Haden

[Shep]

Read some super-secret camp updates (!), and the blender version is this: Lauvao, Hardesty, Ward, and Assante are getting love in camp. The latter two are basically starting together because Elam is out, and their speed and athleticism is pleasing the coaches. Even in shorts, Lauvao has looked technically better than expected, especially footwork. And Hardesty continues to be a favorite.

Even Carlton Mitchell, he of the dinged hammie, is getting some love. He's seen not as a project but as a guy who needs a little coaching and refinement.

Haden, on the other hand, is said to have struggled early ("miscues") and now is getting his sea legs. I read in two different outlets that the Browns are liking Wright and Brown as the starters, and that they're "practicing hungry" and clicking together.

So... it looks like we not only drafted a corner at #7, but a backup corner. I'm sorry, guys and gals, but you can spin that any way you want and it'll still be a bizarre Top 10 pick.

Again, you ask anyone what draft price they'd pay for a nickel corner who might start in a couple years... and I damn well guarantee you the answer isn't a number seven overall.

It was a fucked up pick.

[nmills]

Wow, Sheldon Brown played one of the best seasons of his career last year. He easily could have been a probowler and he was injured much of the season. You really expect a rookie to come in and beat out a guy with Browns talent only a week into OTA's?

[Shep]

No. I don't.

So why use your #7 pick on a corner when you have Eric Wright and Sheldon Brown? If you're looking for a guy who could start at CB in 2011... do you use your seventh pick for that?

I'm excited about a lot of things. But that was a goofy-ass pick. Five years from now when we're trying to decide whether to pay a pretty good (but not amazing) veteran cornerback more money than he's worth, we'll wonder why we had to spend a seventh overall pick on him.

[Vegasdogg]

Originally Posted by Shep

So... it looks like we not only drafted a corner at #7, but a backup corner.

Dude!!!! It's MAY freaking 22nd, it's a rookie learning to play CB. It's not "looking" like anything other than May-freaking-22nd in a Spring OTA. I can't believe the guns you jump - you read some write ups on our QB basically playing catch in shorts wth no rush and suddenly all is right in the world and now this. LOL. Man it's premature to state anything right now.

[nmills]

The same reason the Jets take a CB in the first round when they have Revis and Cromartie. Same reason the Partriots take a CB in the First round when the drafted CB's the past 2 years in the 2nd rds. You should understand better that anybody that you need more than 2 CB's in a era when passing the ball is becoming easier than running. Mangini said himself they play with 3 CB's around 70 percent of the time. Haden will see as much time on the field being a 3rd CB as any rookie we could've drafted at another position. It also give's you insurance against an injury and a replacement for Brown who's getting up there and has had nagging injuries

[Vegasdogg]

Originally Posted by Shep

when we're trying to decide whether to pay a pretty good (but not amazing) veteran cornerback more money than he's worth, we'll wonder why we had to spend a seventh overall pick on him.

You come to this conclusion based on some practices in shorts? Are we going to have to hear about this all season long?

[Enigmatic Evil]

I don't even want to imagine the kind of pressure Haden is under with the #1 Pick label he has. Not to mention, transitioning to a new defensive playbook and NFL style of play. Let's give the kid a break before we choose to dismiss him like a month after we drafted him. Just because he's not generating the kind of buzz some of the other players are doesn't mean he won't come around. Haden is not in a position that he needs to produce immediately BECAUSE we brought in players like Brown. Brown is not a permanent solution, Brown is as much a stop-gap at Corner as Delhomme is at Quarterback.

Give Haden a break.

[Vegasdogg]

Originally Posted by Shep

I read in two different outlets that the Browns are liking Wright and Brown as the starters, and that they're "practicing hungry" and clicking together.

Lane said the entire backfield is "practicing hungry" not just Wright and Brown. He also said Haden has "has come on strong after a handful of early miscues in practice sessions." You make it sound a lot different than what was written.

[Solon16]

Brown is 32 and should be moved to Safety... This sounds like a nickle package I finally like. Wright,Haden, Brown, Ward and McDonald. Bagging on Haden in May is fucking ridiculous

[samoth]

Better Haden as the nickelback than Poteat.

[Shep]

I just hate the pick a lot. He could very well end up as a very good corner... but I just hate the pick at #7. I hate it even more when I read that he isn't even likely to start???

Damn.

[Solon16]

I know you hate the pick Shep...You hated every defensive player @ #7 this year...that's cool. Corners are like LT in that they aren't sexy picks at all and when they bust they bust big...But when you don't have a good one its like a wart on the nose...Glaring

To be honest with you...I wouldn't have minded Ryan Mathews at 7, about the only offensive skill position (Qb, Wr, TE) even close to 7 money...Dez is a superstar headcase waiting to happen and not very smart. JMO Not a huge fan of spiller. Although his #'s are pretty eye-popping.