The Opening Drive 1/26: All Signs Now Pointing to Nate Scheelhaase, and Who Matters for the Browns at the Shrine Bowl (Offense)
The Browns are in Los Angeles to interview the Rams coach and likely close the deal.
The news bright and early on this Monday is that Jaguars OC Grant Udinski has now removed himself from the consideration for the Browns coach job. As the Browns’ brass flew across the country to meet with Nate Scheelhaase this morning following the Rams tough loss in Seattle, the timing does make you raise an eyebrow.
There are a couple of ways to look at this, of course. Udinski is a young coach going through his first series of interviews, and with that comes the perception game. If the Browns are zeroed in on Scheelhaase, which does appear to be the case, then Udinski pulling his name out of contention makes it appear as though it was his choice and not the Browns’. He remains a target for the Bills, so we will see if he follows the trend of removal.
The Browns are now down to Scheelhaase or Schwartz. Again, it remains possible they preferred Scheelhaase all along, considering their patience in waiting to interview him this week, but there is also the remote possibility that the candidates removing their names from the process are making genuine decisions on their part. That would narrow the scope for the team. It feels like we will have that answer soon enough.
Hopefully, the young coach can find a quarterback who can make these types of throws.
Below you’ll find the latest in the BFB catalog for supporters to dig into. Click the link to become a supporter if you haven’t already, and enjoy all the latest from Browns Film Breakdown.
Latest Podcasts:
Shrine Bowl Day 1 Updates, and the Reported Details of the Browns Hiring Process
Assessing the Panic Over the Coaching Search, and The True State of the AFC North
Latest Articles:
Opening Drive 1/24: Things I Think I Know About The Browns Head Coach Hiring Process
Opening Drive 1/23: Jesse Minter Withdraws and Shrine Bowl Prospects of Note (Offense)
Opening Drive 1/21: Udinski Draws Bills Interview, and Plays Within Plays
I am going to provide for you guys the players I think stood out most for me from a Browns perspective while down here in Frisco. While the specifics of things get a little dicey as we might see new schematic approaches on both sides of the ball, I wanted to highlight those who I think the current front office would be interested in based on their draft history and prospects of a similar nature.
QB Jalon Daniels, Kansas
Look, the Browns are not in the market for another late-round rookie quarterback but Jalon Daniels has some tools. Up close watching his arm is VERY live. He made some of the most impressive throws of the week. He is raw in terms of under-center work and the mechanics of the position at the NFL level but this is simply a tools discussion up close and that arm is very live. Just watch this throw up the right sideline for evidence of what the arm can do. Curious to see how he performs in the game Tuesday.
TE Dallen Bentley, Utah
If the Browns are shopping for tight ends who can block inline and still find some success in the passing game, Bentley had a strong showcase. He is plenty big enough at 265 pounds and his length works well. He had a strong showing in 7-0n-7 sessions and some strong work in blocking aspects of 11-on-11 settings (watch him off the left side below).
TE Bauer Sharp, LSU
This is more of a “H” tight end role following Harold Fannin Jr., but Sharp just had a really strong week. His athleticism was on full display during 1-on-1 and 7-on-7 settings where he won consistently and ran past defenders often. He was clocked at 21.19MPH on Day 1 which ended up being one of the faster recorded times of the week. He won vertically, attacks the ball well, and looked comfortable in multiple roles.
He will never be an elite blocker in the league but he fights hard there too.
WR Kaden Wetjen, Iowa
The role will be very specific but the Browns could use a twitched up slot separator who is also adept at return punts and kicks. Wetjen had a strong week throughout each session winning routes and making life difficult on defensive backs who didn’t get their hands on him. Very interested to see how he tests later in the process.
WR Skyler Bell, UCONN
While Bell didn’t dominate the week as some anticipated he did enough to remain in firm early Day 3 consideration. He’s smooth in and out of breaks with a strong route tree that was on display throughout the week. Comfortable hands catcher as well. His elusiveness was also on display.
iOL Ar’Maj Reed-Adams, Texas A&M
This is one the Browns should be interested in. Reed-Adams has more natural skills than most here and they were on display for most of the week. Long levers, powerful base, and good athleticism to mirror/match when working against a variety of alignments inside.
The length is apparent and he has a natural ability to anchor through his strong base (left guard here).
C Jager Burton, Kentucky
Burton comes into the draft process with starts all over the iOL with 23 at LG, 15 at C, and 9 at RG. He had a strong week for the most part displaying a strong foundation and anchor and then at athleticism at the position to move in space to the second level on zone schemes or get out in space for screen game like you see below.
Good coordination and control all week and he looks the part. He should be on the Browns radar in the midst of Day 3.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: QB Mark Gronowski (Iowa), RB Demond Claiborne (Wake Forest), TE Seydou Traore (Mississippi State), TE Eli Rairdon (Notre Dame), WR Chris Hilton (LSU), WR Colbie Young (Georgia), OT Aamil Wagner (Notre Dame), iOL Dillon Wade (Auburn)
I will cover the defense names that mattered this week in tomorrow’s Opening Drive!
Browns Film Breakdown will return soon with some fresh content.
