Browns Blabberage

The Browns released their only veteran wide receiver and only smurf!  What are they doing?  Now they have to get another veteran mentor and another microbe!  

WRONG.  

Now I know who to BLAME for letting Taylor Gabriel go while keeping Hawkins: Hue Jackson.  Not Sashi Brown.  I know everybody will want to blame Sashi, because Hue is God and stuff, but that was Hue's call.

You can blame Sashi for not overriding him if you want.  Hey Mary Kay!  Still think Hue wants a football guy?  Why?  He's a football guy and Sashi listens to him, and you get this!) 

I get this.  Hue is really smart, but is still a Head Coach, which makes him at least slightly Martonian.  "Veteran leadership", right?  Got to have it!  Can't have all those brand new wide receivers running in the wrong direction and trying to catch with their feet and stuff!

And ok, Hue was at least partly right: Every single receiver except Hawk was a rookie including, for all intents and purposes, Terrelle Pryor.  I have no doubts at all that Hawkins taught those guys a thing or three.

And as I posted a couple weeks ago, Hue is NOT following the herd with the mandatory microbe slot receiver model.  He only kept Hawkins because of his experience, and now he's done his part, so it's all big guys now.

Hue is making this offense a little different than everybody else, to give himself an edge.  A team built to stop a microbe is less able to stop a big guy in the slot (or a Baylor).  Let everybody else copy Belichick.  Hue isn't a copycat.

Hell, he might see what Belichick does season-by-season and KEEP doing the opposite, because around 25 other Head Coaches will copy Bill, and all the defenses will draft and recruit to stop New England.

I like Hawkins as both a player and a person, so don't get me wrong.  For that matter, I remember Edwards Scizzorhands (Braylon Edwards), and wouldn't be surprised to see Taylor Gabriel start dropping passes again.  At least Hawk had his head on straight.  At least you could trust him.

All the punk receivers got baptized now, and know what they need to do.  Soon, pundits will start pointing out 30 year old wide receivers the Browns need to sign, but I don't believe Hue is still thinking that way.

I'm not saying they won't draft a truly exceptional microbe who slides because he's so tiny, but that microbes are not targets.  Wide receivers are not targets, either, although there are a bunch of really impressive ones in this draft, and a best available could sneak in here on day 2 or 3.

I doubt it, since there are also so many tight ends, running backs, safeties, cornerbacks, defensive linemen, and even safety/linebacker hybrids in this draft, and one of the eleven picks will be a quarterback, no matter what.

Hawk was let go now to give him a better chance to sign on with another team, and that is a classy thing to do.  Potential free agent signees notice this stuff.

I was going to talk about Peterson, Wells, Dobbs, Kelly, and the other second tier prospects here, but I don't want to burn out before the combine is even over.

But I do really like Josh Dobbs, the Rocket Scientist, for his iron discipline and obvious brains.  Once Hans and Franz torture him for 14 months, he'll be a big, strong dude.  I know what I said about brain wiring and how even real smart guys sometimes can't process fast enough for the NFL, but that's my only concern about Todd.

He WILL take coaching, work hard, master all the techniques and mechanical corrections, know everybody else's job like Manning did and Brady does, and (oh yeah) run with the wide receivers too.

All the other air raid quarterbacks have the same question marks mentally, so what the hell?  I'll bet on the dedicated super-smart guy!  Who Hue Jackson got to coach for a week at the Senior Bowl.

Asterisk: If not Trubisky first overall or somebody else at 12 or atop the second round.

Nobody but Tyrod Taylor or Jimmy Garopollo will start in 2017 ahead of Rodney Kesslerfield, however, including RG3.

...Well, RG3 will get another bite at the apple in camp, but I'm just predicting that Cody will beat him out.  In fact, I don't think Griffin will make the final roster.  

As I have proven several times over to any objective, sentient reader, the offense has some soft spots, but the words "urgent" and "desperate" have no place here.  In fact it's getting so obnoxious that I have to confiscate these words again, until certain writers prove they can get along without abusing them.

This includes center.  Stop the Pocic stuff right now.  He might be a right tackle, but he's six-freaking seven, ok?  He's not a center!

The Ohio State guy is a real center. 

I like Butts at tight end, but pundits have pointed me at Ashland's Adam Shaheen.  CBS Sports say he's 6'5", but everybody else says he's 6'7".  Everybody pegs him at 277 lbs and estimates his 40 at 4.7.

He's been a man among boys where he plays, and given that level of competition, even a second round pick might be optimistic for him.  

He blocks, but they can't even know how much work he needs on that, because he's actually bigger than, and has a reach advantage on, most of those defensive ends, and can just sort of smash all the linebackers.

One thing everybody does know is that he's extra-fast for his size, has great hands, and wins all contests.

One guy likened him to Seth DeValve oh puh-LEEZ!  Shaheen is MUCH bigger and stronger, and DeValve is not close to the same kind of red zone threat, as some linebackers are bigger and taller than he is.

What's more, I read that Shaheen runs sloppy routes; DeValve is a converted wide receiver--no comparison here.  Shaheen didn't HAVE to run precise routes against the Little Sisters of the poor.  He just ran over everything in his way and hollered "hit me I'm open!".

But I like him for those reasons: He's not deemed "ready" yet, despite his speed, strength, reach, and hands, so he won't be drafted high.  He does have a lot to prove, but he just might be the best real tight end in this draft (or not...by the way it pisses me off that I have to tack on disclaimers because some of you read "just might be" as "is and I want to have his baby" dammit).

Anywhere in the third or lower for this guy.  Or Butts.

Gary Barnidge is in his last season, but he and DeValve will get most of the 2017 reps.  Telfer is the only good blocker, but might well be a gmf, since if Hue wants a tight end that can't catch, he's got a ton of right tackles and zone centers he can use.

As unbelievable as some fans find this, the 1-15 Browns WILL draft several players who will play little, if any, in 2017.

This is how you "build through the draft".  You thought it was just only draft guys who can contribute immediately through the first four rounds, then special teamers and guys you can cut after that, right?

That's the usual model, so I can't knock you for that.  Jimmy Haslam has fired a bunch of people in a hurry, and was the poster boy for Owner Impatience, but throughout the NFL, the majority of Head Coaches and General Managers are on the hot seat each and every year.

Typicly, they have to win at least a couple games more than they did the previous year, or they're fired.  If they win 11 games, lose in round 2 of the playoffs, lose four critical veterans, and only win nine games the next season, they're fired.

Browns fans look around and see Marvin Lewis, Mike Tomlin, and Harbaugh, and the same GMs as well.  We remember riding Bill Belichick out on a rail (yeah I know Modell fired him as a Raven but there was still a lynch mob is all I'm sayin), and we think Hare-Trigger Haslam is a spazz.

But he's not, and he's not even unusual.

JIMMY HASLAM designed this business model, finally with Hue Jackson, his first choice head coach.  (Not his fifth or sixth option, after the first five ran away screaming.)

JIMMY HASLAM TOLD US this was a total rebuild, and would take "several years".  He probably didn't expect 1-15, of course, but he gets it.  He's in on it.  If the Browns win TWO games in 2017, he's not going to go nuts.

By the way, I haven't researched Hue Jackson's contract details, but I'm certain it's a LOT of money, and all of it guaranteed.  That was certainly partly why Hue Jackson signed here and didn't keep owner-shopping.  Haslam made sure,

Anyway, this regime has time.  Jimmy was part owner of the Steelers.  Ignorant pundits say he learned nothing there, but I'm telling you: All along, he's been looking for a sound foundation on which to build his team.  

That's the Head Coach he wanted in the first place, and a front office he knows and trusts.

The dinosaurs and Martonians still smirk and snark, but only because it's new.  Hell, can't you even give Jimmy Haslam credit for knowing how to organize a business!?!

I was impressed.  Sashi Brown in charge of personnel (oh my god!!!) and Hue in charge of coaching, but not subservient to Brown.  Hue is EQUAL to Sashi Brown, as both report only to the owner.

The sky is falling!  We're all gonna die!  It's chaos!  

Nah!  Everybody is getting along just fine, and are all on the same page.  Jimmy (and Dee I guess) retained their throne, but don't stick their nose into it.  They wait for Sashi or Hue to come to them to settle some conflict between them, but so far there haven't been any.

And listen, Mary Kay: There won't be.  Sashi controls the roster, but knows his limitations, and will generally do what Hue wants him to do, period.  He and DePodesta will throw analytics at him (and I assure you persuade him sometimes), but they know he's the head football guy, and will keep deferring to him.

I don't know why all these blockheads find this so strange.  Is everybody else in football a powermad micromanaging egomaniac or something?  Are Sashi and Hue freaks because they are both reasonable?  I swear, I just don't get all this snarky skepticism.

But I digress: This regime has TIME.  They will draft and acquire players based on talent and potential first, and "readiness" second, the way the Ravens, Steelers, Bengals, Patriots, Packers, and Seahawks do.

Jimmy Haslam gets this.  This is how dynasties are built.  It takes time.

Corey Coleman is one example:  Why don't people understand that he was a Baylor wide receiver?  He had to learn the whole route-tree from the ground up!  They knew he'd zig when he was supposed to zag and screw up depths and stuff when they drafted him don't you get that!?

They drafted him in the first round over more "NFL-ready" guys because he's got otherworldly talent; the most of any wide receiver in his class!  He was drafted for what he would do in his second season and beyond! 

And SHON Coleman!  He was recovering from an injury, so he slid.  He was not expected to (neccessarily) start as a rookie; he had some rough edges.  He was drafted for what HE would do in year two and beyond!

Man, you guys wasted no time writing a bunch of these guys off when they're right on schedule!  Hue and Sashi must be rolling their eyes and laughing:

"Check this out: 'Dire need at right tackle.'  Look, we're supposed to sign...he's 33...oh my ribs..."

In fact, I've been saying that the Browns can not contend in 2017, but I might have been pessimistic.  I just saw the Steelers get SMASHED, the Bungles miss again, and the Ravens get exposed.

The Browns should hold onto Pryor, Coleman will be a lethal weapon, Bitonio and Greco will be back, whoever wins the 4-way contest at right tackle WILL kick ass, Duke is still here, Crowell showed Beast-mode symptoms last season, DeValve is ready to emerge, along with one or more of the rookie receivers, and yes I'm telling you: Cody Kessler: Trust me on this one.

I don't hate Ray Horton, but do like Gregg Wiliams more, and this defense is very talented.  

Collins and Shelton are two keys, but if you think Haden is washed up you are wrong.  Ogbah and Nassib will be scary in their second seasons, and get this:

Both free agency and the draft are packed full of 3-tech dts, safeties, and big cornerbacks!  Free agency itself offers pro calibre guards, perhaps a center (I love the Green Bay guy but dammit he gets hurt too much which is why he's available).  

The draft itself presents a ton of running backs, on top of the other stuff.

The Browns have over 110 mil even after signing Collins, and with him, Pryor, Shelton, Jackson, Gregg Williams, Thomas, Haden, Bitonio, Barnidge, Coleman etc. don't count on stuck on stupid these young veterans will take the Browns seriously (and sheep and dumbasses need not apply anyway).

That's right!  The Browns could contend for a playoff spot in 2017, even if Cody Kessler is their QB!  Yeah, I said it!

Of the top five picks, one will be a quarterback...even if it's Jimmy Garopollo.  One might be that not-ready-for-primetime tight end, but three should start, or at least contribute a lot.  

Between this and YOUNG free agents, the Browns could nail down five or more starters or rotational guys, including one real stud (like Cinci guard Reiter).

This would represent around a 20% upgrade, with a much greater upgrade in depth at every position.  

This is only part of the whole: The biggest upgrades will come from first and second year players naturally and predictably PREDICTABLY DO YOU UNDERSTAND? being better than they were in their previous seasons.

I return to the Colemans here.  Nevermind Shon, since he could lose out to Erving (that's right: Cam Erving was a top notch LEFT tackle before he switched to center),  but Corey Coleman?

That's just plain scary!  THAT guy can do everything Antonio Brown can do, except he's taller, and much faster!

...Ok well, if he keeps dropping passes nevermind.  And getting open is partly being smart, so no guarantees here...but Coleman's upside is astronomical, and contrary to some idiotic reports, he's the number TWO receiver here!  Terrelle Pryor has been, and will remain, number one.

That's right: Even if Kessler is the quarterback in 2017, the 1-15 Browns can contend in 2017 without deviating from their long-term talent/potential first dynasty-building philosophy.

Which sucks, since next year is expected to yield a bumper-crop of elite quarterbacks.

See?  Doesn't it all make sense now?  You know: The Browns get the first overall pick and can't get a franchise quarterback, then win ten games and can't get one of three or four wihout trading their whole draft away?

Yeah I know: You were laughing at me at first, but now you know I might be right, because this is Cleveland, and well...?