Dawgpoundsouth

Training camp in West Virginia is complete and the team will be headed back to Berea later today. So why not do an early final 53-man roster, right? Here goes.

Quarterback (3). Watson*, Dobbs*, Thompson Robinson*.

Running Back (3). Chubb*, Ford*, Felton/free agent.

Wide Receiver (6). Cooper*, Peoples-Jones*, Moore*, Bell*, Tillman*, Goodwin.

Tight End. (3). Njoku*, Bryant*, Akins*.

Offensive Tackle. (4). Conklin*, Wills*, Hudson*, Jones*.

Offensive Guard (4). Bitonio*, Teller*, Dunn, Forbes.

Center (2). Pocic*, Wypler*

Defensive Tackle (4). Tomlinson*, Elliott*, Ika*, Free agent.

Defensive End (5). Garrett*, Smith*, Okoronkwo*, Wright*, McGuire*.

Linebacker (6). Walker*, Takitaki*, JOK*, Adams*, Kunaszyk*, Fields.

Cornerback (6). Ward*, Emerson*, Newsome*, Green*, Ford*, Mitchell.

Safety (4). Thornhill*, Delpit*, McLeod*, Bell.

Special Teams (3). York*, Hughlett*, Bojorquez*.

The (*) denotes a roster lock either due to salary structure, 2023 draft pick or starter from last year. I’ve got 25 on offense, 25 one defense and three specialists. On some of the position groups, I’m basing the number of players on what was done in previous years. For example, the last two years the Browns have kept ten offensive linemen, three tight ends, five defensive ends, four defensive tackles and six linebackers. This year, the offense will carry three quarterbacks, three running backs and six wide receivers. At quarterback, Dorian Thompson-Robinson must make the final 53, because he won’t clear waivers and make it to the practice squad. The last two years the Browns have carried two quarterbacks, five running backs/fullbacks and five wide receivers. Not this year.

On defense, the only difference is previous years is the secondary. The last two years the Browns have carried five cornerbacks and five safeties. This year it’s six and four because the wealth of talent at the cornerback position and number three safety Rodney McLeod is extremely versatile. He can play free safety, strong safety and slot corner.

Now we head to a game week for the first time in 2023. The starters will mostly be backups and young players, as it should be this early in the preseason. Tomorrow, look for my podcast, The Cleveland Browns Dawg Pound South Podcast, part of the http://@ELfzNetwork as I give my analysis of the trip to West Virginia. Stay safe and Go Browns.

It’s been six weeks since my last Browns blog and I’ve been busy. As most of you know I’m now a contributor to the Fanatical Elfz Network podcasts, (http://@ElfzNetwork) and have started my own podcast through the network called “The Dawg Pound South Podcast.” Catchy name, right? I’m still writing articles for https://clesportstalk.com/ once a week but missed expressing my opinion through my blog. So for better or worse, here’s goes.

Today the team flies to West Virginia and has a walk thorough at 3:45pm EST. Coach Stefanski and selected players will be available afterword’s to meet the media. Plan your social media time appropriately. I really like this out-of-town trip not only for team unity, but also to limit distractions. And speaking of distractions, raise your hand if you actually thought DT Perrion Winfrey was going to make this team. I’ve done three early final 53-man rosters so far and in each one, he didn’t make the team. I at least thought he would make it through the West Virginia trip. I hope the young man gets the help he needs. I also hope in the future, Browns GM Andrew Berry stays away from drafting anymore players from Oklahoma.

The first injury reports were announced yesterday. On the non-football injury list were, G Colby Gossett, WR Anthony Schwartz and WR Mike Woods. On the non-football illness list was WR Marquise Goodwin with blood clots in his legs and lungs. Goodwin was going to be a key contributor in the passing game, but blood clots are extremely serious, especially for someone his age. He plans on staying with the team as he works at getting better, but due to the seriousness, I really can’t see him playing in 2023. This opens a roster spot for either Jaelon Darden or Jakeem Grant. My money is on Grant, he’s a pro bowl caliber punt returner. The good news neither Anthony Walker nor Sione Takitaki appeared on the injured list. We’ll know sometime today if they are healthy enough for training camp. Both would make a big difference in the linebacker room.

Today a couple of players announced jersey number changes. CB Greg Newsome will now wear number “0” and LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah will change to his college number “6.” Plan your jersey purchases accordingly. With the departure of Winfrey, I think it would be in the best interest of the Browns to sign another veteran defensive tackle. Names to watch, Matt Ioannidis, Chris Wormley, Linval Joseph and Akiem Hicks. Ndamukong Suh would be great, but he’s not signing with a team until later in the season. He doesn’t need training camp and would want to pick the best opportunity to win a ring. The only other position I can see that needs attention is the running back position. I’m not comfortable with Jerome Ford and Demetric Felton as Nick Chubb’s backups. The Browns need a veteran running back who can take over when Chubb needs a rest. Ezekiel Elliott and Kareem Hunt make the most sense, but both would have take a reduced role and reduced price. We’ll have to wait and see.

That’s it for this week. I’ll be back on my usual schedule of posting a weekly blog and will have my podcast broadcast on Mondays. Stay safe and Go Browns.

Mandatory OTA’s start today and I’m here for it. More access to the local media means more pictures and video on social media. It also means more player and coaches interviews. The complete defensive line will be at practice for the first time this year. Again, I’m here for all the videos. This will be the last time the team is together until July 22, when the team heads to West Virginia for the start of training camp. No media will be allowed there. Enjoy the next three days of OTA porn.

After watching the images from the voluntary OTA’s, it appears quarterback Deshaun Watson is throwing the ball very well, but right now it’s against air. New defensive end Za’Darius Smith is a very, very big man. He and Ogbo Okoronkwo will allow new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz to give Myles Garrett needed rest during games to keep him fresh later in games. Wide receivers Marquise Goodwin and Elijah Moore look like they’re ready to go and on the same wavelength as Watson.

Speaking of wide receivers, Deandre Hopkins is still unsigned which is no surprise. If the reports are true, he wants OBJ money, he’ll stay unsigned for a while. All the teams who are interested, don’t have the salary cap space right now. Could the Browns sign him? Sure, if they want to. According to https://overthecap.com/salary-cap-space the Browns currently have $14.8 million in cap space. The longer he goes unsigned, the better the probability the Browns could sign him. It would be an incentive loaded one year deal. Personally, I think he’s a luxury for this team. Browns GM Andrew Berry usually keeps six wide receivers on the final roster, right now there’s no room.

Finally, there was a rash of Browns players getting robbed over the weekend. Two are known, Greg Newsome and Demetric Felton and a third player is unknown. Felton had his car stolen and Newsome was car jacked at gun point. This is very concerning, especially with team events ending after the mandatory OTA’s. Hopefully, the Browns head of security will have a conversation with the team about knowing their surroundings and keeping their heads on a swivel. Sounds like the players are being targeted. Here’s hoping the players will be smart prior to the start of training camp. Stay safe and Go Browns.

To say this has been a good off-season by Browns GM Andrew Berry is an understatement. He’s been bold and aggressive. If you don’t think the Browns are “all in” you’re not paying attention. The latest trade for three-time Pro Bowler Za’Darius Smith proves that. Smith provides the veteran player opposite of Myles Garrett this team needed. Yes, he’s 31 years old coming off a knee injury, but he’s on a one-year contract playing for a paycheck next year. Smith also allows defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz to rest Garrett during games while not weakening the defense. It was announced today that the Browns redid Smith’s contract. The Vikings will pick up $1.177 million in the form of a signing bonus. Smith’s cap hit for the Browns is $3.032 million. His contract is worth $13 million, so I would think there’s a signing bonus of over $9 million and three or four voidable years. The details will probably be out later this week.

So what do the Browns need next? I would say a running back and a veteran defensive tackle. As for the tackle, no one knows how Schwartz feels about the players on the current roster like Tommy Togiai, Jordan Elliott or Perion Winfrey. If’s he’s good with them, then so am I. As for running back, a social media account I’ve never heard of floated the notion that Ezekiel Elliott is down to two teams to choose from, the Browns and the Chargers. If he’s willing to be the RB2 and is cheap, why the hell not. I will note he’s declined in production every year since 2019. It was also announced the Browns signed cornerback Chris Westry. He’s a big corner who plays his best on special teams and probably headed for the practice squad when the season starts.

After last year I promised myself, I wouldn’t get too excited about the off-season. But of the three years prior, Andrew Berry has never been this aggressive. He continues to try to add talent and has still done a brilliant job at maintaining the salary cap. I know the season opener against the Bengals is a long way off, I’ll continue to curb my enthusiasm, but you have to admit this off season has been pretty, pretty good. Stay safe and Go Browns.

Thursday night Browns fans find out where and when the team is playing. The who is already known. Home opponents are Baltimore Cincinnati, Pittsburg, Arizona, Chicago, Jacksonville, New York Jets, San Fransico and Tennessee. The road opponents are Baltimore, Cincinnati, Pittsburg, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle. Already known is the Browns won’t play in England or Germany. Wait till next year, because they will then. So what are my thoughts, pre-release?

The first game will tell me one of two things, if the NFL is still going to punish the Browns for signing Deshaun Watson or they’re back to just caring about ratings and money. If they’re still in punishment mode, it’ll be an away game in Houston. If it’s ratings and money, they’ll open at home against the Jaguars. Watson Vs. Lawrence, or at Denver, Watson Vs. Wilson, both are money makers. My bet is ratings and money, the NFL is all about the Benjamins. I’m hoping if it’s an away game it will be at Indianapolis and if it’s a home game be against Arizona or Tennessee.

One game I am very certain of is week three, the Browns hosting the New York Jets on Monday Night Football. That week is the 53rd anniversary of the first Monday Night game. The NFL will promote the crap out of that one and it’s Watson Vs. Rogers. Again, money maker. The Browns have three west coast trips. Hopefully they either space them out, one a month or like head coach Kevin Stefanski wants, have the Seattle and the Los Angeles games in back-to-back weeks. Then the team can just stay on the west coast between games. I think the Bengals and Browns will be a Thursday night game, always a big ratings game. This might be the first year a Browns game is flexed.

Hopefully the bye week will be somewhere in between week seven and week ten. That would be ideal. The league will stack divisional games at the end of the season. Probably ending the season at Pittsburg, because that’s what they always like to do. Maybe the NFL will change it up and have the Browns play at Baltimore.

Overall, it’s a good schedule, but I’ll wait to see the full schedule to make judgements. Thursday night, I’ll be live on The Fanatical Elfz Network, http://@ElfzNetwork, starting around 6:30 pm (CST), with my fellow Fanatics as we watch & react to the schedule as it happens live starting at 7:00 pm (CST). Please tune in and enjoy. Stay safe and Go Browns.

Happy NFL draft week for those who celebrate. Now begins the complete nonsense of leaks about players falling or rising on team’s draft boards. Some are from teams hoping a player will fall to them, some are from agents hoping a team will get desperate and trade up for their clients. I can’t think of any rational person who thinks Will Levis or Anthony Richardson is a better quarterback then C.J. Stroud. I’ve seen all three play and Stroud is much better then the other two. I know why teams like Bryce Young. He’s said to have the “it” factor, but so did Baker Mayfield coming out of college.

As for the Browns, their first pick isn’t until the eleventh pick in the third round. Doing mock drafts for the Browns is not easy this year, but if certain positions are drafted with pick 74 and 98, then it will tell me certain players might need to get their resumes updated. If a defensive tackle is taken with pick 74, the Browns might be tired of Perrion Winfrey’s act. I’ve said in previous blogs the Browns could roll out a 53-man roster without drafting a single player. Of course, they’re going to draft players, to help with depth and future starters. Right now, they could add rookies to the running back room, the defensive line room, the wide receiver’s room and linebacker’s room.

A lot has been made of the fact that Browns GM Andrew Berry hasn’t drafted pro-bowl players. I don’t care about that; all I care about is wins. I could care less if CB Martin Everson makes the Pro Bowl and takes part in the balloon toss. Speaking of Everson, he was a great third round pick that no one saw coming, and I mean no one. He was targeted 89 times, never gave up 81 yards in a game and never gave up over 23 yards in YAC. Thanks to @tha_buffalo for those stats.

I’ve also said in previous blogs, that Berry would trade for future picks, both in 2024 & 2025. I’m not sure he’ll only draft five players. He might draft eight players and still get future picks. I’m very intrigued with picks 140 & 142. Could Berry just sit there and pick up two players the team desires or trade one of those picks to move up slightly or down slightly. As for next year, the Browns have seven picks in 2024.

Some players I like: WR, Marvin Mims, WR Tyler Scott, RB Tyjae Spears, RB Tank Bisby, RB Zach Evans, TE Brenton Strange, TE Davis Allem, DE Derick Hall, DE Isaiah McGuire, DT Karl Brooks, DT Moro Ojomo, LB Dorian Williams, LB Ivan Pace, CB Kei’Trel Clark, CB Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, S Rashad Torrence and S Brandon Hill.

During the draft on Friday and Saturday, I’ll be joining my fellow team mates on The Fanatical Elfz Network. Enjoy the draft, stay safe and Go Browns.

As I said in previous blogs, Browns GM Andrew Berry will not use all eight picks the team has in the 2023 NFL draft. He might use picks to move around in this year’s draft, but more than likely he’ll use them to acquire future draft picks. Because the Browns addressed various needs in free agency, I’m of the opinion the most likely positions that will be draft are, running back, wide receiver, tight end, edge, linebacker, safety and offensive tackle. So what players should you be watching for?

Day Two (picks 74 & 98). Running backs: Duce Vaughn, Kansas State, Roschon Johnson, Texas, Tyjae Spears, Tulane.

Day three picks (111, 126, 140, 142, 190 & 229). Running backs: Zach Evans Ole Miss, Chase Brown, Illinois, Kenny McIntosh, Georgia, Keaton Mitchell, East Carolina.

Day Two. Wide Receivers: Josh Downs, North Carolina, Tyler Scott Cincinnati, Marvina Mims, Oklahoma, Nathaniel Dell, Houston.

Day Three. Wide Receivers: Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss, Jaylen Reed, Michigan State, Trey Palmer, Nebraska, Parker Washington, Penn State.

Day Two. Tight Ends: Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan.

Day Three. Tight Ends: Zach Kuntz, Old Dominion, Camerom Lata, Alabama, Brenton Strange, Penn State.

Day Two. Edge: Derick Hall Auburn, Andre Carter, Army, Zach Harrison, Ohio State, Byron Young, Tennessee.

Day Three. Edge: YaYa Diaby, Louisville, K.J. Henry Clemson, Brenton Cox, Florida.

Day Two. Linebackers: Henry To’oto’o, Alabama, Noah Sewell, Oregon, Jack Campbell, Iowa.

Day Three. Linebackers: Nick Herbig, Wisconsin, Owen Pappoe, Auburn, Yasir Abdullah, Louisville, Cam Jones, Indiana.

Day Two. Safety: Sidney Brown, Illinois, James Robinson, Florida State, Chris Smith, Georgia.

Day Three. Safety: Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame, Ronnie Harrisson Ohio State, Jarvis Martin, Illinois.

Day Two. Offensive Tackle: Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse, Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland.

Day Three. Offensive Tackles: Nick Suldiver, Old Dominion, Ryan Hayes, Michigan, Jaxson Kirkland, Washington, Warren McClendon, Georgia.

The most likely positions for day two are wide receiver, safety and edge. The rest would be more likely on day three, with tight end and offensive tackle late on day three. Remember it’s all about the value. Stay safe and Go Browns.