The Browns are rebuilding yet again, but are using more of a “moneyball” approach, with the result that they have one of the Whiter rosters in the league to start the 2016 season (17 Whites). There are 6 White starters, but that number has the potential to grow on defense as the team is grooming some very talented young players at linebacker and on the line.
With no teams starting an all-White offensive line this year, Cleveland remains one of the few to still start four. LT Joe Thomas, now 31, is the best tackle in the league and one of the best ever. LG Joel Bitonio was drafted by the Browns in the second round in 2014. RG John Greco is a solid veteran, while young RT Austin Pasztor is a 6’7” 308 pound mauler out of Virginia.
Rookie Spencer Drango from Baylor is a backup tackle.
37-year-old veteran Josh McCown is waiting in the wings if/when Robert Griffin III fails as the Browns’ starting quarterback. But the heir apparent to Griffin should be Cody Kessler, drafted out of USC in the third round this spring.
TE Gary Barnidge, after being pigeon-holed previously as a non-athletic journeyman, went 79/1,043/9 in his first year as a starter, making a number of highlight reel catches. In the six seasons prior to 2015, Barnidge had a career total of 44 receptions.
Cleveland stunned DWFs by drafting Seth DeValve out of Princeton in the fourth round. He’s listed as the team’s third tight end, but at 6’3” and 245 lbs. has the athleticism to play wide receiver.
On defense, rookie OLB Joe Schobert was recently promoted to starter over Nate Orchard, who was drafted in the second round in 2015. That’s a daring move for an NFL team to make, which gives hope that the new regime in Cleveland will treat its White players fairly. Schobert was Cleveland’s first pick of the 4th round this spring.
Rookie DE Carl Nassib led the country in sacks last year at Penn State and from all reports has had a fantastic training camp. Still listed as a backup, it’ll be a major upset if he doesn’t start at some point in 2016, and an even bigger upset if he isn’t immediately an impact player.
Scooby Wright was perhaps the best college linebacker in the country but wasn’t drafted by the Browns until the 7th round, because of concerns about his “athleticism,” a time-honored label applied to most White LBs who are tackling machines in college and who almost always do well in the NFL when given a fair opportunity. Wright begins the season as a second string inside linebacker, as does Tank Carder, the fifth year man from Texas Christian.
Tackle Jamie Meder, in his second season from Ashland, has looked very good and should be part of the DL rotation.
Half of the practice squad is White – OL Anthony Fabiano (Harvard), OL Dan France (Michigan State), TE Connor Hamlett (Oregon State), QB Kevin Hogan (Stanford), and punter Michael Palardy (Tennessee).
Starters:
LT Joe Thomas
LG Joel Bitonio
RG John Greco
RT Austin Pasztor
TE Gary Barnidge
OLB Joe Schobert
Number of White players on 53 man roster: 17
Grade: D+
With no teams starting an all-White offensive line this year, Cleveland remains one of the few to still start four. LT Joe Thomas, now 31, is the best tackle in the league and one of the best ever. LG Joel Bitonio was drafted by the Browns in the second round in 2014. RG John Greco is a solid veteran, while young RT Austin Pasztor is a 6’7” 308 pound mauler out of Virginia.
Rookie Spencer Drango from Baylor is a backup tackle.
37-year-old veteran Josh McCown is waiting in the wings if/when Robert Griffin III fails as the Browns’ starting quarterback. But the heir apparent to Griffin should be Cody Kessler, drafted out of USC in the third round this spring.
TE Gary Barnidge, after being pigeon-holed previously as a non-athletic journeyman, went 79/1,043/9 in his first year as a starter, making a number of highlight reel catches. In the six seasons prior to 2015, Barnidge had a career total of 44 receptions.
Cleveland stunned DWFs by drafting Seth DeValve out of Princeton in the fourth round. He’s listed as the team’s third tight end, but at 6’3” and 245 lbs. has the athleticism to play wide receiver.
On defense, rookie OLB Joe Schobert was recently promoted to starter over Nate Orchard, who was drafted in the second round in 2015. That’s a daring move for an NFL team to make, which gives hope that the new regime in Cleveland will treat its White players fairly. Schobert was Cleveland’s first pick of the 4th round this spring.
Rookie DE Carl Nassib led the country in sacks last year at Penn State and from all reports has had a fantastic training camp. Still listed as a backup, it’ll be a major upset if he doesn’t start at some point in 2016, and an even bigger upset if he isn’t immediately an impact player.
Scooby Wright was perhaps the best college linebacker in the country but wasn’t drafted by the Browns until the 7th round, because of concerns about his “athleticism,” a time-honored label applied to most White LBs who are tackling machines in college and who almost always do well in the NFL when given a fair opportunity. Wright begins the season as a second string inside linebacker, as does Tank Carder, the fifth year man from Texas Christian.
Tackle Jamie Meder, in his second season from Ashland, has looked very good and should be part of the DL rotation.
Half of the practice squad is White – OL Anthony Fabiano (Harvard), OL Dan France (Michigan State), TE Connor Hamlett (Oregon State), QB Kevin Hogan (Stanford), and punter Michael Palardy (Tennessee).
Starters:
LT Joe Thomas
LG Joel Bitonio
RG John Greco
RT Austin Pasztor
TE Gary Barnidge
OLB Joe Schobert
Number of White players on 53 man roster: 17
Grade: D+
