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.
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