Interesting blurb at the end about how close McCoy came to not being a Brown ......
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2010/04/cleveland_browns_cite_toughnes.htmlCleveland Browns cite toughness as top attribute of their eight selections in NFL Draft 2010
By Tony Grossi, The Plain Dealer
April 24, 2010, 6:51PM
BEREA, Ohio -- Last year, the buzzword of the Browns' draft was "smart." The emphasis made by coach Eric Mangini was on academic achievers. No. 1 pick Alex Mack claimed the Draddy Trophy -- the academic Heisman -- and other draftees earned national or conference academic honors.
This year, "tough" is in. Tom Heckert, who took over the draft as the new general manager, used the word to describe almost every one of the eight players the Browns chose over three days.
"I enjoy whenever we can describe a player that way," Mangini said Saturday. "It's much better than the alternative, soft. Toughness is a great thing to have."
The Browns concluded their draft Saturday by picking:
• Safety Larry Asante of Nebraska;
• Wide receiver Carlton Mitchell of South Florida; and
• Defensive end Clifton Geathers of South Carolina.
In all, the Browns took four players on each side of the ball -- three in the defensive backfield. They may have added up to four legitimate contenders for starting jobs. The only player they openly state will not play is quarterback Colt McCoy.
"I think we've all been at this long enough to realize you can't fix everything in one year," President Mike Holmgren said. "We've talked about it a lot, the three of us. I'm very excited about this year's draft. I think we were able to take a good step forward. But now they have to come in and play."
Here's a closer look at the Browns' eight draft picks:
• 1. Cornerback Joe Haden, first round, seventh overall of the draft.
An old adage says a defense is only as good as its third cornerback. In this pass-happy era, maybe that should be changed to only good as its fourth corner. In Haden, Sheldon Brown and Eric Wright, Mangini now has three.
The Browns' 40 sacks last year were better than eight playoff teams, but you'd never know it because the secondary was so bad, giving up jump balls and missing tackles for long gains. Haden was best corner of the draft, a consensus top-10 pick. The best thing about him is the one-time quarterback recruit has played cornerback only three years.
Quote to note: "I feel that's one thing that's a big plus in my game. The ceiling is still so high for me as a corner. I just have so much more I can learn and so much more that I want to learn."
• 2. Safety T.J. Ward, second round, 38th overall.
The Browns haven't had an enforcer in the secondary since Eric Turner in the 1990s. Remember the hit Brian Russell put on Chad Johnson in a 2006 game, knocking him speechless, if not toothless? Those jarring hits are supposed to be commonplace for this compactly built safety, who is not only an explosive hitter but also a reliable tackler.
Yes, his injuries are a concern. Maybe that's why the Browns added another safety in the similar mode in the fifth round.
Quote to note: "When I get to the ballcarrier, I just give it all I have. My dad played safety, as well, and said he modeled his game after [former OSU and Oakland Raider star] Jack Tatum. The way he played with a take-no-prisoners mentality, hit everything moving, that's the way I like to go about my business on the field."
• 3. Running back Montario Hardesty, second round, 59th overall.
A physical, 225-pound runner with the speed and versatility of a feature back and not just a big-back complement. Injuries limited him to only six starts in 36 games his senior year. Healthy his last year, he had a breakout season in the pro-style offense under coach Lane Kiffin.
Scouting reports glow of his "rare agility for a back his size" and laud him as "the consummate teammate."
Quote to note: "Some people say I'm a bruiser, but I'm not a bruiser at all. I made a lot of people miss this year. I made big plays against big time defenses like Alabama, Auburn, Georgia. I just feel like I'm an all-around back and I can do everything on the football field. A guy that can run inside, outside, always fall forward and put a lot of heart and passion on the field, and you can see my heart and passion come out with my play on the field.
• 4. Quarterback Colt McCoy, third round, 85th overall.
Like Drew Brees, another undersized passer of note, he just reeks of toughness, competitiveness and heart, and exudes his will to win on teammates. It helps him immensely to come in later in the draft so that unrealistic expectations don't force-feed his development.
A legitimate question is his arm strength. Otherwise, he would have gone higher.
Quote to note: "I just really like [Cleveland]. I was only there for a day, but I know it's a good, hard-working, blue-collar town and that's exactly who I am. I grew up in the country. I work hard and nothing has ever been easy for me. I've earned everything I have ever achieved and I'm going to do the same thing when I get to Cleveland, and have the support of all the fans there."
• 5. Guard Shaun Lauvao, third round, 92nd overall.
A thick Hawaiian who is a tough, physical drive-blocker at guard with experience starting in the Pac-10 at right tackle and left tackle. His pro future is at guard. He might be the latest wide body to make a run at Eric Steinbach's job. He's close to earning his Master's degree from Arizona State in education curriculum and instruction.
Quote of note: "The biggest thing I bring is my work ethic. Football is something that is important to me and I'm real passionate about. I don't want to disappoint, I want to help the team any way possible, come in and compete, give effort and show them that I belong."
• 6. Safety Larry Asante, fifth round, 160th overall.
An inch taller than Ward, he is another big hitter. While Ward aspired to be the next Tatum, Asante stole Tatum's nickname and called himself "the Assassin" at Nebraska. He is a run-support specialist, a converted junior college linebacker, and is not the guy you want roaming the deep field in pass coverage.
Quote of note: "I feel I need to improve upon my cover skills and I have great coaches in Cleveland that can help be build upon my weaknesses and perfect my strengths."
• 7. Receiver Carlton Mitchell, sixth round, 177th overall.
Heckert described him as "big and fast ... a little on the raw side." He probably would have benefited by staying for his final year of eligibility at South Florida, but didn't think he would grow further in the program's run-first offense. He's not the immediate answer to the team's receiver shortcomings.
Quote of note: "The Lord's blessed me with some pretty decent speed, so I feel as if I can stretch the field a little bit."
• 8. Defensive lineman Clifton Geathers, sixth round, 186th overall.
Referring to his size, Heckert called him "a monster" who's a really good athlete. His enormous 37-inch arms caused some teams to work him out as an offensive tackle. But his father, Robert Sr., his uncle, James "Jumpy," and his brother, Robert Jr., currently with the Bengals, all played as defensive linemen, and he intends to continue the tradition.
"I'm 6-8. Right now I weigh about 302. I've got 37 1/2-inch arms, did a 36-inch vertical, have a 7-foot, 2-inch wingspan and I'm just able to move. I'm a freaky guy. I think with a little coaching and a little polishing, I'll be the best player probably in the league."
TONY GROSSI’S FOUR THINGS
ON THE BROWNS’ NFL DRAFT 2010
1. Four quarterbacks, one ball: Who could have guessed that Brett Ratliff would be the only Browns quarterback from 2009 to still be on the roster? I don’t remember ever seeing three new quarterbacks join a team in the same year. With Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace and now Colt McCoy joining Ratliff, it will be interesting to see how Eric Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll manage the situation in training camp. Everyone will want to see McCoy get playing time in preseason, but Delhomme and Wallace have to play a lot, too.
2. What’s the catch? The Browns’ leading receivers in 2009 had 34 catches. That’s the lowest total for a Browns’ team lead since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978. Even the 1999 expansion Browns had three players with 44 or more catches. Since the season ended, they have added exactly one receiver — sixth-round pick Carlton Mitchell on Saturday. Look for the Browns to bring in some undrafted free agents at the position and sign at least one veteran free agent. On paper, the receiver position manned by Josh Cribbs, Mohamed Massaquoi, Brian Robiskie and Chansi Stuckey is the weakest unit on the roster.
3. Good answer: I hope T.J. Ward’s injuries are behind him. He’s had three knee surgeries and has played through several other injuries. His toughness and physical hitting style are things the Browns have lacked in the secondary for many years. I especially liked his answer, though, when asked about a scouting report that said he had “good character.”
“I think it means doing the right thing when no one is looking, as well as when everyone is watching,” he said. “Just being an honest person, trustworthy and responsible, and all of those things just add to a good character.”
4. Thank the Falcons, Colt: Browns President Mike Holmgren met some resistance in the draft room when he suggested drafting McCoy in the third round. But nobody in the room had a player in mind to seriously challenge Holmgren’s desire.
There was one player taken two slots ahead of the Browns’ pick, however, that would have caused GM Tom Heckert to stand on a table and insist upon. It was Corey Peters, a tackle at Kentucky who projected as a solid end in the Browns’ 3-4 defense. If he would have slid to the Browns, it’s possible the window to take McCoy in the third round would have closed.
-- Tony Grossi
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