Crennel should look to continue shoring up LB position

By Dawg Bones  |   Tuesday, April 04, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Cleveland Browns
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Under then-head coach Butch Davis, the Cleveland Browns went crazy drafting linebackers back in 2002. The only problem was they - they being Kevin Bentley, Ben Taylor and Andra Davis - were not picked until day two of the draft. Only one of those linebackers remains with the team, Andra Davis.

Davis was a steal for the Browns in the 5th round of the 2002 draft. Many had him as a late first, early second round pick, but injury concerns caused his stock to drop. He is far and away the best draft pick of the Butch Davis era in Cleveland. Last season, he led the team in tackles with 149, 5th best in the NFL. Late last season, he was rewarded with a new 5 year contract that solidified his status in Romeo Crennel's new 3-4 defense for years to come.

Knowing that they had one piece of a four-piece puzzle in place, the Browns went out and tried to sign DE/OLB Kalimba Edwards from the Detroit Lions. When the Lions upped their price for Edwards, he decided to rejoin them and the Browns looked elsewhere. It did not take long for the Browns to find their man, Willie McGinest.

McGinest was a free agent who had been cut by the New England Patriots in an attempt to save money against the cap. He was not even scheduled to visit Cleveland, but when the Edwards deal fell through, it was his first and only stop. He signed a three-year deal with the Browns. Willie brings an immediate level of experience and play-making ability that the team did not have last year in the 3-4.

Playing opposite of McGinest on the other OLB position is Chaun Thompson. Thompson began slowly last year, but really started to settle into the new 3-4 and finished strong. His five sacks tied him for the most on the team and his 102 tackles were third best on the team. Thought of as a project when selected by Davis in the 2nd round of the 2003 Draft, Thompson appears to be ready to make a dramatic breakthrough. He has solidified his position on the Browns defense. Along with Andra Davis, Chaun makes up part of a nice, young nucleus that the team will have for years to come.

The Browns will no doubt look to the draft to find an heir apparent for McGinest as an OLB/DE pass rush specialist. Two names are at the top of the list, N.C. State's Manny Lawson and Florida State's Kamerion Wimbley. Lawson got all the hype at the Senior Bowl, but Wimbley flashed on the scene at the Combine.

The Browns are said to be very high on Wimbley and may even be willing to take a chance on him in round one, but only if they can drop out of the twelfth position. Both players are considered to be too much of a reach at #12. The Browns may also look to fill the pass rush role a bit later in the draft and would have the opportunity to look at a player like Virginia Tech's Darryl Tapp or Tennessee's Parys Haralson.

That leaves the Cleveland Browns needing to fill the position next to Davis at ILB. Last year, it was manned by the outmanned and now departed Ben Taylor. Taylor is still on the Browns radar, but is only being offered a one-year deal. He has a similar offer from the Green Bay Packers who would likely make him a starter - he has not been guaranteed that in Cleveland. He is also on the record as saying he feels more comfortable in a 4-3 defense, which the Packers run, as opposed to the 3-4 he was in with the Browns last year. If he is feeling nostalgic, he might sign with the Browns; if he feels like playing, he should probably sign with the Packers. Either way the Browns need to replace him.

One solution for replacing Taylor would be to move OLB Matt Stewart inside. Stewart joined the Browns from Atlanta last year and shared time with now-departed Kenard Lang. Stewart is about the same size as Taylor, but is definitely better against the run. Conversely, he is not as good in the passing game as Taylor. This would be plan C for the Browns at this point. So what would plan A and B be?

Plan A would have the Browns go out and acquire a free agent ILB with experience in the 3-4. They tried that when they offered Ravens' LB Bart Scott a contract. He decided to re-up with Baltimore and the Browns were left scratching their heads. There may still be some guys released in June, but more then likely the Browns would not wait that late in the year to address a glaring need. A couple of guys that are still available that could be of interest to the Browns are Jamie Winborn and Jamie Sharper. Of these guys, Winborn is probably the most attractive due to his age and his experience in the 3-4 while in San Francisco, but his injury history is a glaring concern.

Plan B, which should be Plan A because there are so many more options, is to pick up an ILB in the NFL draft. This draft is deep at the LB position. Even though the team needs to have another OLB, someone to groom behind McGinest, they need a run stuffing ILB even more. The top guy on the Browns wish list is more then likely Iowa's Abdul Hodge.

Hodge had a huge junior year with the Hawkeyes and many thought he was the best LB in college at that time. His senior season was nothing to cry over, but he did not have the impact that he had the year prior. Hodge has decent size at 6'1" and 233 pounds. Abdul ran the 40 in the 4.6's, but could stand to get a bit bigger. He has good strength for his size and is a sure tackler who hits like a ton of bricks. With Phil Savage and Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz so close, don't be surprised if the Browns jump on Hodge in round two.

There are some other prospects to keep our eye on in the draft as well, but none will be taken in round one. The Browns will use their 1st round pick to grab a DT or an OLB/DE, not an ILB. Some other names of interest: Maryland's D'Qwell Jackson, Northeastern's Tim McGarigle, Virginia's Kai Parham and Ohio State's Anthony Schlegel.

Without a doubt, the LB position is pivotal to the success of the 3-4. This will be the year the Cleveland Browns must make marked improvements at that position if they want to be better than 6-10 in 2006.

Fan talk at DawgBones.com
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