DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Sashi Brown: ‘We’re trying to build a group that's going to be together for a long time’

Sashi Brown: ‘We’re trying to build a group that's going to be together for a long time’

Posted May 1, 2017


The Browns have added 24 draft picks, including four 1st-rounders, over past two drafts


The Browns, who added 10 new faces to what’s already the league’s youngest team, have spoken of the 2017 NFL Draft as something of a turning point for the organization.

At the very least, they’ve assembled what executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown has long described as a “core nucleus of young talent” to be molded under second-year coach Hue Jackson.

That nucleus, of course, got a big boost this past weekend, which saw Cleveland use a series of shrewd moves to net three first-round picks, including former Texas A&M defensive end and first-overall pick Myles Garrett, former Michigan safety Jabrill Peppers (No. 25 overall) and former Miami tight end David Njoku (No. 29 overall).

They also snagged former Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer, once thought to be a top-10 pick, at No. 52 and Charlotte defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi at No. 65, both of whom the Browns expect to seriously compete for playing time.

In all, the past two drafts have netted Cleveland 24 new players, four first-round draft picks and three second-rounders. Forty-six members of its 79-man roster are in either their first or second NFL season, still learning the landscape of the league and coming into their own as professionals.

That dynamic is partly by design, Brown said.

“We like guys that are arrow up. The longer the arrow is up, the better for us,” Brown said Saturday. “We’re trying to build a group that is going to be together for a long time. For us, that is the really great thing about the last draft class, this draft class and the next one.”

Indeed, Cleveland added a record 14 draft picks last year, including wide receiver and first-round pick Corey Coleman and defensive end/second-rounder Emmanuel Ogbah. The Browns are also poised to add another 12 picks — including two first-rounders and three second-rounders — in the 2018 draft.

It also just so happens that many of Cleveland's players were underclassmen who left school early. Njoku, who started nine career games at Miami, won’t turn 21 until July. Kizer, who played two seasons at Notre Dame, turns 22 next January.

That youth, Brown said, is more of a coincidence than anything else, but “says something about what they’re likely going to be when they’re 24, 25, 26” and enter the prime of their NFL careers.”

It’s all part of Cleveland’s plan to build a sustainable franchise that can win for years to come. To be sure, Brown admitted it’s also a dynamic that “presents a hell of a challenge” for Jackson and the coaching staff.

“He has so much youth that he can’t rely on that veteran presence in the locker room and on the field, but it also presents a tremendous opportunity and challenge for the organization in terms of if we get these guys on track, they are going to playing together for a long time,” he said.

“They’re all under four-year contracts and five for the first-rounders. To be able to put that group together for him as he looks out in two or three years on that field, these guys have been in his system for a while and will be in his system for a while. That’s our strategy and a big piece of our plan.”

Jackson, who said he feels more "confident and comfortable" with the state of the roster, also made clear the Browns can’t just look promising on paper.

“I'll know more about them when I can get them on the field,” he said. “It’s the second year in this opportunity for me with our coaches, with a new defensive staff and obviously with this group here. I think we’re better.

“Now, how much better we are? We'll find that out as we go,” Jackson continued, “but I feel more comfortable and confident in our guys that are in the locker room and that they know what to expect and how we want to play. I think we did a great job of drafting to our identity and what we want to become here at the Cleveland Browns.”

Added Brown: "This is obviously a good group. We set ourselves up next year for another good group to come in.

"We want to perpetually be getting better," he said. "We're not going to rest now."

I nearly, almost, becoming optimistic as well.
The players & coaches still have to pan out and perform, but I also believe that these guys and this plan finally have us on the correct path.

^^^^^I wonder how many poster's asses will get chapped reading this.^^^

All Hail Moneyball!


(Honestly, I have no idea how this will pan out.)

Agree wholeheartedly. If a team can pick up a starter or two, plus one or two depth / rotation players per draft they stay on the upswing. If they also hit on an UDFA or two, all the better. Our recent drafts have been so poor we had no base to work from and we have changed scheme so often it renders the good pieces as bad fits.

I think the base is being developed (and that is evolving as we look to upgrade where we can - our use of the waiver wire has been very intelligent) and we are now adding blue chip talents.

They still need to pan out but the process, plan and direction is harmonious and self-supporting. I really like where the organisation is headed and the general "feel" coming out of Berea.

If both Coleman(s) from last year make the Shelton leap into year 2 and become legit starting material; if Ogbah continues to develop and build on what a very good rookie year; if Nassib, Schobert or Johnson and any 1 of the other draftees start panning out, that is a great base.

Rinse and repeat for 3 years you have a basis of a talented, athletic, youthful roster where instead of having glaring needs, you start upgrading where you are middle of the road. You have consistency in scheme, staff, teaching and fit.

We need to get to year 3 of the plan with everyone in tact. I pray that the coaching staff can get us there. I'd love to be looking at the draft this time next year thinking we are still building the same vision, with the same folk in place and starting to see the green shoots of where we are going.

Ultimately, they need to prove the process is working - performance wise and hopefully results. A mountain is fine as long as you are still climbing up it and not falling off a cliff.

We've drafted good talent over the years. We just can't find a QB. If this regime brings us a winning QB, they will be praised like no other.

And when you simply let the draft come to you, things like having 5 picks in the first two rounds can bring a TON of impact potential to us next year.

Last year, we gutted the structure, dug a new basement and set the unglorified base.
This year, we put in place some pretty solid foundational guys to build around.

Next year, we have a chance to add a whole lot of window dressing and really spruce things up!


good grief... I'm going to start sounding like a fan-boy

I agree. As you said, some may not like a pick because they wanted someone else, but it is hard to say the picks weren't good. We just selected a good draft class

Last year the process was hurried. Our management team was just getting to know each other when we had to head to the draft. DePodesta wasn't a part of last years draft. He just watched what was going on so he could come back and pinpoint ways to improve the process.

I think this year we say what our braintrust can, and will do moving forward. Seems we are always going to look to trade down when it makes sense because player B and a pick might be better than player A. On the flip side, we aren't afraid to move up if a target is there.

We have some smart people running things. We are in good hands.

The key going forward, will be certain people, Haslem, not freaking out if the wins don't start piling up right away...

They still need to prove they can win more than 1 game in a season.

This happens almost every year around this time. People have unrealistic expectations and overrate what the Browns have done. They get mad if people try and caution them and go on the attack to make sure they are the "logical" ones.

Then, the season starts and the masses then need to blame someone once the losses mount. People get fired. And we just love the new guys. Well, at least for now.

This post will be attacked by the same people who attack it every year. Nothing ever changes.

I think there are a lot of people that are optimistic for the first time in a long time....me included. The last time I had any optimism was when I thought Chud might turn things around. There's a good feeling among friends and co workers that's not been there for the past few years.

I hope you are right.

I wish this article was a pillow, I could sleep so well with all this fluff!

I agree with this. Every year we always say it feels different. Every year we always say we finally got the right people in place. Every year we say it feels like we finally have a plan. Every year we are happy with the draft by saying we let guys come to us like Shelton and Erving or we are happy we traded back and maximized assets.

The real key has nothing to do with who's doing the picking or what approach they've taken in the draft. It's giving people the time to execute their plan. Let's see if Haslam has another meltdown after the upcoming 3 win season.

And it's going to boil down to whether Hue and Sashi can coexist.

We gotta keep Hue!!!!

You always side with the coach.

Not w/out good reason. LOL

Teams that added the most future draft capital

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/19285997/teams-added-most-future-nfl-draft-capital

It's no secret that NFL teams are generally willing to overpay when trading to move up in the draft, often surrendering far more draft value than the move up is worth via picks from the next draft or even the one after that. Teams are basically borrowing from their future draft capital for a pick they can use today -- and are paying exorbitant interest rates. It's not unlike putting a large charge on a credit card, paying tomorrow for something I get today. The difference is that teams tend to pay premiums far more exorbitant than the 20 percent interest a credit card company might charge.

Conversely, teams in the fortunate position to be sellers in this market can reap a windfall of future value. So, who walked away from the 2017 draft with the most added value for 2018? Let's measure each pick gained according to how much approximate value we can expect on average. AV is an aggregate performance measure created by Pro Football Reference.

1. Cleveland Browns

The Browns have gone all-in with their Moneyball-style approach to drafting, trading down when possible to multiply their picks. By trading with the Texans to move down in the first round, Cleveland got Houston's first-round pick next year. The average first-round pick is worth 5.6 AV.

Meanwhile, the Browns will continue to collect on the trade that sent the No. 2 pick to Philadelphia in 2016. The Browns will have the Eagles' second-round selection in 2018, a pick worth 3.4 AV on average. But to balance out the trade, the Eagles get back the Browns' fourth-round pick, worth an expected 1.9 AV. That gives Cleveland a net total of 7.1 AV in additional draft value beyond its regular complement of selections. A team's regular seven picks are worth, on average, a total of 16.9 AV, which means the Browns will have 40 percent more draft value at their disposal going into the 2018 draft than the typical team.

All that extra draft capital will give the Browns enormous flexibility. They can do three things: (1) Cash in the additional picks on players they want, (2) trade them down for even more value in 2019 or (3) use them to trade up to select a potential blue-chip quarterback prospect without mortgaging away any future picks at an enormous discount. Now, all they need to do in Cleveland is improve on the team's shaky track record of picking quality players. If they can, we'll be pointing to their last couple of drafts as the turning point for the Browns franchise.

Good article, thanks vambo.

I don't. I have no problem calling for a coaches head. Ask anyone....But I agree with Vers this time. We gotta keep this staff in place. So far I believe we should keep the front office together as well. I liked our draft with a few exceptions. Still, we are going to be a bad football team again this coming season. As this article states, we have a TON of young players and we are missing some key talent. We are also installing another defensive system, Here's hoping Haslam is confident in the process and allows the front office and coaching staff to continue to build this team. Rome wasn't built in a day. We have to give them enough time. For the first time in a long time I believe in this staff enough to say give them that time. Not all coaches have made me feel that way. I like Hue and I like his staff. I think he is a quality coach with a great attitude. So yes, we must keep Hue and we must keep the front office and hope that together they can produce a winner eventually....

I don't know. I don't agree with everything these guys do BUT for once I feel there is a unified vision and that all branches are part of the same tree. I feel that if we can keep the group together of Sashi and Hue that we will eventually have a perennial playoff team. Hopefully that leads to something more and we don't become a Bengals who never win once they get there.

Sure we always feel optimistic this time of year...I think the difference this year is I'm hearing positive things about the Browns from fans of other teams. I don't know the last time I've heard anything positive from other fans

I don't think many are calling for anybodys head.

In the end the FO has to find the players and the coaching staff needs to put a system in place with those players that wins games.

I think the FO showed growth from last draft to this past draft. Now the coaching staff needs to show growth from last years performance to this seasons. I won't put a number on it. I'll just know it when I see it.

There is a side effect to the youth movement that should be apparent to all... When they are that young, you may see maturity issues crop up in the way of outbursts or off field issues where you may not see that in a slightly more mature kid coming out of college.

But this group of Coaches seems to be equipped to handle that.

Tabor is infectious (did you see the video of him when we picked up Peppers, LOL that was funny as hell) He'll have an effect on those young men.

Hue Jackson is clearly a players coach in that they seem to relate to him very well. I guess from the outside looking in, I can see why. Seems like a really good man.

Gregg Williams always seems to get the respect of his players. (again, pointing to the video of him talking to Garrett, Peppers and Njoko)

Don't know much about the rest of them, but those three are prepared to be a great support system to these young guys.

This could really work!

A few others have already stated it the way I see it, but I think the difference this year is that we're beginning to actually (hopefully?) see the proof-in-the-pudding with this FO and their methodology; the payoff is beginning to become apparent, and that is causing the tiniest sparks of hope and optimism.

They still have to pick well and the players they have still have to pan out and the coaches still have to use the players well... but, as we all know all too well, it all starts at the top and for the first time since I've been following the team since The Return, we seem to be a pretty solidly aligned FO and that will filter down.

So, as long as the Haslams (and the masses and idiotic press) have patience with the upcoming 3 to 5 win season and the fact that we'll be picking Top 5 again next year, then I think we'll be off and running. I think the 2018 draft will be the one that finally nets us enough playmakers to take us from where we are to being a legitimate 8+ win team, and after that we'll be contenders.

The model and plan is solid, and this is enough to start getting optimistic - they just have to execute, and this will require patience.

It's the truth...

This team does seem to fit and makes sense- FO, Sashi & Co. have played the game and are SMART-plus baseball guy- good top, Hue in innovative and communicator/ players like and respect him- NEW/needed D coach Williams will keep players accountable and very passionate-opposite of last years D coach- all other coaches are good to excellent- hard part, players- although many young ones HAVE TO WIN on field- time will tell if the talent is good enough- five wins this year would be a success- AND huge improvement- we can hope- GO Browns!!!!

That is the key. We'll see.

Nope, just starting to think that the light finally shows the way toward salvation and not just another case of a moth to the flame like so many past iterations of this team.

I think it too early to say our drafts have been good or that the FO is good.

I am not saying they are bad. However, the evidence is that the Browns were 1 and 15 last year. I get why fans feel the need for blind optimism, but I am more of a "results" type of person.

That's true, but I think that you also would accept that when a team guts its roster, as the Browns did, and starts young and inexperienced players all over the place, they are going to struggle mightily.

Good teams have good, experienced rosters, and work in one, 2, or maybe 3 rookies, max, into their rotations. We started young and inexperienced players all over the place. I think that we agreed, going into last year, that we were going to struggle mightily as a result. Some predicted 10+ wins. That was ... homerism at its best.

We will be adding young starters through next year, in volume. Once we get a fairly stabilized roster, then we'll do like other good teams do, and have most of our drafted players really fighting to make the team, and have only 1 or 2 really have any chance at all to start as rookies.

While what you say is true, you must also hold the people accountable whose decision it was to gut the team.

Your prediction of all of these young starters sound great. But that's a theory, an opinion. We have had two drafts thus far with the new regime. Out of those two drafts, how many quality starters or true impact players do you believe were actually drafted?

So while you may be right that we'll have many young starters, I don't believe many of them will be more than marginal at best. It's just the way the numbers work in regards to NFL drafts.

Now that's not a knock on this FO or coaching staff. It's just what happens on the average around the NFL. A lot of our picks were between rounds 4 through 7. One may wish to look at the odds of success in those rounds to get an idea of the success rate. The same goes for rounds 1 through 3.

Last year was this FO's first draft that any of them had at their respective jobs. They didn't have a lot of time to prepare for it. Given those circumstances I believe those who have high expectations for more than a few of those picks are setting themselves up for disappointment.

And while it's just my opinion, I believe they learned from that and did much better this draft. It's why I support giving these guys and the coaching staff time to implement their plan.

I believe they learned from last years draft. I believe they learned from not re-signing Schwartz. We see they changed their tune about making big investments in our OL.

Improvement is really all you can ask for. I believe it's going to take at least a couple of years for us to really compete on a regular basis. I believe their future and fate will be determined on finding a franchise QB. It's just the way of business in the NFL.

I hope this group is here long enough to make this work because I see some light at the end of the tunnel that they may be able to make that happen. If they keep improving each year as much as I've seen from year 1 to year 2 moving forward, we may actually be on to something.

How do you hold them accountable in their 1st or 2nd year? You , and they, know that the team is going to struggle as the young players develop, and as you pile more young players into the pipeline.

I thought that last year'[s team was a 4 win, max, team. I see 5 to 6 as the max this year. Hopefully either Kizer or Kessler take huge steps forward this year, to the point where we see real promise and growth.

Sometimes teams speak of a "complete tear-down", but this was a real,true tear down. This was an absolute rebuild from the ground up. You don't get out of that in a season or 2. We torn down even the studs last year. This will be, at least, a 4 year build, before this team is anywhere near to even sniffing the playoffs. However, if we stay the course, and if we have good people making personnel decisions, and coaching the players, then we just might get this back on the tracks.

It's almost like they gutted the team on purpose. . .

Sometimes I think you stop reading my posts half way through them. lol

I stated this was their second draft and that I hope they get two more in order to let them execute their plan. That would be four years.

Who would do that? Did you have a point to make?

*snicker*