Good Stuff Lane

Lane Adkins of the OBR is really good at filtering through a lot of statements by players and coaches in order to get a real picture of what's going on with the Browns.

Unlike other writers, I don't believe Lane just makes things up.  I believe that these real insiders trust him not to identify them, and are glad to get things off their chest.

You can use the link to see his full article.  As you'll see, it's very long, and if he had expounded on individual comments, it would have turned into War and Peace.

Happily, you have this intelligent analyst to pick through and expound on stuff he was, as usual, right about!  Let the copy/pasting begin:

"It's only one-day, but Austin looked like he did back in Dallas when he was tremendous."

Duh.  Austin has had persistent hamstring issues over the last couple seasons, but whoever carved in stone that these were permanent isn't rational.  He could yet have more physical problems, but then again he might be fully healed now and stay that way.
If he does, he's still young enough to kick butt in Shanahan's system.
I repeat: Duh.

"(John) Greco is going to have his hands full with (Garrett) Gilkey at RG. The young dude is motivated."

I really like Greco, but as I've said before, both Gilkey and MaQuistan, not to mention Faulk, are better fits for a zone-blocking system.  Somebody--maybe even Lane--earlier talked about Greco as a good fit because he gets off the line well.
Greco does, but the real skill "fits" are speed and agility.  Greco is a beast in a man system, but the other guys are a little better than he is in space.
I told you that Gilkey played basketball, and that these coaches would give the youngest guys every opportunity.  Even if Greco and Gilkey grade out the same, the kid will get the nod.  That's how you build a team to last.

There are other quotes which seem to have been edited out by the time I went back to the article.  One was a coach or player addressing assertions that Manziel had "regressed".  "Horse----" was among the words chosen.

Rookie quarterbacks coming out of sandlot systems, and with limited experience even in these, can't regress.  

Words mean things, and some people should not be allowed to use some of them.  "Regress" is an impressive-sounding word which some people latch onto and use as often as possible--without comprehending it's definition, or the correct context.

Manziel's lack of experience in any pro system is simply showing up in contrast to the much more accomplished Hoyer.

Many people have made up their minds about Brian Hoyer, and can't grasp the notion that he is more than a career backup or game manager.  Therefore, if the great Manziel is not ahead of Hoyer already, it must mean that there is something wrong with Johnny.  I mean, since it couldn't possibly be anything right with Hoyer, ya know?

Tony Grossi pretty much destroyed this Hoolie (or something) guy on WKNR.  The talking head said that Hoyer was a game manager and career backup, and Tony pointed out that he wasn't managing anything in his two wins.
Hoyer didn't have anybody to hand off to, and had to win both games with his arm.
What's-his-name, rather than admit that he had just been corrected, changed the subject.  Typical.

LATE insertion:  I had forgotten that among Lane's comments were one about Phil Taylor.  Can't recall exact words, but it was colorful and implied that he was misused last season under Ray Horton.

This can only mean that he was a two-gap nose tackle, and wasn't allowed to attack.  The Browns have two other players who could do the human fire-hydrant stuff just fine, and if this is how Ray used Phil, that was really dumb.  But I'm not sure.

Also in Lane's article was more on the Gordon suspension.  As I've suspected since TJ Ward's comments ("there's more to it" or something), there's more to it.

There is a reason why it's taking so long to get resolved.  The possible reasons include that Josh might have just missed an appointment which, under the rules, defaults to a failed test.  If he had a legit reason for missing (like being detained for a speeding ticket haha), he's got a point.
It could also be one of the common things--like drinking the wrong herbal tea (the NFL is kind of rediculous about this stuff).
Or, it could be that he had a salad with too much apple cider vinegar and got popped for using a "masking agent".

He'll be suspended alright, but it might not be for a year.  Now put down the rope and step away.

Lane says they're using a lot of two tight end stuff, and moving Cameron around more than ever.   Marqueis Gray is sort of a FB/HB guy and the other guys are in-line blockers.

I just need to point this out: I cannot believe that Shanahan will use any tight end who can't catch.  Whoever has the blocking role will have be able to make clutch catches here and there.

This is just common sense.  If all a tight end does is block, then screw the pretense and use a tackle.  

With no Gordon, Hawkins and Cameron are enough to give defenses hell, and from among Austin, Burleson, and CHARLES JOHNSON two and three-reciever sets are workable at least.

The San Fran 49ers use only ONE wide reciever 40% of the time.  Get it?