Sunday, September 6, 2015

Ray Farmer Wheelin and Dealin

Can't wait to find out what the Browns got from the Tennessee for Terrence West.  Probably no higher than a third round pick, which would be a pretty good deal for them.

West has bellcow potential, and has had a year to refine his blocking and develop as a receiver.  They're getting a young guy who's already broken in and can play every down.

Somehow I'm always disappointed in trades, and am a BROWNS fan, so it might be a fourth rounder.  Good move, Titans.

But good move Ray, too.  I have no idea if rumors of West not working hard enough are true, but either way, Duke Johnson is here now, and Crowell has more tread left on his tires, plus a little more power and speed. The replacement running backs brought in did alright, and in reality running back is just about the easiest depth-hole to fill.

One last thing about Terrence West: Running backs only have so many carries in them.  West came out of college with a ton of them.  The pundits are oblivious to this, but the gms aren't.  This is why he lasted til the third round.  Just sayin.

Now, this here Anthony Pasztor guy Ray grabbed off waivers from the Jagwires is an offensive lineman entering his fourth season. That's significant.  Year 4 is when many low-round and undrafted offensive linemen blossom.

Pasztor has played left guard, but he's really a right tackle (with a lot of starts).  He's not going to challenge Mitchell Schwartz, but represents solid veteran depth at that position, and emergency depth at guard.

Apparently, Cam Erving will back up literally every other position, including left tackle.

The Brown's can play a game with seven offensive linemen active, though it's a tad risky.  Ray is still shopping around in the bargain bin, of course, but seven is usually enough, since it's rare to lose more than two big uglies in one game.

Ray Farmer has now released four of his own latest draft picks. It should be starting to dawn on some of you that he and Mike Pettine get along just fine.  If you listen with both ears to Pettine himself, he and his assistants had the final say on all the cuts.

Tony, I know it can be tough finding stuff to write about, but let's tone down the fake reality soap opera dramatic stuff for now, ok?

"Dysfunction":  What a cool word!  Makes dumb people think you're smart and stuff!  "Power struggle":  Oooh, how dramatic!  Hey, uhh...do you actually like football more than the Cardassians?  Just wonderin.

Im overjoyed for Jamie Meder the home boy.  THE best pre-season player made Mike's decision easy.

Like Scott Solomon, here's a guy that outworked and outthought more gifted athletes and took control by force of will.

He didn't just make the team, you know.  Kitchen and Taylor hit the road.  Jamie Meder will rotate with Danny Shelton as the number two nose tackle.  He'll play on obvious run downs WITH Shelton.  Jamie will play a LOT.

Kitchen was big and strong, but slow.  Taylor was hurt too much.  Meder is 6'2", 295...and was benching 515 lbs a year ago. 

Hard work isn't all of it. Meder and Solomon have great instincts.  They just automatically know where the ball is, and how to get there.

"Play like a Brown" has been kind of a joke so far,  but kudos to Mike Pettine for having the guts to say it, even as he took over a crappy team.  He had to know he'd be laughed at, until he won.  This is projecting confidence.  Inspiring. It's leadership.  A leader is a guy that does or says things nobody else has the guts to do or say.  Most of the rest of us enthusiastically support him/her.  Since we came down from the trees.

Meder, Solomon, Shelton, Hartline, Bibbs, Haden, Dansby, Gipson, Mack...They're examples and believers.  Count McCown and Greco and Hitner in there, too.

...apologies to those I left out.  I stuck to the obvious ones and left out the super fast smurfs.

I count Josh Lenz among them.  Ray will try to put him on the practice squad.  I also count the main reason he was released: Terrelle Pryor.

Yeah, you heard me.  He finally gave up his dream of being a quarterback and embraced wide receiver.  When he knew he was licked as a quarterback, he swallowed that bitter pill and resolved to be the best damn wide receiver ever to play.

I love this.  I've been through something like it.

I can't be a quarterback wah-wah ok time for plan b:  Go to Randy Moss academy.  Learn from veterans.  Bust ass making up for lost time.  Play special teams. Work with McCown and Manziel after practice.

Yes.  Terrelle Pryor is one of Pettine's Browns.  He's coming from behind, outworking other guys.  Yes, he's gifted, but he's fighting just as hard as Solomon, Meder, Benjamin and yes--Josh Lenz to turn his career around.

Remember Edward Scizzorhands (Braylon?)  Well that ain't Pryor.  Scizzorhands didn't play like a Brown.  Pryor will.  Laugh at me now but believe me later: Terrelle Pryor will be an elite player by the end of 2015.

...unless he's crippled, which, being a Browns fan well, you know...




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