DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Your 5-Step Plan For The Browns

Addressing the 1) business/management, and 2) technical sides of the team:

1) Business/Management

- It must be recognized that the owner is a "hands-on" type, but he needs to be made aware when his tinkering is interfering with the effective functioning of team.
- The organizational structure must be solidified with known responsibilities boundaries of all involved, including the GM, coaching staff, etc. I believe this may have already been addressed during their 3-day offsite meeting.
- Management (and this is also obvious) must strive to achieve/maintain continuity within the organization. It is accepted that some turnover is inevitable.

2) Technical
- It must be recognized that due to the coaching newbies, that there will be a period of transition/implementation and mistakes will be made. The staff will develop/improve with acquired experience/exposure.
- Address a prompt resolution on the players in rehab and suspension. Strict adherence to a policy on player behavior - PED's, DUI's etc.
- Address needs versus wants for FA and the draft. Blind agreement is not necessary but "buy-in" is.

The above are obvious and are over-simplifications. As someone once said - the devil is in the details...

Ellis is a player I liked the year we drafted Taylor and Sheard... I would be keeping Taylor with Ellis as rotation. That would allow Taylor to play either spot. In a 3-4 I think you need to have 5-6 guys active every week good enough to play significant snaps. A Jets board I post on, some guys think Ellis is as good as Big Snacks. I don't, but it at least shows he is a quality player. Also won't break the bank.

As far as Shelton goes, I think he will probably end up a top 5 pick, so it's kind of moot. He gets pushed around too much in the run game from what I've seen for my liking. If you have him at NT you need to have a linebacker who fills the whole fast (like Anthony does). Goldman I'm not that impressed with. I'm not sure why he's considered a first rounder but he's solid. Malcom Brown is the one I'd most want to draft that we will have a shot at but we will have to take him at 12 if we want him with Miami picking before 19.

My 5 step plan would be for the FO and coaches to stick to their plan despite the off the field issues surrounding the team. That is to build a strong running attack that mixes in the play action on offense and a defense that limits the opposing offenses from attacking thru the air and causing turnovers.

(Step 1) It starts with our own free agents; who to keep and who to let walk. I would make Buster Skrine, Tashaun Gipson, Craig Robertson and Brian Hoyer a priority to keep. Skrine fits what the defense wants to do by covering wide receivers. Gipson is a ball hawk that is always in the right spot on the field. Robertson had a great year in 2014 and needs to be in the teams long term plans. Hoyer has proven he can be successful in the league when not trying to do too much. He can manage the games until the Browns find a way to get a franchise QB to Cleveland.

I would let Rubin, Sheard, and Cameron walk. Rubin is a good player but he was part of the leagues worst run defense that reflects directly to the DLine. A possession that needs an upgrade. I like Sheard as a player but he just is not best suited for this defenses 3-4 OLB. He is a better 4-3 DE. Cameron is a play-maker but when he is on the field the run game suffers and the entire offense is predicated on the run game.

(Step 2) Sign 3 to 5 free agents that can come in an make an immediate up grade. Players I would consider.

Pernell McPfee OLB Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens are still cash strapped with the salary cap and he could easily be an upgrade to the pass rush opposite Paul Kruger. Strengthen our team and weaken a division rival at the same time.

Randell Cobb or Cecil Shorts WR - With Joker Phillips coming in as WR coach it might give the Browns an edge to get Randall Cobb. He was the Offensive Coordinator at UK that recruited Cobb to the Wildcats. If they cannot get Cobb then Shorts would be a nice fit. Both players are good route runners that fits Hoyer's strength of attacking the short to intermediate throws.

CJ Spiller RB Buffalo - Spiller could give the Browns an experienced back to go along with Crowell and West. He is most dangerous catching balls out of the back field that was a weakness of the offense last season.

Jerry Hughes DE Buffalo - He would be an upgrade over Ahtyba Rubin and provide a pass rush from the DLine as a DE. Has played for Pettine in the past so he knows the schemes.

Arthur Moats OLB Pittisburg - The Browns made a play for Moats last season before he signed a 1 year deal with the Steelers. Moats has played for Pettine in the past. He would be good depth at the OLB position.

(Step 3) The Draft. With the OLB position solidified in Free agency with McPhee and Moats, the CB position good re-signing Skrine. The Browns could needs are Offensive line a RT and depth for a key injury like Mack last season. A TE that can both run block and catch the ball, a big target WR for the red zone, a run stuffing DT, and depth at Safety.

1 (12) - If Danny Shelton NT Washinton is there at 12 the Browns must take him. If he is not there Kevin White WR West Virginia to eventually be the teams #1 WR and deep threat.

1 (19) - La'el Collins RT LSU. He could come in and start at RT day 1 and allow Schwartz to move inside to RG. That pushes John Greco to depth at Guard and Center. If Collins is not there I like Denzel Perryman MLB Miami to groom as Karlos Dansby's eventual replacement.

2. If the Browns do not take a WR in round 1 and all indications are the Jaelen Strong has fallen out of round 1 he would be my choice in the 2nd round. If he is not there Michael Bennett DT Ohio State. A high motor player with good ability to penetrate in the backfield. Good DLine depth.

3. Nick O'Leary TE Florida State. He would be a good replacement for Cameron and a better blocker. If he is not there and the Browns have not been able to get a WR in the first 2 round Ty Montgomery WR Stanford.

2 4th round picks - I like Andy Gillick C Boston College for OLine depth and Josh Robinson RM Mississippi State.

In rounds 5 thru 7 I would target Sean Mannion QB Oregon State, Jalston Fowler FB Alabama, and a kick/punt returner.

(Step 4) Un-drafted Free Agents. This is where the Browns FO did exceptional work last off season and if they can find a gem or 2 there this year it would be another huge bonus.

(Step 5) Hire 2 consultants. A retired successful GM and a business continuity expert to put into place a cultural changing plan both on and off the field to change the culture of behavior throughout the organization. Set up a team goal and focus. Any behavior both on and off the field detrimental to that goal and focus will be dealt with with swift and harsh discipline. Must be followed from Haslam all the way down the organization to the lowest entry level personnel.

What about Williams?

You think it will be that DT top heavy? And where do you think the biggest talent drop off occurs with the DT prospects?

Well, Leonard Williams is a completely different guy. He played DE in USC's 3-4, so people are classifying him as a "DT." I think he's a lot like Billy Winn with longer arms. He wins with quickness off the snap but he's gotta break his discipline to make an impact. Personally I think id he gets drafted by a 4-3 team he'll end up as a LE. I don't think he's the top prospect in the class like a lot of people do. It comes down to what are you looking for. I think there are a lot of guy with good potential at DE in a 3-4 in the draft, but it's more rare to find guys with Shelton's skillset, who is a pure NT who can give you close to 60 snaps per game.

1. QB. Decide on who your QB is and stick with him. Hoyer is as good as any other FA QB out there in my opinion. I'm happy to stick with the home town boy who wants to be here and who still has some potential to improve. By improve I mean play consistently at the level he did early last season.

2. WR. Sign Cecil Shorts. I think you get better value out of him than you do Jordy Nelson and I think he's a very good WR. Sign Miles Austin. Draft a WR - possibly in the 1st round. No later than the 3rd Round. Austin, Shorts, Hawkins (who has to be in the slot to be effective), Gabriel, + Rookie is a good enough WR core to win games in the NFL.

3. Sort out how you are going to fix the front 7 versus the run - probably by drafting NT Shelton with the 12th or 19th pick. Playing him in the middle allows us to keep our LB's pretty much as is, maybe adding an ILB in the later rounds. I'd certainly look at Suh - but he will be paid huge $$$. A dominant inside presence would probably sort the run defense out and help create enough pressure to help passing defense.

4. Find a starting CB to start opposite Haden ... is he on the roster? If not sign the best Vet you can (Cromarte?). Skrine as your slot CB - and Desir, Williams and Gilbert should be above average depth.

5. Sign our own - Austin, Sheard, Skrine, Gipson, Robertson.

6. Sign 2 or 3 return specialists and have them compete for roster spot in preseason.

I must admit i always enjoy reading the phrase "don't overspend on Free agents". Its like if we do they are going to raise ticket prices, hot dog prices, parking, and beer prices. We have not overspent on FA for a while and what have we won by doing so??? Yes we have been in the top 5 over the last few years in money under the cap but that has not equated to wins, which is what i care about. In my opinion if you look at the top teams year in and year out they all spend for the most part up to cap. Not us we have a bunch of people that enjoys winning the under the cap rankings instead of real games. I understand that spending big money of FA doesn't guarantee you squat, and big payday can make players fat and lazy but dam at least your trying. Then again ticket prices have not changed in a long time so maybe all the money that ownership is saving not spending it on FA IS saving us the Fans some.....mybad i forgot ticket prices went up.

I had not heard that of Dallas, but since it's beat writers I am not putting much stock into it. Reporters are bozos, I think I have read on here.

I do not hate Manziel. I have never said that I did. I would be surprised if he had much of a trade value. Sure, it is only 6 quarters, but he showed absolutely nothing during those 6 quarters. That was some of the worst quarterbacking I have seen in the NFL. Does that mean he won't get better? Of course not. I am commenting on what he has shown.

The off the field drama does not add to his value. He admits that he needs to take his job more seriously next year. The next day he says he wouldn't do anything differently. He misses a PT session. He is now in rehab.

No, I don't hate him. I am disappointed in what we've gotten during year 1.

Ignorance? Yeah, OK. Whatever.

j/c

1. Install cell phone jammers in the owners box
2. Know which browns FA to resign (Skrine for sure) and which ones to let walk (Cameron- one to many hits to the head)
3. Stop the run. It just became nauseating watching the runs up the middle. Injuries played a part, but it needs fixing. Free agent maybe? or the draft early.
4. Plan for the future- Mack could leave and Thomas getting up there in years as well- oline depth would be nice.
5. Widereceiver: Need to sign a free agent or two. It is so rare for a rookie to make any kind of meaningful production.
6. Certainly goes without saying, but the QB position is just a mess. Manziel is really our best hope- yikes. We know what we had in Hoyer, and i'm not sure the browns want him back- and if they did if he would even sign. We would have to overpay. Thought i read that Pet wasn't high on Sanchez from the New York days. Slim pickings to say the least. I would not be happy with a trade up. Winston screams Jamarcus Russell 2.0, and we already have our version of Mariotta.
7. No matter what happens next year, do not blow the thing up. Please hear me on that Haslam!!

Is that BOZO speculation, or anything to substantiate it?

No one in their right mind would give up a fourth rounder for an undersized QB who fell flat on his face in epic fashion and is currently is drug rehab. (then again, we are talking about Jerry Jones).

They've got a better QB in Weeden under contract as a backup, and they're just coming off of a playoff run. Why would they waste an asset on Manziel?

[quote]They've got a better QB in Weeden under contract as a backup/quote]

Did anyone EVER think they'd say something like that?

We've tried to improve upon McCoy, Weeden and Hoyer, and whiffed all three times.

Let that sink in.

Hoyer was an improvement. Till the run game went south. He absolutely needs a solid run game to be a viable QB.

p.s. that was a joke on Weeden, not you

1)Trade D's with Seattle
2)Trade O's with Green Bay
3)Trade Coaching Staff with New England / GM with Baltimore
4)Retain Browns top 15 players
5)Sign Brady and Wilson to compete with Rodgers / Suh and Ngata for the D


EASY PEEZY! lol

I understood what you were saying.

But honestly, if someone asked me right now which one of those four I would take to win a playoff game today, I'd probably have to say Hoyer, McCoy, Weeden, and Manziel.

Regardless of how one wishes to order them...that is an incredibly sad list of options.

Long term, yeah that's sad. But for a bridge, the 1st two would be serviceable.

And we could have 3 of the 4 on the team. Hoyer & McCoy are going to be free agents and Manziel is already under contract.

I guess it all depends on how strong of a bridge you're trying to build.

We're going to have to make a big investment in the QB position either this offseason or the next.

I would be looking for a vet that could cover duties for a season, season and a half.

Probably not going to be anything too inspiring.

Yeah, I have a feeling that when Haslam said "We've got to find a QB", it won't mean much.

1. Sign Hoyer, or another FA stop gap QB. Ride Manzeil until he either proves he can play or dump him.

2.Go after Suh, or look to aquire Ngata. Then draft the best DL you can get.

3.Bring in a stud to play guard, keep Greco as a back up. Draft top Oline you can get.

4. Bring in a big WR someone proven, and draft another big WR.

5.Get a pass rusher to put opposite Kruger. We need a disruptive force opposite Kruger.

My 5 step plan.

1. Draft a OG.
2. Draft a WR or TE
3. Draft a LB
4. Draft a S
5. Draft a DL.

Do not listen to Bruce Drennan, Mary Kay Cabot, Chuck Booms. Listen to Chris Fedor. World Championship in 3 years.

Voleur

Why do we need a guard? Greco is really good.

We don't need a guard. I think Grecco was better than Bittonio. Not complaining about either one, but man, I am not sure what people were watching when they said Bitonio was better than Grecco.

Grecco may have had the best year of any o-lineman on the team.

That's the first time I've heard that take. I'm not saying it's not true, just never heard that before.

Anyone who puts our first priority as drafting a guard literally has no clue what they are talking about.

1. take farmers phone away
2. lock the doors at clinic were jball is
3. keep the planes stocked with alcohol...what could go wrong?
4. get even bigger tvs at stadium
5. draft nothing but qbs..ones gotta stick

That is just my opinion. I was amazed at how well Grecco played at RG. I thought he would struggle there, but he was awesome. Also, I am not knocking Bittonio. The kid made a few mistakes, but everyone makes mistakes. He was very, very solid. Especially for a rookie.

At least I am not alone in my ignorance.

I'm curious about the Alex Mack thing.. How would he not be here? I thought he signed a 5 year with player option in 16 and FA in 19?

I think most are eluding to the opt out clause which means he will be here next year but they believe, given all of the current circumstances, that he'll most likely opt out in 2016. That would give us next year to find his replacement given that scenario.

Fair enough

Honestly, I'm not trying to be a jerk, or a board cop. And in fairness, you aren't the only one..............but "eluding" means escaping, hiding. "Alluding" means "referring to" or "in a hidden manner." or "an indirect reference".

Again, NOT calling you out personally - it's just I've seen "eluding" and "alluding" misused too often.


Pettiness, I know. But it reminds me of people that misuse "sale" and "sell", or "they're" "their", and "there".

Once can't "elude" to what someone is saying, just as one can't "allude" as in escaping the cops.

NOT calling you out, not trying to be the board language cop. Just a thing.

I no what you mean. I loose patients sometimes to. Like when people say "dominate" when they mean "dominant", as in "Boy, Manziel was really dominate in today's game."

I see what you did there!

While we're at it -- resign and re-sign are not the same thing. They are actually almost the exact opposite.

I did not realize the 5 step program was meant to be in a chronological order of importance. I feel the offense lost the ability to run the football when the center went down. We should have the center back this season. I was not impressed with the way the interior line allowed penetration. If I recall correctly, most of the hand offs were actually pitches.

As for Greco, he was as good as Bitonio. Saying he is as good as a second round rookie offensive guard. I think the Browns can do better. I am surprised that the most important thing taken from my post was that the Browns need to draft a guard. I guess I could have said draft a center, it was a bigger weakness.

Our defense was good at times but needs to improve if we are to win this coming season. I hear talk about how hard the schedule is for the Browns. We have 9 games against playoff teams from last season.... Of course we do, 2 each against the Ravens, Steelers, and Bengals. We must play better against our own division and play .500 ball otherwise in order to be in the hunt. I think my 5 steps were not as off the mark as it appears many think. It is only my opinion. We all have them.

Voleur

What? We are only giving opinion? How can this be? Surely we are the experts.

Good post Voleur. Common sense is such a rarity sometimes.

I disagree with your list, obviously, but that's bound to happen. We, as fans, don't always see the game the same way. I am more of the "run the ball down the opponent's throats, hit them deep when they aren't looking, and play great defense" kind of guy. Others are "offense first", or other philosophies. People's lists will reflect their own preference as to the kind of team we should be, as well as the weaknesses they see. As long as we can debate in a civil manner, there should be no problems.