Sleepers of interest

With the draft hours away, I thought I would add a few sleepers to keep an eye on over the weekend as we see where players wind up in new locations.

I'll offer a player at each position that I like that may not be selected in tonight's first-round but could go in either of the following two days.

At quarterback, I like Georgia's, Aaron Murray.
Murray might have been a first-rounder had he not injured his knee.
Murray has a stronger arm than you think for a six-footer and is very accurate in the pocket.
Murray might fit either the Browns or the Saints on day two or early on day three.

At running back, I like a late rounder better than many that will go ahead of him in Florida State's James Wilder. Jr.
Wilder is a punishing, hard-nosed runner that has had off-the-field issues, but at a minimum will be an awesome short-yardage back.
Some hold against Wilder that he was part of a three-back rotation at FSU,I don't-I think it lessened the wear on a talented back and will leave more for the NFL.

The wide receiver that I like should go on day two as I love Vanderbilt's, Jordan Matthews.
Matthews can break tackles, yet has the speed to go by corners.
Matthews set the SEC record for catches and yards in a career playing for a team where he always drew the top corner.

The tight-end sleeper in my opinion may not even be drafted.
Alex Bayer of Bowling Green is a strong blocker and catches the ball well too.
Bayer isn't a deep threat but could be a nice possession chaining mover as a pass-catcher.
Bayer also can deep snap and that might help him get drafted on day three.

I liked what I saw at the East-West Shrine of Bloomsburg tackle Matt Feiler.
Feiler played guard and tackle at Bloomsburg and with the level of competition there, Feiler may be a project, but I liked what I saw out of a player that isn't well known...

On the defensive line, I am high on Texas defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat.
The son of former Cowboy Jim Jeffcoat is a bit angular, but with some help in the weight room, could be a starter for a long time in the league.

At linebacker-it's easy- Wisconsin's Chris Borland.
Borland isn't the strongest or fastest, but he reminds me of Zach Thomas as in he just finds the ball carrier and takes him down.
Plug Borland in and watch him roll up tackles for years.
I would love to see Borland as a Brown in rounds 3 or 4.

Cornerback is deep and I really liked what saw of Rice's Phillip Gaines.
In the East/West game, Gaines played back with the no press coverage rule, but he is fast and he hits.
Really think someone with foresight can nap a talented player in Gaines.

At Safety, I'm a big fan of Dontae Johnson of N.C. State.
Johnson is big (6'2 200 lbs), carries a wallop (played some linebacker with the Wolfpack) and at worst will be a nice special teamer.

Other players that I am keeping an eye on for non-football reasons are DE/TE Larry Webster of Bloomsburg (formerly of Hagerstown) and Ashland DT Jamie Meder.

I'll be back with a look at the Brown picks tonight and likely the Saints as well...

Cleveland Browns-Persons of Interest

The Cleveland Browns rarely take the player I like most.
OK, since I have started doing this post-they have never taken the player that I've liked most, but they have taken players that I liked a lot.
This is a year that there are several players that I like a lot and yet there is one that I like above all-Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins.

Sammy Watkins has the type of tools that number one receivers needs and teams lust for and for all of the hullabaloo that the Browns need a quarterback (and they do), I am a believer that you take the best weapons and make what you have under center better.
I'm not anti-QB at 4,26 or at a trade up in between, but I would be very tremendously disappointed if Sammy Watkins was passed up.
I believe that he is that good.

However, there are several players that I would have little issues with at the 4th pick.
At quarterback, I love the tools of Central Florida's Blake Bortles and even though Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel has his issues with size and could be the biggest risk in the draft, I like his game, but not this early.
Jadeveon Clowney of South Carolina has all the tools that one sees in an impact defensive end and Buffalo's Khalil Mack reminds some (some) of Lawrence Taylor at outside linebacker.
I like Mack a lot, but one could make the argument that the Browns are already paying lots of money at that position.

I would rather not take a tackle with the 4th pick, but there are two that are worthy of the pick as far as talent-wise.
I really like Texas A&M's Jake Matthews as an all-around tackle that is agile and excellent in pass protection.
Auburn's Greg Robinson has better tools than Matthews and is more of a run-blocking masher.
I prefer Matthews of the two and still think the team has bigger needs with excellent players available elsewhere.

If the Browns took any of those players, I would say the team landed an excellent player.

At 26, the Browns could decide to go for a quarterback.
Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater was discussed as a top pick all year until an awful pro day and might be a steal if he falls here.
I like Fresno State's Derek Carr more than some, who hold him accountable for his older brother's failure behind an expansion offensive line.

There were also other quality wideouts available too at 26.
Texas A&M's Mike Evans will be off the board, but the rest might be there.
USC's Marquis Lee was ranked above all before an injury-plagued 2013 and LSU's Odell Beckham is highly thought of as well.
Brandon Cooks of Oregon State has moved up the charts, while Florida State's Kelvin Benjamin has great size at 6'5 240 pounds.
If the Browns want to wait until round two, I love Jordan Matthews of Vanderbilt and Allen Robinson of Penn State has the ideal size and tools.

If you asked me the Browns biggest position of need at the non-flashy positions, I would say it ranks between guard, inside linebacker, and cornerback.
The problem is that the guard and inside linebacker slots are not as deep as they have been in the past.

The best guard is Notre Dame's Zack Martin and he is the only consensus first-round guard available.
If Martin is gone, some like UCLA's Xavier Su'a-Filo as a later first, early second-rounder.

The inside linebackers are led by Alabama standout C.J. Mosley.
Mosley might fall here, but I doubt it as he is the only high-ranked player at this position in a weak class.
I love Wisconsin's Chris Borland, but think he might be a great fit in rounds three or four.

The corners are deep and if the Browns want to go in that direction, there should be a nice corner available at 26 or early in round two.
The opinions vary on who's the best, but there could be as many as five that have first-round chances.
My pick as the best would be Oklahoma State's Justin Gilbert, but I also like hard-nosed Darqueze Dennard of Michigan State.
TCU's Jason Verrett is a disciplined corner that has great ball skills but is only 5'9.
Kyle Fuller of Virginia Tech is tough in run support and Ohio State's Bradley Roby has everything that you want in a corner but will have to be coached to play within the system.
I saw all of Roby's tenure in Columbus and the sum of the parts was never more than the pieces.

I have things to do today, but I hope to be back later with some draft sleepers for the mid to late rounds...

Cleveland Browns defensive needs

We move to the defensive side of the football for the Cleveland Browns needs and these have their share of upgrading as well...

Along the defensive line,the Browns look pretty solid. Ahtyba Rubin and Phil Taylor are strong up the middle with a hopefully healthy Desmond Bryant to give three solid starters.
I have always liked Billy Wynn and second year man Armonty Bryant had flashes of strong play last year.
I don't see the Browns taking a player here unless it's a late round "best player on the board" scenario.

Wish I could say the same at linebacker where inside backer is a glaring need.
Karlos Dansby is a standout from free agency,but Craig Robertson is better suited for special teams after being just terrible in pass coverage.
The Browns must upgrade the inside spot either in this draft or late in free agency.
Cleveland is spending a lot of money on outside linebackers to be dominant to be just average.
Paul Kruger is getting big bucks to be average, Jabaal Sheard was OK in his first year as an OLB,but I still think he is better suited to be an 4-3 defensive end.
2013 first rounder Barkevious Mingo was occasionally dominant coming off the ball,but beyond the initial rush,Mingo was pushed off the line once there was film on him.
Mingo gets a small pass from me after missing much of camp with a bruised lung,but has to be a question mark.
Unless the Browns love someone (Khalil Mack,anyone?),I think there is already too much money in the returning outside players to spend more on this position..

Joe Haden is one of the better corners in the game,but I've said for quite a while that Buster Skrine is better suited to cover the slot receiver than a second cornerback slot.
Leon McFadden was a disappointment after being picked in the third round and free agent signee Isaiah Trufant is more a special team type that might play dime formations at best.
I would love to see this addressed early on day two.
Donte Whitner will replace T.J. Ward with ease and Tashaun Gipson should improve with Whitner's increased range beside him.
I wouldn't mind a later rounder or free agent player signed to battle Jordan Poyer,who I liked in limited action,and 2013 draftee Jamoris Slaughter for depth.

The punting competition is wide open,but I wouldn't go after a punter in the draft.
Too easy to find....

Top Defensive needs in order

1:Inside linebacker
2:Cornerback
3:Safety

Cleveland Browns offensive needs

We begin a three part (and maybe four) part look at the Cleveland Browns and the NFL Draft that starts Thursday night.
I plan on a series that looks at offensive needs,defensive needs and players that I would like to see in Cleveland.
Time permitting,there could be a quick look at the New Orleans Saints and/or a mock draft of my own,since I'm so tired of others doing them!

The Cleveland Browns have some talent on their offense,they also have numerous holes that begin at the quarterback position.
We all hope Brian Hoyer's three games under center were a sign of a maturing player that finally got a chance to play,but the injury to Hoyer robbed the Browns of the chance to truly know if that is the case.
The Browns need a young quarterback and I wouldn't be against two with one early and a late rounders as well.
Whether you believe in Hoyer or not,Cleveland needs to add a young passer.

Ben Tate signing with the Browns as a free agent alleviates a need at running back and I liked what I saw out of Edwin Baker late in the season enough to think he could be a complementary back and take some of the pressure off Tate.
I might take a mid to late round back for depth and running the Shanahan system,running backs tend to flourish there.

Josh Gordon is an elite level player at wide receiver and the team addressed the need in free agency with Andrew Hawkins to play the slot and Nate Burleson as well.
However,Burleson is often injured and the Browns could use a young player opposite Gordon.
If they land the right player,Cleveland could have one of the better receiving corps in the league.
Jordan Cameron mans tight end and the Browns have a bunch of blocking tight ends,so unless they love a pass catching type,tight end is not an need at this time.

The line is solid on the left side with All-Pro Joe Thomas at tackle,John Greco at guard and All-Pro Alex Mack staying in Cleveland at center.
Mitchell Schwartz stumbled early at right tackle,but played better in the second half and right guard
has been a problem area for years.
The Browns need a guard badly and should take one in the first three rounds...

Billy Cundiff was steady enough in replacing Phil Dawson and shouldn't be pushed by a draftee as a challenger at kicker...

Top offensive needs in order

1)  Wide Receiver
2)  Guard
3)  Quarterback

I hope to be back later today or tomorrow with a look at the defensive needs....

Mayweather escapes Maidana/Boxing challenge update

Floyd Mayweather unified the WBA and WBC Welterweight titles with a majority decision over Marcos Maidana.
I missed the fight,but our pal R.L.Malpica scored the affair 115-113 for Maidana.

At the end of the night,Thoughts of RS had regained the Boxing Challenge lead from R/L.with a two point net gain day and a one point lead at 30-29.

Each of us earned one point for Mayweather's win,but both of us saw Floyd as a unanimous winner,not majority and both of us earned a point for Adrien Broner's decision win over Carlos Molina,although we each thought Broner would win by stoppage.

The key bouts in TRS taking the lead were Amir Khan's decision win over Luis Collazo,where I added a point by picking Khan,while R.L.took Collazo and each of us picked Arthur Abraham to defend his minor 168 pound belt over Nikola Sjekloca.
However,I added an extra point for Abraham winning by unanimous decision,while R.L.predicted Abraham by a split nod.

I am off work for a while,so I hoping to get an On the Signing Front up for April soon!

Boxing Challenge

The boxing challenge rolls on with the Pay Per View card in Las Vegas and a belt on the line in Germany

WBA/WBC Welterweight title unification 12 rds.
Marcos Maidana vs Floyd Mayweather/

R.L.:Mayweather unanimous decision
TRS:Mayweather unanimous winner

Welterweights 12 rds
Amir Khan vs Luis Collazo

R.L: Collazo KO 9
TRS: Khan split decision

Junior Welterweights 10 rds
Adrien Broner vs Carlos Medina

R.L: Broner KO 10
TRS: Broner KO 7

WBO Super Middleweight title,12 rds
Arthur Abraham vs Nikola Sjekloca

R.L.Abraham split decision
TRS:Abraham unanimous decision

1974-the Steelers rise,the Browns fall

The story of the Pittsburgh Steelers and their 1974 draft has been told often and it should be, it created an NFL power that has pretty much continued until this day, but there's another story-that of how the Cleveland Browns downturn started around the same time and with the exception of the 1980s has continued to the current time.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer writes about this here but look at the record (Via the PD)  The Browns were 35-13 against the Steelers before it, and are 22-50 ever since. 

The Cleveland Browns had generally dominated the Steelers and even during the Steelers 1972 division title-winning season that generally is credited for turning the tide between the two teams, the Browns were still a playoff team and almost ended the 1972 Dolphins perfect run in the first round in a 20-14 loss.

However, the team that had won championships and reached the conference finals was beginning to show its age, and the attempts to get younger such as the Paul Warfield trade that obtained Mike Phipps as the quarterback of the future had not worked out.
The "future is now" approach by George Allen in Washington was the rage in the league.
Youth meant inexperience and dumb mistakes and Art Modell bought into this thinking-big time.

The first and 1975 second rounders went to San Diego for an average linebacker named Bob Babich, the third to Denver for a quarterback that couldn't threaten Phipps, let alone anyone else in Don Horn, and the fourth went to Oakland for faded wideout Gloster Richardson.
Babich hung around for a few years as an unspectacular starter, while Horn and Richardson were in and out of Cleveland to barely make it through the change of seasons.

The Browns went straight in the river in 1974 going 4-10 and picked a second-rounder that went straight to Canada right before the Steelers took a guy named Lambert from their backyard in Kent State and would have one winning season in the next five.
Pittsburgh would win four Super Bowls in the next six seasons and build a dynasty while Cleveland would become the kid on the beach getting sand kicked in their face.

I find this interesting not because of the teams involved, but the philosophy involved.
Draft picks today are treated like gold bars and only teams that are near the edge make major deals involving high picks for veteran players.
And to this day, those trades backfire more than not.

An example is the Tampa Bay trade just last year in swapping a number one for Darrelle Revis and then going 4-12.
Revis is an excellent player, but Tampa Bay wasn't one player away, yet they deceived themselves into thinking they were at a high cost.
The Browns even did this as recently as a few years trading draft picks for guys like Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers after their 10-6 season, thinking these guys would lift them up.
Instead of those deals, poor picks with the picks that they did have and the flop of Brady Quinn costing them a first-rounder sent them with what was essentially fools gold.

The draft is the best way to build as you get players cheaper and for a longer period of time, but picking the wrong players like the Browns usually seem to do is a concern, then I can see trading picks for proven products.
The problem with that is that you are patching holes with bubble gum and then wondering why the boat won't be usable in a year.
The 1974 draft is the pivotal point in time that the Steelers and Browns organizations switched spots in the hierarchy, here is hoping that this draft marks the beginning of the swing back to Cleveland.
At least there is hope. For now.