Chris Raiden
02-19-2007, 02:23 AM
Restore the Bark, Part I
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/5/wooflogo0jn.jpg
By Chris "Raiden" Grewe, NFL Columnist
Volume 3, Issue 6
Editor's Note: This is the second in a three part series on the 2007 Cleveland Browns offseason.
Chew on these numbers for a second: 16th, and 27th.
If you don't like the taste of those, I've got some dawg bones around here somewhere I can throw at ya. More numbers: 23, and 28.
One last couplet of numeric digits: 15, and 18.
Just keep those numbers in mind, they'll come in handy further down the page, I promise. In case you weren't aware from the title, the editor's note, last week's column, or just general knowledge, this is Part II of Restoring the Bark, better known as the part where Raiden breaks down crying after looking at how much the defense regressed in Year 2 of the 3-4.
And if you didn't already know that, or if you missed last week's column, for the sake of Lady Luck, go outside, turn around three times, and spit...or is it swear...I can never remember...and after that (take your pick of spitting or swearing, but for Luck's sake, don't forget the turning around part!) ask one of your more cool friends who read The Woof last week what it was/is/will be (it's a three part affair...kind of like Bill and Monica, except less Congressional hearings, and only slightly more humorous jokes...reminds me, you hear the one about the...nevermind...) about.
Without further ado...the defense...and what needs to be done...
Defensive Line
Ah yes, these ugly beasts whose job it is to clog up the middle. That being the case, the FBI needs to be called in to investigate the theft of some paychecks belonging to the Cleveland Browns defensive line because clearly the guys who lined up every Sunday weren't the ones who should have been collecting the checks (in fact, I'd contend that John "Big Dawg" Thompson, the really large fellow with the dawg mask in the first row of the Dawg Pound every Sunday, did more to stop the run than these guys did...someone get that man a paycheck and some pads please...).
It's an almost universally understood fact that all three starters from last year (Orpheus "Butcher Knives" Roye, Ted Mount Washington, and Alvin "Chipmunk" McKinley) will need to be replaced by at the latest 2008. We all understood that going into last year's draft, and yet, Phil Savage politely refused to address the glaring lack of depth until Day 2 of the draft, getting Raiden favorite but not a major factor Babatunde Oshinowa in Round 6. Mr. Savage, please address this concern in the 2007 draft for the sake of all your fans out there who don't want to be forced to start building the rail you'll surely be run out of town on if the Browns continue to NOT be able to stop the run because nobody invested in the defensive line. We don't like building rails, and besides, where are we going to find a decent amount of steel to get started with at this late hour?
Bottom line, Alan Branch would look very handsome (and by handsome, I mean preferably very ugly with snarling teeth and the odor of a man who bathed in his last opponents sweat seven days ago to the point where the quarterback throws up in his mouth while making adjustments at the line) at nose tackle. Adam Carriker, if he were to survive into the second round, would make a fantastic addition at right end, and I do believe the answer at left end is already in house in Ohio State graduate (and Upper Arlington product) Simon Fraser.
Outlook: Reaction of Head Chef, Cleveland Browns, to the drafting of Alan Branch: We're going to need a bigger buffet table...please, Mr. Savage, I implore you, make it happen...
Linebackers
In free agency, Adalius Thomas or Dwight "Freaky" Freeney would look oh so nice opposite Killa Kam Wimbley, but they'd cost an arm and a leg, and I do believe we're fresh out of spare appendages after last year's shopping spree to "steal" LeCharles Bentley from the Iggles at the last moment. Barring that...we're looking at Day 2 of the draft for any additional help.
I do believe that with some help up front (and by help, I mean, "competent play that doesn't result in three guards, two centers, and every offensive tackle on the bench being available to block four guys") from the defensive line, this unit could be more than fine with the status quo. Judging from the last few games of last year, Leon Williams could be B.I.T. (Beast In Training) or C.T.C.I.T.M. (Chaun Thompson Clone In The Making) at inside linebacker or outside linebacker. Andra Davis and D'Qwell Jackson should do fine in the middle without guards taking them out of every play. Killa Kam Wimbley provides the outside pass rush (first number of note: 23 sacks in 2005, 28 in 2006, Killa Kam Wimbley accounted for...exactly twice the difference with 10 sacks), while Willie McGinest and Matt Stewart should be steady if unspectacular at the other outside 'backer position.
Outlook: No major upgrades needed, although another pass rusher would suffice as "freakin' sweet".
Defensive Backs
Conventional wisdom says that the Browns need another corner. Conventional wisdom also says a lot of other crazy things like water is wet, the sky is blue (except in Ohio, where we've got our own shade of gray year round...it's quite freaky actually), and a Bill and Monica reference shouldn't appear in a column without a reference to Blue Dress Gate...ok, so I just proved that one right, big deal...
Actually, another corner may not be necessary. Daylon McCutcheon should return from injury this year. Davin Holly stepped up and played well in the absence of Gary Baxter (who we should count on being without for the foreseeable future with an injury The Woof shall henceforth refer to as "A Double Bentley"). Leigh Bodden should return to form if not nagged by injuries, and we've got a guy named DeMario Minter coming back from IR as well...actually, our corners weren't bad in '06, they were just hurt.
At safety, Brodney Pool should step in as a starter while Sean Jones should continue to make a name for himself at safety in the class of the Polamalu's and Ed Reed's...and that's just in this division. Brian Russell, if resigned, should return as solid depth, and Justin Hamilton should continue to progress as a backup in only his third year playing the position.
Outlook: We'll call this one improving if only one starter lands on IR before training camp, or if the number of interceptions increases by another three from 18 to 21 (there's where the 15 and 18 came from).
The final set of numbers: 16th, and 27th. Those were the Browns total defense ranks in terms of yards allowed per game in 2005 and 2006 respectively. If this trend does not reverse itself, I can pretty much guarantee Romeo Crennel will not coach the Browns in 2008.
Next Week: Does Romeo RAC up some wins and survive '07, or is one of Kirk Ferentz or Bill Cowher waiting in the wings for '08?
-RD
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/5/wooflogo0jn.jpg
By Chris "Raiden" Grewe, NFL Columnist
Volume 3, Issue 6
Editor's Note: This is the second in a three part series on the 2007 Cleveland Browns offseason.
Chew on these numbers for a second: 16th, and 27th.
If you don't like the taste of those, I've got some dawg bones around here somewhere I can throw at ya. More numbers: 23, and 28.
One last couplet of numeric digits: 15, and 18.
Just keep those numbers in mind, they'll come in handy further down the page, I promise. In case you weren't aware from the title, the editor's note, last week's column, or just general knowledge, this is Part II of Restoring the Bark, better known as the part where Raiden breaks down crying after looking at how much the defense regressed in Year 2 of the 3-4.
And if you didn't already know that, or if you missed last week's column, for the sake of Lady Luck, go outside, turn around three times, and spit...or is it swear...I can never remember...and after that (take your pick of spitting or swearing, but for Luck's sake, don't forget the turning around part!) ask one of your more cool friends who read The Woof last week what it was/is/will be (it's a three part affair...kind of like Bill and Monica, except less Congressional hearings, and only slightly more humorous jokes...reminds me, you hear the one about the...nevermind...) about.
Without further ado...the defense...and what needs to be done...
Defensive Line
Ah yes, these ugly beasts whose job it is to clog up the middle. That being the case, the FBI needs to be called in to investigate the theft of some paychecks belonging to the Cleveland Browns defensive line because clearly the guys who lined up every Sunday weren't the ones who should have been collecting the checks (in fact, I'd contend that John "Big Dawg" Thompson, the really large fellow with the dawg mask in the first row of the Dawg Pound every Sunday, did more to stop the run than these guys did...someone get that man a paycheck and some pads please...).
It's an almost universally understood fact that all three starters from last year (Orpheus "Butcher Knives" Roye, Ted Mount Washington, and Alvin "Chipmunk" McKinley) will need to be replaced by at the latest 2008. We all understood that going into last year's draft, and yet, Phil Savage politely refused to address the glaring lack of depth until Day 2 of the draft, getting Raiden favorite but not a major factor Babatunde Oshinowa in Round 6. Mr. Savage, please address this concern in the 2007 draft for the sake of all your fans out there who don't want to be forced to start building the rail you'll surely be run out of town on if the Browns continue to NOT be able to stop the run because nobody invested in the defensive line. We don't like building rails, and besides, where are we going to find a decent amount of steel to get started with at this late hour?
Bottom line, Alan Branch would look very handsome (and by handsome, I mean preferably very ugly with snarling teeth and the odor of a man who bathed in his last opponents sweat seven days ago to the point where the quarterback throws up in his mouth while making adjustments at the line) at nose tackle. Adam Carriker, if he were to survive into the second round, would make a fantastic addition at right end, and I do believe the answer at left end is already in house in Ohio State graduate (and Upper Arlington product) Simon Fraser.
Outlook: Reaction of Head Chef, Cleveland Browns, to the drafting of Alan Branch: We're going to need a bigger buffet table...please, Mr. Savage, I implore you, make it happen...
Linebackers
In free agency, Adalius Thomas or Dwight "Freaky" Freeney would look oh so nice opposite Killa Kam Wimbley, but they'd cost an arm and a leg, and I do believe we're fresh out of spare appendages after last year's shopping spree to "steal" LeCharles Bentley from the Iggles at the last moment. Barring that...we're looking at Day 2 of the draft for any additional help.
I do believe that with some help up front (and by help, I mean, "competent play that doesn't result in three guards, two centers, and every offensive tackle on the bench being available to block four guys") from the defensive line, this unit could be more than fine with the status quo. Judging from the last few games of last year, Leon Williams could be B.I.T. (Beast In Training) or C.T.C.I.T.M. (Chaun Thompson Clone In The Making) at inside linebacker or outside linebacker. Andra Davis and D'Qwell Jackson should do fine in the middle without guards taking them out of every play. Killa Kam Wimbley provides the outside pass rush (first number of note: 23 sacks in 2005, 28 in 2006, Killa Kam Wimbley accounted for...exactly twice the difference with 10 sacks), while Willie McGinest and Matt Stewart should be steady if unspectacular at the other outside 'backer position.
Outlook: No major upgrades needed, although another pass rusher would suffice as "freakin' sweet".
Defensive Backs
Conventional wisdom says that the Browns need another corner. Conventional wisdom also says a lot of other crazy things like water is wet, the sky is blue (except in Ohio, where we've got our own shade of gray year round...it's quite freaky actually), and a Bill and Monica reference shouldn't appear in a column without a reference to Blue Dress Gate...ok, so I just proved that one right, big deal...
Actually, another corner may not be necessary. Daylon McCutcheon should return from injury this year. Davin Holly stepped up and played well in the absence of Gary Baxter (who we should count on being without for the foreseeable future with an injury The Woof shall henceforth refer to as "A Double Bentley"). Leigh Bodden should return to form if not nagged by injuries, and we've got a guy named DeMario Minter coming back from IR as well...actually, our corners weren't bad in '06, they were just hurt.
At safety, Brodney Pool should step in as a starter while Sean Jones should continue to make a name for himself at safety in the class of the Polamalu's and Ed Reed's...and that's just in this division. Brian Russell, if resigned, should return as solid depth, and Justin Hamilton should continue to progress as a backup in only his third year playing the position.
Outlook: We'll call this one improving if only one starter lands on IR before training camp, or if the number of interceptions increases by another three from 18 to 21 (there's where the 15 and 18 came from).
The final set of numbers: 16th, and 27th. Those were the Browns total defense ranks in terms of yards allowed per game in 2005 and 2006 respectively. If this trend does not reverse itself, I can pretty much guarantee Romeo Crennel will not coach the Browns in 2008.
Next Week: Does Romeo RAC up some wins and survive '07, or is one of Kirk Ferentz or Bill Cowher waiting in the wings for '08?
-RD