One of the critical things an intelligent analyst must learn is humility. You don't "stick to your guns" when you find out you were wro...wronnn....incorrect. In the area I was trained to work, this sort of thing kills good people. By the way, this includes you, if you're determined to consider me full of beans.
Greg Hensley is one of my key Browns sources. He has tons of insight, and comprehends the game and the team in detail. Natually, he and I agree a lot--but that's only because the truth is what the truth is.
I wrote that Joe Thomas was a really good in-line blocker, but needed work in space. I got that out of one of these stupid draft guides and the internet, because that's all I could get on him. I massively mistrust these sources, but had to go on what was available.
Well, thanks to the Greg-man, I now know that my alarm bells were correct, and that that statement is diametricly wrong. Thomas excells at blocking downfield and in space, but sometimes gets stood-up when drive-blocking.
I should have listened to my alarm bells when I read something that didn't make much sense, from sources who are so often full of crap. Logic says that a basketball player with excellent balance, speed, and footwork would be very good in space. I suspect that one idiot lazily wrote the analysis backwards and the other knuckleheads all copied him. It is fortunate that this person is not responsible for estimating the size, armament, and disposition of a hostile force, because he would get a bunch of marines massacred.
My bad, and I was a dumbass.
Greg tells me that his legs got kind of weak when he was recovering from his ACL surgery. I also saw a photo of him, finally, and saw a tight end. I agree with Greg that he will easily add another fifteen pounds (of muscle, not lard), and play with the same speed and agility at 325 or maybe 330.
He was 310 as of the combine, but I'd expect him to be more like 315 by training camp, with much of his leg-strength back, as he continues to work out.
OK: Brandon McDonald is one of the good zone corners I mentioned. Here is another two-year starter. He's 5'11" and 180. He's fast and athletic. He's not very good in man, but is solid in zone, with much upside. He went lower because of his relative inexperience and his size. He should build up to 190 or more.
One of the draft-guide knocks on him is that he's weak against the run. Yeah, I remember that's what they wrote about McCutcheon, the best tackler on the team every year. This could be correct, or not. Assuming it is, NFL weight training might cure it.
He is here for depth, special teams, and as a developmental guy. Do you understand this? Are you going to bash Phil half way through the season when he's not playing a lot on defense? The fact is, he might never even become more than a fourth cornerback--especially here, with Minter, Wright, Bodden, and Holly. Here, if he's a fifth, cool.
He was not taken in the fourth, third, second, or first round. He was not payed a massive free agent contract. If all he ever does here is play special teams, he is not a bust DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
Ok but talent, athleticism, and brains are all present. Upside and potential are there, and his lack of college experience will HELP him here in a year or two DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
This being said, should the entire cornerback corps get annihilated by injuries again, even this season, the team (in only its third year) is much better prepeared depth-wise, because this kid already knows zone, and can cover in it.
Now, "The Bowns still have a hole at running back", "They need a home-run hitter who can catch passes and complement Lewis".
CORRECTION: Jerome "the Ghost" Harrison is not here to be a paperweight. His one and only problem last season was an inability to block in pass protection. He was a speed-bump. His true weight was (WAS), I think...W A S 197-200 lbs., and it was clear he was no gym rat, ya know?
He'll have had a year of NFL strength training and nutrition, plus a bag of dirty tricks, when he returns for his second season. Here again, the reasons he slid WERE his size and inability to pass-protect. These were also the reasons why Savage, looking down the road a year or two and factoring in what he would become as he developed, matured, and grew, was able to STEAL him that low.
Harrison is a home-run hitter, the exact opposite of Lewis. As a third down back, he'll be ready. He doesn't have to even pass-block if he can catch an outlet pass from a QB who knows when to GET RID OF THE DAMN BALL. Any residual weakenss in pass-protection means a lot less in a two-back with a fullback or Lewis, too.
And I can't help it, I really like that Jason Wright kid. All he does, every time he gets a chance, is deliver. I don't know how he does it, but he just does, like Byner did. I don't care what all these local beat writers and columnists think--that kid is quality depth who can spell Lewis periodicly and still move the ball.
I wouldn't mind another running back, if he's more a workhorse-type, or is really spectacular at something, or shows the potential to eventually replace Lewis, but "hole"? "Need"?
You stand corrected. Right, Greg?
No comments:
Post a Comment