The Official 2009 NFL Scouting Combine Thread

[Icness]

Icness, any chance you could gleam some light on what's going in Cleveland (DA, Sean Jones, draft prospects they like, FA prospects they like, anything else)?


Thanks

Normally Icness gives us quite a bit of Browns related info this time of year. I wonder if the new regime is really putting a strangle hold on any type of info getting out.. I sure would love to hear what is going on though....

Enough bait for you yet Icness?

They fired both the front ofice people I knew well, so my best sources are gone. They whacked almost their entire org chart, from coaches to scouts to secretaries and trainers. I know George Kokinis (great hire BTW) a little but not enough where he would take my texts or return my emails. I do still know a few people around Berea and in the local media but they're not getting much info themselves.

At #5, they really want to move back 2-3 spots and still get Orakpo or Everette Brown and add another later pick. They very much want a pass rushing OLB that won't get them killed against the run. Expect at least 2 LBs, a CB, and a WR in the draft, though they won't pass on a LDE either if the value is right in their minds. I know they have talked to Mike Furrey and Devery Henderson at WR but I wouldn't count on either guy. Igor Olshansky has made a visit and they had Mike Wright scheduled for today. They made an offer to Frank Omiyale but the Bears basically tripled it so he went there.

[bill curley II]

Russ Lande of Sporting News with an interesting mock draft to say the least:

1. Detroit Lions
Everette Brown, DE, Florida State

2. St. Louis Rams
Jason Smith, OT, Baylor

3. Kansas City Chiefs
B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

4. Seattle Seahawks
Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest

5. Cleveland Browns
Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia

6. Cincinnati Bengals
Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

7. Oakland Raiders
Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

8. Jacksonville Jaguars
Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

9. Green Bay Packers
Larry English, DE, Northern Illinois

10. San Francisco 49ers
Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

Is there any sort of credibility into what he's saying? Brown at 1? Stafford to Cleveland? English at 9? Orakpo out of the top 10? Seems pretty out there.

[ReasonablySober]

I would love to read his explanations.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

The Sporting News exists in some bizarro world from reality. That's the only explanation I can come up with for any of their content.

[bill curley II]

Here's the link. He does put explanations, pretty much what's going on inside his head rather than anything substantial.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=524264

My favorite is:

Why Stafford to the Browns? Cleveland has quarterbacks Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, but as long neither stands out to coach Eric Mangini, the team really has none. Mangini can attach himself to the franchise of QB of his choosing.

[B Mac]

Icness, any chance you could gleam some light on what's going in Cleveland (DA, Sean Jones, draft prospects they like, FA prospects they like, anything else)?


Thanks

Normally Icness gives us quite a bit of Browns related info this time of year. I wonder if the new regime is really putting a strangle hold on any type of info getting out.. I sure would love to hear what is going on though....

Enough bait for you yet Icness?

They fired both the front ofice people I knew well, so my best sources are gone. They whacked almost their entire org chart, from coaches to scouts to secretaries and trainers. I know George Kokinis (great hire BTW) a little but not enough where he would take my texts or return my emails. I do still know a few people around Berea and in the local media but they're not getting much info themselves.

At #5, they really want to move back 2-3 spots and still get Orakpo or Everette Brown and add another later pick. They very much want a pass rushing OLB that won't get them killed against the run. Expect at least 2 LBs, a CB, and a WR in the draft, though they won't pass on a LDE either if the value is right in their minds. I know they have talked to Mike Furrey and Devery Henderson at WR but I wouldn't count on either guy. Igor Olshansky has made a visit and they had Mike Wright scheduled for today. They made an offer to Frank Omiyale but the Bears basically tripled it so he went there.

Thats kind of what I figured happened, too bad for us, but probably better for the team. Thanks for the info, though.

[Icness]

Russ Lande is an odd duck. He's almost always better than Kiper or McShay or Mayock in his player evaluations and ratings--especially how a player will transition to the NFL. But his mock drafts are laughably bizarre.

I know I come up with some strange explanations or rationales, but not on every single pick...

BTW my latest is now up on the main page

[studcrackers]

icness, if the cowboys were to land michael johnson is he an end or an olb in the 3-4? also if we got ron brace could he play the nose tackle in the 3-4 and make plays immediately or will he take time and have to be brought on slowly

[Icness]

icness, if the cowboys were to land michael johnson is he an end or an olb in the 3-4? also if we got ron brace could he play the nose tackle in the 3-4 and make plays immediately or will he take time and have to be brought on slowly

Johnson would play OLB, more specifically LOLB in obvious passing downs opposite Ware, who would stay on the right fulltime instead of flopping so much.

Brace is what he is--a fireplug in the middle who won't make more than 25 tackles in a year but he's just threatening enough to occupy two blockers every single snap. The two snaps every drive he's in condition to play, that is. Think Grady Jackson but not as massive or fiery.

[swede]

Today was Oregon State's Pro Day.. wondering if you heard anything about Slade Norris, Al Afalava, Sammie Stroughter, Victor Strong-Butler, Brandon Hughes & Keenan Lewis.