Perhaps the most exciting development of what has been an extraordinarily newsworthy Browns’ offseason has been the prospect of Ray Horton bringing an aggressive style of defense to Cleveland. By now, we’ve all heard the buzz phrases associated with Horton’s brand of defense – “multi-front”, “attacking”, “pressure”, “blitzing”, “big guys who run fast” and so on. Or, if you’re stuck in 1988 like these folks, then surely you’ve at least heard the 3-4 is back in town.

Anyway, Horton’s defense is intriguing simply because it’s pretty far removed from the standard 3-4 and 4-3 defenses various Browns’ coaches have installed over the years. For most of 2012, Horton’s Cardinals defenses were aggressive, fast and created turnovers – despite the burden of trying to support a sluggish offense. While not every game was a stellar effort (as we’ll see in next week’s version), Horton’s defense continually created problems for opposing offenses.

Today, we’ll look at one of the better efforts – a 27-6 Week Three victory over the Eagles.

The Eagles were a bit of a mess heading into this game, yet they sported a very fortunate 2-0 record. Injuries and a lack of overall depth hurt the Eagles’ offensive line and consequently, Michael Vick. Horton clearly zoned in on the Eagles’ weaknesses here by attacking Vick under a layer of second level containment.

1st Quarter – Cardinals up 10-0
Here’s one of the few early big gainers for the Eagles. The double tight end set used here was seen throughout the game – often as a necessity for the Eagles’ blocking woes. The Cardinals run a basic 3-4, with inside linebacker Paris Lenon moved out wide in tight end coverage, with Daryl Washington playing zone over the deep middle. This is also one of the few plays in which Vick is given a sizable pocket to throw from and/or actually settles his feet to make a clean downfield throw.

After the snap, Lenon stunts inside and takes on the Eagles’ center. All three interior lineman plus outside linebacker Sam Acho rush Vick. Washington drifts back – eyes on Vick – which allows Brent Celek to work free underneath. Late nickel coverage gives Celek room to make the catch and turn upfield for extra yards.

Of course this play is a small sample, but given that the Bengals possess two pass catching tight ends in Jermaine Gresham and Tyler Eifert (Baltimore also features a nice tight end combo), Horton will be challenged to make some necessary adjustments come September.

2nd Quarter – Cardinals up 17-0
Next up is a simple, but incredibly effective inside linebacker blitz. Again, the Cardinals line up with a three man front, but this time pile up extra pass defenders behind them. Washington makes a quick hitch, then blasts through the Eagles’ line. McCoy is stuck on the opposite side and the extra flinch second is all that Washington needs to chase Vick out of the pocket before eventually sacking him for a big third down loss.

Projecting ahead to this fall, it’s easy to imagine Phil Taylor pushing open a free lane for the likes of D’Qwell Jackson, James Michael Johnson or Craig Robertson to run through. Of course, none of these three linebackers are in Washington’s class – at least in terms of 2012 playmaking. However, scheme and play call wise, similar opportunities should present themselves.

3rd Quarter – Cardinals up 24-3
This next play is classic interior line pressure – which at least based on the Browns’ current defensive personnel – could be a highlight in 2013. On this obvious passing down, the Cardinals rush four and drop both inside linebackers into coverage. Williams beats his man to the outside and collapses Vick’s pocket. Vick steps up in the pocket and is chased down by former Cardinal and current Brown Quentin Groves.

Nothing exotic here, as a nose tackle beat his blocker and put the quarterback on the move. Throughout this particular game, Horton’s defense thrived on front three and four pressure – particularly when D-Linemen could take advantage of single blocking. In Arizona’s case, Williams and Calais Campbell continually were able to create pressure – which allowed the linebackers to take advantage of secondary blocking assignments. In the Browns’ respective cases, they don’t have a lineman the caliber of Campbell, but do possess what could be a very good end duo in Ahtyba Rubin and Desmond Bryant.

3rd Quarter – Cardinals up 24-6
Here, the Cardinals come out in a 3-3-5 look, with Lenon, Acho and William Gay rushing from the outside. The Cardinals are overloaded with Lenon, Darnell Dockett and Gay on the left side. At the snap, the Cardinals charge into the Eagles’ backfield, then are turned around as McCoy shifts direction. A sizable hole opens on the Cardinals’ right side as Washington and Acho are picked off by Eagle blockers. McCoy takes off into the second level for a first down gain.

Two things that are immediately noticeable about Horton’s 2012 defense – at least from a personnel standpoint – are size and speed. The Cardinals’ front three is impressive in terms of moving and gaining leverage on opposing blockers. However, like most NFL teams – when opposing blockers can gain momentum against linebackers, the defense struggles. In this case, Washington and Acho (226 and 262 lbs.) could easily resemble Jackson and Paul Kruger or even Barkevious Mingo and Robertson.

4th Quarter – Cardinals up 24-6
We’ll end with a great pass rush. Late in the game, the Cardinals line up in a 2-4-5 look. Here, the front six rushes and again, the linemen get pressure – this time, Calais Campbell. Campbell chases Vick to his left, where pressure comes from Acho. Acho strings the play out wider and corner support comes. The play becomes a total bust for Vick, who heaves the ball out of bounds before getting sacked.

Based on the moves to land Kruger, Groves and Mingo, most of the talk has centered on the Browns’ new outside pass rushers. Certainly, these three players – along with Jabaal Sheard – will be determining factors for the success of Horton’s defense. However, the impact that the Browns’ front three and four defensive linemen – presumably Rubin, Taylor, Bryant, John Hughes and Billy Winn – could launch Horton’s defense into another level this fall.

At least based on the evidence from this game – one of the Cardinals’ best 2012 efforts – the play of Williams and Campbell allowed several other defenders to have an impact. When the front line could get a push, it created opportunities for Washington, Acho and Groves. Additionally – and while it wasn’t covered in detail here – this pressure eased the burden on the Cardinals’ secondary. This last point is significant for the Browns moving forward, at least given the team’s relative lack of 2013 depth.

Overall, Horton’s defense wasn’t the exotic, blitz-happy creation it has been advertised as – at least not based on this particular game. However, what was shown was a smart and timely assortment of continual pressure – something that hopefully translates to Cleveland this fall.

As always, leave your thoughts below. Coming soon, we’ll take a look at another Horton game.

Busy, Busy, Busy these past couple days, but for a little preview of sorts, let me leave you with the following.

Feel free to weigh in at the bottom of the page.

1. Enough about Barkevious Mingo, will Jabaal Sheard be the real breakout player of Ray Horton’s defense?

2. We’ve heard endless projections about Horton’s pass rush possibilities, but is anyone worried about the run defense?

In an offseason that has included:

1. Jimmy Haslam’s company getting raided by the FBI.
2. Mike Lombardi being stashed away in a Joe Banner love nest.
3. Banner deciding he’s “a football guy.”
4. The FO sitting out most of the draft.
5. Quentin Groves wanting the deluxe package.
6. Armonty Bryant fitting right in.

And so on and so forth…

Stories like the following just don’t register much of an impact:

PD – Mingo’s Lean Frame Something Something

Troubled Bryant Getting Second Chance

Great – oh and the 7th round O-Lineman has short arms. Can’t wait for the expose on that one.

Speaking of which, I mostly ignored it, but -

In case you haven’t heard, a “big name” writer graced Cleveland with his presence and uncovered a huge scoop (of nothing at all).

Grantland – Black and Browns Blues

Naturally, since there was little to write about, the entire piece became a loosely jumbled portrait of paranoia – a kind of bottomless self-attached tribute to Klosterman, a breathless writer who often says very little.

Yet, given the scarce material presented, Klosterman mined a subject dear to the hearts of Cleveland sports writers:

Grossi – Browns’ Draft Room Exclusive Access Leaves Grantland Writer Frustrated by Paranoia

Continuing with an implied “all about me” theme – it could have been ridiculously easy for Grossi to insert his own name in that headline.

And then there’s this, which seems to use the Klosterman visit as a vehicle to demand politely request as to not offend – increased transparency from the Browns’ organization in the name of journalism access.

Or, it’s a just Klosterman-esque giant time-wasting summary with a healthy dose of “I”

And now I don’t care. Klosterman is basically his own Iowa Def Leppard cover band of sports writers. “Divergent thinking is a cognitive process by which a…..”

Oh, shut the f— up, Chuck.

Anyway, I don’t think anyone needed 2,000 words to figure out the personalities of Lombardi and Banner. Although Lombardi’s SEC line was revealing:

“The SEC is a whole different animal,” says Lombardi. “If all we did was take guys from Alabama and LSU, we’d be fucking great.”

Either “f-ing great” or 7-9. Either way.

More importantly – and even “f-ing greater” is this – which I strongly feel rivals Haslam’s FBI bust as the top Browns’ story of the offseason, despite the reality that Josh Cribbs is no longer a member of the team:

The Murders of Brandywine Theater

Cribbs may not be able to claim an NFL team at the moment, but how many other current or former Browns can boast their own IMDB page?

A page that I must point out is incomplete. I was expecting several “Josh’s Cribs” episodes to be prominently listed.

In related news, I wonder if Darnell Dinkins is still stuck in the Dairy Queen freezer closet?

We may never know.

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We do know this – voting has concluded and the winner of the next CLASSIC REBOOT GAME REVIEW is the 1985-86 Browns-Dolphins playoff game. Look for it sometime next week.

Finally, since we’re talking Cribbs – we have to close with this:

With free agency exhausted and the draft over, it’s time for the next phase of the Browns’ offseason.

Apologies.

From anonymous characters like Armonty Bryant to those with the arresting presence of Jimmy Haslam, the Browns are already leading the league in Mea Culpa’s.

In case you missed it – or were issuing your own amends for some transgression:

ESPN Blog – Armonty Bryant Pleads No Contest

The report said the officer tried to administer a breath test more than 10 times before Bryant completed it successfully. The officer also arrested a passenger in Bryant’s car. Bryant posted $500 bail and was released later in the day.

Last month, the Browns used the first of their two seventh-round picks on Bryant. He was suspended three games last season after he was arrested. He was twice accused of selling marijuana to an undercover officer, both times in a campus parking lot.

And cue the apology:

“Armonty made a mistake and he’s very remorseful,” Lillibridge said. “He was very distraught and felt he let a lot of people down, especially the Cleveland Browns. He was adamant about getting ahold of [general manager] Mike Lombardi and making sure the Browns heard it from him. . . .

“He told me, ‘I’m getting XBox Live and I’m not leaving the house,’. He said, ‘having a few beers is not worth giving up my football career.’”

Of course, seasoned Browns’ followers know that immediately following Apologies is the Fake Moral Outrage phase.

And today – a classic:

Armonty Bryant should have no place on the 2013 Cleveland Browns: Terry Pluto - http://t.co/2NdQQQlGOy @clevelanddotcom

May 7, 2013 7:47 pm via IFTTTReplyRetweetFavorite

@terrypluto

Terry Pluto

This is not about one DUI. It’s about a pattern, the two drugs arrests…the changing schools…remember, he was selling, not buying. My 15 years of jail ministry screams that this is a red flag because he’s not really paid for poor decisions . . . or else he has significant drug and/or drinking problems. Being rewarded with a contract with the Browns sends the wrong message. Bryant is a young man who needs counseling and guidance far more than a weekend with the Browns’ rookies and undrafted free agents.

Pluto is the gold standard of Cleveland sports writers and more importantly, a really friendly and approachable guy. However, even the best of us say extraordinarily dumb things.

The “changing schools”, “selling, not buying” and “not really paid” parts don’t exactly “scream” that Bryant’s future is behind bars. Rather, Bryant strikes me as a college football player who – last I checked – doesn’t get paid (officially) for the services he provides an institute of higher learning. Bryant’s pot arrests don’t signal the actions of some shrewd drug kingpin, nor does his behavior warrant a Scared Straight intervention.

And speaking of PD writers (being stuck in 1988), what is it about pot that makes them sound so…..silly?

I don’t think the Honey Badger (former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu) is worth the risk, because he’s only been off marijuana since October…

Research – PD style.

Anyway, I’m thinking the best intervention involves the latest Grand Theft Auto game. And as for that call to Mike Lombardi, I think we already know the contempt the new front office feels towards draft picks not named Barkevious Mingo.

To save Bryant some trouble, here’s how that conversation would go:

BRYANT:
Mr. Lombardi, I wanted to apologize for my actions. I hurt myself but more importantly, hurt the team and so on and so forth….

LOMBARDI:

BRYANT:
Oh wait – Mr. Banner? I was calling for Mr. Lombardi. But I, uhhm. Mr. Banner, I can feel your look through my phone.

BANNER:

BRYANT:
Oh dear God!!!!!

And scene.

As for the Browns’ other apology of the week:

No – not you, Quentin Groves.

Wait – 20 extra bucks for what?

Gross. Get out of here, Quentin Groves.

Oh hey, Desmond Bryant.

What’s that?

Oh right, Lombardi is off to a great start.

I’m waiting for that YouTube video to surface of Garrett Gilkey drop kicking puppies into the ocean.

As for other apology, it’s not quite as petty as pot and college parties – I guess.

The Tennessean – Haslam Apologizes to Browns’ Fans

From a dais that included Ohio State Coach Urban Meyer and former Buckeyes Coach Jim Tressel, Haslam spoke to a packed banquet room and then held a brief news conference afterward.

“I apologize to the city of Cleveland, Northeastern Ohio and all Browns fans because the last thing we ever wanted to do as a new owner was detract from football and the Browns and just what a great football area this is, and so I apologize for that,” he said.

“We feel badly about it, and we’re very comfortable we’ll work through this situation.”

I love that Haslam was flanked by Tressel and Meyer while issuing his apology. Seems appropriate on some level that Tressel, whose career was ruined thanks to some elite level botching of evidence and Meyer, who has that John Calipari/I’m about to get your program on probation stink to him, were “on the dais.”

And in a related apology – here’s where I hypothetically would issue one to OSU homers.

Anyway – read into Haslam’s words what you will, but can’t you already sense that this guy knows he will eventually skate through this mess?

Either that or Haslam is permanently stuck in the brazen mode of thinking that led him to the FBI’s radar.

Being “very comfortable we’ll work through this situation” could signal that Haslam will get dinged financially, but eventually emerge unscathed.

Because of course rigging fuel prices and ripping off small companies is far better than what Armonty Bryant did. Or something like that.

Anyway – we’ll reset the Apology Clock for now.

In the meantime, weigh in below. Part of me thinks that we’ve somehow wandered back into the Butch Davis era with all these shenanigans. Or, we’re right where we need to be.

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More later in the week. Check in and VOTE in the latest WEEKLY POLL at the bottom of the page.

We’re back with Five Questions in Five Minutes, a segment where I check in with the best Browns’ bloggers, writers and thinkers around. The idea is simple: I ask five questions and the writers take five minutes to respond. You take five minutes to read and then go check out these guys’ great work at their respective sites.

For a further rationale of why this series exists, here’s this.

Today’s writers form a stellar group – one that is no doubt strengthened by Hiram Boyd’s continued absence. Speaking of which – and because of today’s topic – returning contestants receive an autographed Craig Powell jersey and twenty bucks….personally delivered by Powell himself.

KANICKI is the writer of Kanick and can be found on Twitter @jimkanicki. Check out his legendary take down of Art Modell here.

JEFF RICH is a writer for The Cleveland Fan, River Burn and can be found on Twitter at @JRichTCF

TOM MOORE is the writer and editor of Red Right 88, contributing writer at The Cleveland Fan and can be found on Twitter at @Tom_RedRight88

MIKE KRUPKA is a writer for Dawgs by Nature and contributes college scouting pieces to The OBR. He can be found on Twitter at @MikeKrupka

BARRY MCBRIDE is the founder of The OBR and Digital Content Manager for Fox Sports Ohio. He can be found on Twitter @BarryMcBride

CHRIS POKORNY is the executive editor and writer of Dawgs by Nature and can be found on Twitter at @DawgsByNature

DK:
1. We’ve all collectively talked a lot about the Browns’ draft, so let’s put it to bed for now with this: Was this year’s draft more about scheme or personnel?

KANICKI:
scheme. 100% scheme. and a borderline needless implementation of a new scheme at that.

RICH:
I think when you pick and choose your spots, like the Browns did, you’re more worried about scheme than personnel. While it’s fortunate that Mingo satisfies both aspects, being the best player available while filling a need, this was definitely about fitting the scheme.

MOORE:
It was a combination of both – the Browns are continuing to get the right personnel to fit into Ray Horton’s defensive scheme. No longer are they drafting a player who has performed impressively and then putting that player into a system that incorporates nothing that player does well. You know, like Brandon Weeden.

KRUPKA:
I think it was a mixture of both really and while I know that’s the “middle ground” type of answer I think its the right one. In terms of personnel the coaches want to see how the young talent can progress, but the new 3-4 defensive scheme dictated much of what we did in the draft and free agency.

MCBRIDE:
It was more about avoidance. Clearly, the Browns thought little about the level of talent available in the 2013 draft, or they didn’t trust their own scouting staff. How else to explain all the dealt-away picks? They clearly had one guy they really liked and after that, it was considered pot luck.

POKORNY:
Don’t scheme and personnel kind of go hand-in-hand when it comes to the Browns’ draft? By virtue of the Browns going to a 3-4 defense for their scheme, it dictated what they needed with the No. 6 overall pick. There really wasn’t much to the rest of the draft, except building for next year.

DK:
2. Speaking of players, is it possible that Browns’ fans are simultaneously expecting both everything and nothing out of Barkevious Mingo?

KANICKI:
i think mingo gets buried in a larger expectation of pass-rush that will surpass the 1968 rams. and it better surpass it too because a good QB with three seconds of peace will own that secondary as currently comprised.

RICH:
Sixth player taken, Mingo is the fruit of another season of futile labor. You have to expect the world from him, otherwise they went 5-11 for no reason.

MOORE:
It’s possible. This a defense that may have more collective success without one player putting up big, headline grabbing numbers. If Mingo doesn’t put up double-digit sacks this fall, there are some who will call him a bust. But if as a group, the front seven puts consistent and effective pressure on opposing quarterbacks, then it will be mission accomplished regardless of who actually registers the sack.

KRUPKA:
Again, if fans can somehow simultaneously have both feelings, that should equal out to a feeling somewhere in the middle, which is what I think you should expect. He’ll be asked to rush the QB but won’t be a starter immediately. I think he’ll do great in that role, but don’t expect a pro bowl season this year. Somewhere in the 8 sacks and lots of hurries range.

MCBRIDE:
Depends on how old they are. If they remember the Kamerion Wimbley draft of 2006, they probably think too little of Mingo. Otherwise, it’s May and why not be a little bit optimistic? YouTube highlights can make any player look like a star in the making. Unfortunately for me, the similarities with Wimbley are too substantial to be fully comfortable with the pick. After a certain number of years and draft issues of the OBR magazine, cynicism becomes the waxy yellow build-up of Browns fandom. Really, looking back at 2006, the only thing missing is an ill-advised trade with an AFC North rival.

Wait, what?

POKORNY:
Yes. Knowing that we have three outside linebackers (no disrespect to Quentin Groves), Jabaal Sheard and Paul Kruger are expected to be the ones who contribute the most. In that sense, Mingo gets a pass if he doesn’t look like a Defensive rookie of the year. At the same time, he was pretty much the only pick of the team’s 2013 draft, so he’ll be the person people look back at to determine whether Lombardi and company hit or miss.

DK:
3. Is Leon McFadden a legitimate rookie starter or is he simply the best option of a group of lesser choices?

KANICKI:
meh. the fan in me notes that his size, height, vert, arm length are comparable to last year’s best rookie CB, janoris jenkins. all i can do is hope they know something on him. however, and realistically, they took what fell to them so i’m skeptical that mcfadden was their ‘target’ and thus i choose ‘b.’

RICH:
Without so much as a mini-camp to bring him down a peg, I’m going to say he is, which is a long way of giving him the benefit of the doubt. He was a very good player in a solid, unheralded conference. If he was 6’1″…you know what, never mind.

MOORE:
He better be legitimate. While pressuring the quarterback can help cover up some deficiencies in the secondary, you still have to be able to cover the wide receivers to a certain extent.

KRUPKA:
McFadden is a legitimate starter, IMO. He may not be Joe Haden, but he doesn’t have to be! Some fans don’t understand the “value” of a #2 CB is not in the first round. McFadden can cover, has ball skills and will transition well this year.

MCBRIDE:
The latter. He’s a mid-round pick that the team hopes bounces back. Color me uninspired. Or green. Depends on what crayons you have at the moment.

POKORNY:
As of today, he’s simply the best option of a group of lesser choices. Buster Skrine isn’t going to morph into a starter, but can fulfill the nickel role admirably. McFadden wins the job by default, but then hopefully “looks” like a legitimate starter by the end of the season.

DK:
4. For a sad bit of historical perspective, the current franchise reboot most closely resembles which of the following: 1999, 2001, 2005, 2009 or 2010/2011?

KANICKI:
which had the most needless junking of a decent system and personnel? i’ll go with… 2011. but there’s a hint of 2009′s personnel-dump and the question becomes is it sheard or rubin who becomes the next wimbley moving on to be productive for someone else at a cost of one of those magic 3rd round picks. on the plus side, i don’t think this rebuild sets us back seven years like 2005 did.

RICH:
I’d say 2009, a continuation of the emphasis on the same side of the ball as the last guy, maybe a little more reason for optimism this time around. However, all historical perspective of the Rebooted franchise is sad.

MOORE:
Has to be 2011 (or 2010 to be more accurate). Former general manager Tom Heckert had a plan to rebuild this team without any of the shortcuts seen from Phil Savage, without any of the horrific draft mistakes of Eric Mangini, without the over-ruling of scouts last seen from Butch Davis or the puzzling picks of Dwight Clark.

In the next couple of years we should see those drafts really start to pay off.

KRUPKA:
2005, vertical offense with weapons. I’m confident the coaching staff will utilize these weapons, but only hopeful it will reap immediate wins.

MCBRIDE:
1999. You’ve got a Team President who thinks he knows everything, a GM about which we should be suspicious, and a first-time head coach who comes from the offensive side of the ball and thinks he can fix a quarterback.

I appreciate you asking this question. I am now going to throw myself off a cliff.

POKORNY:
Tough question. I’ll go with 2001, because I think the Browns have made a pretty significant transition here, similar to when Butch Davis made the Browns a contender. Wishful thinking?

DK:
5. Give your best post-draft/happy haze/Hiram Boyd/way way too soon Browns’ 2013 prediction.

KANICKI:
6-10. banner claims improvement.

RICH:
9-7; they’ll benefit from games against the 2012 4th place teams and have a nice run against the AFC East, while splitting with everyone in the division.

MOORE:
Let’s go 9-7. This team has a 1979 or 1985 feel to it as the pieces start to come together. But just like 1979, when the Browns closed the season with three of their final four games on the road (going 1-3 in the process), a season-ending loss to Pittsburgh will short-circuit the last-gasp playoff dreams – for this season at least.

KRUPKA:
10-6. With all the changes of course it’s unlikely but I’ve been drinking Coronas after my beach volleyball tournament (made the semi finals) and I’m feeling good, like good enough to think there’s a chance we can “catch fire” and turn the momentum into wins.

MCBRIDE:
7-9. Yes, despite all my cynicism, I think the Rob-Chudzinski-first-year factor will come into play, and his wing-it-down-the-field style will work just well enough with Brandon Weeden to improve our record. But, wait! There’s still room for me to sound like a Doomed Browns Fan(tm): I also fear it will make us bypass quarterbacks in next year’s draft, dooming us to another half-decade of mediocrity.

As you can tell from this answer and the ones above, I’m clearly assuming that the past will continue for our beloved Brownies until I see evidence of change.

Wish I could be more optimistic, but this group is going to have to show me on the field before I hop on the Banner/Lombardi/Chud bandwagon. And then they’re going to have to show me again just so I can be sure. Burn me once, shame on you. Burn me twice, shame on me. Burn me five times, dress me in Brown and Orange.

POKORNY:
Ray Horton will have the defense at the top of the AFC North, and Rob Chudzinski will find the ways to get Weeden comfortable en route to a 9-7 record.

It only takes about a week to figure out that we’ve exhausted most draft topics. Short of another thousand words lamenting skinny first round defensive ends and mid-round draft picks, I think it’s time to move on.

Although in case you need more, here’s a great discussion from Wednesday:

Reboot – 7 Draft Myths

Again – thanks for all who contributed. I saw some new names joining in – which is always great.

In the meantime, I hope to have SOBO on the hook in the coming days for his thoughts. And I’ll probably be reaching out for a new Five Questions segment pretty soon as well.

As for today – and in relatively non-football news – here’s this:

NPR – DeLillo Wins First Library of Congress Fiction Prize

In case you need a summer read – and one that make you look really kind of smart, I recommend Mao II or easily the funniest book ever, White Noise. If you were suckered into getting a Liberal Arts degree (and are now paying for it), you will absolutely love White Noise.

Anyway – football, right?

DeLillo’s End Zone is the anti-football novel – which means if you take football VERY VERY VERY VERY SERIOUS and/or take yourself VERY VERY VERY VERY SERIOUS, then don’t bother.

However, if you don’t – here’s an apt passage:

In honor of Logos College’s last football game of the season, Gary Harkness, star running back (and the novel’s narrator), takes up his girl friend’s suggestion to get high on pot and see whether during the game his “sensory parts function in terms of football or dope.” The result is predictable: “As I started out I felt unbelievably ponderous. My head was made of Aztec stone. I watched my feet go slowly up and down over the marvelous grass . . . I reached the huddle. I realized I didn’t want to be with all these people. They were all staring at me through their cages. Hobbs [the quarterback] called a pass play. We broke and set. Somebody came at me, a huge individual in silver and blue. I fell at his feet and grabbed one shoe. I started untying the lace. He kicked away from me and went after Hobbs. I got up and walked off. I was exceedingly hungry.”

Onto more pressing matters:

Sometime ago, I debuted the CLASSIC REVIEW series – which is a look back at some memorable Browns’ games of the past. I really enjoyed doing this first one and it appears that many of you did as well.

Reboot – Classic Review: Browns-Bills 1989 Playoffs

However, these reviews are a bit time-consuming – which means they won’t be a regular feature. Yet, in the next week or so, I am planning a new one.

I already have picked my favorite – but I wanted some input from all of you. Take a look at the following list of games, pick the one you would like to first see reviewed (eventually, we’ll get to all of these) and then enter your VOTE at the bottom of the page.

1989 Regular Season – Browns v. Oilers
1991 Regular Season – Browns v. Cowboys
1985 Divisional Playoff – Browns v. Dolphins
1957 NFL Championship – Browns v. Lions
2003 Regular Season – Browns v. Broncos
2001 Regular Season – Browns v. Bears

Of course, the 1986 playoff games are also options. But I’m not emotionally ready to review those yet.

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More in the coming days – hopefully some SOBO and some other stuff.

After having a few days to digest the first draft of the Joe Banner/Mike Lombardi era, I’ve realized that the following items have become something of status quo:

(And you know I can’t allow that).

1. The Browns Did Not Have an Opportunity to Trade Down

In case you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to take a look at this:

St. Louis Today – Rams Appear Ready to Rev It Up

The Rams talked to the five teams that held picks No. 6 overall through No. 10 about the possibility of moving up.

It soon became apparent that they might have to get ahead of the New York Jets at No. 9 to nab Austin. And for a while, they wondered if they might even have to draft ahead of Buffalo at No. 8 for Austin.

So Cleveland, at No. 6 overall, was offered the same deal as Buffalo. But for the second year in a row (See: RGIII trade), the Browns declined to pull the trigger on a major deal with the Rams. Cleveland wanted Louisiana State outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo and decided to stay at No. 6 to do just that.

This should help dispel the widely-held belief assumption that the Browns did not have the opportunity to trade down from the sixth overall pick and thus decided to “take the best player available” in Barkevious Mingo.

Or in a more plain language – Banner and Lombardi were going to take Mingo no matter what.

In fact, I think the Browns set a speed record in running the Mingo selection to the stage Thursday night. As I suspected Thursday night, the front office did have an opportunity to trade down – if only evidenced by the deal the Bills took two spots after the Browns selected Mingo.

And again – even though it’s a lost argument given the context of Banner and Lombardi’s draft effort – trading down with the Rams would have given the Browns one of two things:

1. Extra picks to be used during this draft to improve the roster’s porous depth.
2. Extra picks to be used in the future – allowing the team to operate from a Belichickian position of power.

And more than likely it still would have delivered Mingo to the Browns.

2. Even If the Browns Did Trade Down, Mingo Wouldn’t Have Dropped to 16.
I get this point, but logically let’s take a look at the picks turned in by teams drafting after Cleveland:

In a Browns-Rams Trade Scenario:
6. Rams – Obviously they would have taken Tavon Austin (fearing that the Bills or Jets would grab him)
7. Arizona – Took Cooper to help the league’s worst O-Line
8. Bills – The Bills were sold on Manuel or a trade down happens here
9. Jets – Took Milliner to replace Revis. Also drafted Coples last year
10. Titans – Took Warmack to help the league’s second worst O-Line
11. Chargers – Took Fluker to help an aging O-Line (also lost Vasquez in Free Agency)
12. Raiders – Took Hayden, who they reportedly were going to take at 3 before the Dolphins called
13. Jets – Took Richardson to fill aging Defensive Tackle hole
14. Panthers – Took Loutleiei to help one of the league’s worst D-lines
15. Saints – Could have been a Mingo spot, but Vaccaro helps league’s worst secondary
16. Here’s where the Browns would have landed. And since the Steelers were high on Jarvis Jones, Mingo could have been a Brown and the FO could have collected some extra picks in the process.

3. Fourth and Fifth Round Picks Don’t Produce Starters.
Draft rationalizations often produce some really silly logic. The above statement floated all over Twitter last weekend and while I’m sure it felt good for some to type – seriously?

This is about as dumb of a rationalization as someone can make.

Here’s a list of why.

Kanicki has a nice list here, too.

And if such an idea had actual merit, why was this not popular consensus until this year – when the Browns’ new leaders made it a justification?

Maybe I have a short memory, but I can’t recall many fans being pissed off that the Browns drafted in these rounds before. If I’m wrong, send me those archived tweets.

4 and 5.
In honor of Joe Banner, I’m skipping these two. Maybe I’ll get to them next year.

6. Extra Fourth and Fifth Round Picks Will Help Bring a Franchise Quarterback in 2014.
I kind of get this argument – at least from a very, very general standpoint. Yes, extra picks do help teams to trade up. However, if the target is a big-time quarterback prospect, then fourth and fifth round picks are just accessories. Thinking (way) back to 2007, Brady Quinn in the low first round cost the Browns a future first-rounder, while RG3 was deemed worthy of a few years of number ones.

Given that this cost is only going to increase, the Browns (who more than likely should finish anywhere from 6-10 to 8-8 to whatever this year) will have to cough up A LOT more than a fourth and fifth round pick to trade up and draft Teddy Bridgewater or whoever a year from now.

That is unless a really dumb team settles for those Colts and Steelers’ picks.

7. A Good Pass Rush Negates a Bad Secondary.
This is probably half reality and half justification. On one hand, the Giants have won two Super Bowls with some shoddy secondary play. But then again, when the Giants’ pass rush has struggled in recent years, the ex-champs are a very pedestrian team. I get this and have no arguments.

And for the record, the Browns haven’t had a good pass rush in 15 years. It’s about time a front office seriously tried to address this need.

On a similar note, this also helps to explain why the Patriots don’t win Super Bowls anymore. Or even why the Steelers missed out on the playoffs last year. Or you could even make a case that the Broncos blew the Ravens game because of the bad timing combination of a slow pass rush and inept secondary.

However, it’s logically obtuse to suggest that a quality pass rush completely negates a bad secondary – which is simply not true.

First, all NFL teams have to cover. Second, NFL defenses can only rush so many players. It’s very simple and we all know this. Finally, good quarterbacks love it when defenses think they can thrive with all pass rush and no secondary. Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Tom Brady can claim some tens of thousands of passing yards as evidence.

Naturally, the justification part arises from the idea that right now the Browns would start Buster Skrine and Leon McFadden behind Joe Haden. The truth is the front office has failed to adequately address this huge need. Regardless of shifting team expectations and overall building plans, the Browns’ secondary right now ranks among the league’s worst in terms of talent.

Or for a better comparison – that pass rush better be legendary.

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As always, I welcome your thoughts. We’ve had a nice discussion going over the past week – despite my unusually strong opinions. And of course, as always – I appreciate everyone taking the time to contribute.

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Don’t forget about the WEEKLY POLL at the bottom of the page.

Regardless of your opinion of them, at least give credit to Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi for one thing:

These guys make you think.

After previously stressing the importance of building the Browns through the draft, Banner and Lombardi circumvented the actual selecting of players – a move that is either next-level genius or one that reeks of sheer contempt for this year’s process. Instead of literally building roster depth through the draft, Banner and Lombardi decided on a vague strategy of building assets.

Or, in Banner’s words:

The philosophy really is to treat everything we have, whether it’s a draft pick, an undrafted free agent, cap space, whatever it is as an asset and try to maximize the value we can get for it. We took our fourth round pick for example, traded back to pay for part of Bess and then traded that for a future third round pick. We feel like, for a fourth round pick that’s about as much value as you can possibly hope to get.

Right. Fourth Round picks are the worst.

The worst.

Just ask this guy.

But in all fairness, the meaning of “assets” can greatly differ. Some view “having quality players” and “roster depth” as classic examples of the term, while clearly Banner’s beliefs trend towards a flexible future. And admittedly, the 2014 draft could prove to be a deeper and more talented version compared to this year’s event.

Anyway, the days after an NFL Draft mean that everyone has their opinion. So, instead of assigning some subjective, arbitrary grade to an event whose true meaning won’t be revealed for years, let’s do this instead.

There are two ways to view the Browns’ draft:

Banner and Lombardi are the Smartest Guys in the Room
It’s a striking move for an NFL front office to sit out large portions of the draft – especially when the team in question still claims a sub par talent and depth level. However, in trading out of the fourth and fifth rounds, Banner and Lombardi sent two messages:

1. They didn’t like any of this year’s mid-round draft prospects. In return for not finding possible 2013 roster depth, the Browns now have two additional 2014 mid-round picks – or “assets” to be used for a stronger future draft.
2. The Browns’ rebuilding plan – begun under Tom Heckert – continues. In claiming Josh Gordon (sort of) as a virtual 2013 draft pick and acknowledging an ongoing process, Banner and Lombardi are giving themselves the flexibility to make more moves as the team evolves.

As for the positives of this strategy, it’s worth considering the following:

1. While it was disappointing to see the Browns not gain additional picks from a first round trade down, the (non) move makes logical sense given Banner and Lombardi’s ambivalence towards this year’s class of prospects.
2. Included in this year’s draft group is veteran slot receiver Davone Bess – who arrived at a relatively cheap draft price. While Bess is far from an explosive playmaker, he’s a reliable third-down receiver – something that the Browns haven’t had since Joe Jurevicius some five years ago.
3. Two clear needs were targeted in finding a pass rusher and cornerback. Given the thin collection of draft prospects, both Barkevious Mingo and Leon McFadden will be heavily scrutinized by fans and media – but each player fits a specific need for Ray Horton’s defense.
4. Speaking of the coaches, the Browns’ light draft haul reinforces the idea that overall team improvement will mostly arrive through the upgrades of a more skilled and competent coaching staff.

As for another view:

Banner and Lombardi Outsmarted Themselves
It’s not that difficult to buy into Banner’s logic for essentially punting on this year’s draft. In terms of an overall rebuilding process, Banner is conceding that the process is much bigger than an individual draft. But at the same time, it’s a bit troubling to realize the following:

The Browns were the ONLY team in the league to employ this strategy.

The value that Banner and Lombardi didn’t see in this year’s draft was a belief not shared by any other team. Particularly, the likes of the Steelers and Colts – two of the league’s more successful franchises – saw enough value to jump ahead of the Browns and grab fourth and fifth round picks. Based on these moves, we either have to concede that the Steelers and Colts were suckers for actually taking players or that maybe Banner and Lombardi weren’t fully invested in scouting this year’s talent.

After all, it’s hard to build a team by NOT drafting players. But again – maybe these guys are operating at a level of genius that the rest of us are too unsophisticated to realize.

Or, the following is more appropriate:

The Browns’ 2013 draft “haul” consists of the following:

1. A HUGE first round reach in Mingo – a talented athlete who could project as an NFL pass rusher. However, Mingo is thinner than most NFL cornerbacks and virtually disappeared when playing against quality college blockers.

2. A smallish corner.
3. An injured safety and two small school seventh-rounders.
4. End of the round 2014 3rd and 4th round picks.

Regardless of your belief in long-term rebuilding processes – a line that we’ve been fed for 15 years now – teams are built through the draft. If you subscribe to the idea that teams win based on their past draft classes, then the 2016 Browns can only boast a situational pass rusher and backup cornerback.

That is unless, the 2014 draft manifests itself as the greatest collection of draft talent procured in the history of the league. Otherwise, this year’s draft could represent one of the worst offerings in team history.

The bottom line is that the Browns still have a variety of roster needs and a limited amount of depth. To recap, the team is still thin at the following positions:

-Developmental QB
-Tight End
-Fullback
-Guard and overall O-Line depth
-Inside Linebacker
-Outside “Linebacker”
-Cornerback
-Safety
-Specialists

While there is certainly no guarantee that a fourth and fifth round draft pick would have filled any of these needs, the whole point is to at least try to find talent. Again, it’s hard to win when you don’t play the game.

But then again, maybe the game hasn’t started yet.

So – remember all that talk about how Joe Banner knew everyone and had talked with every team in the league about trading down?

No?

Oh. Whatever.

I must have been thinking of the Bills.

I guess it’s not that big of a deal because Barkevious Mingo has nowhere to go but up, up, up.

According to those who know, Mingo has “big upside” – as does every other f-ing player selected in the draft. If a team is taking a player that has “no upside”, I would be a little concerned.

Or at the least, he’s another part on a team that is missing quite a few in some other vital areas – something Rob Chudzinski is about to soon realize.

“Adding [Mingo] in the mix gives us another pass rusher and a solid rotation. That group we plan on rotating anyhow between Paul, Jabaal, [Mingo] and also with Quentin [Groves]. You can’t have enough pass rushers, and keeping those guys fresh is a key.”

But then again, according to local sports legend Hiram Boyd, this draft was “easy.” “Just take pass rushers.” And now the Browns have four:

1. Paul Kruger – Who turned in a most opportune Scott Mitchell-esque contract year – on the Ravens no less, a team who if they don’t re-sign their players – it’s probably for a very good reason.
2. Jabaal Sheard – Still the team’s best pass rusher, but likely to be jettisoned for some fourth-round scraps any minute now.
3. Quentin Groves – He could represent the kind of value that Groves himself looks for in a lady of the night.
4. Barkevious Mingo – And then there’s this guy.

Mingo is an extremely explosive pass-rusher off the edge. He gets upfield quickly with the ability to sink his hips to be able to turn the corner to get pointed to the quarterback. Mingo needs to improve his pass-rushing moves to the inside and could use more work on a spin move. He is too reliant on a pure speed rush around the corner. In the NFL, he won’t be able to beat tackles by racing them around the corner on every down.

Mingo was held in check by Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews, the best tackle he battled this season. Against Florida, he had a splash play with a forced fumble, but was creamed in the ground game throughout the second half by the Gators.

Alabama’s right tackle, D.J. Fluker, struggled all year in pass protection, but Mingo was a non-factor against Fluker aside from two plays. Mingo drew a holding penalty and batted down a third-down pass attempt, but overall Fluker kept him from making an impact against the Crimson Tide.

Woof!

And this can’t be good.

Cleveland Browns: Barkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU

The Steelers take players like (Jarvis) Jones while the Browns take players like Mingo. That is why Pittsburgh wins and Cleveland picks in the top 10 every year. Mingo is a one-trick pony speed-rusher. The Browns already had some decent edge-rushers in Jabaal Sheard and Paul Kruger. Mingo’s run defense is terrible and he probably will be a situational player at best early in his NFL career, possibly for the entirety of his career.

Cleveland had bigger needs than outside linebacker, but the organization went for a player who is just a projection. Mingo never produced up to his potential in college and it wouldn’t be surprising if that’s the case in the NFL.

Then there’s also the whole thing about Mingo actually peaking early in his college career, while his last two seasons have been marginal. In most respects, this guy could have been a top three pick if he were able to come out two years ago. Granted, the same potential he had then matches to the current day – meaning that there is a great chance Mingo becomes the latest in a long line of first round pass rusher busts.

Or, he simply becomes another piece of a really weird pass rushing rotation in Cleveland.

In all fairness, the Mingo pick is no doubt clouded by the idea that the Browns robbed themselves by taking the guy at 6 without gaining any additional picks. Considering that the Jets were supposedly heavy on Mingo leading up to the draft and based on the desires and extra draft picks that both the Rams and Vikings carried, it seems deflating that the Browns both were unable to improve their draft lot AND reached for a player.

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Check in with your thoughts below. Maybe I’m way off here – which is what the COMMENTS are for. And take a look at the newest WEEKLY POLL.

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It’s finally here. The one day a year (or three or four or however many f-ing days the Draft is now) that is considered the Browns’ Super Bowl.

And all these other sucker teams have to wait for February. And then clean up the mess of a parade. And deal with the excesses of success.

Not us.

Especially with an offseason that can be summarized thusly:

Oh, Quentin Groves. What an offseason for the #Browns. And I thought the funniest thing would be Banner and Lombardi running a draft.

April 24, 2013 7:50 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@DaveKolonich

Dave Kolonich

As for a review, I think enough has been said already – and 98% won’t come to fruition anyway. But just in case, here are some references:

Kanicki-Kolonich Exchange: The Pick Is In

Ten Draft Truths – Part One

Kanicki-Kolonich Exchange: Do the Browns HAVE to Draft A Cornerback at Number Six?

Kolonich-Kanicki Exchange – Kanicki’s Response

Story Time With Sobo – Draft Talk

QB Review 2013

QB Review 2013 – Asking the Question

Draft Talk With Aaron Aloysius of Draft Breakdown.com

Draft Talk With Aaron Aloysius of Draft Breakdown.com – Part Two

And as for some Projections, I can see any of the following occur:

1. Multiple Look How Smart We Are Trade Downs by Banner and Lombardi that make Eric Mangini look Savage-esque.
2. As a result of #1, both the Eagles and Patriots are about to get a LOT better.
3. If not directly tonight, cornerback will be repeatedly addressed throughout the draft.
4. A Quarterback will be taken somewhere in the draft. Naturally, the Eagles will land a better one.
5. Look for the Vikings to be a better trade down option than the Dolphins.

And here’s what you guys thought would happen:

With the 6th Overall Pick, the Browns:
Total votes: 63

Trade Up and select Dion Jordan (0 votes, 0%)
Trade Down and select Xavier Rhodes (16 votes, 25%)
Trade Down and select Star Loutleiei (14 votes, 22%)
Trade Down and select Tavon Austin (6 votes, 9%)
Stay Put and select Ziggy Ansah (1 votes, 1%)
Stay Put and select Dee Milliner (16 votes, 25%)
Trade the pick in exchange for FBI exoneration (10 votes, 15%)

As for my Locks, I’ll go with these:

1. Lombardi’s PR campaign to grab his next promotion begins tonight.
2. There will be a massive pissing contest pitting Banner against the Eagles.
3. Twitter will reach official annoying stupid overload two hours before the pick.
4. The Browns are probably taking a defensive lineman in the first round.

5. That is unless they do that stupid thing they do and take a Quarterback. How about a Weeden-Geno-Campbell QB derby that will cause the PD to go on an orgiastic tumult into nothingness.

Throughout the day and night, leave your Thoughts, Predictions and Lamentations in the COMMENTS below. And check out the POLL QUESTION at the bottom of the page.