SB Nation - C.J. Mosley

Post-Game Thread: Lions Win 38-37 Shootout

Chris Pokorny — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:40:06 -0000

22 days ago: Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, left, tries to make a catch in the end zone as Cleveland Browns defensive back Brodney Pool defends in the first quarter of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. The play was ruled incomplete. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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If you heard the Browns were 1-9 and watched this game, you would've thought it was our defense that was responsible for how horrible we've played this year.

With the Browns having their only good offensive game of the season behind Brady Quinn's four touchdown passes, the team had a 37-31 lead with under two minutes to go. The Lions had no timeouts left but moved the ball down the field to attempt a Hail Mary with eight seconds left. After scrambling around forever, Lions rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford launched the ball as he took a shot from C.J. Mosley. The ball was intercepted by Brodney Pool, but the officials threw the flag for pass interference in the end zone. Why was the call a poor one?

You always see a crowd of people jump for a Hail Mary, but pass interference never gets called.
The ball would've been uncatchable compared to where Pool picked it.

Then, the Lions were charged with an injury timeout they didn't have, although since a game can't end on a penalty, the Lions were still permitted to run their play from the one-yard line. Here's the problem -- Matthew Stafford ~~should've been ineligible to return for one play~~. Stafford then came back into the game after the Browns called a timeout and threw the one-yard touchdown pass to TE Brandon Pettigrew. The CBS announcing crew originally kept proclaiming that the Lions took a timeout.

A blown call at the end that ruined our only shining moments on offense of the season. Pfft.

Previewing the Kansas City Chiefs 2009 Schedule: Week 15

Chris Thorman — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:12:05 -0000

More photos » by Tony Dejak - AP

3 months ago: Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn (10) passes the ball to Josh Cribbs for a first down under pressure from Tennessee Titans defensive end Dave Ball (98) during a preseason NFL football game at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

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Week 15 brings the Cleveland Browns to Arrowhead Stadium. At this point in the season, and at this point in our predictions, we have the Kansas City Chiefs sitting on a record of 7-6.

Crazy? Yeah, it is a little crazy. But we are after all Chiefs fans, no?

If you're a casual follower of the Browns like I am, you know about Dante Stallworth and his legal issues. You've heard about the Brady Quinn v. Derek Anderson debate. And I'm assuming you know that Eric Mangini is now the head coach.

But beyond that I don't know that much. After the jump, SB Nation's Browns blogger Chris answers some of our questions about the Browns. I've also added the Browns' depth chart as of now for more reference.

Make sure you check out Dawgs by Nature for all things Cleveland Browns.

Pos	1st String (Starter)	2nd String (Backup)	3rd String
QB
RB	Jamal Lewis	Jerome Harrison	James Davis Cedric Peerman
FB	Lawrence Vickers
WR1	Braylon Edwards	Mohamed Massaquoi
WR2	Joshua Cribbs	Mike Furrey	Brian Robiskie
TE	Robert Royal	Steve Heiden	Martin Rucker
LT	Joe Thomas
LG	Eric Steinbach
C	Hank Fraley	Alex Mack
RG	Floyd Womack	Rex Hadnot
RT	John St. Clair	Phil Trautwein
Pos	1st String (Starter)	2nd String (Backup)	3ird String
DE	Kenyon Coleman	C.J. Mosley
NT	Shaun Rogers	Ahtyba Rubin
DE	Robaire Smith	Corey Williams
LOLB	Kamerion Wimbley
ILB	D'Qwell Jackson	David Veikune
ILB	Eric Barton	Kaluka Maiava	Blake Costanzo
ROLB	David Bowens	Alex Hall	Leon Williams
LCB	Eric Wright	Hank Poteat	Marquis Floyd
RCB	Brandon McDonald	Coye Francies	Gerard Lawson
FS	Brodney Pool	Mike Adams	DeAngelo Smith
SS	Abram Elam	Nick Sorensen
Pos	1st String (Starter)	2nd String (Backup)	3rd String
K	Phil Dawson
P	Dave Zastudil
H	Dave Zastudil
LS	Ryan Pontbriand
KR	Joshua Cribbs	Gerard Lawson	Jerome Harrison
PR	Joshua Cribbs	Gerard Lawson	Jerome Harrison

What do the Chiefs have to worry the most about...Jamal Lewis and the running game or Braylon Edwards and the passing game?

This question is tough to answer since our game isn't until Week 15, so I'll try to base my answer as if the Chiefs were facing the Browns earlier in the year. I'd definitely pick Braylon Edwards and the passing game. The media has automatically written off the Browns, but there is still some potency on the offensive side of the ball. Just two years ago, Derek Anderson and Edwards were Pro Bowlers. Sure, last season's struggles "might" have shown their true colors, but how can anyone guarantee that Edwards won't go back to having the same type of season he had in 2007? Brady Quinn will probably be the starting quarterback. Although he doesn't sling it as much as Anderson, Brian Daboll (the Browns offensive coordinator) would be foolish to leave out the deep patterns to Edwards.

On the other hand, the running game appears bound to struggle as long as Jamal Lewis is in the lineup. He had a down season last year and has not shown the same power he used to have throughout this year's training camp. Lewis claims he's just "holding back" for the regular season, but I think it comes down to him not having very much left in the tank anymore. Fans in Cleveland like our sixth-round draft pick James Davis at running back, but I'm not going to sit here and say that he's going to be awesome. He was great in the preseason, but the real evaluation will come when he's against first stringers in the regular season. This lack of assurance in the running game almost makes Edwards and the passing game more of a threat by default.

Will the Browns use Josh Cribbs as a WR more often? The Chiefs did that with Dante Hall and it seemed to ruin him in the return game. Any thoughts/concerns on that?

Not only should the Browns use Cribbs as a receiver more often, he should and will be starting opposite Edwards (according to our depth chart). He started in the preseason and did very well. I don't think you can compare Cribbs to Dante Hall or Devin Hester in their transitions to wide receiver because they have different styles. Hall and Hester rely more on elusiveness, whereas Cribbs finds the hole, powers through it and keeps on going. During the preseason, we saw several plays against first-stringers in which Cribbs caught the ball on a quick pattern towards the sideline and then stiff-armed the first cornerback he met before being taken down a little bit later by another defender. I know the Browns took Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi in round two this year, but if it were up to me, I'd shelve their growth and give Cribbs the starting opportunity -- I'm that intrigued by him.

The Chiefs are just transitioning to the 3-4 defense. Can you talk a little bit about what the Browns transition to the 3-4 was like a few years ago and how it stands now?

The transition was exciting at first. All we could think about is how our defense was going to be nasty like the Ravens defense. And then, something bad happened -- we saw Romeo Crennel's 3-4 defense in action. Ever since then, it's been a nightmare. We never generated any pressure. We never stopped the run. We never stood out from any other defense in the NFL. Most importantly, we barely had any of the type of players we needed for the system. Last year we acquired Shaun Rogers, but one man can only do so much. I think Mangini and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan have done a better job finding players that are comfortable with the 3-4 alignment, but we're several years into the defense and aren't even half as good as the Ravens' defense.

Many thanks to Chris for stopping by and giving us his answers! Read more about the Browns at Dawgs by Nature.

My prediction for this game is, let's say....17 to 13 in favor of our Chiefs. I don't think we'll have faith in this offense very often this year. Current record at this point: 8-6.

Check out all of our season game previews at this link.

Shaun Smith Knocked Off Of Browns Roster

Chris Pokorny — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 17:43:03 -0000

The Cleveland Browns gave the final knockout blow to defensive lineman Shaun Smith by releasing him Saturday. The move does not come as a shock due to Smith's demeanor as a person. He has always appeared to be a hothead, and last year he punched teammate Brady Quinn in the face, making more of an impact than he had all season.

In the offseason, the new regime reportedly told Smith to "shape up and shut up". Smith showed up to camp with mixed reports from fans and the media about him -- some said he looked lazy and out of shape, while others said he was keeping his attitude in line a little bit more. Smith would have added to our depth on the defensive line, but I don't think we should look at this as a significant loss.

A few things might have led to the early release of Smith:

Mangini might want a reputation that he'll at least give players the respect of playing about a week in camp, rather than assuming their attitude from the past will carry over (he could have cut him before camp if he wanted to).
The play of DE Robaire Smith has been encouraging as he comes off of surgery.
NT Ahtyba Rubin seems to have a grip on the backup nose tackle position.
In acquiring DL Kenyon Coleman and DL C.J. Mosley in the offseason, Mangini would rather use our depth on players who have experience in the system.

There is no word on who the Browns will bring in to take the roster space of Smith. Mangini should comment on the release of Smith a little bit later.

Browns Training Camp Report: Day 3 (Morning) - Leggett, Davis Continue to Shine

Chris Pokorny — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:53:26 -0000

WR Lance Leggett continues to make plays, catching a deep ball thrown by QB Brady Quinn for an eventual touchdown.

View full size photo »

It's Day 3 of Cleveland Browns training camp, and the morning practice is already in the books. There weren't a lot of updates on the injury front, with a name or two even being added to the "minor" injury list.

TRAINING CAMP REPORT - DAY 3 [MORNING] (8/3/09)

Welcome Back, Mr. Heiden: Tight end Steve Heiden is no longer wearing the red "limited contact" jersey, meaning he is now going through practice the same as everyone else. How pumped up was Heiden to get back into contact? So much, that he was able to take down LB Kamerion Wimbley in one-on-one tackling drills. I'm feeling the Heiden buzz already, and it really seems like a wide open competition for the starting tight end position.
Play of the Day: Once again, Lance Leggett is taking advantage of his reps. Earlier in the practice session, Brady Quinn threw the ball about 50-55 yards in the air and after juggling it a bit, Leggett was able to haul it in with DB Corey Ivy being unable to break up the play. Leggett then proceeded to run it the rest of the way for about an 80-yard touchdown. WTAM adds that another thing that made the play impressive was seeing rookie RB James Davis pick up a blitz from S Hamza Abdullah.

RB James Davis is consistently running past defenders with quick cuts.

Not Practicing: Among the players still not practicing: WR Braylon Edwards, DL Shaun Rogers, DB Don Carey, and FB Charles Ali. CB Eric Wright left the morning practice late with an apparent tweaked hamstring.
Backup Nose Tackle: With Rogers sidelined, it's a good opportunity for the coaches to see which player is best suited for the backup nose tackle position. According to the OBR, Robaire Smith, Louis Leonard, C.J. Mosley, and Ahtyba Rubin have each had some work there, with Rubin standing out the most.
Average Day at Quarterback: Neither of the quarterbacks particularly outshined the other, as both of them failed to produce a score in this morning's two-minute drills. Among their biggest mistakes of the practice -- Anderson gave a pick six to Hamza Abdullah, while Quinn threw behind WR Jordan Norwood on a would-be touchdown.
Bubble Watch: So far, WR Paul Hubbard is experiencing some of the same issues he faced in camp last year -- not being able to catch the ball consistently. The OBR reports that Hubbard was up and down Monday, cutting off a route to lead to an incompletion, then coming back to make a spectacular catch, only to come back and have another negative play. On the defensive side of things, CB Corey Ivy stood out with two nice pass breakups.

OLB Alex Hall gets the better of TE Martin Rucker in a rushing drill.

Asset on Special Teams: Head coach Eric Mangini noted that RB James Davis has been one of the first players down the field in special teams drills. That'll be something to look out for during the preseason; perhaps he can make it so Joshua Cribbs doesn't have to work so hard.
Rucker's Blocking: Tight end Martin Rucker didn't handle his OLB as well as Heiden did to Wimbley. Rucker was generally overpowered by Alex Hall during drills.
NoMo Drops: According to a fan's report, WR Mohamed Massaquoi struggled in the morning with several drops. Staying on par, WR Brian Robiskie was once again catching the ball well.
Harrison Holds Up: Daniel Wolf of Dawg Scooper noted that RB Jerome Harrison held his own on a blitz from LB Eric Barton. Still, with James Davis impressing day-by-day (he again had big runs, including a 50+ yarder), you have to wonder if he will slip into the Leon Washington role instead of Harrison.
Foster Struggling: While it doesn't sound like he's anywhere near "Nat Dorsey or Isaac Sowells bad", OT George Foster's abilities seem to be behind those of Ryan Tucker, John St. Clair, and Floyd Womack. Foster was being given a tough time by OLB David Bowens.
No News is...Good News?: If anyone attends camp, please let us know about Brodney Pool and/or Abram Elam. The news on them the first three days has been scarce.

The evening practice report will be up either late tonight or some time tomorrow morning.

Sunday's Evening Link Collection / Camp Sources

Lane's Training Camp Quick Hits (Orange and Brown Report, Adkins)
Cleveland Browns Training Camp Report (Dawg Scooper, Wolf)
QBs stymied in two-minute drills (Cleveland Plain Dealer, Grossi)
Monday AM Aug. 3 - Heiden Cleared (Akron Becaon Journal, Ridenour)

2009 Schedule Preview: Week 4 vs. N.Y. Jets

Saintsational — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:00:30 -0000

The Saints return home, after two trips to the Northeast, to play the second of three straight New York-based teams and second consecutive AFC East team. This time it's the J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS. The biggest change for New York this off-season was made on the sidelines when they parted ways with head coach Eric Mangini and brought in defensive minded Rex Ryan to take over. Ryan is sure to turn around the Jets mediocre defense but the offense may still suffer some growing pains. It's time to take a look at what the Saints will be up against this year for the second game at home.

Jets Offense

This may be hard to believe but the Jets actually had fewer picks, three, in this years draft than the Saints. Shocking, I know. All three of those choices were used to improve the offensive side of the ball, including first round draft pick and dreamy babe magnet, quarterback Mark Sanchez. Following the "retirement" of Brett Favre, Sanchez is likely to be next years starter. He won't have too much to work with in the receiver department, however, as the Jets have not really addressed that position this off-season and are now without Laveranues Coles.

On the ground the Jets are a bit more solid. Thomas Jones will continue his duties as the primary running back though age - Jones turns 31 in August - should start playing a factor. If contract talks go well, Leon Washington should get his wish to stay in NY and maintain his backup role while third round draft pick Shonn Greene learns the ropes.

In the recent past, the Saints have typically done better shutting down run-heavy teams than ones geared more toward the pass. Even if the Saints defense hasn't improved much they should still be up to the task. Unless, of course, Sanchez is some sort of Matt Ryan/Joe Flacco-esque stud, in which case the Saints could be in trouble. Still, I think the black and gold have the advantage in this one.

Jets Defense

New head coach Rex Ryan comes from Baltimore where he led the Raven defense to prominence. As such, he's made quite a few changes and done a bit of house cleaning in his first year with the Jets. Probably the biggest upgrade to the defense this off-season was the acquisition of inside linebacker Bart Scott from, where else, Baltimore. Scott should fit into Ryan's sure-to-be-complex 3-4 defensive scheme that also includes linebackers Calvin Pace and David Harris. Second year linebacker Vernon Gholston still needs to prove himself. Also brought in from Ryan's old team to help get pressure on the quarterback was defensive end Marques Douglas.

The other big-name upgrade for the Jets this off-season was the signing of Lito Sheppard. Yes, that Lito Shepphard. He will replace Ty Law and play alongside talented CB Darrelle Revis. The two should drastically improve on the teams 29th ranked pass defense. At the safety position, Kerry Rhodes remains a bright spot on the roster following the loss of four other players at the position this off-season. He is joined by safety Jim Leonhard, who is new to the team after coming from, yes that's right, the Baltimore Ravens.

This is an intriguing matchup for the Saints and will definitely pose a challenge. We know Rex Ryan is going to bring it on defense and the Jets' talented cornerbacks should match up well against New Orleans' receivers. Saints fans, beware.

Jets 2008 Season

9-7 Record

Last Meeting

November 27th, 2005

Week 12	1	2	3	4	OT	F
Saints	0	14	0	7	--	21
Jets	3	6	7	3	--	19

Why the Saints Can Win

The Jets might not be set in the quarterback department.

Why the Saints Can Lose

The Saints offense could stall against the Jets defense.

Prediction

Saints 17 - Jets 15

Newly Acquired

DE Marques Douglas

DT Howard Green

CB Donald Strickland

ILB Bart Scott

CB Lito Sheppard

S Jim Leonhard

LB Larry Izzo

2009 Draft Class

QB Mark Sanchez

RB Shonn Greene

G Matt Slauson

Key Losses

QB Brett Favre

RB Jesse Chatman

RB Musa Smith

WR Laveranues Coles

TE Chris Baker

DE Kenyon Coleman

DE C.J. Mosley

ILB Eric Barton

ILB Cody Spencer

ILB Brad Kassell

ILB David Bowens

CB Ty Law

S Abram Elam

S David Barrett

S Hank Poteat

S J.R. Reed

K Mike Nugent

Linkage

Gang Green Nation

SB Nation Jets Coverage

Jets @ Saints Coverage

NY Jets Roster

Poll

Do you think the Jets pose a threat to the Saints?

Not one bit.

97 votes

I'm a bit nervous.

94 votes

Very much so.

54 votes

245 votes | Poll has closed

Cleveland Browns Training Camp 2009: Defensive Line Preview (Part 2)

Chris Pokorny — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:26:32 -0000

After covering the potential starting defensive linemen of the Browns yesterday, now it's time to take a look at the players who will be competing for the reserve roles. When you consider that someone like Shaun Rogers isn't an every down player, it remains important that there isn't too significant of a dropoff in production down the depth chart.

For a reminder of Part 1 of the defensive line, click here.

5. C.J. MOSLEY - BACKUP DEFENSIVE END

C.J. Mosley (#69)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 305
College: Missouri
Experience: 5 years
Stats: 17 tkls in 2008

A former sixth-round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings, C.J. Mosley has spent the past three seasons with Mangini and the Jets. He doesn't have a lot of starting experience (7 starts in 47 appearances) but was a versatile backup who kept his mouth shut.

Here is what thejetsblog.com had to say about Mosley back in February when Mosley was still a free agent:

"I liked Mosley a lot as a ‘depth guy’ for the Jets. He had a high motor and gave the Jets solid pass rushing depth on sub packages." Link

He already received a positive endorsement from general manager George Kokinis back when Mosley was first signed by the team.

"C.J adds another piece to the defensive puzzle," said Kokinis. "He is a competitive defensive lineman that runs to the football and will fit in well with the players in that group."

Player Quality: C
Final Roster Odds: 90%

6. SHAUN SMITH - BACKUP DEFENSIVE LINEMAN

Shaun Smith (#91)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 325
College: South Carolina
Experience: 6 years
Stats: 36 tkls, 11 games

Sometimes you just get that vibe that a player isn't going to be with your team very much longer. Right now, that feeling is at the expense of defensive end/defensive tackle Shaun Smith. After a decent 2007 season, Smith made a lot of noise in 2008. Unfortunately, that noise was made off the field, like when he allegedly punched quarterback Brady Quinn in the face. Yep, that's a nice way to make the fans love you.

On top of that, according to Tony Grossi from a report in May, the new coaching staff told Smith to "Shape up and shut up." That doesn't exactly sound like a warm welcome, especially when two of Mangini's former defensive linemen have been signed (Coleman and Mosley) and there are younger players who will shape up and shut up. Once deemed a very reliable and versatile backup to Rogers at the start of last season, Smith's pompous demeanor has overshadowed the playmaking ability we thought he had.

Player Quality: D for detrimental to the team
Final Roster Odds: 60%

7. AHTYBA RUBIN - BACKUP DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Ahtyba Rubin (#71)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 330
College: Iowa State
Experience: 2 years
Stats: 11 tkls in 2008

If S. Smith isn't going to be the backup to Rogers, then Ahtyba Rubin has a fair shot at claiming that role. Rubin is tied with Louis Leonard for being our second-largest lineman, and he showed some promise during his limited action last season.

In our big win against the Buffalo Bills last season, he recovered a Fred Jackson fumble in the third quarter. His best statistical game came in Week 16 against the Bengals when he recorded 5 tackles in a 14-0 loss. This is the type of situation where it would've been really nice to record some of these games and look back at Rubin's plays. Maybe rufio's assessment of him during a game last year can be improved upon:

"He needs to get lower in his stance though, I can always tell its him and nor Rogers because he is so high in his stance." -rufio, during a game thread against the Texans

Player Quality: TBD
Final Roster Odds: 80%

8. LOUIS LEONARD - BACKUP DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Louis Leonard (#93)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 330
College: Fresno State
Experience: 3 years
Stats: 25 tkls in 2008

It's difficult to speak on Leonard's specific weaknesses, but something has to be up when you receive more playing time than a rookie (Rubin) in 2008, but fail to create the same type of buzz.

Although Leonard has been in the league for two years with three different NFL teams, last year was technically his rookie season in terms of playing time. He and Rubin have similar builds, but I can't see the Browns keeping both players unless they decide to part ways with S. Smith. Down the depth chart, you get to a point where players are pretty much replaceable. We found Leonard on the free agent wire, and chances are we can find another player like him if necessary during the season.

Final Roster Odds: 40%

9. SANTONIO THOMAS - VETERAN DEFENSIVE LINEMAN

Santonio Thomas (#97)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 305
College: Miami
Experience: 3 years
Stats: 13 tkls in 2008

Just who is Santonio Thomas? He's been in the league longer than you'd think. He started his career as an undrafted free agent for the Patriots back in 2005. He spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons on the Patriots' practice squad before finally seeing some in-game action in 2007.

The Browns signed Thomas after Robaire Smith's season-ending injury last September. Once again, with minimal playing time to go by, it's hard to evaluate these types of players. Thomas should head into training camp as an underdog though, and should only be in the mix if the team decides to rid of S. Smith. At 27 years old, he's also 3-5 years older than Leonard and Rubin. It's hard to imagine him improving upon his game at this point, so unless he shows standout ability over either of them, his roster odds won't be very good.

Final Roster Odds: 25%

10. MELILA PURCELL - PRACTICE SQUAD DEFENSIVE END

Melila Purcell (#97)
Height: 6-5
Weight: 295
College: Hawaii
Experience: 1 year
Stats: 2 year practice sqd

It seems like a rare case where none of the defensive linemen above Purcell are eligible for the practice squad anymore. Melila Purcell, on the other hand, who I keep forgetting is still on the team, can still go on the practice squad. Would he like it? Probably not, as he has spent the past two seasons (minus one game) there.

Yahoo still has Purcell listed at 266 pounds, which is more of what he was like in his college days. He weighs in at 295 pounds now, but lacks the NFL experience to make a splash at the defensive end position, especially with Mangini's pair of Jets ready to see playing time there. When the Browns chose to sign Thomas last season after Smith's injury instead of promoting Purcell, it was probably a telling sign.

It's probably time for Purcell to try to catch on elsewhere. Of note, rookie linebacker David Veikune, who fans and coaches seem to be high on already, was initially Purcell's backup in college at Hawaii.

Final Roster Odds: 25%
Practice Squad Odds: 40%

11. ADAM HOPPEL - UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT DEFENSIVE LINEMAN

Adam Hoppel (#67)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 300
College: Cincinnati
Experience: 3 years
Stats: 13 tkls in 2008

Our only rookie defensive lineman in camp this year, I headed over to Scott Wright's Draft Countdown to look for a scouting report on Adam Hoppel. There was none.

Hoppel grew up in Ohio, making him a semi-local player. Hoppel's family has a background in wrestling, including his father who was a three-time state high school champion, his uncle who wrestled at Bowling Green, and his cousin who was an NCAA Division III wrestling national champion at Muskingum. When it came time to make a decision, Hoppel chose football over wrestling. Now he'll get the chance to play for the team I'm sure he watched fairly often growing up.

Stats from his biography: "Saw action 35 career games and racked up 81 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks… Recorded four sacks as a senior" Hoppel appeared to play the defensive tackle position at Cincinnati, but would fit in more as a defensive end in our defense.

Final Roster Odds: <1%
Practice Squad Odds: 25%

DT Position Quality: C- (Backups Only, Minus the Loser of Coleman vs. Smith)

It's safe to say that the Browns will definitely carry six defensive linemen, with a good chance that they'll carry seven and a (very) outside chance that they'll have eight. These players should have near-guaranteed roster spots:

Locked Up: Shaun Rogers, Corey Williams, Kenyon Coleman, Robaire Smith, C.J. Mosley.

That's five, without really having a backup nose tackle. In a battle of Rubin vs. Leonard, I'd take Rubin as the sixth man. If we choose to go with a seventh player, which I believe we will, it should come down to Leonard vs. S. Smith. If the coaches feel S. Smith has responded well enough to their blatantly honest advice, he should be our final lineman. If not, that's when the odds of making the team improve for the rest of the bunch in the list.

Poll

(Two part question) Do you see DL Shaun Smith making the final roster? Who is the NT behind Shaun Rogers?

S. Smith makes the team, A. Rubin is the backup NT

139 votes

S. Smith makes the team, L. Leonard is the backup NT

25 votes

S. Smith gets cut, A. Rubin is the backup NT

234 votes

S. Smith gets cut, L. Leonard is the backup NT

35 votes

433 votes | Poll has closed

Cleveland Browns Training Camp 2009: Defensive Line Preview (Part 1)

Chris Pokorny — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 05:02:46 -0000

After covering quarterbacks, running backs, and fullbacks last week, it's time to move "Down into the Trenches", our Week 2 training camp preview theme.

We started last season with a promising defensive line of Robaire Smith, Shaun Rogers, and Corey Williams -- all three of whom were supposed to be above average or better. We ended the season with Rogers and Williams still playing, but Rogers was the only one who made any real noise. In a 3-4 defense, that's not going to cut it.

Today, we review the starting defensive lineman. There are only three spots to fill, but I've included four lineman since one of the positions is set for a nice training camp competition.

1. SHAUN ROGERS - STARTING NOSE TACKLE

Shaun Rogers (#92)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 350
College: Texas
Experience: 9 years
Stats: 75 tkls, 4.5 sacks

He's big, he's bad...he's Big Baby Shaun Rogers. If there was one bright spot in last year's dismal season, it would have to be the fantastic play of Rogers. He was the most consistent player on either side of the ball. Gone were the criticisms of his days in Detroit, when he was considered "lazy". To be fair, Rogers did appear sluggish in Detroit, meaning that same mentality could kick in at some point with Cleveland. For now, let's just hope it doesn't.

Worst Attribute: Can't Play Every Down - This is obviously more of a weakness related to the rest of the Browns' defensive line. It was just baffling to see how much of a dropoff we would suffer when Rogers was not in the game; third-string running backs would start tearing us up for 100+ yards in just one half of action. Rogers' does require time off though to stay fresh and be effective by the time the fourth quarter comes around, which is as close of a weakness I can come up with without being too analytical.

Best Attribute: Commanding the Double Team - With only three defensive lineman in a 3-4 defensive scheme, you need a nose tackle who requires a double team. Fellow division rivals Casey Hampton of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kelly Gregg of the Baltimore Ravens have been stable for their respective teams. When the Browns first went to the 3-4, who did we have? Jason Fisk? Ted Washington? Acquiring a player like Rogers was a necessary risk, and it paid off, at least for one year. Rogers makes it possible for everything else to fall into place, specifically for our defensive ends and our linebackers. This year, we'll see if Mangini and Ryan are able to get Rogers' supporting cast to play at a higher level.

Various Concerns / Comments - Nobody was getting to the quarterback last year except for our 350 pound nose tackle. Rogers and Mangini initially got off on the wrong foot, but from all of the recent reports, it seems that the two have genuinely made up to each other. Another special aspect of Rogers' game is his ability to block field goals, something he did at least once for the Browns last season.

Job Security: A+
Player Quality: A+
Final Roster Odds: 100%

2. COREY WILLIAMS - STARTING DEFENSIVE END

Corey Williams (#99)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 320
College: Arkansas State
Experience: 6 years
Stats: 50 tkls, 0.5 sacks

He's...he's...he's...well, I guess you can say that he is no Shaun Rogers. There is a far gap between the production level of our No. 1 linemen (Rogers) and the No. 2 linemen (Williams). And, Williams is really only rated at No. 2 due to the production he had prior to coming to Cleveland last year.

Williams was a sixth-round draft pick in the 2004 draft by the Packers. (Side note: Boy, are the Browns the only team in the NFL that can't find a breakout d-linemen in a later round?) After Green Bay franchised him last year, he was dealt to the Browns for a second-round pick. The deal seemed great on paper -- we got a potential Pro Bowler for a draft choice; draft choices are often hit-or-miss. The only concern was whether Williams could transition to the 3-4 defense. How'd he do...?

Worst Attribute: Not a 3-4 Guy - ...obviously not good enough. After recording back-to-back seven sack seasons with the Packers as a defensive tackle/defensive end hybrid in their 4-3 system, he just looked out of place with the Browns. It was probably a mistake by the Browns to not move him around more often, or to not run a few plays similar to the ones he ran in Green Bay. Instead, he seemed like the Kamerion Wimbley of the defensive line; it's not working, but rinse and repeat again and again.

Best Attribute: Durability - After our defensive line was banged up in general last season, Williams was able to provide some stability by starting all 16 games, something he has now done for three consecutive seasons. While Williams' play wasn't great, it was average enough so that it probably would've been better than some of the other players on our roster. Williams also played through most of the season with a bum shoulder.

Various Concerns / Comments - Williams has been quoted as being intrigued by some of the new things Ryan's 3-4 scheme brings to the table. With his shoulder doing better, hopefully Williams will be able to make the jump from average to Pro Bowl caliber once again.

Job Security: B+
Player Quality: B-
Final Roster Odds: 100%

3. KENYON COLEMAN - POTENTIAL STARTING DEFENSIVE END

Kenyon Coleman (#93)
Height: 6-5
Weight: 295
College: UCLA
Experience: 8 years
Stats: 55 tkls, 0.5 sacks

Acquired by the Browns via our first first-round draft trade this past April, Coleman begins the point where there is really a big question mark as to who will start at the other defensive end position. Right now, the two biggest players in the competition are Kenyon Coleman and Robaire Smith.

Coleman came over from the New York Jets, where he spent two seasons with Mangini. Two years ago, he had 83 total tackles; last year that number fell to 55 tackles. As his numbers seem to match the general scouting report I've been reading about Coleman, he excels more in run defense than he does at rushing the passer (but that's what Wimbley and company are supposed to be for, right?).

Coleman won't be a tremendous player, but he can be a fair asset in a proper rotation at the defensive end position.

Player Quality: C+
Final Roster Odds: 99%

4. ROBAIRE SMITH - POTENTIAL STARTING DEFENSIVE END

Robaire Smith (#98)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 310
College: Michigan State
Experience: 10 years
Stats: 4 sacks in 2007

Considering how Williams played last season, a healthy Robaire Smith has the potential to be the second-best defensive linemen on the team. I loved it when the Browns signed him two years ago, I loved how he played during the entire 2007 campaign, and I continued liking what little I saw from him in 2008.

As we all know, Williams ruptured his Achilles' tendon in Week 2 last season, ending his season. He's been rehabbing ever since, which is the reason he's not listed as a definite starter. Besides acquiring Coleman for depth, you have to imagine that Mangini wanted him as insurance in case Smith was unable to return as a full-time starter. While there aren't a lot of reports to go by, the consensus seems to be that Smith will be ready to return and participate in training camp.

At the top of his game, Smith excelled at the defensive end position for us -- and that was without having Rogers at the nose tackle position. Given the choice between a healthy Smith and Coleman in a competition, I would pick Smith in a landslide. This will be more of a wait-and-see thing though; if things go terribly wrong and Smith just doesn't look healthy enough to play, I suppose there is an outside chance he could be a surprise training camp cut. I won't back on that possibility though.

Player Quality: B+
Final Roster Odds: 95%

DT Position Quality: B (Starters/Contenders Only)

NOTE: Tomorrow I will have Part 2 of the defensive line preview, where depth players C.J. Mosley, Shaun Smith, Louis Leonard, Ahtyba Rubin, Adam Hoppel, Santonio Thomas, and Melila Purcell will be covered.

With the talent gap between Rogers and Williams and the uncertainty of Smith's health, the "B" grade is a very loose projection. While it sounds positive, it is not the dominant rating a 3-4 unit like the Ravens have achieved -- far from it. From the list of players to be covered tomorrow, Mosley and S. Smith had the best shots at being included in today's article. S. Smith has some starting experience with the Browns, and Mosley also came over from the Jets. However, since S. Smith has been a locker room nuisance and Mosley was a backup in New York, barring a training camp injury, I don't see either player competing for a starting role. That doesn't mean they or some of the other players on the list won't play near-critical roles in terms of depth, however...

Poll

Who will end up being the starting defensive end opposite Corey Williams?

Kenyon Coleman

206 votes

Robaire Smith

352 votes

Other

19 votes

577 votes | Poll has closed

Where We Talk About Draft Grades and Their Uselessness

Gonzo — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:39:25 -0000

"The Vikings targeted speed on their board and they definitely got it with wide receiver Troy Williamson, who wowed Minnesota enough that the Vikings passed on Mike Williams. Defensive end Erasmus James gives them much-needed help up front, guard-tackle Marcus Johnson will solidify the offensive line and running back Ciatrick Fason has the potential to be a terrific steal in the fourth round. Dustin Fox is a good cornerback and defensive tackle C.J. Mosley is a motivated overachiever.”

That was Mel Kiper's assessment of the Minnesota Vikings' 2005 Draft the day after said draft had taken place. Kiper and his hair gave the Vikings a B+ "grade" for their draft.

As any Viking fan knows, Minnesota's 2005 draft class is on the short list of worst drafts in NFL history. To review. . .

Troy Williamson - Everything that can be said about Williamson has already been said. Although it could probably be said with fewer expletives. Or more expletives, depending on what makes you happier.

Erasmus James - When he was on the field, he wasn't awful or anything. It's just that he could never get on the field. He was eventually traded for a seventh-round pick. . .the Vikings sent that pick back to the Redskins in the trade to move up in the fifth round this year and select South Carolina LB Jasper Brinkley.

Marcus Johnson - Played a couple of positions on the offensive line, and was relatively horrible at all of them, save one surprising performance at left tackle in the 2008 season opener against Green Bay. Actually lasted longer on the roster than any other member of this class. . .which, considering that this draft saw two first-round picks for the Vikings, is embarrassing and sad.

Dustin Fox - Who? Yeah, that sums it up.

Ciatrick Fason - Was briefly used as a goal-line back. . .which was, apparently, the ideal role for him, as his 3.2 ypc average in two years indicates that was really all the further he could get.

C.J. Mosley - Probably the best performer from the Vikings' 2005 draft class. Showed some promise as a backup DT as a rookie, and was eventually traded to the New York Jets as part of the trade that brought Brooks Bollinger to Minnesota.

Adrian Ward - Didn't even make the roster.

Grading a draft less than 24 hours after it occurs is a ludicrous practice, and one that I haven't engaged in as long as I've been running this site. After I get home from work this afternoon, I'll have my impressions on the Vikings' 2009 draft and how I feel the Vikings fared, but we don't know anything about how successful this draft is for the Vikings at this point in time.

The same thing goes for pretty much everyone other team, too. Sure, the Raiders were roundly ripped for selecting Darrius Heyward-Bey at #7. . .but what if he turns out to be a better WR than Michael Crabtree, the "consensus" best wide receiver in this year's draft? What if Matthew Stafford turns out to be more like Tim Couch than Peyton Manning in terms of QBs drafted #1 overall? Heck, what if. . .God forbid. . .Percy Harvin decides his love for pot is greater than his love for football and gets repeatedly nailed by the league's substance abuse policy?

We all have our impressions of how each team did this weekend at Radio City Music Hall. But the fact of the matter is that nobody. . .not you, not me, not Mike Mayock, not Mel Kiper. . .has any idea how any team in this year's draft did at this moment in time. I'm not saying that the draft "grades" aren't fun to read and provide a nice little distraction, but it's pretty much impossible to put any real stock into them at this point in time.

With that said, you can feel free to discuss the draft grades from the "experts," as well as your own personal thoughts and impressions of this year's draft here. I'll have my impressions of Minnesota's draft and the draft in general later this afternoon. Thanks to everyone that visited the site this weekend to make it a success, and if you're here for the first time, go on and sign up for an account so you can join the party!

DE C.J. Mosley Signed as Depth, Jones Lost to Eagles

Chris Pokorny — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:54:23 -0000

Eric Mangini's strategy in his first year with the Browns is not too far different from his first year with the Jets so far: build depth in free agency, and draft the real talent in April.

The Browns signed former New York Jets DT C.J. Mosley Friday to a two-year contract worth about $5 million. In 35 games games with the Jets, 3 of them being starts, Mosley recorded 5 sacks.

		Sacks		Interceptions			Tackles
	G	Sacks	YdsL	Int	Yds	IntTD	Solo	Ast	Total
2008 - C.J. Mosley	10	1.5	9.5	0	0	0	13	4	17

"C.J. adds another piece to the defensive puzzle," Browns General Manager George Kokinis said in a statement. "He is a competitive defensive lineman that runs to the football and will fit in well with the players in that group."

Not a huge signing, but I don't think we can complain until we see how the final plan ends up unfolding. Former Jets LB David Bowens is reportedly still negotiating a contract with the Browns as well.

Without the draft in mind, our defensive line is shaping up to look like this:

DE: Robaire Smith
DT: Shaun Rogers, Shaun Smith
DE: Corey Williams, C.J. Mosley

S. Smith can hopefully focus more on being Rogers' speller this year. Mosley looks to be more effective than a player like Louis Leonard.

In safety-related news, the Browns officially lost safety Sean Jones to the Philadelphia Eagles. Jones, who will replace Brian Dawkins in Philadelphia, signed a one-year deal. I still can't believe the Browns didn't make a reported offer to Jones, although there's no official confirmation that they completely ignored him. The Browns did make another move by re-signing safety Mike Adams:

"Mike Adams possesses the characteristics we believe in and brings versatility to the back end of the defense," Kokinis said in a prepared release.

I was very comfortable with Adams as a backup, so I can only applaud bringing him back. With a big hole at the safety position still, I think it's time to start evaluating all of the safeties that will be around in round two of the NFL draft.

Finally, the Browns re-signed WR Syndric Steptoe, who was an exclusive-rights free agent, according to the OBR. The Browns chose not to retain DE Chase Pittman, so his lackluster tenure with the Browns appears to be over.

MU Football Records Chase (Final Update)

The Beef — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:48:06 -0000

It's been real fun to cover this all season...how did Mizzou and all these amazing athletes finish up after the Alamo Bowl? And how many players can I link in one post?

National Passing Yardage:

6. Kevin Kolb_________''03-'06______12964

7. Tim Rattay_________'97-'99______12746

8. Luke McCown_______'00-'03_____12666

9. Chris Redman______'96-'99______12541

10. Chase Daniel______'05-'08______12515

Not quite the final two games I had in mind when I put this list together, as I figured Chase would end up around Rattay. However, top 10 all time is top 10 all time.

National Completions:

1. Timmy Chang________'00-'04________1388

2. Graham Harrell_______active________1367

3. Kliff Kingsbury________'99-'02________1231

4. Philip Rivers_________'00-'03________1147

5. Colt Brennan_________'05-'07________1115

6. Chase Daniel_________'05-'08_______1094

27 completions in each of his last two games, and though the yards per completion ends up being down a bit, no one can ever take away how truly accurate Chase was over the span of his career. And an early congrats to Graham Harrell for breaking this record.

National TD Passes:

6. Danny Wuerffel________'93-'96______114

7. Chase Daniel_________'05-'08______101

Never a bigger TD than his 101st, and another top 10 all-time finish for Chase. Nice to see him get to 100, that is a tremendous accomplishment.

National TD's Responsible For:

1. Colt Brennan________'05-'07________146

2. Graham Harrell______active________142

3. Ty Detmer__________'88-'91________135

4. Timmy Chang_______'00-'04________123

5. Danny Wueffel_______'93-'96________122

6. Chase Clement______'05-'08________120

7. Tim Rattay__________'97-'99________117

8. Phillip Rivers________'00-'03________113

9. Chase Daniel_______'05_'08________111

10. Matt Leinart________'02-'05_________108

This is not an official NCAA list, but my best and certainly a pretty educated guess. I would be pretty shocked if anyone else is in front of Chase at this point, but I suppose it is possible. At any rate, another category, another top 10 all-time finish for him.

Total Offense: (National and Mizzou)

1. Timmy Chang_______'00-'04_____16910

2. Graham Harrell______active_____15192

3. Colt Brennan________'05-'07_____14740

4. Ty Detmer__________'88-'91_____14665

5. Kevin Kolb__________'03-'06_____13715

6. Philip Rivers________'00-'03_____13582

7. Chase Daniel _______‘05-08 _____13486

8. Brad Smith _________ ‘02-05 ____ 13088

Last time out I said Chase had a decent shot at Rivers....did not quite get there. Still, the last TWO Mizzou QB's are in some pretty elite company in the 13,000 yard club.

All-Purpose Yardage:

1. Jeremy Maclin_______'07-'08_____5609

2. Brad Smith _________ ‘02-05 _____ 4419

3. Devin West _________ ‘95-98 _____ 3824

4. Brock Olivo _________ ‘94-97 _____ 3475

5. Zack Abron __________‘00-03 _____ 3426

6. Darrell Wallace ______ ‘84-87 _____ 3303

7. Joe Stewart _________‘74-77 _____ 3256

8. Tony Temple_________'04-'07_____3138

9. James Wilder _______‘78-80 _____ 2769

10. Justin Gage________'99-'02______2737

11. Chase Coffman_____'05-'08_____2720

Of course the punt return ends up being the big chunk for Maclin, who never really got going too much in the passing game yesteday. I am guessing this record stands for some time, the only lingering question remaining is if there is any shot Maclin returns to add on to it and take a run at the national books. Chase Coffman was a gamer all season and just missed out on the top 10, which he certainly would have earned (likely 9th) if not for injury.

(National and Mizzou) Receptions:

30. John Standeford_______'00-'03_____249

31. Nate Burleson_________'00-'02_____248

Eric Deslauriers_______'02-'06_____248

1.Chase Coffman (TE) ____'05-08______ 247

2. Martin Rucker (TE) ______ ‘04-07_____ 203

3. Justin Gage __________ ‘99-02______ 200

4. Jeremy Maclin________'07-'08______182

5. Kenny Holly __________ ‘90-93_______151

6. Tommy Saunders______'05-'08______150

7. Will Franklin __________ ‘04-07______ 143

8. Victor Bailey___________'90-'92______128

9. Thomson Omboga______'01-'04______127

10. Brian Sallee___________'91-'94_____119

11. Sean Coffey__________'02-'05______118

7 catches for Coffman gets him to 33rd all-time nationally

7 catches for Maclin keep him at 4th all-time at Mizzou

6 catches for Saunders keeps him at 6th all-time at Mizzou....quite the trio we will (likely) be replacing.

(National and Mizzou) Receiving Yardage:

1. Ibn Green (national TE)____'96-'99_____2830

1. Justin Gage ____________‘99-02_____2704

2. Chase Coffman (TE) _____ ‘05-08_____2659
3. Jeremy Maclin__________'07-'08_____2315

4. Martin Rucker (TE) _______ ‘04-07_____2175

5. Victor Bailey ____________ ‘90-92_____2144

6. Will Franklin ____________ ‘04-07_____2125

7. Linzy Collins ____________ ‘89-90_____1760

8. Kenny Holly ____________ ‘90-93_____1708

9. Tommy Saunders_______'05-'08_____1600

10. Sean Coffey ___________ ‘02-05______1596

11. Mel Gray _____________ ‘68-70______1491

12. Hank Burnine __________ ‘53-55_____1445

Saunders just sneaks by Coffey into 9th place, and Coffman does not miss Gage by much. In the end, it is kind of scary to think we are replacing 579 career receptions and 6574 career yards between the three.

Receiving TD's:

1. Chase Coffman (TE) _____ ‘05-08_______ 30

2. Jeremy Maclin__________'07-'08_______22

3.. Martin Rucker (TE) _______ ‘04-07______ 18

Justin Gage ____________ ‘99-02______ 18

5. Mel Gray _______________68-70_______ 14

6. Will Franklin ____________ ‘04-07______ 13

Sean Coffey ____________ ‘02-05______ 13

8. Victor Bailey ____________ ‘90-92______ 12

Dwayne Blakley _________ ‘98-01______ 12

10. Tommy Saunders_______'05-'08______11

Gibler, Marshall and Winslow__________10

Maclin adds perhaps a final one to his total, as he caught 13 on the season.

Kicker Scoring:

13. Alex Trlica___________'04-'07______377

14. Xavier Beitia_________'01-'04______375

15. Jeff Hall_____________'95-'98_____371

Shayne Graham______'96-'99______371

17. Steve Azar___________'00-'03______370

Justin Ayat___________'01-'04______370

19. Stephen Gostkowki____'02-'05______369

20. Luis Zendejas________'81-'84______368

Jeff Chandler_________'97-'01______368

22. Jeff Wolfert__________ ‘06-08_____ 362

23. Colt David___________active_______361

Shaun Swisham______'04-'04______361

25. Nate Kaeding_________'00-'03______360

26. Jeff Jeager___________'83-'86______358

Dusty Mangum________'01-'04______358

28. Justin Medlock________'02-'06______357

29. Brett Jaekle__________active_______356

Oh sweet irony...you are so...um...ironic. The most accurate kicker in NCAA history (and by a couple of percentage points) misses his last FG attempt. Just has to make you laugh and remember you will always be a Mizzou fan. Anyway, a pretty big evening nonetheless for Wolfert, who scores 12 points and moves up smartly on this list. With Jaekle (Nevada) and David (LSU) still to kick, Wolfert is guaranteed to finish top 25 nationally. And think about it...362 points in three seasons...the all-time record is Art Carmody of Louisville with 433 points...certainly WELL within range had Wolfert kicked all four seasons.

Sacks:

1. Brian Smith__________'03-'06_____31.5

2. Justin Smith_________'98-'00_____22.5

Stryker Sulak________'05-'08_____22.5

4. Lorenzo Williams_____'04-'07_____19

5. Rick Lyle____________'90-'93______18

6. Bobby Bell___________'81-'83______17
Steve Martin__________'92-'95______17

Antwaun Bynum_______'00-'02______17

9. Xzavie Jackson_______'03-'06______16.5

10 C.J. Mosley__________'02-'04______15.5

Ziggy Hood_________'05-'08______15.5

5 sacks in the game for the Tigers, with Sulak's two tying him with Justin Smith and Hood's one getting him into the Tiger top 10 with C.J. Mosley. Will Sulak and Hood join their Tiger brothers in the NFL next season?

Interceptions:

1. Adrian Jones________'86-'89________15

2. Ken Baston_________'63-'65________14

Bill Whitaker_________'77-'80________14

4. Erik McMillan________'84-'87_________13

5. Eric Wright__________'78-'80________11

William Moore______'05-'08_________11

7. Roger Wehrli________'66-'68________10

Harold Piersey_______'95-'98________10

Kevin McIntosh_______'91-'94________10

A bit more irony that Willy Mo dropped the last pass of the game, which certainly did end the game, but could have moved him past Eric Wright and into 5th all alone here.