I'm going to 'multi-cast' my first actual live article there on the blog here, for a few reasons:
- I want the 'permanent record' for my own reference.
- I want it to be here and easily available for folks that tune in late.
Exhausting. Frustrating. A sadly all-too-familiar merry-go-round.
That's how the 2014 Cleveland Browns offseason started. Rob Chudzinski was let go, the majority of the coordinators headed off to greener pastures... For the second year in a row, Cleveland Browns fans trudged into an offseason full of uncertainties. This was beyond the issues we had come to grips with throughout the season.
The front office, embroiled in their second coaching search in as many years, preached patience as they tried to find their "right guy".
For a second year in a row.
- Despite being about 375 years in the future, and over 70,000 light years away, Tim Hagan's wife isn't buying into this Browns front office and their offseason 'trek'... (Photo courtesy of Paramount)
I suppose at some point I'll quit mentioning that fact, but right now it's just a very poignant reminder of the frustrations this fan base as suffered through, since '99 particularly. However, the eventual hire of Mike Pettine (at least for me) strikes a decent chord, and is one I can actually get behind. The pieces fell into place quickly after that, and it seems like we can actually start talking about normal offseason things like the Draft, free agency, and for the love of Pete can we get a decent damn quarterback on this team?
Sorry about that.
Anyway, let's do a quick review of the major pieces of this (mostly) new coaching staff:
- Head Coach: Mike Pettine, former defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills
- Offensive Coordinator: Kyle Shanahan, former offensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins
- Defensive Coordinator: Jim O'Neil, former linebackers coach of the Buffalo Bills
- Special Teams Coordinator: Chris Tabor, unchanged from last year
Other intriguing hires were new quarterback coach Dowell Loggains (former OC of the Tennessee Titans), wide receivers coach Mike McDaniel (former WR coach of the Washington Redskins), and offensive line coach Andy Moeller (former OL coach of the Baltimore Ravens). Overall, I think this coaching staff is as good as it can be, having come together late in the offseason. However, even with the lateness and quickness it was assembled, I believe that it could be a pleasant surprise with the right pieces in play. Part of that is going to be convincing the current roster of what they're selling. The other part will be convincing others to buy into the "new Cleveland Browns", and coming into the fold.
As it is, the QB talk has already started. Free agency looms, and the Browns are an intriguing player.
It almost feels like a normal offseason should, doesn't it? Let's break it down a little. And while I know that we need help all around the ball, I'll be generally focusing on the offense. That needs help beyond help.
Offseason Priority 1: Free Agency
While there are a lot of holes and positions that need to be addressed this offseason, the first priorities are locking up a couple of our impending free agents. T.J. Ward and Alex Mack need to remain in orange and brown for 2014, simple as that. While both were Chud supporters, I feel that Mike Pettine could definitely sell them on his ideas. With the solid amount of cap space the Browns have this offseason, I think Ward and Mack could get fair offers, and still leave the Browns room to be active in free agency. Ward is a likely recipient of the franchise tag, and less of a worry of being lost than Mack. Anyway it's looked at, though, these signings need to happen sooner rather than later.
Quarterback is a definite need, but isn't going to be a free agency fill this offseason. The big names on the board will likely be franchised, and the drop in talent is very noticeable.
An addressable need on the offensive side of the ball would be running back. There are some names on the free agency board that will likely be truly available, like New England's LeGarrette Blount and Green Bay's James Starks. However, a very intriguing name (both for talent and pure name power) is Denver's Knowshon Moreno. Early guesses at his market value run about $4 million, but I could see him signing at $6 million. If the Browns could pull off an offseason coup like that, Moreno would be an immediate upgrade. Fozzy Whittaker and Edwin Baker are good current roster guys, but the Browns really need a feature back like Moreno.
Another glaring need is some help on the line. My feeling is that Shawn Lauvao is done in Cleveland. I wouldn't mind seeing a Zane Beadles from Denver or Brian Waters from Dallas come in to fill the gaps at guard. Add in perhaps a Zach Strief from New Orleans or David Diehl from the New York Giants to give whomever we have at QB or RB half a shot to do their jobs. I'm willing to admit the O-Line is not my forté, so I'm game for some other prognosticators pulling in some better names.
Wide receiver is the really intriguing position for free agency this offseason. Sadly (or not, depending on perspective) we won't be seeing any more of Davone Bess, whom I hope gets whatever help he might need. Josh Gordon can't do it all by himself, as he largely did in 2013. Several names are out there that could be signed with the promise of an improved situation at signal caller. However, the best name I see coming into Cleveland is Santana Moss from the Redskins. Yes, he's in the afternoon part of his career. However, he's a big name with a veteran presence, and can still play. He's also a big fan of Kyle Shanahan, and I feel could be convinced of what Shanahan plans for a Cleveland offense with a young QB and star wide-out, much like the Redskins did.
And speaking of young QBs...
Offseason Priority 2: The Draft
The majority of current mock drafts this offseason point towards the Browns grabbing a QB in the first round. I don't like the fact that we'll be drafting our 4th quarterback since 1999. However, because the QBs that will be available at #4 this year will be strong, it seems a foregone conclusion. The fan-favorite (and the guy the mock drafts are calling for most) is Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel. I began, like most, hating the idea of "Johnny Football" due to his offseason troubles in 2013. Having been 'exonerated', watching his maturity after getting more training after winning the Heisman Trophy, and just looking purely at his stats, I'm starting to be sold on Manziel. He is a sharp dual-threat quarterback, and a household name. Those are both something this team could use in the worst way.
Another role to possibly fill through the Draft would be running back. Our 2 previous first-round RBs were relative busts (but thank you, Trent Richardson, for getting us another first-rounder this year), so this is another instance of me being uncomfortable with another possible risk. The interesting pick for me would be THE Ohio State University's Carlos Hyde. No, I don't think he's a first-rounder style pick. But he's the bruising power back that the Browns haven't had in a while, and that AFC North play almost requires. Plus he's a known name in the area, which (as you've seen from my previous comments) the Browns could use.
The wide receiver selection in the Draft, like in free agency, offers up some fascinating prospects. The acquisition of a threatening #2 receiver behind Josh Gordon is key this offseason, especially for getting whomever we have behind center some help. The guy I'm liking the most myself is Allen Robinson from Penn State. Robinson is a stacked 6'3", giving him both the strength to bang it out with DBs and the reach to outduel safeties in the corner of the end zone. He's a good route-running talent, and his upside is really attractive to a Mike Pettine "play to the strength of the players" system. There are plenty of other names available; guys like Odell Beckham Jr. from LSU, Sammy Watkins from Clemson, and Manziel target Mike Evans. Evans would be an obvious pick with Manziel for a potent 1-2 punch, but I feel Robinson is better-rounded.
Offseason Priority 3: Everything Else
I know for a fact that the QB talk has already started this offseason. Both Terrelle Pryor and Kirk Cousins have been tied to trade talk to the Browns, but I believe that the answer at quarterback will be the Draft and Brian Hoyer. His recovery from ACL surgery has gone very well, and the consensus is that Hoyer and whoever the Browns draft will battle it out for the starting slot. There's an outside chance that Jason Campbell would still be with the team. However, it's a very safe bet that the Brandon Weeden Era is officially over.
I hear the cheers already.
Willis McGahee will also be gone, as that experiment has more than run its course. The stable of backs to include Fozzy Whittaker, Edwin Baker, and whomever comes in from this offseason will be plenty of talent there. Baker and Whittaker proved last year that they could be effective with more touches in my mind.
Wideout and tight end have a solid core in place with Josh Gordon, Jordan Cameron, and Josh Cooper. Bess is on the way out as I stated before, and I tend to feel that Greg Little is on his last legs, as far as chances to prove himself go. MarQueis Gray is a guy I would love to see get more touches. He's one of those talents that's a multi-threat, and would fit well in a number of schemes.
With a number of movable pieces, salary cap flexibility, and plenty of draft picks, this could be a truly make-or-break offseason for our Browns. I'm hoping that the front office is willing to listen to this new coaching staff through the talent evaluation process. I'm also hoping they're willing to cater to a little 'glad-handing' of the fans by bringing in some bigger or more popular names.
I think we deserve it.
Voila! Would love some commentary on this. As is, I'll be direct-linking my articles after this point. I publish on Mondays at 4pm, and will publish the link to the article here sometime Monday night.
Next entry will be a recap of my game over at MyFootballNow. Keep it locked here!
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