Would Heckert build the Dream Team?

[DieselPusher]

If he was still in Philly, would the Dream Team exist?

[Alo]

A complicated question. If the reports were accurate, Heckert was losing power to Howie Roseman in Philly; it's part of the reason why people weren't surprised he accepted the Browns' GM job. So while he still did much of the personnel scouting, he may not have had as large an imprint on the '08-'09 teams, which were what set up the Dream Team gambit.

But I bet Vick wouldn't be the Eagles' QB right now. Tommy loves Kolb -- he probably would have wanted to build a young team around him. That may have put him at odds with Andy Reid, who needs to get that SB ring on his stubby finger soon.

[Enigmatic Evil]

Here I thought this was going to be some optimism for the team of Heckert building a dream team HERE... through the draft and with smart personnel decisions.

Hey I can dream.

[next2nothing]

Originally Posted by Enigmatic Evil

Here I thought this was going to be some optimism for the team of Heckert building a dream team HERE... through the draft and with smart personnel decisions.

Hey I can dream.

I think that will happen in time. I like what Heckert as done so far and as much as I love watching football, I can't wait till the draft next year to see who we grab.

On a side note; this Eagles team is just more proof that you can't BUY championships. It's good drafting and smart FA that wins you the Super Bowl, not Maddenesque FA pick ups.

[YtownBacker]

Neither Heckert or Holmgren have ever been big on bringing in a lot of free agents to build their teams around.

If they draft well then the Browns have a chance to be a very good winning franchise. It's all about the draft. You an usually trace year in and year out losing to a bunch of bad drafts. Granted a solid FA pickup to fill a void where a draft pick didn't pan out is great but to try to buy a dream team through FA isn't how you build a franchise.

[Enigmatic Evil]

Exactly Y-Town, Heckert's had two pretty good drafts so far, IMO. A third would go a long way in pushing this team in the right direction but we need to pull the trigger on at least a WR, LB and a RT at least for this team to move forward. I don't think we can put all of our eggs in the Greg Little basket, but we need someone who can step in and be a key contributor.

Depending on how things pan out, we may also need a QB. Heckert's drafted well, we've got our cornerstone CB, and we've got some other pieces of the puzzle but we're still working with half a puzzle at best right now, we need to complete the puzzle and I think fans are getting bitter with waiting for that to be done without really stopping to realize that it's never been done yet to this point. We've been working with half a puzzle for over a decade.

[YtownBacker]

Originally Posted by Enigmatic Evil

Exactly Y-Town, Heckert's had two pretty good drafts so far, IMO. A third would go a long way in pushing this team in the right direction but we need to pull the trigger on at least a WR, LB and a RT at least for this team to move forward. I don't think we can put all of our eggs in the Greg Little basket, but we need someone who can step in and be a key contributor.

Depending on how things pan out, we may also need a QB. Heckert's drafted well, we've got our cornerstone CB, and we've got some other pieces of the puzzle but we're still working with half a puzzle at best right now, we need to complete the puzzle and I think fans are getting bitter with waiting for that to be done without really stopping to realize that it's never been done yet to this point. We've been working with half a puzzle for over a decade.

I look back at the lack of talent this team had when Heckert came in and things look a lot better know. We at least are developing a solid core of young players.

I agree that QB will be the driving factor going forward. They still have 12 more games to evaluate Colt. The game comes together and slows down for young QBs as they get experience. Sometimes it comes together for them quickly and sometimes it seems guys just can't break through to the final step. It took 3 years for Brees and some guys can step right off the bus and get it done. I see enough in Colt to let the year play out. He has shown the potential to be a franchise QB, but I agree he isn't there yet.

That said, I think a lot of what Heckert has done has been based on wanting to have a solid team in place when they do find or develop their franchise QB. When you know you have the QB then you can go out and spend a top #1 pick on a receiver. If you don't have a QB it's like bringing Brandon Marshall to Miami. It doesn't equate to more wins.

[Brown Warrior]

Shockingly, I like the plan about 95%. I just think we could've added one fast linebacker, one WR, and one RT in free agency. All middling guys. Apparently Greco isn't what some of the media thought he would be our he would've been at RT when Pashos was out.

Yes, I'm still pissed about James Jones (5 catches, 140 yards). Like the NFLN guys said, Jones and the Browns both lost by not getting married. Jones would get WAY more looks in Cleveland and obviously be our best WR by a fairly huge margin. Little would be a badass #2 like Boldin and Massoquoi could become the slot he was at UGA.

But we whiffed on that one and what's done is done. I like locking down the core, getting younger, and having two #1s next year. The plan works better if we have our long-term answer in McCoy, but that's still very much up in the air... like too many of his deep outs. Ba-dum bump.

[Greythan]

But we whiffed on that one and what's done is done.

Its a whiff after four games?

That's emotion and not analysis Shep. You're a sports car guy so the bright shiny Porsche (QB/WR) is always going to look better to you than the SUV (DL) even if its a loaded Escalade.

I wanted Jones too. However, to call it a whiff before we see these players develop AND find out what we get with Atlanta's number 1 next year is flat out silly.

EDIT: Woops, I blew this post. Thought BW was talking about Julio Jones. My fault.

[Enigmatic Evil]

I really don't know if James Jones would have been a difference maker here. If he was here, I'd see Jones, Cribbs, MoMass and Little competing for 3 spots and then you have Robo completely out of the picture (which is your little fantasy, I know) but this gives Little less playing time to get used to the NFL speed, and arguably. I don't think we would see much change in our offensive production with James Jones in the lineup. We would still be doing dink-and-dunk plays that Colt would need due to crazy pressure and the people would still be saying "We're using our WR's too much!" and yet complain about the lack of WR production. You cant force production and I think/hope Shurmur is learning that lesson now.

[Brown Warrior]

Originally Posted by Greythan

Its a whiff after four games?

That's emotion and not analysis Shep. You're a sports car guy so the bright shiny Porsche (QB/WR) is always going to look better to you than the SUV (DL) even if its a loaded Escalade.

I wanted Jones too. However, to call it a whiff before we see these players develop AND find out what we get with Atlanta's number 1 next year is flat out silly.

EDIT: Woops, I blew this post. Thought BW was talking about Julio Jones. My fault.

I think we whiffed by not getting either Julio Jones... or James Jones AND Greg Little. I'll stick with that until I stop feeling that way but it hasn't happened. James Jones just made WAY too much sense to not do, in my humble opinion (!).

Ironically: Total SUV guy and I don't actually like sports cars at all! I'm 6'3" and I hate when my head or hair touches the roof because I'm claustrophobic. Also hate "little" shoes on grown men, like Vans. But all of that is for my shrink. I drive a black X5 with bitchin' black rims, though. Looks like a Batman SUV.

[Brown Warrior]

Originally Posted by Enigmatic Evil

I really don't know if James Jones would have been a difference maker here. If he was here, I'd see Jones, Cribbs, MoMass and Little competing for 3 spots and then you have Robo completely out of the picture (which is your little fantasy, I know) but this gives Little less playing time to get used to the NFL speed, and arguably. I don't think we would see much change in our offensive production with James Jones in the lineup. We would still be doing dink-and-dunk plays that Colt would need due to crazy pressure and the people would still be saying "We're using our WR's too much!" and yet complain about the lack of WR production. You cant force production and I think/hope Shurmur is learning that lesson now.

Wait... my dream is for Robo to be out of the picture? You don't think he's currently out of the picture? Mostly taking up a roster spot? You wouldn't rather have James Jones than Brian Robiskie?

You must be a Buckeye.