Cleveland Browns Training Camp 2010: WR Preview, Part II (Rookies Mitchell & Haggerty)
Note: This is a continuation of Part I of the preview we ran yesterday.
For all intents and purposes, everyone listed below is a legitimate candidate to make the Browns' roster as the fourth/fifth receiver (the label depends on if you include Cribbs as a "WR"). The others are candidates to make the practice squad. It seems a little unusual how few receivers we have in camp this year compared to the past few years. Right now, there are only 8 receivers, and it seems to be that 10 or 11 would be the norm.
5. CARLTON MITCHELL - 6TH ROUND ROOKIE WIDE RECEIVER
Carlton Mitchell (#18)
Height: 6-3
Weight: 218
Age: 22
Experience: Rookie
College: South Florida
Note: Impressive size, but will he be polished enough this year?
Mitchell has good size for a wide receiver at 6-3, 218 lbs, but he wasn't a highly touted receiver in the draft, falling to Cleveland in the sixth round.
In previewing Mitchell, it's probably best to reference this article written by the Morning Journal's Jeff Schudel back in mid-June. From his mini-camp sessions, Schudel points out the biggest problem with Mitchell:
The knock on Mitchell before the draft — 6-foot-3, 215-pound receivers don’t last until the sixth round unless something is wrong — was he traps the ball against his body too often. He is doing the same thing here while the players practice without pads. Once the hitting starts in training camp those catches he is making now could be jarred loose.
On the positive side, Schudel notes that Mitchell has looked smooth running go-routes, where he catches the ball with his hands in stride. He's going to need to do more than that though if he wants to make the Browns' roster. Otherwise, he'll be shipped to the practice squad for further development.
Final Roster Odds: 40%
Practice Squad Odds: 60%
6. SYNDRIC STEPTOE - COMPETING FOR NO. 4 RECEIVER
Syndric Steptoe (#12)
Height: 5-9
Weight: 200
Age: 25
Experience: 3 years*
College: Arizona
Note: *has only actually played during the 2008 NFL season
So, you thought Syndric Steptoe was gone? So did most of us at the end of last season, until we kept wondering why he was still appearing on the Browns' roster in numerous places.
Last year in training camp, Steptoe was carted off the field with a shoulder injury that ended his season. The team then waived/injured him later in August, which is why I think we thought he was off the team. There is a stipulation that if the player clears waivers though, they can go on your injured reserve. As far as I can tell, that is what happened.
Out of all the players on the Browns' 80-man roster, Steptoe might be the most difficult one to discuss. On one hand, I get the sense that while we know he's there, he's an afterthought. On the other hand, if you're looking for a veteran receiver, Steptoe has the most experience at the position at the NFL level aside from Stuckey. In last year's training camp preview, I stated that Steptoe lacked any ability to create separation, make above average catches, or block when he was a starter in 2008. Maybe that could change if he was a fifth or sixth receiver, but I'm still in the crop that has already been turned off to Steptoe's lack of production -- let's take a chance on one of the rookies instead.
Player Quality: D-
Final Roster Odds: 20%
7. JOHNATHAN HAGGERTY - UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT WIDE RECEIVER
Johnathan Haggerty (#86)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195
Age: 22
Experience: Rookie
College: SW Oklahoma State
Note: Can this "unknown" be a gem for Cleveland?
Signed as an undrafted agent from Southwestern Oklahoma State, Johnathan Haggerty has received praise from head coach Eric Mangini for his play in earlier minicamp sessions. Coming in as a relatively unknown player, he made enough of an impression on Mangini to start earning reps with the second-team offense. We'll see if that carries over to training camp.
"He's gotten some more looks because of the good things that he's done and I'm excited about what he's done," said Mangini. "Now it's a function of what he can keep doing."
Like Mitchell, Haggerty also has a nice 40-time at 4.44. It's too early to say he has great hands, but catching the ball wasn't much of an issue for him during the minicamp sessions, where he usually worked with Seneca Wallace. As a senior in college, he caught 54 passes for 748 yards and 6 touchdowns. I couldn't find out if he had any kick return experience, but I wonder if he'll receive any reps there on special teams in camp.
Final Roster Odds: 30%
Practice Squad Odds: 50%
8. JAKE ALLEN - TRAINING CAMP WIDE RECEIVER
Jake Allen (#85)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 196
Age: 25
Experience: 2 years
College: Mississippi College
Note: He's tall.
How do you preview a guy like Jake Allen? Since he wasn't in training camp last year, I can't really comment on his abilities as a receiver. Despite not being on the roster nearly as long as Brian Robiskie, there was a game last year in which he received some playing time ahead of him. I don't know if that's a positive for Allen, a negative for Robiskie, both, or neither.
Scouting reports indicate that Allen's strength is his tall, lanky frame (6-4), where he can out-jump defenders and be a possession receiver. He isn't a very physical receiver though, and "needs to add some muscle to his frame."
In researching the Packer community for their thoughts on Allen (he used to be on their practice squad), the comments were far and few between, and those that were there only cited the thing I already mentioned: "he's tall." This tweet from a Packer fan/reporter back in November isn't the most enlightening for him though, if that counts for anything.
Final Roster Odds: 5%
Practice Squad Odds: 25%
Please vote in the poll below if you haven't already, as I have a feeling that this one will be fairly competitive. Other teams can find gems at the receiver position from the later rounds; it's about time that the Browns share that same fortune.
Next up, we'll take a look at the tight end and the fullback positions to cap off our "See Ball, Catch Ball...and Block" week.
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44 comments
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Comments
the coaches can work on Mitchell’s catching form and hopefully eliminate drops. i thought he showed flashes of real talent in the few highlights i saw, but i guess that’s why they’re called highlights.
at any rate, he has a fantastic website: http://www.carltonmitchell.net/
the “images” section is priceless.
That Iguana is sweet.
"Spartans never die Jorge. They're just missing in action."
by SpecialBrownie on Jul 7, 2010 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions
you can’t teach soft hands. Either you have it or you don’t
by The Licensed Pessimist on Jul 7, 2010 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Clearly, you’ve never heard of lotion.
"Spartans never die Jorge. They're just missing in action."
by SpecialBrownie on Jul 7, 2010 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions
SB knows a lot about hand lotion.
Dawgs By Nature -- where Hitler, apparently, 'did some good things'.
by golanbatrac on Jul 7, 2010 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
Your mom does.
"Spartans never die Jorge. They're just missing in action."
by SpecialBrownie on Jul 7, 2010 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes, women usually know a lot about lotion since they like to stay moisturized. What’s your excuse?
by The Licensed Pessimist on Jul 8, 2010 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions
She was using it to moisturize me, bub.
"Spartans never die Jorge. They're just missing in action."
by SpecialBrownie on Jul 8, 2010 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually, that’s quite false. You cannot teach a quick nervous system, or quick-twitch muscles, or even a quick wit, but you can improve hand responsiveness through drills. After all, what we literally think of as soft hands is really a measure of responsiveness from the neurological system.
Art Modell gives me a hard one
by gahnki on Jul 7, 2010 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
From what I read it didn’t seem the article was saying he had bad hands but that he sometimes doesn’t use his hands.
was he traps the ball against his body too often. He is doing the same thing here while the players practice without pads. Once the hitting starts in training camp those catches he is making now could be jarred loose.
It actually says
The coaches like the way Mitchell runs and they say when he is running a "go route" — when he runs down field and the quarterback throws the ball over his shoulder — Mitchell looks smooth and comfortable. On those plays he catches the ball with his hands.
I would imagine that the Jugs gun would be improving his technique by getting him used to catching the balls with his hands instead of cradling the ball against his body. It didn’t seem that the article was calling him the next BsuckE.
They gone have to stop sleeping on me one day.. I gotta be one of the best
About 3 hours ago by Eric Wright Cleveland Browns – Cornerback
I understand, as a big daddy come and take my spot type of demeanor?
by mooncamping on May 14, 2010 7:24 AM EDT
A tendency to trap the ball with the body can be an indication that the player does not trust his hands.
Art Modell gives me a hard one
I agree…plus I dunno if he isn’t as lowly touted as Chris makes him out to be. He fell to the 6th I believe because of these questions and a very deep draft. I have seen some tape on him and he has legit potential and I know he was very high on Mayock’s board of best available players (and WRs) from the 4th round onward and was hich on Kipers list I believe too…granted, these guys are GMs but I still see him as somewhat highly regarded.
I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
I thought this draft was touted as not being deep at WR?
Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.
by Chris Pokorny on Jul 8, 2010 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Whoever voted for Steptoe should be banned.
by Bernie19Kosar on Jul 7, 2010 3:29 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
all 22 of them (as of this post)
I hate the steelers the way a mother loves a child.
by notthatnoise on Jul 7, 2010 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Plenty of teams carry 6 receivers. They should at least carry 5.
"Young men, I have no doubt that you're gonna do well today. But I have 1 favor to ask of you... SAVE JIMMY JOHNSON'S ASS FOR ME!" Lou Holtz
by TheRealSlimShady on Jul 7, 2010 4:45 PM EDT reply actions
I don’t think 6 should even be out of the question, but the talent/potential has to dictate how many we keep at each position. If it is between a promising Mitchell and Haggerty or one of them and a not-so-promising Chris Jennings, I say keep the WRs.
"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein
But what if it’s between them and James Davis, assuming he looks as good this preseason as last
by rebuilding year on Jul 8, 2010 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions
That becomes a difficult decision.
The way I would do it would be to ask how many we need at each position, then to try to think about injuries and what could/should happen if someone got hurt.
For instance, we probably need a minimum of 2WR + Cribbs to run a real offense. If Cribbs goes down, there is no replacement, so we don’t need to keep a backup for him. WRs go down all the time, and finding a dependable guy off of waivers would be hard. So we probably need at least 2 backups. Guys who are healthy and good beyond the 2 we absolutely need would only add flexibility to our offense (i.e. 4 or 5 WR sets).
For RBs, one of our top two guys will probably go down for at least one week at some point in the season. We probably want at least two at every game, so three sounds like the minimum there. Keeping more than 3 with our specific personnel adds more insurance against injury, but not really any flexibility to the O. Davis and Jennings are both not small, not blazing fast, not amazing receivers, fairly well-rounded backs. Is Davis showing enough promise to keep him over Jennings? I can’t see us keeping less than 3 either way.
So then, are we comfortable with Hillis as the 2nd FB AND 3rd RB? I don’t think I am. So maybe you look at keeping less but more versatile backups on the OL or something if one of the WRs really impress.
"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein
I thought the voting would be more competitive, but Mitchell is the runaway winner. I have a feeling the gap will close a couple of days into training camp.
Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.
Man I worry about this WR group:(
by The Licensed Pessimist on Jul 8, 2010 11:22 AM EDT reply actions
we’re shocked haha
I hate the steelers the way a mother loves a child.
by notthatnoise on Jul 8, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
You care least about or you believe has the least impact?
by The Licensed Pessimist on Jul 8, 2010 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Mooncamping shall not forget this slight.
Art Modell gives me a hard one
by gahnki on Jul 9, 2010 2:11 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
I would much rather just put more offensive linemen out there. possibly fullbacks.
I hate the steelers the way a mother loves a child.
by notthatnoise on Jul 11, 2010 1:14 AM EDT up reply actions
This will need to change soon. Not much, but we will need to complete some passes.
"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein
Only like 3 a game though, not much.
I can't believe Cribbs was considered the second best athlete in Cleveland.
LBJ. Lying. Backstabbing. Jackass.
by SpecialBrownie on Jul 11, 2010 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Someone’s got to catch those 3.
"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein
I just hope it’s not something along the lines of 3/20 like last year.
For the love of Joe Thomas.....
by North Coast Flea on Jul 12, 2010 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Robo will produce more this year (which shouldn’t be too hard to do after his last season) and the Magwai Massacre will become even better. The coaches must believe this to an extent or we would have went after another WR by now.
A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me, I'm afraid of widths --- Steven Wright

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