By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer
BEREA, Ohio -- On the eve of the NFL Combine, Browns coach Pat Shurmur said draft experts are jumping the gun in assuming the Browns will trade up to pick Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III and cast aside Colt McCoy.
"I think what happens is, there's a lot that gets said and written at this time and it's very interesting to everyone," said Shurmur at the Browns' training facility. "Folks are making predictions while we're still gathering information. That's the important part. That's the exciting thing about the combine."
Shurmur acknowledged that the chance to spend time with RG3 is one of the things he's most anticipating in Indianapolis, where more than 300 college prospects will be evaluated by all 32 NFL teams. Teams can conduct private interviews with up to 60 players.
"First of all, I've never met [Griffin]," said Shurmur. "That's why this combine is going to be so important for me. He's obviously very accomplished as a college quarterback and as we go through it all, we'll determine whether he's what everybody says he is."
If RG3 is all that, the Browns might have to trade up to No. 2 with the Rams to get him. If they determine he's not their guy, they might try to draft Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill later in the round.
But for now, they're convinced that McCoy will be better in 2012 and that he can win for them. Last season, he finished 27th in the NFL with a 74.6 rating.
"I'm expecting that he will be [dramatically better], absolutely," said Shurmur. "And the thing that's encouraging to me is that he's a guy you know is going to work at it."
Shurmur, who spent seven seasons as a quarterbacks coach in Philadelphia, thinks the ceiling is high for McCoy once he's well-versed in the West Coast system.
"Heck, I think he can be very good," said Shurmur. "If he plays at a high level like I think he can, when he makes these improvements, that means he can help us win football games and I think that's what you're looking for at the end of the day -- put the ball in the end zone and win games."
The key for McCoy is he'll have his first off-season to work with the coaching staff, including new offensive coordinator Brad Childress.
"I think it will make a big difference in my mind for me in his [second year] with me being here," Shurmur said. "I'm expecting him to attack this off-season and get as good as he can get within our system. He'll do that. He really works at things and I think that's going to help him."
He said McCoy is fully recovered from his concussion and has been taking some time off to hunt and fish.
"He's going through the off-season basically healthy, getting his body and mind right," said Shurmur, who added that the things McCoy needs to improve on are quantifiable.
"Whether it's footwork, a better feel for the progressions, a better feel for the targets he's throwing to -- all of that gets refined when you have an off-season," he said. "A lot of things I saw that he needs to improve on can be done by just working on it, everything from decision-making to the timing of his throws, accuracy to general footwork and fundamentals. He'll have now an off-season where if we ran a play 20 times during the year, he can look at a cutup of that play with the pace slowed down and really critique himself."
Shurmur disagrees with analysts who say McCoy doesn't have the arm strength to throw the deeper passes.
"I think he can throw the deep ball," said Shurmur. "Most quarterbacks have to throw the deep ball in rhythm and that comes down to fundamentals. I've seen him throw some very good deep balls. I don't think that's an issue."
Although Eagles coach Andy Reid, Shurmur's mentor, said Shurmur and Childress both understand that it takes four years to fully develop a quarterback, Shurmur said they "want to speed up the process. As long as the players are here, we're not giving up on them. We believe that the guys we have are going to help us win games and we're going to develop them."
Shurmur indicated the Browns would be willing to adapt their West Coast offense if they draft RG3, who has a big arm and world-class speed to take off and run with the ball. He's been in a spread offense throwing out of the shotgun, but will have to learn to operate under center.
"I think what happens is the offenses tweak a little bit," he said. "Pro offenses are somewhat multiple. You're under center, you're in the gun, you're in empty, you motion to empty, you play with three tight ends. We all have that as part of our package. What you try to do, though, is get the very best players you can and then within your system and how you teach you do a little bit more of this and less of that. I think that's what you try to do, then you maximize their strengths."
The Browns will know a lot more by the end of the week just how much they might have to tweak their scheme.
Shurmur addressed a number of other topics during his interview. Afterward, offensive coordinator Brad Childress also addressed the media:
• Shurmur said he'll call the plays, but collaborate with Childress, who will be upstairs.
• He said the Browns are willing to use the franchise tag one of several players. A source told The Plain Dealer they'll franchise D'Qwell Jackson if they can't sign him to a multi-year deal. "He's a guy we want back,'' said Shurmur. If they do sign him, they have the option of using the tag on another player, such as kicker Phil Dawson or running back Peyton Hillis. Deadline for franchising a player is March 5.
• Shurmur sounded very positive about Hillis. "I really liked what I saw when he was in there playing healthy.''
• He was noncommittal about a role in 2012 for guard Eric Steinbach, who's recovering from back surgery and is due $6 million in 2012. He said Steinbach is working out, but didn't know his specific timetable. He said he still sees Jason Pinkston as a guard even if Steinbach is ready for full-time duty.
• Shurmur spoke highly of cornerback Dimitri Patterson and safety Mike Adams, which indicates the team is trying to re-sign both. He said Patterson can be a starter, not just a nickelback.
• Shurmur sounded as though the Browns are leaning toward signing a veteran wide receiver in free agency. "It's important if you add leadership'' in every one of your position groups, he said. The key, he said, is that the veteran can still play.
• Childress said he "saw some great finishes by'' RG3 last year. He acknowledged that teams should play to a player's strengths.
• Childress said the fact that Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill played 30 games at wide receiver "speaks to his athleticism'' and hand-eye coordination. He said Tannehill would be more well-versed in the West Coast offense from working under Aggies coach Mike Sherman.
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/02/cleveland_browns_coach_pat_shu_15.html
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