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March 17, 2009The 5-Hole – Blue Jackets News and Notes: 3/17/09
March 17, 2009
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While the Browns have been signing a lot of players for depth, they lost one of their depth pieces in the offensive backfield. Jason Wright has signed on with the Arizona Cardinals. The word from John Clayton is that Wright will be expected to back up Tim Hightower in addition to potentially being a third down back this season. Clayton goes on to say that Wright will be expected to handle maybe 5-6 carries per game. Edgerrin James is still expected to be released when and if the Cards can find a suitable replacement for him. Apparently Wright won’t carry that much of a load.
So what does this mean for the Browns’ running back situation? While I don’t think anyone is going to bemoan the loss of Jason Wright and his production, he still was a relatively effective insurance policy. Now the Browns are left with Jamal Lewis, Jerome Harrison, and some guy named Allen Patrick who rushed for 1009 yards at Oklahoma in 2007 and spent all of last season on the practice squad. I guess you also have Charles Ali and Lawrence Vickers. Oh, and maybe Josh Cribbs for a few carries per game.
Sounds to me like the Browns are going to have to spend at least one draft pick on a running back. Either that, or they will have to be extra active looking at undrafted free agents who possess the athleticism and ability to become NFL runners. At the running back position, it isn’t impossible, but then again, it isn’t easy either. Of course, maybe the Browns will also use one of their second round picks on a running back. It just gets a bit scary when you are so thin at both wide receiver and running back.
While this draft isn’t seemingly loaded with running backs, that might actually work out in the Browns’ favor with their second round picks. Most mock drafts only have a couple of running backs going in the first round. That means that the Browns could be able to get one of the top 5 runners available in the draft should they decide to use their second round pick. Combine that with the questionable value of anyone in the draft due to hype, and you might get a real diamond in the rough that wasn’t able to achieve sexy combine statistics. Not all great football players achieved those great stats at the combine. Still, this is a situation to keep an eye on as the Browns will need answers.
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18 Comments
Is Curtis Martin available?
Sorry to see him go. Good luck in the desert, JW
RB is the most replacable position in football. All Wright did was keep Harrison on the bench. It is so rare that there are exceptionally talented and productive RB’s I will never understand drafting them so early. Almost all RBs’ sucsess is a product of the system and the offensive line. Not to mention their short career life expectancy, and the trend of the 2 back system recently.
There go our Super Bowl chances…
Randy? You ok?
the ghost needs 10-15 carries this year!!!! play the ghost!!!!
Harv….ya miss me?!
As Rock King noted in regards to backup tightends, Jason Wrights are a dime a dozen, if not a nickle. He was nothing more than a pet of the prior coach.
I am sorry to see Jason go. I always liked him. But I can only hope now that this means more carries for Jerome Harrison.
Isn’t there a 31 year old backup RB on the Jets roster we can sign?
I think Thomas Jones might be on the last year of his contract… so theres hope for next year to get a Jet if nothing else.
The best free agent RB’s available at this point
Darren Sproles (Not really available – Franchise tag)
Warrick Dunn
Deuce McCallister
Ahman Green
Deshaun Foster
Rudi Johnson
Michael Pittman
Dominic Rhodes
Tatum Bell
Nick Goings
Reuben Droughns
Aaron Stecker
Noah Herron
Jesse Chatman
Travis Minor
Maurice Hicks
Sorry. No Jets RBs out there.
Nick Goings!!! Actually is there any difference between Vickers and J-Lew? I don’t see much.
Whomever the RB we get, he better be able to tackle on special teams. Because that guy is going to get a dose of that….
I would love to see the Browns pick up Pat White in the draft. Yes, as a RB. Then we would see some excitement!
Browns sign John St. Clair to a 3 year $9 million dollar contract
sounds like an over pay but only $600,000 of it is guaranteed so that’s not really an awful deal if he ends up just marginal
Hopefully this regime is leaving out awful signing bonuses
Anyone know who the browns have now for the OL. My list is:
Joe Thomas
Eric Steinbach
Hank Fraley
Floyd “porkchop” Womack
John St. Clair
Is there any depth? will Tucker, McKinney, and Hadnot be back?
O, and also, Elam was signed by the Jets, so there goes one legit player that they signed, and increases our need to find a safety even more.
[…] back-up running back Wright agreeing to terms with the Arizona Cardinals, the Browns have signed former seventh-round selection Noah Herron. […]