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Browns: List of starters already forming PDF Print E-mail
Written by Steve Doerschuk REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
Thursday, 25 May 2006
Romeo CrennelBEREA - NFL signifies “Not For Long” in a cryptic job-security sense. Still, you look at the Browns and wonder. Shouldn’t it be longer than that?
General Manager Phil Savage and Head Coach Romeo Crennel head into spring practice with a nucleus of players they want to keep for years. Forging that nucleus, though, is the result of an overhaul that is stunning even within the context of regime change.
The latest makeover goes in motion with the start of spring practice next week. By the end of a June 16-18 minicamp, expect Crennel to reveal clues as to likely starters for the 2006 opener against the Saints on Sept. 10. Already, the team’s run through free agency and the draft makes it fairly clear who most of those starters will be.
Based on one projection, expect:
n Six starters on offense who either weren’t starters on opening day 2005 or were on some other team.
n Six new starters on defense.
n Seventeen starters who weren’t starters at the close of 2004, nine on offense, eight on defense. The only exceptions are right tackle Ryan Tucker, fullback Terrelle Smith, defensive end Orpheus Roye, linebacker Andra Davis and cornerback Daylon McCutcheon.
Radical change was logical because the Butch Davis regime went 9-23 in its last two years. Fans seem to be embracing Savage’s massive fix-it attempt.
Outside pressure is building. A recent USA Today Sports Weekly article said, “This year’s surprise team could be Cleveland ... the Browns might be ready to turn their opponents black and blue.”
The purple haze of turnover, though, is one reason optimism should be tempered, at least until it becomes apparent that these guys can play together.
‘IN YOUR FACE’
Spring practice will be a mesh-fest. Special drills that started Tuesday focus on new center LeCharles Bentley and under-the-gun quarterback Charlie Frye working on exchanges. This was a problem that factored into the demise of Trent Dilfer and Jeff Faine.
Frye also needs to get a feel for new left tackle Kevin Shaffer, who protected mobile quarterback Michael Vick in Atlanta and now must get the hang of Frye’s improvisation.
Spring practice won’t completely address the huge issue of phasing in Kellen Winslow Jr. and Braylon Edwards as impact receivers. Coming off knee surgery, Winslow is scheduled to be up and running in some spring drills. Edwards, coming off a later knee surgery, will be present at but not active in spring sessions.
Chemistry among Frye and new wideouts Joe Jurevicius and Travis Wilson will be monitored. Jurevicius is a veteran who can work through Frye’s growing pains. Wilson is a rookie whose route-running needs work.
Offensive Coordinator Mo Carthon needs to have a good spring. The Browns ranked last in the NFL with 232 points, roughly half the 452 points racked up by Jurevicius’ former team, Seattle.
“Mo’s an in-your-face type of guy, and he’ll say what it is, black or white, in his opinion,” Savage said recently. “Some players respond to it and other players don’t ... some of our guys probably get along with ‘Mo’ and other guys don’t.
“For the good of the team, everyone has to be on the same page.”
PROVE IT OR SIT
The defense had a promising first chapter under coordinator Todd Grantham, but he’ll have a busy spring, too.
On the three-man line, incumbent ends Orpheus Roye and Alvin McKinley are working with a new nose tackle, Ted Washington. Rookie nose man Baba Oshinowo is trying to emerge.
The best talent at outside linebacker is in new bodies, veteran Willie McGinest and Round 1 pick Kamerion Wimbley. Crennel and Grantham must decide what to do with Chaun Thompson, who made strides in 2005 and is signed through 2007.
In theory, 2006 Round 2 pick D’Qwell Jackson can plug in alongside veteran Andra Davis to form a strong duo of inside linebackers. In fact, Jackson must prove he’s a better option than veterans Matt Stewart or Thompson.
The Browns drafted Wimbley and Jackson to be starters sooner rather than later.
“In last year’s draft,” Crennel said, “we were kind of shooting in the dark. We really didn’t know exactly what we needed. We were able to identify our needs this time.
“If they prove they can win the job, they will play. If they don’t win the job, they sit with me for a while.”
Brodney Pool, a Round 2 pick in 2005, sat as a rookie. Savage thinks Pool can be an impact safety, but he must beat out Brian Russell and Sean Jones for one of two openings.
Gary Baxter was supposed to stand out at corner last year. He sat out 11 games with a pectoral tear and must prove he can rebound.
Leigh Bodden and Daylon McCutcheon enter one of the team’s hottest position battles, for the starting cornerback job opposite Baxter.
These are some of the issues the Browns face as they attempt to turn “overhaul” into “up and running.”
Busy in Berea
What’s going on with the Browns:
Most players are participating in offseason conditioning at the team complex.
On Tuesday, the first of three special training sessions among centers and quarterbacks was conducted.
The first of 10 spring practices will be June 1.
A full-squad minicamp is set June 16-18, to be followed by summer break.
Training camp is tentatively set to start the last weekend in July.
Written by Steve Doerschuk REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
Thursday, 25 May 2006
Romeo CrennelBEREA - NFL signifies “Not For Long” in a cryptic job-security sense. Still, you look at the Browns and wonder. Shouldn’t it be longer than that?
General Manager Phil Savage and Head Coach Romeo Crennel head into spring practice with a nucleus of players they want to keep for years. Forging that nucleus, though, is the result of an overhaul that is stunning even within the context of regime change.
The latest makeover goes in motion with the start of spring practice next week. By the end of a June 16-18 minicamp, expect Crennel to reveal clues as to likely starters for the 2006 opener against the Saints on Sept. 10. Already, the team’s run through free agency and the draft makes it fairly clear who most of those starters will be.
Based on one projection, expect:
n Six starters on offense who either weren’t starters on opening day 2005 or were on some other team.
n Six new starters on defense.
n Seventeen starters who weren’t starters at the close of 2004, nine on offense, eight on defense. The only exceptions are right tackle Ryan Tucker, fullback Terrelle Smith, defensive end Orpheus Roye, linebacker Andra Davis and cornerback Daylon McCutcheon.
Radical change was logical because the Butch Davis regime went 9-23 in its last two years. Fans seem to be embracing Savage’s massive fix-it attempt.
Outside pressure is building. A recent USA Today Sports Weekly article said, “This year’s surprise team could be Cleveland ... the Browns might be ready to turn their opponents black and blue.”
The purple haze of turnover, though, is one reason optimism should be tempered, at least until it becomes apparent that these guys can play together.
‘IN YOUR FACE’
Spring practice will be a mesh-fest. Special drills that started Tuesday focus on new center LeCharles Bentley and under-the-gun quarterback Charlie Frye working on exchanges. This was a problem that factored into the demise of Trent Dilfer and Jeff Faine.
Frye also needs to get a feel for new left tackle Kevin Shaffer, who protected mobile quarterback Michael Vick in Atlanta and now must get the hang of Frye’s improvisation.
Spring practice won’t completely address the huge issue of phasing in Kellen Winslow Jr. and Braylon Edwards as impact receivers. Coming off knee surgery, Winslow is scheduled to be up and running in some spring drills. Edwards, coming off a later knee surgery, will be present at but not active in spring sessions.
Chemistry among Frye and new wideouts Joe Jurevicius and Travis Wilson will be monitored. Jurevicius is a veteran who can work through Frye’s growing pains. Wilson is a rookie whose route-running needs work.
Offensive Coordinator Mo Carthon needs to have a good spring. The Browns ranked last in the NFL with 232 points, roughly half the 452 points racked up by Jurevicius’ former team, Seattle.
“Mo’s an in-your-face type of guy, and he’ll say what it is, black or white, in his opinion,” Savage said recently. “Some players respond to it and other players don’t ... some of our guys probably get along with ‘Mo’ and other guys don’t.
“For the good of the team, everyone has to be on the same page.”
PROVE IT OR SIT
The defense had a promising first chapter under coordinator Todd Grantham, but he’ll have a busy spring, too.
On the three-man line, incumbent ends Orpheus Roye and Alvin McKinley are working with a new nose tackle, Ted Washington. Rookie nose man Baba Oshinowo is trying to emerge.
The best talent at outside linebacker is in new bodies, veteran Willie McGinest and Round 1 pick Kamerion Wimbley. Crennel and Grantham must decide what to do with Chaun Thompson, who made strides in 2005 and is signed through 2007.
In theory, 2006 Round 2 pick D’Qwell Jackson can plug in alongside veteran Andra Davis to form a strong duo of inside linebackers. In fact, Jackson must prove he’s a better option than veterans Matt Stewart or Thompson.
The Browns drafted Wimbley and Jackson to be starters sooner rather than later.
“In last year’s draft,” Crennel said, “we were kind of shooting in the dark. We really didn’t know exactly what we needed. We were able to identify our needs this time.
“If they prove they can win the job, they will play. If they don’t win the job, they sit with me for a while.”
Brodney Pool, a Round 2 pick in 2005, sat as a rookie. Savage thinks Pool can be an impact safety, but he must beat out Brian Russell and Sean Jones for one of two openings.
Gary Baxter was supposed to stand out at corner last year. He sat out 11 games with a pectoral tear and must prove he can rebound.
Leigh Bodden and Daylon McCutcheon enter one of the team’s hottest position battles, for the starting cornerback job opposite Baxter.
These are some of the issues the Browns face as they attempt to turn “overhaul” into “up and running.”
Busy in Berea
What’s going on with the Browns:
Most players are participating in offseason conditioning at the team complex.
On Tuesday, the first of three special training sessions among centers and quarterbacks was conducted.
The first of 10 spring practices will be June 1.
A full-squad minicamp is set June 16-18, to be followed by summer break.
Training camp is tentatively set to start the last weekend in July.
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