Category: Cleveland Browns (Page 19 of 114)

Should the Browns connsider Vernon Gholston?

March 1, 2011 /

Everyone is calling Vernon Gholston a bust, and it’s hard to argue with this given that the #6 pick in the draft several years ago was just released by the Jets and he’s yet to record a sack in the NFL.

Yet Gholston deserves another chance as he never got a change to play his natural position of a defensive end in a 4-3.

Ryan and Tannenbaum have consistently praised the efforts of Gholston — who might have been miscast in New York after playing defensive end in Ohio State’s 4-3 alignment — saying he has done everything the coaching staff asked.

Some are ripping the Jets for drafting a “workout warrior,” but every 3-4 takes a risk when they select a college lineman and try to turn him into a linebacker in the NFL, even if he’s primarily going to be a pass rusher.

The Jets tried last year to move Gholston to defensive end, but that’s an end in a 3-4, which is nothing like playing defensive end in a 4-3.

The kid has a good attitude by all accounts, and the Browns are in need of linemen who can fit the 4-3, so it appears that they ought to consider Gholston as a free agent.

Cleveland Browns

Browns release Shaun Rogers and other veterans

February 9, 2011 /

New head coach Pat Shurmer is starting to clean house, releases a group of veterans over the age the 30 in an effort to make the team younger. GM Tom Heckert had indicated that the Browns needed to get younger, particularly on defense, even if they stuck with the 3-4 defense. With the move to the 4-3, it probable made it easier to part ways with many in this group.

The Browns’ housecleaning under new coach Pat Shurmur began Wednesday when the team cut six players, including three-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Shaun Rogers and three of Eric Mangini’s former Jets.

In addition to Rogers, the contracts of linebackers Eric Barton and David Bowens, defensive end Kenyon Coleman, right tackle John St. Clair and tight end Robert Royal were terminated. All six were over 30 and Barton, Bowens, and Coleman all played for Mangini in New York.

These guys were mostly good players in their time, but they’re all getting old. Royal was a disaster as a receiver, but he was a good blocker. It wasn’t his fault that Mangini and Daboll kept using him in the passing game.

With this decision, I’m thinking the Browns might be planning on taking advantage of all the quality defensive linemen in the draft this year.

Cleveland Browns

Browns fire Eric Mangini

January 3, 2011 /
Cleveland Browns players dump a cooler of Gatorade on head coach Eric Mangini near the end of a 34-14 win against the New England Patriots on November 07, 2010 in Cleveland. UPI / David Richard

The Cleveland Browns have fired Eric Mangini. Despite winning games against the New England Patriots and the New Orleans Saints, Mangini never seemed to grasp what it took to win consistently in the NFL. He made the Browns a tougher team and he clearly improved the overall situation, but his game management skills were terrible. He was obsessed with the “process” of preparing and not making mistakes, but he couldn’t find a way to beat the bad or mediocre teams on a consistent basis.

His approach in the Buffalo game summed it all up. He was so obsessed with avoiding mistakes that he forgot the Browns were the better team. He played for the field goal in a game where he should have attacked and gone for the jugular.

His consistent use of Robert Royal is passing situations was baffling. How many dropped passes does one need to see before realizing that this guy should not be a target? I know Evan Moore got hurt, but there are other people on the roster. Also, despite having backs with good hands, he rarely used the screen pass, even in games when the pass rush was a problem.

Mangini is a solid football guy, but he really hurt himself with his approach on offense. He would have benefited from an experienced offensive coordinator.

The team is better after a very solid off-season that produced an excellent draft and other gems like Scott Fujita and Peyton Hillis. If the front office keeps that up the Browns should be fine.

Cleveland Browns

Browns stun Patriots as McCoy stakes his claim

November 7, 2010 /
Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy celebrates a touchdown in the second quarter of a game against the New England Patriots on November 07, 2010 in Cleveland. UPI / David Richard Photo via Newscom

Colt McCoy has stakes his claim to the quarterback job for the Browns. The fans know, Mike Holmgren knows it, and Eric Mangini better know it. We’ll hear all kinds of BS as Miangini leaves the door open for Seneca Wallace or Jake Delhomme to return, but this is McCoy’s job. Period.

Despite the tortured history of Browns football over the past 10 years, we have seem some excellent performances by quarterbacks, only to see reality set in over time. So McCoy still needs to prove himself over time, but he’s certainly earned the opportunity to play out the season.

Mangini and his staff deserve a ton of credit for turning this team around. Let’s hope it continues, and I’m pretty confident they’re ready to ride this colt.

Cleveland Browns

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2026 Cleveland Teams at ClevelandTeams.com

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑