Following the first round of the 2010 draft, Browns’ fans once again have a new sense of hope. Team “czar” Mike Holmgren and new GM Tom Heckert both have brought a track record of success in past drafts, something that past Browns regimes have failed to achieve. With the exception of Joe Thomas, who was virtually the surest thing in recent draft history, and to lesser extent, D’Qwell Jackson and Eric Wright, Cleveland’s draft record since 1999 has been frequent on the various lists of draft busts. Tim Couch, Courtney Brown, Gerard Warren, William Green, Jeff Faine, Kam Wimbley, Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow, Brady Quinn, and any one else I may have forgotten. So, in review, 1 great pick, 2 so so picks, a couple of incompletes, and a whole bunch of crap. So, we have established the track record. Now lets look at the first 3 rounds, 5 picks for the Browns.
Joe Haden will be a starter from day 1 I believe, Colt McCoy will likely be a backup for the most of the year, Montario Hardesty figures to play a big role in the running game, TJ Ward will likely play a lot at safety, if not be the starter right away. But lets be honest, Haden and McCoy are the guys everyone cares about. In a division with a good group of receivers, Haden will provide something that the Browns haven’t had since the days of Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnefield, a 1-2 punch with Eric Wright to lock up receivers. Wright was often matched up against the top receivers last season, sometimes being over matched, sometimes not at all. Opposing teams often times choose to throw in the direction of Brandon McDonald and who ever else may have been stinking up the other side of the field, and were greatly successful in doing so. Wright may be better suited as the number 2 corner, matching up against the other teams 2nd best receiver on their teams. If the Browns choose to leave Wright and Haden on their own side of the field, the team will have a better chance of neutralize the other teams receivers. Last season, coach Eric Mangini refused to move Wright around to ensure that he would be against the best receiver on the other team, allowing opponents to move around their stars to get the favorable matchup. Factor in Sheldon Brown, who I still believe will be the starter at safety, and the Browns are suddenly deep at the corner position. Not many teams have 3 guys of the caliber of Haden, Brown and Wright. Brown has some experience at safety, and a move there could extend his career, and therefore get him a few more paydays, which has a way of motivating players (who could blame them)! Add in TJ Ward, and the Browns, are now young and talented. Ward was a former walk on who earned a scholarship, and played his way into the 2nd round of the NFL draft. That kind of player intrigues me. He wasn’t handed anything, he had to work for everything he got. Guys like that tend to stay hungry. Ward is very good in run support, something that the Browns have stunk at since around 1993. GM Heckert admitted that Ward needs to work on his pass defense, but claims he has the tools to improve, that his deficiency comes from the system he was asked to play in. The Browns are instantly better.
Montario Hardesty comes to Cleveland after the Browns traded the #’s 71, 134 and 146 picks to move up to 59 to grab him. Hardesty is a big bruising tailback that reminds many of a young Jamal Lewis, not the Jamal Lewis Cleveland had, but the Jamal Lewis that won a SuperBowl with the Ravens. Hardesty has the chance to start with last years breakout player, Jerome Harrison. Harrison is the perfect compliment to Hardesty, the “lightning” to Hardesty’s “thunder”. Either way, in Cleveland, especially with the lack of receiving talent on the team, a running game is a must. Even if Harrison is the starter, Hardesty figure to play a big role, something like in Carolina with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, both of whom rushed for 1,100 yards and 7 plus touchdowns. The Browns are instantly better.
Now to the favorite topic of Cleveland sports talk radio, the quarterback. Derek Anderson is gone, thank God, Brady Quinn is gone, thank God. Last season was the WORST QB SEASON I HAVE EVER WITNESSED. Quinn got a chance, sort of, didn’t impress in 2 and half games, and Anderson came in and proceeded to play worse than JaMarcus Russell. Anderson, a Pro Bowler in 2007, put up a qb rating of 44. The worse rating you can have is 38. Sure he was plagued by dropped balls, and bad routes, but he just plain old sucked. Quinn was not much better, posting a qb rating of 67. They are gone. Enter Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace and Colt McCoy. Finally the Browns are handling the qb position the right way. A cagey vet to mentor a young player for a year, then to help them once they become the starter. McCoy is a perfect fit in the west coast offense, the preferred offense of Holmgren, and has been compared to Steve Young by Holmgren. McCoy is the winningest qb in college football history, playing for the Longhorns. He has the mental aptitude to succeed, and while he lacks the ideal NFL arm strength, he is very accurate and makes great decisions. As the rest of the team goes through the growing pains, McCoy will be able to learn the NFL game, and when the team is ready, he should also be ready. He will have a young talented offensive line in which to protect him, a young running game to support him, and a young defense to get him the ball. And the best return man in football!!!!!!!
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