Browns begging for ball catchers
They have ugly uniforms, a new coach who's already alienated his best player on either side of the ball, and cast away by far their most consistent pass catcher, but sometimes we have to talk Cleveland Browns football.
Kellen Winslow's trade and Donte' Stallworth's career-threatening arrest for killing a pedestrian with his Bentley leave the Browns with one unsightly pass-catching corps:
SE - Braylon Edwards/Paul Hubbard
FL - Stallworth*/Syndric Steptoe
SL - Josh Cribbs
TE - Robert Royal/Martin Rucker/Steve Heiden
Royal is an aging plodder, Rucker is untested with only situational upside, Heiden is coming off major reconstructive knee surgery, and Steptoe and Stallworth (* if available in '09) are not impact players. Cribbs might help some on third downs, but is most valuable on special teams.
Indecision at quarterback and Jamal Lewis' sharp 2008 decline don't help.
There's no doubt they're desperate for an OLB to book end Kamerion Wimbley, but the Browns will have to look hard at Michael Crabtree with the No. 5 overall pick. Cleveland must add skill-position firepower to make new coordinator Brian Daboll's offense work. Daboll is installing a Patriots-like semi-spread that will call for 4-5 pass catchers at a time on any given down.
I envision the Browns debating Crabtree vs. Brian Orakpo on April 25. It will be difficult for Eric Mangini to pass on defense, but in light of the Stallworth situation don't be surprised if Daboll gets a new toy.
Comments
Ugly uniforms? Evan, you're crazy. Dallas, Seattle, Cincinnati... those are ugly uniforms. But I agree, hard to see Mangini taking an offensive player in the first.
Posted by: Drew Silva | March 18, 2009 11:37 PM
thanks for the healthy dosing of blogging guys. really appriciate it
Posted by: scott c | March 19, 2009 11:50 AM
i love our uniforms! that was a cheap shot, but anyway with this deep wide reciever class i would hope they wouldnt go for crabtree when defense is a bigger concern, to me, when rebuilding. weve been desperate for a pash rush for YEARS. i want robiskie with our tampa pick, or nicks if he falls to our 36th pick
Posted by: thomas g | March 19, 2009 01:46 PM
also, if curry falls to them do you see any debate over the pick?
Posted by: thomas g | March 19, 2009 01:47 PM
Thank you! I've been saying since day 1 of draft talk, if Crabtree falls past the Chiefs at 3 - Cleveland HAS TO, ABSOLUTELY HAS TO take Crabtree @ 5. I think Seattle's signing of Housh eliminates them taking Crabtree, since they'll have Housh/Burleson/Branch. I was a lot more excited about this when it woulda given us Braylon-Crabtree-Winslow to throw to, but Braylon-Crabtree is still enough to give either QB a shot at success.
You are the 1st person on the entire internet (with any respect) that I've seen seriously say/consider the Browns making this move, and as a lifelong Browns fan, I commend you for such.
Posted by: Matt | March 26, 2009 03:21 AM