Browns rookies impress (1 Viewer)

[BGP]

From what I'm hearing the Browns top two picks are looking extremely good in camp thus far from eyewitness reports I've received. Plus there's this:

The Cleveland defense is shaping up quite nicely. In particular, rookie linebackers Kamerion Wimbley and D'Qwell Jackson, the team's first- and second-round picks, respectively, look like they'll be ready to start right away. Combined with five-year veteran Andra Davis and 13-year veteran Willie McGinest, the Browns could quickly have one of the best 3-4 linebacking groups in the NFL.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AqGU...o&type=lgns

Some have said that Jackson has surpassed everything he's been asked to do in camp and quietly suggest he is a true pro bowl caliber player.

 

[hangover]

i'm actually excited about the new LB corps. they let way too many guys into the secondary last year.

of course, having Washington plugging up the center should help too.

 

[s_ezy]

there was a reason that Jackson won ACC Defensive Player of the Year while playing at Maryland

can't wait to see him play this thursday

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

can any of those guys play center?

 

[Borat]

i'm actually excited about the new LB corps. they let way too many guys into the secondary last year.of course, having Washington plugging up the center should help too.

You better hope Washington can stay healthy and that those DEs are ready to go, or it won't matter how good your LBs are. McGinest disappeared last year when Richard Seymour was out of the lineup, so I can't help but wonder how effective he'll be if the lineman in front of him isn't playing at a consistently high level.

 

[kupcho1]

How's Charlie lookin'?

 

[amnesiac]

i'm actually excited about the new LB corps. they let way too many guys into the secondary last year.of course, having Washington plugging up the center should help too.

You better hope Washington can stay healthy and that those DEs are ready to go, or it won't matter how good your LBs are. McGinest disappeared last year when Richard Seymour was out of the lineup, so I can't help but wonder how effective he'll be if the lineman in front of him isn't playing at a consistently high level.

yeah, i wasn't all that excited about the McGinest signing, but i think it says something about the group last year that two rookies could be starting from day one. (not knocking the rooks, but still.)

 

[amnesiac]

How's Charlie lookin'?

X not a rookie.

 

[Z-Dog]

can any of those guys play center?

 

[BGP]

Two years ago, this team went 4-12. Savage and Crennel came in and gutted that club. They then won 6 games. That's a sign of good coaching. This is a coaches league. You give that coach a bunch of upgrades at various positions, and you have to expect more. And that's what I'm doing. I'm expecting this team to surprise this year. This should be a fun season from start to finish. Even if they don't make the playoffs, they could show some flashes late in the year.

 

[BGP]

What you have to realize is last year's Browns probably lost 2 games just because their punter was garbage. Realistically, Crennel coached an 8-8 season with that awful squad. Are you kidding me? He's EARNED high expectations from me.

 

[amnesiac]

What you have to realize is last year's Browns probably lost 2 games just because their punter was garbage. Realistically, Crennel coached an 8-8 season with that awful squad. Are you kidding me? He's EARNED high expectations from me.

i still don't see more than 7-8 wins this year. hope i'm wrong.i think they'll compete for the division title in 07, though.

 

[BGP]

What you have to realize is last year's Browns probably lost 2 games just because their punter was garbage. Realistically, Crennel coached an 8-8 season with that awful squad. Are you kidding me? He's EARNED high expectations from me.

i still don't see more than 7-8 wins this year. hope i'm wrong.i think they'll compete for the division title in 07, though.

The NFL often isn't about a slow progression. You see clubs come out of nowhere and go 11-5 or 12-4 pretty often. We're setup to do that. Can't guarantee it, but it can happen fast.I can point to the 1999 Rams, 2000 Ravens, and 2001 Patriots that all made that fast transition from doormat to champs in one year.There's lots of other clubs that didn't go all the way to champs, but transitioned into strong clubs in one season.

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

Two years ago, this team went 4-12. Savage and Crennel came in and gutted that club. They then won 6 games. That's a sign of good coaching. This is a coaches league. You give that coach a bunch of upgrades at various positions, and you have to expect more. And that's what I'm doing. I'm expecting this team to surprise this year. This should be a fun season from start to finish. Even if they don't make the playoffs, they could show some flashes late in the year.

You are setting yourself up for a major disappointment. How have they upgraded their offense that was last in the NFL in points scored last year? By getting rid of veterans like Dilfer, Bryant & Shea and replacing them with young, unproven and (2/3) injury-rehabbing players like Frye, Edwards and Winslow? Average to good teams don't rely solely on promising yet inexperienced players the way the Browns will this year. Frye, Edwards, and Winslow have played in 19 NFL games. All of these kids may be talented but expecting them to be near .500 or surprise is a stretch. They will take their lumps.

 

[amnesiac]

What you have to realize is last year's Browns probably lost 2 games just because their punter was garbage. Realistically, Crennel coached an 8-8 season with that awful squad. Are you kidding me? He's EARNED high expectations from me.

i still don't see more than 7-8 wins this year. hope i'm wrong.i think they'll compete for the division title in 07, though.

The NFL often isn't about a slow progression. You see clubs come out of nowhere and go 11-5 or 12-4 pretty often. We're setup to do that. Can't guarantee it, but it can happen fast.

i think we're on the same page, i just think it'll be next year. that'll be year 3, and still a pretty quick turnaround.

 

[BGP]

CHargers went from 4-12 to 12-4 in 2004.

Last year the Redskins went from 6-10 to 10-6 and people picking them to beat the Seahawks in Seattle and go to the NFC title game.

Dramatic change happens a lot.

 

[reg]

What you have to realize is last year's Browns probably lost 2 games just because their punter was garbage. Realistically, Crennel coached an 8-8 season with that awful squad. Are you kidding me? He's EARNED high expectations from me.

i still don't see more than 7-8 wins this year. hope i'm wrong.i think they'll compete for the division title in 07, though.

The NFL often isn't about a slow progression. You see clubs come out of nowhere and go 11-5 or 12-4 pretty often. We're setup to do that. Can't guarantee it, but it can happen fast.I can point to the 1999 Rams, 2000 Ravens, and 2001 Patriots that all made that fast transition from doormat to champs in one year.There's lots of other clubs that didn't go all the way to champs, but transitioned into strong clubs in one season.

2005 Bears, 5-11 to 11-5Seems every year there is a 'cinderella' team that just goes off. No reason it can't be Cleveland this year.

 

[Browns Rule!]

i'm actually excited about the new LB corps. they let way too many guys into the secondary last year.of course, having Washington plugging up the center should help too.

We also have Chaun Thompson, one of my personal favorite LB's coming off the bench, the guy is lightning quick and should be starting. The defense is better, and the offense is better. I'm tired of hearing everyone say we don't have a center, center isn't the biggest loss in the world. Sure, Bentley is great, but the loss won't matter that much, we will get someone who can fill in and will be fine.

 

[amnesiac]

What you have to realize is last year's Browns probably lost 2 games just because their punter was garbage. Realistically, Crennel coached an 8-8 season with that awful squad. Are you kidding me? He's EARNED high expectations from me.

i still don't see more than 7-8 wins this year. hope i'm wrong.i think they'll compete for the division title in 07, though.

The NFL often isn't about a slow progression. You see clubs come out of nowhere and go 11-5 or 12-4 pretty often. We're setup to do that. Can't guarantee it, but it can happen fast.I can point to the 1999 Rams, 2000 Ravens, and 2001 Patriots that all made that fast transition from doormat to champs in one year.There's lots of other clubs that didn't go all the way to champs, but transitioned into strong clubs in one season.

2005 Bears, 5-11 to 11-5Seems every year there is a 'cinderella' team that just goes off. No reason it can't be Cleveland this year.

sure it could, and that would be awesome. just don't think it's very likely.

 

[SammyJankis]

I really like what the Browns have done on the defensive side of the ball. The offensive side of the ball? Not so much. Lots of question marks on O: Can Winslow recover? Can Edwards recover? Is Charlie Frye going to be an above average QB?

There doesn't seem to be anybody on the offensive side of the ball you have to game plan against. Perhaps Winslow/Edwards can change that.

At least for 2006 I think the Browns are going to be hurt by having to line-up against the Steelers, Bengals and Ravens twice a piece.

 

[amnesiac]

i'm actually excited about the new LB corps. they let way too many guys into the secondary last year.of course, having Washington plugging up the center should help too.

We also have Chaun Thompson, one of my personal favorite LB's coming off the bench, the guy is lightning quick and should be starting. The defense is better, and the offense is better. I'm tired of hearing everyone say we don't have a center, center isn't the biggest loss in the world. Sure, Bentley is great, but the loss won't matter that much, we will get someone who can fill in and will be fine.

i think maybe it's because Frye is in his first year as the starter, and working with a sub-par center is just one more thing he'll have to deal with.

 

[TheFanatic]

What you have to realize is last year's Browns probably lost 2 games just because their punter was garbage. Realistically, Crennel coached an 8-8 season with that awful squad. Are you kidding me? He's EARNED high expectations from me.

i still don't see more than 7-8 wins this year. hope i'm wrong.i think they'll compete for the division title in 07, though.

The NFL often isn't about a slow progression. You see clubs come out of nowhere and go 11-5 or 12-4 pretty often. We're setup to do that. Can't guarantee it, but it can happen fast.I can point to the 1999 Rams, 2000 Ravens, and 2001 Patriots that all made that fast transition from doormat to champs in one year.There's lots of other clubs that didn't go all the way to champs, but transitioned into strong clubs in one season.

I would've agreed with that before Bentley went down. Drafted Frye in both leagues I'm in and Winslow in one. But now I'm not so sure....ETA that I also drafted the Brown D in one league but I think I won't be offering them a contract and will go with the Giants instead. Will cost me more, but I think they will be better than the Browns on D this year....

 

[BGP]

What you have to realize is last year's Browns probably lost 2 games just because their punter was garbage. Realistically, Crennel coached an 8-8 season with that awful squad. Are you kidding me? He's EARNED high expectations from me.

i still don't see more than 7-8 wins this year. hope i'm wrong.i think they'll compete for the division title in 07, though.

The NFL often isn't about a slow progression. You see clubs come out of nowhere and go 11-5 or 12-4 pretty often. We're setup to do that. Can't guarantee it, but it can happen fast.I can point to the 1999 Rams, 2000 Ravens, and 2001 Patriots that all made that fast transition from doormat to champs in one year.There's lots of other clubs that didn't go all the way to champs, but transitioned into strong clubs in one season.

I would've agreed with that before Bentley went down. Drafted Frye in both leagues I'm in and Winslow in one. But now I'm not so sure....

But you gotta remember Bentley is just one guy. They added so MUCH talent:K2JureviciusLT Kevin ShafferMcGinestD'Quell JacksonWimbleyTed WashingtonZastudil - big upgradeAnd besides, Faine struggled at center last year - so its not like we have to downgrade that position a lot.