NOT!
But I really love this signing. Banner got a great deal, considering what the guy can contribute to this team in this offense. He has had three seasons to learn the rocket-science-like complexity of playing wide reciever in the NFL. While it usually takes eight or nine years to get really competant--
Sorry I'm stuck on sarcastic til I get my morning coffee.
Anyway, I know that a lot of fans still think that Norwood, Benjamin, and Gordon aren't fast enough so we need a fast guy, but you're obviously wrong. Many of you also reckon that Gregg Little can only play in the slot, which is downright laughable.
It's also not exactly right to assume that Nelson is here to play exclusively in the slot. He and Little will probably play both Z and Y, depending on matchups and situations.
Nelson is a lot like Jurevicious. His size and height overmatch both outside and slot corners. He doesn't get great separation, but doesn't need to. He's "open" all the time, including when a munchkin cornerback is all over him.
This is why throughout 2011 Fitzpatrick never hesitated to throw to him. At that time, Fitzpatrick was regarded as an emerging star, and Bills fans had high hopes for 2012.
But when Nelson blew his achilles, there went Fitzpatrick, right back to Oblivia. This was no coincidence. Nelson is the bail-out guy.
Two tight end offenses are the flavor of the month. Now, even if the Browns can't land another tight end in the draft, the Browns can field this offense. Nelson can do everything a wing-tight end can do (and I repeat: Cameron CAN block now.)
One of these guys will always be the second or third option, or the first in the red zone. If Weeden wins out and still eats the ball, I'll bring the rope.
But Chud/Turner aren't followers. They adapt their offense to their people and create new schemes. Other coaches copy them. So don't assume they'll jump off the two tight end bridge because all the other kids are doing it!
Turner still wants a two-back base with a blocking fullback if he can swing it.
But in re that, remember Mack/Byner? I don't think Byner ever weighed over about 208, but he blocked like hell. I'm not predicting this, but with the top three backs this team has now, the coaches will contemplate some similar combinations.
Anyway, now that the Jurevicious 2 is on board, this team is stacked at wide reciever and can do alright without another tight end.
This just in: The Browns traded one of their many surplus ILB's for scatback Dion Lewis. This supports my two-back base statement. There are now four established tailbacks on the roster, plus the fullback candidates. On game days, four or five of these guys might be active.
Lewis can return and is here for depth. But he's the fastest and most elusive of this group and can catch passes. Most likely he can line up in the slot, in fact.
ChudNorv now have a nice tailback stable, and it's becoming evident that while Trich is da man, they don't plan to wear him out and shorten his career like Shurmer would.
In re fullback, the new system changes things for Smelley and company here, too. In Shurmer's system, they were extra pass protection and outlet recievers much more than they run-blocked. Here, those priorities are different. They'll work first and foremost at lead blocking in this camp.
I repeat: That guy could already be on this roster.
This guy at the Bleacher Report put together a really good analysis of Weeden's issues, complete with photos. For once I think they let somebody who knew something in there, and I learned stuff.
But it does sound like my paranoia theory, since (assuming this guy wasn't assuming), Weeden checked down from his primary recievers too early...meaning that everybody looked covered to him.
That brings up another thing about the West Coast. Everybody DOES look covered until they break off their routes. The whole purpose is to get the defender running one way and then change directions suddenly to create separation. Weeden had an issue throwing to empty space where the reciever was supposed to be. He just couldn't trust the reciever or the system.
Ok but this writer called an X reciever a slot reciever, didn't address the shift-and re-plant footwork issue, and identified the mechanical issue as coming off his back foot as he threw. That's pretty much standard for an ex-pitcher, and if Weeden missed, that wasn't why. That's just a follow-through.
But overall it was just excellent and I'm sure this guy would go toe-to-toe with me in a debate.
I continue to hope for a trade down to 11 or 12 with a second-rounder involved, and then maybe another trade-down after that and maybe a third too. I would still like a young QB and still like Manuel more than Smith due to his pressure response and intelligence.
I also love Howie Long's kid and the other athletic guard, and the second, third, and fourth cornerbacks...
By the way, Milliner/Haden would be the best tandem in the league, but they're building a whole team here. Haden is number one, check. The guy they want can be just almost as good, okay? By trading down multiple times (if possible--which I doubt) they could take care of safety and guard as well. Three starters instead of one. Do the math.
Anyway back to the beginning: Signing David Nelson was a BIG, important move, mitigating the percieved need for another pass-catching tight end, and providing a reliable, trustworthy security blanket for any quarterback.
This offense is aggressive and goes for the throat, but as usual we've ignored everything else. First downs still matter, and ten yards beats an incompletion or a sack.
This just in: The Browns traded one of their many surplus ILB's for scatback Dion Lewis. This supports my two-back base statement. There are now four established tailbacks on the roster, plus the fullback candidates. On game days, four or five of these guys might be active.
Lewis can return and is here for depth. But he's the fastest and most elusive of this group and can catch passes. Most likely he can line up in the slot, in fact.
ChudNorv now have a nice tailback stable, and it's becoming evident that while Trich is da man, they don't plan to wear him out and shorten his career like Shurmer would.
In re fullback, the new system changes things for Smelley and company here, too. In Shurmer's system, they were extra pass protection and outlet recievers much more than they run-blocked. Here, those priorities are different. They'll work first and foremost at lead blocking in this camp.
I repeat: That guy could already be on this roster.
This guy at the Bleacher Report put together a really good analysis of Weeden's issues, complete with photos. For once I think they let somebody who knew something in there, and I learned stuff.
But it does sound like my paranoia theory, since (assuming this guy wasn't assuming), Weeden checked down from his primary recievers too early...meaning that everybody looked covered to him.
That brings up another thing about the West Coast. Everybody DOES look covered until they break off their routes. The whole purpose is to get the defender running one way and then change directions suddenly to create separation. Weeden had an issue throwing to empty space where the reciever was supposed to be. He just couldn't trust the reciever or the system.
Ok but this writer called an X reciever a slot reciever, didn't address the shift-and re-plant footwork issue, and identified the mechanical issue as coming off his back foot as he threw. That's pretty much standard for an ex-pitcher, and if Weeden missed, that wasn't why. That's just a follow-through.
But overall it was just excellent and I'm sure this guy would go toe-to-toe with me in a debate.
I continue to hope for a trade down to 11 or 12 with a second-rounder involved, and then maybe another trade-down after that and maybe a third too. I would still like a young QB and still like Manuel more than Smith due to his pressure response and intelligence.
I also love Howie Long's kid and the other athletic guard, and the second, third, and fourth cornerbacks...
By the way, Milliner/Haden would be the best tandem in the league, but they're building a whole team here. Haden is number one, check. The guy they want can be just almost as good, okay? By trading down multiple times (if possible--which I doubt) they could take care of safety and guard as well. Three starters instead of one. Do the math.
Anyway back to the beginning: Signing David Nelson was a BIG, important move, mitigating the percieved need for another pass-catching tight end, and providing a reliable, trustworthy security blanket for any quarterback.
This offense is aggressive and goes for the throat, but as usual we've ignored everything else. First downs still matter, and ten yards beats an incompletion or a sack.
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