DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Who will surprise us next year?

We need 2, 3, 4 guys - who are presently on the team - to step up and surprise next year.

The team needs it...the fans need it...Opie needs it...and most of all, Romeo needs it. (More on that later.)

I'm going to pick two guys who I expect to step up and leave the rest to you...unless this thread flops and I return to respond to myself.

Then one present player who will fall by the wayside.

OFFENSE - Vickers

I think he will get more carries this year and may even be the guy who splits carries with JL. I know he is viewed as more of a FB, but he has the size, speed, and hands of the typical "big back" of the AFC North. (Just don't run him on a sweep on 4th & 1 )

I don't think he will be a featured back anytime soon...if ever. But he could be one of those #2 backs that just wears people out and sticks around forever.

Odd choice? Maybe. Wishful thinking? Maybe.

DEFENSE - Pool

I think this guy is going to be special. 'Specially if we get him in the spot we think is really him. Is he a corner or a safety? I think he is a safety, but I wish he were the answer at the other corner. At the end of the day, I think this guy is a football player...with the potential to be a darned good one at that.

Odd choice? Maybe. Wishful thinking? Maybe.

SPECIAL TEAMS - Wilson

I think we took this kid expecting him to take over for Dropcutt. I think he will...at least for returning punts. The difference will be that when Wilson is in as a wideout...we won't be scratching our heads wondering why he isn't in the slot. Hey, he was THE best wideout in his draft, wasn't he?

Odd choice? Not really. Wishful thinking? Not really.

COACHES - Romeo

I am on record as thinking RAC should go. However, now that the team has decided that he will stay...he gets my nod for pre-season Coach of the Year.

Romeo needs to show us why he is an NFL head coach. I want the obvious problems fixed...attitudes (read BE), game management, half-time adjustments, and player development.

Did I mention player development? Oh yeah, I did. I want someone(s) to step up and surprise me because the Coaching staff brought him along and then...WHAM...everyone in the league is wondering where THAT guy came from.

Odd choice? Yep. Wishful thinking? I'm afraid so...but hope not.

On the way out of the starting lineup?

A. Davis

He's been doing a Wali Ranier / old Earl Holmes impression for too long now. DQ seems like the real deal and Leon is just too much better to be left on the sideline.

Odd choice? No. Wishful thinking? Not something I wish to happen. I just think it will.

I left some low-hanging fruit here...on purpose.

There is a defensive player on here who I had tied with Pool. But I'll leave his bio / pimping to our Georgia insider as he certainly knows the guy better than I do.

well obviously we wont dont know since it will be a "surprise"

Jerome Harrison

I was going to say Pool on defense and Im going to pick Braylon for offense. I think with him being a full year from injury, a bit of a revampped offense, that hes going to silence those critics of being a head case and being a bust pick, after only 2 season

Offense- Derek Anderson: If this kid gets the time to throw, he could be a Brian Sipe-type QB. He can make all the throws, he just needs the time to find it. He could be our future at QB.

Defense-DeMario Minter: From what I've heard of this man, he can be a VERY good corner in this league. The only problem he had last year was trying to recover from knee injuries. I think that after this preseason he could very well be our starting CB opposite of Bodden.

I'm saying it now in march, Travis Wilson will be a stud by the end of the year. and braylon will be back in the good graces of the fans now that OSU fever has died down a bit.

Offense: Travis Wilson - he will be our number 2 WR next year as we get better. Hopefully our QBs will be able to distribute the ball well and hit our targets. (Braylon Edwards would be my other choice but he's all ready a number 1 reciever and everyone expects improvement out of him as it is)

Defense: Orien Harris - guy was good in college. picked up off stooler's practice squad. he's got the size we want for a 3-4 DE. he might surprisingly be our starter this year. Something has gotta go our way and some of our talent has to develop, let's just hope it's on the D-Line

Also: Brod Pool, DeMario Minter

I agree, Petey, I think we may see quite a bit from Travis Wilson. He did fairly well with his limited opportunities and I expect him to line up opposite Braylon at the #2 with Joe J. in the slot. Hopefully Braylon will continue to improve and with Dropcutt gone it's my guess production from the recieving corps increases. Also a better line and an improved running game should help our passing game and I Wilson will be a pleasant surprise there.

I hope we hear from Minter, and want to see Holly continue to improve, assuming he ends up as the nickel back.

I don't think Pool will be much of a surprise as he has gotten steadily better over time and I fully expect that to continue. I expect to see him all over the field, his timing only getting better with more INTs, more well timed hits, more sacks, more destruction in the secondary.

I want to see more from Harrison and Vickers as well.

I expect to see more of Leon Williams & Simon Fraser and hearing their names called a lot when they're on the field.

Offense...

I think Wilson is a foregone conclusion. The #3 WR position is his to lose.

My personal hope is that Fred Matua, Rob Smith or Hoffman emerge from the quagmire of backups and one of them become a starter.

Defensively, I expect Hamilton and Baba to be a productive players. But my choice would be Harris.

I liked both of these pick ups (Matua and Harris). I hope they did not waste their roster time.

I'm hoping on D David McMillen comes in and just shows what he's made of. But of course after seeing what's happened, he may not ever be the guy I thought he could be. I think he has all the physical skills, but he just doesn't know how to use them. I'll probably be wrong and it IS wishful thinking.

I think on Offense Travis Wilson, everyones choice, will pick it up and show us good hands and maybe even take it to the house a few times. I think he has all the potential in the world and I think he may end up challenging Braylon. I bet he does well enough that people start to question Braylon. I really bet that happens, lol.

JMHO

Offense: JEROME HARRISON

Defense: DQ

Surprise us?

i'd rather wait to see the new rooks.

a lil more than 49 days left.. YES

o i know..

Offense: Adrian Peterson
Defense: Quentin Moses

Defense - Antwan Peek..

With Wimbly drawing full attention on his side, Peek has the speed and athletic ability the Browns didn't have last year on his opposite side. The Pittsburgh game at home last year was a prime example. Cheeseburger would drop back and get flushed out to his right because of Wimbly and roll right... but nobody was there to trap him in the pocker. This is why Peek will have nice sack numbers at least. All other concerns with Peek are valid, but I expect him to have a high sack total.

Offense - Jamal Lewis

Let me be the first to say i hate Jamal Lewis and I don't know if I can ever fully not see him as a Rat, but I think he's got alot left in the tank. Yea his numbers decline every year, but so has the Ravens offensive line, and his carries. Now as a Brown where we could (grasp yourself) have a good offensive line, Lewis knows how to run. Plus the fact that the Browns have some play makers down field in Winslow and Edwards, teams have to respect the pass with us, unlike Baltimore. Teams #1 plan was to stop Lewis, now he is an afterthought. He's only 27, Lewis is going to have a big year.

Am I over excited about the free agents? Maybe... but I think they were both brought into perfect situations to and we have an incredible GM.

Baltimore's recievers are probably at the level of ours. Todd Heap = IMO not as good as KW2 but close to it, Derrik Mason = a little worse than Braylon Edwards in that he's getting older and his numbers are in decline, Mark Clayton = up-and-coming #1/#2 reciever (great hands, good routes, but he's short) and better than Wilson or Jurevicious (so far) and he put up more yards/TDs than Edwards. So yeah, as for our targets: Baltimore's are close to if not as good as ours.

Right but thats not the point because who was their QB? Boller.I don't care who you have down the field... im not gonna respect ur passing offense with Boller. So teams would stack the box and stop Lewis forcing Boller to throw. This year with McNair was a little different, but the O line was worse this year than any of the other years Lewis was a rat. My main point is Lewis was behind a steadily decreasing line getting decreased carries. Our line has a chance to be good here and Charlie can get the ball to recievers no matter how ugly it looks.

Well since this is suppose to be about someone that is going to suprise us i got to go with Orien Harris. I'd love for this kid to make a name for himself here.

nordawg

Offense - Derek Anderson, the guy has a arm, I like to compare his arm to Brett Favre at times, give the kid time, and the recievers get open, I think this guy could be something special.

Defense - Leon Williams, I am looking for big things from him on Special Teams and on Defense. This kid has the talent and the passion to be a great OLB, I also see him as Willie G's replacement in a year or so.....

Special Teams - Joshua Cribbs, yes, he was a suprise this year too, but man if we give him lanes to run through >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>GONE!