What? No David Carr, no Trent Green, no veteran quarterback for the Browns in '07! We're doomed!
Okay, I know I wrote about this previously, but the topic of who is going to start at QB for the Browns continues to be a hot topic in these forums and especially now that Savage and Crennel addressed the issue at the NFL owners meetings.
I am pleased to say that our GM has not brought in a veteran quarterback from the outside, nor does he have plans to do so. His approach is the sensible one, build a team around the quarterback, not the other way around. That way has failed far too often.
There is no need to bring in a veteran retread with concussion issues (Green), bad wheels (Green), a lame brain (Carr) or whatever. Look, I respect the opinion of fellow bloggers and the fine writers and astute football analysts you hear from on this wonderful site. BUT WE HAVE A VETERAN QUARTERBACK ON THIS TEAM AND HIS NAME IS CHARLIE FRYE. This is his third year in the league and he has a real offensive coordinator to work with this season, even though this will be Chud's first full year directing an NFL offense. I believe Charlie will show one way or the other in '07 whether he can do the job. I think he will prove alot of people wrong.
Savage basically said he wants his quarterbacks to have some mobility and possess an arm good enough to combat the winds of Lake Erie. Charlie has at least the former and perhaps he can make do with his arm. It wasn't a lack of arm strength that hurt him last season, rather it was his decision making and overall pocket presence. Those are things that come with experience, and at times he was good in those areas and at other times he was not. I am counting on the fact that with another year under his belt, Browns fans will indeed see solid performances more often than not.
Tied to all this quarterback banter is the question of who will the Browns select with their first round pick. My choice all along has been Joe Thomas, so we can complete the last piece of the puzzle on that problematic line. Now, if the Browns do not select Thomas, I will not have a cow, PROVIDED THEY ADDRESS THE 0-LINE IN THE SECOND ROUND with a quality pick, such as Joe Staley, Aaron Sears, Justin Blaylock etc. Remember, the Patriots nabbed starting left tackle Matt Light in round two and the Chargers grabbed Marcus McNeill there also.
So that means I won't go nuts if they do take a quarterback with their first choice, as long as they couple it with that lineman in the second. Picking a quarterback first (Russel or Quinn) and stating that Frye could be solid in '07 is not a contradiction nor an indictment on Frye. It is just saying that Frye is the guy in '07 and we hopefully have a future franchise QB in waiting who can sit and watch for a year.
Think of it this way, it is kind of a POOR man's Drew Brees and Phillip Rivers situation. I know you are all gasping on that one!
As I have stated before, if the Browns do take Thomas first, they have alot of options in round two. They can go D-line (Justin Harrell) or perhaps corner (Aaron Ross, Marcus McCauley). Ross, if he was still available at pick 36 could also plug the hole that exists in the punt return role.
Don't be surprised if the Browns do pass on a QB in the first round that they take a good look at our friend from Cleveland via Columbus--Troy Smith in the third. Again, taking a quarterback in the draft is not a slam that Frye definitely won't make it. Rather it is saying a Smith, Quinn or whomever just might develop into something special. Keep in mind, Smith is mobile, has a very good arm and his release is better than people think contrary to reports you may have read. Kind of sounds like Savage's desired quarterback skill sets to me! Quarterbacks taken in later rounds all have some question marks (Smith's height, Montana's size and arm, Brady's whatever) that is why they weren't selected in the first.
So go ahead and make your choice. I've made mine, and it does not include a retread. I think the Browns agree with that.
Go Browns!