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!
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