DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Clements browns #1 target...

Deleted as it was from a pay portion of the site.

I hope this is worthy of a thread.?.?

I was just wanting your opinions of whether Cleveland should fork out this sort of money and if he is signed could the Browns still have as good a chance of signing a top OG, such as Dielman...

I think the author is right on, when he says that Clements will make Bodden that much better... With Bodden, Clements, Jones, and Pool, Cleveland could have a VERY good secondary... Then with the linebackers basically set, all we need is a valuable DE and a future NT and then be on the way to having a dominate defense. Thoughts???

YES...YES...And YES...

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I think the author is right on, when he says that Clements will make Bodden that much better... With Bodden, Clements, Jones, and Pool, Cleveland could have a VERY good secondary... Then with the linebackers basically set, all we need is a valuable DE and a future NT and then be on the way to having a dominate defense.

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Though I agree that Clements would make Bodden even better and greatly improve the secondary, I disagree that we are "set" at the LB position. We have a couple of starters and the rest are fill-ins. When a team runs the 3-4, they have to ALWAYS be on the lookout for more LBers.

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We have a couple of starters and the rest are fill-ins. When a team runs the 3-4, they have to ALWAYS be on the lookout for more LBers.

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It all starts at that D-line, which needs to be addressed as much as anything in FA this year. Additionally, I think that of a year of maturing into the position at the NFL level will really be an aid to D'Qwell and Williams at the LB spots vs. the run (Williams especially).

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Clements browns #1 target...

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as long as Dielman is a close #2!...

as for LBs, i agree with SHEP...we need more...even if you ASSume Dqwell and Williams both become good starters, and you are happy with more years of Dra (4 yd gains, anyone?) or McGinest (shopping for walkers), we still need depth...the reason good teams running the 3-4 stay good is b/c when they have a LB stud out and follow the $ in FA, they've got someone to step in and take his place...until we have that situation, i'll never complain about bringing in LBs (unless we completely ignore the lines in the process)...

Just clicking

Clements would be a welcome addition to the Browns,,, I'd hate to break the bank on him given our other needs... but if Phil can make the money work, sure,, I'd love to have him here..

As for talk of the Dline not being up to par,,, yeah, that's a big concern of mine.. If we don't address that line, the LBs and secondary aren't gonna look good either.

A secondary made up of Pool or Russell, Jones, Bodden and Clements sounds good on paper,,, but will NEVER reach thier potential until that line is repaired..

Having said that, this may not be the year to do that given the number of holes we have to fill elsewhere on this team..

One of the reasons that I would love for us to trade down from our number 3 spot is to get more picks this year,,,and the hope is we could pick up a middle rounder next year as well.. I don't know if it can or will happen... but I'd like it,

DAMAN...

i'm coming from the same jumping off point that you are on this...fix the Dline and LBs, and the pressure they put on the QB makes our secondary, even if it's Bodden and Holly, look fine...

likewise, bringing in Clements, there is some reciprocal help there...having two very good corners can allow for more varied bltiz packages, which can help out a below avg DL...not nearly as much as the other way around IMO, but to some degree...

and if we can do both?...that can't be anything but positive...

DNA, I wish I can say I thought of it first, but some on here have been talking about this for months,,

I'd love to have Clements,,like I said, but not if it means ignoring some very important issues we have on the Dside of the ball...

Phil has got some work to do to fit this together,,,, It ain't gonna be easy by a long shot..

Corner is the most important unit on the field....either side.

They are your drive killers....they stop 3rd and 6 conversions.

If you suck there, you can pack it up and go home.

Clements and Bodden would give us a solid combination. Add in Holly as a soild reserve...and we still have to see how Minter pans out.

Clemments will be big. Clemments and Bodden will give us a chance to get off the field and give the ball to the O in fairly decent field position.

no arguments there...

the thing is, what DL is available this FA?...the only younger impact players are 4-3 ends, as i recall...we can bring in a backup from a good team, but that's more to fill a rotational spot, IMO...CBs, on the other hand...they're not scheme-dependent, and there are some good ones there...

now, this one is really just pure opinion, but i feel that DL draftees are much safer than CBs...both are holes on this team, so addressing both is bound to happen...but CBs just seem to be right up there with QBs in terms of bust%...i think it's smarter, IF IT FITS CAPWISE, to go CB in FA, DL in draft than the other way around...

Common Phil make the beer taste good saturday night,

Phil if ya sign the right players, ya might have a beer table dance named after ya come Saturday night....

Still...it won't mean squat unless we can put pressure on the QB. Nobody can cover if the QB gets to stand and wait.

Watch for this guy...

Robaire Smith...Tenn...

hopefully come saturday we have Clements, 2 guards and a DT signed and delivered.

i'll trust you to an extent...my question is why Houston wouldn't retain the guy in 06 when they've been in dire need of 3-4 DL for years?...

YES

100 time YES

would help out the whole secondary so much.

And, according to sources on both sides of the equation, both parties are willing to do whatever it takes to turn that assumption into a reality.

A source close to Clements tells The OBR that Cleveland is “far and away” the destination preferred by the sixth-year corner.

“If the money’s right, and close to anything anybody else offers, he’ll be coming home,” the source said of the Shaker Heights native.


I read that as if they're not close we aren't coming..but if it's relativley in the ball park he's here..we'll see..

j/c

lincoln

Browns target few free agents
Clements from OSU appears to be the best cornerback available

By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sportswriter


The pickings are slim, but the money's aplenty as the NFL heads into free agency, 2007 style Friday.

The annual signing period that makes average players into millionaires begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday, and the Browns are like the other 31 teams in the league: sitting with plenty of salary-cap room and looking at a largely uninspiring list of players.

General Manager Phil Savage said at the NFL Scouting Combine last week that the team probably won't be as active as a year ago in terms of numbers of players.

``But you still have to take your shot,'' he added.

Which means calls will go out from Berea in the wee hours Friday trying to get in touch with the two good players who top the list.

The main targets appear to be cornerback Nate Clements, a Cleveland native who played at Ohio State, and offensive lineman Eric Steinbach. Clements played last season with the Buffalo Bills, Steinbach with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Savage has made it known that a priority is upgrading the offensive and defensive lines, so other players that could be targeted include guard Kris Dielman of the San Diego Chargers and defensive lineman Robaire Smith of the Tennessee Titans.

Targeting players is one thing; attracting them is another.

The word around the league is that the Browns might not be the best place to be right now. Main problem: the losing.

One agent speaking at the combine mentioned that he wanted to try to move one of his players. When it was pointed out that the Browns had a need at the player's position, the agent responded: ``I wouldn't do that to him.''

He was quick to add, though, that if the money is right, he'd happily send someone to the Browns. Savage went through a similar experience a year ago when he overpaid to sign left tackle Kevin Shaffer, whom Savage saw as the best option.

A year ago, Savage also had the luxury of signing players such as LeCharles Bentley, Dave Zastudil and Joe Jurevicius. Their local ties made them natural Browns.

That didn't stop him from adding more players, such as linebacker Willie McGinest and nose tackle Ted Washington.

This year, there are fewer top-level players; many of the good ones (defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Charles Grant and linebacker Lance Briggs) already have been given the franchise tag by their teams.

Steinbach is considered the best offensive lineman. He could play tackle, although some teams see him as a guard. The Browns seem to be one of them, and if they do, Steinbach might sign elsewhere for ``tackle money'' -- which is always more than guards receive.

That could leave the Browns looking at players such as Dielman or Andre Gurode. Many rumors have Dielman in the Browns' sights, but he said last week he wants to re-sign with the Chargers or join a competitor.

A player such as Smith seems to fit the three-four defensive scheme that the Browns run. Savage said there are linemen he likes in free agency.

Clements brings local ties to free agency, as does safety Mike Doss of Indianapolis (he is a graduate of Canton McKinley High School). The Browns need a cornerback, but the need at safety isn't as great.

If there's one person on whom to place the chips as the team's top target, it would appear to be Clements. The Browns need a cornerback, and he'll be the best available.

Which means he'll make gobs of money, just as all the rest of players soon to hit the market. The salary cap increases this year to $109 million (from $102 million), and the Browns will have $30 million in cap space with which to work.

Contract numbers for this year's free agents will be mind-boggling.

Already, defensive end Cullen Jenkins has signed a four-year contract with the Green Bay Packers for $4 million per season. He has 23 starts and 14 sacks.

And the Buffalo Bills gave defensive end Chris Kelsay $13 million in guaranteed money to stay. Kelsay has 12 ½ sacks in his career and a contract that averages $6 million per season.

That sound in the background?

It's the sound of veteran players already under contract calling their agents, trying to find out why they are making so much less than this year's free agents.

The trick in free agency in 2007 will not just be managing the money while signing players; the more important one will be managing the team's salary structure to avoid massive holdouts in July.

Brownies ...

Four Browns starters will be among those who hit the market: safety Brian Russell, defensive end Alvin McKinley, guard Cosey Coleman and center Hank Fraley. Fraley seems most significant, for if he signs elsewhere, the team will have no center other than Rob Smith.

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Robaire Smith...Tenn...

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who knows, maybe this is a ploy to force Tenn to up the $$$ to get Clements, thus making smith un affordable to resign. Poof he's a Brown.

Doubtfull but I'm just spinning my brown n orage wheels this morning.

I would LOVE Clements. I've said it before. I've seen a lot of him living in Bills territory and he is awesome. One of the few bright spots on that team. He truly does eliminate the #1 reciever most games. The guy can flat play the run too.

Him and one of the top 2 FA guards and I'll stick a dollar in the waistband of the guy doing the beer dance on the table LOL

the Browns really need to get Fraley back on this roster..

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or McGinest (shopping for walkers),

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now that's a funny line! Best case scenario.....clements,dielman,steinbach

A healthy Bodden and Clements would be a top 3 corner tandem expecially with guys like Holly and Minter fighting for the nickel spot. Now add a Jones and damn i hope Pool can take that next step.

The average time of possession numbers are pretty close. The team with the highest ave of time of possession was Baltimore at 32:49. The lowest was Tennessee at 27:17. Cleveland was 23rd at 29:21. The average difference between what we averaged in offensive time of possession was only 3 minutes less than the #1 ranked team. The reason Baltimore was #1 was not because of their great ability to sustain a drive, their offense was better this year but still was sub par. The reason for that was their defense set the tone and dominated. They didn't rely on the offense to "keep them off the field." They relied on themselves to put the other offense off the field.

Mourg, I agree....but I hear Holly´s name as if he is ours for sure...wasn´t he on a 1 year deal? Isn´t he some kind of FA? or did I miss something...he doesn´t appear on any FA-list

Can somebody tell me how long he´s tied to the Browns?

Savage has made it known that a priority is upgrading the offensive and defensive lines, so other players that could be targeted include guard Kris Dielman of the San Diego Chargers and defensive lineman Robaire Smith of the Tennessee Titans.

Dielman isn't the only OG avaliable..Derrick Dockery is there..Al Johnson is a center to look at..the writer mentioned Andre Gurode. is he a UFA?

One agent speaking at the combine mentioned that he wanted to try to move one of his players. When it was pointed out that the Browns had a need at the player's position, the agent responded: ``I wouldn't do that to him.''

Then keep his sorry butt to yourself then..I could care less
He was quick to add, though, that if the money is right, he'd happily send someone to the Browns
I pretty much know where I'd like to send the agent

Four Browns starters will be among those who hit the market: safety Brian Russell, defensive end Alvin McKinley, guard Cosey Coleman and center Hank Fraley. Fraley seems most significant, for if he signs elsewhere, the team will have no center other than Rob Smith.
I'd like Russell back..Coleman I hope you and McKinley find another home..
If the Browns don't see Hank as a good fit , then they should target Al Johnson.

Gurode was a free agent, he just resigned with Dallas a few days ago.

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Tell me you're doing SOMETHING about the DE problem, Phil.

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Yes I agree with that worry, that it has to be addressed. We are barely adequate there. As far as Clements, get the deal done!! It would be huge.

.. " One agent speaking at the combine mentioned that he wanted to try to move one of his players. When it was pointed out that the Browns had a need at the player's position, the agent responded: ``I wouldn't do that to him.''

Then keep his sorry butt to yourself then..I could care less
He was quick to add, though, that if the money is right, he'd happily send someone to the Browns
I pretty much know where I'd like to send the agent
Could be a tough sell for some players !

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.. Whilist I agree .. Reality is , what it is ... We are looser s right now , and have been for some time .. Thats what the preception seems to be around the league .. # 2 possibility of a lamb duck coach ..

Something with Pool that I think stunted his growth is that we used him in to many areas. He basicly played LB, corner and safety. Physically he has the talent. He is one of our best athletes. He is going to get the opportunity so lets hope he can make the best of that opportunity.

Pool improved in 2 areas last year. I thought his cover skills took a dramatic leap and I thought he became a much better tackler. Now if he can just become an instinctive safety instead of having to think, he can become a good one.

The jury is out on Pool but it is his job.

Clements and Dielman.. This could be a very good offseason

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Clements and Dielman.. This could be a very good offseason

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add Stienbach and were talking a kegger

Lol. We can't get Steinbach. I'll have a heartattack from excitement and not even make it to the season lol.