Justin Hardee, who ranks 76th out of 90 players on the roster, has finally signed a contract.
After an extension is signed, it takes a few days for the information to reach websites like Over The Cap so that I may write a report on it. Since the agent often inflates the numbers with incentives that are unlikely to be earned and other means in order to exploit them to draw in new business, I never pay too much attention to the early reports that include the word “up to.” It provides you with a decent indication of what the transaction is probably going to be like, but I won’t comment on the statistics until we get formal documentation. This can occasionally take many days, so I won’t write about trades until I get the formal breakdown.
Viewers will be keeping an eye on which Michigan players Jim Harbaugh adds to his squad in the upcoming draft class, since he will be rejoining the NFL as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers and his old team. It’s important to consider how the Cleveland Browns’ addition of two collegiate assistant coaches this offseason may affect their selection strategy.
The Browns signed Nick Charlton and Tommy Rees, two collegiate offensive coordinators. Charlton will be the run game coordinator, and Rees will coach tight ends and be an expert in the pass game. Rees played for the Alabama Crimson Tide during the previous season, while Charlton was the offensive coordinator at the University of Connecticut. But in his three seasons as a Notre Dame coach prior to that.
For the simple reason that Rees and Charlton were their coaches, the Browns will not select a player from any of these programmes in the draft. However, their perspective can be helpful in assessing whether or not they would be a multifaceted fit for the Browns. They have personal knowledge with those athletes in addition to the possible schematic fit.
How did they train? Were they attacking the gym? Which kind of student are they? What is their attitude towards coaching? How did they get along with their teammates? Do they hold a leadership position? What kind of people are they off the field, and why did the Browns cut them from their roster?
Having an individual with that kind of understanding on the coaching team is beneficial. Additionally, it’s critical that the Browns continue to conduct due diligence with the school’s coaches and support staff in order to obtain a knowledgeable viewpoint, rather than putting all of their faith in Rees or Charlton.
For some of the offensive prospects, the fact that they were both offensive coordinators adds an additional dimension. The plays are being called by Charlton and Rees. Where did the ball go when they needed to make a play? Were they heading somewhere else, and if so, with the intention of getting this specific player the ball? Were the offensive linemen rushing to catch up to them or were they concerned about their ability to provide pass protection?
On the other hand, during practice, they encountered defensive players. Did they consider them to be a small inconvenience, or did they detest having to deal with them because they were often interfering with plays?
Overhearing the chats would be fascinating.
It might affect whether the Browns feel compelled to interview a prospect at the combine or to use one of their thirty pre-draft visits based on their own research into the prospect as well as having Rees and Charlton. As of the time this article was written, no players from Alabama, Notre Dame, or Connecticut had been mentioned as having visited.
The Browns might just throw Rees and Charlton at players they think might go undrafted in order to add players. Put them on the phone to entice former players to Cleveland, pitching them on the plan or their compatibility with the team. The other twist in this story is that they attempted to attract players to their respective institutions but were unsuccessful. Some of these prospects may already be acquainted with them, which could facilitate their transfer to Cleveland.
In light of the aforementioned, the players that Rees and Charlton have coached in this draft class are listed below.
