It's reasonable to expect the Browns to chase Alex Smith, but it's not official because some pundit said it's logical. Just a nit-picky point here, but as often as these guys are wrong...
1: It's highly unlikely that the Niners won't be able to trade Smith. Too many teams will want him, and the best offer is better than nothing. Considering the salary he'd command as a free agent, many teams would prefer the trade.
2: A "mid-round pick" for a guy who took his team to the conference championship last season? A 28 year old with a 104 QBR? Really? I thought I was an optimist! Are you confusing Alex Smith with Colt McCoy or something?
It's possible that the only way for the Browns to get him would be to trade their first-round pick.
And I would make that trade, but Grossi might be right about Norv Turner believing he can fix Weeden up. And I defer.
3: Signing Smith would not mean the end of Weeden. He was drafted after the rookie cap and, unless traded, would be retained. I'd rather have him than Derrick Anderson...but as an objective, rational person I'd welcome DA as a backup in Turner's system. Grow up. I can't say the same for Colt.
4: I'm now coming around to the idea of Rubin at DE after reading Ray Horton's more recent comments. I think I was wrong. I'll have to live with it.
5: Speaking of his and Chud's comments, the 5-2, 3-4, 4-4 parts were repeated. I can translate:
Sub-defenses are played on around 65% of the downs in the NFL. Even on first down, many teams run 3/4 wides, and in some cases a second tight end mandates some kind of nickel because the second tight end is a WR/TE hybrid.
A three-man front works best in a sub-defense , especially when either DE can drop into coverage on a zone-blitze. It automaticly makes room for the extra cornerback, safety, or coverage linebacker.
A 5-2 could really be both OLB's with their hands on the ground or on the line as of the snap. A 4-4 could be a sub in which one OLB is on the line, and the other is replaced by a smaller, faster guy, including maybe a safety.
Pittsburgh does do all this stuff. What's in a name?
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Olympic Caliber Conclusion-Leaping
So now Mr. Horton has dismissed the notion of a hybrid defense, and said he would copy LeBeau's 3-4 from day one. If anybody ever read this, they could say I was wrong, but I'm in good company with Chudzinski.
I must say I love Horton's blunt honesty. The man doesn't seem to hedge or sugar-coat anything.
Frankly, though, I'm disappointed by the local amateur and pro press. This was a perfect opportunity for articles with titles like "Civil War in Berea", and "Horton defies Chudzinski". Rumors of shouting matches, guesses about who won the fistfight--stuff like that. Get on the stick, people! I need stuff to make fun of!
Anyway, I'm going to like Horton better and better, because I have a feeling that when he gets a stupid question or hears a stupid theory he won't try to be diplomatic in...correcting it.
I finally got so starved for news that I read the Bleacher Report again and man--this time it was worse than ever.
I can handle the Rubin at DE part, but not the Winn at OLB or else gone, or the Hughes at DE part. Really? I mean you look at their history and see that Hughes played DE sometimes in college and there you go he's a DE!
Hughes is another guy that people said Heckert overdrafted, and in among the bashing was the fact that he projected best as a 3-4 nose tackle and NOT as well as a 4-3 defensive tackle because he was SLOW! Nobody in their wildest dreams thought he could be a defensive end in ANY scheme.
Billy Winn, 6'3", 296: Oh yeah he'll either have to make the transition to OUTSIDE LINEBACKER or be released REALLY? No, why not make him a safety?
And 6'3" 280 Frostee Rucker? He's a goner. Apparantly the fastest of the candidates who's also a rush defensive tackle can't play DE here.
James Micheal Johnson has ceased to exist now--or at least now he can't cover?
Gocong has apparantly died, too, along with Acho and English. Rest in Peace, guys--stay tuned to the Bleacher Report for your eulogies.
Anyway, Horton came in here and didn't say anything until he looked at the roster. He saw what I and other rational people saw, and decided he can go all the way with the 3-4 with this core of people...with some additions.
I've said that English, Sheard, and Gocong might be able to play OLB here, but then again I don't believe we have any superstars, and will feel much better after they draft and sign at least one more OLB.
I've got information overload on the Senior Bowl, but did notice that Jim Miller of NFL Radio (as of thursday) liked E J Manuel best among all the quarterbacks. His accurate weight is 234-238 lbs., and he's 6'5". He's the most athletic/mobile quarterback here, and compares to Andrew Luck in this CONTEXT.
Miller said that he was the most consistant throughout the week, making one perfect throw after another.
I've read conflicting scouting reports on the guy (some of them dating back to the end of his junior season so put an asterisk there), but along with Miller's analysis and the consensus it's this: He CAN run but is perfectly comfortable in the pocket. He'll stand there and take the hit to throw it.
His college program IS compatible with the pros--it's just that in his version, he ran the hurry-up more than half the time, which had some scouts declaring it a gimmick offense, which is patently wrong.
I also read conflicting statistics on him...and I mean somebody at one website had somebody ELSE'S stats there, because his REAL completion percentage is over 66%, and yards-per-attempt over 9 (which is good).
He's used to going deep whenever possible.
Turner would love to have him. Turner's offense is quarterback-friendly, with similar reads to those Manuel is used to. Nothing at all would need to be modified to suit him.
One scouting report talked about an occasional inability to find open recievers, which chilled me, because that was exactly Weeden's issue last season. Remember the guy with the telestrator circling three open guys while Weeden gets sacked?
But this was one of the older reports, and in the same report it talked about his inability to rise to the occasion and win the big games.
He won every Bowl game...what? In fact, the biggest intangible about E J Manuel is that he IS a clutch-performer!!
Again in the Bleacher Report this other goober discussed quarterback possibilities, and ignored arm-strength. Turner needs a guy who can throw it deep.
Of the guys mentioned, Alex Smith was probably the one that made sense. His arm is good enough, and only that superhuman freak Kapernik kept him on the bench after he was injured.
A trade for him would require the Browns' first round pick, but if his salary forces his outright release, the Browns could sign him if they just bid high enough (a trillion jillion bucks). Turner has worked with Smith, and Smith knows his system.
But the non-endorsement of Weeden means only that. It's not a condemnation. The Coaches would be morons to declare this guy the starter before they've even had a chance to work with him personally. They must see if his inability to see wide open recievers, propensity to hold the ball til he gets sacked, and inaccuracy throwing on the move are correctable.
I had thought these issues couldn't be fixed before hearing Gannon and Miller talk about it: The ex-quarterbacks think it's not that he doesn't SEE the recievers, but because he doesn't trust what he sees...like he sees an Ed Reed hiding behind every linebacker, and in every shadow.
If so, then Turner will fix him immediately in this system. Vertical routes are very trustworthy. Nobody can sneak up on or jump them.
Colt McCoy could have trade value to a West Coast team up to and including a third round pick. He's a West Coast QB who no longer fits here.
I know it's early and my knowlege is shallow, but right now I would hope for Manuel to last into the third round for the Browns. But after he clocks a 4.6 or something at the combine and stuff, that probably won't happen. And a trade-down in the rookie-cap era is less likely.
That would be ideal, though: For Weeden to get his head out and start kicking butt in this Turner-made offense, and to have Manuel (or somebody like him) watching and learning.
I saved the best for last: A wide reciever runs down the field, makes a break, and catches the ball. There are some hand-fighting techniques, ways to push off and get away with it, keep your hands down til the last instant, and stuff like that to learn, but it's not rocket science at all.
The Browns do NOT need a veteran wide reciever.
Anyway, Little enters his third season. When exactly do you become a veteran in Cleveland? When you turn 30?
And by the way, quit calling him inconsistant. He quit dropping passes early in the season and has been doing great ever since.
Who do you want to kick to the curb to make room for your rent-a-geezer? Benjamin? Norwood?
By the way, these little guys could see more action with Norv Turner. Little and Gordon are the obvious starters, but the two little guys are the perfect complement from the slot or in a 4-wide. They can not only dart and dash around underneath like Welker, but go vertical against guys who can't jam them (or catch them). Two big guys and two smurfs!
Regrettably, Josh Cribbs may be a goner. It's a money thing, you see? He's crowding thirty and there's no room for him at wide reciever. Benjamin and two other guys can return kicks and punts, and part of Josh's success as a returner is strong special teams talent around him.
I love his guts and class, and I'd love to keep him, but the competition for him will make him too expensive--unless he accepts less money to remain here, which I doubt.
I don't care about Dawson's age--he's a kicker so it doesn't matter that much. They should pay him. But this is Joe Banner, and he'll have a definite bottom line on this. We can hope that this bottom line is top 3 kicker money, but I don't know. Some idiot will probably overpay some kicker somewhere and make it too rediculous, even for Phil.
YOU STAND CORRECTED.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
The Coaches
I don't want to talk about Lombardi.
...but damn, the coaches are HERE! Chud can just step back and look for leaks, because he has two elite coordinators.
Horton is a chip of La Beau's block!
People need to calm down about him coming in here and doing the square peg in the round hole stuff. You act as if a 3-4 guy can't comprehend the complexities of the 4-3 defense. The fact is that any 3-4 guy can run a 4-3, like any computer programmer can save a web page to favorites. It's just hard for them to stay awake.
Grossi mentioned Taylor as a possible defensive end, which is smart. But he skipped Winn, who is also a candidate. No, not Rubin, or Hughes, or the other guys--just those two who have decent height and speed/range. This roster has all the nose tackles it can use, but the potential DE's are these two and Frostee Rucker.
Winn and Sheard are at risk. While Horton won't blow the whole thing up instantly, and will probably indeed run a hybrid while phasing in the 3-4, eventually EVENTUALLY DO YOU UNDERSTAND these two will need to master new positions or be traded.
But people don't seem to understand what a 3-4 DE does. They normally line up a little (sometimes a lot) INSIDE the tackles, specificly to get inside leverage on them. They engage the tackles and try to remain in the guard-tackle ("B") gap til they diagnose the play.
They do need to be able to pursue laterally or penetrate verticly, so they need pretty good wheels, but more importantly they need to be pretty big, as they get double-teamed themselves a lot. Height/reach is important, because the tackles tend to be 6'4" and taller, and they need to keep those guys off them.
Sheard is a good example of a 4-3 DE. He lines up outside the tackle and is responsible for containment. He's 6'2", but much quicker and faster than the other guys.
Anyway, this is why Winn and Taylor might well be able to play DE in the 3-4. I may be hammering this too hard, but I keep reading some of the dumbest analysis and opinions about this being unthinkable.
In fact, Taylor in particular might be exceptional in this role. He can overpower some offensive tackles; bull-rush, penetrate after engagement, etc. Winn doesn't have the same explosive start, but has better game speed than any of the other guys except Rucker.
Scott Paxson could also surprise. A former linebacker, he played well as a rotational DT. He's 6'4", 292, and has an explosive first step. He might do better as a 3-4 DE.
In short, a 3-4 defensive line, 4-deep, may already be here. Nose tackle is covered.
Linebacker is more complicated. Grossi made another assumption about the acquisition of two outside linebackers being mandatory. He even mentions Gocong in the same article!
Chris Gocong was a passrushing defensive END in college. He was drafted by the Eagles into a 4-3 system and turned into a 4-3 linebacker. He came here never having played in a 3-4, and the personnel dictated that he be used mainly inside.
The knock on Gocong as an outside linebacker is mostly a 4-3 knock: He's weak in coverage. He can do everything else, including blitze the quarterback. Horton will probably find a way to make the most of him.
Just because you never heard of Auston English doesn't mean he sucks. He is another defensive end, converted to linebacker in the NFL. He was kicking butt in the 4-3 when he got injured, but he's a much better prospect for the 3-4!!!
I'm not saying that he's another (human) James Harrison...but he might be, and for Grossi to ignore him and Gocong is pretty shallow.
Grossi also said that Jackson wasn't nearly as effective in a 3-4 as he is in a 4-3, and that's patently wrong. Naturally, he didn't get the same number of tackles, but jeez what do you expect?
To go next to him, there are many candidates: Robertson, Acho, Fort, and (especially) Johnson, who has a little more size.
Sheard is the biggest question mark. He was tried at OLB by 3-4 teams at his combine, as he has enough speed to do it. But here's another guy Grossi dismissed, but at least he said why:
Tony said he was getting too big. Well, he was strong side defensive end and was no doubt deliberately bulking up to stand up to 320 lb. right tackles. He might or might not be able to play linebacker.
And there you go: While outside linebacker is way more iffy than defensive line, the components of a La Beau 3-4 may already be here--or at least good depth at the position.
But like Horton said, he'll see what he has before he knows what he'll do with it.
And then the Browns have a ton of cap space, and the draft...
Oh yeah, Lombardi...nevermind.
...but damn, the coaches are HERE! Chud can just step back and look for leaks, because he has two elite coordinators.
Horton is a chip of La Beau's block!
People need to calm down about him coming in here and doing the square peg in the round hole stuff. You act as if a 3-4 guy can't comprehend the complexities of the 4-3 defense. The fact is that any 3-4 guy can run a 4-3, like any computer programmer can save a web page to favorites. It's just hard for them to stay awake.
Grossi mentioned Taylor as a possible defensive end, which is smart. But he skipped Winn, who is also a candidate. No, not Rubin, or Hughes, or the other guys--just those two who have decent height and speed/range. This roster has all the nose tackles it can use, but the potential DE's are these two and Frostee Rucker.
Winn and Sheard are at risk. While Horton won't blow the whole thing up instantly, and will probably indeed run a hybrid while phasing in the 3-4, eventually EVENTUALLY DO YOU UNDERSTAND these two will need to master new positions or be traded.
But people don't seem to understand what a 3-4 DE does. They normally line up a little (sometimes a lot) INSIDE the tackles, specificly to get inside leverage on them. They engage the tackles and try to remain in the guard-tackle ("B") gap til they diagnose the play.
They do need to be able to pursue laterally or penetrate verticly, so they need pretty good wheels, but more importantly they need to be pretty big, as they get double-teamed themselves a lot. Height/reach is important, because the tackles tend to be 6'4" and taller, and they need to keep those guys off them.
Sheard is a good example of a 4-3 DE. He lines up outside the tackle and is responsible for containment. He's 6'2", but much quicker and faster than the other guys.
Anyway, this is why Winn and Taylor might well be able to play DE in the 3-4. I may be hammering this too hard, but I keep reading some of the dumbest analysis and opinions about this being unthinkable.
In fact, Taylor in particular might be exceptional in this role. He can overpower some offensive tackles; bull-rush, penetrate after engagement, etc. Winn doesn't have the same explosive start, but has better game speed than any of the other guys except Rucker.
Scott Paxson could also surprise. A former linebacker, he played well as a rotational DT. He's 6'4", 292, and has an explosive first step. He might do better as a 3-4 DE.
In short, a 3-4 defensive line, 4-deep, may already be here. Nose tackle is covered.
Linebacker is more complicated. Grossi made another assumption about the acquisition of two outside linebackers being mandatory. He even mentions Gocong in the same article!
Chris Gocong was a passrushing defensive END in college. He was drafted by the Eagles into a 4-3 system and turned into a 4-3 linebacker. He came here never having played in a 3-4, and the personnel dictated that he be used mainly inside.
The knock on Gocong as an outside linebacker is mostly a 4-3 knock: He's weak in coverage. He can do everything else, including blitze the quarterback. Horton will probably find a way to make the most of him.
Just because you never heard of Auston English doesn't mean he sucks. He is another defensive end, converted to linebacker in the NFL. He was kicking butt in the 4-3 when he got injured, but he's a much better prospect for the 3-4!!!
I'm not saying that he's another (human) James Harrison...but he might be, and for Grossi to ignore him and Gocong is pretty shallow.
Grossi also said that Jackson wasn't nearly as effective in a 3-4 as he is in a 4-3, and that's patently wrong. Naturally, he didn't get the same number of tackles, but jeez what do you expect?
To go next to him, there are many candidates: Robertson, Acho, Fort, and (especially) Johnson, who has a little more size.
Sheard is the biggest question mark. He was tried at OLB by 3-4 teams at his combine, as he has enough speed to do it. But here's another guy Grossi dismissed, but at least he said why:
Tony said he was getting too big. Well, he was strong side defensive end and was no doubt deliberately bulking up to stand up to 320 lb. right tackles. He might or might not be able to play linebacker.
And there you go: While outside linebacker is way more iffy than defensive line, the components of a La Beau 3-4 may already be here--or at least good depth at the position.
But like Horton said, he'll see what he has before he knows what he'll do with it.
And then the Browns have a ton of cap space, and the draft...
Oh yeah, Lombardi...nevermind.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Rahim Morris
Former Head Coach Rahim Morris is probably the hottest candidate to be the Browns next Defensive Coordinator.
I truly wish that Chud would reconsider dumping Dick Jauron, but he seems bound and determined to install some sort of hybrid defense. I don't think Jauron is flexible enough for him.
John Pagano probably stays in San Diego, promoting Morris to the short list.
Rahim Morris is similar, and not at all shy about telling you: He adapts his defense to his talent. He'll run whatever front makes the most of it, and he prides himself on thinking outside the box.
The Browns do have most of the people to run a 4-3, mainly lacking a passrushing DE to place opposite Sheard. In an article I couldn't make myself read, it was suggested that the Browns need help at linebacker in this scheme, so I guess everybody on IR died, and the THREE young guys were mirages.
No, here on Earth, the front seven just needs a passrushing DE.
But as I said in a previous post, the Browns are also closer to a 3-4 than most people ASSUME.
The beauty of the hybrid notion is that the passrushing DE in question could also be a 3-4 outside linebacker!
Austin English and Gocong will come off IR next season and hopefully be in good shape. Gocong, a converted passrushing DE himself, is a given OLB candidate, and English has the tools--although I doubt that you'd want his hand on the ground.
While my theories about Taylor and Wynn at 3-4 DE are outside the sheep-pen and have yet to be proven, if I'm right, this defense is ONE PLAYER away from a soup-to-nuts hybrid defense.
If not Jauron, let it be Morris.
I truly wish that Chud would reconsider dumping Dick Jauron, but he seems bound and determined to install some sort of hybrid defense. I don't think Jauron is flexible enough for him.
John Pagano probably stays in San Diego, promoting Morris to the short list.
Rahim Morris is similar, and not at all shy about telling you: He adapts his defense to his talent. He'll run whatever front makes the most of it, and he prides himself on thinking outside the box.
The Browns do have most of the people to run a 4-3, mainly lacking a passrushing DE to place opposite Sheard. In an article I couldn't make myself read, it was suggested that the Browns need help at linebacker in this scheme, so I guess everybody on IR died, and the THREE young guys were mirages.
No, here on Earth, the front seven just needs a passrushing DE.
But as I said in a previous post, the Browns are also closer to a 3-4 than most people ASSUME.
The beauty of the hybrid notion is that the passrushing DE in question could also be a 3-4 outside linebacker!
Austin English and Gocong will come off IR next season and hopefully be in good shape. Gocong, a converted passrushing DE himself, is a given OLB candidate, and English has the tools--although I doubt that you'd want his hand on the ground.
While my theories about Taylor and Wynn at 3-4 DE are outside the sheep-pen and have yet to be proven, if I'm right, this defense is ONE PLAYER away from a soup-to-nuts hybrid defense.
If not Jauron, let it be Morris.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Logo
The Browns are the only team without a logo.
That's unique.
Why do you want to be like everybody else? Are you a sheep? Baaa! Baaa!
Skip the damn logo.
That's unique.
Why do you want to be like everybody else? Are you a sheep? Baaa! Baaa!
Skip the damn logo.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Probably No Pagano
John Pagano will be retained by the Chargers. I don't know about his contract terms, but he's probably locked in even if he wants to leave.
Where this leaves the Browns in the defensive coordinator dept., I don't know. I do know that Dick Jauron is, at the moment, still under contract. As before, I believe he should stay.
But it seems that Chud has been influenced by Pagano, and by his first head coach, Bill Belichick. I believe he wants a hybrid defense like theirs, which leaves Dick out.
And after further research, I now understand that this is what they really mean. Not a 4-3, but not neccessarily a 3-4 either. The Ravens and the Patriots run hybrids. The Steelers run a 3-4. They're different.
Chud is talking about a defense which, put simply, is flexible and adaptable. Call it the UFO defense, or the whatever works defense. This is what Pagano does.
In the first place, a base defense means much less today than it did a decade ago, because sub-packages are on the field over 60% of the time.
Pagano, like Belichick, likes multiple fronts. Sometimes there are two down linemen, sometimes five...occasionally only one.
Two DE/LB hybrids and one real nose tackle are needed for the whole to work like it should. Any good true middle or inside linebackers fill multiple roles, but take up the inside of the 3-4. Then you need two DT/DE hybrids for DE's in the 3-4.
But the system STARTS OUT flexible, so that if some of the 3-4 parts are missing, you simply figure out how best to get your best five to seven players on the field as much as you can.
It is indeed pretty sophisticated, but the underlying principle is this:
Priority 1: Get your best players on the field.
Priority 2: Put them in positions to let them do what they do best (and exploit matchups).
As I've mentioned before, the current Browns roster may already have most of the pieces to run a 3-4, but Pagano, or anybody like him, wouldn't do what I suggested (before I did my homework).
I come back to Bill Belichick. He came here and determined that MDP was not suitable to play nose tackle, so he changed his system to let him attack and penetrate.
Note: Yes MDP did complain and ask to be traded later, but this was because of the system. He was targeted for double-teams and had no one to take a blocker off him. Bill simply felt it would be stupid to run a 4-3 with the other guys he had, and doesn't like selfish players.
Anyway, he saw Clay Matthews and made the most of him as well. At first, he was a de-facto lineman because he stood at the line of scrimmage in the tight end's face. This was technicly a 4-3.
If someone LIKE Pagano comes here, they'll see 75% of a 4-3 defensive line, because Frostee Rucker is more a 3-4 than a 4-3 DE. He might, in fact, see more of a 3-4 defensive line in which he could leave Rucker where he is, Rubin, Hughes, or Taylor where they are, and try Taylor and Winn at strong side defensive end.
Stifle the kneejerk reactions to that last part. 3-4 defensive ends don't have the same containment responsibilities as the 4-3 type, and are by definition inside rushers who line up inside the tackles. They need good range and the ability to shed blocks, which both these guys have.
Now, he might look at Sheard and see...well...
Pundits are talking about how he couldn't fit, but scouts at the combine were testing him at OLB. Sheard may or may not be able to play that position, but a Coach like one of these guys would try to find a place for him anyway, and might well modify the scheme to make it happen.
He'd see Jackson and the rookie with three names as his inside linebackers, Gocong as an outside and situational inside guy (Gocong was a sackmaster defensive END in college, ya know), and take a hard look at Auston English, who has the size and passrushing ablilty to play outside in this scheme.
Beyond those two, this roster is short on potential 3-4 OLB's and DE's, but neck deep in nose tackles and inside linebackers.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Maybe they keep Jauron I hope.
Where this leaves the Browns in the defensive coordinator dept., I don't know. I do know that Dick Jauron is, at the moment, still under contract. As before, I believe he should stay.
But it seems that Chud has been influenced by Pagano, and by his first head coach, Bill Belichick. I believe he wants a hybrid defense like theirs, which leaves Dick out.
And after further research, I now understand that this is what they really mean. Not a 4-3, but not neccessarily a 3-4 either. The Ravens and the Patriots run hybrids. The Steelers run a 3-4. They're different.
Chud is talking about a defense which, put simply, is flexible and adaptable. Call it the UFO defense, or the whatever works defense. This is what Pagano does.
In the first place, a base defense means much less today than it did a decade ago, because sub-packages are on the field over 60% of the time.
Pagano, like Belichick, likes multiple fronts. Sometimes there are two down linemen, sometimes five...occasionally only one.
Two DE/LB hybrids and one real nose tackle are needed for the whole to work like it should. Any good true middle or inside linebackers fill multiple roles, but take up the inside of the 3-4. Then you need two DT/DE hybrids for DE's in the 3-4.
But the system STARTS OUT flexible, so that if some of the 3-4 parts are missing, you simply figure out how best to get your best five to seven players on the field as much as you can.
It is indeed pretty sophisticated, but the underlying principle is this:
Priority 1: Get your best players on the field.
Priority 2: Put them in positions to let them do what they do best (and exploit matchups).
As I've mentioned before, the current Browns roster may already have most of the pieces to run a 3-4, but Pagano, or anybody like him, wouldn't do what I suggested (before I did my homework).
I come back to Bill Belichick. He came here and determined that MDP was not suitable to play nose tackle, so he changed his system to let him attack and penetrate.
Note: Yes MDP did complain and ask to be traded later, but this was because of the system. He was targeted for double-teams and had no one to take a blocker off him. Bill simply felt it would be stupid to run a 4-3 with the other guys he had, and doesn't like selfish players.
Anyway, he saw Clay Matthews and made the most of him as well. At first, he was a de-facto lineman because he stood at the line of scrimmage in the tight end's face. This was technicly a 4-3.
If someone LIKE Pagano comes here, they'll see 75% of a 4-3 defensive line, because Frostee Rucker is more a 3-4 than a 4-3 DE. He might, in fact, see more of a 3-4 defensive line in which he could leave Rucker where he is, Rubin, Hughes, or Taylor where they are, and try Taylor and Winn at strong side defensive end.
Stifle the kneejerk reactions to that last part. 3-4 defensive ends don't have the same containment responsibilities as the 4-3 type, and are by definition inside rushers who line up inside the tackles. They need good range and the ability to shed blocks, which both these guys have.
Now, he might look at Sheard and see...well...
Pundits are talking about how he couldn't fit, but scouts at the combine were testing him at OLB. Sheard may or may not be able to play that position, but a Coach like one of these guys would try to find a place for him anyway, and might well modify the scheme to make it happen.
He'd see Jackson and the rookie with three names as his inside linebackers, Gocong as an outside and situational inside guy (Gocong was a sackmaster defensive END in college, ya know), and take a hard look at Auston English, who has the size and passrushing ablilty to play outside in this scheme.
Beyond those two, this roster is short on potential 3-4 OLB's and DE's, but neck deep in nose tackles and inside linebackers.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Maybe they keep Jauron I hope.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Here We Go Again
Sigh. I suppose I can appreciate Chud wanting people he's familiar with. I know that John Pagano (brother of the Colts' Head Coach) is known to be a really good defensive coordinator.
But Dick Jauron was doing a great job, and most of the personnel for a 4-3 just got here...
And here we go again.
Well, wait a minute. Pagano has been an assistant on 4-3 teams, does understand the 4-3, and if he was mentally impaired, somebody on NFL Radio would have mentioned it by now.
Bill Belichick was a "3-4 guy", but in his first season as a Browns' Head Coach, he ran the 4-3 he'd inherited. For a 3-4 coach, the 4-3 is pretty simple.
A note here: Chud talked about an "attacking" defense.
Well, there are different types of 3-4. The basic type has the three defensive linemen playing two-gap, trying to monopolize the five offensive linemen and force the tight end to chip. Another type sends one of more linemen into gaps, going for penetration.
I think that's the type we're talking about here. It's high risk, high reward because the uneven penetration opens gaps for cutbacks, and can allow mobile quarterbacks to scramble for gains and buy time.
But the penetrators still often require double-team blocking. A guard or center often will bypass the lineman to target a linebacker, but this is only because the defensive linemen has deliberately lined up where he can't get at him without running right through the pocket.
This type of 3-4 surrenders some big plays, but also blows a lot of stuff up in the backfield. And it's coordinated to minimize the damage, as on every down at least one linebacker is also coming, and both are assigned to containment.
This much I like, and it's why I like the 3-4 better (although I for sure would have kept Jauron here--but this is reality so let's make the most of it).
A few of the pieces are here: Frostee Rucker can play 3-4 DE, Rubin and Taylor nose tackle...Taylor at DE? I don't know. Sheard can play outside linebacker, but I just don't know how well. At that position, he'd be somewhat on the slow side, and I cringe when I think about him trying to stay with a tight end.
There are no shortage of inside linebackers on this roster. In fact, along with nose tackle, that's a huge bright spot. Along with Jackson, the Browns have three rookies who should be a little bigger and stronger next season, and who are very good pure linebackers.
Austin English might come back from his injury, and he'll have a shot both outside and inside. He's highly underrated. He came out of college at 6'3", 252 but could well be closer to 260 when he returns, so he'll be tried outside first.
If Chris Gocong can return from injury, now there's a 3-4 outside linebacker! Or inside, for that matter!
James Micheal Johnson might be the favorite to go with Jackson inside, because he has more bulk than the other guys rookies, and isn't as good a prospect outside.
...Yes Taylor could be tried at left defensive end, because he matches up well with most right tackles, and does have unusual quickness and range for his size. This is possible because in a 3-4 linebackers often have containment responsibilities.
Billy Winn might actually be a pretty GOOD 3-4 defensive end! Wow, I'm starting to get excited here! Winn can really run!
And Kitchen might be a good nose tackle!
There. I've talked myself into thinking that they're a couple free agents or draft picks away from a 3-4. I feel better now don't say anything bye.
But Dick Jauron was doing a great job, and most of the personnel for a 4-3 just got here...
And here we go again.
Well, wait a minute. Pagano has been an assistant on 4-3 teams, does understand the 4-3, and if he was mentally impaired, somebody on NFL Radio would have mentioned it by now.
Bill Belichick was a "3-4 guy", but in his first season as a Browns' Head Coach, he ran the 4-3 he'd inherited. For a 3-4 coach, the 4-3 is pretty simple.
A note here: Chud talked about an "attacking" defense.
Well, there are different types of 3-4. The basic type has the three defensive linemen playing two-gap, trying to monopolize the five offensive linemen and force the tight end to chip. Another type sends one of more linemen into gaps, going for penetration.
I think that's the type we're talking about here. It's high risk, high reward because the uneven penetration opens gaps for cutbacks, and can allow mobile quarterbacks to scramble for gains and buy time.
But the penetrators still often require double-team blocking. A guard or center often will bypass the lineman to target a linebacker, but this is only because the defensive linemen has deliberately lined up where he can't get at him without running right through the pocket.
This type of 3-4 surrenders some big plays, but also blows a lot of stuff up in the backfield. And it's coordinated to minimize the damage, as on every down at least one linebacker is also coming, and both are assigned to containment.
This much I like, and it's why I like the 3-4 better (although I for sure would have kept Jauron here--but this is reality so let's make the most of it).
A few of the pieces are here: Frostee Rucker can play 3-4 DE, Rubin and Taylor nose tackle...Taylor at DE? I don't know. Sheard can play outside linebacker, but I just don't know how well. At that position, he'd be somewhat on the slow side, and I cringe when I think about him trying to stay with a tight end.
There are no shortage of inside linebackers on this roster. In fact, along with nose tackle, that's a huge bright spot. Along with Jackson, the Browns have three rookies who should be a little bigger and stronger next season, and who are very good pure linebackers.
Austin English might come back from his injury, and he'll have a shot both outside and inside. He's highly underrated. He came out of college at 6'3", 252 but could well be closer to 260 when he returns, so he'll be tried outside first.
If Chris Gocong can return from injury, now there's a 3-4 outside linebacker! Or inside, for that matter!
James Micheal Johnson might be the favorite to go with Jackson inside, because he has more bulk than the other guys rookies, and isn't as good a prospect outside.
...Yes Taylor could be tried at left defensive end, because he matches up well with most right tackles, and does have unusual quickness and range for his size. This is possible because in a 3-4 linebackers often have containment responsibilities.
Billy Winn might actually be a pretty GOOD 3-4 defensive end! Wow, I'm starting to get excited here! Winn can really run!
And Kitchen might be a good nose tackle!
There. I've talked myself into thinking that they're a couple free agents or draft picks away from a 3-4. I feel better now don't say anything bye.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Chud and Norv
First of all, Chud is better-known than Mike Tomlin was, and I shouldn't (but DO) need to remind a lot of people that every great head coach was a coordinator first (with few exceptions: college coaches.)
If you want a "proven" retread, all of those people talk about except Cowher crapped out and were fired for suckdom.
Listening to NFL Radio, a fan from Cleveland called in with this about Chud: "...in that game, Derrick Anderson threw four interceptions. Chudzinski was the coordinator."
Well! I guess that's it! I mean a guy who orders his quarterback to throw interceptions is obviously incompetant! This guy should be in Congress!
I need to remind everybody of this, too: Chud (or Turner) never dropped a pass, fumbled, blew a route, or threw an interception.
There's no reason why Chud can't be a good or great head coach. He has a solid history as a position coach and coordinator, especially for those who comprehend that he doesn't blow routes/drop/fumble/throw interceptions.
Somehow, some people in Cleveland blame this guy for DA's inexplicable regression, Braylon Edwards dropping every fifth pass (much higher percentage in red zone), K2 getting injured, holes in his offensive line, weak recievers, and weak running backs, but I assure you he didn't do all that stuff.
That's why he was immediately re-hired by another team as a coordinator-where he tweaked and diddled his offense for the rookie Cam Newton. EVERYBODY said that Newton wasn't polished enough and would need a year to develop as a pro, but Chud got results immediately, and is widely admired for it.
I also insinctively like Chud because he grew up here and is one of us.
Here is a copy/paste of the entire email I got from my old pal Judge Mental:
Oh no another no name head coach! He wants norv turner (who has failed everywhere he has been). I know you will still be a Schill but oh well. You owe me .600 big ones that has to be thousands by now.
Norv Turner has been a below-average head coach but is universally respected as an EXCELLENT offensive coordinator whose offenses are always near the top in most categories.
He's further regarded as very good with quarterbacks. He's given maybe too much credit for developing Troy Aikman, but he certainly had a lot to do with it, as with his arrival Aikman in his second season was possibly the best quarterback in the NFL.
...and the Cowboys went from the basement to two Superbowl wins upon his arrival.
Turner's offense is an offshoot of Don "Air" Coryell's. It is a timing offense like the West Coast, but uses more deep routes.
Naturally Turner's version is unique to himself, and to date was most likely altered to fit the players he had to work with.
His offenses have been called "predictable", and maybe they are, because for each game he scripts thirteen or so first down plays. On fridays and in pre-game warmups, those are the only plays the offense practices.
Norv's priority is execution, so he doesn't have a 400-page playbook. He has a number of basic plays, but the same plays can be run from different formations in order to isolate a defender and confuse the defense. This is Peyton Manning's favorite offense.
Each reciever has two or three route options based on his reads. The recievers need to be smart, because the quarterback will throw to a spot before he makes his move.
Coryell wanted two deep recievers, but Turner has been sending one guy deep and sending others underneath. With the arrival of Chuck Muncie, Coryell also sort of pioneered the one-back spread offense, too--but I digress.
Norv loves the 2-back, and his base formation is a 21 (two backs, on tight end, two wide recievers).
Unlike Pat Shurmer, Norv likes to use a blocking fullback. I say unlike Pat Shurmer because Shurmer doesn't use a blocking back, so that's why Vickers was let go so shut up.
Ahead of the draft and free agency, and just talking about the roster he will inherit as of now, and based on tweaks he might make based on this, I will now speculate on what he might turn the Browns offense into:
Alex Smith last season worked as a fullback and H-Back in Shurmer's offensive system. Brad Smelley was a seventh-round rookie tight end who projected to a similar role. Owen Marecic was a true fullback thought to be a good blocker, but it's looking kinda grim for him, even with the system change.
Now, I simply don't buy that Turner wants a roster space taken up by a back who blocks but can't run or catch. Here I may be projecting my own biases, so there's your disclaimer.
Given Smelley and Smith, I believe he'll tweak the "fullback" into more of an H-Back who will line up at different spots and go in motion sometimes, and who will be an outlet reciever when not protecting or lead-blocking.
Smelley is a shorter, smaller guy who didn't do a lot of lead-blocking in college, but there's no reason he can't be good at it in his second season, and he can certainly line up anywhere. In fact, his shorter stature helps him change directions quicker and gives him more leverage.
Smith was a highly-touted tight end prospect with speed to go with blocking, but underachieved early-on, and was injured.
Heckert grabbed him cheap, and since he has been on this team he's done a great job. Shurmer actually tweaked his offense to get him on the field more, as he had to give Cameron some reps and to favor Ben Watson as a true tight end.
I do believe that what Turner will run here will technicly be a two-back, but with an expanded role for the fullback.
Coryell and all his followers wanted a strong-armed quarterback who could threaten every part of the field. This is Weeden and not the other guys. His arrival means that unless McCoy is much stronger this season, barring a free agent the Browns will sink or swim with Weeden.
Aside from the absence of a pure goon fullback, every other part of this offense is exactly tailor-made for Norv Turner to use. He's got the burners in Josh Gordon and Benjamin (and in reality Little can go deep), the running backS, the tight ends...
Speaking of which, all these guys can be wing and move tight ends. They can line up in the slot or wide, and they can run wide reciever routes. Coryell exploited this, and you can expect Turner to do it too.
The presence of a lead-blocker reduces the need for a Fanika-type pulling guard, and a smashmouth bulldozer line is perfectly okay. Joe Gibbs was also a Coryellian, and rode the Hogs to the Superbowl.
We can only hope: The Cowboys were 1-15 or something one year with the rookie Aikman, then they hired Norv and won a Superbowl. We can only hope that he can do the same for Weeden.
Norv's offense is deliberately simpler than Shurmer's West Coast, and there are a lot of similar concepts so that the transition won't be as tough as it could have been. This offense might even feel "easy" for Weeds.
The first read is always deep, and the progression comes down from there. This will make it easier for Weeden to progress through them, and make him happy because he's a mad bomber at heart.
The second back makes it harder for a defense to send extra people after him, and (if I'm right about how he'll adapt to the people he's got) there will be no shortage of bail-out catch-and-runners...
If Brandon Weeden trusts his reads and GETS RID OF THE DAMN BALL. Remember when he banged his head on Thomas's leg and was concussed? Did you see Joe's non-reaction? They won't say it, but trust me, the offensive linemen are sick of protecting him for eight or nine seconds and still giving up a sack.
I've had Gene Hickerson in my taxi cab. He hated Bernie Kosar! Later in his carreer, Saint Bernard took a whole bunch of 9-10-second sacks. I suggested he was trying to get Belichick fired. Gene wouldn't comment on that.
Another thing about Turner the OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR is that he's a great playcaller.
Here's the best Article written by Norv Turner on his offensive philosophy. I've found
If you want a "proven" retread, all of those people talk about except Cowher crapped out and were fired for suckdom.
Listening to NFL Radio, a fan from Cleveland called in with this about Chud: "...in that game, Derrick Anderson threw four interceptions. Chudzinski was the coordinator."
Well! I guess that's it! I mean a guy who orders his quarterback to throw interceptions is obviously incompetant! This guy should be in Congress!
I need to remind everybody of this, too: Chud (or Turner) never dropped a pass, fumbled, blew a route, or threw an interception.
There's no reason why Chud can't be a good or great head coach. He has a solid history as a position coach and coordinator, especially for those who comprehend that he doesn't blow routes/drop/fumble/throw interceptions.
Somehow, some people in Cleveland blame this guy for DA's inexplicable regression, Braylon Edwards dropping every fifth pass (much higher percentage in red zone), K2 getting injured, holes in his offensive line, weak recievers, and weak running backs, but I assure you he didn't do all that stuff.
That's why he was immediately re-hired by another team as a coordinator-where he tweaked and diddled his offense for the rookie Cam Newton. EVERYBODY said that Newton wasn't polished enough and would need a year to develop as a pro, but Chud got results immediately, and is widely admired for it.
I also insinctively like Chud because he grew up here and is one of us.
Here is a copy/paste of the entire email I got from my old pal Judge Mental:
Oh no another no name head coach! He wants norv turner (who has failed everywhere he has been). I know you will still be a Schill but oh well. You owe me .600 big ones that has to be thousands by now.
Norv Turner has been a below-average head coach but is universally respected as an EXCELLENT offensive coordinator whose offenses are always near the top in most categories.
He's further regarded as very good with quarterbacks. He's given maybe too much credit for developing Troy Aikman, but he certainly had a lot to do with it, as with his arrival Aikman in his second season was possibly the best quarterback in the NFL.
...and the Cowboys went from the basement to two Superbowl wins upon his arrival.
Turner's offense is an offshoot of Don "Air" Coryell's. It is a timing offense like the West Coast, but uses more deep routes.
Naturally Turner's version is unique to himself, and to date was most likely altered to fit the players he had to work with.
His offenses have been called "predictable", and maybe they are, because for each game he scripts thirteen or so first down plays. On fridays and in pre-game warmups, those are the only plays the offense practices.
Norv's priority is execution, so he doesn't have a 400-page playbook. He has a number of basic plays, but the same plays can be run from different formations in order to isolate a defender and confuse the defense. This is Peyton Manning's favorite offense.
Each reciever has two or three route options based on his reads. The recievers need to be smart, because the quarterback will throw to a spot before he makes his move.
Coryell wanted two deep recievers, but Turner has been sending one guy deep and sending others underneath. With the arrival of Chuck Muncie, Coryell also sort of pioneered the one-back spread offense, too--but I digress.
Norv loves the 2-back, and his base formation is a 21 (two backs, on tight end, two wide recievers).
Unlike Pat Shurmer, Norv likes to use a blocking fullback. I say unlike Pat Shurmer because Shurmer doesn't use a blocking back, so that's why Vickers was let go so shut up.
Ahead of the draft and free agency, and just talking about the roster he will inherit as of now, and based on tweaks he might make based on this, I will now speculate on what he might turn the Browns offense into:
Alex Smith last season worked as a fullback and H-Back in Shurmer's offensive system. Brad Smelley was a seventh-round rookie tight end who projected to a similar role. Owen Marecic was a true fullback thought to be a good blocker, but it's looking kinda grim for him, even with the system change.
Now, I simply don't buy that Turner wants a roster space taken up by a back who blocks but can't run or catch. Here I may be projecting my own biases, so there's your disclaimer.
Given Smelley and Smith, I believe he'll tweak the "fullback" into more of an H-Back who will line up at different spots and go in motion sometimes, and who will be an outlet reciever when not protecting or lead-blocking.
Smelley is a shorter, smaller guy who didn't do a lot of lead-blocking in college, but there's no reason he can't be good at it in his second season, and he can certainly line up anywhere. In fact, his shorter stature helps him change directions quicker and gives him more leverage.
Smith was a highly-touted tight end prospect with speed to go with blocking, but underachieved early-on, and was injured.
Heckert grabbed him cheap, and since he has been on this team he's done a great job. Shurmer actually tweaked his offense to get him on the field more, as he had to give Cameron some reps and to favor Ben Watson as a true tight end.
I do believe that what Turner will run here will technicly be a two-back, but with an expanded role for the fullback.
Coryell and all his followers wanted a strong-armed quarterback who could threaten every part of the field. This is Weeden and not the other guys. His arrival means that unless McCoy is much stronger this season, barring a free agent the Browns will sink or swim with Weeden.
Aside from the absence of a pure goon fullback, every other part of this offense is exactly tailor-made for Norv Turner to use. He's got the burners in Josh Gordon and Benjamin (and in reality Little can go deep), the running backS, the tight ends...
Speaking of which, all these guys can be wing and move tight ends. They can line up in the slot or wide, and they can run wide reciever routes. Coryell exploited this, and you can expect Turner to do it too.
The presence of a lead-blocker reduces the need for a Fanika-type pulling guard, and a smashmouth bulldozer line is perfectly okay. Joe Gibbs was also a Coryellian, and rode the Hogs to the Superbowl.
We can only hope: The Cowboys were 1-15 or something one year with the rookie Aikman, then they hired Norv and won a Superbowl. We can only hope that he can do the same for Weeden.
Norv's offense is deliberately simpler than Shurmer's West Coast, and there are a lot of similar concepts so that the transition won't be as tough as it could have been. This offense might even feel "easy" for Weeds.
The first read is always deep, and the progression comes down from there. This will make it easier for Weeden to progress through them, and make him happy because he's a mad bomber at heart.
The second back makes it harder for a defense to send extra people after him, and (if I'm right about how he'll adapt to the people he's got) there will be no shortage of bail-out catch-and-runners...
If Brandon Weeden trusts his reads and GETS RID OF THE DAMN BALL. Remember when he banged his head on Thomas's leg and was concussed? Did you see Joe's non-reaction? They won't say it, but trust me, the offensive linemen are sick of protecting him for eight or nine seconds and still giving up a sack.
I've had Gene Hickerson in my taxi cab. He hated Bernie Kosar! Later in his carreer, Saint Bernard took a whole bunch of 9-10-second sacks. I suggested he was trying to get Belichick fired. Gene wouldn't comment on that.
Another thing about Turner the OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR is that he's a great playcaller.
Here's the best Article written by Norv Turner on his offensive philosophy. I've found
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Comments On Comments
1: Chudzinski was probably in on the decision to go with Derrick Anderson after his 10-6 season. DA appeared to have turned a corner and turned into a good quarterback during his first season as a starter.
EVERYBODY thought so, probably including the clown who said that this opinion should disqualify him as a potential head coach.
2: I heard screaming, and I tracked down the noise to the Bleacher Report. As I had suspected, somebody else had logic chained up in their basement and was torturing it.
This person was advocating the hiring of a 3-4 defensive coordinator as the next head coach.
Before my eyes started bleeding, either Taylor or Rubin was implicitly a defensive end, Sheard was a linebacker, and Dick Jauron was presumably kicked to the curb.
I won't bother to take that apart, but this raises the issue of Jauron and his defense. The guys on NFL Radio seem to think that dick will be moving on, but I have yet to hear why.
The only things I can think of are Banner being a butthead or Jauron accepting a better offer and being released from his contract by a butthead.
What Jauron (and Heckert) did with the 3-4 Mangini defense they inheritted was almost a miracle. They had a nose tackle with no real defensive ends or depth behind him. Gocong and (especially) Jackson fit the new scheme, but they were otherwise 4-3 linebacker-starved.
But somehow Jauron immediately fielded a respectable defense.
I personally like the 3-4 a lot better, but Dick's results sort of converted me. His defense is not complex, so that new players learn it quickly. By design, the pass rush is built into the front four so that blitzes can be sent from any angle and at any time, and the linebackers can be quicker and more athletic (ie real linebackers).
These players can play on instinct and not think so much, and personnel guys can focus more on pure athletic talent.
The rebuilding of this defense isn't complete yet. A better passrushing weakside DE would make a huge difference, and a "special" kind of outside linebacker would help a lot...
Although Cocong was really tearing it up when he got injured, and there are three other pretty good players (note: two undrafted free agents the guy Banner fired dug up). One more really good corner, too. Basicly two or three players would make this an elite defense.
...and now you want to turn it into a 3-4? For that matter, why on earth would you want to get rid of Jauron, or even think that the next head coach would want to? I mean, they want a SMART head coach, don't they?
One of the interview questions should be "Would you want to replace Dick Jauron?" If the guys says "yes", they should say "Don't call us, we'll call you."
3: The Browns played very well for most of the season. The problem was at the most important position on the team: Quarterback. This is the single biggest reason why Marc Trestman is the best Head Coach candidate.
He's now a West Coast guy, and a similar system is in place. But unlike Shurmer, Trestman has run different systems as a coordinator, and as Rich Gannon will tell you, will tailor his offense to suit a particular player.
Tony Grossi's source is right about the guards. They're all bulldozers who can also pass protect ok, but they can't pull or zone-block well. A left guard with some wheels would make a big difference, but other than the quarterback and guards there's nothing at all wrong with this offense.
IF one of the quarterbacks on this roster can (or is allowed to) be consistant and even just a little above average, the Browns can win a lot more games.
The Browns are NOT five or six players away. They're ONE player away, and other upgrades just move postions from solid to good, or from good to real good.
They DON'T need a wide reciever, tight end, or running back, and even a more athletic guard is not manditory.
Between the draft and free agency, they could land a very good cornerback, pulling guard, passrushing weakside defensive end, and the rest is sort of gravy.
Hire Marc Trestman. With a decent quarterback, the sky is the limit in 2013.
EVERYBODY thought so, probably including the clown who said that this opinion should disqualify him as a potential head coach.
2: I heard screaming, and I tracked down the noise to the Bleacher Report. As I had suspected, somebody else had logic chained up in their basement and was torturing it.
This person was advocating the hiring of a 3-4 defensive coordinator as the next head coach.
Before my eyes started bleeding, either Taylor or Rubin was implicitly a defensive end, Sheard was a linebacker, and Dick Jauron was presumably kicked to the curb.
I won't bother to take that apart, but this raises the issue of Jauron and his defense. The guys on NFL Radio seem to think that dick will be moving on, but I have yet to hear why.
The only things I can think of are Banner being a butthead or Jauron accepting a better offer and being released from his contract by a butthead.
What Jauron (and Heckert) did with the 3-4 Mangini defense they inheritted was almost a miracle. They had a nose tackle with no real defensive ends or depth behind him. Gocong and (especially) Jackson fit the new scheme, but they were otherwise 4-3 linebacker-starved.
But somehow Jauron immediately fielded a respectable defense.
I personally like the 3-4 a lot better, but Dick's results sort of converted me. His defense is not complex, so that new players learn it quickly. By design, the pass rush is built into the front four so that blitzes can be sent from any angle and at any time, and the linebackers can be quicker and more athletic (ie real linebackers).
These players can play on instinct and not think so much, and personnel guys can focus more on pure athletic talent.
The rebuilding of this defense isn't complete yet. A better passrushing weakside DE would make a huge difference, and a "special" kind of outside linebacker would help a lot...
Although Cocong was really tearing it up when he got injured, and there are three other pretty good players (note: two undrafted free agents the guy Banner fired dug up). One more really good corner, too. Basicly two or three players would make this an elite defense.
...and now you want to turn it into a 3-4? For that matter, why on earth would you want to get rid of Jauron, or even think that the next head coach would want to? I mean, they want a SMART head coach, don't they?
One of the interview questions should be "Would you want to replace Dick Jauron?" If the guys says "yes", they should say "Don't call us, we'll call you."
3: The Browns played very well for most of the season. The problem was at the most important position on the team: Quarterback. This is the single biggest reason why Marc Trestman is the best Head Coach candidate.
He's now a West Coast guy, and a similar system is in place. But unlike Shurmer, Trestman has run different systems as a coordinator, and as Rich Gannon will tell you, will tailor his offense to suit a particular player.
Tony Grossi's source is right about the guards. They're all bulldozers who can also pass protect ok, but they can't pull or zone-block well. A left guard with some wheels would make a big difference, but other than the quarterback and guards there's nothing at all wrong with this offense.
IF one of the quarterbacks on this roster can (or is allowed to) be consistant and even just a little above average, the Browns can win a lot more games.
The Browns are NOT five or six players away. They're ONE player away, and other upgrades just move postions from solid to good, or from good to real good.
They DON'T need a wide reciever, tight end, or running back, and even a more athletic guard is not manditory.
Between the draft and free agency, they could land a very good cornerback, pulling guard, passrushing weakside defensive end, and the rest is sort of gravy.
Hire Marc Trestman. With a decent quarterback, the sky is the limit in 2013.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Marc Trestman: WAY Overdue
1: Continuity: For two seasons, the Browns have been running a West Coast offensive system. Brandon Weeden stumbled and bumbled his way through his rookie season partly because he couldn't master this complex system quickly or trust his own reads.
Thad Lewis performed much better because he'd practiced the same system with the same coach for three years.
While Trestman's first gig as offensive coordinator was with the Browns (10-6/playoffs) in a conventional system, he later learned the West Coast system, and has used it since. He is qualified to come in here and build on the foundation that's already in place.
If Weeden is the quarterback, he doesn't have to do a strict West Coast; remember that he has coordinated different systems.
2: The Browns have an issue at quarterback. The upcoming crop of college guys aint all that. It would be hard to pry Alex Smith loose. Matt Ryan costs too much and could be released, but that's another bidding war and no sure thing. (As in, Ryan himself isn't proven, and four or five other teams would be trying to sign him.)
The Browns have three quarterbacks, and Trestman is probably THE quarterback guru (note: the college guys he coached, he was preparing for the COMBINE, so shut up with that lame stuff. Quit overreaching for excuses after you make up your mind not to like a guy).
He started with Bernie Kosar. Then Scott Mitchell in Detroit, who that one year passed for the second most yardage in Detroit history. Then it was Jake Plummer, who had that one good year and took Arizona to the playoffs. Then it was Rich Gannon, who until that time had bounced around the NFL as a sometime starter, sometime backup journeyman. Boom!-Superbowl MVP! (Trestman was the offensive coordinator).
He wouldn't come in here with his mind made up about any of the three quarterbacks. He can fix them.
3: While he has some time at running backs coach, many years as a quarterbacks coach, he also has five years as an offensive coordinator, and every one of his offenses ranked near the top. He adapted to his players.
4: He is an ex-player, sort of. He was at two training camps trying to make it as a defensive back.
5: He's a CFL coach of the Year (runner-up another year), won two Grey Cups and narrowly lost his first one in his first season as head Coach. His quarterback (Tony Calvillo) won back-to-back MVP awards. Marc did all this in five years.
Why isn't he an NFL Head Coach already?
One reason is that he took three years off to get his law degree.
Another reason (an idiotic one) is that he isn't emotional. He doesn't holler or hop up and down enough, like the great coaches do. You know, like Paul Brown, Don Shula, Tom Landry, Chuck Knoll, Tom Flores? For that matter, like Dick Jauron?
His GM with the Alouettes wants people to know this about Trestman the Head Coach: He's a great communicator, and you don't want to mess with him. He won't holler at you. He'll do something else.
Marc Trestman has a very strong resume, a record of success everywhere he's been, and is the ideal guy to come right in and somehow make sure the Browns have a good, consistant quarterback to go with the strong and talented team that's already here.
Sure, the CFL isn't like the NFL, but isn't this history as good as or better than all of those College Coaches'? Doesn't he have more NFL experience than all of them? More successful at a higher level, too.
All this guy does is kick ass. I WANT MARC TRESTMAN AS MY NEXT HEAD COACH.
Thad Lewis performed much better because he'd practiced the same system with the same coach for three years.
While Trestman's first gig as offensive coordinator was with the Browns (10-6/playoffs) in a conventional system, he later learned the West Coast system, and has used it since. He is qualified to come in here and build on the foundation that's already in place.
If Weeden is the quarterback, he doesn't have to do a strict West Coast; remember that he has coordinated different systems.
2: The Browns have an issue at quarterback. The upcoming crop of college guys aint all that. It would be hard to pry Alex Smith loose. Matt Ryan costs too much and could be released, but that's another bidding war and no sure thing. (As in, Ryan himself isn't proven, and four or five other teams would be trying to sign him.)
The Browns have three quarterbacks, and Trestman is probably THE quarterback guru (note: the college guys he coached, he was preparing for the COMBINE, so shut up with that lame stuff. Quit overreaching for excuses after you make up your mind not to like a guy).
He started with Bernie Kosar. Then Scott Mitchell in Detroit, who that one year passed for the second most yardage in Detroit history. Then it was Jake Plummer, who had that one good year and took Arizona to the playoffs. Then it was Rich Gannon, who until that time had bounced around the NFL as a sometime starter, sometime backup journeyman. Boom!-Superbowl MVP! (Trestman was the offensive coordinator).
He wouldn't come in here with his mind made up about any of the three quarterbacks. He can fix them.
3: While he has some time at running backs coach, many years as a quarterbacks coach, he also has five years as an offensive coordinator, and every one of his offenses ranked near the top. He adapted to his players.
4: He is an ex-player, sort of. He was at two training camps trying to make it as a defensive back.
5: He's a CFL coach of the Year (runner-up another year), won two Grey Cups and narrowly lost his first one in his first season as head Coach. His quarterback (Tony Calvillo) won back-to-back MVP awards. Marc did all this in five years.
Why isn't he an NFL Head Coach already?
One reason is that he took three years off to get his law degree.
Another reason (an idiotic one) is that he isn't emotional. He doesn't holler or hop up and down enough, like the great coaches do. You know, like Paul Brown, Don Shula, Tom Landry, Chuck Knoll, Tom Flores? For that matter, like Dick Jauron?
His GM with the Alouettes wants people to know this about Trestman the Head Coach: He's a great communicator, and you don't want to mess with him. He won't holler at you. He'll do something else.
Marc Trestman has a very strong resume, a record of success everywhere he's been, and is the ideal guy to come right in and somehow make sure the Browns have a good, consistant quarterback to go with the strong and talented team that's already here.
Sure, the CFL isn't like the NFL, but isn't this history as good as or better than all of those College Coaches'? Doesn't he have more NFL experience than all of them? More successful at a higher level, too.
All this guy does is kick ass. I WANT MARC TRESTMAN AS MY NEXT HEAD COACH.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Kelly, Whisenhunt
Look: One of the reasons Banner and Haslam are interviewing these guys is to ask them these questions:
1: We have two mobile quarterbacks without strong arms and one immobile one with a gun who was the worst rookie QB in the NFL last season. How do these guys fit into your offense?
The correct answer will include adapting the offense to the talent you have. If Kelly starts trying to describe Weeden running around, he will not be hired DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
Kelly is targeted for his player development, creativity, and brains. Not for his offensive system. If you are smart, you adapt. They think Kelly is smart.
2: We've got a man-blocking offensive line. The guards are not athletic, Mack is just okay in space, Schwartze is a conventional tackle, and only Thomas is suited to a zone scheme. What will you do with this?
You clowns found out that Bill Belichick had been hired and expected him to turn MD Perry into a nose-tackle. You think these guys are almost as dumb as you are. Haslam doesn't hire dummies who can't adapt a scheme to the players he inherits.
Whisenhunt's last two seasons in AZ were bad. Any coach has bad seasons if he has bad quarterbacks. I believe he is a good candidate.
Note on Kurt Warner: Short, not much arm. GROSSI ADD HIM TO MONTANA YOUNG ROGERS ETC.
It's possible that if it's Kelly, he comes here and decides McCoy (or even Lewis) can run the best part of his college offense. McCoy has never had a decent shot with a decent team. Because it's been repeated many times by many people that he is no more than a backup doesn't mean a damn thing.
As for the offensive line, if you blame this season on the offensive line you are clueless. When a quarterback fiddles around for seven to nine seconds and then eats the ball you don't blame the line. When a running back gets stuffed by the sixth and seventh guy it's not the line. It's hard to block two people simultaneously.
But it is a ponderous, physical line, especially at guard. Kelly loves zone-blocking, but that won't work with these guys. These guys are here to overpower people.
I'm really stretching down the road here, but Mack could play right guard in Kelly's system. He's stronger than most centers, but not as athletic. He's quite athletic enough to play right guard. But then, you need a new center...well that's just a big challenge if Kelly comes here. For the first year, he'll have to do a lot of man-blocking.
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