Scenario...

[Shep]

If you check out a lot of the mocks, you can see the craziness at the Browns pick. A lot of Clausens, in spite of Holmgren's recent comments, the occasional Spiller in spite of Harrison and Hillis, the odd McClain, and almost no Hadens. Sometimes Berry falls.

The problem scenario for the Browns seems to be if they can't get up to Bradford and Berry is off the board.

The Browns remaining choices might be Clausen (most likely to be gone), Haden, Berry, McClain... or try like hell to trade down.

It really gets interesting if the Browns pick up a corner before the draft, which some think they'll do (maybe Richard Marshall). If Bryant's too wacky...

What do the Browns do?

Again... I've never felt quite so clueless.

[brownspwnj00]

Why is it so hard for you to realize that we would take Haden in that scenario?

.....

Oh wait, forgot who I was talking to.

[Shep]

Point is, it's hard for a LOT of mocksters to envision the Browns taking Haden that high. Hell, it's high for any defensive back, but the guy has to be just about perfect.

I don't think Haden is Revis... who went 14th.

No doubt it COULD happen, but the closer the draft gets, the tougher it is for me to envision. I'm really hoping we get a corner before the draft... or trade down.

[Alo]

Not sure I've seen a move away from considering Haden at #7. Sobo's mock, updated just last week, has us taking the Florida CB.

However, it does seem like more and more mocks have Berry sliding to #7.

[Shep]

I was going from a link site, and like one of the most recent mocks had us taking Haden. It was all over the place.

Yeah, I've seen more of Berry making it to us, too.

[brownspwnj00]

Hard to take a DB that high? What about Sean Taylor, Pacman Jones, Antrel Rolle, Carlos Rogers, Laron Landry, Donte Whitner, Michael Huff, etc. etc. Plenty of DB's have been taken that high in the last several years. I don't think it's the issue that you're trying to make it out to be.

Where Revis was picked means nothing. He's simply a guy who's outplayed his draft position.

The real meaning of this thread: Shep doesn't want a DB, so he's hoping there's another answer floating out in the universe somewhere.

[Alo]

Originally Posted by Shep

I was going from a link site, and like one of the most recent mocks had us taking Haden. It was all over the place.

Yeah, I've seen more of Berry making it to us, too.

There are so many mocks out there, and of so widely varying quality, that I'm not sure going down the list of them is a productive exercise. Personally, I try to limit myself to 5 or 6 respected mocksters that I check regularly.

The rising number of Berry picks probably explains why you're seeing less of Haden. But Joe was just invited to the draft, which could be a sign that his stock hasn't dropped all that much, if at all.

Wes Bunting of the National Football Post is hearing that the Browns will be "very happy" with Haden, should Berry not be available. It makes a lot of sense, assuming the front office isn't madly in love with Bryant or one of the OLBs.

[Enigmatic Evil]

I honestly think that if Berry isn't available at #7, and there isn't anybody else at the board who really feels right at #7, we should trade down. I think we should be taking someone in the Secondary, or maybe a Linebacker in the first round (I'm not sure who's out there.) We need Linemen too... We need Defensive upgrade bad. Thats what I think our first round should be devoted to.

I like the Haden pick because, despite the combine I think he's worked past that and he's shown that he has a great work ethic and he's focused on becoming a better football player regardless of what some numbers say his 'potential' is. My gut tells me that might be too high to take him, but I think there's a potential for Haden to be a very rewarding pick for us.

Fuck Clausen, really. I don't want him. It would be counter-productive to be paying a QB first-round money when we got Wallace and JDH earning what they are. Especially since Mike has pretty much said he's not his guy, it would not make much sense that we would take him. I envision that if any of the 'sure' picks aren't there for us we will or should anyway, trade down.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Shep

If you check out a lot of the mocks, you can see the craziness at the Browns pick. A lot of Clausens, in spite of Holmgren's recent comments, the occasional Spiller in spite of Harrison and Hillis, the odd McClain, and almost no Hadens. Sometimes Berry falls.

The problem scenario for the Browns seems to be if they can't get up to Bradford and Berry is off the board.

The Browns remaining choices might be Clausen (most likely to be gone), Haden, Berry, McClain... or try like hell to trade down.

It really gets interesting if the Browns pick up a corner before the draft, which some think they'll do (maybe Richard Marshall). If Bryant's too wacky...

Shep,
I've always enjoyed your passion and quest for a franchise QB. LOVE your work when you don't need an emotional rescue. However, I like the way you think a Spiller mention is absurd ONLY to tell us in the 400th post of the week you've got sekoya wood for Clausen. You've got countless threads out there and every single one of them sneaks in Valentine's Hallmark for for the California Golden Child Clausen. You can word it another 400 ways and people are STILL going to tell you another 400 times they think he's overrated off a limited supply and demand of "ready-to-go QBs" as rookies.

Like I said last year at this time PRE DRAFT - the BEST immediate offensive impact I saw came through the legs of Percy Harvin. 1 Rookie of the Year trophy later - how did I do? How did Minnesota do because of him? How did Sidney Rice do be cause of him? How did TE Shiancoe do because of him? How did he boost their KO return game? This just in, teams want to kick away from Cribbs so wouldn't it be cool to have Spiller be their alternative? What sucks about 8 returns for TDs for the team he led to an ACC Championship appearance (and scored 4 TDs in that game)? Which of the the countless mocks last year projected Harvin as the best immediate impact? Isn't it COOL to have the testicle fortitude to resist consensus and say I was the ONE that thought we could use his foot speed when it wasn't popular?

AGAIN, it's all in the Coach Mangini thread where I'm saying I don't think Spiller plays RB in the NFL with GREAT hands and 500 receiving yards to his name in 2009 alone. I think the RIGHT team sees Percy Harvin and opens up scoring opportunites with this kid on the perimeter instead of a 1960s 25-30 handoff role. And I know you deferred coming out with our offense could use SPEED until the OBR assured you such a statement was okay; but now you're telling me Peyton Hillis assures you there's no reason to add the next Percy Harvin type of immediate impact in it's scoring dept? Have you researched how well our BIG and SLOW RBs moved through the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens in recent years? That's EXACTLY what FAST defenses like those want from us - more blood alley with Ray Lewis from a former 3rd string RB at Arkansas. Hillis is fine for an occasional break for Harrison or a tom Rathman role in our passing game but by no means is he rationale to reject SPEED to an offense that needs to score more.

If there was a WR that was 7th overall talent - who also encompassed official 4.3 speed I'd deep 6 the thought of this year's Percy Harvin into an offense rumored to be slow everywhere except Harrison's 4.57 forty speed. Can we KEEP that in the same thread I explained my rationale for it though? Do I need to explain the difference between a Heyward-Bey project and the next Percy harvin? One guy is talented football player and the other is a track star TRYING to become a talented football player. Jacoby Ford comes to mind, as a BETETR talent than Bey; BUT if you've seen the kid play - there's alot of work to be done for him with the route running areas. He's all straight ahead right now.

Most ideal slot receivers/candidates for such are former All State RBs that shredded open fields with elusive behavior. Examples include Wes Welker, Golden Tate and Percy Harvin. Don't wait for the OBR to tell you this. Your buddy Flugel has made numerous attempts every time you trash the thought of Spiller instead of Clausen. I'd LOVE Tate as well but he's not falling to us in round 2 and he's not jumping to us at #7.

And to be as honest as I can - there isn't a veteran corner available that offers up the value of the 1st round corner we're looking at. We've been trying this add a vet corner thing with Rod Hood, Kenny Wright, Little Poteat, Corey Ivy and other less than memorables. Same conclusions though. If you want special - you're better off drafting it rather than some corner NFL teams don't mind losing from their rosters.
- Tom F.

[samoth]

Originally Posted by brownspwnj00

Why is it so hard for you to realize that we would take Haden in that scenario?

.....

Oh wait, forgot who I was talking to.

Because he isn't a QB or a diva WR with character issues.

[Shep]

Or a pass rusher, left tackle, or playmaking safety. I'm all for Eric Berry. The Joe Haden pick seems like a big yawn. I know we need a corner... but I don't know if we need a corner at #7.

BTW, Grossi ranks Haden 7th on his board... but says there are questions about his man cover skills even though he ran better at his pro day. He just isn't a clean enough corner prospect to go in the Top 10. Again... Revis went 14th. To Mangini.

That said? If I had to bet money today, I'd probably bet it on Haden. All at once, it's something that's hard for me to envision... yet it feels imminent.

[Inspecta]

Shep, even though I haven't been nearly as vocal as you have about Haden, I agree with you on a certain level. I think CB is one of those positions that's definitely not a sexy pick, but it will also be really hard to see the results on game day. However if QB's always throw away from Haden, then we can say he's doing his job completely and was a good pick.

I'll be seriously bummed if we can't get Berry. Like I was seriously bummed we didn't get Peterson. Every time I see him run wild on Sunday's I feel a little sadness cause I know we could of had him.