Tight End

Stanford

6-6 247

Draft board overall prospect rank: #28

Draft board overall tight end rank: #1

Overall rating: 81 (Borderline 1st/2nd round)

40 time: 4.45

Games watched: Stanford/Arizona, USC/Stanford, Stanford/Washington, Stanford/Oregon,  California/Stanford

Positives

·         6-6 vertical threat

·         End zone weapon (10 touchdowns as a senior, 17 touchdowns from 2010-2011)

·         Catches the ball at its highest point

·         Excellent timed/straight line speed (4.45 40)

·         Has the ability to stretch the seam

·         19.6 yards per catch as a senior

·         Reliable hands

·         Big hands

·         Excellent route runner

·         Underrated blocker

·         Great blocking technique

·         Played in a conservative offense

·         Smart

·         Good weight room strength (27 reps of 225)

·         Probably has the frame to add 10 more pounds of muscle

·         3 year starter

·         Too big for safeties, too fast for linebackers

·         Has all the tools

Negatives

·         Had Andrew Luck throwing him the football

·         Always had the ball thrown to him at the perfect point

·         Was his team’s only good receiver- little competition for balls

·         Low catch totals (13, 21, 28, 34)

·         Light

·         Injury prone

NFL Comparison: Jason Witten

When Jason Witten was coming out of Tennessee, he was an unrefined prospect. He had all the tools, but because of his lack of elite production, as well as the fact that the NFL hadn’t embraced the pass catching tight end yet, he fall to the 3^rd round. Fleener is unrefined as well, but he too has all the tools and in a different NFL, that could very well make him a first rounder, an early 2^nd rounder at the latest.

Fleener has all the tools and certainly flashes on tape. He’s a big 6-6 tight end, like Witten, and he can go up and catch the ball at its highest point. He has 17 touchdowns in the last 2 years, including 10 this year. He’s got great straight line speed and is a real mismatch in the seam, because he’s too big for safeties and too fast for linebackers. He’s a great route runner and uses his body well.

He’s also an underrated blocker. He comes from a conservative offense where you have to be able to block to get on the field and even though he’s undersized at 245 pounds, he’s got great blocking technique. He’s been well coached and he has the frame to probably put on another 10 pounds comfortably, which will help him be a true 3 down tight end at the next level.

His upside is that of Jason Witten. Witten has been one of the best pass catching tight ends in the league for years and he’s also an above average run blocker. Fleener will probably have to bulk up the 6-6 265 that Jason Witten is at, or at least close. He is also a risk, however. He’s had the luxury of having Andrew Luck throwing him the football for 3 years, but has never had more than 34 catches in a season. He did a lot with those 34 catches (667 yards and 10 touchdowns), but with Andrew Luck throwing him the football, I would definitely have liked to see more than 34 catches.

Both Orson Charles and Dwayne Allen had significantly more than 34 catches this season (45/574/5 and 50/598/8 respectively). Fleener is a better blocker than Charles and faster than Allen and has more upside than either, but he was less productive with a better quarterback. Charles and Allen are probably safer picks, but Fleener will probably be the first tight end off the board, though not necessarily in the 1^st round. 

By Sean Geddes 

Even though this will go down as a “W” in the win/ loss column, it was not without significant losses to the Steelers.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.

Max Starks, the Steelers starting tackle for both Superbowl wins this decade (once at right and once at left) has been lost for the season with a disc injury in his neck. This is a big blow for the Steelers, as it is at what could be argued is their thinnest position on the entire team.

To fill the massive 6’8” void, the Steelers activated Chris Scott (who is only 6’5”) from the Physically Unable to Perform list. Scott was the Steelers fifth round draft choice this past year out of Tennessee, and was originally injured this summer while working out prior to training camp.  The other Scott, Jonathan, will be the Steelers starting left tackle going in to this week’s match up against the New England Patriots.

Special teams player Will Allen, a safety, suffered a concussion Sunday. Back up running back Mewelde Moore also suffered a concussion, as did RB/ FB Isaac Redman. These three will all undergo cognitive function testing in the next few days, in an attempt to gauge their availability for Sunday.

Should Allen be unable to go, the team will rely on Ryan Mundy to back up both safety spots, but could possibly dress Keenan Lewis, who has been inactive for all of this season. The two running back’s possibly missing this game could be even more detrimental to the squad, as the only other backs available to the Steelers are rookie Jonathan Dwyer, who hasn’t suited up this year either. There is a chance we could activate Frank Summers from the practice squad, but that seems to be a more unlikely scenario.

Other injuries (yeah, seriously, there is more) include Brett Keisel, who left the game re-aggravating his hamstring injury. His status is up in the air for Sunday. Chris Kemoeatu strained his knee and did not return, his status is uncertain. Rookie stud Maurkice Pouncey left the game but returned. Coach Tomlin said he’ll be ready come game time. He also added Heath Miller has fluid in his knee, and he’ll be limited this week in practice.

Coming off of a Monday night game, and having a short week, combined with playing a solid New England Patriots team, it is imperative that all hands be on deck for this one. It is a conference game with playoff implications. This is a game you want to have a good showing in.

Go back to Steelers Fan Spot 

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/

The Jaguars needed a linebacker, but spending 29 million over 5 years, with 11.5 million guaranteed on a marginal linebacker like Clint Sessions wasn’t a smart move. Clint Sessions is a system linebacker that had some success with the Colts’ because he fit their scheme, but he could easily not have that same success in Jacksonville. Sessions is also coming off of a major injury. Why are the Jaguars spending all this money on linebackers went they just drafted for the future with Blaine Gabbert?

Grade: D

Guard

Georgia

6-5 310

Draft board overall prospect rank: #87

Draft board overall guard rank: #8

Overall rating: 70 (mid 3rd)

40 time: 5.37 (projected)

3/27/11: There was a time when I really liked Clint Boling. I actually had him as my top rated offensive tackle (this is not a good offensive tackle class) heading into the season. As I started watching him more, it became clear, this guy struggled way too much with speed rushers to be a tackle in the NFL. He wasn’t athletic enough to play tackle and would have to move inside. Measurements at the Senior Bowl confirmed this. He had too short of arms to play outside.

Fortunately for him, he has so much experience at other positions that moving inside wouldn’t be that hard. He’s played tackle for the past 2 years, but he also has experience at guard and has even played some center, not a lot, but some. Guard seems like it’s going to be his position going forward, and he’s done well as a guard this offseason, especially at the Senior Bowl.

He is impressing in workouts and proving what there was never any doubt about, this kid has a good grasp of the fundamentals. He’s a good technician. He’s smart and versatile. He’s problem is, he’s just not that athletic. He’s rising on my board of late and that seems to be the general consensus. He could go in the 2^nd round and is most likely coming off the board in the 3^rd round.

NFL Comparison: Eric Steinbach

3-4 Defensive End

South Carolina

6-7 299

40 time: 4.97

Draft board overall prospect rank: #191

Draft board 3-4 defensive end rank: #13

Overall rating: 54*

            4/7/10: Clifton Geathers made the surprise decision to come out a year early this year, despite only recording 5.5 career sacks in 3 seasons at South Carolina, one as a sparingly used backup, one as a situational guy, and one as a starter. His physical upside certainly has scouts buzzing, but I have to question his decision to come out early. He’s not going to be drafted on the first 2 days and will probably have to wait until the 5^th or 6^th round to hear his name called, so the decision to come out, rather than polish his game in school, is questionable. That being said, he is a large pass rusher with excellent bulk and extremely long arms. He has football in his blood. His brother Robert is the starting left end for the Cincinnati Bengals and Clifton may be even more athletic than his freakishly athletic brother. He looks as physically opposing as guys like Calais Campbell, who have bright futures in the NFL, but, even compared to Campbell, Geathers did not show himself to be someone who’s play matches his upside. He had good moments last year, but those were few and far between. He’s extremely raw as a pass rusher. He doesn’t play with good control and leverage. His motor runs hot and cold, most often cold, and he doesn’t do well in pursuit. He’s not a great tackler. He lacks elite motivation. I would draft him late on upside alone, but I am not counting on him to be much at the NFL level.

NFL Comparison: Tony McDaniel

*=For a breakdown of what this means, click here

Debate the Browns’ offseason possibilities in The Football Fan Forum

2010 Projection:  

The Browns figure to be one of the worst teams in the league this year once again. They appear to be heading in somewhat the right direction, drafting a new quarterback to try to fix this mess. However, as has been said, Colt McCoy isn’t going to see the field much this year, if at all, because Mike Holmgren doesn’t feel he’s ready. This is a very smart idea considering how much better quarterbacks have been in their career if they’ve had a rookie redshirt year. With mid round picks, sitting them a year seems to be the whole way they pan out, at least when you look at the last few years with guys like Drew Brees, Matt Schaub, Chad Henne, and Kevin Kolb. I wasn’t huge on Colt McCoy coming out of school, but I like him a lot more if they sit him this year and let him learn a pro style offense and develop.

However, that leaves this year and that leaves Jake Delhomme as their starting quarterback. This is the guy who threw 18 picks to 8 touchdowns last year with Carolina. He’s been alright in the past and some might be expecting a bounce back year for him, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. His receivers aren’t going to help him out much. At least in Carolina he had Steve Smith. Here, he has Mohammed Massaqoui, Brian Robiskie, and Benjamin Watson. Good luck.

Their running game could be solid, but as we’ve seen before, that doesn’t matter much if you’re team can’t create yards through the air. Look at Tennessee. Chris Johnson rushed for 2000+ yards, but they didn’t even make the playoffs. In order to make the playoffs, you need at least a top 15 quarterback and even with a top 15 quarterback, you’d probably need a top 10, top 12 defense, which brings me to the other side of the ball.

They made some solid additions on that side of the ball this offseason, but overall I think it’s just as mediocre of a group as it was last year. Sheldon Brown helps their secondary a bit, but I don’t think any of their draft picks will have an immediate impact. They drafted 3 defensive backs, 2 of which I really didn’t like, and defensive backs take a while to develop and see the field anyway. Joe Haden will probably be their nickel back this year, but he’s not going to help them out in any huge way this year.

Projection: 2-14 4^th in AFC North

Power Ranking: 32 

Last season: 5-11

Draft:

#7 CB Joe Haden (Florida)

The Browns were an awful team last year, as they were for pretty much the entire last decade. They really needed to go with someone who can help them right away and Haden, because of their depth at cornerback, will probably not start until year 3. They should have tried to trade down here (though I can’t say I know they didn’t try) and if they couldn’t, they needed to take a quarterback like Jimmy Clausen.

Grade: C+

#38 S TJ Ward (Oregon)

Huh? The Browns needed to take a quarterback here and could have taken Jimmy Clausen in the 2^nd round, but instead they decided to take a 5^th round prospect at safety. Yeah, safety was a need, but Ward is a huge reach by a count of 3 rounds, and doesn’t have a lot of positional value for a team that needs to get better in a hurry. By taking a cornerback who won’t start until year 3 and taking a safety that has no business ever starting in the NFL, the Browns have somehow managed to not make themselves any better at all with their first 2 picks, at least not immediately.

Grade: F

#59 RB Montario Hardesty (Tennessee)

I don’t love Colt McCoy, but the Browns need a quarterback so I don’t see why they didn’t take one here. I mean, they had to have traded up for a reason, but apparently that reason was to take a 2^nd string running back, which wasn’t a huge need at all. They would have been fine with Jerome Harrison and James Davis at running back next year. I don’t see how this pick makes them much better next year either.

Grade: C-

#85 QB Colt McCoy (Texas)

I have to hand it to Mike Holmgren. I guess Colt McCoy was his guy all along and he was able to have the guts to wait on him, knowing he’d probably fall. However, that could have ended up looking pretty stupid. Still, I don’t mind the pick. I don’t love McCoy and I had higher rated quarterbacks available, but at least it’s the right position.

Grade: A-

#92 G Shawn Lauvao (Arizona State)

The Browns reached for a 5^th round prospect in the 3^rd at a position of little value? Really? That doesn’t sound like them. I like Mike Holmgren just wanted to guy his quarterback out of this draft and let Eric Mangini do the rest of the drafting. So many of these picks look like classic Eric Mangini picks. Either that or Mike Holmgren is less smart than I give him credit for.

Grade: D

#160 S Larry Asante (Nebraska)

At least he fits the draft range, but the Browns have so many more important needs that they can’t really drafted another safety. Plus, I don’t like Asante. I don’t think he’s a starting caliber player in the NFL. What’s with all of these bad teams not paying attention to positional value. Who is going to catch Colt McCoy/Jake Delhomme’s passes, what about their defensive line, rush linebacker?

Grade: B-

#177 WR Carlton Mitchell (South Florida)

He fits the draft range, has great upside, and fills a need, so this is probably one of their best picks, but they did have better options, though I can’t bash this pick too much.

Grade: B+

#186 3-4 DE Clifton Geathers (South Carolina)

Finally, some good positional value. Geathers is a perfect fit with huge upside at the 3-4 end position for the Browns and can serve as their replacement for Corey Williams.

Grade: A

Overall:

The Browns could have done worse, but not much. I don’t think they made themselves any better for next year at all, and because of that, I think they actually made themselves worse for next year. However, even with all of their reaches and picks that lacked positional value, they did draft a cornerback in the first with really good upside and a potential franchise quarterback in the 3^rd, though I don’t like McCoy’s chances, even with a year on the bench, as Holmgren has said he will give him.

Grade: C

Key undrafted free agents:

RLB Auston English (Oklahoma)

Rush Linebacker:

The Browns actually managed 40 sacks as a team, but no one had more than 6.5 so they still have that need for an elite pass rusher. They could target Derrick Morgan at 7 if they feel he would fit their 3-4 scheme, which I feel he wouldn’t. Otherwise, they’ll have to wait until the 2^nd round or later to get an elite rush linebacker which would be smart because of the alarming rate at which rush linebackers have been busting in recent years.

Traded for Chris Gocong 

Wide Receiver:

The Browns drafted 2 wide receivers in the 2^nd round last year, but there’s a good chance that one doesn’t pan out and even if both do, I don’t see either as that elite deep threat of a wide receiver. Their first pick could very well be an elite #1 wide receiver to replace Braylon Edwards, preferably one who tries. They need to get Brady Quinn help ASAP.

Drafted Carlton Mitchell (#177) 

Middle Linebacker:

A real 3-4 middle linebacker upgrade next to D’Qwell Jackson is needed. David Veikune doesn’t fit the scheme at all and was a major reach in the 2^nd round last year.

Signed Scott Fujita 

Quarterback:

353 throws doesn’t make a career, but Brady Quinn’s career is on thin ice. They should give him one more year to prove himself, but if he struggles early, they will want someone in the bullpen warming up because for the sake of the public defense of Cleveland we don’t want Derek Anderson playing quarterback again. Unsuspecting innocent citizens will be belted will footballs while walking the streets on Sundays. Both Mike Holmgren and Eric Mangini will want a chance to bring in their own guy at quarterback so I would be very surprised if they didn’t take one before round 4.

Traded for Seneca Wallace, Signed Jake Delhomme, Drafted Colt McCoy (#85)

Cornerback:

They have very little depth at the position and Brandon McDonald is better as a nickelback anyway. They need a good corner opposite Eric Wright. If they use the best available strategy again this year, Joe Haden could very well be their pick at 7. If they don’t take Haden, expect them to look at a cornerback later for depth purposes only. They have other needs.

Drafted Joe Haden (#7), Traded for Sheldon Brown 

Offensive Tackle:

Joe Thomas is a stud left tackle, probably the best in the league, but John St. Clair was one of the worst starting right tackles in the league last year. Makes you wonder why they gave him a three year deal after how bad he was with the Bears. Right tackle doesn’t have a ton of positional value, which of course means Eric Mangini could spend an early pick on it, and this isn’t a huge need considering how well their line played as a whole thanks to Joe Thomas, but they could have one of the top 5 offensive lines in the league with an upgrade at right tackle.

Signed Tony Pashos 

Tight End:

The Browns started several different tight ends last year and it got so bad that they had to promote Evan Moore from the practice squad to start late in the season and he did a better job than anyone else. However, tight end doesn’t have a huge positional value so it can wait another season if he has to, but picking up a 1-2 year stopgap in free agency might be nice.

Signed Benjamin Watson, Signed Alex Smith

Free agents:

QB Derek Anderson- signed with Cardinals 2 years 7.5 million

QB Brett Ratliff (exclusive rights)

RB Jerome Harrison (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.7 million

RB Jamal Lewis 

FB Lawrence Vickers (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.7 million

WR Donte Stallworth- signed with Ravens 1 yr .9 mil 

WR Mike Furrey 

WR Sydndric “I could not make this name up if I tried” Steptoe (restricted)

OT Ryan Tucker

G Rex Hadnot- signed with Cardinals 3 years 9 million

C Hank Fraley- signed with Rams 

C Eric Ghiaciuc 

RLB Matt Roth (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.8 million

RLB Arnold Harrison (restricted) 

MLB Jason Trusnik (restricted)- signed 1 year 1.6 million

MLB D’Qwell Jackson (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.7 million

MLB Blake Costanzo (exclusive rights)- resigned 1 year

S Brodney Pool (restricted)- not tendered, signed with Jets 1 year 1.3 million

S Abram Elam (restricted)- tendered (2nd)- resigned 1 year 1.7 million

K Shaun Suisham 

Offseason moves:

Browns sign WR Bobby Engram

Browns cut K Shaun Suisham

Browns cut C Eric Ghiaciuc

Browns re-sign MLB D’Qwell Jackson 

Browns re-sign RB Jerome Harrison

Browns re-sign RLB Matt Roth

Browns re-sign S Abram Elam

Browns re-sign FB Lawrence Vickers

Browns sign K Shaun Suisham

Browns sign TE Alex Smith

Browns sign C Eric Ghiaciuc

Browns acquire CB Sheldon Brown, RLB Chris Gocong from Eagles for DE Alex Hall, 2010 4th, 5th rounders

Browns re-sign MLB Blake Costanzo

Browns trade QB Brady Quinn to Broncos for FB Peyton Hillis, 2011 6th-rounder and 2012 late-rounder

Browns trade DE Kamerion Wimbley to Raiders for 2010 3rd-rounder

Browns sign QB Jake Delhomme

Browns re-sign MLB Jason Trusnik

Browns cut TE Steve Heiden

Browns sign TE Ben Watson

Browns cut QB Derek Anderson

Browns acquire QB Seneca Wallace from Seahawks for conditional 2011 pick

Browns sign MLB Scott Fujita

Browns sign OT Tony Pashos

Browns announce retirement of OT Ryan Tucker

Browns trade DT Corey Williams and 2010 7th-rounder to Lions for 2010 5th-rounder

Browns tender MLB D’Qwell Jackson

Browns tender RB Jerome Harrison

Browns tender MLB Blake Costanzo

Browns tender MLB Jason Trusnik

Browns tender FB Lawrence Vickers

Browns tender S Abram Elam

Browns tender RLB Matt Roth

Browns cut C Hank Fraley

Browns cut RB Jamal Lewis

Browns cut WR Donte’ Stallworth 

Spotlight #1: Clemson TE Dwayne Allen

Spotlight #2: Clemson DT Brandon Thompson 

1st quarter

13:41: Interception by Clemson safety Jonathan Meeks, a talented junior player.

12:33: Allen drops a low screen, heard footsteps from Zach Brown.

10:55: Zach Brown in on a sack by himself.

10:02: Thompson gets into the backfield on a run, can’t quite get the tackle.

8:53: Andre Branch on a tackle for a los, good job by Thompson as well, taking on blocks on that play.

7:55: Allen targeted but deflected away by North Carolina linebacker Kevin Reddick, a talented junior player.

7:50: Charles Brown with a nice pass breakup against awesome freshman Sammy Watkins. Brown also had a tackle for loss earlier.

6:30: Allen with a holding penalty on a run block.

6:10: Coples with a quarterback hit.

5:39: Zach Brown on an explosive play for his 2^nd sack on the game already. A very fast sack.

4:01: Thompson into the backfield quick, but the play is blown dead quick on a false start by the offense.

1:30: Allen with a nice run block.

2^nd quarter

14:02: Meeks with a tackle for loss. He’s been everywhere tonight.

12:38: Thompson, who is being consistently double teamed, does a good job of disengaging and tackling a scrambling quarterback from behind.

11:13: Thompson pancaked.

9:23: Allen for a few yards on an intermediate curl route.

3:16: Allen not quite on the same page with his quarterback on a short pass. Incomplete. Needs to find the ball quicker than that.

2:16: Zach Brown doing everything, pass deflection here.

1:58: Thompson moves around a little, in on a short tackle.

0:40: Allen targeted, but incomplete and inaccurate as the quarterback was under pressure.