SB Nation User Blog: rufio

Pool, Cribbs, Rogers get votes for top player in the division

rufio — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:39:46 -0000

Pool, Cribbs, Rogers get votes for top player in the division

James Walker at the worldwide leader's AFC North blog took an anonymous survey of AFC North players. They could not vote for themselves or their teammates in the poll.

Ed Reed ran away with the vote, while Harrison and Polamalu tied for second.

Terrell Suggs and the three Browns were the only others to receive votes.

The poll apparently had many questions and the results will be released in the coming weeks.

What do you want to see me do?

rufio — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:39:32 -0000

DBN Faithful,

I am looking for something to contribute to DBN. I have thought about the following projects:

Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of our division rivals and designing plays to attack each
Breaking down film of players on our roster (their strengths and weaknesses, etc.)
Explaining the 46 defense that Rob Ryan and Eric Mangini want to implement
Breaking down 2008 film, showing what did or did not work well for us
Reviewing the film of the Jets vs. Broncos game from 2008, including several current Browns players and Eric Mangini's offensive and defensive schemes
An explanation of more general or fundamental football terms/concepts: What do people mean when they say a DB has "good hips"? How does a QB read a defense? What is "zone blocking"?

So, what do you want to see?

Poll

What would you like to see me do for DBN?

Add Kam Chancellor to my list of college safeties to watch. He is quite large (6'4", 225lbs) and...

rufio — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:58:30 -0000

Add Kam Chancellor to my list of college safeties to watch. He is quite large (6'4", 225lbs) and he can hit. He needs to show good technique, ball skills, hips, and play recognition in his senior year. He has moved around in his college career so if he settles in well at safety...

Expected rookie contracts

rufio — Sun, 03 May 2009 02:15:27 -0000

Expected rookie contracts

James Walker over at the worldwide leader has an estimate of the AFC North's rookies' contracts.

He lists Mack's estimate at 5 years and $13 million. Compare that to Cincinnati having to pay the mentally questionable Andre Smith $50 million over 5 years, and keep in mind that if we stayed at #5 overall we probably would have had to pay more than that.

I'm not as concerned with the salary cap as many of you all, but the difference in pay is pretty remarkable.

Robiskie looks polished, Veikune intelligent and transitioning well

rufio — Sun, 03 May 2009 01:42:40 -0000

Robiskie looks polished, Veikune intelligent and transitioning well

Pluto says Veikune "won some money" off of Mangini by braking down every player's role in a complicated blitz. He also reports that Veikune moves like a LB.

He also reports that James Davis looks like a legit NFL running back, that Robiskie looks savvy and polished (surprise?) and Lance Leggett is showing some potential at WR. Lance spent 2008 on our practice squad and ran track at the U.

I trust Pluto more than anyone else in Berea, but keep in mind these are all rookies in helmets and shorts.

Does anyone else think Robiskie looks bigger than he did at OSU?

Mangini on Safeties

rufio — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:07:05 -0000

Mangini on Safeties

(On the safety position) -- "Ideally what you're looking for is balance where either guy can come down and play in the box and either guy can play deep, both guys can play deep. What you don't want to do is get in a situation where this guy can only play in the box or this guy can only play deep because wherever you put that box guy, the offense automatically knows this is where the eighth man is going to be in run support or this is where the double-coverage is going to be and it gives away what you're trying to get done. Ideally you have two guys that can do both of those things well enough. Every now and then you have one that does better and you may compensate and shade that a little bit where he gets more chances in the deep part of the field. In a perfect world, you're looking at balance on both sides with the flexibility to do what you need with both guys."

I tend to like this approach. You don't want to end up with a Roy Williams who is really just a linebacker and will always play in the box.

Maybe this is why there have been talks of Pool at SS--there shouldn't be too much of a difference between the Safeties in our scheme.

Theoretically, having two guys back there who are versatile would allow our defense to do a lot of different things, disguise our coverages, and surprise some offenses.

Finally, a Linebacker

rufio — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:09:57 -0000

With the 52nd pick in the NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns took DE/OLB David Veikune, Hawaii.

A little background on Veikune from ESPN's scouting report:

2004: Veikune enrolls at Colorado. 2005: Veikune transfers to Fresno City College. 2006: Veikune transfers to Hawaii. 2006-'07: Veikune starts one of the 27 games he appears in accumulating 44 tackles including 11.5 tackles-for-loss and nine sacks. 2008: Veikune starts all 14 games accumulating 73 tackles including 16.5 tackles-for-loss and nine sacks. He also breaks up three passes and forces four fumbles. Veikune earns first-team All-WAC selection in 2007 and second-team honors in 2008.

Simplified scouting report:

6'2 3/8", 257lbs.
Aggressive
Above average speed and quickness
Flexible hips: has the potential to be able to cover as a LB
Strong for his size
Good burst to the QB
Needs to improve against the run

I personally love this pick. Veikune is aggressive and tough, the kind of LB we need. I think he can help our pass rush, and it was good to finally see a defensive pick, as much as I like the "best player available" strategy. I do wonder about his mental capacity because I don't know much about his mental game. He was all academic WAC in 2006, 2007, and 2008. I'll take 28 TFL in 2 years, even against the WAC.

Browns Take Another WR

rufio — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:59:16 -0000

With the 50th pick, the Browns chose WR Mohamed Massaquoi, Georgia.

A little background on MM:

2005-'07: Massaquoi starts 23 of the 38 games he appears in catching a total of 100 passes for a total of 1,362 yards and four touchdowns. He also carries the ball twice for a total of 25 yards. 2008: Massaquoi starts all 13 games catching 58 passes for a total of 920 yards and eight touchdowns. He earns All-SEC first-team honors.

Simplified scouting report:

6'1 1/2", 210lbs.
Durable
Good height and bulk
Great character, hard worker
Competitive and tough
May have trouble separating in the NFL because of lack of quickness/speed
Drops too many he should catch, occasionally makes a great play on the ball

Its not like I don't like Massaquoi, I just don't know if I like the selection in the context of the recent pick of fellow WR Brian Robiskie. The previous pick, combined with our lack of any defensive picks so far leaves me a little underwhelmed. This means we can't get both my personal favorite (RB Rashad Jennings) and a defender on day 1.

With the 36th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft...

rufio — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:38:43 -0000

The Cleveland Browns select...

...Brian Robiskie

A little background on Robo:

Robiskie appeared in nine games during his true freshman season in 2005 making his biggest impact on special teams. He started five of the 13 games he appeared in during the 2006 season finishing with 29 catches, 383 receiving yards and five touchdown-catches. Robiskie started all 13 games of the 2007 season finishing with 55 catches, 935 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns. He also returned seven punts for a total of 60 yards. Robiskie appeared in all 13 games (12 starts) in 2008 catching 42 passes for a total of 535 yards and eight touchdowns. He also returns four punts for a total of 17 yards.

Simplified scouting report:

6'3", 209lbs.
Polished
Great hands
May have trouble separating in the NFL because of lack of quickness/speed
Plays like the son of a WR coach, which he is

Another quiet pick from the Browns. I like Robo, but again would rather have had him a little later in the draft. He definitely fits the "football player" mold that Mangini wants. If he plays the Joe J. role and our offense returns to form, this pick looks a whole lot better. At the moment, I have to question why Rey Maualuga is still on the board AND why we haven't chosen a linebacker yet. More as the story unfolds...

Draft Open Thread pt. 2

rufio — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:43:58 -0000

Cleveland Browns Day 1 Picks:

Round 1: No. 5 overall--Alex Mack, C, Cal
Round 2: No. 36 overall
Round 2: No. 50 overall
Round 2: No. 52 overall

This is also an open thread for ALL of today's action! Please try to refrain from creating individual threads that state what you specifically think about a pick -- that's what this post and any subsequent posts that Chris or I make are for. With that said, if a late-breaking trade appears while I'm gone, feel free to make a FanPost about it until either Chris or myself have the chance to make a front page post about it.

Lets hope we can get some quality talent in the 2nd round!