After watching film of last season’s 5-11 season, there is no question what team president Mike Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert thought the biggest weakness was for the 2009 Cleveland Browns. That would be the defensive backfield, so the duo used three of their eight picks in this year’s draft on the secondary.
They drafted a cornerback in the first round in Florida’s Joe Haden, and safeties T.J. Ward and Larry Asante in rounds two and five respectively. Add in giant DE Clifton Geathers with their last pick, and the Browns improved their defense, in theory, of course.
However, the pick most people want to talk about is QB Colt McCoy with the 85th pick in the draft, the first of two third round selections.
The Browns are pulling a page out of the 1980’s and using the same book as coach Eric Mangini’s former team, the New York Jets, in thinking the being strong in the secondary allows the defense to do all sorts of different things to put pressure on the opposing quarterbacks.
If your cornerbacks are cover man to man, that frees up people to blitz from different angles. And now, the Browns look to have three solid corners in Haden, the recently acquired Sheldon Brown, and holdover Eric Wright. That kind of depth even allows for man coverage when opponents go to three wide receiver sets.
And having safeties that can lay the wood to wide outs coming over the middle is also a handicap to passing games. The Browns had one solid safety in Abe Elam, and Ward’s and Asante’s reputations as big hitters will help in this area and also in defensing the run.
These additions, along with those of LBs Scott Fujita and Chris Gocong, along with two guys acquired during the season last year in Jason Trusnick and Matt Roth, give the Browns a better defense to start with than they had last year.
On offense, Heckert took his quarterback of the future in McCoy, but also may have pick a lead running back in Montario Hardesty (which will please sportstimeohio.com’s Roger Brown, who has been singing the praises of Hardesty for months), and a possible #1 wide receiver in Carlton Mitchell, who was hidden in South Florida’s running game.
McCoy was probably the best fit for the west coast offense in the draft, and Holmgren and Heckert got him without having to trade up to get him. He doesn’t have the big arm, but has the accuracy that offense needs. Besides, if he doesn’t work out, it’s not like the Browns wasted a first round choice on him.
Hardesty is a power runner which could be a perfect compliment to James Harrison, who had a breakout second half last year. Both he and Ward have had some injury issues which are a concern, however.
Getting another offensive lineman is always good as well, as that is an area every team need depth. Therefore, drafting Arizona State guard Shawn Lauvao on the third round and signing free agent Eric Ghiaciuc provides some added depth.
Will these players turn out to be Pro Bowlers? Only time will tell. However, we said going into the draft the Browns needed to get two guys who will start in game one, and those guys should be Haden at CB and Ward at safety. Hardesty should earn carries immediately as well. Plus, Cleveland picked up its quarterback of the future in McCoy.
The new regime had a plan and they stuck to it. That’s reason enough to smile about this year’s draft.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 