Who do we have to play the offensive line?
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No shit Sherlock! ( please take that statement meant as 2 Browns fans buddies sitting at a bar having a beer & beer nuts ) Everybody knew we couldn't pass the ball. We ain't got no receivers ( or blockers, or a seasoned QB). All we had was Judkins and a couple of TE's. We HAD TO try and run the ball.
Off topic.....we are getting friggin' POUNDED by a blizzard here in southern New England. Where I am we may wind up with 30 inches. Fuck me!
While I didn't get anywhere near the apocalypse level of snow, I live just off the Lake. So the wind has been unreal. That's a dangerous condition you're in bubs, be safe & stock up on survival gear.
I just spent about a half hour trying to understand what “cover 6/8” meant and this is the hot mess l got.
There’s 11 guys on defense. Help me out Tia.
Let’s say it’s cover 6. From front to back what is each of those players’ responsibilities in that play?
Best I can.
- Cover 6 & 8 are going to be match dependent based on pre-snap shift & routes post snap.
* When Fannin shifts to reset formation strength, creating a *true* ACE set (same amount of receivers either side and HB UC. Offset gun we call YO or YOYO) That's cover 6. The field corner has the field #1 matched in MEG beyond 5yards when he doesn't roll under. The field safety is eyeing Fannin as the #2 because he has to match him vertical unless he goes under as well. We designate a vertical release as anything beyond 8-10 yards. So if he goes under immediately, you're rolling over top flow side.
* When you see Fannin drag under, you see that same field safety rotate to create MOFC (middle of field closed) and shut down the post. Because he no longer has his tag to carry Fannin vertical in MEG as the #2. You may ask why he doesn't double the #1 in a traditional quarters sense? That's because it creates a huge void beyond just simple MOFO.
* The boundary safety in the cover 6 call pushes out over the numbers his side while the boundary corner (doesn't reroute the receiver) sits low and outside in cloud. That creates cover 2 to the boundary.
* Pair the MOFC transition from the field safety, essentially creating cover 3, w/ the boundary in cover 2 and you get what amounts to Cover 3 cloud. Split field coverage. Cover 3 one side, cover 2 to the other.
I have a lot of work to do and I'm trying to knock out Trinidad Chambliss, Ty Simpson, Pat Coogan (didn't forget) & Jayden Proctor all at once. I'll probably host a discord session this Friday. If you want, I can give you guys a walk through on the cover 6 & 8 meta that has now taken over the NFL. I'm pretty intimately familiar with these 2 high structures because we played a ton of cover 2, 4 & 6 when I was still cracking pads.
edit: Forgot cover 8. Seattle calls it 'Trix'. I'll try to make this shorter & easier
- Your cover 2 gets call to the formation strength. So if it's trips, you call cover 2 to trips and quarters backside to formation weakness.
- Biggest difference is that your backside quarters safety is going to roll and quasi "poach" that strongside #3 pushing vertical & over (provided there is no "fast" threat from his side #2) You can play a MOD to the boundary corner to cap the fade AND, depending on how routes develop, "buy back" the Trix safety to double a boundary #1. That's another big difference between 6 & 8.
edit: Forgot cover 8. Seattle calls it 'Trix'. I'll try to make this shorter & easier
- Your cover 2 gets call to the formation strength. So if it's trips, you call cover 2 to trips and quarters backside to formation weakness.
- Biggest difference is that your backside quarters safety is going to roll and quasi "poach" that strongside #3 pushing vertical & over (provided there is no "fast" threat from his side #2) You can play a MOD to the boundary corner to cap the fade AND, depending on how routes develop, "buy back" the Trix safety to double a boundary #1. That's another big difference between 6 & 8.
@ibleedbrown Great video example of cover 8.
Cover 2 to the bunch (strength) side. Quarters backside. When the backside #2 doesn't push vertical, that backside quarters safety plays back to the bunch side (trix) building an integrity that resembles Cover 3 looking for any Over or vertical route to his hash.
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edit: Forgot cover 8. Seattle calls it 'Trix'. I'll try to make this shorter & easier
- Your cover 2 gets call to the formation strength. So if it's trips, you call cover 2 to trips and quarters backside to formation weakness.
- Biggest difference is that your backside quarters safety is going to roll and quasi "poach" that strongside #3 pushing vertical & over (provided there is no "fast" threat from his side #2) You can play a MOD to the boundary corner to cap the fade AND, depending on how routes develop, "buy back" the Trix safety to double a boundary #1. That's another big difference between 6 & 8.
@ibleedbrown Great video example of cover 8.
Cover 2 to the bunch (strength) side. Quarters backside. When the backside #2 doesn't push vertical, that backside quarters safety plays back to the bunch side (trix) building an integrity that resembles Cover 3 looking for any Over or vertical route to his hash.
@ibleedbrown Great video example of cover 8.
Cover 2 to the bunch (strength) side. Quarters backside. When the backside #2 doesn't push vertical, that backside quarters safety plays back to the bunch side (trix) building an integrity that resembles Cover 3 looking for any Over or vertical route to his hash.
The visual was helpful. I got that it’s a scheme used against bunch formations.
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So, after week 1 of FA, who are our starters? Do we want Elgton Jenkins at C or G (G to go along with Zion Johnson)? Then there's Dawand Jones & Tytus Howard.
Kingsley Eguakun 65 C 6-3 305 24 2 Florida Luke Wypler 56 C 6-3 303 24 4 Ohio State
Elgton Jenkins -- C/G 6-5 310 30 8 Mississippi State
Jack Conley 67 G 6-7 333 24 1 Boston College Teven Jenkins 74 G 6-6 321 28 6 Oklahoma State
Zion Johnson -- G 6-3 315 26 5 Boston College Zak Zinter 70 G 6-6 310 24 3 Michigan
Kendrick Green 52 OL 6-4 315 27 5 Illinois
Jeremiah Byers 63 OT 6-4 320 24 1 Florida State Tytus Howard -- OT 6-5 320 29 8 Alabama State
Dawand Jones 79 T 6-8 374 24 4 Ohio State KT Leveston 72 T 6-4 335 26 3 Kansas State
Tyre Phillips 69 T 6-5 330 29 4 Mississippi State
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I'd want E. Jenkins to play guard if possible. It seems like he played at a higher level there than center.
There's a good chance IMO he plays center though, unless Wypler comes back from his injury better than expected or the Browns draft a center who is able to start sooner than normal.
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I'd want E. Jenkins to play guard if possible. It seems like he played at a higher level there than center.
There's a good chance IMO he plays center though, unless Wypler comes back from his injury better than expected or the Browns draft a center who is able to start sooner than normal.
I'd want E. Jenkins to play guard if possible. It seems like he played at a higher level there than center.
There's a good chance IMO he plays center though, unless Wypler comes back from his injury better than expected or the Browns draft a center who is able to start sooner than normal.
Pick up A&M's Trey Zuhn III later rounds. Played mostly LT, but also a lot of time at C and sometimes LG. Very versatile.
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Here's the top offensive tackles in the draft. We need one of 'em. But who? And when? This is where I see these players being ranked, but you can find differences between draft rankers. Because of the combine Freeling made a big jump in people's rankings.
IMO, we're looking for a LT. Fano played LT, then moved to RT for Lomu to play LT. Kiper thinks Fano's arm length might make him a Guard in the NFL.
Who do we draft and where?
Francis Mauigoa RT 6’6 335
Spencer Fano RT/LT 6’6 308
Caleb Lomu LT 6’6 308
Monroe Freeling LT 6’7 315
Kadyn Proctor LT 6’7 330
Max Iheanachor RT 6’6 330 -
Here's the top offensive tackles in the draft. We need one of 'em. But who? And when? This is where I see these players being ranked, but you can find differences between draft rankers. Because of the combine Freeling made a big jump in people's rankings.
IMO, we're looking for a LT. Fano played LT, then moved to RT for Lomu to play LT. Kiper thinks Fano's arm length might make him a Guard in the NFL.
Who do we draft and where?
Francis Mauigoa RT 6’6 335
Spencer Fano RT/LT 6’6 308
Caleb Lomu LT 6’6 308
Monroe Freeling LT 6’7 315
Kadyn Proctor LT 6’7 330
Max Iheanachor RT 6’6 330Here's the top offensive tackles in the draft. We need one of 'em. But who? And when? This is where I see these players being ranked, but you can find differences between draft rankers. Because of the combine Freeling made a big jump in people's rankings.
IMO, we're looking for a LT. Fano played LT, then moved to RT for Lomu to play LT. Kiper thinks Fano's arm length might make him a Guard in the NFL.
Who do we draft and where?
Francis Mauigoa RT 6’6 335
Spencer Fano RT/LT 6’6 308
Caleb Lomu LT 6’6 308
Monroe Freeling LT 6’7 315
Kadyn Proctor LT 6’7 330
Max Iheanachor RT 6’6 330I'd love to trade down a little, pick up another pick and take Freeling.
I just wish he had more experience.
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Here's the top offensive tackles in the draft. We need one of 'em. But who? And when? This is where I see these players being ranked, but you can find differences between draft rankers. Because of the combine Freeling made a big jump in people's rankings.
IMO, we're looking for a LT. Fano played LT, then moved to RT for Lomu to play LT. Kiper thinks Fano's arm length might make him a Guard in the NFL.
Who do we draft and where?
Francis Mauigoa RT 6’6 335
Spencer Fano RT/LT 6’6 308
Caleb Lomu LT 6’6 308
Monroe Freeling LT 6’7 315
Kadyn Proctor LT 6’7 330
Max Iheanachor RT 6’6 330I'd love to trade down a little, pick up another pick and take Freeling.
I just wish he had more experience.
I'd love to trade down a little, pick up another pick and take Freeling.
I just wish he had more experience.
Me too but I'm at the point I'll be equally happy with Lomu or Freeling. Lomu has more starts; but I think Freeling faced more challenging battle tests.
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Here's the top offensive tackles in the draft. We need one of 'em. But who? And when? This is where I see these players being ranked, but you can find differences between draft rankers. Because of the combine Freeling made a big jump in people's rankings.
IMO, we're looking for a LT. Fano played LT, then moved to RT for Lomu to play LT. Kiper thinks Fano's arm length might make him a Guard in the NFL.
Who do we draft and where?
Francis Mauigoa RT 6’6 335
Spencer Fano RT/LT 6’6 308
Caleb Lomu LT 6’6 308
Monroe Freeling LT 6’7 315
Kadyn Proctor LT 6’7 330
Max Iheanachor RT 6’6 330Here's the top offensive tackles in the draft. We need one of 'em. But who? And when? This is where I see these players being ranked, but you can find differences between draft rankers. Because of the combine Freeling made a big jump in people's rankings.
IMO, we're looking for a LT. Fano played LT, then moved to RT for Lomu to play LT. Kiper thinks Fano's arm length might make him a Guard in the NFL.
Who do we draft and where?
Francis Mauigoa RT 6’6 335
Spencer Fano RT/LT 6’6 308
Caleb Lomu LT 6’6 308
Monroe Freeling LT 6’7 315
Kadyn Proctor LT 6’7 330
Max Iheanachor RT 6’6 330The arm length might have also been a reason they had Fano snapping the ball in some drills at the Combine.
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Here's the top offensive tackles in the draft. We need one of 'em. But who? And when? This is where I see these players being ranked, but you can find differences between draft rankers. Because of the combine Freeling made a big jump in people's rankings.
IMO, we're looking for a LT. Fano played LT, then moved to RT for Lomu to play LT. Kiper thinks Fano's arm length might make him a Guard in the NFL.
Who do we draft and where?
Francis Mauigoa RT 6’6 335
Spencer Fano RT/LT 6’6 308
Caleb Lomu LT 6’6 308
Monroe Freeling LT 6’7 315
Kadyn Proctor LT 6’7 330
Max Iheanachor RT 6’6 330I'd love to trade down a little, pick up another pick and take Freeling.
I just wish he had more experience.
I'd love to trade down a little, pick up another pick and take Freeling.
I just wish he had more experience.
My thoughts exactly.
I would like to wind up with Fano, Lomu or Freeling. I don't want to have to settle for Proctor. I fear that if we wait until #24, Proctor will be the only true LT left. I'm not crazy about drafting a RT with the intention of making him something else...especially in the 1st round.
Where would you guys pick Fano, Lomu or Freeling?
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I'd love to trade down a little, pick up another pick and take Freeling.
I just wish he had more experience.
My thoughts exactly.
I would like to wind up with Fano, Lomu or Freeling. I don't want to have to settle for Proctor. I fear that if we wait until #24, Proctor will be the only true LT left. I'm not crazy about drafting a RT with the intention of making him something else...especially in the 1st round.
Where would you guys pick Fano, Lomu or Freeling?
My thoughts exactly.
I would like to wind up with Fano, Lomu or Freeling. I don't want to have to settle for Proctor. I fear that if we wait until #24, Proctor will be the only true LT left. I'm not crazy about drafting a RT with the intention of making him something else...especially in the 1st round.
Where would you guys pick Fano, Lomu or Freeling?
Would I be irate if they took any of these guys at #6? No.
But I’d love to take those three around #9-13.
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Here's the top offensive tackles in the draft. We need one of 'em. But who? And when? This is where I see these players being ranked, but you can find differences between draft rankers. Because of the combine Freeling made a big jump in people's rankings.
IMO, we're looking for a LT. Fano played LT, then moved to RT for Lomu to play LT. Kiper thinks Fano's arm length might make him a Guard in the NFL.
Who do we draft and where?
Francis Mauigoa RT 6’6 335
Spencer Fano RT/LT 6’6 308
Caleb Lomu LT 6’6 308
Monroe Freeling LT 6’7 315
Kadyn Proctor LT 6’7 330
Max Iheanachor RT 6’6 330IMO, we're looking for a LT. Fano played LT, then moved to RT for Lomu to play LT. Kiper thinks Fano's arm length might make him a Guard in the NFL.
Who do we draft and where?
Francis Mauigoa RT 6’6 335
Spencer Fano RT/LT 6’6 308
Caleb Lomu LT 6’6 308
Monroe Freeling LT 6’7 315
Kadyn Proctor LT 6’7 330
Max Iheanachor RT 6’6 330games played & game tape don't change! They'll all have rookie warts & weaknesses.
Mauigoa or Spencer Fano are still the top tackle options imo.. (Hell, most/me wanted us to draft Jack Conklin when we traded pick #8)
Monroe Freeling would prefer trade down. Not up from 24. He's just not top 10 in this draft class
The oldest players Berry has ever drafted? Were barely over 23 years old (3).. Caleb Lomu reads as a redshirt solphmore..But also, Lomu ages over 24 years old. IMO, Berry would board Bama's Proctor ahead of Lomu..
just my 2 cents.. Love to Titans Tate to Giants
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IMO, we're looking for a LT. Fano played LT, then moved to RT for Lomu to play LT. Kiper thinks Fano's arm length might make him a Guard in the NFL.
Who do we draft and where?
Francis Mauigoa RT 6’6 335
Spencer Fano RT/LT 6’6 308
Caleb Lomu LT 6’6 308
Monroe Freeling LT 6’7 315
Kadyn Proctor LT 6’7 330
Max Iheanachor RT 6’6 330games played & game tape don't change! They'll all have rookie warts & weaknesses.
Mauigoa or Spencer Fano are still the top tackle options imo.. (Hell, most/me wanted us to draft Jack Conklin when we traded pick #8)
Monroe Freeling would prefer trade down. Not up from 24. He's just not top 10 in this draft class
The oldest players Berry has ever drafted? Were barely over 23 years old (3).. Caleb Lomu reads as a redshirt solphmore..But also, Lomu ages over 24 years old. IMO, Berry would board Bama's Proctor ahead of Lomu..
just my 2 cents.. Love to Titans Tate to Giants
games played & game tape don't change! They'll all have rookie warts & weaknesses.
Mauigoa or Spencer Fano are still the top tackle options imo.. (Hell, most/me wanted us to draft Jack Conklin when we traded pick #8)
Monroe Freeling would prefer trade down. Not up from 24. He's just not top 10 in this draft class
The oldest players Berry has ever drafted? Were barely over 23 years old (3).. Caleb Lomu reads as a redshirt solphmore..But also, Lomu ages over 24 years old. IMO, Berry would board Bama's Proctor ahead of Lomu..
just my 2 cents.. Love to Titans Tate to Giants
VERY INTERESTING! I WISH Mauigoa would have worked out at the Combine so we could see if he has the hips, feet and agility to move laterally as an ELITE NFL Tackle worthy of being the 1st or 2nd OL being drafted for the massive need on the edge. All OTackles needed for NFL starting lineups may not be protected by teammates/help on their outside shoulders at the next level. For example, Will Campbell's culture shock in the NFL for all to see more than once. That was a 4th overall pick I think.
I'm not saying you're wrong about him; I'm saying I don't know enough about him or many of the OTackles in this draft. I did notice at times Miami had an entourage of teammates lined up to his right inclusive of a TE, Wingback or H-back 1 yard over from TE's hip and 1 yard back - and sometimes another receiver/flanker was added. Like a magician's slight of hand, closing up all that space to the right of Mauigoa makes pass blocking in tighter space way more doable especially for a beast like him. I don't question his straight ahead 40 speed - I question if he can kick-slide to his right or left at the speed of the NFL game (notice I'm more worried about that than his am length because footwork/base can compensate for arm length in some instances like Lomu - who does it consistently). The on-going question with Lomu is - is he strong/powerful enough? And why? He's compensating for his 33 3/8" arm length with quick and lateral footwork keeping him well positioned in spite of those Gator-armed punches (looking less forceful but consistently doing the job which is why he's a pain in the ass to his opponents wondering why they can't get past his ass). As for Mauigoa, the consensus where there is no dispute - when his team puts him in a favorable situation he wins very consistently. Quite often any talk about him as an NFL draft prospect tends to mention the possibility of moving him inside to OG. Usually they only credit his arm length for that; but never forget how important the feet/lateral movement/hips/agility are to his ability to pass protection with a lot of space to his right at the next level.
What I don't know about Mauigoa is can he move laterally? If he can and the Browns draft him - I'd be thrilled. If he can't and the Browns draft him - I'd still welcome one of our new starting Guards (or possibly RT) with a great future here. Then, I'd hope we draft a LT next or that this move was done following a trade-back for an additional 1st round pick others have mentioned as a possibility. I think there's similar questions about Proctor except he played LT and has longer arms than Mauigoa. That said, I think if a lot of space on his outside shoulder is removed in pass pro - the next Nate Newton at OG wouldn't suck.
If for some reason, there's an early run on LTs and we don't get one of the oft-mentioned prospects in here - Northwestern's 6'7" Caleb Tiernan 325 pound LT has 43 starts with most of them at LT; Arizona State's Max Iheanachor is 6'6" 330 lbs and very athletic despite not playing organized football until college. Don't give me any "GEE THANKS FLUGEL!" At least research the feller and allow thyselves to be pleasantly surprised; or try some of the turbo fueled coffee I'm drinking.
There's 2 Draft Guides/Magazines that hit the shelves last week for any draft enthusiasts here: Athlon Sports 2026 Draft Preview & Lindy's Sports Pro Football Draft 2026. Both are good imo. Athlon shows college career stats for all skilled positions. Just as a warning, Lindy's forgot to include 1st Round W Prospect - Washington's Denzel Boston at 6'4" 210 pounds. Hard guy to miss - just ask his previous opponent. They didn't miss him at all after facing him for 60 minutes...
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Kingsley Eguakun 65C 6-3 305 24 2 Florida
Luke Wypler 56 C 6-3 303 24 4 Ohio State
Elgton Jenkins -- C/G 6-5 310 30 8 Mississippi StateTeven Jenkins 74 G 6-6 321 28 6 Oklahoma State
Zion Johnson -- G 6-3 315 26 5 Boston College
Zak Zinter 70 G 6-6 310 24 3 MichiganKendrick Green 52 OL 6-4 315 27 5 Illinois
Jeremiah Byers 63 OT 6-4 320 24 1 Florida State
Tytus Howard -- OT 6-5 320 29 8 Alabama StateDawand Jones 79 T 6-8 374 24 4 Ohio State
KT Leveston 72 T 6-4 335 26 3 Kansas State
Tyre Phillips 69 T 6-5 330 29 4 Mississippi StateRight now I’m looking at:
LT Dewand Jones, LG Elgton Jenkins, C Luke Wypler, RG Zion Johnson, RT Tytus HowardFano at 6. He can play either tackle spot. Then after getting a WR at 24, perhaps we look for a C.
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Unless a trade down, think it might be defense. Unfortunately, for the Browns, many have 60++ of the top 100 this year as defensive prospects.
Dline/edge seems off the table post free agency in the top 100, but it may be, barring trades 2 of the top 3 picks are defense, especially if Browns stick at six, and no one trades up to get one of the best players, which mostly all seem to be on defense.
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Here's the top offensive tackles in the draft. We need one of 'em. But who? And when? This is where I see these players being ranked, but you can find differences between draft rankers. Because of the combine Freeling made a big jump in people's rankings.
IMO, we're looking for a LT. Fano played LT, then moved to RT for Lomu to play LT. Kiper thinks Fano's arm length might make him a Guard in the NFL.
Who do we draft and where?
Francis Mauigoa RT 6’6 335
Spencer Fano RT/LT 6’6 308
Caleb Lomu LT 6’6 308
Monroe Freeling LT 6’7 315
Kadyn Proctor LT 6’7 330
Max Iheanachor RT 6’6 330The arm length might have also been a reason they had Fano snapping the ball in some drills at the Combine.
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It's never a good sign when they have players playing other positions, just for a look see. Especially when you are an OT and they want to see what you look like at center.
The thing that surprised me is after playing most-all of last season at about 300 lbs - he weighed in at the Combine at 291. That doesn't seem like RT or OG weight but sometimes a Center can get away with it as well as with shorter arms. I used to admire Mike Baab in the 80s for being a scrappy and efficient Center despite being an under-sized Center at a playing weight hovering around 260 lbs. Then someone got excited about the size U of Miami's Gregg Rakoczy at 290+ lbs. Before we knew it, the Browns brought Mike Baab ight back home here where he belonged.
FWIW, Fano could have dropped that weight to better his times. Worth noting: Warhop was running some OL drills at the Combine so that idea to have Fano doing some snapping could be telling us what the Browns are thinking or playing a little Poker with other teams. Who knows this time of year?
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I'm starting to get cold feet on Freeling a bit, unless the Browns could trade down 10 or so spots.
His measurables are off-the-charts, but he's got 17 college starts and from what Brian Baldinger just said to the morning show on The Fan - he really needs to get stronger. He basically said that Myles in practice would make him his bitch.
This is a weird draft. It's a draft screaming for a trade down, but the problem is everyone can see it. Gotta hope some stud defensive player grabs someone's eyes and they just have to have him at #6.
SDBacker might very well be correct - the Browns if they can't move down should just take the best player available, and that guy almost assuredly will be a defensive one. I don't think Tate is worth that high of a pick, of all the great (edit: Ohio State) WRs to enter the draft in the last decade, he might be towards the bottom of the list. Jordyn Tyson is a great talent who can't stay healthy.
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It's never a good sign when they have players playing other positions, just for a look see. Especially when you are an OT and they want to see what you look like at center.
The thing that surprised me is after playing most-all of last season at about 300 lbs - he weighed in at the Combine at 291. That doesn't seem like RT or OG weight but sometimes a Center can get away with it as well as with shorter arms. I used to admire Mike Baab in the 80s for being a scrappy and efficient Center despite being an under-sized Center at a playing weight hovering around 260 lbs. Then someone got excited about the size U of Miami's Gregg Rakoczy at 290+ lbs. Before we knew it, the Browns brought Mike Baab ight back home here where he belonged.
FWIW, Fano could have dropped that weight to better his times. Worth noting: Warhop was running some OL drills at the Combine so that idea to have Fano doing some snapping could be telling us what the Browns are thinking or playing a little Poker with other teams. Who knows this time of year?
Warhop was running some OL drills at the Combine so that idea to have Fano doing some snapping could be telling us what the Browns are thinking or playing a little Poker with other teams. Who knows this time of year?
Yeah, it's the silly season before the draft. And the worst thing is that during the draft, the Browns have a habit of doing the silliest things. You know, like take a midget left handed QB in the 3rd.
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