This article by Joel W Cade on the right tackle competition was almost perfect.
Joel expects Shon Coleman to win it, because Erving wasn't picked by this regime, was a (more expensive) first round pick, and because (Joel says) the Browns will have to make a decision on his fifth year option after this season.
If they pick up that option, they have to pay him based on where he was drafted, and that's pretty expensive.
But Joel (who seems like he may have played offensive line himself at some point) was fair to Erving. He points out that Erving was a top notch offensive tackle in college, and is much, much better suited to play that than guard or center.
Cam Erving, and Shon Coleman, however, played left tackle. Joel and everybody else seems to think that right and left tackle are the same.
That's a minor point in the long run, but LeCharles Bentley and many others point out that adjusting from one side to the other is a major challenge. The stance, footwork, steps etc. are all unnatural for the player. Both Erving and Coleman were making this transition last season.
Joel might be right about economic factors influencing this decision, unless Erving looks substantially better.
But Joel thinks that if Erving does lose this competition, he'll probably be traded for a future draft pick, and at any rate won't be retained.
There, he might be wrong, and he may also be overestimating the impacts of salaries, and who drafted who.
Paul DePodesta will be pointing out that if Erving earns the starting job and plays well in his third season, he'll have a year (or two) left on his rookie contract after this, his third season.
He will have redeemed himself from his failure at center, and become a valuable trade commodity. Coleman would have two years left on his own contract, and presumably be ready to step in.
As it stands, Cam Erving is a failed center making first round money. He's almost untradable at that price, and getting beat out by a third round pick pretty much ices that cake.
The Coaches have no dog in this fight. They're both young players, and they'll want the best one to start, period. Sashi Brown may technicly have the final say on the roster, but can't dictate who starts (not that he would anyway, Illuminati boy).
Now, Hue Jackson genuinely respects Brown, DePodesta, and their long-term strategy. They discuss these things, and (PR aside) are timing their big "move" into the playoffs for 2018, and for continued improvement and sustained success therafter.
Therefore, if it's a tie, ERVING could be the winner. And if Erving loses, he should be retained unless he is not, in fact, one of the four best offensive tackles on this roster.
Time to put your snorkels on:
Roderick Johnson is the nominal backup at left tackle, but he's a project. Shon Coleman...not Cam Erving......has worked at left tackle on Big Joe's (sensible) days off.
The loser of the right tackle competition will be the swing-tackle in 2017. Rod Johnson may not even be active in some games. He can be a fake tight end in some elephant run-packages, but is absolutely not ready for regular service in the NFL yet.
And by the way, Rod Johnson didn't "force" Cam Erving from left tackle to center in college. They had a big hole at center, and felt Johnson was ready to step in at left tackle. As Joel points out, Erving was a GOOD left tackle, and several teams were looking to draft him as a tackle.
If Shon Coleman does win the right tackle competition, Erving still has a chance to "show" something if either tackle misses time due to injury, so they might still get a draft pick for him (or just retain a stud player).
Now, nobody is talking about Josh Gordon, so I can bring him up again. He's up for re-instatement in September, and if King Dickhead doesn't let him back in, he probably can (and should) sue the bastard personally.
Gordon has been called a "drug addict" etc. over things the majority of us do a lot, including walking through a room where people are smoking pot, and having a few drinks (with teammates) on a plane after his season was over, and drinking too much water.
He had more serious issues in college yes, but he has been pillaried and persecuted ever since he was drafted. The only thing wrong with this guy is his off-the-field college stuff and just being a freaking normal freaking young freaking man gdammit!
Imagine pissing in a cup two or three times a week ok? How long before they caught YOU too soon after one freaking Miller Lite?
...but I digress: He should be back, and I severely doubt that Sashi Brown will just cut him with two years left on his obsolete contract.
Dumb (no offense Terry Pluto): Cutting him for political or emotional reasons is a non-starter with this crew. He's not disruptive or a wife-beater and his teammates like and support him. Care to survey the quarterbacks?
Dumber: Nobody would trade anything significant for him at this point. He's one strike away from extinction, he's not that cheap, all the rosters will be set by then (point in a lawsuit: the timing is punitive), he's not familiar with their schemes or language, and he's not in "football" shape.
Dumbest: Josh does not need to start from square one with the Browns. He knows the scheme and the language, and being stupid is NOT, in reality, among his faults (he's actually really smart).
Now listen carefully (I'll write this slow):
In fourteen games. In his second NFL season. With three (or four?) quarterbacks named Joe. With no running game. As the unmistakable number one (double cover this guy every time) receiver. He was the best wide receiver in the NFL, and broke a few NFL records doing it.
I guarantee you: the prospect of Gordon's return influenced the Browns' offseason strategy.
We aren't talking "potential" here, ok? Josh Gordon can't miss (unless he gets suspended again). And Terry wants to cut him?
Back to DePodesta (just think of me, really): cutting Josh Gordon might just be THE dumbest thing any team in any sport has done since we came down out of the trees.
Anyway, I'm just reminding you guys that rumors of Josh Gordon's demise are greatly exhaggerrated.
I'm in a rare mood so I'll keep going with this and it's implications:
Ok well by this time the two-tight end offense with DeValve and Njoku is set as the base offense. With one running back, this allows for two wide receivers. With two running backs, this means only one wide receiver.
Well, obviously adding Gordon blows the two-back all to hell, because (once he's back up to speed) Josh has to play. You're not going to keep a Corey Coleman on the bench, and even if Coleman is injured (yet again sigh), Rodney Brittfield as a number TWO? Hell yes--he's been a number one most of his carreer.
Now just think about this, ok? Remember Edwards and Winslow? They put Derrick Anderson in the Pro Bowl, remember?
Well, how about two Winslows, who can block, an Edwards on steroids, a taller/quicker/faster Antonio Brown (Coleman) all on the same field at the same time?
Yeah I'm optimistic about Coleman. Despite his physical advantages, comparing him to Antonio Brown isn't realistic, especially given the respective quarterbacks, and how heavily performance outweighs potential.
G, give Brown his props. And Big Ben too. Know thine enema.
Nevermind: Just imagine Gordon, Njoku, DeValve, and Coleman (or Britt) on the field at the same time, over 75% of the time. And remember: with Josh Gordon, who the quarterback was didn't even matter!!!
I've told you: those who default Coleman to number one over Britt are premature. Britt is being massively dissed here!
But the key here is Gordon: Josh Gordon is right there with Julio Jones, and better than AJ Green, and I'm underselling him here. No listen to me: he's dangerous everywhere. He can take short and intermediate crossers to the house as well as he can catch long bombs.
One safety has to stay deep every single time he's on the field, and move to intercept him every time. Even if Josh crosses underneath, that single high safety has to "stay on top" of him, even if a corner is right there with him.
Do you see it, my crickets?
The simplest answer is, you can't. Don't default to this quarterback crap. Britt has been studly with possibly worse quarterbacks than the Browns have fielded, usually as an X receiver. Gordon's best-of-five quarterbacks was Brian Hoyer.
Whoever wins the right tackle fight, he'll be a really good run-blocker in any scheme, and have a tight end to chip on passes 63-plus % of the time on passes, and when you blitze inside (vs a top 5 inside offensive line) you're taking guys who should be on a tight end out of coverage...
Anyhow, if Josh Gordon is reinstated, I'll be revising my estimates for 2017, because I can't see how any defense in the NFL could hold it to under 20 points.
Ok (sigh) I think the Stoolers are just too tough and experienced to pass up in 2017, but the Ratbirds and Bungles could be had.
Sans Josh Gordon, still 6 wins easy.
And with all due respect to Terry Pluto, PFF and Pro Football outsiders are right and you are wrong: The Browns 2017 offensive line should be at least the second best in the NFL.
I think Terry is afflicted with Billoreillyitis.
I was leaning towards Coleman in the right tackle competition until I read Joel's article. Now, I call it a dead heat.
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