#6: Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU

[Surge]

Weeden can give him all sorts of insights on what it was like to graduate high school when Mingo was in second grade.

 

[natedagg]

STUNNING SMILE

 

[Phills14]

51 is kind of a gross number..


Still going to tear the opponents QB's up.

Let's hope he's a little better than the last high Browns draft pick to wear 51

 

[Randolphkeys]

The Mingo pick is a microcosm of why I am less and less invested in the Browns every passing year. Mingo has a high ceiling, but he only works in one system as a 3-4 pass rush specialist. It may take him two or three years to develop into a full time starter in this system.

Now think about the last time the Browns had the same defensive coaches in place for three years in a row.

I would like to be an optimist the day after the draft, but this is year 14 of high picks exactly like this one. Trade Courtney Brown and Gerald Warren, they don't fit the new system. Trade Kam Wimbley, he belongs in a 3-4 package. Whatever you do, don't trade away draft picks, everyone knows you have to draft your core players.

The cycle only ends if the Browns commit to this defense, even if Horton leaves for another job. I just don't see a commitment to stability with this franchise.

 

[Giambiwannabe7]

The Mingo pick is a microcosm of why I am less and less invested in the Browns every passing year. Mingo has a high ceiling, but he only works in one system as a 3-4 pass rush specialist. It may take him two or three years to develop into a full time starter in this system.

Now think about the last time the Browns had the same defensive coaches in place for three years in a row.

I would like to be an optimist the day after the draft, but this is year 14 of high picks exactly like this one. Trade Courtney Brown and Gerald Warren, they don't fit the new system. Trade Kam Wimbley, he belongs in a 3-4 package. Whatever you do, don't trade away draft picks, everyone knows you have to draft your core players.

The cycle only ends if the Browns commit to this defense, even if Horton leaves for another job. I just don't see a commitment to stability with this franchise.

I get what you're saying, but I can't hold past regimes against this one, especially since even the owner is new to the job. Courtney Brown and Gerard Warren were just awful football players, system be damned.

I was, and partly still am, very skeptical on the Lombardi/Banner pairing. But, I have to admit I really have enjoyed their overall approach thus far. Of course they need to stay the course, and every successful team does in large part. Continuity is definitely key, but our lack of previous continuity had a lot to do with player evaluation. It's much easier to stay consistent when you have a steady flow of quality players coming in.

I guess I just don't understand how you can see any pattern of commitment from a franchise that is basically brand new, from top to bottom. I just can't justify holding a lack of stability against a brand new owner, entire FO, and coaching staff

 

[Randolphkeys]

I guess I just don't understand how you can see any pattern of commitment from a franchise that is basically brand new, from top to bottom. I just can't justify holding a lack of stability against a brand new owner, entire FO, and coaching staff

I'm less than thrilled with the commitment to a 3-4 base after switching to a 4-3 just two seasons ago, investing two drafts of defensive picks into linemen who belong in a 4-3. I have been hoping for the Browns to get younger at linebacker for a couple years, but I can't get too excited about a situational pass rusher at #6 overall over a guy like Star, who can play in either a 3-4 or 4-3. I want Mingo to develop. You won't see me pulling for him to fail. I do think free agency has had some odd choices which left the Browns in a position to draft for need rather than best talent.

 

[Giambiwannabe7]

I'm less than thrilled with the commitment to a 3-4 base after switching to a 4-3 just two seasons ago, investing two drafts of defensive picks into linemen who belong in a 4-3. I have been hoping for the Browns to get younger at linebacker for a couple years, but I can't get too excited about a situational pass rusher at #6 overall over a guy like Star, who can play in either a 3-4 or 4-3. I want Mingo to develop. You won't see me pulling for him to fail. I do think free agency has had some odd choices which left the Browns in a position to draft for need rather than best talent.

It's a completely new regime, though. They are not going to stick with something they don't believe in. We have absolutely fantastic guys in place to run both our new offense and defense. We also have no idea yet on how guys held over from the last roster are going to translate to the new schemes. You can speculate that there are some potential mismatches there, but I could say just the opposite about a guy like Weeden, who would seem to have a lot to gain with the change in OC and systems.
As for the need over talent argument, I'm just not sure that's the case. Banner was on Bull and Fox right before the draft and specifically said the Browns had their man in their sights and if he wasn't there, they had multiple trade offers on the table they felt very comfortable with. The Browns pick came in quicker than any other team in the entire first round. That says a ton to me about what they felt about Mingo. I'm not sure there was a better guy for this D and Horton than Mingo at 6. Time will tell, but it's safe to say I'm much more optimistic on this franchise moving forward than I was when Banner and Lombardi were starting out here a few months ago.

 

[Soda]

I'm just going to say that we need to have a coach in place for more than two years, with half of the tenure being mercilessly booed by the starving fans. Chud has stated that he wants his team defense to be an attacking style. Regardless of whom the coordinator is, I think that the defense will be in the form of having hybrid style OLB/DE guys who can move to the QB.

Ray Horton being available has, without question, helped Chud define what he wants out of a defense as a head coach.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Right now is certainly the time to be optimistic about the Browns. Without any games played, wholesale changes made to ownership and coaches, this is the time for optimism for a die hard fan.

I'm just taking this opportunity to also point put some missteps I'm seeing at the top. I think Mingo needs to learn the linebacker position, Sheard needs to learn the linebacker position. I think the Browns went into this draft the worst team in the AFC North, and while I see the reasons the franchise chose to diversify its use of assets the last three days, the other teams in the division seem to have come out of the draft with more holes filled. That is a byproduct of consistency at the top. Take it any way you want.

 

[Triplethreat]

The Mingo pick is a microcosm of why I am less and less invested in the Browns every passing year. Mingo has a high ceiling, but he only works in one system as a 3-4 pass rush specialist. It may take him two or three years to develop into a full time starter in this system.

Now think about the last time the Browns had the same defensive coaches in place for three years in a row.

I would like to be an optimist the day after the draft, but this is year 14 of high picks exactly like this one. Trade Courtney Brown and Gerald Warren, they don't fit the new system. Trade Kam Wimbley, he belongs in a 3-4 package. Whatever you do, don't trade away draft picks, everyone knows you have to draft your core players.

The cycle only ends if the Browns commit to this defense, even if Horton leaves for another job. I just don't see a commitment to stability with this franchise.

Who is Gerald Warren?

 

[Giambiwannabe7]

Right now is certainly the time to be optimistic about the Browns. Without any games played, wholesale changes made to ownership and coaches, this is the time for optimism for a die hard fan.

I'm just taking this opportunity to also point put some missteps I'm seeing at the top. I think Mingo needs to learn the linebacker position, Sheard needs to learn the linebacker position. I think the Browns went into this draft the worst team in the AFC North, and while I see the reasons the franchise chose to diversify its use of assets the last three days, the other teams in the division seem to have come out of the draft with more holes filled. That is a byproduct of consistency at the top. Take it any way you want.

I know what you're saying, I just think they want to see what a lot of these young guys will do in these new systems before they go drafting their replacements already. It seems to me like they went with the top guy on their board with the 6 pick. He fits the D and the DC's mentality very well, imo. Pretty much every DE/OLB getting drafted into a 3-4 is somewhat of a gamble, as most just don't play it in college. Hasn't stopped the Steelers. The QB's in the AFCN are pretty damn good, and right now we've done a good job at trying to make them a little less comfy in the pocket. I thought we did a real nice job in FA with this, as well, whilst weakening the SB champs in the process. It looks like we also have our #2 DB. We added a WR like no other on the roster, and one we desperately needed. We added a kid late who seems like he has a real shot at filling a need at G(well, maybe a need. who knows?). It may not be this year, but most late round OL aren't immediate starters.

Fact is, we have a lot more obvious holes than the other teams in the AFCN. That's not really the fault of this regime, but I thought we were pretty active in FA. No way were we going to fill all the holes this year. Impossible. But, after this upcoming season, I think they have a much better idea of what we really have with this roster. Those teams in our division have the luxury of having a much firmer grasp on that right now. I think at this same next year, we are really in a completely different position. If this goes right, we'll be looking at FA and picks that are helping us make a legit playoff push with a still very young team. Worst case, we find out that some of the guys we were hoping could transition aren't going to make the cut and we go from there. until then, I'm not sure what else the team could have done a whole lot better. Sure, fans are always going to disagree with some picks and what not, but not one of us has any clue, either way, what the on field results of this whole thing is going to be yet.

I completely understand the frustration with this team, especially compared to the rest of the division. I just can't see getting too worked up about this regime's part in it all yet. If it goes as well as I think it's looking to, then we can be right there with them here in a couple years. I'm not sure there was any way it was going to happen any quicker than that.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Who is Gerald Warren?

He is proof that my posts are perfect in every way, aside from predictive text errors.

 

[cdt]

I don't hate the Mingo selection but I don't quite love it either. I thought Milliner was a slam dunk just based on the gap between Sheard and Mingo being a lot smaller than the gap between Milliner and Skrine. Not to mention Mingo has to make the transition to LB and Milliner likely would have been a simple plug and play #2 corner. I'm willing to be completely unbiased until the guy gets on the field and am hoping he lights it up and can become our Aldon Smith that the opposing OCoordinator loses sleep over.

While the instant gratification of adding players with our other scheduled picks is always fun and exciting I can kind of understand why they went the route that they did. I think it's quite possible being that they have mainly Heckert's scouting staff in place and that Banner isn't necessarily a total football guy. Lombardi being employed by NFL Network that our collection of football guys didn't have enough time to adequately prepare on the ENTIRE draft. Think about it, Heckert's staff of scouts are likely guys with the 4-3 defensive philosophy and the WCO philosophy on offense. Maybe they were only able to tackle about Round 1-3 where they felt completely comfortable drafting players? Forwarding picks next year helped us improve our position and add picks earlier than we gave up. 5 & 6th rounders for 4th & 5th rounders. In a much more loaded QB class where we could see anywhere from 5-7 guys go in the 1st round. It's nice to not only have higher picks but complete additional picks as well. This will give them an entire year to see our roster up close in person and evaluate. As well as get their own scouting team in place giving them a full year to scout. Also allowing us extra assets if say we finish with the 10th pick and need to jump up to the 1st 2nd or 3rd pick without completely crippling our draft or to have the best package of picks to offer.

Hopefully that made sense but the jury is definitely out on Mingo he could definitely be a monster pass rusher and hopefully they give him a light workload in year 1 that just asks him to go after the QB and allow Sheard to take a high % of snaps to develop as an LB himself. It'll be a fun an interesting season for sure.

 

[Randolphkeys]

That is my concern, CDT. I watch a lot of the Miners, and Aldon Smith is only as good as the attention Justin Smith attracts as a blue chip defensive end. I would have preferred Star, who reminds me of Justin Smith.

 

[Triplethreat]

That is my concern, CDT. I watch a lot of the Miners, and Aldon Smith is only as good as the attention Justin Smith attracts as a blue chip defensive end. I would have preferred Star, who reminds me of Justin Smith.

I think that Mingo is much, much more comparable to Bruce Irvin in Seattle. They should have very similar roles respectively in Seattle and Cleveland.