It sometimes happens that a losing organization, such as the New
Browns have been, will opt to reconstruct around available veteran
discards so as to affect a quick-fix, reasoning youngsters take too
long to develop and the holdovers must be deficient.
That has not been the course charted by the new regime of GM George
Kokinis and Head Coach Eric Mangini, however.
This duo has resisted the temptation to infuse outsiders, except
for those known commodities familiar to one or the other
administrator. What they've seemingly elected to do is to grow their
own prospects, a refreshing change from what is so often
attempted.
What is occurring is open-minded competition, not only to bring out
the best in each competitor, but also to experiment with personnel in
less-customary locations, so as to assure the best eleven are
appearing on the field at any given moment.
It is quite unlikely a player could argue he's being denied a full
opportunity to exhibit his potentials. And it figures to be the
coaching staff will both know its personnel thoroughly and make
informed choices as how best to employ it.
Moreover, the approach allows for the possibility of an extended run of eventual
team success inasmuch as it invites for athletes with longer shelf-lives to
prevail. The growing pains could be in evidence, certainly, but
this can possibly be mitigated by the staff's determination to
"coach-up" how the game is to be played at
each respective position.
Reports out of Berea, in fact, allude to how details and techniques
are relentlessly emphasized, almost an acknowledge ment that it has been the preparation, not the players, responsible for the Browns struggles.
At any rate, there is no suggestion this regime is into the
quick-fix approach. Instead, note how homegrown youngsters are
receiving their invitations. At virtually every positional unit on the
squad, Cleveland-drafted prospects are challenging for prominence,
unencumbered by newly-arrived outsiders receiving preferential
treatment.
Certainly it is true both Kokinis and Mangini have imported
carefully-selected veteran personnel, if only to assure positive
influences and reasonable mentoring will populate the various
positional meeting rooms, helping the kids process the coaching tips
and techniques, indoctrinating them into The Mangini Way. But the
long-term future is clearly open for the young challengers to
demonstrate their readiness to graduate to frontline
responsibilities.
This philosophy is most clearly exemplified at the LB position, where
elders David Bowens and Eric Barton followed Mangini west from New
York to spearhead his approach to LB play. These seasoned stopgaps are
keeping warm LOLB and LILB, respectively, while Alex Hall and David Veikune acclimate to the varied demands of the pro game.
Simultaneously, others are competing to exceed them as Bowens' and
Barton's eventual successors, Titus Brown being the best example among
that group.
Similarly, the new administrators signed old-pro CBs Corey Ivy and
Hank Poteat but then drafted sixth-rounders Don Carey and Coye Francies to play behind them. Subsequently, vet Rod Hood was added to the mix and Carey
was both injured and waived (claimed by Jacksonville); but the
principle remains. Planned succession is happening, with
carefully-selected seasoned influences holding the forts until the
young talent can assimilate.
The same is playing out at WR, where David Patten and Mike Furrey
protect against the unreadiness of second-rounders Brian Robiskie and
Mohamed Massaquoi, with second-year men Paul Hubbard and Lance Leggett
(among others) also contending.
At TE, Martin Rucker is being groomed while Steve Heiden,
Robert Royal, John Madsen and Aaron Walker exist as bell cows. At QB
and RB, former number-one pick Brady Quinn and yet another
sixth-rounder, Clemson's James Davis, are respectively establishing
themselves.
Only along the two lines does this pattern not appear, though
the club does have highly-drafted LT Joe Thomas and C Alex Mack.
Offensively, the 2009 Browns have recruited seasoned free agents John
St. Clair and George Foster for RT and Floyd Womack and Fred Weary at
RG. Hence, it seems predictable the September waiver-wire will be
carefully monitored so as to add a guard alongside undrafted free
agent tackle Branndon Braxton for the practice squad.
Defensively, youngster Ahtyba Rubin has already supplanted Shaun Smith as NT Shaun Rogers' backup. Other than that development, the defensive line has been a unit
dependent upon veterans for fortification: trade acquisitions Rogers,
Corey Williams and Kenyon Coleman; free agents Smith, CJ Mosley and
Robaire Smith; waiver pickups Santonio Thomas and Louis Leonard. In
fact, the only draftees on the three-deep depth chart are Rubin and DE
Melila Purcell.
What has not yet been conspicuous is the rush to import seasoned
pros once training camp has commenced, with the sole exception being
Weary's understandable signing following Rex Hadnot's knee injury,
underscoring the team's need for more viable options at guard.
What then will be interesting for Browns' fans to observe as the
exhibitions unfold is how well the new administration's process
survives. Will the vision of having veteran mentors
adequately prepare the youngsters or will league castoffs be pursued
in order to enable the new regime to field a representative NFL outfit
during their first season?
It's among the strongest reasons to watch carefully these
reportedly-meaningless summer exhibitions. The future may already be
here, simply stacked behind and shielded by chosen veteran influences.
This edition of Browns' leadership seems intent upon growing and
developing its own.
Here's hoping the autumn harvest is fruitful.