Never Assume

...because when you a-s-s-u-m-e, you make an ass out of yourself.  (Feel free to use that.)

One assumption which has prevailed until now is that Isaiah Crowell will get cut.  Now, based on the last quarter of the last preseason game, everyone is assuming that he makes the team.  I kind of agree with the latter assumption, but in my case it's not an assumption since I felt he had a decent chance all along.

We could all still be wrong, though.  Kyle and Mike might feel that having that little scatback is more important, or possibly even the versatile Obgannaya.  

I'd put my money on Crowell, though.  Talent-wise, a lot of real pros regarded this guy as as good as any back in this draft.  His off-the-field issues just plain killed him.

He is quite similar to Terrence West and Ben Tate, so to keep him would just about eliminate that third down, change-of-pace waterbug option, unless they opt to carry only one fullback...

But this is where it gets interesting: I personally feel that Marqueis Gray will be retained with a "FB" label.  However, he eats an extra roster spot, as he can play tight end (or H-Back).  

In fact, he's the only guy who can back up Jordan Cameron, really.  

Ray Agnew is a true smashmouth fullback who has lately proven that he can catch the ball as well, but it's possible he'll get stashed on the practice squad and they'll keep Lewis too--that's right, one fullback.  Grossi will freak out.  Not even a true fullback oh, the humanity!

It's not at all true that a blocking fullback is critical to the zone-blocking scheme.  I don't know who came up with that.  Shanahan has operated with and without one.  Tight ends can also block in space--it's not rocket science.

Another assumption is that Charles Johnson is a GMF.  I could be wrong, but since he is the only reciever aside from pegleg Austin who is over six feet tall, and because he has done okay in limited preseason reps, the coaches are chuckling about that one.

Johnson is the only wide reciever on this roster who has the potential to do what Josh Gordon does.  Austin lacks his speed, and can't be relied on to stay healthy, and everybody else is a comparative lilipution.

Austin and Burleson probably make it, but I wouldn't even take that to the bank.  The coaches know better than any of us do how healthy they really are, or can be expected to be.  In the case of Austin, it's even possible that he's lost that critical step.  Down-for-down, Johnson has outdone him as it is!

Then there's Hawkins.  But I wouldn't count on even him.  Taylor Gabriel is very much like Hawk, only apparently better.  And I believe that the assumption that that kid has made the team holds water.

You're assuming that Benjamin is a shoe-in?  Well, is he better than this undrafted rookie?  He's not--as a reciever or as a returner.  And these guys didn't draft him.

Willie Snead?  He's showed some really good stuff, no doubt about it.  He's also a lilipution without their speed.

Most slot recievers are called slot recievers because they aren't tall enough to present a target outside, or strong enough to defeat a jam.  Last night vs. the Bears, Hawkins played outside.  Check the results.  

The Browns are overloaded with slot recievers, but the only three real outside recievers left on the active roster are Burleson, Austin, and Johnson.

And you're going to cut the only healthy one?  The one who resembles Josh Gordon?  Really?

Even if they feel that right now a Snead or somebody is better than Johnson, they could well keep Johnson because of his size, and try to sneak the other guy onto the practice squad.  (Johnson won't make it.  He's a hot prospect among those who pay attention).

Another big assumption is that Jim Leonhard is a shoe-in because he's tagged along with Pettine everywhere.  But Leonhard was on the FA market for weeks before the Browns signed him.  He's tiny, and he's 31.

Pettine probably won't let sentimentality tell him to cut a younger player who he feels is better than his old buddy.

I think Obgannaya has run out of room here.  I liked most of Daryl Ruiter's  projections.  He thinks they might keep four backs and Gray as well.  But he also remains eager to get rid of Josh Aubrey in favor of Pettine's best freind Leonhard...

...Well if I had to make a firm guess I might guess the same thing so how can I pick on the guy?  No I think you can pretty much call me Daryl this time.  Except Johnson.

So there it is.  Now we'll see how dumb Daryl and I are.