Jan 13th, 2012 @ 6:15 pm by Steve Doerschuk
CAMPO vs. ROB RYAN
The Cowboys “retired” Dave Campo six months before his 65th birthday.
Campo’s boss in 2011 was Coordinator Rob Ryan, who raided Cleveland’s coaching staff to give Jerome Henderson Campo’s job as defensive backs coach.
Both Ryan and Campo were Browns defensive coordinators for two years.
Ranking their seasons with the Browns:
1, Campo in 2003, No. 15 in the NFL, 309.9 yards a game
2, Campo in 2004, No. 15, 325.9
3, Ryan in 2010, No. 22, 350.1
4, Ryan in 2009, No. 31, 389.3
• Campo’s pair of No. 15 defenses had been the highest-ranked Browns units of the expansion era prior to this season.
Coordinator Dick Jauron’s 2011 unit is the new champ, ranking No. 10. The 2011 Browns gave up more yards than Campo’s defenses, though, 332.4 yards a game.
• Jauron loved the way Henderson was developing cornerback Joe Haden.
“Jerome does a terrific job with him,” Jauron said during the season.
• • •
BLACKMON’S FLAWS
Like most scouts, Pro Football Weekly’s Nolan Nawrocki rates Oklahoma State wideout Justin Blackmon near the top of the draft.
Nawrocki’s detailed report notes a few flaws, though. Namely:
“Average initial quickness off the line … lacks top-end speed to separate. Shows some tightness in his hips and is not a creative or elusive runner in the open field.
“Does not power through contact. Production is inflated from a spread offense that does not require receivers to run a full route tree.”
• Nawrocki is among scouts rating Andrew Luck high above the clouds. His bottom line on the Stanford QB:
“A perennial Pro Bowl talent who is as NFL-ready as any quarterback to emerge from college in decades.”
If you’re a Browns fan, does that make you wish 4-12 had been 1-15?
• Pro Football Weekly’s Nolan Nawrocki ranks the seniors entering the April draft. The top Ohio State player is center Mike Brewster at No. 47. The top-ranked Ohio college player is Miami tackle Brandon Brooks at No. 27.
Nawrocki’s top senior quarterbacks are Stanford’s Andrew Luck at No. 1 overall, Texas A&M’s Ryan Tanehill at No. 20, Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden at No. 40 and Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins at No. 49.
One thing I noticed this weekend is how many of the elite teams have elite TEs ... I like the Browns TEs, but they are not in the Graham, Davis, or Gronkowski category. It would be nice to get a difference maker at TE also, especially with Watson's health. A good TE is a QB's best friend. Are there any elite TEs available this year?
"Coach Pat Shurmur plans no changes on his staff with the huge exception of adding an offensive coordinator. Shurmur doubled as offensive coordinator this season in his first year as a head coach.
Shurmur said calling plays on Sunday is a fun part of the job, but if the Browns hire a coordinator who can do it better, Shurmur will relinquish the role.
"I think it's important that I get the best coordinator I can for us," Shurmur said. "I think that's one of the details that will get worked out as we go through the process."
Possibilities include Brad Childress and current quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple. Childress and Shurmur worked together on Andy Reid's staff in Philadelphia."
I'm not thinking so. The Browns will be looking to improve next season, and they know 4-12 or even 5-11 will not cut it. I doubt having Whipple being an extra set of eyes on the offense (and not much more) will solve anything. Shurmur was below average at calling plays, couldn't manage the clock, or personnel groupings. Actually I can't believe that Holmgren is even considering letting Shurmur to continue to call plays, and allowing Shurmur to basically fill the OC position with another "yes man"
I could see this idea possibly working with Two offensive minds that have worked together in the same system previously for a period of time, but not a first year head coach with OC experience, and a QB coach from two totally different systems.
One thing I noticed this weekend is how many of the elite teams have elite TEs ... I like the Browns TEs, but they are not in the Graham, Davis, or Gronkowski category. It would be nice to get a difference maker at TE also, especially with Watson's health. A good TE is a QB's best friend. Are there any elite TEs available this year?
Interesting most rankings I have seen have Jeffery at #2 and Wright at #3. But as I've said and will be saying for the next 3 months, if Blackmon is available with the #4 pick, TAKE HIM! If not, Kalil or Claiborne will do with hopefully Jeffery (or Wright) available with the 22nd pick. A WR MUST be taken in the first round.
I don't think it would be wise to trade to get RGIII. There will be other good picks that are needs at #4, and even with their second pick. If the Rams really want him (which I doubt) let them have him. If someone else wants to trade for him, they can have him. The Browns are sitting good with the picks they have, no sense in screwing it up.
Browns general manager Tom Heckert isn't bluffing when he says he might trade out of the fourth overall spot, according to The Canton Repository.
“In a perfect world, we would stay at 4, but it’s not a perfect world," Heckert said. "If we think we can get the same guy by moving down a few spots getting an extra pick or picks, why not do that?”
Heckert traded out of the No. 6 spot last year when the Atlanta Falcons wanted to move up to draft wide receiver Julio Jones.
Hensley's slant: It will be hard for the Browns to pass up on a playmaking wide receiver like Justin Blackmon. But they could get extra picks by dangling Robert Griffin III at quarterback-hungry teams like Washington (No. 6), Miami (No. 8 or No. 9) and Seattle (No. 11 or No. 12). Of course, that's if Cleveland isn't sold on Griffin as a franchise quarterback.
I don't care what is said at this point and time ... It all is a smoke screen. The less that is really known the better. It would be stupid to let your real intention or opinions to known. The NFL GMs let out snippets of info just to cause confusion. It means nothing.
Great just another connection hire. Formerly worked with Shurmur and Holmgren.
Cromwell is actually a pretty good coach. He was a very intense player. Hopefully he brings that to the sidelines as Shurmur is about as intense as a sleeping kitten.
Its obvious that NFL players get concussions, and don't really care.
Its also obvious that if a player's dad calls out the coaches for playing a player with a concussion, its not a real good career move.
Basically...the reason he will be downgraded/cut is because he believes a concussion means you take some time off.
The NFL has shown us that "real" players play through concussions. If you don't want to play with a concussion than you can go get some of Bon Jovi's "Bad Medicine" treatment in the Arena League.
Its obvious that NFL players get concussions, and don't really care.
Its also obvious that if a player's dad calls out the coaches for playing a player with a concussion, its not a real good career move.
Basically...the reason he will be downgraded/cut is because he believes a concussion means you take some time off.
The NFL has shown us that "real" players play through concussions. If you don't want to play with a concussion than you can go get some of Bon Jovi's "Bad Medicine" treatment in the Arena League.
I really don't think that McCoy played any part in the decision as to whether he played, or not, in those last 3 games. After his daddy came out whining, it would have been a PR nightmare had they trotted McCoy back on the field only for him to get another concussion. I think he would've played if they would have let him.
That being said, I do agree that his daddy crying probably didn't sit well with the front office and will likely be his undoing.
If any of that is the reason the Browns dump McCoy, then the Browns are more dysfunctional than I thought. You would hope that an NFL team would be above parental comments. Getting rid of McCoy for what his dad said would be stupid. His play/talent should be the only factor in deciding his fate. If you think he is not talented enough, OK, but because his daddy hurt your feelings, NO!
If any of that is the reason the Browns dump McCoy, then the Browns are more dysfunctional than I thought. You would hope that an NFL team would be above parental comments. Getting rid of McCoy for what his dad said would be stupid. His play/talent should be the only factor in deciding his fate. If you think he is not talented enough, OK, but because his daddy hurt your feelings, NO!
IMO, what his dad said was just the sprinkles in the ice cream sundae that were the reasons for him not being the QB.
IMO, what his dad said was just the sprinkles in the ice cream sundae that were the reasons for him not being the QB.
Yeah, his dad didn't help matters.
I was really surprised by Lerner's comments. They pretty much reeked of "we're going to make a splash at QB...Colt's not 'the' guy." If that truly is the case, he didn't help Heckert/Holmgren's smokescreens.
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