Pro Football Focus is in the process of naming their All-Pro teams within each division. The other day, they covered the AFC North and several Browns players cracked the list. Besides the obvious choice in left tackle Joe Thomas, who else received some recognition?
Offensive Tackles: Joe Thomas, CLE and Andre Smith, CIN
Make no mistake, this was not Joe Thomas at his very best. In a down year for offensive tackles, Thomas looked excellent at times, but was also beaten more than he should be and didn’t threaten the top of our offensive tackle rankings where he belongs. Andre Smith, who was at one time just an afterthought as another iffy draft choice for the Bengals, quietly had a good season overall on the right side of the line, even if it was marred by some very poor games.
Cornerbacks: Ladarius Webb, BAL and Joe Haden, CLE
Only Darrelle Revis has a higher grade in coverage at corner than Webb this season and he was one of only two full-time starting corners not to allow a touchdown all season. He had 11 passes defensed in addition to his five interceptions. Haden led the league with 17 PDs, even if he went the entire year without picking one off. The young corner has a massive amount of potential and though he was beaten occasionally this season, could easily become one of the league’s best shortly. Ike Taylor missed out by virtue of being beaten too often and conceding a lot of penalties, even if he does have a tougher role by being asked to track a team’s No. 1 receiver.
Kicker: Phil Dawson, CLE – Gets this spot largely because Billy Cundiff’s injury cost him notable leg strength.
Perhaps notably absent from the list are center Alex Mack and linebacker D'Qwell Jackson. It seems that Mack was considered the third best center at best, based on PFF's comments.
0 recs | 22 comments
BS on Mack. Do not understand the center hate on him
SpecialBrownie - January 20, 2012
Or the love on Pouncey. At least PFF didn’t go that route.
Doc's Kid - January 20, 2012
I’m not of anywhere “center hate” on Mack. As Doc’s Kid suggests, it’s actually this obsession over Pouncey.
Of course we know Pouncey benefits from the Ugly Friend Effect, whereas women befriend ugly girls to make themselves look more attractive. In Pouncey’s case, he’s not only surrounded by atrocious OL company, but his QB holds on to the ball for an eternity every snap.
Simmsinns - January 20, 2012
And he makes-out with his brother.
Brownie's Year - January 20, 2012
Maybe he’s not as good as you think he is?
The Licensed Pessimist - January 21, 2012
I know this means nothing to you, nor should it, but I’m entirely convinced that if Mack where drafted by the Steelers, into the exact same scenario as Pouncey, he’d be getting just as much if not more praise on a national level.
Simmsinns - January 21, 2012
Definitely.
Bernie19Kosar - January 21, 2012
I most definitely agree. Both of the Pounceys are shit and Mack is better than both. But that has nothing to do with the over-rating of mack, and the believe that his lack of un-deserved post season praise is “hate”. Not bad by any stretch, but not all pro by any means.
The Licensed Pessimist - January 21, 2012
And to be honest, I don’t know if this is the case. Interior linemen taken in the first round are automatically assumed to dominate. Considering the fact that C is a non-transparent position they would have to be told otherwise. A lot of people around the league think Mack is a great player. The question comes down to why wouldn’t people think the center on a playoff team has the advantage when taken in similar draft situations?
The Licensed Pessimist - January 21, 2012
The Center on a playoff team has the advantage. No one is disputing that. But SHOULD the Center on a more visible, playoff team have the advantage? I don’t think so.
I do kinda agree with you. Pouncey is overrated, but I’d still say mack may be the 2nd best center in the division. I happen to think matt birk is an excellent player and am surprised his last pro bowl was in 2007.
bross09 - January 21, 2012
This is not a word.
notthatnoise - January 20, 2012
Yes it is. Only a prescriptivist would suggest otherwise — the use of the word is extremely common, and a search of google books shows it has been used as such for over 100 years.
TheDriveStillHurts - January 21, 2012
You are correct. It bothers me I think because even though it is technically correct, there already exists a much better word that means the same thing. It’s a bit like “irregardless.” Sure, you probably have to call it a real word at this point, but I still don’t like it.
notthatnoise - January 21, 2012
I thought Haden did that too.
HenryDawg - January 20, 2012
At times he did.
rufio - January 20, 2012
This just shows how pathetic our team is.
GrillGuy - January 21, 2012
Or how good our division is. On the flip side, our two best are two of the most difficult positions to fill, so we have a nice start.
Bernie19Kosar - January 21, 2012
You’re both right.
Simmsinns - January 21, 2012
A lot of those guys are on the wrong side of 30 while most of our guys are just getting started.
HenryDawg - January 21, 2012
Jayme Mitchell was robbed. No love.
TheDriveStillHurts - January 21, 2012
I don’t understand how the defensive MVP doesn’t make this joke of a site’s all divisional team.
Adrock2099 - January 21, 2012
You’re selling THE Jayme Mitchell way too short here.
North Coast Flea - January 25, 2012
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