How will Jim Thome, Omar Vizquel fare in Hall of Fame voting?
January 19, 2017Kyle Korver and the LeBron James Experience
January 19, 2017Why let the MSM sites have all the fun? While WFNY will continue to bring you headlines demonstrating what many of the industry leaders believe the Cleveland Browns will do in the 2017 NFL Draft, a new series of articles is being created to go more in depth about the different strategies the Browns might take in the first two rounds of the draft.
The MSM mock from this week highlighted CBS Sports Rob Rang where he gave the Browns Myles Garrett with the No. 1 overall pick and Teez Tabor with the No. 12 pick. While he did not give a second round to his selections, the emphasis was obviously on providing help on the defensive side for the newly hired Gregg Williams.
WFNY will see how else the Browns might utilize this defense-first strategy.
The Rules
- No trades unless the strategy is specifically geared around trades.
- Demonstrate multiple options at each pick within the confines of the strategy.
- Use a MSM Big Board to demonstrate feasibility of picks.
- Select picks at the Browns four picks in Round 1 and Round 2.
The Draft Strategy
There is a significant thought that it is more important for a NFL team to be elite at one thing in order to be consistently successful (while not being terrible at anything). The Atlanta Falcons are demonstrating how an elite offense can mask an average defense. The Chiefs have shown the past few years how an elite defense can mask an average offense.
In order for a defense-first strategy to work for the Browns in 2017, they will need to dip into some of the $50 million in rollover cap room available to help the offense. In total, the Browns have over $107 million in cap room available for 2017 before potential cost-cutting moves such as re-adjusting the contract of cornerback Joe Haden.
The Browns can start utilizing that money to re-sign linebacker Jamie Collins and wide receiver Terrelle Pryor.
The free agent market happens to be unusually strong with many starter-quality players that will be testing the market unless their teams come to terms with them before March. The Browns could boost their offensive line with signings such as J.C. Tretter (Green Bay center), Kevin Zeitler (Cincinnati Bengals guard), and/or Ricky Wagner (Baltimore Ravens tackle). Signing wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey might be too difficult a task, but there are other pass-catchers such as Kenny Britt who can add experience to the Browns there.
The key to the strategy is that the Buffalo Bills are expected to cut quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who the Browns could add as an immediate upgrade without sacrificing draft assets.
The Picks
WFNY Mock is sticking with CBS Sports for the big board this week. The selections below were all available at each spot.
No. 1 DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
Garrett is the consensus No. 1 overall pick in this draft. There are no other options as the quarterback class is weaker than usual at the top. Jonathan Allen, Malik Hooker, and Jamal Adams are all fine players, but Garrett is an elite disruptor.
No. 12 S Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
Defensive co-ordinator Gregg Williams does not run a true 4-3 or 3-4. He will mix-and-match his defenses on the fly and even allow his linebackers to call defensive audibles based on offensive formation. Having a versatile player such as Peppers would allow him to shift between multiple looks in those audibles without having to change the player package on the field.
Alternate selections:
CB Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State
No. 33 DT Caleb Brantley, Florida
One option might be for the Browns to select McMillan from the Buckeyes. He is an inside linebacker who would allow Williams to have Christian Kirksey and Collins play the outside spots. The only issue is that he would not be the flexible-fit that other players could be and it might be a bit of a luxury to pick him given the other players on the board.
The Browns have a solid 1-technique defensive tackle in Danny Shelton. Des Bryant is supposed to be their 3-technique tackle, but there are concerns about him being a consistent contributor. So, enter Caleb Brantley who will allow the Browns to have the needed depth to the inside of the defensive line. Bryant is incredibly quick who should thrive as a gap-shooting tackle in William’s scheme.
Alternate selections:
ILB Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State
DE DeMarcus Walker, FSU
CB Tre’Davious White, LSU
No. 52 CB Jourdan Lewis, Michigan
Having Budda Baker available at this pick is tempting. However, adding Jabrill Peppers at safety above means there is more need at cornerback and two players who fit well there too. The 2017 NFL Draft is just absolutely loaded with defensive back talent.
Speaking of tempting, Adoree Jackson is an all-everything type talent. He can return kicks, help on offense, as well as move around in the secondary. He is the type of versatile athlete that the Browns should love to have on their team. The problem is that if the Browns want him at cornerback, then they would be playing into his weakness. Jackson is more of a zone corner who might even move to free safety in the NFL.
The consolation prize is incredible. Lewis is expected to drop in the draft due to his limited size at 5-foot-11 and 176 pounds, but his talent is undeniable. He is the draft’s best cover corner, who fits the Williams press scheme perfectly. His size can hurt him as a run supporter, but Lewis carries a bit of that Skrine-style scrappiness. The Browns would have to be careful about his match ups (Andy Dalton to A.J. Green jump balls would destroy him), but Lewis can stay with any receiver with great footwork and hip movement.
Alternate selections:
S Budda Baker, Washington
CB Adoree Jackson, USC
FS Marcus Williams, Utah
Last Word
It is doubtful the Browns would utilize their first four picks on defense, but careful planning and execution during free agency could allow them to take advantage of a deep defensive draft. A defense adding Garrett, Peppers, Bryant, and Lewis could make huge leaps towards respectability in 2017.
162 Comments
Precisely what I mean. Not really sure how two or three 60-year-old men with nothing better to do with their lives get to define the face of a whole fanbase. But I guess the alternative is to let the angry fanboys you constantly tweet threats to Mark May do it. Either way, we’ve got some pretty questionable company in our company.
Love these potential picks. If we can sign 2 OL free agents of those you listed, then we are in business. A very stout defense can hide many problems with the O. Giving your O consistently good field position will make a world of difference. Since this is not a 1 or 2 year rebuild, we can always get our QB and some offensive playmakers in 18. Denver won it all last year with a great defense and average O.
But still, sometimes . . .
http://media.giphy.com/media/zsg9Adj13Dh2E/giphy.gif
Just need to keep the mantra . . .
http://31.media.tumblr.com/00a3f1e08ec072a9d69496c6d1fb8c84/tumblr_mk85lgp3q91raqb19o6_250.gif
In the Winslow draft, when they traded their 2nd to move up one spot, they passed on Roethlisberger. Browns fan I work with said at the time that he’d be a HOF type QB. Of course, he’d gone to Miami U too, and also once said Travis Prentice would be a HOF RB, so…
Me right now
http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/alonzo-mourning-heat-upset-then-realization.gif
Must be something in our water…
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/87d5554e1018fb63df058c25fca1b4a0de99f6f6c2c98bbd410d5fd7048b7a2a.jpg
but he’s a winner.
Sort of a weak class of OL and C is no exception but I agree Pocic is better.
I mean, I picked two UM players in those 4 picks – I’m not a big fan of having those colors as the feature image either but I poured some out for Leroy Hoard & Steve Everitt to put it in there.
Steve Everitt…swooon!
one of my all-time favorite Browns
I can’t remember who credit should go to.
B-bo? Scripty? Swig? Saggy?
I don’t feel like he “loafed” it so much (other than his business decision NOT to block the PSU KickerTank and let Lewis get lit up on a meaningless kick return).
Peppers’ biggest issue, to my UM fan eyes at least, is that I’m not sure he’s got NFL cover ability. His instincts, football IQ, and athleticism are off the charts. He’s the perfect size to be a lights-out strong safety, and is smart enough to play close to the line and avoid blocks from bigger players… but if NFL offenses scheme for him to cover man-to-man a lot, that’s going to be where he struggles.
I think that his ability to play in the return game is a huge asset as well.
RGB, I’m curious about some examples where you thought he was protecting the franchise. I never felt like he took plays off or dogged it (a la, say Clowney in his junior year at SC).
Sure is. And if the Browns see him as the best QB in the draft worth taking with their SECOND pick, I’ll be okay. Just. Not. #1.
A “lousy” tackler? Please show your work. As someone who’s watched every collegiate game he played, I never once came away with that perception.
Shoot, the last two seasons teams almost avoiding throwing tunnel and bubble screens entirely because he would literally blow them up each and every time.
my college suitemate was from Dallas. Hated him. Hate the Cowboys. He also loved the Chicago Blackhawks for some reason so I hate them, too.
Having gone to school in Atlanta, plus living there for another 4 years, including their Dirty Bird Super Bowl run, I’m a Falcons guy in the NFC.
I still think the mysterious pulled hammy was fake. The timing was just too pefect.
And since soft-tissue injuries are nearly impossible to disprove, I have no other fallback other than my own cynicism.
And G_O’s sources…
I’m the one the raised this the most. I always saw it on special teams, and it happened quite a bit in that context. My boss, who has a daughter playing field hockey at UM, attended a handful of games in Ann Arbor this year, and he’s the one the clued me into it. He watched the guy really closely, which caused me to do so. You mentioned the Penn State play. There were others – one other kickoff return in particular, but I can’t recall the team (Maryland, maybe?).
Granted, in the NFL, he might not be playing ST much – but he might. It may be nothing.
not saying you’re wrong, but you’ll need to come at me with evidence of NON-special-teams play. Everyone knows ST is where you go to get blindsided, so I can understand why he’d be apprehensive. THAT being said, why the heck was he on special teams to begin with??
I can’t remember, either. I tried to search for the comment, but that’s like looking for a needle in a stack of needles. For some reason, I was thinking Harv or PorckChopExpress (pours out some water), but it could have been any of those genius guys.
Will the real owner please stand up?
My point was to reply to your argument about Landon Collins being the 33rd pick.
Cannot remember either but did find this gem of a post in my search (back in the early days of Mingo when we were thinking “hey, if he can learn how to use that speed”):
https://waitingfornextyear.com/2013/09/cleveland-browns-film-room-game-three-pressure/
(Yes, Rick Grayshock is the writer)
“but I’ve seen him take a lot of bad angles”
No, you haven’t. Again, I’ve watched literally every college game he’s ever played. Maybe there are some times he took questionable angles and his athleticism more than made up for it, but you’ll have to show me some specific examples where someone got the corner on him due to him being outrun or having whiffed a tackle.
Do you think this is easily searchable? While I have/had/still have my issues with Mingo (and Barkevious, Jr: Mr. Nate Orchard) I am not sure I can take credit for that. But I will if you want me to….
I’m running a search on the backend Disqus database. Not sure if it will work.
My jury’s out. That said, I’m not hanging “took plays off” on him for skipping a bowl game right before his draft, especially when a couple of other high-profile players did the same.
No doubt he saw Jake Butt tear his ACL, just like I did.
I think Taco is a late-bloomer, and I’d have no problem finding him in Brown and Orange. But I don’t think I’d take him as an early 2nd rounder, but I also don’t think he’s there in the 3rd. I do, however, think this situation is exactly what the blueprint for the Browns should be: use later picks to trade up for talent.
No more 5th rounders. We have 60 5th rounders on the team already. Package those late picks and take TALENT instead of POTENTIAL.
If he faked the hamstring, then he went all out. They showed video of him limping through warmups, in the locker room, etc. — he really “sold it” if that was the case
For real, I need to know where this meme that Peppers is a bad tackler came from.
I’m not saying we need him at #12, and in fact I’m wary that he can cover well enough to play in the secondary in the NFL, but he’s never struck me as a guy afraid of contact or as a bad overall tackler.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/68babc42bba5f1cee735cd30f9acddc133811584c7be8e3d055b99e3feb8e765.jpg
Right. I think this is fair. It was ST. I watched him on regular defensive plays, and didn’t see much of it, apart from avoiding some monster blocks on occasion (but I think most guys will do that from time to time).
He was on ST primarily as a KR. When he got the ball (GLORY!) he was all 100% in; when the other guy got it, he was looking for his own sideline.
I think that’s it! nj0 it is!
In a couple of games, I remember seeing what looked like a bad angle or two, but then I realized that he was coming from the entire other side of the field, or from the offensive backfield. Kind of like, “holy s#!t, how did he get over there?” Doesn’t count. I never saw truly bad pursuit angles.
Ok. I never said he’s afraid of contact. Didn’t even say “bad” tackler, I said suspect (adj.,not to be relied on or trusted) and even admitted that was a tad harsh. And there is no meme. This is an opinion I made from watching him play 5-6 games and really wanting to fall in love with the idea of picking him, but couldn’t get over the fact that a lot of those tackles would be broken on Sundays.
When I said suspect, I was highlighting the fact that a lot of his tackles came in the form of big hits, bad angles, going too high or not wrapping up. All were nice plays he made, but would not be considered “form tackling”. Again, this isn’t a huge issue, just something that will need some refining at the next level. With his instincts, that shouldn’t be a problem. And yes, coverage is certainly something to keep an eye on
Since moving to Savannah, I’ve been sucked into giving a crap about the Falcons.
http://www.freaksugar.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/02-forthehomies.gif
Sure. George Washington is one of my all-time favorite Presidents.
Not me, but damn I wish it was. Classic.
sorry for the late uptick. As many know, any disparagement of Mingo gets an uptick from me.
I did find this one:
mgrace74 crobarred • a year ago
Mingo also took a bad angle to Mariotta on a 3rd and 3 that was easily converted given that Mingo was the only one who could stop him, should have had an easy sack, but ran to where Mariotta was instead of where he was going. I’m getting tired of seeing Mingo’s speed to where the QB or RB was.
Sorry, Jaker, when I said “meme” I was referring to your comment *in addition to* the two other additional comment threads here that said his tackling was “lousy” and that he protected the franchise too much. I just haven’t seen that, both via my own eye test or from metrics from stat-heads. I also watched all of his games and don’t buy the “bad angles” aspect that people are putting on him. As G_O noted above, a lot of the time he appears to be chasing a play he’s coming from the entire other side of the field.
At any rate, I wasn’t meaning to lay that all at your feet.
Why is a San Diego paper still covering the NFL?
No worries. Yea I’m reading some of the other comments now and just realizing what you are talking about… I did however just check out all his defensive snaps vs Iowa, Penn state and colorado this season and while your take on his “bad angles” makes sense, I do stand by my statements on wrapping up and form tackling. There are just a lot of examples in those 3 games alone of him only using his shoulder on a tackle rather than wrapping up… But he has shown that he can be a good tackler as well. I guess my issue here is his consistency.
With ALL of this being said, previous comments included, I’d be happy to see him in an orange helmet. I just would have others ahead of him at 12.
And consistency is a fair concern. I should reiterate: I’m not here to advocate that he’s the second coming of Ronnie Lott or anything, or that we should take him #12.
Definitely one of his strengths in college was his ability to diagnose and then use his athleticism to beat/shed blocks and arrive at the ball-carrier. And, UM’s d-line and secondary were good enough that there was almost always going to be help arriving as well. That said, he’s not going to tackle like a true linebacker.
Yay! Mutual Understanding! https://m.popkey.co/9b305c/y6wJ7.gif
I guess it’s not a missed tackle if you dive at ankles and whiff.
I’d agree 100% on him busting up and smelling out screens. Look, my qualms with him are him moving to SS (remember, a guy like Landon Collins played in the secondary for 3 years), and me not feeling SS/WiLB is where we want to invest at #12.
If he’s taken at 33 I could stomach it (although I’d rather go CB as I think that pool is better at that spot).
If somebody’s position that the WiLB/SS hybrid role is some must-have to defend the Offenses of 2017+, well, I wouldn’t wholeheartedly agree but I wouldn’t say that’s outrageous. I’ve read and heard much worse but at least that’d have some merit.
**I may have too high expectations for what we can get at 12.
I would not say “must have” but that hybrid role helps if a DC is willing to utilize it properly.
We disagree on the value of the versatility, which is a common thing going with Peppers. Will be fun to see how he is used in the NFL (unless he ends up on Pitt).
Love Matty Ice – hope they win the whole thing this year.