Heckert's Turn

[Greythan]

Cleveland Browns GM Tom Heckert thinks extra draft picks will help fill holes on offense

Published: Thursday, December 15, 2011, 6:05 PM Updated: Thursday, December 15, 2011, 6:24 PM

By Tony Grossi, The Plain DealerThe Plain Dealer



John Kuntz / The Plain DealerTom Heckert (right, with Browns head coach Pat Shurmur) says finding playmakers for Shurmur's offense will be his No. 1 goal in the upcoming draft.
BEREA, Ohio -- The Browns haven't made a long-term decision on Colt McCoy.
They will re-sign linebacker D'Qwell Jackson.
They want to bring back Phil Dawson.
Their top priority in the next offseason is to find playmakers on offense, and they realize they'll need to dip into free agency to help.
Those were the assertions made by General Manager Tom Heckert in a sit-down interview with reporters on Thursday.
Above all else, Heckert said he is convinced he did the right thing by making that mega-deal with the Atlanta Falcons on draft day in April.
Essentially, Heckert passed up receiver Julio Jones and wound up with defensive tackle Phil Taylor, receiver Greg Little, fullback Owen Marecic and Atlanta's first- and sixth-round picks in the coming draft. Heckert also gave up his third-round pick to move up and select Taylor at No. 21 overall.
"I'd do it again tomorrow," Heckert said. "And Julio's a great player. We love Julio Jones. That never was an issue. Now, obviously we have to do something with the picks (we got)."
Heckert maintained the same stance as when he made the deal -- that the Browns were in need of extra picks to make their roster younger and Atlanta's offer was too good to pass up.
On other issues:
* Is McCoy the guy to lead the Browns to the Promised Land?
Following the lead of President Mike Holmgren and coach Pat Shurmur, Heckert deferred that decision until after the season. At the very least, Heckert acknowledged that the team has enough of a body of work to fully evaluate McCoy.
"We'll have to really, really look at it after the season," he said. "He's done some good things. But the whole evaluation will be done afterwards.
Asked if it's fair to evaluate McCoy after a season of horrendous drops at the receiver position and breakdowns on the offensive line, Heckert answered, "I disagree with that.
"I don't know if I completely agree with the line. Quarterbacks are going to be sacked. They just are. That's part of the deal. But receivers dropping balls, that's a big thing. That's obviously not good. You weigh all that. That's part of the process. Obviously are there things Colt can do better? Yeah. Are there things we could've done catching the ball and blocking? Yeah. You look at all of that. We haven't done that yet."
* Will Heckert aim his early picks on building the offense, as he did with the defense the past two drafts?
"Obviously, we want playmakers, so we have to get them somewhere," he said. "We have to find them. I don't know if we're going to say we'll use our first two picks on offense. We're not going to pass over a good defensive player for that need. But we need some playmakers."
* So when did the realization hit that the team is in dire need of playmakers?
"The running game obviously was a situation this year more because of injury," Heckert said. "We didn't have a lot of healthy running backs. Our leading rusher until last week was a guy off another team's practice squad.
"(At wide receiver), obviously the (Brian Robiskie) thing, we thought he'd come in and help us and for whatever reason that didn't occur. (Mohamed Massquoi's) been hurt so he hasn't been as productive as we expected. Other than that, we didn't have a lot of numbers there. We think (Greg Little's) a good player. I know he's had some drops. He hadn't played football a long time. That's not an excuse. He's got to catch the football. From what we saw in college, that wasn't an issue and I don't think that will be an issue going forward.
* Will Peyton Hillis be back?
"It's unfortunate he has been nicked up a little bit," Heckert said. "That's another one we'll have to decide once the season's over. Obviously, he can play. We know that. He's done it. He did it last year. That's not the issue. It's just what we decide what direction we want to go."
* Have we seen the Montario Hardesty that Heckert saw in college?
"No, I haven't seen it this year," he said. "It's hard to tell whether it's from the old injury or the new stuff. I think he's done a good job, but obviously we don't have to make a decision on that. I do think he'll be better next year, especially physically."
* With questions, then, at quarterback, running back and wide receiver, how can he expect to fill out the offense in one draft?
"It's not going to be easy," Heckert said. "I think free agency's got to be a part of it. If the right person's there, we'll try to do some of that. It's not easy to do, fill all these holes. I don't think we have as many holes as we did last year. But we have a lot of picks to do it."
* Will Jackson leave as a free agent or be re-signed?
"You can pretty much say he's going to be here," Heckert said, not ruling out the franchise tag.
* What about Dawson, who was retained for 2011 via the franchise tag?
"We would like to have Phil back," he said. "Once the deadline passed where we couldn't sign franchise guys, I haven't really talked to him. I haven't asked him, but I think he's enjoying it, more so than I got from him last year. We would love for Phil to be back."

[Greythan]

So, net net here:

"McCoy's not the guy and we probably should have known that. Looks like Mike was wrong when he said we wasted a year with Mangini. Actually we've wasted two now that we can confirm McCoy doesn't have it."

"Not sure what happened to that unbelievably dynamic WR we saw in Robiske. Weird. Oh well."

"I really like Little. Granted he hasn't played much football so its really hard to evaluate him, but I just had a feeling. Plus, I'm sort of little so I really liked the name Little."

"We have a million holes to fill. Really, I'm sort of at a loss for words at how bare our cupboard is. Well, check that. We are a LOT more talented than last year." (Phew, I almost admitted that we haven't progressed. Great recovery by me though!)

"I like Phil. I'd like him back now that he's hit all those 50+ yarders. I know I kind of dis'd him, but I'm sure he'll want to come back. I haven't really talked to him but that's kind of standard operating procedure. You know.... to not talk to our core guys."

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

Originally Posted by Greythan

It's not easy to do, fill all these holes. I don't think we have as many holes as we did last year. But we have a lot of picks to do it."

If I was part of the press my follow up question would be; "Ok, so we are more talented than last season and have less holes to fill, yet we'll likely only end up with 4 wins against a pathetic SOS... that's one less win than our last coach got fired for against the NFLs most brutal SOS last season ...can you explain why it is we will likely have a worse record without using the same excuses that the last coach wasn't afforded?"

[King of Kings]

Originally Posted by Greythan

So, net net here:

"McCoy's not the guy and we probably should have known that. Looks like Mike was wrong when he said we wasted a year with Mangini. Actually we've wasted two now that we can confirm McCoy doesn't have it."

"Not sure what happened to that unbelievably dynamic WR we saw in Robiske. Weird. Oh well."

"I really like Little. Granted he hasn't played much football so its really hard to evaluate him, but I just had a feeling. Plus, I'm sort of little so I really liked the name Little."

"We have a million holes to fill. Really, I'm sort of at a loss for words at how bare our cupboard is. Well, check that. We are a LOT more talented than last year." (Phew, I almost admitted that we haven't progressed. Great recovery by me though!)

"I like Phil. I'd like him back now that he's hit all those 50+ yarders. I know I kind of dis'd him, but I'm sure he'll want to come back. I haven't really talked to him but that's kind of standard operating procedure. You know.... to not talk to our core guys."

That about covers it.

[DieselPusher]

Originally Posted by TheBestPlayersPlay

If I was part of the press my follow up question would be; "Ok, so we are more talented than last season and have less holes to fill, yet we'll likely only end up with 4 wins against a pathetic SOS... that's one less win than our last coach got fired for against the NFLs most brutal SOS last season ...can you explain why it is we will likely have a worse record without using the same excuses that the last coach wasn't afforded?"

Listening to an internet radio talk from Cleveland, they sound like the press is intimidated to ask Holmgren/Heckert questions, the one radio guy said the interview process with Holmgren standing above them on a pedestal at the podium is psychologically intimidating, hence no sincere follow up questions.

[Riffer X]

Originally Posted by DieselPusher

Listening to an internet radio talk from Cleveland, they sound like the press is intimidated to ask Holmgren/Heckert questions, the one radio guy said the interview process with Holmgren standing above them on a pedestal at the podium is psychologically intimidating, hence no sincere follow up questions.

I tried to explain this yesterday---the media is just doing their jobs. The reason they are asking tough questions is because we as fans want fucking answers. Now, is the media always cool and without major fuckups? Absolutely not.

They were actually polite as fuck with Patty Shurms as he sat there and lied, pouted and generally made every one of those guys feel like an asshole for asking him why he can't do his job. Here is the thing: they are all vindicated from the questions they asked. He treated them like how dare they question him and the team, they persisted cuz they knew he was lying and full of shit, then the media was proven right by Walrus, although he scolded them for being right about everything along with us Joe Six Packs.

[Enigmatic Evil]

Its getting to the point where I can't even read these stupid pressers anymore.

The very definition of Irony: Hating on Mangini for the way he dealt with the media, and then finding it completely UNSATISFACTORY when the new guy/regime/managment is doing even worse... They're making Mangini look like a fucking media wizard out there.

[golfer704u]

Originally Posted by Riffer X

I tried to explain this yesterday---the media is just doing their jobs. The reason they are asking tough questions is because we as fans want fucking answers. Now, is the media always cool and without major fuckups? Absolutely not.

They were actually polite as fuck with Patty Shurms as he sat there and lied, pouted and generally made every one of those guys feel like an asshole for asking him why he can't do his job. Here is the thing: they are all vindicated from the questions they asked. He treated them like how dare they question him and the team, they persisted cuz they knew he was lying and full of shit, then the media was proven right by Walrus, although he scolded them for being right about everything along with us Joe Six Packs.

THIS. the Cleveland Press is not going to win any awards for journalism. They aren't very good. But they are doing their jobs.

And as I said somewhere else. when you see Holmgren's presser you can see where Shurmur gets that attitude from.

As for Heckert. When this is in your presser.

Asked if it's fair to evaluate McCoy after a season of horrendous drops at the receiver position and breakdowns on the offensive line, Heckert answered, "I disagree with that.
"I don't know if I completely agree with the line. Quarterbacks are going to be sacked. They just are. That's part of the deal."

That's just so fucking hillariously egotistical and self serving it's making me lose respect for the one guy I still had hopes for in this organization.

HOW THE HELL HE CAN DEFEND the line with that crap amazes me. And WHY does he do it? well because they are HIS DRAFT picks getting criticized. I bet if they asked him about which players are a problem with the drops he'd mention Watson, Momass and maybe Moore. But then if Littles name was mentioned, he'd go into a long explanation about "well he's just a rookie Blah Blah Blah."

[hiwaygal]

Originally Posted by Greythan

So, net net here:

"McCoy's not the guy and we probably should have known that. Looks like Mike was wrong when he said we wasted a year with Mangini. Actually we've wasted two now that we can confirm McCoy doesn't have it."

"Not sure what happened to that unbelievably dynamic WR we saw in Robiske. Weird. Oh well."

"I really like Little. Granted he hasn't played much football so its really hard to evaluate him, but I just had a feeling. Plus, I'm sort of little so I really liked the name Little."

"We have a million holes to fill. Really, I'm sort of at a loss for words at how bare our cupboard is. Well, check that. We are a LOT more talented than last year." (Phew, I almost admitted that we haven't progressed. Great recovery by me though!)

"I like Phil. I'd like him back now that he's hit all those 50+ yarders. I know I kind of dis'd him, but I'm sure he'll want to come back. I haven't really talked to him but that's kind of standard operating procedure. You know.... to not talk to our core guys."

Bravo, Grey!!!

What a farce this FO has become.

Unbelievable what they are selling us. Why don't they just come out and say "look, all these guys suck." It's what they think. Even Holmy called out Pontbriand and Little as failures in his presser.

But wait...Heckert likes Little.

And didn't Holmy pick Colt? But Heckert think's Colt's a bust?

Wait a minute...I thought these guys were all supposed to be on the same page?

I'm so confused.

[King of Kings]

The biggest irony of all is this motherfucker sits up there defending Hardesty while shitting all over McCoy Hillis.

"(At wide receiver), obviously the (Brian Robiskie) thing, we thought he'd come in and help us and for whatever reason that didn't occur. (Mohamed Massquoi's) been hurt so he hasn't been as productive as we expected. Other than that, we didn't have a lot of numbers there. We think (Greg Little's) a good player. I know he's had some drops. He hadn't played football a long time.

Yeah! Our shitty passing game isn't my fault nor Greg Little's fault, it was McCoy and those WR's I didn't draft. Complete and utter joke.

[golfer704u]

Originally Posted by King of Kings

The biggest irony of all is this motherfucker sits up there defending Hardesty while shitting all over McCoy Hillis.



Yeah! Our shitty passing game isn't my fault nor Greg Little's fault, it was McCoy and those WR's I didn't draft. Complete and utter joke.

LOL well gosh darn. i didn't even read the full presser and yet I picked his quote out exactly about Little!

[King of Kings]

Originally Posted by golfer704u

LOL well gosh darn. i didn't even read the full presser and yet I picked his quote out exactly about Little!

He's an easy guy to peg, he and his guys can do no wrong while he passes the buck on others just like when he spent the offseason passing the buck to E.M. and Rob Ryan. Wonder who it'll be next season when his spiffy new QB gets the same treatment from opposing Defenses as McCoy and Little is still dropping every pass?