Cavaliers Face Mirror Image of Self in Utah
January 10, 2012MLB Rumor: Bud Selig Will Be Offered Extension For Commissioner’s Post
January 10, 2012Though it would have been a more substantial surprise had he opted for the alternative, Baylor quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III has declared for the 2012 NFL Draft.
Griffin, on Tuesday, reportedly informed his head coach Art Briles of his decision. The quarterback, and likely top-five selection this spring, has yet to hire an agent though a decision on this matter is expected as early as Tuesday evening.
In 41 games at Baylor, Griffin has completed 800 of 1,192 passes (67 percent) for 10,366 yards. He amassed 78 touchdowns and 17 interception while running for 2,254 yards and 33 TDs.
The Cleveland Browns, given their fourth-overall selection in the 2012 NFL Draft and a relative question mark surrounding the quarterback position, are among the teams in the discussion to be a suitor for Grffin’s services.
[Related: What Would it Cost for Matt Flynn if He is Franchised?]
(Source: Chris Mortensen, ESPN)
28 Comments
Would this be the type of QB needed to run the WCO? I will take him if he has the passion and desire to play hard and win games. I am tired of these soft PC guys who are afraid to do anything. If he is the Browns selection at 4 though, do they go WR or RT with the 2nd pick? What are the 2nd round chances with these positions? This still would leave a lot of holes and unanswered questions.
I’m curiuos what the fan reaction would be if the Browns did nothing to upgrade the QB spot? No RG3, no Flynn, no Kolb, no Tanneyhill. Would the fans go nuts? I know it’s difficult to have a monolithic “fan” response but there is so much chatter out there assuming the Browns will do SOMETHING at QB. I ask because I’ve been assuming it myself. I honestly have no idea what the will or should do.
I dont envy Holmgren or Heckert right now.
to be honest, that would be hilarious.
i’d add that drafting a guy like Foles or Case Keenum in the 4th/5th round just to complicate things a tad further would send the local media over the edge
This is excellent news. RG’s availability greatly expands our draft-day options. I don’t want him, but I do like that fact that this might mean that one less stud will be drafted in the top 3 and that QB-desperate teams might be willing to trade us the farm for him.
I meant to respond to something you posted a few days ago but I never got a chance too…anyways…I liked your proposal of signing Flynn and adding some of the guys you suggested in the draft (names slip my mind right now). I think it’s my preferred strategy right now.
Pass.
RGIII’s intelligence intrigues me. I like the fact that he has a brain to complement his physical skills.
Given that Luck and Blackmon will most likely be gone, he seems to be the “best player available” at our draft spot. I think drafting Richardson would be a mistake. Who else justifies the #4 selection for a solid defensive team desperately lacking dynamic offensive players?
A team without a QB is like a mouse running on a wheel. Until we have that guy, this team will continue to run in place, and that is no fun to watch. The QB’s available in trade or FA don’t appear to be much better options than Colt, and could cost a lot. Luck is presumably unattainable. Tannenhill will probably go much higher than we’d care to take him, and then he’d be a major long term project considering he has relatively little experience as a QB (he converted from WR). That leaves RG3 as our best hope to solve the QB puzzle this year. A successful offense must revolve around the talent it has. If we can get RG3 we must build the offense around him. We have the opportuinity to hire an OC who can do this. If RG3 is as good in the pros as he was in college, he will be a star. No one knows for sure if that will be the case, but this is likley where our greatest odds of success lie this year, unless Peyton Manning suddenly becomes healthy and wants to play for Cleveland.
thanks.
my 1A option has been: Blackmon/Lamar Miller/Z.Sanders
my 1B option has been: Kalil/Lamar Miller/M.Sanu
of course, it’s the draft, so: Blackmon&Kalil might not be there, Cinci could steal Miller, and Z.Sanders & Sanu could go late 1st 🙂
That’ll be up to the scouts to decide
My guess is that H&H will add another QB, probably in the draft – as the biggest H has stated that this is always his intent. Whether this is viewed as an “upgrade,” is wholly up in the air. Regardless, I’m sure half of all Browns fans will decide that it isn’t. Those guys are doomed to be damned, no matter what.
Completely agree. I was going to post the same thing, but you beat me to it – proving that there has never been an original thought.
The worst thing that could have happened for the Browns would be his staying at Baylor. It would essentially guarantee that our #4 spot is one draft pick less valuable. With him in the draft, our options are so much better (hopefully, as you said, with him either as trade bait, or as a tempting option for picks 2 & 3).
I’ve been as guilty as anyone of jumping on the Blackmon bandwagon, and I might be starting to sober up. I wonder what the track record is for WRs drafted in the top 5. I have a hunch that it’s not nearly as good as it is for other positions.
Dude. I agree. I think people are still hurting from the Couch pick in 1999. We need to go after the “game changing” QB once again. I think of all the times that Colt failed to improvise or handle pocket pressure and I picture RG3 rolling out and causing absolute hell. On top of that, RG3 is reportedly well-grounded and hard working. Nothing is guaranteed and I view Richardson and Blackmon as equally risky prospects.
At #4, we will likely be looking at three offensive weapons in Richardson, Blackmon and RG3. I think only RG3 will facilitate a quick offensive turn around. Think back to when Vick turned the Falcons into contenders almost instantly. I think RG3 has that potential.
Doesn’t anyone think Pittsburgh, Cincy and Baltimore is way more worried that we would take RG3 instead of a speed RB or a big WR with good hands?
Me too. I was all about Blackmon for a while. I just don’t see how he changes things all that much. We need to build from the ball out. IE QB, O-Line, then RB WR.
top of my head:
Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, AJ Green
Charles Rogers, Braylon Edwards
I’d say it’s on par with other positions hit/bust ratio.
just because we draft Blackmon doesn’t mean we don’t upgrade the other positions though. it’s all about getting value for your spot.
if ther are good RT prospects in round2, but you think WR will fall off a ton, then you want to go WR early. etc.
add: Larry Fitzgerald, Peter Warrick, Keyshawn Johnson, Michael Westbrook, Desmond Howard.
If you want to play GM and get sick to your stomach, look at a draft history for wideouts taken in the top 10 instead of top 5; it’s littered with horrific mistakes. Fairly shouts: some years the receiver you need isn’t there, so don’t reach to fill this position with a guy who combines well but can’t play.
Also add: Ted Ginn jr, Troy Williamson, Koren Robinson, David Terrell….jury still out on Crabtree and Heyward-Bey. Suddenly I’m not entirely on board with Blackmon.
Griffin spent most of his time in shotgun that hasn’t translated for McCoy so far in the WC system. Only thing Griffin can do is run for his life with the Browns. Hopefully Dan Snyder wants him bad enough to throw draft picks and players at the Browns.
It does not make sense for the Browns to trade back two slots, especially with reduced rookie contracts. We won’t get anything other than a less explosive player.
Griffin has a different skill set than McCoy, including a stronger arm from what I understand. I don’t think your comparison is useful.
They can also fill spots in free agency. They have indicated they would be a little more aggressive and could potentially get someone like Desean Jackson or Robert Meachem. There might also be a RT they need in FA as well.
In the 2nd round Mohamad Sanu is a precise route runner with great hands and 4.4 speed. We really need a WR to stretch the field. Kendall Wright would be ideal for RG3 since they’re teammates. Mike Adams or any number of other OTs would be fine for the right side of the line.
To answer your first question, Brett Favre, Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick and Steve Young all ran the WCO and RG3 has perhaps some of the best attributes of each of these guys.
Definitely.
I think too many times the WCO gets confused with dink and dunk. It’s not. Favre was called the gunslinger and played in Holmgren’s system just fine. The basis of the WCO is not to ONLY stretch the field vertically but ALSO horizontally. Too often that gets confused with dink and dunk.
I gotta say that I have enjoyed reading everyone’s comments here. Looks like WFNY readers are sensible and intelligent. RGIII is one of those guys that you will kick yourself for a decade for not drafting him if he lives up to his potential. If the Browns pass on him and then some other team rides him to a Super Bowl, those game highlights will be just as bitter as an Elway highlight reel.
I really believe that the Redskins are going to come away with RGIII by trading up to 2 or 3. [Sidenote: Why do people think you have to get him at 2? Ponder looked good this year for the Vikings.]
thanks Harv. I knew I was forgetting some obvious ones.
I would think because StL may want to trade down badly to fill their holes (so if you want RGIII, you may need to go up to #2).