SB Nation - Corey Williams

Sunday Notes: Ahtyba Rubin over Shaun Rogers & Week 14 Games to Watch

Chris Pokorny — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:40:58 -0000

More photos » by David Richard - AP

11 days ago: Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan talks to his players on the sidelines during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009, in Cleveland. The Browns defense sacked Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger eight times and allowed only two field goals in a 13-6 win. (AP Photo/David Richard)

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It's been awhile since I've recapped the columns that Terry Pluto of the Plain Dealer writes. With the Browns already having played this week, Pluto brought up an interesting note today regarding the nose tackle position:

In the past two games, the Browns have allowed 75 yards (Pittsburgh) and 91 yards (San Diego) on the ground, a dramatic change for a team that had been being run over for 155 yards per game. The Browns believe part of the reason is Ahtyba Rubin taking over at nose tackle for the injured Shaun Rogers. They've discovered that Rubin does a better job of clogging up the middle against the run. Rogers is the better pass rusher and far more athletic. Next season, this could lead to Rubin being in the middle of the 3-4 defense with Rogers as one of the ends.

Surprisingly, the run defense has seemed better without Rogers in the lineup. As Pluto mentions, that's not a "dig" at Rogers, but more so shines light on the opportunity of having Rubin and Rogers in the lineup at the same time next year. Combine that with the creative schemes of pass rushing Rob Ryan has unleashed recently (Matt Roth, Marcus Benard, etc), and our defense could be on the right track for next season.

Pluto also discusses the unique defense that Ryan called during some of the passing situations, using five linebackers, six defensive backs, and no defensive linemen. It worked against Ben Roethlisberger Thursday, just like it worked for Eric Mangini against him two years ago:

The coaches showed the players the 2007 game between the Jets and Steelers when the 4-12 Jets upset Pittsburgh, sacking Roethlisberger seven times. In their 27-14 loss at Pittsburgh, the Browns were not able to get players to rush Roethlisberger from the proper angles. This time, they did.

Click here for the rest of Pluto's column, where he discusses the benefits that have come from the team's "opportunity sessions," how the Browns have been better off without Braylon Edwards and Jamal Lewis, and how there has been a change in attitude for defensive lineman Corey Williams.

Week 14 Games

Since the Browns already played this week, you can use this thread as an open discussion for all of today's games. If you're living in the Cleveland area, then there will be a lot of great games to catch on television. That's what happens when the Browns don't clog up one of the timeslots.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Minnesota Vikings - 1:00 PM on CBS
New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons - 1:00 PM on FOX
San Diego Chargers vs. Dallas Cowboys - 4:00 PM on CBS
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants - 8:20 PM on NBC

I think this will be the first time this season I'll have a chance to watch Drew Brees and the Saints' offense live as opposed to just seeing the highlights of their routs. There are two other important games being played today -- Indianapolis vs. Denver and Miami vs. Jacksonville.

Poll

Do you like the idea of Ahtyba Rubin at NT next year and Shaun Rogers at DE?

Yes

494 votes

No -- Rogers should stay the nose tackle

52 votes

546 votes | Poll has closed

Post-Game Thread: Roethlisberger Sacked 8 Times; Cribbs Puts on a Show

Chris Pokorny — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:37:50 -0000

More photos » by Mark Duncan - AP

Roethlisberger was on the ground all game long.

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Right now, I don't care what the Cleveland Browns record is for the 2009-2010 campaign. In Eric Mangini's first year as head coach of the Browns, we beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14 to make it almost impossible for Mike Tomlin's defending Super Bowl Champions to reach the playoffs.

The defense was absolutely amazing today, and that includes every unit -- the defensive line, the linebackers, and especially the secondary. The pressure was brought early and often from Rob Ryan, resulting in an insurmountable 8 sacks. For the record, let's take a look at all of the players credited with sacks...

DL Corey Williams (2 sacks)
LB Marcus Benard (2 sacks)
DL Brian Schaefering (1.5 sacks)
LB David Bowens (1 sack)
DB Hank Poteat (1 sack)
LB Kaluka Maiava (0.5 sacks)

Besides the sacks, the man-to-man coverage by Eric Wright was tremendous, and Brandon McDonald didn't do a bad job either. There were other unsung heroes too, because upon review, every time Roethlisberger dropped back to throw, nobody was open.

The defense played all four quarters too. The offense didn't hang them out to dry, but they were scoreless in the second half.

The individual star of the game was Joshua Cribbs. Words cannot express the type of game he had in terms of providing the Browns with an advantage in field position all game long. His 55-yard punt return in the first quarter set up a field goal, and the rest of the game, he ran extremely effectively from the Wildcat. On 8 carries, Cribbs had 87 yards. Why is that so impressive? Because every time he was under center, the defense KNEW he was going to run it. They couldn't stop him.

And, did I mention it all came against the Steelers? Celebrate, Cleveland fans -- December 10, 2009 was our Super Bowl, and we came away with the trophy.

Official 2009 NFL Trade Deadline Open Thread

Fooch — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:08:44 -0000

I'll be perfectly honest: I really don't see anything of substance happening at the NFL trade deadline today. The NFL trade deadline is 1pm today, but due to the many issues relating to the salary cap with trades, it is never nearly as busy as the MLB trading deadline. Throw in the fact that it's rather early in the season and that's just one more reason it's not crazy busy.

Nonetheless, rumors continually fly about potential trades. As this FanShot pointed out, KNBR claimed the 49ers might be interested in Cleveland Browns DE Corey Williams and Kansas City Chiefs LB Derek Johnson. There have also been plenty of rumors (not connected to the 49ers about Terrell Owens, Brady Quinn, Dwayne Bowe, Josh Cribbs and many others. John Clayton had a quick rundown on some of the rumors being tossed around.

So will anything happen? We've got an official FanPost for the deadline and any offseason acquisitions. Given that today is in fact the trade deadline, it makes sense to separate that out from the FanPost here on the front page. If the 49ers do make a trade we'll certainly have plenty of coverage on it, but I'm not holding my breath. Feel free to post any and all rumors here leading up through 1pm pacific time. In the meantime, if you missed it, Florida Danny has his latest player ranking discussion for your reading pleasure.

Defense and Special Teams: All You Need to Win a Football Game as Browns Prevail 6-3

Chris Pokorny — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:09:09 -0000

More photos » by Don Heupel - AP

2 months ago: Cleveland Browns kicker Billy Cundiff, right, is congratulated by Browns punter Dave Zastudil after his winning field goal against the Buffalo Bills late in the fourth quarter of the NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

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CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-4)	WEEK 5	BUFFALO BILLS (1-4)
	VS.
6		3

Who says you need an offense to win a football game? That in itself is not necessarily a true statement, as the Cleveland Browns did have a fairly good day on the ground with Jamal Lewis in their 6-3 victory over the Buffalo Bills.

Around the league, the media made a joke of this game, but I think the joke was more so on the state of the Buffalo Bills. After how dismal the first three weeks of the season were, the fact is that the Browns challenged a now 4-1 Bengals team two weeks ago and took care of business against the Bills on the road. Let's get to the review of the game...

WEEK 5 - CLEVELAND BROWNS VS. BUFFALO BILLS (COMPLETE GAME REVIEW)

AWARDING GAME BALLS:

Dave Zastudil: I probably sound like a broken record since everyone is well aware that Zastudil had a fantastic game en route to being the Special Teams Player of the Week. As bad as Trent Edwards is, we probably couldn't have come away with a victory had we not dominated the field position game.

Zastudil had seven punts downed inside the 20, with three of them being at the 1-, 1-, and 4-yard lines. Zastudil gave credit to players like Mike Adams for helping to stop those balls from going into the end zone, but the punts were so beautifully placed that it made the gunners' jobs a lot easier.
~~Derek Anderson:~~ Sike.
Eric Wright: After Derek Anderson threw an interception, the Bills had an opportunity at gaining some momentum. The Browns were able to move Trent Edwards out of the pocket, but with a lot of time to throw, I believe it was Terrell Owens who became open deep. Edwards' throw was terribly underthrown, and Eric Wright took advantage by intercepting it at the same time he turned himself around. Wright's pick canceled out Anderson's pick, allowing the game to continue being a special teams battle.

GOATS OF THE GAME:

Robert Royal: The Browns had an opportunity to put the game away when Derek Anderson lofted his only good throw and one of his few deeper throws of the game over the left middle of the field to Royal. Without a defender near him and playing in the stadium he had been in for several years, Royal simply dropped the ball. Please give these reps to Steve Heiden, as Royal, as a receiver, is starting to make me miss Darnell Dinkins. DINKINS!
Derek Anderson: There are a lot of valid excuses that can be made for Anderson's 2-of-17 completion rate. With that said, there are also a lot of things that Anderson clearly could've done better. Anderson rarely throws the ball into a receiver's comfort zone, especially with the running backs.

GENERAL THOUGHTS

The running of Jamal Lewis set the Browns up for a game-winning field goal.

Give it Up to the Defense: I thought the Bills were going to run the ball all over the Browns, but we clearly made an improvement Sunday. The run defense has shown signs of brilliance in which they'll give up nothing, but then give up several consecutive big runs late in the game. If the Bills ripped a decent-sized run on Sunday, the Browns usually followed it up with a stuff.
Stopping the Duo: A big key was holding Fred Jackson, a key contributor to the Bills the first four weeks of the season, to just 30 yards on 13 carries. That killed the "dynamic duo" threat the Bills tried to present us with.
One Big Problem Remains: All of a sudden, we can't stop the quarterbacks from running with the football -- and I'm talking about quarterbacks who usually do not take off and run. Edwards had an unacceptable 40 yards rushing on 4 attempts against the Browns. Surely, the Browns will be more aware of Ben Roethlisberger this Sunday, but how will that hinder the other aspects of our defense in exchange?
Established an Identity: I had a lot of problems with Brian Daboll's inability to call a passing play on first- and second-downs. With so many running plays, where was the playaction fake too? I don't even know if I saw one playfake in the game from Cleveland. I do give credit to Daboll for at least having a comprehensible gameplan though, which was clearly to run the ball down the Bills' throat no matter what the situation.
Lewis Returns: For those of you who thought Jamal Lewis was done (in terms of playing time), think again. A week after Jerome Harrison had over 30 carries, this week it was Lewis' turn, who touched the ball 31 times for 117 yards (a 3.8 average). Overall, there were some plays where I thought a better running back would've gotten more, but he still made the proper moves to get the maximum yardage he could. And, I can't complain when the guy is hurdling over defenders in the fourth quarter.
Harrison's Line is Low: It was a rather uneventful game for Jerome Harrison, who had 8 runs for 21 yards. Props to the coaching staff for giving Harrison more than the regulated four-carries-or-less he's been accustomed to with Lewis in the lineup. Keep giving the ball to Harrison, because eventually, he'll make the defense pay. More of an effort should've been made to get the ball to Harrison on some of Anderson's 17 pass attempts though.
An Update Look as Massaquoi: So, how did Mohamed Massaquoi handle his first game as the No. 1 receiver? Not too well, with about three passes that he should've been able to haul in. I'm going to give all of the receivers somewhat of a "bye" for the Bills game though since everyone seemed to struggle. If those struggles continue, then I'll re-evaluate.
Looks to RoBo: I saw the jersey of Brian Robiskie in motion a few times, but I don't recall any passes being thrown his way. Maybe next week against Pittsburgh? Chansi Stuckey just needs some more with with Anderson. Where was Mike Furrey throughout the game?
Costanzo Rules Again: I think Blake Costanzo is going to set a special teams record or something with the amount of fumbles he is recovering. When most players dive at a loose football, the ball bounces elsewhere. When Costanzo dives at it, it's like the ball gravitates right to him. Does he have some secret type of magnetic attraction device planted?
Bigger Plans for Trusnik: It was certainly a surprise to see Alex Hall on the inactive list and new special teamer Jason Trusnik seeing pretty important reps at linebacker. I guess Mangini has bigger plans for Trusnik than we originally envisioned. Terry Pluto of the Plain Dealer says that one of the reasons Hall was inactive was because the team wants him to learn his assignments better. Maybe that's true, because Hall has been a disappointment this season with his lack of impact.

The interception by Eric Wright kept the Bills' offense silent.

Good Game for Corey Williams: Before the game, I pleaded for a defensive lineman besides Shaun Rogers to step up. That player was Williams, who even received props from Rogers after the game. Rogers was his usual self, pushing offensive linemen into Edwards throughout the game. I also thought Kenyon Coleman stepped it up a notch.
Roughing the Passer: Give me a break. Corey Williams made a great hit on Edwards, a clean one in my book, and it nearly cost us the game because the Bills had several big plays afterwards. The officials have lost the concept of "roughing the passer" league-wide.
Motioning Cribbs: Part of the commitment to the running game? The number of pre-snap motions/fake handoffs we did to Cribbs the whole game. Cribbs didn't get many opportunities to return kicks, but he had to of been tired after the game trying to sell the fake on almost every play. The one time we did hand it off to him? A 31-yard burst that led to a field goal. I think we can get away with giving it to him a few more times too.
Fair Job to Cundiff: I don't know how much more of Billy Cundiff we'll be seeing, as Phil Dawson's return has to be on the horizon. Cundiff has made all five of his kicks since joining the team, with his only blemish being the kick out of bounds near the end of the game. It could've been costly, but with Edwards at quarterback, I real wasn't sweating it. Interesting note to read that Matt Stover originally turned down an offer to join the Browns once Dawson got hurt.
Wimbley Matches: Through five games, LB Kamerion Wimbley has four sacks. That equals the total number of sacks he had all of last season. He doesn't look like a Pro Bowler by any means, but the Rob Ryan has done a better job with timing the blitzes, and bringing pressure from more than just Wimbley's side to keep the offensive line off-guard.
Ugly Penalties: Dick Jauron should be fired. There is no excuse for that many penalties, especially that many false starts in your own stadium!
Brownies: How cool would it have been to see the Browns snap the ball before the Bills' timeout on the punt to end the third quarter...despite being doubtful, D'Qwell Jackson played and led the team in tackles...Mike Adams continues to be a great utility player...Trent Edwards is no Carson Palmer.

Up next, the Browns have the Pittsburgh Steelers. The rivalry doesn't seem as strong with our current losing streak against them, but I think all it will take is one win over them to finally get the blood boiling again. Who knows -- maybe a win against the Steelers will help define the "legacy" of Eric Mangini in Cleveland.

Practice Report (Thursday): Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) at Cleveland Browns (0-3)

Kirkendall — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:11:27 -0000

Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evening, we'll update the practice/injury chart leading up to Sunday's game. The chart is pretty self-explanatory. If the player is listed as out, they're out for the game. If they did not participate, they didn't practice. If they were limited, then they only participated during a portion of practice (typically means missing 11-on-11 drills). If the player is listed as full participation, it simply means that they practiced fully and that the only reason they're listed is because injury was an issue the week before.

Practice

BENGALS	WED	THUR	FRI
T Andre Smith (foot)	OUT	OUT
RB Cedric Benson (knee)	DNP	FP
LB Abdul Hodge (knee)	DNP	FP
DT Tank Johnson (foot)	DNP	DNP
CB Johnathan Joseph (foot)	DNP	DNP
LB Rey Maualuga (knee)	DNP	FP
S Chinedum Ndukwe (hamstring)	DNP	FP
CB David Jones (foot)	LP	FP
DT Domata Peko (neck)	LP	DNP
S Roy Williams (forearm)	LP	DNP
T Andrew Whitworth (achilles)	FP	FP

BROWNS	WED	THUR	FRI
DE Kenyon Coleman (groin)	DNP	LP
K Phil Dawson (right calf)	DNP	DNP
RB Jamal Lewis (hamstring)	DNP	DNP
G Floyd Womack (ankle)	DNP	DNP
LB David Bowens (knee)	LP	LP
G Rex Hadnot (knee)	LP	LP
DT Shaun Rogers (foot)	LP	LP
G Eric Steinbach (knee)	LP	LP
DE Corey Williams (knee)	LP	DNP
LB Kamerion Wimbley (shoulder)	LP	FP
CB Eric Wright (hand)	FP	FP
P Dave Zastudil (right knee)	FP	FP
RB James Davis (shoulder)	--	FP

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.

Options to replace injured Rams

VanRam — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 12:03:35 -0000

More photos » by Al Behrman - AP

St. Louis Rams running back Samkon Gado has a rib injury. How will it impact the Rams backup RB situation?

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It's a big day today for the St. Louis Rams as they shave 21 players off their roster to meet the league's deadline for finalizing their 53-man roster before the start of the regular season. Overlapping that imposing deadline is the news that DT Adam Carriker could be out for a while with a shoulder injury and Samkon Gado, the backup runner, is nursing a cartilage damage in his rib cage. Rams GM Billy Devaney and Co. are going to be very busy today.

First, Gado. There's possibly some good news there as the official Rams site says that it's mostly a pain tolerance issue for Gado. Of course, for a running back, pain in the rib cage could be pretty dicey. I'm not convinced enough by Gado to minimize anything that could slow him down. Roster cuts always carry a potential solution or two at running back, so keep an eye on what names emerge this weekend. Gado is going to test it out in practice this week, which means a move on this front might not happen immediately. The free agent scrap pile doesn't have much left on it at the moment - Shuan Alexander anyone? - outside of some oldsters and guys who once shined in Denver's infamous system. Here's a report from Scout.com looking at some names that might be job hunting after cuts today. Running backs of interest on that list include: Jamal Lewis, Justin Fargas, Chris Henry (TEN), and Lorenzo Booker.

Fargas is the most complete, and a reduced role would cut down on the injury risk. Henry is fast and could do special teams work.

As far as Carriker goes, they could stick him on IR and go with the four DTs we mentioned yesterday. That looks kind of like an expansion team list of DTs. From that same Scout.com report, Oakland's Terdell Sands could be a roster cut, and would be an upgrade in the run stopper role. The Browns might be looking to trade Corey Williams who doesn't have a place in their new 3-4. He'd be more of the gap shooting type DT. Former Jets and Broncos DT Dewayne Robertson is still out there, sitting by his phone waiting for a call from some team desperate at DT.

One thing that helps the Rams at DT is the fact that Spags and Flajole like to use DEs in those spots on blitz packages. That could have an impact on roster decisions.

Stay tuned. We've got you covered.

DT Louis Leonard Shipped to Panthers for Draft Pick, Ryan Tucker IR'ed

Chris Pokorny — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:02:01 -0000

A few weeks ago, a rumor circulated the Internet that the Carolina Panthers were scouting Browns defensive lineman Corey Williams. It wasn't Williams that we gave them though, as the Browns traded DT Louis Leonard to the Panthers for an undisclosed draft pick, according to the Herald Online.

If you recall, Leonard had an outburst at defensive line coach Bryan Cox a week or so ago, leading many to question whether or not he would stay in Cleveland. However, even if he didn't have the outburst, his roster odds were slim at best.

Trading Leonard means that the Browns are comfortable with Shaun Rogers and Ahtyba Rubin at the nose tackle position, and that they are willing to give Corey Williams a shot at redemption in the 3-4 defensive scheme.

Just pure speculation here, but I can't imagine that Leonard would yield anything higher than a seventh-round draft pick.

As an update to yesterday's story, the OBR is reporting that OL Ryan Tucker was not released, but rather placed on the Injured Reserve. Same difference.

Panther Paw Prints: Post Giants Game Wrap-up

Jaxon — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:18:04 -0000

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

4 months ago: Carolina Panthers' Hilee Taylor sacks New York Giants' quarterback David Carr, right, for a 9-yard loss in the second quarter of a preseason NFL football game at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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This edition of Paw Prints starts with a reality check for those who think the sky is falling after the preseason loss to the Giants. I agree there is plenty to be concerned about but also realize we had numerous starters sitting that game out. Also, the fact we play the Giants later in the season the game plan was vanilla on both sides of the ball. There is plenty of evidence that preseason records do not predict regular season results. For example, Detroit went 4-0 in the preseason last year. If you just can't help but judge the Panthers based on the preseason then Tom Sorenson has the answer:

Exhibition furor is misplaced - CharlotteObserver.com
If you need to get excited about the preseason, get excited about the Aug. 29 exhibition between Carolina and Baltimore. The third practice game is most like a real one. Teams get more serious and starters get more time. In each of their winning seasons, the Panthers won their third exhibition.

I love a tough preseason schedule and Baltimore is a perfect preseason game 3 opponent. Moving on, one of the bright spots was the play of back-up LB James Anderson:

Anderson gives Panthers defensive jolt - CharlotteObserver.com
"They didn't have anybody in the slot, and I was the free guy," said Anderson. "I got the 'go' call and was able to make the play." Said Panthers coach John Fox: "We didn't have a 'block' up, so they must have missed a block. But it was a good play by James."

Pictured: DE Hilee Taylor's body-slam sack of former Panther QB David Carr was a bright spot!

Even though Anderson was unblocked I give him props for recognizing the Giants error and taking advantage. On the negative side the Panthers tackling was poor. For effect here's how the Giants writers described it:

Running Game Highlights Giants’ Win - The Fifth Down Blog - NYTimes.com
Bradshaw showed it all last night. He ran five times for 35 yards, including a 19-yard run on which he showed elusiveness by avoiding the tackle of safety Charles Godfrey and power by bowling over corner Chris Gamble at the goal line. He showed speed on a short dump-off that he turned into a 13-yard reception by out-racing linebacker Montty Ivy for the sidelines and turning it up field. And he showed more power by bowling over corner Dante Wesley while lead blocking for a 13-yard run by quarterback David Carr.

Both Godfrey and Gamble need to bring the wood or they will become targets, if they already aren't. It looks like a deal for DT Corey Williams was a bit speculative.

Inside the Panthers: Looking back, looking ahead
While it's possible Williams could become a valid consideration for the Panthers if Cleveland wants to deal him, it's important to note that Hurney scouts exhibitions from time to time, as do many other top executives around the NFL. Hurney likely will do more game scouting this preseason. Just because he shows up somewhere doesn't necessarily mean something dramatic is about to happen. Usually, it means he's doing routine business.

Given very GM in the league knows the Panthers plight at DT don't be surprised if we over pay for someone's cast off. Julius Peppers offered some curious words after the Giants game:

Inside the Panthers: Peppers breaks silence after game
The Panthers have been working Peppers at both right and left defensive end, which he said is a good idea. He started last season at right end. "It’s a good change up," he said. "It’s a good thing to have that type of rotation."

So can we put to bed the notion that he still needs a system that he can realize his potential? I guess we will all evaluate that throughout the season. RB Mike Goodson was a bright light of the game but the two fumbles are worrisome.

Rookie RB dazzles, frightens in first game - CharlotteObserver.com
"He’s a rookie and he’s going to make rookie mistakes. You never know where you are until you play that first one. There’s a lot of promise, but definitely a lot of things we’ve got to work on."

Lets hope he learns the lesson to protect the ball from the backside pursuit. QB Jake Delhomme seems to be keeping things in perspective.

Weaknesses exposed in Panthers' exhibition loss - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
"It’s just a start and I can’t wait to get back and watch the film and build on it," Delhomme said. "This week is going to come up really quick."

Yes, the next game is now only three days away.Hey guess what? Deadspin finally realized we have a team in Charlotte. After reading this though you may wish we remained undiscovered:

Why Your Team Sucks: Carolina Panthers - 2009 NFL preview - Deadspin
Let's revisit that Arizona disaster one more time. On the game's first drive, the Panthers scored a touchdown. The drive encompassed 50 yards, 41 of which were compiled on the ground, on three carries. After this drive ended and the Panthers had a 7-0 lead, they ran the ball three consecutive times with DeAngelo Williams on their next possession and were forced to punt. After these two first drives, the Panthers had a rushing average of 8.2 yards a carry, which is pretty fucking solid. They would go on to run the ball a grand total of nine more times the entire game. Nine times?

You have to admit its pretty on topic in spite of the poor attempts at potty humor.

Cleveland Browns Training Camp Report: Day 5 (Morning) - Braylon Edwards Returns

Chris Pokorny — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:11:44 -0000

Cleveland Browns WR Braylon Edwards made his debut in training camp on Day 5. He didn't disappoint.

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After missing the first four days of training camp with an "undisclosed" injury, Cleveland Browns WR Braylon Edwards returned to the team for Day 5 of training camp. Did he make an impact during his first practice session since last year?

TRAINING CAMP REPORT - DAY 5 [MORNING] (8/5/09)

All Eyes on No. 17: You couldn't help but notice the Browns' No. 1 receiver back on the field. Assuming everything goes right, this is encouraging news that he should be able to participate in the preseason games. It also gave Eric Mangini some time to look at some of the value we can get from the other receivers on the roster this season. Edwards looked good in his first practice, and also had the catch of the day. On a pass to the left corner of the end zone from QB Derek Anderson, Edwards peeled the ball off of the helmet of CB Gerard Lawson for a touchdown.
Doerschuk on Edwards: Usually I leave the links for the bottom of these posts, but I'll cite this one here. In the link, Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository has a nice small blog on how things looked to be fine between Mangini and Edwards.

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and his father, Buddy Ryan, evaluating the defense.

Goal Line Drill for Quinn: Today, the team ran goal line drills, and Tony Grossi of the Plain Dealer gave the details for each QB. First, let's start with Quinn, who worked with the first team. The first two plays saw Jamal Lewis get stuffed. On the third play, Quinn ran a playaction fake and lofted the ball to FB Lawrence Vickers for a touchdown.
Goal Line Drill for Anderson: Anderson had to work with the second team offense. On the first play, Anderson scored on a bootleg touchdown run. On the second play, RB James Davis was stopped by a swarm of defenders. Finally, Anderson was sacked on a rollout on the third play by DL Corey Williams. There might have been more goal line drills for both quarterbacks.
Wimbley at Tight End? During Anderson's drill, Grossi noted that LB Kamerion Wimbley lined up at tight end on the play Davis ran on.
Lawson's Roster Chances: Doerschuk believes that second-year CB Gerard Lawson has a good shot at making the team. Not because he is a good cornerback, but because he is the "fastest player on the team" and is good on special teams.
Mack With the Pancake: It happens. The OBR reports that C Alex Mack was able to pancake DT Shaun Rogers. Daniel Wolf of Dawg Scooper notes that Rogers manhandled Mack on more than one occasion, and believes the rookie still has quite a bit of work to do.

CB Brandon McDonald breaks up a pass for WR Jordan Norwood.

Robiskie's Reps Lessened: Grossi noticed that the reps of WR Mohamed Massaquoi and WR Paul Hubbard seemed to increase, while the reps of WR Brian Robiskie decreased. Quinn was intercepted by DB Coye Francies when a ball bounced off of Massaquoi as he was going to the ground for the catch.
Low Key on Harrison: This has not been the "pimpage" camp for Jerome Harrison. Wolf also noted that Harrison had a few short gains, while RB James Davis continued to excel.
Still Nothing Special: The quarterbacks still aren't showing anything that makes fans go "wow, this guy is really good". Maybe the return of a star receiver in Edwards will help the quarterbacks due to the spectacular plays he can make. If one quarterback was to be favored in that aspect though, I think it would be Anderson.

The Browns will be featured on Sirius NFL Radio from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. EST. Unfortunately, I won't be able to give live play-by-play of the segments like I have the past two years. The team will be having their evening session later tonight. Be sure to check out Dawg Scooper's thoughts again -- another good, personable read.

Wednesday's Evening Link Collection / Camp Sources

Training Camp Report: Wednesday AM Report (Dawg Scooper, Wolf)
Braylon Edwards shines in first practice (Cleveland Plain Dealer, Grossi)
Day 5 practice notes (Orange and Brown Report, Greetham)
Tucker encouraged; Mangini noncommittal on Stallworth (Canton Repository, Doerschuk)
Relaxed, Happy Braylon Edwards Speaks (Orange and Brown Report, King)
Five Questions: John St. Clair (Official Team Site, Florjancic)