PFF, Needs, and the Cleveland Browns

I agree with this Dawg Pound Daily article on PFF's accurate listing of Browns needs...mostly.

The edge-rusher thing is a persistant issue here, but I can't fault PFF for listing it based on their data...as I can Browns pundits who should know better.

1: Ogbah, Nassib, and Tyrone Holmes were rookies.  Nassib broke his hand.  All of them WILL improve. 

2: Nate Orchard was injured.  He will be back.  He will be better than he was as a ROOKIE in 2015.

That's four.

PFF can't account for the utterly predictable improvement of all these players in their second and third seasons.  All they know is that there wasn't much pressure from the edge in 2016.  So they're not dumbasses.

The addition of Myles Garrett would be a big upgrade for the Denver Broncos, let alone the Browns.  It's just that it might give the Browns the scariest pass rush in the NFL, rather than addressing a legitimate need.

Their writers did a great job of going beyond raw data in their discussion of Patrick Mahomes as a viable pick at twelve for the Browns.  They stipulate his third in the nation "turnover-worthy" play (ie dumb or high-risk passes thrown) ranking, but cite his intelligence and Hue Jackson's coaching as a good match.  At twelve.

Free safety was another need.  PFF is more than geeks, because they listed this for Gregg Williams.  Williams blitzes a lot, and needs an exceptional free safety in center field to cover the soft spots blitzes expose.  That player is not on the current roster.

A penetrating defensive tackle was tailored to Gregg Williams as well.  PFF can't really evaluate Xavier Cooper fairly here (nor can I).  

Ray Horton's best laid plans flew out the window with the loss to injury of Des Bryant, Nate Orchard, and others.  The second year player had no place in a 3-4, and clearly sputtered in 4-man fronts.  He can't be counted on.

Thanks to Thomas Moore for a great article.

Now, people on NFL Radio persist in repeating the "multiple needs" and "worst roster in the NFL" mantras as if free agency had never happened, and NONE of the young players on the roster have any talent whatsoever...wow...

They even say "If you don't have that franchise quarterback, you're not going anywhere".  Define "anywhere".  They need to stop worshipping Buzz Kill Bill.

1: If Josh Gordon returns, the Browns could field an elite, utterly lethal group of wide receivers.

2: If Garrett is added to an already strong and improving group, the Browns should have a pass rush to match the receivers.

3: The Browns already have one of the best offensive lines in football.

4: Isaiah Crowell has averaged around 5 ypc for his career.

Yes, they need a franchise quarterback to get to a Superbowl.  But they can win a lot of regular season games with a journeyman, and maybe Gordon and company make Cody Kessler look like Aaron Rodgers.

Think.  With your brain.