Walter Football has predicted that the Browns will take Cardale Jones next season with the third overall draft pick. I found this reference in this article on HNGN.
There's nothing wrong with guessing that the Browns will again be in the market for a franchise quarterback, and I liked that Connor Cook was mentioned as another possibility.
I'm feeling better about Johnny Manziel myself, partly because the positive reviews are coming from his teammates as well as coaches. But he still has a lot of questions to answer.
It's the notion that this team will draft third overall that's really, really dumb.
This team is loaded with talent, and most of it is low in it's growth-curve. Some will debate about outside linebacker (passrusher), tight end, and wide reciever, but unless you're out of your damn mind you've got to accept that everything else is covered.
I must repeat myself about the other guys: Bowe and Hartline are pretty good, and a stud number one is desirable, but not mandatory. Further, both probable slot recievers (I believe Benjamin will leave) are p l a y m a k e r s.
I can't expect others to expect Housler to show that he's much more than his prior stats indicate, but laugh at me now but believe me later.
And there are a BUNCH of guys, including NCAA sack-leader Nate Orchard, who will be competing with eachother to win the role opposite Paul Kruger.
Further, the much-improved defensive line will create more second and third and long situations in which the Browns can use that pass-rush.
You might not be able to count on Johnny Manziel, but Josh McCown, throughout his career, has won with a strong supporting cast, just as he's lost without one. He has that strong supporting cast here, so he'll win here.
The offensive scheme is a factor here. We haven't seen a traditional West Coast offense in Cleveland, even with Kyle Shanahan. Josh McCown has run this scheme and is well suited to it. So are Bowe, Hartline, and the slot guys.
DeFelippo's planned use of the running backs as recievers (and the addition of Duke Johnson) will help any quarterback immensely.
And to make this much, much simpler, if Brian Hoyer won seven games with last year's team, how can any rational person believe that McCown will do worse with this year's?
Home-town bias aside, they're pretty much interchangeable.
On the business side, Mitchell Schwartze's contract expires after this season. This makes it more likely that he will be replaced as the starter at right tackle. This will deprive him of leverage in negotiations.
Ray will want to re-sign him because he's still young, doesn't suck (in reality), and has position flexability. Of course, it might not work, since Schwartze will still get some nice offers, and can start somewhere else.
The most likely guy to replace him is Cam Erving. Micheal Bowie isn't as effective in pass protection. By the way, this would make four of the five OL starters first and second-round picks (any of this sinking in yet?)
Phil Taylor's injuries undermine his trade value, but he's really good when healthy. However it's just possible he'll be released. The sheer number of defensive linemen will force some cuts.
The unheralded Ishmael Kitchen, who himself was injured last season, is a true nose tackle, and is more durable and cheaper. He stays in his lane and makes messes.
Desir may well spend some time at safety.
Gilbert has a very good chance of winning the starting cornerback slot opposite Joe Haden. Gilbert is a cornerback--not a quarterback. Some of you appear confused about this.
And this is mainly a press/man system. It's not rocket science. Gilbert's tools are exceptional, and in year two he can take it if he means business (which it sounds like he does).
Barkevious Mingo should be a much more effective passrusher now that he's healthy, but still won't always be used that way. None of the other OLB's can cover like him.
There will probably be a lot of rotation among the OLB's, so if Mingo gets 5-6 sacks, that will be pretty good, because he might have some deflections and interceptions too.
No comments:
Post a Comment