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Coach’s Point of View: Strong Depth Charts
As always the NFL
is doing its best this off-season keeping the league in the news. The media
circus around the league never ends, as we go from Super Bowl to combine to
free agency to draft day to OTAs. And now as you are reading this we are at
training camp. The sun never sets on the hype machine known as the NFL.
There are several
websites on the Internet that pop up when you Google Browns depth chart. And
when they come up its nice and neat, showing each position and who is the
starter, the backup, and the third stringer. But in truth, things are never
that simple. On most football teams the depth chart runs horizontal as much as
vertical, especially in the NFL.o
NFL teams are
quite different than college teams, or even teams from big high schools. The
NFL has a 53-man roster; colleges often have over a 100 players on their
roster. A large high school might have 200 boys involved in football. The
Browns roster size is comparable to that of a medium to small size high school.
So it is important that all 53 players are quality players and contribute to
the team’s success.
At several times
during my high school coaching days I coached teams from small schools,
sometimes only 24-30 boys on the team. Talk about depth chart problems. The
backup quarterback was also the starting wide receiver, and running backs often
played defensive line. I also coached at a college that at times had two
hundred players on the team. One
year I was the running backs coach and I had close to thirty players at the
position. Try to keep that many players on the depth chart happy.
On the NFL level
you want a depth chart that moves horizontally as well as vertically. What I
mean is the best teams have a strong group of guys who can interchange at most
positions, where there is not a big drop off from the guys who start the game
to those who come off the bench. Teams need guards that also can back up the
center; tight ends that can also be fullbacks; linebackers that can get down in
a three point stance and play defensive ends; and cornerbacks that can also
play safety and vica versa.
Coaches are always
thinking about their depth charts. It is never as clean and simple as a list of
names that you see on the Internet.
For example, if a center goes down often the backup is a guard.
Lets look at the
current Browns depth chart going into summer practices. If you listen to the
media you would think the only position to talk about is quarterback. However,
let’s see how the rest of the team looks first. I feel a lot better about the
talent and depth of the team than I did six months ago. Much has been done to improve
the roster since the last regular season game.
The strength of
the Browns is their defensive line, where they have a strong group of players
who rotate in and out throughout games. Ahtyba Rubin, Phil Taylor, John Hughes,
and Billy Wynn are all interchangeable parts. Desmond Bryant was a nice pickup from Oakland where he was a
solid player.
The Browns
defensive line is a good example of depth that can go both vertically or
horizontal on the depth chart. Rubin, Taylor, Hughes, and Wynn can all play
both nose and end in a 3-4 look, and when the Browns give a four-man front look
they can all handle those positions too.
The rest of the
defense is not as deep or talented, but has upgraded since last season. Inside
linebacker is lead by the recently signed Karlos Dansby and much maligned last
year Craig Robertson, backed up by second round draft pick Chris Kirksey from
Iowa. Hopefully one more quality player will arise in training camp. Outside
linebacker has a bit more quality to it, lead by Paul Kruger, Jabaal Sheard,
and Barkevious Mingo. It will be interesting to see what type of shape Mingo
comes to camp in, has he gained any upper body strength to go with his
tremendous quickness? I was surprised the team let Quentin Groves go. With the
Browns planning to have an attacking defense the guys at linebacker are going
to be expected to play inside and out, and on both sides of the defense. There
might be some surprises at linebacker when the final roster is posted in
September.
The depth chart at
defensive back is filled with players who have played a lot over the last
several years, but with only two really proven top-level players. Cornerback
Joe Haden and recently acquired Donte Whitner are both as good as it gets, but
they are surrounded by a group of guys who need to improve for the team to finally
reach the playoffs. We know the names, including Tashaun Gipson, Leon McFadden,
Buster Skrine, we need these guys to get better. Skrine especially has been
praised this off season, and we will have to wait and see how long it will take
first round draft pick Justin Gilbert to get up to speed on the pro game. The
defensive backfield could really be something if Gilbert is ready and Skrine
has gone to the next level, we will have to wait and see.
I use to think
about the offensive line much like I look at the defensive line, but things
have changed and there is some uncertainty. Joe Thomas is solid at left tackle,
and the team resolved the Alex Mack situation and made sure he is staying with
the team. Guard started last year as solid position with three starters
returning, but since then Shawn Lauvao has left via free agency and Jason
Pinkston keeps having health problems. Only John Greco can be counted on at
this time. At right tackle Mitchell Schwartz is coming off a disappointing
sophomore season and who knows who will be playing that position on Opening
Day. I can’t wait to see second round draft pick Joel Bitonio play live. I have
heard nothing but great things about him on the coaching grapevine. He could
turn into the best pick of what looks like a very good draft.
Many fans were disappointed
when the Browns did not pick a wide receiver in the draft. However, they have
spent some of their cap money wisely picking up some solid veterans including Andrew
Hawkins and miles Austin. The Josh Gordon soap opera keeps rolling along, but
he is as good as it gets when he is eligible. Travis Benjamin will hopefully
bounce back from his knee injury. Greg Little is gone, and maybe he needs a
fresh start some place else.
Running back
definitely has to be upgraded. Signing free agent Ben Tate was definitely a
good start, and I love the drafting of Terrance West. Don’t buy the fact he
went to a small school. He played for a Towson that is at the top end of the
FCS division, a team that has sent several guys to the NFL, and from a league
whose alumni include Joe Flacco. Its not the Big Ten but they play pretty good
football in the Colonial league.
A position that
has to be upgraded is tight end. Jordan Cameron is turning into a top-level
player, but in today’s NFL offenses you need two or three quality players at
the position. Between now and the end of training camp I think they will bring
in a bunch of guys to get a group of three or four to complement Cameron. This
is a position where the depth chart definitely has to go both ways. Cameron is
athletic enough to also play outside, but the team also needs tight ends that
can also play a little fullback and also block like a tackle on the goal line.
Punter Spencer
Lanning, place kicker Billy Cundiff, and long snapper Christian Yount all seem
to be returning, which is good. Why mess with something that isn’t broke?
Hopefully Benjamin will be back to 100% and be the top kick returner again.
O.K., let’s talk
about quarterback. If you follow both the national and local media you would
think it is the only position on the Browns. Were you like me and turning off
the local talk radio shows because you just couldn’t listen to any more about
Johnny Menziel? I’m going to keep
this short, I’m worried about Brian Hoyer’s knee and his ability to throw the
long ball. I hope Menziel has watched films of what has happened to RGIII the
last two seasons. And I think the one guy who hasn’t been mentioned at all who
I think is going to be a pretty good pro is Connor Shaw, the free agent from
South Carolina. I like his arm and his leadership qualities, and he played in a
pro offense under Steve Spurrier for the Gamecocks. I’m not sure if it is going
to be for the Browns, but one day he’s going to get a legitimate shot in the
NFL and he is going to be fine.
NFL teams need depth
charts that not only go vertical but sideways also, where quality players play
alongside or back up other quality players. Because of their salary cap
position and abundance of draft picks, the Browns have had a chance to really
upgrade their depth charts on both sides of the ball this past off-season.
Let’s hope they did the right things.
But if the preseason was going to
finally end, at least it ended on a mostly upbeat moment as the Browns handled
the Bears 33-13 at First Energy Stadium Thursday night. It was a beautiful
night, no one of note got hurt, and some fresh faces made a statement or two
that they belong on the team. And some questions we were hoping to be answered
weren’t quite resolved. In no particular order…
