@the-gipper said:

I edited out all the ones I did not recognize and... plus Uncogtouchable. Added ages to those left. Boothe and Colon stand out to me.

I was pissed when the 'Boys talked Waters out of retirement for only $1.5mm while we were struggling with Cousins. But he prolly doesn't come to us for twice the price.

@shep said:

Not sure I agree here. I don't think the Browns lack for individual talent on the OL and have committed a TON of resources to it over the past few years.

Watch the line play... It's not simply a matter of opposing D's stacking the box against to stop our run. Does not seem to matter whether we zone or drive block, it is rare that at least one of our O-line is not defeated. Remained surprisingly true even after Cousins was mercifully returned to the bench.

@hoorta said:

It's more simple than that- the rules are bent to favor passing attacks and big scores. You can't grind it out against the Broncos when Manning is putting up 35 points on your defense. However you do have to have enough semblance of a running game to make the other team respect play action, or else your quarterback is going to get killed.

@shep said:

It's more simple than that- the rules are bent to favor passing attacks and big scores. You can't grind it out against the Broncos when Manning is putting up 35 points on your defense. However you do have to have enough semblance of a running game to make the other team respect play action, or else your quarterback is going to get killed.

If you run the ball a lot, it means you ain't passing a lot, which almost certainly means you don't have a great QB. Or you'd be passing more. Because that's what wins in today's league. As Aikman said, it's tough to keep up with the passing teams by grinding it out... because long drives are chock filled with peril. The more plays, the higher the likelihood of a false start, hold, fumble, whatever.

Adrian Peterson is the best running back of our generation, one of the best of all time. Truly an elite talent, a marvel... and what has it mean to the Vikings, really? What did Steven Jackson's billion yards mean to the Rams? Well, mostly it meant neither team had a great QB during their careers with the exception of Favre, the year the Vikings had to choke away their Super Bowl appearance so we could have a feelgood story in New Orleans (!).

Honestly, wouldn't you love to be the back taking handoffs from Peyton Manning? Like, the defense is really focused on you?

@tampadawgs said:

I think the guy in Seattle might agrue that AP is the last primetime back in the league, and maybe the guy in Philly too

And they are both on pass happy teams.

Gone are the days of 35-40 runs a game for one back.

@clevfan4life said:

I think the guy in Seattle might agrue that AP is the last primetime back in the league, and maybe the guy in Philly too

He had some violence in his history. But she ended up writing a letter claiming he didn't hit her, and the charges were dropped..

@clevelandwantsplayoffs said:

Chris Rainey? Not Bobby Rainey. I thought Chris Rainey was with the Steelers. Did they let him go? I did want this guy when he came out. If the Steelers couldn't use him then I guess he wasn't all that and a bag of chips. (but, apparently the Colts want him to do what they thought TR was there to do?)

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000285256/article/chris-rainey-signs-with-indianapolis-colts-gets-second-chance

The CBS site is really useful, constantly updated, and I use it a lot. If Mayock had a free site that kept that up to date, or Greg Cosell, I'm sure I'd put some time in there, too. I like the DraftBrowns guy a lot (Higdon) and of course Alo (Draft Breakdown) and Sobo, all three following the Browns more than anybody else, understanding the needs.

@shep said:

Not sure I agree here. I don't think the Browns lack for individual talent on the OL and have committed a TON of resources to it over the past few years. I think we have a couple "systemic" problems:

1. Teams don't fear our passing game very much and haven't for years.

2. Richardson and McGahee suck in completely different ways. Obie and Fozzy seem to do just fine.

3. The Ravens running game suddenly went away when they didn't have Boldin or Pitta and became a run-or-chuck-deep team. Then suddenly it came back last week as the Ravens figured it out. I.e., it wasn't because the Ravens line talent suddenly fell of a ledge.

4. The Packers, Broncos, and Patriots lines are banged up and featuring some UDFA types... but running the ball just fine. We have more "talent" on the line than they do. Hmm.

5. In a passing league, players at all five line spots have to be able to pass block. It's an endless cycle.

1. Teams don't fear our passing game very much and haven't for years.

2. Richardson and McGahee suck in completely different ways. Obie and Fozzy seem to do just fine.

3. The Ravens running game suddenly went away when they didn't have Boldin or Pitta and became a run-or-chuck-deep team. Then suddenly it came back last week as the Ravens figured it out. I.e., it wasn't because the Ravens line talent suddenly fell of a ledge.

4. The Packers, Broncos, and Patriots lines are banged up and featuring some UDFA types... but running the ball just fine. We have more "talent" on the line than they do. Hmm.

5. In a passing league, players at all five line spots have to be able to pass block. It's an endless cycle.

XxDaBuckeyexX said:

Seems like 80% the same guys. I got my list from KFFL. Not sure why two different sites would have two different lists on such a thing.

Not a big fan of your list but this is a list I looked at a couple weeks ago, which has some very intriguing names like Jon Asamoah.

XxDaBuckeyexX said:

I guess if we could get an Eric Steinbach type, a FA pickup that played well for us for several years, that would be fine. But here is the list of OF FAs that will be available at the end of the season. Do you see an Eric Steinbach in this group? (or a David Yankey?):

Name/Current Team:

Kevin Boothe, Giants

Willie Colon, Jets

Richie Incognito, ????????

Richard Ohrnberger, Chargers

Alex Parsons, Raiders

Chad Rinehart, Chargers

Matt Slauson, Bears

Wade Smith, Texans

Chris Spencer, Titans

Brian Waters, Cowboys

Danny Watkins, Dolphins

Chris Williams, Rams

Except for Incognito.....who should have stayed In Cognito, there are no names you really recognize.....of course, that is the fate of being an OG. The least recognized position on the field.

Nevertheless....do you all know if any of these guys are worth picking up, over taking a highly rated OG in the draft?

@the-gipper said:

Having a good run blocking O Line is primarily based on having quality OGs. Our OGs are the weak link on this line, and I suspect it possible that that position could be a draft priority. As I stated elsewhere I really like what I have seen out of David Yankey OG Stanford. He will be a guy that could be there in the Browns draft wheelhouse with one of their 1st round picks.

@tour2ma said:

Having a good run blocking O Line is primarily based on having quality OGs. Our OGs are the weak link on this line, and I suspect it possible that that position could be a draft priority. As I stated elsewhere I really like what I have seen out of David Yankey OG Stanford. He will be a guy that could be there in the Browns draft wheelhouse with one of their 1st round picks.

Mike

@shep said:

I agree . I would like to just see us add a power back for short yardage. Dion was amazing before he got hung out over the middle and broke his leg.

-----------------------------------------------------

Not to derail the thread, but evidence is mounting that we simply do not have an effective, run blocking O-line. Not sure it matters who we put behind it.

@tour2ma said:

U forgot busted on RB

• The senior running back class is one of the weakest in recent memory, but two prospects have helped themselves as much as anyone this season: Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde and Boston College running back Andre Williams. Both have appeared on this weekly feature in the past as players who have helped themselves, but they continue to boost their draft stock as the season stretches into mid-November. The running back position will be dominated by underclassmen in the early rounds, but both Hyde and Williams are top-three senior running backs in my opinion.

Hyde rushed for a career-best 246 yards Saturday against Illinois, averaging 10.3 yards per carry and finishing with five total touchdowns. His game film the past few years was average at best and he appeared to be nothing more than a late rounder entering the season, but he has been extremely impressive in 2013, running with purpose, decisiveness and hunger. Hyde is currently my No. 2 senior running back and is 53 rushing yards away from becoming the first running back under Urban Meyer to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark.

Williams would be more of a household name if he played at a different program, but nonetheless, he leads all of FBS in rushing yards (1,810), which is 371 yards more than the next-best rushing total. Like Hyde, Williams has been productive due to his combination of power and drive, refusing to be stopped. He has been a workhorse with almost 300 carries this season and is using his breakout senior season to get the attention of NFL scouts.

Now I like Fozzy Whitaker, a similar guy. He has natural quicks and is a run/catch guy. I like Obie. I think those three will be on the team next year but we need the bell cow, the big guy who will hit the hole and give you 2nd and 5 instead of 2nd and 9. We need McGahee before the knee injury, maybe five years ago. Andre Brown right now.

Honestly, a healthy Lewis and Obie would've been given us a nice rotation if we hadn't become strangely fixated on McGahee.