The following is part of a series profiling the Browns’ current depth chart entering the NFL Draft.

DAVE KOLONICH
The evolution of the NFL athlete has undergone a remarkable shift in the past several years, as some of the best talent coming out of college lies on the defensive side of the ball. Witness the changes around the league in defensive schemes, as amazing athletes such as Dwight Freeney, Julius Peppers, Osi Umenyiora, Mario Williams, DeMarcus Ware and Shawne Merriman have dominated offensive lines in recent years. These players have effectively destroyed the myth of the “franchise left tackle”, simply because no offensive lineman can match their athletic abilities.

Joe Thomas is not the exception to this rule.

I know it may be sacreligious to criticize the Browns’ 2-time Pro Bowl left tackle, but Thomas does not have the skill set to neutralize the likes of these players. Some clear examples of this were shown in the 2008 season, as Thomas struggled mightily against Williams and Freeney, as well as Pittsburgh’s James Harrison. However, in Thomas’ defense, there is no one in the league at the moment, with the exception of Seattle’s still unheralded Walter Jones, who stands a chance against these freakish monsters.

I am not advocating releasing or trading Joe Thomas, because simply he is already one of the best left tackles in the AFC. Also considering the Browns’ recent history of mediocre offensive line play, Thomas could be viewed as a savior. Probably the best way to evaluate Thomas’ worth is to compare his play to left tackles of the past, including the likes of Kevin Shaffer, L.J. Shelton, Enoch DeMar, Roman Oben and various other injury replacements. Thomas offers the kind of stability the position hasn’t seen since the days of Paul Farren, or even Doug Dieken.

Like most recent college left tackles entering the NFL, Thomas’ skills lie in the areas of run blocking. His size, strength and athleticism make him a very effective blocker in both straight ahead and pulling type of schemes. Also, Thomas can neutralize the likes of average pass rushers, as his footwork is far superior to other left tackles around the league. For this, I am grateful. Thomas is a cornerstone of the Browns franchise. And to think…Phil Savage almost gave away the 2007 draft in order to get JaMarcus Russell.

Left tackle is solid…now, right tackle is another story.

The release of Kevin Shaffer was a bit surprising, but makes perfect sense when analyzing the external factors surrounding the move. First, Shaffer was due a roster bonus, so the move could be viewed as financial. Also, we have new bosses in town who are eager to leave their individual stamp on the team. Obviously, Shaffer was a Phil Savage signing, with no ties to Mangini or Kokonis. In this sense, the move was a natural.

Second, Shaffer’s skill set never really matched any particular position. Shaffer began his career playing left tackle in a zone blocking scheme in Atlanta. His weaknesses were masked by the constant movement associated with an Alex Gibbs system. Shaffer’s average size and quickness were not a problem in a system that does not require lengthy periods of isolated blocking. However in Cleveland, Shaffer was exposed on a left tackle island in 2006. Although Shaffer was not a total bust protecting the quarterback, the comparison between his play in 2006 and Thomas’ in 2007 was remarkable. However, Joe Thomas never had the experience of protecting an undersized MAC quarterback who held onto the ball for days at a time.

Moving Shaffer to the right side of the line is still a move that baffles me. Shaffer is simply not a true run-blocking offensive lineman. He was adequate in these duties, but did not excel. Also, the traditional flaw in Shaffer’s game was again exposed by quicker defensive ends in 2008. Shaffer, who bulked up considerably during his time in Cleveland, was abused by pass rushers last season. The skills he never developed on the left side of the line quickly found him again on the right side. This was obvious to the Romeo Crennel led coaching staff, as Shaffer was often spelled during games by Ryan Tucker.

Ryan Tucker is one of those types of players who would be perfectly cast in an Aliens or Predator type of movie as the tough-guy Special Forces agent who ignores the warnings of his logical squad leader and rushes into a danger zone before getting his limbs tore apart. Tucker has always struck me as the type of player who will live out his post-NFL days in a Nick Nolte/North Dallas Forty crippled, pain-killer addled stupor. Simply put, Tucker has been slowly falling apart the past 4-5 years.

However, when Tucker is in the Browns lineup, he somehow solidifies the line. The 2007 season and the Browns dominance of the Giants on Monday Night last year are perfect examples of Tucker’s value to the team. Tucker remains the only Browns’ lineman who maximizes his skills, while playing with a nasty mean streak that is straight out of the 1960’s or 1970’s. The only drawback to Tucker’s style of play is his tendency to get hurt….often.

While I agree with the Shaffer release, I don’t agree with initial reports that point to Tucker replacing Shaffer at the right tackle position. While Tucker is the Browns’ best run blocker, he is not athletic enough to handle quick defensive ends, especially on obvious passing downs. The best position for Tucker remains inside, playing at right guard. But as the roster stands now, Tucker is penciled in at right tackle, unless the Browns draft some offensive linemen.

With an eye to eventually replacing Tucker (most likely because of injury), the Browns have signed Floyd Womack. Playing in Seattle, Womack enjoyed the luxury of anonymity, especially since the bulk of the Seahawks’ offensive line attention goes to future Hall of Famer Walter Jones. While Jones can handle his own business individually on the left side of the line, Womack, Sean Locklear and other right side linemen needed the help of tight ends and chipping running backs to neutralize their side of the line. Also, Womack played in a West Coast style system that emphasized 3-step drop backs and quick passes. West Coast style offenses often help to mask offensive linemen’s weaknesses.

The Womack signing may not be groundbreaking, but considering the hole created by Shaffer’s release and the injury likelihood associated with Tucker’s play, this could prove to be an important move by the Browns. Adding to this, the depth currently on the line is pretty much non-existent.

His name is Isaac Sowells.