chris1969
Footballguy
OK this is my thread! I'm gonna try to report articles that are better than the canned fake expert stuff you see at other websites. You guys know I'm a homer, but I think I've already pointed out enough weaknesses on the team to show I don't always have rose colored glasses on. (Browns fans on the other sites were ready to hang me over my Baba opinions)
Now since OL is the Biggest Brown's concern on this site, I'll start there.
Phil Savage is a freakin genius! He knew that the Browns needed OL help and on the first day of free agency he acquired a lineman that will help stabilize the team for many years to come. Before you all start saying we know about LeChuck, it wasn't LeChuck. Sure LeChuck was our best free-agent pick-up, but it was a no-brainer, we just had to outbid everyone else. The genius part comes in with Kevin Schaefer, a guy best described as a young, average LT with good potential.
The Brown's biggest weakness on the OL has been LT for a few years, but a decent LT has been hard to come by. LT was a much bigger priority than center this year. When we went out and got Schaefer we signed him to a 7 year 36 mil contract. Wow! you say, that's a lot to pay for a young average LT! Well, this is where a little math comes in. If there was one thing Phil had going for him in FA, it was cap room. He used a chunk of that to stabilize the tackle spot.
If there are any Atlanta fans out there, they'll tell you that Schaefer is the guy that made Bob Whitfield expendable. He's gotten better every year, but he's still just considered marginally better than average. So why the huge contract?
Here's the genius part, the contract is not that huge. He did get a big bonus, but since the Browns don't plan on cutting him, it doesn't make a difference. His first 3 years cost 17 million, that's a about average for a LT. His Last 4 years are for 19 million that's a lot less than most LT's. But, he's not a LT though, he's a RT! He's playing LT for a year or 2 until they draft their LT of the future. He's filling the immediate need now, but he's really Tucker's replacement. If he reaches his high, he's the young Browns LT of the future, but if he doesn't, he's already better than most RT's. Now if your thinking that although he may be paid ok for a LT, but too high for a RT, you forget that because of the new CBA, cap levels are gonna increase big time next year and most of Schaefer's contract is bonus that won't count against that. In fact since he's signed for 7 years he will actually wind up to be a bargain!
A few facts you may not know....
Schaefer played LT in Atlanta, but Vick is left-handed so he didn't protect his blindside.
Charlie Frye throws right-handed, but actually writes left-handed.
Fraley as an injured back-up was scouted higher than Faine as a starter last year and he's about our 6th center this year!
One last thing in this thread, since I've already answered a few questions about the Browns a thousand times. I will not respond to any question on how I rate Charlie Frye, Kellon Winslow, Braylon Edwards,or Reuben Droughns, but I will give out a report on all of them and let you rate them later.
Now since OL is the Biggest Brown's concern on this site, I'll start there.
Phil Savage is a freakin genius! He knew that the Browns needed OL help and on the first day of free agency he acquired a lineman that will help stabilize the team for many years to come. Before you all start saying we know about LeChuck, it wasn't LeChuck. Sure LeChuck was our best free-agent pick-up, but it was a no-brainer, we just had to outbid everyone else. The genius part comes in with Kevin Schaefer, a guy best described as a young, average LT with good potential.
The Brown's biggest weakness on the OL has been LT for a few years, but a decent LT has been hard to come by. LT was a much bigger priority than center this year. When we went out and got Schaefer we signed him to a 7 year 36 mil contract. Wow! you say, that's a lot to pay for a young average LT! Well, this is where a little math comes in. If there was one thing Phil had going for him in FA, it was cap room. He used a chunk of that to stabilize the tackle spot.
If there are any Atlanta fans out there, they'll tell you that Schaefer is the guy that made Bob Whitfield expendable. He's gotten better every year, but he's still just considered marginally better than average. So why the huge contract?
Here's the genius part, the contract is not that huge. He did get a big bonus, but since the Browns don't plan on cutting him, it doesn't make a difference. His first 3 years cost 17 million, that's a about average for a LT. His Last 4 years are for 19 million that's a lot less than most LT's. But, he's not a LT though, he's a RT! He's playing LT for a year or 2 until they draft their LT of the future. He's filling the immediate need now, but he's really Tucker's replacement. If he reaches his high, he's the young Browns LT of the future, but if he doesn't, he's already better than most RT's. Now if your thinking that although he may be paid ok for a LT, but too high for a RT, you forget that because of the new CBA, cap levels are gonna increase big time next year and most of Schaefer's contract is bonus that won't count against that. In fact since he's signed for 7 years he will actually wind up to be a bargain!
A few facts you may not know....
Schaefer played LT in Atlanta, but Vick is left-handed so he didn't protect his blindside.
Charlie Frye throws right-handed, but actually writes left-handed.
Fraley as an injured back-up was scouted higher than Faine as a starter last year and he's about our 6th center this year!
One last thing in this thread, since I've already answered a few questions about the Browns a thousand times. I will not respond to any question on how I rate Charlie Frye, Kellon Winslow, Braylon Edwards,or Reuben Droughns, but I will give out a report on all of them and let you rate them later.
