CLEVELAND BROWNS DOG POUND
The Cleveland Browns are ready to rock Cleveland with an exciting season of football. A new regime is in place and new hope springs eternal as the Browns look to move back into the playoff picture in 2013 and an exciting team on the shores of Lake Erie. We are delivering coverage of the Cleveland Browns as die-hard fans who breathe orange and brown. You can count on Stage 1 Magazine as a source for your Browns info and updates.
It has been ten years since the Browns last made the playoffs and getting through the AFC North will not be easy but with a up and coming defense ready to rise to the challenge and potent weapons on offense the playoff drought could be over.
With the draft this week and more free agency ahead, look for the Browns to get better and have the tools to make progress this year. While many are looking for the Browns to still be in rebuilding mode and taking on a new offense and defense, we are looking forward to positive change in the season to come.
BROWNS DRAFT
The Cleveland Browns hoped to solidify their defensive corps over the weekend drafting four defensive players with their five picks. Among those players selected was linebacker Barkevious Mingo from Louisiana State University with the 6th overall pick. It would appear to be destiny that a player with the word “bark” in his name would be selected by the Browns. The “Dawg Pound” will certainly get a kick out of that. He adds speed as a slender pass rusher who will play on the other side of newly added free agent, Paul Kruger. Many folks are reminded of former Brown Kamerion Wimbley who had a similar frame to Mingo’s 6-4, 245 lb frame. He will definitely need to fill out a bit more and add some weight to his somewhat slender frame in order to not have to rely on his speed so much to make tackles as he did in college. The athleticism for him to develop into a pro-bowl caliber player is there once he learns the new 3-4 defense.
Other players selected by the Browns over the weekend were cornerback Leon McFadden from San Diego State University in the third round who can challenge Buster Skrine for the other corner spot alongside of Joe Haden. Also selected was Notre Dame safety Jamoris Slaughter who is recovering from a torn achilles he suffered in the third game of the season last year. It is a big question mark as to whether he can regain his old form after such a serious injury as many players are never the same after such an injury, but Slaughter and management feel that he will be ready to compete for a starting job come training camp. The Browns finished up their draft by selecting defensive end Armonty Bryant from East Central, and tackle Garrett Gilkey from Chadron State.
The Browns did not have a second round pick after they had to forfeit the pick after selecting wide receiver Josh Gordon from Baylor in last year’s supplemental draft. Cleveland also added another wide receiver in Davone Bess from the Miami Dolphins as another target for second year quarterback Brandon Weeden, in exchange for the 104th overall pick along with swapping a few other later round selections. Hopefully the Browns have filled a few gaps in their roster, and can contend in the always competitive AFC North. For the first time in a few years, the Browns faithful finally have a season to be excited about.