DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns WR Corp.

We need Pryor to "stub" his toe and start TC on the PUP.

Same with Mayle.

I think Benjamin and Moore are our "surprise" cuts (and make an excellent brand of paint)...I say surprise only because they were on the 53 last year.

I also think that the camp battles will be every bit as much cross-positional as positional. Such as Moore vs Bademosi. Can we keep both? If Pryor can return kicks...Moore and Bademosi are redundant (even though I like both of them).

If Bowe and Hartline can pull off good seasons...IF...this core won't be as woeful as the pundits are saying.

I'll say that Mayle is #5. Hopefully Smith is still PS eligible and we can stash Jennings there as well.

Dang it I wish I saw this new thread before posting on the others.

I'm assuming you are talking currently on the roster and not necessarily who is available for this year. You can add Josh Gordon to your list.

Potential future receivers: Gordon, Pryor, Mayle, Hawkins, and Gabriel. Note these guys are all currently on Browns roster.

Bowe
Hartline
Hawkins
Gabriel
Benjamin
Mayle/Pryor


No need for Moore now because of the drafting of Duke Johnson and Gaines

I say we go with 6 WR and agree with your top 4. It's going to be a dog figt for the other spots and I prefer to wait till traing camp is over and a few pre season games are played before I try to figure out the other two.

WR is going to be another area where someone pretty decent will have to go. Another position of trying to keep as many guys as possible in competition with other positions. This is how we know we are getting better. Both Tabor and Pett have discussed being excited about Benji this year. I have heard many saying he will be cut, but I doubt it -- unless he seriously under performs in camp. Not that it totally matters, but he is also very popular in the locker room and among the coaches.

I think this corps is our best STR with balance and depth. Folks think we lack that superstar that can take the lid off the defense and demand double coverage, but I think that is overrated. Gordon certainly didn't help things last year.

Having guys who do their jobs and do the little things correctly goes a long way. Running the right routes, catching the ball, rotating and staying fresh -- those things add up. We also have a couple of guys who can get deep in Gabriel and Benji. Hartline is also more of a vertical threat than he gets credit for and Hawk is sneaky and quick. We have a versatile set of guys IMO.

We had guys open deep quite a few times last year by scheme and defenses loading the box. Play action was a huge part of it and with our running game and line set up to be top 5 this season, I am not worried one bit about our corps. I think they surprise many, including our fans.

Intrigued to see what Mayle looks like. Have to see how it all sorts out with camp boo boos and other positions having an effect on how many guys we keep on the 53.

That list is depressing.

#1) Dwayne Bowe will be the #1 receiver this year. The big question with him is will he be a 60+ reception #1 and the big play receiver to fill Gordon's shoes or will he be another lost cause.

#2) Brian Hartline will be a competant #2 reciever. Probably the best #2 reciever and possesion receiver the Browns have had since 2007 and 2008 with the local kid from Penn State. Sorry I forgot his name.

#3) Andrew Hawkins will move to his best role as a slot receiver and will move the chains and make some big plays.

#4) Taylor Gabriel will be the 4th receiver and cause some havoc in 4 wide sets. He can also fill in nicely in Hawkins role if needed.

#5) Terrell Pryor will be a gadget player and will provide some big plays. He has the talent to play WR. I have always felt even when he was at OSU he would be a great WR. In time this pick up will be seen as a huge pick up for the Browns.

#6) Vince Mayle will get every chance for a couple years to develop since he was the only receiver drafted in the last 2 years.

Benjamin will be cut because of his bad play as a punt returner last season. I think last years top draft pick Justin Gilbert will win that role to get his big play ability onm the field. This years draft pick Duke Johnson will win kick returner duties.

That is my predictions for this unit.

I think people are sometimes guilty of labeling Hartline a possession receiver because he is white.

I'm not trying to call you out specifically, but I've read/heard this very statement for at least a decade (and I'm guilty of even saying it too). We've been saying "wow, we'll have to cut some decent players ... That's a sign of how much better we are getting" since like 2001 ... And yet, we still blow.

Truth is every team cuts usable players at every position. In fact, id say our wr corp is in the bottom five in the nfl ... Easily

He was almost considered a burner at OSU. Believe he timed under 4.5.

May not be as fast now, but he can get vertical if the opportunity presents itself.

Yeah, he is fast and also has good leaping ability. He is not the best route runner. People just say he is a good possession receiver because he is white. LOL

*Grabs a foam bat and hits verse over the head Ruth Buzzie style* What did I say last year about our WR corp?

No, you are spot on and I am as guilty as anybody of saying this many years. I truly believe it now. Look at dline for example.....or the secondary. Will be some surprise cuts--trades somewhere (Phil Taylor/Billy Winn/Kitchen perhaps?)

Will come down to position coaches lobbying to keep as many guys as possible, and we know Pett/O'Neil like them some DBs. Versatility and specials will come into play too, probably more than normal now that they are looking to make a big improvement in the special teams area. Goes along with our more Jimmy T style of football as Andy Lee shows.

They haven't given up on Benji as a punt returner and have already said they expect him to bounce back. Sure, they are getting as many options as possible ready, including Gabby and Duke among others, but I see Benji making this team unless he gets injured.

This should be the best camp competition we have seen in a long time around here. We already know that these guys are all about competition, and that is great IMO. All those draft picks are added to the mix..........

I think of him as a possession receiver because of his good hands. When he first came into the league he had some big plays but the last few years he has not been a big play player. That is why I see him as a possession receiver. Two years ago the Browns brought in a player from Miami that is black. I cannot remember his name now but he got in trouble with drug abuse. I felt he was a possession receiver. I guess when I think of possession receiver I think of a guy with good hands.

Last season the WR we got from Dallas was a very good possession receiver. He is black also.

Davone Bess. And yes, he was a very good possession receiver.

very disappointing. i was so happy we got the guy. another nitwit pothead.

Forgot about bess. I thought he'd be a great pickup ... And I was wrong again

Same here. Bess smoked himself out of the league.

As for Hartline, his role changed the last few years with Miami into more of a possession guy, but that doesn't mean he is strictly an underneath WR.

I believe Gabriel will be our #1, hartline our #2, Hawk in the slot and Bowe working in at all 3. Mayle becomes our 5th Rod smith and benji fight for that last spot. I think pryor moves to TE only shot he has.

I actually like what we have at receiver. I know some will rip that to shreds but man I see Steve Smith in Gabriel and I have felt Hartline was one of the most underrated and underused receivers in the league.

this is gonna be some serious competition and I also love the fact we have Joker as receivers coach. hate him as OC and hate him more as HC but he is a hell of a receivers coach. fantastic teacher and he is perfect to get the most out of Smith and Mayle.

all he has to do is learn how to catch without falling down.

We don't have that one big hitter, so we have a lot of solid hands. Hartline, Hawkins, Gabriel and etc but I am just not sure Bowe will be much a difference maker.

I just hope that they just use the other guys to push it down field, and then call nothing but fade and jump balls for Bowe in the endzone all day. That would be unfair, just because Bowe is obviously the bigger guy we got on the team and the other people are speeders mostly who would/could be used to clear out.

IDK, just a rambling.

#3 overall in yards per catch and had over 600 yards receiving as a 5th receiver enough said.

good thing he had a great QB to put the ball where he needed it for all those yards. even made up for his falling evey other catch. enough said.

D4life, +1, sure depends on health coming out of camp and preseason games...liked Hartline coming out of OS, got open and had hands...Gab is sweet in slot...Pryor is intreging, and draft pick won't be shown door unless he stinks it up big time....Go Browns!!!

Dwayne Bowe- might be #1 but I wouldn't play him full time. He's still pretty fast but doesn't have that extra gear that he used to. He uses his body and mind well and will win a lot of match-ups because of that, but safeties won't take a step or two back if he's in.

Hartline- He's 4.5 speed. Just fast enough, not a blazer. He does have quick feet and fluid movements though and will beat you with route running. He's not a deep threat, but can use the speed he has after the catch to extend the play. I watched zero Dolphins games last year, so I don't know why he had a down year. That's pretty important to figure out before knowing how he'll fit in this year.

Hawkins- Great slot guy but a little fragile. Played 15 games last year though.

Gabriel- The guy I think will steal snaps from everyone above. I won't be surprised if he's our #1 at the end of the year. Hopefully Bowe and Hartline will share wisdom with him because the athletic ability is there. His small size is his only negative.

Benjamin- Wasted talent. He's been here too long to only be able to run 3 routes. Yes the safeties back up when he's in, but they also know he's not going to sneak underneath them. If he'd learn a route tree, he'd be unstoppable. I wouldn't be surprised if he's cut.

Moore- Just a special teams guy. Will probably be cut.

Vince Mayle- Probably practice squad. Could also play F TE spot. Lot's of athletic ability, but very raw. Nice size/speed combo.

Rodney Smith- I think he makes the roster as an endzone threat alone. With his size and speed, he's the closest thing on the roster to those high lobs McCown loved to throw to Brandon Marshal.

Cone- Pure special teamer. I doubt he makes it.

Wynn- The Glenville kid is probably the fastest player on the team, but is 3 inches shorter than Hawkins or Gabriel. If he makes the team it will probably be a special teams role initially. I can't see the Browns going with another receiver that small without him having Metcalf like skills. For the same reason it would be hard for them to put him on the practice squad. They could, but it's harder to justify an investment in a player that tiny. He'd need a special role

Jennings- Good deep threat and he blocks pretty good too. This might be a guy that makes it for special teams or he could steal Benjamin's role as a returner/deep threat.

Lenz- Great size/speed, Great vertical jump. Could be a practice squad player. I haven't seen his route running though.

Pryor- It will tick me off if he takes the 3rd QB spot just for them to train him at WR. I really like our back-up QBs. That being said, I think he'll be diagnosed will a case of one year Polio or something and be stashed on IR for the year. Watch his route running in the pre-season. If that looks good, he might just steal that last WR spot. The athletic ability he has doesn't grow on trees.

Gabriel is more of an outside receiver, even though he is a smaller receiver. He can block, and he can get off press on the outside. He really is not a slot guy.

Browns WR Corp.

do you plan on continuing to troll every thread with some stupid remark or do you plan on ever actually contributing to this board? Sorry but its just getting old.

You need to develop a little sense of humor little fella...

yea. a browns fan needs a healthy dose of humor.

Do you think if we see a strong training camp from Cone, Pryor, or Rodney Smith Heartline and/or Bowe don't make the final roster. Of the two, I think Heartline is the most vulnerable.

No. Only receiver more likely to make the team than Hartline is Hawkins, IMO.

Well, did Eotab ever think we had week Wr's?

I think that if we picked 5 random guys from a crowd he would continue to say we had a solid Wr group....

Would any of our WR's fit any of Brady's superbowl teams?

My preference would be:

Hartline
Hawkins
Gabriel
Benjamin
Mayle
Smith

But think possibly this could be the squad:

Hartline
Bowe
Hawkins
Gabriel
Mayle
Smith

Who was the guy we picked up as a FA last year that got cut, was it Nate Burleson? I think so.. This regime doesn't seem to have any problem cutting a vet in favor of a youngen.. I wouldn't be so quick to call Bowe a lock. Hartline either.

Pryor is intriguing because of athletic ability, size and some say he's not fast, but video I've seen doesn't support that. So speed is there as well. Can he catch, can he take a hit, and he learn to be a receiver? Hell if I know. But he would be interesting.

I think you got the rest right.

I wouldn't be so dismissive. Last off season he clearly spelled out how we weren't as in dire straights as everyone said we were because Gordon was suspended, and we didn't draft a top WR. He got raked over the coals for it and people were stating with 100% that our WR corps was going to be crap and the weak spot of the offense.

But gee, by Week 4, not only did those same WR's not suck, they weren't the weak spot of the O by a long shot, and managed to garner quite a bit of respect around the league for what they were able to do with an average height of 5'9".

I honestly don't think many QB's would complain if they had our WR's to throw to. I don't see why they would to be honest.

My 5 in no particular order:

Bowe
Hartline
Hawkins
Gabriel
Mayle

I think Benji is the odd man out because his biggest weakness IMO has been his lack of willingness to play physical. He's not a big guy, but when called on to fight for the ball, he just seems to give up too easily and I just don't think he's all that great at getting position over a CB.

I think Mayle gets the nod because one of the biggest reasons Pet said they drafted the guys they did was because they had productive college careers. I know people freak about his 19 drops, but the guy did average over 10 catches a game I think and DID have some pretty impressive yardage.

If we go 6, I think Moore stays, but honestly, I don't really know anything about the other names on the list.

I am not a Benjamin fan at all !