Tuesday, July 5, 2016

RG3's Chances Hue Jackson's Cleveland Browns

Dave Davenport of the Bleacher Report thinks that RG3 is being set up to fail.

This wasn't a bad article, but it was shallow.

Dave quotes somebody else to assert that the starting wide receivers for this season look like Marlon Moore and Coleman.  He then compares these two to Green and Brown.

Marlon Moore is not going to start.  You can leave Terrell Pryor in the cornfield if you want---let's just use Higgins for giggles.

He acknowledges Gary Barnidge.

He knocks the offensive line and running game based on last season's performance, PFF rankings, and the losses of Mack and Scwartze.

All of that is valid on the surface.  But in 2014 the exact same crew ranked near the top until Alex Mack broke his leg.

Scheme, coaching, and situation has much to do with this:

That offensive line performed better with the inside zone than in man.  Better under Shanahan than under lefty DeFelipo.

While Schwartze came into his own as an elite right tackle, Alex Mack was in reality pedestrian.

RG3 will NOT be a classic pocket passer, and the blocking scheme will not be conventional.  You could say he's being set up to fail if he's ordered to imitate Tom Brady, but he's not.

I've addressed the running game ad nauseam.  The five most recent games most accurately reflect what is here now, and that's not bad.

Dave thankfully doesn't include the defense, which last season wore out, played out of position, was confused by an overly complicated scheme, and put Browns quarterbacks (and pass protectors) constantly behind the eight ball.

Much as I like Josh McCown, a quarterback who holds the ball too long isn't doing his bodyguards any favors with PFF either.

I believe that RG3 has a decent chance to succeed here.  The offense's commitment to the run (and play action) is genuine, and Hue will run an offense tailored to his unique skills.

He will have several nice targets, including reliable ones like Higgins and Barnidge, and bailout guys like Duke Johnson.

Listen: It's hard for a defense to tee off on a pocket when they're not sure there is going to be one, or if there is, where it will be.

It's harder to get heat on a quarterback when they have to contain him.

It's easier for an offensive line to pass protect when he will be moving.  The defenders have to change their trajectories in a predictable way, and again can't tee off.

RG3 could fail.  But if he does, it will be his own fault.

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