DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Roye out

Roye resting, aiming for opener
Zac Jackson, Staff Writer
08.02.2007
Orpheus Roye had successful arthroscopic knee surgery Thursday morning.

Browns coach Romeo Crennel said Roye was home resting and would be back at Browns Headquarters as soon as this weekend to begin rehabbing.

"His goal is to get back for the first regular season game," Crennel said.

That, of course, is September 9 against Roye's former team, the Steelers.

In Roye's absence, newly-acquired defensive lineman Shaun Smith is seeing some reps at left defensive end in addition to nose tackle, where he's been playing behind Ted Washington. Simon Fraser, J'Vonne Parker and rookie Melila Purcell are among the other players vying for time at left end.

Crennel said Smith shouldn't have much trouble adjusting to end after playing mostly at nose in the spring and early in camp. Both positions have two-gap responsibilities in the Browns' 3-4 defense.

"If you can two-gap, you can play either," Crennel said. "I think Shaun can handle it."

NO DECISION: Crennel said he's in no hurry to name a starting quarterback for the Aug. 11 preseason opener against the Chiefs.

Sit tight. He indicated he might not even in a hurry to do so on the 11th.

"I might wait until game time and flip a coin," he said.

INJURY REPORT: Tim Carter sat out Thursday's practice with a tight hamstring. Carter did some light jogging on the side and played catch with a trainer.

Isaac Sowells and Jason Wright weren't on the field. Crennel said both were feeling "dizzy" after collisions on Wednesday.

DeMario Minter (foot) and Mike Mason (knee) were again on the exercise bikes.

ted washington 1st and maybe 2nd down
shaun smith on end until big ted gets tired
unless orien harris can step up, which i hope that he can
also, i think that fraser will be fine on passing downs, plus i've heard that he picked up bulk this off-season, maybe someone can shed some light on that

I love Roye but this might be a blessing in disguise. He gets to rest his way through TC which means he could endure the entire season. Also, we get our Dlineman to start stepping up in diversity.

I don't think Simon is an option at all.

Good topic,,

Like you, I want to see Smith stay at nose to back up TW... Although I don't suppose that precludes the notion of moving him out once in a while.. But I'd rather he concentrates on Nose.

To me that leaves Fraser as the likely candidate. I know I know, he wasn't exactly perfect. But what he was is a guy that through his first year, showed progress. Then going into his second year, once again, he showed progress. Going strickly by that, what reason is there that he won't show more progress..

There is Pittman, who I saw the first day of camp and impressed me with his aggresive attitude... (that was the first day and who knows if that was a bit on the flukey side)

Harris is someone I know so little about that I dare not comment.

Right now, if you tied me up, stuck me in a corner until I chose someone to replace Roye, I would have to say Fraser.....

The good news is, it's early in camp and there is time to do some shuffling and make a deal to see who else is out there if the guys we have don't make RAC happy.... It's not as bad as last year when we lost LCB at Center..

Man that was a mad dash to find his replacement...Yikes, don't want to see that again.

DAMAN...

Quote:

---

t's not as bad as last year when we lost LCB at Center..

---

no, it's not...but it is relevent to that situation...in that case, we had a couple young, below-avg. guys that we COULD'VE gone with...instead, we looked outside and end up with the trade for Hank...

i wouldn't say our DE depth is AS below-avg as our C position was, but it's not making me warm and fuzzy...so with the way the Benley thing was handled last season, that's the reason i brought up a guy (Simon) not already on the team...longshot, but viable alternative IF he's healthy and IF he's cut...

BTW, i mentioned this in the original Roye thread, but there's only 1 guy we can lose this year that will change thigns to the degree that LCB did last year...our DE depth looks stacked in comparison...remember who that guy is?...ok then, just pray alongside me that he remains tip-top...

This is a no brainer for me..U leave Shaun Smith to backup Ted..U let the other big guys Parker/Harris fight it out who starts in preseason and who rotates in..
The rookies probably will be stashed on the PS...

j/c

Curious why no one has mentioned Purcell? Everyone keeps talking up Pittman, but I don't recall Purcell's name being mentioned in the same vein, he was drafted before Pitmann, so the FO must have thought he was a better DLineman (at the time). Maybe I missed an article, or a blurb about him, but wanted to include his name if nothing had changed with his status.

Quote:

---

i mean, even if he comes back,

---

It was arthroscopic surgery - he'll come back. This is about as basic as it gets unless the doc found a whole lot of other stuff in there. As per halfback's post, it didn't sound that way. He'll come back.

That being said, if Simon is interesting if he can pass the physical...

ATTACK...

maybe it's a no brainer to you...but the team is working Shaun Smith at end, which is a mistake, IMO...must not be a no brainer to them...and if all these backup/rotational guys were doing well at DE, Smith wouldn't be tried there in addition to the position he was brought in for...

CLWB...

well, yes he will come back...in what sort of condition?...how long before something else wears down or comes loose?...the guy is old for a DL and has a history of these wear-and-tear injuries...so i don't think it's reasonable to think that he'll show up ready to start day 1 AND play 16 games...

I will scream if the Browns sign Corey Simon, not that's a likely possibility anyways...rumblings are his career might be over.

well, dna - good question. Of course, I'm not an NFL defensive lineman, but I've been through 4 of those darn surgeries and pretty much am bone on bone now (last 2 included microfracture). While I've lost a step, it doesn't stop me... Hopefully the cartilige deteriation in his knee isn't chronic enough to extend the injury...or term his career. I guess I should have qualified my reply as based on my experiences

Hopefully Roye's scope can get him through 2007, and we can then sign a young DE in 2008 or spend a 2nd round pick on a project DE with a lot of upside and talent, or both. I am an advocate of bringing in Tommy Kelly from Oakland next March. He's young and has experience at DE and DT, and has been in a 3-4 a little bit as a rookie. Would be a great fit at LDE and would even supply some interior pass rush. Hopefully we can get some kind of DE in the 2nd or 3rd round next year too.

CLWB...

thanks for the info on the scope experience...i know that it's not a devestating thing on it's own, but i just get the feeling that Orpheus is gonna spend more time on the sideline than on the field...hope i'm way offbase, and he comes back swinging...

KEYLIME...

i'm up for any changes in 08...i was kind of just thinking 'aloud' about THIS season in the case that Roye faces a setback(s)...