Browns president Mike Holmgren insists No. 59 pick Greg Little can be the "homerun hitter" Holmgren spoke of needing before the draft.
"In Little, I think you're going to be pleasantly surprised if you don't know him very well. He's a young man who has a tremendous upside," Holmgren said.
Little was ranked as the third overall wide receiver entering the draft, according to the NFL Draft Bible. Standing in at nearly 6’3, 225 pounds and running a 4.53 forty, these are rare measureables that give Holmgren and Co. every reason to be excited.
With a pretty much depleted wide receiver core, Little could quite possibly emerge as their No. 1 wide out. In fact, keep an eye on last year’s fourth round pick Carlton Mitchell as well for that matter, they could be the starting duo in Cleveland when football resumes.
The Browns' third-and-final trade of the 2011 NFL Draft has been overshadowed by their first two deals. Nevertheless, it proves General Manager Tom Heckert and Co. have faith in offensive lineman Jason Pinkston.
The Browns sent their two sixth-round selections (Nos. 168 and 170) to the Minnesota Vikings, so they could move up and select the 6-foot-3, 317-pound Pinkston in the fifth round (No. 150).
''We were looking at the teams that were picking ahead of us,'' Browns coach Pat Shurmur said. ''We had projected teams that we thought were going to go offensive line. He was a guy we had targeted, and we just didn't want to risk losing him.''
Whether the Browns' gamble pays off obviously remains to be seen. This, however, is already clear: Pinkston, who served as the University of Pittsburgh's starting left tackle during the past three seasons, has fully embraced Northeast Ohio and its sports scene.
The day he was drafted, Pinkston, a Pittsburgh native, told local reporters he was going to donate his Steelers apparel to Goodwill. Since then, he has used Twitter to announce his new allegiance to the Indians and his lack of support for the Miami Heat. He even claimed to have a dream about meeting his future wife in Cleveland.
Fans might learn to love Pinkston because of his attitude. As for the Browns, they're attracted to his versatility. Although Pinkston played tackle in college, the Browns will first experiment with him at guard, Shurmur said.
''I think anytime you can draft an offensive lineman that has that versatility, you're in good shape,'' Heckert said. ''[Pinkston] was another guy that we liked. We obviously traded both our [sixth-round picks] to get up and get him. Hopefully he comes in and plays well for us.''
Despite Tony Pashos suffering season-ending injuries in consecutive years, the Browns view him as their starting right tackle. Joe Thomas, Eric Steinbach and Alex Mack are entrenched as the starters at left tackle, left guard and center, respectively.
The starting job at right guard, though, could be up for grabs.
Last season, Floyd Womack started 12 games at right guard, but he's unsigned. So is fellow veteran Billy Yates, who started at right guard when the Browns played the New Orleans Saints, the New England Patriots and the New York Jets in 2010. Shawn Lauvao made one start at right guard last year as a rookie, and he'll probably become the favorite to fill the spot, especially if Womack and Yates don't return.
Then there's Pinkston. At the very least, he should receive a chance to push for playing time.
''I'm going to just come in and do my part and do it the best I can, playing offensive line, learning the playbook and getting things done like that,'' Pinkston said last week during a conference call. ''I'll try to follow the lead of the older veterans on the team, and if I can get in and play right away, I'm definitely up for it.''
Pinkston has reasons to believe he can excel as a professional football player. For one, he has pedigree. His cousin, Todd Pinkston, played wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles while Heckert and Shurmur worked for the team.
But perhaps the tutelage Pinkston received from former Pitt offensive line coach Tony Wise will prove to be more valuable than his bloodlines. In his 37-year coaching career, Wise has spent 18 seasons guiding offensive lines in the NFL.
''I've been in a pro-style offense with coach Tony Wise, who's been my offensive line coach for a long time,'' Pinkston said. ''We ran a lot of power football. Some of our blocking schemes are very similar to the [those of the] Cleveland Browns.''
Pinkston has suffered from shoulder injuries in the past, and he did not bench press at the NFL Scouting Combine. However, he still managed to impress Browns offensive line coach George Warhop. (Pinkston said his meeting with Warhop was his only contact with the Browns during the predraft process.) Proving he was healthy during Pitt's pro day helped his cause, too.
''Both of my shoulders were cleared,'' Pinkston said. ''I did not have to go back out to the combine for another evaluation. I benched at pro day, and I did 22 reps. So my shoulders are fine and cool.''
If Pinkston can stay healthy and develop into a reliable starter, the trade used to nab him won't be forgotten. It will be applauded.
Reported by Nate Ulrich
Beacon Journal sports writer
Old school. That's the best description of Owen Marecic, the Browns' fourth-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.
Beyond turning back the clock by playing fullback and linebacker at Stanford University, Marecic went about his business as if football already was his job. After scoring a touchdown, he would jump up and hand the ball to a referee. After making a crucial tackle, he would get back to the huddle without any self-congratulatory antics.
Browns General Manager Tom Heckert likes the character of Marecic but only plans to play him at fullback.
''He's a legit fullback,'' Heckert said. ''I mean, he can lead block, he can catch the ball, he can run the football, but obviously his strength is blocking and catching.''
Heckert also said Marecic ''is going to be a great special teams player.'' At fullback, he's an insurance policy if Lawrence Vickers, a soon-to-be free agent when the NFL gets back after the lockout, has his five-year career with the Browns end.
The 6-foot, 246-pound Marecic didn't just play both positions since high school. He's excelled at each.
He earned the inaugural Paul Hornung Award in January for the most versatile football player and was an All-Pac-10 Conference section at linebacker and fullback. During his senior season, he averaged 100 plays per game.
During a Cardinal victory at Notre Dame in September, Marecic scored on consecutive plays on offense and defense in a span of 13 seconds to put the exclamation point on Stanford's 37-14 win.
Midway through the fourth quarter, he bulldozed his way into the end zone on a 1-yard touchdown run. After a 2-point conversion and the ensuing kick off, Marecic intercepted Irish quarterback Dayne Crist's pass and sprinted 20 yards into the end zone untouched for another score.
When he answered a question on draft day about his standout series of plays, Marecic downplayed his individual role and talked up the team effort it took.
''It was great to be a part of a couple plays that kind of clinched the game in our favor,'' he said. ''But it was a typical display of what a team has to do collectively to win a ballgame.''
Asked what position he'd like to play in the NFL, Marecic didn't hesitate to answer.
''I've been training as a fullback,'' he said. ''I always tried to train to be a football player, but fullback may be the best place I feel at home best.''
In addition to opening holes for the Cardinal running backs, including 2009 Heisman Trophy runner-up Toby Gerhart, Marecic totaled 11 career touchdowns, nine as a rusher, one receiving and one on the interception return.
''What Owen is doing is really hard,'' former Cardinal coach Jim Harbaugh told Sports Illustrated. ''For one thing, he is playing the two most physical positions on the field. How many guys are in that kind of shape or are physically talented enough to do that? Then there's the mental part. Most guys couldn't comprehend a pro-style system on offense and a pro-style system on defense. It's multiple packages, fronts, coverages, blitzes, personnel groups, plays, adjustments. Who's smart enough to get all those things the first time and actually go out and do them on the field?''
Marecic is smart enough. He graduated with a degree in human biology, is a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award recipient and a finalist for the 2010 William V. Campbell Trophy (considered the academic Heisman).
Marecic's combination of smarts and game-changing ability on both sides of the ball made him a favorite of Harbaugh, now coach of the San Francisco 49ers.
''In 30 years of being in college and pro football, I haven't seen a guy like him,'' Harbaugh told SI. ''He does everything right, all the time, the first time. He has everything — strength, humility, intelligence. He's everything I envisioned being as a football player.''
Harbaugh was so enamored by Marecic's throwback style of play, he kept one of the several helmets Marecic cracked during play displayed proudly in his Stanford office. At the coach's request, Marecic signed the helmet, adding these words all in capital letters: ''Today give all that you have, for what you keep inside you lose forever.''
Marecic wasn't looking to appear poetic, he was just sharing words he plays by. In fact, he later told SI he didn't understand what all the fuss about the helmet was about.
''These things happen,'' he said. ''I don't see the glamour in it.''
Assuming there is an NFL season, which is not a guarantee by any stretch, the Browns will certainly be relying on several members of the 2011 draft class to have an instant impact on the team. The Browns and their fans aren’t the only ones thinking that way it seems. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper has pegged second round selection Jabaal Sheard as an immediate impact type of player-
Jabaal Sheard, DE, Cleveland Browns (Round 2, No. 5)
The impact: As a team, the Browns notched just 29 sacks in 2010, good for 25th in the league. Sheard has a nice variety of pass-rush moves and could quickly move to the top of the depth chart on the edge in this scheme. He holds up very well against the run when he can sidestep or gain enough leverage on massive offensive tackles. A good two-way player, he fills an immediate need.
The hurdle: Sheard is athletic, but it’s yet to be seen whether he can be a truly explosive pass-rusher. If he’s asked to drop, there are questions about whether he’ll be a liability in the open field.
For Cleveland’s sake, he and first round pick Phil Taylor need to be impact players.
Both should become starters for the Browns right away because of the lack of players (impact or not) on the defensive line. The Browns have 4 defensive lineman under contract for this season- Ahtyba Rubin, Travis Ivey, Ko Quaye and Brian Sanford. If the CBA includes restrictions on free agents similar to what was in place before (which is up for debate) the Browns would have exclusive rights to Titus Adams, Marcus Benard and Brian Schafering. (Auston English and Scott Paxson have non-guaranteed agreements for next season.)
Who are your 4 starters from that group?
Which is exactly why the Browns went defensive line with both of their first two picks. You can all but pencil in Sheard, Taylor and Rubin, and assuming they can sign him, Marcus Benard. That is unless the Browns become players for bigger fish in the free agency pond, but that seems a little unlikely. Simply by starting right away Taylor and Sheard would be making an impact on the team, but much more is needed if the Browns are to have any success defensively. Taylor and Rubin will be charged, along with the MLB, with stopping the running game up the middle. Sheard will be responsible for some outside containment on extended running plays, but will need to be a force in the pass rush game as well.
By no means am I limiting this draft’s immediate impact to just Taylor and Sheard however. Many fans might point to WR Greg Little as a guy that should have an instant impact with the offense. While he does seem to have the physical skills, history suggests that receivers don’t usually make a splash in year one. In addition, Little sat out last season because of an NCAA violation. Not only that, but when he went to UNC it was as a running back. He is still learning quite a bit how to be a wide receiver, and he will have to do that at the highest level possible.
To the end, Jordan Cameron is probably the more likely of the two to make an impact in the passing game this season, despite the depth at the tight end position. But if you are looking for the offensive draft pick most likely to make his presence felt this season, look no farther than FB Owen Marecic.
As has been speculated, the selection of Marecic will probably mean the end of the Vickers era in Cleveland. If that is indeed the case, Marecic will have to become Vickers. He will be charged with opening holes for Hillis and Hardesty. He will also have to pick up protection schemes and keep McCoy upright. A few catches out of the backfield won’t hurt either.
Statistically speaking, Marecic and Taylor might not show up in the box score much. But their contributions will be major factors in the success of the offense and defense this season.
OL Jason Pinkston will have a shot to win the right tackle spot, but the norm for late round offensive linemen is to build strength and technique for the first season or two before moving into a starting role. I am still holding out hope that the Browns invest in a quality RT for the upcoming season. A guy can dream can’t he?
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As analysts continue to inspect, dissect, accept or reject what teams did in the NFL draft, the consensus about the Cleveland Browns' work is that they did pretty well.
In fact, some pundits claim the Browns did very well.
Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports gave the Browns an "A," writing:
As tempting as it may have been to stay at No. 6 to take Julio Jones and give second-year QB Colt McCoy some much-needed help, the trade the Browns made with the Falcons was too good to pass up for a rebuilding team. The Browns got an extra first-round pick for next year, which they will need, and did a good job of building the defensive line for the conversion to a 4-3 scheme with Taylor and Sheard. Just as impressive, the team came up with two explosive receiving threats in Little and Cameron. While Little has a lot of work to do to take care of his personal issues, he’s a monster at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds and Cameron is a potential deep threat from his spot.
The Miami Herald carries draft analysis from The Sports Network, which has Scott Garbarini writing that the Browns are among "the big winners in this draft."
Top Picks Analysis: The decision-making tandem of president Mike Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert quickly addressed the Browns' two greatest needs through this draft. A defensive line that was devoid of starting-caliber talent added two likely Day One regulars in the beefy Taylor, who perfectly fits the profile new coordinator Dick Jauron wants in a tackle, and Sheard, a skilled pass rusher and high-energy player who went a bit overlooked due to the outstanding depth of this year's end class. Little will need some coaching up after sitting out the entire 2010 season for his involvement in North Carolina's well-publicized agent scandal, but he's a physical specimen with strong hands and the potential to eventually emerge as the No. 1 receiver Cleveland is seeking for its West Coast offense. The best move the Browns made, however, was trading down from the No. 6 overall spot and collecting four high picks from Atlanta that included the Falcons' first-round choice in 2012.
Best Value Pick: Sheard would have been a first-rounder in most drafts but was a victim of a well-stocked assortment of talent at his position. His teammate at Pittsburgh, Pinkston, was a two-time All-Big East honoree at left tackle, but the Browns believe he can eventually become a starter at guard.
We Question Why: The Browns used a fourth-round pick on Marecic, a blocking specialist and possible special-teams ace who probably won't have much of a role in the offense.
Summary: By filling glaring voids on the defensive line and wide receiver with worthwhile prospects and picking up an extra No. 1 pick for next year, the Browns come out as one of the big winners in this draft.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Despite Mike Holmgren's March proclamation that he wanted a "home run hitter" in this draft, the Browns' president ended the weekend convinced the blockbuster trade with Atlanta was best for his restructuring team.
"It was absolutely the right thing to do for our team at this particular time," Holmgren said at Saturday's wrap-up press conference. "The trade was kind of an amazing trade when you count it up. Next year we've got a one and a four and it's what we needed."
The Browns traded the sixth pick in the first round to Atlanta for five picks: their first-round choice (27th) plus their second- and fourth-rounders this year and their first- and fourth-round choices in 2012.
The Falcons used the No. 6 pick on Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones, who was not believed to be among the Browns' top six players. The Browns then traded up from No. 27 to No. 21 with Kansas City, selecting Baylor defensive tackle Phil Taylor.
With the second- and fourth-round selections from Atlanta, the Browns picked North Carolina receiver Greg Little and Stanford fullback Owen Marecic. Little, the 59th pick overall, sat out all last season after accepting improper agent benefits, but has tremendous size and potential for the new West Coast offense.
Marecic, the 124th pick, is a punishing blocker who can also catch out the backfield -- vital for the new scheme. Marecic, who also starred at linebacker in college, will also be an immediate force on special teams.
"About every morning I'd come in [to the office of General Manager Tom Heckert] and I'd bang him a little bit to make sure that this is what he wanted to do," said Holmgren. "Finally he said, 'This is what I think I want to do.' It's a big deal because at pick six, there's going to be a good player there."
Holmgren acknowledged that trading back so far can be a buzz kill after all the hype.
"The hard part for you and for my family and anyone else watching the draft is you get to six, and it's 'Who are we going to pick?' and you say 'We're trading back to 27,' and everyone goes 'Ugh.' You wait and you wait and you wait and you see players come off the board, that's the hard part. But it was the right thing to do."
Holmgren scoffed at the notion that there might not be a draft next year, depending on what happens with the labor agreement.
"There will be a draft next year," he said. "I heard someone say, 'What if there's no draft?' Well, what if they take the air out of every football in the United States? Then we can all do something else."
He said he was thinking of a couple of guys when he made his "home run" statement, presumably one being Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green.
"Because of how the draft fell, we did the right thing, first of all," Holmgren said. "Secondly, in Little, I think you're going to be pleasantly surprised if you don't know him very well. He's a young man who has a tremendous upside.
"A home-run hitter isn't necessarily everyone going out for a long one. Yards after a catch and a receiver's ability to break a tackle and move after the catch can be a home run of sorts. That's where one of his strengths is and I'm hopeful we added to our receiver pile."
The Browns weren't 100 percent sold on Jones at No. 6, in part because of concern over dropped passes. What's more, they may have saved themselves a bundle of money.
If the league ends up operating under 2010 rules -- with no rookie salary cap -- the savings will be substantial. Last year's No. 6 pick, Russell Okung, received a six-year deal worth $48.5 million, including $30 million guaranteed. The 21st pick, tight end Jermaine Gresham, received a five-year deal worth $15.8 million, with $9.6 million guaranteed.
"We're very fortunate to have an owner in Arthur Blank who is generous," Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "There aren't that many owners who would be in favor of moving up as far as we did. Financially, it's a bold move as well."
Blank also told the paper, "This is the kind of trade that a timid general manager couldn't make or wouldn't make. I would say to you that Thomas is not timid."
Heckert told Sports Illustrated's Peter King the night of the trade that they looked for a precedent.
"When we started talking about a trade this size about a week ago, we looked for a trade we might be able to pattern it after, and we found one back in 1995," Heckert told King. "Cleveland and the 49ers made a deal where the 49ers moved way up to take J.J. Stokes."
It was 1995, the Browns' last year in Cleveland before moving to Baltimore. The Browns had the 10th pick and the 49ers the 30th. Bill Belichick and Mike Lombardi were running the draft for the Browns. The 49ers traded their first-, third- and fourth-round picks in 1995 and first-rounder in 1996 to take Stokes, who averaged just 38 catches a year over nine seasons.
Belichick and Lombardi also whiffed, drafting duds with the first- and third-round picks: linebacker Craig Powell (three career starts) and defensive end Mike Frederick (12 starts). But when new Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome got his hands on the 1996 first-round pick, he used it on future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis.
Granted, the Falcons figure to be good this year and the 2012 first-rounder might be low. But Lewis was picked at No. 26.
Love him or hate him, Mel Kiper has the "bully pulpit" when it comes to the NFL draft. His grades for the 2011 draft are out and the Cleveland Browns are near the top of the class. Hopefully that will translate to being at the top of the league in coming years as good picks translate into great players on the field.
Kiper is doing his grades a bit differently this year. He is assigning two grades: one for the extent to which the team addressed its needs and one for the value it got with its picks according to pre-draft rankings. This can be faulted in that not everyone would value the players in the same way but looking at this as a closed system the grades should be good from a relative point of view. Mel has the Detroit Lions at the top of his list with an A- mostly for the value of their picks. The Bengals are next with a good combination of value and meeting needs also at an A- grade. Next are several teams with a B+ which includes the Browns.
The main accomplishment according to Kiper was the value obtained in the trade with the Falcons. He also liked the Browns first three picks (Taylor, Sheard and Little) from a value standpoint and in meeting the team's needs. He docked Cleveland in the needs category for not getting a linebacker or help at right tackle.
Even though Kiper is not the final word in draft excellence, it is good to see the Browns near the top of someone's list for something. Kudos to the Browns draft team for an exciting and productive draft.
Grading a draft immediately after it concludes is akin to giving your compliments to the chef before the meal has been served. Sure, the food might sound good (or bad) based on the ingredients listed on the menu, but the true evaluation won't come until after the product has been tested.
However, according to Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com/The Sports Xchange, the Browns get an A.
Rang wrote:
With the bevy of picks acquired in their trade with the Atlanta Falcons' move up for Julio Jones, as well as savvy drafting, the Browns enjoyed as strong a 2011 draft as any team in the NFL. Baylor's Phil Taylor was typecast as strictly a 3-4 nose guard by some, but his success in the Big 12 came as a 4-3 defensive tackle and he'll star in a similar capacity for the Browns. In the second round the Browns added underrated pass rusher Jabaal Sheard and one of the more athletically-gifted receivers in the draft in Greg Little. Little could prove a better value at No. 59 than Jones will prove at No. 6, especially considering what the Falcons gave up for Jones. With four picks in the fourth and fifth rounds, the Browns continued their re-tooling into a more traditional West Coast Offense, adding an athletic tight end in Jordan Cameron a do-everything fullback in Owen Marecic and a solid interior line prospect in Jason Pinkston
The Cleveland Browns addressed a couple of needs in the fifth round, selecting UT-Chattanooga defensive back Buster Skrine with the 137th overall pick, and then traded up to grab Pittsburgh tackle Jason Pinkston. The Browns gave up both sixth round selections to acquire Pinkston.
In Skrine the Browns are getting speed. He had the fastest cone drill and 20 yard shuttle times of any cornerback at the combine. His 40 yard dash time was 4.37, but he has been clocked as fast as 4.22 and was on the track team. He performed well in the bench press, but some scouts say that he has difficulty breaking blocks.Unlike some of the Browns’ previous picks this year, there are no character issues with Skrine. He is considered a well above average student and was a team captain.
Jason Pinkston is a little bit of an enigma. Scouting reports were all over the map on this guy, from late 2nd/early 3rd all the way to 6th round projections. The knock on Pinkston seems to be his work ethic, particularly an aversion to the weight room. The Browns seem to think that won’t be an issue, and think he can play either guard or tackle at the pro level.
With the trade, the Browns have only 1 pick remaining in this draft. It is a compensatory pick late in the seventh round.
He was a basketball recruit at Brigham Young, then transferred to USC to pursue a football career. His potential in the West Coast offense so excited the Browns that he was targeted as the player they wanted to begin the day.
Fullback Owen Marecic, Stanford, fourth round.
Coached by former Browns great Clay Matthews in a southern California Pop Warner league, he was described by former Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh as "a phenom ... never seen a guy like this."
The only two-way starter in major college football, Marecic played as a senior at fullback and middle linebacker and scored a touchdown on offense and defense 13 seconds apart in a game against Notre Dame. All the while, he worked toward a degree in human biology and posted a grade-point average of 3.5.
I was afraid when I went to sleep Thursday night that I would wake up to the sounds of white horses, seven trumpets and earthquakes. And this morning, I frantically reached for a remote to search for a weather forecast in Hell. My gut told me it might be nippy down there. A feeling I had never felt before swept over me. It was foreign. It was frightening. It was ... confidence in the Cleveland Browns' front office.
Am I overreacting? A little dramatic? No.
Courtney Brown. William Green. Jeff Faine. Brady Quinn. The first round of the NFL Draft has been a comedy of errors in Cleveland. Except in 2008, when they didn't pick until the fourth round.
So you can understand this long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan's lack of optimism when I tuned in to watch Chris Berman act like an unintelligible 1950s cartoon character on draft night. But, alas, President Mike Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert showed their shrewdness by ridding themselves of the No. 6 draft pick, and stocking up on extra selections this year and the next. There were four great players in this draft — I believe Cam Newton will be a flop — and they were already off the board by the time the Browns went on the clock. So, why keep a pricy top-10 pick when your needs are many? The Browns aren't one player away from success. Heck, they're not even one season away from the playoffs. It appears the front office decided to try the Bill Belichick method of seeking good value in the middle rounds. It's worked once or twice for him.
The Browns do need a receiver, and Julio Jones is a good one, but he has Braylon Edwardsesque hands. That is not a compliment. Yes, there is a chance there will be no draft choices to be had in 2012. If anyone believes the draft will no longer exist past this year, I have some WMDs to show you in Baghdad.
This wasn't some ingenious move. Most draft experts believed it should have happened. But, the Browns made it, and it was the right move. Read that last sentence again and try not to act astonished. This is uncharted territory. That's why I'm still waiting for the sun to turn black and the moon red ... or Tim Couch to ride in on a green horse.
BEREA, Ohio -- The wideout watch ended for the Browns with their third pick.
They selected North Carolina wide receiver Greg Little with the 59th overall pick acquired from the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday.
Little, 6-2 1/2 and 231 pounds, was one of several Tar Heels suspended in 2010 for accepting improper benefits.
Earlier, the Browns took Pittsburgh defensive end Jabaal Sheard with the 37th overall selection of the second round.
At 6-3 and 264 pounds and a reputed 40 speed of 4.68 seconds, Sheard fits the physical profile preferred by General Manager Tom Heckert for his defensive ends.
BEREA, Ohio -- The Browns took Pittsburgh defensive end Jabaal Sheard with the 37th overall selection of the second round. They also have the 59th pick.
At 6-3 and 264 pounds, Sheard fits the physical profile preferred by General Manager Tom Heckert for his defensive ends.
Sheard was named Big East Conference defensive player of the year after turning in nine sacks and 14.5 tackles for losses. He also had four forced fumbles.
The big year came after an arrest in the summer of 2010 for throwing a man through a glass door of an art gallery. Sheard ultimately pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.
Sheard finished his career with elbow surgery and was not able to play in the Compass Bowl and Senior Bowl.
Huge lineman anchored line during All-Big 12 senior season... Started in 2011 Senior Bowl... 2011 NFL Scouting Combine invitee... Two-year starter and former transfer from Penn State... Played all 25 games at BU, started 22... Rated nation's No. 10 defensive tackle by Phil Steele... Has squatted 665, benched 455 pounds and power cleaned 400 pounds... Traveled to Kenya for mission trip with Baylor student-athletes in May 2010.
2010 (Senior): Starting nose guard in all 13 games, All-Big 12 honoree as senior... Earned second-team All-Big 12 honors (league coaches, AP, Columbia Tribune, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Kansas City Star, Phil Steele, Rivals.com, San Antonio Express-News, Waco Tribune-Herald)... Named to ESPN.com All-Big 12 Bowl team... Named second-team "All-Texas" by Dave Campbell's Texas Football publication... One of eight Bears to start all 13 games... Totaled 62 tackles (35 solo), seven for loss including two sacks, three QB hurries, two pass breakups and one forced fumble... 62 tackles most by BU interior lineman since 2002 (76 by Ethan Kelley)... Seven TFL ranked second on squad... Made five tackles at No. 4 TCU in third game... Set then-career-high with eight tackles (six solo) vs. Texas Tech in sixth game... Tied then-career-high eight tackles, also one sack (eight yards) and forced fumble in win at Colorado... Made five tackles including 10-yard sack in win vs. Kansas State in eighth game... Had five stops (four solo), hurry and PBU at Texas in ninth game... Made seven tackles (five solo) and PBU vs. No. 16 Oklahoma in 12th game... Had career-high 10 tackles in final collegiate game in Texas Bowl vs. Illinois.
2009 (Junior): Played all 12 games and started nine at defensive tackle as junior in first season at Baylor in 2009... Earned first Baylor letter... Totaled 25 tackles (2.5 for loss), an assisted sack, five QB hurries, two blocked kicks and one interception on season... Made more than half (13) of season's tackles (25) in first three games... Battled turf toe injury through middle portion of season... Made big splash in Baylor debut in season-opening win at Wake Forest, had four tackles (two solo) including one for loss and made career-first interception... Had four tackles, one QB hurry and blocked field goal (44-yard attempt on last play of first half) in second game vs. UConn... Had season-high and career-high-tying five tackles and an assisted sack in win over Northwestern State in third game... Made second kick block, PAT in third quarter, vs. Kent State in fourth game... Suffered turf toe injury in fifth game at No. 19 Oklahoma, limited and did not start following two games at Iowa State and vs. No. 14 Oklahoma State... Returned to starting lineup and had three tackles and two hurries vs. Nebraska in eighth game... Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of Year selection by media.
2008 (Redshirt): Transferred to Baylor from Penn State in September 2008, sat out season in compliance with NCAA Division I transfer policy but practiced with team... Redshirted to retain eligibility... Selected to spring 2009 Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll.
At Penn State (2006 & 2007): Played freshman (2006) and sophomore (2007) seasons at Penn State... Member of defensive line in 2007 that ranked seventh nationally in rushing defense (93.8 ypg), allowed only three runs of longer than 18 yards in 449 attempts and held opposition to nine rushing touchdowns in 13 games... Slowed early in season due to knee injury sustained during preseason drills but quickly returned to action and started Nittany Lions' final five games... Played 12 games... Credited with 20 tackles, 12 solo efforts, with 6.5 tackles for loss resulting in loss of 26 yards... Tallied 3.0 sacks, good for loss of 18 yards, and recovered two fumbles... Sixth on team in minus-yardage hits... Recorded five tackles, three solo efforts, and a sack at Michigan State... Backed that effort with five-tackle performance that included one tackle for loss against Texas A&M at Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas... Also made two tackles each against Notre Dame, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio State... Both tackles against Indiana were behind line, including one sack... Also recovered fourth-quarter fumble against Indiana... Saw action on 410 snaps, including 59 against Texas A&M and 58 at Michigan State... Made collegiate debut as true freshman against Michigan in 2006... Played season's final seven games... Logged 53 plays, including 14 against Illinois and 12 against Temple.
High School: Prepped at Gwynn Park High School in Clinton, Md.... Played offensive and defensive line for head coach Dan Hayes... Earned first-team all-state and Washington Post first-team all-metro honors as senior... Registered 77 tackles with 10 sacks that season... Recorded 30 tackles during junior campaign with two sacks and a forced fumble... Also credited with 30 pancake blocks along offensive line as junior.
Personal: Full name is Phillip Eugene Taylor... Born April 7, 1988...Graduated in December 2010 with degree in general studies.
Analysis
Pass rush: Though his job is usually not to provide primary pass rush, he can push the pocket with strength and flashes quickness off the snap and a swim move to get past lesser centers. Gives good effort to reach the quarterback if he sits in the pocket too long. Tries violent hands to shed blocks. Not very effective on inside twists, though he can take out the left tackle when twisting outside to free up the defensive end. Once stood up by initial contact, it's tough for him to re-start his rush.
Run defense: Shows excellent strength and mobility as a run defender. Plays with leverage against double-teams and keeps his shoulders square to the line of scrimmage. Pushes back his man and spins off single and tandem blocks with balance to make the play. Moves down the line well, stays low despite his height to wrap up shorter backs. Willing and able to reach the sideline, takes deep angles to prevent huge runs. Defeats cut blocks and maintains balance to track down ballcarriers. Gets low in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Does not dominate smaller centers. At his best when used in a rotation.
Explosion: Explodes from four-point stance into blockers, consistently getting push up front. Gets off low and quick near goal line to set the line backwards. Despite his size, flashes the quickness to penetrate the "A" gap. Requires double-teams to keep him out of the backfield.
Strength: Huge frame and upper-body development give him the strength to be a 3-4 nose tackle at the next level. Moves offensive linemen to either side with relative ease when covering two gaps. Forces fumbles with one hand punching at the ball while ballcarrier comes through the hole. Uses leverage to hold the line against double teams.
Tackling: Running backs get swallowed up when crossing his path, and he can separate the ball from a ballcarrier with pure strength. Stays low despite his height and will capture backs from behind if they have not yet hit their stride. Chase and hustle are impressive for his size, will chase backs down the line, help linebackers make stops at the second level, and takes deep angles to chase down running backs 20 yards down the sideline.
Intangibles: Sprained his knee in 2007 preseason at Penn State, losing starting job to future first-round pick Jared Odrick. Charged with felony aggravated assault during a fraternity function at a Penn State student union in October 2007; the charge was eventually dropped. Really turned up his game the second half of 2010; scouts could see that as maturity or wonder if he can maintain that level of play.
Compares to: Kris Jenkins, Jets -- Big and powerful, Taylor projects nicely as an interior player in both the 4-3 and 3-4 alignments.
The Browns traded their number 6 pick to Atlanta for their number 27 pick. At the last minute, they traded with Kansas City to grab Baylor Defensive Lineman Phil Taylor at the number 21 spot. Phew...More to come.
P.S.. as an aside...Browns Running Back and Madden 2012 Cover Superstar Peyton Hillis announced the selection (don't forget he is in NYC to do the Top Ten on Letterman)
I also like the posted pic because, if you noticed, Browns QB Colt McCoy is in it.
The Browns received five picks -- Atlanta's first (27th overall), second (59th) and fourth-rounder (124th), and also Atlanta's first- and fourth-round selections in 2012. The trade gives the Browns 10 picks in this year's draft. They have two in the second, two in the fourth, two in the sixth, and one in each of the remaining four rounds.
The overall selections currently owned by the Browns are: Nos. 27, 37, 59, 70, 102, 124, 137, 168, 170, and 248.
I don't know...I guess there is a reason why I am reporting this instead of participating in it.
The Cleveland Browns just traded their 6th pick to Atlanta. With that pick, the Atlanta Falcons took WR Julio Jones. The Browns now have the 27th pick in the first round. No word yet on what they got from Atlanta (it better be a lot) Stay tuned...
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns enter Thursday night's first round of the NFL draft leaning toward conservatism.
The litany of recent past draft mistakes -- some made on gut feelings, others on a hope and a prayer -- haunts President Mike Holmgren and General Manager Tom Heckert. They're the ones wielding the shovels, consigned to digging the franchise out of a mess created by bad drafts.
"The graphic of our past drafts, past No. 1 picks ... we've talked about how that's affected the team over the last number of years," Holmgren said. "I'm not placing blame. It's just a fact of life.
"I guess my marching orders [to Heckert] then is I'm less likely to take a chance. I want someone solid.
"It's really important for us for the next 2-3 years to make sure the guys we pick have a real good chance to play for a while. In the past, that hurt the team, in my opinion. We're trying to avoid that. There are no slam dunks. But we're probably going to be a little more conservative than a team that doesn't have as many needs as us."
That attitude would appear to rule out talented players with higher degrees of risks, such as Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers, Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley, North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn and Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith. The Browns conducted visits with all these highly rated prospects, each of whom could fill an obvious need.
The Browns enter the three days of the NFL draft with eight picks. They are far more inclined to add to that haul by trading down than to reduce it by trading up for a player they fall in love with.
"We are talking to people about trading," Holmgren said. "I am not going into any more detail than that. The only thing I challenged Tom to do, I want to know names [if we trade down]. I would like some strategy to shoot for and have some reasonable idea of who we can get. I don't think you just trade down to trade.
"[A trade] has to make absolute sense to us, otherwise we take the player. I know we need other things, [but we'd] just take the player."
The Browns did not trade down in the 2010 draft -- Heckert's first in charge. Rather, they packaged three mid-round picks to Philadelphia on the second day to move up into the second round for running back Montario Hardesty. Hardesty had a history of injuries at Tennessee. He wound up missing his rookie season after suffering a torn knee ligament.
Otherwise, Heckert's first draft netted three starting players -- cornerback Joe Haden (first round), safety T.J. Ward (second) and quarterback Colt McCoy (third). Hardesty is expected to be ready to relaunch his career in summer training camp and could share the backfield with Peyton Hillis. Guard Shawn Lauvao (third) also is considered a potential starter this season.
"I think we got a decent start last year [on his master plan]," Holmgren said.
Heckert has said the Browns still have "holes to fill all over the place."
The Browns can't disguise their needs at defensive line. The switch to a 4-3 defensive alignment calls for two starting pass rushers at defensive end. There is also a void at the tackle spot next to ascending star Ahtyba Rubin. But Holmgren's directive and Heckert's history suggest these multiple needs will be attacked after the first round.
"That's a need," Holmgren said of the D-line. "But that need can't force you to reach."
Wide receiver and cornerback are also needs, and the Browns very well could be staring at one of the best two in this draft at each position.
Georgia receiver A.J. Green and Alabama's Julio Jones became popular choices for the Browns in the thousands of mock drafts conducted by experts, media and fans. Holmgren fed the frenzy by announcing at the NFL Scouting Combine that he was looking for a "home run hitter" on offense.
But Holmgren has delivered the seemingly conflicting message that he has a high opinion of his current receivers, who have been belittled by everyone outside the team.
"I would keep our feelings about what we have and my feelings about getting a striker separate," he said. "I think our guys [are now in] a new system -- a little more receiver-friendly -- so we will learn a lot more in my opinion about who are receivers are than I did last year. I think there were games last year when they weren't much of a factor, but why?
"I think they're better than what people think they are, but does that mean I wouldn't want someone [else] to scare the defense? No. We're going to need four, five receivers in this offense."
But he won't tip his hand whether Green or Jones are in his sights.
"I've made a living a little bit finding receivers in the second and third round that have been very good players for us," Holmgren said. "I think there is probably a guy later that can come and be really, really good."
As for the other obvious position of need, the Browns visited with or worked out 12 prospects at cornerback, a few of which can also play safety. The top cornerback in the draft is Patrick Peterson of LSU. If the Browns devoted the sixth overall pick on Peterson after taking Haden seventh a year ago, they would be only the second team in history to use top 10 picks in back-to-back drafts on cornerbacks.
Baltimore drafted Duane Starks 10th overall in 1998 and took Chris McAlister, also 10th overall, the following year.
"Absolutely, we love him as a player," Holmgren said of Peterson. "I don't see anything wrong with devoting two years in a row to cornerbacks if that's what you need to do. Particularly, seeing more spread offenses [with multiple receivers] like you do now. Corners are always a premium, but if you can lock up a couple guys and have them play ... you're ahead of the curve."
If Peterson is off the board before the Browns pick, they could consider Prince Amukamara of Nebraska.
At his final pre-draft press conference last week, Heckert said, "There are six guys that we'd be happy with [in the first round]."
As the draft drew closer, Holmgren increased that number to seven players. A few might be in a second wave of options if the team traded down.
Whenever the Browns express their faith in Colt McCoy, they stop just short of proclaiming him their franchise quarterback.
"I believe in the young guy we have," President Mike Holmgren said at the beginning of the draft process. Then he added, "I'm pretty sure we'll take one later in the draft."
General Manager Tom Heckert said: "We have all the confidence in the world Colt's going to be good. He's played, what, eight games? That's the only question, the experience. He's had some good days and some bad days. We think he's going to be good."
In his most recent comments, coach Pat Shurmur said: "I really am a Colt McCoy guy. He's got all the attributes you're looking for, the skill and ability to be a fine quarterback in this league."
Nobody uses the word "great" in regards to McCoy's potential.
Even Jon Gruden, one of McCoy's most unabashed fans, hedges. In response to a question about McCoy's arm strength, Gruden said, "I think he's got enough arm to succeed in Cleveland and in the NFL."
The question is the definition of succeeding. Is it taking a team to .500 or even 10-6? Or is it taking a team to the Super Bowl?
The Browns likely won't say McCoy is the guy to take them to the Super Bowl because they don't know. That's OK. The San Francisco 49ers didn't know about Joe Montana until his third season.
They will have a better gauge on McCoy's professional ceiling after he goes through a season in Holmgren's west coast offense coached by Shurmur, who has 12 NFL seasons invested in the system.
McCoy also will benefit more this season from backup Seneca Wallace's experience in the WCO. What the Browns tried to do on offense last season was perplexing to everyone, especially Wallace. He'll be more of an asset to McCoy this season, which partly explains his new three-year contract.
Deposed 2010 starter Jake Delhomme is still under contract for a king's ransom. If Holmgren is successful in selecting a developmental quarterback in the latter stages of the draft, it's conceivable Delhomme would be let go. That transaction would be dependent on the performance of the rookie quarterback in training camp -- if there is one.
NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock has not quite figured out whom the Browns will select with the sixth overall pick when the draft begins one week from Thursday, but he thinks he knows the team's priorities.
Mayock said he believes the Browns will select Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green if he's available at No. 6. If Green is gone, he thinks they'll choose between LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson and North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn, with Peterson being the preferred prospect.
''When you start looking at the matrix of things that could happen with that pick, inside that building, [Browns coach] Pat Shurmur and all his guys have to kind of prioritize where they want to be,'' Mayock said Wednesday during a national conference call. ''With the young quarterback, [Colt McCoy], and the lack of an explosive receiver, I kind of feel like if A.J. Green were there, he'd be the guy.
''After that, do you feel more comfortable with Patrick Peterson or Robert Quinn? You'd probably rather take the defensive end from an impact perspective 'cause you can throw away from a corner, but you probably believe Patrick Peterson is a better football player. So, to me, it would kind of be A.J. Green, and then Patrick Peterson and then Robert Quinn as a matrix.''
Some analysts, including ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Sports Illustrated's Peter King, have predicted that the Browns will choose Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones over Peterson and Quinn if Green isn't available. Mayock, though, isn't convinced.
''If it's me, I'm taking Patrick Peterson,'' Mayock said. ''I think he's a better football player [than Jones]. Having said that, I think Julio Jones fits what Pat Shurmur is gonna do. He's a West Coast wide receiver that's tough and physical and will block. He's everything they want in that offense, but I think Patrick Peterson is a better football player with more upside.''
Conducting a separate conference call Wednesday, Kiper stuck with Jones.
''[I] feel good [about my prediction] based on where [Jones is] projected and what they need,'' Kiper said. ''[His] inconsistency catching the ball, he had some drops, bothers me a little bit at [No. 6], but they need [a wide receiver]. If A.J. Green's gone, they need a player like that, that at least gives you a tremendous physical presence [and can be a] great blocker. Durability is a concern. [Jones] did have some injuries, but he's a talented kid.''
Of course, most analysts frequently change their predictions as the draft approaches. So it's not surprising that Kiper also made a case for Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley to become the Browns' top pick.
''Fairley's tough to pass up,'' Kiper said. . . . ''Fairley outproduced [Alabama defensive tackle Marcell] Dareus. Fairley had more sacks and more tackles for loss in one year than Dareus did in two years, so Fairley's got to be at least in the discussion at [No.] 6.''
