Dawgs By Nature: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Off Tackle Empire interviews Rich Rodriguez

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.

Star-divide

5. CARLTON MITCHELL - 6TH ROUND ROOKIE WIDE RECEIVER

8276_mediumCarlton 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

8276_mediumSyndric 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

8276_mediumJohnathan 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

8276_mediumJake 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.

Poll
If the Browns carry Massaquoi, Robiskie, Stuckey, and Cribbs as four receivers, who should the fifth WR on the 53-man roster be?
Carlton Mitchell
625 votes
Johnathan Haggerty
137 votes
Syndric Steptoe
58 votes
Jake Allen
21 votes
They shouldn't carry a fifth receiver
27 votes

868 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 44 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

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.

by Dawg Nuts on Jul 7, 2010 3:12 PM EDT reply actions  

Bad hands scare me. You rarely hear about a guy learning how to catch better.

by Roger Dorn on Jul 7, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions  

i agree, i just got the impression it wasn’t bad hands so much as bad form catching. i interpreted it as he cradles the ball in his chest. being optimistic, i thought maybe his hands would be okay if he just improved his catching motion and incorporated more hands into it.

by Dawg Nuts on Jul 8, 2010 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

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  

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

Rec

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Jul 8, 2010 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

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

by Villeslgr on Jul 7, 2010 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions  

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

by gahnki on Jul 7, 2010 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

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.

by bross09 on Jul 7, 2010 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions  

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  

true…but he seemed to be touted by some to be a good pick in the 4th-5th round…kind of like a taylor price type sleeper.

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.

by bross09 on Jul 8, 2010 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions  

absolutely agree, and this is how i read it. should have read all the comments before i responded above.

by Dawg Nuts on Jul 8, 2010 11:41 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

Agree 100%

A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me, I'm afraid of widths --- Steven Wright

by Kimble_79 on Jul 7, 2010 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions  

make it happen, Chris.

by Dawg Nuts on Jul 7, 2010 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions  

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

by rufio on Jul 7, 2010 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

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

by rufio on Jul 8, 2010 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

I was torn between Mitchell and Haggerty, but finally decided to bet on the big receiver rather than the one who had a good minicamp. I’ve been sucked in by glowing off season reports too many times.

by JustBob on Jul 7, 2010 9:31 PM EDT reply actions  

blah. I voted for Allen. I’d be fine with Mitchell too. Lack of depth at this position is horrid.

fka "DaytonDogg". Now a contributor to SBN's Dawgs By Nature. www.dawgsbynature.com

by Ryan Kelsey on Jul 7, 2010 11:26 PM EDT reply actions  

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.

by Chris Pokorny on Jul 8, 2010 11:07 AM EDT reply actions  

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  

Good thing WR is the position I care least about.

by Roger Dorn on Jul 8, 2010 2:39 PM 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  

Both if we are excluding special teams and fullback.

by Roger Dorn on Jul 8, 2010 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

We just signed Bobby Engram if that makes you feel better.

by Buckeye Brad on Jul 8, 2010 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions  

We don’t pass. Who cares about WR’s?

by Bernie19Kosar on Jul 9, 2010 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions  

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

by rufio on Jul 11, 2010 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

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

by rufio on Jul 12, 2010 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions  

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 would take it only if all 3 went for 50+ yards and a TD.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Jul 12, 2010 3:42 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

by Kimble_79 on Jul 8, 2010 11:26 AM EDT reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Non-stop coverage of the team with the best fans in the NFL, the Cleveland Browns.

Community Guidelines
Send us a Scoop

Start posting about the Browns »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Alex-mack_small
Predictions. Let's hear them.
Biggamebob_small
¿So What Do We Think We Know About 2010 Browns?
Grimm_small
Thoughts on Week 1 vs. TB
Clay1_small
"Eagle" Defense (2-5-4)
11031_act_small
Browns OR Buckeyes?
Pygmy_marmoset_small
Expanded Season - Will They or Won't They and Should They
Osueyes_small
DBN Fan League: Draft Recap
Bi_blueguy4_small
Cleveland Browns' New Ring of Honor
101_braylon_edwards_--300x300_small
Browns vs. Rams...The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (or the Ronald McDonald)
Biggamebob_small
Brady Watch

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Browns Links

Local Media Sources
Official Browns Site
Orange and Brown Report
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Akron Beacon Journal

Browns Communities/Blogs
The Watercooler
Waiting for Next Year
Dawg Scooper
Dawg Talkers
Dawg Bones
The Browns Board

free hit counter javascript

Latest NFL Headlines from SB Nation

SBNation.com Recent Stories

Photo

2010 NFL Preview, New York Jets: Mark Sanchez Bears The Burden Of Expectation

Photo

2010 NFL Preview, New England Patriots: The Tom Brady Factor

FILE - This is a Sept. 27, 2009, file photo showing Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett  coming onto the field prior to an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, in Glendale, Ariz.  Darnell Dockett knows there are people who don't like him, even though they don't know him as more than anything but a big, rough football player for the Arizona Cardinals. (AP Photo/Matt York, File) +1 updates

Darnell Dockett Signs Four-Year Extension With Cardinals

More from SBNation.com >


Executive Editor

Dbn_small Chris Pokorny

Minions

Alex-mack_small Bernie19Kosar

Dsc00156_small Ryan Kelsey

Rufiohookgrin01_small rufio

Moderators

Pryor_small Buckeye Brad