A lot of people are ignoring what the coaches say about Barkevious Mingo, and calling him a disappointment this season.
Statistically, he looks pretty bad compared to Jabaal Sheard.
This is more in-the-box thinking and analysis. Anybody who reads this blog (haha) already knows what's wrong here, because I first talked about this when he was drafted:
What separated Mingo from all but one other 3-4 OLB candidate in his draft class was his ability to C O V E R.
I suggested two drafts ago that Mingo (with some work/practice) had all the physical tools to match up with scary tight ends and even bigger wide recievers in coverage.
People tend to scoff at this notion--even as they admit that it's true--because the parrots all say passrush sacks sacks passrush outside linebacker sacks blahblah and never learned to say "coverage".
It's true that a 3-4 defense uses the two outside 'backers to rush the passer a lot, and that this is their primary role. That's the box.
The differences here are several. One, this is a flexible hybrid defense, and based on the personnel Pettine inherited and acquired, the logical base is actually a 4-3 more than a 3-4. Two, Mingo is the only 3-4 type OLB on this roster who could also excel as a 4-3 outside linebacker.
Mingo can run with the fastest tight ends and some big wide recievers. Despite his height, he can change directions quickly without losing much speed. Kruger, Sheard, etc. can't do this. Ideally, they're either kept out of coverage, or else they drop into a zone.
As the coaches have TOLD YOU more than once, Mingo isn't USED the same way as the other guys, for those very reasons. As the coaches have TOLD you several times, they are HAPPY with how well Mingo has done, and is progressing in this defense.
What doesn't show up in the stat sheet is the number of times opposing quarterbacks haven't thrown the ball to a given reciever because Mingo was in the way.
This is why, when asked about Mingo's weight, Pettine and company keep telling you it's not an issue! He is NOT a conventional 3-4 OLB!
Sheard and Kruger are. They're DE/LB hybrids. The problem here is that most analysts know that Mingo played defensive end in college, and got their box and magic marker out for him right then.
Forget what he did in college, ok? In the NFL he's a linebacker period. If there's a hybrid element to him, you can call him a 3-4/4-3 OLB. Strong side or weak side, for that matter.
As Pettine mentioned, as the season progresses, he'll probably be sent after the quarterback more often.
No doubt, Mingo is reading this crap, thinking about his next contract, and chafing about this himself.
I suspect that the coaches wanted him to focus on coverage more, because he'd had little experience doing it prior to this season. The passrush part of his game has been subdued so far, but he'll be doing it more down the road.
He might never be used quite like Sheard or Kruger, though. He would probably come from farther outside, even when he loops across the tackle's face to come inside. He's faster but lighter than the other guys, and they'll try not to make him engage and shed blockers...
You know--like a 4-3 outside blitzing linebacker? Is any of this sinking in?
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Sunday, September 21, 2014
How Evenly Matched can You Get?
I'm amazed by the glimmer of respect my Browns are now getting from the real experts on NFL Radio. I've missed a lot of listening time this week, so I don't know their actual picks for this game. I can safely assume that most of them picked the Ravens.
That's a reflex for these guys. But what I heard from most of them in discussing this game was that it would be a close one. They respect the Browns' running game, mention Hoyer's long streak without an interception, and even the fact that he's the come-back kid.
In one show, Pat Kirwan and ex-QB jim Miller share the mike. Miller mentioned again how he really likes Hoyer. Kirwan chuckled and implied that it's because he played for the same alma mater. Miller mentioned how vs. New Orleans and Minnesota, Hoyer had to engineer the comeback without running.
I actually heard Kirwan snort derisively! He just couldn't help himself. Pat is really stubborn about Brian Hoyer. After the game vs. Pittsburgh, he talked about how some people were going to make too much of that historic comeback and think "that was Hoyer", but "he's never going to be..."
How does Pat know this? When a guy is streaky--either mediocre or Brady-like--how can you say the mediocre streaks are the real him? How can you say that more experience won't make him more consistently the Brady-like guy?
Pat's just a stubborn guy. He said "career backup" last year and is just sticking to it, waiting for him to sail off the edge of the earth.
In the Bleacher Report, I read more of this. I could tell it was written by a Ravens fan. How could I tell?
Well, in describing this matchup, he compared the two teams unit-by-unit, giving "the edge" to one team or the other.
QB: Ravens. Can't argue with that. WR: Ravens. Yep. RB;...
Here the guy talks about the two Ravens' backs combining for 269 yards, and cites this and experience as reasons for giving the Ravens the edge.
Well first, before Tate was injured, HE averaged over 5 yards per carry, and since the two new guys did just as well as he did, an objective analyst has to include his stats. The Browns average more yards per carry, have more big plays, and more total yardage.
Third, experience? For a one-cut running back? Really?
TE: He gives Cameron his props.
DL: He gives the edge to the Ravens. Based on the three top guys names and the fact that so far this season they've done better against the run, I can't make a big fuss about this. I just need to point a few things out:
First, Ngata remains an elite player, but is on the downside of his career. Second, he listed Suggs as part of this group, and he's also descending and has been hurt bad. Third, those fronts must rotate heavily so that they don't wear down, and the Browns' depth on the Dline might be the best in the NFL. Any member of this rotation could start for other teams.
He gives the Ravens the edge at linebacker. I'd go the other way. Sheard and Kruger are kicking butt and Dansby is as good as he was last season.
He calls the offensive lines a wash, but the Browns' line includes two Pro Bowlers and a rookie who Mel Kiper just projected as a future Pro Bowler. The two current guys are the left tackle and center.
My prognosis: Acute Homeritis. Guys like this get government jobs in the intelligence community because they know somebody. Then they get people killed, us in trouble, and lie to congress.
Terry Pluto came up with the best pregame analysis I've heard or read. The two teams are like twins on both sides of the ball.
This even includes the wide recievers, as Steve Smith is a little shrimp too. Hawkins and the rookie microbe no doubt want to be Steve Smith, and so far so good.
The Browns do have several real edges. These are the secondary, D-line depth, tight end, and (in reality) offensive line. The Ravens real edges are at wide reciever and quarterback, and the quarterback part is what will make this a tough one.
Also, the Browns have sucked against the run so far, and that's scary vs. this team. However, as Pluto partly pointed out, the Browns used seven defensive backs for the majority of the game vs. the Saints, depriving Brees out of every target except Graham.
He sort of conceded the run because he feared Drew Brees more.
The Browns won't do that vs. the Ravens. This is a more physical team.
Terry pointed out that Flacco has been burning almost every blitze. But last week vs. the Saints, even with the seven DBs, the Browns were able to pressure Brees more often than not with three and four passrushers.
Not only is the Ravens offensive line not as good as the Browns', but they're not as good as the Saints offensive line either.
The Ravens overall are better than the Steelers, and not as good as the Bengals. Hoyer has yet to play a whole freaking game dammit, and even with the seven DB's last week, that run defense is scary.
Still, it's in Cleveland, and the Browns do have the overall talent edge, so I think...
Man, it's hard to pick them, isn't it? I can see how past experience poisons ones mind against the new coaches, players, systems, front office and owner.
So I'll make my brain override my heart and pick the Browns in a squeaker based on objective facts.
A couple more comments: Mack and Byner were much different from eachother, and operated together in a two-back ("21") system. They could wind up as that productive, but to compare them otherwise isn't accurate.
However, now that Kyle Shanahan has seen that they can both catch passes, and we can reasonably expect big backs to block, he might install and deploy more two-back sets to exploit two of his top offensive weapons more.
But I don't know--I'm just guessing. They might just do it this week vs. the Ravens, though, as a way to show them something they haven't seen on film yet. Might screw them up.
More guessing what do I know?
That's a reflex for these guys. But what I heard from most of them in discussing this game was that it would be a close one. They respect the Browns' running game, mention Hoyer's long streak without an interception, and even the fact that he's the come-back kid.
In one show, Pat Kirwan and ex-QB jim Miller share the mike. Miller mentioned again how he really likes Hoyer. Kirwan chuckled and implied that it's because he played for the same alma mater. Miller mentioned how vs. New Orleans and Minnesota, Hoyer had to engineer the comeback without running.
I actually heard Kirwan snort derisively! He just couldn't help himself. Pat is really stubborn about Brian Hoyer. After the game vs. Pittsburgh, he talked about how some people were going to make too much of that historic comeback and think "that was Hoyer", but "he's never going to be..."
How does Pat know this? When a guy is streaky--either mediocre or Brady-like--how can you say the mediocre streaks are the real him? How can you say that more experience won't make him more consistently the Brady-like guy?
Pat's just a stubborn guy. He said "career backup" last year and is just sticking to it, waiting for him to sail off the edge of the earth.
In the Bleacher Report, I read more of this. I could tell it was written by a Ravens fan. How could I tell?
Well, in describing this matchup, he compared the two teams unit-by-unit, giving "the edge" to one team or the other.
QB: Ravens. Can't argue with that. WR: Ravens. Yep. RB;...
Here the guy talks about the two Ravens' backs combining for 269 yards, and cites this and experience as reasons for giving the Ravens the edge.
Well first, before Tate was injured, HE averaged over 5 yards per carry, and since the two new guys did just as well as he did, an objective analyst has to include his stats. The Browns average more yards per carry, have more big plays, and more total yardage.
Third, experience? For a one-cut running back? Really?
TE: He gives Cameron his props.
DL: He gives the edge to the Ravens. Based on the three top guys names and the fact that so far this season they've done better against the run, I can't make a big fuss about this. I just need to point a few things out:
First, Ngata remains an elite player, but is on the downside of his career. Second, he listed Suggs as part of this group, and he's also descending and has been hurt bad. Third, those fronts must rotate heavily so that they don't wear down, and the Browns' depth on the Dline might be the best in the NFL. Any member of this rotation could start for other teams.
He gives the Ravens the edge at linebacker. I'd go the other way. Sheard and Kruger are kicking butt and Dansby is as good as he was last season.
He calls the offensive lines a wash, but the Browns' line includes two Pro Bowlers and a rookie who Mel Kiper just projected as a future Pro Bowler. The two current guys are the left tackle and center.
My prognosis: Acute Homeritis. Guys like this get government jobs in the intelligence community because they know somebody. Then they get people killed, us in trouble, and lie to congress.
Terry Pluto came up with the best pregame analysis I've heard or read. The two teams are like twins on both sides of the ball.
This even includes the wide recievers, as Steve Smith is a little shrimp too. Hawkins and the rookie microbe no doubt want to be Steve Smith, and so far so good.
The Browns do have several real edges. These are the secondary, D-line depth, tight end, and (in reality) offensive line. The Ravens real edges are at wide reciever and quarterback, and the quarterback part is what will make this a tough one.
Also, the Browns have sucked against the run so far, and that's scary vs. this team. However, as Pluto partly pointed out, the Browns used seven defensive backs for the majority of the game vs. the Saints, depriving Brees out of every target except Graham.
He sort of conceded the run because he feared Drew Brees more.
The Browns won't do that vs. the Ravens. This is a more physical team.
Terry pointed out that Flacco has been burning almost every blitze. But last week vs. the Saints, even with the seven DBs, the Browns were able to pressure Brees more often than not with three and four passrushers.
Not only is the Ravens offensive line not as good as the Browns', but they're not as good as the Saints offensive line either.
The Ravens overall are better than the Steelers, and not as good as the Bengals. Hoyer has yet to play a whole freaking game dammit, and even with the seven DB's last week, that run defense is scary.
Still, it's in Cleveland, and the Browns do have the overall talent edge, so I think...
Man, it's hard to pick them, isn't it? I can see how past experience poisons ones mind against the new coaches, players, systems, front office and owner.
So I'll make my brain override my heart and pick the Browns in a squeaker based on objective facts.
A couple more comments: Mack and Byner were much different from eachother, and operated together in a two-back ("21") system. They could wind up as that productive, but to compare them otherwise isn't accurate.
However, now that Kyle Shanahan has seen that they can both catch passes, and we can reasonably expect big backs to block, he might install and deploy more two-back sets to exploit two of his top offensive weapons more.
But I don't know--I'm just guessing. They might just do it this week vs. the Ravens, though, as a way to show them something they haven't seen on film yet. Might screw them up.
More guessing what do I know?
Monday, September 15, 2014
Rodney Hoyerfield
For most of his game vs. the New Orleans Saints, Brian Hoyer was just killing me. You can't blame the recievers this time, and for the most part the offensive line protected him from Rob Ryan's passrush well.
The game plan was perfect against this defense (and for that matter for the Browns' personnel). The short passes allowed him to get rid of it quickly, and (given the Browns' very strong running game), play-action can't help but work often.
Hoyer once again gave his permabashers ammo as he missed easy throws. The most annoying thing about him is that when he leaves the pocket, but still has time to re-plant his feet, he's just as inaccurate as if he's running.
HOWEVER, for the third time in his four full games as a Browns' starter, he delivered at crunch time. He magically transformed from Brady Quinn into Tom Brady.
Sure, against the Steelers he did come up short on the last possession. You can say "close but no cigars", but you can't take away the fact that he staged a historic comeback on the road to tie a game that everyone except him regarded as a lost cause. The score was tied.
You can't coach this. It's innate, and it's rare. It's really THE most important element for a quarterback, and what separates the franchise guys from the others. This time, like against Minnesota last season, it was again on him. Rob Ryan knew it, and was salivating. On that last 28-yard completion to Microbe 1, Ryan sent the house.
Unfortunately, so far it looks like Hoyer NEEDS that urgent kind of pressure to play up to his potential, and it's driving us nuts.
But this IS a small sample size. Last season vs. Cincinnati, he played well for the whole game. He CAN do it, and once he's more settled in, I think he will.
By the way, Johnny Selfie has this trait as well. He's at his best in the worst situations. It's probably the biggest single reason why the Browns couldn't pass him up after he'd dropped as low as he did in the first round.
New Orleans pundits are bashing the Saints wide reciever corps, but this had more to do with coverage than with their flaws. It seemed like the Browns were determined NOT to commit too heavily to stopping Graham, and sought to deprive Brees of literally everybody else.
Haden on Graham? Well, the big guy never did get any separation, and the passes had to be on the money. He was pretty much stopped where he caught it. I had expected a taller guy on Graham, but it would only reduce the mismatch a little, and he might have got separation and kept running against the other guys.
They bashed Payton for not running the ball more. They might be right, but pundits do have this tendancy to assume that a defense can't adapt and stop a given play. They tend to ignore fronts and deployments which quarterbacks can't. It might well have been Drew Brees who made those decisions.
The defense tackled well, and covered better against a really good WR corps. Even Joe Haden--well, you simply can't cover Jimmy Graham any better than he did.
But here is what I will hear on NFL Radio:
The Saints took the Browns too lightly. The crowd noise messed up the offense. They should have run more. Ryan was too aggressive.
The Ravens now have more film on the Browns, therefore they are doomed.
They'll even say stuff like the Ravens need to score early, because the Browns can't come back! No I'm serious--they'll say that!
The Browns should beat the Ravens. They are more talented than the Ravens. Do you know that Hawkins did much of what he did playing outside against press coverage? Austin caught three first downs on the comeback drive?
They did this without Jordan Cameron (did you notice Barnidge making key catches?)
The Browns much-maligned wide recievers are proving not to suck. They're not great, but they can do the job. And they're not DROPPING balls anymore!!!
Gilbert is suddenly pretty good! Browns 77, Ravens minus 3.
The game plan was perfect against this defense (and for that matter for the Browns' personnel). The short passes allowed him to get rid of it quickly, and (given the Browns' very strong running game), play-action can't help but work often.
Hoyer once again gave his permabashers ammo as he missed easy throws. The most annoying thing about him is that when he leaves the pocket, but still has time to re-plant his feet, he's just as inaccurate as if he's running.
HOWEVER, for the third time in his four full games as a Browns' starter, he delivered at crunch time. He magically transformed from Brady Quinn into Tom Brady.
Sure, against the Steelers he did come up short on the last possession. You can say "close but no cigars", but you can't take away the fact that he staged a historic comeback on the road to tie a game that everyone except him regarded as a lost cause. The score was tied.
You can't coach this. It's innate, and it's rare. It's really THE most important element for a quarterback, and what separates the franchise guys from the others. This time, like against Minnesota last season, it was again on him. Rob Ryan knew it, and was salivating. On that last 28-yard completion to Microbe 1, Ryan sent the house.
Unfortunately, so far it looks like Hoyer NEEDS that urgent kind of pressure to play up to his potential, and it's driving us nuts.
But this IS a small sample size. Last season vs. Cincinnati, he played well for the whole game. He CAN do it, and once he's more settled in, I think he will.
By the way, Johnny Selfie has this trait as well. He's at his best in the worst situations. It's probably the biggest single reason why the Browns couldn't pass him up after he'd dropped as low as he did in the first round.
New Orleans pundits are bashing the Saints wide reciever corps, but this had more to do with coverage than with their flaws. It seemed like the Browns were determined NOT to commit too heavily to stopping Graham, and sought to deprive Brees of literally everybody else.
Haden on Graham? Well, the big guy never did get any separation, and the passes had to be on the money. He was pretty much stopped where he caught it. I had expected a taller guy on Graham, but it would only reduce the mismatch a little, and he might have got separation and kept running against the other guys.
They bashed Payton for not running the ball more. They might be right, but pundits do have this tendancy to assume that a defense can't adapt and stop a given play. They tend to ignore fronts and deployments which quarterbacks can't. It might well have been Drew Brees who made those decisions.
The defense tackled well, and covered better against a really good WR corps. Even Joe Haden--well, you simply can't cover Jimmy Graham any better than he did.
But here is what I will hear on NFL Radio:
The Saints took the Browns too lightly. The crowd noise messed up the offense. They should have run more. Ryan was too aggressive.
The Ravens now have more film on the Browns, therefore they are doomed.
They'll even say stuff like the Ravens need to score early, because the Browns can't come back! No I'm serious--they'll say that!
The Browns should beat the Ravens. They are more talented than the Ravens. Do you know that Hawkins did much of what he did playing outside against press coverage? Austin caught three first downs on the comeback drive?
They did this without Jordan Cameron (did you notice Barnidge making key catches?)
The Browns much-maligned wide recievers are proving not to suck. They're not great, but they can do the job. And they're not DROPPING balls anymore!!!
Gilbert is suddenly pretty good! Browns 77, Ravens minus 3.
Friday, September 12, 2014
No Moral Victories, Rub Some Dirt On it, Winning isn't blahblahblah
The evaluations I've heard of the first game in Pittsburgh are devoid of context.
The most common question I hear is "will we see the first half Browns or the second half Browns". Sounds as if it's a coin flip!
First game. New coaches, players, and systems. Any reasonable person expected some miscommunication and some blown assignments.
Don't get me wrong here: That whole first half was WAY worse than what I'm talking about, and utterly inexcusable, ok? Those weren't bumps in the road--they were land mines, and these guys somehow managed to hit every one of them. Rediculous. Intolerable. The deepest level of suckdom.
Reasonable people should also have expected some improvement in the second half, since they couldn't possibly be as bad, let alone worse. But here again, they surprised us and exceeded expectations going the other way.
Wow.
Ok first off, Shanahan's offensive system might well be the most complex in the NFL. The quarterback doesn't get and pass on playcalls--they get and give lectures. This is one of the biggest reasons why Johnny Selfie needs more time. Andrew Luck would have trouble learning all this crap.
And now I'm pretty sure I know what Kyle and RG3 argued about.
But it is what it is, and Shanahan's track record says it works, so this is not to bash the guy. It's just that even for Hoyer, it's still new, and he's not used to it yet. (Did I mention first game, etc.? Seems like I'm the only one who noticed that little detail.)
For the offense, it was the hurry-up in the second half. This was Hoyer reading what he saw and making his own calls. I told you the guy was smart. Kyle and Mike deserve some credit for setting him free and seeing what would happen.
As Hoyer and others said, they really hadn't practiced it much in camp, so this took some guts.
The Stoolers were no doubt expecting a one-dimensional attack. Down that many points, an offense typically leans heavily on the pass. I'm not sure (I missed the game and nobody else thinks it matters enough to tell me), but I'm guessing that the Steelers fielded some sort of Big Nickel defense, and Hoyer immediately locked them into that personnel grouping, which is partly why the run worked so well.
I was really happy with the balance--an even mix of pass and run.
Are we going to see the good offense, or the bad offense? Probably niether, but you'd have to be mentally challenged to think it's a coin-flip. It was the first game, and they learned a lot in that second half. Young players proved things to themselves and eachother.
The coaches learned some things, too. The confidence gained, and these lessons, will improve the offense for week two. DUH.
The biggest thing for the defense was tackling, pure and simple. This was corrected in the second half. Do you really think it's even possible that they won't keep that up vs. the Saints? What are you smoking?
More on Hoyer: Although he fell short, this is the second time Hoyer has rallied from behind. He did it in his first start last season vs. the Vikings. That time, there was no running game at all to help him.
Yet writers persist on repeating the mantra that Hoyer isn't the answer. While I'm personally not convinced that he is, I find the flat verdict that he isn't pretty damn ignorant.
People are already making statements about his "ups and downs" based on this one game! As if he's played twelve or thirteen games like this one, when this was the fifth start of his whole career! Some of these same mow rons also repeat the "small sample size" mantra. Well, it sure seems like they've seen enough to judge him, no?
Now other teams have to prepare for the hurry-up as well as for a Manziel package.
Where's that guy that said "That running game isn't going to scare anyone"?
The Saints offense is scary, and Gilbert needs some work. If the Browns can hold those guys under 20 points, I'll be happy. I suspect that they might just put Desir on Graham. It might work...sometimes.
Where THESE Browns have a chance against any team is running the ball. That's just plain blunt force. Ryan can scheme and plot all he wants, but if our guys can push their guys around, he can't stop it consistently.
The Browns have a good chance at controlling the clock and wearing them down. I believe that they should run some hurry-up in each game, just to beat up and gas the defense. Unfortunately, most coaches think that the time not taken off the clock gives Drew Brees more time for his surgery, so they don't do it.
On Gordon, I'm disturbed that Adam Shefter said that the "drug deal" would only reduce his suspension to eight games. Shefter is almost always right about everything, so I can't doubt it.
But I don't understand why, aside from the fact that he's a Cleveland Brown. The newer (and more realistic) levels put his sample below the threshhold, period. The procedure was patently arbitrary and questionable in the first place.
Hell, the Gordon case and the threat of a civil suit was likely the catalyst for getting this new deal done! Wouldn't it just figure that Gordon could get this deal finally done and still get screwed out of eight games?
One of Adam Shefter's league sources probably said this to him: "When we get it done we'll have to let a bunch of guys off the hook, but we'll somehow find a way to stick it to the Browns."
Josh: If they do that to you, SUE!
The most common question I hear is "will we see the first half Browns or the second half Browns". Sounds as if it's a coin flip!
First game. New coaches, players, and systems. Any reasonable person expected some miscommunication and some blown assignments.
Don't get me wrong here: That whole first half was WAY worse than what I'm talking about, and utterly inexcusable, ok? Those weren't bumps in the road--they were land mines, and these guys somehow managed to hit every one of them. Rediculous. Intolerable. The deepest level of suckdom.
Reasonable people should also have expected some improvement in the second half, since they couldn't possibly be as bad, let alone worse. But here again, they surprised us and exceeded expectations going the other way.
Wow.
Ok first off, Shanahan's offensive system might well be the most complex in the NFL. The quarterback doesn't get and pass on playcalls--they get and give lectures. This is one of the biggest reasons why Johnny Selfie needs more time. Andrew Luck would have trouble learning all this crap.
And now I'm pretty sure I know what Kyle and RG3 argued about.
But it is what it is, and Shanahan's track record says it works, so this is not to bash the guy. It's just that even for Hoyer, it's still new, and he's not used to it yet. (Did I mention first game, etc.? Seems like I'm the only one who noticed that little detail.)
For the offense, it was the hurry-up in the second half. This was Hoyer reading what he saw and making his own calls. I told you the guy was smart. Kyle and Mike deserve some credit for setting him free and seeing what would happen.
As Hoyer and others said, they really hadn't practiced it much in camp, so this took some guts.
The Stoolers were no doubt expecting a one-dimensional attack. Down that many points, an offense typically leans heavily on the pass. I'm not sure (I missed the game and nobody else thinks it matters enough to tell me), but I'm guessing that the Steelers fielded some sort of Big Nickel defense, and Hoyer immediately locked them into that personnel grouping, which is partly why the run worked so well.
I was really happy with the balance--an even mix of pass and run.
Are we going to see the good offense, or the bad offense? Probably niether, but you'd have to be mentally challenged to think it's a coin-flip. It was the first game, and they learned a lot in that second half. Young players proved things to themselves and eachother.
The coaches learned some things, too. The confidence gained, and these lessons, will improve the offense for week two. DUH.
The biggest thing for the defense was tackling, pure and simple. This was corrected in the second half. Do you really think it's even possible that they won't keep that up vs. the Saints? What are you smoking?
More on Hoyer: Although he fell short, this is the second time Hoyer has rallied from behind. He did it in his first start last season vs. the Vikings. That time, there was no running game at all to help him.
Yet writers persist on repeating the mantra that Hoyer isn't the answer. While I'm personally not convinced that he is, I find the flat verdict that he isn't pretty damn ignorant.
People are already making statements about his "ups and downs" based on this one game! As if he's played twelve or thirteen games like this one, when this was the fifth start of his whole career! Some of these same mow rons also repeat the "small sample size" mantra. Well, it sure seems like they've seen enough to judge him, no?
Now other teams have to prepare for the hurry-up as well as for a Manziel package.
Where's that guy that said "That running game isn't going to scare anyone"?
The Saints offense is scary, and Gilbert needs some work. If the Browns can hold those guys under 20 points, I'll be happy. I suspect that they might just put Desir on Graham. It might work...sometimes.
Where THESE Browns have a chance against any team is running the ball. That's just plain blunt force. Ryan can scheme and plot all he wants, but if our guys can push their guys around, he can't stop it consistently.
The Browns have a good chance at controlling the clock and wearing them down. I believe that they should run some hurry-up in each game, just to beat up and gas the defense. Unfortunately, most coaches think that the time not taken off the clock gives Drew Brees more time for his surgery, so they don't do it.
On Gordon, I'm disturbed that Adam Shefter said that the "drug deal" would only reduce his suspension to eight games. Shefter is almost always right about everything, so I can't doubt it.
But I don't understand why, aside from the fact that he's a Cleveland Brown. The newer (and more realistic) levels put his sample below the threshhold, period. The procedure was patently arbitrary and questionable in the first place.
Hell, the Gordon case and the threat of a civil suit was likely the catalyst for getting this new deal done! Wouldn't it just figure that Gordon could get this deal finally done and still get screwed out of eight games?
One of Adam Shefter's league sources probably said this to him: "When we get it done we'll have to let a bunch of guys off the hook, but we'll somehow find a way to stick it to the Browns."
Josh: If they do that to you, SUE!
Sunday, September 7, 2014
National Coverage of the Cleveland Browns
As good sport Mike Pettine pointed out to him in an interview, Ross Tucker rated the Browns the weakest team in the NFL.
Ross is one of few guys I can't pick on, because he really knows what he's talking about, is objective, thinks with his brain, and does his homework.
He cites questions and weakness at wide reciever. Check. And at quarterback. I personally believe that Brian Hoyer is the Hoyer who beat Cincinnati, and not the career backup, and that Johnny Manziel won't take that long to acclimate. I just can't prove it. Nor can I pick on anybody for assuming the worst.
Everybody seems to stipulate to the defense being very good. It's just that they seem to undersell that. They seem to place it in the top ten, rather than the top five. That exposes a general bias, because anybody going position-by-position will have a hard time finding any of the starters who could be ranked below the top third of their peers, and Pettine has a clear track history.
They also grudgingly stipulate that Jordan Cameron is really good, then quickly move on with the "but--", as if this doesn't matter.
The absolutely dumbest, most idiotic thing I've heard (not from Ross, of course), is that "nobody's scared of that running game".
WHAT? This is like running up the score. Giggling as you keep kicking a helpless person lying on the ground. It's like saying that George Foreman in his prime didn't have fast hands, and lacked power. You just don't know when to quit.
The Browns just added a truly top-notch left guard, added two blocking tight ends and a blocking fullback. ALL of the running backs are new to the roster. Kyle Shanahan brought his historically successful zone-blocking scheme with him, and finds himself with the right set of offensive linemen to run it.
The morons who said this can't even cite this preseason as a reason for it, as Ben Tate has run all over everybody and Crowell just exploded for a fifty yard touchdown run.
If you think with your brain, you also consider that the zone scheme is much more complex than the man scheme, and these guys are still making mistakes that they won't as they get more reps. Nor are they used to the rookie at guard yet.
I'm not surprised that the consensus on NFL Radio off-handedly predicts a Pittsburgh blowout today. Polumalu and Kiesel are as good as ever. Bell and company are all future Hall of Famers.
Well, the fact is that Big Ben has owned the Browns, especially at home, and it does look grim. In earlier blogs, I overestimated the Steelers' decline, and preseason/the wide reciever stuff has given me pause on the Browns.
If it were mid season I'd give the Browns a chance, but right now they're still probably going to make some mistakes as they learn eachother and their systems.
Another concern of mine is tackling. On thursday night, we saw a clinic on tackling by the Seattle defense. They wrapped guys up and dragged them down. The Browns preseason defense was usually in position, but blew the tackles.
If they start tackling like Seahawks, they'll be as good as any defense in the NFL. If they stay the way they are, the talking heads who minimize their talent will be right, and the Steelers WILL blow them out.
What HE said!
Josh: I suspect that Gordon's attorney knew about the drug test deal between the NFLPA and league, and hasn't sued for that reason. If Gordon isn't included (the suspension voided) he'll have even more ammo. The league needs to be smart here...even though Josh is a...Cleveland Brown.
Ross is one of few guys I can't pick on, because he really knows what he's talking about, is objective, thinks with his brain, and does his homework.
He cites questions and weakness at wide reciever. Check. And at quarterback. I personally believe that Brian Hoyer is the Hoyer who beat Cincinnati, and not the career backup, and that Johnny Manziel won't take that long to acclimate. I just can't prove it. Nor can I pick on anybody for assuming the worst.
Everybody seems to stipulate to the defense being very good. It's just that they seem to undersell that. They seem to place it in the top ten, rather than the top five. That exposes a general bias, because anybody going position-by-position will have a hard time finding any of the starters who could be ranked below the top third of their peers, and Pettine has a clear track history.
They also grudgingly stipulate that Jordan Cameron is really good, then quickly move on with the "but--", as if this doesn't matter.
The absolutely dumbest, most idiotic thing I've heard (not from Ross, of course), is that "nobody's scared of that running game".
WHAT? This is like running up the score. Giggling as you keep kicking a helpless person lying on the ground. It's like saying that George Foreman in his prime didn't have fast hands, and lacked power. You just don't know when to quit.
The Browns just added a truly top-notch left guard, added two blocking tight ends and a blocking fullback. ALL of the running backs are new to the roster. Kyle Shanahan brought his historically successful zone-blocking scheme with him, and finds himself with the right set of offensive linemen to run it.
The morons who said this can't even cite this preseason as a reason for it, as Ben Tate has run all over everybody and Crowell just exploded for a fifty yard touchdown run.
If you think with your brain, you also consider that the zone scheme is much more complex than the man scheme, and these guys are still making mistakes that they won't as they get more reps. Nor are they used to the rookie at guard yet.
I'm not surprised that the consensus on NFL Radio off-handedly predicts a Pittsburgh blowout today. Polumalu and Kiesel are as good as ever. Bell and company are all future Hall of Famers.
Well, the fact is that Big Ben has owned the Browns, especially at home, and it does look grim. In earlier blogs, I overestimated the Steelers' decline, and preseason/the wide reciever stuff has given me pause on the Browns.
If it were mid season I'd give the Browns a chance, but right now they're still probably going to make some mistakes as they learn eachother and their systems.
Another concern of mine is tackling. On thursday night, we saw a clinic on tackling by the Seattle defense. They wrapped guys up and dragged them down. The Browns preseason defense was usually in position, but blew the tackles.
If they start tackling like Seahawks, they'll be as good as any defense in the NFL. If they stay the way they are, the talking heads who minimize their talent will be right, and the Steelers WILL blow them out.
What HE said!
Josh: I suspect that Gordon's attorney knew about the drug test deal between the NFLPA and league, and hasn't sued for that reason. If Gordon isn't included (the suspension voided) he'll have even more ammo. The league needs to be smart here...even though Josh is a...Cleveland Brown.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
LaRon Byrd and Rodney Johnsonfield
Thanks to Sam Ingro of Buckeye State Sports, I found a little more out about Byrd, including the fact that he caught seven passes this preseason. Most of the other writers thought this was irrelevant, citing the one regular season catch in his career.
This is pretty common--it's been done to Brian Hoyer, Mitchell Schwartze, and others. It's the Memorex Moron treatment.
This happens where the writer is too dumb or too lazy to examine timelines, and just takes aggregate career stats to sum up who a player is.
This is really stupid. With few exceptions (Edwards, Little, Anderson for example), players improve with time and experience. They'll be better in the second half of their first season. If they've had some playing time, they'll then make a big jump from year one to year two, and really hit their stride near the end of year three.
Byrd was pretty raw coming out of college, and has had almost zero playing time beyond preseasons. This is why this preseason is telling. Seven catches is pretty good, even if it was against scrubs. This is a player who is just hitting his stride.
Dallas didn't need him, but the Browns do. I compared him to Brian Robiskie, and that's still sort of accurate. But he is bigger and taller. He's not going to scare anybody deep, and he's not explosive enough to get much separation. However, he uses his great reach and size well enough that it often doesn't matter how well he's covered. He's a red zone threat and possession guy.
As I'd hoped, Ray Farmer's delayed release of Johnson was meant to sneak him onto the practice squad. I'm impressed. I still think that we could well see a more polished version back on the field in the second half of this season.
I thank the Bleacher Report for this link to Josh Alper's article on Vinston Painter, a guard/tackle who was just swiped from the Denver Broncos.
Painter was a defensive lineman in college, and has the athleticism of a 3-4 defensive end or a penetrating defensive tackle. He's 6'4", 310, but is often described as "huge". That's because he looks more like a defensive end than an offensive lineman--most of that 310 is solid muscle.
He was picked 173rd overall by Denver two seasons ago. Because he had to learn a whole new position, any meaningful contribution by him as a rookie was out of the question, and he probably still needs at least another season to develop.
Most analysts, including those in Denver, yawn and say Cleveland probably wanted him because he was versatile, and that at right tackle other guys handled "power" better, and that's all.
But once this converted defensive lineman learns the ropes, he could grow into a LEFT tackle. For the moment, he's a perfect fit for Shanahan's zone-blocking scheme. I also think the Denver writer is behind the curve on the right tackle position.
As we've seen with Mitchell Schwartze, opposing defenses are aiming their quickest, fastest passrushers at typical right tackles like Schwartze rather than trying to get around guys like Joe Thomas.
Even the horrific preaseason play in which Kerrington used Mitchell as a turnstile to sack the QB was mostly possible because Schwartze was retreating fast in order to shrink this faster player's attack angle...
Since this has been so poorly analyzed and needs to be corrected, let's start over on that play:
Kerrington is a lighter, faster DE/OLB type, who Schwartze knew was too quick for him. If Schwartze was certain that he'd try to get around outside him, he could take care of that. But Kerrington can be very sneaky and might also cross his face to dart between him and the guard.
In order to prevent this, Schwartze retreated rapidly at the snap, which brought him closer to the guard and the QB. This was meant to deprive Kerrington of the inside option, and position Schwartze so that he could stop Kerrington trying to get around him on the outside with one step and a punch.
It was well-done, except that Kerrington went right at Schwartze and got under his pads before he was fully set (Note: this was still Schwartze's fault because he had time--he was just taken by surprise). He gave Mitchell a hard upward shove, and peeled off for the sack.
It looked like a bull rush to lazy and dumb people, but a bull rush starts at the line, and the blocker is driven back from there. Schwartze retreated deliberately. Now dumb people will say that he can be bull rushed, and that's rediculous. Just another way to kick a guy while he's down.
Painter is a much different player than Schwartze, though. If/when he's ready to get on the field, speed rushers like Kerrington won't have the edge on him, and he won't need to back up much to shrink attack angles like Schwartze has to (and by the way is certainly coached to).
I'm short on time, but the 5'8" fullback they signed is also pretty good.
Will Burge of the Bleacher Report broke down Brian Hoyer's sub-par season. This was another very smart and insightful article. but I need to put it in context:
Brian did screw up in the ways Will illustrated, and you certainly won't see Peyton or Rodgers do that except once in a blue moon--so he's definitely got work to do...to be as good as they are......
However, Will doesn't mention the other reasons for Hoyer's sub-par preseason: DROPS and BLOWN PATTERNS. If the recievers hadn't screwed up so much, Hoyer wouldn't have even had a sub-par preseason for Will to write about.
This is pretty common--it's been done to Brian Hoyer, Mitchell Schwartze, and others. It's the Memorex Moron treatment.
This happens where the writer is too dumb or too lazy to examine timelines, and just takes aggregate career stats to sum up who a player is.
This is really stupid. With few exceptions (Edwards, Little, Anderson for example), players improve with time and experience. They'll be better in the second half of their first season. If they've had some playing time, they'll then make a big jump from year one to year two, and really hit their stride near the end of year three.
Byrd was pretty raw coming out of college, and has had almost zero playing time beyond preseasons. This is why this preseason is telling. Seven catches is pretty good, even if it was against scrubs. This is a player who is just hitting his stride.
Dallas didn't need him, but the Browns do. I compared him to Brian Robiskie, and that's still sort of accurate. But he is bigger and taller. He's not going to scare anybody deep, and he's not explosive enough to get much separation. However, he uses his great reach and size well enough that it often doesn't matter how well he's covered. He's a red zone threat and possession guy.
As I'd hoped, Ray Farmer's delayed release of Johnson was meant to sneak him onto the practice squad. I'm impressed. I still think that we could well see a more polished version back on the field in the second half of this season.
I thank the Bleacher Report for this link to Josh Alper's article on Vinston Painter, a guard/tackle who was just swiped from the Denver Broncos.
Painter was a defensive lineman in college, and has the athleticism of a 3-4 defensive end or a penetrating defensive tackle. He's 6'4", 310, but is often described as "huge". That's because he looks more like a defensive end than an offensive lineman--most of that 310 is solid muscle.
He was picked 173rd overall by Denver two seasons ago. Because he had to learn a whole new position, any meaningful contribution by him as a rookie was out of the question, and he probably still needs at least another season to develop.
Most analysts, including those in Denver, yawn and say Cleveland probably wanted him because he was versatile, and that at right tackle other guys handled "power" better, and that's all.
But once this converted defensive lineman learns the ropes, he could grow into a LEFT tackle. For the moment, he's a perfect fit for Shanahan's zone-blocking scheme. I also think the Denver writer is behind the curve on the right tackle position.
As we've seen with Mitchell Schwartze, opposing defenses are aiming their quickest, fastest passrushers at typical right tackles like Schwartze rather than trying to get around guys like Joe Thomas.
Even the horrific preaseason play in which Kerrington used Mitchell as a turnstile to sack the QB was mostly possible because Schwartze was retreating fast in order to shrink this faster player's attack angle...
Since this has been so poorly analyzed and needs to be corrected, let's start over on that play:
Kerrington is a lighter, faster DE/OLB type, who Schwartze knew was too quick for him. If Schwartze was certain that he'd try to get around outside him, he could take care of that. But Kerrington can be very sneaky and might also cross his face to dart between him and the guard.
In order to prevent this, Schwartze retreated rapidly at the snap, which brought him closer to the guard and the QB. This was meant to deprive Kerrington of the inside option, and position Schwartze so that he could stop Kerrington trying to get around him on the outside with one step and a punch.
It was well-done, except that Kerrington went right at Schwartze and got under his pads before he was fully set (Note: this was still Schwartze's fault because he had time--he was just taken by surprise). He gave Mitchell a hard upward shove, and peeled off for the sack.
It looked like a bull rush to lazy and dumb people, but a bull rush starts at the line, and the blocker is driven back from there. Schwartze retreated deliberately. Now dumb people will say that he can be bull rushed, and that's rediculous. Just another way to kick a guy while he's down.
Painter is a much different player than Schwartze, though. If/when he's ready to get on the field, speed rushers like Kerrington won't have the edge on him, and he won't need to back up much to shrink attack angles like Schwartze has to (and by the way is certainly coached to).
I'm short on time, but the 5'8" fullback they signed is also pretty good.
Will Burge of the Bleacher Report broke down Brian Hoyer's sub-par season. This was another very smart and insightful article. but I need to put it in context:
Brian did screw up in the ways Will illustrated, and you certainly won't see Peyton or Rodgers do that except once in a blue moon--so he's definitely got work to do...to be as good as they are......
However, Will doesn't mention the other reasons for Hoyer's sub-par preseason: DROPS and BLOWN PATTERNS. If the recievers hadn't screwed up so much, Hoyer wouldn't have even had a sub-par preseason for Will to write about.
Monday, September 1, 2014
LaRon Byrd...Instead of Charles Johnson?
Ray Farmer knows what he's doing, but I don't. Unlike some others, I'll assume that Ray knows something I don't. There's nothing more pitiful than an armchair GM.
Nor is he finished yet. There will be other moves.
As for Johnson, it could be that he wants to get him onto the practice squad, and felt that delaying his release would improve his chances...or I could simply be wrong about the kid. I mean, there's a much better chance that I'm wrong than that Ray is, in the real world.
(Of course I reserve the right to bash him down the road if Johnson kicks butt somewhere else).
It is possible that Shanahan will go with smurfs with an offense deliberately intended to exploit the strong trend towards taller cornerbacks in the league, and that Byrd is here (for the moment) as purely a red zone and short yardage player.
Except for size and hands, there's nothing else special about him. He's Robiskie, except a little bigger.
The delayed release of Rex Grossman I do understand. I believe that Ray and the staff planned to carry two active quarterbacks, and to stash Connor Shaw on the practice squad all along. They had to hang onto Grossman until Shaw cleared waivers and was locked up.
Now, on game day they'll go with Hoyer and Manziel, period. That's a calculated risk, of course, but losing both quarterbacks in one game with this offensive line and these running backs is unlikely enough to justify it.
They'll have a week to activate Shaw and/or recall Grossman should it be necessary. I'm glad Shaw was kept. He has more experience than Manziel, and if he were a couple inches taller with a stronger arm he'd have been very popular. His stats are just otherworldly. He belongs.
I missed again on Marqueis Gray, it seems, but this is also sort of telling: Gray was the only guy with the physical tools to do what Cameron does. The other tight ends are conventional, in-line types. It puts more weight on the smurf-WR offense.
The tight ends retained are underrated recievers. They're not big-play guys, but can move the chains. They're big, safe short targets. They can also chip or block very well in max-protect, and do fit the zone-blocking scheme.
Smurfs can't use their reach or bodies as big guys can, and can only get open through separation. They're at a big disadvantage outside of the slot, as they can get held up and leveraged outside to prevent slants and crosses. This can shrink or eliminate the quarterback's target if the corner can run with them vertically.
The backs (notably fullback) and tight ends have to present the easy check-down options, because the smurfs can't be counted on to get open (like a tall guy with a big catch radius can).
While I'm sad about Gray, I'm glad about Agnew. Agnew rarely caught passes in college, but in his brief time here proved that he can do it, and do it consistently.
Agnew is a prototype blocking fullback ideally suited to a man-blocking scheme, but he can excel in this system as well. No system is 100% zone or 100% man, and there will always be short-yardage situations. where smashmouth works best.
In space, I still like him slightly better than Gray because of his leverage.
I'm glad that Crowell made it, and agree with some writers that he might be better than West. I had misgivings about West because of his high number of carries in college. Running backs wear down much more predictably than other players, and they only have so much tread on their tires.
I still feel that we haven't seen the best from West yet--but then I felt that about Trent Richardson, so...
Whoever told Grossi and the other guys that a "third down back" is mandatory has got to be kidding. The three guys the Browns kept are (or will be) effective recievers and pass-protectors.
It's nice to have a guy with a contrasting style to screw up a defense and make game-planning harder, but not if it means you have to release a superior player.
The second reason a third down back was brought into vogue was to give the bellcow a breather, or else as part of a committee. The Browns have that part covered in spades.
Crowell, and to a lesser extend West, will probably need to work on blitze pickups and recieving somewhat, but they're otherwise ready for primetime.
It's telling that the Browns have retained five wide recievers and four tight ends. This simply has to mean that two tight ends will be on the field a whole lot.
This is understandable. The kneejerk assumption will be that everybody but Cameron is here to block, but as you'll see, the second tight end will also catch some balls.
As Pat Kirwan said, opposing defenses will crowd the line to stop the run first without a Josh Gordon type to keep a safety deep. "Nobody scares them", Pat said.
Pat doesn't like the Browns, but he's partly right. I just really look forward to the first time Hawkins or Gabriel have the ball behind the safeties. If Pat's Steelers want to single-cover those guys or Benjamin, it might work 2 out of 3 times...but number three is a bitch.
But the two tight end sets are partly an answer to the tininess of most of the WR's, and specifically to 3-4 defenses in general.
The defense must take Cameron seriously and expect him to line up outside--sometimes even outside a wide reciever on his side, and have a fast linebacker or big safety on him. But they'll always regard the second tight end as an in-line guy. So two wide recievers calls for a big nickel, because with Cameron it's really like a 3-wide.
Three of the five nominal DB's have to focus on the three obvious recievers. If they blitze from the outside, the in-line tight end sort of dictates to them from which side it has to come, since he has the feet and size to pick it up. The outside backer on that side also has to make sure he doesn't leave an open zone for that tight end to sneak into.
My guess is that Pitt's nickel will turn them into a 3-3 front, naturally including Shazier. If they don't put Shazier on Cameron (outside), they're taking a big chance--so he'll almost certainly blitze, either between the tackles or from Cameron's side. This would likely prevent the running back from becoming a reciever, since that guy can run circles around offensive linemen and many tight ends.
This leaves two more linebackers to blitze or watch for the run, along with two nominal defensive backs. They can even go ahead and keep one safety back.
If they do what Pat thinks they'll do, they'll send five passrushers out of the nickel, man-up on Cameron and the two wide recievers, and keep the three remaining guys fairly shallow to charge up and blow up the run.
I hope that's what they do, because the in-line tight end can run a few steps and catch a pass. The outside backer on his side isn't a coverage guy. He's a passrusher/run-stopper first.
For that matter, the blocking tight end makes a sixth in-line blocker, and the nickel is undersized and spread out. Pat will say that LeBeau will wave a magic wand and make sure that the running back can't run a safety running sideways over, or make one big guy miss, but that's blind faith.
And great! Polumalu got to Hoyer! Except the ball was gone! And Hawkins has it and it's a footrace! Oops!
Twelve defensive backs doesn't suprise me much, since in today's NFL nickel and dime defenses are the rule rather than the exception. Some of these guys are primarily special teamers, but from what I've seen, all of them can cover.
With all these guys, the coaches can design and practice packages based on general and individual matchups for each unique opponent.
I missed on Josh Aubrey too, but hope he lands on the squad, because he's really good. I can see how Leonhard helps everybody else, though--he knows this scheme as well as Pettine himself does, and can really help everybody else, including the veterans, mentally.
No moves made now can effect the gameday players in Pittsburgh, so we can call the wide recievers based on what's here now: Austin and Hawkins outside, and the amazing Taylor Gabriel inside. Benjamin will get in there--this partly depends on which of these two will be the returners. Pettine even said that Gabriel could play outside!
So for now it's exactly what I said: Austin, Cameron, and smurfs.
It just might work, too! The Stoolers corners aren't that good, and the venerable Polumalu is overrated.
The new emphasis on defensive holding and interference also favor smurf recievers.
Unfortunately, it's in Pittsburgh, so the referees probably let Stooler corners get away with murder. You can also count on at least two Big Ben bombs to end up inside the ten yard line by penalty, as usual. They'll probably flag the Stoolers for meaningless holding penalties to make it seem fair, as usual.
I like the idea of Hawk, Benjamin, or Gabriel running around with the ball in space against these guys. I expect lots of short and intermediate passes and hard runs.
May the most talented team win. That means the Browns.
Nor is he finished yet. There will be other moves.
As for Johnson, it could be that he wants to get him onto the practice squad, and felt that delaying his release would improve his chances...or I could simply be wrong about the kid. I mean, there's a much better chance that I'm wrong than that Ray is, in the real world.
(Of course I reserve the right to bash him down the road if Johnson kicks butt somewhere else).
It is possible that Shanahan will go with smurfs with an offense deliberately intended to exploit the strong trend towards taller cornerbacks in the league, and that Byrd is here (for the moment) as purely a red zone and short yardage player.
Except for size and hands, there's nothing else special about him. He's Robiskie, except a little bigger.
The delayed release of Rex Grossman I do understand. I believe that Ray and the staff planned to carry two active quarterbacks, and to stash Connor Shaw on the practice squad all along. They had to hang onto Grossman until Shaw cleared waivers and was locked up.
Now, on game day they'll go with Hoyer and Manziel, period. That's a calculated risk, of course, but losing both quarterbacks in one game with this offensive line and these running backs is unlikely enough to justify it.
They'll have a week to activate Shaw and/or recall Grossman should it be necessary. I'm glad Shaw was kept. He has more experience than Manziel, and if he were a couple inches taller with a stronger arm he'd have been very popular. His stats are just otherworldly. He belongs.
I missed again on Marqueis Gray, it seems, but this is also sort of telling: Gray was the only guy with the physical tools to do what Cameron does. The other tight ends are conventional, in-line types. It puts more weight on the smurf-WR offense.
The tight ends retained are underrated recievers. They're not big-play guys, but can move the chains. They're big, safe short targets. They can also chip or block very well in max-protect, and do fit the zone-blocking scheme.
Smurfs can't use their reach or bodies as big guys can, and can only get open through separation. They're at a big disadvantage outside of the slot, as they can get held up and leveraged outside to prevent slants and crosses. This can shrink or eliminate the quarterback's target if the corner can run with them vertically.
The backs (notably fullback) and tight ends have to present the easy check-down options, because the smurfs can't be counted on to get open (like a tall guy with a big catch radius can).
While I'm sad about Gray, I'm glad about Agnew. Agnew rarely caught passes in college, but in his brief time here proved that he can do it, and do it consistently.
Agnew is a prototype blocking fullback ideally suited to a man-blocking scheme, but he can excel in this system as well. No system is 100% zone or 100% man, and there will always be short-yardage situations. where smashmouth works best.
In space, I still like him slightly better than Gray because of his leverage.
I'm glad that Crowell made it, and agree with some writers that he might be better than West. I had misgivings about West because of his high number of carries in college. Running backs wear down much more predictably than other players, and they only have so much tread on their tires.
I still feel that we haven't seen the best from West yet--but then I felt that about Trent Richardson, so...
Whoever told Grossi and the other guys that a "third down back" is mandatory has got to be kidding. The three guys the Browns kept are (or will be) effective recievers and pass-protectors.
It's nice to have a guy with a contrasting style to screw up a defense and make game-planning harder, but not if it means you have to release a superior player.
The second reason a third down back was brought into vogue was to give the bellcow a breather, or else as part of a committee. The Browns have that part covered in spades.
Crowell, and to a lesser extend West, will probably need to work on blitze pickups and recieving somewhat, but they're otherwise ready for primetime.
It's telling that the Browns have retained five wide recievers and four tight ends. This simply has to mean that two tight ends will be on the field a whole lot.
This is understandable. The kneejerk assumption will be that everybody but Cameron is here to block, but as you'll see, the second tight end will also catch some balls.
As Pat Kirwan said, opposing defenses will crowd the line to stop the run first without a Josh Gordon type to keep a safety deep. "Nobody scares them", Pat said.
Pat doesn't like the Browns, but he's partly right. I just really look forward to the first time Hawkins or Gabriel have the ball behind the safeties. If Pat's Steelers want to single-cover those guys or Benjamin, it might work 2 out of 3 times...but number three is a bitch.
But the two tight end sets are partly an answer to the tininess of most of the WR's, and specifically to 3-4 defenses in general.
The defense must take Cameron seriously and expect him to line up outside--sometimes even outside a wide reciever on his side, and have a fast linebacker or big safety on him. But they'll always regard the second tight end as an in-line guy. So two wide recievers calls for a big nickel, because with Cameron it's really like a 3-wide.
Three of the five nominal DB's have to focus on the three obvious recievers. If they blitze from the outside, the in-line tight end sort of dictates to them from which side it has to come, since he has the feet and size to pick it up. The outside backer on that side also has to make sure he doesn't leave an open zone for that tight end to sneak into.
My guess is that Pitt's nickel will turn them into a 3-3 front, naturally including Shazier. If they don't put Shazier on Cameron (outside), they're taking a big chance--so he'll almost certainly blitze, either between the tackles or from Cameron's side. This would likely prevent the running back from becoming a reciever, since that guy can run circles around offensive linemen and many tight ends.
This leaves two more linebackers to blitze or watch for the run, along with two nominal defensive backs. They can even go ahead and keep one safety back.
If they do what Pat thinks they'll do, they'll send five passrushers out of the nickel, man-up on Cameron and the two wide recievers, and keep the three remaining guys fairly shallow to charge up and blow up the run.
I hope that's what they do, because the in-line tight end can run a few steps and catch a pass. The outside backer on his side isn't a coverage guy. He's a passrusher/run-stopper first.
For that matter, the blocking tight end makes a sixth in-line blocker, and the nickel is undersized and spread out. Pat will say that LeBeau will wave a magic wand and make sure that the running back can't run a safety running sideways over, or make one big guy miss, but that's blind faith.
And great! Polumalu got to Hoyer! Except the ball was gone! And Hawkins has it and it's a footrace! Oops!
Twelve defensive backs doesn't suprise me much, since in today's NFL nickel and dime defenses are the rule rather than the exception. Some of these guys are primarily special teamers, but from what I've seen, all of them can cover.
With all these guys, the coaches can design and practice packages based on general and individual matchups for each unique opponent.
I missed on Josh Aubrey too, but hope he lands on the squad, because he's really good. I can see how Leonhard helps everybody else, though--he knows this scheme as well as Pettine himself does, and can really help everybody else, including the veterans, mentally.
No moves made now can effect the gameday players in Pittsburgh, so we can call the wide recievers based on what's here now: Austin and Hawkins outside, and the amazing Taylor Gabriel inside. Benjamin will get in there--this partly depends on which of these two will be the returners. Pettine even said that Gabriel could play outside!
So for now it's exactly what I said: Austin, Cameron, and smurfs.
It just might work, too! The Stoolers corners aren't that good, and the venerable Polumalu is overrated.
The new emphasis on defensive holding and interference also favor smurf recievers.
Unfortunately, it's in Pittsburgh, so the referees probably let Stooler corners get away with murder. You can also count on at least two Big Ben bombs to end up inside the ten yard line by penalty, as usual. They'll probably flag the Stoolers for meaningless holding penalties to make it seem fair, as usual.
I like the idea of Hawk, Benjamin, or Gabriel running around with the ball in space against these guys. I expect lots of short and intermediate passes and hard runs.
May the most talented team win. That means the Browns.
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