Tag: Donte Whitner

Draft Still Browns Best Chance to Get Better

The NFL free agency season started on Tuesday and already Browns fans are excited about training camp starting in July. 

Yes, the Browns have improved, getting ILB Karlos Dansby to replace D’Qwell Jackson, Donte Whitner to replace T. J. Ward, and bringing in running back Ben Tate, formerly of the Houston Texans.

However, note that Jackson was released by new GM Ray Farmer, so that hole was created by the Browns.  We say this realizing that Dansby is a much better player than the guy he replaced, although Jackson was a class act during his time in Cleveland.

Ward made the Pro Bowl last season, as did Whitner (who has made two trips to Hawaii in his career), so the gain there is minimal.  Both are very good players, and we like the aspect of a local guy playing here because they understand what the Browns are in this city.

Certainly, the Browns needed Tate, who although he has had injury issues in his career, has also gained 1992 yards in three seasons backing up Arian Foster, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt. 

He also has experience running the ball in new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s zone blocking running game. 

Since the Browns’ leading rusher last season was Willis McGahee with 377 yards, there is no question that if Tate is healthy, he is definitely an upgrade at the running back position.

However, let’s hold off on potential Super Bowl appearances.

We even had some yesterday on Twitter proposing that Dansby, Whitner, and Tate should throw out the first pitch at the Indians home opener.  Our question was why?

Look, the Browns improved themselves in free agency.  Still, the bigger chance to improve this football team will come in May when the draft occurs.  Farmer and his scouting staff have 10 picks in all to work with, and half of those are in the first three rounds.

They should come away with at least three new starters after those picks are made. 

And remember, Cleveland was one of the NFL’s youngest teams in 2013, and those players who were added in the past couple of years should do nothing but get better.

The real reason for optimism if you are a Browns’ fan is that finally, the team wants to win right now. 

The last few years under Mike Holmgren tenure and the early years of the Haslam ownership were all about rebuilding and adding talent to a roster that was devoid of it.

We remember a comment from Eric Mangini’s last season as head coach, when it was noted the Browns were good on special teams.  A football pundit said that they should be, their entire roster was made up of special team players.

Finally, it appears the days of accumulating salary cap space and draft picks are over.  Haslam has given Farmer and his staff a directive that this football has to start showing progress in the only area where it counts:  The win-loss column.

The owner is tired of the Browns being a laughing-stock around the league, and going to game week in and week out and seeing his team losing in a variety of interesting ways.

This new concept of winning being important should excite Browns’ fans.  Especially in a league where at least one team goes from 5-11 to a playoff spot pretty much every year. 

Haslam is telling his executives and his fans, why can’t that team be us? 

Finally, this organization is taking steps in that direction.

JD

Browns Add Experience, Winners

If you are an NFL fan, today is kind of like Christmas morning. 

It’s the first day of free agency, and as of 4 PM, free agents are free to sign with other teams.  It’s the first opportunity to start filling some holes on your roster, and it also changes what players teams are looking at in the draft.

The Browns started the league year strong by filling the gap created with T.J. Ward going to free agency by signing S Donte Whitner, a former Glenville High star and Ohio State standout.

Whitner has spent his pro career with both the Bills and 49ers, and has made the Pro Bowl twice.  He’s a hard hitter and brings winning experience to the Browns, having made the playoffs each of his years with San Francisco.

Being a local product, he also brings an understanding of how much the Browns mean to the city, something he and QB Brian Hoyer can communicate to the rest of the squad.

GM Ray Farmer also addressed the lack of inside linebackers on the team by signing veteran ILB Karlos Dansby, previously with the Arizona Cardinals and reportedly are close to signing Arthur Moats, who played for Mike Pettine in Buffalo last season.

Dansby is older than former Brown D’Qwell Jackson, but he’s a much better player, ranking among the top inside linebackers in the league according to some websites, and made second team All-Pro last season.

Moats is just 25 years old and a good character guy, winning the Bills’ Walter Payton Award last season.  At his age, he should still be improving as a player. 

It is telling that all three free agent additions are on the defensive side of the football, which of course is Pettine’s area of expertise.  And in Whitner and Dansby, you have two players who have been in the Super Bowl.

Also, it looks like all three players are leadership/character guys too.  That’s not to cast dispersions on Jackson or Ward, but the new coach wants his kind of leaders on his defensive unit. 

The spending also makes it appears that Farmer has a mandate to make the Cleveland Browns better in the win-loss department, and to do it as soon as possible.  The days of accumulating draft picks and salary cap space appear to be over.

The Browns could sign more players in free agency, and may even do it today.  However, their next big order of business is to resolve things with C Alex Mack as soon as possible. 

We’ve heard people say that if Mack doesn’t want to be here, then let him go, but since the offensive line is already full of holes, it wouldn’t be prudent to create another one at center. 

It also wouldn’t be good for Hoyer or whoever the quarterback is to see pass rushers coming right up the middle and be in his face immediately. 

Farmer gave Mack the transitional tag for a reason.  The team didn’t want him to leave and wanted to buy time to work out a long-term deal with the two-time Pro Bowl lineman.  

Teams that go 4-12 can’t afford to let good players leave.

JD