Progress? Browns sign CB with 9 NFL starts in 2010

[danwismar]

Of course he's a former Eagle, but Dmitri Patterson started nine games, and had 62 tackles and 4 picks, as the "targeted" corner in Philly. Replaces Eric Wright adequately, it would seem.

IMO, this team needs linebackers more than anything, and they did sign two UDFA's today there. Eric Gordon had a good last 2 yrs at Michigan State....know nothing much at all about Archie Donald from Toledo. Need experienced NFL LB's though.

[jerryroche]

Because of an apparent lack of front-office interest in bolstering the linebacking and receiving corps via free agency, it would seem that Holmgren & Co. are using 2011 to see what current personnel fit into the WCO and 4-3 schemes. What if Robiskie becomes a terror in the WCO, even though he was barely visible in Daboll's abortion? What if Gocong or Fujita -- who have all the tools and size but might have been a little lost in the 3-4 -- becomes a monster MLB?

Holmgren has said that the two things they are focusing on are: (1) making the team “tougher” and (2) making it younger. So far, the personnel moves they’ve made serve both of those goals.

But it’s apparent that they’ve only begun to remake the club, and that they are more focused on next season rather than this season -- even if they don’t admit it (like the Indians do, all too often). Establishing a longer-term approach is the only possible reason for Heckgren not being more assertive/active in their attempts to add veteran receivers and linebackers.

I like this attitude, because (even through rose-colored glasses) we all know that the Browns still lack the personnel to climb over Pittsburgh and Baltimore in the AFC North.