Joe is possibly done. Even if he isn't, the end is in sight. Last year we drafted Roderick Johnson in the 5th round and he spent the season on IR. His draft profile reads like he has the tools for LT, but needed to work on his skills. The team has had a year to coach him out of public view. We have no idea if he can be Joe's replacement. If he is not, however, replacing Joe becomes a priority.
The question is, how much of a priority. Would we forgo Barkley/Fitzpatrick at 4 for a OT (or a trade down to target a OT?) Alternatively would we trade back up into the 1st to target one? Are we content to wait till the 2nd round and hope that one of the top OL falls to us? Or are we counting on Dorsey's scouting team to find a diamond in the mid to late rounds?
And finally, who are the OTs in this draft that we would consider targeting in the 1st or top of the 2nd?
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They usually have a good handle on the O-line ratings
You can't fix stupid but you can destroy ignorance. When you destroy ignorance you remove the justifications for evil. If you want to destroy evil then educate our people. Hate is a tool of the stupid to deal with what they can't understand.
If I knew he was gone for sure, I'd throw money at Nate Solder (if he doesn't get tagged or re-signed). If I remember correctly, he's the best LT in the FA market this offseason.
I think we got a steal with Johnson in the 5th ...
John 3:16 Jesus said "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
If you "look" you can see he was off balance because his G tripped him ...
John 3:16 Jesus said "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
The only kid I see with a true LT skill set has character issues and I don't know if I would touch him in the draft. Your LT not only has to have the size, but he has to have the footwork, leverage and athleticism for the position. That's an extremely rare skill set. The kid is raw and would need to be developed so he's not a lock at the position. But he certainly possesses the skills for the position.
Desmond Harrison, OT, West Georgia
The reason why I wouldn't touch him and he ended up at West Georgia? Repeated failed drug tests at Texas.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
If you "look" you can see he was off balance because his G tripped him ...
Yes, PastorMarc, it's the theme of the board. Never look at the full story and just pull out the tidbits of information that support your point and forget all the rest.
Don't sleep on the boy! I watched a lot of film on the tackles last year and I hated Roderick. He's always off balance and confounds that problem by lunging a lot. Now, I think that Joe Thomas could teach a literal gargoyle how to be a good linemen just through his aura. I can't think of a bad linemen that's been on the Browns since he played. Lavaman is still a starter btw. So I think Roderick could end up working out, but I doubt it. I think our best bet is with one of the tackles in this class. Some are super raw like Orlando Brown and some are good, but not great like McGlinchey. I think there will be a good prospect to fall to #33. I hope it's Orlando Brown, but I bet he'll climb during the Combine.
I think Drango is good enough for the time being. No point reaching on a tackle when we have a very decent replacement in waiting. Outside of that, I like Kolton Miller out of UCLA but reports have him as more suited to RT.
The only kid I see with a true LT skill set has character issues and I don't know if I would touch him in the draft. Your LT not only has to have the size, but he has to have the footwork, leverage and athleticism for the position. That's an extremely rare skill set. The kid is raw and would need to be developed so he's not a lock at the position. But he certainly possesses the skills for the position.
Desmond Harrison, OT, West Georgia
The reason why I wouldn't touch him and he ended up at West Georgia? Repeated failed drug tests at Texas.
Ouch. OFF the Board.
I don't look deep beyond first 2 rounds, but all of these guys look like RT and Guards.
I PASS on ANY OT in our picks through the first in the 3rd.
FWIW, I just heard a guy named Eric Galko from something called Optimum Scouting on the Browns Daily Show. He said if Joe Thomas retires he could see the Browns trading back up into the late 1st round to take either Oregon LT, Tyrell Crosby or Ohio State LT, Jamarco Jones.
I really hope Joe can come back for another couple years. If he decides to retire, there's suddenly a gaping hole in our line through which defenders will be able to pound on our shiny new QB.
Ugh... it's always something.
I really hope Joe makes it back for another couple years. IF that's the case, then his injury might actually be a good thing. It will have served as a wakeup call to the FO that they need to start losing sleep about finding his replacement. If Joe comes back, I would love to pair him with a LT prospect that has all of the physical skills in the world, but just needs a mentor to show him the ropes.
There is no level of sucking we haven't seen; in fact, I'm pretty sure we hold the patents on a few levels of sucking NOBODY had seen until the past few years.
This is a bad bad year to be looking for a sure thing LT. Just aren't any.
I agree this draft is very deep but not in the LT position. The best OL coming out seems to be an OG Nelson from ND. The son of Zeus (no not Hercules...lol :D) but the Zeus who was on our team and picked in the expansion draft only to have his career end due to that incompetent Triplett who through the flag hitting Zeus in the eye to almost blind him.
But he, Orlando Brown is a Right Tackle in the NFL not left. Just not smooth with the feet. Look for TE's that were switched to LTs in their college career. They seem to be the athletic type to man the position in the NFL.
As for 3-7th round picks...Drango is better than any talent we can get from those rounds. So I'm satisfied with Drango until time and place is there for us to draft a stud LT in the first round...jmho
Defense wins championships. Watson play your butt off! Go Browns! CHRIST HAS RISEN! GM Strong! & Stay safe everyone!
Agreed. Let's not make the same mistakes we've made in the past and reach for anyone. There is a lot of talent in this draft and it's time for us to take it. We need top talent and it's there especially playmakers. JMO
As for 3-7th round picks...Drango is better than any talent we can get from those rounds. So I'm satisfied with Drango until time and place is there for us to draft a stud LT in the first round...jmho[/color]
Yeah. I'd like for us to take a look at Nate Solder in FA.
He's not much of an upgrade from Drango (certainly is no Matt Lyight), but it would add depth to the O-Line.
I don't see anyone to get in this draft unless we trade out of the four and get that Notre Dame guy.
I was pretty unimpressed with Drango as a LT last year, but I think we've had on par or worse (before Joe Thomas). Drango is better than Roman Oben and I think Kevin Schafer (who was more a RT than a LT, he was a LT for Mike Vick). I like Drango, he just has physical limitations that I think will keep him from ever being a good LT in the NFL. Certainly an asset though, as he can play any position on the line except center
I could be wrong, but I have always thought OL was an area where good scouts can find hidden gems. I realize LT takes a special combination of qualities, but there are SO MANY colleges where talent at such an un-glamorous position might go unrecognized, or at least discounted because of "level of competition."
1. #GMstrong 2. "I'm just trying to be the best Nick I can be." ~ Nick Chubb 3. Forgive me Elf, I didn’t have faith. ~ Tulsa 4. ClemenZa #1
Imo LT is becoming easier to play than in decades prior. The shotgun doesn't make the QB have a large blind spot. Edge rushers are also becoming better and better, so a lot of great edge rushers play off the right tackle. Mitchell Schwartz for example now faces Von Miller, Bosa and Ingram, and Khalil Mack twice a year. The defenses in our division don't have right edge rushers who can play at their level. So I think guys like Orlando Brown, Greg Senat, and Brian O'Neil can play left tackle at a high level in the NFL.
I could be wrong, but I have always thought OL was an area where good scouts can find hidden gems. I realize LT takes a special combination of qualities, but there are SO MANY colleges where talent at such an un-glamorous position might go unrecognized, or at least discounted because of "level of competition."
The skill set needed for LT is rare so much so that what you state about good scouting can garnish you a decent OL for Center, OG and possibly a RT who have more need for a road grater and some foot work skills to pass block. But Left Tackle just like QB rarely will you get a gem from mid to late rounds.
They move up in value in the draft where you will get 2nd 3rd round talent taken in the first round cause there just are not that many who possess the "SKILL SET" for Left Tackle.
If Drango is your cup of tea then ok. I'm telling you from what I saw from Drango is about as good as you will get from mid to late rounds to play LT.
Drango is serviceable. Again. QB #1 LT #2 in available skill set coming into the draft who can be prospects for that position. That is why it is an important position not cause of the overall value in making a team a winner but the fact that there are not enough to go around so its a parity breaker.
One other note. OT and LT is very easy to evaluate unlike QB.
But if you take the attitude that OL you can get gems...well just look at our humble beginnings from 1999.
Year 1999 Not one OL drafted Year 2000 OG 6th round and OG 7th round Year 2001 OG 7th round Year 2002 C 3rd round and OT 7th round year 2003 C 1st round and Long Snapper 5th round. year 2004 OG 5th round year 2005 OT 7th round year 2006 OG 4th round Note we made QB the overall #1 pick in 1999 and then made the mistake that Texans did with Carr and Colts did with Luck in not building on that investment with an OL
All 3 btw have become damaged goods.
Note in 07 we drafted future HOF Joe Thomas and had no real picks in 08 but in 09 drafted possible future HOF Alex Mack we wasted 7 years of our build up with the attitude that you can find a gem in the mid to late rounds for OL and we paid for it.
Only when we invested in 07 and 09 did we finally get an OL that could be built around with some talent.
But as we all know we just had the worst talent evaluators to build a team with skill positions.
Note Schwartz and Bitonio we invested skill slots from the 2nd round and both are Pro Bowl type players.
Only Erving was a failure in our investments that high for OL.
So Bitonio, Mack, Schwartz and Joe Thomas were all high draft pick investments and all are PRO bowl and/or HOF level talent for the OL.
The Cowboys were mired in being just an average team of the last decade...until they utilized First round picks for Tyron Smith 2011, Frederick 2013 and Zach Martin 2014...it was those investments that have elevated that team into a SB contender unfortunately too late for Tony Romo who took on some helacious hits over the years prior to that investment and he literally broke his back.
So I do agree if you do your homework you can find a few serviceable links in the OL CHAIN from mid to late rounds.
But if you wish to protect and make the skill set investments for the offense worth more - spend some high picks on OL.
After Joe Thomas is gone we have no 1st round pick investments in OL on the team. We have to make up for that soon or else lose the investment we are about to make in QB.
This year is not a good year to invest high/early in the draft. But heed my warning we have to the next 2 years or else lose our Franchise QB...please look at a great QB drafted "LUCK" and see what happens if you do not double down and invest picks to protect him as a priority!
jmho
Defense wins championships. Watson play your butt off! Go Browns! CHRIST HAS RISEN! GM Strong! & Stay safe everyone!
Look for TE's that were switched to LTs in their college career. They seem to be the athletic type to man the position in the NFL.
Speaking of former TE's, this guy is the only Tackle that NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah projects of his Top 50 prospects to be an LT in the NFL:
RANK 44 ... Brian O'Neill, OT, Pitt
O'Neill is a very intriguing left tackle prospect. The former tight end has good size and outstanding quickness. In the passing game, he's very quick out of his stance. He displays the ability to kick out wide and cover up speed rushers. When he shoots his hands on time, he can steer and control defenders. He needs to improve his knee bend/leverage. If defenders get into his chest, he struggles to sink his weight and settle vs. power rushers. He's very aware vs. twists and blitzers. In the run game, he is at his best on pulls and combo blocks. His quickness is his best asset. Pitt threw him a couple balls in the games I watched and he showed off his speed/athleticism. O'Neill needs to get stronger and improve his knee-bend, but he should emerge as a starting left tackle.
I really like Orlando Brown and him at the top of the second. Hue runs a pin and pull system so it is important we find linemen who are physical and can run. I think those two are probably our best bet, but I haven't watched too much film on linemen.
I really like Orlando Brown and him at the top of the second. Hue runs a pin and pull system so it is important we find linemen who are physical and can run. I think those two are probably our best bet, but I haven't watched too much film on linemen.
Jeremiah like Orlando Brown quite a bit too, but he seems to like him at RT.
RANK 31 ... Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
Brown is an enormous left tackle. In pass protection, he lacks ideal foot quickness and knee bend. However, he's effective because of his size, strength and length. He plays upright, but has quick hands to keep defenders away from his chest. He runs speed rushers around the quarterback and anchors against power rushers very easily. He will get beat on inside counters, but he uses his length to reach out and get just enough contact to provide the quarterback room to operate. He's a mauler in the run game. He completely washes defenders down the line of scrimmage on down blocks. He has tremendous upper-body strength to torque/turn and dump defenders lined up over him. He's surprisingly effective on second-level blocks because he takes proper angles. I see Brown as an ideal starting right tackle. He isn't a pretty athlete, but he gets the job done.
Jeremiah also lists McGlinchey (ND), Crosby (Oregon), and Rankin (MS St) in his Top 50, but he likes them as RT in the NFL. Of course, its just one guy's opinion.
I really like Orlando Brown and him at the top of the second. Hue runs a pin and pull system so it is important we find linemen who are physical and can run. I think those two are probably our best bet, but I haven't watched too much film on linemen.
Jeremiah like Orlando Brown quite a bit too, but he seems to like him at RT.
RANK 31 ... Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
Brown is an enormous left tackle. In pass protection, he lacks ideal foot quickness and knee bend. However, he's effective because of his size, strength and length. He plays upright, but has quick hands to keep defenders away from his chest. He runs speed rushers around the quarterback and anchors against power rushers very easily. He will get beat on inside counters, but he uses his length to reach out and get just enough contact to provide the quarterback room to operate. He's a mauler in the run game. He completely washes defenders down the line of scrimmage on down blocks. He has tremendous upper-body strength to torque/turn and dump defenders lined up over him. He's surprisingly effective on second-level blocks because he takes proper angles. I see Brown as an ideal starting right tackle. He isn't a pretty athlete, but he gets the job done.
Jeremiah also lists McGlinchey (ND), Crosby (Oregon), and Rankin (MS St) in his Top 50, but he likes them as RT in the NFL. Of course, its just one guy's opinion.
He's also used to protecting Mayfield. That should be a plus.
Cam didn't fail his quiz, he failed in almost all of it. I do not see tackles that replace JT. They are going to be "settles" by comparison. This is a spot that may be a duallie situation. Get somebody pretty effective in FA and draft a rook to develop. I was not very pleased with Drango overall; he did improve somewhat, but Kizer would make most LT's look bad. So if Drango gets some more strong on and improves, maybe it is good enough. A BUNCH must hinge on the JT decision.
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I really hope we can find a way to snag Orlando Brown. He will be an elite RT in this league and has a chance to become an Elite LT too with Joe Thomas mentoring him. We could probably land him at around 11-16 if we traded back.
You can't fix stupid but you can destroy ignorance. When you destroy ignorance you remove the justifications for evil. If you want to destroy evil then educate our people. Hate is a tool of the stupid to deal with what they can't understand.
I know it’s your opinion vs mine but I just don’t see Brown going that high. Posibly late 1st early second is where I see him landing. I kinda see him as a right tackle only. But I’ve been wrong before.
Good OTs will go before most slotting (rankings) Brown will be a first round pick. He will not be a top 10 pick there just is too much top end talent for him to get in the top 10...top 15 is a possibility. I think he would be going in the 20-30 area but that would be at the latest.
jmho
Defense wins championships. Watson play your butt off! Go Browns! CHRIST HAS RISEN! GM Strong! & Stay safe everyone!
Idk, I hope you’re right for the kids sake, I just do t see the feet to play LT, he’s almost a clone of his dad and he couldn’t make it at LT. he has the length to play there but just a shade to slow, which is why I see him as a RT only. But like I said I hope he goes higher then I see him going for the kids sake.
I kinda like the kid from Pitt, O’Neil and the kid from A & T Parker. Cappa is a favorite of mine but I’m not 100% sure he ends up at tackle posibly guard. Dorsey will like him too I think he likes those aggressive lineman types.
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