Willie McGinest Could Return…
January 19, 2010More Reasons To Despise Braylon Edwards
January 19, 2010Now that The Big Show Mike Holmgren has shored up his front office roster, it’s time for him–and for us–to look at the team’s roster. We’ve borrowed from the Department of Homeland Security and will be looking at each position group day by day, finishing with a roster upgrade ranking based on need. Check back each day this week for a new position group. Previous Reports: RB
One of the first things that Mike Holmgren said his group would need to do was evaluate the roster, the coaching staff, the hot dog vendors- in short everything. Then they would make decisions. We here at WFNY agree. Take the time to evaluate what you have. (Josh Cribbs will still be there in a month.) Then start making decisions to turn this franchise around. We would like to offer our assistance. That’s the premise behind the Holmgren Report. Today, the offensive line.
The 2009 season–
Your starters- Joe Thomas, Eric Steinbach, Alex Mack, Floyd Womack, John St.Clair. Also seeing significant time- Hank Fraley and Rex Hadnot.
This group did make progress. Let’s be honest though, it would have been hard for this group to step backwards after the way they started the season. From the first game Cleveland had trouble protecting the quarterback and opening holes for the running game. Obviously, by the end of the season, the group was doing a pretty good job of run blocking.
Joe Thomas is going to the Pro Bowl again. He deserves it. I was kind of surprised with last year’s selection, but this year I felt he played better. He is the cornerstone of the offense for the foreseeable future. Steinbach still gets pushed around by big DTs. I would love to see him try and add a little weight. His contract is for a Pro Bowl level guard (some would argue more for a Pro Bowl level tackle) however, and Steinbach just isn’t showing that kind of play. I’m not suggesting that the Browns just up and get rid of him, but his contract could be a hindrance to signing other players down the road. Rookie Alex Mack sure has enjoyed some kind words about his play down the stretch. Mack certainly has improved throughout the season (as you would expect a rookie to do) but I’m not going to pronounce him a future Pro Bowler just yet.
The right side of the line was a disaster for the majority of the season. Newly acquired Womack and St. Clair did not impress. I wrote this following week 1-
I am concerned about St. Clair. It doesn’t appear to me that we have solved the right tackle problem at all. I hope that I am wrong, but it seems like our new tackle is a lot like the old one (Shaffer) in that he will struggle against the speed rush from the edge.
Yep. Concern is an understatement. St. Clair got beat every way imaginable this season. Speed rushes, double moves, spins. You name it. He is a much better run blocker than pass protector. I will give him credit for running downfield and making blocks fifteen yards away from the line during Harrison’s magical game. But that alone isn’t enough to give him the starting spot on this team.
Overall, I would have to grade this unit out to a C- for the season. You just can’t ignore the body of work before the winning streak. If the Browns are to be successful running the ball next year, they will have to improve on up the middle runs. Given more time, I think defenses would concentrate on cutting off the outside runs, which is where the Browns had the most success at the end of the season. Pushing defenders off the ball is still not an area of strength for this group.
Contract Situation-
Joe Thomas 2010: $4.7 million, 2011: $8 million, 2012: $2.23 million (Voidable Year), 2013: Free Agent
Eric Steinbach 2010: $5.75 million, 2011: $6.25 million, 2012: $6 million, 2013: $6.25 million, 2014: Free Agent
Alex Mack Signed a five-year, $12.2 million rookie contract. The deal contains $8.3 million guaranteed, including an undisclosed option bonus. Another $2.8 million is available through incentives. 2009-2013: Under Contract, 2014: Free Agent
Rex Hadnot Free Agent
Floyd Womack 2010: $755,000, 2011: Free Agent
John St. Clair Signed a three-year, $9.1 million contract. The deal includes $1.25 million guaranteed. 2009-2011: Under Contract, 2012: Free Agent
Hank Fraley 2010: $1.63 million, 2011: Free Agent
Browns Roster Upgrade Advisory- Elevated.
Hank Fraley may be an adequate right guard, and Womack is worth keeping for depth purposes. I’m really not a fan of St. Clair’s work. I would make right tackle a decent priority if I were Holmgren. Conventional wisdom says you don’t draft a right tackle. Let’s be unconventional. I’m not saying draft a tackle in the first round, but I would certainly identify someone for the third through fifth round that you like. Otherwise, we’ll be bringing in yet another discarded tackle. You don’t want to make the offensive line a patch-work position every year. It just doesn’t work. Since Fraley and Womack are both free agents after this season I would say finding a guard in the draft would be a wise move.
2010 Free Agents-
Jahri Evans, New Orleans Saints
Logan Mankins, New England Patriots
Marcus McNeill, San Diego Chargers
Willie Colon, Pittsburgh Steelers
Donald Penn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Daryn Colledge, Green Bay Packers
Chad Clifton, Green Bay Packers
Eugene Amano, Tennessee Titans
David Baas, San Francisco 49ers
Khalif Barnes, Oakland Raiders
Alex Barron, St. Louis Rams
Mike Brisiel, Houston Texans
Nick Cole, Philadelphia Eagles
Ryan Cook, Minnesota Vikings
Tyson Clabo, Atlanta Falcons
Harvey Dahl, Atlanta Falcons
Mike Gandy, Arizona Cardinals
Cornell Green, Oakland Raiders
Ben Hamilton, Denver Broncos
Justin Hartwig, Pittsburgh Steelers
Lots of tackles in this group, including some who have been left tackles like Marcus McNeil, Donald Penn and Daryn Colledge. Evans is the best of this bunch in this writer’s opinion but will most certainly get offered a new deal by the Saints. The Browns could always try the best of both worlds approach by signing away Colon or Hartwig from the Steelers.
Here are the top linemen in the draft-
Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
Anthony Davis, Rutgers
Bryan Bulaga, Iowa
Trent Williams, Oklahoma
Bruce Campbell, Maryland
Vladimir Ducasse, UMASS-Amherst
Kiper has Okung as the 7th best player in the draft. The Browns pick 7th. The math works no? Actually, while I would love the idea of having two top ten picks at the tackle spot, it makes little sense from a financial standpoint to tie up so much money in your offensive line. Thomas, Steinbach and Mack are paid like first rounders already. Now if a guy like Campbell was around when the Browns pick in the second I might have to consider it. Ducasse is the top guard in the draft, but didn’t play against top notch competition. He would be a bit of a gamble. Certainly worth the risk later in the draft.
So there you have it. My take: we need to shore up the right side, while adding a player to learn the guard position for the future.
(Thanks to Rotoworld.com for the contract info.)
27 Comments
Definitely use $$$$ via free agency on the right side of the offensive line without a doubt especially at RT. The Browns have used a pair of first round picks at LT and C that is enough they got Steinbach via free agency and that is how they should proceed again this summer for the right side. Save the draft picks for defense where I believe it is far easier to evaluate college talent and/or trades. I’d contact Arizona to see what they’d want for WR Anquan Boldin if I were in the front office.
I’m going to go ahead and agree with the Turnstile St.Clair assessments I’ve seen as well as the idea of picking up a guard in one of the mid to later rounds. We cant keep eating everyone else’s table scraps and be a healthy animal.
Good call on using the $$$. Dont have to waste draft picks if you’re willing to not get crappy FAs. Attracting proven talent is always wiser.
Good article, but I’d put the line at a B-. Things really started to come together when the light came on for Mack. We definitely need a right tackle but I’m not sure how to go about getting one.
Not sure why you’d want to take Willie Colon from the Steelers. That line is horrendous.
Thats the thing I dont get when we signed guys like St. Clair and Womack. Did we really think they would be long term solutions? I didnt. If the Browns saw them as stop gaps, then why didnt we draft a lineman in later rounds to develop to become the solutions? I guess what I am getting at is draft a lineman in the middle rounds and find a better short term fill in through FA if that is possible.
I don’t understand why RT is so underestimated in this league. Too much is made of the strong-side vs. weak-side aspect. Many teams move their pass-rushers to both sides. You need a good protector on the right as well. I can understand maybe not a 1st-rounder (unless the Browns want the league’s most expensive OL), but maybe even a #2. Don’t wait until the later rounds. No Kirk Chambers-esque picks.
want to bang this drum one more time: take note of the Jets’ success. Five of their six o-linemen are 1st round picks (ferguson, faneca, woody, mangold, and keller(TE)).
o-line is usually a safe investment. i think bookend tackles would provide the greatest immediate improvement (okung over stclair??! please.) as well as stabilize for long term.
the threat level for the unit is accurate but if you rate the individual position, right tackle is the single greatest need on the team. (imo, of course.)
Left Tackle should come out of the draft.
If we can get the best tackle at 7 you do it.
You would have the Tackles and Center locked down for 8-10 years if you do that.
Guards are interchangeable. Who’s are the best 5 guards in the NFL now?
No one talks about guards because tackle and center are the most important.
Agreed that this should be a B- or B. JT is All-pro! How can the unit be C-?
Best 5 guards off the top of my head are Hutchinson, Faneca, Mankins, Andrews, and, I dunno, Snee? I think they’re less anonymous than you claim.
No way you take an OL at #7; too many other needs.
Just to play devil’s advocate: why not draft an OL high? I mean: if there is an OL that’s worth taking, we have had some luck in that department. With Thomas and Mack as high draft picks, why not tempt fate?
@jimkanicki: You’re right that 5/6 Jets offensive lineman were first round picks, but you have to look at the way the Jets acquired them. Ferguson and Mangold were the Jets 1st round picks, much like Thomas and Mack for us. However, Faneca and Woody were signed as free agents. We’ll call Steinbach our Faneca and Woody was labeled a bust on his way out of New England. The Jets moved him to guard and he has worked out. I have heard that Fraley could work as a guard, so there could be an adequate comparison to Woody, as well…
I will agree with you that we need to invest a high draft pick in a tight end, though – and especially if we keep Brady Quinn at QB. Two years ago, when Quinn replaced Anderson and actually looked good, he relied heavily on Kellen Winslow. Give Brady his security blanket!!
I think the Browns will address the right side of the offensive line via free agency. The first pick needs to be a defensive back – either Eric Berry (likely gone by #7) or (my preference) Joe Haden. We will continue to add depth on the defensive side of the ball with our other early draft picks. The wide receiver situation will be addressed via free agency or trade.
It will definitely be an exciting offseason for the Browns! I can’t wait to see what the new braintrust does….
Granted, I’ve only seen one game Eric Berry played and it was his bowl game, but he was completely invisible in that game. He allowed several long pass plays and was a complete non-factor. I think I’d rather let someone else pick up Berry and get ourselves Joe Haden.
I’m definitely okay with picking up Russell Okung at the #7 pick. Offensive line is so terribly underrated in the NFL. We definitely need to spend at least one round 2 or 3 pick on a tackle.
When do we talk hot-dog vendors?
@Mark,
I understand not drafting for the right side last year. St. Clair and Womack were probably seen as solid stop gaps. St. Clair got a 3 year deal and his previous play in Chicago probably warranted it, although we all saw how he played this year. Like you, I hope they address the future of RT sooner rather than later.
@ Vengeful – Berry was the only reason that Tennessee was in a close game with UF. He was an absolute BEAST in that game. If he’s still available I will be very sad if the Browns don’t pick him up.
Is it just me or does anyone else not expect a lot of FAs? Does anyone seriously think we can compete for the Super Bowl next year? I just dont see them spending money on big name guys. Could there be some trades? yes. But I highly doubt we see a significant player picked up this offseason.
Now to the post. I do not want a RT at #7. I would like to see Berry or Haden primarily, but would not be opposed to McClain. I would like a RT either in the 2nd, or 3rd. If theres a guy they like at the end of round 1, then I wouldnt be opposed to trading our 2nd and 5th (or something like that) to go get them. Theres plenty of guys who are selected end of 1st-3rd rounds who start effectively at RT their first year. For depth in the OL we can use our later picks to get someone to ‘groom’ to be a starter in maybe 2 years or so.
@bobby,
I think you are on to something. My understanding is that quite a few of the free agents this year are restricted. Don’t you have to give up picks to sign a restricted free agent? If that’s the case, I think it makes signing FA’s even less likely.
The other thing about FAs is that if it’s truly an uncapped year, dingbats like Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder will go all Steinbrenner on us and sign all of the good players to ridiculous contracts that the Browns can’t–or at least shouldn’t–match.
Okung will be gone by 7. Berry may be there if Seattle does not take him. Browns will pick Hayden if Berry and Bradford not there. Take Ciron Black if there at 2. He plays G and RT.
Def agree with everyone that st.clair has to go. Was it me or did it seem like he at least 2 penalties a game? Agree with everyone regarding getting a filler right tackle via FA. As far as the draft, if Berry is there (which he won’t be) need to snag him. Hes a game changer on the defensive side something we have not had in, well, forever. If hes not there gotta pick up Haden. If I see mccdonald get burnt one more time I’ll have to hide the kitchen knives. In the later rounds (2nd-4th) pick up the best right tackle on the board.
Also, if the option was there what do you guys think about trading down and maybe picking up rolando mcclain. I think that dude is a stud.
LT Thomas
LG Steinbach
C Mack
RG Fraley
RT Hadnot
There is a ton of great talent later in the draft this year for offensive lineman. In my mock draft I have the Browns taking RT Sam Young in the 3rd round, LG John Jerry in the 4th, and RG Brandon Carter in the 6th round, moving back to his original position. No need to tie up money for free agncy in our line, especially when we found a great combination at the end of the year. Bring in these 3 rookies to fill in after this year and our line will be awesome. Plus they will all come cheap being later picks.
Hadnot at RT? Surely you jest…
I would like to see a free agent pickup of Nick Cole from the Eagles. Heckert will know all about him from his time in Philly. I remember him as a rookie 3 years ago blowing out the Browns DL in an exhibition game as an undrafted free agent. He seemed nasty and has stuck with the Eagles for 3 years now and backed up at center from his natural position at guard. At 6 foot 350, he would look really good lining up next to Mack at center and whomever we draft to play Right Tackle. Go Browns
[…] Now that The Big Show Mike Holmgren has shored up his front office roster, it’s time for him–and for us–to look at the team’s roster. We’ve borrowed from the Department of Homeland Security and will be looking at each position group day by day, finishing with a roster upgrade ranking based on need. Check back each day this week for a new position group. Previous reports: RB, OL […]
[…] based on need. Check back each day this week for a new position group. Previous Reports: RB, OL, WR/TE, QB, […]
[…] Report: Special Teams Holmgren Report: Quarterback Holmgren Report: Wide Receivers/Tight Ends Holmgren Report: The Offensive Line Holmgren Report: Running […]
[…] The rest of the season did little to change that point of view. St. Clair earned the dubious nickname of “The Turnstile” from me, which in case you are wondering is not good for an offensive lineman. In our “Holmgren reports” during the winter I implored the Browns to make a move at the RT spot- […]