It's been frustrating to read a lot of what I've read lately about the Cleveland Browns, including by people I respect, like Terry Pluto.
Generally speaking, it's about what the Browns allegedly need, or should do, or intend to do.
Here, I'll start with what the Browns actually do need:
1: A super free safety.
2: A franchise quarterback.
3: A tall starting cornerback.
That's it for the real, confirmed, immediate needs. Now I'll list the possible needs, which may or may not be filled by young and improving (or underrated) players already on the roster:
1: A 3-tech defensive tackle.
2: A safety/linebacker hybrid; Gregg Williams' nickel linebacker.
Now for the long-term (dynastic) needs:
1: A future starting left tackle.
2: A real tight end. (Actually I could have put this on the first list, since Barnidge won't block and Telfer can't get open).
I could also have put franchise quarterback on this list, since any drafted quarterback will not be a year one starter.
But that's pretty much it. That is the REAL list. Now for the BS lists. Here I will list positions which others list as "needs", but which have at least three YOUNG, IMPROVING players competing for them. That is, positions which it is negative and hysterical to list as needs. These are:
Right tackle, wide receiver, linebacker, and edge-rusher.
Now, nearly every position on this roster, like most rosters, could use an upgrade, unless you have the first-team all-pro/pro bowl roster.
This might be causing some of the confusion here. In Cleveland, if a guy isn't a Pro Bowler yet, he needs to be replaced.
If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, then you are an analyst:
The progress and growth of young players is a very strong, universal, and consistent trend. The biggest single upward spike comes between year one and year two. The largest longer-term quantifiable improvement happens between year one and year four.
This varies by position. For running backs, it's much, much shorter. For offensive linemen and quarterbacks, it's often a year longer.
But it's a strong trend, you see? And the Browns have the youngest roster in the NFL.
This is why saying things like "the Browns need a right tackle" when Cam Erving and Shon Coleman are two of the four players who will be fighting over that position is downright ignorant.
"The Browns need wide receivers" is a rediculous assumption. I mean, you can doubt Payton, or Higgins, or Lewis, but here you are writing all three of them off at the same time? That is irrational.
Sashi Brown and company have screwed up (I call his end of the Pryor thing a probable screw-up btw), but deserve credit for the atmosphere they have created on this team at positions "of need".
At wide receiver, Britt and Coleman are the top two, although in a sane world Josh Gordon tops them both (as long as he can avoid spitting on a sidewalk). But three second year players will be fighting for the third and fourth, or fourth and fifth spots.
And while you're diagnosing needs, you need to stop rubber-stamping Seth DeValve as a "tight end". DeValve is a receiver.
Seth DeValve is often going to be a third to fifth option himself, and that sort of makes the "we need wide receivers" declaration exponentially dumber.
I have finally "got some film" on this front office, and can now tell you more about how they operate and what they're up to:
Now that they added three offensive linemen (including two high-profile starters) in one gulp, I see the plan: I honestly believe that he will continue to "flood" position-groups like this, and love it.
Check out the offensive line now: Before free agency, there were two young athletic contenders to take over center, but now Tretter is the default starter. Including Greco, the Browns have five centers. FOUR will be fighting over the backup roster spot.
John Greco was actually a very good right guard and a decent center. He is now a backup. Before he came to the Browns, he was a starting right tackle. Because he's an older guy, they're looking beyond him, but because he's so damn versatile, I expect the Browns to try to extend him...for peanuts...as a backup...for a couple more years. Or not.
Sashi's free agency blitze had more intended consequences:
Cam Erving is now a right tackle, period. Drafting a pure center is unthinkable.
Terry Pluto is skeptical of Erving at right tackle, but then he thinks they should get rid of Josh Gordon, so...
No, in fact, after doing some more research, I now expect Erving to beat out Shon Coleman et al, win the right tackle job, and be at least average in 2017...unless the Browns draft Joe Thomas's protege, in which case it's a fight.
This 2017 draft is historicly deep in defensive backs and tight ends. It's also full of running backs, and has a lot of passrushers.
I expect Sashi Brown to exploit this. He might draft two tight ends, and three or even four defensive backs. In this draft, he can get great talent round(S) cheaper at these positions, and set up another "tournament" as around twelve players fight for ten survival spots, eight active spots, and four starting spots.
Competition is good. It forces us to do our best, and be all we can be. And not all the losers just get released. A few are nursed along on practice squads. They are like penny stocks.
If I'm right, by the end of this draft, Sashi Brown will have addressed every offensive weakness (except franchise quarterback, possibly), and...
No, I'm telling you, right now on April first, except seriously, I expect Sashi Brown to complete the core of a potential Superbowl team before training camp (disclaimer: I don't know about a franchise quarterback.)
English is my first language, so I need to explain: I did not predict a Superbowl in 2017, or even 2018. I'm just saying that the YOUNG CORE of the team he is building will be GOOD, and getting better.
Also, at no point did I declare Sashi Brown God or my boyfreind DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE E N G L I S H WORDS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH Gdammit!?!
Terry and Mary Kay were bad, but McNanoman takes the cake this week, as he mangles what Bruce Ariens said about the 2017 quarterback draft class.
Ariens restated the obvious: This is a DEEP quarterback class in terms of T A L E N T, but all but devoid of guys who could start in 2017.
Ariens says only one could start this season. One goober guessed it was DeShone Kizer, but I told you weeks ago it was Peterson. (Disclaimer: Nathan Peterson is pretty good).
That aside, McNanoman's conclusion from all this is that the Browns need to identify and draft this mysterious opening day starter.
Thank God this guy isn't running the Cleveland Browns. In year two of a total rebuild, if you have a brain and a servicable starter, you ignore readiness and draft the MOST TALENTED quarterback.
McManoman was never my favorite pundit, but this was profoundly clueless. I'm awash in a sea of dumbassitude here, and it keeps getting deeper every day.
We need to trade a high draft pick for a division rival backup quarterback to replace a statistically superior quarterback who was superior as a rookie on an inferior team.
We need to replace Kessler with whatever draftable quarterback Bruce Ariens says could start as a rookie, regardless of talent.
We need a wide receiver. A running back. A right tackle. Kessler was forced on Jackson by Brown. Scouts were fired for recommending Wentz.
It's down to Peter Smith and me now. I used to think "Idiocracy" was just a funny movie, but it's actually happening. And all these people can vote.
Load up on freeze dried food, gold, and ammo.
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