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In the physical AFC North division, the Cleveland Browns have been a finesse team with very little success. Under second-year coach Eric Mangini, that’s changing.
Forget all the talk about the Browns switching to the West Coast Offense. It’s not happening—at least not in 2010. Sure there may be a few West Coast plays but the Browns’ bread and butter will be their running game.
While finishing the 2009 season on a four-game winning streak, the Browns did it solely on the ground. Cleveland’s passing game bordered on the ridiculous. Gone are last year’s quarterbacks, Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn. Taking their place are Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace.
When looking at the Browns new quarterbacks, both are capable of making plays, which will help the running game even more. That’s something they missed last year.
In 2009, after Jamal Lewis suffered a season-ending injury, Cleveland found a workhorse in Jerome Harrison. This year, Harrison won’t be asked to shoulder the majority of carries. Rookie Montario Hardesty, Peyton Hillis, James Davis, and possibly Chris Jennings will be there to share the load.
Along with Cleveland’s vast stable of running backs, the Browns still have Josh Cribbs. Mangini has already said Cribbs will team some with Wallace to form a deadly duo in the wildcat.
Cleveland has invested a lot of money and effort in putting together an offensive line. Left tackle Joe Thomas is as good as there is. Left guard Eric Steinbach and center Alex Mack aren’t too bad either. On the right side, the starters will probably come from Tony Pashos, Floyd Womack, and rookie Shawn Lauvao. Fullback Lawrence Vickers, whose blocking is second to none, also returns.
For all you Browns fans that can remember Marty ball, get ready for Mangini ball.
Article originally posted at http://www.nfltouchdown.com/
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Shawn Lauvao was the Browns third round pick from Arizona State in the 2010 NFL Draft. Lauvao played left tackle in college, but is being groomed as a smashmouth starting guard on the Browns offensive line.
Lauvao was selected with the 92nd overall selection, or the one obtained from the New York Jets in the Braylon Edwards trade.
As a left tackle in at Arizona State, he earned Second Team All Pac-10 and helped the offensive line lower the sack total from 34 to 27 in one year.
He is one smart lineman who already has a bachelors degree and is six to nine credits short of a masters degree. How many potential path clearing guards have that type of intellect?
Therefore, learning the Browns pass protection and run blocking schemes should be a breeze for this heady Hawaiian.
Once he adapts to the new terminology and communication along the line, he should be on an even playing field with the other contenders for the right guard spot.
Lauvao, 6’3″ and 315 lbs, competes in strongman competitions for fun, and in 2005, won Hawaii’s Strongest Teen Competition. This cerebral strongman can bench 500 lbs, squat 675 lbs, and clean 350 lbs.
The other contenders for the right guard position include former Bengal and eight year veteran Scott Kooistra, versatile veteran and Mangini favorite Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack, and veteran free agent signing Tony Pashos.
Womack and Pashos are also in the mix at right tackle, meaning Lauvao may only have to beat out two of the above. Lauvao has been cross-training at both guard positions and center too.
Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter Tony Grossi puts his paycheck on Lauvao stating, “Lauvao is big, strong, smart, and agile. What’s not to like about that for an offensive lineman? Veteran Floyd Womack offers stiff competition at right guard, but my money is on Lauvao, barring something unforseen.”
I agree wholeheartedly with Grossi about Lauvao’s attributes and Womack’s ability, but I think he fails to recognize the possibility of Kooistra and Pashos playing right guard.
Pashos is a big, 6’6″, 326 lbs, and burly road mauler who may be better suited to guard than tackle. He has slow feet and is a better run blocker than pass protector.
Kooistra is also huge at 6’6″ and 335 lbs, and is massive and a powerful run blocker. He is not very athletic, has difficulty with explosive defenders, and is an average pass protector.
Womack on the other hand is versatile, has worked at every position along the line, is a road grader of a run blocker, and a solid pass defender who may end up at right tackle.
Lauvao’s experience playing left tackle in college has likely provided him with better feet and agility than his competition.
The kid has it all and it’s an endearing package. Lauvao is intelligent, brutally strong, reasonably agile, and has a constant desire to better himself, borne out in his academic endeavours and strongman competitions.
If the veterans falter for a second in training camp, this impressive rookie may slip nimbly by on the way to opening day.
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This time last year the Browns had two potential starting quarterbacks, but neither of them were able to ride that horse for more than a few weeks.
This year, Jake Delhomme is the starter, though Seneca Wallace has been given a token chance to win the job in training camp.
Then there’s Colt McCoy, the potential future of the franchise, who will be holding the clipboard and waiting for his chance should it arrive this year.
Brett Ratliff is also on the list, but his chances of making the final 53-man roster are slim.
Delhomme is coming off his worst season as a professional, but Team President Mike Holmgren believes that season was a fluke and that he can really help the Browns this year.
Given his complete meltdown in Carolina, it’s not unreasonable to believe the proverbial “Change of Scenery” scenario is all the 35-year-old quarterback needed. The fact is his arm is healthy and there’s no reason he can’t regain his Pro Bowl form this year.
Add to this the Browns’ rapidly improving offensive line, and it’s a recipe for success. Center Alex Mack, left tackle Joe Thomas, and left guard Eric Steinbach have made that side of the line a brick wall.
The right side started improving at the end of last year, and the addition of Shaun Lauvao and Tony Pashos should only make things better.
While Wallace will get his shot, you don’t pay Jake Delhomme starter’s money to have him start the season on the bench, but expect to see a lot of Wallace on the field this year through the Wildcat formations.
It’s also worth noting that if McCoy is on the active roster and used as a wide receiver, you potentially could get four quarterbacks on the field with Delhomme, Wallace and Joshua Cribbs out there as well.
Think of what an opposing defensive coordinator would have to do to deal with four guys on the field who could potentially take the snap and wing it downfield.
The possibilities are endless, so training camp should provide some clues as to what to expect from the Browns offense this year.
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The Cleveland Browns found success last year in discovering undrafted free agent gems who made contributions to the roster in 2009, and might be able to make an impact in the future too.
Pro Bowler Josh Cribbs is probably one of the most famous undrafted free agent stories in the NFL currently, but several Browns players could easily be the next big story.
In 2009, the Browns found undrafted tight end Evan Moore and linebacker Marcus Benard. Both players made some great strides in their rookie years and are looking to make major improvements in Year Two.
This offseason, the Browns found three more undrafted players who could turn into solid performers down the road with offensive lineman Joel Reinders, wide receiver Jonathan Haggerty, and defensive lineman Kawku Danso.
The Browns found Reinders via a YouTube video, and he has a good chance at making the final roster as a backup right tackle, behind Tony Pashos.
Reinders has great size at 6’7″ and 320 pounds and can learn from veterans like Pashos and Joe Thomas.
Haggerty could have a tough time making the final roster, unless the Browns keep six receivers. But he could also make the practice squad as well.
At 6’1″ and 195 pounds, Haggerty has good size and could see more time on special team in 2010 since their is so much youth at the receiver position. But crazier things have happened and he could surprise during training camp.
Danso is a favorite of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.
“Who the hell is that?” said Ryan when he first laid eyes on Danso entering the room at East Carolina.
Danso, a 28-year-old rookie from Africa, is extremely raw. But with Shaun Rogers pending suspension for his gun incident, and if the Browns actually do move Rogers over to defensive end, there will be a void at defensive tackle behind projected starter Ahtyba Rubin.
A monster at 6’5″ and 336 pounds, Danso has played football for only a few years and is still learning the game. But his size and strength are his biggest assets, and he can easily take on double—and possibly triple—teams in the line.
Of these three undrafted players, I can easily see Danso being the one player who makes the roster. His position needs more depth than the other two.
In the end, it is very nice to see the Browns can find some undrafted player who can make the squad and hopefully get some playing time if not in 2010, but in the future.
I cannot remember the last time the Browns found so many undrafted players since they came back into the NFL in 1999.
And this is obviously a testament to the coaches and scouting staff for finding these guys and keeping their names quiet in order to not draw any attention from other teams.
(Also posted on Dawg Scooper: THE Cleveland Browns Blog )
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The Cleveland Browns have had an offseason bustling with activity at every turn. There were roster moves galore, trades, free agent signings, and holdouts. The NFL draft was the first under the direction of new team President Mike Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert. The results were received strangely at first, but there seems to be a method to their madness.
Overall, it was a very exciting, optimistic time to be a Cleveland Browns fan.
In a surprising move, Holmgren elected to keep Coach Eric Mangini and his staff, with one caveat:
He brought in former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Gil Haskell to incorporate some sets and formations of the West Coast into Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s base offense.
The first major order of business was to reformat the quarterback position by jettisoning Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn in favor of Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace.
Next, the Browns added golden child Colt McCoy in the third round of the draft and made conflicting statements about whether he will play this year.
Regardless, the stable of arms we now have clearly gives us a better shot at a high noon gunfight.
Delhomme’s job will be to manage the game and try not to throw the ball into tight spaces.
With the additions of running back Montario Hardesty and tight end Ben Watson along with Jerome Harrison, he should have check down options with excellent hands available to him on almost every play.
The Browns have been quite vocal about the addition of a Cyclone package, which will include Wallace as the quarterback and Cribbs in the backfield.
The players will line up parallel to one another so either one could take the deep snap.The options are almost limitless and will drive defensive coordinators nuts.
Cribbs will be back in the Flash package and he will have more weapons this year with Montario Hardesty, Jerome Harrison, Peyton Hillis, James Davis, and a better cast of receivers. He might actually hand off or throw the ball instead of keeping it on every play.
Between the Cyclone and the Flash package, defensive coordinators will have to plan for three different looks.
Running back Montario Hardesty has been the most impressive rookie in camp. He knows where to be, what the audibles are, and what his blocking assignments are.
Hardesty is a sculpted 6’0″, 225-lb rocket who bursts through the line, but also knows how to set his blockers up.
Jerome Harrison just signed his tender and better come to training camp with his game face on because this rookie has serious designs on the starting position.
The Browns’ tight ends are quite possibly the best in the NFL. They acquired Ben Watson and Alex Smith through free agency and Evan Moore returns from last year.
Watson is a superb, all around tight end with good hands. Smith is bigger than Watson and a better blocker but also has reliable hands.
Moore is a finesse tight end with an incredible pair of hands who can double as a wide receiver.
The Browns offensive line has two building blocks in All-Pro left tackle Joe Thomas and center Alex Mack. They drafted an interior line prospect, Shawn Lauvao, who is a strong, intelligent mauler that should start sooner rather than later at guard.
Eric Steinbach is back at left guard and the Browns signed Tony Pashos to play either right guard or tackle. Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack is also in the running for a spot on the right side of the line, as is former Bengal Scott Kooistra.
Cleveland then set about revamping the secondary through a trade and the draft. Cornerbacks Sheldon Brown and rookie Joe Haden will battle incumbent starter Eric Wright for the two starting positions in training camp, with the loser becoming the nickel back.
The draft brought a pair of talented safeties to a woefully thin and poorly performing area of the team. Rookie battering ram T.J. Ward is locked in a battle with veteran Mike Adams for the starting free safety position, while rookie strong safety Larry Asante is playing with the first team defense as he awaits a training camp challenge from recently signed Abe Elam.
Regardless of who starts, the safety positions should be much better this year than in years past.
A lot of observers and publications thought the Browns needed a veteran wide receiver, but GM Tom Heckert said he was happy with what they had on the roster.
Brian Robiskie makes the man look prescient. Out of all the players this offseason, Robiskie has been the most improved. He catches everything anywhere near him, runs his routes perfectly, and just plays good clean football.
“So far Brian Robiskie has had an outstanding camp,” Mangini said. “He’s showed up quite a bit. He’s running good routes and made some big plays pretty much every day. ”
That’s awesome to hear about Brian. Perhaps he’ll give Cribbs a run for the starters spot.
Mohamed Massaquoi is the unquestioned number one receiver after a solid rookie campaign and he hopes to minimize his drops this year. Joshua Cribbs worked hard over the winter on his route running and hopes to have a better 2010.
Chansi Stuckey is supposed to be a possession receiver but he had seven drops last year. Carlton Mitchell has been dinged up in camp and seems to have an uneven set of hands, but he does have speed that the team desperately needs.
Johnathan Haggerty runs a 4.44 40 yard dash and has good hands.“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.”
Hopefully he continues to develop when the pads go on in training camp because we need his speed and hands.
The linebackers have been in a unique situation with D’Qwell Jackson and Matt Roth sitting out all organized team activities this offseason.
Scott Fujita and Chris Gocong have been singled out for praise by Mangini for their intelligence and drive.
David Veikune has made a permanent switch to inside linebacker and has had positive reports, but Mangini is holding off on any praise until the pads are on and he can see him lay some lumber.
Marcus Benard has looked explosive and ready for an expanded role as a pass rushing specialist.
The defensive line looks like Shaun Rogers will start at end, with Ahtyba Rubin at the nose, and Robaire Smith at the other end. Kenyon Coleman and C. J. Mosley will be reserves.
Rookie Clifton Geathers is an excellent prospect who needs to keep his temper in check if he wants to play for Mangini.
Brian Schaefering is a valuable swingman who has earned Mangini’s trust.
The Browns have definitely improved the quarterback situation in my opinion. Even if Jake goes down, I would much rather have Seneca as my backup than Brady or DA.
The running game could be lethal this year. Harrison and Hardesty are each the real deal in their own way, while Hillis has a hard-nosed style and is a good receiver out of the backfield.
Let us not forget the return of last year’s preseason phenom, James Davis, who is capable of a home run at any point in a ball game.
Robiskie alone makes this year’s wide receiving crop better than last years. Mohamed, Robo, and Cribbs, are a decent triumvirate to start the season with.
Haggerty just might be that $50 scratch off lottery ticket and Mitchell oozes talent, he just needs a lot of one on one time with the jugs machine.
The revamped secondary can’t be worse than last years, so we’re ahead of the game right there. Our top three corners should be able to compete with anybody, while our safeties are going to have some growing pains.
The linebackers make me dizzy now that D’Qwell and Roth have signed, so I won’t speculate on starters. I do wonder who the playmakers will be outside of Benard and Roth. Bowens, if hes not on the bench, is one, and maybe Gocong. But if you look at Fujita and Jackson’s stats, they’re tacklers not playmakers. Just a thought.
The defensive line is thin but competent. Rogers should have a great year.
The offensive line apparently has three positions settled and Pashos, Womack, Kooistra, and Lauvao are battling it out for the two spots on the right side. Hopefully, Mangini decides early so the line has an opportunity to gel before the season starts.
Overall, I think the Browns will surprise a lot of teams in 2010. The influx of talent combined with the stability of the coaching base has set the tone for a successful transition into a new decade full of promise.
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