After a careful analysis using updated data, I am revising my Browns' W/L prediction to 13-3.
However, we must be prepared to lose another third of the team or so, for referees to contribute to that, and of course for referees to directly cause more losses. After all, this is Cleveland.
This will be neccessary for the Browns to keep losing, if Cody Kessler doesn't crash and burn...if he is at least a Matt Hasselbeck type game manager.
While a lot of guys "can't find any wins" on their schedule, and inexplicably, irrationally declare a lack of talent, these are facts:
1: They should have beaten the Ravens and Dolphins.
2: They are running for over 5ypc.
3: Nassib and Haden will be back. GORDON will be back. Pryor--unbelievably--is still early in his growth curve (be afraid...), the defense is, finally, at long last, stopping the run.
4: The entire team should be significantly better later in the season than it is now, and is measurably improving each week.
All of this is bad for next year's draft. But Hue makes a point: Players shouldn't get used to losing, or expect to lose. It's psychological poison. When he hears "in typical Browns fashion", Hue must want to strangle somebody, because HE just freaking GOT here!
But Pat Kirwan, the ex-GM, is always good for new ideas. He points out that Trevor Siemian was a project/longshot for Denver, and Elway and Kubiak drafted Paxton Lynch for a reason.
Pat feels it's quite possible that heading into next season, they will listen to trade offers for Siemian. I will add that they might even shop Lynch instead...conceivably.
As Pat would tell you, they'd be content to simply keep both, as both are very cheap under their rookie contracts, and that kind of depth is awesome insurance.
But this isn't a Garoppolo/Brady situation. The loser of that quarterback battle will be unhappy, and want their chance to start. If Siemian continues to develop and play like he has, and still gets benched--how does that look? For that matter, if first round pick Paxton Lynch finds himself relegated to the bench for the forseeable future, how will he feel about that?
In either case, it's not fair, and somebody is getting screwed. Elway and Kubiak get this.
Denver will once again draft very low. All their cap issues have not been resolved, and they will continue to bleed free agents annually.
Trading Siemian to somebody with high draft picks, and many draft picks, and a Hall of Fame left tackle with 2-3 years left, on a very, very affordable contract, would make sense, but who might that be? Can you think of anybody?
Cody Kessler could surprise everybody (except Hue) and be the next Montana, but of course Sashi can't count on that. The Next Matt Hasselbeck would do just fine for a strong and talented team, but a superstar is always better.
And if not Kessler, or a top draft pick, then maybe Siemian.
Just sayin
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Cleveland Browns Join Rookie Quarterback Rush
Dak Prescott, Trevor Seimeon, Carson Wentz, and Cody Kessler all have three things in common:
1: All are rookie starting quarterbacks.
2: All have the support of playmakers, a running game, and at least average defenses. (Yes. They. Do. Is any of this starting to sink in yet? Anybody home?)
3: All their Head Coaches are former quarterbacks, with strong coaching pedigrees and backgrounds.
Prescott, Seimeon, and Wentz started much earlier, and have been undeniably more impressive to this point, but there are more common elements which also apply to Kessler:
When these Coaches made these decisions to start these rookies, a whole lot of people said "Uh-oh!", and a few said "What the hell is he doing?"
Hue Jackson was a small college dual threat quarterback who lacked the physical tools for the NFL, but obviously "gets" the position, and began his coaching career from that perspective. Jason Garrett, Kubiak, and Pederson were long-time backups, with some starts (Pederson spent time in Cleveland, I think with Schottenheimer).
They knew what they were doing. Wentz is just a phenomenon. Pederson started him out with training wheels, but it immediately became clear that he was ready for the whole playbook.
Prescott and Seimeon took a little longer, but are now doing the same after only three games.
Some, including me, were expecting Wentz here, and after the trade down, watching Prescott slide. We were stunned by the Kessler pick, especially in the third round. And frankly, I never heard of Seimeon either.
But, unlike some other people, I'm liking Kessler so far.
He's still got his training wheels on, and is way behind the big three. He has other disadvantages they don't have as well.
Philly has reasonable talent, including a defense which defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is demonstrating is very talented. There is some measure of continuity, as Pederson understudied Andy Reid, and some of the players already knew his system.
Dallas is obviously loaded, with well established systems on both sides of the ball. Denver is similar. All three were good or great environments to help a baby quarterback not fall down go boom.
The Browns are loaded with rookies, injuries, and now an arrest. New offensive and defensive systems, and a big hole at right tackle. (I'm still mystified by the Schwartz thing).
But Kessler came back from eleven points down, (missed field goal/overtime/loss). That was pretty good. Hue Jackson and Terrell Pryor helped him a lot. Every time Hue wanted to talk to the kid, he just pulled him off the field and let Terrelle run the show for a play or three! Rotated him in and out like a defensive lineman! I've never seen that before!
"You can't do that.".
I've read critiques on Kessler bemoaning his lack of frozen rope passes, and questioning his arm. Hue would explain to them, if asked, that you never throw harder than you have to, because you want to give your receiver the most catchable ball you can.
Kessler was, without a doubt, constraindicted (unlike "utilize" that's a real word btw) from throwing into tight windows. The high arcs deeper were timing throws, intentionally thrown on high trajectories to allow the receiver to get under them and shield a trailing defender from breaking it up.
I was bothered by two of the comeback throws to Pryor. He should have put more mustard on them to give Pryor more time with the ball in his hands, but this might well have been a choice, rather than an arm.
I've seen Kessler's college tapes. He doesn't have a rifle, but he can throw low and hard. Colt McCoy couldn't, at least at first. Kessler is stronger.
As you saw, if you were paying attention, Kessler throws accurately, all-arm, while running to his right. His scouting reports were crap. This is unusual. Most quarterbacks lose accuracy without their feet set.
...ok I didn't just say he was John Elway good grief stop it.
Hue told him: Don't force anything. Throw it away or eat it if you have to. Check down, be careful, protect the ball. Kessler in his first start isn't the Kessler who will eventually emerge when the training wheels come off.
Fortunately, the Browns have estsblished a truly strong running game. In fact I was shocked by the runs right through the middle of that defensive front.
Unfortunately, a certain ex-Seahawk guard who had something to do with that just got arrested. The dui isn't that bad, but if early reports are correct, he had cocaine on him too. He may well be released. (Update: weed)
Fortunately, Pazstor sucks at right tackle (vs speed rushers on passing downs) but is a pretty good guard, and Rango or Coleman may replace him at right tackle this week.
The two rookies might not be ready yet, but Hue may be forced to make this move, and frankly, I doubt that either of them could do worse.
Telfer was the only real blocking tight end, and is also a nice big checkdown target for a rookie quarterback. Maybe he will get well soon.
The Redskins are better than they've looked so far this season, but the guys on NFL Radio give the Browns an outside chance of upstetting them. Or did, before the arrest.
Nassib might return (with a club on his hand). Kessler has passed his first test, and may do a little more. Pryor...well he's not going anywhere, is he? Who's going to cover him, huh? Maybe different zebras won't let cornerbacks grab and wrestle with him all the way down the field on every vertical route (really--that was rediculous, I don't fault the defender-- he was dead meat if he didn't, and if the referee lets him do it, he will do it. Along with Nassib and McCown, Pryor seems to have joined Cam Newton on the Do Not Call/Open Season List.)
Call him Pryer. Always prying cornerbacks fingers out of his jersey. Nothing to see here, move along!
Kessler might still fail, but so far, so good. Well, if he doesn't get...nevermind.
Correction: Telfer played. He might have been a factor in the running game and helped Pazstor on the passing downs where Kessler had more than about two seconds.
1: All are rookie starting quarterbacks.
2: All have the support of playmakers, a running game, and at least average defenses. (Yes. They. Do. Is any of this starting to sink in yet? Anybody home?)
3: All their Head Coaches are former quarterbacks, with strong coaching pedigrees and backgrounds.
Prescott, Seimeon, and Wentz started much earlier, and have been undeniably more impressive to this point, but there are more common elements which also apply to Kessler:
When these Coaches made these decisions to start these rookies, a whole lot of people said "Uh-oh!", and a few said "What the hell is he doing?"
Hue Jackson was a small college dual threat quarterback who lacked the physical tools for the NFL, but obviously "gets" the position, and began his coaching career from that perspective. Jason Garrett, Kubiak, and Pederson were long-time backups, with some starts (Pederson spent time in Cleveland, I think with Schottenheimer).
They knew what they were doing. Wentz is just a phenomenon. Pederson started him out with training wheels, but it immediately became clear that he was ready for the whole playbook.
Prescott and Seimeon took a little longer, but are now doing the same after only three games.
Some, including me, were expecting Wentz here, and after the trade down, watching Prescott slide. We were stunned by the Kessler pick, especially in the third round. And frankly, I never heard of Seimeon either.
But, unlike some other people, I'm liking Kessler so far.
He's still got his training wheels on, and is way behind the big three. He has other disadvantages they don't have as well.
Philly has reasonable talent, including a defense which defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is demonstrating is very talented. There is some measure of continuity, as Pederson understudied Andy Reid, and some of the players already knew his system.
Dallas is obviously loaded, with well established systems on both sides of the ball. Denver is similar. All three were good or great environments to help a baby quarterback not fall down go boom.
The Browns are loaded with rookies, injuries, and now an arrest. New offensive and defensive systems, and a big hole at right tackle. (I'm still mystified by the Schwartz thing).
But Kessler came back from eleven points down, (missed field goal/overtime/loss). That was pretty good. Hue Jackson and Terrell Pryor helped him a lot. Every time Hue wanted to talk to the kid, he just pulled him off the field and let Terrelle run the show for a play or three! Rotated him in and out like a defensive lineman! I've never seen that before!
"You can't do that.".
I've read critiques on Kessler bemoaning his lack of frozen rope passes, and questioning his arm. Hue would explain to them, if asked, that you never throw harder than you have to, because you want to give your receiver the most catchable ball you can.
Kessler was, without a doubt, constraindicted (unlike "utilize" that's a real word btw) from throwing into tight windows. The high arcs deeper were timing throws, intentionally thrown on high trajectories to allow the receiver to get under them and shield a trailing defender from breaking it up.
I was bothered by two of the comeback throws to Pryor. He should have put more mustard on them to give Pryor more time with the ball in his hands, but this might well have been a choice, rather than an arm.
I've seen Kessler's college tapes. He doesn't have a rifle, but he can throw low and hard. Colt McCoy couldn't, at least at first. Kessler is stronger.
As you saw, if you were paying attention, Kessler throws accurately, all-arm, while running to his right. His scouting reports were crap. This is unusual. Most quarterbacks lose accuracy without their feet set.
...ok I didn't just say he was John Elway good grief stop it.
Hue told him: Don't force anything. Throw it away or eat it if you have to. Check down, be careful, protect the ball. Kessler in his first start isn't the Kessler who will eventually emerge when the training wheels come off.
Fortunately, the Browns have estsblished a truly strong running game. In fact I was shocked by the runs right through the middle of that defensive front.
Unfortunately, a certain ex-Seahawk guard who had something to do with that just got arrested. The dui isn't that bad, but if early reports are correct, he had cocaine on him too. He may well be released. (Update: weed)
Fortunately, Pazstor sucks at right tackle (vs speed rushers on passing downs) but is a pretty good guard, and Rango or Coleman may replace him at right tackle this week.
The two rookies might not be ready yet, but Hue may be forced to make this move, and frankly, I doubt that either of them could do worse.
Telfer was the only real blocking tight end, and is also a nice big checkdown target for a rookie quarterback. Maybe he will get well soon.
The Redskins are better than they've looked so far this season, but the guys on NFL Radio give the Browns an outside chance of upstetting them. Or did, before the arrest.
Nassib might return (with a club on his hand). Kessler has passed his first test, and may do a little more. Pryor...well he's not going anywhere, is he? Who's going to cover him, huh? Maybe different zebras won't let cornerbacks grab and wrestle with him all the way down the field on every vertical route (really--that was rediculous, I don't fault the defender-- he was dead meat if he didn't, and if the referee lets him do it, he will do it. Along with Nassib and McCown, Pryor seems to have joined Cam Newton on the Do Not Call/Open Season List.)
Call him Pryer. Always prying cornerbacks fingers out of his jersey. Nothing to see here, move along!
Kessler might still fail, but so far, so good. Well, if he doesn't get...nevermind.
Correction: Telfer played. He might have been a factor in the running game and helped Pazstor on the passing downs where Kessler had more than about two seconds.
Monday, September 26, 2016
My Kingdom for a Kicker
The Browns just lost to the Miami Dolphins in in overtime, in Miami. With a third string rookie quarterback. Without Coleman, Haden, Nassib, or Erving. Last week, they barely lost to the Ravens on a great play by a REFEREE.
On NFL Radio, they're talking about the Browns. Know what they're saying? "I know they almost beat the Dolphins but they're struggling and they missed on Carson Wentz. Wentz decision Wentz Wentz blahblah"
I'm not sure where this "struggling" stuff comes from. It's an extremely young team with an astonishing number of injuries. They would have beaten the Fish by a comfortable margin if Murray had been able to play.
They were big underdogs in both those games. They are better than advertized. None of it matters! Wentz wentz wentz!
Well, I just heard from a couple of them so far, and I know that others comprehend that the multitude of draft picks they got in exchange are not worthless.
And how about Wentz? The Eagles just blew out the Steelers! Before that game, everybody was pointing out that they hadn't "played anybody" yet. Now they destroy the Steelers, and do any of these perceptions change? Does it occur to anybody that the Browns might be undrerrated, just as the Eagles were? Of course not.
Struggle wentz wentz struggle
Ross Tucker is raving about Terrelle Pryor. That was pretty amazing, wasn't it? Hue pulled out all the stops. He protected Kessler after he screwed up badly, and worked him back in gradually, literally rotating him in and out!
And once Kessler did settle down, Pryor was his best friend. The comeback was there all day. The corners were allowed to blatently interfere with him all the way down the field on deep routes, by the way, and Kessler threw it where it was supposed to go.
Did you see the "errant" pass into the end zone? That was the timing route I mentioned. Pryor made a cut instead of going for that spot. Between Pryor and Kessler, I have to think this miscommunication was on the rookie, but this play shows you how it works.
I read one otherwise good analysis which panned Kessler. Nobody in their wildest imaginations could dream that Kessler is "it" right now?
Of course not! Who ever said he was? But if he plays next week, he will probably be better than he was in his first start. He can manage a game. Pluto, I think, said he should return to the bench as soon as possible. Why?
He didn't get destroyed. He did an adequate job, under pressure. He needs experience, the Front Office and coaches need to see how good he will become, and as long as he isn't screwing up he should play.
The defense did a decent job overall. Instead of Joe Haden, a recently activated substitute with a funny name started outside, and was immediately exploited repeatedly, but that was the only real problem. The pass rush was inconsistent, but not absent. It's progressing. Nassib will jump-start it when he returns.
On the flip side, Pazstor was severely overmatched at right tackle. I heard guys calling him names for all those holding calls, but he had no choice. You can't let that guy go smash your quarterback. You do what you have to do.
It was interesting that Hue didn't help the right tackle. I'm sure he'll be criticized for that, but it's not simple. Barnidge needed to get upfield. Kessler needed to get rid of the ball.
He failed to see open receivers here and there, but was accurate and servicable under durress.
Ah here it comes! The Browns aren't underrated! The Dolphins are even worse than we thought! That's the ticket!
Of all people, Black Cloud got all over me for rooting for Browns losses en route to the first overall pick. Emotionally, I don't. Can't.
But wins this season won't have any tangible value. They're not going to the playoffs. The difference between 3-13 and 6-10 is a franchise quarterback, and nothing else that matters.
After this game, and with Nassib, Haden, Coleman, Erving, and Gordon coming back, I think this team will win too many games. Those who keep repeating that this team lacks talent are idiots.
Using Pryor at quarterback as much as they did surprised me. But what he did catching passes didn't. I told you so.
Too bad he can't kick field goals. Yet.
On NFL Radio, they're talking about the Browns. Know what they're saying? "I know they almost beat the Dolphins but they're struggling and they missed on Carson Wentz. Wentz decision Wentz Wentz blahblah"
I'm not sure where this "struggling" stuff comes from. It's an extremely young team with an astonishing number of injuries. They would have beaten the Fish by a comfortable margin if Murray had been able to play.
They were big underdogs in both those games. They are better than advertized. None of it matters! Wentz wentz wentz!
Well, I just heard from a couple of them so far, and I know that others comprehend that the multitude of draft picks they got in exchange are not worthless.
And how about Wentz? The Eagles just blew out the Steelers! Before that game, everybody was pointing out that they hadn't "played anybody" yet. Now they destroy the Steelers, and do any of these perceptions change? Does it occur to anybody that the Browns might be undrerrated, just as the Eagles were? Of course not.
Struggle wentz wentz struggle
Ross Tucker is raving about Terrelle Pryor. That was pretty amazing, wasn't it? Hue pulled out all the stops. He protected Kessler after he screwed up badly, and worked him back in gradually, literally rotating him in and out!
And once Kessler did settle down, Pryor was his best friend. The comeback was there all day. The corners were allowed to blatently interfere with him all the way down the field on deep routes, by the way, and Kessler threw it where it was supposed to go.
Did you see the "errant" pass into the end zone? That was the timing route I mentioned. Pryor made a cut instead of going for that spot. Between Pryor and Kessler, I have to think this miscommunication was on the rookie, but this play shows you how it works.
I read one otherwise good analysis which panned Kessler. Nobody in their wildest imaginations could dream that Kessler is "it" right now?
Of course not! Who ever said he was? But if he plays next week, he will probably be better than he was in his first start. He can manage a game. Pluto, I think, said he should return to the bench as soon as possible. Why?
He didn't get destroyed. He did an adequate job, under pressure. He needs experience, the Front Office and coaches need to see how good he will become, and as long as he isn't screwing up he should play.
The defense did a decent job overall. Instead of Joe Haden, a recently activated substitute with a funny name started outside, and was immediately exploited repeatedly, but that was the only real problem. The pass rush was inconsistent, but not absent. It's progressing. Nassib will jump-start it when he returns.
On the flip side, Pazstor was severely overmatched at right tackle. I heard guys calling him names for all those holding calls, but he had no choice. You can't let that guy go smash your quarterback. You do what you have to do.
It was interesting that Hue didn't help the right tackle. I'm sure he'll be criticized for that, but it's not simple. Barnidge needed to get upfield. Kessler needed to get rid of the ball.
He failed to see open receivers here and there, but was accurate and servicable under durress.
Ah here it comes! The Browns aren't underrated! The Dolphins are even worse than we thought! That's the ticket!
Of all people, Black Cloud got all over me for rooting for Browns losses en route to the first overall pick. Emotionally, I don't. Can't.
But wins this season won't have any tangible value. They're not going to the playoffs. The difference between 3-13 and 6-10 is a franchise quarterback, and nothing else that matters.
After this game, and with Nassib, Haden, Coleman, Erving, and Gordon coming back, I think this team will win too many games. Those who keep repeating that this team lacks talent are idiots.
Using Pryor at quarterback as much as they did surprised me. But what he did catching passes didn't. I told you so.
Too bad he can't kick field goals. Yet.
Friday, September 23, 2016
Whe Needs a Quarterback?
The Cleveland Browns are very inferior to the New England Patriots at this time. Do not misunderstand or twist the following into "He said the Browns are as good as the Patriots". E n g l i s h.
But Hue Jackson agrees with Bill Belichick. Great teams can make great quarterbacks. Bill didn't blink at using his third string rookie quarterback. He didn't scramble around looking for an old geezer.
He let his quarterback run. Good thing, because frankly, he couldn't pass. He's not very good. I was hoping he would be, so that Bill might part with Garropollo.
Bill Belichick: Overrated because he's got Tom Brady? You guys are funny! He just stomped a very good team with a guy who couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.
Hue thinks like Bill. If you have some talent, and make the most of it, your universe need not revolve around a quarterback. His defense rose to the occasion, he let his quarterback run for several first downs and the first touchdown. Later, he started battering at them with Blount, and eventually the walls crumbled.
It's hard to imagine Hue Jackson or any other coach measuring up to Bill Belichick, who might be the best ever. But I love that he thinks like Bill: Football is a team sport.
Don't get me wrong: Quarterback remains the most important position. No doubt Hue wants a Tom Brady of his own. He might even think he has one already. If you think that's funny, you're pretty concieted to think you know more about this than Hue Jackson. I'll join you making fun of Hue later if Kessler falls on his face (much), but I'm not second-guessing him yet.
But wow, what a beating he's taking! Now Coleman too? Really? Miami will stack the box to stop Crowell and overwhelm the blockers. They'll dare Kessler to beat them. They have a top flight front four, and Hue just had to remake right guard and center.
Higgins will replace Coleman. That's not bad since he's big and reliable, and Kessler has worked with him. Pryor remains a deep threat. The fish might try to single cover him. If Brian Sipe and Dave Logan could make them sorry they tried that, Cody and Terrelle can too.
This could be Duke time, too. Up the gut is suicidal vs this front and he can go outside to force nightmarish matchups.
Crowell should remain the lead back, but Hue adapts. Quick speed outside could be how he gets yards early. You really can't put Kessler in second and eights. That would be bad.
No, I'm just daydreaming. Too many injuries. Too many rookies. But I think they'll fight, and won't get blown out like everybody expects. The defense is improving.
The big thing is they have to establish the run. In the past, the Browns couldn't beat a stacked front, but Hue Jackson is diabolicly sneaky, and may find ways to do it. He probobly uses Malcolm Johnson, pulling guards, two tight ends...
And as you saw monday night, eventually, defenses fatigue, if you can just find ways to keep hammering without getting in too much trouble.
Phil Simms, in talking up Belichick, mentioned several plays a coach can run to get a rookie quarterback rolling. He might have used the word "brainless", because the target is predetermined, and the ball is gone to a spot almost instantly, no matter what.
One of these uses a diamond formation. That's an instant screen outside. It's a very safe, high percentage throw. It might only get 2-4 yards, but you might get lucky with more, and it gets the kid some confidence.
Anyway, back to my main point: Bill Belichick has a formidable veteran team, and Hue doesn't (yet). I look forward to seeing how all these youngsters respond to all this amazing adversity. If Kessler achieves mediocrity and survives, and they don't get blown out, I'll take it.
Oh. Josh has a broken collarbone? Murray hurt his knee? Wake me when something new happens. Oh Campbell now? Ok fine why not?
But Hue Jackson agrees with Bill Belichick. Great teams can make great quarterbacks. Bill didn't blink at using his third string rookie quarterback. He didn't scramble around looking for an old geezer.
He let his quarterback run. Good thing, because frankly, he couldn't pass. He's not very good. I was hoping he would be, so that Bill might part with Garropollo.
Bill Belichick: Overrated because he's got Tom Brady? You guys are funny! He just stomped a very good team with a guy who couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.
Hue thinks like Bill. If you have some talent, and make the most of it, your universe need not revolve around a quarterback. His defense rose to the occasion, he let his quarterback run for several first downs and the first touchdown. Later, he started battering at them with Blount, and eventually the walls crumbled.
It's hard to imagine Hue Jackson or any other coach measuring up to Bill Belichick, who might be the best ever. But I love that he thinks like Bill: Football is a team sport.
Don't get me wrong: Quarterback remains the most important position. No doubt Hue wants a Tom Brady of his own. He might even think he has one already. If you think that's funny, you're pretty concieted to think you know more about this than Hue Jackson. I'll join you making fun of Hue later if Kessler falls on his face (much), but I'm not second-guessing him yet.
But wow, what a beating he's taking! Now Coleman too? Really? Miami will stack the box to stop Crowell and overwhelm the blockers. They'll dare Kessler to beat them. They have a top flight front four, and Hue just had to remake right guard and center.
Higgins will replace Coleman. That's not bad since he's big and reliable, and Kessler has worked with him. Pryor remains a deep threat. The fish might try to single cover him. If Brian Sipe and Dave Logan could make them sorry they tried that, Cody and Terrelle can too.
This could be Duke time, too. Up the gut is suicidal vs this front and he can go outside to force nightmarish matchups.
Crowell should remain the lead back, but Hue adapts. Quick speed outside could be how he gets yards early. You really can't put Kessler in second and eights. That would be bad.
No, I'm just daydreaming. Too many injuries. Too many rookies. But I think they'll fight, and won't get blown out like everybody expects. The defense is improving.
The big thing is they have to establish the run. In the past, the Browns couldn't beat a stacked front, but Hue Jackson is diabolicly sneaky, and may find ways to do it. He probobly uses Malcolm Johnson, pulling guards, two tight ends...
And as you saw monday night, eventually, defenses fatigue, if you can just find ways to keep hammering without getting in too much trouble.
Phil Simms, in talking up Belichick, mentioned several plays a coach can run to get a rookie quarterback rolling. He might have used the word "brainless", because the target is predetermined, and the ball is gone to a spot almost instantly, no matter what.
One of these uses a diamond formation. That's an instant screen outside. It's a very safe, high percentage throw. It might only get 2-4 yards, but you might get lucky with more, and it gets the kid some confidence.
Anyway, back to my main point: Bill Belichick has a formidable veteran team, and Hue doesn't (yet). I look forward to seeing how all these youngsters respond to all this amazing adversity. If Kessler achieves mediocrity and survives, and they don't get blown out, I'll take it.
Oh. Josh has a broken collarbone? Murray hurt his knee? Wake me when something new happens. Oh Campbell now? Ok fine why not?
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Josh Jeez and Joe
I haven't looked too deep into this Josh Gordon thing, but it seems clear that the knucklehead blew off a summons or soebpeona or summons.
The paternity suit in/of itself isn't major, but failure to appear is a crime, and the dumbass just might have got himself suspended AGAIN. Well I just hope there's more to this. Maybe the dog ate it before he could read it...wow didn't he even get a lawyer holy...
Open letter to Josh Gordon: Dear Josh: WAKE UP! Severely, ME.
My peeps back there tell me of a rumor that Joe Thomas is on the auction block. I'm a tad skeptical, since he has been available for the right place since the beginning of the new regime, and a lot of fans and some pundits are in denial.
Since I've written about it, for all I know I'm the source of the "leak", and "the right price" got garbled into "the highest bidder". English is a second language nowadays, so that happens constantly.
However, it is entirely possible that in the wake of the two quarterback injuries and the signing of Whitehurst (instead of somebody better), he finally threw his hands up and asked to be traded.
Realisticly, he's 30 years old, and if the Browns draft their quarterback of the future, no matter how good he is, he'll still be a rookie, and the rest of the team will get even younger.
Note on the Whitehurst comment: Brady Quinn, who has actually become an excellent, deeply insightful analyst on NFL Radio, panned that move vociferously. Whitehurst has nine carreer starts. There are other more experienced and younger guys on the street; better players, in fact.
I can only suggest that Whitehurst is a brain, and might be here as much to mentor Kessler as to back him up.
But this couldn't have escaped Joe Thomas. They are, indeed, tanking now. Whether or not it works out, the plan is to keep starting Kessler and accept the results.
Many, including Willcotts and Quinn, think the Browns are doing the right thing in general. Assuming they draft well (so far so good), and solve their quarterback problem, they will be scary in two or three years.
This has never been done before. Never before has a team overhauled it's roster to this extreme, and made so many rookies a part of it's core right out of the gate.
But most of my ("my" as in vetted and REAL) experts who call the Browns the worst or second worst team in football also say they're on the right path.
Now, Josh McCown is just badass tough, and probably won't be down for many games. I need an update on that injury, but it's not his throwing arm, and if there's not a broken bone, he will be back soon. As it is, they had to expose Scooby Wright to waivers to make room for Whitehurst.
I want to tell Brady, I suspect they picked a guy who fans won't be chanting for when Kessler screws up, deliberately.
But back to Big Joe: He bought into this, and probably still expects the plan to succeed. He thought the Browns could get somewhere in 2017 and farther in 2018 with RG3. Now the guy is out, but even before he went down, he wasn't doing that well.
Joe could wait a couple years, but not longer. I do think he asked to be traded, and that it was his agent who leaked this rumor.
As for Sashi and company, I can tell you with confidence that the asking price was a first and a third round pick, and nobody would meet it. (It might well have been Garopollo, and the Browns adding the sugar, btw but Bill aint buyin and I don't blame him).
I suspect that Joe asked for this, and Sashi might now conduct an open auction. This is what I would do. Joe Thomas has earned his right to make this request, and it's not all about numbers. You want your players to see that you are honorable and fair (if doing the right thing isn't enough).
Only decent teams will be interested in Joe Thomas due to his age. As much as any skill player, he could turn a good team into a contender or a contender into a home field favorite. These teams, as is, can be expected to draft in the bottom third of each round.
For these reasons, immediate help is more valuable than draft picks.
Prior to the last draft, I had thought the Seahawks might deal for him, but they seem to have everything fixed. I haven't checked out the other teams in that category yet, but there are ten or eleven of them, and left tackles don't grow on trees (let alone a future Hall of Famer who PFF says is as good as ever). (I finally subscibed! Excuse me if I start sounding like Terry Pluto).
An auction would be smart here. Teams who balked at a first and third rounder before would be more motivated if they knew Big Joe was coming off the board. Sashi could conceivably get even more.
DISCLAIMER: All of this is pure speculation based on a rumor, which might have originated from a blog like this one, in which case...nevermind.
The paternity suit in/of itself isn't major, but failure to appear is a crime, and the dumbass just might have got himself suspended AGAIN. Well I just hope there's more to this. Maybe the dog ate it before he could read it...wow didn't he even get a lawyer holy...
Open letter to Josh Gordon: Dear Josh: WAKE UP! Severely, ME.
My peeps back there tell me of a rumor that Joe Thomas is on the auction block. I'm a tad skeptical, since he has been available for the right place since the beginning of the new regime, and a lot of fans and some pundits are in denial.
Since I've written about it, for all I know I'm the source of the "leak", and "the right price" got garbled into "the highest bidder". English is a second language nowadays, so that happens constantly.
However, it is entirely possible that in the wake of the two quarterback injuries and the signing of Whitehurst (instead of somebody better), he finally threw his hands up and asked to be traded.
Realisticly, he's 30 years old, and if the Browns draft their quarterback of the future, no matter how good he is, he'll still be a rookie, and the rest of the team will get even younger.
Note on the Whitehurst comment: Brady Quinn, who has actually become an excellent, deeply insightful analyst on NFL Radio, panned that move vociferously. Whitehurst has nine carreer starts. There are other more experienced and younger guys on the street; better players, in fact.
I can only suggest that Whitehurst is a brain, and might be here as much to mentor Kessler as to back him up.
But this couldn't have escaped Joe Thomas. They are, indeed, tanking now. Whether or not it works out, the plan is to keep starting Kessler and accept the results.
Many, including Willcotts and Quinn, think the Browns are doing the right thing in general. Assuming they draft well (so far so good), and solve their quarterback problem, they will be scary in two or three years.
This has never been done before. Never before has a team overhauled it's roster to this extreme, and made so many rookies a part of it's core right out of the gate.
But most of my ("my" as in vetted and REAL) experts who call the Browns the worst or second worst team in football also say they're on the right path.
Now, Josh McCown is just badass tough, and probably won't be down for many games. I need an update on that injury, but it's not his throwing arm, and if there's not a broken bone, he will be back soon. As it is, they had to expose Scooby Wright to waivers to make room for Whitehurst.
I want to tell Brady, I suspect they picked a guy who fans won't be chanting for when Kessler screws up, deliberately.
But back to Big Joe: He bought into this, and probably still expects the plan to succeed. He thought the Browns could get somewhere in 2017 and farther in 2018 with RG3. Now the guy is out, but even before he went down, he wasn't doing that well.
Joe could wait a couple years, but not longer. I do think he asked to be traded, and that it was his agent who leaked this rumor.
As for Sashi and company, I can tell you with confidence that the asking price was a first and a third round pick, and nobody would meet it. (It might well have been Garopollo, and the Browns adding the sugar, btw but Bill aint buyin and I don't blame him).
I suspect that Joe asked for this, and Sashi might now conduct an open auction. This is what I would do. Joe Thomas has earned his right to make this request, and it's not all about numbers. You want your players to see that you are honorable and fair (if doing the right thing isn't enough).
Only decent teams will be interested in Joe Thomas due to his age. As much as any skill player, he could turn a good team into a contender or a contender into a home field favorite. These teams, as is, can be expected to draft in the bottom third of each round.
For these reasons, immediate help is more valuable than draft picks.
Prior to the last draft, I had thought the Seahawks might deal for him, but they seem to have everything fixed. I haven't checked out the other teams in that category yet, but there are ten or eleven of them, and left tackles don't grow on trees (let alone a future Hall of Famer who PFF says is as good as ever). (I finally subscibed! Excuse me if I start sounding like Terry Pluto).
An auction would be smart here. Teams who balked at a first and third rounder before would be more motivated if they knew Big Joe was coming off the board. Sashi could conceivably get even more.
DISCLAIMER: All of this is pure speculation based on a rumor, which might have originated from a blog like this one, in which case...nevermind.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Wear Your Flak Vest, Cody
1: I like Dan Labbe, but until Armonty Bryant returns, only Tyrone Holmes can do some of what Carl Nassib does on passing passing downs. The notion that shorter and slower guys would replace him in the sets I saw vs Baltimore is wrong.
As I've mentioned, it looks like Ray Horton has altered his base scheme into more of a four down lineman look specificly for this player and Schobert.
Not having access to full game tapes yet, I'm not sure about the linebackers, but I know I saw four down linemen most of the time vs the Ravens, with Nassib in what they call the "C" or "D" gap (way outside) on the strong side.
None of the players (except Holmes) Dan mentioned as potential replacements belong anywhere near that position. Nassib, despite his overstated lack of weight, can keep blockers off him with his hands and not get steamrolled on runs. Holmes and Bryant have the speed, but not the size or reach. Hughes has the size, but can't rush the passer from there. Meder and Cooper are short and not fast enough.
Since it's Ray Horton, we will probably see a whole different alignment until Nassib returns, unless he tries Holmes out there.
2: The preposterous taunting call on Pryor which probably handed the game to the Ravens wasn't the only idiocy I saw here. Nassib was held, grappled, bear-hugged etc. all day, right in front of the referees. He has apparently already joined Cam Newton on the "Do not call" (aka "open season") list already.
He probably injured his hand trying to pry an offensive lineman's fingers loose.
The amazing thing is that he was being double-teamed, and they still had to turn it into the WWF! I'm telling you, this guy is amazing. Or would be, if his opponents weren't allowed to cheat.
2a: It's just as well McCown is out. He got beat up in the pocket fair and square, but the referees also ignored the rules when he got mugged while on the ground. I'm not whining. I'm telling you, this crew screwed the Browns all freaking day. That's a fact.
3: But that's okay (sorta). While Hue might fume over this, Sashi and Paul will "get over it" quickly. They are 14 games away from a quarterback of Hue's choice.
Unlike most fans, I defer to Hue on Kessler until I see him well and truly fail. This excludes the upcoming game, because he is not ready yet.
Hue almost has to start him, because Whitehurst speaks a different language, and can't call the plays yet without a translating device from Star Trek. This is why Sam Bradford couldn't start immediately in Minnesota. Familiarity with the receivers also matters.
Whitehurst is an okay quarterback.
4: Boomer Esiason thinks the Browns and Bills are the worst teams in football. I started to bristle until I went down the list. Based on the first couple weeks' results and the physical destruction of two quarterbacks in two games, what can you say?
Naturally, Boomer is quarterbackcentric, though. This roster is very talented. Boomer is grading on performance.
5: Please put Cam Erving in perspective. Aside from his snapping, he graded out well in game one. He was overmatched by a short wide body stud in week two. Week one is still in the books, and this was still only his second start.
Erving is verticly challenged in reverse. His height makes it tough for him to get his pads down vs a much shorter nose tackle. When he snaps the ball, he is one-handed, and he can't reposition as quickly as the guards. A quick nose can get into him and under his pads before he can set.
It's over from that point on. Without leverage or a chance to reset, he might as well weight 100 lbs.
It's troubling, for sure, but LeCharles Bentley believes he'll become a good center in time (what does he know, right?) Danny Shelton is also tall, and had a similar problem with pad level. It looks like he has made strides in overcoming it. Why can't Erving?
5b: The Greco-Bailey combination might not suck. Bailey got beat out at right tackle, but might do better at guard. Greco is a good (and highly underrated) player period who is familiar with center.
6: In the long run, a Kessler start vs Miami is probably a good thing, even if he falls on his face (assuming he has the right mentality). The Browns advance towards the first overall pick, Kessler gets real experience to obsess over and learn from, and Hue gets to see what's right and wrong with him.
Obviously, Hue won't run the same offense, and will try to protect his rookie. This year, the Browns are showing a real running threat, and the addition of Bailey won't hurt a bit.
Since Telfer looks like he won't play, they might use a fullback more. Kessler could ask for worse. Coleman can take a dink pass to the house, Barnidge is his best freind, and he can't miss Pryor (unless he underthrows him).
I don't think Kessler is ready, but niether were Elway, Big Ben, Peyton, Eli, etc. If the defense can continue to improve (and it has been improving) and the offense can run (and dink pass) effectively, he has a chance not to suck too bad.
7: All permabashers and many fans are spazzing out about Carson Wentz. That's myopic. This is why:
A: Wentz would have the same issues with pass protection and inexperienced receivers here as Griffin and McCown had.
B: The Browns are rebuilding. The Eagles are not.
C: Instead of Wentz, here is what the Browns got: Corey Coleman, S Coleman, and Ricardo Louis.
And a first round pick next season. And a second round pick in '18.
Corey Coleman speaks for himself. Shon Coleman isn't yet ready for primetime, but will probably be the starting right tackle at some point during this season, unless fellow draft pick Spencer Drango beats him to it (Drango is surprisingly good btw).
Louis can't catch a cold at this point, but is a freak athlete who could be converted to defense and turn into a stud corner or safety. Try to comprehend this: If it takes two more years, that's cool. If they trade him, that's cool. This was never about 2016 or even 2017 DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
Now, what about the future picks? Well, even though a draft can't be accurately judged for three years, I only went back two. Also, even though I think the Eagles could end up 8-8 this season and 10-6 after that, I'll say their picks end up at 20th and 25th in each round in '17 and '18.
Here are some players picked at or around those positions in 2014:
OT JaJuan James, Brandin Cooks, and Ha Ha Clinton Dix were 19-20-21 in the first round.
Darqueze Denard, Jason Verritt, Kelvin Benjamin, and Dominique Easley were among the players who went later.
Near the bottom of the second round, how about Kony Ealy, Allen Robinson, Garopollo, and Jarvis Landry?
Permabashers will of course say "Yeah but they'll blow it", again ignoring the fact that this is an entirely new front office and coaching staff (read: superstitious and irrational).
It's way way wayyyy to early to judge the recent Browns draft, but early returns look really good.
Ogbah was their pick atop the second round. Nassib came atop the third. Corey Coleman. In the fullness of time you will see Schobert and Kindred turning into stars as well.
Yes, I can see the other side of this: Quarterback is the most important player, and the hardest to get. The Browns had that one chance, and at least so far, Wentz looks like another Andrew Luck.
DePodesta said they didn't think Wentz was a top twenty quarterback. Jackson earlier said they weren't in love with either him or Goff.
Yeah, they look pretty dumb now. It gets worse when you consider RG3's fragility. Yeah, they almost certainly sold Wentz short. Have at them I can't fight you on any of that.
But even if they had thought Wentz was all that, I'm not sure they would have turned down this trade, because all the players they can get out of it could well be more important in the long term. It IS still a team sport.
Philosophy matters, too: Hue Jackson has said, repeatedly, that some of the best quarterbacks are that good because of the players around them.
Aaron Rodgers' wheels came off last season when his guys got hurt. Andy Dalton looked like Joe Montana. Kaperdick. Foles. Ryan. The list goes on. Watch the Patriots' rookie kick ass this sunday. Maybe Kessler might not suck too bad!
Does Andrew Luck suck? No, too many of the other 21 guys do, and whaddya no? He can't do it by himself! Who wooda thunk it? Remember Tim Couch? He didn't suck either!!!
But of course, the Browns accidentally on purpose guaranteed a pretty bad season and a good shot at Kizer or Watson.
I know little about this right now, but have heard several legitimate experts opine that both these guys look like better prospects than Wentz and Goff.
Walter Football compared Watson to Russell Wilson. He's FOUR INCHES taller. But I guess he runs around pretty good. I'm pretty sure Hue won't turn down a first or second overall quarterback again if he likes him.
Wow Walter Football sure doesn't like JT Barrett much! What's wrong with him? He checks all the boxes!
As I've mentioned, it looks like Ray Horton has altered his base scheme into more of a four down lineman look specificly for this player and Schobert.
Not having access to full game tapes yet, I'm not sure about the linebackers, but I know I saw four down linemen most of the time vs the Ravens, with Nassib in what they call the "C" or "D" gap (way outside) on the strong side.
None of the players (except Holmes) Dan mentioned as potential replacements belong anywhere near that position. Nassib, despite his overstated lack of weight, can keep blockers off him with his hands and not get steamrolled on runs. Holmes and Bryant have the speed, but not the size or reach. Hughes has the size, but can't rush the passer from there. Meder and Cooper are short and not fast enough.
Since it's Ray Horton, we will probably see a whole different alignment until Nassib returns, unless he tries Holmes out there.
2: The preposterous taunting call on Pryor which probably handed the game to the Ravens wasn't the only idiocy I saw here. Nassib was held, grappled, bear-hugged etc. all day, right in front of the referees. He has apparently already joined Cam Newton on the "Do not call" (aka "open season") list already.
He probably injured his hand trying to pry an offensive lineman's fingers loose.
The amazing thing is that he was being double-teamed, and they still had to turn it into the WWF! I'm telling you, this guy is amazing. Or would be, if his opponents weren't allowed to cheat.
2a: It's just as well McCown is out. He got beat up in the pocket fair and square, but the referees also ignored the rules when he got mugged while on the ground. I'm not whining. I'm telling you, this crew screwed the Browns all freaking day. That's a fact.
3: But that's okay (sorta). While Hue might fume over this, Sashi and Paul will "get over it" quickly. They are 14 games away from a quarterback of Hue's choice.
Unlike most fans, I defer to Hue on Kessler until I see him well and truly fail. This excludes the upcoming game, because he is not ready yet.
Hue almost has to start him, because Whitehurst speaks a different language, and can't call the plays yet without a translating device from Star Trek. This is why Sam Bradford couldn't start immediately in Minnesota. Familiarity with the receivers also matters.
Whitehurst is an okay quarterback.
4: Boomer Esiason thinks the Browns and Bills are the worst teams in football. I started to bristle until I went down the list. Based on the first couple weeks' results and the physical destruction of two quarterbacks in two games, what can you say?
Naturally, Boomer is quarterbackcentric, though. This roster is very talented. Boomer is grading on performance.
5: Please put Cam Erving in perspective. Aside from his snapping, he graded out well in game one. He was overmatched by a short wide body stud in week two. Week one is still in the books, and this was still only his second start.
Erving is verticly challenged in reverse. His height makes it tough for him to get his pads down vs a much shorter nose tackle. When he snaps the ball, he is one-handed, and he can't reposition as quickly as the guards. A quick nose can get into him and under his pads before he can set.
It's over from that point on. Without leverage or a chance to reset, he might as well weight 100 lbs.
It's troubling, for sure, but LeCharles Bentley believes he'll become a good center in time (what does he know, right?) Danny Shelton is also tall, and had a similar problem with pad level. It looks like he has made strides in overcoming it. Why can't Erving?
5b: The Greco-Bailey combination might not suck. Bailey got beat out at right tackle, but might do better at guard. Greco is a good (and highly underrated) player period who is familiar with center.
6: In the long run, a Kessler start vs Miami is probably a good thing, even if he falls on his face (assuming he has the right mentality). The Browns advance towards the first overall pick, Kessler gets real experience to obsess over and learn from, and Hue gets to see what's right and wrong with him.
Obviously, Hue won't run the same offense, and will try to protect his rookie. This year, the Browns are showing a real running threat, and the addition of Bailey won't hurt a bit.
Since Telfer looks like he won't play, they might use a fullback more. Kessler could ask for worse. Coleman can take a dink pass to the house, Barnidge is his best freind, and he can't miss Pryor (unless he underthrows him).
I don't think Kessler is ready, but niether were Elway, Big Ben, Peyton, Eli, etc. If the defense can continue to improve (and it has been improving) and the offense can run (and dink pass) effectively, he has a chance not to suck too bad.
7: All permabashers and many fans are spazzing out about Carson Wentz. That's myopic. This is why:
A: Wentz would have the same issues with pass protection and inexperienced receivers here as Griffin and McCown had.
B: The Browns are rebuilding. The Eagles are not.
C: Instead of Wentz, here is what the Browns got: Corey Coleman, S Coleman, and Ricardo Louis.
And a first round pick next season. And a second round pick in '18.
Corey Coleman speaks for himself. Shon Coleman isn't yet ready for primetime, but will probably be the starting right tackle at some point during this season, unless fellow draft pick Spencer Drango beats him to it (Drango is surprisingly good btw).
Louis can't catch a cold at this point, but is a freak athlete who could be converted to defense and turn into a stud corner or safety. Try to comprehend this: If it takes two more years, that's cool. If they trade him, that's cool. This was never about 2016 or even 2017 DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
Now, what about the future picks? Well, even though a draft can't be accurately judged for three years, I only went back two. Also, even though I think the Eagles could end up 8-8 this season and 10-6 after that, I'll say their picks end up at 20th and 25th in each round in '17 and '18.
Here are some players picked at or around those positions in 2014:
OT JaJuan James, Brandin Cooks, and Ha Ha Clinton Dix were 19-20-21 in the first round.
Darqueze Denard, Jason Verritt, Kelvin Benjamin, and Dominique Easley were among the players who went later.
Near the bottom of the second round, how about Kony Ealy, Allen Robinson, Garopollo, and Jarvis Landry?
Permabashers will of course say "Yeah but they'll blow it", again ignoring the fact that this is an entirely new front office and coaching staff (read: superstitious and irrational).
It's way way wayyyy to early to judge the recent Browns draft, but early returns look really good.
Ogbah was their pick atop the second round. Nassib came atop the third. Corey Coleman. In the fullness of time you will see Schobert and Kindred turning into stars as well.
Yes, I can see the other side of this: Quarterback is the most important player, and the hardest to get. The Browns had that one chance, and at least so far, Wentz looks like another Andrew Luck.
DePodesta said they didn't think Wentz was a top twenty quarterback. Jackson earlier said they weren't in love with either him or Goff.
Yeah, they look pretty dumb now. It gets worse when you consider RG3's fragility. Yeah, they almost certainly sold Wentz short. Have at them I can't fight you on any of that.
But even if they had thought Wentz was all that, I'm not sure they would have turned down this trade, because all the players they can get out of it could well be more important in the long term. It IS still a team sport.
Philosophy matters, too: Hue Jackson has said, repeatedly, that some of the best quarterbacks are that good because of the players around them.
Aaron Rodgers' wheels came off last season when his guys got hurt. Andy Dalton looked like Joe Montana. Kaperdick. Foles. Ryan. The list goes on. Watch the Patriots' rookie kick ass this sunday. Maybe Kessler might not suck too bad!
Does Andrew Luck suck? No, too many of the other 21 guys do, and whaddya no? He can't do it by himself! Who wooda thunk it? Remember Tim Couch? He didn't suck either!!!
But of course, the Browns accidentally on purpose guaranteed a pretty bad season and a good shot at Kizer or Watson.
I know little about this right now, but have heard several legitimate experts opine that both these guys look like better prospects than Wentz and Goff.
Walter Football compared Watson to Russell Wilson. He's FOUR INCHES taller. But I guess he runs around pretty good. I'm pretty sure Hue won't turn down a first or second overall quarterback again if he likes him.
Wow Walter Football sure doesn't like JT Barrett much! What's wrong with him? He checks all the boxes!
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Nothing to See Here, Move Along
Predictably, the Ravens vastly superior talent prevailed over the hapless Cleveland Browns, despite being surprised early. Obviously, the elite Ravens took the talent-challenged Browns too lightly, as they allowed three unanswered touchdowns.
Of course, the final result was never in doubt, once the Ravens got serious.
Sadly, some fans delude themselves into thinking it would have been possible for the Browns to make a final ten yards in twenty seven seconds after Pryor's catch on the ten yard line.
This was, of course, impossible, as the Ravens dominant defense had tired of toying with their feisty prey. However, the point was moot, as Pryor blatently taunted a Ravens defender, drawing a flag to move the team back to the thirty yard line.
This judicious call was really an act of kindness, since it would have been heartbreaking for overly optimistic Browns fans to watch the futile scoring effort which would have ensued.
The Ravens must take the Browns seriously next time around, and build up a 20 or so point lead in the fourth quarter before giving their second team players some repetitions.
The Browns did show faint glimmers of hope for the distant future, as Corey Coleman could eventually emerge as an above average receiver.
The officials deserve congratulations for a job well done.
"The referees can't influence the outcome of a game"-Marty Schottenheimer
Late addition: I am confiscating the word "questionable". In it's stead, you may use the words "rediculous" or "bullshit".
Of course, the final result was never in doubt, once the Ravens got serious.
Sadly, some fans delude themselves into thinking it would have been possible for the Browns to make a final ten yards in twenty seven seconds after Pryor's catch on the ten yard line.
This was, of course, impossible, as the Ravens dominant defense had tired of toying with their feisty prey. However, the point was moot, as Pryor blatently taunted a Ravens defender, drawing a flag to move the team back to the thirty yard line.
This judicious call was really an act of kindness, since it would have been heartbreaking for overly optimistic Browns fans to watch the futile scoring effort which would have ensued.
The Ravens must take the Browns seriously next time around, and build up a 20 or so point lead in the fourth quarter before giving their second team players some repetitions.
The Browns did show faint glimmers of hope for the distant future, as Corey Coleman could eventually emerge as an above average receiver.
The officials deserve congratulations for a job well done.
"The referees can't influence the outcome of a game"-Marty Schottenheimer
Late addition: I am confiscating the word "questionable". In it's stead, you may use the words "rediculous" or "bullshit".
Bad News Browns vs the Over the Hill Gang
The Ravens have 17 players over 30, and the Browns 17 rookies. This is the Over-the-Hill Gang vs the Bad News Browns.
One guy on Kaperdick Radio called the Browns the "junior varsity", and upon mature reflection, I can't argue with him. He wasn't talking about talent. Just experience. It's beginning to dawn on some of those guys that there is talent here.
Dawgs By Nature did a fine pregame analysis. I think they sold the Browns deep and ascending defensive line a tad short, but that's a minor point.
Gary Barnidge shouldn't keep dropping passes, but you can't be as confident with the younger receivers. I guess the reason why experts and those who parrot them pan the Browns despite their talent expect blown routes, late turns, drops, blown coverage assignments, etc. with all the young players.
As the Dawgs by Nature piece points out (thank you guys I thought I was alone) the biggest plays Carson Wentz made were perfect passes against tight coverage.
Black Cloud, all coaches know this, and it's basic: It is not possible to prevent a perfect pass from being caught. The receiver is between him and the football. Wentz was just plain awesome. And by the way, so is Big Ben.
Dawgs mentioned this by way of pointing out that the Browns secondary (while not as good as the Ravens) doesn't stink.
Joe Flacco is really good, but not as good as that. Surprisingly, he can run around some, but the Browns won't have to worry about containment like they did with Wentz, and can sell out going after him from every angle.
As they did with the Eagles, the Browns defense can at least slow down the Ravens running game and force second and longs. Yes they did. Yes they can. Check your calender ok?
Steve Smith the Senior isn't the scary guy. Kamar Aiken is. They have a first round pick lurking in the shadows as well, but happily Harbaugh is a Martonian, and will keep Smith in front of him til he has a stroke or breaks his hip or something.
That's how the Browns can lose: deep passes. Flacco can also use his pretty good tight ends. That offense is all about Flacco, and if he has time, he can kill any secondary.
Obviously, the solution is to do what Ray Horton wants to do anyway and sack him.
On that topic, Black Cloud had pronounced the Browns pass rush LITERALLY dead on arrival. We can consider the new team's first regular season game an arrival, right?
Considering thd fact that Wentz was sacked three times, and both outside linebackers were rookie starters, as was Hassan, I think we might he jumping the gun on that.
Wentz is highly mobile, and had to be contained. Flacco isn't like that. Outside guys can come inside and Hassan can stunt and stuff.
By the way did anybody else notice that Hassan lines up wide a lot, as in like a Jim Schwartze wide nine defensive end? Ray Horton has fundamentally altered his scheme already.
Carl Nassib is now starting over John Hues, but it's more than that. There is no way Hues would be put way outside like that. Hues will be in only in an entirely different role. I believe that Ray Horton designed this defensive alignment specificly for Nassib and Schobert. This is a great sign that Ray is a defensive version of Hue.
Anyway, Nassib is both quicker and faster that I (or maybe even Ray) anticipated. He will become a dominant passrusher from the strong side, where he overmatches most right tackles.
Lesmerisis (love that guy) showed some clips in which Nassib was half a step quicker than the rest of the defense. Considering that Cooper is exceptionally quick off the snap, that's downright amazing. He's got that in his toolbox too? Oh. My. God!
And Ogbah on the other side? DOA, Black Cloud? Really?
I hadn't noticed during the game, but am happy to hear that Danny Shelton had a good solid game. He'll be very important in this one, since if Flacco doesn't have a pocket, he's much less effective.
Shelton isn't expected to get a lot of sacks, or even neccessarily tackles. He's supposed to force ballcarriers to run sideways, collapse pockets, and chase guys towards his team mates.
I saved this for last: McCown's win/loss record is irrelevant. The Browns never lost one game because of him. His statistics speak for themselves, and the rest is mystical crap.
And he did what he did last season with Barnidge, Benjamin, and Duke. Pryor, Coleman, and Hawkins weren't around. Now he's got weapons out the yinyang, and should have a consistent running game, too.
With regret, I must conclude that the Ravens have a good chance of setting the Browns back in the race for the first overall draft pick in 2017 here.
But like I said, these teams only meet twice, so 2-14 is still possible.
One guy on Kaperdick Radio called the Browns the "junior varsity", and upon mature reflection, I can't argue with him. He wasn't talking about talent. Just experience. It's beginning to dawn on some of those guys that there is talent here.
Dawgs By Nature did a fine pregame analysis. I think they sold the Browns deep and ascending defensive line a tad short, but that's a minor point.
Gary Barnidge shouldn't keep dropping passes, but you can't be as confident with the younger receivers. I guess the reason why experts and those who parrot them pan the Browns despite their talent expect blown routes, late turns, drops, blown coverage assignments, etc. with all the young players.
As the Dawgs by Nature piece points out (thank you guys I thought I was alone) the biggest plays Carson Wentz made were perfect passes against tight coverage.
Black Cloud, all coaches know this, and it's basic: It is not possible to prevent a perfect pass from being caught. The receiver is between him and the football. Wentz was just plain awesome. And by the way, so is Big Ben.
Dawgs mentioned this by way of pointing out that the Browns secondary (while not as good as the Ravens) doesn't stink.
Joe Flacco is really good, but not as good as that. Surprisingly, he can run around some, but the Browns won't have to worry about containment like they did with Wentz, and can sell out going after him from every angle.
As they did with the Eagles, the Browns defense can at least slow down the Ravens running game and force second and longs. Yes they did. Yes they can. Check your calender ok?
Steve Smith the Senior isn't the scary guy. Kamar Aiken is. They have a first round pick lurking in the shadows as well, but happily Harbaugh is a Martonian, and will keep Smith in front of him til he has a stroke or breaks his hip or something.
That's how the Browns can lose: deep passes. Flacco can also use his pretty good tight ends. That offense is all about Flacco, and if he has time, he can kill any secondary.
Obviously, the solution is to do what Ray Horton wants to do anyway and sack him.
On that topic, Black Cloud had pronounced the Browns pass rush LITERALLY dead on arrival. We can consider the new team's first regular season game an arrival, right?
Considering thd fact that Wentz was sacked three times, and both outside linebackers were rookie starters, as was Hassan, I think we might he jumping the gun on that.
Wentz is highly mobile, and had to be contained. Flacco isn't like that. Outside guys can come inside and Hassan can stunt and stuff.
By the way did anybody else notice that Hassan lines up wide a lot, as in like a Jim Schwartze wide nine defensive end? Ray Horton has fundamentally altered his scheme already.
Carl Nassib is now starting over John Hues, but it's more than that. There is no way Hues would be put way outside like that. Hues will be in only in an entirely different role. I believe that Ray Horton designed this defensive alignment specificly for Nassib and Schobert. This is a great sign that Ray is a defensive version of Hue.
Anyway, Nassib is both quicker and faster that I (or maybe even Ray) anticipated. He will become a dominant passrusher from the strong side, where he overmatches most right tackles.
Lesmerisis (love that guy) showed some clips in which Nassib was half a step quicker than the rest of the defense. Considering that Cooper is exceptionally quick off the snap, that's downright amazing. He's got that in his toolbox too? Oh. My. God!
And Ogbah on the other side? DOA, Black Cloud? Really?
I hadn't noticed during the game, but am happy to hear that Danny Shelton had a good solid game. He'll be very important in this one, since if Flacco doesn't have a pocket, he's much less effective.
Shelton isn't expected to get a lot of sacks, or even neccessarily tackles. He's supposed to force ballcarriers to run sideways, collapse pockets, and chase guys towards his team mates.
I saved this for last: McCown's win/loss record is irrelevant. The Browns never lost one game because of him. His statistics speak for themselves, and the rest is mystical crap.
And he did what he did last season with Barnidge, Benjamin, and Duke. Pryor, Coleman, and Hawkins weren't around. Now he's got weapons out the yinyang, and should have a consistent running game, too.
With regret, I must conclude that the Ravens have a good chance of setting the Browns back in the race for the first overall draft pick in 2017 here.
But like I said, these teams only meet twice, so 2-14 is still possible.
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Sashi and Paul's Backup Plans
I agree with about 91.4% of what Doug Lesmerisis says, which of course makes him almost perfect. Here, he once again shows cold-blooded, pragmatic logic in explaining why he thinks the Browns don't need Carson Wentz.
There was never a deliberate plan to tank the 2016 season, ok? Hue Jackson is on board with the moves the front office has made, and intends to make the most of what he has and start winning as soon as possible.
If you call replacing older veterans with very, very talented rookies "tanking", you need to explain that to the Head Coach, because he doesn't seem to get it.
However, it is true that this team is in for a long season. With whole new staffs, systems, and players (57% of the roster less than two years experience, 17 rookies, etc) and now no RG3 for a good ten weeks anyway, and (oh yeah) in the AFC North, well...
While there is no conflict between Hue and the squints, it is true that Sashi and Depodesta would happily lose thirteen or more games this season to get that first overall pick.
Doug raises one monkey wrench issue: Josh McCown. I agree with Doug that Josh could screw everything up by winning too many games.
Look, they are hoping to rehabilitate and develop RG3, but he was not, in reality, the best quarterback on this team. The Ravens would have preferred to play RG3.
And yes, Hue was starting the second best guy on purpose, because he has his eye on the future as well. Sashi says the plan was for RG3 to become the man. Stop making a big deal out of that. There is a Plan B and a Plan C.
Drafting a quarterback first overall is only the most obvious alternative, but by no means the only one.
Jimmy Garopollo could be another.
This could be a hallucination, since Bill Belichick isn't as dumb as most pundits, and can count. In the past, he has drafted a project quarterback every couple years, and then traded him for draft picks.
Everybody assumes he will do the same thing with Jimmy, but in reality Tom Brady CAN NOT last much longer, and Bill knows this, even if you don't. Garopollo could finally, at long last, be the true understudy.
However, like Sashi, Bill will pick up the phone and listen. Since he probably wants to keep him anyway, his asking price will be "rediculous". Take it or leave it.
A first and a third round pick...if they are high ones...at the very least. Maybe more. You'll have to pry this kid out of Bill's cold, dead hand, unless....
You offer him Joe Thomas, a third rounder, and some more stuff.
Why would Bill do this? Well, because Big Joe's expiration date should match or post-date Tom Brady's, for one thing. Bill has no critical need for a left tackle, but he does upgrade that position. The guy he replaces moves to another position, and upgrades that. In a chain, Thomas could upgrade the Pats' whole offensive line, and dramaticly improve his chances of winning a couple more rings before Brady's time runs out.
Why would the Browns do this? Because Garopollo was a second round pick who has understudied probably the best quarterback and strongest leader in the NFL. This guy, taken by most other teams, might have started as a rookie. As it is, he was brought along slowly, and is ready.
I was hoping the Browns would draft this guy. He's not another third or fourth rounder who other teams want merely because he was Brady's backup for awhile. He was projected as a low first or high second round pick, and considered an eventual starter with nice upside.
That could be plan B or plan C for Sashi. Plan A might be to draft the next quarterback, but Josh and Hue might screw that up.
Hmm...maybe Hogan or Kessler could be part of this deal...
There was never a deliberate plan to tank the 2016 season, ok? Hue Jackson is on board with the moves the front office has made, and intends to make the most of what he has and start winning as soon as possible.
If you call replacing older veterans with very, very talented rookies "tanking", you need to explain that to the Head Coach, because he doesn't seem to get it.
However, it is true that this team is in for a long season. With whole new staffs, systems, and players (57% of the roster less than two years experience, 17 rookies, etc) and now no RG3 for a good ten weeks anyway, and (oh yeah) in the AFC North, well...
While there is no conflict between Hue and the squints, it is true that Sashi and Depodesta would happily lose thirteen or more games this season to get that first overall pick.
Doug raises one monkey wrench issue: Josh McCown. I agree with Doug that Josh could screw everything up by winning too many games.
Look, they are hoping to rehabilitate and develop RG3, but he was not, in reality, the best quarterback on this team. The Ravens would have preferred to play RG3.
And yes, Hue was starting the second best guy on purpose, because he has his eye on the future as well. Sashi says the plan was for RG3 to become the man. Stop making a big deal out of that. There is a Plan B and a Plan C.
Drafting a quarterback first overall is only the most obvious alternative, but by no means the only one.
Jimmy Garopollo could be another.
This could be a hallucination, since Bill Belichick isn't as dumb as most pundits, and can count. In the past, he has drafted a project quarterback every couple years, and then traded him for draft picks.
Everybody assumes he will do the same thing with Jimmy, but in reality Tom Brady CAN NOT last much longer, and Bill knows this, even if you don't. Garopollo could finally, at long last, be the true understudy.
However, like Sashi, Bill will pick up the phone and listen. Since he probably wants to keep him anyway, his asking price will be "rediculous". Take it or leave it.
A first and a third round pick...if they are high ones...at the very least. Maybe more. You'll have to pry this kid out of Bill's cold, dead hand, unless....
You offer him Joe Thomas, a third rounder, and some more stuff.
Why would Bill do this? Well, because Big Joe's expiration date should match or post-date Tom Brady's, for one thing. Bill has no critical need for a left tackle, but he does upgrade that position. The guy he replaces moves to another position, and upgrades that. In a chain, Thomas could upgrade the Pats' whole offensive line, and dramaticly improve his chances of winning a couple more rings before Brady's time runs out.
Why would the Browns do this? Because Garopollo was a second round pick who has understudied probably the best quarterback and strongest leader in the NFL. This guy, taken by most other teams, might have started as a rookie. As it is, he was brought along slowly, and is ready.
I was hoping the Browns would draft this guy. He's not another third or fourth rounder who other teams want merely because he was Brady's backup for awhile. He was projected as a low first or high second round pick, and considered an eventual starter with nice upside.
That could be plan B or plan C for Sashi. Plan A might be to draft the next quarterback, but Josh and Hue might screw that up.
Hmm...maybe Hogan or Kessler could be part of this deal...
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
The Perfect Browns Storm: What Else is New?
I can let others pick apart the Browns road opener, but before I put RG3 on the shelf, I have this to add. His overthrows on deep passes were toubling, but his throwing behind fast crossing receivers wasn't as bad.
People talk about short and intermediate "accuracy", but it's not that simple. These patterns are slants and crosses. RG3 (normally) excels at "bucket" throws to deep receivers running away from him. It's a straight line throw over the guy's head, and the accuracy is all in the ball's speed and trajectory.
Crosses and slants are obviously different. RG3 is accurate, but was aiming wrong. These are timing throws, and he was misjudging the speed of Hawkins, Coleman, and Pryor. His passes were consistently behind them. He thought they were slower tham they are, and this is easily fixed.
It's not that uncommon, either. First, he hasn't worked much with Coleman, Pryor may not have been practicing this type of route that often yet, and Hawkins was a vet who got less work than the rookies they were testing and developing.
Real games are different, as well. Players are faster in real games. Practice can't get their adrenaline flowing like a real game. Fixing this is a matter of repetition.
Having said that, I must agree with Terry Pluto about the disposotion of RG3. I still believe Hue Jackson knows his stuff, and that RG could be great again. Pat Kirwan, however, said he stood behind Griffin at training camp, seeing what he saw. Pat insists that he had a vision problem.
That is, that he simply couldn't see around or over the clutter in front of him. Pat suggests that RG3 doesn't yet know how to slide around like other shorter quarterbacks do to find sightlines downfield. This would also explain the overthrows in the last game: If he can't see the receiver, he sort of throws it away.
Just a mention of that. But he's also fragile. I'm not bashing him here. But he has what Kirwan calls a "track body". He is a thoroughbred racehorse...in a pit full of Clydesdales (sp?). He's a smaller Sam Bradford, except no longer as selfish or greedy.
I now think Hue did another Carson Palmer move here (though not nearly as bad, since RG3 only cost money, and not much of that.)
I can't claim to have seen this coming all along, but in retrospect think I should have, and so should Hue.
Pluto thinks the Browns need to keep looking for their franchise guy, and maybe make RG3 a backup.
Sashi and Paul aren't brain dead, which is partly why they held onto Gramps McCown. McCown will step right in, and indeed play better than RG3 was playing. Only, he might well get busted up, too.
But even with Cody Kessler under construction, they signed Kevin Hogan (a second-tier prospect with similar stats and higher general scores from scouts). Hogan is much bigger than Kessler.
Some say he has a popgun arm, but others vehemently disagree, and some even say he has a rifle. I don't know, but Hogan is here for a reason, and that reason probably just happened.
Of course they won't trade for another geezer quarterback! While the plan isn't really to tank the season, they know this is a training season anyway. Hue Jackson insists he's going to win now. Yeah, Hue. Keep it general, because you probably won't really lose all 16 games.
I can already tell you what the front office is telling Hue: "We have Kessler and Hogan now. If one or both can make some strides later this season, he will have trade value or backup value, and we have RG3 under contract for another season too.
"You're not going to pass the Bengals or Steeler--Hue? No you're not. Hue? Hue? Good! Now we're past denial: Not in 2016. Most of the team is young. They get it and won't quit. They won't want out, as long as we find our quarterback by next season. We may trade Joe Thomas and complete the fire sale.
"A first and a fourth, at least. Yes, we know it would. Yes that's what we're saying. Hue? Hue? You've got a free season here. You don't even have to win four games. I know, but it's just one season, and you can pick the quarterback then. You want a dynasty, right? Accept this challenge."
Now, a few corrections: When a quarterback flees a stale pocket and is injured trying to get out of bounds. When your quarterback averages about 3.2 seconds to throw and your backs average 5 ypc your offensive line doesn't suck.
Carson Wentz did look terrific, especially given his circumstances. It doesn't mean he's great yet. Even if he is, he might not have done as well on this team.
I personally wanted either Wentz or Goff, but when they made those trades instead, I didn't knock it. They got some really good players out of it. It's not even over yet, because they've got more picks on their way.
Yes, it's a quarterback-driven league, but if you pay any attention, there are a bunch of other players in the Pro Bowl too. Aaron Rodgers didn't suck last season. Players around him got injured.
In the fullness of time, we can compare Wentz to the legion of players the Browns will have stockpiled instead, and see how Sashi and company did. But not now. Not even the real experts know that yet.
My updated win/loss prediction is 15-1. I will as usual keep doing research and collecting more data, and update this after 4:00 pm sunday.
People talk about short and intermediate "accuracy", but it's not that simple. These patterns are slants and crosses. RG3 (normally) excels at "bucket" throws to deep receivers running away from him. It's a straight line throw over the guy's head, and the accuracy is all in the ball's speed and trajectory.
Crosses and slants are obviously different. RG3 is accurate, but was aiming wrong. These are timing throws, and he was misjudging the speed of Hawkins, Coleman, and Pryor. His passes were consistently behind them. He thought they were slower tham they are, and this is easily fixed.
It's not that uncommon, either. First, he hasn't worked much with Coleman, Pryor may not have been practicing this type of route that often yet, and Hawkins was a vet who got less work than the rookies they were testing and developing.
Real games are different, as well. Players are faster in real games. Practice can't get their adrenaline flowing like a real game. Fixing this is a matter of repetition.
Having said that, I must agree with Terry Pluto about the disposotion of RG3. I still believe Hue Jackson knows his stuff, and that RG could be great again. Pat Kirwan, however, said he stood behind Griffin at training camp, seeing what he saw. Pat insists that he had a vision problem.
That is, that he simply couldn't see around or over the clutter in front of him. Pat suggests that RG3 doesn't yet know how to slide around like other shorter quarterbacks do to find sightlines downfield. This would also explain the overthrows in the last game: If he can't see the receiver, he sort of throws it away.
Just a mention of that. But he's also fragile. I'm not bashing him here. But he has what Kirwan calls a "track body". He is a thoroughbred racehorse...in a pit full of Clydesdales (sp?). He's a smaller Sam Bradford, except no longer as selfish or greedy.
I now think Hue did another Carson Palmer move here (though not nearly as bad, since RG3 only cost money, and not much of that.)
I can't claim to have seen this coming all along, but in retrospect think I should have, and so should Hue.
Pluto thinks the Browns need to keep looking for their franchise guy, and maybe make RG3 a backup.
Sashi and Paul aren't brain dead, which is partly why they held onto Gramps McCown. McCown will step right in, and indeed play better than RG3 was playing. Only, he might well get busted up, too.
But even with Cody Kessler under construction, they signed Kevin Hogan (a second-tier prospect with similar stats and higher general scores from scouts). Hogan is much bigger than Kessler.
Some say he has a popgun arm, but others vehemently disagree, and some even say he has a rifle. I don't know, but Hogan is here for a reason, and that reason probably just happened.
Of course they won't trade for another geezer quarterback! While the plan isn't really to tank the season, they know this is a training season anyway. Hue Jackson insists he's going to win now. Yeah, Hue. Keep it general, because you probably won't really lose all 16 games.
I can already tell you what the front office is telling Hue: "We have Kessler and Hogan now. If one or both can make some strides later this season, he will have trade value or backup value, and we have RG3 under contract for another season too.
"You're not going to pass the Bengals or Steeler--Hue? No you're not. Hue? Hue? Good! Now we're past denial: Not in 2016. Most of the team is young. They get it and won't quit. They won't want out, as long as we find our quarterback by next season. We may trade Joe Thomas and complete the fire sale.
"A first and a fourth, at least. Yes, we know it would. Yes that's what we're saying. Hue? Hue? You've got a free season here. You don't even have to win four games. I know, but it's just one season, and you can pick the quarterback then. You want a dynasty, right? Accept this challenge."
Now, a few corrections: When a quarterback flees a stale pocket and is injured trying to get out of bounds. When your quarterback averages about 3.2 seconds to throw and your backs average 5 ypc your offensive line doesn't suck.
Carson Wentz did look terrific, especially given his circumstances. It doesn't mean he's great yet. Even if he is, he might not have done as well on this team.
I personally wanted either Wentz or Goff, but when they made those trades instead, I didn't knock it. They got some really good players out of it. It's not even over yet, because they've got more picks on their way.
Yes, it's a quarterback-driven league, but if you pay any attention, there are a bunch of other players in the Pro Bowl too. Aaron Rodgers didn't suck last season. Players around him got injured.
In the fullness of time, we can compare Wentz to the legion of players the Browns will have stockpiled instead, and see how Sashi and company did. But not now. Not even the real experts know that yet.
My updated win/loss prediction is 15-1. I will as usual keep doing research and collecting more data, and update this after 4:00 pm sunday.
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