HFS Cleveland Final 53
By Adam Bennett, @HFSCleveland
As the Browns’ brass struggles to get the roster to 53, here’s my two cents on who earned a spot and who should be cut after the 2015 preseason:
Johnny Manziel has toned it down this preseason (Andrew Weber – USA TODAY Sports)
QUARTERBACK (3)
Josh McCown
Johnny Manziel
Thad Lewis
CUT: Pat Devlin
Analysis: Lewis makes the team because of Manziel’s shaky elbow. If Manziel were 100% healthy, I think Pettine and Co. would stick with two. But Lewis is an experienced backup who needs to stick around for when McCown or Manziel will inevitably get hurt at some point.
RUNNING BACK (3)
Isaiah Crowell
Terrence West
Duke Johnson
CUT: Timothy Flanders, Shaun Draughn
Analysis: This group has the potential to be one of the most exciting parts of the 2015 season… or the most disappointing. So, you know, that will be fun. Buckle up.
FULLBACK (1)
Malcolm Johnson
Analysis: There’s not much to say here. Moving on…..
WIDE RECEIVERS (7)
Brian Hartline
Dwayne Bowe
Andrew Hawkins
Taylor Gabriel
Travis Benjamin
Terrelle Pryor
Marlon Moore
CUT: Darius Jennings, Josh Lenz, Vince Mayle
Analysis: Lenz had the best preseason outside of the top four receivers. But he loses out due to the size and athleticism of Pryor. Moore makes the team due to special teams. There is NO WAY Vince Mayle should get a spot just because he was picked fourth. That would be an awful message to send. He goes to the practice squad, hopefully with Lenz.
TIGHT ENDS (3)
Gary Barnidge
Jim Dray
EJ Bibbs
CUT: Rob Housler
Analysis: Housler had every leg up imaginable on the job and he was just flat-out outplayed by Bibbs. So he’s cut.
OFFENSIVE LINE (7)
LT
Joe Thomas
Andrew McDonald
LG
Joel Bitonio
Cameron Erving
C
Alex Mack
Cameron Erving
RG
John Greco
Cameron Erving
RT
Mitchell Schwartz
Andrew McDonald
Analysis: This was the hardest to project. Painter could make the team but my goodness he was terrible in the preseason. Like really, really bad. It’s a tough thing to ask Erving to be THAT versatile as a backup, but if someone gets hurt they’ll inevitably sign someone else’s practice squad player to add “depth.”
CUT: Karim Barton, Erle Ladson, Darrian Miller, Eric Olson, Vinston Painter
DEFENSIVE LINE (8)
RE
Randy Starks
John Hughes
Billy Winn
LE
Desmond Bryant
Armonty Bryant
Xavier Cooper
NT
Danny Shelton
Jamie Meder
CUT: Dylan Wynn, Jacobbi McDaniel
Analysis: Meder is versatile and earned a spot, Cooper had a great preseason, the Bryant brothers are solid, and Billy Winn fought his ass off to earn the final spot in this group of linemen.
LINEBACKER (8)
ROLB
Paul Kruger
Nate Orchard
MIKE
Karlos Dansby
Hayes Pullard
WILL
Christian Kirksey
Craig Robertson
LOLB
Barkevious Mingo
Scott Solomon
CUT: Mike Reilly, Tank Carder
Analysis: Carder loses out because of the exceptional play of Pullard (while in reality they’ll probably keep Carder and send Pullard to the practice squad). Orchard was shaky in the preseason. Solomon is a solid backup to Mingo and will play a bunch of snaps anyway.
Justin Gilbert is not going anywhere. Last year’s first of two first round picks will be on the final 53. (Photo: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports)
SECONDARY (10)
CB1
Joe Haden
Pierre Desir
CB2
Tramon Williams
Justin Gilbert
CB3
K’Waun Williams
Charles Gaines
Johnson Bademosi
FS
Tashaun Gipson
Johnson Bademosi
SS
Donte Whitner
Ibrahim Campbell
CUT: Landon Feichter, Kendall James, Robert Nelson, Joe Rankin, De’Ante Saunders, Jordan Poyer
Analysis: Justin Gilbert isn’t getting cut. Let’s just put that to bed right now. Gaines earned a spot with his performance down the stretch. He clearly showed marked improvement on a weekly basis. Bademosi is an exceptional special teams player, and he’ll probably have a spot as long as Pettine is our coach. So Poyer is the odd man out.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3):
P: Andy Lee
K: Travis Coons
LS: Charley Hughlett
Analysis: Andy Lee is the early leader in the clubhouse for 2015 Team MVP. Go Browns.
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