@poeticg said:

...or the most common sense solution- PUT CRIBBS BACK THERE! It's such an easy concept, and I know Clevelanders have been saying it for years... Why the hell not? Have they put Cribbs back there? Yes, but only in the WildDawg/Wild-dog formations. I cannot recall one single time they lined him up back there in a traditional formation and attempted a PA Pass or any number of different combinations. Why not? With the number of regimes and Head Coaches and FO people that have come through here, why has this not come up one single time? Pure and utter "Ineptitude" from the top down across multiple regimes is the only answer I can think of... and it's freaking unacceptable...

The Cleveland Browns MUST think outside the box, they MUST- Cribbs is fast approaching the twilight of his career and yet we've still yet to find his TRUE POTENTIAL- BS

They've found his true potential. It's like chef from south park said "you've got the heart but not the soul...no wait you've got the soul but not the heart...you've got the heart and the soul, but you don't have the talent"

If he was better somebody would be using him for something.

@king-ghoolie-lives said:

Again, Browns fans enter into an idiotic conversation. Unbelievable!

Cribbs has no ability as a running back. If he did SOMEONE would have recognized his skills and drafted him accordingly.

As Rich and i pointed out to you 2 years ago, in 2010, THAT was the time to trade Cribbs. The reason the Browns did not put him at RB, WR or anything else from the start, is because Cribbs is not good enough to be a mainstay at those positions.

Cribbss is a return man. That's all he is, that's all he will ever be.

ON Hillis, AGAIN Browns fans enter into mental masturbation about players who couldn't start for any of the division winners, yet you want to build a team on this shit.

Sad, how low our standards have fallen.

How the Fkuck can anyone in their right mind see Colt, Cribbs and HIllis as ingredients to beat Pittsburgh?

Un-fkucking-belieeeevable.

I agree, Cribbs isn't a running back, and also agree we missed our opportunity to trade him. Other than a few gadgets here and there, he is a returner, special team ace. That's it.

As for our current back situation, I disagree with your opinion.

First, I think Hillis is a good back. I don't know what all went on last year, but my feeling is what we saw 2 seasons ago is more indicative of what he can do than last season. Nope, he isn't flashy, then again neither was Alstott, who I think is a perfect comparison to Hillis. The deal with a back like Hillis is you have to pound him. It isn't a few times here or there, you have to make the investment in to running the ball. The more you do it, the better he gets. I'd make every effort to keep Hillis and will be disappointed if we don't. We have the money, and I agree with a point you made on another thread, if you aren't spending close to the cap amount every year, you aren't making every effort to stock your team with players who can help you win. I don't agree with you on where you have to spend the money because unlike you, I see value in non backs and receivers because I understand that if you are going to let the horses run, somebody has to knock down the fence.

I like Big O...a great pick-up IMO. He is a kid who impressed enough to be kept by the Texans, who probably have the best backfield in football with Foster and Tate. I am real happy we have the guy. He needs to work on ball security, just as Hillis does, but overall he is a solid keeper.

Jackson....?? The book is he is a pretty good back, but we didn't get to see him last year, so who knows??

I don't like Hardesty. We took a flyer on the guy and it isn't working out. My fear is he is the only back the current brain trust drafted, so I am afraid those guys are going to give him every opportunity to fail, thus keeping him around way longer than we should. I am a SEC guy, but he needs to go. We can do better then that.

@tour2ma said:

I would like nothing more than to be proved wrong by Hillis... I'd settle for being 2 for 3 on my list. I have no doubt he pulled a hammie. But I also think his head got a little too big between his '10 success and the Madden cover. Thought he was more grounded than that, but seemed to me to not be the case.

I think Obagnaya has the makings of a scatback. So long as he keeps hanging onto the ball... But I question the value of the pure, Metcalf-style scatback in today's NFL.

I thought Hardesty was supposed to be our speed/power hybrid back ala Rice and MoJo and Bradshaw, etc. He definitely had the makings coming out of college to fill that role, but the durability just doesn't seem to be there.

I hear you, but you have to consider that:

- the need has been greater at WR than RB; and

- when he ran against the Steelers in 2010 he was knocked senseless and lost for the game.

He's great in the broken field, e.g., returns, crossing routes and even WR screens. But a RB has to avoid/ survive a lot of folks to get to the broken field.

Be careful what you wish for...

I know what you're saying, however I think he ran that out of a WildDawg formation. That formation is more chaotic than say- a traditional I formation where everything pretty much stays in front of you, as in you kind of know where the hits are coming from and can prepare for them. I also think the hit that took Cribbs out of the game was an example of another "dirty hit" by the cheapshot artist Pittsburgh Steelers. If I remember right Cribbs was wrapped up and going to the ground when the Steelers player rammed him helmet first into the side of his head... should have been an unnecessary roughness penalty.

@the-gipper said:

We don't know this...In my opinion he was hurt....and now he may be healthy and fully capable of gaining 1200 yards next year for the Cleveland Browns, if he resigns here.

And I would welcome that because the Browns need that.

If we didn't have him, we would need someone just like him to do what he does for us.

Which means the Browns would need 2 RBs. A grinder and a scatback. Hillis can be that grinder. And we need a scatback.

I just don't know right now if either Hardesty or Obagnaya can fill either of these roles.

I would like nothing more than to be proved wrong by Hillis... I'd settle for being 2 for 3 on my list. I have no doubt he pulled a hammie. But I also think his head got a little too big between his '10 success and the Madden cover. Thought he was more grounded than that, but seemed to me to not be the case.

I think Obagnaya has the makings of a scatback. So long as he keeps hanging onto the ball... But I question the value of the pure, Metcalf-style scatback in today's NFL.

I thought Hardesty was supposed to be our speed/power hybrid back ala Rice and MoJo and Bradshaw, etc. He definitely had the makings coming out of college to fill that role, but the durability just doesn't seem to be there.

@poeticg said:

...or the most common sense solution- PUT CRIBBS BACK THERE! ... Why not?

I hear you, but you have to consider that:

- the need has been greater at WR than RB; and

- when he ran against the Steelers in 2010 he was knocked senseless and lost for the game.

He's great in the broken field, e.g., returns, crossing routes and even WR screens. But a RB has to avoid/ survive a lot of folks to get to the broken field.

Be careful what you wish for...

@1-more-season said:

Put Buster in the backfield.

...or the most common sense solution- PUT CRIBBS BACK THERE! It's such an easy concept, and I know Clevelanders have been saying it for years... Why the hell not? Have they put Cribbs back there? Yes, but only in the WildDawg/Wild-dog formations. I cannot recall one single time they lined him up back there in a traditional formation and attempted a PA Pass or any number of different combinations. Why not? With the number of regimes and Head Coaches and FO people that have come through here, why has this not come up one single time? Pure and utter "Ineptitude" from the top down across multiple regimes is the only answer I can think of... and it's freaking unacceptable...

The Cleveland Browns MUST think outside the box, they MUST- Cribbs is fast approaching the twilight of his career and yet we've still yet to find his TRUE POTENTIAL- BS

@tour2ma said:

^ I don't think the Pros can "redshirt"... Otherwise I agree.

We've missed some great opportunities to unload some flash-in-the-pans when their stock was as high as it was ever going to be...

Derek Anderson and Braylon Edwards are the two best examples.

Turned out Peyton Hillis belongs on the list as well...

We don't know this...In my opinion he was hurt....and now he may be healthy and fully capable of gaining 1200 yards next year for the Cleveland Browns, if he resigns here.

And I would welcome that because the Browns need that.

If we didn't have him, we would need someone just like him to do what he does for us.

Which means the Browns would need 2 RBs. A grinder and a scatback. Hillis can be that grinder. And we need a scatback.

I just don't know right now if either Hardesty or Obagnaya can fill either of these roles.

We've missed some great opportunities to unload some flash-in-the-pans when their stock was as high as it was ever going to be...

Derek Anderson and Braylon Edwards are the two best examples.

Turned out Peyton Hillis belongs on the list as well...

Hillis and his shenanigans need to go. He didn't play hard until he realized what a hole he put himself into. He showed his true colors last year and they're not brown and orange. If it hasn't already that contract can't expire fast enough.

So yeah, no to Richardson.

I'll wait for Knile Davis next year if we have to. Atleast he won't be a top 10 pick.

@the-gipper said:

I believe that the Browns do need a RB...a fast scatback, Eric Metcalf type perhaps.

What I am not sure is if Richardson gives us anything much different than a healthy Payton Hillis gives us.

*DING DING DING*

I'll take a lightning-quick back over another bruiser on our team if re-sign Hillis. This team has way too many needs to spend a #4 pick on a luxury position like RB. We need WRs, QB, RT, MLB, and another CB.

Runningback at #4 would just perpetuate the notion that our management really doesn't know what they're doing.

@king-ghoolie-lives said:

News flash. Worst team in the NFL seeks to sign shit running back.

The Colts are trying to sign Maurice Clarett?!

@the-gipper said:

I believe that the Browns do need a RB...a fast scatback, Eric Metcalf type perhaps.

What I am not sure is if Richardson gives us anything much different than a healthy Payton Hillis gives us.

What he said.

@albinorhino40 said:

I still say re-sign Hillis and draft Richardson... listen to yourselves

"We're set at RB if we resign Hillis..." really?

Hillis missed half of the season

Hardesty is consistently injured and hasn't performed all that well when healthy

Jackson missed all of last year

Oh but wait... Obaganayayanaa............ that's our answer?????

Newsflash**

Luck and Blackmon will probably be gone by our pick. Unless you are sold on RGIII, there is nobody else worth taking other than Richardson. We NEED NEED NEED the best offensive weapon we can get. Passing on this kid would be stupid, especially if your argument is that we are "set at RB"

Give me a break...

I believe that the Browns do need a RB...a fast scatback, Eric Metcalf type perhaps.

What I am not sure is if Richardson gives us anything much different than a healthy Payton Hillis gives us.

Chickenwang said:

How can someone say we shouldn't take a guy when they don't even watch college football? Dude, you shouldn't even comment on anything draft related. I agree with Taco, run along little boy

lmao...cause obviously spending time watching it has made you and taco experts? which is really the point.....

i use the same criteria to evaluate college players. you geniuses that think watching every game makes you know more, i will simply refer you to all your repeated gushings and man-love for particular guys that you like for reasons you cant explain other than "his stats are ridiculous" or he's just a beast on the field". you can say blackmon is the best....but what does that even mean? see, youre not smart enough to realize that most stats does not ALWAYS mean best player.

i watch college football dipshit....i dont worship it or plan my day around it. cause frankly, you cant learn much watching future NFL players beat up on scrubs.

"We're set at RB if we resign Hillis..." really?

Hillis missed half of the season

Hardesty is consistently injured and hasn't performed all that well when healthy

Jackson missed all of last year

Oh but wait... Obaganayayanaa............ that's our answer?????

Newsflash**

Luck and Blackmon will probably be gone by our pick. Unless you are sold on RGIII, there is nobody else worth taking other than Richardson. We NEED NEED NEED the best offensive weapon we can get. Passing on this kid would be stupid, especially if your argument is that we are "set at RB"

Give me a break...

What is Hillis worth?

How long of a contract do you give him?

How much guaranteed money?

@taco918 said:

And how did he look against Stanford? Why don't you check out his stats for that game. If you don't watch college ball you probably shouldn't talk about it. Are you going to give people stock advice if you don't pay attention to the stock market?

Why don't you go ahead and run along

I mean, he clearly made the point he was trying to make.

He said Blackmon faces more zone coverage than man-to-man, which is out of respect for his abilities, and then backed it up.

I don't understand what the conflict is.

Blackmon had probably his best game against Stanford, who dared to face him in man coverage. Then again, Stanford is also ranked 95th in pass defense, giving up over 250 yards per game through the air.

Nobody is denying Blackmon's skill. He's a great player and will go top 5, and surely have a solid career.

Personally, I believe Alshon Jeffery has much higher potential than Blackmon, seeing as the quality of defenses he faced week in and out and because of his physicality. But Blackmon is more of a sure thing. Alshon Jeffery could be Calvin Johnson-esque, or he could make no impact whatsoever. Blackmon will never be Calvin Johnson, but he's not going to fade away, either.

@brownskidd said:

I remember a certain WR by the name of Crabtree that was supposed to be the schnizzle and really I don't see the guy stacking TD's. He had 4 this year. Hype does not equal TD's. Of course the argument could be said that he has Alex Smith for a Qb... But still, Crabtree is not producing based on his draft position.

and this has what to do with hillis?