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Browns Team Report
6/23/2006
By Steve Doerschuk
Canton Repository
PERSONNEL ANALYSIS: WR Frisman Jackson emerged from minicamp as the No. 3 receiver behind Joe Jurevicius and Dennis Northcutt. Jackson proved he can help with a monster game against the Bengals last year, and he seems ready for his best NFL season. He has polished his route running and is becoming more of a technician with hand position, resulting in more consistency. Jackson is a key man in the Browns getting off to a good start. The team needs an extra threat to relieve pressure from TE Kellen Winslow as Winslow works his way back from knee surgery. Projected No. 1 WR Braylon Edwards still is only running in straight lines and probably won't be back from his knee surgery until Oct. 1. Jurevicius has never been a long-term No. 1 receiver and needs help from the other wideouts.
First-round pick Kamerion Wimbley got everyone's attention at minicamp with his sensational burst off the snap. Wimbley and Willie McGinest should become imposing bookends as pass rushers, and Wimbley shows signs of joining McGinest on early downs in an outside linebacker role. Coaches still want to see how Wimbley responds to his first live NFL contact, but they are convinced he has ideal instincts for playing the run and dropping into pass coverage. Second-round pick D'Qwell Jackson doesn't envy Wimbley's task, though. "For me to come from being a college linebacker to playing inside linebacker in the 3-4 is a natural transition,'' Jackson said. "It's a lot harder from Kamerion to go from playing end at Florida State to outside linebacker here."
SCOUTING REPORT: Rookie sixth-round pick Lawrence Vickers was the most pleasant surprise of training camp. Vickers (6-0, 233) came in with a chance to make the team as a special teams guy and came out as a threat for meaningful playing time as a fullback. If Vickers maintains his momentum, the Browns will keep two fullbacks, including incumbent Terrelle Smith, with 2005 backup Corey McIntyre probably getting pushed off the roster. Coach Romeo Crennel wants more flexibility as he fleshes out his offense, and Vickers provides it. He is a better, more instinctive receiver than Smith, whose forte is lead blocking. Crennel went into 2005 hoping to expand the fullback's role, but Smith missed an easy catch that turned into an interception early on, and never was used much. Vickers shows good hands and strong acceleration off the catch. He also looms as a promising short-yardage runner, with good burst too and power through the hole. He is undersized as a lead blocker but could fill out to 240 pounds. If he blocks well, he could threaten Smith down the road, but Smith's status as a team leader makes his situation more secure.
INSIDE DISH: One factor that dropped QB Charlie Frye to the third round of the 2005 draft was arm strength. Another was size. Jurevicius notes that Frye is the smallest NFL quarterback he has played with. Jurevicius said that even after Frye spent the offseason putting on weigh, bulking up to near 220 pounds. Blowing out a knee might also have done some productive ego bruising to Edwards. Even as he spent minicamp unable to do anything but run in a straight line, Edwards seemed to want to come off to teammates and media as a personality, a star. His act will be tempered if it takes him a long time to live up to expectations of a No. 3 overall pick. Winslow went through an extended version of this process. His chances of being a good locker room guy seemed to increase after he realized the league would go on without him. He came back seeming older and more humble.
WIDE RECEIVERS ANALYSIS: C-plus. The jury is out until Braylon Edwards proves he can come back from knee surgery. Joe Jurevicius is a much better fit than Antonio Bryant. Dennis Northcutt was a 2005 disappointment.
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6/23/2006
By Steve Doerschuk
Canton Repository
PERSONNEL ANALYSIS: WR Frisman Jackson emerged from minicamp as the No. 3 receiver behind Joe Jurevicius and Dennis Northcutt. Jackson proved he can help with a monster game against the Bengals last year, and he seems ready for his best NFL season. He has polished his route running and is becoming more of a technician with hand position, resulting in more consistency. Jackson is a key man in the Browns getting off to a good start. The team needs an extra threat to relieve pressure from TE Kellen Winslow as Winslow works his way back from knee surgery. Projected No. 1 WR Braylon Edwards still is only running in straight lines and probably won't be back from his knee surgery until Oct. 1. Jurevicius has never been a long-term No. 1 receiver and needs help from the other wideouts.
First-round pick Kamerion Wimbley got everyone's attention at minicamp with his sensational burst off the snap. Wimbley and Willie McGinest should become imposing bookends as pass rushers, and Wimbley shows signs of joining McGinest on early downs in an outside linebacker role. Coaches still want to see how Wimbley responds to his first live NFL contact, but they are convinced he has ideal instincts for playing the run and dropping into pass coverage. Second-round pick D'Qwell Jackson doesn't envy Wimbley's task, though. "For me to come from being a college linebacker to playing inside linebacker in the 3-4 is a natural transition,'' Jackson said. "It's a lot harder from Kamerion to go from playing end at Florida State to outside linebacker here."
SCOUTING REPORT: Rookie sixth-round pick Lawrence Vickers was the most pleasant surprise of training camp. Vickers (6-0, 233) came in with a chance to make the team as a special teams guy and came out as a threat for meaningful playing time as a fullback. If Vickers maintains his momentum, the Browns will keep two fullbacks, including incumbent Terrelle Smith, with 2005 backup Corey McIntyre probably getting pushed off the roster. Coach Romeo Crennel wants more flexibility as he fleshes out his offense, and Vickers provides it. He is a better, more instinctive receiver than Smith, whose forte is lead blocking. Crennel went into 2005 hoping to expand the fullback's role, but Smith missed an easy catch that turned into an interception early on, and never was used much. Vickers shows good hands and strong acceleration off the catch. He also looms as a promising short-yardage runner, with good burst too and power through the hole. He is undersized as a lead blocker but could fill out to 240 pounds. If he blocks well, he could threaten Smith down the road, but Smith's status as a team leader makes his situation more secure.
INSIDE DISH: One factor that dropped QB Charlie Frye to the third round of the 2005 draft was arm strength. Another was size. Jurevicius notes that Frye is the smallest NFL quarterback he has played with. Jurevicius said that even after Frye spent the offseason putting on weigh, bulking up to near 220 pounds. Blowing out a knee might also have done some productive ego bruising to Edwards. Even as he spent minicamp unable to do anything but run in a straight line, Edwards seemed to want to come off to teammates and media as a personality, a star. His act will be tempered if it takes him a long time to live up to expectations of a No. 3 overall pick. Winslow went through an extended version of this process. His chances of being a good locker room guy seemed to increase after he realized the league would go on without him. He came back seeming older and more humble.
WIDE RECEIVERS ANALYSIS: C-plus. The jury is out until Braylon Edwards proves he can come back from knee surgery. Joe Jurevicius is a much better fit than Antonio Bryant. Dennis Northcutt was a 2005 disappointment.
LINK
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