Cleveland Browns Stuff

Sleepers, Quarterbacks, and CORRECTIONS

2012-01-30T10:33:00.000-08:00

First off, I got the bulk of my info from optimumscouting.com, and their Diamonds in the Rough feature.

On another site, I saw a mock draft in which Butch Davis and Mike Ditka somehow comandeered the Redskins draft board and traded their first and second rounders this year, then their first and third next year, to move up two slots for RG3.

Mmm-hmm.

However, the guys they picked were interesting. At #6 they had the Browns taking Trent Richardson, the super running back, so I checked him out. If the Browns are able to trade down, and fail to re-sign Hillis, I could deal with that. Everybody I've read says he's not just the best running back in this draft, but the best in several years.

The common argument against that is that Adrian Peterson, though awesome, didn't put the Vikings over the top. Also, most of the best running backs for the last several seasons have been middle round picks. Third, most NFL offenses today have two backs, or a running back by committee, so you can't afford feature back type money for one guy.

However, this is a West Coast offense, which separates it from the majority of NFL teams. Peterson mainly runs in Minnesota; doesn't catch many passes. The running back here will get the ball as a reciever maybe 33% of the time, and Richardson has plenty of receptions to his credit (averaging over 10 yards per).

The Browns need playmakers and more speed on offense, and this guy has both--along with power. Justin Blackmon is very good, but probably not as good as the top two wide recievers of last season. If you are going to take an offensive skill player, it simply makes more sense to me to take the guy who's the best in several years, and who will be getting the ball four or five times as often.

At number 22, this mock had the Browns taking Jason Wright, the Baylor burner. Can't really fault that either, especially since I said I liked it in previous blogs. But they could also get a real sure-fire stud right tackle. Toss-up. Can't wait for the free agents to start rolling in.

But high in the second round, they had the Browns taking QB Ryan Tannehill out of Texas A&M.

I did some homework, again courtesy of optimimscouting.com, and was pretty stunned. This guy was a star HS quarterback in highschool who they turned into a wide reciever in college. The dude broke every school record, and had he remained at wide reciever would be drafted as that instead.

He was switched back to quarterback as a sophomore and redshirted that season. He didn't start until half way into his sophomore season, and instantly killed everybody.

As a senior, his completion percentage dropped from 65 to 61%, which isn't that impressive. He also throws TD's to interceptions at about a 2:1 clip, which could also be better. His physical flaws are almost non-existant and easily corrected. He's 6'4" and "big bodied" so I'll guess at over 230.

His issues are mental. He's an excellent student and very intelligent, but will need a lot of work reading coverages and doing more than one check-down. He also has the common tendancy a lot of these guys have to get stubborn and try to force the ball rather than throw it away.

He'll need a lot of coaching in the pros before he's ready. This scout called him a one or two-year project.

I just remember that they said that about Andy Dalton and Cam Newton last year. For some reason, the rules of thumb aren't the same anymore for projecting quarterback development.

In this case, however, the West Coast is the most complex pro offense, so this is a guy you can't count on as a rookie.

I'd still do it, and ignore the ignorant comments and the lynch-mobs. Tannehill would have an outside shot of beating out McCoy, at least. He'd definitely push him. His arm is much better, and he can take a hit and burn you on the ground, (although more like a faster Roethsenburger than an RG3 or a Vick. He's faster than most H-backs and some wide recievers and has moves).

Most scouts agree that he looks like a true franchise quarterback. It's just a matter of when.

I'd do this, because I do not agree that Colt McCoy was the problem last season. Entering the second year in a new system, and his third season on the league personally, a marked improvement can be expected by anybody with a 3-digit I.Q. He may or may not grow into a franchise quarterback, but he can manage for awhile, with improved protection and help.

For that matter, Seneca Wallace is a solid journeyman, and I see no need to replace him as a mentor. Except maybe with Kyle Orton, who's never gotten a fair deal.

optimumscouting.com's Diamonds in the Rough showed several players that are projected to go lower than the fourth, and broke down the "why" of that.

I focussed on Browns needs:

1: Tavaris Cadet, RB(WR), Appalacian State 6'2" 215 (he gets MUCH bigger as a pro): Exactly like Josh Cribbs, he was a quarterback in highschool, and was basicly his whole offense. He actually shifted back and forth between quarterback and wide reciever, and excelled at both. As a quarterback, he ran almost as often as he threw.

Then he signs with Toledo, and Toledo got in all sorts of trouble with the NCAA before he could start his first season. They screwed around with him til he went to a JUCO school in Mississipi where he was a QB/RB/WR/returner.

Then he had to pay back Toledo for his scholarship so that he could sign with a major college! Twenty grand! He had to get a job, and finally his whole family chipped in with him to pay the bastards back. This cost him his shot at Kansas State, who couldn't wait for him, but Appalacian State took him on.

That was 2009, after much wasted time that wasn't his fault. That season he played mostly in the slot and at running back, gaining 700 all-purpose yards. In 2010, he lost time with a hurt thumb, but still gained 671 yards on 115 attempts from scrimmage, and over a thousand as a reciever. Last year, he got similar results.

He's proejected low due to his level of competition and a false perception of his background. He has real speed. From the slot, he was sudden and got separation. He was sure-handed. As a running back he was fast and shifty; he has NFL speed.

He can fill multiple roles including special teams, and has unknown potential. Could be aother Little, OR Cribbs, for all we know!

Josh Norman, CB(S) Coastal Carolina, 6', 192: Basicly a small-school guy who tore it up in the East-West Shrine game after piling up records. He should have had more picks than the school record number he has, but quarterbacks avoided him. The article didn't mention man vs. zone skills, but he does have the hips and the speed. If he played all-zone, we can't know yet about cornerback, but he's a safety prospect for sure. Good tackler too.

Jared Green, WR, Southern 6'2", 184: He is the son of Hall of Fame CB Darrell Green, and inheritted his speed. We was ill-used for all four years at the University of Virginia. Coach Al Groh, who had recruited him, was fired 3 games into his sophomore season, and he pretty much got screwed the rest of the way.

As a FRESHMAN, he had 3 catches for 40 yards vs. USC. He caught 3 passes including a TD vs. the Miami Hurricanes. Groh had planned to use him more, but...

With his bachelor's in hand, he signed up with Southern U, where he caught 17 balls for over 300 yards.

All of this sounds unimpressive, but this scout said that he gets separation, has great hands, can jump like a kangaroo, and is usually the fastest guy on the field. My theory is that he couldn't get off a bump at the line. He's skinny and maybe got pushed off his routes. Maybe his quarterback sucked, or they ran all the time.

But he's 6'2" and he'll get bigger. At least 205, I bet.

Adrian Hamilton, DE, Prairie View A&M, 6'3", 255:

Oklahoma State recruited him, then wanted him to sit out his freshman year because they were out of scholarships. That's right: they screwed him.

So he walked on at Texas Tech. He was used sparingly his first year, and got four tackles. He probably was clueless and sucked, to be honest. Then his Coach announced that he had been dismissed, offering no explanation. The explanation was that the kid had been paying for school and couldn't afford it anymore, so he told the coach he had to leave.

He had an issue with academics, which is what messed up a scholarship. He went to a smaller university for a year to get his grades up. (I can tell you as a former corrections officer, most of the inner city inmates were highschool graduates, and many were illiterate. It's usually not about intelligence. This guy had a lot of catching up to do.)

After this, he was off everybody's radar screens, with some bogus baggage to boot. Pairie A&M gave him his scholarship. He finished 2010, his first season, with 5 1/2 sacks, 8 TFL's, and a blocked punt touchdown.

In '11, it was 19 tackles-for-loss and 14 sacks...at the time the article was written...with four games left!

He has extra-long arms and was tough to block. Freakish speed. His head coach, Gabe Northern, said that he can bull rush, spin, and set the edge--no work needed on any of that. Northern was a second round pick and played defensive end for the Bills, so he obviously taught the kid what he knew. The scout mentioned impressive rips and swims, too.

“He reminds me of myself, with the speed, power and technique, he has way better hands than I ever had, he has a spin move that Robert Mathis, and James Harrison have mastered, which would put him way ahead of me. If I was a second round pick, I think he has the physical capabilities to be a first round pick.”

The Browns need a weak side defensive end. Mathis will be tried by 3-4 teams at linebacker, so he's likely to keep his weight down for the combine. Sounds like Dwight Freenie.

There are a few more guys, but these are the ones that I felt would be good for THIS team at this time. It sounds like all these guys will rise up the charts somewhat once they get their clock-times and they do their drills, but right now every one of them is projected to go very low or undrafted.

Unfortunately, there weren't any tackles. Bummer.

Ok now: One guy mock-drafted the Browns drafting an offensive tackle at number four..............

What was I Thinking

2012-01-27T08:15:00.000-08:00

1: Due to a poor connection, my previous blog published incorrectly, and I missed some typos too. I haven't been able to access the "edit" feature, which is why I look semi-literate.

2: I said that Tom Schneider (mispelled) would probably go for Matt Ryan instead of trading up for RG3. Matt FLYNN. 2 botches in one sentence. Impressive, no?

Speaking of which, I was basing my theories on bad information. I had been told that Flynn would cost a bunch of draft picks in a trade, but he is unsigned. The only way Green Bay could extort a trade would be if they franchised Flynn.

I'm no expert, but I don't think clubs operate that way. It's sort of bad faith. They prevent a player from exploring his opportunities and getting his chance to start, and put a cieling on his salary. As a GM, being the ruthless cutthroat I am, I would be strongly tempted to do it anyway, but wouldn't. Bad PR, hard feelings--not good.

If that's the case: that Flynn is an unencumbered free agent, then (DUH) he's the Browns likely first option.

I've read some laughably shallow cliched comments about Flynn:

1: He was a seventh-round pick for a reason. What does that have to do with what he did to Detroit and New England? These clowns are like women--they never forget, and it always matters, no matter what.

Nobody seems to notice yet that he's as short as McCoy, Rodgers, Montana, and Young, and less than two inches taller than Brees...but it will come.

2: We only have two games to look at, and he was in a great system with great support. Yeah. This one has some actual logic to it. All the same, Rodgers was statisticly the best quarterback in the NFL last season, and Flynn more than matched him. Matched Aaron Rodgers, ya know?

3: The Browns don't have enough money. I won't bother to comment on that. That's a top ten dumbass there.

He's been practicing the West Coast for four years, learning from the best in the business.

It's true that, given Cleveland's relatively lesser talent, Flynn couldn't be as effective as he was in Green Bay. But a guy who's been around as long as him, with an arm like his, has an edge on Colt McCoy, and an extremely short learning curve.

Salary shouldn't dictate who starts, and I can't accept that it will here, so if Colt McCoy outdoes Flynn, so be it. They said they wanted to bring in somebody to compete with McCoy: Flynn is it.

Now they have all options on the table in the draft. RG3 could still be there at #4 and the trade possibilities are all there. Claiborne will be there, but might still be there after a trade with Washington.

What would they give for Flynn instead? Just a thought.

The Draft

2012-01-26T07:52:00.000-08:00

Qualifier: Unlike other pundits, I trust Holmgren, Heckert, and Shurmer to evaluate Colt McCoy and Robert Griffin III more accurately than I can. Not only have I zero experience, but I also have no access to the player-specific game-tapes they'll be looking at. If this braintrust does anything different than I suggest, they are probably right, and I am probably wrong.

You won't hear that anywhere else...except maybe from Terry Pluto.

I've been defending Colt McCoy from mostly assenine attacks (including some who say the drops were his fault because he throws a less "catchable" ball), and still feel he could become a franchise guy.

But this is despite one physical limitation which I first commented on before he was drafted:

The arm thing. In all of his highlight tapes, I never saw him fire a low-trajectory frozen rope. I have to note here that his passes have been timed with radar guns, and travel at the same 56-58 mph passes guys like Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and others throw. This conflicts with what my eyes tell me, as he still hasn't thrown those aforementioned "stick" passes as a pro.

Still, niether did Joe Montana, ever. Nor Brian Sipe. A number of other pro quarterbacks today (Kyle Orton, Chad Pennington, and others) don't even have McCoy's arm.

I still say that when Eric Steinbach went down, then Massequoi, and especially Hillis, it made an already tough transition to a complex West Coast offense (with no offseason) a whole lot tougher. Then the drops. Those passes were mostly on-the-money; VERY accurate. How can you blame the quarterback for those? Are you nuts?

That latest defense of McCoy was a second qualifier, because if they take Robert Griffin at number four, I'm all for it. As for trading up to number two, I'll leave that to Heckert and company. I mean, #22 AND a second rounder? For two slots? Remember when Butch Davis traded his first and second rounder to move one slot and draft Kellen Winslow Jr.?

But like I said, I'd leave that to the experts.

Anyway, Washington would have to jump four slots, without ammo. They'd have to mortgage their future. Most of their picks this season, or a first and second and then a first next season.

That's Tom Sneider, isn't it? It's more likely he'd go for the Matt Ryan anyway. It would only cost him money, and he can trade his draft picks for some more overpriced old guys.

All that can wait.

Griffin has all of Colt's strengths, plus a very strong arm and the athleticism of an Olympic calibre hurdler. Those assets include great accuracy. Statisticly, he outdid Andrew Luck in every category. (Level of competition, height, etc. yeah so stipulated-Luck is the prototype I get it).

Height: Griffin is about McCoy's height. This is overblown. Delhomme was a half inch taller. Do you really think a half inch is critical? Rodgers is that height, Brees an inch or more shorter. Montana and Young were no taller, Sipe shorter than all of them, Vick is right there too--please just stop it.

Could RG3 adapt to the West Coast quickly? Well, he graduated highschool a year early, then graduated college a year early (closing in on a Post-Grad degree now). This doesn't always translate to the football field, but in Griffin's case, it will.

Griffin relied on his athleticism too much (per scouting reports) until his senior season. Had he come out as a junior, he nevertheless might have gone in the third or fourth round, because he'd already shown flashes of greatness.

As a senior, he came in as a new player. Standing in the pocket under pressure (not taking off until he had to; pocket awareness). Progressing to secondary and tertiary recievers. Shifting his feet in the pocket for good alignment before throwing.

He was always decisive--a very quick release--but now his mechanics were much-improved.

Griffin's arm is exceptionally strong, and he alters his throwing angle to 3/4 or even side-arm to get it past linemen without losing accuracy. On the run, he can throw "all-arm" like John Elway did while scrambling to his left or right, and still get it deep, and on the money. Important: He doesn't lose track of his recievers when he scrambles. He keeps his eyes downfield to track them--many scramblers can't do this. They glance at the pursuit, or look for daylight.

He always had perfect touch and accuracy on short and intermediate throws, but as a senior became much more accurate throwing deep. Looping "bucket" throws (ps McCoy does that well), or darts (which McCoy doesn't do).

The scouting report I read decried his narrow waist. I don't get that.

He's more solidly built than McCoy, and will probably add a few more pounds to play at over 220. When Edgarrin James came out of college, he was about the exact same height and weight as Griffin is now. Of course, running backs don't take near the punishment as quarteracks, right? Just stop it. Please.

They're not going to "kick McCoy to the curb". That's rediculous. He's got a third round salary and does NOT suck. He still has upside. '11 was his SECOND SEASON for crying out loud! RGIII might not even beat him out fair and square of they draft him, either. McCoy could predictably improve in his third season (duh).

Why are these goobers reading so much into the braintrust not declaring McCoy the starter, and bringing in competition for him? That's just common sense! They simply know that he will be good--just not HOW good! Hardly ANY of what happened to this season's offense was his fault.

Some assert that Wallace was better. This is a hallucination. He was approximately the same, with no upside left. You see what you want to see. Cut that out, and think with your brain.

But I digress.

Yeah, I know. They need a right tackle, a speedy reciever, and maybe a running back. They need a true 4-3 outside linebacker (or two) and a better DE to play opposite Sheard. They could really use a good man corner opposite Haden.

I know that if RG3 is in the same situation as McCoy was, he'll be in trouble too...but not as much.

They couldn't attack Griffin as they did McCoy. McCoy is highly mobile, but proved to be less accurate on the run, and wasn't dangerous if he turned upfield to run. McCoy throwing "all-arm" isn't the same as RG3 is. Defenses stacked up and threw the kitchen sink at McCoy.

Griffin has to be contained. Defenses can't show him a gap, or let the edge guys cross anybody's face to get inside the tackles. This guy clocks 4.4 and NOBODY, including most cornerbacks, can run him down from behind. If you're in coverage, exactly when do you let your guy go and try to stop Griffin as he loops toward the line of scrimmage, huh? He gives these guys nightmares.

RG3 has the tools to overcome some of the deep doodoo that McCoy can't, and to force the defense to attack the backfield in a more predictable/manageable way. Even though he would no doubt be behind McCoy on the learning curve, he can scramble for yards and downs until he learns. Mcnabb's first season in Philly was like that.

Further, Massequoi is another guy who gets bashed unfairly...like for being injured. When he was healthy, he got open and he caught the ball. You lump him in with Robiskie simply because they were drafted together. You know that Mangini drafted him, so you close your eyes and lay some of Little's drops on him. It's convenient for you to see things that way. Mangini bad. Heckert good.

Little showed nice progress late in the season, and almost stopped dropping balls. He's NOT just a possession guy, either! He's a potential number one double-coverage demander.

Why do people think we need a big possession guy when that's what Moore does anyway? Have we forgotten Jordan Cameron already? Watson's concussions could wreck him, but Cameron, from what I've heard, looks like a decent in-line blocker and can replace him. Maybe Moore still can too. If not just make him a wide reciever so he can play without tipping off the defense every time he's on the field.

What about Mitchell? It's do-or-die time for him this season. Not just DOA, okay?

There are recievers on this roster, including two potential number one scary deep guys. We're just not SURE of it all.

Griffin's presence could help lure elite free agents here, too. Any guy who thrives on deep passes needs to see a bomber QB. McCoy doesn't do that. Griffin can. Overlooked is the scrambling. "You mean I get ten seconds to get open? You mean the guy on me has to sweat the quarterback too? Where do I sign?"

If they don't trade up, Kendall Wright might be it, too. He's only 5'10", but was also a star hurdler with a 42' vertical. He's amazingly strong for his size, and doesn't get pushed around. Besides, if you try to push him around and he gets by you, you got a big problem. He darts and dashes to get separation.

Most scouts label him a slot guy only due to his stature. Well, is Steve Smith a slot guy? Just wonderin. Put him next to Moore and opposite Little--call it a 3-wide. Fixed!

Also, football evolves. Big recievers have been the thing, and to date everybody wants big cornerbacks to match up with them. Put Wright up against Joe Haden--that's a fight. Put him up against Nambi Asem...you know--and Wright gets OPEN. You hear it here first: Smaller wide recievers will return, and Wright might be the first (after Smith).

That would be perfect, since Griffin and Wright are already a tandem.

Sorry to cut this short (haha).

Wow This guy Predicted All this Stuff!

2011-11-23T05:59:00.000-08:00

You've got to check this guy out! He said:

1: Jordan Norwood would emerge as the third and sometimes second reciever and make big plays. He is quick as well as fast, and creates separation, which offsets his stature. While most pundits labelled him a long-term slot project, this guy said that while he's best in the slot, he can play outside as well.

2: Massequoi, or the absence thereof, makes a difference. Little is still learning (and making mistakes.) Robiskie never got over his inability to separate. MoMass beats single man coverage more often than not. Some corners can shut him down, but not many.

3: Cribbs HAS become a pretty good wide reciever. He NOW runs precise routes. He only gets a little separation, but with this quarterback and his brute strength, that's enough. Mike Trivisano as recently as the week before last said that Cribbs "can't run a route".

4: The new running back, whose name starts with "O"...this guy said that he was a former wide reciever who was developing as a running back. He said that while for his first couple seasons this guy was mediocre, he could emerge now--in his third season, as is common.
This guy said that O-Whozzit is an excellent fit in the West Coast due to his recieving skills, which extend downfield.

5: This guy said that a huge part of the offense's problem was the revolving-door rookie guards, who were still learning and screwing up a lot. Opposing offenses were loading the box and sending never fewer than four guys, and often six. McCoy had little time. The only way he could throw over the top was when he was running for his life, and he frankly sucked...

6: This guy said that McCoy had demonstrated superb accuracy in the past (as a rookie) and could do it again. When a young player demonstrates great skills and then regresses, USUALLY he gets his feet back under him and continues to grow and improve.

7: He pointed out two rookie starters on the defensive line, who would show marked improvement in the second half of their rookie seasons, which is utterly and obviously predictable.

8: He lauded Buster Skrine as a guy who could tackle and cover any reciever under 6' tall as well as any cornerback around. He predicted that by the middle of his inaugural season he would at least be the fifth, more likely the fourth, and possibly even the third cornerback, and that he would be used on any small/quick slot guy.

You've just got to check this guy out!

Oh yeah. He's ME. Dammit.

I've got to admit, I'm stunned by Chris Ogbonnaya's emergence. I never thought he'd be THIS good running from scrimmage. Give Tom Heckert credit--what a FIND!

The offensive line is blocking a LOT better now. I actually heard Even Moore's name several times last week. That means that the Browns no longer needed to keep the tight end in to help block a kitchen-sink pass-rush.

Who caught the passes? Wide recievers. Two plays over fifty yards in the last two weeks. Part of this is Oggi's getting past the front wall and making them pay, but part of it is also McCoy's making ACCURATE stabs downfield.

Understand that it doesn't have to be 40 or 50 yards. 20 yards--like the one to Little crossing--does wonders to back safeties off the line.

Then I've read that most of the drops were 3-5 steps, and the ball was gone in less than three seconds. That's exactly how the West Coast is supposed to work.

The analyst attributed this to a change in Shurmer's playcalling, but what it's really more about is McCoy trusting his recievers to be where they're supposed to be. That only happens when the recievers have PROVEN themselves to him. MEANING, when THEY have improved their reads and routes!

Little and Norwood are entering the second half of their rookie seasons. Massequoi cam back from his concussion.

Before, McCoy wasn't throwing when he was supposed to throw. Young recievers would keep going when they were supposed to break off or stop, or the reverse. No quarterback can cross his fingers and throw to a spot where he's not sure the reciever will be there to--at the very least--prevent an interception. No coach can bully him into it--nor would many try.

Can they beat the Bungles? That's a tall order. Like it or not, Cinci has an elite team, and the Browns are still behind them developmentally. But it's the North, and they have a real, legit shot.

Cribbs

2011-11-10T10:09:00.000-08:00

Josh Cribbs will have an expanded role vs. the Rams. Everybody is guessing about the wildcat and stuff.

I believe that finally, at long last, Pat Shurmer has recognized him as a West Coast TAILBACK.

Cribbs doesn't have the "fast start" needed to hit the hole quickly, like most running backs do. This is probably why no coach has used him there. But this quick accelleration is all that he lacks to be a tailback in this offense. He can block, catch, break tackles, and score from anywhere, given a little space.

And he can throw. Given a dumpoff in the flats, when DB's and linebackers break out of coverage to stop him....

Now, I have to repeat this for my bro and nephew, who have declared that nothing will change for the Browns:

New Coach. New Personnel Director. New GM. New systems. Young players.

Randy Lerner doesn't interfere, so you're judging a bunch of new people unfairly, and that IS irrational.

Something else: Pro defenses are expert at decieving inexperienced recievers. You think "zone" and "man" coverage is it, but it's not. They show one thing pre-snap, then do another. The safety takes a step one way, then turns the other.

The quarterback can see this. It's hard for even him to read it correctly. For a wide reciever, it's harder to watch the whole secondary at once while running a pattern. It's a series of fleeting glimpses, through bodies running every which way. Based on that, there is only ONE of several patterns that is correct on any given play. The QB and reciever must read it the same, and the quarterback must trust the WR BEFORE he turns to look back to make the right move and get to the right spot.

The only way a QB can trust a reciever enough to throw that ball into empty space is after that reciver has made the correct move, without error, a whole bunch of times in a row.

Do you think the rookie Little is there yet? Really? Do you know that this is why MoMass and Cribbs are/were catching more passes--because they're more accustomed to Pro defenses dirty tricks?

Can you please try to wrap your head around the fact that Little five games from now will be better than he is now?

In the absence of Peyton Hillis, defenses are stacking the box and sending five and six rushers. They do this not just to give McCoy hell, but to keep the back and Ben Watson inside and blocking, depriving him of two recievers. To keep Evan Moore off the field. And it's working out great-especially since the raw guards are screwing up blocks.

I never realized how much they would miss Eric Steinbach. Wow, what a difference he made!

So now I must re-iterate:

1: BEFORE: Vertical passing, inside running. NOW: West Coast short passing, inc. to backs.

2: BEFORE: Mangini. NOW: Shurmer.

3: BEFORE: Rob Ryan 3-4. NOW: Dick Jauron 4-3.

4: BEFORE: Can't remember. NOW: Tom Heckert.

5: Heckert/Holmgren SECOND SEASON.

6: McCoy SECOND SEASON.

7: Basicly rookie guards, revolving RT's, rookie X-reciever, Cribbs, and guys off the practice squad I mean grow up! Come on now!

What, do you think it's a gypsy curse or something that the QB will "NEVER" have any time to throw? Because he never has before, therefore young guys will never improve with experience, Heckert will never acquire better blockers, that the new regime will suddenly start duplicating people they never met except in passing?

Do you think it's like the staph problem at the Cleveland clinic--that there's an incompetance virus in the walls of the training facility that somehow destroys everybody's brain cells?

No. Sorry. It's 1-7 above. those are empirical, irrefutable facts. To deny them is, indeed, irrational.

My faith in McCoy isn't blind. He's been screwing up himself. A lot. However, I HAVE seen him play damn near perfect against elite defenses under pressure, so I have to give him a chance to work through it. Quinn was NEVER accurate, by the way. McCoy was a damn SNIPER, so don't even say they're the same. That's just idiotic.

Nor is my faith in Shurmer. However, sans Shurmer look at the Rams and Bradford. And then he's suffering from a profound abundance of rookies, injuries, and a current lack of talent while trying to institute a new and yes, complex scheme.

It's possible they won't ultimately succeed, but at least equally possible that they will, once people are healthy and experienced, and more players are added.

That's reality. Deal with it.

As the Stomach Turns

2011-10-23T14:21:00.000-07:00

I normally wait before writing about a game, but this time I was able to actually watch it live...

Ok thanks to Denver Browns Backers Pres. Schott and the Retreat Bar...and a bunch of REAL fans such as I haven't met in a Cleveland bar for a long time...I mean and they knew their stuff...

Anyway this time I'm listening to the post-game on the internet and can't help jumping on stupidity when I hear it.

Don't be saying that a quarterback with 13 NFL starts, with an obviously porous offensive line, in a new system, who is a walking bruise--can be judged one way or the other, period. You can say "so far" he doesn't seem to be the quarterback we need and be technicly correct, but you are still an asshole to say it.

The ex-quarterbacks on NFL Radio sort of explain some of it: No matter how much you're coached, or what orders you have, as a quarterback, you won't throw blind to a spot until you have learned to RELY ON a given reciever. McCoy right now doesn't trust his outside guys.

He knows that on paper they should be physical/tall enough to guarantee an incompletion at worst, but until he has seen it proven conclusively, he can't stake drives and games on faith.

At this point, he trusts only his eyes. He has to SEE his open target before he'll throw, and that's why he so often checks down to the last resort.

I need the reader to comprehend that these guys were NOT bashing McCoy. They are DEFENDING him. They've BEEN there.

All the same, I was encouraged to see that Evan Moore wasn't locked in the basement again. McCoy DOES trust HIM (and Watson). Watson must have been hurt today.

Massequoi was moved back to the X-reciever slot, but Little was the Z-man. It seemed to work out okay, although the wide-outs in general did little. But again, this was more about McCoy, and the time he generally lacked, than with them.

I was massively relieved to see Hardesty not bobble or drop even one pass. He is a very good all-around running back--possibly in the top 13-15 in the NFL when healthy and not doing his Braylon Edwards imitation.

One point: He is elusive and shifty only compared to Peyton Hillis, okay? He is a BIG, tackle-breaking running back. Those who describe him as a stark contrast to Hillis are dumbasses. Defensive coordinators will all plan to defend Hillis and Hardesty about the same way, and Shurmer will use them each the same way.

The Seahawks with Whitehurst for the first time is not a formidable offense. All the same, the Browns defense did a great job on them.

McCoy did come through in the clutch, as did Little and Massequoi. Little moreso: McCoy threw one deep to him when he was double-covered. It wasn't completed, but Little made sure it wasn't picked off either. After he's seen the tape, Colt will note and file it. It was inches away from being a game-changing completion, and McCoy will do it again.

Little will become a stud. You'll see.

After further analysis, I'll let my win/loss prediction stand at 13-3.

As the Team Turns

2011-10-18T11:47:00.000-07:00

In previous episodes:

Peyton Hillis, on the flimsy pretext of severe strep throat, causing a 14-pound weight loss, refused to play. We know, of course, that this was really about his contract negotiations. Otherwise, he would have played and no doubt done much better than Montario Hardesty.

One can only guess at the sense of profound betrayal felt by his teammates at this cowardly, selfish act. The fact that they're denying it says all there is to say.

The following week, Pat Shurmer was forced by Tom Heckert and J.R. Holmgren to play Hillis, despite his deep hatred of him. He did so for the first series, and then benched him in favor of Hardesty in an effort to reassert control of his team.

Behind closed doors, there can be no doubt that there were shouting matches and perhaps fistfights. According to one source, Benard was never even on a motorcycle and was injured in the melee. He has recently pled not guilty to his traffic charges, which supports this report.

In the last game, Hillis pretended to have an injured hamstring, exaserbating this acrimonious, divisive situation.

The brilliant Chris Mortenson's report that the Browns could be persuaded to trade the unwanted fullback is probably accurate. Shurmer's version of the West Coast requires a total-package running back who can block and catch the ball downfield.

Another article made a lot of sense. The Browns probably aren't going anywhere this season, and should jettison the excess baggage. Hillis is obviously on his last legs, and the team needs running backs who will be effective next season.

OK I'm sorry I can't do this any more. I can't even PRETEND to be that stupid.

Hillis is young, perfect for this offense, has played with cracked ribs (Ever had cracked ribs? It's crippling. It's like being stabbed over and over again just to breathe.) Strep throat is a CONTAGEOUS VIRUS, and Hillis would have been worthless without his strength and wind. This "play hurt" crap gets insane after awhile. How well do you think Peyton Manning would have done this season had he stupidly insisted on playing?

You people and your magic wands and mind-over-matter stuff. At the time nobody knew that Hardesty was the second coming of Braylon Edwards. At the time he was deemed the best running back, and he was--he played well that game.

Sure, Hillis wants to get paid. And the Browns want to KEEP him! I doubt that anybody will give up a first round pick for him, and that's the only thing that would make them consider a trade unless his demands are rediculous--which I doubt.

There's no controversey in that locker room over Peyton Hillis. Remember that most of these guys are college graduates who can spell their names right and everything, plus you can't play football without a 3-digit I.Q. So much for that rumor.

This is a rebuilding team with a lot of youth, and new systems on both sides of the ball. Sam Bradford in L.A. is having a hell of a time, just as McCoy is, thanks to a new offensive system, and has about six games more experience.

The Raiders are a vastly improved team this season. They're loaded with talent, and their systems are in their second seasons. Despite McCoy's horrific performance and the fact that Rubin and Taylor got "handled", they still needed a special teams TD to win at home.

NEXT season, if you don't blow this up, this Browns team can be where Detroit, Buffalo (yes, Buffalo!), and the Raiders are this season: Playoff contenders.

That's how it works. Reps. Experience. Growth.

Grow up and accept the growing pains. And quit trying to turn it into a damn soap opera.

Ah Say We HAING 'Em!

2011-10-05T07:33:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, shaddap! I mean holy s--t Shurmer "punished" Hillis? They got BEHIND and had to pass to COME BACK. And some of the same people who agreed with me that it would be good to take some carries of Hillis now think it's a big freaking conspiracy when that happens!

Black helicopters, Mousad suicide pilots, CIA snipers, and now Hillisgate for crying out loud get a JOB!

McCoy is almost a rookie but "that's no excuse--" Stop right there. Why isn't it an excuse? Is inexperience and a new system ever an excuse? You never think before you whip out the cliches. Inexperience and a new system are excuses for a quarterback (and recievers) making mistakes. DEAL with it!

You still say "The New York FOOTBALL Giants" too, don't you? Ask your oldest grandparent if they remember the baseball Giants in New York. Why do you keep saying that? Quit saying that and quit saying "that's no excuse" no matter what. THINK.

Most defenses can shut down all the deep zones with two safeties deep. You're not picking on McCoy for having a weak arm. You're bashing him for not being STUPID and making their day.

Rookie left guard and almost rookie right guard. Right tackle with no reps and now I suppose they need to replace the whole line, too, right?

It's true: A good team (which will whup the overrated geezer Stoolers next week by the way) "exposed" the Browns weaknesses. It's true, they HAVE weaknesses. Their biggest weaknesses are that they're four games into a season with no offseason with a new (complex) system, an almost-rookie QB and right guard, a rookie left guard, and more rookies--but that's no excuse YES IT IS STFU.

Take your ropes and torches and go home. We're waiting for the circuit judge, and he won't be here til around game twelve. By that time, these youngsters might have had a little time to prepare a defense. Sober up and go home now...this shotgun aint for show.

Accuracy

2011-10-02T07:03:00.000-07:00

1: Colt had a bad game, okay. But it amazes me that the BOBW's are tossing in his two touchdown passes, and a few others thrown into traffic.

Okay (sigh): There are these opposing players called defensive backs, see? They are trying to stay right with the reciever, and to intercept the ball, okay? When a quarterback can put the ball where his reciever can catch it and the defensive back can't, that is good. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

2: Once again, the armchair Sargeant Rocks are up in arms talking about Peyton Hillis being soft. At that time, Montario Hardesty was the Browns best running back by a significant margin. Had Hillis insisted on playing anyway, he would be a selfish moron. Had Shurmer allowed him to play, I would have lobbied for his summary execution.

Guy plays three games with broken ribs and now you question his toughness. Stay in your armchairs and zip it.

3: McCoy may have fled the pocket prematurely a time or two, but here come the BOTW's (Baby-out-with-the bathwater's) again, lumping in the controlled roll-outs. When the quarterback never stops his retreat and keeps going, looping back and to his right, it's a designed play. It helps the offensive line. which knows in advance that there will be no pocket, and where the defrense's moving target is going. It helps the wide recievers, who know where he can and can't see.

A SMART coach adapts his game-plan to his talent. The Browns are having trouble pass-protecting, especially at right tackle. McCoy is very mobile and effective throwing on the move.

More: Defenders attacking the right tackle's best moves are inside. Smith, the tight end, was used more (at Moore's expense unfortunately) to chip defenders on the outside, plus if they looped wide around behind the tackle, McCoy (or a back kept in to protect) would have a clear throwing or running lane between guard and tackle.

The roll-out eliminates the threat of the quick DE or linebacker crossing the right tackle's face and shooting between him and the right guard. McCoy leads his pursuit right back into the right tackle...who kinda waits for him haha.

Pashos isn't really much better than his replacements as a pass blocker, but does have better reach; can force the outside rusher to take a wider angle, or knock him off-balance inside, buying himself time. He's just barely enough better that he doesn't often need tight end help.

With Pashos, McCoy can stay in the pocket a little more, Evan Moore (or Josh Cribbs) can be on the field more, and Pashos is one of the best run-blockers in the league, so...

Anyway, please go see what you did to the baby this time. I don't know how much more it can take.

4: McCoy's last drive was a thing of beauty. Phil Simms, who as I've mentioned brushes off any nquarterback without a cannon, said "It gets you to the next game". Yeah? For an almost-rookie in a new system with a new coach?

No, it made a big difference, as this whole offense needs to prove things to itself as well as to opponents. They now know that they can do it, and remember how they did it. It will be easier the second time. McCoy himself rarely had to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat as the Texas QB--they murdered most of their opponents. Now he's done it at the highest level. I don't need to be an ex-quarterback to know that it means a lot.

5: On that last drive, Little showed up big-time, and Massequoi in the clutch. The WR's caught most of the passes. It was promising in several ways, as the plan all along is to attack every part of the field, using every weapon.

6: I agree with Grossi's idea of using the hurry-up earlier in the game.

7: Massequoi is the number one reciever. Predictably, it was the great Pluto who said it second. Soon, others will blink and rub their eyes and realize that he has the speed, the YAC, and the hands to beat single coverage almost every time. Third season. Is it sinking in yet?

8: Hasselback is scary, but so is the Browns rapidly-developing defensive line. He looks foreward to blitzes to burn, but a four man front that gets pressure without a blitze is his ideal nemisis.

I love the delayed blitzes by Jackson. I wasn't able to watch the last one, but I like to think that Gocong delayed as well. Delayed blitzes are really this: If it's a run, you're in position. If it's a pass, you react AFTER the recievers have made their reads and can no longer exploit the space you vacate, and after the offensive linemen are engaged. Maybe even after the running back has seen no leaks and gone into a pattern, leaving no protection.

Hasselback is not very mobile. This defense, expecially with Joe Haden on one wide reciever and Ward on Jonson or a tight end, has a chance to mess Hasselback and co. up.

9: Johnson terrifies me. I grew up in Cleveland. Don't we all just KNOW that this game will be his coming-out party?

10: With Pashos, the Browns can run the ball, even against these guys. And they should. I still can't wait to see a two-back. And a two-back, two-tight-end offense too, for that matter (with Moore and Watson). They can force some truly lopsided matchups here.

You don't just open holes by blocking. You can also open holes by splitting tight ends out and putting running backs in the slot. Base defense personel have to leave the box to get on them. Then they have to react out of coverage to close on a runner--with the guy they meant to cover in their grill.

Nickel and dime defenses are fast. Base defenses are not. USE THE GOONS, Pat!

Prediction: 15-1. Update to follow this game, when I get more info.

Nothing to See Here, Move Along!

2011-09-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

It's always easy to take shots, and it's a target-rich environment. That sucked. Okay I'm done.

It's also easy to pretend you're Vince Lombardi or a marine ranger or something and yammer about second place being last place and crap like that. For a Ranger that's fine: Second place is dead. For the rest of you, grow up. This team is being rebuilt and instant gratification is not to be had.

Now for the positive stuff:

1: Massequoi. No preseason and voila. There he is. Like I said. I'm still hearing he can't be a number one. If you define number one as one of the five best wide recievers in the NFL, ok. If not, think aga...think for the first time.

2: Pinkston. He'll be okay.

3: The linebackerS aren't slow. Aside from that Samoan semi-safety guy, the outside backers are slow for a 4-3, but Jackson isn't. Further, Jackson is one of the better coverage linebackers in the NFL. Also, if a tight end can't get into his pattern, he can't catch a pass, and Fujita can press. Also, linebackers cover tight ends and running backs, not wide recievers. Also, linebackers are replaced in nickel and dime defenses. You guys go duck-hunting with hand-grenades, don't you?

4: Evan Moore. Wow.

5: Andy Dalton was shockingly good under pressure. Give the man credit.

6: The pony offense (two halfbacks) wasn't a gimmick and will be used more, expecially against the light-in-the-loafers Colts. Turn Dwight Freeny into a pancake and he can't rush the passer. the pony also provides two potential pass-blockers.

6a: Vs. the Colts you should see some two-back, two-tight end offenses with only one wide reciever. They can get as cute and clever, and be as fast and athletic as they want. This team can run or pass out of that formation, and they can beat the Colts down with it.

7: McCoy is still almost a rookie. The complex offensive system is still new. There are bound to be hiccups and outright breakdowns like those last sunday. If you're an adult, you expect them, but expect the operation to smooth out over time/with reps.

8: Jackson. I told you so. I loved the delayed blitzes, too. Those big monsters in front of him really help that work, but he also gets to full speed in about two steps.

9: Benard. I told you so. Sheard is a rookie, and may become a stud, but isn't yet, and Benard will probably take reps from him. Benard can get to the QB.

10: The Green touchdown debacle can be called a fluke. Do you expect it to happen again? Overall, the defense wasn't bad. They did seem to get gassed at the end. One guy wrote about it being an issue. Not really. It's an issue for every NFL defense that didn't get an offseason or train strenuously per old contract rules. Another guy that goes fishing with dynamite.
They were solid against the run for most of the game, and they got to the QB a lot.

11: Field position was a critical factor. I feel bad for the punter who had the bad back and might have lost his shot because of it, but it is what it is and won't be next week.

12: They overcame their early putridosity and came back. Of they hadn't then turned right back into the Keystone cops, that would have been great. As it was, though, it was a very good sign.

13: Rich Gannon and others are picking the Browns over Indi. Gannon says the Colts defense is in trouble if it has to defend the run for sixty minutes. He didn't say this: Kerry Collins is a sitting duck.

I am starting to give up on Robiski. He's in his third season now, and has the brains to run the correct routes. One commentator said he needs to "play up to his potential". Well, he might not have sufficient potential. Effort was never an issue. I got my fingers crossed, but am doubtful--and I don't care where he played in college, or how much I like him.

Pashos might be done. His whole body seems to be breaking down. They'll have to make do, but they do have solid vets who don't normally get embarrassed like they were vs. Cinci.

Insufficient Dumbassitude

2011-09-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

I can't find much dumb analysis to correct out there. It's like Shurmer put an IQ-booster in the water supply when he got here. But then, I've avoided the comments sections and forums.

Yeah this one guy chased me out. He somehow has a half-dozen identities and appears to be a full-time dark cloud. Every quarterback we've had before and since Anderson is "noodle-armed", Shurmer is a brainless Homgren-puppet, and of course we're all gonna die. I'm sick of the same old same old dominating these sites, and I wish they'd get rid of Mister Blabbermouth Bummer.

Honest critiques, whether misguided or not, are fine with me. But not d-heads whose mission it is to bash bash bash all day and all night...and yes, who are idiots.

Unfortunately, the paid analysts are for once doing a pretty good job, which is making it hard for me to be different.

But I'll try: Most recent intel casts a shadow on Carlton Mitchell. The reads and routes are one thing. That's his lack of experience. But drops? Okay--that's not good at this point. That is something which, by this time, he should have resolved. What I've heard about his performance at the Camp Colts is troubling.

But they retained him, didn't they? It's possible that my second-hand intelligence is flawed. I sure hope so. I mean, with Heckert--so far so good, ya know?

Ah! Armond Smith: He's sort of being treated as an afterthought who only made the roster because Brandon Jackson went on IR. W-W-WRONG!

I have major problems finding anything about about this guy, but I can, at least, listen to the brass.

Smith's one and only issue in an otherwise stunning preseason was fumbling. Shurmer said: "He didn't do it in college". Everybody else seems not to have heard that. The guy didn't fumble in college. He's a big-play tailback who can catch the ball. If his fumbleitis was nothing more than a hiccup, which his last performance offers some evdidence of, Mister Jackson might never get his job back.

Yeah he's only about 194, and might eventually top out at a little over 200 lbs. We're not talking about a workhorse here; that's not what he's here for. He's much more dangerous than Jackson, who is more of an Earnest Byner type. Smith is a Gregg Pruitt type. See the difference?

Another analyst discussed Josh Cribbs as a wide reciever. Said he was listed at number two behind Maasequoi, meaning that he's not expected to be a feature guy. Well, duh. he never was.

But the author made it sound as if he would never be a good wide reciever, period.

Listen: he made a couple big plays against Green Bays' starting defense, tweaked his hammy and was used sparingly since. Out-of-sight, out-of-mind with these guys!

Cribbs won't be the feature guy in this offense, but has already proven himself an extremely reliable guy who has obviously worked hard on developing a pair of the best hands I've ever seen in any reciever.

While he doesn't get a lot of separation, on short and intermediate patterns he doesn't really need to with this quarterback. He might get nailed before he can make anything happen 3 times out of four, but the first time somebody blows a coverage or fails to wrap him up, anything could happen. Meanwhile, McCoy will take eight yards here, thirteen yard there all day long.

This article was influenced by the author's perception of Massequoi as just a guy. He's more than that-he has elite potential in this offense.

Artie Hicks is a solid player, but one analyst pencilled him in as the starter at left guard based on rookie left tackle convert Jason Pinkston's putrid performance so far. Not so fast. Pinkston has the athleticism for it, but so far has been outsmarted by more experienced opponents. But he'll

I M P R O V E! He's flanked by Pro Bowlers and they can help him (on passing downs) schematicly with roll-outs.

It depends on how fast he progresses. He might indeed be replaced by Greco or Hicks, but that's not the long-term plan. Hicks was brought here more because he has started extensively at nearly every offensive line position. At his age, he won't start unless he has to, and may well not WANT to start any more.

They're trying to build a team to last, and wherever possible youth will prevail. Pinkston will be given every chance.

Quinton Spears came from...I don't know somebody that might play Cleveland State. But he has massive, massive potential. I believe he'll be tried at linebacker and passing down rush DE at first. He's only 234 lbs right now, but as soon as training camp 2012, he could easily report at over 250.

Those who are oblivious to this rather obvious probablity are calling him a linebacker already. It's possible that he can indeed become one, but more likely that he'll wind up at DE, or possibly a hybrid fill-in type guy.

One thing he can do (and did in Miami--at least in preseason) is rush the passer. He has uncommon speed; is faster than Benard and Sheard. He's also strong for his weight.

No doubt, he'll need a lot of work on hand-fighting etc., and could be a longer-term project who rarely sees the field except on special teams this season. But I love to check these guys out early, which is why Terry Pluto and I are among the rare people from Cleveland who aren't Memorex Morons.

You know what I mean. Around game three year after year, it looks to everybody else like night of the living dead. A bunch of young guys start clawing their way out of their premature graves and making plays. Everybody else is saying "wow I thod we needdedd debth dare! Who wooda thungg idd?"

The Browns only REAL offensive issues are right tackle depth and the issue at left guard.

There are more issues on defense, but there are four good starting defensive linemen, a starting middle linebacker, two good corners, etc...

Oh yeah! Adams is a GOOD free safety! The only reason he wasn't a starter last season was they ran cover two and had two bigger free/strong hybrids side-by-side rather than a true strong and a true free safety. Adams didn't fit that scheme. He does fit this one at free safety.

Not that Young won't wind up being better. Just quit trying to bury my man along with all the others. He's easily a top-25 free safety, even in his geezerhood. Watch and see.

YOU STAND CORRECTED.

Rodney Cribbsfield

2011-08-23T08:14:00.000-07:00

The guys on NFL Radio keep referring to Devon Hester as the best returner of all time, while Josh Cribbs holds all the records. Trouble is, Josh plays for Cleveland. The big market shuts down the pundits' brains.

Did you know that there is a "one of a kind" running back? "Defensive backs don't know how to stop him. They just launch themselves at his legs. There's no other running back in the NFL who's that big and that fast, with all he can do. Brandon Jacobs..."

Hillis got the cover of Madden, but that was just too freaking obvious, wasn't it? And everybody voted. They overrode the pundits who predicted it would be Micheal Vick. Nobody asked John Madden. Who do you think HE liked?

At least McCoy is getting rave reviews--especially by Jim Miller, Rich Gannon, and John Gruden.

Phil Simms said he didn't have an NFL arm, but he loved Tavarez Jackson. By Phil's standards, the majority of NFL quarterbacks don't have NFL arms. I bet he REALLY hates Kyle Orton! I used to think Phil was the real expert. I still love the way he's blunt and pulls no punches. But all he talks about is throwing hard, spinning it, and being a leader.

He does like McCoy's personality. He concedes that in a West Coast he might be allright. You can tell he's bored. He's not Tavarez Jackson or Derrick Anderson, and Phil is bored by guys who can't sling it like they can.

I can't leave it alone--I'm sorry. I rarely hear Phil talk about quick reads or accuracy. It's as if they don't matter. Phil is a smart guy, and certainly was a great (and underrated) quarterback. But this is another example of how smart, knowlegable people can be myopic and mentally lazy.

Everybody loves Evan Moore, too. Pat Kirwin, for instance, points out that you can't bring the safety up when you've got him or Watson ready to get behind them. Then he repeats that the Browns need a big-play wide recievers so that defenses can't stack the box. Amazing.

They love Jackson too. finally somebody wrote an article about how perfect he is for this defense. (I mean, somebody besides me.)

I want to talk about Massequoi but I've done that to death. Take out his stats, check out his offenses and quarterbacks, and turn on your freaking brain. You'll only read what I told you elsewhere after the fact.

Great move to lock up Joe Thomas forever. Instead of overpaying MoMass's replacement.

Jayme Mitchell has done pretty well so far. Sheard looks great FOR A ROOKIE. Taylor hasn't made a lot of plays, but IS helping keep big monsters off Jackson. I can't wait til these two learn all the dirty tricks.

Luavao stifled the second dirtiest player in the NFL (Suh) last week. He is the main reason I got so infuriated about people talking about the right SIDE of the offensive line, when they had right guard covered two or three-deep. Clevelanders never saw a molehill. Never noticed the baby in the bathwater either. Also: We're all gonna die.

The heat on McCoy came mainly over left guard (and Corey Williams). I can't wait to read that we need a whole new offensive line.

The defense in general, despite missing several starters, has looked remarkably good under the circumstances. For the secondary, it's similar, but the front seven is completely different, and I'd expected a lot more mistakes.

Jauron (along with Brown and Fujita) deserves much of the credit. They've gone from an insideously diabolical Ryan defense to something like a plug-and-play style. While there will be some wrinkles, the base defense is simple, so that the players can just react and play thoughtlessly fast.

I still prefer the 3-4 and all that versatility, but there's much to be said for fundamentals.

One thing about this defense is that it requires the majority of players to win individual battles. It will need to be very muscular (except for the defensive ends).

Speaking of which, I hope to see Benard back up to speed soon. I'd thought that he'd muscled up, but apparantly (maybe also) got fatter (on purpose). Blame the strike and non-communication with coaches. I'll bet he plays best at around 260.

Why was anybody surprised that Sheard showed up at around his college playing weight of 268? Oh yeah: Because for the combine he slimmed down because he might have been a 3-4 OLB. Lazy lazy lazy. A brain is a terrible thing to waste.

Joe Haden got toasted twice last week. Can't you people be consistant? You're supposed to be saying he sucks! I mean, Wright was here and steadily improving for two seasons, to the extent that after his second, many of you were saying that he should have made the Pro Bowl.

Then the Ravens strafe him, and suddenly he sucks. Why did you drag Wright off the pedestal and to the hanging tree in one afternoon, and yet overlook Haden's bad day? You can't possibly have matured that much in one offseason! You must just like him because he goes to Cavs games.

It's ok with me. Every cornerback in the NFL has had gameS like that, and I think Haden is da bomb. Just wondering why you don't think with your brains.

Brown's performance is somewhat more disturbing, due to his age. He got toasted too, both weeks. Last season, he was not just good, but excellent. I hope it's just rust, but I'm like Belichick about age. One year...probably just rust. He should be fine. I hope. At least whenever he isn't anymore, he'll be a top-notch free safety. I'd even extend him for a couple years because of that.

well okbye.

Predictions

2011-08-21T06:48:00.000-07:00

Blahblah only preseason blahblah not get too excited blahblah long way to go blahblah some holes blahblah notice how sagely wise I am blahblahblahblahblah BUT:

1: Colt McCoy is great. It doesn't matter who his recievers are, or if his opponents stop the run. It doesn't matter if the defense spends more time in the backfield than the running backs. He's as effective running for his life as he is standing in a pocket.
It doesn't matter if his recievers are covered, because the defenders can't get to the ball anyway.

The Browns finally have a real quarterback.

2: Last season and before, if the offense reached the red zone, it was usually two runs, and incomplete pass, and a field goal. Now, it's usually a touchdown.

This isn't about how bad Daboll sucks (he doesn't). This is the system. There are tons of short and intermediate passes in this timing system, and when the field shortens, it doesn't change anything. The defense does have less field to cover, meaning they can cover tighter and often be more aggressive, but McCoy is now used to throwing quickly and hitting tight windows. And, the run is still often replaced by a dink-pass.

3: Massequoi will reclaim his x-spot when he gets back, and will kick butt. He can go deep about as often as Jerry Rice did (which was seldom). It helps that he is faster than Rice ever was.

4: Cribbs the WR did not cease to exist against Detroit. He had his guy beat on the interference play, and has proven--including last season--that he has really good hands. His issues were defeating bumps at the line and getting separation. Considering the fact that he's been playing outside (not much in the slot) this preseason, it's clear to those who bother to watch closely that he defeats press coverage and gets a little separation. What else does he need?
PS I love what he said: "You get me the ball in the open field and I run with it. That's the threat." Exactly, Josh!

5: Little is a much bigger Massequoi. By the way, what's this "concerns about his hands" stuff? In camp he dropped a bunch of passes EARLY, but questionable hands had nothing to do with his college resume. Why do some analysts just make stuff up?

6: Like I said, the tight ends will be integral to the passing game and the Browns now have several who can get deep. How, in the absence of one of the six or seven "proven" deep threats in the NFL, can a defense put eight men in the box when one of three huge guys can catch one 20 or 30 yards downfield amongst liliputions?

Further, how can you get eight men in the box when a tight end and/or running back so often line up outside of it?

7: Because of this, as I predicted earlier, the Browns have used a slot reciever sparingly. This has hidden a secret weapon: Smurf Jordan Norwood. This dude can fly. Against certain defenses, he will be used. It will be fun.

Comments and Opinions on Comments and Opinions

2011-08-13T09:51:00.000-07:00

I was rolling into town and caught WKNR this morning. I found out the source of all the rhetorical bashing I read on the posts.

The worst WR corps in the league? I mean, I know that there are no proven stars, but there simply must be one or more teams that are worse. Dumb people dart to extremes much faster than sentient people. They can't even insert "one of".

More thoughtful and insightful analysis came from (former Jets GM) Pat Kirwin and (former Ditka-Bearss superbowl DT) Tim Ryan, who visited Browns camp for NFL Radio.

Ryan made the simple observation that he wasn't seeing any of the recievers get separation from the defenders. Kirwin went further, and decried their lack of a burner to "take the top off" a defense.

OK, it's true. But there are a lot of assumptions included in these opinions, and mitigating factors which weren't even considered:

1: MoMass averages over 15 yards per-catch. He did this in vertical-passing offenses. His rookie season, he averaged almost 20 YPC with a weak running game and with Quinn and Anderson. He was the de facto #1 reciever by a wide margin. With nobody else to take the heat off him, he made a whole lot of plays in the second half of his rookie season.
Some defenses double-covered him, and he still made catches. Other defenses stacked 8 or even 9 guys in the box, and he made them pay.
Massequoi is as fast or faster than most of the "known" deep threats. His strong points ARE his ability to get separation, and his yards-after-catch-all West Coast ideals.
Because of a weak sophomore season with three different quarterbacks, and very strong pass-catching tight ends and backs, in a run-oriented offense, I fail to understand why Massequoi is being dismissed.

2: Robiskie, per the coaches, is quietly doing very well. He's a possession reciever. And that's ok.

3: Carlton Mitchell hasn't even had a chance yet...therefore does not exist.

4: Little IS a big powerful guy, but was among the fastest recievers in this draft and is fully capable of going deep BEFORE a catch, and of out-leaping/muscling everybody else for the ball. He's already been typecast ad Anquan Bolden. Not bad, but not completely accurate. Little is a FASTER Bolden.

5: It's not too surprising that the recievers are having a hard time getting separation from Skrine and Haden, is it?

Speaking of which, I told you that Skrine could cover anybody, only the big guys have too much reach for him. I told you that he could very well be one of the opponent-specific third cornerbacks, and a backup outside as a rookie. Nobody else told you that. And no, you didn't think of it yourself just now (Helloooo!)

Ryan also declared that the Browns have nobody to rush the passer. This boggled my mind, because he and Kirwin had just spent about 45 seconds talking about how good it was for Sheard to be practicing against Joe Thomas. Could one of you name for me the defensive end that Thomas can't shut down? How can you say something like that?

Back to Kirwin's point (and former QB Jim Miller says that too a lesser extent it does apply to West Coast offenses): If you don't have one reciever who you don't dare try to cover with one guy, they can bring the safeties down to stop the run and blow up intermediate passes--while sending an extra guy or two after the QB.

If you have that one human torch reciever, then at least one cornerback has to play softer, and one safety has to set up and stay deeper, so stuff underneath is more open and runs have better chances.

How can I argue? I just say you should re-read what I wrote earlier.

6: The Browns don't have a realistic chance of accomplishing much this season. The coaches DO like their YOUNG, somewhat unproven recievers, including the guys you've never heard of. They don't want to commit a bunch of money to a bandaid who will retire or leave just as they contend, and don't want that move to cost them one of their young guys who they think will BE somebody.

7: Jordon Norwood has really, really shined in the slot, and he CAN toast you.

8: All four of the tight ends can make big plays. It doesn't matter if the little guys can catch you when you can carry them and not even slow down much, see? You get behind a linebacker and he can't catch you. Behind a safety and he won't catch you for awhile. If you are willing to trust one safety or linebacker to prevent one of these guys from getting a big gain, you are a fool. Go ahead and bring that safety up close. I dare you.

9: ALL of the tight ends, and for that matter the running backs, can deploy wide and take a big defender outside with them. You can't really stack the box in the conventional sense. The Browns have awesome pass-catching backs and tight ends. Among the best in the NFL--and that is the truth.

Sure, a burner (if he's not already here) would help, but it still won't be possible to stack this team up.

I'm glad they start with the Superbowl champs. They might get slaughtered, but these young players need the reps. Kinda like practicing against Joe Haden, Joe Thomas, Alex Mack, TJ Ward, Dqwell Jackson, and guys like that...

Oh yeah and I told you that Jackson was a natural Mike in this defense. That much should show up tonight.

Draft Need Corrections

2011-03-29T10:21:00.000-07:00

OK look, MoMass averaged almost 20 yards per catch as a rookie with DA and Quinn. He did it without much help from the other recievers or the backs, and defenses were zeroed in on him. Because last season he didn't do much, a lot of you are, as usual, shoveling dirt on his closed coffin. The fact is that Ben Watson and Peyton Hillis had become the favorite targets of a rookie quarterback. The passing game attacked the middle of the field more, partly to help McCoy take baby steps in learning his trade. MoMass has one of the highest upsides of any reciever in the NFL in a West Coast system which does NOT stress straight-line speed, but rather precise routes, separation, blocking, and run-after-catch. Plus, he does have pretty good wheels as it is. I don't know if I've seen him lose any footraces. I could be wrong, but I don't remember it, unless a defender had a really good angle, or he was forced to apply the brakes. Robiskie doesn't have MoMass's explosiveness, but seeks to make up for it with size. Some think he's slow, but that's no accurate. He runs a decent 40, and his real speed is in his top end. He's a long strider. We saw a few flashes of that last season, when he got loose with the ball, and couldn't be caught. I didn't say he's a big-play guy. He only has one gear, and isn't explosive out of his breaks like Robiskie is. He may never get much separation from defenders, and will need to use his bigger body and longer reach to snag balls, then break tackles to get much after the catch. But he should, in his third season, be a viable alternate target who can break a long one occasionally. Carlton Mitchell was for some reason declared dead-on-arrival by many as he failed to do anything as a raw rookie who'd come out early. Physicly, however, he's a match for the most talented recievers in the NFL. Will he emerge this season? Well, it's no sure thing, but it IS more likely than not. He's had a full off season and season to practice and hone his skills under NFL coaches. While Daboll's system wasn't a West Coast, Mangini and co. had very high standards in re precise routes--and this is the main thing that kept him on the practice squad. You can say that the Browns need more home-run hitters, but this assumes a lot. It assumes that Josh Cribbs won't be used more logicly in the offense, that Mitchell won't emerge at all, and that MoMass in his third season and it the West Coast won't explode. If you say that the Browns need wide recievers, period, and have them mock-drafting big possession guys, you're full of it. Evan Moore might be called a tight end, but can do everything Jurevicious did. He's even a bigger problem for defenses, since his presence on the field must be answered by the defense; ie the defense can't deploy the same nickel as the would vs. a conventional 3 or 4-wide. In fact, with Watson also in the mix, the Browns could split him out as well, creating all sorts of holes, and making a blitze scarier for the defense than for McCoy. While it's true that a blistering burner who blows doors off cornerbacks going vertical would be a real asset to any offense, the jury is still out on Mitchell, and this need is not at all critical. Holmgrens' statements about these recievers having good speed, and his being pleased with them, are dismissed as a smokescreen by those who think they know better, but it's not. He was simply telling the truth. Fan statements that we won't know how good McCoy can be until he has some recievers are simply ignorant. He will have a bunch of recievers--just maybe not that deep threat that about 23 other NFL teams get along without. It would be cool with me if the Browns could nab a Bowers or a Dareus, or possibly that super-cornerback, but trading out of that spot to get more picks would be better than taking Green--as good as he looks. And that trade-down looks like it has a good shot this time. In my mock draft, the Browns trade down--and I mean maybe by a lot. They need a young right tackle, at least for the future, a bunch of defensive linemen, linebacker, and even secondary help. They can't fill all the holes in one draft, but a trade-down could net (for example) two defensive linemen with firts-ground grades AND a right tackle who projects to start in 2012 instead of just one guy. Why isn't that obvious?

Welcome to Amerika

2011-03-12T05:59:00.000-08:00

You buy a house. You have to do some repairs, and you make some improvements. You've got a mortgage-you took a risk. But it's YOURS. In America, you are allowed to own things.

Now, you manage to find a good tenant, and rent the place out. After you sign the one-year lease agreement, you realize that you were stupid. Similar houses and apartments in the area are getting like 40% more per month!

But a contract is a contract, and you live with it, until the lease expires.

Meanwhile, things get tighter in a bad economy. You're not really losing money, but really wish you hadn't signed that idotic lease contract.

You warn your tenant that you'll need to raise the rent with the new contract, and you set some money aside, in case you lose him and have to lose a couple months' rent. He says he's sure you and he can "work something out". Hmm.

Now you present him with your new proposal. He asks you why you're raising the rent. You want to be diplomatic, so you point out that the first deal was 40% below market, and that money is tight.

He wants to see your "books", so he can "work with" you.

You want to punch him in the mouth. Apparantly he thinks he's your partner or something. But he was a real good tenant, and after some arguing, you decide to indulge him. You show him what you paid the plumber and electrician, property taxes, insurance--everything about the property, plusses and minuses.

He looks at this and says "where's the rest?"

"The rest what?"

"The 401k, 1099's from your investments, books on your other properties, tax returns--"

"Whoa! Why do you need to see that?"

"Well--how can I decide what I should pay you if I don't know how much you need?"

THIS IS AMERICA, NOT AMERIKA. IT'S NONE OF THE PLAYERS DAMN BUSINESS WHAT THE OWNERS MAKE. THE BAD DEAL THEY MADE IS EXPIRED AND THE OWNERS ARE DONE GETTING HOSED. IF THEY MAKE HUGE, MASSIVE PROFITS IT'S NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS--THEY OWN THE TEAMS.

THE TEAMS BELONG TO THEM. YOU ARE EMPLOYEES. THEY OWE YOU SALARIES, MEDICAL CARE, AND WHAT YOUR INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS SAY THEY OWE YOU, AND NOTHING MORE UNTIL YOU BACK OFF AND MAKE A NEW CONTRACT.

And you're not "labor". You don't drive a truck or work in a factory. You live a dream. You PLAY a kid's game for a living. "Labor"...wash your mouths out with soap! Injuries, yeah. Tell that to a guy with one leg coming back from Afghanistan! The difference is YOU play a GAME and make a whole helluva lot more money.

Don't talk about the secretaries, businesses, coaches, scouts, and other employees. The OWNERS hired and employed them while YOU just played a game.

The real reason the players have forced this impasse is because they don't want to give BACK what the owners were stupid and weak enough to offer as a bribe in the previous contract.

And be honest: That was extortion.

The players now think of themselves as partners, morally entitled to 59% of the revenues in addition to their massive salaries and other compensation. They're not entitled to ONE percent!

Understand this: That was the 40% reduced rent in this story. The contract screwed the landlord for 12 months, but now it's over. The landlord will never get back all that money, but now just wants to make somewhere within a couple miles of what he should have been making all along.

The middle keeps moving farther and farther left, and the same people who were saying "both sides" are to blame 15 years ago are saying it today.

Pretty soon you'll all be standing next to Micheal Moore blaming both sides. Welcome to Amerika.

Great Minds

2011-03-05T06:20:00.000-08:00

Wow! Heckert and Shurmer sound just like me! They might actually be almost as smart as my humble self!!

Re-signing Jackson (to the surprise of many) was, to me, a no-brainer if he was healthy. Some local "experts" had said he was NOT a fit for the 4-3, but I told my crickets weeks ago that he was BETTER suited to that defense!

I had forgotten his ability to play outside. He has range, excels in space, and can cover big guys. Many weak 3-4 ILB's also have the skills to play on the weak side of a 4-3. You'd ideally like more speed there, but Jackson would be pretty solid.

Re-signing Wright was also a no-brainer to those of us who actually have a brain. The guy is in his prime, and in 2009 a lot of people were lobbying for him to go to the Pro Bowl. He DID have a sub-par (sub-PAR) 2010, but his weak performance was massively exhaggerated.

As I said before, because of his speed, he's often in the camera frame when a guy other than the one he's covering makes a catch. Ignoramusses automaticly blame him for every reception he's close to.

The Ravens ate his lunch, and he did have two other pretty bad games, but overall for the season, his sub-par play was pretty good. It was sub-par for him, the pro-bowl contender. It would have been indiotic for Heckert and co. to let Wright go simply because the lynch-mob was out with the ropes and torches again.

Wright is still young and improving. He may be the third corner this season. Haden and Brown (if he remains at corner), probably are better overall.

Heckert said "you need three", but really you need more due to injuries--and then to have the option in matching up to 4-wide sets.

But now we have three. Grossi is fulla beans calling cornerback an "urgent" need. Adams matches up well with big guys, even in man coverage.

Grossi also throws out that word in relation to wide reciever. Yes, they need more speed there to keep safeties back and give everybody else some space to operate in the short and intermediate bread-and-butter West Coast zones, but urgent?

Name the burner on the 49ers perennial Superbowl teams. Rice? 4.6 40 Rice? Rice who caught over 90% of his snares within 15 yards of scrimmage? Taylor? Who was their urgently-needed speedster?

And what about Carlton Mitchell? Consensus was that he came out of college prematurely and was raw. Had he remained in college for another season, most real experts said he had the ability to do great things and be a top pick. Now he's had a season to learn and practice with pro peers, coaches, and against elite pro corners and safeties...so why does everybody assume he's a bust based on no playing time as a rookie?

Are you kidding me? This is why I coined the phrase "Memorex Morons". They only know what they've seen. They're incapable of factoring in maturity, growth, improvement, etc. even when it's very likely.

You never know, of course. A player has to truly love the game, and be truly dedicated to improving, and determined as hell. David Veikune had the physical tools, but not that part of it. So sure, a lot of guys simply never make the grade. But more often than not young players improve with practice and experience.

Can't count on it, but Mitchell could be who they need.

Why do some of you keep embarrassing me on NFL Radio? One guy calls in and asks if the Browns can get a big, physical reciever in the second round. Yeah, with just Robiskie, MoMass, Moore etc. they really need to muscle up their recievers! Brilliant! Better to be quiet and let people assume you're a dumbass than to open your mouth and confirm it.

Kevin Kolonich said that the West Coast uses "smaller, quicker recievers". Give me a break! Small quick guys can do well in a west coast, granted--but the preferred types are BIG recievers who can use their bodies to wall-off zone coverage, break tackles, and have a reach advantage.

Precise patterns are also important, which hinders taller guys with longer limbs and a higher center of gravity (and may be Mitchell's biggest challenge), but still, personnel guys and coaches want BIG recievers for the West Coast.

Look: there's a premium on accuracy for a West Coast Quarterback, but bigger recievers help that a lot. The quarterback can miss a point by several feet with a big guy, and he can still reach the ball. A smaller guy can usually get more separation, but the quarterback's margin of error is still much smaller-plus zone guys can jar it loose, reach around to deflect, and physicly knock them off their routes.

Finally, west coast wide recievers BLOCK--or are kicked off the team. The huge overlooked part of why the west coast works is the fact that whoever is covering the other guys when the reciever makes his catch gets blocked immediately, and has a hard time closing on him. Big guys block.

Peterson, the cornerback, appears to be the best talent on the board.

I won't criticize who the Browns pick, no matter who it is. There will be so much talent there that they can't miss. If it's Green ok. If it's Peterson ok. If it's a defensive lineman double-ok.

Peterson doesn't address a need, unless you're dumb enough to think that Wright is washed up at 25. (My Bro E-man thought he was worse than he was last season too, but I know for sure that he's not among those who think he sucks. He saw him in '09, after all.)

But damn! What a secondary that would make! One of the best in the NFL! Man, check! Zone, check! They'd begin Brown's shift to free safety (I presume Jauron uses strong and free safeties). Half way through the season Peterson and Haden would be the tandem, Wright is strictly a corner, and they'd almost have to do it simply to get Brown in the field.

To be sure, that would leave the defensive line unaddressed until later, but this would take the secondary off the table for at least two seasons, during which those in the unit would learn to read eachother's minds.

Heckert isn't building for 2011, but for the foreseeable future, and I couldn't knock taking Peterson. Best available is best available. Check.

But I have no doubt that Heckert's Plan A is to trade down. The current LABOR talks are looking better lately, and one part of that will be a rookie pay structure which would eliminate hold-outs and reduce rookie salaries. This makes a trade-up much safer (and more likely).

No one would trade up to 6 in this draft for a defensive lineman, offensive lineman, running back, or linebacker, but they might for a quarterback (as usual), Peterson, Green, or perhaps someone else that I'm missing.

In this draft, the Browns could get a very good defensive lineman, top-notch right tackle (with left tackle feet, maybe), or maybe a fast WR who could actually help in the second round. They could get a stud player at several positions in the first, perhaps as low as 15.

The Browns currently have Rubin and guys names Joe for a 4-man line. I've heard that they feel good about one of the young tackles, and Schaefer can be a decent (but not exceptional) defensive end. They need ideally three guys, including two defensive ends.

They'd like more speed at linebacker, but it's not critical.

They could use more depth in the secondary, and that's a bit more important. Brown could play free, but this would leave a need for a third cornerback.

They need a right tackle for the future, but might need him sooner if Womack doesn't re-sign.

They could use a faster wide reciever, but that's far from urgent, and Mitchell could emerge.

Based on their statements and moves to date, I'm more convinced now that Shurmer will see that Cribbs belongs at running back in this offense, so that the "need" for a scatback to offset Hillis (and Hardesty, who is similar) comes off the table.

Speaking of which, I'm loving Shurmer talking about using two backs! I wish more than just crickets ever read this, because if you had, you'd know that I've been talking Shurmer's language for a long time.

Two backs and one or even two tight ends go to the huddle, forcing a base defense. Maybe they break the huddle and line up in an I or a T or whatever, or maybe one or both of the backs go to the slot.

They can't be bumped at the line as recievers because they can legally line up off the line--coverage, whether zone or man, has to be soft, or somebody gets his doors blown off.

But then of course they can lead-block and play smashmouth when they want to.

Finally, a Head Coach who obviously reads my blog!

Cribbs Rumors

2011-02-07T14:58:00.000-08:00

The rumor that Josh Cribbs could be available for a trade might be true. Being ruled by my brain and not being inclined to hero worship, as GM I would have most of the team available for a trade. I love the guy, and furthermore don't think he's too old or too expensive. People keep talking about his big salary, but as I recall his contract was laden with incentives, most of which he didn't meet last season.

But there are other things I read about this that ass ume a lot of don't compute.

For one thing, I sort of doubt that his comments about retaining Mangini were an issue. At least two or three other players made similar comments.

Next, who said the flash offense (or whatever) was dead? Why?

Next, what was said of him as a wide reciever is true. He might have become as good as he will be, he doesn't run patterns as well as the other guys, etc. Ok.

But refer to my last blog. He's not a good fit as a West Coast wide reciever, bit he IS a great fit as a West Coast running back. I'll BET you right now that if he isn't traded, he will be worked in there (where he probably should have been all along.)

The "labor" (hahahahaha) situation could preclude any trades, but if it doesn't, I wonder how much interest there would be in him. While he does have the incentives, his base salary still isn't insignificant. While I feel that his decline last season was a bump caused by injury and fatigue, other teams would be wary.

They probably wouldn't get a very good offer for him.

Now, some would question him as a running back due to the fact that he doesn't have a fast start. He's not as quick to the hole as he should be.

But this will be a West Coast-like offense. This offense uses more recievers and sending them wide (ps Moore would be one of these, often). This pulls defenders away from the middle, and also forces a couple of them to play farther back than they want to. This makes it difficult to stack the line.

An explosive first step is the least important attribute for a West Coast running back. If the target hole closes too quickly, the West Coast back improvises. With so much of the defense backed up and pulled toward the sidelines, it's impossible for them to cover every gap.

Cribbs has the vision, recieving skills, and broken-field niftiniess to be damn near a prototype running back in the West Coast. It's made for him.

Rogers is another story. I was frustrated by him last season. I know he was injured early, and might not have fully recovered. But he also got real real FAT, and at his age I think he might be in trouble with the new staff.

It's no mystery when one of these monsters gets leg problems. Their joints were never intended to support that much weight. it's worse for Rogers, because the best way to block him is to cut his legs.

With his salary, and at his age, I don't think the Browns could get anything for him. He could be released.

If he is, some of you will need to get over it.

Superbowl

2011-02-06T07:16:00.000-08:00

I'm not like most Browns fans in that I sometimes suspend my hatred of the Stoolers. I figure if I can't root for the Browns I'd like to see the AFC North win. Stoolers or Ratbird victories make the Browns look a little less crappy, and also place the highest challenge right here.

Many fans hearing this will call me a...what--a heretic, or something. See previous post.

Anyway, I do give the edge to the Packers by a hair. I only have a few reasons for this.

For one, Pouncey won't play, which is good news for BJ Raji. Next, the Stoolers tackles are just okay, and one is ancient. Clay Matthews loves that.

Couple this with Big Ben. When Big Ben plays the Browns, he is often in the grasp for three seconds between the tackles, on his way down to the ground (at a 45 degree angle), and sort of dribbles the ball to the nearest available bare spot. It's always called an incomplete pass, and never intentional grounding or in-the-grasp (sack).

That won't work in the Superbowl. Here the refs will have to call a legitimate game. So Big Ben will lose perhaps his biggest advantage.

I don't blame Ben for taking advantage of this obvious bias. I would too. But I fully expect him to try it in this game, and wonder why all of a sudden they're treating him like the rest of the quarterbacks in the NFL. Hopefully, he'll get flustered by it.

And then, unlike the Browns "tacklers", the Packers won't dribble off him. Matthews and co. won't let him fool around like that. He'll have to intentionally ground the ball before he's hit.

And, too, I like the West Coast and Rodgers (PS the quarterback has a "d" in his name. Out defensive lineman doesn't. Two different names. Get literate, please). Hampton and Kiesel are old geezers, and Rodgers gets rid of it quickly. It will be harder for Harrison and company to get at him, and it might be foolish to take them out of coverage to try it.

Oh--and "I play the way I was taught to play" Harrison: Mister why is everybody always picking on me loves to hit other guys in the helmet and try to break their necks or put them in comas. He is obviously a vicous, sadistic, and perhaps sociopathic player who simply can't resist inflicting the greatest possible lasting or permanent damage on his fellow football players.

Should be good for some penalties. And by the way, mike Tomlin is an apologist and an enabler who deserves to lose for that reason alone.

Taught to play that way? Navy Seals and terrorists aren't football players, and anyway Harrison never was one, so that's a lie.

Polumalu can only blow up so many plays per game, and might be hindered by his hammy. If he's leaping tall offensive lines at a single bound, he's not in coverage, and Rodgers can move (and scramble).

AND aside from Troy and one corner, the rest of the secondary isn't the greatest--especially in nickels and dimes--which the Pack will no doubt seek to keep them in all day long.

I will be watching this game to see how a properly executed West Coast offense works against this defense.

Thoughts on that:

1: The Browns don't have the Packers recievers, but I repeat that both MoMass and Robiskie are better suited to the West Coast than to conventional offenses. Robiskie is not explosive and will never gain much separation, but with an accurate quarterback has a height/size advantage on cornerbacks.
MoMass is more explosive and does get more separation, plus runs like a back with the ball.

The West Coast uses many shallow slants and crosses tailor made for these two players to make the most of their gifts.

2: As much as I love Cribbs the returner, I'd like to see him replaced by some of the quite capable other guys in some of those special teams roles so that he could remain healthy and fresh as a reciever, running back, and gimmick quarterback.
He has made big strides as a reciever. Last season, Hillis and Watson were prolific as hell, so he didn't get that many targets.
And yeah I said "running back". In the West Coast, this might be his best position, since he'd be catching it in space more than running it anyway. In the absence of a drafted or FA waterbug change-up for Hillis, that's one fo the ways I'd use Cribbs.
As a WR, his patterns still aren't as precise as they need to be, and he has trouble with jams. From the backfield, he's jam-proof and can even juke before he crosses the line to shake coverage. They have to cover him softer.

3: Both Moore and Watson will be excellent in the West Coast, and definitely, for sure, they will BOTH be on the field more often here.

Picture Moore and Watson with Robiske and MoMass, then either Hillis or Cribbs in the backfield. If all four of the down guys go out for a pass, you've almost got to keep at least five back in coverage, inc. one safety over the top. Both tight ends are unmatchable with an unsual size/speed combination, and will be open early and usually not far from the quarterback, and between the hashes.

MoMass can beat single coverage all day long. As a rookie, he was beating doubles consistantly in the last half of 2009, and with two bad quarterbacks. He's not a burner, but is pretty fast and dangerous. If the Browns can't land a real burner in the offseason, in this scenario MoMass can be a real threat.

I love Hillis in the West Coast. It's tailor-made for a guy with his skill-set. He'd last much longer in it, too, because he could avoid a lot of the punishment he took being a human battering-ram. He'd get the ball outside and in space more often, with a chance to see what's coming at him, rather than in a tight space with the whole defense focussed on his hole.

Ditto Cribbs, who I repeat I would phase partly out of special teams and make more a running back than in-line reciever. As a reciever he can make tough catches now, but as a West Coast running back, he can catch the ball in space, and do what he does every time he catches a punt or kickoff!

Think about that. On punts and kickoffs, the leg puts the ball in a certain place, and the entire coverage unit is collapsing towards him. As a running back, he'd often get the ball with defenders pulled all over the place and trying to reverse directions. As a returner, he only got the ball a few times per-game. Just imagine if he got it two or three times as often, and usually much closer to the enemy goal line.

Tell me where I'm wrong. Go ahead, tell me. We need playmakers? Well, we got one, anyway, if they'd just use him right!

No, the offense isn't by any means complete, but I regard a young right tackle as more important than a fast wide-out, and a running back (you know like the TWO they just got rid of dammit?) to offset/spell Hillis could be forestalled.

For that matter, just like most teams, almost every position could be upgraded. I never said anything was perfect. Thomas is as good as it gets, and I really like Watson, and Mack, and Hillis...and even Moore, who should finally get a real opportunity to make me look smart. And Cribbs, of course. And I have much confidence in a healthy, experienced McCoy in a Colt-freindly system with great coaching. But EVERY other position could be upgraded. I'd rather have Bradford than McCoy, for that matter (but don't tell Colt I said so, and in this system Colt might even out-do him).

Is that understood?

In conclusion, USE CRIBBS AT RUNNING BACK 33% of the time, use Moore WITH Watson, and this should be a highly-competitive offense.

I HAVE SPOKEN.

Memorex Morons

2011-02-05T07:38:00.000-08:00

Here's a great example of some idjut with excrement-colored glasses scrupulously cherry-picking facts to back up what he already made up his mind about:

Whipple, big deal! Rottenburgers had a cannon arm, touch, couldn't be tackled, had quick feet...ergo Whipple had nothing to do with his success.

Rottenburgers was a ROOKIE. The only ROOKIE quarterback in history to be that good was Dan Marino. (Well, Kyle Orton did pretty well too). Ben went to Pittsburgh clueless about the NFL and OBVIOUSLY needed a teacher.

It's not that this clown can't tell the difference between three year veterans and rookies. It's just that that's inconvenient when your objective is to find some way to bash the credentials of a new hire, and bash the people who hired him--thus bashing the organization you've spent your life campaigning against.

Have you ever tried to watch a game sitting near one of these fools? They find ways to blame the quarterback and reciever both for every interception. And also the coach for calling the play. They make everyone around them miserable. EVERYTHING sucks. There goes all the oxygen and sunshine. Oh god here he comes again.

And this clown is hammering away on the internet, bashing every single move they make.

Let me try to think like this guy. Shouldn't be too hard--I sort of did when I was five or six. When I looked out the window on Xmas Eve and saw Santa's sleigh flying across the moon.

First I need a premise. Hmm...oh I know! Colt mcCoy sucks!

OK but he out-did Wallace, Delhomme, and everybody from last season as a rookie. But fortunately for me, he fell on his face in the last few games. So I need to pretend all the other games don't matter, and focus on the last three. Cooincidentally, it was December, so I get to say that the reason he sucks is that he can't play in bad weather.

But he had a lot of bad weather wins in college. Nevermind that. I'll just hope nobody mentions it. I get away with stuff all the time when people are even dumber than me.

See how it works? It's the scientific method: First, decide what you believe. Next, filter everything you hear and see so that only the stuff that "proves" your point gets through!

Of course, my version is much more sophisticated, since I'm doing it deliberately, and being analytical. Guys who think like this have their analytical minds shut down. That's why when you show them they're wrong, they just dig in and get more insistant (and usually emotional).

Really, Joe Twelve Pack no longer represents them, since he instead changes the subject every time I nail him. That way, he can pretend he wasn't just slammed. These guys tend to just raise their voices and personally insult you.

In re McCoy: Actually Sancez hit his wall, and so did Big Ben. The Stoolers won their playoff games in his rookie season despite Ben, who was putrid in the playoffs.

Grossi might be right about Colt's arm. I don't insult the guy, who sees more film than me and just tells us what he sees. I don't want to hear that stuff, but it might be accurate.

Thing is, Colt's shoulder injury wasn't completely healed, and I have seen him zip some long sideliners etc., so I know that he has the arm, at least sometimes. Further, ex-QB Jim Miller insists that arm strength can be increased. Miller said that he himself had to work on it coming out of college, and he wound up regarded as a very strong arm.

I'd also point out to Tony that Joe Montana did indeed exist. Kosar's arm was shot when he twice reached the AFC Championship. Who was Seattle's QB when they reached the Superbowl?

Anyway, for objective people, the overall picture is much more positive than negative. You just have to ignore the goobers with the crap-colored glasses.

Debating Joe Twelve-Pack

2011-01-30T07:08:00.000-08:00

First, the posters:

I too am frustrated that the Browns are sort of starting over with a new system and substantially new coaching staff in a Division with two dominant playoff teams. Seems like one step foreward, two steps back, year after year.

But as usual, some posters I've read have lost their damn minds (or don't have adult human ones to lose).

Well, I'll activate Joe Twelve-Pack now, and he can represent all you idjuts:

Joe: If Mike Holmgren intended to install the West Coast offense and a 4-3 defense all along, and control it, then he should be fired for retaining Mangini and his staff. This sets us a year behind schedule, and it's incompetance.

ME: Hey, can I get your source? None of mine knew that that was his plan all along! He had the rest of us fooled into thinking that the last four wins of 2009 and his interviews had impressed him, like he said!

Joe: Don't be so naaive! Holmgren is over his head as a GM! He has a good record as a head coach, but was a dismal failure as a GM!

ME: That's it: You can't say "dismal" any more. Be careful or I'll confiscate the rest of your adjectives. Anyway, his record as a Head Coach AND GM is indeed mediocre. He was a first-time GM and was doing it while also coaching the team and mostly running his offense. Now he's focussed on the GM part, and Tom Heckert takes a lot of that off him.

The logical assumption is that he learned from his experience, and with outstanding support and an abundance of time will do well. DUH.

Joe: Then why doesn't anybody want to come here? They still don't have an offensive coordinator!

ME: Again, your sources. Two teams' staffs are still off-limits, and IMO the best candidate is on Green Bays' staff. Three other teams still haven't filled their OC positions. You expected all the coaching slots to be filled up in the first week, or what?

Jauron is a former head coach, and appears to be their top choice for that position. He had other offers, but signed here quickly.

Joe: That's another thing! Here we go, starting all over again with a whole new defense! For all this time they've been building a 3-4 and now they've got all the wrong people for a 4-3!

ME: It's with the deepest regret that I kind of agree with you, blind squirrel. But again, we're ass uming a lot. First, Jauron will most likely transition over time. Rogers, if healthy and in freaking shape, is an awesome 4-3 tackle (NOT END! NOT IN THE 4-3! TACKLE!!!). Roth, if retained, could play defensive end. Rubin has surprised everyone with his quickness and range, and projects as a very good defensive tackle for Jauron's two-gap. Several of the current defensive ends can also play 4-3 defensive end. Benard can't, but could be a great situational rusher.

Jauron likes big lines--

Joe: "blah blah blah"! They need like four linemen and have to replace all the linebackers! It's a three or four-year project!

ME: And there goes the baby--screaming all the way to the street along with the bathwater. The sky is falling again.

Unfortunately, among your depressing, delusional rantings, you accidentally nailed some reality.

More because of age than people, they do need defensive linemen, but they may retain some solid hold-the-fort guys already on the roster.

Linebacker is more of a problem, but Fujita (for at least one more season) and Gocong are two guys who can play in the 4-3.

Joe: Gocong can't cover! That's why the Eagles dumped him!

Me: I didn't say he and Fujita were All-Pros. I said they could play.

Joe: He sucks!

Me: You know, you're a real master of understatement, Joe.

Joe: Thanks I think. But your flattery won't make the fact that Shurmer is Holmgren's puppet and the Browns are three years away from contention again!

Me: Take a pill, Joe. Position-by-position, the offensive line needs another young guy to develop into a right tackle but is pretty solid. The tight ends are excellent. While I agree that they do need a "playmaker", the current wide recievers will be much more effective in a true west coast hybrid in which sharp routes, size, and YAC is at a premium.
Naturally, you can't comprehend the continued existance of Carlton Mitchell, or the fact that he has massive big-play potential. Remember, he came out early and was very raw, so he wasn't ready. But he's been practicing, and might be this season.

Hillis is as good a reciever as a back can be and will prosper (and maybe last longer) in a West Coast. They need a waterbug type like the guys they stupidly dumped last season to take some of it off him, but a healthy Hardesty is great depth.

McCoy should be better in his second season with real-game experience, and especially so in a West Coast, which fits him prefectly. Many of the comparisons are lame, but the most accurate ones are Jeff Garcia, Drew Brees, and Joe Montana.

In other words, the offensive core is already here. The big play guy who can take the top off a defense may not be here--or might be, in the form of Rodney Mitchelfield. A healthy Luvao projects well at right guard, and Womack and the other guys can, if neccessary, hold the fort for one more season at RT.

Joe: McCoy crashed and burned---

Me: Yeah. That's pretty common with quarterbacks. The defensive coordinators get a bead on their tendancies and figure out how to screw them up. The they have to learn and adapt. Happened to Peyton Manning...hell everybody except Dan Marino, and including Rottenburgers. Big deal.

Joe: But he can't play in bad wea--

Me: Oh yeah, you need an arm to compete up here in the frozen north! Just look at all the great ones. Brian the Cannon Sipe, Bill the Rocket Nelson, Frank the bazooka Ryan...then there's the guys who beat us up here, like Montana---

Joe: Homer!

Me: Ad hominums aside, as I was saying, the defense is where the retooling will happen. The secondary isn't bad. First off, Wright didn't suck nearly as bad as you hallucinate. He's the fastest guy on the field, so when he comes off his reciever to go for the ball, he shows up in the frame a lot. That makes it easy for guys like you to hop around and point at him, like it's his fault.
Sure, he did have a mediocre season, but it's no cooincidence that there was a rookie safety learning as he went. Sometimes Wright released a guy, or gave him room, like he was supposed to, and Ward wasn't where he was supposed to be. Nor does one mediocre season negate all previous seasons for a cornerback in his prime.
Brown is getting older, but might move to safety and be great there. Haden is a stud. Adams is a great pinch-hitter/utility guy. It's not perfect, but a solid core to build on. The secondary isn't part of the rebuilding project. They'll try to upgrade it, but it's not bad as-is.

So of the whole team, we're talking about the front seven. Seven out of twenty two. If you could be rational, you would comprehend this.

And of those seven, there are Rubin, maybe Rogers, Fujita, Gocong, Benard as a situational guy, Roth maybe at DE, that Kaluka SS/LB type for coverage/depth, Rodney Schaeferingfield, and even youngsters like Ivey, who might do much better as a DT than as a nose tackle.

Is it going to take three years to sign or draft maybe three linebackers and three defensive linemen, even assuming none of the deveopmentals emerge?

Joe: You and your rose-colored glasses! Anyway, this is Cleveland. Nobody wants to play here or coach here.

Me: They just signed four more assistants, and they're really excellent. Especially the new QB Coach. He was in demand as a coordinator, but took the same job he had here. That's partly because he'll be helping Shurmer manage the overall offense, as well as doing for McCoy what he did with Rapelessburger.

Joe: You can't turn a pigs' ear into a---

Okay I've just put Joe back to sleep in my subconscious.

Look, I agree with Ben Watson. The first thing the Browns need to do is stick with a coaching staff. I also can't deny that installing new systems with a second-year quarterback and 3-4 personel is...just par for the course.

The Browns almost certainly won't contend this coming season. I remember saying that two seasons ago, and then predicting that they would contend in 2010.

Yep. Back to the drawing board again--two years down the crapper and starting over.

With me, though, football is a game, and I like the process. I like the building and developing.

I like Shurmer. I used to love Bud Carson, another 4-3 guy, so I can get used to Jauron, I hope.

For me, I will be watching McCoy take the next steps towards Breeshood, or at least Garciahood. I can't wait to see if Mitchell will step up and be a playmaker. I want to see Rubin at DT. I look foreward to watching progress and development.

Shurmer and company have absolutely nothing to do with anything that happened in the past, and deserve a clean slate.

And I do have hope. The offense might be one player away from being pretty damn good. I mean, here in reality. While the defense will have trouble at first, the offense might come out of the gates at full speed, and make the team competitive.

And something else has changed: it used to be that the 3-4 had an advantage in drafting because most teams ran the 4-3. The DE/LB types were available later because of it. Now, that has gone in reverse. The majority of teams are running the 3-4 now, so the real pure linebackers, and to a lesser extent some DT's and DE's will tend to slide more.

I think Heckert and Jauron will be able to make the most of this, and get some good front seven guys in here.

We'll see.

My early prediction: 16-0. I'll update this as more data comes in.

Shurmer

2011-01-14T12:58:00.000-08:00

Well, I guess Ryan is a GMF. Some of the non-ex athletes/GMs/coaches on NFL Radio declared that Ryan and Shurmer never could have gotten along. I wonder where they got that? Why not? Ryan is brash and Shurmer is quiet, ergo they'd hate eachother? These clowns crack me up.

But I did pick up in his news conference that he will be heavily involved in picking his own staff, and that makes sense. I'm sure that outside of the soap operas that play in some commentators' heads, it was nothing personal.

Looking foreward, those who actually know what they're talking about unanimously like this hire. Several of these guys on NFL Radio worked with him--more with his uncle Fritz. Pat Ryan even played against him when he was a center at MSU.

These guys aren't making assumptions about his ability to develop quarterbacks, as many tend to do. They confirm that HE had probably the most to do with getting rookie QB Bradford off to a solid NFL start, and he will be very helpful to Colt McCoy as he enters his second year.

Jauron now looks strong for defensive coordinator. His experience as a head coach would help Shurmer a lot. Shurmer could first focus on installing his new offense, and getting the ball rolling, while Jauron and (I hope) Seely could handle the rest. Shurmer would be the nominal head coach, but would have the luxury of just coordinating at first.

Jauron has been a 4-3 guy. I vastly prefer the much more unpredictable and adaptable 3-4, but the guy has had a lot of success with his defenses.

But those who think he'd come in and instantly install a full-blown 4-3 are once again narcissisticly projecting their dumbassitude onto much smarter people. Nor am I even certain that a 4-3 is a given at any time.

Remember Marty? He ran both a 4-3 and 3-4. It depended on his personnel. I hope Jauron is like that, if they hire him.

Benard would only be a situational passrusher on a 4-3. Roth would have to fight for a DE spot, and lacks the height. Schaeffer might do much better as a 4-3 DE--Rubin could play DT. Will the aging Rogers be back? Gocong is another short guy. He was just coming on strong after escaping Philly's 4-3. Fujita can play either, but is better in a 3-4. Jackson could play MLB for sure...but this is much closer to 3-4 than 4-3...

Well I've got a headache okbye

Rex's Twin Brother

2011-01-10T07:45:00.000-08:00

First things first: If I had not been on sabbadical, I would have updated my win/loss projection to 5-11.

I can't rationally argue that Mangini should have been retained. It's not so much the losses to the Stoolers and the Ratbirds. The Browns were beat up pretty bad, these are both mature, elite teams, and McCoy is, after all, a rookie.

But the other losses were hard to take, and the buck has to stop at Mangini. While since this in Cleveland, I sort of expect Mangini to go on to win consecutive Superbowls somewhere else, I would have fired him myself. I stand self-corrected.

As for his and other coaching replacements, I like Shurmer myself. Shurmer did what he did this season with a rookie quarterback and weak talent.

But just a minute. Why not Rob Ryan? How different can he be from Rex as a Head coach, especially since he can consult with him?

I know, simpletonians will point out his defensive stats. As if he had Pittsburgh/Baltimore talent and depth on his defense? It's so convenient to ignore little things like that. Rookie safety and corner, Fujita knocked out, guys off the street starting on the line late in the season--let's not let the facts get in the way of a good lynching.

Consensus has it that Rob will probably be a head coach after next season. One reason these legitimate experts expect that is that they expect a couple more draft picks and free agents to help him get there. Duh.

Promote this tough-yet-beloved leader to head coach, and just get him two coordinators!

Ryan wasn't part of Homgren's old crew. Why is it assumed that Holmgren is a nepotist on steroids, especially when he gave Daboll and Mangini a shot? 4-3, 3-4 do you really think he cares, when this is the AFC central and most of the dominating defenses for several years have been 3-4's? Just how utterly stupid do you think Big Mike is?

Mike picks the coordinators and, along with Rex, helps the charismatic Rob Ryan along as a Head Coach. Now we've got a west coast hybrid that should help the current wide recievers and running backs. (Not that there weren't elements of the west coast with Daboll).

With an excellent support system and solid coordinators, this is the perfect environment to give Rob his head coaching start.

Sure, he makes the big decisions, but ask his players about Rob. He listens. It's not "my way or the highway", like it is with some other guys. He'd likewise let the coordinators do their jobs, and just teach, manage, and inspire. And the whole team would run through walls for him.

You'd rather watch Ryan go be a head Coach somewhere else one season later.

Whatever.

DSN: Black Helicopters on Display

2010-12-06T11:04:00.000-08:00

Before the Miami game, I got the DSN network on my laptop for the pre-game, and was pretty shocked.

Apparantly, I've been totally out of the loop! It turns out that these guys all know in detail everything that goes on on the front office, and I'd missed most of it. (They mentioned these facts as if they were old news).

While I had thought that Delhomme and then Wallace were injured, forcing MCoy to start, it turns out that in reality this was Mike Holmgren taking over the team and forcing Mangini to start McCoy. I guess the aforementioned injuries were faked, and both QB's are in on the conspiracy.

Furthermore, it turns out that Holmgren also ordered Daboll and Mangini to throw more passes.

Then, McCoy got hurt...well maybe that was fake too, since as of that time, Holmgren "took his hands off the wheel", and under Mangini (who of course had learned nothing), the team resumed it's course toward the nearest ditch.

I had no idea! Man, these guys must have the front office bugged, or something, to find out all this stuff and talk about these empirical facts!

I guess this was Mangini's last chance to learn how to coach from Mike Holmgren, and now Mike is washing his hands of it, and allowing Mangini to lose the rest of the games so that he can fire him (as he planned all along anyway).

Yeah! You see, Mangini never liked McCoy, and was dying to put Jake back in. That's why he didn't compliment him overmuch--a dead giveaway! (I personally miss little details like this. I hope, in time, to refine my analytical skills to this level).

I missed the part about Colt's injury, but I guess that either Mangini had an offensive lineman step on him, or maybe has ordered McCoy to feign the injury, or maybe he just got lucky. At any rate, a now much happier Mangini gets to use good old Jake and revert to a primitive and unimaginitive offense...

Well, I've just got to listen to these guys some more for the real scoop. I'd been listening to Gil Brandt, Bernie Kosar, Rich Gannon, Jim Miller, Pat Kirwin, Sam Rutigliano, Marty Schottenheimer, et al, but, as I learned last week, all these guys are "koolaid-drinkers" in re Mangini.

The conspiracy is obviously pretty wide-spread, what with all these guys that I'd thought were credible in on it!

I guess I stand corrected.

Browns vs. Jets Post-Mortem

2010-11-15T05:38:00.000-08:00

1: The Jets missed field-goals skewed things somewhat. The Jets should have won in regulation. I hate writing that as much as homers will hate reading it.

2: However, the Jets are the most balanced and talented team the Browns have played thus far, including (and this part I like writing) the Stoolers and Ratbirds.

3: The Saints, and now the Patriots, have beaten the Stoolers--vs. the Pats, it wasn't even close.

4: McCoy came from behind, in the clutch, to send it to overtime. It's been years since I've had this feeling about a quarterback. What's more, he pretty much had the overtime victory nailed down til Stucky fumbled.

4a: Stuckey should not be benched or cut-don't even start. He's the most reliable wide-out the Browns have.

5: Hillis can't take better care of the ball. Overpowered defenders go for his legs or the ball, and if he didn't have those huge guns, he'd have fumbled a whole lot more. Statisticly, he's still got pretty good security numbers.

6: The defense got worn down when the Jets found ways to stop Hillis in the second half. The offense sputtered, and the defense paid for it. It sure didn't help that Edwards deliberately speared Sheldon Brown out of the game.

7: Anal-ists criticized defenders for trying to take Sanchez down high. Well, sometimes that's all they had when reaching past blockers, and more importantly it's now illegal to go for the quarterback's legs...which is rediculous. Still, they should have wrapped him up.

8: Coverage was generally excellent. Most of the Jets big completions happened when Sanchez shook off tacklers and had all kinds of extra time. If you expect D. Revis or any other cornerback to cover any NFL reciever for 7-10 seconds, please resume taking your meds.

9: Cribbs' injury was critical. He'd been drawing heat away from Hillis. Nice game-plan by lynch-mob victim Brian Daboll. Now that they got rid of Rodney Harrisonfield (dammit), they had to scrap it when Cribbs went out.

The Browns remaining schedule is tough, but they've played the best three teams, and won two of them. They have proven, repeatedly, that they are a match for any team in the NFL. Were you expecting this? Are you raising the bar again now?

Holmgren platitudes aside, you had to know that he wasn't expecting this team to go to the playoffs this season. He wasn't expecting McCoy to be this good this fast. He couldn't have anticipated beating New Orleans and New England.

The plan--regardless of what he said--was to prepare McCoy for next year (not "two or three years" like some clowns said), get another draft and some more free agents, and go after the division title net season.

Now, before this next talent-infusion, they're going toe-to-toe with the NFL's elite.

They almost certainly won't make the playoffs this season--but only because it's just too late. They're already among the NFL's best teams--warts and all.

Now, they can go into the off-season knowing that they've got a quarterback. They can focus on wide recievers, depth running backs maybe, defensive linemen, safeties, etc. Now, they'll START net season expecting to contend.

No, you didn't expect that. And as dear to you as your hatred of Mangini and Daboll is, start facing the reality that you were full of crap, and move on.

After gathering and alalyzing recent actionable intelligence, I am revising my win/loss projection to 10-6.

Deep Thoughts on Ryan vs. Ryan

2010-11-12T06:20:00.000-08:00

1: Rex probably can't pull much on McCoy that he hasn't seen in practice. Unfortunately, ditto Sanchez.

2: But once again, the Jets don't have a Hillis. On his 26-yard gain last week, the formation made it obvious: Two tight ends on the right side, with Vickers set up to lead-block right. "Hey guys, we're going to run around your left side! Ready?"
Couldn't stop it. And Hillis is surprisingly quick and explosive for his size. Thank God for blockheads like McDaniels.

I have to mention that Holmgren probably did NOT influence Steinbach pulling to that side (and smashing a safety). Daboll has consistantly exploited Steinbach's athleticism and minimized his smallish size in this way.

3: Because of his reps vs. a Ryan defense, he has an edge over the other quarterbacks who've played them, and his rookie-hood is less a factor. While Sanchez will no doubt do some damage of his own for similar reasons--and because his offensive line is really, really good--the Browns offense should at least compete.

That's partly because Rex, like Rob, blitze inside quite a bit, and the Browns have the ideal antidotes in Moore and Watson.

4: Green and LT are a scary combo, but at least for the last few weeks the Browns defense has drasticly improved vs. the run. Especially Chris Gocong, who's emerged as a top-flight ILB. I sawe him make one tackle in which he ran all the way around a blocker to take down a carrier from behind--at the line of scrimmage.

See, he had the gap to the guard's right, and was penetrating--he saw the ballcarrier and veered to intercept. Most strong side ILB's can't make that play--that's partly why they don't bother blocking them.

But see here: He WAS penetrating--no standing there waiting. That's why the Ryans are some of my favoritest people.

5: I assert that the wide recievers were always in the game-plan. McCoy even talked about his conscious effort to get it to them more--NOT about asking Daboll to let him.

But if the TE's and Hillis get the bulk of the catches vs. the Jets, blame Revis and Comartie--nort Daboll. Dammit.

6: Speaking of which, their superb man-coverage skills won't mean a damn thing vs. Evan Moore. Not with a quarterback who can put it way up or out there where his massive reach advantage makes them helpless. Nor can they jam him. Look for more passes to him, both outside and inside. He may be the designated blitze-burner.

7: Backup fullback. Trade throw-in. Jets rejects. They cut (Roth/Watson/Moore) "for a reason". You guys should be GM's (hopefully in this division).

Two of the veterans acquired in the Sanchez trade are integral components of the current team which beat the Saints and the Pats. One of them became critical when Jackson went down for the season. Mack is very good and getting great fast.

I wanted Sachez myself, but when I saw the trade, I knew it was smart.

Furthermore, Sanchez had a pretty damn good rookie season, yes--despite the ups-and-downs that some New-Yorkers overreacted to. He's a good quarterback with most of his upside left, yeah. Also, he may be as much as a half and inch taller than Colt McCoy. But I'd still rather have McCoy. And Mack, and three other vets. So quit making asses of yourselves and let it go.

Sanchez was a one-year college starter. McCoy started for four years. Sanchez is accurate. McCoy is MORE accurate. Sanchez is smart. I believe that McCoy is smarter. I believe that NFL experience only makes the two about the same right now. Our quarterback is a match for theirs.

8: This team is actually more talented than the last two. The Saints had some losses and some age, and Doctor Evil has drafted low for too long. The Jets are loaded.

9: Adam Schein on NFL Radio gives a "ton of credit" to Mangini, Daboll, etc. for the last two weeks, but repeats that the only way Mangini keeps his job is to go to the playoffs.

Go to the playoffs playing in the same division as the Steelers and Ravens, the worst of which is probably 10-6. With maybe the most brutal schedule in the NFL. Playoffs or you're fired. Yeah right. Holmgren is retarded.

Oh--no--it's the west coast thing. Can't teach and old dog new tricks!

Bullshit. Holmgren's teams got beat by all sorts of offensive systems, and he respects them. I suppose he wants to fire Ryan because he wants a 4-3. These guys aren't little kids.

If Holmgren himself decides he wants to coach again, ok. But if Mangini wins 7 or 8 games this season, I really doubt that he'd use that as a pretext to replace him, because he lives on this planet and is rational.

This synergy between two successful offensive systems is unprecedented and productive. Becoming a respected/feared team by the middle of his second season is doing a pretty damn good job in this division. Not when the core is nearly all there, and you need one more off-season to fill in the remaining gaps. Not when the players love Mangini and go all-out for him.

Holmgren might want to coach again. If so, so be it. But he also wants to win, and respects results. If Mangini ends the season well, he stays. Playoffs my foot.

This Just In

2010-11-07T08:45:00.000-08:00

I just got turned onto this Browns DNS site which is like internet Radio. At first I loved it, but then they started repeating the Eric Wright BS and bashing Daboll. The black helicopters came out: Mangini got Daboll to make sure he'd look good in comparison.

Still, it's better than NFL Radio for even an objective Browns fan.

Anyway, I had forgotten a huge new reason for hope vs. the Pats: Ryan's defense is finally managing to disguise it's intentions pre-snap, like the Stoolers and Ratbirds do! They did it to Big Benny--no bigee. But then they did it to Drew Brees, all day long. THAT is impressive. Brees is right there with Brady and Manning reading stuff pre-snap. (Benny is comnparatively dumb as a rock. He just waits till he's half way to the ground in the grasp, then intentionally grounds it to avoid sacks,)

That's massively important. The 3-4 surrenders it's biggest advanatage over a 4-3 when it shows a quarterback who the blitzer is, and always covers the way it appears they're going to cover as the QB is calling signals. He and the center tell somebody to pick this guy up here and the recievers to change their routes.

Throughout Crennel's tenure, it was that way. How many times did I see a safety OUTSIDE the box moving toward the line pre-snap, or a linebacker shuffling and leaning? JFC why don't you get on the helmet frequency and just TELL the QB what you're doing?

It probably took this long for the parts and pieces to get used to Ryan's version of the scheme (which is unique, and not a carbon copy of anybody else's).

One way to disguise stuff is start everybody out right on the line, showing an all-out blitze--then after the QB does his checks, and as the playclock winds down, drop the guys that are going to drop. The QB has to GUESS. The danger of this is the QB coming to the line and saying "HIKE", and his recievers getting behind coverage.

The other way is real simple: Body language. Simply don't go up on the balls of your feet, don't lean, don't jump around in place. If you're showing man/press and go to zone, don't freaking pull back with ten freaking seconds left on the playclock, or vice-versa.

And part of that last part is, you need to have the ability to adjust instantly if the QB does get the snap early and you're "caught" in man or zone. Inexperience makes that part tough, because the safeties both have to recognize that they have to do something other than what they'd intended...because everybody has to adjust together instantly.

Oh. It's Billy Yates at RG again. Well, ok--he did a good job last week. I was really hoping for Lauvao though. Benches 500, strong man competitor...damn.

But I digress: yes--if this crew was able to decieve Drew Brees, it can decieve Tom Brady. For that matter, if it was able to beat up Brees, it might be able to beat up Brady.

And hey: Who told you that Daboll has consciously decided not to throw to wide recievers? I really doubt that. Delhomme tried, and Wallace hit them some. But when the big inside guys are such easy targets and you're starting a rookie, he will default to the safest possible throw any time he feels pressure. Wouldn't you?

That said--I don't know the answer. I just know that we have a rookie quarterback and priority one is to make his reads simple and get the ball out of his hands quickly.

It'll probably work out anyway. McCoy is no doubt planning to hit them and get it deeper whenever he gets the time AND THEY GET OPEN, which...are they getting open?

Oh, I forgot: If not, that would be because Daboll has them running boring patterns or something, right?

Jeez...

"I am Your Father, Eric"

2010-11-07T05:31:00.000-08:00

Wow does that Bill nurse a grudge, or what?

But some of the stuff I read on the message boards is hysterical. Many Cleveland fans are far worse, and just make stuff up about Bill. It's almost as bad as what they say about Mangini.

Anyway, I got a bad feeling about this one, primarily because it's Bill coming back to the site of his own lynching, and he has proven to be such a great grudge-nurser. The Pats are going to be at the peak of their performance for his sake, and his game-plan and adjustments are what they are.

I do need to pick on Grossi here. Teddy Brusci did say that the Pats were the "Big Boy version" of what the Browns are trying to do, but he wasn't talking about physical domination. That's not who the Pats are anyway. He was merely referring to the fact that their system is mature and well-established, and their players can read eachother's minds, and execute in their sleep.

But Bill was unmistakably throwing shots at Mangini in referring to this offense as a "West Coast". There are indeed elements of it here, as there are in his own offense. Brady usually gets rid of the ball in three seconds, even on deep passes. They use lots of slants and crosses.

But the posters jumped all over the west coast reference, accepting validation of their theory that Mangini has suddenly become Holmgren's sock-puppet. No, you idiots. It was Bill insulting him, and that's all it was.

In reality, as Brusci said, this offense is very similar to the current Pats offense schematicly. Niether team has a scary deep threat, and both rely on a lot of short and intermediate passes. If Bill had Hillis and Vickers, he'd run more, too.

My bad feeling about this one is more about our defense vs. Brady than Hillis vs. their defense.

Ryan can hope to beat Brady (and his recievers) up, but that's hard to do. However, Bill can be as sneaky and devious as he wants vs. Hillis--it might not matter.

If what I read about Lauvao maybe starting is true, that's an upgrade (no knock on the other guy, who's done a nice job). Smashmouth can trump trickery and deciet...and keep Brady benched.

I love how Hillis talks about running against NINE in the box like it's another day at the office,

The most exciting thing here, though, will be watching McCoy. Bill has had an even harder time than Rob of generating pressure. He's instead been plugging all the holes and shrinking windows with 7 or even 8 guys in coverage.

In doubt he'll do that with McCoy, actually. I think he'll blitze more than he has--with safeties and corners. Colt is a sharpshooter who can and will "stick" throws into tight windows, and if he has time to figure out all the insideously diabolical deceptions Bill will be using, he'll burn it with pinpoint passes.

I believe that Bill will attack relentlessly both to deprive the rookie of time to think, and to put hats on Hillis before he can square up and get rolling.

Good to hear Colt talking about this game as if he's playing against Tom Brady. He's striving to live up to something, and aiming high. He seems to think of the defenses he faces as just part of that. For some reason, that just sounds...right to me.

Eman: Pat Kirwin concurs with me: McCoy has earned this start.

But of course Pat continues to turn a lack of wide reciever production into a general lack of talent. He's just had his mind made up about that. I wonder if the wide-outs this week make a couple big plays, this will elevate his estimate of the offensive line, tight ends, backfield, and defense in general. He just loves those recievers.

When Bill dumped Moss, Pat wrung his hands over how the Pats would operate without a proven deep threat. I guess the Pats remained talented in his eyes because they've still got Welker.

And listen to me: eric Wright has played well before and since the Ravens game. One psychotic poster is demanding that they cut him. He'll be on Welker a lot today--very very very tough--the nickel corner can't use the sideline (but he can blitze,,,,,,,)

You guys need to track this Wright-bashing poster down and stuff him in a padded cell without a internet access. He's embarrassing us. Or just bust a cap in him before he can reproduce--our gene-pool is polluted enough as it is.

Go With the Kid

2010-10-31T04:58:00.000-07:00

Colt McCoy has now faced two of the best, and most complicated, defenses in the NFL and done well. Quit presenting it as a choice between developing a young quarterback or winning. That's a massive ass umption which ignores the young guy's actual, real, measurable performance.

I do like Seneca Wallace a lot, and he's obviously proven something. I was disappointed with Jake, but when healthy I defer to Holmgren on him. I don't deny that all rookies will make mistakes.

You've seen Jake, Seneca, and McCoy. Are you trying to tell me that the older guys are really better? They're NOT!

There we go with the preconceptions again. You had it in your head that McCoy wasn't ready, and now you're ignoring what you see with your own eyes. McCoy isn't as good as he will be, but he's already on a par with the veterans. It's real.

I see that thinking on the boards all the time, like this guy who passionately hates Mangini. Do you hear that screaming? That's his logic.

The game-plan vs. the Saints? No doubt Holmgren or Fujita's idea. The best special teams in the NFL? Of course--that's because Mangini only gets special teamers. If you try hard enough, and squint your eyes, and put your blinders on, and only look in certain places, you can manage to see what you need to see to confirm what you've made up your mind about.

McCoy is good enough to start and win right now. The fact that he needs experience is only the tie-breaker.

You wouldn't think that with these wide recievers it's a good environment for a young guy, but actually it is. This team can run even against stacked fronts, and has an abundance of tight ends and backs who can catch. It's a good offensive line, which is getting healthier in the bye-week.

By the way, in re MCoy's "lack of production" vs. the Saints? When you're up by seventeen points at halftime, you run the ball. DUH.

What are you numbskulls voting for Wright as the goat for? Still seeing what you expect to see (I mean hallucinating)? He covered well. AGAIN. Like he did before and after the Ravens game. I guess NOW he has to be Darryl Revis to clear where you've set the bar. I guess he has to shut guys down completely AND cover for Haden and Brown too! Gimme a break.

And when Haden comes in as the third cornerback, Wright covers the slot guy. So quit talking about Haden's challenge facing Wes Welker. Wright will be on Welker, and rightfully so. He's among the fastest players in the NFL. Welker might make some catches, but he won't outrun Wright.

Doctor Evil up there in New England will no doubt have all sorts of interesting stuff prepared for McCoy (and if it's not him, I'll bring the rope). He's got two games worth of tapes on him, too.

But what weakness will he see? McCoy hasn't shown any. Even the interception that one normally very good analyst said "He wishes he could take back" should have been caught. And I'll bet he'd do it again.

At any rate, Bill has to first and foremost stop the run. And as smart as he is, good luck with that. Nor is it just "the run" that you can blitze to try and blow up in the backfield. It's also the little dump-offs that wreck that strategy. The blitzer is out of the play inside and behind Hillis. Sometimes they don't even bother blocking him.

I don't think even Bill can shut that stuff down completely. He can stifle it somewhat to create some second and third-and-longs. He can flood the short zones to make it hard to catch anything inside.

But this is a hard offense for insideously diabolical defensive evil geniuses to stop, because the running/dumpoff game is one of brute force, and so far the Browns have simply been stronger. Defenses did everything right, but it didn't matter.

The Browns have a chance.

I'm revising my win/loss prediction to 11-5. I will update it next monday after I get more information.

Mitchell, Lauvao Time?

2010-10-21T05:45:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of this season, the one prediction I made that was accurate was that the Browns would not contend this season.

Regardless of what Mike Holmgren said, he had to know that this would be a season for growth. After the draft, there remained issues at safety, defensive line DEPTH, WR, and QB (Jake is a "hold-the-fort" guy who they massively overpaid--and don't blame that on Mangini). Other areas could use improvement, like right tackle and right guard...(I repeat they had solid journeymen, but we want a pro bowler everywhere).

Additionally, MoMass, Robiskie, and Mack were entering only their second seasons. Ward is a rookie. Jackson and Rogers were injured. It's the second season of a new system, and several new players were brought in.

Finally, this is the AFC North, and they got the schedule they did.

Now, a lot of you can point at the Rams, KC, etc. (while I counterpoint at Dallas, Arizona, Cinci, etc.), and use this opportunity to bash a perfectly good offensive coordinator and head coach. I don't care. The offense lacks a deep threat, and the defense has been unable to generate a consistant pass rush, mainly due to injuries.

There has been too much heat on the quarterbacks, due to the lack of the deep threat and injuries/disruption on the right side of the line.

But I digress. I'm personally stunned that the Browns lost to KC and the Rams, but never expected a contender in the first place anyway. And if you measure competitiveness and improvement simply in terms of wins and losses, you're being lazy. This team almost beat the Ravens, hung with Pitt in Pitt despite multiple disasters, and led in most of their games until the fourth quarter.

Those in the Mangini/Daboll lynch-mob hate to hear it, but that's improvement.

Now we got McCoy at the helm, and after his debut, rational fans will acknowlege that it's not too soon for him to continue. If the level of performance is similar, then in a growth season you go with the young guy and get him his experience.

I really have to mention this: One comment-poster was not impressed by McCoy because he didn't win. The fact that he was a rookie vs. Dick LaBeau with few practice reps who lost his top two wide recievers didn't matter to this person. Only the win. Black-and-white thinking is childish, if not insane. You don't judge a first-game rookie the same as a veteran, and you don't just ignore everything but the final score.

But enough on Corky-Dawg: So, down goes Pashos, and St. Clair seems perpetually injured. Okay, maybe it's time to unveil another rookie named Lauvao. Move Womack to tackle and start him at guard.

The orginal plan might well have been to make this move during the bi, so that Lauvao could heal more completely, and have two weeks to settle in, but injuries might well have forced the Browns' hand again.

Lauvao has great talent, and is not as raw as many rookies. Right guard is easier to learn than center, and Lauvao has at least had the first several games to learn the mental part. Alex Mack, on the other hand, had to start from the beginning last season.

If Colt could do it, maybe Lauvao can. Let's try.

Mitchell I wouldn't try it with, but they may well have to. If he hasn't got his short and intermediate patterns and reads down, they could always just send him deep every time he's deployed.

This is a guy who can be covered like a blanket, step-for-step, but still outreach/dive/leap or overpower the defender(s) for the ball, and we now have a pinpoint-accurate quarterback who can really elevate those percentages.

Even if he's only targetted once or twice in a whole game, it only takes one big play, and defenses know it.

And don't start with this "arm" stuff again! No, McCoy doesn't have a howitzer, but he reads and quickly and has adequate range to burn a defense deep, especially when a high trajectory floater is the best way to go anyway. Jeez is that all you think about? How many "long bombs" did Popgun Sipe complete? Stop it you're killing me!

Until Mitchell catches (or almost catches) a deep pass, defenses will continue squeezing down on short and intermediate routes and attacking the run aggressively out of stacked fronts.

After he does, even if the defense's game-plan doesn't change, the thinking of the safeties will. He'll make them nervous. They might set up a yard or two further back off the line, with one a little closer to the perimeter on his side of the field. They'd be more hesitant in diagnosing play-action. If they take that first step and it's NOT a run, they'll never catch up to Mitchell.

What have you got to lose, Brian? Who cares even if Mitchell only does the one thing: Goes vertical? Who cares if the defense knows it? Even if he's 95% decoy and catches just one pass in a game, that pass completion nails down a field goal if it doesn't score a TD.

Mitchell, if neccessary, can still learn the rest of his role here--but for now, he can already just run in a straight line and holler "hit me!", and catch the ball in his big mitts.

What else have you got? Robiskie, if he does get open, is short and intermediate. You've also got Moore for that, and the three of them for the middle. You've got plenty of big possession guys and middle guys and Hillis for all the dink-and dunk stuff...put Mitchell in to pry the lid off these stacked fronts!

Next season, when these young guys have that experience to build on, it could well mean that this team is ready.

The season is DOA. Go nuts.

Anticipating Joe Twelve Pack

2010-10-20T06:46:00.000-07:00

1: Just heard James Harrison on NFL Radio: "How can I play the way I was taught?" He forgot the violin.
OK: I now understand that Cribbs was a running back, and his helmet was fair game. Therefore, Harrison saw the opportunity to damage a fellow player's brain and maybe spine, and eagerly tried to do so, as he was taught to. By Coach De Sade, I assume. Since it was legal, it was okay!
I had originally thought the attempted homicide on Cribbs was illegal, but stand corrected.
I had thought that the hit on Massequoi was legal, but had forgotten the defenseless reciever rule. Massequoi had not taken two steps with (or juggling) the ball. Harrison also blamed Masseqoui for "ducking down". .....? He hit him IN THE HEAD with his forearms. He could have decked him with pads-do-sternum or hands to chest, but of course that wouldn't have damaged the other guy's brain 0r spine, and he was taught to kill or maim whenever possible.

James? Burn in hell.

2: McBride kills me. He's another Yoda wannabe: McCoy was adequate. He might have even said "decent" once.

I don't get the guy. IN CONTEXT, Colt was sensational. One of the top defenses in the NFL, weak wide recievers, hostile environment, first NFL start after only five games. THEN losing both Cribbs and Massequoi, and falling behind. Barry, what did the rookie have to do to rate a "pretty good" from you?

NonoNO it's not the same as Quinn! Once defenses got a bead on Quinn's INACCURACY, they adjusted coverages to exploit it. McCoy doesn't have that weakness--in fact is exceptionally accurate. The only questions about Colt were his arm-strength and height.

For sure, they'll take what they can from this game-tape and have a better idea of how to screw up the NFL version of McCoy, but it will be a ton harder than it was to mess up an inaccurate thrower.

I believe that Colt's practice time was nil until week three, when he was temprarily the number two and got about 30% of the reps. Then there was the one week when he prepped to start. So, he did what he did on very little practice time.

3: Daboll had an EXCELLENT game-plan for a rookie quarterback with weak wide receivers facing a Steelers defense. Will you guys never let up? You got it in your heads that he sucks based on recievers dropping balls and quarterbacks making crappy throws last season that Daboll sucks, and now are systematicly filtering everything that happens through that prejudice. Daboll has done, and is doing, a good job.

4: So has Wright. Yes he has, except the one game vs. the Ravens. Now you got another prejudice stuck in your head, and every completed pass gets blamed on him. The issues with that are two-fold:
1: The SAFETIES are a day late and a dollar short and
2: The blitzes are getting stopped, and quarterbacks sometimes have too much time.

That's Ryan: he's taking calculated risks. You can rush four without a lot of disruption, but when you HAVE TO send five, you're taking people out of coverage, and if they don't get to the quarterback in three seconds THREE SECONDS DO YOU HEAR ME, ANY ANY ANY cornerback is just about in deep shit.

On some occasions, I've seen teams pick up the single blitzer, but the QB unable to find anybody open for more like seven seconds--that's just absolutely exceptional coverage. It happened several times vs. Pitt. Like the time Ben intentionally grounded it, and the two times he was in the grasp and going down and sort of dropped it for incompletions,

Moving Brown to safety is one good option, but I'd prefer "single high" coverage with ADAMS at free safety; then you still have three really good corners and TJ Ward in the Chris Rockins role. Adams is actually a ballhawking, human missile tackling free safety ala Felix Wright.

5: Terry Pluto shame on you for generalizing. The Browns do NOT lack offensive talent at tight end, running back, fullback, or offensive line. Only at wide reciever (and that just got worse).

Well okay--you can add quarterback too, if you muddy the definition. Since at quarterback nowadays you just about have to have an elite player--not just a guy. Flacco, Ben, Brady, Manning, Brees,,,
Colt might be that guy, but despite his great start vs. Pitt, he's still a rookie, and will make mistakes.

One mistake might well have been the throw to Massequoi. On that pattern, the wide reciever needs to come to a stop and "sit down" vs. zone coverage. If he's in motion when he catches the ball, that OLB will do what Harrison did (albeit much more cleanly and legally. Most NFL players are human beings,)
I suspect that Colt led him, rather than throwing to where he was supposed to stop.

6: Mangini feels he needs wins now to avoid getting fired, so he might want to bring Delhomme back if he can. But he might not. McCoy did so well that Mangini might agree with most of us that McCoy actually does give his team the best chance to win now.
Those of you who long since made up your minds to hate Mangini and carefully ignore or distort anything good that happens will no doubt ass ume that Holmgren overrode him in any good decision. But Mangini has always started the best players, regardless of their draft position or experience. It's actually the biggest single reason that I defend him against mindless attacks.

7: Back to Colt, and what I saw: I didn't see any bombs, but did see him fire throws with velocity/low trajectories into tight spaces (as I did in game four of the preseason...while you were sleeping).
The ball that was intercepted, in fact, was a perfect, unbelievably accurate pass into the middle of three defenders, delivered to like a two-foot square spot where only his own guy could (and should have) caught it.
YOU guys probobly all just groaned and cursed, but I personally said "wow-what a pass!"

I love that he had the guts to make that "stick" (as Rich Gannon calls those darts into coverage). You can't teach that kind of accuracy, and over 90% of the quarterbacks in the NFL wouldn't even try that stuff, because they're not sure they can get it to that little tiny window, and know that if they're six inches off it's a pick.

And defenses can't stop it. They have perfect position, but can't prevent a perfect throw from getting in that tiny little space. all they can do is interfere, try to pry it loose, or blow the reciever up after the fact.

Trust me: This is a rare TALENT we have here. And you'll see: He'll make the wide recievers look a lot more talented.

He was baptized in fire, and came out stronger. Just wait. Just wait.

If it Sounds Too Bad to be True, it Might be.

2010-10-16T18:04:00.000-07:00

Well, why the hell not?

Here are some rays of hope:

1: Josh Cribbs and the Flash offense. Yeah, Pitt will be prepared for it, but at least our guys are vets, and it only takes a small mistake for them to cough up a first down or something.
It might work better now that Cribbs seems to be allowed to actually pass once in awhile.

1a: You guys don't know this, so I'll tell you: Colt can run that offense. I never even looked at his clock times, but I saw several of his runs in college, and he's got speed and moves.

2: Yeah that and he's a scrambling threat out of the conventional offense.

3: Roll-outs and the shotgun can be used to help protect the kid and simplify his reads.

You guys are all acting as if the fourth preseason game was meaningless because of the level of talent. That's not quite true for a quarterback. Their worst DB's are still trying to cover your worst recievers. Their worst front 7 is still trying to beat your worst linemen to kill the quarterback.
Accuracy is accuracy, and he showed that in spades; accuracy and touch.

It's true that he's up against a lot more complexity and general speed here, and that these guys will bait him and con him. That preseason game can't compare to what he'll face here. So stipulated. But you guys are, as usual, overboard in dismissing the outstanding talent he displayed.

If they don't get to him quick, he can do a variety of damage. You just cross your fingers that he doesn't get suckered by these devious, sneaky....

4: I hate that Hillis isn't being allowed to recover from his bruised thighs, but in this case I have to admit it's critical that he play. If they muffled Harrison, they can muffle Davis. Hillis is the physical type who can give them trouble.
I want to see Polumalu meet THIS guy in the hole!
Unfortunately, the only two ways smaller linebackers and secondary guys can stop or slow him are to try to pry the ball loose or throw themselves at his legs.

5: Big Ben will be rusty, and even if he isn't, he's stubborn and holds the ball. Pitt's offensive line isn't that good in pass protection. Until the last couple weeks, Benard and Roth haven't been 100%. Rogers might get his old form back. Ward has some experience now. They'll be expecting Wright blitzes...but it might not matter.

6: The Browns can also help protect Colt with personel, ie using Moore (two tight ends). Both these tight ends can deploy outside , pulling potential passrushers (and run stuffers) with them, and making it dangerous to pull Polumalu out of coverage.
Yeah yeah the Stoolers can cancel out and in-line tight end or even one on a wing, but their base personel will have a problem dealing with two of them.

7: If the Browns do that, it'll be hard for them to help a cornerback with Massequoi. Better believe Colt will want to get it to him--he'll have to to loosen the coverage.

8: Colt's accuracy plus these THREE (with Hillis) big, short/intermediate, crossing recievers can help him get rid of it in a hurry.

9: I have my Polumalu and Big Ben voodoo dolls ready to go. They worked pretty good last season!

The Dreamer (a genuine imitation)

2010-10-13T05:24:00.000-07:00

Brian Tarcy is a unique and hysterical writer. In his "The Dreamer" persona, he writes for the Orange and Brown Report, and cracks me up.

As a professional unsuccessful writer, I have, over time, imitated a number or writers that I liked. I'm pretty good at it. I can THINK like them.

But over time, all the imitation sort of got stuck in there and mixed around, and I developed multiple personalities of my own.

So now, I have several writing personalities, and don't imitate anybody else any more. Except in this case, I simply have to imitate Tarcy. Okay well that is, one of my personalites needs to imitate him, so I'm going to imitate myself imitating the Dreamer.

Imitation being the most sincere form of flattery, I'm sure that he would be flattered, were he ever to read this. I know I am.

If I were to write a football book, I would of course need for it to be about a bad team. Kind of like Rocky. A bad team getting better.

Lots of underdogs. Like a college possession reciever that was a longshot, but somebody turned him into a tight end and he survived long enough to get pretty good. Maybe my team still calls him a tight end, but he's more a huge, massive wide reciever.

Then um...a "too small" running back. Like Barry Sanders or Emmitt Smith or Tiki Barber or Priest Holmes...all those little guys that had no chance. Those are classic underdogs.

Oh yes--and a too BIG running back. SO big that the team that reluctantly drafted him made him a backup fullback, and then traded him for a bad quarterback to my underdog team, which made him a running back again.

Then there's another "too small" guy, only a quarterback. Got to give it some pizzazz, though, so we'll make him the winningest quarterback in NCAA history.

I'll make him REAL small. Almost as small as Jeff Garcia and Joe Montana. Almost as short as Drew Brees and Brian Sipe. I'll make him a whole 5/8" inches under 6'2"!

Let's say they say he has no arm. That's rediculous, since in every picture there it is. In fact, he has two of them. But that's what they always say about any quarterback who threw a lot of short passes.

The plan is to let him learn on the bench for at least one season, while two old veteran journeymen take care of the team and help teach him. Maybe I'll spice it up and make one of these guys even shorter than him. And the other one a half inch or so taller.

I'll have him look horrible in preseason until the fourth game, where he throws a shutout with and against bartenders and bus drivers (so he's got that going for him).

"Not ready", they'll say. "Good thing we got those two guys in front of him!"

Okay so now we've got to do the "Rocky" thing. What else?

I'll get both of those older quartebacks hurt. And the monster running back. And a bunch of other guys...let's knock out half a dozen or so starters, okay?

Okay so now the little running back and the rookie quarterback will start the next week.

Good set-up, but incomplete. Now for the bad guys: First, this devious, insideously diabolical defensive coordinator who befuddles seasoned vet quarterbacks all the time, and sacks them a lot. Let's toss in a super-safety, since safeties are quarterbacks' arch enemies, and we've got to have our Apollo Creed, see?

Then...we've got to give the little running back a hard time: The bad guys will have the best run defense in the NFL.

Let's see, what else? Oh yeah--and the bad guys' Pro Bowl quarterback is coming back off suspension! Perfect!

Naturally, in my movie, the underdogs heroicly upset the bullies, and become famous and never look back. And in my sequals, they beat them up again and again, worse each time. (Nobody will watch them, but I'll already have made my money, so I won't care).

It's a great story.

Too bad in the real world it rarely ever happens. But that's why I'm imitating myself imitating the Dreamer.

Next I will see if I can dial up some of my established multiple personalites. I will see if I can talk about the upcoming game vs. the Pittsburgh Stoolers. I'm glad I've still got my Big Ben and Polumalu voodoo dolls. They've worked pretty well so far.

Thank you, Brian Tarcy, for the inspiration. I tried to stay in-character, but slipped out. There's only one you.

Dammit

2010-10-10T13:33:00.000-07:00

What part of "dammit" don't you understand?

Notes to Oblivia

2010-10-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

1: It's easy to repeat what people were saying last month or last year, and easier still to armchair quarterback a coach. While the former coaches and players on NFL Radio are listing Brian Daboll among the Browns best assets, around here it's bashing as usual.

One call that one armchair offensive coordinator mentioned--which was picked up by all the sheep and lemmings: Third and 2.5. Wallace went deep.

First, it was Wallace's call. He saw a weakness and went after it, like he's allowed to. Second, all you clowns are saying is that unless, on every single play, you do exactly what the defense expects you to do, you are an idiot. I hope if we ever go to war, the bad guys make you a general.

And you are the same clowns who wanted him to be more "creative". You think Bernie Kosar is god, but stick your fingers in your ears when he tells you Daboll was fine LAST season.

2: Peyton Hillis has the hot hand. They don't hate Harrison. Vs. Baltimore, Harrison was injured, but they were inserting James Davis until he also got hurt. Cincinnati had Rey Maluaga and two excellent run-support safeties, and Hillis was the best matchup.

A Falcon player (duh) said that the big emphasis in their practice has been on stopping Hillis. They're scheming against him. I would expect Harrison to get some action.

Hillis is a hammer and I love him. But I don't forget what Harrison did, or can do. On Hillis's biggest plays, he reached the open field without contact. Hillis racked up huge gains, but in each case, Harrison probably scores a touchdown. I don't believe that's lost on the coaches.

The way they were inserting Davis vs. Baltimore tells me their intentions. Even if Hillis is the bellcow, they don't intend to run him into the ground and ruin him, as Bum Phillips ruined Earl Campbell. They'll rest him, and if Harrison (or Davis) catch fire, they'll use them more.

3: I do love Hillis, and also Matt Roth. These two guys inspire everybody else, and make the teams the Browns will play respect this team.

Nice article by Mary Kay: Roth is being used on the tight end, wherever he is. He considers it his job to mug him. I really like that! And he said it himself: If he knocks the guy down, he doesn't have to cover him! (He's in trouble if he doesn't, by the way.)

He's a great tactical asset, because he can run right through a tight end enroute to the quarterback, and he makes it really tough for any QB to find the tight end.

I thought he'd be in trouble when the Browns had to face K2, who can split wide on a wing. This week, so can Tony Gonzales. I wasn't able to see how the defense covered that; if Roth went out there with them or what. It makes it much tougher to mug them, and he can't run them over on his way into the backfield, or be there to stuff the run.

If I know Ryan, he kept him near the end of the line and sent him--putting a coverage linebacker or safety on the tight end.

Either way, he screws up offensive game-plans. They have to get the tight end help to block him, meaning an offensive lineman or fullback has to come off somebody else. They can't rely on an in-line tight end to be a reciever. They are discouraged from trying to get around outside him--he's set up on the tight end, and can string it out.

And he's not fast or tricky. He just gets under your pads and drives you back. Not much you can do about that.

Roth and Hillis. Hear us roar.

4: Eric Wright has had some rough times, but is a top cornerback. Opponents target him with bigger, taller guys. He's almost always right there, but can't stop a perfect pass. He's been expecting help from Ward that didn't get there. Ward will be awesome, but is a rookie.

Nobody expects any cornerback to hang with a legit number one reciever for longer than about four seconds. They have to get to the quarterback sooner, or else get Ward more experience.

He was blamed for ALL of Owens yards vs. Cincinnati, when in fact he toasted Haden twice, and Brown at least once. In reality (I watched the replay)--Owens only beat Wright twice that I saw, and I think on one of those plays, Wright was peeling off another reciever.

But you clowns had it in your heads in advance that they would pick on Wright, so you just ass umed that every catch Owens caught was on him.

I do love how Ryan blitzes him often and frequently, even on neutral downs. He's one of the fastest players in the NFL, and they have to keep a running back in or else pull a guy (never the tight end thanks to Roth haha) off a big guy to TRY to get in his way in time.

And quit saying he won't tackle! That was last year--this season he seems to have taken that criticism to heart, because he's doing an EXCELLENT job tackling even big guys. Give him his props--watch what is really happening and quit repeating obsolete cliches!

That said, Haden could take over outside sometime this season. That's why they drafted him so high. But it won't make much difference. In the NFL the top three cornerbacks all play about the same number of downs, and Wright covers the slot guys anyway.

Up until the Ravens game, you all knew that Wright was a good/improving cover corner. After that one game, he sucks.

Grow up.

YOU STAND CORRECTED.

Tantrums

2010-10-03T07:19:00.000-07:00

Some of you clowns are little babies. Eric Wright starts out good, and has now become recognized by everybody who knows anything as one of the elite corners in the NFL. He has one bad game against an elite reciever, and you call him a bum. "WAAAH!" Shut the hell up.

Anyway, on more than one of those plays, rookie TJ Ward almost certainly misread things and was late to help him, and Flacco had too much time. Wright caught all the ignorant spears, but he was doing Ward a favor.

Why didn't Davis get the ball? Hillis. If it aint broke, don't fix it.

Benard should be back for this game. The team still needs Rogers (and the rest of the starting defensive line--which except for Rubin missed the Ravens), but Benard is pretty special, and should get heat on Palmer.

The Browns can run the ball against anybody. I'm with Terry Pluto on what Daboll said: If you got second and nine, don't automaticly pass. That "tough mindset" that running teams have is partly the willingness to risk three-and-outs early in a game.

It's also a tendancy that defenses draw a bead on in a hurry. With power football, they can draw the bead as fast as they want--it doesn't matter if you just can't stop it.

A running team is like a shorter boxer: It attacks the body, bruising ribs and weakening core muscles. It often seems ineffective in the early rounds, but later the opponent weakens and slows down.

Running lets the offensive big people slam into the defensive little people. It makes defenders hesitate before they fire into gaps after a quarterback, depriving them of that most critical advantage. It gives the blockers the first shot and makes defenders struggle against superior leverage, down after down.

An often overlooked part of this is our big, strong recievers, extra backs, and tight ends blocking safeties and cornerbacks. They're keeping these fastest defenders away from the backs until they're well past the line of scrimmage, and then they have to pursue with bad angles in space.

Of course, we can't go nuts. You MUST pass now and then to keep the safeties uncommitted--especially when there are so many check-down options, and the pass can be a long handoff, and when you've got two tight ends with deep speed and a wide reciever who averaged nearly twenty yards per catch as a rookie with inferior quarterbacks.

Ask Jeff Fisher. He passes the ball sometimes as often as 40% of the time. Lots of play-action.

Brian, you lack reach and you're not fast, but you can slip punches and are strong like bull. USE IT.

Don't worry about Harrison. He couldn't be more different from Hillis, but is no less effective. It depends on the matchups. Maybe this week. Maybe not. With Mal...that linebacker there...hard to say.

I think last week they woke up. They got a real shot today.

I HAVE SPOKEN.

"Lack of Talent"

2010-09-28T13:07:00.000-07:00

"GM Jeff", who regrettably represents Cleveland fans on NFL Radio...and wanted Ryan Tucker replaced when he was 28 years old...bent over for Pat Kirwin and stipulated that the Browns lack talent.

Especially at wide reciever. Sure, Massequoi averaged nearly 20 yards per-catch as a rookie with two bad quarterbacks. I mean, he didn't even catch 50 passes! BUM!

Well--okay, he wouldn't lack talent if he played for another team, but as a Brown he's a bumb.

Pat admits that Josh Cribbs has talent, but ass umes that he will never become a wide reciever, so he doesn't count. GM Jeff has been scrupulously ignoring all those receptions he's piling up, and needs to suck up to Pat...

Anyway, all we got are those two guys-ergo no talent at wide reciever.

Tight end is almost as bad, since we only have Ben Watson and Evan Moore. Pitiful!

Hillis is a fluke. He's kind of a persistant fluke--but eventually he will prove that he lacks talent. So will Harrison, until he proves that he can carry the ball 40 times per game for 16 games. At least twice--since he's a Cleveland Brown, doncha know.

I mean, Watson went from being really good as a Patriot to not having talent as a Brown.

All the Browns have on the offensive line are Thomas, Steinbach, Mack, Lauvao, and guys named Joe. That's only one annual Pro-Bowler and two guys who might get that good in a couple years--out of five. No talent on the offensive line.

The lack of talent on defense is even worse. Aside from Rogers, Jackson, Rubin, Smith, Fujita, Gocong (who was good as an Eagle but lacks talent as a Brown), Ward, Brown, Haden, and Wright: aside from those ten guys, who have they got?

Schaefering, Roth, Trusnik, and Benard? Just because they got all those tackles-for-losses and sacks last season? Puh-leez!

I rest my case. This is how to obejctively analize stuff.

I'm weary of hearing goobers and clowns babbling mindless cliches. "No moral victory". Screw yourself. They had a Superbowl contender on the ropes for most of a game. They played well enough to win, without several of their best players.

They're close. They're improving. If you expected them to beat the Bengals or Ravens THIS season, you clown, get back on your medication. And quit throwing tantrums.

ONE season from now, they'll be ready to close the deal. Grow up.

And I TOLD you that "backup fullback" we got for Saint Brady was Brandon Jacobs/Jerome Bettis (except he can catch better). Is it sinking in yet?

I also said they should do more 22 with Cribbs in it. And they shouldn't worry so much about balance when they can overpower people.

Wait til Moore, Jackson, Rogers, Lauvao (stay tuned--he'll have some hiccups but he's got the goods!!!), and Harrison come back.

Wait--what am I saying? No talent there. Nevermind.

Past Performance Does Not Neccessarily Guarantee Future Results

2010-09-12T07:12:00.000-07:00

1: Mangini and his system have only been here for one season.

2: The roster is almost entirely new, with a lot of young players.

3: Holmgren and Heckert just got here.

4: The quarterbacks are Delhomme and Wallace.

5: Despite being strafed by opposing quarterbacks, the defense ranked fifth in preseason, and Ryan implies that he did indeed withhold much of his playbook.

6: Delhomme has been awesome. Some of you clowns confidently predict that he will fall on his face as soon as it counts, and the defense won't get any better. This is how biased, irrational people cherry-pick to support whatever opinion they've impulsively decided they need to prove.

Adam Schein is an example. As usual, he's predicted three wins this season, and naturally has Tampa beating them.

Rich Gannon, a Superbowl MVP quarterback, has recently studied the Browns himself, and likes them.

Unlike Adam, he cites a number of reasons, which if you'd ever read this you already know. In response, Adam starts most of his sentences with "I just--". Whenever somebody starts their sentences that way, they're out of facts, and are simply being stubborn.

Gannon predicted that the Browns would beat the Bucs today. He cited a much better quarterback situation, a very good offensive line with a powerful and diverse running and short passing game, the improving defense, Rogers/Harrison/Cribbs/Watson (he really likes Watson--but what does a quarterback know?)/Moore (yes me mentioned Moore--seems to like huge sure-handed guys for some reason), and other stuff.

Shein's reply was "I just like talent. I like coaching. I like the Buccaneers".

Adam loses a lot of debates. He just plain doesn't like the Browns, and never has. He feels more than he thinks, and, like a number of you posters who send stuff in from Oblivia and Crete, is impervious to coaching, management, system, and personel-changes.

"All's I know is--" Listen to Gannon, another ex-QB in Jim Miller, former offensive lineman Ross Tucker, and Gil Brandt. They all like the Browns a lot. Either Miller or Tucker (maybe both) picked the Browns to overtake the Stoolers in the division. All of them told you why--specificly.

Speaking of Ross Tucker, he really likes the offensive line. He says the starting right side, whatever it is, will be ok--just doesn't like the depth. He recommended a particular free agent who could be a swing-tackle.

We do have Steinbach, who can play left tackle, but I believe Ross's point is that this would cause a lot more disruption than leaving him where he was, and simply replacing Thomas.

Hey I miss Ryan Tcuker, too--but not every team can have a Pro-Bowl calibre right tackle every year. A LOT of teams, including playoff teams, have to go with average or just above average guys at one or two offensive line spots. Get real about that, will you? That's part of being rational and thinking with your brain, too.

And quit making stuff up, like Robiskie butted heads with Mangini, so Mangini benched him in a Napoleonic snit. Nobody ever even hinted that that's what happened. And hell, I told you before he was drafted (and saw in games) that he had trouble separating from defenders because he's not explosive.

Massequoi has a second gear, and can shoot out of cuts, but Robiskie is like most of us other mere mortals (especially us caucasians), and has to use trickery and deciet. And reach. And position. And strength. And pretty good top end speed.

Speaking of the Stoolers, get real about them too. Their outside linebackers are awesome, and they've got Hood coming into their defensive line, and he'll kick butt. But the rest of the defense is aging. And do you think that an older player after an injury and re-injury of a knee comes back as good as he was? They peak at twenty eight or twenty nine.

So they don't have Big Ben for four games, and everybody ass umes that whoever the hell the new QB is will do just fine? Why, when their offensive line isn't that great?

They've got Gramps Jackson playing right tackle. He might (or might not) still be an okay pass-blocker, but he's a "wall-off", finesse run-blocker, and he's ancient, too.

They've got good stuff and bad stuff--just quit being superstitious about the Stoolers and ignoring the bad stuff. You think they'll just mysticly transcend their weaknesses as they have in the past under different coaches. That's irrational.

Go position-by-position and position-group-by position-group, and you'll see that the Browns are better overall. I envy them their ouside linebackers, safety (at least the two years ago version), and...I'm not sure I'd trade anybody else...I mean Ben is damn good, but what a butt-head!).

The Browns didn't get lucky with them last season. They dominated them from the opening bell. It wasn't a fluke. They took the Bungles, which swept the division, into overtime. And they did it with a rookie number one reciever and no quarterback.

Stop the inanity. Put away the astrology charts and be analytical for a change.

Browns 8-8. Stoolers 7-9.

Ransom Preseason Comments and CORRECTIONS

2010-09-03T18:50:00.000-07:00

1: James Davis was not on the bubble. Hillis doubles as a fullback, and a run-oriented team using two-back formations keeps three running backs. For all the Hardesty hype, Davis is a very good player, and the Coaches know it.

2: Davis was not a "speedster", nor a "big back". Who said he was probably the fastest of the bunch? Faster than Harrison and Hardesty? Do some home-work, for cryin out loud! The only reason he slid in the draft was because he hadn't made any really splashy plays! He was a super-dependable chain-mover. He was almost as light as Harrison!

I said before last season that Davis is Earnest Byner. Is it sinking in yet?

3: I'm less surprised than most others by McCoy's performance vs. Chicago...but am still surprised. Yeah, he was working against third-stringers...WITH third-stringers (so stop repeating that cliche!) These guys were all fighting for their very lives. He settled down and demonstrated his pinoint accuracy.

4: Dink-and dunk? Only somewhat. He averaged over ten yards per completion (which is pretty good). Not all of it was YAC yards, but the substantial portion that were came partly from that accuracy as well.

A guy who doesn't have to slow down, dive, stop, or leap for the ball is much, much harder to nail before he can do more damage. This is what separated Joe Montana from everybody else, and it's what McCoy does best.

5: Benard went apeshit. I believe he is making a case to be a starter. I haven't seen/can't judge him in coverage, but he certainly can sift through traffic and track down ballcarriers. (The pass-rush part is a given).

The Browns need a pass-rush, first and foremost. I really like Scott Fujita, but if Benard can help more than he can...so be it. Fortunately, Mangini isn't Marty. Benard has a fair chance. I think.

6: The biggest single reason every enemy passer has OWNED this defense was the lack of pressure. NO secondary can cover for more than a few seconds. A running quarterback is less accurate than a stationary one. A quarterback not at his preassigned launch-point can't see as well, and has to improvise. A timing quarterback can't execute if he can't make it to his throw-count. A quarterback who takes his eyes off the secondary has a hard time finding the recievers again.

These quarterbacks have had all day.

Not that the young guys haven't misread things, been fooled, or simply screwed up. This, however, will improve as they get more reps.

Duh.

7: Great to see Mitchell make some catches. I don't believe he'd survive waivers, and I think he'll be an active player...learning from the bench, mostly.

8: McDonald has earned the right to stick around. Great depth there. He does seem to be the fourth-best pure cornerback. (Adams is a safety/cornerback hybrid. Each guy has weaknesses, but between these two, those weaknesses offset.)

9: Ventrone showed something. Was it enough?

10: Costanzo is a given for special teams play alone, but did show some real ability as a linebacker. He might move up the depth-chart there.

11: The offense McCoy ran was not specificly designed to protect him. It IS similar to what this offense will be with Delhomme, who is likewise a quick and accurate thrower.

It's an Infante-like ball-control offense with no big stars. A defense can't focus on one player. I was stunned to read that eighteen different players had caught passes as of the Chicago game, and that Delhomme has completed passes to ten different players in one game.

This is why I'm frustrated when Pat Kirwin asks a Browns caller "who's your playmaker?"

He means the one guy who commands double-coverage and still makes catches. Pat considers this manditory. He can back it up.

Okay, Pat: Is a wide reciever who caught 36 passes and averaged almost 20 YPC, with a crappy quarterback, and as a rookie, adequate? Who was the secondary target, Pat? Think defenses paid any attention to him? What does Massequoi have to do as a sophomore to qualify, Pat? 120 catches for a 25 yards per catch average? Does the bar go up for the Browns, Pat?

But I digress. How 'bout Harrison, the leading reciever? Can Evan Moore ever aspire to be adequate in your eyes? Or Ben Watson: Can he ever become a playmaker?

Ah, but none of these guys are Randy Moss or Jerry Rice, or even twice as good as everybody else. So to Pat, rather than four pretty good players, the Browns don't have anybody.

How can you stop an offense that targets every part of the field, Pat? I mean, in which it doesn't matter who lines up where, or who you cover? When a quarterback hits ten recievers in one game, and when throughout preseason a whole bunch of guys have several receptions each, and almost every single one of them averages over ten yards per catch?

Where's my playmaker? Have Delhomme throw to Massequoi more often, and there's one. But since he doesn't HAVE TO, I guess you'll never percieve any of these guys as a playmaker.

Pat's partner, Tim Ryan, said of Robiskie: "I don't see the explosion; the separation. He's just not a sudden player." (all true, by the way)..."he'll catch the ball in traffic and run slants on you all day, but---"

BUT? Tim doesn't get it: That's what he's here for! He's not here to be a deep threat!

The reason Tim spoke this way of Robiskie is because for him, as for Pat, Massequoi (and Harrison the reciever) don't even exist. But either of those two, or Josh Cribbs, can score from anywhere on the field.

That's not a playmaker? That's not sudden or explosive? Why IS the bar so much higher for a Cleveland Brown, that Pat Ryan thinks Robiskie was drafted in the second round to be the playmaker?

After this preseason, the defense has me nervous. I have faith in the young talent and in Ryan, however. I know it will be rocky early, but by mid-season I'll be we got a formidable and opportunistic defense to go with a deliberate, diverse, ball-control offense.

This team is already better than the team that split the last half of last season without a quarterback.

You stand corrected.

22 Personel

2010-08-31T06:46:00.000-07:00

22: Two backs and two tight ends. One wide-out. It's a jumbo run-package.

The bad guys must use their base defense, re-enforced with run-stuffers. The threat is glaringly obvious: The offense intends to get a big blocker on almost everybody and beat the defense down.

Normally, it's not scary in terms of big plays, but what defensive players fear--especially when it's run in a hurry-up--is the fatigue it causes. They get sluggish, and slow. The defense has to prevent even one first down, almost at all costs, because they know that if they don't, this will happen.

The Browns have the people to do this. I now think that Luvauo will start at right guard, and am leaning towards Pashos at right tackle. Pashos has been criticized as a pass-blocker, but is a road-grader on runs. Luvauo, who did a great job vs. the unrepentant dirty player Suh, seems really good at both. Perhaps Suh was taking out his frustrations on Delhomme.

That's what I always do. When somebody only a little smaller than me is embarrassing me, I find a much smaller guy and try to break his neck, because I'm a punk.

But I digress.

Also, Watson is a good run-blocker.

The possibilities for everybody else are almost limitless. Cribbs is emerging as not just a competant, but a good wide reciever. He's as big as a running back, and an excellent blocker. Massequoi is also a very good blocker.

If they keep three tight ends, Smith is a good blocker. Moore might or might not have become a decent in-line blocker by now, but he can certainly block in space and take on linebackers.

If the Browns use 22 personel, however, it's scarier. Every single back, including Vickers, is an accomplished reciever. Watson and Moore are both dangerous recievers. Delhomme has a very quick release, and you can run screens and play-action out of this set.

In fact, regardless of who the two backs are, the Browns are almost as likely to pass as to run out of this set.

The defenses will know this, of course. But they can't do much about it. They know that if the Browns simply hand it off, they'll need just about the whole defense to prevent a big gain. They almost have to shoot gaps and attack, hoping to blow something up. As seen late last season, this offense can overpower most defenses the old-fashioned way: "Here we come--try to stop us!"

Daboll has a great toolbox, too. He can pick out two backs based on the specific situation and defense. They can deploy Moore (and even Watson) in slots to pull box-players away from the tackles, where they're badly overmatched as coverage guys, and where they'll be late to the party on any inside run.

Massequoi and Cribbs, though not true burners, do have pretty good speed. They would be neccessarily isolated in single coverage every single time. They can fight for balls and break tackles, and there's real big-play potential here.

Combined with the hurry-up, the Browns could use this set to beat down defenses early in games. It almost doesn't matter which guys carry the ball. Defenders have to do wind-sprints to track Harrison down, or weightlifting to stop the other guys. (You see a small back can wear you out, too. Of course, a Peyton Hillis can break you psychologicly--you know he's a monster---and you're not.)

Vickers, if he read this, would be grinning from ear-to-ear. He'd get to catch a pass or two, and otherwise get to go smash multiple targets down-in and down-out.

22 would make them sore, tired, and gun-shy. It's smash-mouth on steroids. It's a throw-back offense, from the olden days where men were men and before we evolved cerebral cortexes.

I'm not suggesting that they should do this all the time, but should do it often, and early in games. It's irrelevant that opposing coaches see it coming.

Rob Ryan would put his quickest players on the field and shoot every gap, trying for the running back on his way to the quarterback. He'd trade some gains for some losses, and hope the pressure would prevent any big plays. At least, that's what I would do.

But then if Watson and Moore split out, and Harrison or even Hillis also go to the line--you can't do that any more. You can't pull a coverage guy off a reciever. He's too far away from the quarterback, and Delhomme won't miss him.

The offensive line could narrow the gaps, you have Thomas and Steinbach on the left side, and a goon in the backfield. The offensive line is firing out to hit you first anyway; you lose your fist step.

With the tight ends in-line, if you sell out like that you might well get Harrison taking a dump-off near the sidelines, where you now have NOBODY, and you have to stop him in space. For that matter, Hillis could do that...

I mean, you'd track him down allright, but then be sorry you did. Even Vickers would get three or four yards and hurt somebody.

You could do an end-around, too.

A good coach adapts his offense to his personnel. There you go.

Browns vs. Lions: Battle of Titans

2010-08-28T16:23:00.000-07:00

1: Greetings, Oblivia! While you were sleeping, the Lions got a quarterback, massively upgraded their defensive line, and got an awesome scat-back. They won't suck (much) this season.
If you just said "It's the Lions!", you are a moron.

2: When Delhomme was signed, I thought they were insane. But throughout preseason, he's been damn near perfect. It helps that here, he has tight ends to throw to. Kosar also pointed out that he's been told not to take too much on himself...
Kosar has helped me understand what went wrong with him: He partly got greedy/stubborn, trying to force things rather than accept field position or field goals.

3: I TOLD YOU about Peyton Hillis. Is it sinking in yet?

4: Jennings is DOA. For all the flashes he's shown, his stats don't lie. I like the guy, but between him and Davis, it's no contest. And I told you that, too.

5: Bobby Ingram has made some nice plays. I hope it doesn't make the braintrust do something stupid like cut Stuckey, who is still young with upside, and who can play outside as well.

6: Harrison's lower body is much, much more muscular than I remember, and I was surprised to see him power his way to 1-2 extra yards more than once. He's evolved into a complete running back.

7: The interferance call on Wright was bullshit.

8: The defense looks bad. Excuses follow:
A: Ward and Haden are babies.
B: Rogers is MIA.
C: Ryan isn't showing all his cards yet.
D: Gocong never played inside before.
E: The sun was in their eyes.

8: Josh Cribbs is no longer a WR-project. He is a WR. Ask Jake.

9: Robiskie too.

10: McCoy finally looks ok. Even if he didn't, anybody who thought there was any chance he'd be released is an idiot. He's had hardly any reps, and his upside hasn't gone away. Wallace, Brees, McMahon, Garcia, Montana, Sipe--just shut up before I have to name more short guys, ok?

11: I really like this Infantyesque offense. The stats are deceptive: Many of the passes were just long handoffs to the running backs, who couldn't be keyed on and didn't have the ball until they were in open field. Many of the yards were after the catch. NOW I know why Holmgren jumped all over Delhomme--it's what he does best.

12: Back to McCoy: the two pasases that were dropped were on the money. Also, I saw velocity. I'm greatly encouraged (for the future.).

The Browns lost vs. a mediocre (not bad anymore) team. The offense looked very promising, and the defense looked crappy. The Browns first team beat Detroit's first team.

I'm not too paranoid about the defense. I know Ryan, and can go player-by-player and recognize emerging talent. I know I sound like an infernal optimist homer, but re-read what I juat wrote, and review the last half of last season. I'm far more objective than a Stoolers fan.

So there.

Training Camp

2010-08-01T15:03:00.000-07:00

I'm all a-twitter!

OK I'm really glad that at least Sobeleski comprehends that the two inside linebackers are different. Most fans don't. The weskside backer is a run-and-hitter and the strong inside guy is a big thumper. The weakside guy also covers a lot more (dropping into a zone..you see, he is also different from a man corner...nevermind one thing at a time).

Anyway this is why statements about jackson being replaced by Barton, Veikune, or anybody else (on this roster) are assenine. The current Browns have a truckload Macks, but only three Bucks.

Eric Barton is one other weak inside linebacker. Last year he was hung in effigy because he was playing Mack and getting pushed around. Maybe that's something you can bash Mangini about, but not Barton.

Sobo did make a mistake about Gocong, though: he played strong outside linebacker with the Eagles--not defensive end. Mangini also made a comment about both the outside and inside linebackers rushing the passer.

Well, it's true. The Patriot defense (and the way Ryan wants to run his) differs from the Stoolers 3-4. It's been a mantra around here that in order to work, the 3-4 defense has to have two edge-rushing outside linebackers, like the Stoolers do.

Well, that's always the ideal, but not completely accurate, and this is why Mangini/Ryan want versatile guys he can move around. They will send ANY linebacker (or safety) at ANY time--including neutral or probable run downs. All of these linebackers have this in common: They can rush the passer.

Inside blitzes are sometimes called "run"-blitzes because the penetration forces running backs wide when they don't stuff them. They also wipe out the pocket, taking away the quarterback's deep accuracy, wrecking his timing, denying him his pre-planned launch-point, etc.

Inside blitzes, when not picked up, also get there faster. It's not easy to rattle a Manning or a Brady. They read blitzes and react quickly. But an inside blitze is easier to disguise, and reaches them sometimes too fast for them to burn...I mean like right behind the snap.

Mangini and Ryan want opposing teams NOT to know where the fourth and sometimes fifth passrusher is coming from. If they end up with six guys with between four and seven sacks each, that's better than one with twelve.

At any rate, Barton may or may not make this team. If he does, it's only because he's needed to back up Jackson. None of the big thumpers is very good in coverage, and that's important for a Buck.

The guy who has a really good chance of sending Barton packing? Maiaiva! He's more of a strong safety than a linebacker, but with the supporting cast this team will have, that could work out quite well for him. Offenses simply can't afford to commit a blocker to him, and he's the fastest of the bunch, with great instincts.

Moreover, even as a rookie, and before he had to take over for Jackson, he played a great deal in situational defenses as a safety/linebacker hybrid (not even sure what they called him).

I agree with Sobo about Fujita being more likely to spend more time outside, but think that Gocong could go either way (as could Veikune--they're very similar).

Roth is said to be all pumped up. His personal trainer is exceptional. He is one probable outside starter. He relies more on leverage and power than speed, and that makes his performance almost predictable. We hope he's learned another fancy move or two, but power is never a fluke. This guy is drasticly different from Wimbley.

Who's suprised by Evan Moore embarrassing everybody? How can Sobo wonder if he'll make the team, when the Browns have Massequoi, Robiskie, Stuckey, Mitchell (needing work), and guys...well okay credit to Haggerty, who could be a big sleeper--but the rest are guys named Joe?

Labels. They always get you in trouble. Moore is labelled a tight end, therefore he might get cut no matter how effective he is as a reciever? Really? And quit saying a 247-lb. player needs to get bigger, okay? Why--because he skipped lunch and doesn't weigh 250? Because he's not massive enough on his 6'6" frame?

What kind of blockers were Newsome (229) and no-knees Winslow? What could Jurevicious do that Moore can't? Labels-labels-labels. And for that matter, who has decided he hasn't become a decent in-line blocker between his second and third seasons, after playing wide reciever in college? Label/assume/label/assume.

Every back can catch passes, and they will. They have the people for a two-back and they'll run one. They intend to run first. Moore, like Watson, can also play H-back.

Sobo, think "reciever" first, and forget what the label is. Can this guy save the quarterback from getting sacked? Can he be a dependable target? Can Jake let it go to him quickly, underneath, when he needs to--even if a guy is hanging on him? Is he depth at two positions?

You would call Massequoi/Robiskie/Watson/Moore a two-tight end set, and fail to notice that Moore is three yards outside, not even pretending to block. That's a three-wide! And if it works, they'll do it.

I hope Moore has become a proficient in-line blocker, but don't think it matters very much. When it comes down to it, you secretly call him your giant slot reciever and keep him.

Coolest thing I heard: Ward picks off a pass to Moore, but Moore takes it away from him before they hit the ground. THAT is why Moore sticks around.

Corrections

2010-07-24T16:08:00.001-07:00

1: Please stop the Daboll-bashing. When Bernie Kosar studies the game-films and says "guys were getting open, but the quarterbacks weren't getting it there", and that the game-plans looked fine to him, the objective person listens.
You get in such a froth to blame somebody, you become an old-fashioned lynch-mob. You hang whoever comes in handy.
...and the fact that you're still arguing with Bernie and me proves it. Shut up.

2: Delhomme can't be worse than DA/Quinn. The end.

3: Please don't chant for McCoy the instant Delhomme hits a rough spot. McCoy slid because he needs work. While I'm sick to death of hearing about arm-strength, and it's drasticly over-valued, in McCoy's case it could actually really be an issue.
I saw his highlight tapes. You can't see much bad stuff from these carefully compiled fluff-pieces, but they ARE meant to show all the player's best traits. I never saw McCoy rifle one into a tight spot. I saw a few deep ones, but nothing special.
This is why scouts almost unanimously agreed that he'd be good as a west coast quarterback.

I listen to Jim Miller, especially, when I want to learn about quarterbacks. I found out from him that you can improve your arm-strength, and that McCoy needs to do that. (How do you do it? You throw the ball a lot. A LOT.)

McCoy has the brains and the accuracy. Big deal he's a little under 6'2" and 220--I wish you'd quit harping on 4-5 lbs. and a half an inch. He can run around almost like a scat-back; in fact I was stunned by some of what he did with his legs.

Conversely, those of you who have decided he should sit for more than one season are also assuming way too much. McCoy's only REAL issue is his arm. Mentally, he's not a project at all. He'll enter the '11 season competing to start. If he doesn't win the competition, so be it. But I wouldn't bet against it.

3: Mangini never wanted a workhorse. Whenever he can, he divides the load between two or more backs. This offense has extra fullbacks, running backs, and tight ends, and is short on wide recievers. Do the freaking math and smell the two-back formation.

4: Quit saying "for a reason". Denver let Hillis go "for a reason". yeah--they have plenty of running backs and they wanted Brady Quinn! Ben Watson was released "for a reason". Actually there were several reasons: One is Wes Welker. Another is money. To hear some of you guys, no good players are ever released!!!
Ryan Tucker was released! They got Heiden for a sixth-round pick! Trusnik was a toss-in-Benard and Cribbs weren't drafted---FOR A REASON.

5: When Bernie Kosar came out of college, one of his strongest points was his superior DEEEEP accuracy and his STRONG arm. This continued until said arm was injured on a hit in Kansas City. AFTER that, it was anybody's guess where the ball would go when he threw it past twenty yards.
And by the way, while all of you were in denial about it, this is why he DID have diminished skills.

6: Reality is not what you want. It's what is.

Gramps Engram: Great Move!

2010-07-09T08:21:00.000-07:00

The Browns needed an experienced wide reciever to show the young guys the ropes. I mean, it's very complicated:

First, you have to understand what the Quarterback is saying in the huddle. If you don't, you won't know what to do or when the ball will be snapped or anything! Then, you need to look at the defense pre-snap, and diagnose what they're going to do to cover you. You might need to adjust your route. Then, after it's snapped, you have to adjust to what they actually DO do with you!

Without an experienced veteran, how could these young guys ever possibly learn all that abstractionalized complexity?

And Engram is only 37. Many wide recievers have played into their...well he's really got a lot of experience! Maybe more than the coaches!

I just hope they paid him enough, with guaranteed money for a good three years, since as we know it takes so long for young recievers to learn how to play.

Now that Engram will be on board, maybe they won't be forced to use Moore as a reciever. maybe they can afford to cut him now. And that new guy--Practice Squad for sure! Wouldn't want to have to activate him any time this season--bive him a good three years to learn all the complexitationalized abstractionalizations on the bench. Might wreck his confidence by forcing him to experience any real action too soon!

Oh yeah--great move! I'm so glad the new regime is upholding all those time-honored traditions.........

WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!! 2

2010-07-02T18:58:00.000-07:00

It's the same stuff every year from Browns' minicamp: 'So-and-so looks so improved' and 'Whats-his-name looks to be a steal.' We heard the same stuff about Derek Anderson in 2008 and 2009 only to see him flop when they started playing games that mattered. Until proven otherwise in the regular season, Delhomme is still a 35-year-old quarterback on the downside of his career who chucked 18 interceptions last year and Robiskie and Veikune are 2nd round busts." - mkeogh

That's right: Mike Hol-who? How could Delhomme be better than Quinn and Anderson?

It's the same old garbage we hear every seaon, except for Mike Holmgren and some people he brought in this time!

And here we go: HE wasn't smart enough to even fire Mangini!

...I rest my case.

SHUT UP! NATIONAL PEOPLE READ THIS CRAP AND THINK WERE'RE ALL IDIOTS!!!

SHUT UP!

I Didn't KNOW that!

2010-06-29T07:53:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Terry Pluto, whose statements I can rely on without fact-checking for this: David Veikune came in this season at 235.

This explains why Veikune has been working mostly at WEAK inside linebacker, where Jackson normally plays.

Casual fans don't know that weak inside linebackers tend to be quicker/faster than strong inside linebackers. Offenses tend to put the tight end on the right side, and use bulldozers at right guard. They're "right-handed" and tend to run to that side.

The strong inside linebacker is often a bigger guy who can take on offenseive linemen (like David Bowens). Now, here I need to mention that Eric Barton played here last season, and got pushed around. This is because he, like Jackson, is best as a weak inside linebacker. This season, Barton will almost certainly be a backup, and may not make the team at all.

When David Bowens took over at strong inside backer last season, he kicked butt. So much so that he should see more time there this season. At this stage in his carreer, he's probably a better inside linebacker than outside linebacker. Why don't people see that?

Anyway, back to Veikune: If anybody but some crickets ever read my blog, they'd know that last season when Veikune was drafted, I looked at his workout tapes. I even ran them and Kaluka...M's workouts alternately, and was pretty shocked.

Background: Kaluka Maiava was the "other" USC linebacker who some teams projected as a safety. Prior to his starting at weak inside backer due to injuries, he played a lot in his rookie season as a coverage guy.

Veikune was a 260 lb. defensive end. Two inches taller and thirty pounds heavier. What I saw in the Veikune tapes between these two players showed that Veikune was nearly as quick and fast as the guy many thought of as a safety--at 260 pounds!!!

Sure, he tripped a little once, and of course couldn't match the safety/linebacker hybrid step-for-step, but he made most of the other big guys look sick.

NOW he comes in at 235? WOW!

Because, see, here's another thing about this big Polynesian: He's stronger than many offensive linemen, and it's mostly natural "country" strength. Prior to Pluto's comment, I had him pegged as a strong inside guy, if not an outside linebacker. But now? Jackson needs to get his head out of his butt. Even after he comes back, he'll have to fight for his job.

David Veikune can do everything Jackson did, plus is stronger. Weak inside linebackers also tend to be the ones who drop into coverage, and based on those workouts, Veikune can do that even better than Jackson as well.

Welllll...okay that's a bit of a leap. He has the hips and speed, and he's got better length and reach. However, much of coverage is mental, and it's tough to predict how a guy two seasons removed from being a small-school DE will do.

We do, however, have training camp reports to go by, and I have yet to read any knocks on his coverage. On the flip side, I've read about deflections and interceptions.

Now, unlike a lot of doomsday posters, I like Jackson the player. He truly is a very good linebacker. No, he didn't make all his tackles five yards downfield. Bashers say that stuff like Al Sharpton cites racism. Jackson wasn't helped by a nose tackle who wouldn't play two-gap, or a strong inside partner who was his own size. He covered really well, too.

So I didn't come here to bury D'Qwell. However, I believe that Veikune may well be better--he can add more blitzing and penetration. He can stone big backs cold.

Everybody seems to have an agenda, and rely on "faith". Those who burn Mangini in effigy desperately want Veikune to fail. As of the third or fourth game last season, they were already gleefully declaring him a bust. Others who want him to succeed are calling Jackson an overrated bum. In either case, the actual performances of these two players will do little to change either opinion.

Here I've said watch out for Veikune at inside linebacker. And down the road apiece we'll see him outside as well. He's not a bust, and might be awesome.

I don't care who drafted him, or where. I only care how well he plays. Aint that refreshing?

Tony, Tony--aw jeez...

2010-06-19T19:37:00.000-07:00

The following is copied from a Tony Grossi column. My corrections are in color.

Will rookie Joe Haden and veteran pickup Sheldon Brown knock Eric Wright to the No.3 cornerback spot?
Wright is entering the final year of his contract and has given off vibes of expecting a big payday. While his coverage skills have steadily improved, Wright remains a liability in run defense.
While shorter than Wright, Haden is a more physical corner -- at least at Florida -- willing and able to stick his head in against the run. The seventh player taken in any draft is expected to be an instant contributor. And the Browns didn't give Brown $5 million after trading for him to play in sub defenses.
Of course, all three will receive considerable playing time as opponents field three receivers. But corners have to play the run in Mangini's defense and Wright had the benefit last year of being the best of a weak bunch.

Tony uses salary to pre-determine starters for him. Brown will play as much as the other guys, and it doesn't matter who gets called "starter". (Tony also likes labels and titles. Everything in it's little box...)

Wright has ALWAYS been good in coverage. He is a "man" corner, like tackling machines Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield. (Uh...that was a joke, by the way.) Sure, Mangini wants everybody to tackle. But Ryan's defense will blitze a lot, and man coverage is almost neccessary for that to work.

(Tony: man coverage is different from zone, ok?)

Tony seems to think that a guy who zeroes in on a reciever, first to get a jam on him, and then to run with him (with his back to the QB), is also expected to read the backfield, as if he was a zone corner starting out five or seven yards downfield.

Tony, coverage comes first in man coverage. Wright is a man corner, will be used as such, and will start.

• Will either rookie safety crack the starting lineup in his first year?
Second-round pick T.J. Ward has more coverage ability than fifth-rounder Larry Asante and both are big hitters. Asante's selection almost seemed like insurance because of Ward's injury history.
If Ward is able to stay healthy, he could be the enforcer so lacking in the secondary and set up a competition between Abram Elam and Mike Adams at the other spot. Asante should be expected to be a core player on special teams.

Mangini grabbed Elam because he was experienced and cheap. Please stop leaping to the conclusion that Eric loves the guy and will start him over a superior player. Elam probably backs up from now on.

IF IF IF Ryan uses a conventional coverage scheme rather than a two-deep, Sheldon Brown is almost interchangeable with Rodney Adamsfield at free safety.

But let's not get bogged down in labels, titles, and boxes. The majority of the time there will be five DB's on the field, and we have just named them.

2010-06-19T07:26:00.001-07:00

Greetham, Taylor, and Poster Corrections

2010-06-13T11:59:00.000-07:00

OK first of all, Elam is not terrible. You want him; need for him to suck because Mangini brought him over, and everybody he brought over has to suck. If he brought in anybody who was any good, it might make him look good. Can't have that.

In reality, Elam is a decent journeyman. He's a solid hold-the-fort guy who's niether great nor bad.

Others among you are absolutists. Absolutists generalize a lot. The secondary was bad most of last season, so you include the entire secondary because you are unable or unwilling to analyze individual players.

They had a problem with McDonald, and at times (rarely during the last six (not four) games), QB's had too much time. NO secondary can cover for longer than a few seconds. Every coach and player knows this.

Now, you guys at OBR need to go back and do some more research on Schaefering. He's only entering his third season, was a NOSE TACKLE in college, has nice speed and quickness for 3-4 DE, and what he did late last season is only the beginning for him. He's learned a new position and is maturing; still improving.

He needed to work on leverage and technique. He WILL BE in the rotation, and that does NOT mean that this defensive line is in trouble!

I can't believe you guys are throwing Kenyon Coleman out with the bathwater! He's only 31 and is a very solid DE! "Nobody else there"? You guys are normally pretty sharp, but that's assenine.

C.J Mosley has really emerged, too! He was best suited as a penetrator--quick and athletic. He needed to work on the two-gap and standing his ground when he was brought here, but he's done that, and if you'd paid any attention you would have seen it last season. Both he and Schaefering have also become really good at getting off blocks and making plays as soon as they see where to go.

Are you raising the bar again? Are Rogers and Rubin the new "average'? Kenyon Coleman, CJ Mosley, and Schaefering are "nobody" now, huh? Oh--I forgot: Mosely and Coleman are ex-Jets...you've got to keep the haters happy!

And Robaire Smith is getting up there, yeah--but he sure looks good for one more season, too.

Letting Rogers play defensive end: DUH! Part of the reason teams ran all over the Browns with Rogers on the nose is that Rogers freelanced. He was so disruptive that the Coaches let it happen, I believe.

Offenses adjusted their blocking and found ways to run around him...with hats on linebackers.

When they put Rubin in, he played two-gap like he was supposed to, and suddenly the linebackers stayed clean and stuffed people.

The disruption, by design, came from constant blitzes.

I'm not bashing Rogers here. It's just that if they put him at defensive end (more), he can go ahead and attack from an angle--they still have to try to stop him. They can run away from him, but proably not around him. They can let him go by and then block him from the backside to seal him away from the play, but he still shrinks the window for the back, and the pocket for the quarterback.

The man's a whole lot smarter than he looks, too. Put him outside and let him go.

Coleman and Smith are aging, along with Rogers, so the Browns do need more young players.

But Schaefering IS pretty good, and Mosley IS better than that--and I don't care where they came from--they're good enough to be in the rotation for several years.

Now just pay freaking attention to them and see if I'm wrong.

Where's My Shovel?

2010-06-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

1: Yahoo Sports: Jerome Harrison ran all over every team he's played against every chance he got, starting in his rookie season. He just never got a fair chance. Last season, he also racked up sweet numbers vs. Cincinnati...or are you raising the bar to 200-plus yards vs. good defenses now?
"Bust'? A guy who averages over 5 YPC can't be called a bust, especially when he was a fourth-rounder. You guys are clueless.
You rank this backfield LAST!? Peyton Hillis averages 4.9 YPC, they drafted a back who, if not for injuries, would have rated a first round pick, James Davis showed great promise before being injured last season, and somehow you find 31 teams with better backfields? What planet do you live on?

2: The offensive line was NOT "porous" last season, especially late. Both quarterbacks usually had more than adequate time to pass. They simply didn't deliver. People who say this just toss it in as a given, without real analysis.

3: Thank you Starting Blocks, and Bernie Kosar. Dropped and inaccurate passes are not on the offensive coordinator. And how do these knuckleheads who bashed Daboll (including my bro Eman) define "creative"? Is he supposed to always call a run when it's an obvious passing situation, and vice-versa? Or how 'bout having the wide recievers learn some dance steps to build into their patterns? I dunno--cartwheels or something?

4: Quit saying "wait til the pads are on". You don't sound smart except to dumb people. Repeating obvious cliches is really, really boring.

5: Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository is right up there with Terry Pluto as an analyst, but I got a problem with his latest analysis: He completely ignored Evan Moore, who looks like the Browns first option as a recieving TE.
Also, I'm not sure what he means by "playoff calibre". I mean, teams never have Pro Bowl quality guys at every position. By these standards, the Colts don't really have playoff calibre tight ends. Meanwhile, the Patriots are annual participants even when the only guy or unit that lives up to them is Brady.
Every team has strong points and weak points, including every single one that goes to the playoffs. In many cases, the "weak" points are competant journeymen--not really bad players.
Ben Watson is above average. I don't know about blocking, but Evan Moore is an elite reciever at that position. I think Steve was just afraid of sounding like a homer.

I do know that I sound like a Homer myself,. This is because I specialize in correcting negative stuff, and there's massive quantities of that.

Here's some negative stuff:

1: Delhomme scares the hell out of me, plus they paid him way, way, way too much.

2: If Capizzi doesn't emerge, we have nobody to take over at right tackle.

3: Harrison was suppressed by every coach, and is still not recognized.

4: Cribbs should be allowed to pass in the Wildcat offense.

5: Robiskie's emergance is not a given, Massequoi isn't a true burner (rather a YAC guy), and the new guy isn't ready, and might never be.

6: Opinions that Colt McCoy may only be good for the West Coast offense might be accurate. Maybe.

7: Every position group could be upgraded, except possibly the secondary and offensive backfield (I mean here on this planet.)
This is because not every player on this team is the best in the NFL at his position.

8: There are too many running backs here.

"5-11"?

2010-06-05T12:11:00.001-07:00

This is retarded.

1: CAN Delhomme/Wallace be as bad as the guys we had?

2: You do understand that at least the last four teams the Browns played last season knew that if they stopped Harrison (or even slowed him down), they'd probably win, right?

3: Both Massequoi and Robiskie were rookies...no? Massequoi averaged 18.4 YPC, didn't he? didn't that mean that at least the last four teams the Browns beat last season also knew that if they shut him down........?

4: Will the Browns secondary in any way resemble last season's? Think it might be a tad better?

5: Think Tony Pashos can be as good as Royal? (Haha!)

6: Do you think the QB will be able to make nice, safe throws to tight ends this season? What did Jurevicious do that Moore can't?

7: Is the offensive backfield looking ok? Better than last season?

8: Let's see: Offensive backfield, check. Secondary, check. Right tackle (AND guard) check. Tight end check. D-line check (see Rogers can play defensive end, and the young guys are massively underrated by blockhead memorex morons). Linebacker check (see Gocong is a 3-4 linebacker who played in a 4-3 with the Eagles, and Fujita is...Fujita and once again young guys are dissed by dimbulbs).

9: Wide reciever check. That's right. Massequoi has that experience now, and Robiskie has had time to ripen. Stuckey has his still-young feet wet now, and with Watson here Moore is a semi-wide reciever too.

10: Name one positon on this team that will be worse than it was last season.

Don't any of these national clowns do any homework at all? The Browns upgraded nearly everything, dominated the Stoolers, took Cinci to overtime, and will finish with the same record as last season? Really? That's retarded!!!

Rodney Lauvaofield is NOT a long-term project! He might not start this season only because there are solid vets in front of him, but start he will. He has the leverage, power, quickness and intelligence to be an excellent guard or center.

Capizzi is working with the second team at LEFT tackle. That's because he's a superior athlete. Compared to left tackle, right tackle is kid stuff, and he can move people. Stand by, MM's.

5-11...yeah the Stoolers are getting younger every season! Polumalu will be as good as ever! Yep! (No comment on Cinci or Baltimore--they'll be damn tough--but the Browns will have improved more, and closed the gap duuuuh!)

You could have said 7-9 and I would respect your opinion. 5-11 is just downright ignorant.

Browns WR/RB/TE Outlook

2010-05-24T08:51:00.000-07:00

Recently, reporting and analysis of the Browns has been unusually insightful, thoughtful, and intelligent. I can only conclude that they're reading this blog.

Even Terry Pluto has backed off his persistant calls for/predictions of a vedderrunn wide reciever...to come in and teach the young guys how to run correct routes and catch the ball...all that complex stuff...

Robiskie predictably looks much better with a season and offseason under his belt. Some will predictably hop up and down and point out that it's just shorts and shells. That's true, but it's not meaningless. Some exceptional cover guys are still trying to smother him, and he's able to beat them. Man coverage in shells or in games is similar.

Only recently has Massequoi finally at long last been getting credit for his late-season emergance; his high YPC average, etc. He's now at last being referred to as "at least" a solid number two...except, I assume, by Adam Caplan.

And Robiskie: He's been type-cast as a possession guy. Verily, that's what he'll do best. He's not explosive, but has great coordination, balance, and size to out-reach and out-position defenders consistantly. He also has really good flat-out speed for his size, and if he gets behind some corners or safeties, they won't catch him. Explosiveness, or "sudden"-ness, of you will, is different from flat-out straight-line speed. Robiskie was a track-star.

His frame could also easily carry 225 lbs., and he might be there already.

Carlton Mitchell is indeed raw and will need a lot of work and practice. But in a limited role, he could play in spots this season. This is how the best coaches bring kids along. They give him a specific few plays to focus on, and use them in specific situations. He could be the fourth in a four-wide, or even the third in a do-or-die situation.

Chansi Stuckey came here in the middle of last season. He's historicly a pretty damn good slot reciever, and there's no reason for him not to be that in 2010, with familiarity with the playbook. He's also not really that small, and can play outside in a pinch.

Steptoe is valuable as a returner. He nearly matched Cribbs, in fact. He is also an interesting slot-guy. who--actually like all the recievers, could experience a renaissance with accurate quarterbacks and more west coast elements added to the offense. He's hard to cover in a tight space.

Early reports on Cribbs at WR are good. We keep hoping, but this season it's different--with more accurate QB's and more timing routes. The fact is, I'm not sure that Cribbs couldn't have caught 35 or so last season with a little more help. When a ball sails ten feet over a guy or lands 15 feet in front of him, how can you say it was his fault?

One thing about Cribbs: I don't want him anywhere near a personel department. T.O. is a geezer on the fade, and even if he behaved himself, I doubt he could teach anybody anything.

We tend to get stuck on labels, which is why "TE" Evan Moore is ignored. Moore was a wide reciever coming out of college, not unlike Joe Jurevicious, and can run all those patterns. They call him a tight end because he's put in that position sometimes, but he's really a big, reliable reciever.

Understand that to a quarterback, a reciever is a reviever. Moore is one of these. With Moore on the field with Masseqoui and probably Robiskie, it's like a 3-wide. Moore is actually the best reciever among the tight ends. He hasn't been a very good in-line blocker so far, but niether will K2 ever be.

He'll be on the depth chart as the second or third tight end mainly because Watson and everybody else are better blockers, but once again that's a label. Evan Moore is probably the second tight end in a two-tight end set, and will often be, labels aside, the second third reciever option anytime he's on the field.

Watson gets hurt, but is a true tight end who can both block and catch, so he'll be number one there. Whoever is the third tight end will be this type, although Moore and Watson can also play H-Back.

Taken together, unless you think Massequoi's 18-plus YPC average was a fluke, the coaches can find a solid group of pass-catchers from among this crew. Bigger with Moore, faster with Stuckey--mix and match them week-to-week...two or three big targets. Ask any quarterback how this sounds.

A predictable P.D. comment of the day said that you have to pass to succeed in today's NFL. The statistics on that are irrefutable. It's obvious, which is why any dumbass can sound like he's smart by pointing it out.

But the NFL isn't static. Defenses adapt to stop offenses. What's been working in the past won't (not might not--won't) work in the future. Somebody does something new and goes to the Superbowl. People copy them and have success. Now the defenses have to adjust the types of players they have and the schemes they run. It takes several seasons for this ebb-and-flow to happen.

The ultimate winners are the contrarians who go against that flow. They'll be the first to beat the snot out of those defenses. They will attack weakness instead of strength.

Prior to Hardesty, I thought that Cribbs would play some tailback. But now they're downright overloaded at running back (AND fullback).

The Browns won the last four last season with a cave-man, predictable, physical running game. They overpowered those defenses.

The new offense will use power running and short, safe passes to protect the quarterback and control the clock. This will be the foundation, and deeper passes will come along later, for true balance.

The majority of the copycat league right now uses a lot of three and four-WR sets and an I-back. No fullbacks--not many two-TE sets. The Browns are the opposite. They won't have as many active wide recievers, but will have more active backs and tight ends. Two backs, two tight ends, and sometimes even both.

What's sweet here is that they can run the wildcat, and use Wallace at reciever. They can use Harrison in the slot. Hillis can play H-back.

Note on the wildcat: You are allowed to PASS, okay? That's one legit Daboll fault.

Those who predict that Hillis is going to replace Vickers are full of it. Hillis has thus far never blocked as well as Vickers, and is not the first option as a lead-blocker. More likely is a sort of situational platooning.

Every running back and fullback will catch passes in this offense. While it could certainly use a real burner at wide reciever, it was never an urgent need. The talent is good, the depth adequate.
Delhome is scary, but this whole setup is really really QB-friendly, and so far he's been pinpoint accurate (which--please comprehend this--is THE most important thing). The people we have should do.

Idjut Analysts, Self-Correction

2010-05-16T06:13:00.000-07:00

When I examined Hardesty, I unfortunatley relied on several draft analysts, and never dug up his stats. These idiots said he needed to prove he could catch, and I idioticly repeated this.

In his final season he caught 25 balls and had a wide reciever-like yards-per-catch average. Apparantly, the analysts also think you should catch as many passes as a wide reciever, too, before they'll admit that you can catch the damn ball.

Even as they report from mini-camp, I read about his "surprising" ability to catch the ball.

Ok an in re Colt McCoy, we all know that you have to have a strong arm to throw through the swirling winds and snow and stuff up here in the frozen north. You need guys with real strong arms, like Bill "the Rocket" Nelson, Brian "the Cannon" Sipe, Frank Ryan, Fran Tarkenton, and guys like that with real guns.

Yeah. Right.

Hardesty a Reach. NOT.

2010-05-12T06:23:00.000-07:00

1: Pre-draft profiles on this guy are hideously inaccurate. I mean, even more than they usually are. He does not lack the speed to get outside, and please get this: Pass-blocking is not rocket science for a big back!!!

He is not a one-dimensional tackle-breaking human hammer. He can be patient and wait for holes, and has a rare "sudden" burst of accelleration when he sees a hole.

He'd rather run around somebody than try to run him over.

He was rarely asked to catch any passes in college, which doesn't mean he couldn't. The scouts who worked with him knew in advance that he had a real talent for it, and...catching flare-outs and dink-passes is not rocket science.

2: The real pros generally had him much higher on their draft boards than guys like me did.

3: His injuries were not structural; his cartilege mostly intact, his joints solid.

4: I don't believe his latest injury was fully healed his last season, when he averaged 4.9 YPC vs. top competition.

The best running back in this draft was Matthews. Somebody else was the best scat-back, but Ryan Matthews was the best guy who could hammer a defense, break tackles, and protect the pocket.

Hardesty is remarkably similar to Matthews. Matthews was able to demonstrate excellent recieving skills and had even better stats. His injury history, while far from perfect, was better than Hardesty's. Hardesty "runs upright" more.

A note on that last part: This is an overused term. While it's true that some guys just can't figure out when to duck, many backs "run upright" only until they see contact coming, and then lean into the would-be tackler to multiply the force of the impact. Most analysts seem to suck at physics. Run upright for best vision, speed, and change-of-direction, then lean to accellerate or hit.

I know nothing of the "inside sources" who said that the Heckert and the Browns had strong indications that no fewer that four teams intended to grab Hardesty sooner, neccessitating the move, but I bet it's true.

And by the way, they traded fifth-round picks, for cryin out loud!

Anyway, I hadn't really studied Hardesty before the draft, and felt that Harrison, at long last, would be getting a fair shot, that Hillis would likewise get his chance to be Brandon Jacobs, and that James Davis would be part of it. I was stunned by this pick.

But then, this will be a run-first offense, using a fullback, and two-back formations. The shortage at wide reciever, the already-good and now significantly-upgraded defense, and how the last HALF of Mangini's inaugural season went all point to that.

With a two-back, one TE, 2-WR base offense, you need more backs.

I really like James Davis, who's a lot like Earnest Byner. I also love Peyton Hillis, who is like Jerome Bettis. I love Harrison, who is...I'm not sure. Gregg Pruitt darted more; was more sudden--Harrison sort of flows...but I love the guy. And Vickers--wow, has he ever blossomed into a premier lead-blocker! You almost want to watch him smash through people more than you want to watch Harrison!

As much as Chris Jennings showed flashes, the stats don't lie. Hardesty is a definite upgrade over him, and in his own way, he belongs with the other guys.

More explosive and sudden than Hillis, harder to take down than Harrison, more big-play potential than Davis (who's also 20 lbs. lighter).

Just as Ryan now has limitless options with the additions of Haden, Brown, Ward, (and don't forget Asanti), the offense has more options with Hardesty.

A 2-back set need not be a fullback who never runs and a running back who always runs. All sorts of combinations are possible. One injury hardly dents the depth here, and the offense can count on a strong running game. With these five guys, provided Harrison remains healthy, they can adapt to any defense. The smaller quicker ones, or the bigger tougher ones. The attacking ones or the conventional ones. They can hammer or stab.

Hardesty is no fullback, but does have the size to lead-block, and to take on 3-4 linebackers in pass-protection. James Davis is the little big man, but not the same. In Vickers you have THE blocker, who can also catch short passes. In Hillis you have the FB/RB hybrid who can do it all. In Hardesty you have a big back who can make big plays and do some blocking too. Then Davis is strong for his size, and excellent reciever--but in this backfield more a depth-guy. And then Harrison--the home run waiting to happen.

They're building a team, right? Well, the offensive backfield is built for awhile. That's why they took Hardesty.

I've heard a lot of Illuminati/Freemasonic/Rothchildian crap about Colt McCoy--give me a break. Gil Brandt said this kid in a west coast offense would make people forget Joe Montana, and all these talking heads think they know better.

Everybody is comparing this guy to everybody. Well, I'll tell you the accurate ones: Jeff Garcia and yes: Joe Montana. These are the two guys McCoy most resembles, and he has a stronger arm than Montana.

Yeah, they let him slide and slide. From what I've read, Heckert wasn't even going to take him in the third. It doesn't matter: he's here now, because Holmgren wanted him.

He doesn't project to be a drop-back pocket passing mad bomber, no. Remember when they Browns had Garcia and refused to adapt to him? Booo! He sucked, huh? But put him in a west coast and he's lethal. That's McCoy. Stand by.

Browns: Opinions

2010-05-10T12:48:00.000-07:00

If I were an NFL GM, I'd have as sophisticated an intelligence-gathering aparatus as possible. As I tell everybody, Bill Belichick should have had me spy on his opponents--I wouldn't get caught.

But in this case, I mean moles everywhere, and yes: skilled analysts. I need to know what the other guys are going to do in the draft, all the way through. (Note to the idiocrats out there: You can never be sure of anything).

I was stunned when the Browns selected TJ Ward in the second round, when there were several players which consensus had rated higher both overall and in the position; especially given his injury history. Of course, I didn't join the herd making noise about it. I wanted to understand why they did what they did--with both him, and Hardesty in the third.

Well--of late, the safeties are rated differently than they were in the past. Cover two is common in the league, and in this scheme both safeties must cover wide recievers well. They need to be a sort of strong/free safety cross, and more free than strong.

In reality, were the safeties still split into strong and free sub-categories, Ward would have been the top strong safety if the massively more hyped Taylor Mays wasn't. The team doctors said he was fine, and should remain fine--and they were believed. Want to argue with them? Go get a medical degree--otherwise shut up.

But I digress: Ward is not even only a strong safety, simply because he was used as one by his college coach. In reality, the guy can cover, too.

A reach? Maybe. But the fact is that they must have known that Ward wouldn't last until the third. They consider themselves and their peers better judges of talent than Mel Kiper, and they've got a grapevine.

The important thing now is what kind of difference Ward will make, and if he helps enough, then it's a good pick, period (assuming they were right about not being able to get him later--and I do assume it.)

It appears right now that, regardless of what the base coverage scheme is officially called, Rob/Eric want to run some under/over coverages with a center-fielder, ala Rockins/Wright.

That makes sense, since with the addition of Joe Haden, they now have two outside corners who bump-and-run, depriving a quarterback of his primary and probably secondary recievers for five seconds or so. Minnifield and Dixon were the reason why Felix Wright was able to play off the line in the middle as a last line of defense (or a human missile vs. the run).

There's a trade-off with man-coverage, and that's that the cornerbacks have to turn and run with the recievers. They can't stand back to watch the backfield for the first second to read pass or run, since they have to jam the reciever and then not lose him. As a result, when it is a run, they're usually caught running downfield, don't know it's a run til they hear team-mates shouting it, and then have to reverse direction, find the ball, etc.

That makes sense too, since Wright is knocked for his run-support, but not for his coverage. By the way, Sherlock--he was USED in man-coverage a lot, so..........

The cover two emerged partly as an answer to 3 and 4-WR sets. It works best in zone and with zone corners. But things evolve, and finally with Rob Ryan and yes--Eric Mangini, I believe we have coaches who are for once ahead of the curve. And Ryan--wow--I mean he'll just invent new stuff each week to adapt to the coming opponent.

Six linebackers? Five man fronts? And there aren't enough labels to describe the positions he has guys play. Kaluka--that undersized USC afterthought linebacker? Some coaches wanted to make him a safety. Ryan used him like one. Who cares what he's called?

Same goes for corners and safeties. And he's probably on cloud nine now, because he can now do anything in coverage. After a lot of homework, I'm now willing to bet that Ryan was the loudest voice asking for Ward.

There is little doubt that the majority of the cornerback coverage will be bump-and-run, but Haden is also exceptional in zone. Ward can play strong safety in a conventional set, or (I'm telling you) be half of a 2-deep pair, out of which set he can really fly at ballcarriers and recievers and blast them.

Brown (at his age) and Adams are similar players; Felix Wright. They don't have as much sand in their pants as you'd like in a twin safety, but can play free safety just fine; just like Felix Wright, who was more just a brain than physicly talented, and a human missile (I loved him.)

Brown will be labelled a cornerback, but that means nothing. He's a bigger corner who can still man-cover smaller guys, reads well out of a zone, and is tough on the run. Adams will still be a safety, but can man-cover skyscrapers and tight ends, and is also tough on the run.

Elam is an aging journeyman, better in the box than deep. I believe he'll be a depth guy, behind Ward more than the other guys.

We shouldn't forget Asante, who does have some skills and could really show up as more than a special teamer. Much like Ward. (They wanted a type).

Brown or Adams deep, press/man on the corners, and the most appropriate combination of Maiava, Elam, Brown/Adams, Jackson (if he's here--he's really ticked off), McDonald(?) intermediate in a predominant nickel inside zone. Hazardous. Very hazardous with the penetrations into the offensice backfield.

As a side-note to this, it looks more and more likely that Rogers will return, and be more sensibly used at every line position. I like that fine. He's wasted at nose tackle while Ruben is pretty good and plays it correctly. From the outside, I bet you that Ryan will let him go ahead and attack all he wants, because he'll cause more problems to the offense than he will to this defense.

Of course it helps if you can have a guy off the line looking for holes to fill, and quick/fast ILB's and safeties.

Anyway, who knows from "reach"? But right now Ward looks like a starter and an upgrade--that'll work.

I'll get to Hardesty next.

Post-Draft Anal ist Corrections

2010-04-30T17:15:00.000-07:00

1: If Delhomme struggles, Seneca Wallace will replace him. Rumors of his non-existance are greatly overstated. Look at his stats.

2: While Cleveland WR's underperformed last season, Massequoi emerged late in his R O O K I E season. Had he started his R O O K I E FIRST season playing as well as he did during the last 4-6 games, he might have caught 60 or more passes.

3: Stop it with this "vedderrrunnn wide reciever" crap! Linemen, defensive backs, and (sorta) linebackers need veterans to learn stuff from. Running backs and wide recievers do NOT! Their jobs are pretty cut and dried. Some of it is complex, but coaches handle that.

Not that a vet who is GOOD would be bad...it's just that there's little he could teach anybody else.

4: People's personal preconceptions and biases re Mangini are interfering with their superficial declarations about his short leash in the Holmgren front office.

The Jets didn't fall apart late in his third year. Brett Favre's arm did, and Favre kept playing when he sucked because of it. I do NOT believe that he ever made Mangini aware of it, because what I've sewen of Mangini says that he would NOT allow a guy with a bumb arm sabotage his playoff hopes.

In point of fact, the preponderance of the evidence suggests that Mangini wasn't in favor of getting Favre in the first place, but accepted it after the GM dropped him on his team. Pennington was doing a great job.

Mangini built over 85% of the team with which Rob Ryan's brother went to the playoffs.

Holmgren is a West Coast guy. Mangini's excitement about his opportunity to broaden his horizons and cooperate are genuine, and Holmgren's respect for what the team did in the last half of his first season is genuine. The fact is, a LOT of players, coaches, and GM's pretty much agree that Mangini is as intelligent as anybody in the NFL.

Dumb people need labels and convenient boxes to stick people in, and Mangini's label says disciplinarian, no people skills, inflexible, egotist.

But for one thing, people chance and evolve. The smartest people are smart enough to understand that they must learn and adapt throughout their lives. Like any real player, Mangini wants to be the best, and views working with an other-than-Belichick coach with an impressive history of his own as a great opportunity.

Delhomme was a Heckert/Holmgren move, and if he falls on his face, there's no way Holmgren will use this as a pretext to fire Mangini. If the TEAM underperforms...ok. Daboll is indeed probably on the spot, but in reality there wasn't much wrong with his offense, or even his play-calling. I can sit in a bar and hit over 50% predicting run or pass with any team!

AND Daboll WANTS to use more West Coast--and Mangini agrees! Why not, since you don't have the personnel for a spread vertical game anyway DUH?

No insideously diabolical conspiracy here: Holmgren knows Mangini is a brain and hopes he wins. I also think that since Mangini is NOT an egomanic control-freak and welcomes Holmgren's guidance, Mikey will like him just fine.

5: Hardesty is not here to be featured. He will share time. This offense will feature a lot of two-back, and otherwise use a commitee.

6: A two-back team often has five backs active, with two fullbacks. Please learn to count.

7: I get the distinct impression that Rob isn't going to run a cover two. TJ Ward is prominantly a strong safety. People shouldn't compare him to Eric Turner, who was a free safety with great speed and coverage skills.

In point-of-fact, Elam is an average two-deep safety or strong safety, but is no free safety. If it's a 2-deep, this is Ward/Elam, vulnerable deep, and ZERO depth. If it's one-deep, then it's Ward strong and ADAMS OR BROWN free, with excellent depth.

Adams gets no respect, but in the season prior to his arrival here, he had something like seven picks and a ton of tackles as a free safety. He's a Felix Wright-type.

But then, what Mangini said is true. You can label guys "safety" or "cornerback", but if you're smart you simply use them however they best match up vs. a given opponent. The only thing that's highly probable is that Wright and Haden will start at corner (at least eventually this season).

So much to correct, so little time...

Browns Fans Pre-Draft Dumbage Control

2010-04-21T08:01:00.000-07:00

If the Browns are unable to trade up for Bradford, option B seems to be trading down--perhaps repeatedly--and targeting Colt McCoy.

McCoy has surged of late, and could well go low in the first round. It's also possible that the damn liars would trade down and still take Clausen if available. ...and if you just said "that would be stupid!", congratulations on knowing more about quarterbacks than Phil Simms, Jim Miller, Rich Gannon, Gil Brandt, and several other guys.

Anyway, I do feel a McCoy crush.

NOW, don't be sitting there with your value chart expecting the last nickel. The Browns don't have much leverage in this deep draft. They'll have a hard time lining up a dance partner in the first place, and most likely have to deal with a buyer's market.

Last season, Mack was the guy Mangini wanted all along. After the first trade-down, he then took two sixth round picks to move down four more slots. Everybody was calling him an idiot. But he got the guy he wanted all along, four slots cheaper, and picked up two sixth-rounders. If you think that he should have stuck to his guns and rejected the two extra picks, plus paid Mack more money, you are an i d i o t.

Perhaps Buffalo wants Clausen and needs to move up two slots. They probably won't want to give up their second-rounder. But they might be the only potential partner. If the Browns took Buffalo's third this season and a third next year they should take it. Ditto moving down from there. Maybe they take even less. Or take Trent Edwards and a pick.

If their target is McCoy and they end up with him and a bunch more stuff, that's a good deal--whatever the hell your draft chart says.

And quit talking about "too many other needs". They need a QB, CB, WR, and safety. Guys like the young RT they got from the Stoolers, Coye Francies, etc. (emerging talent) may mitigate these legitimate needs, and others which exist in hallucinations.

Remember what I said about CJ Spiller: Draft him, and then you can trade either him or Jerome Harrison.

Upon further review, Spiller is pretty awesome. I still love Harrison, but there's really not room for Spiller, Cribbs, and him. You can't have a star sitting on the bench getting paid star money for it. Spiller is younger, faster, and more effective in the slot.

Probably, none of this will happen...I mean except that they do get a quarterback. That's the fun of it. I can't wait.

But just don't make a fool of yourself, bashing somebody for getting who they want cheaper, and collecting extra picks while they're doing it, ok?

Trade Stuff

2010-04-17T09:13:00.000-07:00

First, Lane Adkins and John Taylor had an interesting discussion on the draft that I need to comment on:

The Rams naturally want to get young players that they can develop in their system. That's true. But it does not mean that they don't want Pro Bowl calibre veterans with 2-5 years tread left on their tires! The NEW OWNERS and their fans need a reason for optimism. A few wins, and a couple vets to teach the new guys all the dirty tricks, would really help these guys to SAVE THEIR JOBS.

They could still get Clausen at #7 or maybe McCoy in the second. Clausen is best prepared, and McCoy can at least run for his life. The total payroll for all the players/picks the Rams would get might not even exceed what the Browns would probably have to pay Bradford.

In this uncapped year, by front-loading the guaranteed money "off the books", Lerner could dip into petty cash, take the write-off, and nail him down without entering cap-hell when a new agreement is reached. This is THE YEAR to make such a move--they'd have an advantage over everybody else for years.

Rogers is probably going to be suspended, and is 31. However, as of last season, he was maybe the best DT or NT in the NFL. As he ages, he'll lose some quickness, and become merely a very formidable inside player for at least two and maybe four years.

He's actually very intelligent, and would be very helpful to the coaches in bringing along young pups. He has real value at a position of need for this struggling franchise.

Jackson is still young--so much for that.

If Rogers were 24, knowing what we know, he'd be at the top of this draft. Knowing what we know, Jackson would be mid-to-high second. Ok--take some value off Rogers for his age and the time he'll lose to suspension--make him a low second.

SO FAR, that's #7 and two second rounders for the one pick. Now, you include a third and a fifth--and in this draft you get a starter with the third. For Sam Bradford, the Rams get two defensive studs, two starters, and a project.

If the Rams don't want Rogers, then substitute another third and another fifth. Then it's a defensive star, #7, two thirds, and two fifths...is THAT enough young talent? Can't you guys get out of your box? It's SIX slots--not sixteen!!!

Of course, I have no idea what Holmgren will really do. I know that if he and I played poker, it would be pretty entertaining, since I say stuff like "I'm bluffing. Honest!" myself.

I've had some outlandish thoughts about insideously diabolical stuff they could do, like:

1: Draft CJ Spiller at #7 and immediately trade Harrison (pre-arranged) to (maybe) Detroit for their high second rounder, then make sure they nab McCoy.

2: Uh...don't have one yet--call this one simply drafting Clausen there, and admitting they wanted him all along.

Now, the PD's comment of the day sounded like me about 10 years ago. Since then, I have evolved somewhat. Yeah, trading down is almost always my favorite thing.

But the writer was wrong about there being no franchise players. Bradford is a franchise QB, especially for the Browns and the West Coast. They might not get this chance again, and if they believe that he's that much better than Clausen/McCoy, they have to try to get him. Your QB is...well just about your whole team.

Ross Tucker, who I really respect, talked about Bradford's shoulder again. He injured it twice. Another goober talked about injuring it two years in a row--which is simply not true.

Anyway. getting back to Tucker: Bradford got it dinged and missed some time. I suppose something was torn, but not completely, so that it would heal given enough time. But Sam went back and played too soon, and the shoulder was structurally weakened by the unhealed damage. The same minor injury turned into a major one.

That doesn't mean he's fragile. It means he needs to be kept on a leash and make sure he's ready before he plays again. MLB pitchers and QB's list a ton of guys who've had this surgery, and done fine since. Bradford has also packed on 20 lbs. of muscle (so far) since then to protect it. Sometimes Ross is a worry-wart.

What scared me was that Ross went on to say that he thinks Bradford holds the ball too long. He pointed out that he had an awesome offensive line, and had a lot more time than he's likely to get in the pros.

THAT, coming from Ross Tucker, IS scary!

However, in a West Coast (timing) offense, presumably heavy on short and intermediate quick-hitters, I'm not as scared. Also, Bradford's stats indicate that his hesitation was more about greed than indecision. He just wanted to go deep first.

I still hope they can get him, but as long as it's Mikey doing the deciding I'll love whoever it is.

I repeat my prediction: the Browns will draft Bradford, Clausen, McCoy or another QB in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh round. Write that down.

Quarterbacks

2010-04-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

I listen to John Gruden, Ron Jaworski, Phil Simms, Mike Mayock, Solomon Willcotts, Jim Miller, Gil Brandt, Rich Gannon, and others about quarterbacks. Read that again.

I know that I am not an expert on quarterbacks. I am an expert on who IS an expert, how much weight I should attach to their opinions, and how to piece things together.

If you think you know better than these guys, you need to check your massive ego at the door.

These guys got my head spinning. Latest is Gruden, Jaws, and Simms on Clausen. (Interestingly, none of them seemed to give a damn that he came from the same college as Quinn. Amazing, isn't it?)

Anyway, Gruden and Jaws fairly gushed over him. He moves okay, has a good arm, is accurate, reads well, and has all those come-back wins. Simms had far less to say; I had to pick out a couple little comments: Arm, accuracy.

Gannon and Miller, by the way, think the leadership stuff is assenine: Gannon said "You NEED to be combative!" By the way, do you know what Tom Brady does when a reciever runs a bad route? Huh? Think he's all peaches and sugar?

A bad PD article pointed out that Quinn's and Clausen's accuracy was comparable; Quinn 59% and Clausen 62%. First of all, three percent is significant. Second, compare their final seasons at Notre Dame, and you see Clausen over 68%. He got BETTER!

What's this mean? Maybe nothing. Maybe that Clausen IS an option with the first pick.

I do still think that Bradford is all-planet and if they can get him (Rogers/Jackson/#7/a 3rd/a 5th maybe?) that would be ideal. Clausen would have to be taken where the Browns are now, as Buffalo might want him.

McCoy might well not be there at #38. To get him, the Browns would need to trade, down and/or up. McCoy has nice brains, accuracy, athleticism. But he has the weakest arm, and isn't so hot on corner routes, nor can he rifle it to get it through tight spaces before defenders can react. Clausen can do most of what he does, plus fire it deep. He's bigger/stronger too.

The other quarterbacks are far riskier. In the past, Holmgren has always drafted quarterbacks late, and sometimes scored on them. But he's just come to this team, and reall has no quarterbacks. He has to minimize the developmental time and risk. He drafted his low picks with an eye to the future when he had quarterbacks installed, and he was much younger. Some failed utterly, and others were permanent backups. Even for him, the odds on low picks are long.

Those who advocate waiting a year and then taking Jake Locker are retarded. Locker is likely to be the first overall pick. Are the Browns supposed to also throw all their gamdes and make sure they finish winless to make sure they get him? Look--shut up. You shouldn't be allowed on a jury or near a voting booth.

Nor is Locker better than Bradford, even if he can throw the ball farther or run around better.

What about what Holmgren said? "I wish I liked him better."? Do you think he meant it? Do you ass ume he meant that he wouldn't draft him? Do you also ass ume that Holmgren couldn't change his mind even if he wasn't lying? Maybe he wishes he liked him as much as he likes Bradford.

Another thing: when Holmgren says "it would be hard", he means "it would be hard", not "I would never do that".

Write this down: When you ass ume, you make an ass of yourself.

I have no opinion; I'm just trying to prognosticate, and read Heckert/Holmgren/Mangini. Whoever they draft, I believe he'll have a good chance to succeed. And I won't make an ass of myself saying anything like "What the hell is he doing? What an idiot!"

And my revised assessment is that Clausen is a viable candidate at #7, and might even be "Plan B" failing a trade-up for Bradford--which I feel is their only shot at him. And I mean a trade-up to #1.

Finally: Quinn's draft stock fell as the draft approached because they studied his films, and said this: Inaccurate.

Clausen's stock is RISING because they study his films and say this: ACCURATE, and comes back late; better under pressure. Aside from Golden Tate, he had a weak team. He DID play vs. elite competition. Last season, he came from behind four times-he brought his team back. You can't teach that.

The two aren't even comparable. Sorry Clausen aint pretty, guyth, but...there ya go.

Alarm bells on McCoy: Solomon Willcotts, former Bangle/Stooler safety, said he didn't like how he played vs. elite competition. This guy made his living studying opposing quarterbacks, and I listen to him. He said much the same about Quinn as his draft approached. You CAN'T say that about Clausen.

I believe he likes Clausen too. And Jim Miller and Rich Gannon. Brandt is kinda neutral (update: He really likes him, including his leadership.) NONE of my experts bach him, although until recently they said that #7 would be "too high" for him.

If you ever read this blog, you would know that I wanted to know why.

I mean, you stipulate that he has the arm, accuracy, and all the other stuff...you say all this good stuff about him, and your only doubts are about his big toe and emotional maturity...you have described a pretty damn good NFL QB...and seven is too high?

UPDATE: #7 is not too high.

UPDATE: Heckert and Holmgren just said a lot of something for everybody, including they're talking to the Rams about trading up for Bradford...but it would be really hard...but...

The Rams just got new owners who did not hire the current coach or GM. The Rams are like many of you hallucinate the Browns are: Needs everywhere.

They need improvement--four wins could saved their jobs, or at least put something positive on their resumes. If they take Bradford, they'll be forced to play him, and he'll get slaughtered. They have to build an offensive line and a defense first.

Established veteran players have real value for them. Rogers, warts and all, is currently a one-man wrecking crew, and as he ages can be a solid space-eater for a couple more seasons. Jackson, contract demands and all, led the NFL in tackles two seasons ago, and is young. The Browns even have a couple pretty good running backs they could toss in. I would personally include Delhomme, but doubt that Holmgren agrees and will defer to him.

If you were the Rams GM and could turn one draft pick into tw Pro-bowl calibre defensive insta-starters, a decent running back like Jennings, the elite left tackle you could get at number seven, and another starter with a third round pick you'd get...

No, of course not. You'd take the doomed quarterback. Ok I give up.

Hey, Tony and Wile E.

2010-04-11T08:29:00.000-07:00

Q: Hey, Tony: What is the value of the three third-round picks that the Browns have? Would two third-round picks be good enough to get a second-round pick? Would a second- and two third-round picks allow the Browns to get another first-round pick? Do you think Holmgren has something already agreed to when he said that we would understand later why they got the third-round pick from Oakland?

-- Rich Smith, Columbus, Ohio

A: Hey, Rich: According to the draft value chart, the Browns' three picks in the third round equal 532 points. That's the equivalent of the fifth pick in the second round (No. 37 overall). My hunch is the Browns would be interested in moving into the middle of the second round and may offer two or more of these picks to accomplish that.
Hey, Tony: In a draft this deep, especially in the secondary and on the offensive line, there probably isn't a reason to trade up, unless it's into the first to nab McCoy ahead of the Rams--depending on what they do with #1.
If Colt is targetted, moving down could do the same thing. Is there any specific reason that came out of your cerebral cortex that made you think they want to get rid of draft picks?

Q: Hey, Tony: With the Browns' acquisition of Sheldon Brown, does that take Joe Haden off the board for the Browns? And if so, and if Eric Berry is already drafted, what is the Browns' fallback option picking No. 7?

-- Paul Thiel, Crescent Springs, Ky.

A: Hey, Paul: I do believe Haden is out of consideration for the Browns' No. 7 overall pick. I suspect the fallback option after Berry is Penn State defensive lineman Jared Odrick, Texas safety Earl Thomas or an offensive lineman, perhaps Iowa's Bryan Bulaga.
Hey, Paul: No it does not. In today's NFL you need AT LEAST three "starting" cornerbacks, and in Ryan's defense man-coverage skills are very important. Brown can move to safety--Haden is still a good target, although getting him after a move down would be a lot better.
Hey, Tony: Bulaga? And pay him about as much as Joe Thomas? To play right tackle? A 3-4 inside linebacker 7th overall? Stick to writing--you couldn't manage a payroll.

Q: Hey, Tony: This morning I saw Shaun Rogers on ESPN. He really seemed to me to be telling the truth that he didn't intend to bring a loaded gun through the airport. I would like to hear your thoughts on this incident. Also, the average person cannot know what threats these highly paid athletes live under. I think Shaun forgot it was in his bag . . . hope they do cut him a break.

-- Alan Wilson, Fredonia, Wis.

A: Hey, Alan: Rogers is one of the brightest men in the Browns' locker room. I have no idea what was going through his mind. I learned a long time ago that we never really know a player outside the locker room.
Reminds me of that time they found those hand grenades and the C-4 in my foot locker. Boy was that embarrassing!

Q: Hey, Tony: Do you think that Brandon McDonald will accept the nickel back role now that the Browns just acquired a starter in Sheldon Brown, or is he likely to be traded around draft day?

-- Casey Valentine, Dublin, Ohio

A: Hey, Casey: The question is not whether McDonald will accept whatever role the Browns assign him. The question is what will be his role. I believe the draft will dictate that. I suspect the Browns will try to draft a cornerback in the first three rounds, which could push McDonald to the No. 4 spot. I don't see him as the first option at nickel back. Mike Adams is much better there.
Hey, dumbass: McDonald is NOT good in man coverage, and a nickel guy needs that skill. And Adams IS a pretty damn good nickel guy.

Q: Hey, Tony: How about a moratorium on questions concerning the possession rule change in playoff overtimes until it might have some impact on the Browns? Maybe until we finish at .500?

-- Tim Halpern, Orlando, Fla.

A: Hey, Tim: I expect an owners vote in May will make the new overtime format applicable in all games in 2010.
What about the moritorium? I'll second that! Along with the other questions having nothing to do with THIS team!

Q: Hey, Tony: I was thinking about possible late-round sleepers in the quarterback department, and Max Hall from BYU came to mind. I realize that he is a couple of years older, because of his Mormon mission, but his numbers for the Cougars were pretty good. Also, I think that I remember you mentioning Jameson Konz from Kent State putting up crazy numbers at his pro workout, but have not heard anything else other than that. Do you think that he is a possible sleeper that the Browns might go after?

-- Don Jones, Pawcatuck, Conn.

A: Hey, Don: My late-round sleeper quarterback is Tim Hiller of Western Michigan. Konz has received a lot of interest from teams such as New Orleans, Miami, and the Giants. His workout numbers were through the roof. They may get him drafted.

Q: Hey, Tony: I like what Heckert and Holmgren are doing to bring in guys from winning teams through trade and free agency. I was just wondering if bringing in Flozell Adams would make any sense if he could play the other tackle position? And what are your thoughts on Jordan Shipley?

-- Matt Barnes, Bedford

A: Hey, Matt: Even though Adams was released, he will command a big salary. I don't know how he'd feel about moving to right tackle. Washington is supposedly interested in him as its left tackle. Shipley was very productive at Texas. If the Browns take Colt McCoy, why not take a flier on his favorite receiver, too?
Hey, Dimbulb: Gramps Adams was never a very good run-blocker. He was athletic. WAS. He's not even remotely suited to right tackle in a man blocking system. Wish Tony knew this stuff. But good point on Shipley, Tony.

Q: Hey, Tony: Can you think of a player(s) traded or released by the post-move Browns that went on to perform significantly better for his new team? If not, is this an endorsement of the front office/coaching staff's ability to assess its own talent or an indictment of the generally poor talent level of the team?

-- Steve Cornelius, Avon Lake

A: Hey, Steve: Going back to the early 2000s, tackles Lomas Brown and Roman Oben come to mind. Of course, Shaun O'Hara might be the best one. Anthony Henry had a few good years in Dallas. Well, Jeff Garcia had a bit of a rebirth in Philadelphia after he left here (and Detroit). Then there was Antonio Bryant. What about Jeff Faine? Have I mentioned Leigh Bodden?
Sorry to disappoint you.

TWO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DAMN BROWNS DELETED DAMMIT.

Q: Hey, Tony: During Jake Delhomme's media session, he stated that coaches should fit the offensive scheme to their players' strengths. He stated (paraphrase), "the best play is worthless if you can't execute it." I believe it's fairly obvious that Mangini's coaching style does not support this position. Can you foresee this being a problem between the coach and his new QB?

-- Dave M., Lawrenceville, Ga.

A: Hey, Dave: Not right now, but a veteran with the equity of Delhomme can, and should, voice concerns about the direction of the offense.
Hey Tony and dumbass: A general statement about strategy is niether a complaint nor a criticism, however much you want it to be or have decided in advance it will be.
All Browns coaches have discussed their willingness--maybe even eagerness--to institute more of Holmgren's West Coast scheme, and this offense will obviously run the ball a lot...which is doing precisely what Delhomme talked about.
Tony--your bias is showing. Better tuck it in.

Q: Hey, Tony: I have not heard anyone ask this question. Is the extra point considered a part of a touchdown? If so, would a team have to kick an extra point in overtime if they get in the end zone? I would guess not but wouldn't that add a great twist?

-- Rich Mowery, Cincinnati

A: Hey, Rich: In overtime, a touchdown wins the game. The PAT is unnecessary.
WHO CARES?

Q: Hey, Tony: Is DT a bigger priority in the upcoming draft, now that Big Baby is facing legal issues? If either Gerald McCoy or Ndamakung Suh are still on the board at No. 7, do the Browns draft one of them?

-- Jimmy Brock, Berkeley, Calif.

A: Hey, Jimmy: I don't think Shaun Rogers' legal issues have made defensive tackle a top priority. However, if McCoy or Suh dropped to them at No. 7, the Browns would have no problem selecting either one.
That's a big ten-four, but quit dreaming.

Q: Hey, Tony: Why did the Browns settle on Jake Delhomme and give up on getting Donovan McNabb? A second-rounder for a much-needed franchise QB is a steal and I can't put into words how much this upsets me.

-- Chris Kingzett, Parma Heights

A: Hey, Chris: Mike Holmgren told me in a story that ran in Friday's Plain Dealer that he did not want to give up a draft pick in the top three rounds for a veteran quarterback. He said that at the time of his discussions about McNabb, the Eagles' price tag was "pretty high." It was reported to be a first-round pick. Ultimately, they accepted a second and a future fourth.

Q: Hey, Tony: I'm predicting Sam Bradford will be there at No. 7. Do the Browns take him?

-- Brian Wheatley, Alliance

A: Hey, Brian: In a heartbeat.
Hey, Brian: I agree with Tony, but would like to know where you get your stuff. Bradford sliding to seven?

Q: Hey, Tony: Anyone outside of Cleveland notices the huge gaps on offense. My question to you is this: If the Browns don't draft defense, who would they possibly pick on offense in the first round besides a quarterback, who most know they won't draft till later?

-- Ashley Sopotnick, Leesburg, Fla.

A: Hey, Ashley: Offensive lineman is a possibility (Bryan Bulaga or Trent Williams). Receiver Dez Bryant and running back C.J. Spiller would appear to be considerations, also.
Hey, Nimrod: "huge gaps?" You mean QB and wide reciever? I wish you clowns would quit overstating everything.
Hey Tony: See my payroll comment. Also, please read this 3 times: SCHEME MATTERS! A west coast wide reciever needs to be intelligent. So much for Dez Bryant.
Since Spiller can play wide reciever, that's possible. He's otherwise redundant with Cribbs and Harrison. He's NOT the guy this team needs, but sets up future trades, I guess.

Q: Hey, Tony: Why is it that I seem to be the only Browns fan that is not excited about the Browns surrendering the eighth overall pick of the 4th round, a fifth pick and Alex Hall for Sheldon Brown and Chris Gocong? I would have been OK with a fifth-rounder and Hall for Gocong. But I just can't believe we would surrender such an early pick on a player that has had contract issues, high-mileage 31-year-old legs and probably does not want to spend the last of his years wallowing in a rebuilding effort. To me, this trade looks in every way, shape or form like they wasted a pretty good draft pick. One they could very well have used on a decent young corner out of the draft. Please give me a reason to believe that I am wrong about this trade.

-- Fernando Fernandez, Parma

A: Hey, Fernando: I would trade a fourth-rounder for Sheldon Brown. I doubt the Browns could find an immediate starting cornerback in the fourth round.
Hey, Bozo: Gocong was playing a different position on the wrong scheme. He's young, cheap, and in a 3-4 can be awesome. T H I N K.

Q: Hey, Tony: On April 5, you wrote a story suggesting that the Browns could target Penn State's DL Jared Odrick with the team's first draft choice. Let's just presume this is true. Unless Holmgren/Heckert trade down to pick No. 25 or lower in the first round, how can selecting Odrick possibly be justifiable? Odrick is widely regarded as having a second-round grade, is a borderline top-5 prospect at his position, and most likely will not be an opening-day starter and offers little immediate impact on the Browns' D-line. If the Browns remained at the No. 7 pick (and both CB Joe Haden and S Eric Berry were already gone), wouldn't selecting ILB Rolondo McClain, OLB Brandon Graham or S Earl Thomas not only provide more value for that draft slot, but also offer more in terms of immediate and long-term impact at their respective positions? I can't help but think that selecting Odrick at No. 7 would be yet another wasted first-round pick -- especially considering that if the Browns really are in love with him, the team could target Odrick for the second round (when he most likely will still be available). What have you or your source in your April 5 story seen in Odrick lately to suggest a meteoric rise in his draft stock is warranted?

-- Tim, Winter Haven, Fla.

A: Hey, Tim: I'll defer to my source, who insists Odrick is the fastest-rising player in the first round among teams who play the 3-4 defense. He will not last beyond New England at No. 22. Some teams are angling to move up for him, but they don't have an idea as to how far they have to go. Denver would take him at No. 11. He is a serious contender for the Browns' pick at No. 7.
Why do you goobers want to kick Jackson to the curb? Why do you want to massively overpay an inside linebacker? Why do you want a third, fourth, or even fifth pass-rushing outside linebacker when we have so many? Oh yeah...Oblivia. If it hasn't already happened for two seasons, it can't. YOUNG PLAYERS GET BETTER.
Tony, I doubt that. Odrick's really good, but there will be better options.

Q: Hey, Tony: Assuming Eric Berry is gone at No. 7, do we now take a chance with Jimmy Clausen? It just seems to me there is a fairly large drop-off in talent at both DB and QB after Berry and Clausen.

-- Jonathan Kirk, St. Louis, Mo.

A: Hey, Jonathan: I'm not a fan of Clausen. Holmgren wasn't either, when I asked about him three weeks ago. Maybe Clausen's pro day workout and visit would change Holmgren's mind. The criticisms about Clausen's leadership ability are valid, from what I've been told.

Q: Hey, Tony: What are your thoughts about bringing in Marc Bulger? Did the Browns jump the gun in signing Seneca Wallace and Jake Delhomme?

-- Jim Workman, Winfield, W.Va.

A: Hey, Jim: Bulger never did much for me, to be honest. I'm comfortable with Delhomme and Wallace for one year. I'm interested in seeing Wallace play.
I hope he gets a fair chance, and that if Delhomme doesn't EARN the job, Wallace starts. But I heard that Bulger is a wild and crazy guy.

--' Q: Hey, Tony: I agree that David Veikune was probably a reach in the second round. But the front office had to see something. In your opinion, was that as a rush OLB or as the bigger ILB that most everyone seems to agree D'Qwell Jackson would benefit from? Veikune seems like the type of player Mangini was referring to at the Combine that can/should make a big jump between his first and second years in the league. Or is he (George) Kokinis' Beau Bell?

-- Andy Applegate, Chicago.

A: Hey, Andy: Actually, it was Phil Savage who drafted Bell. Very good point made by you, nonetheless. My own opinion on Veikune is I don't see the physical traits that attracted him to Mangini. Mangini has compared him loosely to Tedy Bruschi.
VEIKUNE WAS A DEFENSIVE END AT A SMALL COLLEGE WITH A MUCH LOWER LEVEL OF COMPETITION. IF DEFENSIVE ENDS FROM BIG SCHOOLS TAKE AWHILE TO LEARN A WHOLE NEW POSITION IN THE NFL, WHY DID YOU EXPECT THIS GUY TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING? JEEZ!!!!

Q: Hey, Tony: I just saw that Mel Kiper had the Browns picking Dez Bryant in the first round. Do you actually think that is possible? If so, wouldn't we just be adding another Braylon Edwards type to the locker room?

-- Steve Bohnenkamp, Geneva, Ill.

A: Hey, Steve: Possible? Yeah. Probable no.
He isn't smart enough for the west coast!

2010-04-04T05:18:00.000-07:00

Sheldon Brown: Could have up to two seasons left as a solid (but not elite) cornerback, but might actually be a pretty special safety.

Defense in general is an area where mentoring and leadership are actually useful, and Brown actually can have a positive influence on the younger players. Secondary guys have a ton of nuances and dirty tricks to learn for the pros--like reading subtle cues in a reciever's body language to anticipate his break, where you can get away with tugging a guy's waistband to upset his balance and slow him, how to decieve them and make them do something dumb, etc.

Please--this does NOT rule out Haden as the top pick. For one thing, Haden would set up Brown for safety, killing two birds with one stone. For another thing, it's really optimistic to project that the 31-year old Brown could go longer than 3 or 4 years, even at safety--he's holding the fort.

The Browns could get away with one cornerback and one safety, but ideally still need another cornerback. Everybody is going spread, and nickels and dimes are really base defenses in today's NFL.

Adams is an excellent utility guy, inc. nickel corner, except that in that role he's vulnerable to waterbug type slot guys. McDonald is actually a good zone guy, but is weak in man coverage, and that's why (correction coming) he is NOTNOTNOT a good nickel back.

But Brown does significantly upgrade the secondary. Ryan wants to sic the dogs on enemy backfields (a man after my own heart), and to reduce the risk of getting toasted for it, you need two (actually three) tough cover guys (man coverage).

No guarantees that Brown will be all that at this age, simply because he was pretty good last season. The Eagles did note a decline, despite his five picks. Age catches up to everybody. But he should at least be better than what we've had, and certainly is solid against the run, too.

Gocong "failed to become the passrusher the Eagles envisioned"--yeah right. Look-Gocong was a best-available pick. the Eagles drafted him despite the fact that he wasn't a good match for their system, simply because he was the best player on their board. Most scouts rated him a second rounder.

They felt he'd be a special teams upgrade and had the athleticism to compete at SAM, and maybe be a situational passrusher. Realisticly, they were looking at a backup there at the time. He surprised many by becoming the starter.

The Eagles run a 4-3, and Gocong was lining up five yards off the line in space. He was responsible for containment, and the tight end in coverage. He didn't blitze a lot. His height is also a disadvantage as a situational DE with his hand in the dirt.

Well, he did the containment and run-stuffing stuff pretty well as a 4-3 SAM, but got burned in coverage.

A 3-4 OLB lines up at or near the defensive line, and ideally blitzes about half the time. On the tight end side, he'll often engage the tight end right there to disrupt his pattern--and sometimes then release him to a safety or the weak inside backer.

Nor does an offense attack a 3-4 the same way. In that case, many tight ends will not try to catch anything. They need to protect the backfield from this far more aggressive OLB. And then, tight ends are used up the middle--in most cases, they must angle towards the ILB's, one of which is to pick him up, if the safety doesn't. Offenses also use more 3/4-wides vs. 3-4's to get their base people off the field.

Had Gocong been drafted by a 3-4 team, he might well have had a slew of sacks. That is what he does best. He has the size and build to play outside or inside here--much like Rodney Veikunefield. (Note to Oblivia: this second year player still exists, and is very much in the linebacker mix).

With Fujita now also on board, the Browns are overloaded at linebacker (yes, Oblivians--it's true!). Ryan is creative as hell, just like his daddy was, and he likes using five linebackers and stuff like that.

In a conventional 3-4, the weak inside backer is a run-and-hit/sideline-to-sideline/coverage guy, which is why Ma...uh, the undersized Hawaiian rookie...showed up in relief late in the season, and did surprisingly well. (Dude's really a real big strong safety--one of the reasons Ryan used five linebackers; that's a big nickel, really...but I digress).

This is Jackson and Barton--and possibly Fujita; not sure there.

You knuckleheads that want the Browns to waste a high pick on any linebacker need to go back to school and review what the no-name kids and Roth did late last season.

Recall this: Earlier, the inside guys were Barton and Jackson. Veikune, the small-college defensive end--wasn't ready YET, and Bowens was playing OLB. That wasn't good, because the strong inside backer is ideally a bigger goon who can take on guards moving in space--and Barton aint that.

Then they put David Bowens, a big monster there (next to M...the Hawaiian shrimp) e voila! Yeah, you just keep reciting season stats while ignoring the fact that that combination (with some Trusnik mixed in, and with the freelancing Rogers injured and the disciplined Rubin plugging the middle) they stopped the run.

Now I hope you understand that what happened happened and why it happened and the near-certainty that it will happen even moreso in the future, AND WE DON'T NEED NO STEENKING LINEBACKERS!!!

You're just killing me, Oblivia!

We need a fast (not neccessarily vedderrunn) wide reciever, safety, cornerback (still), and of course a quarterback of the future. Ok and a backup center and future (or superior) guard and (maybe--remember Rodney Capizzifield) RT...

Also, Coye Francies is still on the roster. I've heard rumors about some psychological issues there--don't know--but I need to point out his existance to you Oblivians. There's a decent chance he shows up and fills one of the cornerback holes. He's absolutely got the talent.

Outside the box:

Steinbach fits a zone scheme a lot better and has great trade value. This is kind of a longshot and no doubt horrifies the emotional thinkers who get attached and worshipful, but a trade is possible.

...though doubtful, since it would disrupt continuity and there is nobody better on the current roster. Plus Steinbach can play LT in a pinch, and...come to think of it, he can play center. HAS played center. Why did I forget that? Oh yeah I read the same stuff you guys read.

It now looks as if a trade-down from 7 is possible. Buffalo et al might want Clausen that bad and several teams will want Berry or a left tackle.

I personally think Mike Mayock is smarter than allayouall and that Earl Thomas is about as good as him, plus Haden will last awhile too. Either of those guys would help massively, and I see no reason not to trade down even if Mayock is wrong for once and Berry is slightly better than Thomas.

Per the chart, Buffalo would need to cough up a third round pick to move up two slots, or maybe Trent Edwards. (Jim Miller and others say that Edwards doesn't really suck--I have no opinion but we got Holmgren/Heckert to sort that out).

If the targets are Thomas, Haden, or maybe one of the offensive linemen (I never said they shouldn't upgrade at a reasonable price), they could move down further and still get one of them and Colt Mccoy.

I have decided that Colt McCoy is the realistic quarterback for the Browns in this draft. He's the absolute prototype West Coast quarteback. Bradford is awesome and fits any system, but McCoy is right there with him in this scheme.

He looks like Montana, but has a better arm.

Oh yeah. Trade down. Get 2011 picks too. Trade down and load up and get McCoy...mmmmm....

YOU STAND CORRECTED

Gocong

2010-04-02T05:24:00.000-07:00

First, I have to confiscate these words: Mentor, experienced, and needs. You have been abusing these words, and have almost worn them out. You will be allowed to use these words only when you have learned to respect them and not overuse them.

OK now: I remember hoping that the Browns would draft Gocong in the middle rounds. I'd thought that the Eagles would make him a situational DE, but they actually tried to make him a 4-3 OLB.

That's amazing. Also amazing is the fact that he did OK in that role, and actually started.

Gocong is much much better suited to being a 3-4 linebacker (outside or inside). His only weakness in Philly's system was in coverage.

In college, Gocong had not only a bunch of sacks, but also a plethora of TFL's--he was extremely disruptive as a DE. Has a great nose for the ball and the wheels to get there.

IF he comes to Cleveland, OLB will be loaded and neck-deep. Gocong is a starter in this scheme, and his experience in Philly's system will be a huge benefit. They turned him into a REAL linebacker--a complete player.

The Browns don't need two Jerome Harrisons, unless the other home-run hitting little guy is taken LATE in the draft. Please stop trying to waste the Browns high picks on redundant players.

Best available is one thing, but Rodney Hillisfield IS the big back, ok? He's a backup fullback here, but will be heavily in the running back rotation. Denver was loaded at running back and hadn't exposed this Jerome Bettis type enough. He was a steal, and the Browns are now loaded at running back/fullback.

As I mentioned earlier, the rest of the NFL is gearing to stop the pass. The Browns are going to overpower these defenses. Let them keep thinking they can outscore the infantry. Ask Rex Ryan's brother what he thinks of that.

YOU STAND CORRECTED.

Humbly Brilliant Insight on the Browns Draft

2010-03-27T19:23:00.000-07:00

1: Mikey might have been sandbagging Clausen. I thought so before, but forgot to mention it. Now they're taking a longer look at him, so I sound almost as dumb as the writers my own family reads instead of me. Dammit.

Anyway, Bradford is potentially awesome, but to move up to get him might be prohibitive. As many different (legitimate, true) experts as I read and hear from (Mayock, Miller, Brandt, Willcotts for example), I can't see what's wrong with the kid.

The hell with this emotional outburst/arrogance stuff--he's kid. You people can't make up your minds what leadership is. Jeez, I thought leaders had to yell at people and stomp around and stuff! Make up your minds!!

It's irrelevant that Quinn came from the same school. Only a stone idiot would say "No more Notre Dame quarterbacks!" Quinn's accuracy was questioned before the draft. Clausen's is not. Bradford and McCoy might be better sharpshooters, but Clausen is right there with them.

And yes, because of his pro-style system and four years experience, he IS just about ready for the NFL. Yeah I know so was Quinn. That's irrelevant too, because Clausen hits what he aims at/is NOT Quinn DO YOU UNDERSTAND HE IS A DIFFERENT PERSON DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

He didn't win all his games. No--his TEAM didn't win all IT's games! I remember all this crap with Elway. Elway "choked" in the big games. Had nothing to do with a fair defense and no running game--naahh! He could beat most of the teams in the league single-freaking-handed, but he gets to the Superbowl and he's facing an elite TEAM. HE couldn't beat THEM single-handed so it's all HIS fault! Idiots!

HE's the only reason average Broncos teams GOT to the Superbowl!

He gets a running game and wins two of them DUHHH!

Maybe just maybe Jimmy Clausen's TEAMS weren't that hot!

Of course, Mike knows best. If HE thinks I'm fulla beans, then I am.

2: Mr. Steuber, with respect: While the Browns would always like to improve their OLB's, they don't really NEED to. They have Matt Roth, and from among no less than FOUR very young contenders, they'll have two. I love Sergio Kindle, but his position is NOT a priority on this planet.

3: Whoever is the Browns QB will be protected. Protection was NOT the problem with the passing game last season. No it was NOT.

While they don't have a very good pass-blocking right tackle (maybe--Capizzi--), they have tight ends who can chip and now two fullbacks who can meet a DE or OLB head-on and stone him. I believe that at some point they'll draft a good RT...NOT in the first round. (Maybe instead of Kindle in the second--but they could get one in the third or even fourth).

4: Thanks to Jim Miller of NFL Radio, I now understand why a West Coast offense also needs a burner (he corrected me--even I make mostakes but at least I admit them). I hope they can find one in this draft...

BUT whoever is the quarterback will have people to throw to. There are now TWO pass-catching tight ends, Massequoi improved rapidly late in the season and became downright reliable, Robiski will be fine in his second (not fifth...second) season, and every running back is an accomplished reciever.

So please quit with this whoever it is will get killed, or won't have anybody to throw to. That's just ignormania.

5: I have great confidence in Jake Delhomme. He rarely fumbles handoffs, and always hands off to the right guy. I think he can also be trusted with the 5-7 yard airborne handoffs he'll sometimes be making.

And it's hard to pressure a quarterback when you're getting run over.

6: I hereby predict that the Browns will draft Bradford, Clausen, McCoy, and/or another quarterback in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth round. You can quote me on that.

7: If they just take Berry, I won't complain, even a little. Thomas, the safety Mayock likes better, isn't as versatile. But I'd prefer it if they could trade out of there, get another pick or two, and still get Thomas or Haden instead.

8: Haden's poor combine 40 time never meant much. Mayock and other competant evaluators isolate his matchups with elite recievers. If he covered them, then he covered them, period, and no stopwatch can change that.

9: Rogers is still in play and still has great value. You saw them trade Wimbley. Stay tuned. He could be ammo to move up, get more picks, or nab an elite veteran wide reciever.

...uhh...not a washed up one, okay? Not a "veteran" who has turned onto a possession guy. No. No mentors. You're all so mentor-happy--it's like your new word for the week. Mentor this. Mentor that. How will they ever learn to run correct patterns or catch the ball without a mentor? Somehow they'll manage.

Who's going to mentor james Davis, by the way? Harrison has only been a star for a short time...how will Davis learn how to find daylight? Why, he'll just get the ball and stand there, all confused!!

Mentor-mentor-mentor just shut up, ok? I mean, shut up.

YOU STAND CORRECTED

When Dumbasses Attack

2010-03-22T17:17:00.000-07:00

On which planet was our quarterbacks' ineffectiveness due to lack of protection by the offensive line? That's one of those dumbass catch-alls, right? That way, you can pretend that your hee-row under center didn't really suck!

They both usually had time. Even the now-famous "right side" did ok with Womack at RT.

I'm not going to argue. Any coach will tell you this.

The line isn't perfect. I heard Holmgren list O-line as one of the needs. Well, we now have young first-rounders at the two critical positions. Steinbach--who's getting up there--is not a mauler. He's a superior athlete better suited to a zone-blocking system.

Womack is the right type, but is aging, and there are better guards/right tackles. Pashos is a bulldozer but not quick, and will turn 30. The line as-is will be pretty good--especially run-blocking. But 2011? And who replaces the venerable ones when they get dinged?

Some of you hear Mr. President mention offensive line and start hallucinating DA or Bray-dee (sigh) under siege. What he meant was that great is better than good, young is better than old, and deep is better than shallow.

He wants the best offensive line in the NFL. OK. But the current line is pretty good.

Mr. Pluto--with sincere respect:

1: A reciever needs to run good patterns and catch the ball. Now, a lineman needs to learn all sorts of dirty tricks--DB's too. A QB has to learn a whole lot. But a reciever or a running back needs a mentor like he needs a hole in the head. The Browns don't need a veteran WR.

2: The only way trading Wimbley makes sense is if the Browns are overloaded with OLB's. Which they ARE.

Holmgren said what he said about not using a high pick on a QB. He might be lying. If he intends to, for example, go after Colt Mccoy, he doesn't want somebody jumping ahead of him in the second round to nab him. He might also like Tony Pike, who could be targetted.

However, assuming he told the truth, what he also said was that in order to take a QB in the second round, he'd have to have another second round pick (so he could still get a DB or WR or something).

Well, he has three third and four fifth-rround picks. He has Rogers. For that matter, he has Jackson...nobody is exempt. In Wimbley, he traded one very damn good all-around linebacker for a low third round pick. In this draft, picks are everything--this draft is historicly deep, and he wants to exploit it to the max.

So he could easily get one or more additional second round picks.

I assume he wants to preserve the thirds if he can, since you can get starting offensive linemen and stuff with those--immediate impact players--whereas the lower picks are projects and risks.

But what about trading number seven down? NONONO we gotta get Berry!!! Well, I sure hope that some other GM's feel that way, since there is another safety who Mike Mayock and others like even better than Berry!

Maybe one of those guys who think that one position-player's being 4% better than another is worth losing a second round pick will cough it up to get Berry instead of almost-Berry!

What about Tebow? Gil Brandt insists that he'll be great in maybe three years. In point of fact, he told about how with a group of personnel guys from various teams, he went to the blackboard to answer questions. After saying what he would do, he told them what they called that play in his college system. Then he told one of the scouts what they called it in his team's system. Then did the same with another scout.

They all were astonished--Tebow is a major-league football brain. He probably won't have a problem reading through progressions or learning to diagnose coverages, etc. He'd have to prove that he can think FAST too, but he's got the rest of it mentally (and psychologicly).

Those who think he'd revert to his too-slow delivery etc. under pressure don't understand how muscle memory works. How do you think boxers are made? They tied Marciano's ankles together with a string. They slap you when you drop your hands (stings more that way). Through repetition, you ingrain good habits. And you don't revert when you get hit. Compared to any boxer, Tebow's road is cake.

I don't know about his accuracy or touch, but I do know that he has thrown some spectacular passes. You can't just go by that, however. He might not do that consistantly.

I don't know. Holmgren does like him, and knows about this stuff better than me. Everybody says he'll need at least two seasons on the bench, but I don't know. I mean, look how in the space of weeks he altered his whole delivery!

Will he be diligent? Does he have the brains? Has he demonstrated accuracy, touch, and strength? All yesses. Would Holmgren draft him?

But I personally suspect he might have his eye on McCoy, whose accuracy is consistant and proven, and whose dad is a coach.

However then there's Kafka, that Michigan State guy, and even the
West VA guy who should be around later. Project guys. Holmgren bats about .400 with those guys--which is better than anybody else (so shut up).

Self-correction:

Jim Miller (ex-Stooler/Buffalo QB) said that a West Coast system does need a burner. It's built into every play that if the free safety is too shallow or poorly positioned, the speed guy goes vertical. This is one reason it's hard to stop--defenses can't afford to squeeze down on all the short routes.

I stand corrected. And so do you.

The guys on the Browns sites must have joined Terry and be reading my blog. I mean, they're now writing about Peyton Hillis being the thunder to Harrison's lightening. But of course they're overboard, giving the guy half the carries and stuff.

Again I have to ask--what does the Ghost have to do?

I look foreward to it. In a pass-happy league, one team can play smash-mouth.

A little illucidationalizing on that: The Ghost is not a mouth-smasher, but he still wears you out chasing him, see? I still like James Davis, by the way, who's a lot harder to take down than his size says he is; who I repeat reminds me a LOT of Earnest Byner.

But now Hillis...man, there's our Jerome Bettis. SHUT UP, YODA! Jeez I'm so sick of you guys trying to be sage and wise and moderating and slowing down everything. I said he's our Bettis and I meant it. He's that big and he's remarkably elusive and shifty for a monster, just like Bettis.

Check the old games on Bettis. Very rarely did he go right over somebody. He got ankle-tackled, jumped from behind, and took most of his hits from the side. You see him coming and you break down (and maybe close your eyes because you figure this is gonna sting a little) and then he goes and cuts to your left or right...

You HAVE to sink your hips and plant, and then when he cuts you simply can't get any power into a diving hit. That niftiness was made Bettis so awesome, and Hillis is just like that.

AND, Hillis is an excellent, excellent reciever!

Oh, I just can't wait. "Uh-oh--it's the Browns next."
"Don't worry! Stop the run, and they're dead!"
"Uh...ok, but...how?"

Ahh-hahahahahahahahaha!

Rodney Hillisfield

2010-03-17T12:40:00.000-07:00

Peyton Hillis was the top-rated fullback in the 2008 draft.

At his Senior Bowl, as well as in college, he demonstrated surprising agility for a massive mountain of muscles. He was able to make tacklers miss him--indeed fake them out.

Hillis is NOT simply a fullback. He's averaged over 5 YPC both in college and with Denver. He catches passes for tight end-like averages as well...a LOT of passes!

Note to Oblivia: Holmgren just GOT more depth at RUNNING BACK--as well as at fullback. This guy saves a roster spot.

Hillis is a LOT like Jerome Bettis. That's literally true; no hyperbole. He's way quicker and more athletic than a fullback. He will compete for carries in this tailback committee. He's a weapon. More of a mace than an arrow...but a weapon.

So, why did he slide? Partly because NFL people are blockheads. They didn't need a "fullback". "Fullbacks" were not in vogue. They wanted H-backs and tight ends.

But Hillis could actually play H-Back. Nobody paid any attention to his tailback-like elusiveness or unusually high YPC (per catch and per carry both), because he wasn't a home-run hitter. And everybody knows that if a running back can't score from anywhere on the field, he sucks, right?

I mean, who needs a super-reliable pass-catching blocking 5 YPC guy when you can have a 4.41 40 guy? Even the twelth or thirteenth-ranked running back on the board?

Oh, Oblivians-you need to know that this was significant. Imagine if Vickers gets hurt. Won't matter. What about Vickers/Hillis? Wow BANG-CRUNCH! You have no idea! Hillis/Harrison and HILLIS could go to the slot too!!! Cover THAT! Base defense vs. 4-wide with a pass-catching TE? HAHA!

They'll call Hillis a fullback, but don't be fooled. He's a back. Remember when they tried to let Vickers carry the ball? Didn't work that well. But Hillis is different. You'll see. Vickers can't wiggle--Hillis can.

Now, as I alone have been saying for a long time, we got too many good linebackers, and trading even Wimbley--who I really like--for a low third this season is a good way to get rid of some of those surplus good linebackers before they have to start releasing them. Because there are too many ouside and inside linebackers on this roster. Like I've been saying...hello? HELLO?

Some of the guys on NFL Radio wonder where he'll fit in a 4-3. Duh. He'll be an ouside linebacker. These blockheads only know that he was drafted as a DE and converted. Because they ignore the Browns (and other teams that suck), they never saw that Wimbley has developed into as very good total-package linebacker suitable for any defense.

Now, we still have too many ouside and inside linebackers, but at least we got another third round pick.

Do you know what Holmgren really meant when he said that he really liked Bradford and would consider trading up for him? He meant that he really likes Bradford and will consider trading up for him. HONEST!

Some knuckleheads insist that the Browns would never do that because they have "so many other needs". Well, these are the same people that include running back, linebacker, and offensive line among the needs!!!

And the Browns would have to give up their whole draft--really? Six slots, and you start with Rogers? The Rams would have to hesitate right there, even without any more draft picks! Include a third and fifth and now what? Ok 2 fifths?

But who knows? McCoy might do just fine! In fact, none other than Gil Brandt (his story) said that Holmgren at the combine asked him "So who should I take?" Brandt says "Whoever takes Colt McCoy and puts him in a West Coast offense will make everybody forget about Joe Montana".

Wow! Well, Holmgren was half-kidding, of course, and who knows if he agrees? But this is Gil Brandt (who wasn't kidding), and he knows the kid very well; has followed him from highschool.

What's with you dumbasses "don't use another high pick on a quarterback!" Why? Because Couch got his arm wrecked? Because half of them crap out? So don't take any chances and make SURE you have mediocrity nailed down? Shut up.

Then there's this "LINE-LINE-LINE" guy who can't count. We GOT Thomas and Mack, and we need to use the top three picks this season on more offensive linemen. Including #7 overall. Doesn't matter how the unit performed last season. He looks at the roster and doesn't see enough first and second rounders so we need more. Yeah. we need seven or eight of them! We need enough that we have to start cutting them! We need second-rounders retiring without ever playing--shut up!

Speaking of which, who built the Jets? Clue: He started with Ferguson and Mangold. Got bashed for Mangold. I said who built them? Go ahead, say it. SAY IT!

YOU ALL STAND CORRECTED. SHUT UP.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

2010-03-14T08:14:00.000-07:00

Whew! I just had this nightmare that the Browns signed Jake Delhomme for starting money! Me and my overactive imagination. But I'm awake now, and I know that Mike Holmgren would never do something like that.

Yeah, there's a new sherriff in town, and it's pretty stupid to expect a totally different person to do dumb stuff just because the people he replaced did dumb stuff.

Remember Hargrove? Everything was "eggzzbeerriunzz" with him. he signed this pitcher, McDowell, with an ERA over FIVE, for a fortune, and said "but he gives you innings". He got away with it, because his offense sometimes outpaced all the runs McDowell gave up.

Delhomme said he threw all those interceptions because he was trying too hard not to make mistakes. Wow. Well, he's a quarterback, not an english major. I think it translates to he hesitated to pull the trigger. That's really bad in a West Coast.

But it'll be ok. Maybe they can flip first rounders and include Rogers to pry Kolb loose from the Eagles. Then we can just forget about all this Delhomme nonsense.

Rodney Trusnikfield, one of the several young inside/outside linebackers the Browns are loaded to the gills with, signed his tender, so that's good.

Ben Watson!! That's great! "Underachieving"? Hey--that's New England's offense--ever hear of this guy named Welker? Watson blocked a lot. Great pickup!

Pat Ryan of NFL Radio, who never bothers to do any reasearch on lower-rung teams, said that this fills a huge need. We hugely needed a pass-catching tight end, since we have another ghost on the team; this one named Moore. I'm surprised to learn that all those passes he caught were a mirage.

Anyway, that's too bad, since if Rodney Moorefield did exist, then we could sometimes field two tight ends, even in a 2-2 "big" set--with Watson a sweet blocker as well as reciever. Defenses would find that hard to stop. And then we'd have two pass-catching tight ends, so the base offense could safely feature one--you know, build in the deeper patterns.

The signings so far were smart; Watson was REAL smart. So don't worry about Mike Holmgren signing Delhomme as anything more than a backup. Like he'd ever pay a washed up geezer like that like 6 mil or something!

Just a nightmare. Well, I'll flip over to the Plain Dealer page to see what's really going on....

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Derrick, Seneca, and Jake

2010-03-10T15:58:00.000-08:00

1: DA: Don't apologize any more. Just know that the sub-human scum who (respectful note to Terry Pluto) indeed cheered because you got hurt don't represent all of us. I wasn't embarrassed by Bottlegate; even drunk fans know refs fixing a game when they see it. But I was shamed by those imbeciles.

Without going into detail, I've been there, DA. But most important for you now is to prove me right and them wrong: Kick ass.

2: I promised before that I wouldn't presume to pick on Holmgren about having anything to do with quarterbacks, but I sure wish they weren't bringing Jake Delhomme here.

Well, that's my gut reaction. I mean, he's 35, and really does seem to have lost it.

...but I sure wish I'd have seen those interceptions. I mean, if it was mental...well I just don't know--but Holmgren might fix it. If it was just inaccuracy, then it could well mean that he's just entering his geezerhood, and...

Well what the hell do we know? Mary Kay Cabot was the one who surmised that he was here to compete for the starting job. I personally doubt that.

Well...if he IS signed, which who knows--he should indeed be given that chance. If he's done, let's see it. If he's not; if the change of scenery and Doctor Holmgren can cure him--why wouldn't you use him?

But I rather think he's here to back up and teach.

Seneca: Everybody but the player himself seems to assume HE'S here to be a backup. One writer pointed out that when Seneca was drafted, it might well not have been Holmgren's call. And I actually lean toward that, since Wallace is too short for Mikey.

However, who knows him better than Holmgren? How many old vets do you need? Why after getting Wallace are they now checking out Gramps Delhomme?

All that stuff about he and Cribbs--that's interesting, but when you talk about the two of them on the field at the same time, you're talking about Seneca under center and Cribbs in a role that Harrison or a wide reciever could play. It's not a big thing.

But it IS interesting that now we got two Okie quarterbacks!

Seneca said that this offense wouldn't be exactly like Seattle's. Ya think? I strongly suspect that they could go over 20% Oklahoma, for one thing. How 'bout hurry-up Oklahoma?

They're not done yet, so at this point even I in my humble insightful brilliance am stabbing in the dark (apologies to Mr. Hitchcock).

Troy Smith has three years in the league and a 5th-round tender on him. This is frustrating to watch, as I know that he, too, is too short for Mikey. Wallace's arrival makes it unlikely that that move will be made.

I have to stick to my promise and not question Mikey about quarterbacks. But I sure want to.

Remember Marty? Well, there's one of the best win/loss records in NFL history; even while rebuilding teams sometimes. Truly an excellent coach...who later on even learned not to get ultra-conservative with prevent-the-win defenses too soon...

Anyway, he was a blockhead sometimes. Bill Belichick just let a great wide reciever go for nothing. Too small. Too short. Too slow. Even the best NFL coaches are so often blockheads. They can look right at something and tell you it's not there. They can look right at nothing and tell you what it looks like.

Maybe it's built in. You make up your mind, and stick to it. No matter what.

Of course, Mangini is a lot less like that. It doesn't matter where you were drafted or who drafted you. If you don't practice hard, you don't play. See who started and played most of the last few games. But I digress...

But what is, is. I know that Mikey will draft a quarterback, but I now think it could be any one of a bunch of guys throughout the draft.

The combination of Wallace and interest in Delhomme at this premature point indicate three possibilities:

1: Quinn will stay and probably start. Wallace is the backup/situational contributor, and Jake the old wise vet emergency guy...with a low-round QB on the practice squad.

2: Brett Ratliff. I know it sounds insane, but he fits the profile: several years as a backup, having shown flashes, and owning the physical tools.

Remember Kelly Holcombe? He looked pretty crappy on paper. Steve Young? "Failure". Ratliff is familar with the players and the basic system, and Holmgren said that he feels he could make any kid with the basic ingredients into an excellent quarterback.

Just sayin'...

3: Wallace is actually here to start. He could be the bridge to the next quarterback.

It does make sense in some respects:

1: They could run the Oklahoma at any time during the game, and with Wallace the passing threat is significantly greater.

2: While an NFL offense can't live on roll-outs, more roll-outs could be mixed in with the core 3/5-7-step drop-back offense to help him out.

3: Holmgren might indeed have a pretty rigid attitude about height, but has seen Wallace actually run the normal offense fairly well. While he probably doesn't see Seneca as "the answer", he could be the guy to buy him one season.

4: The running game is well-established. Until the Browns prove they can strike deep, safeties will play up in stacked boxes, unless it's the Saints or the Colts or somebody and they have indeed piled up a big lead on a Browns defense which will be very good.
Side-note: Pat Kirwin, who I respect a lot and have learned a ton from, said (of a dominant running game), that some teams would just play their regular defense and let them pile up ground yardage because they couldn't score fast enough. But he assumes here that the counterpart offense has or will score a lot on the counterpart defense.
This statement makes zero sense in a close game. A dominant running team will beat a defense down and get stronger later. You can't outsmart a beat-down, Pat.

Anyway, to continue: A super-athletic quarterback like Wallace forces any defense to commit one guy to spy on him. They also can't just attack him up the middle; they have to contain him, or he'll burn them with his legs outside. That includes the edge. If a guy gets around a sluggish right tackle, he's opened a lane behind him.

Now, you got 20+% Oklahoma with both him and Cribbs, then maybe 20+ percent rollouts to exploit Wallace's strengths and minimize his weaknesses. Hell, the Browns passing offense could be 50% "gimmicks"!

You run over half the time. You run a lot of play-action passes. But about half of your passes are conventional. Now, the defense has a whole freaking lot of wierd stuff to prepare for.

The key is that running game, and the fact that the rest of the NFL (ie all the other teams the enemy defense prepares and builds itself for) are trying to pass first. The Browns can be different.

Now, about Wallace: Some might compare him to Micheal Vick, and he sorta is. However, per his recievers, Vick seemed unable or unwilling to throw until he'd locked eyes with the reciever; when he was supposed to throw before the reciever had turned. Further, he was inaccurate, and often indecisive.

Wallace ran the West Coast and ran it well. He initially lacked touch on short passes, but has improved in that area. He's not perfect at all, but he's better than what we've had.

For the future, Seneca isn't who Holmgren wants, but if you have a good defense and a strong running game, a super-athletic quarterback and a gimmicky, unpredictable passing offfense could win a lot of games.

But another thing about Seneca? He's got a gun. If the Browns can get somebody deep, he can deliver it, with accuracy.

Innovation: If I were a head coach, I would see what everybody else was doing, and do the opposite. This is why the 3-4 defense was so dominant early after it's introduction.

Now, teams routinely run 3 and even 4-wide offenses and tend to pass first. Hard to argue with the stats on playoff and Superbowl teams (thanks Starting Blocks)--that's how almost all of them got there.

But Bill Cowher said run-first would come back in the cycle, and he was correct. Let all the other defenses carry those extra defensive backs and focus on pass-rushers and coverage linebackers. Let them practice for five weeks to stop passing teams and then have to play a physical smash-mouth team.

I don't know about Quinn, Ratliff, or even some guy they haven't got yet, but right now I sort of think Wallace has a real shot here, despite being a short guy. (I do wish it could be Troy Smith, but alas).

Because all those aformentioned teams are also built to stop a 6'4" pocket passer who can't outsprint most safeties. With Wallace under center, playing the Browns would be a trip to the Twilight Zone.

Not to mention painful.

Pachos Corrections

2010-03-08T07:23:00.000-08:00

1: There is NO URGENCY to replace Womack at either guard or tackle. Womack is a solid guard and did surprisingly well at right tackle--although he wasn't called upon to do much passblocking, so we can't be sure about that.
Womack is aging, and of course a pro-bowler would be better, but at the present time there is no scramble to bench him.

2: Pachos is a dominating run-blocker who may have improved his pass-blocking recently, but was injured before anybody could really confirm it. While earlier in his carreer he forced a trade rather than move inside, at this point he WILL BE competing at both guard and right tackle with Womack and Rodney Capizzifield.

Despite his unusual height for a guard, he is a powerlifting champion and could actually find it his best position. Historicly he had slow feet and weak lateral movement skills, which made the right tackle vulnerable to speed-rushers--and with Ravens and Steelers in this division, we're talking linebackers.

So it could even end up that Womack remains at right tackle, unless unseated by the Cappizifield, who is due to either prove to be a starter, or else a terminal backup.

Capizzi HAS the feet, strength, and reach to be a good-to-great right tackle do you hear me?

4: Fujita was an OUTSIDE linebacker who can play any of the four linebacker positions here. It may indeed be that he lands inside here. However, as a strongside 4-3 backer, he hasn't been USED on blitzes, so we don't know how well he'll do at it. He has all the other requisite skills to be a top-flight 3-4 OLB.
I don't know where he'll end up, but since so many other guys did well inside...since we have so MANY inside linebackers...it could be outside.

5: Jackson is not slow. His combine 40 time was mediocre, and you are an idiot if you cling to that rather than his performance in games. The Browns inside linebackers in general have about average speed for 3-4 inside linebackers, who are not expected to be as fast as safeties. The weak inside linebackers tend to be faster, and the strong inside guys need to deal with offensive line blocks in space, and you have to think with your brain about that.

6: Fujita can't pile up stats like he did at SAM and concievably be slow. To call him slow is profoundly ignorant. And he is thirty, not 33. He has something left.

Wherever Pachos ends up, the running game just got even more dominating. Wherever Fujita winds up, the defense just got smarter and deeper.

7: I repeat: The Browns were never going to waste #7 overall on a guard or right tackle. The only reason any offensive lineman goes atop the first round is his ability to play left tackle.
Left tackles make gobs of money for that reason. The rest of the offensive line positions are drafted lower for that reason.

8: While the safety Berry is awesome and would be a huge upgrade at a position of need, if you prefer him to Bradford, you are out of your mind. You think that shoulder will be an issue? Stay tuned. You think a quiet, intelligent guy can't lead? You know nothing about leadership. You think Polumalu is more important than Big Ben?
Quarterback is the ONLY critical need this team has.

YOU STAND CORRECTED.

Dismissing Bradford is Stupid

2010-03-06T12:40:00.000-08:00

The Browns have the seventh overall pick, two thirds, four fifths, Rogers, Jackson, Quinn, and...I don't know if I can...H-h...the Ghost (God that hurt)...

And listen: Bradford is all that, absolutely. He's THE prototype West Coast QB, with rare accuracy. There may well be an opportunity here to trade up, especially since Bradford is injured, and only merely has a pretty strong arm, and not the cannon which so many think is anywhere near as important as accuracy.

A C C U R A C Y.

If you're the Rams, sure you need a quarterback, but then you need everything else too. In the real world, any quarterback you get doesn't have much protection or many weapons. You can't tell the FANS that, of course!

Realisticly, you know you have to build stuff up, and can't do it in one offseason. You need more STUFF way more than you need a quarterback who will be destroyed.

How can you make the most improvment quickest; get the most stuff fastest?

You answer the phone and say yes. Yes to #7 overall, Rogers, Quinn, and Jackson. At least Quinn can run around. And there's even one reciever in the draft who could catch his passes, given a little time to get to the general area where it might come down. (Fans are too dumb to know that the ball is twelve yards off the mark. They think if it's caught it's a good pass).

Rogers AND Jackson--you kidding me? Jeez you might discover something like an actual defense!!! Tell the fans "Well we got three players including a pro-bowl nose tackle and a first round draft pick QB". Hard to argue with that!

Now are you really going to tell me they wouldn't go for it? Why not? OK then let's toss in a fifth rounder too, how 'bout that? OK ok would you rather have Shaun Rogers or a high second round pick? If you have to think about that, go back to sleep.

Ditto Jackson, who LED THE NFL IN TACKLES two seasons ago.

I WANT BRADFORD!!! THIS guy can be as good as any QB in the NFL! Clausen and the rest--who knows? They all got warts. Bradford NEVER had a bad game, and his accuracy is natural and built-in. It can't go away. And he's definitely absolutely smart enough to use it in a West Coast offense!

As for when he'd start, ideally he doesn't right away. They need to get him some more help. He already has tight ends who can catch (especially Moore), an offense that can grind it out on the ground, Masseqoui, and (I'm confident) Robiskie.

All the defense needs to do is take up where it left off, and, with the ground game, he's kept out of carrying the team. This is exactly how the Stoolers brought Roethsenburger in. They protected him.

The Browns can do that. The Rams can't, and they know it.

There are other possibilities, of course. I'd actually rather see rogers stick around and move around on the defensive line, wreaking havoc from various angles. Much as I like D'Qwell, he's a commodity--the right quarterback is everything.

Hell, a lot of experts think the Rams really want one of the two super-DT's anyway. If that's true, then why don't you just compare them to Rogers? He's a game-changer who is better than both, and the hell with combine numbers. He's under contract, ready to go, and can't bust. AND, compared to what you'd pay for #1, he's even CHEAP! You could bribe some good free agents!

Think with your brain, for cryin' out loud!

Don't ass ume the Browns can't get Bradford. Remember, when you ass ume, you make an ass of yourself. (Feel free to use that if you want).

BRAD-FORD! BRAD-FORD! BRAD-FORD!!!

YOU STAND CORRECTED.

FA Post Corrections

2010-03-06T08:37:00.000-08:00

"Holmgren is an idiot": It sure didn't take long for some of you! This burst forth in response to the Browns getting hosed by the Lions for corey Williams. And to be sure, Williams AND A SEVENTH for a fifth was a hose job.

Well, they "should have just kept him!"

OK, this aint rocket science:

1: Williams wanted out--specificly to go back to a 4-3. Everybody in the NFL knew it, because he was starting to really crank up the bitching. If you ARE an idiot, you force this guy to stay.

2: His performance would never match his salary. The guaranteed money was astronomical. This is an uncapped year, but if you think that means Lerner should buy a championship, YOU are an idiot!
There WILL BE another cap, and all the contracts Lerner, Dan Sneider, etc. carry over into it will be ruled by it. Only an IDIOT would want to be found 20 mil over the cap!

3: By trading, rather than releasing him, they got out from under the guaranteed money, and now have that for other signings.

3a: The Lions, in turn, are stuck with it. They knew they were doing the Browns a favor, and took advantage of it.

The person who called Homgren an idiot over this is an idiot, and stands corrected.

Now, at least, the Browns have turned their seventh into a fourth fifth...

Pat Kirwin noticed that Tavares Jackson (sp?) was tendered a third round deal, and that the Browns have two third round picks. This is a small-college kid who was thrown into a west coast system, probably too soon.

He did start out quite well, but went downhill fast once the defensive coordinators got some film of him. This is pretty common. He was replaced before he could get a handle on that.

I lack information on him, but I do know that he is extremely athletic, strong-armed, and pretty accurate. The two things Holmgren will no doubt be able to determine for himself are, does he have the heart, and is he smart enough to run this complex system?

Just sayin: it's a possibility: A third for Jackson, who is still fairly young, and has some real experience in this very system.

Matt Flynn of the Packers won a National Championship, and has had two years in a west coast system. How bout that?

Fujita would be a sweet signing, since he's just thirty, and was with the Saints from the basement to the Superbowl, calling the defensive signals IN the Superbowl. The Browns would really like to have this guy in the locker room telling stories and stuff.

Now, he's a 4-3 SAM. Local reporters ASS UME that he'd play inside here. But he's 6'3", 250, can cover TE's, defeat blocks, and based on his tackle stats (at that position especially), he can really MOVE, so don't make any such assumption.

Because he wasn't USED on blitzes doesn't mean he can't play OLB here. I'm not saying that he would be, just that he could be. The reporters no doubt had in mind the hallucinated need for an inside linebacker, and a whole bunch pf premature obituaties. RIP's on Benard, Maiava, Trusnik, et al.

D'Qwell was tendered with a second-rounder, but the Browns have the right to match any offer. Calm the hell down. And anyway, a second rounder might just be a deal. Things change. Fujita, for example, might be able to do well at the weak inside position.

Maiava, who is about the same size as London Fletcher, in fact started there and did well, perhaps in the eyes of the coaches making D'Qwell expendable. I know that the notion of Mangini scoring on another low-round pick is horrifying to some, but I'm afraid that this could be the case.

Trading Williams does NOT preclude a Rogers trade. Once again, some reporters are ASS UMING again. The guys they dis are: Coleman, who should be fine for another season and is an EXCELLENT (if unsung) 3-4 DE (especially vs. the run). CJ Mosely, who (word to Oblivia) has emerged as a pretty good 3/4 DE himself. Mosely is best as a pass-rushing penetrator, and needed to work on defeating blocks as a 2-gapper. He has now succeeded in doing that.
I know that it's more convenient to assume stagnation and not think, but I'm unable to shut my brain down, so there it is. I am very sorry that both of the aforementioned are ex-Jets.
Brian Schaefering: A college nose tackle with surprising speed. Two seasons ago released from the Browns practice squad, picked up by the Jets, signed here by Mangini just in time to emerge as a solid and improving 3-4 DE. (You really need to work on this: Young players have a strong tendancy to improve, and while you were busy carefully ignoring him, Schaefering was making some real good plays!)
Robaire Smith: Getting long in the tooth; will probably be used less to preserve him--but still very solid, and able to stop-gap at NT.
There are other guys that I don't know about, but RUBIN even YOU know about, so there's that.
Really it would be best to have two real nose tackles, since they take such abuse and should be relieved and rested. In a perfect world, Rogers stays (and plays more DE, where he should have been all along). But his retention is NOT critical, as the Browns have a solid group of defensive ends and at least one solid nose tackle.

If Rogers is of more use to move up in the draft or trade for a real quarterback or WR or something, that will happen.

I like the interest in the ex-OSU guard named ROB. You can't miss with a name like that. He started in Seattle and has turned into a pretty good player.

Reporters ASS UMING that this would leave Womack at RT may be correct, since he did a pretty good job there--but once again they already have Capizzi's gravestone all engraved and ass ume he won't be any better than he was as a rookie.

They ASS UME that this would mean that the Browns no longer would use a high draft pick on an offensive lineman, but they are wrong.

In the first place, they were NEVER going to use a high first for a left tackle they would pay more than Thomas and have play right tackle, which would be idiotic.

In the second place, if a real stud slid into the second or third round and was the best player available, they'd pull that trigger. They have Thomas and Mack, and the other guys vary from adequate to pretty good. If you can upgrade that, you do it.

Gil Brandt must really focus on the draft, and not pay much attention to losing teams. He said of Harrison "He's not real big and not real fast", and "he's a good second or third back". Even as he ackowleged the third highest rushing game in NFL history, he pointed out that the Browns offensive line had Joe Thomas and is otherwise average.

This stuff drives me nuts, and I hear it on NFL radio every day. OK so he runs for 280-odd yards despite an "average" offensive line but he's a "good" second or third back. It's just impossible to rationally torture logic into these shapes! My god!

MACK is average? FIVE 100-plus yard games and he's a second or third? How can an offensive line be "average" when the other running backs did pretty well too?

I get it: Mike Holmgren told a story of how once he was going to draft a 5'8" running back. Ron Wolfe came back with a printout, showing that Barry Sanders and one other guy were the only 5'8" running backs that did anything. So he didn't draft the guy.

Well, I don't see the problem! Harrison is five-NINE!

Anyway, I wonder how many of those little short guys just never got a CHANCE!? JEEEEEZ could it be that Jerome isn't the only 6 YPC pass-catching running back to get no chance until everybody else got hurt? How many short 6YPC running backs collected splinters til they retired because coaches ignored everything they did?

Could it be that despite what he did last season, none of it mattered? Is even Mike Holmgren standing there with a printout pretending it didn't happen? This shit is just madness!

I can't defer to NFL pros on this, man! He DID it! He's DONE it in every offensive scheme and with every offensive line he's had, every time he was on the field! Why do you GIVE a shit how short he is are you INSANE!?

Of course, Holmgren told that story in reference to why the height of quarterbacks matters, and why Brees is a rare exception. In that context, I can see it, since you can't hit what you can't see, and helmet-high trajectories are bad.

I hold out hope that he isn't some Martonian blockhead about Harrison's height trumping his PROVEN ABILITY.

Ron Jaworskie knows more about quarterbacks than you or I. HE SAID that Derrick Anderson could be a very good quarterback with a little support.

This is the difference between an objective pro who studies game films and a barstool GM in Cleveland. HE sees what he sees. YOU see what you expect to see. Jaws got no dog in this fight.

Don't count DA out.

You stand corrected.

Let the Heckert-bashing Begin!

2010-03-05T06:12:00.000-08:00

Last season, everybody was all over Mangini for bringing in a bunch on Jets and some depth-players instead of blowing his entire budget for years to come on one or two geezer name-players.

Everybody just ass umed (and you should never ass ume, because when you ass ume, you make an ass of yourself)--that these guys were all intended to start, rather than Parcells "hold-the-fort" guys at bargain-basement prices.

Well, I just read that the Browns haven't pursued Chester Taylor. DUH. Nor did they try to pay Julius Peppers 12.5 million bucks. You guys just want to grab everybody you ever heard of, don't you?

Behind the scenes they might well have tried for Cromartie, despite his ole-tackling skills, but Rob's bro had all the leverage.

Bidding on DE Banning from the Ratbirds...very intersting there! I like that, especially since you never heard of him! He's pretty damn good!

Thomas Jones? I bet they ARE chasing HIM, but you know--the Browns, due to their record and QB situation, might not have a chance unless overpaying can trump his desire to get to the Superbowl. Some of you will blame Heckert for that. Like he wan't trying hard enough or something.

Look--the Browns HAVE a small, fast, pass-catching, game-breaking running back. They don't want to burn him out, so they want people to platoon and to play with him in a two-back, and that's a big guy.

Plus, it's NOT a priority! There is nothing wrong with James Davis! Davis is a lot like Earnest Byner. If they don't sign anybody better, or even draft anybody better, they just need to upgrade the depth behind those two.

That's simply because they probably intend to have a two-back base, which conventionally means three active running backs and (sometimes) two fullbacks on game day. The third back isn't there to collect splinters, either--all of them are used during the game,and they should be different from eachother.

When Mikey said "D E P T H at running back" he meant that for the season he'd really need at least five who could play. Three obstensibly active, and a couple more on-deck for injuries.

Much is made about Mangini's reluctance to declare Harrison "the man". Well, evidently he had a problem with Harrison's work ethic, and wants to make sure Harrison understands tha the will not be allowed to skate. I personally think he's kinda nuts expecting Harrison to block guys that outweigh him by 60 lbs. and have about 12" in real reach on him, but he's the Coach.

Further, the intent seems to be to platoon heavily anyway in order to mess up defenses and preserve the backs, so even though Harrison probably gets the most touches, it's not accurate to call him "the man".

Quit making a big deal out of trivia. Leave that to the pros. I was trained to make mountains out of mole-hills! If the mole-hills don't fit, you must...uh...just quit.

I'm pretty disappointed if all they get out of Williams is a low round pick, but when Detroit knows you don't want that salary on your books, they've got all the leverage. I just hope it's a 4th-rounder or multiples.

Okbye.

Best Available?

2010-02-28T13:33:00.000-08:00

#7 is pretty cut-and-dried if the Browns don't trade out of that spot. The best available overall talent should coincide with a (legitimate and not hallucinated) team need. And I still say that if Clausen is there and Mike likes him, he'll be it. And I won't argue.

Otherwise, it would be Berry or Haden, either of whom would transform the secondary. I would hope for Berry.

If you argue for an offensive tackle for this team at #7 overall, please get back on your medication or turn yourself in.

OK but at #38? Well, need-wise, we're probably still talking QB (even if Mike goes with Quinn and they grab an old vet), a fast wide reciever (per Heckert), and in reality not much else, but let's say right tackle and running back---in that order.

What's that? Well now, Quinn couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, and Massequoi was the only viable target. Robiskie is still here, along with a boatload of young/growing linebackers, we have Harrison, Davis, Vickers, and Moore, and the offensive line (inc. RT in point of fact) did pretty well the last six games. THAT'S why.

Anyway, somebody will always slide. But the most realistic best available there is Ryan Matthews, who led the NCAA in rushing. He is ranked fourth among the running backs, but is in reality the best running back period.

CJ Spiller can't be expected to block, nor to carry the load. He is a role-player. He is ranked at the top because of his big play ability, but an NFL offense would need to be modified to get him on the field.

Matthews just clocked 4.41. He looks very much like Jamal Lewis; a 5'11" ball of fat-free muscle. He's 220 lbs--so maybe he's Lewis-light. Steuber says his running style would probably get him hurt in the NFL, because he's very physical and doesn't sweat contact.

He's a good reciever and a good blocker. He could be a workhorse, but the Browns could instead platoon him, and have him share the backfield with the much-different Harrison to help keep both healthy.

I checked his highlight films. I know that these of course were only his BEST plays, but I was more interested in what Steuber was talking about, and you can see that early in the plays...

I say early, because too often after the first two seconds it was Matthews outracing the defense for the end zone. Fortunately, there were also some where he actually got tackled, which was instructive.

Anyway, I repeatedly saw him hopping over guys diving at him in the trenches, or alternately hunching down and running through arm tackles. Steuber might have meant that the secondary guys all went for his legs because he was too strong to take down otherwise.

I bet Steuber saw the one take-d0wn where a safety got him on the side of his knee and it bent inward. The tackler almost fell on his calf...hurts to think about.

However, this goes for any big back. In the tape I watched, Matthews did avoid contact when he could. It's just that every single front I saw was stacked, and everybody was zeroed in on him from the get-go; sometimes even on dump-off passes.

If he's there at 38, they gotta consider it. He'd bump Davis to the back seat, and the backfield would be admirably deep even for a 2-back. (Don't forget--Cribbs can play there too, ok? And he's actually a really strong, tackle-breaking dude).

But then, I haven't really studied all the recievers much yet, and there might be a good one there. This draft isn't as deep at that position, so...maybe you can't go exclusively best available...

...and there are other big, servicable backs who'll be there in the third...

There's even one 6'1" , 222 lb. tight end who posted freakish speed numbers, and should go very late, if at all. He could play fullback, and be a deadly recieving threat out of the backfield. I doubt that he's a running back--you need swivel-hips for that and most tight ends are stiffer there.

I heard Dez Bryant interviewed. I won't pick on the guy, but I doubt that he's a good candidate for a complex offense. 'Nuff said.

Browns Luck

2010-02-28T10:33:00.000-08:00

Aurelius Benn: 4.4. So much for "sleeper", dammit.

Browns Have Talent

2010-02-28T08:21:00.000-08:00

Let's try this: Pretend that the Browns 2009 season started when they dominated the Stoolers, okay?

What do you see?

1: A dominating running game; offensive physical domination.
2: (With the exception of KC of course) A dominating defense. Sacks, pressures, interceptions, stone walls on third and fourths, and in the red zone.

In point of fact, they weren't all crappy teams. They came close to beating the Chargers the week before the Stoolers. Even if all those teams HAD sucked, the Browns would have sucked less.

The second half Browns were significantly better than the first half Browns. Moreover, the fourth quarter Browns were better than the third quarter Browns DO YOU U N D E R S T A N D?

Why are you so obsessed with lynching Mangini that you ignore reality? That's called psychosis, ya know? It's delusional. Why do you think everything Holmgren says about him has to be a lie--or that HE'S wrong too?

SEE A SHRINK!!

Adam Caplan never changes. In talking about the Browns hallucinated need for another edge-rusher (which itself is based on whole-season stats, without regard to the glaringly obvious progress made--a lazy, shallow non-analysis), he called Roth "really just a backup"--dismissively.

You have to remember this every time you read Adam's player evaluations: Roth WAS a backup, and Adam will never accept him as a starter until he has started for a season.

Adam is unwilling or unable to extrapolate. He can't see a player emerging, or demonstrating marked improvement. He only admits it after the fact.

Game after game, Roth got sacks, pressures, tackles for losses, etc. Not just on one or two games. Not just in flashes. But every game, all game long.

THAT'S NOT A BACKUP.

Holmgren (most recently) amended his predictably misinterpreted remarks about getting a running back to "depth at running back". You see, he had not intended to imply that Jerome Harrison really was a ghost, or that Vickers would no longer be used, or that James Davis isn't a solid/complete Earnest Byner-like back.

Chris Jennings did some good stuff, but sort of faded. I still like him, but certainly if you can upgrade, you must. Based on current presonnel, and assuming that the staff will make the most of it, they'll use a lot of two-back offense, so they'll need more running backs than teams that use one back.

When you have a guy like Vickers, you need this human bowling ball on the field. He's the reason that Harrison reached the second level on a number of carries. He can protect the quarterback (so that 'lil Jerome doesn't have to, and can catch a pass instead). He can catch passes himself.

The way running backs get hurt and worn down, certainly you need depth. Especially since at times you'd replace Vickers for another running back, in addition to spelling resting Harrison.

I suppose I have to concede that Grossi is partly right about it being a big guy. I've read some idotic posts talking about drafting Spiller seventh overall so we can have an even smaller Harrison, and a mock draft predicting that the Browns would draft another shrimp back in the second round...

"The Browns need offensive firepower". Yeah--but not at running back! What the hell does Harrison have to do!?!

Anyway, the hitch is that this offense WILL BE predominantly West Coast, and every back will have to be a capable reciever. Most of these big guys haven't shown any recieving skills, mostly because of their college schemes.

It can be taught...did anybody but me notice that Jamal Lewis suddenly became a pretty nifty reciever when he came here?

With that in mind, I personally like Lagerrette Bount, who is 6'1", 245. He got suspended for most of last season for punching an enemy player. I believe this is much ado about little. So he lost it once. Big deal!

Anyway, he's quite fast for his size, has good instincts and vision, uses his blockers well, can block himself, and is a slasher rather than just a smasher. And averaged like 7 YPC. He did quite well at the Senior Bowl against elite competition, too.

Anthony Dixon is about the same size and is a better reciever--but HE needs work on blocking. He's just a smasher, and maybe even stronger than Blount.

I can't get much info on Charles Scott, but he's 5'11", 235 and averaged 5.7 YPC as a junior. They switched him to fullback as a senior, then he got hurt for much of the season. This guy might not get drafted at all, but could be a sleeper; specificly for the Browns.

Dwyer would be great, but probably won't last til the third.

At WR, Arrelious Benn is rated at number seven. After a stellar junior year, Illinois had actually re-written it's playbook to feature him, including in the running game. He got a high ankle sprain and two concussions, but never came off the field.

However, the injuries kept coming, so his stats were pretty ordinary. He's 6'2", 214. Despite what I said about concussions, the fact is that he didn't miss time, and I heard him interviewed and heard an extra-smart dude. There are different types of concussion--I bet I had several of his type and hardly noticed (no comments from the peanut gallery, of you please)...

Anyway this is a reliable super-YAC guy. It might or might not show up on the clock...he'll go pretty low, and we got eleven picks.

Oh yeah--and he's a good citezen, a captain, a natural leader, and TOUGH.

This is just a thought: If Mikey decides that Bradford is "all that", the only way he could make sure to get him would be to trade up with the Rams.

#7+Rogers+Quinn+ a fifth?

WHAT? The HELL they wouldn't! They gotta rebuild their whole damn team! They draft Bradford they have to PAY him! If they keep him on the bench, the fans will lynch them. If they play him, he's DOA. If they draft a DT instead, the fans want their asses again.

Rogers is better than both these guys and costs less too. He's got at least two seasons left, and when he slows down he'll become a run-stuffer who can still be an elite nose tackle for maybe two more years.

Quinn can be thrown to the wolves to make the ignorant fans happy, they can still get a stud of some sort at number seven, and have the extra fifth for a sevicable DB or possession guy or something. They save money.

Dammit why don't you hear me? If Rogers were in this draft where would he rank? Get it?

And I think Bradford IS all that!

But this is probably going no where. Holmgren has come right out and plainly said that he believes he can turn any reasonably talented quarterback into a star. In Quinn's case, he'll have to find out if he CAN hit the broad side of a barn again if he sets up right, etc. (that being part of "talent")--since he does everything else well.

Yeah, Mike knows best, and if it's Quinn please don't make an ass of yourself. But I still think he could surprise everybody with McCoy, or not so much with Pike, or even Clausen...

Speaking of which, the only thing wrong with him is that he was a concieted asshole. I say "was", since he might not be any more.

Grossi asks "what did he ever win?" Here we go again: what about the rest of his team? In twelve games, he engineered four fourth quarter comebacks, and almost got a fifth. (Hmm...ya think his defense was...nevermind--I'm more into minutiae than Tony, I guess).

Mikey will need to talk to the kid. If he's a permapunk, he'll find out. If he's not, and if he's smart, Holmgren WILL absolutely consider him (if he doesn't do something else).

YOU STAND CORRECTED.

More Browns Corrections

2010-02-25T12:22:00.000-08:00

1: Colt McCoy and Jimmy Clausen are not too short or small to play in the NFL because they are only two inches taller than Drew Brees.

2: Sam Bradford is too skinny for the NFL, but (I know to the amazement of many) it's natural for males to fill out at his age, and NFL strength and conditioning coaches know this, even if you don't.

3: Pike broke his left forearm. The bone was probably not fully healed when he re-broke it. A metal plate was installed, and left there. His joints and everything else are fine, and this does not make him "Injury-prone".

4: Bradford's injury, which is much less serious than Drew Brees's was, was the only one he had. You need to get hurt at least twice to be "injury-prone". And I know that if he plays for four years in the NFL and then gets hurt, some of you clowns will talk about "concerns about his durability".

If Bradford is healthy, and available to the Browns, he will be the pick. It's a no-brainer. And I wouldn't even put it past them to trade up for him.

They needn't neccessarily throw away their draft picks, as they have ammo in Shaun Rogers, Corey Williams, and/or their many, many surplus outside and inside linebackers...which is why they don't need any more of those.

I have a hard time finding out what's really wrong with Clausen, aside from the fact that he couldn't single-handedly win all his games, and is an inch shorter than about a dozen NFL QB's.

Tony Pike could be Plan B--and the reason why Holmgren would NOT trade up for Bradford. Pike shows much promise. There are even a couple more sleepers in this draft, both of whome are named Brown.

NOBODY is as accurate as Bradford. You can stay stuck on arm-strength, but first and foremeost in a QB is accuracy. Bradford has a good but not great arm (like Brady Quinn, as anybody with a three digit IQ knows), with superior accuracy.

Pike has a gun, and is pretty accurate--but not like Bradford. Accuracy can be coached, of course. It's a matter of forcing the QB to position his feet the same way in relation to the target each time he throws, bucket drills, etc. But natural accuracy is precious. A born sharpshooter will never regress.

"Leadership": So many sportwriters think leadership is about hollering at people and grabbing facemasks. They wonder if the quiet, calm Bradford can be a leader, as he has never been seen urinating on anybody's shoes to mark his territory.

Shut up. I mean, just shut up. Yeah. Tom Landry was a real weak sister. What a sissy that Drew Brees is! Hey do you see how that pussy Peyton Manning has a guy drop a pass and doesn't even yell at him? Bill Belichick is no leader. Just stands there, like that sissy Landry...

I repeat: Shut up.

Academic all-american. Heard him interviewed, and he actually deviated from the prepared script without getting himself in trouble! Another thing I noticed was that he wasn't nervous at all.

Well, I've probably got my hopes up too high anyway. There are two teams that might take him ahead of the Browns, and several others in range to trade up ahead of them for him.

Mike Mayock is, in my opinion, the best of the draft gurus. He's suggested that the Browns might be wiser to draft WR Dez Bryant instead of Haden with the seventh pick.

The cornerback depth in this draft is extremely deep. and the fans have blown the needs in our secondary all out of proportion (as usual.) There are even at least two corners who could be excellent coverage safeties, ranked way low among the corners.

Dez Bryant is Edwards-sized; a little bigger and stronger, and with much better hands (goes without saying, no?). But he's not really a deep threat, and I have to wonder if he's really that wise a choice.

I mean, the running back could count on his blocking downfield, and the QB could throw to him whether he's technicly covered or not. He DOES turn into an instant running back with the ball...ok I changed my mind good call, Mike.

IF a version of the west coast is installed (or more accurately enhanced, as Daboll had already put in some elements of it), Bryant would be the absolute perfect X, with Massequoi now the number two guy (well not immediately but say half way through the season).

A big target who can run with the ball and block. A RELIABLE reciever who won't make quarterbacks look worse than they are in the myopic eyes of ignorant fans. Who won't drop three touchdown passes and lose at least two games all by themselves...then go to the Jets and do the same stuff and bash the Browns...

I was gone for awhile but am back now. Anyway, of they take Haden that's fine, since no matter how deep the position is, Haden is a rare talent, and the best cornerback tandem in the NFL does have a ring to hit. Remember Dixon/Minnifield? Mmmm...

But if they take Bryant that'll work too, although I believe that if they could trade down they could still get him.

But Plan A is if Bradford is there go get him ASAP. Hey do you think Seattle needs any slightly-used defensive linemen all pre-signed and ready to go? And maybe an extra fifth rounder?

"Holmgren has never drafted a quarterback that high". So what? So he never will?

Another unusually sentient poster brought up how Holmgren traded for another gunslinger and turned him into a pretty good west coast QB. It's just possible--for the few of us who are objective--that DA could stick around.

I know that already you might be having epileptic siezures.

Well, I watched one game with Eman. Each time DA threw an incompletion, I asked him "who's fault was that?", and "how many was that?", and 4/5 of the time, he admitted that the reciever was probably responsible.

He tried to squirm out of it a few times, saying that the reciever had just barely turned around and it was too hard for his tender lil hands and stuff, but I forced him to admit that it had hit the guy in his hands.

By the way: At the CORE of the west coast offense is the ball being in the air BEFORE the reciever breaks off his route...got that?

Anyway, it didn't matter. Eman says "Yes, yes, yes, yes"--then starts objecting to my campagning for DA, then goes back to hallucinating inaccuracy and exhaggerating lack of touch. All DA's fault.

See? If you guys got your minds made up, even looking with your own eyes with a virtual seeing eye-dog asking you to note and remember who's fault the incompletions were, it just won't stick.

If your mind is made up about either Quinn or DA, NOTHING will change it. If Homgren were to keep DA, you'd be calling HIM an idiot!

The difference: Mike can look at films, and see who did what. If you guys HAD to be objective or get fired for using the wrong players, you would be. I suggest you pretend your livlihood depends on seeing what is actually there, and not what you want or expect to see.

Kevin Kolb would be nice, but the Eagles want him to either be the man or the heir apparant. Vick aint that, and Kolb might not be available at any price.

McNabb would probably be too expensive, and nix the deal.

Scott Brunner...hmmm.....

Browns Draft: Corrections and Rational Thoughts

2010-02-20T06:36:00.000-08:00

RESPONSES TO DUMB STUFF I HAVE READ:

"I'm concerned about the right side of the offensive line": Womack filled in surprisingly well at right tackle (this from a guy who said Womack can't play right tackle).

All the same, I stipulate to Womack being less than ideal there, and that an upgrade would be in order. A guy named Capizzi who the Browns got from Pittsburgh is 6'9", used to be 315. He's athletic, and scouts felt he could play left tackle.

Entering his fourth season, he's at the stage where many offensive linemen emerge. The Stoolers, who are located in PA, dug him up as a left tackle for NCAA powerhouse Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Yeah, he was released. But he's athletic and 6'9" (he has the ability period).

Might not work out-might be a depth guy. But you folks pretend he and his potential don't exist. It's inconvenient to think that hard, aint it?

So yes, drafting a right tackle is a good idea. "I say we use #7 on a right tackle".

WOW! Let's draft a left tackle to play right tackle and pay him more than Joe Thomas! Brilliant!

In this draft, a right tackle can be found into the third round. An exceptional right tackle has the feet to play on the left side as well, but more commonly they're tall right guards.

And right tackle is not the right side. The Browns do NOT need a right guard. Hadnot's passblocking has improved, and changes in the blocking scheme favor him. Womack is a good right guard in any system. Typicly, a lot of fans throw out the baby with the bathwater, and mindlessly repeat crap they hear.

You can't fake it.

"We need a playmaking tight end". In other words, all those catches Devon Moore made were flukes. He just came into an unfamilar scheme and kept fluking. He was a wide reciever in college and is at least as fast as Jurevicious but that doesn't matter either.

After about eight games and 25 or so catches and a bunch of touchdowns, I trust it will dawn on some of you that we already have a playmaking tight end.

"We need a number one and number two reciever". OK here we go again: You've already got Robiskie in a grave and are shoveling dirt in his face because he didn't do anything as a rookie.

I know that, being a coach's son, smart and polished, we expected more up front. It didn't happen, therefore it never will? Jeez.

I'm pretty sure that at least part of Robiski'e problem is that he's not a fast-twitch athlete; he's not explosive. He's a glider, so it's hard for him to separate from cornerbacks who are often faster and always quicker than he is.

He's not alone. If he were a little guy, he'd be DOA, but Robiskie is 6'3", has good top-end speed and excellent hands. He can return from the offseason a little bigger and stronger and simply be a Jurevicious type. Jurevicious, of late Ohco Cinco, and other big recievers rarely get much separation, but they make the catch anyway because they can wall off, out-reach, and out-leap the defender.

Some clown after the season called Massequoi a number three or four reciever. Excuse me, but he was the X-reciever for the Browns, beat double coverage, and did what he did later in his rookie season. Don't tell me about drops--I didn't see any in the last six games, and those are all that count.

For vertical systems, you ideally want a Braylon Edwards (I mean if Edwards could catch)--type deep flyer to keep a safety back and open up the shorter stuff, but it looks a whole lot like the new Browns will be predominantly West Coast.

That's not a vertical system, and Massequoi is ideal for it. A lot of the yardage in a West Coast system is YAC, and that's Massequoi's game. Jerry Rice wan't even AS fast as Massequoi, and over 90% of his receptions travelled less than 15 yards in the air. (I'm not positive of/can't prove that, but the knowlegable reader won't try to pick a fight over it).

I would like to see better depth, and frankly Robiskie shoved to the third spot; A speedy/dangerous guy would be great...but the Browns don't NEED both a number one and number two reciever. If they can find an X-reciever who can knock Massequoi to Y, I'm all for it.

Hey how bout Randy Moss, that Fitzgerald guy, and Steve Largeant? Great! But coaches and GM's have to live on THIS planet.

"We need a big running back to complement Harrison": Hey Jerome! You're awesome, man! There. I just comlimented Harrison. Let's move on now.

But seriously, the Browns have one of the two best fullbacks in the NFL, James Davis will be back, and Chris Jennings weighs in at 218--a whopping five or six pounds heavier than Harrison!!!

I really like this one 245-pounder in the draft that they don't know if he's a running back or a fullback...sounds like Mike Alstott--that would be great, but the premise of NEED is false.

What do Emmitt Smith, Priest Holmes, Kiki Barber, Joe Morris, Barry Sanders and 30 or so other superstar running backs have in common? They were all shrimps who outlasted the big guys. They were smaller targets and instinctively avoided big hits.

You want a change of pace? James Davis is just a grinder; much stronger than his weight indicates, and he breaks tackles. Reminds me a lot of Earnest Byner. I mean, like a Byner CLONE! And Byner blocked for Kevin Mack!

Short yardage? Did you see what the Browns did the last five games? "Okay we're going to run. Harrison will get the ball and Vickers will lead-block for him, so all you guys just key on Vickers and try to stop us. Ready?"

That went for short yardage (no pun intended) too. A small waterbug can pick up tough yards too. He just does it a different way. THINK!!!

But like I said, that monster running back would be sweet...actually there are two of these in this draft, and niether will go in the first round.....

Thank God nobody is dumb enough to think we need defensive linemen. And I stipulate to needing a safety and a cornerback. ONE safety and ONE cornerback. Adams is excellent depth and a nickel back, McDonald may not be a starter but can fill in, and Furrey is okay too.

They could USE another safety who's better than Elam, but don't NEED one.

Poole? He says he's coming back, but I hate those concussions. I mean, you're re-injuring old damage, and compounding the damage each time. Poole is very talented (and you don't know what you're talking about if you think he isn't), but the concussions won't go away, and they make him unreliable, and for his own sake he ought to quit.

Have you ever heard Ken Norton or Joe Frazier try to talk? 'Nuff said--Brodney I love ya, but quit right now.

Correcting linebacker dumbness demands a whole separate blog, so I'll save that.

"We need a quarterback": Oops! That's NOT dumb--nevermind.

SEVENTEEN and Counting

2009-10-25T07:20:00.000-07:00

As often as not, a quarterback won't attempt over seventeen passes in a game. Now we have a quarterback with seventeen drops...

OK let's review: IF IT HITS YOU IN THE HANDS, CHEST, OR FACEMASK IT IS C A T C H A B L E DO YOU UNDERSTAND????

Tom Brady threw for over five hundred yards the a couple weeks ago. Go check out the highlights, dammit. How many marshmellows did he throw?

You can throw a marshmellow when your reciever is wide open, or when you need to loop it over a defender. When a defender is on your reciever, you have to put the ball where the reciever and only the reciever can catch it. Sometimes that's low or high or he has to lunge or dive for it DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

If you would watch the damn game with your Braydee-loving heart disengaged and your criticly thinking cortex engaged you would see mostly VERY accurate DA passes which are D R O P P E D.

Please please please don't hop up and down pointing at ONE idiotic interception and say "same old DA" or act like that ONE DAMN PASS negates all the accurate throws, including the SEVENTEEN WHICH WERE D R O P P E D.

Drop: To release, allow to fall, fail to hold onto.

When it's Quinn, you're bashing the flutterballs and marshmellows. When it's DA, you're blaming him for a bunch of stone-handed boobs who can't hold onto a damn football.

So when you watch this game, please turn off the emotions and see what is there, period. Don't start rationalizing, and take it one play at a time. It hit him in the hands. It was hard...but not THAT hard. It was NOT the quarterback's fault. Not even partly. It was all on the reciever.

After the third or fourth time, you will WANT to start rationalizing. This is when you need to replay the previous drops in your head, and your judgements each time. Also at this time, review what a drop is: It hit them in the chest, hands, or facemask. After ten or twelve more, when you hear Quinnbots declaring DA a failure, think about it.

Eman, when the reciever turns around he is supposed to be ready for the ball. Just AS he turns is exactly when the ball is supposed to get there. That's the whole IDEA!!! The defender has ZERO chance to interfere, and is an extra step away so that the reciever can have a chance to evade his tackle.

Look at old 49ers films, or even Kardiac Kids tapes. Rice turns with his hands already reaching and there it is.

OK now for some other stuff: Massequoi looks real good except for the drops. He's dropping only about one out of three, I think. Cribbs only dropped one.

Rodgers (whose name is spelled with the "d"...unlike Shawn Rogers, whose name does not have a "d" in it)...gets sacked a lot. Wimbley should be back and they'll have to play Adams more so let's go git him.

I took the Browns and ten. Yeah I'm a dumbass. Okbye.

NINE DROPS and Reality

2009-10-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

Cut it out with the "touch" crap in swirling wind with 40 mph gusts, you idjuts! These clowns get paid a whole lot of money to do ONE THING, which is to catch passes. HARD passes, soft passes, high and low passes. Two hands+one ball= catch PERIOD DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

What the hell hallucinations were you seeing with this "behind" and "low" crap? The ONE he threw deep got taken by the wind--most of the rest were PERFECT, and a couple more were NOT QUITE perfect...oh...for YOU, with DA this means "uncatchable"...

Yeah. I mean, he would have had to crouch down a little, or lean or something...can't have that!

WIND. 40 mph gusts. You don't freaking LOB anything in that weather. Remember he's NOT supposed to throw picks, right? So now you bash him for no touch because he zips it INTO A HIGH WIND?!? He's supposed to throw marshmellows up in the air and hope they float down somewhere near the target?

It was NINE drops! Not seven. A drop is defined as any ball that a PROFESSIONAL NFL reciever gets BOTH HANDS on, ok? That's NINE. NINE drops out of seventeen passes, with three (I think) batted at the line. NINE CATCHABLE BALLS were dropped!!!

Man, you just had your mind made up and saw what you wanted to see! Some of the writers even bashed DA for the bat-downs...again he's supposed to throw it up in the wind...but simultaneously NOT throw interceptions JEEZ!!!

Give me 66% or six of those DROPS and you've got eight completions. Not fifty percent, of course...but probably another TD and certainly a bunch more points!

Hard to believe that different recievers all dropped everything at once. Much easier to simply blame the common denominator. I mean, you see a pass bounce off numbers or zing through two hands, and you first think: "Damn that reciever reminds me of Edwards!"

Ten seconds later it was the QB's fault. After all, this was the sixth one. Therefore, it MUST be the quarterback's fault. Why, he must be throwing too hard! I seem to remember he used to do that, therefore the problem must be that I was just seeing those passes wrong, and they were way too hard for any human to catch!!!

Yeah, that must be it!

So how do I write about this? Well, we use good old "but" a lot. "DA was victimized by nine...no make that numer....no....several drops, BUT--" and then talk about how he lacks touch and was all 0ver the place. (This way, you get to bash everybody equally).

Wake up. Here's the deal: There's no nuance or abstraction here. When you see a reciever NOT have to turn around or dive or leap, and the ball goes off or through his hands, it's HIS fault and HIS fault alone. That's even IF it were true that DA threw everything 90 mph, which he did NOT.

He was ACCURATE. VERY ACCURATE. MORE ACCURATE THAN QUINN.

And NINE of those incompletions were not his fault. Of COURSE he'll still start. You won't hear a word out of Quinn, either, because HE knows what he saw, too.

Look at the highlights. Mangini will get those clowns on the juggs machine, and if they can CATCH on-the-freaking-money passes vs. the Stoolers they'll have a chance.

And why are you wallowing over one segment of the game? What about the running game vs. a stacked front? What about protection, overall defense, and special teams? You guys all act like the whole damn team is DA and Edwards' legacies!

What about Corey Williams? Damn he was all over the place just like Rogers! Wimbley got his third sack. We HAVE a DEFENSE now!

Yeah-yeah the Stoolers don't give 'em much of a chance, and they probably lose. But not as bad as you think--this defense is coming together now, and will soon be really damn good.

Eman? You had your mind made up. I saw a much-improved DA. We'll see who is right.

I HAVE SPOKEN.

OK Now We Really ARE All Gonna Die

2009-09-21T19:16:00.000-07:00

but it doesn't bother us earthlings...err...people who live on this planet and not in some unreal utopian paradise...much.

We never expected more than 6-8 wins out of this team, and firthermore expected the first 3-4 games to be pretty rough. Rookie center making all the line-calls, semi-rookie quarterback, all new people (and butterfingers) at reciever, Lewis aging, new systems, etc.

I admit I did expect the Browns to whup Denver, and for Quinn to look a lot better than he did. But then, I never expected them to go toe-to-toe with Minnesota for their inaugural first half.

Sure, the bad misses by Quinn are alarming. Especially since he never was all that accurate. However, I cna say the same of him as I've said of Edwards: He HAS looked a lot better, and this proves his capacity.

Good for Mangini for having a long leash. Quinn knows that DA is waiting in the wings, but he's being given a good long test-drive.

And then, the offense is probably extra-conservative in an effort to protect the inexperienced quarterback. It sould open up a little now, since it has to, or else enemy defenses will throw out picnic blankets in his backfield.

Still, accuracy aside, some criticisms of Quinn are presumptuous and ignorant. When he has no time, NATURALLY he will get rid of it early, and usually to a short reciever. When a guy is IN FRONT OF your only viable reciever, running step-for-step with him, you put the ball where your guy can get it if he dives, but the bad guy can't pick it off DUHDUHDUH...

And a certain writer needs to be reminded that words are his business, and that pass was actually catchable. "No where near" does not mean six inches off the fingertips, ok?

Don't get me wrong. I was very disappointed in Quinn and am very nervous about him. But it's just way way way too early to bring gavels down. You've got to remember that Roethsenberger, Flacco, et al had very strong defenses and solid running offenses. This offense is new, and evidently has a distinct weakness at right tackle, among other things.

I don't think that DA would be much better, since he too would be sacked right and left and have no time. He too would spend much of his time in third-and-longs. If you think he'd go deep more--maybe. If he's willing to throw it high, and a split second before getting decked.

But yeah...HE might be the QB of the future.

MAYBE.

I'll keep watching them stumble around, waiting patiently for them to take their first steps and make it across the room to me. That's what you do with infants...here on this planet, anyway.

Aw, Dammit!

2009-09-20T15:45:00.000-07:00

I said: "Aw, dammit!".