<![CDATA[Terry Pluto - Browns got it right with Alex Mack]]>http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index...._with_alex.html

BEREA, Ohio — We'll never know if things would have worked out had the Browns kept the No. 5 pick in the 2009 draft and called the name of quarterback Mark Sanchez.

Despite being the quarterback on the Jets' team that went to the playoffs, there remains some doubt about Sanchez as a passer. Is he a solid quarterback on a very good, experienced running team? Or will he be an impact player?

This much is certain, the Browns did the right thing when they made Alex Mack their first-round pick at No. 21 after a series of draft-day deals that started with shipping No. 5 to the Jets. As for the rest of the trade -- Abe Elam, Kenyon Coleman, Brett Ratliff and David Veikune -- you can debate whether the Browns received enough.

Mack played all 16 games, every down for the 5-11 Browns. By the end of the season, he had established himself as a durable center giving hints that he can be much more than that. That happened in the final four games of the season, when the Browns went 4-0 and ran for 900 yards.

Mack had plenty of help from left tackle Joe Thomas, guards Eric Steinbach and Rex Hadnot and right tackle Floyd Womack, who was more effective at that spot than he was most of the season at right guard.

But Mack was at the heart of the line, making the calls, learning to lead as a rookie.

While Eric Mangini hesitates comparing Mack to the Jets' star center Nick Mangold, you can sense the Browns' coach sees Mack heading in that direction. Mangold was one of Mangini's signature picks with the Jets.

The website profootballfocus.com rated Mack the No. 6 center in the NFL last season. Who knows how close that is to accurate, because people who evaluate linemen for those sites don't know the blocking schemes or what a center is supposed to do in various offenses.

But this much is clear, Mack can anchor this line for a long time.

You'd never have guessed that a year ago when Mack seemed to spend the summer running laps for blown assignments and lousy snaps.

"Snaps to the left, to the right," said Mangini. "Snaps early, snaps late . . . snaps all over the place."

Mangini was putting pressure on Mack to learn a new offense, to deal with crowd noise as music blared during drills. He wanted his rookie from the University of California mentally and physically exhausted, so that he could handle the demands of the regular season.

It was the same system that developed Mangold.

"This summer, I feel much more comfortable," said Mack, who credited veteran center Hank Fraley with speeding his development.

According to Profootballoutsiders, 63 percent of the Browns' runs were between one of their guards and the center. That is the third most in football. Since the Browns ranked No. 8 in rushing with the NFL's worst passing attack, it shows someone was blocking with authority.

All of this may sound a little technical, especially in May. But Browns fans care about this stuff. Most were thrilled when left tackle Thomas was the team's No. 3 pick in the 2007 draft. They know that spending money on veteran guard Eric Steinbach in 2007 made sense.

While some fans would have preferred the Browns take a chance on Sanchez, most agreed the team needed a good center. Fans still e-mail about wanting another lineman for the right side, to compete with newcomer Tony Pashos, rookie Shawn Lauvao, Womack and John St. Clair.

Mangini believes you build a line with two terrific tackles and a star center, with veterans filling the guard spots. Former GM Phil Savage had the same philosophy. That's why he picked Thomas and made free agent LeCharles Bentley the game's highest paid center in 2006 -- but Bentley never played for the Browns because of knee problems.

Now, Mack has the job, and so far, he's done it extremely well.

How do we know?

"I don't want to [jinx] him," said Mangini. "But he's yet to run a lap or have a bad snap."

]]>https://brownsboard.com/topic/12183/terry-pluto-browns-got-it-right-with-alex-mackRSS for NodeThu, 01 Oct 2026 03:35:40 GMTFri, 28 May 2010 05:27:53 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Terry Pluto - Browns got it right with Alex Mack on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:34:45 GMT]]>Hey robotwerp---272 posts in 3 months on an opponents message board??????????

Seems to me you must like it here and maybe you even yearn to be a Browns fan...

-OR- maybe there's no one on the Steelers board that can stand your ignorance...

Either way you're pathetic....

BTW, as an outsider what do you really think of the human race????

Peace--you bastard

T.Dawg

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/178473https://brownsboard.com/post/178473Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:34:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Terry Pluto - Browns got it right with Alex Mack on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:27:28 GMT]]>

Rorbotron said:

Seriously you guys need to work on the insults.

A. Cleveland is more redneck than PA will ever be

B. You have 5, count them 5! of the top 20 worst cities in the United States courtesy of Forbes magazine.

C. See B your power plant air pollution blows over the state lines and riddl es our air quality with toxins like crazy, so much so that our air quality is some of the worst in the United States thanks to Ohio.

So my suggestion is that the "pork your sisiter" or "sleep with your mother" comments get retired because it all directly applies to Ohio to the absolute last letter. Jeff Faine is still playing at a high level, Mack is going to be a good one and so is Pouncey. Either way get your game up T-dawg your insults are f.ucking old.

"PEACE"

Rorbotron

Lol you damn tool box.

And you only used those same insults a hundred times to. What makes you so special besides the short bus you ride on every day? Grow some balls and talk shyt to someones face and stop hiding behind a computer screen for christ sakes. Anyone can be cocky on the internet and your 5'4 350lb fat ass proves it.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/178423https://brownsboard.com/post/178423Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:27:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Terry Pluto - Browns got it right with Alex Mack on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:12:33 GMT]]>

@daddybull1 said:

Once again "fluff" from a steeler fan..

We traded Faine becase we just signed Bentley, who at the time was a pro bowl center.....

If I'm not mistaken, Faine is still playing at a pretty high level....

Hope you're happy with quincy porkmysister, he should fit in nicely with the vermin in the burg....

Peace

T.Dawg

Seriously you guys need to work on the insults.

A. Cleveland is more redneck than PA will ever be

B. You have 5, count them 5! of the top 20 worst cities in the United States courtesy of Forbes magazine.

C. See B your power plant air pollution blows over the state lines and riddl es our air quality with toxins like crazy, so much so that our air quality is some of the worst in the United States thanks to Ohio.

So my suggestion is that the "pork your sisiter" or "sleep with your mother" comments get retired because it all directly applies to Ohio to the absolute last letter. Jeff Faine is still playing at a high level, Mack is going to be a good one and so is Pouncey. Either way get your game up T-dawg your insults are f.ucking old.

"PEACE"

Rorbotron

Lol you damn tool box.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/178418https://brownsboard.com/post/178418Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:12:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Terry Pluto - Browns got it right with Alex Mack on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:05:30 GMT]]>i think faine was overrated and he was injury prone as well. i was glad when the browns got rid of him. he used to get bullrushed and shoved around way too much. i like mack alot better than faine and comparing both of their rookie years, mack did alot better than faine.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/178415https://brownsboard.com/post/178415Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:05:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Terry Pluto - Browns got it right with Alex Mack on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 02:56:39 GMT]]>Once again "fluff" from a steeler fan..

We traded Faine becase we just signed Bentley, who at the time was a pro bowl center.....

If I'm not mistaken, Faine is still playing at a pretty high level....

Hope you're happy with quincy porkmysister, he should fit in nicely with the vermin in the burg....

Peace

T.Dawg

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/177944https://brownsboard.com/post/177944Tue, 01 Jun 2010 02:56:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Terry Pluto - Browns got it right with Alex Mack on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:13:00 GMT]]>

Rorbotron said:

He should have been a Steeler. I'm more than happy with Pouncey though. Mack is definitely going to be a top tier center.

Well Thats ALL I heard last year we were taking Mack. The Browns may have nabbed him just to Foil our plans , na d now reaping the benefits. However I remember hearing similar things about Faine .. so .. idk.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/177791https://brownsboard.com/post/177791Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:13:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Terry Pluto - Browns got it right with Alex Mack on Sun, 30 May 2010 04:31:44 GMT]]>Makes you wonder, what would have happened if LeCharles Bentley hadn't gotten hurt????

A great pick in Mack... This has the makings of a pretty solid line... Thats where it all starts...

Peace

T.Dawg

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/175850https://brownsboard.com/post/175850Sun, 30 May 2010 04:31:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Terry Pluto - Browns got it right with Alex Mack on Sat, 29 May 2010 02:44:00 GMT]]>

@earl34 said:

I was sold on draft day when I read that his senior year in college he broke his hand and learned to snap with the other....didn't miss a beat.

that says alot about a guy and those are the types of players you want on your team.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/175760https://brownsboard.com/post/175760Sat, 29 May 2010 02:44:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Terry Pluto - Browns got it right with Alex Mack on Sat, 29 May 2010 01:00:05 GMT]]>I was sold on draft day when I read that his senior year in college he broke his hand and learned to snap with the other....didn't miss a beat.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/175754https://brownsboard.com/post/175754Sat, 29 May 2010 01:00:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Terry Pluto - Browns got it right with Alex Mack on Fri, 28 May 2010 22:14:55 GMT]]>We've got a lot of cart before the horse fans in terms of thought patterns.

some fans always go for the flashy picks. you know, the ones that the "experts" obsess over? the horse before the cart phrase sums it up perfectly. sometimes strategy and need determine who a team picks and sometimes that means going for substance and not flashiness.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/175737https://brownsboard.com/post/175737Fri, 28 May 2010 22:14:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Terry Pluto - Browns got it right with Alex Mack on Fri, 28 May 2010 22:08:43 GMT]]>i liked the pick the day we drafted him, mack is a beast! i remember watching highlights on him from his college days and i was very impressed. he looks like the same solid player now that he's in the nfl. here's to hoping he can build off of a good rookie season.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/175736https://brownsboard.com/post/175736Fri, 28 May 2010 22:08:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Terry Pluto - Browns got it right with Alex Mack on Fri, 28 May 2010 17:28:25 GMT]]>

@bag-o-browns said:

Much like the Joe Thomas pick, the Alex Mack pick was something which HAD to happen before you grabbed that skill position. We've got a lot of cart before the horse fans in terms of thought patterns. You cannot run the ball with THomas and you can't keep Sanchez alive without Mack.

The gripe about the other players is somewhat legit...BUT those Jets we got helped with depth, in which last year, we were sorely lacking.

BINGO! Was going to say the same thing. We coulda had Peterson back when we got Thomas, but Peterson may be out of the league by now with the line we woulda had now. We also could have had Mark Sanchez, but without Thomas and now Mack, the dude would prolly be another Tim Couch. Has the potential, but not enough time to do anything, and therefore he stinks.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/175703https://brownsboard.com/post/175703Fri, 28 May 2010 17:28:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Terry Pluto - Browns got it right with Alex Mack on Fri, 28 May 2010 15:25:21 GMT]]>and he could win a spelling bee

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/175669https://brownsboard.com/post/175669Fri, 28 May 2010 15:25:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Terry Pluto - Browns got it right with Alex Mack on Fri, 28 May 2010 15:22:19 GMT]]>He should have been a Steeler. I'm more than happy with Pouncey though. Mack is definitely going to be a top tier center.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/175668https://brownsboard.com/post/175668Fri, 28 May 2010 15:22:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Terry Pluto - Browns got it right with Alex Mack on Fri, 28 May 2010 15:17:20 GMT]]>Much like the Joe Thomas pick, the Alex Mack pick was something which HAD to happen before you grabbed that skill position. We've got a lot of cart before the horse fans in terms of thought patterns. You cannot run the ball with THomas and you can't keep Sanchez alive without Mack.

The gripe about the other players is somewhat legit...BUT those Jets we got helped with depth, in which last year, we were sorely lacking.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/175666https://brownsboard.com/post/175666Fri, 28 May 2010 15:17:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Terry Pluto - Browns got it right with Alex Mack on Fri, 28 May 2010 12:04:39 GMT]]>There were a lot of Mangini haters here last year that were bashing the Mack pick nearly the entire season. But it was the right pick. Not only is he an anchor for our O-line, but by picking him that late, Mangini saved us $43,000,000.00!

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/175632https://brownsboard.com/post/175632Fri, 28 May 2010 12:04:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Terry Pluto - Browns got it right with Alex Mack on Fri, 28 May 2010 11:25:54 GMT]]>Mack seems to be a near future star like Joe Thomas. If the Browns can solidify the RT spot...

we should see a huge difference with some perceptive qb play, and those perceptive qb's

will have the engine up front to let the rest of the offense be effective.

Oh, can't WAIT ! GGG

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/175628https://brownsboard.com/post/175628Fri, 28 May 2010 11:25:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Terry Pluto - Browns got it right with Alex Mack on Fri, 28 May 2010 11:24:01 GMT]]>Great article. Couldn't agree more about Mack. if we had taken the No 5 pick with Sanchez we would have taken a lesser centre or had to take one this year anyway. To be honest it's a mute point because we did take Mack. I made a point of watching him closely in the re runs of our games I watched in off season and he often held up and pushed aside two man assignments from the defense and rarely got spun out on agressive defensive plays. The kid is a real star and definitely earned his stripes last season. I love the stat about 63% of runs coming between him and a guard - I would have said from recollection that it would not have been that high. With our corps of backs this coming season and an improvement on his rookie year I say that we have the chance of making even more pain for our opponents on the ground and, hopefully, a better chance of a mixed attack with our QB options on passing. Mack also seems like a decent young man too - good pick I'd say.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/175627https://brownsboard.com/post/175627Fri, 28 May 2010 11:24:01 GMT