Browns Preview 9/29/17: Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The winless Cincinnati Bengals travel to Cleveland to take on the winless Browns in this week four matchup. The Browns lost to the Colts 31-28 last week. And the Bengals lost to the Packers 27-24 in overtime.



Browns Offense vs Bengals Defense

The Browns offense on the other hand has struggled during the first three weeks of the season. Last week, turnovers and penalties killed the Browns' momentum at times. Kizer threw three picks last week, all in the second half of the game, when the Browns were down two touchdowns. The Browns passing game didn't get any help from their young receivers. The receivers were called for four offensive pass interference penalties.

The gameplan this week for the Browns should be pretty simple. Protect the ball. Last weeks three picks from Kizer wasn't good, especially the first one that was in the redzone. The running game needs to keep improving, but in order for the running games to get an opportunity the Browns defense needs to keep them in games. Like last week, the Browns were forced to throw the ball 47 times because the Browns were down three scores. Kizer and Isaiah Crowell had 11 attempts each and Duke Johnson was only given two rushes but made the most of his opportunity, scoring on a 19-yard touchdown run.  Hopefully this week against the Bengals, who have struggled against the run this year, the Browns can get their running game going.

The passing game this year is lead by Duke Johnson, Rashard Higgins, Seth Devalve, and David Njoku. The Browns need someone on the outside to step up. Guys like Kenny Britt and Ricardo Lewis have had issues getting open. This week the outside guys need to step up in order to open up the passing game for their leading receivers.




Browns Defense vs Bengals Offense

The Browns might have Myles Garrett back this week. Garrett participated in practice Thursday. Unfortunately, Jamie Collins is still in concussion protocol.

The Bengals have three running backs they alternate with. Rookie Joe Mixon is their leading rusher, with Gio Bernard and Jeremy Hill second and third. The Browns run defense on the other hand has done a pretty good job this year. They are ranked 14th in rush defense this year.

The issue for the Browns defense this week will be Andy Dalton and AJ Green. Last week the Browns let T.Y. Hilton do whatever he wanted in the first half. And that is one of if not the main reason the Browns lost last week. They can't keep letting the opposition's best receiver kill them each week. Going into week four, AJ Green is the Bengals leading receiver with 20 catches. Brandon LaFell is second on the team with eight...So the game plan on defense should be limit Green and force Dalton to use other weapons.




Five Guys to Watch

1. DeShone Kizer: Like I say every week, Kizer is the number one guy to watch. He's the franchise quarterback for this regime. I think we will start seeing improvement with Kizer. Last week he only took one sack, which is a major positive. Now we need to see his accuracy improve with these receivers.

2. Jabrill Peppers: He's another guy where everyone is watching multiple things. First, where he is lined up on defense. And second how he comes up and plays in open field. Last week he and a horrible game. Hopefully he can rebound and play a bit less hesitant.

3. Myles Garrett: This one is pretty simple. Garrett was our number one overall pick and has yet to play a down in the regular season. Garrett's ability as a pass rusher should help a defense that is one of the worst at getting pressure on the quarterback.

4. Trevon Coley: With Danny Shelton dealing with an injury, Coley will have to step up and be the number one defensive tackle on defense. Guys like Coley, Meder, Ogunjobi, and Brantley have played really well in rush defense. All these guys are going to have to step up if Shelton is either out of game or extremely limited when playing.

5. Emmanual Ogbah: Ogbah has struggled in the first three weeks of the season. Hopefully with the return of Garrett, Ogbah can get more favorable matchups and get to the quarterback way more than he has.


Injury Report

Weather Report 

Betting Line: Cincinnati -3


Prediction: Browns 24 Bengals 17

Yes, I am once again taking the Browns to win a game...I think the presence of Myles Garrett is going to help the defense without a doubt. And because the defense will be much improved it will give Hue Jackson an opportunity to call on the running game much more than he's been able to through three weeks. If the Browns win the turnover battle they will win this game.

Browns Preview 9/15/17: Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The (0-1) Cleveland Browns travel to Baltimore to take on the (1-0) Ravens. Last week the Browns lost to the Steelers 21-18. The Ravens defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 20-0. In their game against the Bengals the Ravens forced five turnovers, so going into week two the Browns will need to limit the turnovers.


Browns Offense vs Ravens Defense:

The Browns passing game is most likely going to attack Ravens defensive back Brandon Carr. Carr isn't the player he once was. Corey Coleman is someone who has played really well since training camp began. Coleman last week caught all five passes thrown to him and he and quarterback DeShone Kizer already have some chemistry. So look out for the Browns to put Coleman in situations where he is matched up with Brandon Carr. The Ravens also like to use three safeties during passing downs. Moving Lardarious Webb to the nickle and playing veteran Eric Weddle and Tony Jefferson at "free/strong safeties". It should be interesting to see how the Browns counter this week. Last week we seen a lot of Duke Johnson in the slot, heck Johnson didn't even get a carry. Its going to be interesting to see if the Browns change Johnson's role week-to-week.

The Browns offensive line has to do a better job run blocking this week. Isaiah Crowell couldn't get separation last week and only rushed for 33 yards on 17 carries. That has to improve going forward. Hue Jackson isn't too worried about it, but with a rookie quarterback, you don't want to throw the ball more than you have too. And with the Ravens' pass rush lead by future hall of famer Terrell Suggs the Browns need to keep the Ravens honest with the run game.

The last thought on the offense is DeShone Kizer. He's going up against another extremely physical defense. It wouldn't be surprising if we see a couple late hits on the quarterback call like we did last week. Kizer has to play smart. Throw the ball away if nothing is open down field, slide while scrambling, and remembering that the check down is your friend.



Browns Defense vs Ravens Offense:

I really like this match up for the Browns. Yes, the Ravens played well last week , but the Browns defense is way better than Cincinnati's.  Last week the Ravens capitalized off of a turnover for one of their touchdowns, and the second was 48 yard pass to Jeremy Maclin on a drag route. The Browns last week did a great job limiting the deep ball. Yes, Antonio Brown got his...and yes it was on fluke plays but that's why AB is the best receiver in the NFL. Outside of the Maclin throw, Joe Flacco was 8/16 for 73 yards and an interception. I don't think passing game is going to kill the Browns this week like it did last week.

And the running game for the Ravens will be their strength. Former Brown Terrance West ran for 80 yards on 19 carries and Javorius Allen rushed for 71 yards on 21 carries. While having success last week against the Bengals, it isn't a for gone conclusion they will have success this week. The Browns limited the Steelers to 35 yards on the ground. Le'Veon Bell ran for 32 of the 35 on 10 rushes. The Browns defense is for real. And the key for them is to limit the running game and force Joe Flacco into turnovers...which is basically the key for the Raven's defense against the Browns offense.



Five Guys to Watch:

Joe Schobert: Schobert was one of a handful of guys to play every snap on defense last week. As the "mike" linebacker, Schobert is the "quarterback" of the defense. The position change during the off-season seems to have jump started his career after being a special teams/pass rushing specialist in his rookie year.

Duke Johnson: As I mentioned above, it's going to be interesting to see how Hue Jackson uses Johnson week-to-week. I wouldn't be surprised if we see him get 10-12 carries this week and a couple of catches, but this time lined up in the backfield where he's more comfortable.

DeShone Kizer: Kizer will be on this list every week. Its that simple. Kizer is potentially the quarterback of the future...so how can he not be one of the five guys to watch each week.

Ricardo Louis: Louis had a pretty good game last week. Yes, he only had two catches. But he was getting open and that's all you can ask for on a team with a lack of playmakers at wide receiver. Louis even came back last week from a nasty hit and caught a pass that put the Browns into scoring position.

Jabrill Peppers: I wasn't sure who my last "guy to watch" would be. So I picked the exciting playmaker Jabrill Peppers. I wouldn't be surprised if we see Peppers in for a couple plays on offense this week. *insert thinking emoji  Peppers playing "center field" with Joe Flacco at quarterback is exciting because we all know Flacco is known to take shots down field and with the ball-hawking skills Peppers has...it seems like the perfect opportunity for Peppers to get his first career interception.

Weather Report

Injury Report

Betting Line (As of 9/14/17): Baltimore -8

Prediction: Browns 24 Ravens 17





Call me crazy but I think the Browns will leave Baltimore with a 1-1 record. Kizer proved in one game that he gives the Browns an opportunity to win and that's all you can ask for with a rookie quarterback. But the Defense for the Browns will win this game. They will force the Ravens into turnovers and give the offense a short field. The running game for the Browns should be improved from last week which is why when they are given the lead they won't blow it like in years before.

Cleveland Browns 2017 Season Preview: The Defensive Backs

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

**PREVIOUS**
The Coaching Staff
The Running Backs
The Offensive & Defensive Line
The Quarterbacks
The Wide Receivers & Tight Ends
The Linebackers


The Cleveland Browns defensive back group just got a bit interesting with the release of Joe Haden. The Browns have a few spots open at DB that will likely be filled with waiver wire pickups or maybe a trade.

Cornerbacks: We know for a fact the three starting corners for week one. Jamar Taylor, Jason McCourty, and Briean Boddy-Calhoun. Taylor and BBC were breakout players for the Browns last season.

Taylor was acquired from Miami last season on during the draft. The former second round pick played in 15 games last season. He finished the season with 46 tackles, 13 pass defended, and three interceptions. Taylor's play in 2016 earned him a three year contract extension and a starting job going forward. Its not like the talent wasn't there with Taylor during his tenure with Miami but seems like the change of scenery was need in order to get a fresh start.

Briean Boddy-Calhoun was an undrafted free agent pickup last season. BBC played in 14 games, starting half of them. Boddy-Calhoun recorded 36 tackles, 11 pass defended, and three picks (including one returned for a touchdown). During the preseason BBC has been everywhere. Playing not just at corner but spell some at safety.

The lone veteran at defensive back is Jason McCourty who will be entering his ninth season in the NFL. He has spent the last eight with the Tennessee Titans. The Browns brought him in because they absolutely needed someone with the veteran leadership McCourty brings. But its not just the leadership, McCourty spent a season with Gregg Williams so his familiarity with Williams gives the Browns almost another coach on the field. Despite his age McCourty's stats haven't really dropped. Last season he had 59 tackles, 12 pass defended, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery in the 14 games he played/started. During the preseason, McCourty has been showing max effort, he's played solid defense and even forced a fumble that set up a scoring drive for the offense.

Outside of those three, the Browns defense backs are kind of a mystery. Expect them to keep one of the undrafted rookies (Najee Murray, Darius Hillary, Alvin Hill) or four year veteran Marcus Burley. And then use the waiver wire to add an additional corner to the team.

Safety: The Browns safety room is extremely young. They potentially could be starting a rookie and a second year pro at the two safety positions.

Jabrill Peppers is a lock to start week one. Peppers has impressed coaches and fans alike with his hard hitting tackling and his exciting playmaking ability when he gets his hands on the ball.

Opposite of Peppers will likely be Derrick Kindred. Kindred's rookie season was cut short because of an injury but in the games he played Kindred showed decent cover skills and being a sure tackler. During the preseason Kindred played extremely well and earned his spot as a starter on defense.

The backup safety position is fluid just like the corner position. The Browns traded for former first round pick Calvin Pryor during the off-season. Think of it as a Jamar Taylor 2.0 move. Pryor has played well during the preseason, he even recorded a safety during the Browns preseason victory over the Bears. Ibraheim Campbell is entering his third season with the Browns. Campbell isn't a lock to make the team, but it is expected. The preseason wasn't that great for the third year pro as he battled a concussion that kept him out for a couple weeks. It seems unlikely but undrafted rookie Kai Nacua out of BYU has played well. If the Browns cut either Pryor or Campbell, Nacua would be a logical replacement. He was always around the ball during the preseason. It wouldn't be surprising if Nacua makes the practice squad and gets called up during the middle of the season.


Defensive Backs Overview: The DBs in 2017 have talent but the Browns are really thin. If everyone stays healthy the defensive backs shouldn't hurt them too bad. And with the improvement of a pass rush the defensive backs will be given a position to succeed in 2017.

Krunch Time With Katelin: 5 Takeaways From The Browns vs Giants Preseason Game

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The Browns pulled off a 10-6 victory against the Giants in the second week of the preseason. The game was hard to watch. Each team had multiple turnovers, dropped passes, and overall sloppy play. But that's how the 2017 Cleveland Browns will win games this season. Sloppy, low-scoring games where the defense forces turnovers and the offense capitalizes on them. But lets get to why we are here. My five takeaways on the game from Monday Night.

1. DeShone Kizer should be the quarterback week one. Is Kizer 100% ready? Probably not. But does he give the Browns the best chance to win? Yes, without a doubt. Brock Osweiler isn't the answer and neither is Cody Kessler. Brock is 6'8 and is still getting passes knocked down at the line of scrimmage. And that's what happened in this game resulting in an interception. If you are counting at home, this is the Browns quarterbacks scoring drives tallies: Kizer (Four) Kessler (One) Brock (Zero) and Hogan (Zero). Yes, Kizer had two of his scoring drives against second-fourth teamers vs the Saints, but he was still playing with the same types of players.

2. Joe Schobert showed why he should be the starting middle linebacker on this team. Schobert a fourth round pick last season was mainly a special teams player last season. And when he did play it was at outside linebacker. But this season he was moved to the inside, he also lost some weight and he is now flying around the field.

3. Briean Boddy-Calhoun. I don't know what more I can say about him. The guy is a football player. He has a nose for the ball. Whether that's jumping a passing route for an interception, blowing up a play in the backfield, or being a hard hitting corner when the receiver catches the ball, the guy is constantly around the ball. I would take 11 Boddy-Calhoun's. The guy has a passion for the game of football and could be a fan favorite by the end of the season.

4. Matt Dayes is pretty good. He could easily become the Browns third down back if the Browns end up using Duke Johnson in the slot during passing downs. Dayes was the second to last pick in the draft and had a leg up in the third running back competition considering he coached by the Browns during the Senior Bowl. I think its a bit early to call the Browns running backs a three headed monster but the way they plan on running the ball the Browns will probably need three guys to keep everyone rested and healthy.

5. The defense showed why the acquisition of Gregg Williams is the best move of the entire off-season. Williams' defense is attacking the ball every single play. We seen Jason McCourty force a fumble, Boddy-Calhoun bait Geno Smith into a red zone interception. Oh and the rookies, Myles Garrett recorded his first sack and Jabrill Peppers...Peppers made veteran receiver Brandon Marshall hear footsteps while he tried to go up for a catch.. Oh and Peppers also made an impact as a punt returner.

Krunch Time With Katelin 7/26/17: 5 Things To Watch In Browns Training Camp

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE


Football is back!!!!

The Browns are getting ready for the 2017 season, headlined by first overall pick Myles Garrett. Its been a successful off-season for the Browns. They've beefed up the offensive line, they've also added players on both sides of the ball in the draft and during free agency. But it wouldn't be an off-season with changes in the coaching staff. Gregg Williams is now the defensive coordinator after the firing of Ray Horton.

And with that being said the number one thing to watch for is the new defensive coordinator and his staff. Gregg Williams has a history of being one of the top defensive coaching in the NFL. He is a hard-nose football guy and is here to help change the culture. We've seen it already...during press conferences he's calling out players and members of the media *cough. And we've also seen bits and pieces of how he interacts with players (before the press conference of the first round picks). And that's what I'm personally interested in. Seeing how Gregg Williams interacts with the defense during camp and how it will set a tone of the defense throughout the regular season.


It wouldn't be a Browns training camp without a quarterback battle. But this time its s triple threat match between: second year quarterback Cody Kessler, Veteran quarterback Brock Osweiler, and rookie second round pick Deshone Kizer. There is an argument to be made for all three of these guys to start week one. Kessler has been in the system for a year and has made improvements to his game. For the record, he might be odds on favorite to start week one.

Osweiler was acquired during the off-season along with a second round pick from the Texans in a deal that was basically a salary dump. The Texans wanted Osweiler off the team and the Browns wanted the second round pick and his contract in order to meet the NFL's cap requirements. There were rumors about Osweiler being traded, which could still happen if there is an injury during the preseason. But as of right now he is competing for the starting job. Osweiler never seemed to fit into what Bill O'Brien wanted to do in Houston and the change of scenery might turn out to be a good thing. He did win a super bowl in Denver while playing a number of games during the regular season and he played well.

Last but certainly not least the second round pick out of Notre Dame, Deshone Kizer. This guy has all the tools to be an NFL quarterback. In my opinion he should just start week one. The Browns aren't going to win a lot of game so I don't see why the Browns would wait six-eight weeks for Kizer to start. I'd rather have a complete year grade for him and if the Browns end up with a top five pick in next year's draft they'd know what they have a the quarterback position. Kizer can make all the NFL throws and for the majority of last season was touted as the top quarterback in the class. But a terrible record and the questionable coaching he had in college seemed to have dropped his stock.


Rookies in general are always fun to watch during camp. They give fans a hope for the future and this year is no different. With 10 draftees this year the Browns are full of young talent. Three first round picks: Myles Garrett, Jabrill Peppers, and David Njoku, Kizer, and defensive linemen Larry Ognujobi and Caleb Brantley are the ones should stand out.

But its not just the rookies this year to keep an eye on but the guys who are entering their second year as professionals. The wide receivers are still extremely young. These guys need to step up. Corey Coleman, Ricardo Louis, Jordan Payton and Rashard Higgins are all vying for playing time. Obviously, Coleman will get his chance as a first round pick, but the other three will be battling each other not just for playing time on offense but showing their worth on special teams.

This might not but just a training camp thing to watch but throughout the preseason is to just keep an eye on the secondary. This is Joe Haden's put-up or shut-up year. He's already been challenged by Gregg Williams this off-season and he is the leader of the defense. Haden had a bounce back year last year after a rough 2015 campaign. Even though 2016 was still an injury plagued season for Haden. Outside of Haden the Browns still have some questions. And it isn't in a negative way but just as an unknown.

Jamar Taylor seems to be a solid starter in the NFL and Briean Boddy-Calhoun played well at times last year. The Browns acquired two veterans Calvin Pryor and Jason McCourty late in the off-season. It will be interesting to see if a change of location would help Pryor and the were McCourty will even play. Whether at the corner position or a safety. And how McCourty's leadership will help the development of Peppers, Derrick Kindred, Bobby-Calhoun, and Ibraheim Campbell

There will be a lot more to talk about during the preseason and I will have articles on specific positions while we lead up to the start of the regular season. And as always I will have the Previews for each game and the recaps along with a random article Browns article during the middle of each week. Its good to be back in the groove of writing and talking Cleveland Browns!!!!

Krunch Time With Katelin: Cleveland Browns NFL Draft Recap

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

Like I stated in my NFL Draft recap "Winners and Losers", the Cleveland Browns were on the winning side of the NFL Draft. It doesn't hurt when you take the best overall player, grab a potential franchise quarterback, and they added an additional first round pick for the 2018 draft.

Day 1

The Browns hit a home run on the first day of the draft. Obviously taking Myles Garrett number one overall, the consensus best player in the draft, is an A+. Garrett is immediately a cornerstone for this franchise. At the 12th pick he Browns traded down with Houston and swapped first round picks and got the Texans' first round pick next season. The Browns at 25th overall took Michigan safety Jabrill Peppers. Pepper is another guy who is going to make an impact from day one. He's already projected to start day one at strong safety. Then the Browns ended up trading back into the first round with the Green Bay Packers. At 29th overall, the Browns took David Njoku, a tight end out of Miami (FL). Njoku is only 20 years old and already has the physical talent for the NFL. He's a willing blocker and with the Browns releasing Gary Barnidge, Njoku should get every chance to start from day one.

Day 2

The Browns might have landed their quarterback of the future, DeShone Kizer from Notre Dame with the 52nd pick. The Kizer pick was great for two reasons. First off, the Browns likely found their quarterback going forward. Kizer is only 21 years old and will have a chance to grow into the position and doesn't have the pressure to start week one like a top 5 pick would have been. Secondly, the Browns didn't have to move up for him. Kizer landed right into their lap so again there is even less pressure on them to start him right away. In the third round, the Browns took defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi out of Charlotte. Ogunjobi made history being Charlotte's first ever player drafted to the NFL. He's projected to play along side of Danny Shelton in the Browns' base 4-3 defense.







Day 3

Day three was interesting to say the least. The Browns started the day taking Howard Wilson a cornerback out of Houston in the fourth round. Wilson is a 6'1" cornerback who should be on the field day one. Then the Browns took Roderick Johnson, a left tackle out of Florida State. Johnson is a project left tackle, so Joe Thomas isn't going anywhere.

Here is where the draft gets interesting.

In the sixth round the Browns took Caleb Brantley, a defensive tackle out of Florida. Brantley was projected to go in the first three rounds, but after an "alleged" assault took place in the middle of April most teams took Brantley off of their draft board. The Browns acknowledged Brantley's off-field situation and they are willing to release him if more comes out about his situation. Then to finish the draft the Browns took Zane Gonzalez, the highest rated kicker in the draft in the 7th round, and Matt Dayes, a running back out of NC State and someone who the Browns coached at the Senior Bowl.

Overall, I give this draft an B+/A-.

They filled multiple holes on this roster and added another first round pick for 2018's draft. They also held true to their draft board and didn't panic to get anyone, they made the smart picks and honestly, they set themselves up for some success in the 2017 season.

On The Clock, NFL Draft 2017: It's Never Too Early For A Big Board

By Alex Hale, @ThatCLESportGuy


As the summer winds down and the kids go back to school, that can only mean one thing… Football. 

With the NFL Regular Season starting back up this week and the first week of the College Football season in the books, I think now is the time to start talking about NFL Draft.  Now before you stop complaining, this isn’t a mock draft, instead we’re going to do monthly installments of the Top 10 players on my Big Board.  Normally I’d wait to truly reveal this, but I think it would be a fun idea to see how my Big Board changes throughout a season.  Now we’re going to keep this simple, we’re only going to do a Top 10 every month and trust me, there will be some changes every month as I’ve already started my scouting process and am already finding some concerns at some big time prospects.  So it’s that time to reveal my first 2017 NFL Draft Top 10 Big Board.

Honorable Mention- Michigan CB Jourdan Smith, Georgia RB Nick Chubb, Western Michigan WR Corey Davis, Alabama LT Cam Robinson, Alabama DT Jonathan Allen, Florida St RB Dalvin Cook, Ohio State LB Raekwon McMillan

10. RB Christian McCaffrey, Stanford- Quite possibly the favorite to win the Heisman this year, Christian McCaffrey has some lofty expectations to live up to after his historic season a year ago.  My big question for him right now is where does he play in the NFL level?  While it’s very possible he translates into a Reggie Bush/Darren Sporles/Theo Roddick receiving RB type, in order to really climb up this board, he’s got to show a bit more power as a runner this year.  We all know the explosiveness and playmaking ability is there, the question is in terms of translating as a 3 down back at the next level, can he lower the pads and run through defenders?

9. CB/S/LB Jabrill Peppers, Michigan- I know what the big question is, what position does he play?  Should it matter?  Peppers just makes plays happen and has been without question the Wolverines best defensive player in quite some time.  He’s extremely athletic as evidenced as his versatility by playing Defense, Offense and also as Punt Returner.  While Michigan hasn’t had the success that makes them truly stand out, Peppers is just that great of a talent.  In all honesty, I personally think right now that Peppers won’t enter the draft in 2017, but he’s worth throwing on this list simply because of his outstanding talent.  A lot of people see Jalen Ramsey in Peppers, but he could potentially become another Charles Woodson.  Has a whole season to prove it to teams.

8. QB Brad Kaaya, Miami (FL)- While Kaaya is ranked here at 8, there truly is a significant drop off after Watson.  Going into this season, Kaaya looks to be the intriguing physical QB specimen this year.  A lot of people are quickly are jumping the gun on him and calling him a lot like Christian Hackenberg, a strong season at Miami could really eliminate some of the doubts scouts may have.  My biggest gripe with him is if Kaaya is that extremely talented, why hasn’t it translated to wins for Miami?  By pure athletic ability and arm strength, Kaaya could be the highest upside prospect in the draft, but as of now, he’s got a lot to prove.

7. WR Juju Smith-Schuster, USC- Without question Smith-Schuster is the best WR in the draft class this year.  While not a burner as a WR, he plays with the rare physical and attacking style that we’ve seen plenty of great NFL WRs with (Alshon Jeffery, Brandon Marshall).  He has a knack to catch the ball and make something happen with it, which is always a good sign for a WR.  He knows how to run the short and intermediate routes that we’ve seen really can translate at the NFL level, and with the QB play he’s had a USC, you gotta wonder if he lands on the right team with the right QB, what can he do?  His only downside is blocking, which is a typical problem for WRs, so I’m taking that with a grain of salt.  A player to watch though at WR, Western Michigan Corey Davis.

6. CB Teez Tabor, Florida- Florida just has a tradition of bring out the best CB prospects every year, as Tabor takes the early nod as my Top CB available.  Unlike previous top Florida CB prospects Joe Haden and Vernon Hargreaves, Tabor has the size over them at 6’0’’ which will be a big plus for teams as we’ve seen in recent drafts teams like the size CBs.  He has very good speed to go with his size and has a presence as it seemed teams tried to avoid passing to him and instead go after Hargreaves as evidenced by lack of stats.  Tabor out of the 2 last year was the better prospect and is a guy I’ll be studying a lot more as the season goes on.  But early Big Board rankings are more about potential and pure talent instead of numbers so that’s why for now Tabor is this high.

5. S Jamal Adams, LSU- Yes this makes potentially 2 Safeties in my initial Top 10 picks in this draft.  Adams is the leader of the LSU defense that although lost in their Week 1 matchup vs. Wisconsin, it was the Defense that kept LSU in the game.  Adams projects best as a SS, but has the ability to play both safety positions.  At 6’0’’ 211, his size makes him more of the SS type, but his tackling leaves a bit to be desired.  What he excels at is breaking up passing and more importantly being able to identify the play as it’s happening.  Another strong season this year could push Adams into the Top 10 in terms of where teams could draft him.  But simply by pure talent and upside, I see a lot of Earl Thomas here and that worked out pretty well for Seattle, didn’t it?  He’s going to have to stand out though as teams don’t necessarily look for a Safety that high in the draft.

4. DT/DE Malik McDowell, Michigan St- One of the more intriguing prospects in the 2016 NFL Draft was Oregon DE DeForest Buckner.  McDowell is this year’s version of Buckner.  McDowell chose to stay at Michigan State for another year to build on a strong 2015-2016 season where he established himself as one of the premiere DL players in College Football.  Standing at 6’6’’ 276, McDowell actually lost weight in the offseason to become more versatile in Michigan State’s defense.  He has the explosiveness off the snap to get pressure on the QB, but also the ability to stop the run.  The loss of weight in the offseason makes him look like a better fit as a 4-3 DE instead of a 3-4 DE, but depending on the team who might take him next year, it’s possible if needed he can slide into a 3-4 DE role.  Quite possibly the most intriguing prospect in the draft and already getting strong endorsements from Mel Kiper and Todd McShay as the potential #1 prospect available.

3. RB Leonard Fournette, LSU- Fournette looks to be one of the best RB prospects in the last 20 years.  In today’s age of the NFL where it’s a passing league, it speaks volumes that Fournette is ranked this high.  What jumps out is his size, (6’1’’, 230 lbs) which one would think would effect his speed and playmaking ability.  Fournette breaks that traditional mode and has shown elite speed and quickness.  He can zoom by defenders and make them miss.  Plus at his size, he has shown the ability to break tacklers with a powerful running attack.  Add to the fact he can make plays in the passing game, it seems Fournette is too good to be true.  Which leaves one thing he must improve on…VISION.  Fournette seems to rely on his talents too much instead of developing vision.  Many running backs have gone to the NFL with all the talent but lack the vision to make plays (see Trent Richardson), this is something scouts will look closer at this year.  The pressure is on for Fournette to either be the next Adrian Peterson or the next Trent Richardson.

2. QB Deshaun Watson, Clemson- A lot of people are pegging Watson as the #1 Overall pick next April, the reality is that Watson isn’t the #1 player in this draft possibly.  Yes, Watson had an outstanding year last year with Clemson throwing over 4000 yards with 35 TDs and 13 INTs.  Watson almost led Clemson to a National Championship, but fell short.  Watson displays excellent touch on his passes and what stands out more to me is his footwork.  What I look for is a QB who is light on his feet and has an understanding of how to move in the pocket.  He displays both which translates into great accuracy throwing downfield.  And we haven’t gotten into his running ability.  Watson to me seems like a James Winston/Marcus Mariota hybrid.  The passing ability of Winston and the running ability of Mariota.  I got high expectations for Watson this year.

1. DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M- Those who casually watch College Football they may not know him, but a lot of people see Garrett as the #1 prospect to begin the 2016-2017 College Football season.  Standing in at 6’5’’ weighing 270, Garrett has the immediate size that could translate to him being a 4-3 DE, but what makes him even more interesting is the explosiveness for his size that could make him a 3-4 OLB.  After getting 12.5 sacks last year, teams will be game planning around him to try to stop him.  There’s plenty of upside with him and so much intrigue on what he could become as a prospect, I would’ve gone as far as even if Joey Bosa didn’t sign with San Diego and had to re-enter the draft, I would rank Myles Garrett over Joey Bosa.  There’s just too much to like with him that sets him apart from everyone else.  Bottom line, the kid is a freak of nature that should dominate college play again this year.


Now trust me when I say this Top 10 will change over time.  I left off quite a few big names that I’m sure are going to play well early and play themselves into my Top 10.  This first Big Board is all about my projections for players along with upside.  Last year at around this time, I had pegging former MSU QB Connor Cook as the #1 pick, only to have former Cal QB Jared Goff jump him only a month later.  So trust me this Top 10 is far from over.  But for now let’s enjoy College Football and keep our hopes high for our respective NFL teams.  It should be fun to see how this plays out because the first weekend of the College season left us with a ton of surprises, so I expect my big board to be full of surprises all year as well.