Hey, Tony! Your Cleveland Browns questions answered
Published: Saturday, March 26, 2011, 6:08 PM Updated: Saturday, March 26, 2011, 6:23 PM
By Tony Grossi, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer
Q: Hey, Tony: I think a lot of people are overlooking the fact that Pat Shurmur was brought here to turn the offense around and I believe if it was totally up to Shurmur he would draft A.J. Green not only because of Green's superior talent but because it could possibly save his job. Do you think Shurmur is pulling for Green and could that be enough to convince Tom Heckert to sway in that direction? -- Eliot Clasen, Cape Coral, Fla.
A: Hey, Eliot: I think it's a little early in Shurmur's career to base a draft pick on saving his job. Would Shurmur like Green on his team? Sure, what offensive-minded head coach wouldn't? But I think Shurmur has a good grasp of how things will work in Berea on draft day. Heckert will make the call. Plus, the needs on the defensive line are so severe, I don't know how they overlook them.
Q: Hey, Tony: First, lets just assume there will be a season next year. Has Pat Shurmur elaborated at all on how he plans to use Josh Cribbs in his offense? -- Shawn J., Eastlake
A: Hey, Shawn: I spoke with Shurmur about Cribbs at league meetings this week. He views him as a receiver, a potential play-maker in the passing game. I mentioned my longstanding belief that Cribbs might be more useful in the backfield, and Shurmur didn't tip his hand if that's in the cards. I did get the impression that Shurmur's not a big fan of the wildcat, though he said there's a place for it.
Q: Hey, Tony: Given that the major question the Browns have about Colt McCoy is his arm strength, do the Browns need to make sure that the quarterback they select later in this year's draft has more than enough arm strength? -- Paul Thiel, Crescent Springs, Ky.
A: Hey, Paul: Neither Mike Holmgren nor Pat Shurmur share my concerns about McCoy's arm strength. They insist the premium is on accuracy in their system. Thus, I would expect any quarterback selected by them to be judged by how accurate is his arm, not how strong.
Q: Hey, Tony: What publications do you use to prepare yourself for the draft? Do you use Ourlads' draft book or Pro Football Weekly book? -- Raymond Dumont, Foley, Ala.
A: Hey, Raymond: I use several books for different reasons. Pro Football Weekly is excellent. Lindy's is real good. I have used Mel Kiper Jr.'s book in the past. Because things change after those books are printed, I rely a lot on nfldraftscout.com. That is the best draft website, in my opinion. Many other publications and websites I have not listed also are excellent sources of draft information.
Q: Hey, Tony: I just read that both A.J. Green and Patrick Peterson scored in the bottom five of 330 participants on the Wonderlic test. I've also read that this would indicate that Peterson would struggle in a complex defensive scheme and may be limited to man coverage to be successful. As for Green, he would struggle to learn more than one receiver position at a time and may take much longer than his first season to learn all three. Does this lower their stock in your eyes and ultimately do you believe it will lower their stock in the eyes of the Browns' front office? -- Justin Johnson, Perrysburg, Ohio
A: Hey, Justin: Unlike most, I have not considered Peterson a serious candidate to be the Browns' first draft choice because of their severe needs at other positions. I'm not sure whether the Browns consider Green's Wonderlic test score a bad indicator of football intelligence. I think his game video and their personal interviews with him will override any test score.
Q: Hey, Tony: Why all the hype about a WR in the upcoming draft? With the first pick, you need a beast. Someone you can plug in and forget about it. Why not take one of those huge blue-chip offensive tackles? The quarterback is young. One way to help him is with a good running game. The left side is set. The right is suspect. One of those giants seems to be the way to go. The pick is two-fold. It helps the offense, but it keeps a weak defense off the field as much. They can get whatever else they think they need later in the draft. -- Michael Teague, Euclid
A: Hey, Michael: Like most everyone else, you feel a rookie would be instantly better than Tony Pashos at right tackle. The Browns don't agree. They feel they are set for a couple of years with Pashos there, if he's healthy. That's why they gave him a big contract in free agency last year.
Secondly, the Browns feel they have fewer needs on offense -- believe it or not -- than defense. They would not be able to field a defensive line right now, so I think it's fairly obvious that they have to address that position. The hype about a receiver is being generated by media experts -- not by the team.
Q: Hey, Tony: I know Paul Brown used to draft "intelligent" players who were coachable, it was one of his main interests in drafting. How can you argue with a record like his? You can put all the emphasis you want on physical abilities, but so much of today's game is based on adjustments and reading the opposition at the line. They call it the West Coast offense, but Paul Brown is the real genius behind it. Knowing that, how much stock do today's coaches and front-office people put on the Wonderlic scores? -- Tony Juliano, Jacksonville, Fla.
A: Hey, Tony: At some point -- and at some important positions -- you need playmakers, guys that can change a game with brute force or blue-chip speed. If Wonderlic scores were so important, I think Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Northwestern and other high-academic institutions would have better college football teams.
Q: Hey, Tony: You still get questions or comments from the Eric Mangini lovers. I am glad he is gone but I consider his worst fault his GM skills. Who would you rate the worst -- Mangini, Dwight Clark, Butch Davis or Phil Savage? The two coaches had puppets for GM in name only so I include them with the GMs. -- Irish Dog, Perry
A: Hey, Irish: Clark had far more resources at his disposal -- 14 extra draft choices in two drafts -- so I would have to give him this dubious distinction. Mangini had only one year as the GM and we've belabored how that turned out. Davis did the best coaching job of the expansion era in his first two seasons, and then dropped the ball as a GM after that. Savage hit some bull's-eyes in college talent (Joe Thomas, Ahtyba Rubin, Josh Cribbs) but struck out in other GM responsibilities such as trades and contract negotiations.
Q: Hey, Tony: So the NFL wants to potentially move the kickoff forward 5 yards to the 35-yard line? Didn't it used to be there and they pushed it back 5 yards, because the kickers were stronger than in the past and ever increasing touchbacks were boring? Can't we learn from history here? -- Doug Shaffer, Orange, Calif.
A: Hey, Doug: Since you sent your question, yes, the NFL voted to move the kickoff forward to the 35, where it used to be from 1989 through '93 until stronger kickers sent balls soaring out of the end zone routinely. The league calls the kickoff the most violent play in football and believes sacrificing a few returns for fewer injuries is worth it. I think if touchbacks increase by 25 percent or more, as some expect, the rule will be wiped out next season.
Q: Hey, Tony: I am not completely sold on Colt McCoy as the BÊowns' future QB. I think taking a QB in the 2nd/3rd/4th round would work to both challenge McCoy and hedge the risk of him not developing into a playoff QB. Which of the following QBs projected to possibly be available in the 2nd/3rd/4th rounds would fit best into Shurmur's West Coast offense: Locker, Mallet, Dalton, Kaepernick, Ponder, Devlin, or other? -- Matt S., Columbus
A: Hey, Matt: I would rank the top three in this order -- Ponder, Dalton, Devlin.
Q: Hey, Tony: At the time of this question it appears that the NFL owners will change the kickoff return rules that will definitely work against one of the Browns strengths. This could almost neutralize Josh Cribbs biggest strengths to the team. Do you think that the Browns might consider trading Cribbs? He just hasn't shown much in the running or receiving game. -- Steve Bohnenkamp, Geneva, Ill.
Hey, Steve: I don't see the point in trading Cribbs. These rules might only be temporary, plus the new staff is eager to see him in the West Coast offense. Besides, if the return game has been negated by the new rules, why would any other team be interested in Cribbs?
Q: Hey, Tony: I have asked you in the past about compensatory picks and your answer was how complex the formula is. I was wondering what the formula is for this year or next year because there is no free agency this year for picks next year. I was also wandering what you think of putting a bid in for Michael Floyd in the supplemental draft if there is one and what round pick would you offer if he enters. -- Josh Phillips, North Fairfield, Ohio
A: Hey, Josh: This year's compensatory picks were determined under the same complex formula which weighs premium free agents lost versus free agents signed in 2010. The future of compensatory draft picks rests with any new collective bargaining agreement. There's no guarantee they will exist beyond 2011. As for Floyd, he obviously has some baggage now to sort through. He looked like a nice receiver -- Notre Dame's best player, at times -- but I would need the complete medical and character report to accurately answer your question.
Q: Hey, Tony: There are two extremes of NFL owners: the "old guard" (like John Mara and Ralph Wilson) who will give a little in player negotiations for the good of the league, and the "new blood" (like Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder) who will take every cent they can no matter what. Where does Randy Lerner fall in this spectrum of ownership? -- C. Miller, Houston
A: Hey, C.: It's hard to tell because Lerner has totally shut down access from the media. Based on what I knew previously, I'd say he sides more with the "new blood" -- not necessarily for the reason you cite.
Q: Hey, Tony: Hypothetically, what would happen if one rogue owner "broke ranks" and opened his books to an independent auditor during the negotiations with the players union? What kind of repercussions would he face? -- C. Miller, Houston
A: Hey, C.: Severe fine and discipline from the NFL.
Q: Hey, Tony: Last week, a reader asked you about the NFL using replacement players this year, to which you replied that it would be against the law. The other day it was reported that a legal rep for the NFL had said that the league would ultimately consider this option. What's your take on this and what are the possible ramifications if this happens? -- Tom Lovell, Maple Heights
A: Hey, Tom: I was in error. In fact, I was the one at league meetings who asked the NFL lawyer team: What's to prevent the owners from using replacement players? Lawyer Bob Batterman replied, "There's nothing legally to prevent the league from using replacement players, if it chooses to do so." Commissioner Roger Goodell later said the use of replacement players is not being discussed and has not been considered. The ramifications of using them in this case would be worse, in terms of negative PR, than when they used them in 1987 to break the players strike. I do think, however, the owners would consider using replacements in 2012 if the labor situation effectively canceled the 2011 season.
Q: Hey, Tony: The Browns played most of last year with only seven offensive lineman. Two of the veterans on the right side were often injured players in there thirties and one second year player whose one start was characterized as being "disappointing." With the uncertainty of free agency, can the Browns afford to wait pass the second round to take care of this problem? -- Raymond Dumont, Foley, Ala.
A: Hey, Raymond: I don't think it's as dire as you suggest. In his second year, Shawn Lauvao could be ready to start at right guard. That would free up Floyd Womack to move to tackle -- if needed. And all of this is assuming Tony Pashos won't be healthy enough to play. Yes, I believe a developmental tackle is needed. But I think such a player could be chosen later in the draft than the top three rounds.
Q: Hey, Tony: Since there is a lockout in the NFL, and they cannot trade players for the draft, are they allowed to trade "players to be named later" like MLB? Or just draft picks? -- Ryan Fargle, North Olmsted
A: Hey, Ryan: Just draft picks.
Q: Hey, Tony: Do you think the reason [former Commissioner] Paul Tagliabue hasn't been inducted into the Hall of Fame is because the owners are upset at him for the last contract he negotiated with the players union? -- <em>Steve Bohnenkamp, Geneva, Ill.
A: Hey, Steve: The owners have nothing to do with the Hall of Fame selection process. Now, the fact that Tagliabue's last labor deal resulted in the chaos the NFL is experiencing now does not improve Tagliabue's credentials.
Q: Hey, Tony: Receiver Carlton Mitchell has been compared by some to the likes of Brandon Marshall and Marcus Colston for his size, speed and big hands. Is there any way he can adapt to a pro-style offense and make an impact in the NFL? -- <em>Paul Ross, Columbia, Md.
A: Hey, Paul: GM Tom Heckert and coach Pat Shurmur each has told me they like the skills Mitchell possesses. I'm thinking he'll be a much bigger factor under Shurmur and in the West Coast offense.
-- Tony
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/03/hey_tony_your_cleveland_browns.html________________________________________________________________
I'm in agreement with Tony about the situation on the right side of the OL not being as dire as some suggest.
We really need to concentrate on the DL.
I will not be too upset if in this draft the first 2 picks are spent on DEs.
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