Cleveland Cavaliers Win, Clinch Playoff Spot
March 5, 2009While We’re Waiting… Andra Davis, Carmona’s Weight, and the Return of Joe Smith
March 6, 2009I know there is nothing to be really excited about with the signing of Robert Royal. At least I don’t believe there is any reason to get excited because of who Robert Royal is as a player. On the surface, he is just another run-of-the-mill tight end as RockKing and frequent commenter RandyOSU have pointed out. In fact, his story in Buffalo was mixed. According to this report on the OBR Royal was originally signed to become a well-rounded player with developing pass-catching ability.
Basically, the Bills invested in the potential that Royal could finally break through as a receiver. He never did. Despite being the Bills’ regular starter at tight end, Royal was a marginal receiver. In three seasons with the club, Royal never caught more than 33 passes, while totaling only seven touchdowns. While he certainly didn’t have the luxury of stability at quarterback or offensive coordinator, Royal never developed.
So, why, then would Royal signing in Cleveland get me excited? There is only one way. And that is if Kokinis is truly working toward developing the Cleveland Browns into a consistent running team. I know that Royal is a downgrade from an offensive explosion standpoint in the passing game from Kellen Winslow. But, if his addition to the club means that the Browns are going to work to establish the running game, then things could get exciting.
We talked earlier today about all the reasons that Edgerrin James wouldn’t make sense on this team, but that isn’t because we don’t think the Browns couldn’t use more running options. They certainly could. If the Browns are putting good character depth role players together toward an organizational purpose of running the football, that makes me happy. The offensive line should be a relative position of strength on this team, even though they are sometimes a bit lacking on the right side.
But here’s what we know. Kokinis claims to know what it takes to win in the AFC North. We all agree (I think) that the Browns need to run the ball better to compete in the AFC North. We know that Eric Mangini isn’t much for the gunslinger QBs a la Brett Favre. We know that Kellen Winslow was an ineffective run blocker and got traded. We know that Robert Royal is at minimum a guy who can block.
Maybe excitement was an overstatement, but this is starting to sound like an organizational commitment to running the football. If that can ever happen in Cleveland, I know a lot of traditional Browns fans who will be elated. With the secrecy of this regime, we certainly don’t know as they look to protect their bargaining position in the market place. Still, we knew that the Browns weren’t going to be high flyers in free agency this year, so we have to try and draw whatever conclusions we can from whatever information we get.
20 Comments
Anything to help the right side of the line is good. I guess. Perhaps I was just spoiled with the Rogers/Williams moves of last season.
…so the reason you’re excited is because we’re going to run the ball?
…thats got you excited?
….I don’t buy it.
However, a commitment to the run would make Brady Quinn a better option than DA, no?
It still doesn’t make a washed up Edge James a good option.
See, creative… this is what I am talking about.
Connecting the dots. Yes. Running the ball would get me excited. Yes, a commitment to run makes me think Brady Quinn is the better option than DA with a ball control style instead of a home run style.
And a commitment to run the ball means that we can expect the Browns to try and use more running backs. That means we could see a runner drafted sometime, probably on day 2, depending on who is available when, who drops, etc.
i kinda agree with scott in that this should also benefit the run/pass blocking, but having a TE that lines up in the right spot will also benefit the passing game by not bringing a defender into another receiver’s zone by starting in the wrong place.
that was the reason butch davis used to justify cutting kevin johnson, who put up numbers similar to those of KW2 – he didn’t so squat playing for 3 different teams the next three years.
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look at the list of pro bowl TE’s. there’s only a 50/50 chance the player is on a playoff team, much less a team that’s won the SB that season – the only exception is shockey of the giants – and he was on the DL.
OTOH, who can name the TE’s for the steelers or pats? they’ve won 5 of the last 10 SB’s.
NE – Graham, who was then picked up by Denver for huge money. And Ben Watson, who is a great pass-catcher but can’t stay healthy. And Vrabel. For PIT, it’s been big Heath Miller; solid but not spectacular. Just a big target (I think he’s like 6’7″)
(Disclaimer: I only know the NE TEs because of fantasy football)
i said the same thing on the cooler last night
Scott – NE TE NK.
If we are committed to running the ball, I’m not sure Lewis’ 3.6 yds and a cloud of dust is going to cut it. Please do not read this as me saying the Browns should draft Chris Wells, unless he falls 2 rounds, I’m against it.
Just my $.02.
Craig: agree. In this division, playing Steelers/Ravens four times each season and playing crucial games at season’s end in bad weather, they have to run the ball or they simply cannot consistently compete for the playoffs. Those other teams’ defenses are set up to abuse teams that can’t run when they have to. Of course, to consistently compete we will also, at some time, have to be able to stop the run. If we’ll only run a 3-4 defense, there’s no way we can afford to lose a nose tackle who can penetrate like Shaun Rogers.
Craig-good post. However, I find it disconcerting that one must extrapolate their own thesis based on what is happening versus getting any form of communication from the organization. Again, we’re not asking to be part of their draft board, strategy sessions, et al-just told from time to time what we can expect and what type of program is being built.
Agree with Randy 100%, something to get us Browns fans excited for the future would be nice. If they do turn into a run-oriented team, that would certainly be better for the long run in a place like Cleveland – lets be real its hard to win in December in Cleveland with a pass heavy offense that can’t run the ball. So I guess I’m kinda excited too, not overly excited because I’d like to hear something/anything from the front office. But running games are the foundation that championships are built upon, so one can only hope that we can trade DA for…anything, get a running back somewhere in the draft, and start working towards winning games in the trenches
I like the theory on running the ball more. How much was Jamal’s 3.6/carry season due to Winslow’s ineffectiveness as a blocker? We obviously don’t know because we don’t have the game tape but I can guarantee you that Kokinis knows, especially since he probably scouted the guy.
I wish everyone would calm down about this off season stuff so far. This FA class sucks anyway. Outside of Bart Scott there wasn’t really a Defensive player that got me excited. And when Savage was signing 10 FA’s a season the last couple years, wasn’t it people screaming that we need to build through the draft????
Aaron Curry please fall to us. If not pick Crabtree or Raji, can’t get them? TRADE
Ok, I need to say something about this false hope of Royal being able to block. In previous posts today I have posted links to different sites where people are discussing Royals horrible blocking ability. He was brought in to be an all around TE in buffalo, and didn’t develop into the pass catcher they thought he would be. So by default does that mean that he can block? That is the problem with a lot of fans right now in Cleveland, and I do it a lot too. Just because 1 thing doesn’t work doesn’t mean the other option is right (i.e. Brady might not be a good starter, thats off topic of this though). Point is, this guy is a good guy, but not a good football player. If Rucker is half of what he is talked up to be, he will blow Royal out of the water. I am not just making this up either (you can check other posts today or look it up yourself, google does wonders).
As for the rest of FA, I am glad we haven’t made a huge splash. I would have liked Greer, but he cost too much for the browns to pay someone who might not start. Who else would anyone want that is also interested in the browns? I like this Lenon guy from DET if he were to come, and they need a safety. I havent heard anything on what Jones is up to, any chance he comes back because there isnt a huge market for him? That is really the only thing they need to address in FA. Maybe they make another trade and get some more picks, because that would certainly help out. (Note- on espn afc north blog James Walker has a post on who might be traded for the browns… DA and Brady both on the list)
Now for the Draft. I am hoping for linebackers, at least 2, on day 1. The perfect scenario I would say is having Curry fall to us at 5, then perhaps getting Matthews Jr. or maybe little animal will fall to us in the second. I personally think Kansas City set themselves up to get Curry at 3, and so the browns need to find another guy. I dont know about Raji because he is a DT, and we have Big Baby there. I am not huge on Everette Brown there, and I really like Orakpo, but he may be viewed as a stretch too. If Curry isnt there, then ideally there would be a trade, but who would trade up for someone that we don’t want? Also, I could see a RB perhaps with the 51st pick, assuming they go LB LB the first two. The only WR I would like seeing taken if Hakeem Nicks from UNC. If hes there at #5 in the second round he could be a big target with great hands for whoever is throwing to him.
Raji is in the mold of a guy in Ngata that we passed on. I know we have Big Baby, but that’s exactly what he’s been acting like, so how much longer can we really count on him for? Raji is a guy who could probably play end in a 3-4 system and actually get some pass rush going, unlike Corey Williams.
Everette Brown scares me because of Wimbley and plus is he really good enough to play OLB in the 3-4?
Orakpo has NO MOVES, watch his game tape (I Have) he is like Wimbley in that he just wants to run past the tackle. It might work against Alex Boone, but not against NFL talent.
A LOT of people like Maualuga, but now people are saying Cushing and Matthews are better prospects than him, and as I’ve said before here. Why only 72 tackles for a guy who was supposed to play on the best Defense in college football? It’s much harder to game plan against him with a lot of play makers on his D compared to maybe 3 guys on the Wake D and game plan for Aaron Curry. But that’s just with the 5th pick. If it was something like 15 we got Rey, I don’t know that I’d be opposed to that.
I LOVE Hakeem Nicks, I think we’d have to trade back up though. I hope people don’t think we don’t need another WR or someone to catch the ball, because we know we can’t rely on B-Eazy to catch anything.
*Just so everyone knows, I’ve watched tape on all these guys (as much as i could find at least) and these are my opinions from tape and different draft sites I’ve read. nfldraftcountdown.com is a good one.
“Do you know why they call him Eddie Royal with Cheese?”
ummm…. because of the metric system?
/ pulp fiction’d
I like the break down S-Dub. I havent seen a whole lot of tape on these guys, but I can respect all of that. I was looking at Orakpo size and speed, but maybe its more suitable for a 4-3 end position. I share you fear with Brown and have been trying to say the thing about Rey for a while, I don’t think he’s all what everyone is building him to be. If Matthews is in the 2nd, I can see him going to the Browns, but I would rather have Nicks if for some reason he’s there (I can never predict where WRs go, look at last year for an example).
As for Raji, I can see him going to an end spot, and I wouldnt mind that, would help take blocks away, but there still needs to be someone behind him who can tackle.
As exciting and thrilling all the Savage-era hoopla free agency signings were and some even were good for the team, given all the bad juju that happened to almost all said players, leaving us hollow and empty after things went bad, I am quite content this year to sit back and have not too much going down – a few quality role players here and there.
I agree with “mankok” in order to do well in the AFC North we will have to be able to establish the run on a consistent basis. Its very similar to the Big Ten – especially in NE,Ohio you need to be able to run the ball during oct, nov, dec when the weather pretty much forces you to do so.
But Lewis is not getting any younger – more than likely we draft a RB with one of our 2 second round selections.