Cleveland Browns
Owner: Randy Lerner
Founded: 1946
Stadium: Cleveland Browns Stadium
2010 record: 5-11
Last playoff appearance: 2002, L36-33 against Steelers
General Manager: Tom Heckert (2010 – current)
Head Coach: Pat Shurmur (2011)
Offensive Coordinator:
Defensive Coordinator: Dick Jauron
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
2010 NFL Rankings:
OFF: 16.9 PTS (31st) 289.7 YDS (29th) 186.8 PASS (29th) 102.9 RUSH (20th)
DEF: 20.8 PTS (13th) 350.1 YDS (22nd) 220.7 PASS (18th) 129.4 RUSH (27th)
Pro Bowlers: Joe Thomas OT, Alex Mack C
2011 schedule:
1 Sep 11 vs. Bengals 1:00 PM Tickets
2 Sep 18 at Colts 1:00 PM Tickets
3 Sep 25 vs. Dolphins 1:00 PM Tickets
4 Oct 02 vs. Titans 1:00 PM Tickets
5 Bye
6 Oct 16 at Raiders 4:05 PM Tickets
7 Oct 23 vs. Seahawks 1:00 PM Tickets
8 Oct 30 at 49ers 4:15 PM Tickets
9 Nov 06 at Texans 1:00 PM Tickets
10 Nov 13 vs. Rams 1:00 PM Tickets
11 Nov 20 vs. Jaguars 1:00 PM Tickets
12 Nov 27 at Bengals 1:00 PM Tickets
13 Dec 04 vs. Ravens 1:00 PM Tickets
14 Dec 08 at Steelers 8:20 PM Tickets
15 Dec 18 at Cardinals 4:15 PM Tickets
16 Dec 24 at Ravens 1:00 PM Tickets
17 Jan 01 vs. Steelers 1:00 PM Tickets
TEAM NEEDS: RG, RT, OLB, MLB, S
Potential Free Agents:
Seneca Wallace QB - re-signed – 3 yrs
Mike Bell RB
Alex Smith TE – re-signed – 1 yr
Robaire Smith DE
Matt Roth OLB
Chris Gocong OLB
Jayme Mitchell OLB – re-signed –
D’Qwell Jackson MLB – re-signed – 1 yr, $4.5 million
Nick Sorensen S
Phil Dawson K – franchise tag
Free agent acquisitions:
Brandon Jackson RB (Packers) – 2 yrs
Dimitri Patterson CB (Eagles)
Usama Young S (Saints) –
Free agent losses:
Jake Delhomme QB
Lawrence Vickers FB – signed with Texans
Robert Royal TE
John St. Clair OT
Floyd Womack OG – signed with Cardinals
Kenyon Coleman DE – Signed by Cowboys
Shaun Rogers NT – signed by Saints
Jason Trusnik OLB – signed by Dolphins
Eric Barton LB
David Bowens LB
Abram Elam S – signed with Cowboys
Trades:
Browns trade 2012 5th round pick to Eagles for DT Brodrick Bunkley
Browns trade an undisclosed draft pick to Rams for OG John Greco
Picks in 2011 Draft: (overall draft grade: A): GM Tom Heckert had a big hand in creating a continuous contender during his time in Philly, and it appears he’s starting the same in Cleveland. This draft has added great talent all over the Browns’ roster and best of all: the picks were all at great values. The Brady Quinn/Peyton Hillis trade was tremendous and Joe Haden, TJ Ward, and Colt McCoy contributed quite a bit last season and it appears there will be more contributing rookies in 2011. Taylor and Sheard are coming in to help the Browns’ biggest need and Greg Little and Jordan Cameron provide the offense with some playmakers.
(! Indicates draft pick who was interviewed, had a private workout, etc. prior to the draft according to my compiled list):
Rd 1, Pick 21 (21) Phil Taylor DT, Baylor! – I was expecting a 3-4 team to take Taylor, but the Browns (who are now minus Shaun Rogers) get a new plugger in the middle.
Grade: B Rated: 31
Rd 2, Pick 5 (37) Jabaal Sheard DE, Pittsburgh – Sheard took over the top DE at Pitt after Greg Romeus got injured in 2010. He launched himself up draft boards and looks to be a threat off the edge in Cleveland.
Grade: B+ Rated: 43
Rd 2, Pick 27 (59) Greg Little WR, North Carolina! – Former running back, has great after the catch ability. Desperately needed help for Colt McCoy.
Grade: A- Rated: 62
Rd 4, Pick 5 (102) Jordan Cameron TE, USC – Great athleticism, he’s a raw route runner, but has those basketball skills that are trending right now for tight ends.
Grade: A- Rated: 107
Rd 4, Pick 27 (124) Owen Marecic FB, Stanford – This pick makes for a powerful backfield in Cleveland with Marecic and Peyton Hillis.
Grade: A Rated: 130
Rd 5, Pick 6 (137) Buster Skrine CB, Chattanooga! – sub 4.4 speed, but technique as a corner needs work.
Grade: A Rated: 132
Rd 5, Pick 19 (150) Jason Pinkston OL, Pittsburgh – Jason Pinkston OL, Pittsburgh – Pinkston has good feet and strength. The Browns get a really good pick here. I don’t understand why he fell so far. Head coach Pat Shurmur said he’ll play at guard.
Grade: A+ Rated: 68
Rd 7, Pick 45 (248) Eric Hagg S, Nebraska! – needs better speed, but shows intelligence and plays centerfield well.
Grade: A Rated: 245
2010 Browns’ Draft review:
After watching the draft press conferences of the Browns, here are some interesting nuggets of information I saw: President Mike Holmgren said that picks that they were targeting were decided on before the draft. Some of us remember how Holmgren stated in the weeks leading up to the draft that he wasn’t interested much in Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen. He explained that he “had his reasons” for saying it, but didn’t go beyond that. It makes me think that he just wanted to stir the pot, so to speak, and try to confuse some teams behind the Browns. Holmgren also said he thought Sam Bradford was far ahead other QBs in draft. The Browns did put together a package for the Rams to obtain the number one overall pick. Since the Rams hadn’t signed Bradford to a contract yet, Holmgren decided he should give Rams’ GM Billy Devaney one more call, about 20 mins before the draft. Holmgren talked about the limits of what he would give up for it. Of course, nothing materialized. When looking at QBs, Holmgren personally looks for: 1. physical ability to pass ball. 2. football intelligence/intangibles. 3. Movement ability in pocket. Going deeper than those 3, it “muddies the water.” Then he wants to see them up close.
General Manager Tom Heckert stated that he goes with the best available player philosophy and when there happens to be players at the top of his board with the same grade, he’d take the player who was of the greatest need. The Browns had 24 players with first round grades. Heckert said second round pick TJ Ward “was probably the best available player.” What does this mean? It could mean that he’s just not willing to give out any hints as to how the board was stacked or him and Holmgren just had guys who they targeted and picked them. I have some reservations about if they really did go best available player, but there’s no real way to know for sure. It’s just the way they responded to questions that makes me wonder. When they interviewed Tim Tebow, they asked him which player from Florida he would he bring with him? He said Joe Haden. Same with Eric Berry when they asked him that same question: he’d bring Montario Hardesty. Colt McCoy seemed to be “Holmgren’s pick,” as when he was asked about him, his face lit up and he really seemed proud of the pick.
Rd 1, Pick 7 (7) Joe Haden CB, Florida – 16 games played, 7 starts, 64 TCK, 1 SCK, 18 PD, 6 INT, 1 FF, many people wondered why it took Mangini so long to let him start.
Rd 2, Pick 6 (38) TJ Ward FS, Oregon – standout on special teams allowed him to lead the team in tackles. 16 starts, 123 TCK, 10 PD, 2 INT, 1 FF
Rd 2, Pick 27 (59) Montario Hardesty RB, Tennessee – season ended before it started. IR. Thank goodness for Peyton Hillis.
Rd 3, Pick 21 (85) Colt McCoy QB, Texas – 8 starts, 135-222, 60.8%, 1576 YDS, 7.1 YPA, 6 TD/9 INT, 74.5 RTG
Rd 3, Pick 28 (92) Shawn Lauvao OG, Arizona State – 10 games, 1 start, not impressive in that start (against Jacksonville).
Rd 5, Pick 29 (160) Larry Asante SS, Nebraska – waived by Browns and signed to practice squad. Ended up on Bucs, recording an interception and a tackle.
Rd 6, Pick 8 (177) Carlton Mitchell WR, USF – 5 games played, no receptions, but 1 rush for 9 yards.
Rd 6, Pick 17 (186) Clifton Geathers DE, South Carolina – released in final cuts. Spent time on the Dolphins, Seahawks, and Cowboys over the course of 2010.
Looking back at my grades for the Browns’ 2010 draft class: The Browns got a C+ from me, but some picks proved to be good. Joe Haden had one of the most impressive rookie seasons of any rookie in the league. A- was his grade. TJ Ward was a huge contributor on special teams and started all 16 games as well. I gave that pick an F, but clearly I was wrong about him. He was a decent pick, but there were plenty of safeties rated higher. I liked how Colt McCoy fit with the Browns and fell a little bit in the draft, but did start half the season with not too bad results. Geathers and Asante didn’t make the final roster, but did catch on with other teams. Today, I’d change the 2010 Browns’ draft grade to a B. Haden, Ward, McCoy proved to be very worthy picks by Tom Heckert.
First Round Picks From Last 5 Years: Joe Haden CB, Alex Mack C, Joe Thomas OT, Brady Quinn QB, Kamerion Wimbley OLB
2010 Stat Leaders
Colt McCoy 135-222 1576 YDS 60.8% 7.1 YPA 6 TD 9 INT 74.5 RTG
Peyton Hillis 270 ATT 1177 YDS 4.4 YPA 11 TD
Benjamin Watson 68 REC 763 YDS 11.2 YPC 3 TD
Phil Dawson 23-28 82.1% 48 LNG
TJ Ward 123 TCK
Marcus Bernard 7.5 SCK
Joe Haden 6 INT
Out of Season Storylines (Because there is no offseason)
Browns Hire Former Rams’ Offensive Coordinator As New Head Coach