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Browns' Needs

Even though we don't have games to play at this point in the season, the NFL never sleeps.  Free Agency and the Draft will soon be upon us, and frankly, I am bored.  What positions do you think we need to improve upon either through FA or the draft?  Who are some guys you would like to see us go after to fill those needs?

My thoughts:

Positions where the Browns need help:
1. D line
Our D line is old and hurt all the time and the weak point of the team even when it is healthy.  Shaun Smith was a good pickup, Robaire Smith might have a couple of good years left in him, but that's about all we got.

2. OLB
Willie McGinest is a great person for our locker room and a good player certain situations, but he obviously doesn't have the pass rushing skills he once had.  If we get someone who can put pressure on a QB opposite Wimbley, it could do for our D what Thomas and a solidified Oline did for our O.

3. Safety Depth
I am not sold on Sean Jones and Pool, but I'm not giving up on them yet either.  Having Mike Adams in on passing situations, however, killed us (why did we cut Justin Hamilton, again?).

4. CB
Eric Wright looks the part, and McDonald showed some flashes last year, but Bodden is never healthy and is in legal trouble.  With as many WRs as some teams put out these days, we need more guys to cover them even if Bodden is healthy.

5. 3rd WR
Imagine our offense and the nightmares we could give D coordinators with a smaller, quicker Steve-Smith/Wes-Welker-type WR.  This is a make-or-break year for Travis Wilson, Tim Carter is not good, and Jurevicious is thinking retirement after this year.

6. Backup RB
Jamal Lewis is a beast.  We should give him a 2 year deal, which would take him to age 30.  We all know what happens to RBs around then.  We could even keep Lewis on as a short yardage guy, but we need a bigger backup in case he goes down.  I don't trust Wright to carry the load, and although Harrison was REALLY under-utilized this year, he isn't going to be an every down back in the NFL ever.

Guys I like:
FA:
Karlos Dansby: 6'4" 250
A fast LB who excels at rushing the passer.  We need that.
Asante Samuel:
A CB with good hands and a knack for making INTs.  He will probably demand way too much in the free agent market.

Draft:
Frank Okam: DT, Texas. 6'4" 325.
A big, powerful, D lineman, only with a questionable motor.
Red Bryant: DT, Texas A&M. 6'4", 325
Big, 2 gap lineman.
Shawn Crable: OLB, Mighig@n. 6'4" 243.
An OLB who can play in the 3-4 and get to the passer (which pains me to say, as much as I hate UM).
Donnie Avery: WR, Houston.  5'11, 190.
4.31 40, agile and quick in and out of his cuts.  Could be seen as a system guy and fall to us in the 3rd or 4th.
Dorien Bryant: WR, Purdue. 5'10" 172
Also fast, quick, and undersized, but size is more of a concern here.
Kendall Langford: DE, Hampton.  6'5", 290
A big, powerful DE who can play the pass and the run.  Small school prospect might drop to lower rounds.
Matt Forte: RB, Tulane.  6'2", 225.
A big back who works his tail off.
Tommy Blake: OLB, TCU. 6'2", 252
Terrorizes QBs, but there are some injury or character concerns.
Matt Malele: DT, Cal.  6'1", 335.
Big 'ol dude.

Thoughts?  I don't know much about the free agents this year yet, anyone know of anyone coming out that could help out the Browns?

0 recs | Comment 4 comments

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Re: Browns' Needs
Without a doubt, the Browns biggest area of need going into 2008 is the defensive line. As everyone knows, solid line play is key in our defensive scheme, as the front three need to keep the LBs clean and free to chase and tackle. I think if we improve here, it instantly makes Wimbley, Davis, Jackson, ect... a whole lot better and frees them up to rush the passer which in turn will make the DB's life easier.

Casey Hampton would be a dream come true but he'll almost surely be resigned by Pittsburgh. Haynesworth is supposed to be a great player, but I have not seen him in action nearly as much as Hampton and don't know if he would be a fit in out "D". Maybe others can enlighten me here.

In addition to D line I agree with needing another outside LB. Willie is near the end and Peek, while solid, can't stay on the field.

Wide Receiver is probably the 2nd greatest area of concern for me. We need to find not just one but two WRs so work into the rotation as JJ is not going to be around much longer and we have no reliable 3rd threat. Winslow somewhat minimizes the need for several quality WRs, but it would be nice for Chud to be able to call any formation (5 wide, 4 wide, ect...) and know every skill guy on the field is a threat. Carter isn't that guy and there must be something seriously lacking in Travis Wilson's game for him to not yet been given a shot.

by mgtbfb on Feb 9, 2008 1:45 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Browns' Needs
Because I have been a Browns fan for nearly fifty years I am both paranoid and dismal in outlook.

The Browns offense will have to get better just to stay the same.  We need another WR to go with Edwards and another RB, with some speed.  Is Cribbs an answer for the first?  Is there a FA RB for the second?

The Browns defense needs major upgrades on the line and more speed at OLB.

At OLB, I am thinking Lance Briggs would be a prize catch.

What do you all think of these FA DLs:  Jared Allen, Justin Smith, Terrell Suggs or Corey Williams?

by JamesPowell on Feb 10, 2008 10:55 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Browns' Needs
I think Jared Allen or Justin Smith could fit our D, but they have had a lot of success in the 4-3 and I don't know if they would sign with us.  

Terrell Suggs would be a great fit and I hope we sign him.

I haven't seen much of Williams but anyone with potential to stop the run and push the pocket sounds great to me.

As for RB, I think Jerome Harrison has shown some potential to be the Lightning to Jamal Lewis' Thunder.  he averaged 6.2 yards every time he rushed this year and 9.5 every time he caught a pass.  I think like everyone else that visits this blog I was frustrated they didn't use him more last year.

by rufio on Feb 11, 2008 11:00 AM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Browns' Needs
Looks like Suggs will be tagged, which is fine by me as I would prefer we go for a MLB. I also read rumors of Corey Williams being tagged, but upon reading a few Green Bay newspaper articles, it appears the Packers may not want to spend a lot to re-sign someone at one of their deepest positions. Williams will likely hit the market, but carry a heavy price tag.

Karlos Dansby, on the other hand, appears destined for the franchise tag as Arizona will be forced to cut ties with some of their older expensive players in order to make room to retain young talent such as Dansby and potentially Calvin Pace.

by Roger Dorn on Feb 12, 2008 2:59 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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