2014 preseason
After some contemplation, I have returned to the fold for another round with the Cleveland Browns. After a slightly disappointing season, the expectations remain pretty high – and we will have to deliver this year, or else it will mean my job, no doubt.
Transitions and League Observations
We have no retirements. Our only lingering issue is RB Jeremy Battle, who has yet to play a down for us, and may never be able to. He is still hurt, and will very possibly be on IR again this year.
Front Office Decisions
Scout Kim Donaldson is still young, and still developing in his role. I make an offer to bring him back, and he comes back, fairly cheaply. Here is his snapshot:
Scout Kim Donaldson, 42 ($350,000)
VG: WR
GD: QB,PK,DL,LB,DB,Young Talent
AV: RB,OL
Roster Review
Code:
Players Under Contract: 36
Salary Cap: $75,000,000
Cap Room: $33,240,000
Maximum for New Player: $30,020,000
Cap Room Lost (to old contracts): $1,140,000
We have quite a lot of cap room this season – so we’ll have chances to perhaps bring in a player or two to try to make a big push for the title this season. That should be our goal, I think.
Code:
Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Cntrct
Clancy, Marco 8 QB 6 70 70 ---
Houston, James 7 QB 4 54 59 ---
Gordon, Howie 3 QB 4 35 53 1 yr.
Brock, Deion 2 QB 2 29 51 2 yrs
Re-signing QB Marco Clancy is a big decision – I’m reluctant to sign him, since he has been so unreliable with his health. His production leapt last season, but I am gun-shy. James Houston also needs a deal – he has proven to be a very solid #2, and at least a consideration for the top job if he’s more reasonable than Clancy is. Gordon and Brock are both usable backups – but probably not starting material.
Code:
Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Cntrct
Arsenault, Roderick 33 RB 11 41 41 2 yrs
Aguilera, Danny 30 RB 4 35 35 1 yr.
Ramsey, Kendrick 32 RB 9 32 32 1 yr.
Zimmerman, Lincoln 38 RB 2 30 35 1 yr.
**Battle, Jeremy 25 RB 2 24 34 2 yrs
RB Roderick Arsenault is sitting on a career total of 11,456 yards rushing – he’s already accomplished nearly everything, including winning a title. He’s just a supporting-caliber player at this point, but we will try to get some more out of the old guy this year, which will probably be his swansong season.
We really need a more serious workhorse running back, either by the draft or by free agency. A pretty high priority for our club there. Nobody on the roster is ready to be a true #1 option.
Code:
Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Cntrct
Pritchett, Eric 45 FB 3 66 66 1 yr.
Goodwin, Ian 23 FB 6 46 52 1 yr.
Norton, Devin 6 TE 6 76 76 2 yrs
Thomason, Tony 88 TE 3 32 46 ---
Eric Pritchett has assumed the top spot here, and is the sort of versatile player that helps out in lots of ways. Solid. TE Devin Norton stepped immediately into the featured TE role in our offense, and could be primed for a career season ahead.
Code:
Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Cntrct
Blair, Zach 81 FL 6 50 50 2 yrs
Ellard, Jimmy 87 FL 9 45 45 1 yr.
Tilton, Cornelius 83 FL 2 39 39 2 yrs
Causey, Marvin 86 SE 5 56 56 2 yrs
Elizondo, Harold 84 SE 11 53 53 1 yr.
Another solid season from the steady WR Zach Blair – he’s not that flashy, but is dependable and productive. Elizondo and Causey split time at the split end position due to injuries, but both were pretty effective. Rookie Tilton was surprisingly active (492 yards) and will continue to offer a playmaker off the bench for us. Ellard is the group leader, and has been decent as well. I’m pretty content with this returning group – probably as much as any on the team.
Code:
Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Cntrct
Owens, O.J. 51 C 8 66 66 ---
Pond, Ellis 57 C 4 36 59 ---
Thornton, Mickey 53 LG 4 60 61 2 yrs
Booker, Johnnie 74 LG 2 18 38 1 yr.
Gruber, Lincoln 63 RG 10 55 55 1 yr.
Heinlein, Bennie 71 LT 10 55 56 1 yr.
Thornton, Donnie 73 RT 8 63 63 2 yrs
Barber, Joseph 62 RT 2 15 30 ---
O.J. Owens has been a solid starter for us, but he now seeks monster money and will walk. That leaves Ellis Pond, if we re-up with him, as the presumed starter. He should be okay, but not a dominating run blocker. Guards Thornton and Gruber are both pass-inclined, as are starting tackles Heinlein and Thornton. We could use some more beef up front – we’ll see if there is a quality free agent we might add at either C or even LT.
Code:
Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Cntrct
Creighton, Lamont 9 P 4 68 68 ---
Oskia, Edward 11 K 2 25 25 ---
I’ll weigh my options here. Creighton has been good, but Oskia’s main attraction was the fact he is from Akron. If we drop that part of the career, he probably fades away.
Code:
Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Cntrct
Fox, Jimmy 93 LDE 8 52 52 ---
Bromley, Skip 78 LDE 6 52 52 ---
Garner, Henry 77 LDE 7 51 51 1 yr.
Limon, Lincoln 95 LDE 11 42 42 1 yr.
Lynn, Neal 90 LDE 2 33 52 3 yrs
Hendrix, Tim 99 RDE 8 65 67 ---
Cascadden, Gary 72 LDT 8 70 71 ---
Oliveira, Willie 76 LDT 10 45 46 2 yrs
Bailey, Zach 96 LDT 3 40 66 2 yrs
DE Jimmie Fox’s demands aren’t ridiculous, and he is a mentor to the younger DE – so we will try to keep him around. DE Tim Hendrix is looking for superstar cash, and he won’t get it from us. We have talent, but not great talent here. Inside, I like Cascadden a lot, and will try to re-sign him, even though the asking price is some $7 million a year. Zach Bailey is on his way to becoming a very productive player – he’ll get time alongside Oliveira, our positional leader. Another group I’m generally happy with, though a bit more depth would be welcome, as usual.
Code:
Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Cntrct
Lake, Ed 91 SILB 7 57 73 2 yrs
Davis, Curtis 55 MLB 9 68 68 1 yr.
Perez, K.C. 56 MLB 8 61 62 2 yrs
Goodwin, Cedric 92 MLB 11 55 55 ---
Jervey, Kim 98 SLB 11 40 40 ---
Meyer, Herb 50 SLB 2 25 49 2 yrs
Lofton, Dwight 54 SLB 2 22 34 2 yrs
Regalado, Darrin 52 WLB 6 51 51 ---
Curtis Davis has become the undisputed leader of the LB corps, with another great season from the strong side “blitzbacker” position. K.C. Perez was very effective at MLB last season, and that might spell the end of Cedric Goodwin’s time as our nominal starter – he just cannot stay healthy for more than a game or two at this point. We do need to add at the OLB spots – just to fill out the roster a bit more. Ed Lake will probably retain the weak-side starter position.
Code:
Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Cntrct
Wickliff, Calvin 28 LCB 10 51 51 1 yr.
Freeman, Jamie 44 LCB 4 36 57 2 yrs
Richmond, Deon 43 RCB 9 55 55 ---
Douglas, Darrell 26 RCB 4 55 55 2 yrs
Weed, Kirk 24 SS 6 58 58 2 yrs
Eskridge, Kenneth 20 FS 3 81 81 3 yrs
Ellery, Deron 46 FS 7 62 62 2 yrs
Specter, Rex 41 FS 4 40 50 ---
Darrell Douglas was passable as a starter for us last season, but I’m not too excited by the prospect of his return to that role. Our defense slipped last season, and I think adding a solid second corner to play next to Deon Richmond (if we get him back) would help a lot. I love our safeties – Weed has evolved into a brutally punishing tackler, and Eskridge is just a complete player.
My top re-signing priority is DT Cascadden, plus we’d like to re-up with DE Fox, CB Richmond, and one of our establish QBs. Past that, we will see where things fall – we have places to make additions, and places to stand still.
Target positions for free agency: RB, CB, C, T, K