Why The Cleveland Browns Defensive Line Should Make Us Hopeful In 2012

The 2011 Cleveland Browns draft picks were met with mixed reviews, but were selected based on one key need for the Browns in 2011: the defensive line. Two of the top draft picks, Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard, were able to make plays and have an impact in their first year as professional football players. Taylor and Sheard finished 7th and 8th on the team in tackles, and Sheard leading the team in sacks his rookie season with 8.5. Taylor was known only as a big body from Baylor on draft day, with few people really understanding how strong and active he turned out to be. He was labeled as a liability issue due to his apparent problems with authority while at Penn State, which eventually led to his dismissal from the school. He finished his career at Baylor without many speed bumps, and was able to keep his nose clean and play hard in his first year with the Browns. He looked a bit tired at times, and I feel like some of that was due to the lack of learning practice habits and strateg...