On Johnny Manziel: Sashi was pretty clear on this one, but what he couldn't say was that it would be really stupid to just cut him if there was a chance of trading him.
Not only would this have tipped his hand, but it would have offended all the mathematically-challenged pundits who have been predicting Johnny's summary execution.
On Josh Gordon: Brown was clear on this one, but he meant it. They'll be interviewing all of the players, except Josh needs to be reinstated before they can consider him.
How do you manage to turn that into Gordon's return being in doubt? He's been a good little boy for a year and should be reinstated by Granny Goodell.
The interview is a bit of a formality for Sashi, who already knows Josh. He will want to make sure Gordon reports in shape this time, and will be the Josh Gordon who led the NFL in receiving in 14 games with three quarterbacks.
In another article, if I read this right, the writer seems to think that Gordon's retention will somehow effect Travis Benjamin.
Wow. Yes, they're both called wide receivers, but they might as well play different positions because they have completely different roles. Travis Benjamin is first and foremost a slot receiver, and Gordon is a number one X receiver.
The guys who could effect Travis are Jennings and Hawkins.
You will hear Hue Jackson moderate his comments on Johnny Manziel in the future, even if he's made his mind up to get rid of him. Sashi and Paul DePodesta want to get something in return for him.
It's also true that a reinstated Josh Gordon has trade value himself, and that if he gets in trouble again, it's at least another year. It is possible, though unlikely, that he would be traded. But if you're not going to get a first rounder for him, probably not.
The guy who could effect Josh Gordon is Terrelle Pryor.
Pryor is dedicated to becoming the best wide receiver in football. He will have all his routes down, and gets a jugs machine when he gets to camp.
I keep saying this: You can't coach 6'5"+, 230+, 4.4-, or big hands. He should be working out with Gordon, Randy Moss, and others again this offseason, practices routes like he's got OCD, and now has some real-game experience to draw from. He'll go through his second full training camp and pre-season as a wide receiver, and will get more reps this time.
By game one 2016, he should be a light year ahead of the guy we saw in the last few games of 2015...why am I the only guy in Cleveland who sees this? It's obvious.
I can rehash some stuff I wrote about Pryor before last season now. Hue Jackson likes to be creative and think outside the box, so this might have a better chance of happening here this time around:
Pryor could be used an H-back. H-backs can't be jammed at the line of scrimmage, and can't be prioritized in coverage. They are often in motion at the snap.
Motion exposes coverage to a quarterback, as he sees how and with which players the defense reacts to it.
Most H-backs as receivers are third options, but Pryor wouldn't be. Most H-backs run inside routes, but Pryor could run any route.
H-backs are blockers, but not in-line blockers. They pass-block, but usually against a Blitzer, or sometimes they'll chip on their way downfield. They run-block downfield in space, usually against linebackers and defensive backs.
I hear conflicting reports on Pryor's weight: from 225 to 240. 225 is ridiculous, but I'll say 235.
Most H-backs are heavier, but nobody is kidding anybody about Pryor's real role in a Hue Jackson offense. Not that he isn't a willing blocker. He did a lot of effective blocking as a wide receiver, and might have been an overlooked factor in Isaiah Crowell's late season resurgence.
As an H-back, Pryor would rarely be matched up with a cornerback. It would have to be a linebacker or safety (often a "box" safety). Since trying to meet and jam him is borderline suicidal, they'd have to try to stay "on top of" or ahead of him, and give him a lot of room.
In other words, he would be open all the time. And because he's in motion, nobody knows where he's going until the ball is snapped.
Motion also weakens run defense and short coverage on one side of the field if the motion guy is manned up. He pulls a defender with him; and for the H-back, it's usually a guy who can defend the run or blitze.
Finally, it's another way to get Pryor on the field along with Gordon, Hartline or Sanu, Benjamin or Hawkins, Barnidge, and Crowell or Duke.
But then, Gordon and Pryor at x and y would be okay. Pryor is less experienced, but would draw the number two cornerback.
But I digress: Main point is, nothing Sashi Brown said has any hint of a negative bias towards Josh Gordon. And the Johnny Manziel Stuff was probably just trade talk.
No comments:
Post a Comment