Skeptical2013 said:

You can argue with yourself all you want...because no one has a clue how they will perform vis a vis last year. Here are the Browns defensive rankings by the way from 2012:

19th in points allowed

23rd in yards allowed

19th in rushing yards allowed

21st in rushing TDs allowed

25th in passing yards allowed

22d in passing TDs allowed

12th in Turnover margin

I don't know or care what you think will happen....I just know what I expect to happen. and that is that all these rankings should improve a great deal.

@vagitron said:

@the-gipper said:

I'd argue that the Browns will be about the same against the run, better in the pass rush, and slightly better in the secondary. But not good enough to stop teams froms coring a lot of points against them.

Skeptical2013 said:

The thing you're missing here is if the front 7 causes havoc, we don't need top flight CB's out there. Every team, even the Ravens last year has a few holes. It's practically impossible to not be weak at one position or two. I'd be a lot more worried the front 7 we've bought/drafted gets to the QB.

@vagitron said:

Yeah- that's partly the reason I've soured on ESPN. They've totally morphed into a frontrunner suckup network. I'll give you this (approximate) sound bite from Colin Cowturd as exhibit "A". "Why do you people keep telling me you're tired of hearing about Le Bron & the Heat? Never heard that about Jordan & the Bulls." Well Colin, because back then you actually heard balanced reporting about the other teams in the playoffs. Now it's all Heat, all the time. Every f**king thing wrong with Wade, and not a peep on how Westbrook's doing. I've heard damn little about the Spurs and Thunder, and jack shit about the Pacers. So just keep sucking on those boys from South Beach. I'm going to have to find another sports network before I start puking listening to your crap.

@the-gipper said:

No it doesn't. It says Ward could eventually become the best SS in the division and I've read in one of those analyst live chats he means when Polamalu retires and that Haden should become the top corner in the division and currently I don't see anyone arguing that point. He's easily top 4 in the division and probably the best right now. I also agree with Couch on Hensley, I don't like him at all. Hell I don't like most of what ESPN has to say on anything. They've got the name recognition so people default to them but for the most part ESPN just annoys me. I never watch ESPN during the draft because I much prefer Mayock on NFL network for example and those side by side comparisons can carry on all day. ESPN kind of sucks.

Skeptical2013 said:

Article below by ESPN AFC North blogger Hensley rates the division secondarys. Most objective observers say that the free safety and #2 CB positions are a mess for the Browns. Even if McFadden turns out to be good, he's still in a learning mode for 2013. It's going to be a disaster

In a separate article, Hensley also rated the LBs in the AFC North and had Cleveland last again, though improving. Key point Hensley made is that while the Browns LBs will be able to rush the passer, they will be terrible against the run, except for D'Quell. You are going to see a lot of draw plays against Horton's defense, that's for sure. I don't see the Browns defense as much improved at all this season after all this upheaval.

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/70326/afc-north-position-rank-secondary

Jamison Henley is a fat baby-faced Ravens homer.

His shit is rarely, if ever, objective. He subtly finds ways to dig at both the Browns and the Bengals while never saying anything remotely bad about Baltimore.

That dude can suck a fart out of my dick.

Skeptical2013 said:

After reading that article, it almost mirrors exactly what I posted in my Unit Rankings thread about the secondaries in the AFC North.

Skeptical2013 said:

Well, as far as I have been able to tell over the years, the poor play of DQwell Jackson against the run is one of the reasons the Browns have been so poor against the run.

But, now in this 3-4 primary defense the Browns are going to employ it is supposed to improve their run defense, hopefully. Maybe DQ will turn out to be more suited to this 3-4.

As far as the "upheaval" to me, that was necessary. I for one certainly didn't want this team to stick with Fujita, Gocong,Maiava, Sheldon Brown, Usama Young as starters on this defense.

I know they didn't play well. As far as I am concerned the "upheaval" is a massive "upgrade"....with Des Bryant, Kruger, Mingo,

And I will take my chances that McFadden and Slaughter and Gipson et al are a vast upgrade from Brown and Young.

I don't think they can be any worse, really.

@htownbrown said:

Article below by ESPN AFC North blogger Hensley rates the division secondarys. Most objective observers say that the free safety and #2 CB positions are a mess for the Browns. Even if McFadden turns out to be good, he's still in a learning mode for 2013. It's going to be a disaster

In a separate article, Hensley also rated the LBs in the AFC North and had Cleveland last again, though improving. Key point Hensley made is that while the Browns LBs will be able to rush the passer, they will be terrible against the run, except for D'Quell. You are going to see a lot of draw plays against Horton's defense, that's for sure. I don't see the Browns defense as much improved at all this season after all this upheaval.

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/70326/afc-north-position-rank-secondary

Skeptical2013 said:

I wish the Browns had focused more on signing UDFA CBs and safeties. Secondary needs more quaity depth.

I hear that, but IMHO I don't believe the secondary will look as bad. This year we will have a much more aggressive front 7, at least the scheme will be.

@htownbrown said:

I wish the Browns had focused more on signing UDFA CBs and safeties. Secondary needs more quaity depth.

@the-gipper said:

6'6" 245 lb quarterback from California University. Was dismissed by Virginia and Oregon State in consecutive years for behaivoral problems ala. too much drinking and partying. When he was at Virginia, he was the first true freshman to start in 10 years, but was quoted as saying “At U-Va., the best nights are the weeknights.”

He is currently an UDFA. He has all the potential in the world to be a great quarterback, but lacks the mental toughness and focus needed to succeed at the NFL level. He deserves a shot somewhere, but not sure it will be in Cleveland, we might have pushed our limits of trouble makers...

Here's a pretty good article on him.

http://www.knowitallfootball.com/2013/02/26/nfl-draft-2013-peter-lalich-the-forgotten-one/

@browns57 said:

Refresh my memory on who he is. UDFA? Veteran FA? QB?

@browns57 said:

Why not? His upside sure is there.

Mike

@the-gipper said:

Good overview and it seems to me that while I dislike Lombardi, he did a good job with selecting the UDFAs.

@thenew23 said:

Well, they did sign that QB...Alpin...but he failed a physical I guess. Perhaps they will try to give him another shot if he clears up whatever his problem was.

Does anyone know why he failed that physical?

@thenew23 said:

We had a couple of UDFAs make it last year: Gipson....and LJ Fort.... Why not a couple of these guys this year. Sure.

Garrett Hoskins - TE/FB/H-back - at only 6'2" Hoskins was being scouted by many as a FB or H-back compared to his natural TE position. He led his team in receptions and yards in 2012 as a TE and is very talented. He may become a decent FB if given the chance, (he's only competing with Marecic and Smelley)

Travis Tannahill - TE - 2012 First team All-Big 12. Known for catching short slip routes, and for run blocking. He may be tried as well at FB given his lack of true NFL TE speed.

Keenan Davis - WR - Was given the reigns as #1 WR in Iowa after a breakout junior year in 2011, but had a down year in 2012. He had flashes of brilliance, has good size, and great speed and hands to produce at the NFL level. All indications were that he would be drafted, so this could be a guy we end up watching in Brown and Orange if he produces at the level he is capable of.

Josh Aubrey- CB - Another small school guy with good size, speed, athleticism, and every measurable you would want to see in a starting CB. Reports are that he played mostly in man coverage and was solid most of the time, yet inconsistent. He has the talent to develop and may win a spot on at least the practice squad.

As of now, I would guess at least 2-4 of the 7 mentioned will be on this team in one capacity or another...

Browns currently have 83 players signed. They also have 5 draft picks who need to be signed, making 88. They have 3 other UDFAs who they invited to rookie camp on a tryout basis... still only 3 QBs on the roster, but you would think they would have at least one come to rookie camp, right?

Looks like they are trying to find a gem in the UDFA class as they have 21 guys coming into rookie camp next weekend, not including our 5 draft picks...

Matt Scott, Arizona: Jacksonville

Jeff Tuehl, Wash. St.: Buffalo

Ryan Griffin, Tulane: New Orleans

James Vandenberg, Iowa: Minnesota

Clay Belton, Findlay: Miami

Tyler Bray, Tenn.: Kansas City

Trent Steelman, Army: Baltimore

Ryan Alpin, Arkansas St.: Cleveland...but failed physical

Dalton Williams, Akron: Dallas

Ryan Katz, San Diego St.: Denver

Alex Corder, W. Michigan: Detroit

Matt Brown, Illinois St.: Green Bay

Collin Klein, Kansas St.: Houston

Jordan Rodgers, Vanderbilt: Jacksonville

Dayne Crist, Kansas: Kansas City

Kyle Padron, E. Washingtion: Oakland

Marquels Gray, Minnesota: San Francisco

Robert Marve, Purdue: Tampa Bay

The Browns need another arm for camp and I think there are still a few names out there:

Colby Cameron La Tech

Matt McGloin Penn St.

Jake Ryan, Austin Peay

Nate Montana, WVa Wesleyan (son of Joe?)

Tino Sunseri, Pitt

Colton Chapple, Harvard

Zach Maynard, Cal

Any interest?