Cleveland Browns Draft: Oh, This Is Just a Guess But…
Posted April 17th, 2007 by George Thomas
I sat in on Phil Savage's pre-draft meet-and-greet with local media types today and something became apparent to many of us as Savage sat at an elevated dais and analyzed every position on a football team (except kicker and punter) in some semblance of detail and several things revealed themselves:
1) The Browns would have little problem with moving up in the draft to get the player they want if the deal is right, Savage said.
2) Savage has apparently known LSU's JaMarcus Russell since the kid was 14 or 15.
3) During the course of the press conference, Savage rattled off the comparative strengths and weaknesses of approximatley 15-20 quarterbacks.
4) After ending with his breakdown of all of the positions about 45 minutes later, I suddenly needed to reach for the Tums.
Why? Because it became painfully aware that after edumacating the press that Savage and the Browns have researched quarterbacks more than any other position. The Browns will be taking a quarterback in the upcoming draft. Will they move up to get Russell? Or will it be Brady Quinn?
It's no secret that Randy Lerner traveled to see Russell work out. It's also no secret that Quinn wants to play for the Browns. So why do I want neither? Let's think waaaaaayyy back to … 1999…when the team drafted Tim Couch out of Kentucky with the No. 1 overall pick. Yup, he was going to lead us to the Promised Land. He got sacked. We booed. He cried. He was doomed.
Fast forward to 2007 and yes, we once again need a quarterback. Sorry Charlie, Frye ain't the answer. Yet it looks as if we're about to make the same mistake. What good is a quarterback when you can't protect him? Right now, the Browns pass protection is inconsistent at best, horrible at worst. And make no mistake about it, if they draft Russell or Quinn, they will play this year. The Frye Experiment is done.
Here's hoping that Savage and Head Coach Romeo Crennel possible gamble pays off. If it doesn't, they'll likely pay with their jobs. And Browns fans? How does another five years in football hell sound? Yeah, I thought so.
April 17th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
I'm a little torn I guess but for the most part teams that get good QB play win games, teams that don't, lose. Some observers liken Russell's raw ability to players like Elway, and his teammates at LSU seemed to rally around him. If he's that good, the Browns have to do everything they can to get him.
Of course offensive linemen are important, but many are found in the second round and later.
April 17th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Larry, I agree about what you say with respect to most offensive lineman, but from what I've read about Wisconsin's Joe Thomas, he could be Jonathan Ogden good. Now, picture that plugged at left tackle for 10-12 years. The Browns aren't likely to be going anywhere this coming season - per usual - so why not take a LT? Then again, the only potential first round QB to come to mind in next year's draft is Louisville's Brian Brohm, so I can't disagree with your contention that they should go after one this year.
April 18th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Thomas would probably be a very good pick but the last two big, white, can't-miss Big Ten tackles that I can remember, Tony Mandarich and Robert Gallery, were flops.
It would be scary to pick Adrian Peterson because of the injuries, but that's what I'd like to see. Nothing builds confidence in a young offensive line more than a great running back. And not much helps a defense more than a great runner. Runners also tend to contribute right away.
That's assuming Russell's gone.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
A guy who knows some "inside stuff" w/ the Browns claims the Quinn pick is a done deal.