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

Hartline's issue in Miami was that they really reduced his role into that more of an inside slash type receiver but Tannehill is a horrible deep ball passer so I can understand why they began reducing some of those routes. I am as thrilled with this signing as any we have made since the return.

I feel Hartline and Gabriel really gives us a unique set of outside receivers that can be a very difficult matchup for most defensive backs. Then you can go big with Bowe, Mayle and Smith and we also have Hawk eating up the slot role. Add in Duke at RB and Bibbs at TE and I truly believe our receiving options are legit.

I am not worried about the receivers at all. Now do we have someone that is gonna get them the ball? I dont know and that can make this group look bad.

JMHO, if you don't have some HOMERISM, why are you on Browns board...to tweek verbally...some board members are NFL GMs straightening us all out...Hartline is good receiver, Hawkins is among the best in league in slot, Bowe needs to prove he's got something left in the tank, Pryor is a freak of nature, can he play receiver, our TEs have been stable AND clutch...few drops...IF our running game with Mack back is like last year when we were rolling...our passing game could EASILY surprise....yet until we win in Nov and Dec, last place is where we will continue to be.....GO Browns!!!!

Our WR corps has to be one of the worst among football. The more I look at this offense, the less enthused I get about it. I think about all the WR's we passed over, over the years. It is no wonder we lose a lot, we don't address our offensive needs in the draft. The defense is going to playing a lot of minutes.

To discuss the Browns and football honestly.

Will you please stop w/the drama. I was replying to hit. Not you. He asked why come to a Brown's board if you aren't a homer. I answered his question. That's it.

VDog- some Homerism real different than homer, EO's got point, you're just negative...like regime will cut you if you're not producing- I'd take Hartline over Bowe...before camp he seems more productive...Benji to fragile for me...why I didn't mind losing our X-TE, he of many concussions-again, I see McCown as productive IF we stay healthy on the O line...Johnson could be sweet split out or on screens...time will tell...GO Browns!!!

Bowe I have low expectations of ... if he has more than 45 receptions and 5 TD's - I will be surprised.

Hartline I have some hope for as a #2.

Hawkins is a legit stud as a slot receiver - one of the reputable media outlets had him in their top 5 slot guys in the NFL.

Gabriel - I am hoping with better QB play and without a drop off in the play calling (and beautiful route trees and all) that he will step up and be out top receiver.

After that - I really don't have any hopes or projections.

All the naysayers out there - and their superior egos and attitudes - stating that if you don't think the WR's are a joke then you're a homer - bite me. The idea that in a hypothetical discussion about what might happen in the future, that you must be right and everyone with a positive attitude must be wrong = nauseating. (and total agenda)

What's funny is that the same people saying that our WR's suck, are the same ones who talk about how great they were getting open under Shanny's scheme and that it was our QBs (Hoyer) that couldn't get the ball to them.

No kidding. It wasn't long ago we had a rookie Josh Gordon, Greg Little and Massaquoi as are top 3 WR's ....

I thinK I'll take Bowe (however he turns out), Hartline and Hawkins over that group. Gabriel, Hartline and Hawkins is an upgrade.

Does it mean they are world betters.... nope. But should they be ridiculed and used like they are the butt of a joke? nope.

Who are "all those naysayers?" And show me where they all said that posters are homers if they don't think our WRs are a joke?

You are making things up to further your hateful cause.

A different year means different WR's for this bunch.

Benjamin played better at receiver last year than he ever has..... but I just don't think it's going to matter.

Mayle was a 4th round pick, he's staying. There's something they had to see in him. Hawkins is obviously staying. Hartline and Bowe will make the team. That's 4 guys right there.

So there's Gabriel, Benjamin, and Terrelle Pryor for the #5 spot. I just have a hard time seeing Benjamin making it. Especially since Duke Johnson and Gilbert can return punts. We can justify keeping 6 receivers by having Pryor as an emergency QB.


That leaves Gabriel vs Benjamin for the final WR spot. Should be quite the training camp battle, my guess is that Gabriel continues improving and takes the spot. But it'll be quite the fight. Both are fast little guys and only one is gonna make it

I have to agree with SuperBrown on this one. Scary!!

Hard creating continuity with new crop of receivers every year. Yes, I understand it is only two, but Bowe and Heartline are not the future. They'll share a little knowledge, but they know their career is near the end. For them, it's all about the coin.

Hawkins and Gabriel are on the short side, but these two guys are the future. Having Pryor and/or Gordon makes it better for sure and most definitely creates the continuity factor. I'm curious about Mayle. A lot of unknown but you must start somewhere.

But isn't this where we want to be? A mix of vet and young? This way, we don't end up having to replace 5-7 WRs every year. By the time guys like Bowe and Hartline are done here, the younger guys will have some age on them and I bet we won't be seeing as many "near the end" guys here.

I think you need to build your receiver corp through young talent. They only way they get better is reps. Having vets takes rep time away.

I also believe in constant drafting of mid round receivers who need coaching. You are never dependent on any one individual. There are always plenty to choose and several emerge. You create plenty of team competition.

I'm not saying your scenario won't work or is not good. I simply feel you can find talented receivers later in the draft. Sometimes all it takes is better coaching.

It would also be nice having consistency at QB too, but this topic has been beaten to death.

JMHO, why bring Gordon up...he's gone...or should be permanently as Brown...NFL stands for not for long...we cut/got rid of QB, free agent RB, WRs, K, P, on and on...this team can be made by dogcatcher IF you out play the guy in front of you...Pryor, IF he shows mismatches and ability as WR could make our team...Benji MUST clearly beat his competitors becuase of injury concerns...again, time will tell AND finally it is put up or shut up time.....GO Browns!!!!

I'd like to keep Gordon around and make him earn his spot next year....... We have him cheap for two seasons. A guy with all the talent in the world.



Has he let us down, yes. I'm not even thinking of him. Should we factor him into any plans? No. But there's no reason to straight up write the guy off.

Next year, if he gets reinstated into the NFL, he can come to OUR camp 25 years young. He can come prepared and beat out the competition, or he can come unprepared, and we'll let him go.

But there's no reason to write him off

Can find talented receivers later in the draft.

Yeah, this is the kind of thinking that really gets me, irks me, whatever. I just wish the team didn't think the same way.
You know, you can also find talented defensive linemen later in the draft. Like Ahtyba Rubin, John Hughes, Ishmaaily Kitchen, not to mention, Orpheous Roye, Ted Washington, Sean Smith, Sean Jones, Randy Starks, outside the draft.

The thing is,the only times this team drafted 1st round wideouts since 99, they made the playoffs, with, Northcutt, Kevin Johnson, Andre Davis, and Quincy Morgan, ... and they went 10-7 with Kellon Winslow Jr, and Braylon Edwards...

I count the first group as 1st rounders, even though they were all taken in the 2nd, they were high 2nd's in the top 40ish overall.

The team has been drafting D-lineman early since, Phil Taylor, Gerrard Warren and Courtney Brown, and I don't know if I just defeated my point, but year after year they finish 3rd or 4th in the division standings.

Then I read articles over that last 5 or 6 years saying the weakness of the Steelers is their DB's and then... Who do the Browns have that can take advantage of it! If you want to win the AFC North you've got to beat Pittsburgh.

And while I'm at it. I don't understand this other thing. If Russell Wilson can be Russell Wilson, then why in the blazes can't Johnny Manziel be Johnny freakin' Manziel!

DUH! I forgot about Robiskie, and Massaquoi, and Little, and Gordon,. It doesn't change the point though.

Start Drafting wide recievers!!!! !!!!! Arrgh!, fist shaking! Start drafting wide receivers!! Arrgh!

Thing is, What Wideout on the Browns current roster has a more storied career than Bowe? Maybe one could say Hartline, Maybe Josh Gordon, who is suspended for the coming year.
Bowe's fate is either feast or famine, he's got to either be the 60+ catch #1 guy, or he's got to be the guy who doesn't even figure into the mix.

I disagree with this. I don't see what people consider that #1 WR on the roster. But what we have done is added much needed size to gain position and out muscle many NFL DB's on catches. Other than Austin last year, we had nothing but Smurfs.

There's nothing wrong with having a more well rounded WR core to spread the ball around to. Now I would like to see us acquire a dominant #1 WR as much as anyone. I don't however believe it's a have to.

My complaint last year was more about needing more size than anything. I'm glad they helped address that area.

This year we added Hartline and Bowe along with a project in Pryor. The size/muscle factor of physical WR's was a much missing dimension last season. I'm not dismissing Hawkins and Gabriel because they aren't exactly chump change, but from the aspect of red zone targets, we certainly have a better and more ominous presence in that area.

All I'm saying...Wes Walker, Antonio Brown, Hines Ward, Marques Colston, T.Y. Hilton, Danny Amendola, Donald Driver, Martavis Bryant, Steve Smith, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh to name just a few.

I'm assuming your #1 WR doesn't need to come in the first or second round. Not saying you don't take one in those rounds. What is a #1 WR? Why doesn't NE and Seattle have a pure #1 WR receiver?

I too like seeing a well rounded speed and height receiving corp. Only thing I really question in your statement is a #1 WR. I never really understand what that really means other than your second most expensive piece on offense. How many teams who have this #1 WR, high priced guy, make hay winning playoff games? Again, another great debate that stands the test of time!

Don't get to hung up answering I always find this a spirited debate! Besides, I think I understand where you are coming.

I still think Gabriel will be our #1 and Hawk our #3 slot guy and the real battle begins at that #2 role. Bowe, Hartline and now you have Pryor stepping it up. Then at #5 Mayle, Benji, Smith, Lenz plus there is always a couple name brand vet cuts in camp that we might take a look at.

WR Dwayne Bowe breathing confidence into Cleveland Browns offense
Link

Saying Cleveland is a breath of fresh air to wide receiver Dwayne Bowe might be the understatement of the summer.

On Day 2 of Browns training camp, Bowe and quarterback Josh McCown teamed up for several big throws down the field in what the veteran described as a budding breakthrough for the unit.

“It was my first time in nine years that the second day of camp has been this fluid,” Bowe said. “So many guys made plays today. (McCown) and I are clicking right now.”

Here’s the catch to Bowe and his unflinching claims: His teammates are listening to the confident fuel he’s feeding them.

“I’m showing guys different ways to practice, different ways to study, show them how to eat, how to work,” Bowe said. “That’s why you bring in an old vet like me to help the young guys out.”

Last year, the Browns played in a system offense under Kyle Shanahan. Bowe also played in a system offense with Andy Reid and the Chiefs. Players were plugged into specific roles within the offense – and sometimes arguably jammed into those roles, instead of plugged.

Part of why the 30-year-old Bowe decided on signing with the Browns had to do with the fact that first-year offensive coordinator John DeFilippo wasn’t bringing a rigid offensive system with him to Cleveland. “Flip,” as he’s called around the team facility, is building the offense around the strengths of players like Bowe and Taylor Gabriel, while also implementing successful running plays used last season.

“Instead of being stern and calling plays that don’t work for that guy, he’s putting everyone in position to make plays,” Bowe said. “That’s all you can ask for out of an OC.”

“You need that big receiver that can make a contested catch,” coach Mike Pettine said about Bowe’s unique role within the offense. “He does an excellent job on the back-shoulder throws. He made one (yesterday). He does a real nice job getting his feet down. Obviously, he’s shown why we brought him here.”

At the end of his interview, Bowe harped on something new teammate Tramon Williams said earlier in the week: Team chemistry is real in Berea. Bowe says the younger guys in Cleveland bring so much energy to the locker room while the older guys are more humbled as the years unfold in their respective careers. It’s a combination he saw a handful of times making the playoffs with the Chiefs.

Days like Friday may seem on the surface like mundane training camp days that ultimately get lost in the shuffle of dozens of other practices. But in Bowe’s mind, it’s training camp practices that have potential to become building blocks for football teams.

“I think this year,” Bowe said, “we really have a chance.”

perhaps it's me and I am suffering from " GOBIDS " Get One Before I Die Syndrome.. but the feel good articles seem to have more substance this year than in years past.

We all know we get inundated with this is great, that is perfect crap this time of year but they just seem different. The players seem more positive then just typical lip service

Was thinking the same thing. Something definitely feels different. The camaraderie the team seems to have and the belief that they will be good does feel different.

We had lots of the same feelings after a 10 win season. Many complained that it was fools gold and to an extent they were correct, but they didn't take into account the number of injuries to starters. But that doesn't matter I guess.

I believe that the "good vibes" some of us are feeling is due to the improvement we saw in so many areas of the team in Pettines first year. We saw some bad things, but we saw some good things as well.

I hope it's not fools gold again, I'm really hoping that what we saw last year can be built upon.

We'll see.

Damanshot, I'm probably saying the same thing in a different way.
To become a successful franchise is a matter of development. A step was taken last season. The guys that were here then can use that as a platform to raise their game this season. The new guys can feed off of that energy. Like Bowe said, it gives us a chance.

For me I love the system. I like the constant deep ball threats with ground and pound and wide receiver screens mixed in. If you QB can sell the fakes, this is an amazing system to run and it opens holes for big run after catch plays. Its baking the doughnut lol You want that big hole in the middle.

Its very reminiscent to the greatest show on turf philosophies. With these backs, moving and shifting, do you want to be a 180lb db that gets isolated 1 on 1 with Crow on the outside or a 250 lb backer that ends up chasing Gabriel on that mid slant.

Its close to what we ran with Norv and Chud but with a great emphasis on running the football.

These is a reason these receivers are confident and its because this offense puts them in position to make BIG PLAYS.

Hawkins talked about this in his presser today. These guys really seem to like Flip too.

On a side note, they all seem to like Pett as well. Hawkins was asked how him and Lewis compare. He said they don't and kind of moved on. Funny moment in the press conference.

And this is why I think Benji will be the odd man out when its all said and done. He might be our fastest, but he's not physical at all when you need your deep guy to be.

From the things I'm hearing out of camp so far, I wouldn't be surprised if we end up carrying 6 WR's. They seem to like the progress Pryor is making. I actually can't wait for preseason!

I agree. I think Benji is on a pretty big bubble that is about to burst.

I don't like to say it, but his best shot is camp injuries and we have to IR somebody.

Its a 7 man race and i dont know if anyone should be all that comfortable. I think you can throw Housler into the mix as well. pryor's size make him a viable receiving TE as well and out of all the reports I am hearing, housler is the guy that isnt producing.

WR Dwayne Bowe is reliable

Nobody would mistake Bowe for a speedster like Andrew Hawkins or Taylor Gabriel. But Bowe’s body positioning and long strides have thrown Cleveland’s defensive backs for a loop early in camp. He’s been open consistently and his hands rank near the top of the unit. A consistently dangerous Bowe would do wonders for this offense in the regular season.-

Travis Benjamin standing out as a WR

Pettine admitted he didn’t know what he had out of Benjamin, particularly when it came to wide receiver, at the start of training camp last year. Benjamin was coming off a serious knee injury and was “on the bubble." Fast forward one year later, and Benjamin has looked as comfortable as any receiver through the first four days of practice. He’s caught numerous short and intermediate passes with the first-team offense and remains one of the best deep threats because of his speed. He’s also one of three who appear to be competing for punt returner, a spot at which he struggled during stretches last season. “What’s encouraging this year is if you talk to him and ask him, ‘Hey, how do you feel compared to a year ago?’ it’s night and day,” Pettine said Sunday. “And that’s usually true with that type of injury that it takes to that next year to really feel back to being your old self.”

The talk of TEs/RBs/FBs catching more passes wasn’t lip service

Gary Barnidge across the middle. Malcolm Johnson out of the backfield. Isaiah Crowell near the goal line for a touchdown. These types of pass plays have been a staple of the first four days of Browns training camp and lend to the belief that John DeFilippo’s offense will get the traditional tight ends, running backs and fullbacks more involved in the passing game. Barnidge, in particular, has been a popular target for Josh McCown and he helped the offense win the end of Sunday’s practice with a reception of 30 yards. It’s early, but it’s probably a safe bet the Browns will get more than 86 receptions, 1,048 yards and four touchdowns from this group of pass catchers in 2015.

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/arti...3f-c8b3d98a7d02

I have to say that while I don't believe Barnidge is Jimmy Graham, I do believe that his talent has been underused and he does have a good set of hands. While I don't see him as a dominate TE, I do see him as being reliable as both a blocker and receiver.