The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Browns could patch offensive line in second round
Plenty of time remains between now and April 27 to analyze ad nauseam how the Browns will use the first pick and 12th pick in the draft, so let’s use the Cleveland Beat this week to examine what they might do in the second round.
The Browns pick first in the second round — 33rd overall — as the booby prize for finishing 1-15 last year. They also pick 52nd with the pick acquired from the Titans in a 2016 draft-day trade with Tennessee.
The top of the second round is a good spot to find a right tackle. The Browns might also look at a right guard with John Greco coming off foot surgery and not getting any younger. The Browns need a center, but 33 is too high to pick a center in this draft.
Roderick Johnson of Florida State and Antonio Garcia of Troy are two players the Browns could project as right tackles. Both should be available at 33.
Garcia is 6-foot-6, 293 pounds. He is regarded as a better pass blocker than run blocker. NFLDraftScout.com ranks Garcia sixth among tackles in the draft. The tackles ranked higher play on the left side.
Lance Zierlein of NFL. com described Garcia as “stringy” because he weighs less than 300 pounds, but he praised Garcia as a pass blocker.
“Outstanding athleticism. Very good lateral quickness coming out of stance,” Zierlein wrote. “Former high school hooper who still has basketball feet. Able to mirror pass rushers before and after engagement. He still needs plenty of technical work, but a team could look to draft and stash him based on his starter’s traits and ability.”
Johnson, 6-foot-7, 311 pounds, replaced Cam Erving at left tackle in 2014 at Florida State, which is why Erving played the last five games of that season at center. The Browns drafted Erving in the first round in 2015. Erving struggled as the Browns’ center last season.
“Punch can be very disruptive for edge rushers who have to alter their rush plans,” Zierlein wrote about Johnson. “Pluspower as a run blocker. Can finish with authority once he latches into the defender’s frame and gets momentum churned up.”
Zierlein noted Johnson needs polish as a blocker, which is why the former Seminole is expected to drop to the second round.
“High-cut waist bender and leaner who is constantly playing with his weight way out in front of his feet,” Zierlein wrote. “Plays with an alarming lack of body control and balance. Weight is rarely centered. Big feet get tripped up too often. Teams will have to decide if they want to play him on the left or right side, but an offensive line coach will need to try and correct issues with his pass sets and his footwork before he gets his shot.”
Zierlein compared Johnson to Redskins starting right tackle Morgan Moses.
• Taylor Moton of Western Michigan is another player to follow. Moton, 6-foot-5, 330 pounds, played right tackle and right guard in college. He is projected as a guard in the NFL.
Pat Elflein, 6-foot-2, 300 pounds, could be a good fit for the Browns at center with the 52nd pick or the first pick in the third round — pick 65 overall. We’ll look at Elflein more closely at the NFL Scouting Combine next month.
• Browns coach Hue Jackson might be running out of do-overs. To that end, he would likely prefer a veteran quarterback to start in 2017 rather than a rookie. The Browns can achieve that by trading for Jimmy Garoppolo of the Patriots or Tyrod Taylor of the Bills.
Browns quarterback coach David Lee, hired to replace Pep Hamilton, worked with Taylor for the last two years in Buffalo as the Bills quarterback coach. Taylor was 14-14 as a starter for the Bills.
Teams can make trades and sign free agents beginning March 9. Taylor is due a $15.5 million bonus on March 11. That does not include $12 million in salary for the 2017 season.
Any team acquiring Taylor in a trade before March 11 would have to pay the roster bonus. The Bills are not going to pay it then trade him. They could cut him and then Taylor would be a free agent.
The Browns would have competition bidding for Taylor from the Bears and Jets if the Bills cut him. Lee being on Jackson’s coaching staff could give the Browns an edge.
Lindor honored to play WBC
Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor has spent most of his life living in the United States, yet he his honored to represent his native Puerto Rico next month in the World Baseball Classic. Puerto Rico, Mexico, Italy and Venezuela will compete in Round One beginning March 9 at a stadium near Guadalajara, Mexico.
“It’s an honor, a blessing,” Lindor said at Tribe Fest last month. “I can’t wait to wear my Puerto Rican jersey. I’m proud of my country. I want to represent it everywhere I go. That’s the reason I play — for Puerto Rico, for Cleveland, for my family.”
Catcher Roberto Perez is also playing for Puerto Rico. First baseman Carlos Santana is representing the Dominican Republic and pitcher Andrew Miller is playing for the United States.
The WBC begins March 6 and runs through March 22. It does not halt spring training; it just leaves teams with holes in their lineups.
Indians manager Terry Francona, speaking with reporters at training camp in Goodyear, Ariz., is happy for Miller, but he didn’t hide his concern about the injury factor.
“You’re asking pitchers who have been in camp for a couple weeks, some of these guys don’t even throw their breaking ball on a normal spring until the end of camp,” Francona said. “Now you’re going to ask a guy to come in with a man on third and get somebody out, he’s going to go right to the breaking ball, and you’re going to try to execute pitches you may not be ready to execute.
“We value the repetition but we don’t want them doing it with a runner on third trying to throw their best one. That’s how guys get hurt. So yeah, our heart’s in our throat a little bit.”
Tribe starter Corey Kluber declined the chance to pitch in the WBC.
Williams in Cavs’ plans
The Cavaliers will sign forward Derrick Williams to another 10-day contract after the one he signed Feb. 9 expires, a source said during the All-Star break. The second contract will carry beyond the Feb. 23 trading deadline. The Cavs are likely to sign him for the rest of the season when the second contract expires.
“He’s been in some difficult situations, first of all, and we hope that this is a place that can help him grow and make that next step,” Cavs star LeBron James said recently. “He’s 25 years old. It doesn’t seem like it because we’ve been hearing his name for so long. But he’s 25. He hasn’t even gotten to his potential, to his prime yet, so hopefully this group, this locker room, myself, my leadership (helps him). Just want to see him grow every day, and it’s a good place for him.”
Williams was taken second by Minnesota in the 2011 draft one pick after the Cavs took Kyrie Irving. Williams hasn’t lived up to his draft status. He played with the Timberwolves, Kings, Knicks and Heat before landing with the Cavs. He played in 25 games with Miami this season while averaging 9.1 points and 4.1 minutes in 21 minutes a game.
Williams has 39 points and 11 rebounds in three games with the Cavaliers.
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