DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Cleveland Browns first-round failures continue to get exposed by opponents' first-round successes

Todd Gurley and Aaron Donald spent most of Sunday afternoon at the Edward Jones Dome terrorizing the Cleveland Browns. Gurley rushed for 128 yards, including 83 and the first two touchdowns of his career in the second half. Aaron Donald registered a sack, a tackle for loss and two quarterback hits. At one point, Donald broke through the line so quickly to stop an Isaiah Crowell run that he practically took the handoff.

Donald and Gurley were the last two picks taken by the Rams in the first round, Donald 13th overall in 2014 and Gurley tenth overall in April. Earlier this season against Oakland, Browns fans watched as 2014 first-rounder Khalil Mack collected two sacks and two tackles for loss and 2015 Day One pick Amari Cooper caught eight passes for 134 yards.

Meanwhile, the Browns four first-rounders taken in the last two years continue to have little to no impact. Johnny Manziel and Cameron Erving saw action only in garbage time Sunday. Justin Gilbert has been reduced to returning kickoffs. Danny Shelton, struggling with a knee injury, made little impact.

This isn't a game of who the Browns could have had. Cooper and Gurley were off the board anyway by the time the Browns came on the clock both years (though they traded away a chance to pick Mack and passed on Donald). It's to point out that, if at the end of the season we are again writing the obituary of yet another front office, it starts with the failures to get any contribution out of the equivalent of the greatest Christmas present ever for a general manager.

Few GMs have been tasked with rebuilding a team with the resources that Ray Farmer has had at his disposal. Four first-round picks in two years. Four opportunities to find players that, even if they fail to become stars, can become part of the foundation. The Browns continue to face -- and lose to -- teams that have capitalized on those picks. Even Denver added a key piece to its defensive depth in Shane Ray last draft, who had consecutive games with a sack before leaving the team's game in Cleveland with a knee injury.

Defenders of Farmer's record will point to players like Taylor Gabriel and K'Waun Williams, undrafted free agent signings who have contributed. They'll point to Pierre Desir, the project picked in the fourth round in 2014 who has filled in for the injured Joe Haden. Joel Bitonio appears to be a find in the second round. Duke Johnson has shown playmaking ability. The jury remains out on most of the rest of the team's 2015 selections.

It's hard to imagine, though, that the Browns will have the opportunity they've had the last two drafts again. Gilbert can't get on the field over Johnson Bademosi, who is on the roster for his special teams work. A simple Google search would have raised red flags about trading up to pick Manziel. Mike Pettine said in training camp that Erving's most natural spot is likely guard, which would make him the most luxurious of luxury picks. The pick of Shelton was widely praised and it's too early to pass judgment on the big nose tackle.

Where are the Browns if they are getting production today out of just two of those picks? It's hard to say. The Rams won just their third game on Sunday and have glaring flaws. It appears they have two sure answers, though, at two key positions moving forward.

The Browns? They're neither a young team learning to win nor a veteran team with playoff aspirations. They're a two-win team still searching for an identity, still searching for consistency and still searching for a foundation.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2015/10/cleveland_browns_first-round_f.html

How dare a bozo try to discredit Ray Farmers outstanding drafts.
He's trying to build it the right way.

We could've had Teddy or Carr, AND Odel Beckham Jr.

let that sink it....

I just posted on another thread about Farmer walking into a pretty good situation. He's had 2 first round picks in both his drafts. He's had his second round picks in both drafts. He had 12 picks in one draft. Banner traded lower round guys for higher round guys that Farmer inherited.

He's hit on one pick of his top 6. Yes, it's early......but man......we simply cannot afford to have him continue to miss picks.

At this moment I'd love to have Derek Carr and Odell Beckham Jr.

Not to mention the wasted picks with Weeden/Richardson and Shelton/Erving

It's amazing that we have missed on so many first round picks. You would think we would at least get lucky on one or two of them.

there still could be hope for Manziel, i guess.

Shelton Irving, there's no telling yet. but most likely.....gonna be disappointed.

But man....that Gilbert pick...that one really hurts.

Anybody on this board could draft better than Farmer.
Anybody with half a fball mind would have drafted Carr Bridgwater etc

Yeah, it's too early to call conclusive. But man, the early returns are beyond disappointing.

Did you notice how explosive Donald was yesterday? Sheesh. Has Shelton shown anything even close to that?

We simply cannot afford to roll the dice w/a guy who has missed so many picks. We aren't talking about hurting the team for a few plays, or a game, or a season like a coach can.

A poor GM kills the team for freaking years!

well, to be fair, the ram's defense plays a 4-3, so Donald has way more one on one opportunities, while shelton has to constantly eat two blockers.

i wish we could play a 4-3. maybe our front 7 would look way better than what it does.

maybe that would make mingo...i dunno...relevant?

What is Shelton expected to show? What are his prime responsibilities? I don't see us getting gouged up the middle...

I guess you haven't been watching.

Oh, but I do watch. I do not usually focus on a single player, nor do I DVR and study replays. And my questions were serious. What are the expectations for him and is he meeting them....

Fine. We disagree.

Check...

And that's WITH the trade down, extra 1st rd pick next draft and WITHOUT giving up the 3rd we gave up for Manziel. So depressing to even think about. They were right there in front of us and we took two mental midgets. So dumb. How can you not be fired on that alone? Then comes Shelton, Orchard, Mayle, Erving, Bowe, Housler...this guy defies the laws of probability. How clueless can you be to not even land decent talent with half of your 1st rd picks? And that's a bad GM's hitting percentage as is. Farmer is hitting way under the Mendoza line, it's pathetic

I started the season watching Shelton , going back and checking out every D play ( posted just how bad he was ) got blasted for it too .. Kept watching for a few more game and saw the same thing .. This " he is always doubled teamed is bull #1 .. He is a day late and a dollar slow to Almost every play .. # 12 in the first round , no way !

Shelton really is a cupcake. His hands aren't violent.
He has trouble staying low.
It's a myth he draws double teams every play.
Plus he's only a 2 down NT.
Waste of a pick.

lmao pathetic. Farmer needs to go back to what he is good at. Pro player evaluation, he SUCKS drafting college players.

Shelton is the only one playing and he's just ok.


I would fire everyone but Pettine.



This pic sums up my thoughts on the Browns drafts.Sweet blocking Erving.

For once I can agree with part of your post bro

He has become a guy who only draws single blockers. It was not that way early this season. He has lots of problems staying low or he just refuses to do so because he has been told over,and over, and over again that he must do so to make it in the NFL He never had to do so before and he is having problems getting that through his head.

It's the waste of a pick comment I have problems with. Jesus he has only played 7 games. Would you like to hear the critique the first few woman made about you when you started having sex?

Traci: "Wow. What a waste of an evening...."
Lacy: "Well- he IS a rookie, you know-"
Traci: "He's a cupcake. Doesn't know what to do with his hands..."
Lacy: "But he's got potential. You just need to 'coach him up'..."

Voice in the background: He likes to double-team...

Spacey: "Then I woke up".

Did you guys take viagra tonight and then your old lady rejected you?

Damn,

I'm gonna click on that hot Russian girl who wants to hook up with me in the advertisement above.

Good night.

You won't believe it, but here complaint was "12 men on the field."

Farmer's picks have been awful, and are compounded if you go back further. Barkevious, Big Phil, Trent Richardson. It has to be tough to find the busts in every first round. Mathematically, since none have been crazy-type reaches, it must be as hard as getting it right. Why doesn't Farmer just look up a mock draft and follow it for at least the first two rounds?

Hmmmm, I see an ad for books and another for power tools. I guess our recent browsing histories are different

LOL.....I was thinking the same thing.

Olskool just called himself out with the ad stuff, just some advice if you don't click on the hot Russian girl in the ad and instead browse other "stuff" she won't appear at the top of your screen all of the time...

And the problem with hot Russian girls is?