BEREA, Ohio -- Tom Heckert said this about the Browns having the No. 4 pick in the draft: "It's going to be tough to screw that one up."

But the Browns can trash that pick -- especially if they select Baylor's Robert Griffin III. This is not a condemnation of Griffin's enormous athletic ability, or even his pro potential. But he is not a disciplined, under-center, West Coast-style passer.

At Thursday's press conference featuring Browns president Mike Holmgren and Heckert, I asked several questions about the team's commitment to the West Coast offense. I mentioned how quarterbacks such as Griffin take snaps about seven yards behind the line of scrimmage.

These Browns don't often use the shotgun. I never saw a Cleveland quarterback that far behind the line of scrimmage in 2011. Holmgren discussed Denver changing its offense to accommodate Tim Tebow, who sometimes plays the position as if he were a fullback.

In the long run, he didn't think that's wise. And he remains sold on the Browns' West Coast, quick-pass offense.

"It's been a pretty good system for a lot of years," he said.

You can argue that the Browns should be more flexible for an athlete such as Griffin, but it's not going to happen. If they do select Griffin, they will try to make him into their style of a quarterback.

That will take lots of time and won't be easy. It also may never work.

Quarterback search

While saying nice things about Colt McCoy, Holmgren gave no indication the Browns were sold on him as the starting quarterback in 2012.

"He can be the guy, but I'm not ready to say that," explained Holmgren.

McCoy's fans can scream that their man had the perhaps the worst receivers in the league. They should be upset at the unwillingness of the front office to admit that they overestimated how their West Coast offense would help receivers.

The facts are the Browns led the league with 43 dropped passes, next was Atlanta with 37. They ranked 29th out of 32 teams in catches for at least 25 yards. They were 28th in yards after catch. They didn't have long gains, and they didn't have receivers who caught short passes and used their legs to pick up extra yards.

McCoy may have been mediocre, but the receivers were terrible.

A year ago, Cincinnati selected A.J. Green at No. 4, and he revived the Bengals' passing game. Of course, he also was paired with rookie quarterback Andy Dalton, a second-round pick. It's discouraging to look up in the AFC-North at the Cincinnati Bengals, but it is worth considering their approach to the 2011 draft as one for the Browns in 2012.

Take the biggest impact offensive player at No. 4. Look elsewhere for a quarterback.

Consider that both quarterbacks who made Holmgren's head-coaching career a success were picked up by trades -- Brett Favre in Green Bay, Matt Hasselbeck in Seattle.

What to do at No. 4

"It depends on who's available," said Heckert. "You want a big, fast guy who's got great hands. We do have to address playmakers all around -- running backs, receivers..."

Perhaps that's Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon, who appears to be this year's A.J. Green. Others may say Alabama running back Trent Richardson is ideal at No. 4 for the Browns, who may be looking for a tailback as Peyton Hillis is likely to leave as a free agent.

The point is finding someone on offense who makes you say "Wow!" They must find someone who can keep opposing defensive coordinators worried. Someone in an orange helmet who can change the mood of a game with one play.

There is reason for confidence in Heckert's drafting. In his two years here, he took Joe Haden, T.J. Ward, Phil Taylor, Jabaal Sheard and Montario Hardesty in the first two rounds. Only the ever-injured Hardesty would be considered a miss.

In the last six years, here are the players selected at No. 4: Green (Bengals), OT Trent Williams (Washington), LB Aaron Curry (Seattle), RB Darren McFadden (Oakland), DE Gaines Adams (Tampa Bay) and RB Cedric Benson (Chicago). Only Green, Williams and McFadden remain with the teams that picked them.

Adams died at the age of 26 because of an undetected heart condition. Williams flunked an NFL drug test. Benson has had three season of 1,000 yards rushing for the Bengals, along with some legal problems. Curry has been a major disappointment. Only Green and McFadden seem to have long-term star potential.

That's the type of player who the Browns must find in this year's draft.