Football is a game, not a track meet

Here is a great article written by Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Colt McCoy. Cabot's article does a fine job of talking about the intangibles that a Colt McCoy possesses and how and why this makes him a great football player.

It really does burn me up, everytime I read about a good football player who has been undervalued because of a tape measure, a scale and a stopwatch.

Football is a game, not a track meet. A relatively slow but fundamentally sound player who has a sophisticated understanding of his opponents tendencies is far more valuable than a fast player who does not. How much time is it worth if a player is able or not able to anticipate the action? Far more than a fraction of a second, that's for damn sure. Colt may not have the exact right size and speed that scouts desire, but he is a smart football player and in any case he's 6'1" so he's not exactly a damned midget. This guy dropped to round 3 essentially because he is only as tall as Joe Montana and only as fast as Brian Sipe....

The best example I can find of football skills is this film of former Kent State great and Ohioan Jack Lambert. Lambert of course was too small and too slow for the NFL but in the video you can see how he was far ahead of other players in game skills and intangibles like having an emotional edge, yet another huge factor on the gridiron that simply cannot be measured by a scout's tape measure.

Browns post draft free agent signings

With only 7 rounds in the modern era NFL draft the import of post draft college free agent signings is magnified.

For example, here are just a few of the players drafted after round 7 back when the NFL draft lasted much longer than 7 rounds

Dwight Clark Round 10 in 1979
Brian Sipe round 13 in 1972
Ernest Byner round 10 in 1984
LC Greenwood round 10 in 1969
Bart Starr round 17 in 1956

Since the end of the draft, the Browns have been very active in free agent signings, and that is yet another great sign that our team finally is being run by professionals. There is much gold to mine from the lists of undrafted players this year.

For a full list of the free agents signed thus far by our Browns, click on this link.

One player I find particularly intriguing, if only for his size, is Canadian college offensive tackle Joel Reinders. Of course, universities in Canada play using Canadian rules, and the game is quite different so a Canadian player starts already at a disadvantage relative to a player from an American university. Worse yet, Reinders has only been playing organized football for 2 years. Still, as an athlete this young man leaps off the page at anyone. For starters, he's 6' 8" tall and weighs 320 pounds and his combine numbers on strength and speed were quite respectable. He's got a VERY LONG way to go to learn how to play football but if he can learn and grow as a player, his potential seems unlimited.



Here is some scouting combine clips of Reinders. It's very clear watching the film that Reinders is not yet a very good football player but at the same time his upside is also easy to envision given his size and strength:

Proof that NFL scouts are often fools: Brian Sipe

We've just finished yet another NFL draft. Some players went higher than expected and some lower. As the years pass we'll be able to judge the scouts on their skill in the 2010 draft but there are also decades of proof in our rear view mirror.

A good example is Brown's great Brian Sipe, who in spite of the fact that he led the nation in passing his senior year at San Diego State, was not drafted by the Browns in the 1972 NFL Draft until the 13th round. Why? Well of course, his arm wasn't good enough and he was too short and not athletic enough. Sipe of course went on to a stellar career with the Browns, registering 6 winning seasons in the 7 years he was the Browns starter. When you consider that Art Modell was the owner all of those years, it makes Sipe's winning record all the more impressive.

In the below youtube video of a Sipe led drive against Minnesota, you can witness some of the intangibles that allowed Sipe to rise about the rest of the pack. Most interesting to note is how cool and collected Sipe is in the face of Minnesota pass rushers, who in two cases annihilate Sipe after he gets the throw off.

In the book Kardiac Kids by Jonathan Knight, Browns great Doug Dieken, when asked why Paul McDonald was a failure and Sipe was a success in the NFL, gave the following answer:

"In a seven on seven drill when you're just going against defensive backs and linebackers and nobody is rushing you, isn't the same as being out there and having guys zinging by your head. That was the difference between Sipe and McDonald"

The 2010 was, on balance, a good draft for the Browns. Ironically however, it will probably be players like Joe Haden, Colt McCoy and Carlton Mitchell, all of whom had a hard time impressing the scouts, who will really contribute to the future succes of the Cleveland Browns.

Browns steal Carlton Mitchell

Previously profiled here on The Brown Log, the Browns grab Carlton Mitchell in round 6. Grabbing Mitchell in the 6th round is a steal of historic proportions, The Brown Log said it first, so mark our words, this guy is going to be a major contributor to our success.



Here is a scouting report on Mitchell

STRENGTHS

Mitchell has an elite combination of size and speed for the next level. Has big, strong hands. His height and long-range speed make him a legitimate deep threat. Has a ton of upside potential. Is a ferocious blocker. Will really compete for the football in traffic and isn't afraid to take a big hit.

WEAKNESSES

Mitchell is still a very raw prospect whose draft status could have improved with another year of seasoning. At this time, he's a poor route runner on short to intermediate routes. He also likes to body catch and must do a better job of attacking the football away from his frame.

The anti-Spielman: Montario Hardesty

The Browns grabbed Montario Hardesty with their second pick in round 2 of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Montario Hardesty rose in the scouting evaluations thanks to a series of off the chart results in the speed, agility and strength testing at the scouting combine. I remember when Ohio State great Chris Spielman dropped into the second round of the NFL Draft because his combine numbers were less impressive than others. How many times do NFL personnel evaluators forget to ask the question, "can this guy play football"? Worst of all, the Browns paid an extraordinarily high price for Montario, giving up three picks — 71, 134 and 146 — for the 59th overall pick.

If the NFL game were a track meet in which a team gain points for running a fast 40 yard dash, jumping rope, and running without knocking down cones, I would be celebrating the selection of Hardesty. Unfortunately, football is a match of 11 offensive players vs 11 defenders. Have a look at the below youtube "highlights" from Montario's senior year at Tennessee. At the college level this guy got by thanks to his size and strength advantages but there is not a single example in which he stands above the rest of the talent on the field. If anything he looks out of his league.

Hardesty has the size, speed and agility to become an All-Pro but have a look at the highlights, unfortunately, he's not much of a football player. He's only 22 so he can always learn and improve, but do not hold out much hope that Hardesty will actually become a decent player instead of a member of the Willis Adams club, ie...yet another example of how scouting combines only go so far in determining whether or not a player will be a success in the NFL.

2010 NFL Draft Round 2 - TJ Ward

TJ Ward ended up being our free safety consolation prize in the second round, since Eric Berry did not drop to us in round 1. Ward doesn't have Berry's football skills but he is a very hard hitter, albeit Ward is also injury prone. Looks like a nice player in any case. Let's hope he can stay healthy.

2010 NFL Draft: Round 2?

I personally hope and pray the Browns don't pick Jimmy Clausen as is speculated in this mock draft of round 2 in this link.

A much better choice might be Colt McCoy or Vladimir Ducasse.

UPDATE: The Browns grab Colt McCoy in with their first pick in round 3. I can only say "fantastic" first that such a great player dropped in our hands in round 3, and second that we actually grabbed him. Colt fits very nicely into the West Coast offense. I like his leadership, athletic skills and short passing game accuracy. The scouts say he lacks a cannon for an arm but so did Joe Montana and Brian Sipe. If this guy can dominate in the short passing game, it will give him the margin he needs to be enough of a threat long.

Here is what one scout actually has to say about Colt:

STRENGTHS
McCoy is a natural leader with high character. Played with a lot of intelligence in Texas’ system which he mastered. Was extremely productive. Possesses a quick release. Displays great accuracy in the short passing game and puts the ball in a position to set up his receivers for run after the catch. Has the foot-speed to avoid the rush and buy extra time.
WEAKNESSES
McCoy lacks a cannon for an arm. Can fit the ball into spots on intermediate routes at times but will struggle with the deep ball. Release point is a little low. Needs to improve his accuracy on long passes down the field and toward the sideline.

2010 NFL Draft: Joe Haden

Eric Berry didn't drop into our hands, so the Browns took Florida CB Joe Haden. I have to admit my surprise as Haden's stock appeared to drop with his slow 40 yard dash time at the combine. I'm the first to state that football is a lot more than a 40 yard dash, so only time will tell if we have a guy who will help the Browns get to the Super Bowl.

2010 NFL Draft: Today is round 1

The NFL draft starts today. Looks like the Browns won't move up to get Sam Bradford Let's hope that Eric Berry lasts til number 7, as he will be an instant contributor in 2010.

Brown's 2010 schedule released

Vintage Browns: vs. Packers 1969

Memories: Rocky Belk

When we were in college back in the 80s, we formed a football team in the Ohio State Intramural flag football league. The Schwansies as we were called, nearly won it all that year. We made it to the semi finals where we played some sissy frat boy group that certainly did unspeakable things like practicing... The only practicing the Schwansies did involved 12 ounze curls, probably before, not after the game. In the end, we lost that semi-final game by less than a touchdown. We were from the Cleveland area so I guess that helped us all move on, but I still have a tough time thinking about that loss.

This squad was led by the brilliant Bill Jingo at QB and his brother, the hard driving (another way to say extremely bad tempered) David Jingo. Other members of this squad included our center and main pass-rusher Craig Vretas, and the infamous Mike Abel. As I recall, occasionally the derelict Nathan Davenport would show up to play, beyond that I can't remember who else took the field of play but I am sure that I've named nearly all of the guys that won the games for us.

So why do I mention Rocky Belk?? Well... I too was on that squad and I caught 3 passes all season long, all for very long touchdowns. When I found this video, I now recall, that Mike and Dave used to call me Rocky Belk. Why? Because Belk caught 5 passes in his entire NFL career, 2 of them for long scores.

watch this video to witness one of Rocky Belk's career touchdowns......

2010 NFL Draft: Interview with Holmgren and Heckert

Here is an excellent interview with Holmgren and Heckert by Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Some inside view into their draft strategies and opinions on certain key players. I think it's clear from reading between the lines that Jimmy Clausen is not in the Browns future.

Here is an excerpt of one Holmgren answer that I found particularly insightful regarding how Holmgren analyzes a young quarterback:

Mike Holmgren (On what he looks for in a quarterback)- “Over the years I have kind of tried to break it down. First of all, their ability to pass the ball, just the physical ability of passing the ball. If they can’t do that more often than not I don’t even get to step two. Then if they can do that, I want to see their football intelligence, some of the intangibles. Is he coachable? Just a feeling for the young man. Is he bright eyed? Does he exhibit some leadership qualities and things like that. The third thing is getting back more into the physical part of it, his movement ability. I’m not talking about running, necessarily, but his movement in the pocket. The ability maybe to get a first down if you have to, those types of things. If I go much beyond that then all of a sudden, this is me, I found that you are accumulating a lot of information, a lot of facts and figures that kind of muddies the waters just a little bit. That’s the first step and the next step is I like to see them in person, up close. You see film, you see how he plays and you see all that kind of stuff. I like to get up close and watch him deliver the ball and watch him do those things. My way is kind of simple over the years with how I have looked at it.”