Good call by Pluto on DQ Jackson. On most other teams, dude is a special teamer (and this is coming from a guy, me, who was thrilled when we drafted him). The team has upgraded at his spot and he likely won't fit Mangini's scheme....
Terry Pluto's Talkin' ... about the Browns' revamped backfield, the Indians' youngsters and leaders for the Cavaliers
By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer
June 06, 2010, 12:19AM
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's summertime, and Terry's talkin' ...
About the Browns...
1. Coaches believe depth is the key to this season. They look at cornerback, where Eric Wright, Sheldon Brown and rookie Joe Haden are battling for two spots. They also have used Michael Adams at corner, and Brandon McDonald has received praise for his off-season work. McDonald looks good in these drills because there is no tackling, the accent is on speed. Brown and Haden are more physical cornerbacks, and they will be noticed more once tackling begins.
2. But the key is the options at cornerback. They don't have to rely on McDonald and his soft tackling. They don't have to have Wright on the field for every play. If a cornerback is not fully engaged in practice or film work, he can lose playing time to someone else. They believed Wright and McDonald had developed a sense of entitlement because no one was there to take their jobs. That all has changed.
3. While the Browns believe they have upgraded at safety with rookies Larry Asante and T.J. Ward, they know it remains one of the team's weak spots. That's true even if restricted free agent Abe Elam signs. Asante and Ward have not been disasters in pass coverage, but it's obvious that they are best against the run. Michael Adams is the best cover safety, but they like him as a cornerback and covering slot receivers.
4. Someone needs to remind Elam that he made it from Kent State to the NFL by being a smart guy who fit into the team. He also needs to remember the main reason he has become a starter is this coaching staff believes in him and gave him that chance, first with the Jets and now with the Browns. He has started 33 games as a pro with one interception, three sacks and only seven passes broken up. He is not an impact player, and no one is going to give a restricted free agent in his position a multi-year contract.
5. Linebacker is another area where the Browns seem loaded. They have two respected, legitimate leaders in Scott Fujita and David Bowens. Veteran Eric Barton is back from neck surgery, but the team won't know for certain about his recovery until the tackling begins. Chris Gocong seems made for 3-4 defense. Jason Trusnik has been starting at outside linebacker in place of Matt Roth, the restricted free agent who has not signed. Marcus Benard can rush the quarterback from OLB. The coaches say David Veikune is making progress at inside linebacker.
6. The point is Roth needs to realize that playing six solid games (28 tackles, four sacks) after being claimed on waivers doesn't turn him into Jim Houston or Clay Matthews. Like Elam, he's a restricted free agent and needs to sign the one-year deal and truly establish himself. In five years, Roth has only 29 starts, never more than five sacks in a season.
7. Restricted free agent D'Qwell Jackson simply needs to wake up. The Browns have Fujita, Barton, Bowens and Gocong as legitimate inside linebackers. Yes, they also can play outside. But Jackson is another who needs to sign, because he may not even start on this team. Just like what happened at cornerback to Wright and McDonald, Jackson's world has changed with all the new players who can take his job.
8. On the theme of restricted free agents and depth, given Jerome Harrison credit for being the first unsigned RFA to show up for voluntary workouts. He knows the Browns really do like rookie Montario Hardesty. He knows he had only three big games at the end of last season. He knows big money will come if he can have a strong season. And the coaches love what they see from Harrison, Hardesty and Peyton Hillis in the backfield. Then there's Wildcats Joshua Cribbs and Seneca Wallace, even more power for the running game.
9. One coach said, "I know people don't believe this, but Cribbs keeps working hard at being a receiver, and he'll help us there this season. Never underestimate this guy." The new contract just seems to have inspired Cribbs to work even harder.
10. I mentioned Jonathan Haggerty (6-1, 195 pounds) last week as someone who impressed the coaches. That remains true. The undrafted receiver from Southwestern Oklahoma State (Division II) has been getting a lot of work. ... They also are using third-rounder Shawn Lauvao at center and guard, the idea being to turn him into a lineman such as Rex Hadnot, who could play both spots.
11. The Browns keep stressing to veteran quarterback Jake Delhomme that he doesn't have to make big plays to establish himself. The job is his, just keep the team organized. Stay out of damaging plays and turnovers. Delhomme is a relentless worker, a natural leader. He knows that some people have written the end of his career at the age of 35. So far, the Browns have been pleased with him.
12. In my blog from Thursday's OTA, new tight end Ben Watson was praised for his pass catching. Some fans said, "What's the big deal, he had only 29 catches for New England." Let's look deeper. Five of those catches were for touchdowns. Twenty were for first downs. He caught 29 of 41 passes thrown in his direction. He had two drops.
http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index.ssf/2010/06/terry_plutos_talkin_about_the_18.html
