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Do IT this week: Layering
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 08:44 p.m. EDT, Sep 02, 2009
BEREA: Browns offensive lineman Isaac Sowells had to pause for a few seconds to remember what position he'll play in the preseason finale tonight at Chicago against the Bears.
''I'm out there. . .let's see, yeah, right tackle, I'm out there again this week,'' Sowells said Tuesday. ''I was just thinking, because I've been playing guard and tackle the whole preseason.''
Such is the life of a player on the bubble like Sowells, a fourth-round pick in 2006 who has survived three NFL seasons despite never starting a game. The 8 p.m. game in Soldier Field is the last chance for Sowells to impress the new regime of coach Eric Mangini and General Manager George Kokinis.
The NFL's final roster cut to 53 looms Saturday, and Mangini has seven players who were with him last year with the New York Jets to make room for, along with seven draft choices. That could cause some sleepless nights for picks of former General Manager Phil Savage, like Sowells.
Even those who survive Saturday might not be able to breathe easy. During training camp, Mangini was obsessed with the 80th man on the roster, with a frenzy of waivings and signings that eventually cost the Browns promising rookie cornerback Don Carey, a sixth-round pick whom the Jacksonville Jaguars snatched off waivers. (Carey is out for the season with a shoulder injury.) So Mangini will surely be trolling for other teams' castoffs this weekend, especially offensive tackles, where depth now seems an issue. Going into the Bears' game, Sowells was listed as the backup to Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas, with unknowns Pat Murray and Corey Hilliard at right tackle behind John St. Clair.
With ever-loyal coach Romeo Crennel gone, many have reason to worry. That could include Jerome Harrison, who would seem to be the perfect change-of-pace running back behind 30-year-old Jamal Lewis. But Harrison, a three-year veteran picked in the fifth round, spent most of the preseason riding the exercise bike with an apparent knee injury. He watched rookie James Davis, a sixth-round pick from Clemson, rush for 149 yards on 19 carries (7.8 average) and an 81-yard touchdown.
Will there be room for Harrison, Davis and Noah Herron behind Lewis? Not likely.
''We'll know soon,'' Harrison said. ''I don't worry about stuff like that. I just line up and play football and have fun. That's what I do.
''I don't think too many people can play with an injury. I don't feel squeezed out. I feel good about my situation.''
Asked whether Mangini has enough film on him to know what he can do, Harrison said, ''I didn't say that. I'm not paid to think; I'm paid to run. Come Saturday, if you all are still interviewing me, that question will be answered.''
Here's a look at some other position and roster battles going into the final preseason game:
-- No. 2 receiver: Mangini said Tuesday that he could have different starters at this spot during the season, depending upon matchups. At the moment, it appears that Pro Bowl special teamer Joshua Cribbs or rookie Mohamed Massaquoi will be No. 2, with six-year vet Mike Furrey the slot receiver. That leaves fan favorite Brian Robiskie, the 36th overall pick from Ohio State, at No. 5. Robiskie needs a big game against the Bears to make a case for more playing time.
Behind those five stand 12-year veteran David Patten, who is 35, Paul Hubbard, Lance Leggett and Jordan Norwood, an undrafted rookie from Penn State who could land on the practice squad.
Patten has not played in a preseason game, after catching two long passes in an Aug. 9 scrimmage at the stadium.
''I know I've still got it, but when you get to plus-10 years, you start having more issues,'' said Patten, who played for the Browns in 2000. ''Lord willing, he keeps me healthy, I expect to go out there and work.''
-- Third tight end: Although the Browns could use a two-tight end set, if Mangini keeps four he might have to sacrifice at another position. Robert Royal and Steve Heiden seem safe, with Martin Rucker and four-year veteran Aaron Walker battling for No. 3. When speaking of Rucker, Mangini has talked about his learning the role of an H-back, which could make a second fullback like Charles Ali expendable.
-- Phil's guys: Linebackers Beau Bell and Leon Williams, Ali, Hubbard and Sowells might be playing their last game. Bell, the Browns' first selection (in the fourth round) in 2008, looks slow afoot and has been almost invisible, especially next to rookie draft picks David Veikune and Kaluka Maiava.
-- Secondary: Safeties Nick Sorensen, rookie Bret Lockett, Hamza Abdullah and Tra Battle and cornerbacks Hank Poteat, Corey Ivy and Brandon Anderson (an undrafted rookie from Akron) look to be competing for four or five spots. Ivy, a former Baltimore Raven, is the nickel back, but he seems like a big drop-off from starting corners Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald. Rookie Coye Francies could fill the nickel role before the season ends.
-- Center: Even if 21st overall pick Alex Mack beats out Hank Fraley, which seems likely, depth issues could spare Fraley for now. Guards Rex Hadnot (reportedly rehabbing a torn medial collateral ligament) might not be ready for the opener and Ryan Tucker (reported knee surgery) landed on injured reserve. A nine-year veteran who is 31, Fraley has played sparingly at guard. That could be necessary in the event of a tackle injury, which would move left guard Eric Steinbach to tackle and leave a hole in the starting five. Mangini praised Fraley on Tuesday for his ''great savvy.''
''All I know is I'm playing the Chicago Bears on Thursday night,'' Fraley said. ''Where I fit in, it's all up to Coach.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns.
BEREA: Browns offensive lineman Isaac Sowells had to pause for a few seconds to remember what position he'll play in the preseason finale tonight at Chicago against the Bears.
''I'm out there. . .let's see, yeah, right tackle, I'm out there again this week,'' Sowells said Tuesday. ''I was just thinking, because I've been playing guard and tackle the whole preseason.''
Such is the life of a player on the bubble like Sowells, a fourth-round pick in 2006 who has survived three NFL seasons despite never starting a game. The 8 p.m. game in Soldier Field is the last chance for Sowells to impress the new regime of coach Eric Mangini and General Manager George Kokinis.
The NFL's final roster cut to 53 looms Saturday, and Mangini has seven players who were with him last year with the New York Jets to make room for, along with seven draft choices. That could cause some sleepless nights for picks of former General Manager Phil Savage, like Sowells.
Even those who survive Saturday might not be able to breathe easy. During training camp, Mangini was obsessed with the 80th man on the roster, with a frenzy of waivings and signings that eventually cost the Browns promising rookie cornerback Don Carey, a sixth-round pick whom the Jacksonville Jaguars snatched off waivers. (Carey is out for the season with a shoulder injury.) So Mangini will surely be trolling for other teams' castoffs this weekend, especially offensive tackles, where depth now seems an issue. Going into the Bears' game, Sowells was listed as the backup to Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas, with unknowns Pat Murray and Corey Hilliard at right tackle behind John St. Clair.
With ever-loyal coach Romeo Crennel gone, many have reason to worry. That could include Jerome Harrison, who would seem to be the perfect change-of-pace running back behind 30-year-old Jamal Lewis. But Harrison, a three-year veteran picked in the fifth round, spent most of the preseason riding the exercise bike with an apparent knee injury. He watched rookie James Davis, a sixth-round pick from Clemson, rush for 149 yards on 19 carries (7.8 average) and an 81-yard touchdown.
Will there be room for Harrison, Davis and Noah Herron behind Lewis? Not likely.
''We'll know soon,'' Harrison said. ''I don't worry about stuff like that. I just line up and play football and have fun. That's what I do.
''I don't think too many people can play with an injury. I don't feel squeezed out. I feel good about my situation.''
Asked whether Mangini has enough film on him to know what he can do, Harrison said, ''I didn't say that. I'm not paid to think; I'm paid to run. Come Saturday, if you all are still interviewing me, that question will be answered.''
Here's a look at some other position and roster battles going into the final preseason game:
-- No. 2 receiver: Mangini said Tuesday that he could have different starters at this spot during the season, depending upon matchups. At the moment, it appears that Pro Bowl special teamer Joshua Cribbs or rookie Mohamed Massaquoi will be No. 2, with six-year vet Mike Furrey the slot receiver. That leaves fan favorite Brian Robiskie, the 36th overall pick from Ohio State, at No. 5. Robiskie needs a big game against the Bears to make a case for more playing time.
Behind those five stand 12-year veteran David Patten, who is 35, Paul Hubbard, Lance Leggett and Jordan Norwood, an undrafted rookie from Penn State who could land on the practice squad.
Patten has not played in a preseason game, after catching two long passes in an Aug. 9 scrimmage at the stadium.
''I know I've still got it, but when you get to plus-10 years, you start having more issues,'' said Patten, who played for the Browns in 2000. ''Lord willing, he keeps me healthy, I expect to go out there and work.''
-- Third tight end: Although the Browns could use a two-tight end set, if Mangini keeps four he might have to sacrifice at another position. Robert Royal and Steve Heiden seem safe, with Martin Rucker and four-year veteran Aaron Walker battling for No. 3. When speaking of Rucker, Mangini has talked about his learning the role of an H-back, which could make a second fullback like Charles Ali expendable.
-- Phil's guys: Linebackers Beau Bell and Leon Williams, Ali, Hubbard and Sowells might be playing their last game. Bell, the Browns' first selection (in the fourth round) in 2008, looks slow afoot and has been almost invisible, especially next to rookie draft picks David Veikune and Kaluka Maiava.
-- Secondary: Safeties Nick Sorensen, rookie Bret Lockett, Hamza Abdullah and Tra Battle and cornerbacks Hank Poteat, Corey Ivy and Brandon Anderson (an undrafted rookie from Akron) look to be competing for four or five spots. Ivy, a former Baltimore Raven, is the nickel back, but he seems like a big drop-off from starting corners Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald. Rookie Coye Francies could fill the nickel role before the season ends.
-- Center: Even if 21st overall pick Alex Mack beats out Hank Fraley, which seems likely, depth issues could spare Fraley for now. Guards Rex Hadnot (reportedly rehabbing a torn medial collateral ligament) might not be ready for the opener and Ryan Tucker (reported knee surgery) landed on injured reserve. A nine-year veteran who is 31, Fraley has played sparingly at guard. That could be necessary in the event of a tackle injury, which would move left guard Eric Steinbach to tackle and leave a hole in the starting five. Mangini praised Fraley on Tuesday for his ''great savvy.''
''All I know is I'm playing the Chicago Bears on Thursday night,'' Fraley said. ''Where I fit in, it's all up to Coach.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Stow, OH
Posted 07:25 AM, 09/03/2009
I must admit ,Marla wrote a very informative article this time. I agree on almost every player that is on the bubble and maybe add a few more.
I am not even sure Lewis is safe ,seeing he has shown very little in the way of quickness, of course they would have to pick up another running back in a trade if they did get rid of him.
But without a doubt there will be many crappy linebackers out of a job come Saturday.
Posted 11:46 AM, 09/03/2009
I still say there is a role for Lewis on this team, next year is another story. I would have to drop Herron but that's because I'm not as familiar with him as I am Harrison. My other defense is, Harrison is a play maker with great vision but lacks a blocking dimension.
You can teach players how to block, you can't teach them how to see the field and make plays. I strongly disagree if Mangini keeps a journeyman like Herron over a younger RB with the talent of Harrison.
Herron, Beau Bell, Leon Williams, Hamza Abdullah and Tra Battle would be on my cut list.
I would keep Ali around because he's a pounder at FB. Rucker would stay as well.
Fraley makes my team too. He has good experience and can work in as G. He won't be here next year though.
Posted 12:36 PM, 09/03/2009
Marla,
That was one of your BEST articles this year. Serious.
Your new fan,
***
Wilmington, NC
Posted 02:13 PM, 09/03/2009
Dropping Harrison would be a major blunder in my opinion-he has shown enough , even with little playing times thanks to the previous regime he is indeed a play maker. If it were me out goes Herron and even Jamal, take a chance on James Davis as your every down back with Harrison as the number 2...and for those crying fowl about Jamal-what has he shown?? I am sure the waiver wire will have a decent RB to replace Lewis who is in my opinion, finished.
tallmadge, OH
Posted 05:03 PM, 09/03/2009
Why is this on the front page? The front page should focus on things effecting everyone like the Obama one finger pledge. Another former leader's pledge was to raise your entire arm. And he is also trying to brainwash our elementary school children with his socialist agenda. That is what the Akron Obamination Journal should be exposing!
Posted 05:14 PM, 09/03/2009
@moscow,
You can't cut Jamal yet because he provides veteran leadership on a young team. He carries will decline as the eyar progresses but he must mentor Davis and Harrison throughout the season.
They will not go to the Super Bowl without him this year and he will not be with the team next year.
It's very understandable to keep him on the roster.
Akron, OH
Posted 05:30 PM, 09/03/2009
You guys got to remember James Davis would have been a first round pick had he not injured himself after his Junior year...
