Another weekend's worth of observations on our pro teams.
Jerome Harrison never seemed to run with the same motivation that he carried in the final month last season, says Terry Pluto, which made last week's trade to Philadelphia something less than a surprise.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Another weekend's worth of observations on Cleveland's pro teams:
About the Harrison trade...
1. Mike Cirner e-mailed: "Terry, I know that you are disappointed about [the trade] because you are a big Harrison fan, but what did you think about the trade overall? Did we really gain anything? This seems like another one of those "change of scenery" deals for two players." Cirner is right, this is a change-of-team deal for two running backs who no longer fit into their team's current offenses.
2. While fans like to blame Eric Mangini, keep in mind he no longer has the final say on trades. That belongs to President Mike Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert. These are the guys who looked at tapes of Harrison gaining 561 yards in the final three games of 2009, and then traded up to draft Tennessee running back Montario Hardesty -- something that bothered Harrison. They also put together the Brady Quinn/Peyton Hillis deal. Did Mangini favor the moves? Of course. But it's not like the coach can get mad at a player, pick up the phone and trade him.
3. Mangini loves depth at running back, partly because these guys get hurt. Remember, Harrison missed all of the 2009 preseason and the first two regular-season games with a knee injury. It's now clear no one with the Browns was carried away by Harrison's final three games and those 561 yards. For what it's worth, those games were against Kansas City (ranked 31st vs. the run), Jacksonville (19th) and Oakland (29th). Before that streak, he started two games and had 35 yards (10 carries) vs. San Diego and nine (7 carries) vs. Pittsburgh.
4. That said, I always liked Harrison as a third-down back. I thought he could be very effective with 10 to 15 touches per game, rushing and receiving. I liked how he had to capitalize in limited opportunities. For example, he had 143 yards rushing in 23 carries (6.2 average) in 2007, and 246 yards in 34 yards rushing (7.2) in 2008. He was not a guy who needed 10 or more carries to make an impact.
5. This season, that spark was gone. He had 72 yards in 22 preseason carries (3.1), losing two fumbles. He had 91 yards in 31 carries (2.9), and 19 of 31 carries were for two or fewer yards. He complained about not knowing his role. He wasn't the same guy who looked determined to make the most out of any chance. His practices generally were lackluster. And this is what Hecker and Holmgren saw in their first exposure to Harrison.
6. Like all the Browns' restricted free agents, he wanted a long-term deal. None of them received one because of the new labor deal coming. Consider Matt Roth, who played about as well as Harrison at the end of last season. He was a force at outside linebacker. His agent talked about wanting a trade this summer, especially after the Browns added starting linebackers Scott Fujita and Chris Gocong. Rather than pout, Roth has been a tiger, earning a starting spot and putting himself in position for a big payday.
7. Maybe Harrison will develop into Brian Westbrook's old role with the Eagles and put up big numbers. It's certainly in his self-interest to do so. But his lack of mental toughness was disappointing, and he seemed to reach the point where he didn't think he could play well here.
8. Mike Bell is a 6-foot, 225-pound power runner who has never been able to win a starting job. He had 654 yards in 172 carries (3.8 average) for New Orleans, but the Saints let him leave as a free agent -- signing with Philadelphia for $1.3 million. He had only 28 yards in 16 carries for the Eagles. Last season, Bell was rated an above-average runner in goal situations by Pro Football Outsiders. But they also wrote: "He's a nothing special runner who put up some decent stats in a very good [Saints] offense."
9. Forget Bell as a receiver, he caught only four passes last year and his problems in that area are one of the reasons the Eagles traded him. In 364 career carries, he has lost only three fumbles. With Peyton Hillis fighting a calf injury, Bell will have to play some this week. Last season, Bell's best games were against Detroit (143 yards, 28 carries), Philadelphia (86 yards, 17 carries), Miami (80 yards, 12 carries) and Tampa Bay (75 yards, 13 carries).
10. I still hear the Browns are considering bringing back Chris Jennings, who gained 220 yards (3.5 average) last season. He is a free agent after being cut in training camp.
Here's a novel suggestion for the Browns -- give Josh Cribbs more chances with the ball and in the wildcat.About the Browns...
1. In the last two games, Chansi Stuckey has caught 10 passes for 110 yards -- five in each game. Seneca Wallace was developing chemistry with his slot receiver. On the season, Stuckey has caught 15 of 22 passes thrown his way -- 11 for first downs. The other key receiver has been tight end Ben Watson, catching 23 passes good for 12 first downs. Watson has been as effective with the Browns as Kellen Winslow in Tampa, where the former Brown has 17 catches (10 for first down) and no touchdowns.
2. Hard to know what these numbers mean with rookie Colt McCoy taking over for the injured Wallace. Mohammed Massaquoi has caught nine of 19 balls thrown his way. It's discouraging to see the Browns' two 2009 second-round picks (Brian Robiskie and Massaquoi) off to slow starts, while the other second rounder (David Veikune) was cut.
3. The Browns say McCoy had a good week of practice and seemed comfortable in the role of the starter and running the offense. Of course, no one is tackling him, and it's impossible to create what he'll face in Pittsburgh. But in terms of poise heading into the game, he looked like a guy who had won 45 games as a starting quarterback at Texas.
4. McCoy's accuracy is his strength. He knows at some point, he'll have to hit some clutch throws just to keep the game close. What the Browns want to avoid is an interception that turns into a touchdown. It has happened against Atlanta and Kansas City, while another was returned to the Browns' 2 and become a touchdown.
5. The Browns know Joshua Cribbs was their best weapon against the Steelers last season, running for 132 yards in 14 carries out of the wildcat in two games. But they also know the Steelers have had two weeks to prepare for it -- and stopping Cribbs is a top priority. Nonetheless, let's hope the Browns give Cribbs several chances -- be it in the wildcat or short passes. Make the Steelers prove they can stop him.
About the Indians...
Shin-Soo Choo's future with the Indians was solidified when a Korean reporter apologized for errors in his story on the outfielder's request for a "transfer."1. Glad to know Shin-Soo Choo didn't want to "transfer" to a better team, as a Korean story indicated. Lots was lost in translation, and the writer has since apologized. Choo is critical to the Indians, not only because of his talent -- but his upbeat personality. The team does have his rights for three more years, but it is scary that he hired Scott Boras as his new agent in spring training -- because Boras' usually pushes his clients into free agency as soon as possible, rarely signing a long-term deal that gives up free-agent seasons.
2. GM Chris Antonetti emailed: "I talked to [Choo] a number of times at or near the end of the season both in person and on the phone. He was emphatic with his passion for being part of a winning team in Cleveland."
3. Choo is 27, and hit .300 (.885 OPS) with 22 HR and 90 RBI in a lineup where he was the only consistent hitter all season. The lefty batted .264 vs. lefties, .319 vs. righties, .311 with runners in scoring position, .500 (6-of-12) with the bases loaded. He was 22-of-29 in stolen bases. This is the second season in a row that he batted exactly .300, and it's .304 over the last three years. He has been remarkable not only for his performance, but pure consistency.
4. A name that kept being mentioned in the minor-league staff meetings was Matt Packer, a 23-year-old lefty who finished his first full pro season. He was 8-5 with a 1.60 ERA at Class A Lake County, and then moved to Class AA Akron (1-2, 3.16 ERA in 37 IP). On the season, he was 9-7, 2.04 ERA and struck out 123 in 133 innings, walking only 22 with seven homers allowed. They believe the University of Virginia product could be on the fast track. He was a 32nd-round pick in 2009.
5. Top pick (2010) Drew Pomeranz threw three scoreless innings, fanning seven, in his first Instructional League outing. His average fastball was 93, "and he was to 95," said Antonetti.
About the Cavaliers...
Byron Scott believes Jamario Moon can be a contributor at the small forward position, but knows the Cavs will need several players to help replace the position's old level of production.1. Spent a long time talking to Byron Scott after Thursday's shootaround -- Oops, it went two hours, and Scott calls these "practices" during training camp. They will be cut back in the regular season. Anyway, the coach is very upbeat, but when I asked him about the small forward spot ... well, he had more questions than answers.
2. He likes how Jamario Moon can run and believes he's an underrated outside shooter, but is concerned about his ball-handling ... and also thinks Moon needs to do a better job with team defense. Of the small forwards, Moon is having the best preseason, averaging 6.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and shooting 50 percent in 25 minutes a game. In 2008-09, he started 60 games between Miami/Toronto, averaging 7.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and shooting 47 percent in 28 minutes.
3. Jawad Williams can shoot a stationary jumper with some success and is decent on defense, but it's hard to picture the St. Edward product as a starter. Joey Graham can defend, but really can't shoot. "We are looking at some kind of committee approach, but I'm not sure how it will work," said Scott, adding that he'd like to get 15 points from whatever combination becomes the small forward.
4. He is giving some thought to a smaller lineup with Anthony Parker at small forward, although it's doubtful he'd start the game that way. But Scott thinks combinations with Mo Williams, Daniel Gibson and Ramon Sessions in the backcourt -- yes, he'll play two small guards together -- can be effective. He keeps raving about Sessions and Gibson, although he says, "Ramon has to push the ball even more on our fast breaks."
5. Yes, it's possible they could have a tall front with Antawn Jamison, J.J. Hickson and Anderson Varejao -- but with Jamison's cranky knee, it may not be smart to expect him to defend small forwards.
6. Ryan Hollins ranked 63rd out of 66 NBA centers last season in rebounds per minute, according to ESPN's John Hollinger. At 7-foot and 240 pounds, he can block shots and should be able to rebound -- a message Scott has been delivering. He has responded with 31 rebounds in 94 minutes, averaging 7.8 in the preseason. If that trend continues, he can be a key bench player.
7. Scott is happy with J.J. Hickson's offense (16.0 points, 9.2 rebounds), but he keeps telling the 22-year-old power forward, "That's only half the game, I expect a lot more of you on defense." Hickson is drawing a lot of fouls, and the Cavs want him better than 67 percent (for his career) at the foul line.
8. You haven't heard much about Leon Powe, but he has been solid as a rebounder and physical defender as a backup center and power forward. Best news of all, his surgically repaired knee has not had any major setbacks.