Bold Move for the Browns

 

It’s been a long time since the Cleveland Browns made a splash in a positive way on draft day.  Apparently, GM Phil Savage and Coach Romeo Crennel are feeing some heat to win and win now!  If this team finishes 5-11 or 6-10 this season, they likely will have given up a top 10 pick in next year’s draft to move up and draft Brady Quinn.  And Crennel will likely be on the unemployment line. 

 

Drafting Joe Thomas with the third overall pick was the correct move.  After it was announced that Adrian Peterson reinjured himself in the Fiesta Bowl, the big tackle from Wisconsin became the logical pick.  With Thomas and Eric Steinbach anchoring the left side of the line, the Browns have a go to play in the running game.  Run left!  It also allows the team to move Kevin Shaffer to guard with Ryan Tucker returning to play right tackle.  Suddenly, you have an offensive line with two first round picks (Steinbach was the Bengals first round pick) after years of having none. 

 

I’m still not convinced that Brady Quinn is the NFL’s next great quarterback.  But he better be serviceable quickly if Savage doesn’t want to give Dallas a top five pick in the ’08 draft.  The Browns still need a veteran to back up the former ND star, so he doesn’t have to start the opening game if he’s not ready.  Charlie Frye is not that guy, and he will probably be traded before the season starts.  Even if Quinn shows he is prepared to start against the Steelers, he will need a veteran for guidance.  I don’t think Charlie Weis prepared him for everything the pros can throw at him.

 

Many teams felt that Quinn wasn’t that much better than the guys they could have drafted in the second round.  Apparently, Savage thought differently and dealt his first pick next year.  If you want to feel better about the choice, according to reports, the other team trying to move up to get Quinn was the Ravens, with Ozzie Newsome at the helm.  Of course, Baltimore wound up with Troy Smith later in the draft, and as I’ve said before, I’m not convinced Quinn is that much better than the former Buckeye signal caller.

 

Moving up again to get Eric Wright sacrifices depth on a team that badly needs it.  However, to get a top flite cornerback is worth it.  Having corners who can cover man to man allows defensive coordinator Todd Grantham to be creative.  If Leigh Bodden can stay healthy, the Browns should have those two guys.  It’s better to draft a starter than pick two back ups with the middle round picks. 

 

It shapes up as this:  It appears the Browns picked three players who should be in the starting lineup when they take on Pittsburgh September 9th.  You cannot argue with that.  And they didn’t use the third pick on a quarterback.  They still have some holes to fill on the defensive line, although they did draft two DE’s in the later rounds and signed NT Shaun Smith and DE Robaire Smith in free agency. 

 

Also, is anyone else concerned by Braylon Edwards comments about Calvin Johnson?  Edwards said the Browns didn’t need Johnson because they already have two receivers who need the ball in himself and Kellen Winslow.  The correct response would have been "I’m happy with anything that helps us win".  Edwards needs to stop talking, because it looks like this team is going to run first, especially if they have a rookie QB.  This isn’t going to be "Air Coryell" in Cleveland.

 

JD