Position Breakdown 2015 (Offense)

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BigTexas18

Hall of Famer
RB Position Breakdown
Good Morning Cleveland! We're coming straight to you out of OTA's to talk about something that is creating alot of buzz, the running back position. Last year the browns had veteran Ben Tate, and they shocked the NFL by releasing him last November. Tate has moved on from the Dawg Pound and signed with the ever hated rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers:eek:, but that's enough talking about the past, let's talk about what we have and where we are going!

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Isaiah Crowell 5'11 225
2nd Year Alabama St.
Twitter: @IsaiahCrowell34
Crowell looks strong coming out of last year. In his rookie year he rushed for 607 yards on 148 attempts and 8 TD. That averages to 4.1 yards per carry. He looks as if he will take the starting position going into training camp, but in this crazy NFL world, who knows what can happen. He has a good relationship with Terrance West, with whom he is competing for the starting job with. In a radio interview this year he stated he thinks both him and West will rush for 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns! If that doesn't get your blood flowing Cleveland, then I don't know what will! Crowell offers good vision and run strength. Runs hard and has a knack for finding seams. Presses the line of scrimmage and shows nice short-area burst to attack the outside.


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Terrance West 5'10 225
2nd Year Towson

Twitter: @Terrancewest_28
Terrance West is what we call our bruiser!A big, young, punishing back who can make the plays against defenders in the open field. He is going to split time with Crowell and offer a reliable back up who can pick up the needed short yards. In his rookie year he rushed for 673 yards on 171 carries and 4 TD. He averaged 3.9 yards per carry. West is equipped to run between the tackles and withstand a pounding. He has good vision. He reads and cuts off blocks. Runs with attitude and power. Stays behind his pads, churns out yards after contact and finishes runs. Opens up his stride in space and has competitive speed to break long runs.


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Duke Johnson 5'9 207
Rookie Miami
Twitter: @DukeJohnson_8
Duke was drafted out of Miami in the third round. He was the 77th overall pick. He will most likley secure the third spot on the depth chart. That by no means says he isn't going to see time, because he will. His explosive style will fit right into this Cleveland offense. Duke offers explosive burst and plays with suddenness. Elusive in tight quarters. He has lightning in his feet and has hips and feet to stop and start without stalling. Rare ability on stretch plays to hit cutback lanes that other backs can't get to. Runs with patience and a well-timed burst. Has great feel as zone-scheme, one-cut runner. Changes direction without breaking stride and shows no fear when getting downhill. Strong-willed competitor with toughness. He has second gear around the corner and can erase the angles. Gets smaller through the hole and runs behind pads. Fights through arm tackles. Regroups and balances himself after initial contact and reads and sets up routes and adjusts to poorly thrown balls. With these 3 running backs the Browns are going to bring it on the ground. This is going to take tremendous pressure off Manziel and allow him to build and develop as he is playing in games this year!
There you have it Browns Nation! Alot of buzz and excitment around the running back this year and for good reason! We will continue to follow them throughout training camp. We'll see them in our first exhibition game action August 13 as the Browns face Washington at home. The season starts Sept. 13 as we travel to face the Jets! Don't look now Browns fans, but that's just around the corner! We'll leave you with our 2 minute drill video of RB's as our own Nathan Zegura quickly talks breaks down our RB's in OTA's and shows the exclusive interview from Cro talking about him and West.


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BigTexas18

Hall of Famer
QB Position Breakdown
We move onto QB's in our next position breakdown for the 2015-2016 season. Brian Hoyer left the team and has moved on to be a QB in the Houston Texans system. We signed Thad Lewis and Josh McCown this offseason to put 4 QB's on the roster going into training camp. Let's jump right into the breakdown and show what each QB brings to the table!

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Josh McCown 6'4 218
13th Year SHSU
Twitter: @JoshMcCown12
When he has time, McCown consistently shows sound throwing mechanics resulting in good ball placement. He throws a very good jump ball, putting air under the pass so his receiver can compete for it. Has good accuracy on his deep ball. His mechanics hold up well rolling to his right, and shows trust and anticipation, throwing this pass before his receiver breaks. Does a nice job reading the LB's zone coverage.
(The only Josh McCown highlight video I could find lol)

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Thad Lewis 6'0 215
4th Year Duke
Twitter: @ThaddeusLEWIS
Makes solid pre-snap reads and shows the ability to go through progressions. Will check down and make plays when the primary target is covered. Has enough arm strength to put some zip on the ball. Steps up in the pocket and is not afraid to take a hit. Throws well on the run and has deceptive speed. Thad has only played 7 career games in his 3 seasons, but if he can get back into shape, he should make a decent depth QB if needed.

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Connor Shaw 6-1 210
2nd Year SCAR

Twitter: @cmshaw9
Fine touch and accuracy. Very good mobility and movement in the pocket. Tough and gritty competitor. Extremely determined. Smart and instinctive. He is the son of a coach and understands football concepts. Plays through pain. Has a 27-5 career starting record, has rallied his team to victory off the bench and carries a calm, confident, poised field presence. Mentally and physically tough.
You know we had to save the best for last right.

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Johnny "Football" Manziel 6'0 207
2nd Year Texas A&M
Twitter: @PX1Johnny

@JManziel2

A once-in-a-generation, run-around, ad-lib, sandlot-style quarterback who consistently won games playing a brand of fast-paced, jailbreak football that often goes off script and can be difficult both to game plan with and against. He has big hands and grips the ball well on the move. Just a freakish athlete. Sufficient timing, ball placement and accuracy. Very passionate, loves the game of football. Terrific scrambling ability, reverse spins and buys time in the pocket while continuing to scan the field. Houdini-like escapability and improvises in the pocket to pull a rabbit out of his hat and create magic. Manziel carries the ball with a fearless confidence that he will find a way to create and usually gains positive yardage on broken plays when he appears trapped. Loves money.
McCown is the only QB on the Browns roster with actual sustained NFL experience, but that just adds to the competition. While Shaw and Lewis are definitely the depth QB's, owner Chris Bigtex has not stated yet whether McCown or Manziel will get the starting job. All signs point towards Manziel. The fans want him, and when he is on the field it is good for the league. You either love him or hate him, but guess what, your talking about him. Johnny is very vocal during the season, often holding nothing back! Remember, you can follow him on Twitter @Px1Johnny.


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BigTexas18

Hall of Famer
Position Breakdown TE
We are going to move over to the TE's in this segment of the position breakdown. The Browns lost a stellar TE in Jordan Cameron as he left to go play in Miami with Ryan Tannehill. To fill that void, the Browns signed 5th year man out of FAU Rob Housler, and also drafted Randall Telfer out of USC with the 198th pick in the 6th round. Let's break em down! Our own Nathan Zegura breaks down the Housler signing.

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Rob Housler 6'5 248
5th Year FAU
Twitter: @House81
Housler is long with good top end speed. Explodes off the ball and can stretch the field down the seam. Fluid athlete that can separate against linebackers in man coverage. Possesses reliable hands and the body control to make difficult catches in traffic and fearless going across the middle. Does exceptionally well after the catch to gain the extra yardage.

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Gary Barnidge 6'6 250
8th Year Louisville
Twitter: @garybarnidge
Barnidge uses his size well to shield defenders from the ball. He catches the ball cleanly, secures it and looks to gain positive yardage. Best attribute is his reliable hands. ... Good speed for a TE and uses the speed to challenge deep down the seam. He has potential to be a great inline blocker.

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Jim Dray 6'5 246
6th Season Stanford
Dray is tall with a large frame and good bulk. Releases fast and clean off of the line and finds soft spots in zone coverage. Uses size to get between defenders and the ball to make catches in traffic. Maintains good footwork, takes good blocking angles and stays engaged to finish blocks. Interesting fact: Dray said if he wasn't playing football, he would be grooming horses!

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Randall Telfer 6'4 250
Rookie USC
Twitter: @RandallTelfer
Telfer is an aggressive run blocker. A big bruiser. By far the best blocking TE on the team, and was one of the best run blocking TE's in this year's draft. Selected in the 6th round 198th pick. Able to base block or work in zone scheme. Works hard after the catch. Will put his shoulder down and hit the defender to try and gain that extra yardage.
There's your 4 tight ends on the Browns roster. While they lack as a group in the blocking game, they will be more weapons for Manziel down the field. You should see all 4 at some point in the season. Don't be surprised to see Telfer subbed in for an extra blocker, especially in goal line situations. This Browns team made the right moves with the exit or Jordan Cameron, and it looks like they won't miss him that much! Thanks for checking out the TE section of Position Breakdown, stay tuned for the next segment!

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BigTexas18

Hall of Famer
Position Breakdown WR

Thanks for joining into our next segment of Position Breakdown, as we go inside the Browns team and take a look at the weapons Johnny has for the upcoming season. The Browns lose their biggest player, but sign a seasoned veteran to take his place, let's get into why don't we.

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Josh Gordon 6'3 225
4th Year Baylor
Twitter: @JOSH_GORDONXII
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No news there folks, but it is the facts. The Browns best WR has been suspended for the 2015-2016 season. He had failed a substance abuse test back in 2013 and received a 2 game suspension. Then going into the 2014 season he failed another drug test. Gordon was suspended for 10 games in 2014. Since he was a repeat offender, he had a zero-drinking stipulation in his reinstatement to the league. He boarded a plane to Las Vegas with some teammates and did some drinking. As soon as the plane landed he had another test and tested positive for alcohol. The rest is history, Josh Gordon will NOT play this year. Josh Gordon has 161 catches 2,754 yards and 14 TD in his career.

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Dwayne Bowe 6'2 222
9th Year LSU
Twitter: @DwayneBowe_80
Dwayne Bowe was signed as a Free Agent in the offseason, prepping for Gordon's suspension. Bowe offers experience to lead this young WR crew. Great hands. Runs routes well. Not as explosive as he used to be, but can still get down the field. Will go up and get balls. Very smart. Very strong upper body. Can break tackles for extra yardage. Quick feet. Bowe is looking to revitalize himself in Cleveland. He should be a great mentor for the younger guys.

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Andrew Hawkins 5'7 180
5th Year Toledo
Twitter: @Hawk
Hawkins is a man that has had to make a name for himself. He did no receive an invite to the Combine and was undrafted in 2008. Played CB at Toledo, then moved to WR in the NFL. Very fast. Good hands. Great route runner. Returns kicks well. Average hands. Has a tendency to find the open field. Makes great plays down the field. Elusive when running with the ball. Can make tacklers miss to gain the extra yardage.

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Brian Hartline 6'2 200
7th Year Ohio St.
Twitter: @brianhartline
Good height and an athletic frame. Good initial quickness off the snap. Does a lot of the little things well. Reliable route-runner. Good hands. Won't break a whole lot of tackles, but will surprise you every now and then. Finds the open field well. Browns signed Hartline in the offseason to help bring more experience to the WR core with the absence of Gordon.

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Taylor Gabriel 5'8 167
2nd Year Abilene Christian
Twitter: @TGdadon1
Quick off the snap, comes back to the ball out of breaks, and works hard to make himself an available target. Gets vertical. Quickly transitions to running after the catch, keeps the play in bounds, and shows the ability to pick up yardage. Very fast. Makes plays down the field. Very underrated. Could be one of the best deep threat WR's in the NFL. Alot of potential. Lethal punt returner. Very elusive and can escape tacklers. Gabriel is from owner Chris Bigtex's hometown of Dallas, TX, and went to Horn High School in Mesquite. One thing the owner says about this kid is, Watch Out.


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Travis Benjamin 5'10 175
4th Year Miami
Twitter: @TravisBenjamin3
Benjamin is a good route runner and understands how to get open at the top of routes and use his explosive movements to his advantage. As a returner, he is a "one cut and go" runner who can break for daylight. The key to his game as a receiver is his ability to get open, and he doesn't shy away from contact despite his stature. He will be a true deep threat

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Terelle Pryor 6'4 223
4th Year Ohio St.
Not sure what to make out of Pryor at QB. Only time will tell on this one. What we do know is Pryor has speed, and good hands. He was a QB since we've known him and just never made it to the next level at the NFL. The Browns are liking what they see at camp though through his transition to receiver. In a game vs Texas he made a very athletic catch on a corner endzone fade pass. This could be just what he needs to succeed!


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Vince "Downfield Menace" Mayle 6'2 225
Rookie Washington State
Twitter: @Vince_Mayle
Mayle has good speed for a big receiver. Can win in space and has tremendous ability to bring in the ball on the deep throws. Has the body size to overwhelm cornerbacks and the speed to surprise them. Fights through initial contact after the catch and will grind out tough yards. Perfect combination of speed and size. With the right development Mayle could be a huge asset in this west coast system.
While the loss of Gordon is a huge blow to this team, It will give the young guys a chance to step up and make a name for themselves. the Browns have made the right moves to compensate for the loss. They brought in 2 vets, drafted 1, and even brought in a QB to catch balls! I don't see this offense struggling too much. They have great weapons for their young QB to thrive with. Rumor is they may not be done yet either, as there are still some big name WR's out on the market still. These names include:
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BigTexas18

Hall of Famer
Position Breakdown OL
This will be the final segment of Position Breakdown for the offense. The Hogmollies. Let's take a look at the group that will lead the way for this explosive running game!

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LT Joe Thomas 6'6 312
9th Year Wisconsin
Thomas possesses a thick upper body with broad shoulders, adequate muscle development, good arm length and strong hands. Shows very good in-line body control and agility. Takes good angles to cut off at the second level. Plays on his feet and is an aggressive finisher. Very effective when used on long pulls due to his speed and hip snap. Uses hands to his advantage. Has very good technique. Very consistent. Regarded as one of the best offensive lineman in the league. 8 straight Pro Bowls from 2007-2014. Ranked in the top 100 NFL Players list 5 straight years from 2011-2015, with his highest ranking being #18 in 2014. You'd be hard pressed to find a better overall lineman.

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LG Joel Bitonio 6'4 305
2nd Year Nevada
Twitter: @JoelBitonio
Bitonio seeks to bury defenders. Nasty finisher who runs his feet on contact. Extremely tough and durable. Can play any position on the line. True born leader. Displays the tenacity, leg drive and mean streak that is highly coveted by OL coaches. Tons of potential.

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C Alex Mack 6'4 311
7th Year California
Twitter: @alexmack55
Tall, athletic center with large biceps and a solid lower body build. Puts in full effort on every play, often getting downfield for a second or third block. Keeps his legs moving once making contact with his target, often putting his man on the ground in the process. Creates huge holes. Another true born leader. 2 Time Pro Bowl (2010, 2013).

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RG John Greco 6'4 318
8th Year Toldeo
Twitter: @johng7779
Greco has a thick frame. Uses his size and lower-body strength to get movement off the snap. Great lower-body strength to get leverage and widen the run lanes. Has a punishing hand punch that will generally knock the defender off-balance. Plants his foot in the ground and moves his feet well to get a strong push off the snap. Patient waiting for linebackers to target. Takes good angles. Good working down the line of scrimmage. Very versatile, can play any position on the line. Greco filled in for Mack when Mack broke his leg. There aren't any highlights for Greco, so here is him being interviewed on filling in at C.

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RT Mitchell Schwartz 6'5 320
4th Year California
The 2nd Browns lineman from Cal, Schwartz plays with good technique. Schwartz is effective in his pass set. He is a heavy player who takes good angles to blocks and rarely falls off them. Deceptive speed. Can get upfield quickly for the 2nd level blocks.

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RG/C Cameron Erving 6'5 313
Rookie Florida St.
Twitter: @BigErv_79
Keeps busy and works to secure blocks in run game. Good foot quickness into pass set. Consistently in good position and has good hands. Uses quickness to attack defender. Can get to second level and make cut-off blocks. Has athleticism to pull. Has potential to develop into a star lineman in the near future.
Cleveland has a very strong, very big, and very athletic offensive line, and they are here to stay. Everybody has multi year deals except C Alex Mack, and RT Mitchell Schwartz. Schwartz is in his final year, and it is unclear if the Browns are going to give him another contract. This will be a big year for him. Alex signed a 5 year $42M contract, but is able to opt out after the 2015 season. Sources are unsure whether or not he will do that at this moment. Cameron Erving was drafted as insurance in case that happens.

Right now it is not foreseen if Rookie Erving will start week 1 or if Greco will return as the starter. Competition in camp is hot right now, and only time will tell. They both are showing strong will and desire to be the starter! While, this isn't the best OLine in the league, it cracks into the top 15. With them all signed to multi year's too, it will be good for years to come! They are going to make room for these backs to thrive, and give Johnny enough time and space to move and excel.

That wraps it up for the offense. A Strong offense coming at you this year, and the defense is even better! We will get into the next! Until next time Browns Nation!

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