NFL - Sports Rumors - Cleveland Browns
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Tuesday, May 13, 2008 8:10 am EDT
Browns looking for fundamental improvement on offense
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In the first year of offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski's system, the Cleveland Browns jumped from 31st in total offense to eighth. Their 402 points were the third-most in franchise history. Last year's Browns outscored the best season of the Brian Sipe-era Browns by 43 points. In the past 30 years, only the 1987 Browns of the Bernie Kosar era were more prolific. That team would have scored 434 points over 16 games if not for four games interrupted by the players strike.
So what do these Browns do for an encore? Chudzinski sees a lot of room for improvement. The 2008 season unofficially kicks off Tuesday with the start of 12 organized team activities (OTAs).
Starting games quicker and finishing the long season better are two obvious goals as the OTAs begin. Chudzinski thinks familiarity with the system will breed better starts to games. The dropoff in production last year in the final month, he believes, had something to do with inclement weather but also with a dropoff in basic techniques caused by fatigue. Chudzinski believes a breakdown in fundamentals hurt the offense in the running and passing games. He wants the offense to be more physical in the running game and better at gaining yards after a catch.
Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
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Monday, Apr 28, 2008 3:04 pm EDT
Brown's TE Rucker following another Winslow
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New Cleveland Browns tight end Martin Rucker always seems to be following in the footsteps of a Winslow. Rucker, whom the Browns selected in the fourth round on Sunday after trading next year's third-round pick, played in the shadows of NFL Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow Sr. at the University of Missouri, Winslow's alma mater.
"His name was definitely mentioned a lot when I started breaking his records and things like that,"' said Rucker, 6-5, 251. "It's funny because he's in the Missouri Hall of Fame and I've never seen him in person."
Now, Rucker, a pass-catching tight end, has the unenviable task of trying to live up to Kellen Winslow Jr., who's coming off a Pro Bowl season for the Browns. General Manager Phil Savage said he envisions Winslow and Rucker streaking down the field together. But Rucker is probably also viewed as an heir apparent, especially with Winslow coming off his fourth knee surgery.
"I'm definitely up to that challenge," said Rucker, the younger brother of recently retired Panthers defensive end Mike Rucker. "I'm not intimidated. I know he's a good tight end. He's very athletic, fast, definitely a tight end that's tough to cover and he's a tough guy as well. But that's why I was in the NFL draft -- to play in the NFL.
Source: Plain Dealer
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Monday, Apr 21, 2008 2:12 pm EDT
Browns searching draft for next 'tweener'
Since January, the Cleveland Browns' scouting department has been on a mission to find the next Adalius Thomas or Shaun Phillips. Or, if the Browns wanted to dream about getting back into the third round of the draft, the next Mike Vrabel or Joey Porter. Among the NFL's top pass rushers, all four were college defensive linemen who made the transition to linebacker in the pros. All came into the league in the third round or later.
Thomas of the Baltimore Ravens (a Southern Mississippi product) was a sixth-round pick of the Ravens in 2000. Phillips (out of Purdue) was a fourth-round choice in 2004 of the San Diego Chargers. Vrabel (from Ohio State and Walsh Jesuit) of the New England Patriots was a third-round choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1997. Porter of the Miami Dolphins (out of Colorado State) went to the Steelers in the same round in 1999.
Going into the NFL Draft this weekend, the Browns don't have a pick until the 23rd choice in the fourth round, 122nd overall. But they'll still search for an outside linebacker to pair opposite Kamerion Wimbley, the 13th overall pick in 2006 who played defensive end at Florida State.
Source: Akron Beacon Journal
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Sunday, Apr 20, 2008 7:15 am EDT
Browns insist they are on the right track
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The Cleveland Browns are without picks in the first three rounds of the NFL draft, all but ensuring that they won't be on the league's radar when the annual picking begins next Saturday.
No worries, says general manager Phil Savage. Savage realizes it will probably be the last time for a while that the Browns are relegated to back-burner status, a spot they've become familiar with since reentering the league in 1999. Times have changed in Cleveland, as evidenced by the Browns being selected for five prime-time games when the NFL released its 2008 schedule last week. The Browns as one of the league's top draws, along with clubs like the Patriots and Cowboys? Believe it.
"We went from zero Pro Bowlers to six and from zero prime-time games to five," said Savage, who is entering his fourth year as GM. "We're on the right track and doing a lot of positive things that hopefully will continue."
Source: Boston Globe
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