Y-Town Steelhound;851890 wrote:Hopefully his "TJ Maxx" approach to free agency works...

i lol'd

Whitner signed with the 49ers I believe, not Bengals. There are still 12 teams over the cap so some cuts could help us. I think our starting LB core is solid, the rest not so much.

iclfan2;851909 wrote:Whitner signed with the 49ers I believe, not Bengals. There are still 12 teams over the cap so some cuts could help us. I think our starting LB core is solid, the rest not so much.

From what I'm hearing, IF DQ Jackson stays healthy he should have a career year roaming behind Rubin & Taylor.

iclfan2;851909 wrote:Whitner signed with the 49ers I believe, not Bengals. There are still 12 teams over the cap so some cuts could help us. I think our starting LB core is solid, the rest not so much.

I thought whitner signed 2 yrs with bengals today

bases_loaded;851916 wrote:I thought whitner signed 2 yrs with bengals today

Nope, headin' to San Fran.

Y-Town Steelhound;851889 wrote:Disagree completely, with reasons laid out previously in this thread. I don't think he was going to revolutionize the defense, but surely would've been an improvement over Mike Adams/Usama Young given his talent, background with Jauron, and familiarity with the defensive system. Alas, he's heading to the bay area now.

We need a S that can cover. Whitner and TJ Ward are the same type of player. Whitner is very good against the run, and pretty bad against the pass.

se-alum;851918 wrote:Nope, headin' to San Fran.

Lol I was on road all day and missed the change at mid day. Just went on Twitter n saw that he was intercepted

se-alum;851921 wrote:We need a S that can cover. Whitner and TJ Ward are the same type of player. Whitner is very good against the run, and pretty bad against the pass.

As I pointed out before, the criticism of his pass defense is widely overrated. He's still a better cover safety than Elam or Adams....I don't know much about Usama Young to form an opinion of his pass skills vs. Whitner but to say Whitner would've been no help to the defense is just nonsense. Especially given his history with Jauron...a point you all but ignore.

Y-Town Steelhound;851975 wrote:As I pointed out before, the criticism of his pass defense is widely overrated. He's still a better cover safety than Elam or Adams....I don't know much about Usama Young to form an opinion of his pass skills vs. Whitner but to say Whitner would've been no help to the defense is just nonsense. Especially given his history with Jauron...a point you all but ignore.

The stats backup the argument of Whitner not being very good in pass defense. His 8 passes defensed and 1 interception are close to last among starting SS's.
Adams had better #'s while starting 2 games, and Elam had better numbers.

se-alum;852090 wrote:The stats backup the argument of Whitner not being very good in pass defense. His 8 passes defensed and 1 interception are close to last among starting SS's.
Adams had better #'s while starting 2 games, and Elam had better numbers.

Elam played at FS, Whitner played at SS....free safeties tend to get more interception opportunities especially in the particular defenses that they both ran. The thing is that Whitner has played some FS in past seasons in Buffalo and has found success there, The numbers don't account for the quickness advantage that Whitner has on Elam when you see them both on the field.

What your numbers didn't choose to point out is that Whitner finished 5th in the league OVERALL in tackles and 1st among defensive backs. Now I know that Ward plays the enforcer role in the defensive secondary and is counted on for a lot of tackles, but he's also not the surest tackler so having another sure-tackled safety doesn't hurt. The Browns would have one of the better tackling FS in the league. Not to mention, you're not thinking long term. Say the Browns offered Whitner that same 3-year deal SF did and he accepts. Presumably the Browns, given their amount of draft picks over the next few years and willingness to build the team through the draft would take a FS of the future in the next few years. Then you have Donte Whitner, veteran, and one of the most experienced players in (ideally) Dick Jauron's defense on the team now there to mentor the rookie safety much in the way Sheldon Brown does with the cornerbacks. On a lesser note, you have a guy from the area that would actually like to, you know, play for the Browns instead of a lot of guys that have been here in the past. Wouldn't it be mildly refreshing to see another guy on the team with some love for Cleveland like Haden?

So on the basis of getting a talented safety that knows the system, would be a benefit to the team on the field in the present, would be valuable in the future in the locker room and show some love for Cleveland. So I'm hoping you can now see why Whitner would've helped the Browns...I can't really make the point any clearer than that.

http://www.cantonrep.com/browns/x1852595846/Lauvao-looks-to-rebound-after-a-rocky-rookie-season

BR1986FB;852212 wrote:http://www.cantonrep.com/browns/x1852595846/Lauvao-looks-to-rebound-after-a-rocky-rookie-season

It would be huge if he continues to play well.

royal_k;852223 wrote:It would be huge if he continues to play well.

He should have started last year. He was the frontrunner for a starting spot, then got the dreaded high ankle sprain. By the time he came back, Mangini was in his 'comfort zone" with one of their 300 year old linemen on the right side and was too stubborn to insert him into the lineup. Frustrated the Hell out of me because he did the same with the Ghost the year before. Well....we see where Mangini is now.

Speaking of "300 year olds", Holmgren did a recent interview with a Seattle radio station and said since this "purging" began, the Browns have slice "331 years of age from their active roster." Definitely a youth movement.

This team need the purge after the RAC attack brought in any old washed up vet from NE to come in and play. (McGinnest, Washington, Andruzzi)

Commander of Awesome;852242 wrote:This team need the purge after the RAC attack brought in any old washed up vet from NE to come in and play. (McGinnest, Washington, Andruzzi)

Mangini didn't exactly bring in guys that were "wet behind the ears." McGinest, Washington & Andruzzi were gone by the time he got here.

Usama Young is ALL over the field at this morning's session. Layed out Greg Little on a pass across the middle.

I know he's young but Little is frustrating as fuck. Catches the impossible and drops the easy. Sound familiar? Just dropped an easy TD from Colt in the end zone.

PRetty pissed I couldn't talk anyone into going to training camp today. Apparently Derrick Mason is also being rumored to be talking to the Browns.

No thanks on Mason.

He's to old for this roster.

I'd take Mason. Worst case scenario MoMass, Little, and Robiskie learn a thing or two.

Mason may be old....but he could help a contender greatly. Runs great routes, doesnt rely on his speed, has great hands and would be useful to teach younger Wr's

I'd love to have Mason

Hb31187;852716 wrote:Mason may be old....but he could help a contender greatly. Runs great routes, doesnt rely on his speed, has great hands and would be useful to teach younger Wr's

This

“I think we have one of the best starting groups in the NFL.”

http://www.cantonrep.com/browns/x782939182/Heckert-raves-about-Browns-LBs-updates-camp-issues

Heckert is on crack...

Mason to me is what has been wrong with this team for a while. Let the young guys play and learn. We have coaches to help them learn a thing or two. Mason just gets in the way of guys like Little seeing the field.