- 2 days ago
Nate Ulrich joined Baskin and Phelps and talked about what the thinks the Browns should do to fix their offensive issues this off-season. He also discussed what he's paying attention to at the NFL Combine, as well as whether or not the Cavs' loss to the Thunder is indicative of a bigger problem with the team as they look forward to the post season.
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00:00I'm Jeff Phelps, Dan Mannegan, and for Andy today, gentleman who covers all things for the Beacon Journal.
00:06You can read all of his work at Ohio.com.
00:08Former Browns beat writer for the Beacon joins us right now in the Make It Right Call Kyle Wright Hotline.
00:14He is Mr. Nate Ulrich. Hello, Nate.
00:15How are you, Nate?
00:16Hey, how's it going, guys?
00:17It's going well. Good to have you with us. Thank you very much for your time.
00:21Thank you. Thank you. Good to hear from you.
00:23So we get the combine. Here we go.
00:26With a new head coach and the same general manager and everything else,
00:30and the Browns have needs and needs like crazy.
00:33Nate, if you're Andrew Barry right now, you're going into this offseason thinking mainly what,
00:40as far as improving your team?
00:42Well, I'm thinking offense.
00:43I mean, I get best player available, but usually you like to marry it with a need,
00:48and obviously the defense has been really good, and you need help.
00:53Obviously, offensive tackle and wide receiver more than any.
00:56And I think that that's a big reason why they hired Todd Munkin.
00:59They weren't really shy about it.
01:01You know, when it came down to it, it was like, hey, we really need to build this offense
01:07from the ground up here.
01:08So, you know, he had the best offensive plan.
01:11Obviously, all the expertise and background as an offensive coach.
01:14So I think that's also going to be the team of the offseason when it comes to acquiring talent,
01:20and I think that's what they're going to be looking at first and foremost in the draft.
01:24Nate, what do you make of the youth movement that seems to be taking place on the offensive side of
01:28the ball?
01:31Well, it's very interesting because my main criticism of Andrew Barry has been a couple – well, there's been a
01:38couple.
01:39One, I know he had a really good draft in 2025, but in my mind, he's one for six in
01:46drafts, okay?
01:47Now, some of those drafts are harder to make pay in because you gave up the first-round picks in
01:52the Deshaun Watson trade.
01:53I get that.
01:54But still, your middle-round picks and your later-round picks, you know, I understand the hit rate isn't as
02:00high on those rounds,
02:02but still, you know, I just don't think his track record is strong enough in the draft.
02:08Second of all, you know, he left the Browns in such a vulnerable position at offensive line
02:15where basically the whole offensive line, you know, is hidden free agency other than like DeJuan Jones.
02:22So that is a huge problem, obviously, the receiving course also in bad shape.
02:27But the youth movement is going to have to happen, right?
02:29Because you have so much money tied up in the Deshaun Watson contract,
02:33and they're going to be able to have, you know, money to operate with this offseason.
02:38They're going to cut some guys with, you know, post-June 1 designations.
02:42They're going to restructure Watson.
02:44They're going to be able to free up money that way from a salary cap standpoint.
02:47But you're still so behind the eight ball.
02:49So I think a lot of the youth movement is out of necessity because, you know,
02:54you're in this situation where you have this offensive line that needs completely rebuilt
02:59with maybe the exception like DeJuan Jones and also just the salary ramifications
03:05of that trade he made in March of 2022.
03:07So he called – Andrew Berry called the Browns front office offensive line snobs a couple of years ago.
03:14Well, I want to see actions back up those words because they've really put themselves in a situation this offseason
03:20where they must prioritize it.
03:23And I don't think they can cut any corners.
03:25They've really got to go all in.
03:26You know, I would not be shocked or have anything against if they would draft two offensive tackles in the
03:34first round.
03:34I don't think it will happen.
03:35I think one of them has to be an offensive tackle, one of those two picks, six of 24.
03:40But just the situation they're in, show that you're a line snobs and really go out and address this hole
03:46that you've dug.
03:47Nate, I think they could do that.
03:50And I think I would say, you would say, Dan would say, and any Browns fan as watch his team
03:55would say,
03:55okay, you did something to help this team.
03:58The question I have is they haven't really drafted anybody on the offensive line.
04:02They haven't drafted anybody high, but even the guys they've drafted haven't really hit.
04:07You know, I like DeJuan Jones, but DeJuan's been injured so much.
04:10Do you think they can identify a lineman to take in the first round?
04:16That's a great question.
04:16And it goes back to my point about it.
04:18Andrew Barry has not been good enough at drafting, you know, with the exception of the 25 draft.
04:24Now, let's hope he found something in his process there that he can carry forward.
04:29And obviously, the Haslam's are banking on that by keeping him because they very well could have cleaned house.
04:34You know, we've seen them fire head coach and GM.
04:37They opted to keep the GM in this case.
04:40So, obviously, Andrew Barry's going to get a chance to show that 2025 wasn't a fluke,
04:45even though right now on his resume it is the outlier.
04:48So, let's see.
04:49Now, here's just a little idea I have.
04:51We get all kinds of consultants in the NFL.
04:54God, I mean, you name it.
04:56Isn't that true?
04:57It's a gig I want.
04:59The clock consultant.
05:01The challenge consultant.
05:02Whatever it is.
05:03Like, what about some O-line consultants?
05:06You're in this situation where you're going to have, if Joel Batonio comes back,
05:09you're going to have him coming back.
05:10But that's an if.
05:11He's deciding right now.
05:13DeJuan Jones is under contract.
05:14Other than that, it's like a clean slate.
05:16Like, get Joe Thomas.
05:18George Warhop, I don't think, is going to feel threatened by Joe Thomas
05:21because George Warhop coached Joe Thomas in Cleveland.
05:24Now he's back as offensive line coach.
05:26And those guys love each other.
05:28I mean, Joe Thomas has been ultra-complimentary of George Warhop.
05:31Get Joe Thomas in.
05:32Get George Warhop.
05:35Lean on some other guys who maybe are out of the league.
05:37You know, I'm just throwing out like a former O-line coach who's not in coaching
05:42right now for the Browns but knows his stuff has been around forever.
05:46Is it like a Bob Wiley?
05:47Just not him specifically per se.
05:50Hey, he might be up for it.
05:52But I'm just saying, like, minds like that, offensive line minds who have been
05:56in forever, get some, you know, little committee, whatever you want to call it
06:01together, to help them identify, to answer your question, Jeff.
06:04I think they could use the help.
06:06One thing I keep going back to here, you had Jim Schwartz, who you could have hired as head
06:11coach.
06:12But as you said, Nate, you bring in Todd Munkins because the offense needs so much work.
06:17The big thing to me that we don't know is what does Todd think about the quarterbacks
06:22who are here?
06:23And he said all the right things.
06:24You know, you're not going to walk in the door and go, you know, I think fill in the
06:27blanks not very good.
06:28You're not going to do that.
06:29But I wonder what he thinks.
06:31And I wonder what he's telling Andrew Barry.
06:33What's your gut tell you about what he thinks of what he's inherited here and what might
06:38be coming?
06:38Because they both said external options.
06:43Yeah, I think he thinks that he has nothing but question marks right now, right?
06:47And how could you think anything other than that?
06:49I mean, obviously, I think, and you saw the interaction the Browns put on social media
06:55between Todd Munkin and Shedower Sanders.
06:57And we know that Baltimore's interest in the draft is well documented.
07:02And obviously, with Todd being part of that process, I think he finds Shedower Sanders
07:08as someone who's worth developing, you know?
07:10And I would agree with that.
07:12Now, you can't say he's the answer.
07:14You can't say, oh, you know, we're putting all our eggs in this basket.
07:17But we're developing, yes.
07:19And I think that that's how he's looking at it.
07:21And with Deshaun Watson, it's just nothing but question marks because of the injury history,
07:26because of the time off.
07:27I mean, he came to the Browns with time off.
07:30Then he had more time off under contract with the Browns with suspension.
07:34And then shoulder, twice ruptured Achilles.
07:37So, I mean, who knows what you're going to get there, right?
07:40And when he did play, by the way, it wasn't that great, right?
07:43I mean, it was mediocre at best.
07:47Very, very poor a lot of the times.
07:49There were some highs.
07:51Obviously, one of those highs came in Baltimore when he led them to that comeback win.
07:55You know, Todd Munkin on the other side of the coaching battle there.
07:59So, he saw that, has that in his mind.
08:01So, I'm sure is fascinated by the possibility of what if, you know?
08:05But it really is just a concept right now.
08:09It's not practical.
08:10We don't know until we see him on the grass if it's ever going to be the Deshaun Watson of
08:16old.
08:16That seems so far removed that you definitely can't count on it.
08:19So, I think, yeah, you're going to say outside options because you have nothing but question marks now.
08:24Nate Orlick, Akron Beacon Journal, joining us on the Make It Right Call Kyle Wright Hotline.
08:30All right, Nate, you've been covering a bunch of Cleveland Cavaliers as well for the Akron Beacon Journal.
08:34Good stuff, too, Nate.
08:36Doing a really nice job on top of that.
08:40Since we're all kind of adjusting and all that stuff,
08:42what has been the biggest changes you've seen to this point with adding James Harden to this core of talent?
08:48Well, Jared Allen has been reinvigorated.
08:51I understand they're coming off a loss in Oklahoma City where he needed a rebound better along with Evan Mobley.
08:57So, you know, I want to see how this plays out against some of the better opponents coming up.
09:02Tomorrow I'll be at the game, you know, at Rocket Arena against the Knicks.
09:06That's going to be one.
09:07Obviously, Pistons coming up later this week.
09:10But, yeah, I think that the pick-and-roll combo with Jared Allen has really been eye-opening.
09:15I think Donovan Mitchell, who has been, I think, kind of underrated as far as just the leader,
09:23the face of the franchise, how all-in he has been on Cleveland,
09:27a lot of skepticism about whether he would stay.
09:29He obviously committed, and we'll see if he does again.
09:33But I think that the James Harden thing was done to, you know,
09:38give Donovan that belief that this franchise is going to keep taking these swings year after year.
09:43They took a swing before the trade deadline last year, obviously getting DeAndre Hunter.
09:48Didn't work out, so guess what?
09:49They admitted it in a hurry, and then they took another swing,
09:53obviously a bigger one, getting James Harden this year,
09:56and then a smaller one getting Dennis Schroeder and Keon Ellis from the Kings, you know,
10:02in that DeAndre Hunter trade.
10:03So I guess the point I'm trying to make is the big difference is I just think that the vibe
10:08is completely different.
10:09The energy is different.
10:11You got Donovan Mitchell looking at evidence that you're going to continue to go for it,
10:16and when things don't work, you're going to pivot, adjust, and then take another swing or two.
10:22And, you know, on the court, it's really been, to me, it's been Jared Allen
10:25and just how he looks like a different guy lately.
10:28Nate Elwirk joining us from the Beacon Journal, Ohio.com,
10:31or you can read all of Nate's work.
10:33What's the biggest thing that Kenny Atkinson has to polish up before they get to the playoffs, Nate?
10:40And you're right, I agree completely about Jared Allen, and Mobley's coming back.
10:44There's that.
10:45And then there's the bench rotation as well,
10:47and, you know, we're seeing guys who maybe should be getting minutes, not getting minutes.
10:52Craig Porter, Larry Nance, Thomas Bryant, so far anyway.
10:56If you're Kenny, what are you focusing on over the next six weeks or so?
11:01Well, I think you hit one of those points, Jeff.
11:05I mean, Evan Mobley just two games back from the second calf injury of the season,
11:12so he's on a minutes restriction, obviously.
11:15How do you unlock him with James Harden the way that you have with Jared Allen and Kanye?
11:21You know, the two bigs question has been out there forever,
11:25and obviously they made it work last year in the historic regular season.
11:29But when it's mattered most, we still haven't really seen it click on all cylinders.
11:34And like I said yesterday, it's like, okay, you know, the rebounding overall,
11:38you look at the box score, this and that, and you're like, okay, they're even with Oklahoma City.
11:43But, you know, when you dig in deeper and you look at crunch time
11:47and you look at what actually unfolded in the fourth quarter, to me, they lost that game for a couple
11:53reasons.
11:53One, you know, obviously once you get past that slow start with the 10 turnovers in the first quarter,
11:59you make up a bunch of ground.
12:00But in the fourth quarter, you're not rebounding well.
12:03Oklahoma City gets a bunch of crucial offensive rebounds.
12:06You know, Oklahoma City ends up out-rebounding you in the fourth quarter.
12:11And, you know, and then open threes.
12:14I saw a bunch of uncontested open threes.
12:16And they have the, you know, I know that they, you know, SGA, you know, was out yesterday.
12:22And, you know, his running mate was out yesterday.
12:26Jalen Williams.
12:27Jalen Williams.
12:28But look at that, the type of guy they have has been problematic to the Cavs for years now.
12:34And it's like, who do you have to guard the big athletic wings?
12:37You got Dean Wade, who I like as a 3 and D guy.
12:39But, like, he's the guy who just can't stay healthy consistently.
12:43So can he be there?
12:45Because after him, then it's like Jalen Tyson.
12:48And I'm a huge advocate for what Jalen Tyson has done and thinks he deserves all the opportunities
12:54because he's really earned them.
12:56You know, and I think he plays with an edge.
12:58But, like, what does that look like in the playoffs?
12:59Still remains to be seen.
13:01So, like, I think it's figuring out Evan Mobley with James Harden and Jared Allen and locking
13:07that and then the wings and how to combat the long athletic wings that you're probably
13:13going to have to face in the playoffs, especially if you get matched up with somebody like Boston
13:17because I think you've been exposed time and again.
13:19And yesterday was another reminder.
13:21Nate, always did a great job covering the Browns for the Beacon.
13:24Love your work as a sports columnist.
13:26And we thank you for being with us today.
13:27You can follow Nate on X at ByNateUlrich.
13:31It's B-Y-N-A-T-E and then U-L-R-I-C-H.
13:35You can read him at Ohio.com and in the Beacon Journal.
13:38Nate, great to have you with us.
13:40Appreciate the time, Nate.
13:40All right.
13:40Thanks, guys.
13:41Take care.
13:41Nate Ulrich joining us on the Make It Right Call Kyle Wright Hotline.
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