1: Joe Haden was not the third cornerback on this 2017 roster. He was the fourth, based on preseason performance.
2: This has nothing to do with Osweiler's salary. The Browns were over 50 mil under the cap prior to this trade, and none of Osweiler's 2018 salary is guaranteed.
3: The Browns are left with three proven NFL cornerbacks, plus Stribling and Wilson. Are you going to start talking about cornerbacks like you talk about wide receivers? We need a geezer so we can kick Stribling to the curb?
Joe signed with the Steelers now. It could take him some time to learn their defensive system. Joe was never a dirty player or cheap shot artist. They're going to have to teach him that from the ground up.
Head Enabler Mike Tomlin is a former defensive back, so that should speed things up. But Joe is such a nice guy, they'll probably need to feed him gunpowder and beat him.
4: Rannell Hall and Jordan Leslie have combined for 12 passes this offseason? I think that might be Leslie's total. I know for sure he has ten. Does that writer work for MSNBC or something? I wasn't aware that Leslie was a Trump supporter!
This writer also said that Payton, Higgins, and Louis combined for 63 offseason catches. If we include the scrimmage, that's over 15 catches per "game".
This is garbage. Statistics can say whatever you want them to say when you make them up. I doubt that these three combined have as many receptions as Leslie all by himself. Corey Coleman just caught up to his level of production last week.
Update: Well, the preseason finale is in the books, and we can see what...oh lookie here! Which wide receiver caught the most balls hmmm...for the most yards? Which quarterback did best I wonder....
I can't believe the comments on Leslie after his one-handed catch "Ya budd denn he drobbed a easy one". It was his FIRST DROP SINCE HE'S BEEN HERE what the hell is the matter with these people?
And here again, a bunch of two-back and two-tight end sets and they're talking about adding a free agent wide receiver as if Leslie doesn't even exist!!! As if even two wide receivers will manage to be on the field at the same time much more than half the time. As if young receivers never develop or improve.
Based on his playing time in this one, Leslie would have caught eleven or twelve passes had he played full-time!
I ask you again: What the hell has this guy got to do to get some respect? How many clutch first down catches and TDs from various quarterbacks? Need more one-handers? He's standing right in front of you. Why can't you see him?
Nobody should be surprised by the defense. A lot of NFL teams will be watching the this roster on cut-down day.
Obligitory disclaimers here: Blahh blah blah.
Well, since Osweiler didn't play at all it looks like Hogan has a good shot. Kessler was servicable and showed off some nifty running. They'll listen to offers for him now, too; Kevin Hogan has passed him up.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Hue Jackson: Hope You Let the Best Men Win.
First, I was misinformed about Jordon Leslie's stature. For some inexplicable reason, he was not invited to the 2015 Combine, but at his Pro Day he measured 6'13/8", 205 lbs. He should be bigger now, but at any rate was very strong anyway.
He did clock 4.44 with a 6.84 3-cone.
Now, the current unofficial Browns depth chart utterly ignores his outstanding performance throughout this preseason, as Rashard Higgins and Ricardo Louis (at least) are ranked ahead of him. Tough to read this, with how it's structured, but he should be the fifth or sixth wide receiver.
This new information kind of makes him another Ricardo Louis. They're very similar athletically; both superior to Higgins and Payton in that respect.
But again, who is always open, catching everything that's thrown to him, and how can you ignore that dammit!?!
Oh well. Maybe they will keep six, so they can keep him and Sashi's draft picks who AREN'T AS GOOD AS HE IS.
Now, Tony Grossi hears that the Browns are "researching" trading for a wide receiver. This makes sense, since it would probably guarantee that Leslie gets released (that was sarcasm).
Actually it doesn't make much sense, but Grossi doesn't make stuff up. Joe Haden could be on the other side of this trade.
Yes, Kenny Britt has been disappointing, and they really want reliable receivers for their raw rookie quarterback. Yes, none of the other guys (including Leslie) are really "vetted" yet.
But two backs. Two tight ends. That's ONE OR TWO full-time wide receivers, and Duke is the slot guy DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
I can't call Tony fulla beans, but I do think this is dumb, unless the new wide receiver is a young guy who will challenge Kenny Britt to START. Some of the names that have been suggested are just insane though.
Here's a thought: Trade Joe Haden to Philly for errumm...TERRELLE PRYOR how 'bout that!?
And yes, the blind squirrel may have found an acorn. I don't doubt that Joe Haden is on the block.
It's tomorrow: Joe Haden has been released. This was actually classy of them, since now Joe can shop around and choose a team. He might even make more money.
He's healthy now, but has not regained his Pro Bowl form as I'd expected. McCourtey and Calhoun were outperforming him.
Aside from Stribling, Wilson waits on the injured list, and the Browns have quietly built young, ascending depth at cornerback.
At quarterback, the second best one here is listed fourth. That really doesn't mean anything now, as we all know that Osweiler is on the block, and it would be dumb not to list him second. Also, I can assure you that Kessler is "avaiable" as well.
Everybody should watch the last preseason game, where Hogan and Leslie should get some playing time. They'll probably outperform everybody or almost everybody ahead of them on the depth chart. They always do.
Let's see if this even matters.
Hue should actually have Leslie split reps with Kenny Britt, including with the first team. Let the best man win. Leslie has earned this.
He won't. Hue is creative and sneaky, but he's still an NFL Head Coach. Huge blockhead factor there. Too bad.
Well, best wishes to a really great guy in Joe Haden.
He did clock 4.44 with a 6.84 3-cone.
Now, the current unofficial Browns depth chart utterly ignores his outstanding performance throughout this preseason, as Rashard Higgins and Ricardo Louis (at least) are ranked ahead of him. Tough to read this, with how it's structured, but he should be the fifth or sixth wide receiver.
This new information kind of makes him another Ricardo Louis. They're very similar athletically; both superior to Higgins and Payton in that respect.
But again, who is always open, catching everything that's thrown to him, and how can you ignore that dammit!?!
Oh well. Maybe they will keep six, so they can keep him and Sashi's draft picks who AREN'T AS GOOD AS HE IS.
Now, Tony Grossi hears that the Browns are "researching" trading for a wide receiver. This makes sense, since it would probably guarantee that Leslie gets released (that was sarcasm).
Actually it doesn't make much sense, but Grossi doesn't make stuff up. Joe Haden could be on the other side of this trade.
Yes, Kenny Britt has been disappointing, and they really want reliable receivers for their raw rookie quarterback. Yes, none of the other guys (including Leslie) are really "vetted" yet.
But two backs. Two tight ends. That's ONE OR TWO full-time wide receivers, and Duke is the slot guy DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
I can't call Tony fulla beans, but I do think this is dumb, unless the new wide receiver is a young guy who will challenge Kenny Britt to START. Some of the names that have been suggested are just insane though.
Here's a thought: Trade Joe Haden to Philly for errumm...TERRELLE PRYOR how 'bout that!?
And yes, the blind squirrel may have found an acorn. I don't doubt that Joe Haden is on the block.
It's tomorrow: Joe Haden has been released. This was actually classy of them, since now Joe can shop around and choose a team. He might even make more money.
He's healthy now, but has not regained his Pro Bowl form as I'd expected. McCourtey and Calhoun were outperforming him.
Aside from Stribling, Wilson waits on the injured list, and the Browns have quietly built young, ascending depth at cornerback.
At quarterback, the second best one here is listed fourth. That really doesn't mean anything now, as we all know that Osweiler is on the block, and it would be dumb not to list him second. Also, I can assure you that Kessler is "avaiable" as well.
Everybody should watch the last preseason game, where Hogan and Leslie should get some playing time. They'll probably outperform everybody or almost everybody ahead of them on the depth chart. They always do.
Let's see if this even matters.
Hue should actually have Leslie split reps with Kenny Britt, including with the first team. Let the best man win. Leslie has earned this.
He won't. Hue is creative and sneaky, but he's still an NFL Head Coach. Huge blockhead factor there. Too bad.
Well, best wishes to a really great guy in Joe Haden.
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Hogan, Leslie, Meritocracy, and the Cleveland Browns
There's a whole lotta assumin goin on around heah!
No, I don't mean about Kizer starting game one. His stats don't reflect his performance, asTerelle Pryor Kenny Britt dropped a key red zone pass, his interception came off a deflection, he delivered on every single third down (including a drop), and he's a rookie.
Kizer didn't run once. He used the threat of a run to set up a couple passes, but was actually a real quarterback.
I overestimated the changes Hue would make to adapt to Kizer, as the Browns looked fairly conventional, so Kizer is actually ahead of schedule.
He "locked onto receivers" too often, but that's intermittant, as at other times he fakes defenders out quite effectively. That will automatically improve...obviously.
This was a vanilla defense. Based on this one game, the Steelers will try to take Coleman away and send fast pressure etc., but Hue might be saving a Kizer-package on purpose, see?
The assumptions are that Rodney Hoganfield and Rodney Rodney Lesliefield are going to be released no matter what they do.
Here are stats from the game. (Default disclaimers third stringers blahblah vanilla blahblah).
Hogan's statline actually did depict his performance pretty well. With one exception, Hogan has kicked ass at every opportunity, by air as well as on the ground.
He has outperformed Kessler and Osweiler, albeit against inferior defenses--but remember what I said about quarterbacks and level of competition.
He and Rodney Lesliefield have teamed up, much like Kizer and Coleman have, but Hogan used other receivers as well, and as usual stung the defense repeatedly on scrambles.
I was unable to watch the game, and nobody who did has bothered to pay any attention whatsoever to either of these players, so I don't have much to go on, aside from 2016 pre-draft scouting reports like this one from NFL.com.
Based on what he did last year with the Browns, and thus far this offseason, this one seems the most credible. They're wrong about his arm--he has a pretty good one--and understate his mobility.
I never knew that he actually completed over 76% of his short passes in college! He's statisticly more accurate than KESSLER!
His mechanics were a mess when he was drafted a year ago, and when he got to play last season as a Brown as well (completed around 54%), but I'm guessing that he is more proficient now, based on his preseason, which I haven't seen any of.
In addition to being the second-best quarterback on this roster, his skill set matches up with Kizer's extremely well.
So why is everybody coloring him a GMF despite all this? (Hat tip to MKC, who guessed that Hue Jackson might promote Hogan this week, but she's the only one it even occurred to).
And the same people who are proclaiming every 2016 wide receiver except Coleman a bust simultaneously expect Leslie to be released. How does this make sense? What tf has the guy got to do?
Well, that's not so simple as it sounds, since the Browns first team ran their two backs and two tight ends, sometimes simultaneously. I know that Higgins got one rep only because Jim Donovan mentioned him, but for all I know, that was it for all three of them.
How can you declare guys losers when they don't even play!?
And now people are turning this into "major depth concerns at wide receiver".
Yes, I think Jordan Leslie, the most productive receiver throughout this preseason, is better than those other guys. But it's really ignorant and unfair to bash the other guys without even getting them on the field.
Get it? A guy gets to spell Britt or Coleman for ONE PLAY (if that), and the next thing you know some knucklehead is writing that he posted a "zero" on the stat sheet and decrying the lack of wr depth!
But Leslie is better than those guys. The hell with the 33 total yards the SIX CATCHES are what matter! He was Hogan's go-to guy, and just kept delivering! He's reliable as hell!
He's 6'3" and very strong, but also quick and fast. He's not a possession guy. He can go postal. In some ways, he bears a strong resemblance to Josh Gordon.
As I posted earlier, Leslie was undrafted, and was released by a couple teams before coming here. I had to conclude that either the other teams were idiots, or Leslie had a commitment/work ethic or personality issue of some sort, because his physical tools are pretty amazing (much better that Payton or Higgins, and even a little better than Lewis.)
Does Hue Jackson walk the walk, like Gregg Williams unmistakeably does? Will his best players make the final roster (not to mention being ranked) based on how well they perform, and regardless of draft status or other politics?
Stop right there! Sure Sashi Brown hopes his draft picks make the team, and no doubt Hue knows that. But is this a meritocracy or not? Sashi Brown will NOT keep or release any player unless Hue Jackson consents to it.
And what about Sashi? If he's following the DePodesta plan, HE must ignore politics if he wants his team to succeed. That includes releasing draft picks who are not performing as well as free agent pickups period (unless the upsides are too different).
Sigh...age and money are factors but don't apply here obviously sigh.
We'll see how this works out. I've been around long enough to expect Leslie to get cut no matter what, but if they cut Hogan I'm going to have a fit. I've seen enough of Osweiler, and Kessler...I still like him, but he's Checkdown Charlie now.
Hogan. Is. BETTER. OBVIOUSLY.
By the way Hue if you read this, check with your IT people. My emails to you keep coming back as "undeliverable", and nobody will give me your phone number. We need to fix this before the final cuts!
Speaking of which, Gregg Williams (again: NOT Sashi Brown) will have to release a whole BUNCH of really good players! His defense is STACKED to overflowing!
Jabrill Peppers has taken MOST of his reps at free safety, and it's looking like he was a bigger steal than anybody outside the organization (including me) imagined.
I thought we'd drafted Troy Polumalu, but so far this guy looks at least as much like Ed Reed! I had no idea he was as SMART as he is! I bet you Gregg was pounding the table over this guy!
Now to tear some new ones:
How are these trolls dominating the comment boards here?
Check this out:
Myles Garrett has done NOTHING. Kizer is a train wreck. 0-16. Steelers 52 Browns 10. Shelton should be cut. Joe Thomas is overrated. The front 7 sucks. Hue Jackson is a carreer failure and can't call plays. Gregg Williams is overrated. Sashi Brown is the worst FO guy in history.
How many sacks per-QUARTER does Garrett need? Nevermind it's like kicking puppies.
I have to pound the table over Joe Schobert again. He's even better than I told you he was! Gregg Williams' 4-2 is back to a 4-3 again, because he wants this guy on the field on every down.
Schobert has a LOT to do with this defense's effectiveness vs the run. He's actually now Gregg Williams' on-field "quarterback" in year two of his carreer calling plays for his defense!
That's just pre-snap! Post-snap, he's almost always in the right place at the right time, because he's got the instincts to go with his brains.
Remember: He was a 3-4 OLB in college, and Gregg Williams wasn't the first football guy to say he didn't belong at that position.
I told you this as soon as he was drafted, and predicted he'd be an inside linebacker in Ray Horton's defense.
Anyway he's now about as big as an extra-big strong safety, with commensurate upgrades in quickness, speed, and endurance.
Gregg's 4-man front keeps the hogs off him, so he can run-and hit (or cover).
Trevon Coley, with the first unit, was once again all over the place, demonstrating an impressive motor and surprising range.
I told you about this guy too, but here again, he's even better than I'd thought he was. Right now, he looks like a sure starter at either DT slot, and for that matter a potential Pro-Bowler.
...kinda like Rodney Lesliefield, except Coley is getting his props...
I hate to say it, but I think Jamie Meder might be on his way out.
Gregg Williams has hidden nothing from offensive coordinators watching game films, but it doesn't matter. They still can't predict him. His tendancies are too general to anticipate. They know he'll blitze, but not from where. His coverages all look the same pre-snap, and oknevermind but:
I think Hue is playing it closer to the vest on offense.
He actually played it pretty straight with Kizer. Screen passes were conspicuously absent. Terry Pluto attributed zero passes to the running backs to Kizer's inability or reluctance to check down, but I'm not sold on that.
Hue is smarter than the average bear, and might have ordered Kizer to play dumb. Yes, Hue did want to win that game to build confidence, but that was secondary to developing his rookie quarterback.
Think about it: "Just focus on your first and second reads this time. If nothing's there run or throw it away before you bail out. The Steelers are watching, and I'm not about to show them everything. We can't beat them if they see us coming. It doesn't matter if you look bad here. You're starting that game, and that's the one we need to win."
...Just a theory.
But no, he didn't tell him to lock onto receivers or take too long to throw or any of that stuff.
Finally, how 'bout that Corey Coleman? And he didn't get INJURED!!! He was sure-handed and reliable! He's made a big leap here, because that was never his strong suit. C Coleman's strong suit is scoring from anywhere on the field.
He didn't do that vs Tampa Bay, but he will. He is our Antonio Brown. Yes, he is.
Well that's all I got except if Hogan or Leslie are released, that's just plain stupid.
No, I don't mean about Kizer starting game one. His stats don't reflect his performance, as
Kizer didn't run once. He used the threat of a run to set up a couple passes, but was actually a real quarterback.
I overestimated the changes Hue would make to adapt to Kizer, as the Browns looked fairly conventional, so Kizer is actually ahead of schedule.
He "locked onto receivers" too often, but that's intermittant, as at other times he fakes defenders out quite effectively. That will automatically improve...obviously.
This was a vanilla defense. Based on this one game, the Steelers will try to take Coleman away and send fast pressure etc., but Hue might be saving a Kizer-package on purpose, see?
The assumptions are that Rodney Hoganfield and Rodney Rodney Lesliefield are going to be released no matter what they do.
Here are stats from the game. (Default disclaimers third stringers blahblah vanilla blahblah).
Hogan's statline actually did depict his performance pretty well. With one exception, Hogan has kicked ass at every opportunity, by air as well as on the ground.
He has outperformed Kessler and Osweiler, albeit against inferior defenses--but remember what I said about quarterbacks and level of competition.
He and Rodney Lesliefield have teamed up, much like Kizer and Coleman have, but Hogan used other receivers as well, and as usual stung the defense repeatedly on scrambles.
I was unable to watch the game, and nobody who did has bothered to pay any attention whatsoever to either of these players, so I don't have much to go on, aside from 2016 pre-draft scouting reports like this one from NFL.com.
Based on what he did last year with the Browns, and thus far this offseason, this one seems the most credible. They're wrong about his arm--he has a pretty good one--and understate his mobility.
I never knew that he actually completed over 76% of his short passes in college! He's statisticly more accurate than KESSLER!
His mechanics were a mess when he was drafted a year ago, and when he got to play last season as a Brown as well (completed around 54%), but I'm guessing that he is more proficient now, based on his preseason, which I haven't seen any of.
In addition to being the second-best quarterback on this roster, his skill set matches up with Kizer's extremely well.
So why is everybody coloring him a GMF despite all this? (Hat tip to MKC, who guessed that Hue Jackson might promote Hogan this week, but she's the only one it even occurred to).
And the same people who are proclaiming every 2016 wide receiver except Coleman a bust simultaneously expect Leslie to be released. How does this make sense? What tf has the guy got to do?
Well, that's not so simple as it sounds, since the Browns first team ran their two backs and two tight ends, sometimes simultaneously. I know that Higgins got one rep only because Jim Donovan mentioned him, but for all I know, that was it for all three of them.
How can you declare guys losers when they don't even play!?
And now people are turning this into "major depth concerns at wide receiver".
Yes, I think Jordan Leslie, the most productive receiver throughout this preseason, is better than those other guys. But it's really ignorant and unfair to bash the other guys without even getting them on the field.
Get it? A guy gets to spell Britt or Coleman for ONE PLAY (if that), and the next thing you know some knucklehead is writing that he posted a "zero" on the stat sheet and decrying the lack of wr depth!
But Leslie is better than those guys. The hell with the 33 total yards the SIX CATCHES are what matter! He was Hogan's go-to guy, and just kept delivering! He's reliable as hell!
He's 6'3" and very strong, but also quick and fast. He's not a possession guy. He can go postal. In some ways, he bears a strong resemblance to Josh Gordon.
As I posted earlier, Leslie was undrafted, and was released by a couple teams before coming here. I had to conclude that either the other teams were idiots, or Leslie had a commitment/work ethic or personality issue of some sort, because his physical tools are pretty amazing (much better that Payton or Higgins, and even a little better than Lewis.)
Does Hue Jackson walk the walk, like Gregg Williams unmistakeably does? Will his best players make the final roster (not to mention being ranked) based on how well they perform, and regardless of draft status or other politics?
Stop right there! Sure Sashi Brown hopes his draft picks make the team, and no doubt Hue knows that. But is this a meritocracy or not? Sashi Brown will NOT keep or release any player unless Hue Jackson consents to it.
And what about Sashi? If he's following the DePodesta plan, HE must ignore politics if he wants his team to succeed. That includes releasing draft picks who are not performing as well as free agent pickups period (unless the upsides are too different).
Sigh...age and money are factors but don't apply here obviously sigh.
We'll see how this works out. I've been around long enough to expect Leslie to get cut no matter what, but if they cut Hogan I'm going to have a fit. I've seen enough of Osweiler, and Kessler...I still like him, but he's Checkdown Charlie now.
Hogan. Is. BETTER. OBVIOUSLY.
By the way Hue if you read this, check with your IT people. My emails to you keep coming back as "undeliverable", and nobody will give me your phone number. We need to fix this before the final cuts!
Speaking of which, Gregg Williams (again: NOT Sashi Brown) will have to release a whole BUNCH of really good players! His defense is STACKED to overflowing!
Jabrill Peppers has taken MOST of his reps at free safety, and it's looking like he was a bigger steal than anybody outside the organization (including me) imagined.
I thought we'd drafted Troy Polumalu, but so far this guy looks at least as much like Ed Reed! I had no idea he was as SMART as he is! I bet you Gregg was pounding the table over this guy!
Now to tear some new ones:
How are these trolls dominating the comment boards here?
Check this out:
Myles Garrett has done NOTHING. Kizer is a train wreck. 0-16. Steelers 52 Browns 10. Shelton should be cut. Joe Thomas is overrated. The front 7 sucks. Hue Jackson is a carreer failure and can't call plays. Gregg Williams is overrated. Sashi Brown is the worst FO guy in history.
How many sacks per-QUARTER does Garrett need? Nevermind it's like kicking puppies.
I have to pound the table over Joe Schobert again. He's even better than I told you he was! Gregg Williams' 4-2 is back to a 4-3 again, because he wants this guy on the field on every down.
Schobert has a LOT to do with this defense's effectiveness vs the run. He's actually now Gregg Williams' on-field "quarterback" in year two of his carreer calling plays for his defense!
That's just pre-snap! Post-snap, he's almost always in the right place at the right time, because he's got the instincts to go with his brains.
Remember: He was a 3-4 OLB in college, and Gregg Williams wasn't the first football guy to say he didn't belong at that position.
I told you this as soon as he was drafted, and predicted he'd be an inside linebacker in Ray Horton's defense.
Anyway he's now about as big as an extra-big strong safety, with commensurate upgrades in quickness, speed, and endurance.
Gregg's 4-man front keeps the hogs off him, so he can run-and hit (or cover).
Trevon Coley, with the first unit, was once again all over the place, demonstrating an impressive motor and surprising range.
I told you about this guy too, but here again, he's even better than I'd thought he was. Right now, he looks like a sure starter at either DT slot, and for that matter a potential Pro-Bowler.
...kinda like Rodney Lesliefield, except Coley is getting his props...
I hate to say it, but I think Jamie Meder might be on his way out.
Gregg Williams has hidden nothing from offensive coordinators watching game films, but it doesn't matter. They still can't predict him. His tendancies are too general to anticipate. They know he'll blitze, but not from where. His coverages all look the same pre-snap, and oknevermind but:
I think Hue is playing it closer to the vest on offense.
He actually played it pretty straight with Kizer. Screen passes were conspicuously absent. Terry Pluto attributed zero passes to the running backs to Kizer's inability or reluctance to check down, but I'm not sold on that.
Hue is smarter than the average bear, and might have ordered Kizer to play dumb. Yes, Hue did want to win that game to build confidence, but that was secondary to developing his rookie quarterback.
Think about it: "Just focus on your first and second reads this time. If nothing's there run or throw it away before you bail out. The Steelers are watching, and I'm not about to show them everything. We can't beat them if they see us coming. It doesn't matter if you look bad here. You're starting that game, and that's the one we need to win."
...Just a theory.
But no, he didn't tell him to lock onto receivers or take too long to throw or any of that stuff.
Finally, how 'bout that Corey Coleman? And he didn't get INJURED!!! He was sure-handed and reliable! He's made a big leap here, because that was never his strong suit. C Coleman's strong suit is scoring from anywhere on the field.
He didn't do that vs Tampa Bay, but he will. He is our Antonio Brown. Yes, he is.
Well that's all I got except if Hogan or Leslie are released, that's just plain stupid.
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Jim Brown, Intelligence, and the Real USA
Guys like Jim Brown know what they're talking about. He's bummed that "in 2017" these protests are taking place.
This guy suffered real racism. He was lucky/unlucky to grow up in Cleveland. He grew up poor, but Cleveland wasn't nearly as bad as other parts of the country. Still, he was surrounded by street gangs (I heard an unconfirmed story that he led one of those gangs.)
Since he retired from football, he's been very much the activist, doing his best to salvage at-risk kids in the black community.
Jim knows the real problems. The welfare system is one. It became a generational way of life, and destroyed the family unit. It undermined the work ethic, and for that matter moral code. The male role models were mostly criminals, because their fathers were no where to be found.
Racism and discrimination still exist...somewhere, I guess, but Jim Brown is honest enough to recognize that these protests are a sick, infantile joke.
Jim has told you, this is the greatest country on Earth. That's partly because he's lived through an era of transormational evolution, and seen racism go from George Wallace and Bull Connor to a whisper, on life support. He himself was one of those who knocked down those walls.
Whites and blacks were murdered fighting for civil rights. Fire hoses, beatings, dogs...we won that fight! It didn't die all at once, but faded steadily as the old dogs died, and new generations grew up together.
That's why he does the charity work he does:
He tells kids, don't you believe the crap guys like Sharpton, Farakahn and Jackson are peddling. They tell you you don't have a chance so you don't try. You don't try, you don't make it. That's their racket. They're the problem, not the solution.
I know that Jim and I would have some debates about affirmative action and stuff, but well...click the link.
Seth DeValve? Your kids can become the President, or neurosurgeons, or POLICE Commissioners. They can live where they want. All of you sheep need to grow up. Or, as JB puts it, be "intelligent".
This guy suffered real racism. He was lucky/unlucky to grow up in Cleveland. He grew up poor, but Cleveland wasn't nearly as bad as other parts of the country. Still, he was surrounded by street gangs (I heard an unconfirmed story that he led one of those gangs.)
Since he retired from football, he's been very much the activist, doing his best to salvage at-risk kids in the black community.
Jim knows the real problems. The welfare system is one. It became a generational way of life, and destroyed the family unit. It undermined the work ethic, and for that matter moral code. The male role models were mostly criminals, because their fathers were no where to be found.
Racism and discrimination still exist...somewhere, I guess, but Jim Brown is honest enough to recognize that these protests are a sick, infantile joke.
Jim has told you, this is the greatest country on Earth. That's partly because he's lived through an era of transormational evolution, and seen racism go from George Wallace and Bull Connor to a whisper, on life support. He himself was one of those who knocked down those walls.
Whites and blacks were murdered fighting for civil rights. Fire hoses, beatings, dogs...we won that fight! It didn't die all at once, but faded steadily as the old dogs died, and new generations grew up together.
That's why he does the charity work he does:
He tells kids, don't you believe the crap guys like Sharpton, Farakahn and Jackson are peddling. They tell you you don't have a chance so you don't try. You don't try, you don't make it. That's their racket. They're the problem, not the solution.
I know that Jim and I would have some debates about affirmative action and stuff, but well...click the link.
Seth DeValve? Your kids can become the President, or neurosurgeons, or POLICE Commissioners. They can live where they want. All of you sheep need to grow up. Or, as JB puts it, be "intelligent".
Friday, August 25, 2017
Peppers, Schobert, Kizer, Williams and the Browns
Why are people still talking about six wide receivers and three tight ends? Even if I hadn't told you over and over again about two backs and two tight ends, and Hue hadn't been telling you that Duke Johnson would be the slot guy, you've seen the Browns running it, right?
What is a sixth wide receiver supposed to do? They've already got somebody to hold a clip-board right?
Here, somebody guessed at a fairly reasonable depth chart for opening day (Chris Pokorney Dawgs by Nature).
Chris had sense enough to only list five wide receivers, but then he only has three tight ends. That's possible, but less likely when Hue intends two tight end sets to be a base set; those guys do get hurt!
Chris thinks they'll keep TEN defensive linemen, but I think that's a little high. There's so much talent there that I want to keep ten, but it's not realistic.
He keeps six linebackers, but lists three as middle linebackers. He could be right about the six, but he doesn't understand the scheme. A three-linebacker set isn't the base.
Even if Gregg Williams decides to play Schobert more often simply because he's that talented, it could still be a defacto 4-2 as one linebacker acts as a strong safety.
We all already know that 7-man fronts are only workable about 30% of the time in today's NFL.
I can't pick on Chris much here, but can disagree with him on a few more things:
I already mentioned the tight ends. I think they keep four and McNamara is the fourth. McNamara is a complete tight end with upside as both a receiver and blocker. Like Telfer.
He thinks they keep Erving and release Reiter. I think it could go the other way. Tough call though. Tons of guards and centers, but not so many tackles. I also don't know if Greco will make it.
He thinks Cam Johnson will make it, but Tyrone Holmes won't. Holmes has actually been a little better than Johnson in camp, and is much younger, with more upside.
Chris thinks Calvin Pryor will stay and Kai Nacua will go. He could be right about that, but his rationale is faulty: He sees Pryor as an emergency free safety backup.
Pryor has never succeeded as a free safety, and Gregg Williams has seemed satisfied with Derrick Kindred there until this week, when he promoted Jabrill Peppers over him.
Pryor is much older than Nacua, who is a pure free safety with great upside. Furthermore, the Browns are loaded with strong safeties, including Kindred himself, and Campbell.
Now, most of the other depth charts I've seen only use "s", and don't say "ss" and "fs". That describes cover two safeties.
It could just be dumbasses putting the charts together, but it could also indicate that Gregg has decided to run more cover two because of the talent he has to work with.
Recent articles on and interviews of Hue Jackson and Jabrill Peppers seem to contradict this, because they're talking about Peppers as a true center fielder.
The real story likely lies in between: Gregg will probably mix coverages in 2017, but (it sounds like) cover 1/cover 3 will be there the majority of the time.
Peppers starts at free safety: Hue Jackson said he laughed at amatuer scouts and pundits who said Peppers lacked the range and instincts to play center field. That stung a little, since I was one of them.
But it's refreshing that he was that blunt about it. We're all sick of political correctness, aren't we?
Anyway, I'm excited about this. It means Peppers will be on the field all the time. He's not just fast, but BIG, so even if he's "late", he can knock the ball loose sometimes. From the deep field, he can see/read everything, and come downhill to crash into the majority of it (unblocked).
Many people don't realize this, but if you pay attention, you'll see that free safeties often line up as shallow as strong safeties or even linebackers at the snap, so in reality Peppers won't be out there in the ozone all the time, see?
As a free safety, he can have a bigger impact against the run than possibly any other NFL free safety. He can also really lower da boom on slanters and crossers.
He'll be tested deep, no doubt. I still think he'll get burned here and there. But clearly Gregg and Hue think he'll win more than he loses.
So if Peppers isn't the Gregg Williams "hybrid" player, who is?
1: The hybrid isn't integral to a Gregg Williams defense. He adapts to his personnel and, as he says, "play the best players, regardless of position". He found himself with excellent players who didn't "fit" quite right, and invented a role to make them fit instead of parking them on the bench.
2: Peppers, even as a free safety, is still a hybrid. He'll still set up like a linebacker on third and short (and act like one) and sometimes play cover two.
3: That being said, it looks like Joe Schobert will be that guy here.
I hadn't realized until recently that Schobert had lost 15 lbs. Well, toss his combine numbers in the dumpster.
He now weighs about as much as a big strong safety; certainly less than 230 lbs. He was a 3-4 OLB in college. His real athleticism was hidden by his weight and his role.
I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't a 4.5 flat guy right now, hollering "bring on the 3-cone and shuttles!" too. Call him a "middle linebacker" if you want. Gregg doesn't care.
A lot of people including ma man Terry Pluto are making a big deal out of Kizer's not avoiding contact on a couple runs.
First, he's a LOT bigger and stronger than RG3, so just stop those comparisons please. Second, it's not rocket science. Kizer was sliding up to and into the Giants game, and I can assure you, he hasn't forgotten how to do it jeez...
Let's not borrow trouble here:
The real concerns with Kizer are:
1: Holding the ball (indecision, greed, lack of faith in his recievers--lots of possible reasons). I've gone on and on about hard-wiring, and wondered if Kizer could adapt to the NFL.
Well, he definitely can. He knows where to go with the ball. He just can't make himself throw it before the receiver is looking back at him. He also wants to go deep every single time.
This is all rookie stuff, and fixable.
The mechanical stuff is scarier. Hue didn't want to put him in this soon. That's the real reason why. He (Hue) will probably go overboard with read-options, rollouts, called QB runs, and handoffs to protect him AMAP.
There's really no insideously diabolical plot going on here, you know:
DeShone Kizer is simply the best quarterback on this roster at this time.
Wow! The Browns are trying to trade Osweiler? I'm shocked! I have to regroup to deal with this monumentally unexpected development okbye
THIS JUST IN: Jabrill Peppers is a brain! Future coach if he wants! What an impressive kid!
THIS JUST IN: Jabrill Peppers is a brain! Future coach if he wants! What an impressive kid!
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Tools, Puppeteers, Kizer, and the Cleveland Browns
You sheep who knelt for the National Anthem are useful idiots.
Before you protest an issue, do a modicum of independent research and attempt critical thinking. Because, you know--you look like an idiot when you protest a manufactured, fictional "problem" because marxist puppeteers want us all fighting eachother.
Hook, line, sinker. Try protesting this: "Don't snitch". Babies sleeping in bathtubs to avoid stray bullets. Parents teaching kids that cops are their enemies. LYING. Being a TOOL. Protest that.
Clowns.
And anybody who thinks Briean Boddy-Calhoun did a damn thing wrong is biased as hell too. This is more of the same kind of see what you want to see instead of what's there stupidity. He was off-balance and he went for the thigh. He had to stop him.
Beckham himself isn't among the crybabies. Ed McCaffery and everybody else on NFL Radio said that it was not only legal, but unavoidable. Briean might as well be a...COP.
Everybody is having tantrums over bullcrap. Everybody living in Fantasy Land. Sheep.
But I digress: The defense looks terrific!
The Browns just released Gramps Bryant. Big surprise.
Brandon Thompson is a good player!
Hate to see Tank Carder go down like that, but note to Andrea Hangst:
1: Joe Schobert had already passed Tank up. He's an upgrade.
2: Why do you think the Browns want to get rid of Dominique Alexander or Olugbode? I mean, what's this "vedderunn" crap? They need a veteran so they can get rid of more young talent right?
How many veteran linebackers do we need besides Kirksey and Collins? Schobert and Alexander are second year players. How many years til you get your PHD in linebacking?
Jeez vedderrunn this vedderunn that let the young guys hang around and become veterans ok? And you know what else? A lot of veterans suck!
This just in: The Ohio Supreme Court Justice must have been partying to call the sheep/tools who knelt "draft dodgers", but I grok. For many veterans (and dead police officers' families), you can't wring the blood out of that flag.
But he "misses the message" as well: Let's talk about the real issue: It's all fake bullcrap. NEXT!
Wow Shon Coleman was almost perfect vs the Giants first team defense (per PFF)! Very promising!
McCourty is clearly all the way back too--I see why they wanted to keep him at cornerback.
Rodney Nassibfield got a really high grade too, but I'm not sure how many snaps he got with the ones, and nobody blocked him on his sack. Still, encouraging.
Olivier Vernon ate Greco's lunch. He won't do that to Bitonio.
Schobert? Too obvious. Gregg is indeed finding ways to get him on the field. He plays his best players, and Schobert is one of them.
Corey Coleman is looking good, and didn't get hurt!
I didn't see grades on Roderick Johnson, who started at left tackle, but apparently he's become pretty decent when he's not up against Myles Garrett.
That's part of it, though, isn't it? He'd better learn fast!
No Crowell, so Duke did most of the running. He was just okay, but the Giants are tough.
Osweiler only semi-sucked ok? Kessler was actually better. He got rid of the ball immediately. The problem is it was always to the closest receiver, even on third and long.
Sometimes you have to go short and hope your guy can get it past the sticks, but you're supposed to look deeper first. It looked to me like Cody knew where he was going before the snap, and that's not always good.
Kizer came back down to Earth somewhat, but didn't suck. Hue indeed modified the offense to help him out, and that's a sign of things to come.
As I write this, Hue hasn't picked his game 3 starter yet, but I'm not sure it's Kizer. He held the ball too long too often, and regressed mechanicly. When he overthrew Njoku, I can't say he stepped too far forward, but I do know that that's what makes balls "sail", and that this was a bad habit he brought here with him.
Hue doesn't want him to start repeating this stuff, and that becomes a lot more likely under real pressure in real games.
It's a tough call, since frankly Kizer is already the better quarterback. Despite this, if it's Osweiler, I wouldn't be too shocked.
...Ok it's Kizer.
Well he's not exactly being "thrown to the wolves". Shon Coleman's encouraging performance promises no significant weak spots in one hellacious offensive line.
Ed McCaffrey on NFL Radio questioned this line based on the Giants game. Well Ed, no Joe Thomas or Joel Bitonio. Didn't notice those minor details, huh?
Anyway they'll run a lot, and what you saw of this defense monday night was no mirage. The 2004 Steelers comparison comes back to light:
The rookie Big Ben didn't have to carry his team. He handed off a lot, and was seldom more than a few points behind. He had good field position. His offense was brutally physical.
Jackson will use the pistol, read-option, and rollouts more to let Kizer do what Kizer does best (that's different: Ben was no such athlete. Cowher couldn't do this for him).
Ok stop. I did not just say the 2017 Browns will win the Superbowl like the old Steelers team did. The Division was weaker back then. The 2017 Browns can't bulldoze any of the other three teams offensively, and can only dominate the Ravens defensively.
The more experienced, "settled" veteran teams will tend to win the close games. The 2017 Browns aren't as well situated as that Steeler team was.
What I do say is that the 2017 Browns will be respectable.
I just hope Kizer has his foundation set up. I hope he can maintain his polished form, and start throwing with anticipation.
I also hope Osweiler does great with the twos, so maybe they can get a draft pick for him, because (shhh...Hogan...)
Late notes: Grossi thinks Peppers will start at free safety. I thought that was silly before, but then Kindred pulled into first in that race. If Gregg says Kindred can do it, then Peppers can do it. I stand corrected Bub.
If you want to know who Brandon Thompson is, check out Trevon Coley. Thompson is a tad bigger, and even stronger. Crappy scouting reports aside, he's 6'2", but has extra-LONG arms, demonstrated really good athleticism at his combine, and beat up on everybody he faced at his Senior Bowl.
Like the also mal-scouted Coley, he can play any inside position. Collapses pockets sheds and stuffs holds his ground penetrates (in short makes messes).
He's a third round pick who some projected into the first round. The Bengals are overloaded at defensive tackle, and Thompson suffered an acl tear last season.
Wow six defensive tackles now. I don't know who will win (or survive) this Royal Rumble, but they are gonna be scary, man!
Oh! Oh! And Thompson is a VEDDERRUNN!!!
AH! Pat Kirwan has weighed in on Kizer/Osweiler:
He calls this a brilliant move, because Hue is putting Kizer on the spot in the dress-rehearsal game to see how he'll handle the pressure. Pat calls this a "test", and part of his development.
He's right! Pat says if Kizer stinks up the joint, they'll go right back to Osweiler and put Kizer back in Doctor Jacksonstein's laboratory.
And Kizer could fall on his face! And it might not have to be Osweiler if he does! Kessler will get the bulk of the backup reps, so let's take another look at him. You can't be too quick to write a second or even third year player off, especially when he played well in a terrible situation as a rookie.
Pat talked a lot about what happened to Kizer in his senior season, and it really was alarming. He thinks Hue himself isn't so sure the kid is really as good as he's looked, and figures this game will tell him whether or not he can handle it at this point.
My inner-fan expects Kizer to do okay, but my inner-analyst doesn't know. Well...
Like I said, Hue will adapt his offense to him. His ability make plays with his legs restricts how defenses can come after him. The running game should come out of mothballs for this one. He played a lot of snaps vs the Giants starters--without Thomas or Crowell--and didn't fall apart.
He just overthrew Njoku by about two feet and held the ball too much. Pat is getting stuff like this all out of proportion.
We'll see. If he does maintain his new mechanics and his judgement in this game, it will help "cement" them in, and Hue can relax (a little)...and we can really look forward to the Kizer era.
Before you protest an issue, do a modicum of independent research and attempt critical thinking. Because, you know--you look like an idiot when you protest a manufactured, fictional "problem" because marxist puppeteers want us all fighting eachother.
Hook, line, sinker. Try protesting this: "Don't snitch". Babies sleeping in bathtubs to avoid stray bullets. Parents teaching kids that cops are their enemies. LYING. Being a TOOL. Protest that.
Clowns.
And anybody who thinks Briean Boddy-Calhoun did a damn thing wrong is biased as hell too. This is more of the same kind of see what you want to see instead of what's there stupidity. He was off-balance and he went for the thigh. He had to stop him.
Beckham himself isn't among the crybabies. Ed McCaffery and everybody else on NFL Radio said that it was not only legal, but unavoidable. Briean might as well be a...COP.
Everybody is having tantrums over bullcrap. Everybody living in Fantasy Land. Sheep.
But I digress: The defense looks terrific!
The Browns just released Gramps Bryant. Big surprise.
Brandon Thompson is a good player!
Hate to see Tank Carder go down like that, but note to Andrea Hangst:
1: Joe Schobert had already passed Tank up. He's an upgrade.
2: Why do you think the Browns want to get rid of Dominique Alexander or Olugbode? I mean, what's this "vedderunn" crap? They need a veteran so they can get rid of more young talent right?
How many veteran linebackers do we need besides Kirksey and Collins? Schobert and Alexander are second year players. How many years til you get your PHD in linebacking?
Jeez vedderrunn this vedderunn that let the young guys hang around and become veterans ok? And you know what else? A lot of veterans suck!
This just in: The Ohio Supreme Court Justice must have been partying to call the sheep/tools who knelt "draft dodgers", but I grok. For many veterans (and dead police officers' families), you can't wring the blood out of that flag.
But he "misses the message" as well: Let's talk about the real issue: It's all fake bullcrap. NEXT!
Wow Shon Coleman was almost perfect vs the Giants first team defense (per PFF)! Very promising!
McCourty is clearly all the way back too--I see why they wanted to keep him at cornerback.
Rodney Nassibfield got a really high grade too, but I'm not sure how many snaps he got with the ones, and nobody blocked him on his sack. Still, encouraging.
Olivier Vernon ate Greco's lunch. He won't do that to Bitonio.
Schobert? Too obvious. Gregg is indeed finding ways to get him on the field. He plays his best players, and Schobert is one of them.
Corey Coleman is looking good, and didn't get hurt!
I didn't see grades on Roderick Johnson, who started at left tackle, but apparently he's become pretty decent when he's not up against Myles Garrett.
That's part of it, though, isn't it? He'd better learn fast!
No Crowell, so Duke did most of the running. He was just okay, but the Giants are tough.
Osweiler only semi-sucked ok? Kessler was actually better. He got rid of the ball immediately. The problem is it was always to the closest receiver, even on third and long.
Sometimes you have to go short and hope your guy can get it past the sticks, but you're supposed to look deeper first. It looked to me like Cody knew where he was going before the snap, and that's not always good.
Kizer came back down to Earth somewhat, but didn't suck. Hue indeed modified the offense to help him out, and that's a sign of things to come.
As I write this, Hue hasn't picked his game 3 starter yet, but I'm not sure it's Kizer. He held the ball too long too often, and regressed mechanicly. When he overthrew Njoku, I can't say he stepped too far forward, but I do know that that's what makes balls "sail", and that this was a bad habit he brought here with him.
Hue doesn't want him to start repeating this stuff, and that becomes a lot more likely under real pressure in real games.
It's a tough call, since frankly Kizer is already the better quarterback. Despite this, if it's Osweiler, I wouldn't be too shocked.
...Ok it's Kizer.
Well he's not exactly being "thrown to the wolves". Shon Coleman's encouraging performance promises no significant weak spots in one hellacious offensive line.
Ed McCaffrey on NFL Radio questioned this line based on the Giants game. Well Ed, no Joe Thomas or Joel Bitonio. Didn't notice those minor details, huh?
Anyway they'll run a lot, and what you saw of this defense monday night was no mirage. The 2004 Steelers comparison comes back to light:
The rookie Big Ben didn't have to carry his team. He handed off a lot, and was seldom more than a few points behind. He had good field position. His offense was brutally physical.
Jackson will use the pistol, read-option, and rollouts more to let Kizer do what Kizer does best (that's different: Ben was no such athlete. Cowher couldn't do this for him).
Ok stop. I did not just say the 2017 Browns will win the Superbowl like the old Steelers team did. The Division was weaker back then. The 2017 Browns can't bulldoze any of the other three teams offensively, and can only dominate the Ravens defensively.
The more experienced, "settled" veteran teams will tend to win the close games. The 2017 Browns aren't as well situated as that Steeler team was.
What I do say is that the 2017 Browns will be respectable.
I just hope Kizer has his foundation set up. I hope he can maintain his polished form, and start throwing with anticipation.
I also hope Osweiler does great with the twos, so maybe they can get a draft pick for him, because (shhh...Hogan...)
Late notes: Grossi thinks Peppers will start at free safety. I thought that was silly before, but then Kindred pulled into first in that race. If Gregg says Kindred can do it, then Peppers can do it. I stand corrected Bub.
If you want to know who Brandon Thompson is, check out Trevon Coley. Thompson is a tad bigger, and even stronger. Crappy scouting reports aside, he's 6'2", but has extra-LONG arms, demonstrated really good athleticism at his combine, and beat up on everybody he faced at his Senior Bowl.
Like the also mal-scouted Coley, he can play any inside position. Collapses pockets sheds and stuffs holds his ground penetrates (in short makes messes).
He's a third round pick who some projected into the first round. The Bengals are overloaded at defensive tackle, and Thompson suffered an acl tear last season.
Wow six defensive tackles now. I don't know who will win (or survive) this Royal Rumble, but they are gonna be scary, man!
Oh! Oh! And Thompson is a VEDDERRUNN!!!
AH! Pat Kirwan has weighed in on Kizer/Osweiler:
He calls this a brilliant move, because Hue is putting Kizer on the spot in the dress-rehearsal game to see how he'll handle the pressure. Pat calls this a "test", and part of his development.
He's right! Pat says if Kizer stinks up the joint, they'll go right back to Osweiler and put Kizer back in Doctor Jacksonstein's laboratory.
And Kizer could fall on his face! And it might not have to be Osweiler if he does! Kessler will get the bulk of the backup reps, so let's take another look at him. You can't be too quick to write a second or even third year player off, especially when he played well in a terrible situation as a rookie.
Pat talked a lot about what happened to Kizer in his senior season, and it really was alarming. He thinks Hue himself isn't so sure the kid is really as good as he's looked, and figures this game will tell him whether or not he can handle it at this point.
My inner-fan expects Kizer to do okay, but my inner-analyst doesn't know. Well...
Like I said, Hue will adapt his offense to him. His ability make plays with his legs restricts how defenses can come after him. The running game should come out of mothballs for this one. He played a lot of snaps vs the Giants starters--without Thomas or Crowell--and didn't fall apart.
He just overthrew Njoku by about two feet and held the ball too much. Pat is getting stuff like this all out of proportion.
We'll see. If he does maintain his new mechanics and his judgement in this game, it will help "cement" them in, and Hue can relax (a little)...and we can really look forward to the Kizer era.
Monday, August 21, 2017
Browns vs Giants GET RID OF THE DAMN BALL
This is great! McAdoo plans to play his starters into the third quarter monday night! That's an acid test for Osweiler and the (Joe Thomasless) Browns first units.
In fact, with Rod Johnson at left tackle, it could get ugly. Roderick may eventually grow into a good left tackle, but right now? Not good. Not good at all.
But that's good in a way too: Hue and Osweiler will have to cope with this adversity. He still wants to work on the passing game, but in this situation he'll have to play it like it counts and run the rock.
They'll also have to get rid of the ball in a hurry, and keep a tight end in to help Johnson out sometimes, and run some two-back sets (with a fullback).
That's a pretty good defense. Hue might put Kizer in with the first unit some. Good test I like it!
The Giants are loaded with receivers, both wide and tight ends. Their offensive line isn't really good though. Let's see what this front seven makes of that (especially Garrett).
The Browns should win again off superior depth (not that important of course). Kessler should slice up the Giants third string, and the Browns third string front seven should wreck their opposite numbers.
You realize we're talking maybe Tyrone Holmes, Nassib, Cooper, Alexander, Olugbode? They insist on shopping Des Bryant, so you could see Ogunjobi in there too come on now who else has that kind of depth what you kiddin me?
I'm already ready to make some predictions for the regular season (subject to change of course):
1: Myles Garrett will start...ok ok that one doesn't count
1: Coley will get around the same number of snaps as any of the defensive tackles, as he will play both left and right and is a BEAST.
2: Des Bryant will be gone.
...well that's it. I mean I can't predict which defensive ends won't make it. I'm almost ready to put Carl Nassib on the bubble here (now watch him tear up the Giants).
It's too deep. After Garrett and Ogbah, there are usually two more defensive end slots, and they're looking at Tyrone Holmes, Nate Orchard (very similar players btw), Nassib and Cam Johnson.
Johnson has the disadvantage of being the oldest.
Some will say that Orchard wasn't drafted by the current regime. Irrelevant.
Carl Nassib has not, to this point, been impressive at all, while all of the other guys have been. But he's hard to figure, because he has some situational potential inside, and on both sides of the punt teams, and might fit better in short yardage defenses than the other guys do because of his length and size.
There is always the practice squad for some of these guys, but most of them wouldn't make it without getting nabbed, and Johnson isn't eligable.
Linebackers, tight ends, wide receivers and defensive backs make the best special teamers on kickoffs, but field goals and (especially) punts are different.
So maybe between Tabor and Williams, the Browns can find a way to keep some of these guys.
That's another thing: The Browns special teams should actually be special this season. This team is jam-packed with athletic young talent (yes it is!) and Tabor is excellent.
They just addedJosh Cribbs Jabrill Peppers as a returner.
Peppers is a lot like Cribbs. He's very strong, and breaks tackles. Unlike smaller guys, he doesn't try to run around you, but rather by you. He's more "downhill" than other returners, as he fakes and darts just enough to make sure you can't meet him with force, and runs right through your arm-tackles.
You don't catch him from behind, or converge on him. Many returners are faster, but Cribbs/Peppers run more-or-less straight ahead. They need less "daylight". They're avoiding square hits, but not contact, see?
Peppers is the next Josh Cribbs. Make that prediction #3.
Back to the Giants:
They just drafted Tight end Evan Engram. He's a freak who clocked 4.41 at 6'3" 235. Many local yokels thought Hue Jackson needed a tight end who couldn't block and thought the Browns would draft him.
Peppers will help in trying to contain this guy, and look like a nickel back, going where he goes.
I've deleted a bunch of stuff here that got too deep in the weeds, but here's this:
Gregg Williams is different from what you are used to. He uses off-man and zone coverage a lot. Here, we're used to press/man.
Conventional wisdom says that if you blitze, you need press coverage outside to...
Nevermind just know that Williams is different. Okbye
THIS JUST IN: Peter Smith backs me up on Hue Jackson's preseason playcalling, but gets deeper.
I really like his power right, zone left blocking ideas--Pete knows his players!
In fact, with Rod Johnson at left tackle, it could get ugly. Roderick may eventually grow into a good left tackle, but right now? Not good. Not good at all.
But that's good in a way too: Hue and Osweiler will have to cope with this adversity. He still wants to work on the passing game, but in this situation he'll have to play it like it counts and run the rock.
They'll also have to get rid of the ball in a hurry, and keep a tight end in to help Johnson out sometimes, and run some two-back sets (with a fullback).
That's a pretty good defense. Hue might put Kizer in with the first unit some. Good test I like it!
The Giants are loaded with receivers, both wide and tight ends. Their offensive line isn't really good though. Let's see what this front seven makes of that (especially Garrett).
The Browns should win again off superior depth (not that important of course). Kessler should slice up the Giants third string, and the Browns third string front seven should wreck their opposite numbers.
You realize we're talking maybe Tyrone Holmes, Nassib, Cooper, Alexander, Olugbode? They insist on shopping Des Bryant, so you could see Ogunjobi in there too come on now who else has that kind of depth what you kiddin me?
I'm already ready to make some predictions for the regular season (subject to change of course):
1: Myles Garrett will start...ok ok that one doesn't count
1: Coley will get around the same number of snaps as any of the defensive tackles, as he will play both left and right and is a BEAST.
2: Des Bryant will be gone.
...well that's it. I mean I can't predict which defensive ends won't make it. I'm almost ready to put Carl Nassib on the bubble here (now watch him tear up the Giants).
It's too deep. After Garrett and Ogbah, there are usually two more defensive end slots, and they're looking at Tyrone Holmes, Nate Orchard (very similar players btw), Nassib and Cam Johnson.
Johnson has the disadvantage of being the oldest.
Some will say that Orchard wasn't drafted by the current regime. Irrelevant.
Carl Nassib has not, to this point, been impressive at all, while all of the other guys have been. But he's hard to figure, because he has some situational potential inside, and on both sides of the punt teams, and might fit better in short yardage defenses than the other guys do because of his length and size.
There is always the practice squad for some of these guys, but most of them wouldn't make it without getting nabbed, and Johnson isn't eligable.
Linebackers, tight ends, wide receivers and defensive backs make the best special teamers on kickoffs, but field goals and (especially) punts are different.
So maybe between Tabor and Williams, the Browns can find a way to keep some of these guys.
That's another thing: The Browns special teams should actually be special this season. This team is jam-packed with athletic young talent (yes it is!) and Tabor is excellent.
They just added
Peppers is a lot like Cribbs. He's very strong, and breaks tackles. Unlike smaller guys, he doesn't try to run around you, but rather by you. He's more "downhill" than other returners, as he fakes and darts just enough to make sure you can't meet him with force, and runs right through your arm-tackles.
You don't catch him from behind, or converge on him. Many returners are faster, but Cribbs/Peppers run more-or-less straight ahead. They need less "daylight". They're avoiding square hits, but not contact, see?
Peppers is the next Josh Cribbs. Make that prediction #3.
Back to the Giants:
They just drafted Tight end Evan Engram. He's a freak who clocked 4.41 at 6'3" 235. Many local yokels thought Hue Jackson needed a tight end who couldn't block and thought the Browns would draft him.
Peppers will help in trying to contain this guy, and look like a nickel back, going where he goes.
I've deleted a bunch of stuff here that got too deep in the weeds, but here's this:
Gregg Williams is different from what you are used to. He uses off-man and zone coverage a lot. Here, we're used to press/man.
Conventional wisdom says that if you blitze, you need press coverage outside to...
Nevermind just know that Williams is different. Okbye
THIS JUST IN: Peter Smith backs me up on Hue Jackson's preseason playcalling, but gets deeper.
I really like his power right, zone left blocking ideas--Pete knows his players!
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Political Correctness, Hue, Gregg, Qbs and the Browns
Naturally, Danny Shelton is in a big hurry to re-injure his calf by coming back the instant he can walk without a limp, but hopefully the team doctor won't let him.
His likely absence vs the Steelers in the opener--and concerns over his health--could mean that both Coley and Meder make the final cut.
You just wonder then, what about when Danny does come back? Would they consider rolling on with five defensive tackles?
I can tell you one thing: Come cut-down time, it won't matter that Brantley and Ogunjobi were drafted by the Browns, and Coley was a free agent. Coley hasn't been fighting for a roster spot. He's been in the running to start at right dt and be the top left dt from day one, and right now he is ahead of both draft picks.
I'm already sick of hearing the mindless "long way to go/a lot to learn" mantra about Myles Garrett.
Everybody thinks they have to say that about every rookie, to make sure nobody accuses them of irrational fandom. Some poor misguided amateurs even call him a "project"!!!.
Here, WFNY's Joe Gilbert makes my opening argument for me:
One of the reasons why Garrett was the hands-down consensus first overall pick was the fact that he was ready to rock. He already had a variety of moves, and used his hands well.
Indeed, there's not much left to teach Garrett. He's already a Pro. As Joe illustrates with the three play-tapes he picked out from his very brief appearance in the Saints game, he sets the tackle up to convert speed to power, to spin inside, etc.
He's got a second, third, and fourth move. He baits and springs traps, and has great instincts. Swim, rip--that's kindergarten stuff for this guy!
It's great that (per Simmons his position coach, and Smith), he's eager to learn what they can still teach him, and is "humble". And no doubt, he does have room for improvement...carefully hidden somewhere...
Anyway cut the PC crap out. Myles Garrett as a rookie is at least almost as good as Myles Garrrett the third year player will be. Joe Thomas will tell you that if you ask him. The Saints left tackle, Coleman, Erving, and Rod Johnson will testify too.
As this writer (Thomas Moore) points out, DeShone Kizer IS a project quarterback, but a whole bunch of people have been ignoring that.
Tom quotes Hue Jackson and Kizer himself (told you he was smart and mature for his age!).
Tom wondered for a few seconds why, prior to, and shortly after, Kizer was nabbed in the second round, everybody including his college coach agreed that he should have stayed in college for another year, and would be a long-term project...
Then almost immediately thought he should start game one vs the Steelers.
He's mostly right about the "why" of it: Osweiler.
Tom quoted a Bronco beat writer who said what Terry Pluto and I have been saying, but more importantly points out that in this Division, the Browns aren't ready for the playoffs in 2017.
Tom led with his chin there, but I'll head the counterpoint off at the pass:
The Browns were 1-15 last season, and remain a joke in many pseudo-minds. Yeah if you're going no where anyhow, that's a great time to develop a quarterback, but not for the 2017 Browns.
Marty Schottenheimer said "Winning is a habit". So is losing.
This is perhaps the youngest team in the NFL, and "tanking" would do more harm than good long-term. It's not just Jimmy Haslam. It's also Gregg Williams, who might take a better offer. The free agents who want a premium to come here, or refuse to negotiate at all. Our own free agents (like Crowell) who need to see progress themselves before they commit long-term.
The Browns need to WIN now. And Hue Jackson--who makes all the critical decisions--will play the quarterback who gives him the best chance to win, period.
If Osweiler is disasterous vs the Giants and Kizer shreds their second team, I guess he wins, but I expect no such contrast between the two.
Understand this: Hue Jackson does see DeShone Kizer as a future stud. So he is trying to keep him "in the gym" as long as he can, so he can "reprogram" him...
Nevermind check previous Blogs: Muscle memory, balance, stress...if you don't get it, you never will. If Hue starts DeShone too soon, a few things could happen:
Best case: If he's made any progress at all in trusting his receivers and throwing with anticipation (and touch), he will quickly revert to eyeballing them while holding the ball, then throwing a low bullet into a tight window after they turn and make eye contact with him.
He can pull this off, but it pretty much eliminates RAC yards, causes more drops, and gets him beat up and sacked more ok? And instead of becoming Tom Brady, he becomes Doug Williams ok? Get it? Hue wants Brady, right?
I won't get into "more likely", but you can check out his last season at Notre Dame and find it there.
Do you get this yet? DeShone Kizer has a lot to unlearn here! It's like quitting smoking ok? Get it? You go 3 weeks without and hit a bar and "one can't hurt" and boom there you go 2 packs a day get it?
Yeah okay, Kizer has amazing upside etc. and Osweiler has a much lower ceiling, but Brock is also much more advanced at this point, and does give the Browns the best chance to win games.
...well ok I think so...and so does Hue...right now...
Justin Currie has come out of nowhere to replace the injured Ibraheim Campbell at strong safety atop the depth chart.
It's interesting that Jabrill Peppers didn't step in here, but that doesn't mean much (Peppers will be on the field somewhere).
Currie is another just plain football player. He's a decent, but not exceptional athlete. He's not a "playmaker", but he tackles and hits people. A blue collar guy. It's interesting that Gregg Williams likes this guy that much.
Along with Kindred at free safety, Carder over Schobert, and Peppers despite his lack of big plays in college. It's looking like Gregg Williams has been misunderstood by the punditry.
Yeah, he likes guys who get sacks and interceptions we knew that. But it looks like he also likes lunchpail guys who do their jobs and don't screw up as well!!! Who wooda thunk it!?
Gotta hit this next time okbye
His likely absence vs the Steelers in the opener--and concerns over his health--could mean that both Coley and Meder make the final cut.
You just wonder then, what about when Danny does come back? Would they consider rolling on with five defensive tackles?
I can tell you one thing: Come cut-down time, it won't matter that Brantley and Ogunjobi were drafted by the Browns, and Coley was a free agent. Coley hasn't been fighting for a roster spot. He's been in the running to start at right dt and be the top left dt from day one, and right now he is ahead of both draft picks.
I'm already sick of hearing the mindless "long way to go/a lot to learn" mantra about Myles Garrett.
Everybody thinks they have to say that about every rookie, to make sure nobody accuses them of irrational fandom. Some poor misguided amateurs even call him a "project"!!!.
Here, WFNY's Joe Gilbert makes my opening argument for me:
One of the reasons why Garrett was the hands-down consensus first overall pick was the fact that he was ready to rock. He already had a variety of moves, and used his hands well.
Indeed, there's not much left to teach Garrett. He's already a Pro. As Joe illustrates with the three play-tapes he picked out from his very brief appearance in the Saints game, he sets the tackle up to convert speed to power, to spin inside, etc.
He's got a second, third, and fourth move. He baits and springs traps, and has great instincts. Swim, rip--that's kindergarten stuff for this guy!
It's great that (per Simmons his position coach, and Smith), he's eager to learn what they can still teach him, and is "humble". And no doubt, he does have room for improvement...carefully hidden somewhere...
Anyway cut the PC crap out. Myles Garrett as a rookie is at least almost as good as Myles Garrrett the third year player will be. Joe Thomas will tell you that if you ask him. The Saints left tackle, Coleman, Erving, and Rod Johnson will testify too.
As this writer (Thomas Moore) points out, DeShone Kizer IS a project quarterback, but a whole bunch of people have been ignoring that.
Tom quotes Hue Jackson and Kizer himself (told you he was smart and mature for his age!).
Tom wondered for a few seconds why, prior to, and shortly after, Kizer was nabbed in the second round, everybody including his college coach agreed that he should have stayed in college for another year, and would be a long-term project...
Then almost immediately thought he should start game one vs the Steelers.
He's mostly right about the "why" of it: Osweiler.
Tom quoted a Bronco beat writer who said what Terry Pluto and I have been saying, but more importantly points out that in this Division, the Browns aren't ready for the playoffs in 2017.
Tom led with his chin there, but I'll head the counterpoint off at the pass:
The Browns were 1-15 last season, and remain a joke in many pseudo-minds. Yeah if you're going no where anyhow, that's a great time to develop a quarterback, but not for the 2017 Browns.
Marty Schottenheimer said "Winning is a habit". So is losing.
This is perhaps the youngest team in the NFL, and "tanking" would do more harm than good long-term. It's not just Jimmy Haslam. It's also Gregg Williams, who might take a better offer. The free agents who want a premium to come here, or refuse to negotiate at all. Our own free agents (like Crowell) who need to see progress themselves before they commit long-term.
The Browns need to WIN now. And Hue Jackson--who makes all the critical decisions--will play the quarterback who gives him the best chance to win, period.
If Osweiler is disasterous vs the Giants and Kizer shreds their second team, I guess he wins, but I expect no such contrast between the two.
Understand this: Hue Jackson does see DeShone Kizer as a future stud. So he is trying to keep him "in the gym" as long as he can, so he can "reprogram" him...
Nevermind check previous Blogs: Muscle memory, balance, stress...if you don't get it, you never will. If Hue starts DeShone too soon, a few things could happen:
Best case: If he's made any progress at all in trusting his receivers and throwing with anticipation (and touch), he will quickly revert to eyeballing them while holding the ball, then throwing a low bullet into a tight window after they turn and make eye contact with him.
He can pull this off, but it pretty much eliminates RAC yards, causes more drops, and gets him beat up and sacked more ok? And instead of becoming Tom Brady, he becomes Doug Williams ok? Get it? Hue wants Brady, right?
I won't get into "more likely", but you can check out his last season at Notre Dame and find it there.
Do you get this yet? DeShone Kizer has a lot to unlearn here! It's like quitting smoking ok? Get it? You go 3 weeks without and hit a bar and "one can't hurt" and boom there you go 2 packs a day get it?
Yeah okay, Kizer has amazing upside etc. and Osweiler has a much lower ceiling, but Brock is also much more advanced at this point, and does give the Browns the best chance to win games.
...well ok I think so...and so does Hue...right now...
Justin Currie has come out of nowhere to replace the injured Ibraheim Campbell at strong safety atop the depth chart.
It's interesting that Jabrill Peppers didn't step in here, but that doesn't mean much (Peppers will be on the field somewhere).
Currie is another just plain football player. He's a decent, but not exceptional athlete. He's not a "playmaker", but he tackles and hits people. A blue collar guy. It's interesting that Gregg Williams likes this guy that much.
Along with Kindred at free safety, Carder over Schobert, and Peppers despite his lack of big plays in college. It's looking like Gregg Williams has been misunderstood by the punditry.
Yeah, he likes guys who get sacks and interceptions we knew that. But it looks like he also likes lunchpail guys who do their jobs and don't screw up as well!!! Who wooda thunk it!?
Gotta hit this next time okbye
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