2001 NFL draft day coverage

Tim Couch will have to wait to get a star running back or wide receiver

By Ron Pollack, Editor-in-chief
April 21, 2001

Intriguing.

That’s what I have to say about the Browns’ decision to select DT Gerard Warren.

I really thought the Browns would go offense in Round One. They’ve got a potential franchise QB in Tim Couch, and I thought it was time to give him a big-time weapon to help him grow.

The talent around Couch is really lacking. The RB situation is horrendous. There is no No. 1 wide receiver on the roster. The offensive line is very subpar. I don’t care how good your quarterback is, he needs some help. Asking Couch to become a star with so little help is like asking a finicky sports car to run smoothly without oil changes.

Nonetheless, I’m not outraged by the Browns’ decision to take Warren.

By taking Warren, the Browns are building a potentially dominating defensive line. If you can dominate with your defensive line, you can do some great things in football. Last year the Browns selected DE Courtney Brown with the first pick in the entire draft. Brown has all the tools for greatness — size, wingspan, speed and a tremendous work ethic. The book on Brown right now is that he is a guy who can become a cornerstone of a defense with better people around him.

Guess what? That just happened. Warren is also a guy who has the upside to become a dominating player as a pro.

Defensive line is probably the toughest area in football to build. Outstanding running backs and wide receivers are much easier to find than great defensive linemen. The Browns have gone a long way toward getting the tough part done.

A franchise running back and wide receiver will have to wait. That means Couch must wait. An improved defense would make that wait a little more tolerable.

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