Browns NFL Draft Preview: Defense - Part 3

The Defensive Line of the Cleveland Browns has been a classic disappointment for the team over the last 5 years. Why is that? Well…because many thought Courtney Brown and Gerard Warren would team up to become one of the fiercest DL tandems in the entire NFL. Years later, they are long gone and an afterthought. Brown couldn’t stay healthy to save his stinking life, and Warren was a fat lazy turd. Chalk one up to bad Cleveland luck to see those guys do the complete opposite in Denver. Those were some nice wasted picks at the top of the draft. Now that the Browns run a 3-4 defense, the team is still trying to put together a good unit that will help stop the run, penetrate opposing OLs, and help the LBs and Secondary become better players in the process.

Let’s take a look at the current situation at DT, and DE:

DT
Ted Washington – Three days older than dirt and bigger than a house, Washington comes to Cleveland looking to prolong his career at age 38 and keep any team from finding a running lane in the middle of the defense. How a guy who is 350+ lbs and is playing this long is a modern miracle. Apparently the guy wants to go to the Pro Bowler again. I guess you can’t fault his goals. Washington is obviously a short-term solution at Nose Tackle so someone will have to be his understudy. Whether or not he has a good season as the Browns’ starter in the middle in 2006 remains a mystery. On paper, he has the size and the technique to continue helping out a 3-4 team.
Ethan Kelley – Kelley joined the Browns in 2005 as a former Patriots’ project player who has some decent talent at the position, but is still a little immature. Occasionally, Kelley played well for the Browns last year, and even pushed starter Jason Fisk out of a job since Fisk reached a point in his career where he became a worthless turd as a starter. Kelley promptly got hurt not long after that and stunted his progress so he’ll go into this season battling for a backup spot behind Big Ted.
Andrew Hoffman – The Browns’ 6th round pick in 2005 didn’t make the roster, but was brought back as a practice squad player. The Browns have debated whether to play him at Nose Tackle (the position he played in college) at this level or Defensive End. He’s not quite strong enough to handle Nose Tackle, but I plugged him here anyways, since these positions aren’t going to be set yet for 2006 and there a lot of fringe players on the DL.
J’Vonne Parker – The former Rutger’s DL saw action in 4 games last year for the Browns after signing on as a practice squad player. Parker will have a battle on his hands to make the roster and contribute much in 2006.


DE
Orpheus Roye – With Andra Davis, and Daylon McCutcheon being the other solid starters on defense, Roye completes a trifecta of steady solid veterans on the defense that have been very good here in Cleveland over a long period of time. After leaving Shitsburgh for the Browns in 2000, Roye has been the most productive Free Agent addition since the team returned as a weak imitation of its former self. Roye will continue to man one of the starting DE positions in 2006. Who starts on the other end will remain a question right now.
Alvin McKinley – A low round pick that actually developed well with the Browns is rare. Because of that, you have to applaud Alvin for working his way up to being a decent starter at the NFL level. Unfortunately, he may not be good enough to stick as a starter though. The Browns want more production here, and McKinley may get bumped if someone can bring more to the position.
Nick Eason – Quietly became a solid player on defense in 2005. The former Broncos’ project has steadily improved each season he has been in the league and can be relied upon to spell the starters and make some nice plays while he is out there. He can plug in at any position on the DL and can be viewed as an asset because of that.
Simon Fraser – Fresh off a 1 year deal to remain with the team, former Ohio State stud Simon Fraser will battle for playing time in 2006. Fraser saw a little action as a D-Lineman and on Special Teams in 2005 (all 16 games), so I look forward to seeing him improve to the point where he can see more action on defense. Fraser is a big boy at 6-6, so his size is a plus. He also has a good motor and he played at Ohio State. That counts for something.
Darrell Campbell – Signed at the end of January as a project player. Campbell played well in college at Notre Dame but suffered an injury for his rookie year in the NFL that kept him out for the season. Campbell will have a tough battle ahead of him as he tries to prove his worth on the Browns and earn a spot in the DL rotation.

Now that we’ve covered all positions on the defense, we’ll come up with a list of the biggest defensive needs going into the 2006 draft next weekend. Look forward to that tomorrow.