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.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Insufficient Dumbassitude
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.
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.
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