Video: Browns draft picks Terrance West and Pierre Desir overcome obstacles
May 11, 2014
Johnny Manziel’s workout with the Browns “was a mess”
May 12, 2014 
Who was the “best” pick for the Browns? When I clicked on the latest from Todd McShay, I was completely expecting Justin Gilbert or one of the second-day selections to be given the nod. Johnny Manziel would be the obvious choice, no? Well, McShay felt otherwise.
For starters, the Browns offer a great scheme fit for Manziel in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, given Shanahan’s experience at adapting his playbook for Robert Griffin III in Washington, playing to RG III’s strengths as a mobile quarterback and allowing him to make a smooth transition from a spread college scheme to an NFL offense. But perhaps just as important, they did a great job of managing their first-round draft strategy. They kept the defensive coaching staff happy by getting the cornerback they wanted in Justin Gilbert, and picked up a 2015 first-round pick from the Bills in the process.
No matter where he went, Manziel was going to face a lot of attention, but there will be less pressure on him in Cleveland, given the way everything played out in the draft, than he would likely have faced in most other situations.
For what it’s worth, the two players not named Manziel who I happen to be the most intrigued with? Terrence West and Pierre Desir. Must be the small schools.1
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I’m not shocked to hear that David Griffin is likely to be retained as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ general manager. His biggest enemy would have been Dan Gilbert’s desire to make a splash and hire a name rather than a mind. Having been fortunate enough to speak with Griffin in several one-on-one capacities, I’ve never once left thinking that he could not excel as the GM of an NBA franchise. Had he not been kept in Cleveland, he would have gotten a shot somewhere else—he’s well respected within the analytics community as well as by those who appreciate reasonable conversations around trade time. His predecessor erred mightily with the latter.
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Fans of the whole latenight television landscape may have heard this already, but Larry Wilmore will be taking over for Stephen Colbert. Larry is best known as the “Senior Black Correspondent” on Jon Stewart’s Daily Show. Following in the footsteps of guys like Colbert and John Oliver, Wilmore will be manning the desk for a full show which will be titled Minority Report. Not familiar with his work? Check it out here.
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Want to write forESPN The Magazine? No sweat. All you have to do is gradaute summa cum laude from Yale, land a gig at Fortune right out of school and rack up a litany of awards. (For real though: I love hearing that Sports-focused mags are adding more investigative types. Everyone wins.)
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And just because (it won’t be long before people start tearing him down): Johnny.
- And could Christian Kirksey be Mike Pettine’s new Kiko Alonzo? So many questions. [↩]
18 Comments
Scott, I think you mean Griffin’s “predecessor”.
there will be less pressure on him in Cleveland
He don’t know us very well, do he
http://nwamotherlode.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/bugs-bunny.jpg
How about showing the Josh Gordon gesture, which is the same as Johnny’s but performed at waist level?
[Too soon?]
My bold prediction: Terrence West will have the most auspicious rookie year out of this draft class.
that is reasonable. CBs have a rough learning curve (even guys like Haden and Peterson initially struggled), Bitonio will be ignored if he does his job well, and Manziel may sit the year if Hoyer does his job well enough.
What if I’m a fortune teller? (Thanks!)
😉
http://www.juanelway.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Sprinkle-GIF.gif
had a palms-up version in mind (rolling, not distributing) but aight.
Manziel will either be our best or the worst pick.
I posted this elsewhere, but I have no problem with being redundant all over again . . .
I watched some highlights of West this morning (knowing nothing about him up to that point), and I believe that the Browns might have drafted Carlos Hyde without actually doing so. Kid can play.
what I’m reading implies that this was the one player Farmer was willing to tip his precious board for. Interesting that with receivers he wouldn’t bend for necessity, but even after signing Ben Tate they fell in love. And they might be right.
Totally.
Best I could do.
$hamrok likes West, Terrence!
Reggie Rucker explained it best in that the offense will be taking a new path under Shanahan and it starts with being able to run the ball. Sign Tate, draft Bitoli and draft West = check. Draft no WRs but bring in a slew of smaller quick guys = check. It’s the Washington offense with running the ball a la Alfred Morris then using play fakes, roll outs, misdirection back side throws. Manziel should be smiling.
There are a number of selections to love by Farmer whether it’s Gilbert who I think will show you all just why the Browns made the moves they did and made him the first choice in their draft. But Bitonio and West could be very exciting. Manziel will garner all the attention just as he already has but he’s the easy lazy choice. The one thing I like is while all the focus will be on him these other guys can come in and just play football. Even Gilbert who like I said prior was their first selection not Manziel.
To the point that the coaches from Towson were so confident they’d get him that they wore Towson shirts to the second day of the draft. They must love this guy.
Have to say I’m excited about Gilbert if only because I dream of a redux of Dixon/Minnifield. I didn’t know how good I had it watching those two back in the day.