Showing posts with label Joe Thomas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joe Thomas. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Cleveland Browns 2017 Season Preview: Offensive & Defensive Line


By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE


**PREVIOUS**
The Coaching Staff
The Running Backs


The 2017 Cleveland Browns' success will be because of how both of their lines play. The Browns spent most of their off-season addressing the Offensive line in free agency and the Defensive line during the draft.


On the offensive side, the Browns signed former Bengal Kevin Zeitler to play right guard and former Packer J.C. Tretter. The Browns made Zeitler the highest-paid guard in NFL history with a five year contract worth of $60 Million and then the Browns signed Tretter for three years worth about $15 Million. Lost in all of that though the Browns signed their own players, giving left guard Joel Bitonio to a five year extension. The Browns offensive identity this season is to be a ground and pound type football team. Hue Jackson wasn't able to run the ball as much as he would have liked to last season because of a number of reasons. Which is why the Browns are willing to spend almost $50 Million this season on their offensive line.

Four out of five Starting Linemen spots are filled: Joe Thomas (obviously), Bitonio, Tretter, and Zeitler. The only offensive line battle during the preseason is at right tackle, which involves, former first round pick in 2015, Cam Erving and last year's third round pick Shon Coleman. And going into the first preseason game, Coleman is listed as the starter and seems to be the favorite to win the job.

Outside of the starting five the Browns have have a lot of versatility on the offensive line. Cam Erving has played every o-line position during his football career. John Greco has been the starting right guard for the past five seasons. Greco has also shown an ability to play center if need be. The Browns also have Spencer Drango who played and started a number of games last season in place of Bitonio. And during the draft the Browns traded up for Rod Johnson, a left tackle out of Florida State. If anything, Johnson might become a practice squad, stash and then develop for a year or so.

Offensive Line Outlook: They will definitely be improved from last season. "IF" everyone stays healthy they could possibly be one of the best offensive line in the NFL. And if rookie quarterback Deshone Kizer starts, this offensive line shouldn't give Hue Jackson and company anything to be worried about.


The Browns defensive line might be the deepest part of the team. With the change to a 4-3 defense the Browns drafted a number of linemen this past April, headlined by the number one overall pick Myles Garrett. Garrett is the prototypical right defensive end. He will be attacking the quarterback's blind side and go one-on-one against the opposing team's left tackle. By doing that it will keep him fresh for passing rushing situations since the majority of the time teams run to right side of their offensive line. Garrett has shown during training camp he's a monster. Seeing him up close is kind of crazy. The guy is a physical freak and the Browns made the right choice taking him first in the draft.

Opposite of Garrett will be Emmanuel Ogbah, the Browns second round pick from last season. His rookie season was a tale of two halves. The first half of the season he struggled with his pass rush and during pass coverage as a 3-4 outside linebacker. But then he was switched to defensive end and that's where he finally excelled. This year he is going back to his college position as a defensive end in a 4-3 defense. The starting defensive tackles will be, former first round pick from 2015, Danny Shelton and Desmond Bryant. Shelton might have been the most improved player in 2016. It also looks like he slimmed down this off-season in order to play defensive tackle in the 4-3 defense. Bryant missed the 2016 season with a torn pectoral. In his three seasons in Cleveland, Bryant has started all 41 games he's played in. He's also the elder statesman on the Browns defensive line at 31 years old.

This is were the Browns defensive line depths shows. First, guys who are most likely going to make this team. Carl Nassib, who showed some flashes during his rookie season while playing with a broken hand. Rookies Larry Ogunjobi and Caleb Brantley. Ogunjobi was drafted in the third round and Brantley in the sixth. But the reason Brantley fell to the sixth round wasn't because of play, it was because of an alleged off-field incident that has already been cleared. Brantley was projected to be a top 50 pick in the draft, so its unlikely the Browns will cut him because of the value they got on him. Cam Johnson is another guy who seems to be a lock for this team as a pass rusher. In 12 games last season (nine starts) he recorded three sacks and two forced fumbles. And the last potential lock for this team is "The Pierogi Prince of Parma" Jamie Meder. Yes, Valley Forge's and Ashland's own is a lock to be on this team. Meder should transition into a solid defensive tackle in the 4-3. But his value isn't just on defense but special teams too. Meder blocked a field goal in the Browns' only win last season against the then San Diego Chargers.

Unfortunately, with all those guys as potential locks it doesn't leave much room for guys like Nate Orchard and Xavier Cooper. Both were part of the 2015 draft. Nate Orchard was a second round pick, but in his first two seasons he's battled injuries and playing as a 3-4 outside linebacker. He's in the same situation as Ogbah but might not get the benefit of the doubt because he was drafted by the previous regime.

Defensive Line Outlook: The defensive line is kind of hard to predict. Do they have the talent? Yes. But they are extremely young. And the success of a D-Line goes hand-in-hand with the success of the defensive backs and vise-versa. So if the line plays well, then overall the defense will be pretty good. And with Gregg Williams at the helm, its hard to see them not playing well for 16 games.

Friday, October 28, 2016

Browns Preview 10.28.16: New York Jets @ Cleveland Browns


By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The (0-7) Cleveland Browns host the (2-5) New York Jets on this historical weekend. First, it will mark the first time the Cavaliers, Browns, and Indians all play on the same weekend. Second, the Browns will be celebrating the 1986 Browns team. The Jets won last week against the Ravens 24-16 in a game where Geno Smith started and tore his ACL. Which means the Jets will be starting Ryan Fitzpatrick once again. The Browns lost to the Bengals 31-17 and they lost another quarterback...Cody Kessler suffered a concussion and Kevin Hogan made his NFL debut. But this week it looks like Josh McCown will return from his non-throwing shoulder injury.


Browns Offense vs Jets Defense

The Browns game plan this week should be interesting. The Browns will need to keep running the ball. The Jets are ranked second in rush defense, only giving up 75 yards per game. But with McCown starting the Browns can not give up on running the ball, even if the Browns are struggling. Isaiah Crowell is prone to break off a big run and it keeps the defensive line at bay. Also it will be interesting if Hue Jackson spells Kevin Hogan at times to run the read option and throw a few passes.

McCown and the passing game has a chance to be successful, but only if McCown can get the ball out quickly. Gary Barnidge and Duke Johnson should get a ton of targets because McCown needs to get the ball out and not take many hits. Also the quick passes will help Terrelle Pryor get the ball in space and down field just to keep the defense honest.

The most important key for this week is to set up the pass with a consistent running game. They can't expect Josh McCown to win a game for them...heck they can't expect McCown to finish the game let alone win it. But running the ball will keep the our defense off the field and it will open up the passing game in certain spots.


Browns Defense vs Jets Offense

The Browns will need to get pressure on Fitzpatrick. This year he's been extremely turnover prone throwing 11 interceptions and even throwing six of them in one game against the Chiefs. Now its not like he doesn't have any weapons to throw to, Fitzpatrick has Brandon Marshall (who leads the team in targets), Quincy Enunwa (who is leading the team in catches), and Matt Forte out of the back field. The Browns should be able to bait Fitzpatrick into some throws which they will have to take advantage of. Just because Fitzpatrick lost his job last week doesn't mean he is going to stop playing his game, which is throwing the ball into tight spaces and forcing his receivers to make the big play.

The Browns rush defense needs to improve. Last week the Browns almost gave up 300 yards on the ground to Jeremy Hill and Gio Bernard. This week they go up against Matt Forte who has been up and down this season, but is coming off of a 100 yard game last week. If the Browns can't stop the run on early downs the Jets will have a field day, because it will prevent the Browns from being aggressive on "passing downs" with the blitz.

On Defense the most important key is to stop the run and force Fitzpatrick to beat them. Fitzpatrick's confidence could be a bit low considering he did not "earn" the starting job back. This has the making of the Miami Dolphins game from earlier this year. The Browns have an unknown at quarterback and will have to rely on the running game. And the Defense will have to force the quarterback into mistake and hope the offense takes advantage of the short field.


Five Guys to Watch

Josh McCown: This choice is pretty obvious. McCown is coming off of an injury, which we don't know how it will affect his play. If McCown can limit the hits he takes the Browns have a solid shot at getting the "W" this week.

Gary Barnidge: Barnidge is McCown's favorite target so again this choice is obvious. Barnidge is a threat in all levels of the field, but I expect him to get a ton of targets but for minimal yards. And that's okay as long as McCown doesn't take unnecessary hits.

Corner Back matching up with Marshall: As of right now, who is starting at cornerback is an unknown. Joe Haden is still nursing an injury and Jamar Taylor was just put on the injury report with a hurt groin. So...who is matched up with B. Marshall is my guy to watch, because Marshall is the top target for the Jets.

Danny Shelton: Shelton is the head of the rush defense and needs to set the tone for this week. Like stated above if the Browns can't stop the run the Jets should have this game in control.

Joe Thomas: Rumors are going around saying Joe Thomas is on the trading block even though Hue Jackson said the Browns are not trading him. But this could be Joe Thomas' last game in a Browns uniform since the trading deadline is this upcoming week. But on the field he needs to anchor the pass protection to keep McCown upright and protect his blind side from taking any direct hits on his non-throwing shoulder.

Injury Report
Weather Report
Betting line: Jets -3



Prediction: Jets 31-21

The Browns will fall to (0-8)...Josh McCown will get hurt...and next week Kevin Hogan will become the 27th different starting QB since 1999. Its just one of those years for the Browns as they "Strive for Imperfection". Could they win this week? Sure but with McCown not 100%, Fitzpatrick playing "pissed off" the odds aren't in their favor. But hey "Any given Sunday...Right?" Go Tribe Go Cavs!!

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

On The Clock: Mock Draft 3.0: Draft Week Is Finally Here!


By Alex Hale, @DaSportsGenius7

Well it’s finally NFL Draft week and of course the stuff hit the fan last week as we got to this point.  The Philadelphia Eagles shocked the NFL by trading a boatload of picks to the Cleveland Browns to move up to #2.  The funny part was I originally for Mock 3.0 was going to mock a Browns-Eagles trade. This now pretty much locks up Goff and Wentz to go #1 and #2 (if you haven’t read my Goff/Wentz Debate article, go read it now). This leaves pretty much the San Diego Chargers on the clock now to choose from the rest of the talent pool in this draft.


So for one last time… The NFL Mock Draft 3.0 has begun… the Los Angeles Rams are now on the clock.

Round 1

1. Los Angeles Rams (from Tennessee)- QB Jared Goff, California- This pick should be a no-brainer for the Rams after paying a major king’s ransom to get to this pick.  While one could make a debate for Carson Wentz to be the pick here, Goff is ready to start right away.  The Rams currently have a solid offense to begin with starred by RB Todd Gurley.  The one thing the Rams have lacked is a potential Franchise QB.  Jared Goff is the one Franchise QB in this draft.  While his arm isn’t the strongest, by going to Los Angeles, that won’t be as big of a factor.  His footwork and ball placement is by far the best I’ve seen from a college QB in the past 5 years.  Goff will step in immediately and be an impact player and in my personal opinion in 4 years will be one of the Top 3 QBs in the NFL.  The Rams got their Franchise QB, now for Jeff Fisher there is no excuses.  Jared Goff reminds me of Eli Manning coming out of Ole Miss.

2. Philadelphia Eagles (from Cleveland)- Carson Wentz, North Dakota State- Welp, the Eagles aren’t messing around when it comes to finding their QB of the future.  The Eagles currently have Chase Daniel and Sam Bradford on their depth chart so in a perfect world, Wentz is a perfect fit.  Wentz won’t be thrusted into a starting role and will learn for a year or two which is exactly what he needs.  There’s no denying that Wentz has the physical tools to be successful.  The question is the level of play and potential injuries.  After his wrist injury as the saying goes, once the injuries start, they don’t stop.  Other than those two small factors, Wentz has it all to be an elite QB in the NFL.  Carson Wentz reminds me of Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blake Bortles.

3. San Diego Chargers- CB Jalen Ramsey, Florida State- After losing Eric Weddle this offseason when they already had Secondary problems, you got to think the Chargers would be ecstatic to have their choice of the top talents in the draft.  While I think the Chargers would prefer to trade down and then draft an O-Lineman, they probably won’t be able to make a deal now.  As much as O-Line is a need for the Chargers, they simply cannot pass on Ramsey here.  Ramsey can play either the Safety or CB position and I think for the Chargers he’s going to slide into the CB role.  One big knock on Ramsey is we never really saw him intercept many passes, including 0 from this past year where he mostly played as a CB.  Ramsey mostly excels in Press coverage and that will come in handy early on, but he’ll need to improve his Man coverage skills in time.  He’s got the length, pure athletic ability and competitiveness to be a star in the league.  Jalen Ramsey reminds me of Raiders CB Sean Smith.

4. Dallas Cowboys- DE/OLB Joey Bosa, Ohio State- I originally was going to mock Ohio State RB Ezekiel Elliott but after DeMarcus Lawrence was suspended by the NFL for 4 games, that locks in Bosa to the Cowboys.  The Cowboys have been stocking up on multiple, “tweener” pass rushers over the past few years (Lawrence and Randy Gregory) but adding Bosa would give them a true pass rusher who could play either 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB.  On top of that Bosa isn’t going to give the same character concerns Lawrence or Gregory give them.  The bonus is, Jerry Jones is going to LOVE the marketability of Bosa in the Dallas area.  This should be a no brainer pick at this point and an easy Day 1 starter for the Cowboys.  Joey Bosa reminds me of Cleveland Browns OLB Paul Kruger.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars- OLB Myles Jack, UCLA- I’m starting to believe one of two teams leaked the injury concerns on Myles Jack are either Cleveland or Jacksonville in hopes they can land the talented UCLA LB.  I firmly believe it was probably Jacksonville with potential concerns that Jack could easily go to either San Diego or Dallas before the Jaguars select their guy.  Jack gives them a versatile LB that fits exactly what Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley wants in his LB.  Jack has outstanding athletic ability that could easily have him play in either a 3-4 or 4-3, but what stands out the most is his knack to get to the ball.  Whether or not the injury concerns come back to haunt him in the future, the star power potential he has is something the Jaguars can’t pass on here.  Myles Jack reminds me of Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Lavonte David

6. Baltimore Ravens- OT Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss- Like seriously…who did Ozzie Newsome sell his soul to for this to happen?  First off this is a crime for the Ravens to land Tunsil who fills one of their biggest needs and is the top player at his position.  While I do have some concerns with Tunsil’s durability and injury history, Tunsil’s pure talent is unquestioned.  Not only does he have the athletic ability, but he backs it up with the strength, which totally separates him from Conklin and Stanley.  The Ravens desperately need a new Franchise LT to protect QB Joe Flacco and I don’t think Ozzie hesitates and hopes to find the next Jonathan Ogden for the Ravens.  Laremy Tunsil reminds me of Washington Redskins OT Trent Williams.

7. San Francisco 49ers- DE DeForest Buckner, Oregon- The 49ers could very well go with a lineman here to protect the QB, but the prospect of reuniting DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead is too good to pass on.  Buckner is a freak of nature at 6'7", 290 who is just as good at getting around or pushing down a block as he is getting up to bat down a ball.  He’s explosive, disruptive and fits the 3-4 scheme perfectly.  Chip Kelly could be tempted to draft Paxton Lynch here, but when he looks at what Buckner/Armstead could do especially when they can get some 3-4 OLB in here, the 49ers could be one of the most dangerous defenses in the league for a long time.  But they will have to find a QB of the future with their 2nd Round pick.  DeForest Buckner reminds me of Arizona Cardinals DE Calais Campbell.

8. Miami Dolphins (from Cleveland)- TRADE: Browns trade 8th Overall pick, 2016 4th Round pick, 2017 6th Round pick to Miami in exchange for 13th Overall pick, 2016 2nd and 3rd Round picks- RB Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State- Yes… Miami does pay the hefty price to get their RB.  Miami currently has no RB and they love Elliott and need to jump the Giants.  The problem here is…Tennessee wants to move up for an OT.  Miami with its desperation pays a steep price to get their RB.  After losing Lamar Miller in FA, the Dolphins are desperate for a franchise RB as Jay Ajayi shouldn’t be relied on being the guy moving forward.  Elliott would give Ryan Tannehill a workhorse RB option to hand off to and the best park, Elliott is a great blocker that can help in pass protection.  If Tannehill is to ever truly succeed he needs a RB like Elliott to take the pressure off of him.  Ezekiel Elliott reminds me of former Indianapolis Colts RB Edgerrin James.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- CB Vernon Hargreaves, Florida- This pick shouldn’t be much of a debate if I’m in the Bucs I don’t hesitate to take Hargreaves.  The Bucs have secondary issues and really have been lacking secondary players for years.  They have a solid pass rush, and while they could look to add another pass rusher, I think they’re praying Joey Bosa slips to them and then steal him here.  If not, Hargreaves isn’t a bad consolation.  Hargreaves going into the year was the Top CB on my board and then Jalen Ramsey happened.  Hargreaves is undersized and he doesn’t necessarily have the speed to make up for it.  What he does have is smooth technique and outstanding press coverage ability and solid man coverage ability.  He could slide into Bucs as a starter in a division where outside of Julio Jones, there aren’t many standout WRs.  Vernon Hargreaves reminds me of Cleveland Browns CB Joe Haden.

10. New York Giants- OLB Leonard Floyd, Georgia- After the Dolphins jumped the Giants and took Elliott, the Giants are left to taking one of the best pass rushing prospects in the draft in Leonard Floyd.  Although the Giants did sign Olivier Vernon to a monster contract, you cannot have enough pass rushers and Floyd could go anywhere from this pick to the Jets at 20.  Floyd is a pure speed pass rusher, who probably fits best in at 3-4 OLB.  He’s skinny and needs to bulk up to handle the blockers he’s going to face in the NFL.  Originally Floyd was a late 1st Round pick, but unlike most undersized pass rushers coming into NFL, Floyd has shown during the pre-Draft process he can put on the weight needed as he’s already slowly bulking up.  Leonard Floyd reminds me of Cleveland Browns OLB Barkevious Mingo.

11. Chicago Bears- LB Darron Lee, Ohio State- I think the Bears would love to have DeForest Buckner fall here, but that’s really unrealistic.  They could go with Ronnie Stanley here, but Vic Fangio needs an anchor to his linebackers.  Darron Lee is an extremely athletic LB who can play in a 3-4 or 4-3, but fits best as a 3-4 ILB.  While he’s a bit undersized for the ILB position at 6'1", 232 lbs, his knack for getting to the ball and how smooth he is as a defender overweighs the concerns with his size.  The Bears defense is starting to show signs of improvement, but having a potential defensive anchor like Lee, the Bears defense will take major jumps forward this coming year.  Darron Lee reminds me of Steelers ILB Ryan Shazier.

12. New Orleans Saints- DT Sheldon Rankins, Louisville- In my personal opinion, the Saints need to go after a CB if possible.  But it seems the Saints are switching up their defense which requires them to find a young DT for their scheme.  Rankins is the DT everyone really is looking at as the big impact DT.  He’s agile and very disruptive for an interior DT.  To go with that he’s one of the more powerful DTs in this draft, he just plays with a violent attitude.  Last year he was extremely productive in the pass rush and we know pass rushing DTs are a premium in this league.  They do say that a disruptive pass rush always helps the secondary, so that’s the direction Sean Payton and company will go in on draft night.  Sheldon Rankins reminds me of current New Orleans Saints DT Nick Fairley.

13. Cleveland Browns (from Miami)- OT Jake Conklin, Michigan St.- The Browns could go multiple different directions.  Shaq Lawson, Josh Doctson, and Leonard Floyd will all be considered here.  Instead the Browns make the unsexy yet smart pick.  Conklin is a fast riser on draft boards as the Draft approaches.  What Conklin doesn’t have in athletic ability, he makes up for it with his aggressive nature as a blocker and could potentially be a franchise LT for a team.  It will take some patience with him, but Conklin is the kind of lineman people love.  He started as a walk-on at Michigan State and worked his way up to be the anchor of the Michigan State O-Line.  For the Browns, Conklin is the perfect guy to be the heir apparent to future Hall of Famer Joe Thomas.  Other than DeForest Buckner, this would probably be the best guy the Browns could take.  Jack Conklin reminds me of Giants OT Will Beatty.

14. Oakland Raiders- DT Chris Jones, Mississippi St- You know what, why not mock Jones here.  Chris Jones is one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft.  He has Top 10 pure talent, but his motor leaves a lot to be desired.  The Raiders need more depth on the D-Line.  When you watch the good highlights of Jones, what stands out is his explosiveness at the line and the raw talent he has.  A former Basketball star in HS, he switched to football and when he was on his game, nobody stopped him.  One of the things that concerned me was he actually on some plays would stop and watch the play after the ball was by him.  In Oakland, Jack Del Rio will have none of that and will make him into another defensive star for an already packed Oakland defense.  Chris Jones reminds me of Miami Dolphins DT Ndamukong Suh.

15. Tennessee Titans- OT Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame- This is how unpredictable the O-Line rankings have gotten this past weeks to where I can really see this happening.  The questions about Stanley’s core strength are real and while he has the size and athletic ability to be a starter in the NFL, my questions are if he’s going to be easily pushed around early in his career.  While Stanley is one of the most talented O-Lineman in this draft, but he’s going to take some time to develop.  The Titans get the luckiest of all breaks, a top tier OL player is still on the board and they nab him.  Ronnie Stanley reminds me of Philadelphia OT Lane Johnson.

16. Detroit Lions- OT Taylor Decker, Ohio State- We all talk about teams like Cleveland, San Francisco and San Diego as unpredictable picks, Detroit might take the cake here.  The Lions could easily address the WR position, with the sudden retirement of Calvin Johnson or they could go DT.  Riley Reiff is in a contract year and really hasn’t taken the next step and the Lions need OT help.  Decker is the last of the 2nd tier OT in this draft who has great athletic ability and a big time competitor.  Was a leader for an outstanding Ohio State O-Line that paved the way for Ezekiel Elliott’s dominance.  In order for the Lions to rebound and get back to the postseason, they must build a line that can protect Matt Stafford and pave the way for their RBs to run wild.  Taylor Decker reminds me of Kansas City OT Eric Fisher.

17. Atlanta Falcons- DE Shaq Lawson, Clemson- The Falcons are put in a great spot by having Shaq Lawson fall this pick.  After selecting Vic Beasley Jr. last year, the Falcons should be looking for another impact pass rusher.  I would bet Vic Beasley would be ecstatic to reunite with his fellow Clemson teammate.  Lawson is just a monster and getting into the backfield causing problems for offenses.  I do question his durability as he tends to get dinged up a lot which going forward regardless if he can play through it or not, I want to see him overcome the injury and still dominate.  I think Lawson was fortunately to have Beasley and Dodd to be on the opposite side of him, so against tougher O-Lineman, he’s got to be ready for what is awaiting him in NFL.  Shaq Lawson reminds me of Miami DE Cameron Wake.

18. Cleveland Browns (from Indianapolis Colts)- TRADE: Browns trade LT Joe Thomas to Indianapolis in exchange for the 18th Overall pick- FS Karl Joesph, West Virginia- After selecting their new Franchise LT in Jack Conklin, the Browns get an offer for Joe Thomas they cannot refuse and take it to acquire the 18th pick to replace the departed FS Tashaun Gipson.  While I’m not the biggest fan of taking Safeties this high, Karl Joseph is a major exception.  While he’s undersized at 5'10", he takes the criticism as a chip on his shoulder and at West Virginia showed the talent to be an All-Pro NFL safety.  There’s no way Joseph slips out of the 1st Round.  I don’t even think Joseph goes past probably Washington at 21.  What’s great about Joseph is not only can he cover receivers, but he can be a thumper.  Best part, Joseph is the kind of leader the Browns need in their locker room.  But let’s be really honest here, you really think the Browns are just going to go with Ibraheim Campbell and whoever else they have at Safety now, especially after Donte Whitner’s release?  Doubt it, Joseph is an immediate upgrade and a leader for this defense.  Karl Joseph reminds me of former Baltimore Ravens FS Ed Reed.

19. Buffalo Bills- OLB/DE Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky- Can I seriously get LIVE footage of the Bills draft room if this happens?  Rex and Rob Ryan I bet will both do cartwheels completely ecstatic that Noah Spence slipped here.  Character questions in the past have never been a problem for the Ryan’s and Spence’s pure talent and almost perfect fit into their scheme, Rex Ryan himself might turn into, “The Flash” and run the card from Buffalo to Chicago.  Spence has been one of the most intriguing prospects since the Senior Bowl where he dominated the practices and put himself in the Top 10 players available.  After a solid combine, he seemed to have a steady stock, but his interviews with teams have caused him to drop.  He’s got the right size at 6'2", 250 lbs., but his speed leaves a bit to be desired.  He does have the power and moves you need to make up for the lack of speed.  After losing Mario Williams, Spence is a great young replacement for him.  Noah Spence reminds me of Atlanta Falcons OLB Courtney Upshaw.

20. Denver Broncos (from New York Jets)- TRADE: Jets trade 20th Overall pick, 2017 conditional late round pick in exchange for 31st Overall pick, 2016 3rd Round pick and 2017 3rd Round pick- QB Paxton Lynch, Memphis- If I’m Denver, I’d stay patient to see who falls to 31, but Lynch is a high upside pick and with Lynch slipping, the Broncos trade up.  Everyone thinks Paxton Lynch was a big winner in the Cleveland/Philadelphia trade, I strongly disagree.  Lynch already is considered by many as a big time project and really the only place he could go in and start Day 1 is Denver.  It’s possible the Jets could grab him for themselves, but the Draft trades are forcing them along with other teams to look at other needs.  This would bring a small free fall for Lynch that could potentially last until the last pick in the 1st Round (if Denver doesn’t move up).  John Elway isn’t going to let him get away.  We all know that Lynch is a big guy at 6’7’’ 240 and has a big time arm and deceptive speed.  With the weapons Denver has offensively, Lynch could easily slide into Denver and make an impact as the start his rookie year.  Almost any QB could succeed with Emmanuel Sanders, CJ Anderson, and DeMaryius Thomas along with other offensive weapons that can emerge in 2016.  Paxton Lynch reminds me of Houston Texans QB Brock Osweiler.

21. Washington Redskins- DT A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama- Well so much for drafting a CB here.  The Redskins pay up for CB Josh Norman and fill one of their biggest needs and now must address the DLine here.  Robinson is a monster of a man at 6’4’’, 305, and has the ability to get around the field if he has to.  On top of that he’s a great finisher as a tackler, RBs don’t get away from Robinson once he wraps them up.  Was a vocal leader for Alabama’s defense and wasn’t afraid to hold players accountable.  Robinson easily could start at DT Week 1 and be an impact rookie for the Redskins.  A’Shawn Robinson reminds me of New England Patriots DT Terrance Knighton.

22. Houston Texans- WR Will Fuller, Notre Dame- I think Houston knows what position they’re going to address here, the question is which of the WRs will they select.  While Doctson and Treadwell are great choices, it seems Houston may need more of a vertical threat WR.  That leaves Corey Coleman and Will Fuller.  By pure athletic talent, Fuller trumps almost all the top WRs in this year’s draft.  What I’m concerned with is his hands as he has shown at Notre Dame he’s inconsistent.  Even his route running is average, I honestly don’t see why Fuller is a 1st Round talent the more I watched him.  I think in a WR class where there really is no true vertical threat receiver, Fuller is viewed as a premium type.  Fuller does fit what the Texans need, but they must be patient and work with him on his consistency.  Will Fuller reminds me of Carolina Panthers WR Ted Ginn Jr.

23. Minnesota Vikings- WR LaQuon Treadwell, Ole Miss- How long does it take for the Vikings to make this selection?  Quite possibly the best WR in this draft class and Teddy Bridgewater needs a #1 WR target.  While there will e a great debate of whether or not they’ll take Josh Doctson or LaQuon Treadwell.  In the NFC North, the big thing with WRs is can they make the play after the catch and that’s what Treadwell thrives at.  Now Treadwell doesn’t have the best speed in the world, in fact he’s in the lower half of 40 times of prospects.  Treadwell makes up for that with his catching ability and more importantly his play after the catch, which is something you just can’t teach.  For once Teddy Bridgewater will have a #1 WR to throw to giving him a trio of Bridgewater, Adrian Peterson, and LaQuon Treadwell.  Now that’s quite the trio.  LaQuon Treadwell reminds me of former San Francisco WR Anquon Boldin.

24. Cincinnati Bengals- WR Josh Doctson, TCU- Well so much for losing Mohammed Sanu and Marvin Jones, the Bengals immediately replace them with quite possibly the best WR in this draft.  Doctson’s ability to go up and grab the ball is uncanny.  By far the best ball skills out of anyone in the draft, Doctson can go almost anywhere and make an impact in the league.  At 6’3’’ 205, Doctson, unlike Treadwell ran a solid 40 time (4.50) to back up his ball skills and the outstanding route running skills he also showed.  It’s quite possible Doctson is the 1st WR off the board.  The question is who is going to draft a WR and more importantly what kind of WR do they want.  Whoever gets Doctson at the end of the day, gets the most Pro ready WR in this draft.  For Andy Dalton with Doctson, AJ Green and Eifert…there are no more excuses not to thrive now.  Josh Doctson reminds me of Cleveland Browns WR Josh Gordon.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers- CB Eli Apple, Ohio State- Steelers let’s face it, they need a CB of the future.  They could easily go with the most Steeler like player in Mackensie Alexander who is a perfect match for them.  But Pittsburgh has shown they love the OSU pipeline and Eli Apple may not be the most polished, but he’s got the most upside.  Unlike Alexander, Eli Apple has the size and ability to really be a problem in the NFL.  My major concern was he relied on grabbing the WR too much.  While there are times in college where you might get away with it, the NFL as we’ve seen over the past few years really is hammering down on Defensive Holding plays.  Apple is going to have a major learning curve but knowing the Steelers, they’ll make him into the shutdown corner people think he’ll end up being.  Eli Apple reminds me of Washington Redskins CB Chris Culliver.

26. Seattle Seahawks- C Ryan Kelly, Alabama- After one year ago trading C Max Unger and picks for TE Jimmy Graham, the Seahawks look to upgrade the position by drafting the best Center in this year’s draft.  Ryan Kelly plays with great aggressiveness and is just an outstanding leader as he was the leader for the National Champion Alabama O-Line.  That line paved the way for Derrick Henry to win the Heisman and proved QB Jake Coker enough time especially late in the season to make plays with his arm and avenge their early exit from the College Football Playoff and win the National Title.  This pick for Seattle is to assure that QB Russell Wilson won’t be running for his life this year and that RB Thomas Rawls has the best opportunity possible to be the true successor to now retired RB Marshawn Lynch.  Ryan Kelly reminds me of Atlanta Falcons C Alex Mack.

27. Green Bay Packers- ILB Reggie Ragland, Alabama- The first time I’ve ever Mocked the same player to the same team 3 times.  Once again I’ll take what I said in Mock 1.0 about this pick.  Ragland is a great ILB prospect that the Packers would love to add to their team next year.  On top of that Ragland is an old school type linebacker who loves to take on runners.  That is a perfect fit for a team that needs those types of players to play in the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field.  Expect Ragland to start and make an impact from Day One in Green Bay.  Reggie Ragland reminds me of former Philadelphia Eagles LB Jermaine Trotter.

28. Kansas City Chiefs- CB William Jackson III, Houston- After the loss of Sean Smith, the Chiefs need to find a suitable replacement for him.  William Jackson had a great year at Houston last year and has flown up draft boards thanks to his outstanding Pre-Draft process.  Jackson already has size who blew everyone away with showcasing his pure speed.  Already scouts are very intrigued at the possibilities of Jackson.  He’s very instinctive and a ball hawk and nobody succeeded when he was covering at Houston.  Although we need to remember the level of competition he was playing at.  He has average strength, he seems to rely on his size/speed combo with his feel for the game to make plays.  Against more physical receivers, he will need to be up to that challenge.  Chiefs could look at a Connor Cook or a WR here, but Jackson is a good value here.  William Jackson III reminds me of Cleveland Browns CB Justin Gilbert.

29. Arizona Cardinals- CB Mackensie Alexander, Clemson- The Cardinals really want Ryan Kelly to be on the board, but since he’s not there, the Cardinals will take the best player on the board in Alexander.  Alexander has somewhat slipped due to bad team interviews, but the film doesn’t lie.  Alexander has the competitiveness you look for in a CB and also is confident, but not cocky about his abilities.  While he doesn’t have the ideal size and speed, the pure talent is unquestioned and Bruce Arians would love to put Alexander opposite Patrick Peterson.  Mackensie Alexander reminds me of New York Giants CB Janoris Jenkins.

30. Carolina Panthers- OG Cody Whitehair, Kansas State- While the Panthers will certainly look at a CB to replace the now departed Josh Norman, I think the Panthers use this pick to build the O-Line to protect Cam Newton.  While they could go with Indiana OT Jason Spriggs, Whitehair has emerged as a potential 1st Round pick, definite 2nd Round guy.  He’s considered one of the safest O-Line prospects for his talent, but more importantly his competitiveness and his confidence in his abilities.  This is the kind of guy that Carolina needs after we all saw a great defense dominate a mediocre Carolina O-Line.  Cody Whitehair reminds me of Cleveland Browns OG Joel Bitonio.

31. New York Jets- CB Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech- After escaping a potential major blow by passing his medical checkup.  The Jets don’t really have a young CB to develop as Dee Milliner is a bust, Buster Skrine is still shrimpy and aging, and Revis is well…Revis.  This is a great spot for Fuller because he probably won’t be asked immediately to start opposite Revis.  This will give him time to full recover and get up to speed in New York’s system.  While Fuller is a solid CB who has the technique you want out of a CB, his athletic ability concerns me going forward.  In the AFC East you will have to worry about Julian Edelman, Sammy Watkins and Jarvis Landry.  How Fuller recovers and how fast he picks up the playbook will determine what happens in his career.  Kendall Fuller reminds me of Atlanta Falcons CB Desmond Trufant.


Round 2

32.   Cleveland Browns- WR Michael Thomas, Ohio State
33.   Tennessee Titans- WR Corey Coleman, Baylor
34.   Dallas Cowboys- RB Derrick Henry, Alabama
35.   San Diego Chargers- OT Jason Spriggs, Indiana
36.   Baltimore Ravens- DE/OLB Kevin Dodd, Clemson
37.   San Francisco 49ers- QB Connor Cook, Michigan State
38.   Jacksonville Jaguars- OT German Ifedi, Texas A&M
39.   Tampa Bay Buccaneers- S Von Bell, Ohio State
40.   New York Giants- DT Vernon Butler, Louisiana Tech
41.   Chicago Bears- OT Shon Coleman, Auburn
42.   Cleveland Browns (from Miami Dolphins)- C/G Nick Martin, Notre Dame
43.   Tennessee Titans (via Los Angeles via Philadelphia)- CB Xavier Howard, Baylor
44.   Oakland Raiders- DT Jarran Reed, Alabama
45.   Tennessee Titans- DT Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss
46.   Detroit Lions- WR Braxton Miller, Ohio State
47.   New Orleans Saints- OLB Kamelei Correa, Boise State
48.   Indianapolis Colts- S Jeremy Cash, Duke
49.   Buffalo Bills- QB Cardale Jones, Ohio State
50.   Atlanta Falcons- TE Hunter Henry, Arkansas
51.   New York Jets- OT Le’Raven Clark, Texas Tech
52.   Houston Texans- DE Carl Nassib, Penn St
53.   Washington Redskins- S Darian Thompson, Boise State
54.   Minnesota Vikings- OG Vital Alexander, LSU
55.   Cincinnati Bengals- OLB Joshua Perry, Ohio State
56.   Seattle Seahawks- DT Adolphus Washington, Ohio State
57.   Green Bay Packers- ILB Kentrell Brothers, Missouri
58.   Pittsburgh Steelers- WR Tyler Boyd, Pittsburgh
59.   Kansas City Chiefs- WR Sterling Sheppard, Oklahoma
60.   New England Patriots- DE/OLB Shilique Calhoun, Michigan St
61.   New England Patriots (from Arizona)- OLB Su’a Cravens, USC
62.   Carolina Panthers- RB Devonte Booker, Utah
63.   Denver Broncos- OT Joe Haeg, North Dakota State


BONUS: For our fellow Browns fans, I’ll mock the rest of the Draft for the Browns

65. WR Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina- Would be a great slot guy here when Andrew Hawkins is gone

79. OLB/DE Bronson Kaufusi, BYU- Big versatile EDGE rusher who has great moves to get to QB

99. LB Jatavius Brown, Akron- Extremely high upside 3-4 ILB.  Browns version of Ryan Shazier?

100. QB Kevin Hogan, Stanford- Pep Hamilton gets a familiar face in, great long term backup

138. K Roberto Agauyo, Florida State- Best kicker in draft where Browns don’t have one

141. C Graham Glasgow, Michigan- Excellent insurance for Cam Irving

172. TE Nick Vannett, Ohio State- The heir apparent to Gary Barnidge who will learn in time

173. WR Moritz Boehringer, Germany- GET THIS GUY AT ANY COST!

176. CB Rashard Robinson, LSU- High upside CB, but character issues are there

226. RB Brandon Wilds, South Carolina

And there you have it, the madness of these Mock Drafts are done and now we are only days away from the NFL Draft. 

We hope you will join TripleThreatCLE and No Static Radio at Scoreboards in Northfield, at 10333 Northfield Rd. in Northfield, OH.  I’ll be there analyzing the entire NFL Draft along with the entire TripleThreatCLE crew so I hope you join us Thursday night from 6 pm until the end of the 1st Round! 

HAPPY DRAFT WEEK EVERYONE!

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Leadoff with Lee 12.23.15 #Browns #ProBowl #Indians #Akron #Toledo


By @cleeverizon

Browns left tackle Joe Thomas and center Alex Mack were selected to the NFL Pro Bowl. For Thomas, this will be his 9th selection to the annual game and 3rd time for Mack. Special teamer Johnson Bademosi, tight end Gary Barnidge and wide receiver Travis Benjamin were selected as alternates. Pro Bowl players are voted in by players, coaches and fans, with each groups ballot counting for 1/3 of the votes.

In a All-Star game many consider to be tag football, the Pro Bowl has some rule differences from a traditional NFL game.

-Field Goal Post width will be 14-feet, down from 18.6-feet from the regular season
-PATs will be from the 15-yard line, making the kick 33-yards long.
-2 timeouts per quarter
-2 minute warning every quarter
-Change of Possession at the end of each quarter. Just to name a few. For the complete Pro Bowl roster click HERE.

- The Indians signed Ross Detwiler to a minor league deal with a spring training invite. The team also released Chris Johnson, but still owe him $17.5M. Johnson is scheduled to make $7.5M in 2016 and $9M in 2017 and the Tribe will be on the hook for his $1M buyout in 2018 with a contract worth $10M.

Ross Detwiler is a 29-year-old southpaw who posted a 7.25 ERA (6.12 FIP) in 41 appearances between the Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves in 2015. In 58.1 combined innings, Detwiler struck out 41, walked 36 and allowed 10 home runs. Left-handed pitchers Tom Gorzelanny and Joe Thatcher were also recently signed to Minor League deals with spring training invites by the Tribe.

- The Akron Zips defeated Utah State for their 1st bowl win in school history with a 23-21 victory in the Idaho Potato Bowl.

- Another Ohio team won a bowl game yesterday, as the Toledo Rockets won the Boca Raton Bowl over Temple, 32-17. It's the 1st time since 1969-71 Toledo has won a bowl in consecutive seasons.

- After announcing his retirement Monday, Ohio native Charles Woodson was named to his 9th Pro Bowl at the age 39. Woodson was a three-time, first-team All-Pro at cornerback for the Packers and Raiders. Named to the All-2000s Team by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Woodson was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year with the in 2009 season which featured nine interceptions and three touchdowns. He is also sixth on the all time interceptions list with 65 and is tied for the most career defensive touchdowns with 13.