Fuente: © Cleveland Browns
http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/

NFL: BROWNS: Further evaluations still coming

/noticias.info/ By Zac Jackson, Staff Writer
January 29, 2006

MOBILE, AL - A week of practices, player interviews, full-staff meetings and up-close evaluation of the 101 players invited to the Senior Bowl helped the Browns at least come closer to drawing some draft-related conclusions.

The key word being "some." The 2006 NFL Draft, April 29-30, is still three months away.

But a week in Mobile gave general manager Phil Savage, head coach Romeo Crennel and other Browns' decision-makers a look at probably 40 first-day draft choices and a dozen or so players, at minimum, who will go in the top 40 selections.

Crennel said some of the Browns' "holes to fill" in the draft included the defensive front seven. Players to watch from here on out who the Browns watched in Mobile include Iowa linebacker Chad Greenway, Penn State defensive end Tamba Hali, North Carolina State end/linebacker Manny Lawson, Florida State end/linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, Florida state defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley and Michigan defensive tackle Gabe Watson.

Bunkley was a beast in the first two days of practice. He was limited the rest of the week after suffering concussion-like symptoms, but he probably earned toughness points with NFL scouts by insisting that he play in the game. Bunkley, up to 300 pounds this week after playing most of last season at 285, seems to fit as interior tackle in both a 3-4 and 4-3 scheme.

Watson, a massive 341-pound space eater, will be one of the draft's most intriguing players. He's almost sure to be a Day One pick, but there's no telling if he'll come off the board at 8 or 80.

The 267-pound Hali may or may not be a good fit for the Browns' 3-4 scheme, but there's no denying his pass-rush ability. He had two sacks in the game and was named the North Defensive MVP; on one sack he beat a double team by Miami tackle Eric Winston and NC State tight end T.J. Williams and was able to pull Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle down with one hand.

Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler emerged as the top quarterback at the Senior Bowl. Some national reports this week went so far to say that Cutler will be the first quarterback drafted, ahead of Vince Young and Matt Leinart.

It seems quarterbacks always get pushed up as the draft draws nearer and the Browns, holders of the 12th overall pick, would like to see Cutler land in the Top 10.

The top running back in Mobile, Memphis' DeAngelo Williams, is another rising talent who's going to land somewhere in the first round, though it's too early to tell if he'll land in the Top 10.

Savage said he'd had previous exposure to 81 of the 101 players at the Senior Bowl. When staff meetings commence next month before the Browns go to the NFL Scouting Combine, they'll further evaluate all the players from the Senior Bowl, the three previous college all-star games, and share early evaluations on the 48 underclassmen.

The combine runs Feb. 22-28. Players will hold on-campus pro day workouts throughout the month of March.

It appears to be a good year to pick offensive linemen, too, if the Browns choose to go that route. The top player at the Senior Bowl, Virginia tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, figures to be off the board before the Browns pick, but Auburn's Marcus McNeill is also intriguing. McNeill (6-foot-7, 344) has some injury concerns but has good athleticism and plenty of big-game experience.

Ohio State center Nick Mangold and Oklahoma guard Davin Joseph, just to name two, also helped themselves with outstanding performances at the Senior Bowl. notas_de_prensa_archivo