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Broncos' roster holes exposed in skid may require hefty free-agency fix

Started by linlybest, 2017/12/09 03:56AM
Latest post: 2018/01/08 04:52AM, Views: 1474, Posts: 2

Broncos' roster holes exposed in skid may require hefty free-agency fi...

#1 2017/12/09 03:56AM

linlybest

BEREA, Ohio The Cleveland Browns pulled off three surprises early on the opening night of NFL Draft 2014. They traded down, traded up, and finally selected Oklahoma State defensive back Justin Gilbert eighth overall Thursday night.

The Browns kicked off the draft by making a blockbuster trade with the Buffalo Bills.

Passing on Texas A quarterback Johnny Manziel, Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins and Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack, the Browns moved down from No. 4 to No. 9 and picked up the Bills' first and fourth rounders in 2015.

It will give the Browns a second first round pick for the third time in the past four drafts.

The Bills selected Watkins at No. 4. Mack went to the Raiders at No. 5.

Then, the Browns gave Minnesota a fifth round pick this weekend (145th overall) to swap picks with the Vikings and move up from ninth to eighth overall. Cleveland followed by taking Gilbert.

thought process was simple," Browns general manager Ray Farmer said. "We had an opportunity to move back, pick up some future considerations. We knew where we were in the draft and we felt like it was a good opportunity to continue to improve our team with the number of picks we could get so we made a deal to move back to Buffalo (No. 9).

"Second trade was another opportunity to get the player we thought we wanted. It didn cost us much to move back into position when he was on the board. We took that opportunity, and we took the pick with (Oklahoma State CB) Justin Gilbert. a dream come true," Gilbert said in a conference call with reporters Thursday night.

Haden, Justin Gilbert, Donte Whitner I getting excited," Farmer said. ". . . We excited about having corners that we think can go out, play press, get after people and give us a chance to turn the ball over.

"We improved our defense. We going to do some other things to make our overall team better, but we definitely like the corner combination that we going to have. Hopefully, we keep those guys together for a long time. said he had a feeling he might be headed to Cleveland.

"I had a meeting with them the day before I came to New York," Gilbert said. "They kind of gave it away (that) they wanted me. I was thinking about it on the way up here.''

Farmer said that the film showed Gilbert was a player who was a perfect fit for Cleveland.

long. He fast. He explosive. He a playmaker. He plays like a Brown," Farmer said. "No. 1 thing we talk about when we talk about corners is they got to cover like Browns. He got great arm length. He got the speed. He got the ball skills.

"I know some people have questioned his tackling. We cheap jerseys cover like Browns, tackling was good, but it doesn necessarily need to be great. We understand exactly who he is, what he is. We think he can make plays for us. He going to play relentless. He going to play at the line of scrimmage and press people. He able to do things we need him to do. highlights of Gilbert's teleconference:

On his ability: "I can play press, man to man, I can pretty much do it all."

On whether fans will remember the Browns passed on Manziel and took him: "That's not something I worry about at all. I think they made the right decision.''

On criticism of his tackling: "I've heard it before. It's something that doesn't bother me at all because I wholesale jerseys China know I can tackle."

On whether he thought he'd be a top 10 pick: "I did. I just didn't know what team I'd go to. The players off the board when the Browns made the first trade were South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (Texans), Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson (Rams) and quarterback Blake Bortles (Jaguars)."

Sources said before the draft that the Browns were leaning toward Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson, who went No. 2 to St. Louis. Also, sources close to Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles felt the Browns would take him at No. 4 if the Jaguars passed on him at No. 3. They didn't.

Another player the Browns coveted, Texas A offensive tackle Jake Matthews, went to the Falcons at No. 6.

Gilbert is 6 foot, 200 pounds and ran the 40 yard dash in 4.37 seconds at the combine. The former track star cheap jerseys led all safeties and cornerbacks at the NFL Scouting Combine with that time. Dating back 10 years, it marked the fourth best time for any defensive back.

Here is a scouting report on Gilbert by The Associated Press:

For teams lacking speed and playmaking ability in the secondary, Gilbert will be a top target. The second team All American in 2013 ran the fastest 40 yard dash time of any defensive player at the scouting combine, clocking in at Cheap China Jerseys 4.37 seconds. Combine that with his terrific ball hawking skills and a constant need for pure talent at the cornerback position and special teams, it is expected the Oklahoma State star will be a first round selection, and perhaps the first cornerback taken. Gilbert had seven of his 12 career interceptions his senior season, running two of them back for touchdowns en route to being an All Big 12 selection. He also averaged 26.3 yards per kickoff return during his career and brought back six kicks for touchdowns.

Gilbert has the size to match up with some of the league's bigger, more physical receivers and instinctive enough to play either man or zone. He showed his leaping ability at the combine, posting a distance of 10 feet 6 inches in the broad jump. The biggest drawback on Gilbert's resume is his play against the run. Scouts felt he didn't shed blocks very well with the Cowboys, wasn't too eager to stick his nose in a pile and can be blocked by physical receivers. Gilbert also had some disagreements with coaching during his time at Oklahoma State, leading to concerns about his attitude. Still, Gilbert is as good as they come at his position in the 2014 draft class, with a combination of size and speed that perfectly fits the new evolving mold of today's NFL defensive back.

Broncos' roster holes exposed in skid may require hefty free-agency fi...

#2 2018/01/08 04:52AM

linpingping1314520

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Broncos' roster holes exposed in skid may require ...

Broncos' roster holes exposed in skid may require hefty free-agency fix