Analyzing Browns Analysis

Finally an intelligent analysis of the Browns defensive line not written by my humble self!  Justin Blum (Dawg Pound Daily) was almost perfect!

I only have a couple small corrections to make:

1: He's got Carl Nassib as a rotational defensive end, not a starter.  Justin has the uncommon sense to project leaps forward for both Nassib and Ogbah, but doesn't seem to think Nassib can be a star.

Part of this is that Justin has Garrett pencilled in already as a new addition, so this isn't really a big mistake.

2: ...ok well I guess the Nassib thing was about it.  Blum correctly gave Cooper one last shot, mentioning his outstanding first step quickness, put Meder behind Shelton oh yeah:

Justin projects Des Bryant as a defensive end for Gregg Williams, but he's more likely an under-tackle next to Shelton.  Bryant doesn't have enough speed to rush consistently from the outside, but is a proven "three technique" disrupter.

However, as I've mentioned, age and salary may conspire to send Des away (sad but true).  And Myles Garrett is NOT a lock, either.

Speaking of which, Terry Pluto just nudged me back towards Mitch Trubisky by comparing him to Carson Wentz (as some talent evaluators already have).

Wentz started 23 games to Trubisky's 13.  Wentz ran a pro style offense, whereas Trubisky ran a shotgun spread.  Trubisky played at a higher level of competition.  Their statistics were nearly indentical, largely because Wentz's Bison ran the ball a lot more.

Terry didn't stress this: Wentz sat the bench until his junior season, just like Trubisky did, but he also took over a dynastic powerhouse.  Trubisky's team was, relatively speaking, inferior.

Scouts and others are beginning to compare these two quarterbacks, for good reasons.  As Terry points out, Carson Wentz has changed how teams evaluate quarterbacks.

Wentz' rookie starts weren't planned.  In the real world, this should be the plan for any team drafting Mitch Trubisky, with his ten fewer starts in a shotgun spread.  (I repeat: "Immediate impact" no longer applies to quarterbacks.  The Eagles knew that.  They gave up a ton to draft him second overall to sit him on the bench is any of this sinking in?)

Wentz declined as defenses got a bead on him, and finished ranked 24, but he showed a lot of promise in his rookie season, and Eagles coaches and management are happy with that.

Trubisky is now the consensus top quarterback, and this is unlikely to change as Watson no doubt impresses everybody at the combine.  The big knock on Watson is his interceptions.

I think of local heavyweight Ernie Shavers: Mister You Go or I go.  He knocked out almost everybody he fought, but I think all the ones he lost were by knockouts too.  I know Watson is a very smart guy, and Hue could fix this, but I totally get the preference for the bigger, safer Trubisky.

...but I have to say this: Unlike Ernie Shavers, Deshaun Watson won the belt.  Between Trubisky and Watson, I can't decide.

Several mock drafts have the Browns drafting Watson 12th overall.  I can't believe he'll last that long.  Certainly, Sashi Brown doesn't dare plan on it.

But back to Trubisky/Terry: My inner child wants Mitch Trubisky because he is a home boy and openly talks about wanting to play for the Browns.  It's just my inner intelligence analyst that hesitates, and wonders if he's really better than Watson.

No way Terry Pluto wrote this article without considering Mitch Trubisky at first overall.  

In a nutshell, the top five quarterbacks who will go to NFL teams this offseason are: Trubisky, Watson, Kizer, Garopollo, and Taylor.  Tony Romo is a sixth, but nobody with any brains would cough up draft picks to take on that massive salary unless they are contending in 2017.

David Lee didn't pick Tyrod Taylor, by the way.  He only coached him.  His hiring on here is no indication whatsoever that Tyrod Taylor is better than Rodney Kesslerfield.

However, Tyrod is one of really five quarterbacks which quarterback-needy teams will compete for.  Two teams will nab the two veterans prior to the draft as presumptive starters, which will change things.

In re Garopollo, I can't fathom why so many think that both second round picks would be preferable to #12 and a fourth.  A lot of star players were second rounders, and two is better than one.  Bill Belichick would PREFER two second rounders!  If he settles for 12 and a fourth, he'll probably try to trade down to GET two second rounders!

Now, Justin Blum's take on the Browns linebackers was disappointing:

1: Joe Shobert is a better 4-3 than 3-4 outside linebacker, and can play inside in a 3-4.

2: Demario Davis is an established starter inside or in the middle.  If Jamie Collins doesn't start at middle linebacker, Davis will.  Just because he's not a superstar doesn't mean he can't start any more.

...Justin, how can you lump Shobert in with Holmes and Johnson?  Wow!

I'll put this down as a brain-fart, but you're on probation now, see?

YOU STAND CORRECTED