QUOTE: “We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom. The world henceforth will be run by synthesizers, people able to put together the right information at the right time, think critically about it, and make important choices wisely.” -- E.O. Wilson
Mike Holmgren addresses Browns QB situation
Sunday, at the beginning of the NFL owners meetings, Browns president Mike Holmgren addressed the current state of the team’s quarterback situation. Here’s what he said about the possibility of drafting Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen early: “I wish I liked him more. You know how you have a type of player that you like? It's not scientific. People like him a lot. He'll go high. But it would be hard for me (to take him).”
Holmgren, much like Rex Ryan of the Jets, speaks openly and honestly about his team -- which is not always the best policy around draft time. Holmgren is too nice a man to avoid the truth or tell little white lies. He lays his cards on the table, and now everyone in the league knows the Browns won’t take Clausen.
In the past, Holmgren had a great advantage when selecting quarterbacks since he was the coach of the quarterback, the designer of the game plans and the play caller. But now he’s just the executive making the pick, which is a huge difference, especially when he must rely on others to make his pick successful. Imagine if any other general manager (not coach) in the league brought in former Panthers QB Jake Delhomme or Seattle backup Seneca Wallace to be the new quarterback of the Browns. Their tenure would be off to a dubious start. But since “Holmgren the coach” has a reputation for developing quarterbacks, he’s gotten a pass on any criticism.
The popular theory is that Holmgren is a renowned quarterback coaching guru so he must know more about these players than anyone else. However, the fundamental question is, are we evaluating all these moves based on Mike the coach or Mike the executive?
With Holmgren announcing the Browns will draft a quarterback “later in the draft,” it will be interesting to see if the development he’s used to seeing actually occurs.
Big Ben, and no new QB in Pittsburgh
The Steelers have announced that, in spite of their concerns about Ben Roethlisberger, they will not select a quarterback in the draft. And really, why should they? Not because they’re not worried about Roethlisberger -- even head coach Mike Tomlin said he was “concerned” -- but more that they’ve invested time in Dennis Dixon as their young quarterback. It makes no sense to draft another young quarterback if they’re happy with the progress Dixon has made.
What happens if a top-rated quarterback slips to them in the first round and the value is too great? Even then, the Steelers will have to pass because they’ve tied a tremendous amount of resources (money) into Big Ben, and brining in another high-priced player for depth is not a prudent decision.
What the Steelers need to do is be concerned about Roethlisberger’s off-the-field behavior and continue the development of Dixon.
NFL moves the ump
The NFL has moved the umpire to the backfield, which is a very good move for that person’s health but might result in more holding penalties. In the past, the umpire was positioned like a linebacker and, like a linebacker, he always looking for who might be coming at him — which, at times, took his eyes off his principle focus.
With the move to the backfield, the umpire can accurately determine if an offensive lineman has his hands outside the framework of the defenders body. Being away from the action will allow the umpire to focus on the action — which might result in more holding penalties. As we all know, holding can be called on every play — if the officials want to make the call.
Despite this, I like the move. In the long run, it will help the game.
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Maybe this will help when defenders hit the QB in the face, then pull his facemask, bending him backwards and causing him to kick the ball in the air. Or, maybe this will help the umpire notice when the reigning defensive player of the year is being interfered with by an offensive player like Larry Fitzgerald, when he is unable to become open within the confines of the rules.
Sounds like it will still not help with Packers fans thinking they are the only team in the league that has questionable calls go aganist them.
A rule change that benefits the defense!? I'm shocked.
Do you talk about anything but the Browns? Everyday your story is on the Browns. National Browns Post.com
Freeney may get a call or two but give the officials a break. They get tired trying to keep up with the litany of complaints that Manning lists to them after every offensive play, and when the Colts defense is on the field they try to catch their breath.
People are always wondering "what is Peyton saying when he's at the line of scrimmage"
I have it on good authority that he's not calling plays.
What he's doing is complaining about calls. he walks back and forth at the line of scrimmage trying to make eye contact with officials and just complains and complains and complains...
Then Peter King writes the next day how much class he has.
Maybe we can get a rule change restricting Peter Kings nose from being jammed so far up Peytons Place?
Vegas has just set the over/under on James Harrison's sacks at 43
"The popular theory is that Holmgren is a renowned quarterback coaching guru so he must know more about these players than anyone else."
No, it's the opposite. Holmgren is good at teaching QBs, so whoever he takes becomes good. ...because he teaches them.
Fair criticism at Holmgren. What we want to believe is that he has an eye for QB's with "potential". But were all those QB picks the product of Holmgren's eye or Wolf's scouting department? Seneca Wallace is the only clear argument for "Holmgren's eye" and that's not much of a case.
And I'm a little surprised he's being this chatty. He's not Belicheck, but as a coach in GB he was definitely about sharing only as much info as he thought he should.
I'm surprised he's being this chatty as well doc_al, to the point that I think Holmgren is trying to set up a trade back.
Any team that wants Clausen and thinks the Bills or Jacksonville want to take him now know that they can wait until the Clevelands number 7 spot instead of Seattles number 6 to move up. I gues they could wait until Oaklands spot too, but who knows what Al Davis will want to do come draft time.
c'mon mike. holmgren is so open and honest? is there a more duplicitous character in the nfl? also - didn't mikey always have a quarterback coach? i seem to think andy reed had a pretty big impact on quarterback development, as did mike mccarthy. as for his prowess as a talent evaluator - ron wolf either drafted or traded for the majority of the quarterbacks that holmgren had some measure of success coaching. as for holmgren's tenure as a gm - his getting relieved of his gm duties speaks much more to his talent eval's than his talking randy lerner into letting him manage his checkbook for him...
Wolf wanted to draft Farve at NY but had to settle for Nagle, so he got Favre the following year at GB. Favre had the tools but Wolf & Holmgren had to keep him away from booze & narcotics to reach his potential. Although he's still working on not trying to choke during big games since 1998.
If Homlgren never had Wolf & Favre, how much of a "guru" would he really be? Brunell was in GB 2 years before he was traded & he di a really good job with Hasselbeck until he became injury prone.
Wolf has the "eye", he traded for Favre,& drafted Brunell, Hasselbeck, Detmer, Brooks & 3 other lower pick QB's that weren't really needed.
Holmgren drafted Wallace, Haurd, Booty, Kelly & Greene. A few NFL scouts have told another very good source for NFL news that Holmgren is not good at personel, look how well he did in Seattle.
Holmgren has made interesting decisions to commence his tenure to say the least but it's too early to pass a judgment. The Steelers better hope Dennis Dixon is ready to be an everyday quarterback because perhaps that's what he'll have to be. It's a shame that Roethlisberger has all the intangibles on the field, but off the field, he's as stupid as anyone else. Ridiculous! Keep up the good work, Lombardi!
How can Holmgren's comments be anything other than misdirection considering the QBs he currently has on the roster. I was by no means a fan of either Anderson or Quinn, but aren't the Browns even worse now with Delhomme and Wallace? They don't have time to develop a mid to late round pick since they realistically need to find someone that can start opening day of 2011 (unless Mike thinks there won't be a 2011 season, thus buying him an extra year). Anyone past maybe Snead and Pike won't be ready in time, and I am not certain even those two would be either. I also think McCoy and Bradford are too small and fragile for that division, so the draft options are extremely limited for Cleveland, especially if they are already discounting Clausen too.
yeah enough with the Browns already, why spend so much time in a national column talking about one, recently irrelevant, team...
As a steeler fan I just hope Big Ben learns to keep it in his pants or we could see him destroy the franchise. The Rooney family have always been about treating people with class and how long will it be before they have enough of Ben and his antics. Just a sad situation really.
"BillB- How can Holmgren's comments be anything other than misdirection considering the QBs he currently has on the roster." ?(sic)
That might be Mike's way of saying the same thing. Like complaining what a bad draw you had in poker, and not folding. In the hopes it slides your way, on some reverse spin?
pc_oz
I'd agree the Rooney family, are a very classy bunch no question.
These cases are hard to get convictions on it's true, but for that very reason it's rare for baseless accusations to be made.
The GA police have let it be known that they believe the girl is telling the truth~anyone think the cops don't know the difference?
Assuming no charges are brought are Steelers fans ready to cheer for this guy?
I love the Rooney family who played a large part in keeping the Pats in NE for the record.
If it were Tom Brady and this were his 2nd incident, IMO anyone can have one bad night, but if it were his second incident I'd WANT him run out of town. I would not cheer for a guy that I fully looked on as a sexual predator.
You?
WOULD AGREE WITH BILL BATES 40. IF HOLMGREN IS ALREADY "REJECTING" CLAUSEN,I CERTAINLY AREN'T EXCITED ABOUT BRADFORD/McCOY. AT LEAST CLAUSEN HAS PLAYED IN A PRO-LIKE SYSTEM,NO MATTER WHAT WE MAY THINK OF NOTRE DAME AND/OR WEIS. HOLMGREN IS A REPUTED QB GURU, BUT I WOULD FEEL MUCH BETTER IF I KNEW WHERE HE WAAS GOING WITH THIS QB MESS.
You just showed your hand Lombardi. You are obviously a Notre Dame hater. The number of hate stories you wrote on Brady Quinn was just ridiculous and now you are doing it to Jimmy Clausen. The funny thing is that I hope you are right that Cleveland has no interest in him. I have no interest in seeing another promising ND QB's career get ruined because he went to the mistake by the lake. Everything about the team is a joke and us domers want no part of them.
But now that you have officially shown your hand on beind a Notre Dame hater, don't expect anybody except other ND haters to take anything you say seriously in regards to Irish players.
Wow! ND fans are ultra creepy! Now I know why everyone hates em.
Jimmy Clausen free fall begins...seems everyone finally realized he's a 2nd round talent getting pumped up. Holmgren says no, Redskins seem to say no, Seahawks say no...and these are teams that need a QB and have QB loving coaches. Not a good sign for him when these coaches turn their back...
Steelers: Now that would be a great place for him to land in the 1st round. Just think of the stories and drama that would come rushing out of Pittsburgh Friday morning.
c'mon mike. holmgren is so open and honest? is there a more duplicitous character in the nfl? also - didn't mikey always have a quarterback coach? i seem to think andy reed had a pretty big impact on quarterback development, as did mike mccarthy. as for his prowess as a talent evaluator - ron wolf either drafted or traded for the majority of the quarterbacks that holmgren had some measure of success coaching. as for holmgren's tenure as a gm - his getting relieved of his gm duties speaks much more to his talent eval's than his talking randy lerner into letting him manage his checkbook for him...
____________________
So here we have it!
Mike Holmgren has gotten by in the NFL for over 20 years not doing anything.
Clausen's slide should really begin if Carrol has a shot and lets him go. He faced Notre Dame plenty of times in preparing USC.
I'm glad someone involved with an NFL franchise sees what I see re: Clausen. The guy will not be the answer for anybody.
Clausen is just not going to drop past number 4, I think that's what Holmgren means by "he's gonna go high." I assume he was simply asked about Clausen, gave his honest assessment, and this is a nonstory because he (as everyone should) assumes Clausen will be LONG gone.
However, having Clausen in the title WAS the only reason I clicked on this article, so I can see the appeal in writing such a story.
Well, I suppose knowing this article was about Clausen made me click, haha, but the point remains CLAUSEN is not dropping past 4 and the media is generating a controversy about Clausen when I'm pretty sure there are enough teams that value Clausen as a franchise QB that he is virtually guaranteed to be a top-5 pick.
Did anyone stop to think that Holmgren said he doesn't like Clausen because he really does like him? C'mon man! It's draft season. Nobody tells how they really feel about a player. He's playing poker and you all fell for his bluff....
Did anyone stop to think that Holmgren said he doesn't like Clausen because he really does like him? C'mon man! It's draft season. Nobody tells how they really feel about a player. He's playing poker and you all fell for his bluff....
Did anyone stop to think that Holmgren said he doesn't like Clausen because he really does like him? C'mon man! It's draft season. Nobody tells how they really feel about a player. He's playing poker and you all fell for his bluff....
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Mar 22, 2010
10:40 AM
Maybe Dwight Freeney can finally get a holding call to go his way now. You can tell when he is totally healthy - he is being held on every play.
He was not right after week 5 last year; although he was still productive.