Any good ideas with pot roast?

I am a very good cook, but I can't seem to ever cook a pot roast that tastes like my moms.Does anyone have any ideas as to what seasonings I can try to put on it or different cuts of meat?

My mom always browns the outside of the roast before she does the slow-cooking. I say that, but I've never been able to master a roast either. Sometimes, which my family likes but I find it dry, I'll put it in a crock pot with a can of stewed or diced tomatoes.