2015 just called to tell us that J.J. Watt is the steal of this draft. (Source: Madison.com)

For picks 1-5, go here.

For picks 6-10, go here.

11. Houston Texans — J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin: We get so many of these projections wrong. The “sure lock” winds up a flaming bust, and players we’re ignoring today — guys who won’t even be drafted — will light up the league. I believe we’ll look back on this 2011 NFL Draft five years from now and call J.J. Watt a top 5 pick. I loved his presence, intensity and motor at the combine. Wade Phillips‘ 3-4 defense is the perfect landing spot for Watt, and a good environment for this hard-working, self-made player. He worked himself onto Wisconsin’s roster, paying his own way at the start of his tenure — delivering Pizza Hut to save up dough. He’s no prima donna. He’s a coachable workhorse who did the requisite work at Wisconsin to make the switch from tight end to defensive lineman. Watt is the steal of this draft at No. 11. Sometime these midround picks are where you find the real gems — where less pressure is placed on the incoming player, as well. Houston and Watt are an excellent match.

12. Minnesota Vikings — Julio Jones, WR, Alabama: The Vikings have been vocal about finding a quarterback in this draft. I see a potential trade up — or down — to get their guy. There was a time when it appeared Minnesota at No. 12 could snag Auburn’s Cam Newton, but the hype machine’s in full swing and I project him to go no less than No. 1 to the Carolina Panthers. He’s the type of passer that’s going to require time to develop, coming from a spread, and Leslie Frazier would love the challenge. There are other possibilities at quarterback for the Vikings — and all of them are better than Brett Favre right now, who’s back on his farm tilling soil. It’s time for a new start in Minnesota. In this mock, with no trades — and Jake Locker a reach — I project the Vikings to jump on Jones, who had an excellent combine and would be a good-value selection here. Sidney Rice could bolt via free agency, so Jones addresses a potential need as well. We all saw what happened to Percy Harvin when Rice was out of the offense — they need a No. 1 guy in there to give the passing game a shot.

Picks 13-20 after the jump.

13. Detroit Lions — Tyron Smith, OT, USC: Detroit has to be concerned about Matthew Stafford‘s durability. They won’t say as much, but two seasons running, he’s been shotgunned out of the lineup with significant injuries. He’s a tough kid, that’s not the issue. We recall his gritty performance against the Cleveland Browns two seasons ago. If shoring up the line will keep Matt healthy, selecting the athletic Smith — who bulked up significantly for last month’s combine — is the move here at No. 13. The Lions also could look to Nate Solder or Anthony Castonzo — this is a good class for line prospects. The Lions showed signs of life in 2010. Jim Schwartz has begun turning this program around and keeping Stafford in one piece for a full season could land the Lions in the playoffs, or very close to it.

14. St. Louis Rams — Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri: I think the Rams would love to add a wideout like Julio Jones, but he’s gone in this mock. You exit the top 10, and there’s still a flock of quality DE/OLB prospects available — Ryan Kerrigan and Justin Houston come to mind. Cameron Jordan seems like a find for the Rams at this spot, but he’s done his best work at the left end position, typically Chris Long‘s haunt in the Rams’ D. Smith is an intriguing find. He’s a versatile, dispruptive defender, but he’s not projected as an immediate starter by most. He could really come on if a team like St. Louis can find a way to grow him. He could present problems for offenses as a hell-or-high-water edge passer for years to come.

I seem to remember another diminutive, "too-slow" #22 slipping past half the National Football League on draft day. (Source: mkrob.com)

15. Miami Dolphins — Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama: Miami’s tandem of Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown have been effective for the Dolphins — at times, sensational. Both are free agents, and that makes Ingram Jr. — son of the former New York Giants wideout with the same name (I feel old) — an ideal choice at this spot. …I don’t get it. Ingram’s attached to a subpar class of running backs, and it’s possibly diminished his stock. His 40 times are not ideal, but this is a tough, driven runner who’s been compared to Emmitt Smith for more than his stature. Take it to the bank: if the Dolphins make this pick, he’ll change their offense for a decade. Ingram enters the league at a time when teams are shifting away from the lone-back. This guy doesn’t need a committee. He’s going to leave his stamp on the National Football League. Mega-steal in the 15 slot.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars — Cameron Jordan, DE/DT, California: The Jaguars’ defense needs all sorts of help, and I strongly believe they’ll zone in on a cornerback (or two) in this draft (they finished 28th against the pass last season, and it likely cost them the playoffs). With Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara long gone, none of the remaining corners fit here at No. 16. Make no mistake, the Jaguars would be thrilled to land a player like Jordan. He’s a special pass rusher, one the Jaguars could insert immediately into their scheme. Unlike some of these first-rounders, Jordan did his time as a four-year starter, and his versatility to switch between tackle and end is a huge plus. People overlook the Jaguars, but this team knocked on the playoff door last season, and a good draft could help them finally topple the Colts.

17. New England Patriots (from Oakland) — Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB, Purdue: Kerrigan’s ability to wreak havoc off the edge is documented — he’s ideal in the Pats’ 3-4. We saw how New England’s inability to get to the quarterback ended their season against the New York Jets. Bill Belichick coached that D up in 2010, but adding Kerrigan to the mix, primarily as an outside backer, gives this team a Purdue product who will abide by the Patriot Way. New England — per usual — could wheel-and-deal this pick, but No. 17 is a good opportunity to get an impact player. I stopped doubting the Patriots about 10 years ago — they’ll do the right thing, they almost always do. Note: If Ingram were ever available at this spot, I love the idea of him paired with Tom Brady, but it’s a long shot he gets past Miami.

18. San Diego Chargers — Cameron Heyward, DE/DT, Ohio State: San Diego’s search to fill the spot opposite defensive end Luis Castillo could come to and end with Heyward. An elbow injury kept him out of OSU’s pro day, but he’s set to show off his skills later this month in a separate session. Cameron — the son of former New Orleans Saints bulldozing runner Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, a Tecmo Bowl legend– excels as a 5-technique and fills a missing puzzle piece for the Chargers. You wonder how many more years San Diego has to knock on the door, especially after a disappointing finish in 2010 (despite a statistically powerful season). There are other needs at this slot, but Heyward’s on the short list.

19. New York Giants — Nate Solder, OT, Colorado: The G-Men desperately need help along the offensive line. Nothing is more important than protecting Eli Manning. You have to wonder if Tom Coughlin‘s Boston College background could sway him toward OT Anthony Castonzo, but I believe Solder will be the pick. Solder’s dropped on some boards. He’s 6’9″ — he could block an automobile from hitting Eli — and he was a rock at Colorado, a guy who avoided injuries and flat-out got the job done. Check the video above to see what he did to a Denver Broncos scout  during CU’s pro day — he’ll do the same to some poor, lonely Washington Redskins defender come autumn.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa: Check out the suddenly dangerous Bucs. Last year at this time, we had no idea where this team was going. Now, coming off a 10-6 season, with Josh Freeman blossoming into a presence at quarterback, this team must be taken seriously. I love what Raheem Morris did with the young roster last season — he shrugged off a laundry list of late injuries, plugged players in, and kept chugging. The Bucs are in need of a defensive end to pair alongside Gerald McCoy. In such a deep draft for defensive linemen, they get an interesting prospect in Clayborn. Much has been made of his struggle with Erb’s Palsy, which causes intermittent paralysis of the upper arm — but Clayborn has played with it for years and it didn’t prevent him from having a sensational junior year at Iowa. He didn’t match that last season, but remains an intriguing prospect.

My mock draft will continue later this week with picks 21-32.

Pat Shurmur has his work cut out for him. (Source: Statesmen.com)

Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur faces the same tall task that left Chris Palmer, Butch Davis, Romeo Crennel and Eric Mangini in shreds: Winning an AFC North division inhabited by the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, two of football’s most consistently successful franchises.

Each new Browns regime shuffled out before a bewildered fanbase claims some deep understanding of the Pittsburgh and Baltimore rivalries, but nothing has changed. The Browns have been manhandled within the division since their return.

Baltimore is despised by Browns fans, but with Ozzie Newsome running the show, they’ve forged an identity built on bone-crushing defense and just enough offense to win. Pittsburgh — heading to its eighth Super Bowl and third since 2005 — is perhaps the most sound organization in the league, with just three coaches since 1969.

Cleveland’s had five since ’99 — and it shows.

The Steelers and Ravens have beat up on the AFC North with excellent drafts, a low level of in-house chaos and a self-belief that the Super Bowl is a realistic end goal every season. Baltimore, of course, strives to be what Pittsburgh is today, while the Browns appear endlessly stuck in neutral, still in search of an identity.

Peyton Hillis captured the imagination of Browns fans this season by blowing through defensive fronts — including Baltimore’s for 144 yards in September. Hillis was an instant hit. We all heard over and over that the bruising back embodied “Browns football.”

But what is “Browns football”?

In one sense, it harks back to Cleveland’s teams of yesteryear — dominating squads that more closely resembled today’s Baltimore and Pittsburgh outfits than anything the current Browns have put on the field.

It also references the type of ball a city like Cleveland would like to see — first: a winner; second: a team that punishes on both sides of the ball; third: hard-working, salt-of-the-earth players like Hillis who get what it means to represent the city.

Since 1999, however, “Browns football” has meant something very different.

Cleveland’s running attack has long resembled that of a football team operating on the ice planet Hoth. Minus two seasons, the Browns have never finished better than 20th in the NFL.

The passing game numbers are even more abysmal:

All of this is tied to bad drafts, talent-poor rosters, obsessive-compulsive regime changes, and the fact that four games a year come against Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

The Browns generated some excitement in 2010, but they also stalled frequently, especially down the stretch.

As much as Eric Mangini is to be credited for instilling discipline back into a team that was in shambles when he arrived, the final result — especially continued problems in the passing game — were all Holmgren needed to see to call for a change.

Browns fans don't want to see Peyton Hillis backburnered in next season's shift to the West Coast offense. (Source: AP)

Shurmur — like every coach before him — addressed the AFC North in his opening presser, but the division has never been tougher.

The Browns have a ways to go to compete.

What they must do to turn the ship around is no mystery, but each of the following to-dos have been elusive for this franchise. A team like Pittsburgh has checked all these boxes, and that’s why they’re in Dallas right now.

To succeed in the NFL, the Browns must…

10. Successfully negotiate a perilous offseason

When the collective bargaining agreement expires in March, if a new agreement hasn’t been reached, football as we know it will cease.

The slow pace of negotiations between the owners and the players’ union suggests that a work stoppage is almost unavoidable. For how long? We don’t know.

Tough year to be a rookie head coach. If there’s a strike, players cannot practice, rehab at team facilities or sign with new clubs. Outside of the draft in April, the Browns would have no way to gather new players and overhaul the roster as needed.

If a new CBA is reached, we aren’t sure what free agency will look like under the new deal. Without an agreement, there can be no player-for-draft-pick trades before or during the draft.

Shurmur will be challenged in forging relationships with existing players, and general manager Tom Heckert, who has acknowledged that the team needs to replace a flock of aging players, could have his hands tied.

While all teams face a similar struggle, those teams with long-standing coaching staffs and front offices are at a clear advantage. Moreover, the less-talented teams will be challenged to find ways to improve the roster.

There are a lot of unknowns here, but one positive for the Browns is that Holmgren, Shurmur and Heckert appear to be of one mind. They’ll need to be to navigate these rocky waters.

First question: Will there be on-field action in 2011? (Source: Time)

9. Nail the draft

The 2011 NFL Draft is set to take place regardless of the CBA drama.

This year’s draft represents one of the only guaranteed ways to add talent to the roster.

Heckert’s 2010 draft — hauling in Colt McCoy, Joe Haden and T.J. Ward (along with injured wild-card Montario Hardesty) — must be followed by another strong showing.

The Ravens and Steelers consistently reload the roster with home-grown talent.

We can sit here and debate endlessly on who the Browns will pursue and select. Doesn’t matter. Come draft day, only Heckert and friends make the picks that count.

The draft has never been more critical for the Browns.

8. Swap out aging veterans for talented youth

Before this season, the Browns were ranked as the 12th-oldest team in the NFL with a average age of 27.18 years.

That’s not fatal when your savvy veterans lead you to the playoffs year after year (for instance, the Steelers were the seventh-oldest team at 27.5 years).

Youth, on its own, solves nothing in the NFL, but failing to retool an aging (and losing roster) is an invitation for the floor to fall out.

Make no mistake about it, sweeping roster changes are ahead.

The team is flush with Mangini-era Jets. If the CBA situation allows any time for transactions and overhaul, most of these 30-something Mangenius disciples won’t be on the team come September.

Beyond age, new schemes on offense and defense will require players who fit the mold. Again, a genuine challenge for a team in transition.

7. If switching to the 4-3, move swiftly

The assumed switch to the 4-3 under defensive coordinator Dick Jauron presents immediate challenges for Cleveland.

The lack of talent along the defensive line makes switching away from the 3-4, which they’ve run since 2005, that much more difficult. While the Browns secondary won’t endure a total transition, the defensive linemen and linebackers on Cleveland’s roster were chosen for the 3-4. (Aside from last season’s inexplicable — and, for Rob Ryan and Mangini, foreboding — trade for Jayme Mitchell, a 4-3 defensive end who questioned why the Browns even brought him on board. The move is clearer now.)

Shaun Rogers has played in a 4-3, but many of the existing Browns have not. There’s been chatter about moving Matt Roth and/or Marcus Benard from linebacker to defensive end, but a position switch often requires a full season to take root — this isn’t high school football.

Last time the Browns switched from the 3-4 to the 4-3, Michael Dean Perry ensured a smooth transition. (Source: Cleveland.com)

The Browns switched from the 3-4 to 4-3 when Bud Carson took over for Marty Schottenheimer in 1989. They had a full offseason to finesse the move, and a roster loaded with defensive talent, headlined by defensive lineman Michael Dean Perry.

Perry wasn’t used enough during his rookie season under Schottenheimer, but his speed and explosiveness compelled Marty to experiment with four down lineman on nickel packages.

In 1989, Carson made Perry the centerpiece of his 4-3 — a transition helped by a pool of talented defensive linemen. That’s not the case with today’s team.

Cleveland’s current roster will have issues running the 4-3 in 2011. Aging defenders playing out of their natural position, in a new scheme, could be a recipe for disaster in the AFC North, where the Browns (again) are the only team with new coaches and a new philosophy on both sides of the ball.

On the bright side, it’s not as if the team’s scrapping a 3-4 defense that’s accomplished much. Heckert acknowledged this month that the team — 3-4 or 4-3 — will see massive personnel changes.

It’s an interesting (and perhaps dangerous) time to flip defensive philosophies, but the team hired Holmgren to mold the club in his image, and he’s leaned on the 4-3 for almost his entire career.

6. Commit To Colt McCoy and Don’t Look Back

Colt McCoy: Maybe one of the best quarterback names ever?

McCoy certainly had his moments during eight uneven starts. He threw for nearly 300 yards against the Steelers, knocked off the New Orleans Saints and dismantled the New England Patriots in his first three NFL games — naturally, Browns fans fell in love.

McCoy also looked very much like a rookie down the stretch.

Nearly 20 years have passed since Cleveland’s had a legitimate quarterback. Many of the team’s troubles can be traced to the absence of capable leader at the position, and you’re going nowhere in the AFC North without one. Joe Flacco has taken Baltimore to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons, and Big Ben — well, he’s right up there with Tom Brady when it comes to winning big games.

Unlike with Flacco and Roethlisberger, people question if McCoy has the arm strength to take a cold-weather team to the Super Bowl.

His height has been critiqued endlessly. And he looks 17 out there. But there’s no questioning his heart.

Sometimes, all the logical doubts don’t matter. Perhaps Colt isn’t the long-term answer at quarterback, but in the complete absence of another option, the Browns need to press into McCoy, hand him the reigns and go for it.

The addition of Mark Whipple has the potential to be a roaring positive. Whipple, of course, coached Big Ben during his few seasons in the league. Roethlisberger went 13-0 as a rookie and won a Super Bowl in his second season. The Whipple hire — along with Shurmur and Holmgren in the building — provide McCoy with an all-star cadre of teachers.

5. Surround McCoy With Legitimate Wideouts

The team lacks a receiver who opponents need to game plan for — or even consider.

Tight end Ben Watson led the team with 763 yards receiving and Hillis had 477. The Browns leading wide receiver, Mohamed Massaquoi had only 6 yards more than Hillis, with 483. The putrid receiver play only makes Hillis’ work on the ground (1,177 yards) that much more impressive.

Not to dismiss the wideouts entirely, because Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie are both growing into their roles, while Chansi Stuckey has the chance to be a serviceable possession receiver.

The problem is that none of these guys are better than a No. 2, if that. Mo Mass, if paired with a legitimate No. 1, could bloom (he had a few big games when Braylon Edwards was still with the team). Add a top-flight wideout and suddenly this young group of receivers isn’t half bad. Right now, they’re each playing one slot higher than where they naturally belong.

4. Embrace The WCO

Does a shift to the West Coast offense make sense in the brutal AFC North? Will a pass-first philosophy nullify Hillis and pull the team away from the hard-hitting style of football they played in 2010?

Shurmur and Holmgren have reiterated that the WCO doesn’t require shelving the running game (see: Shaun Alexander of the Seattle Seahawks). But, as Shurmur has stated, the offense will be “seen through the eyes of the quarterback.”

Shurmur and Whipple were hired to mentor McCoy and build an offense around the young quarterback — assuming he remains their guy. The Browns hired Holmgren to oversee football operations. It was just a matter of time before he implemented the system he knows and trusts — the one that’s helped him reach two Super Bowls and win 174 games in the NFL (including 13 in the postseason).

The organization is fully committed to the WCO and — frankly — to see the Browns on the same page about anything is a good indicator of things to come.

Second-year starter Colt McCoy is now surrounded by a flock of proven teachers. (Source: NFL.com)

3. No more two-year coaching stints

It’s a tough time to begin again, but Browns fans have no option but to ride this one out and see how Holmgren’s master plan unfolds.

This regime is not responsible for the trainwrecks of the past.

Those calling Mangini’s retention in 2010 a waste of a season are both right and wrong. It might not have been entirely fair to Mangini — if Holmgren was always planning to go in another direction. Had Mangini won 12 games, he’d still be here, but to ask him to do more than he did with this season’s injury-riddled roster was asking a lot.

Shurmur has a better chance of succeeding by inheriting what Mangini left versus what Crennell and Savage left Mangini.

The team is starting over again, but the extra year gave Holmgren a chance to overhaul the entire organization, allowing Shurmur to walk into a situation that should run like a well-oiled machine (relative, at least, to the chaos Cleveland’s endured since 1999).

The best thing for Cleveland football is a front office and coach that remain intact for a decade — with Randy Lerner sending boxes of cash from his Aston Villa owner’s box.

Let Holmgren run the football show while this guy dishes out the dead presidents. (Source: Mirrorfootball.co.uk)

2. Data Wipe The Past

Forget The Drive.

Erase memories of The Fumble.

Throw out all existing footage of Red Right 88.

And forgive Dwayne Rudd.

The terrible past must be put in a box and shipped out to sea.

The Browns will morph into a national sensation if they turn the ship around — New Orleans Saints times 1,000. A lot of that starts with clearing the memory bank and allowing this regime to operate without the weight of yesterday’s failures. The fans have every right to feel immense frustration from the events of the past 25 years, but it might help to keep in mind that McCoy, for instance, was 4 months old when The Drive went down.

1. Pray

That’s what it might take to win the AFC North next season — but stranger things have happened. In today’s NFL, every season is witness to young teams rising up unpredictably.

The Steelers and Ravens are two of football’s best, but every season is littered with variables.

The Browns, perception-wise, are annual losers, but fans who watched the team in 2010 saw a squad that played hard in almost every game and refused to give up. That’s a good indicator of a tight-knit group.

In the final analysis, the team faces some immense challenges in 2011, but the long-term plan to build a streamlined football program with everyone on the same page — well, that’s been the biggest difference between the Browns and the NFL’s elite over the past decade.

While many Browns fans are burnt out — and understandably so — it’s today’s team more than any other since the return that offers hope.

The spotlight now falls to Holmgren to get it right. (Source: Cleveland.com)

On Monday, Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren went from wise father figure atop a rebuilding Browns organization, to a man under significant pressure to deliver.

It’s one thing to tell a fanbase that Eric Mangini hasn’t met expectations — it’s another to meet them yourself. While Holmgren excels at win-you-over press conferences, it’s his football decisions this offseason that will define his tenure with this star-crossed franchise.

The Browns are about to hire their sixth head coach since their return in 1999. Whoever finally turns the ship around will never buy a drink in Ohio again — but it’s no small task, and one that’s left wheelbarrows of dead along the road out of town.

Here are five mistakes Holmgren must avoid, if he wants to turn this ship around:

MISTAKE #1: Miss on the coach

While some were thrilled to see Mangini swept aside, they might look back and wonder why the move was made if Cleveland goes in the direction some predict.

Holmgren talked about spreading a wide net, but lead candidates for the coaching vacancy appear to be limited to those also represented by Holmgren’s agent, Bob LaMonte. He fronts John Fox, Jon Gruden, Jim Mora, Brad Childress, Pat Shurmur and — ugh — Marty Mornhinweg.

“I don’t want to have to do this again, so I have to get it right,” said Holmgren.

It’s hard to get excited about that “right” choice being Mornhinweg, who went 5-27 as coach of the Detroit Lions.

Unlike Mangini, McCoy must be given time. (Source: Cleveland.com)

The Browns also plan to interview Mike Mularkey and Perry Fewell (while the latter’s intriguing, Holmgren’s unlikely hand the team over to a defensive-minded coach). People have mentioned Bill Cowher, but that’s fantasy.

People fall in love with Gruden for his persona, but after taking a Tony Dungy-built Bucs team to the Super Bowl in 2002, the team was 45-51 over the next six seasons, and Gruden largely failed to develop a young quarterback during his tenure with the Bucs. Would Browns fans rather have Gruden — or his successor Raheem Morris?

Bottom line: Unless Holmgren names himself coach, it’s hard to picture why a switch was made in the first place. Everyone of these guys were fired or not hired for a reason.

Holmgren’s apparent desire to hire someone he knows and trusts could mean a very unsexy pick for Browns fans.

Unless, of course, he picks the man he knows best.

MISTAKE #2: Reverse Mangini’s positive changes

The Browns have rebooted to the point of compulsion since ’99.

Mangini, of course, was let go because he didn’t gel with Holmgren’s football philosophy or long-term vision on offense or team-wide.

Mangini was allowed a second season while Holmgren studied the franchise, hired his people, and prepared for the arrival of a coach he could claim buy-in with. It was a lose-lose for Mangini. To make matters worse, wins against New Orleans and New England were followed up by too many inexcusable defeats, but there is no questioning the desire and hard work of the coaching staff and many of the players.

“This is my ninth year and I’ve never been a part of something like this,” defensive end Kenyon Coleman told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “This team is a family.”

Josh Cribbs defended Mangini before the hammer dropped: “I feel like one man can only do so much,” he said. “This is the biggest team sport there is. You’re asking one man in two years to turn a football team that hasn’t been winning into one of the greatest football teams. I mean, it takes some time.

“I believe in what (Mangini) stands for. It’s hard to make a change. I’m tired of rebuilding.”

Two years wasn’t enough time to overhaul a losing organization. Browns fans were beginning to understand the type of players Mangini wanted: tough, team-first guys who loved to play the game. This team played hard in 2010, despite the record. Mangini’s goal was to build a strong foundation, which isn’t done quickly with the chaos he inherited. The next coach has a better chance to  succeed than he did, but few will credit Mangini for that, just as he’s been forgotten by Jets fans after developing many of the young players Rex Ryan is given credit for coaching today.

The team has made strides, but with a new coach, fans must confront another rebuild. Large chunks of the roster will be overhauled. Assuming the next coach will be given more than two years, one can only hope the team will mirror some of the good qualities Mangini valued.

MISTAKE #3: Fail to acquire a No. 1 wide receiver

Nothing is more important to the development of Colt McCoy than developing a strong chemistry with his wide receivers.

The Browns were forced to throw primarily to Peyton Hillis and Ben Watson in 2010, and teams quickly learned to disregard the passing game.

The Browns must acquire — primarily through free-agency — a legitimate, game-ready No. 1 wide receiver.

Second-year wideouts Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie have failed to become the one-two punch the team had hoped for, but they certainly look like a respectable two-three combo. Robiskie, invisible up to now, bloomed late this season. Massaquoi has performed well at times, but gets lost against No. 1 cornerbacks. A legitimate receiving threat will correctly position these two.

Rookie receivers take time to transition to the pro game — often longer than rookies at other spots. Cleveland must think about signing a proven free agent. Failing to significantly improve this position will sink the Browns in 2011.

MISTAKE #4: Ignore the running back position

Hillis was a revelation for the Browns in 2010. Largely anonymous for most of his pro career, he seemed dropped from Heaven onto Cleveland’s doorstep. For long-time Browns fans (what other type is there at this stage?), Hillis recalled images of Kevin Mack blowing through AFC Central opponents two decades ago. Just as Mack had Earnest Byner, the Browns cannot plan for Hillis to carry the ball as often as he did — essentially alone — in 2010.

Hillis needs to be given the chance to lead again. He’s for real, and it’s astonishing that he pounded front-sevens the way he did when teams knew he was the only game in town — but he was figured out by teams late in the year, namely within the division.

Finding a back to spell Hillis is critical. (Source: NFL.com)

Backfields-by-committee can poison and prevent a back like Hillis from getting into rhythm, but the Browns need a change-of-pace back (in theory Montario Hardesty, injured in the preseason) who can make an impact with 10 carries a game — and must be game-planned for by defenses.

While Hillis exemplified what Eric Mangini’s style of “Browns football,” there are questions how the big back fits into Mike Holmgren’s precious West Coast offense, which the team seems destined to morph into from here on out.

While multiple Browns coaches couldn’t figure out how to use Eric Metcalf back in the day — Bill Belichick‘s agonizing “Metcalf-up-the-middle”  over and over on 3rd-and-long tortured fans — one would hope Holmgren’s yet-to-be-named wondercoach will effectively deploy this unhinged wrecking ball.

MISTAKE #5: Draft a quarterback

We all know Holmgren likes to find a young quarterback to develop in every draft.

The benefits of this philosophy were on display in 2010, as McCoy fearlessly entered the fray against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6, throwing for 281 yards and playing with a moxie that’s been nonexistent in Cleveland since Bernie Kosar darted around the field.

McCoy tailed off a bit at season’s end, but his 60.8 percent completion percentage is impressive considering the dearth of talent surrounding him.

Browns fans couldn’t help but notice McCoy’s ability to perform under pressure, and his desire to learn and improve make him a legitimate centerpiece for season’s to come.

They’ve found a quality leader in this young man, and McCoy is someone this team must commit to without distraction.

This team has searched for decades for that player — since Kosar left in 1993, quarterbacks drafted by Cleveland tell the story: Eric Zeier (1995, 3rd round), Tim Couch (1999, top pick in the draft), Spergon Wynn (2000, 6th round — selected 12 spots ahead of Tom Brady – excuse me while I go pour myself a tumbler of whiskey), Luke McCown (4th round), Charlie Frye (2005, 3rd round) and Brady Quinn (2007, 1st round).

Holmgren must not muddy the waters by selecting a passer with the sixth pick in the draft — some brohan the “new coach” wants to build around.

We’ve got the guy.

McCoy, without it being his fault, is one of the main reasons Holmgren dispatched Mangini.

“I’ve talked about (McCoy) before and I think you see the potential there, I certainty do,” Holmgren said on Monday. “Who the head coach is, who the offensive coordinator is, who his position coach is they’re important for any team, but if all of a sudden you have the quarterback you think can be the quarterback a young man who can be the quarterback for the next 10-15 years hopefully it becomes even more important.  Absolutely that is going to be one of the considerations in the search.”

The Browns finally have a quarterback worth considering.

Who guides him is key, according to Holmgren.

The last thing Browns fans want is The Big Show up in luxury suite, gritting his teeth, while Mornhinweg — or some alternate hobby-horse — gets off to a 1-7 start in yet another hopeless era of Browns football.

It’s time for Mike Holmgren to hang up the suit and lead this woe-begotten team out of the wilderness.

Like Baywatch and Knight-Rider before it, this week’s Webinar-Off is a timeless match-up between the forces of good (Cowboys) and evil (Giants).   Dallas puts the flailing, frailing, and failing Giants out of their misery today because:

1. The Giants don’t have Vince Young to bring off the bench-  The first time these two teams played, the Giants played with the same confidence that the resurgent Tennessee Titans are playing with now.    Mario Manningham ate the Cowboys’ secondary for lunch, catching 10 passes for 150 yards and a score on a 49 yard bomb from a sharp Eli Manning.  Steve Smith added 134 more yards and a score.   That game was emblematic of the Giants 5-0 start as they answered every punch the Cowboys threw with one of their own.  The Giants were a down-hill running, aggressive in the passing game, confident team on offensive that played well-enough on defense to corral the Cowboys’ big play threats.  Evenly matched in terms of talent, the difference was that the Giants imposed their will on the Cowboys when it counted.   The Giants simply aren’t that team anymore.  Since that game, Manningham has put up pedestrian numbers (only one game with 100+ yards receiving), Manning has regressed, Brandon Jacobs has become “tip-toe” Jacobs, and the Giants’ defense has been so lackluster that Usi Umenyiora and Fred Robbins are being benched.  The Giants are morphing into what the Cowboys were: soft.   Injuries are part of it, but whatever it is, this team has lost its edge and there are no signs that the Giants will get it back in time to win today’s game or salvage what was once a promising season.

2.  Mike Jenkins has reported for duty-  The last time they matched up, the Cowboys started Orlando Scandrick opposite Terrence Newman.  That was the last game Scandrick started, in part because of how he performed against the Giants but also because of the emergence of Mike Jenkins.  Jenkins has, in the eyes of many, usurped Newman’s role as the best corner on the team– flashing the ability and aggressiveness that made him a first round talent two years ago.  Jenkins has every reason to be motivated for today’s game if for no other reason than to avenge his much-discussed terrible tackling effort against Derrick Ward in his rookie season.   Though Jenkins’ and Newman’s ability to cover has not resulted in as many turnovers as one would expect, it has allowed Dallas the opportunity to put more pressure on the quarterback.   It has also allowed Dallas to simplify its schemes on defense, which has allowed the Cowboys to avoid the big play breakdowns that killed them against the Giants.  Without a legitimate running threat, look for the Cowboys defensive to be more stout today as Jenkins and Newman make matters tougher on their receiving  counterparts.

3.  The Cowboys have Miles to go-  As with Jenkins, Miles Austin has emerged since the Cowboys-Giants first match up.  Austin leads the NFL with six touchdown catches of 20 yards are more and has helped take the heat off of Roy Williams.  Coupled with the Barber, Choice, and Jones triumverate in the backfield, and the ever-reliable Witten, Austin gives the Cowboys the stretch-the-field weapon that they need to test the Giants’ thin secondary.  Also look for Dallas to do more of what they did against the Raiders on Thanksgiving– crossing patterns with Austin– to see if Aaron Ross & Co. can keep up with the speedy Austin.

4.  It’s December-  The Giants need this win to save their season. Believe it or not: the 8-3 Cowboys do also.  Dallas’ struggles in December are well-documented.   If Dallas wants to be a team that matters in the playoffs they need to start by showing that they can put teams like the Giants away.   Dallas has been focused on their performance in this season’s final month all year–  as Bradie James said this week, the time is now to show everyone that this is not the same old fold ‘em Cowboys.   Look for the Cowboys to match the Giants intensity today.

5. The Giants will be tighter than Tiger Woods on his wedding anniversary-  The Giants look and feel like a team on the verge of imploding.   While I don’t think that will happen today, I do think the Giants remind me a bit of last year’s Cowboys.   When the going get tough, they play tight, fall behind, and just don’t have enough gumption to win in the end.

Dallas 24, Giants 21.

Fufkin: you agree?

CONTINUE AFTER THE JUMP FOR ARTIEFUFKIN’S RESPONSE

Whatchyou talkin' 'bout C-O-U-R-T-N-E-Y?!?

First off, the only thing that makes this Webinar-Off Hasselhoff-like is the fact that C-O-U-R-T-N-E-Y (possibly the most annoying handle in the world to type out) was obviously hammered drunk when he wrote this post.  In fact, here’s video of C-O-U-R-T having breakfast this morning:

As I mentioned previously, last Thursday’s Giants/Broncos game pretty much sucked the life force out of me, and left me questioning if this Giants team could even win another game this season.  You could say it’s been a combination of things (injuries, poor coaching, and a general lack of fire) but there’s no question that the Giants team that has lost 5 of the last 6 games is a shell of its former self, and is desperately searching to regain it’s identity.

Today’s game against the Cowboys is the Giants last chance to right the ship, and salvage any hopes of making the post-season.  And that’s the thing: as awful as they’ve played of late, at 6-5, the Giants still control their own destiny. With their next three games against the Cowboys, Eagles and Redskins, the Giants can quickly put themselves back in the hunt for the division title.  But that’s only if – and this is a big IF – they can find their man clothes again and stop playing like a bunch of Sallies.

I could sit here and dissect the X’s and O’s of this match-up all day, but the bottom line is that this game – like all Giants/Cowboys games – will come down to who wants it more.  And with their backs against the wall, on their home turf, against a perennially winter-soft Dallas team, I believe that the Giants will come out fighting.  The pass rush will once again wreak havoc on Tony Romo, and the Giants will have success running the ball with Jacobs and Bradshaw (who is returning from injury).  I imagine the Cowboys will connect on a few big plays against the Giants lame secondary, but Romo will once again fold down the stretch, and the NY Defense will come up with a big stop when it matters to preserve the win.

This game is all about pride.  And the New York Football Giants need to remember who they are, and what they’re all about as a franchise, and carry that pride onto the field today.  I can only hope that Coughlin plays this video in the locker room before the game:

Giants 21, Cowboys 13

Last time the Giants played the Cowboys, Artie took me down in a battle of football wits.  This week: payback!  Giants! Cowboys! Fufkin!  C-O-U-R-T-N-E-Y! SUNDAY! WEBINAROFF!

This time it’s mildly personal.

UPDATE: WE’LL BE PERIODICALLY BLOGGING OUR THOUGHTS ON THE GAME  IN THE COMMENTS.  FOLLOW ALONG.

I lay down the gauntlet early this morning because I know fufkin will need all day to formulate a response to the verbal devastation that follows.  To begin with, I lowercase fufkin in an intentional lack of respect, similar to the lack of respect that the giants have shown to Americans (as fans of America’s team) in recent years.   At every turn, the giants talk, talk, talk about the Cowboys.  The base, verbal diarrhea that falls from brandon jacobs pouty lips is fare usually reserved for pro wrestling and is all part of the lame mystique that the giants–led by THE human embodiment of a clown show in eli womanning– appear to be trying to carve out for themselves.  Intimidating?  Poppycock: the giants are a laughable collection of men.

Eli Wo-Manning surveys the secondary

And here is why the Cowboys will whup ‘em tonight:

1.  JerryWorld-  There is an unwritten rule that says “thou shall not lose one’s inaugural game in one’s new stadium”.  To ensure that would not happen, Jerry Jones (1) gathered his players during the off-season and told them how much money he was spending on a daily basis to build JerryWorld, and (2) made utterly idiotic claims that he believes JerryWorld will inspire his team to the Super Bowl, antagonizing fans and foes alike.   What better way to inspire than economics?  What better way to motivate than by way of high-def jumbotron/executive suites/frittering glass/retractable roofs?

While Jerry’s thought process helps to explain the Cowboys lack of playoff success in the Cowboys’ post-Jimmy Johnson world, there are unique advantages to be gained by the Cowboys playing at home tonight.  Nobody on the giants has ever played at Cowboys stadium.  Everything will be new to them.  The locker rooms.  The sidelines, sight lines, lights– all new.  Recently, we moved offices WITHIN THE SAME BUILDING and I lost two days of work because of the distractions.  Where is the coffee machine?  Does Dave really think it is OK to talk on speakerphone with his door open?  If you think the giants won’t be distracted by a 60 yard high definition screen hanging above their heads, you haven’t moved offices recently.  The distraction factor will be a factor.   According to Rick Gosselin, a new stadium virtually ensures first season success. The mere fact that the Cowboys have played (pre-season) and practiced in the new stadium gives them an edge.   Look for Dallas to get off to a good start tonight as the giants try to figure out their ass from their elbow.

2.  Super Bowls are won in September-  The Cowboys under Tony Romo have gone like gang busters in September since he took over quarterbacking duties.   There are a lot of reasons for it, but chief among them are that the Cowboys are fresh, injury free, and haven’t yet been exposed as heartless fairies.   Few teams, including the giants, have as much front line talent as the Cowboys.  From DeMarcus Ware to a bevy of talented players on the offensive side of the ball, Dallas is loaded.  Dallas’ problem is that as soon as it has to pull from its depth pool (see offensive line play last year after Kyle Kosier went down) or persevere through the inevitable fatigue and adversity that a season brings, they wilt.  While they claim this year will be different and have every reason to be motivated to exorcise the demons of last season, it is of no matter here.  Dallas wins in September, and will win tonight, because they simply have more talent than the giants and talent wins 75% of the time in the NFL.

3. The three-headed-monster-  Goodbye earth, wind, and fire; hello  Tash, Smash, and Dash.  The healthy three-headed monster of Tashard Choice, Marion Barber, and Felix Jones gives the Cowboys the promise of offensive balance, which it lacked last year.   One way to negate the giants vaunted pass rush (and to cut down on turnovers) is to run the ball effectively and use your running backs in the passing game.  Dallas has the weapons and, unlike last year, the patience (read: no T.O.) to do that this year.   The Giants have also never had to play against Felix Jones.  Although limited by a thigh bruise in week one, reports are that Jones is ready to go.   One flash of his speed and open field ability will force the giants to think twice before bringing the heat.  Expect him to play a big role in tonight’s game plan.

4.  Balance-  I was at a dinner party last night where people spoke of balance.  In life, in food, in all things.  It made for terrible, when-will-it-end conversation.  Although buzz-killing when amongst suburbanites, balance is brilliance if your name is Jason Garrett.  Dallas is more committed to the run and taking what the defense gives them (as opposed to forcing the ball to Terrell Owens just to shut him up) this year.  Garrett’s new approach was masterful in its execution against the Bucs.  While the giants pose a bigger threat, Garrett’s commitment to balance will be on full display tonight and will also help to negate the giants pash rush.

5.  The giants receivers don’t scare me (or anyone for that matter)- Dallas has some vulnerabilities on the defensive side of the ball.  For one, they struggled to stop the run against the Bucs.  According to Wade Phillips, the Cowboys gave up most of those yards because they were blitzing too much, a problem he says that was corrected at halftime.   The problem with that argument is that the Bucs were trailing the whole second half and had to pass more, which likely had more to do with them abandoning the run than any technical adjustments.  The giants will run the ball.  Often.  Expect the Cowboys to load up the box in an effort to force womanning to turn to his untested corp of you-don’t-scare-me receivers.   When coupled with a fast start by the ‘Boys, the pressure will build on the giants to make plays in the passing game.  While I think the giants receiving core will be fine as the season wears on, the Cowboys have they advantage of facing them early in the season.

FINAL SCORE: Cowboys 30-22.  fufkin.  Have I convinced you?

CONTINUE READING AFTER THE JUMP FOR ARTIE FUFKIN’S RESPONSE

(Photo: Yardbarker.com)

First off, I’d like to thank our gender-confused contributor C-O-U-R-T-N-E-Y for inviting me to participate in the inaugural edition of our “WEBINAR-OFF” series.

HELLO! (Photo: thetorchonline)

Although, I’m not sure anything we’re doing here would fall under tha category of “webinar”, which generally involves a live webcast presentation.  To paraphrase Inigo Montoya (appropriate since you essentially challenged me to a digital duel), “I do not think that word means what you think it means”.

But that is neither here nor there.  The matter at hand is the continuation of the heated rivalry between the Giants and Cowboys.  I won’t resort to name-calling or cute grammatical games in an attempt to belittle my opponent.  I don’t have to.  The Giants are simply the superior football team.

Here’s why the Giants will win tonight:

1. Football is won in the trenches. The Giants have arguably the best offensive and defensive lines in the NFL.  They will dominate the game up front, wear down the Cowboys over the course of 4 quarters, and he Giants will run Jacobs and Bradshaw down the throat of the Dallas defense.  An interesting match-up to watch will be DeMarcus Ware vs. David Diehl, who is no longer finding his way at LOT for the Giants.  But besides Ware, the Cowboy front seven is completely pedestrian, and Eli Manning should have plenty of time to throw the ball.   On the other side of the ball, make no mistake about it, Tony Romo will be running for his life tonight.  The Giants have added even more depth to the best pass-rushing unit in the game, so much so that the absence of newly acquired former Cowboy Chris Canty (inured calf), won’t mean a thing.  With Osi back in the fold, Giants DC Bill Sheridan will keep changing the looks to confuse Romo, and keep him on his heels all night long.
2. Coaching. Wade Phillips is a poor excuse for an NFL head coach, and Tom Coughlin will out-coach and out-prepare his Teletubby-esque counterpart tonight.  Phillips is historically one of the worst game managers in the NFL, and his “Camp Cupcake” will once again leave Dallas ill-prepared and soft when squaring off against a more physical NFC East opponent.  I will take grumpy old man Coughlin any day of the week over Phillips  … not to mention the fact that he doesn’t have to worry about the owner yapping in his ear on the sideline in the 4th quarter.
3. The Cowboys can’t win the big game. Whether it’s in November or September, if it’s a high-pressure affair and it comes down to the 4th quarter, Dallas will fold like a house of cards.  Jerry Jones has probably been riding his coaches and players to win tonight so hard, that Wade has them mentally going into tonight “like it’s a playoff game”.  Big mistake.  If they were treating this like it was a meaningless early-season game, the Cowboys would probably win.
4. Eli Manning and the Giants receiving corps. You don’t need to be scared of them, just get used to hearing their names.  Rookie Hakeem Nicks is out with a foot injury, but Mario Manningham, Steve Smith and Kevin Boss will be more than enough weapons for Eli Manning to pick apart the Cowboys secondary.  Manning is in his 6th season, and has now reached the point where, like his brother, he can diagnose a defense at the line of scrimmage, and know where the ball needs to go.  I predict Boss is going to have a big game tonight.
   

   A preview of the Jerry Face you'll be seeing tonight

5. Karma - Jerry Jones is one of the worst human beings ever to walk the face of the earth.  Period.  God is looking down on “Jerry World” – this abominable tribute to hubris, greed and commerce – and is going to empower Giants to shit all over Jerry’s big opening night.  For not raising the scoreboard, for over-charging for tickets & concessions, and for generally being an affront to all that is good and decent in our society, Jerry Jones and Cowboys MUST lose.

Giants 24-Cowboys 16

If you didn’t play, you’re never going to see things the way an ex-player would. I played Pop Warner, and a little bit of high school football (the former was instructive and unforgettable; the latter was the end of the road). I’ll never forget being 10 years old and sitting with my dad in the kitchen, going over my first football playbook, a 20-page Xerox’d-and-stapled handout with plays like “32-power” and “28-sweep.” I started to comprehend–with sheer wonder–that the game of football was methodical, mindful, dissembling, and bizarre. There were systems, matchups, strengths, weaknesses, and a leaning toward deception.

There was a better time

I’ve been watching football for 25 years. It’s amazing to me how much *more* there is to learn. These days, I don’t have time like I used to. Work, family, friends, life… I don’t sit around studying football strategy like I did in 10th grade, pouring over NFL recordbooks and histories… trying to impress girls at parties with some scattered and arcane statistical rundown of the 0-7 1928 Dayton Triangles. You forget about things. These days, simply by having watched 43,000 games (the vast majority of them life-crushing losses for my team), I can chat casually–on auto pilot–about the prevent defense, the Cover 2, the 3-4, the West Coast offense, and the 46/Bear—–but if I were thrown into the fray, would I know, in detail, how these attack modules truly function from play-to-play? NEGATIVE.

I’ll never forget the 300-page book I read at school about the I-formation–much to the chagrin of my report card. It read like a war document built on deep secrets. It was titled something powerful like: “Successfull Installation of the I-Formation Attack at the Intercollegiate Level.” Oooooo…. I was in heaven. I disappeared for weeks. I broke up with my university girlfriend on a napkin sent via inter-campus mail and vanished into the deepest corners of the pin-drop silent library to study GRIDIRON TACTICS.

Basketball always bothered me on this level. In the NBA, you know both teams will knock down 80 points a night. There might be some excitement at the end, but you know where it’s going, in general. In FOOTBALL, a field goal on the opening drive might be the ONLY score all game, but it can still be a fascinating game, if you care about the matchups and the strategy. (NBA fans can say the same thing… but it just doesn’t seem the same to me, sorry. PLUS, basketball is played inside, under boring flourescant lights–football is played amidst nature.)

* * *

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW is a series about getting back to the basics–and the far reaches–of football. Comprehending the core, but also digging down into newer trends on offense and defense. Studying matchups, tendencies, history and the evolution of the game.

It’s just a discussion starter. My on-field career ended during the first Bush White House, so, naturally, I am simply throwing out subjects for the wiser of you to comment on.

CHAPTER 1 (of 209): WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STRONG SAFETY AND A FREE SAFETY?

Pittsburgh Strong Safety Troy Polamalu is a game changer

In a nutshell, in terms of formation, the strong safety (SS) plays on the “strong side,” normally dictated by which side the tight end lines up on. Strong safeties are usually asked to cover the tight end, play closer to the line of scrimmage, and guard against the run. The SS is like a last-chance linebacker, positioned down field.

On the flip side, the free safety (FS) is not typically a run defender by trade. He’s the last line of defense, typically launched into zone coverage, charged with letting no eligible receiver pass beyond him (unless he’s on the Browns, in which case opponents float by unscathed).

Both safeties offer a wildcard in more aggressive defensive schemes, as they may be asked, on occassion, to blitz the passer. When executed well, they can blow up an offense with their speed and elusiveness, subduing a quarterback into the unforgiving turf.

Former Eagles Free Safety Brian Dawkins (now with Denver) does things we can't do

Coaches like Bill Belichick (and those blooming from his tree) value  building a team up the middle. This means drafting or obtaining a powerful center on offense and a hard-hitting safety on defense. In his first draft as a head coach, Belichick’s selected UCLA safety Eric Turner with the second overall pick–the highest ever for a defensive back in league history. Turner was an instant hit at free safety, and evolved into one of the most devastating defensive backs in NFL history (before dying rather suddenly of intestinal cancer at age 31). “ET,” as he was called, was a nightmare for running backs and fancy-footed receivers.

Here’s a few clips from his NFL career (witness how he absolutely SCREWS UP Troy Aikman in this reel):

Truly great safeties may be the defensive equivalent of a game-changing tight end. Only about three teams in the league have one at any given time, and they are prized–for they add immediate value, and equal danger for the opposition.