What has happened in good ol’ Cleveland, Ohio? Suddenly, it’s a city where wheeling and dealing occur. Last week, the Cavaliers were involved in an 11 player, three team trade in which GM Danny Ferry unloaded half of his roster. This past weekend, it was the Browns turn. Phil Savage, a guy who is known for his draft expertise, traded two picks in the first three rounds to upgrade his defense. The next thing you know, Tribe GM Mark Shapiro will make a seven-player trade before spring training ends. Uh, maybe not.
A few weeks ago, I discussed the areas in which the Browns needed help. The chief spot was in the front seven, and I wrote that Savage would probably replace at least three and maybe four starters among the defensive line and linebackers. In two separate deals Friday and early Saturday morning, he took care of two spots and perhaps three. He dealt a second round pick to Green Bay for Corey Williams, and a third round pick and cornerback Leigh Bodden to Detroit for two time Pro Bowl nose tackle Shaun Rogers. There was no standing pat for the Browns’ GM.
I was a little surprised by the trade of Bodden, because I consider cornerback one of the most important positions on defense. If you have people who can handle wide receivers by themselves, it enables the defensive coordinators to do many things to rush the passer. For example, a team could blitz using linebackers or safeties because they know the wide outs are taken care of. Apparently, Savage thinks the Browns still have depth at the spot with Eric Wright, Brandon McDonald, and Davin Holly. That, and Bodden’s frequent injuries (and perhaps his brush with the law), made him expendable.
The next spot on the agenda for Savage is linebacker. Outside of Kamerion Wimbley, he and Romeo Crennel cannot feel confident with this position. D’Qwell Jackson might remain as the starter, but I’m sure the Browns feel they can do better than Andra Davis at one inside spot, and veteran Willie McGinest at the other outside spot. The Browns did talk to Titans OLB Travis LaBoy this weekend, so they are looking for another pass rusher to play on the outside. That, together with the knowledge that Rogers and Williams can get to the QB, instantly improves the rush.
The other area of need addressed by the GM was wide receiver, where the team inked Donte Stallworth to a seven-year deal. With Joe Jurevicius likely to play just one more year, getting Stallworth provides the team with three good wide outs. Jurevicius will probably become the third receiver in 2008, with Stallworth moving in as the starter. The move likely means that former third round pick, Travis Wilson, will likely be looking for a new job before the season starts.
The Cleveland Browns demonstrated in 2007 that they could score points. They bring back everybody from that offense in 2008, and they added depth at wide receiver. They also may add another offensive lineman in free agency to maintain that depth. The defense needed work, and Phil Savage went out and fixed the front seven, much like he fixed the offensive line before last season. Several experts are saying the Browns are now the team to beat in the AFC North. The Browns didn’t stand still in the off-season; they took a giant leap forward.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 