1: The coaches do not agree with me that Travis Benjamin is strictly a slot reciever. In the rookie mini-camp, he's spent the bulk of his time on the outside, where he's run several deep-outs. Also, earlier the recievers' coach specificly said that he could be tried outside.
This is exciting, and could possibly signal the next offensive trend in the NFL--meaning Shurmer and co. are innovationalizing. (Yes there is such a word. I just made it up.)
What we have today is big recievers and almost a 3-wide base offense, as often as possible with a TE/WR hybrid. Defenses are answering with big nickles and big dimes; using three safeties. Everybody also wants tall cornerbacks.
As I pointed out in earlier blogs, trends are just that. Each defense has weak spots. Conventional nickles and dimes have been exploited by big recievers and extra-nifty tight ends, and are now reacting with taller corners and more free safety types.
Enter a new weapon: The SMURF! Little guys with shorter legs and a lower center of balance have a real advantage over taller cornerbacks when it comes to cutting.
Much of this is supposition, of course. As the masters of the obvious will sagely point out, this is helmets and shorts. Benjamin will have to beat jams. The Coaches seem to think he can.
We have yet to see Rodney Mitchellfield 3.0, and there is a good chance that he will be ready to compete for a starting role. It would be great if he emerges, as he has all the physical tools of the elite big recievers.
However, if the Benjamin experiment holds up, the offense will have a truly deadly home-run hitter to go with Griffin.
I have also finally seen the Weeden trap-shoot video, and wow. I mean...wow. He nails five out of six 44 mph clay pigeons with a football (from the side, at about five yards). (Missed one by three inches).
It fires out too fast for him to track or lead the pigeon--he strictly waits for the signal and fires the ball at a spot, which is precisely what a West Coast quarterback does with recievers-throwing before they make their cuts).
I can't believe some of the comments of "fans" who watched the video! One clown points out how big a football is! A master of the obvious wants to point out that nobody is chasing him. I mean, you really have to dig deep in the garbage at the bottom of your mind to come up with ways to say "big deal" about this impressive demonstration GIVE IT A REST WILL YOU?
Another thing about Weeden: What a great smile! And he smiles a lot! I LIKE this guy! (I like you too, Colt).
2: 6th round steal DT Billy Winn doesn't have a great first step, but does have unusual overall speed and quickness.
3: Ryan Miller might indeed be a project, but possibly not. He started a ton of games, and was well-regarded except for his height, which could put him at a leverage disadvantage at guard.
I don't know: If a DT or even linebacker does get "into" him, it's hard to imagine he wouldn't get straightened up and pushed around, BUT to do that, the guy would have to get past those long arms, ya know?
3a: (This is correcting somebody else): He's probably not here to play LEFT guard. This is a big nasty mauler. Both Miller and Schwartze LIKE beating people up. Seems to be a theme. A good theme.
I can't leave out Taylor's pec tear. I didn't know pectoral tears were contageous, but it just figures that it had to happen here, doesn't it?
Already, some are scrambling for the parachutes, talking about the veteran free agent DT's the Browns will now be desperate to sign to cover the huge, massive, gaping, glaring hole in their defensive line.
They still have Schaefering and at least one other young guy, they just drafted two, and it's a little early to flush them all down the toilet. Take a pill.
I STAND CORRECTED
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