that Mitchell is still tall. He is still fast. And he still can catch a football. It is up to Pat Shurmur to put Mitchell’s skills to work in the West Coast offense and get him some touches. Short, quick routes are what make up the West Coast office. Colt McCoy is an accurate passer. Mitchell is fast and strong. You like where this is going? If McCoy can get the ball into the hands of Mitchell on a short, quick route, there is the potential for Mitchell to be a playmaker. In his junior year at South Florida, Mitchell showed a penchant for big-play abilities. He averaged 17.7 yards per catch and two of his career catches are an 85-yard touchdown reception and a 75-yarder. And isn’t that is what has been missing from the Browns offense? A playmaker? Last season, one emerged in running back Peyton Hillis. Not much was expected of him entering the season, but soon Hillis showed he could make plays. The result? The Browns offense benefited. If Mitchell can “come out of nowhere” in 2011, the Browns offense will no doubt benefit. Dave Kolonich If I pick Montario Hardesty, does this mean that he will make the cover of Madden 13? Probably not. However, considering our current Madden cover boy’s running style, it’s probably a safe bet to assume that Hillis will not survive through the entirety of the coming season. In this case, Hardesty – despite his lingering knee injuries – could be the beneficiary of some increased playing time. Regardless of the team’s new West Coast offense, the Browns will still rely heavily on their ground game in 2011. Based on the lack of receiving threats and Pat Shurmur’s own recent history in St. Louis, Hardesty will become an important component of the team’s new offense. Assuming of course, that Hardesty can survive the preseason.

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[Alo]

I'm hoping that MoMass can be the breakout guy. The WCO's perfect for him and he actually reduced his drops last year: it just didn't seem like it because he struggled to connect with Colt downfield.

50+ catches and 800 yards from him would be great.

[Brown Warrior]

Originally Posted by Alo

I'm hoping that MoMass can be the breakout guy. The WCO's perfect for him and he actually reduced his drops last year: it just didn't seem like it because he struggled to connect with Colt downfield.

50+ catches and 800 yards from him would be great.

That's making me happy. Got more? Why is her perfect for the WCO? I need to hear these things from you, Sunshine.

[Alo]

MoMass is quick off the line -- if you watch him & Robo on the field together, the difference is pretty significant -- and has been most effective on slants. The quick slant's big in the WCO, and he'll be much better at bringing in those than trying to keep his eye on pop flys.

Also, I don't think you can underestimate the impact working with one uncontested starting QB will have on MoMass's game. In '09, Massaquoi had a strong rapport with DA but not Quinn; last year, he had a nice bromance going with Delhomme but didn't fare as well with Seneca or Freckles, a guy he hadn't worked with in the preseason.

In Delhomme's four starts, Mohamed hauled in 13 catches for 222 yards -- 52/888 in a sixteen game projection. Hopefully, with plenty of time to develop a love affair with Colt, he'll match or best that production this year.

[Brown Warrior]

Great stuff, AA. Many thanks.

[Sez.EJ]

refreshing!

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Alo

MoMass is quick off the line -- if you watch him & Robo on the field together, the difference is pretty significant -- and has been most effective on slants. The quick slant's big in the WCO, and he'll be much better at bringing in those than trying to keep his eye on pop flys.

Also, I don't think you can underestimate the impact working with one uncontested starting QB will have on MoMass's game. In '09, Massaquoi had a strong rapport with DA but not Quinn; last year, he had a nice bromance going with Delhomme but didn't fare as well with Seneca or Freckles, a guy he hadn't worked with in the preseason.

In Delhomme's four starts, Mohamed hauled in 13 catches for 222 yards -- 52/888 in a sixteen game projection. Hopefully, with plenty of time to develop a love affair with Colt, he'll match or best that production this year.

Well done Alo! I like MoMass too! Speaking of the slant and its utmost importance to the WCO, that was the route he scored on Revis Island with 44 seconds left to get us into OT. The passer was Colt McCoy. FWIW, here's the passer rating comparison between Colt McCoy and Mark SayCheese that game inspite of NY possessing the 1st round QB and two 1st round WRs (kind of shocking they needed the divine intervention of a Stuckey fumble at the NY 30 yard line considering it all):

NY Jets	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	RATING
Sanchez	27/44	299	6.8	2	1	87.2
Cleveland	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	RATING
McCoy	18/31	205	6.6	1	0	88.8

AND if we remember what MoMass' best game was in 2009, it was in Pontiac Michigan where Quinn dialed him up deep for a 59 yard TD reception. That day MoMass had 5 receptions for 115 yards and 1 TD, which gave him an average of 23 yards per catch that day.

LOVED what you said about established chemistry with the QBs getting at least 50% of the training camp reps. I'm expecting a great degree of growth in all parties spendign time together perfecting timing, reps and chemistry.

[Brown Warrior]

All good points.

[Sez.EJ]

I agree that Colt working with the WR's at the #1 will make a big difference. That's a problem this year though regarding that chemistry,.. no mini camps, no ota's, that's 3 months of practice missed. Training camp may even be shrunk this year. Those private workouts are only a couple days long each.. It's a far cry from what they would get if this were a normal offseason. It's too bad, but we have to suck it up and move forward.

[Brown Warrior]

I think my favorite aspect of the offseason has been the swagger you see from McCoy and Hillis and all the face time with fans and charities from Joe Haden. Team identity matters and these are three really, really good guys... but not in a sweet-ass way. They wanna win.

Even Michael David Smith said something about the confidence emanating from the young Browns "core," the faces of the franchise.

[Greythan]

I'll like MoMass when I see him show a basic level of field awareness. Until then, he's suspect.

Just too many times last year of him not getting two feet in and/or not making a basic adjustment to catchable balls. Hopefully, he's worked his ass off on internalizing the various technical skills that go into "awareness".

[Alo]

I get that, Greythan. Guess the reason for optimism is that it wasn't as big an issue when he played with Stafford at Georgia -- that fits the one QB thesis I very much hope is accurate.