Another sunday, another disaster.
I won't mention the almost strictly power/man run-blocking which got Crowell stuffed again (not that this bothers me or anything dammit ohhmmmmm...ohhmmmm)...
I've read some stupid stuff about this game, and am sparing you the links. But one National guy suggested that it would be dumb to start Hogan over Kizer next sunday.
The writer got all mystical and nebulous, talking about Kizer's confidence, and the urgency of developing him in real games. The article was one long, protracted cliche.
1: DeShone Kizer has not progressed. It could even be said that he's regressed. The best way to make sure he loses confidence is to keep planting him in the eye of that hurry-cane (like that? I just invented it).
The best way to protect him is to give him some time off to observe from the sidelines, and work on his Progressions and reads in practice. He is still locking on, and not even looking for his number two.
I despise the massively overused "deer in the headlights" descriptive, but this is one situation to which it applies.
I've told everybody for many years that some quarterbacks simply lack the "processing speed" to make these reads. Again, it has nothing to do with guts or intelligence. A lot of elite race car drivers shouldn't get within a mile of a fighter cockpit either--it's not an insult!
Hue Jackson insists that Kizer can learn to do it, and I wouldn't presume to contradict him. However, so far, so bad.
2: Kevin Hogan was the best quarterback on this roster as of game one. Hue Jackson knew this too, but opted to start Kizer for his greater upside. He obviously felt that DeShone would learn and progress more quickly than he has, and that he could win games.
After all, he almost beat the Steelers in game one...but that was his best game, period.
Now, this writer and many others subtly denigrated Kevin Hogan by referring to the fact that the Panthers released him.
Jeez!!! Brian Sipe collected splinters for four years! Kurt Warner had to play Arena Football! Tyrod Taylor was "nobody"! Brian Hoyer just threw for 350 yards!
The clown even smirks at his performance as a rookie. Obviously, he returned in 2017 much-improved...as was utterly predictable. He's been in the NFL a year longer than DeShone Kizer, and had a full offseason to "digest" his real-game experience in 2016, so of course he's more advanced than Kizer.
This goober implied that Hogan has a popgun arm, as he threw more short and intermediate passes. Yeah, he did, because he CHECKED DOWN QUICKLY AND PULLED THE TRIGGER.
And I'll tell you this right now: Forget the massively inaccurate, all over the map pre-draft scouting reports on Kevin Hogan. Trust your eyes.
KEVIN HOGAN just might never look back. HE could mature into a real franchise quarterback!
What's with the snorts and eye-rolls? Everybody else is wrong. I'm right. Laugh at me now but believe me later.
If Kevin Hogan had started game one, the Browns might have upset the Steelers. They might be 2-3 or 3-2 right now! Even if you think a nearly 150 QBR is an aberration, Hogan right now is significantly better than the Golden Boy.
In 2016, Jared Goff was drafted first overall, and Carson Wentz second. While circumstances forced three-year Pro Style college starter into Philly's lineup immediately (and he never looked back), Rams HC Jeff Fisher refused to start the much less experienced spread quarterback Goff, saying he wasn't ready yet.
Well? Fisher was finally forced to start Goff, and he was a disaster. Some were already declaring him a bust.
But he did get real-game experience, and an offseason to process it. As you can see, Jared Goff is now an elite quarterback who has his team in contention.
This could be DeShone Kizer, so put down the shovel and step away from it.
Wentz hit a bit of a wall later in his rookie season as opposing defenses drew a bead on him...but as we see, he's been lights out in this, his second season.
Again, disregard the scouting reports, and even expert consenus in re Kevin Hogan.
Throughout preseason, Hogan was the best quarterback. He was also stunningly accurate (maybe even moreso than Kessler). Ever since, we have seen him hit receivers in-stride and in tight windows and (oh yeah) get rid of the damn ball quickly.
It doesn't matter which receivers are on the field. He hits whichever ones are open. He needs no "crutches"...well, there's Duke Johnson, the universal crutch every quarterback wants, but he doesn't really count.
Is Njoku suddenly better now? No. Hogan simply hits him when he's open. Is Kasen Williams four times as good as he was last week? No. Same story.
Kevin Hogan is a legitimate starting quarterback in his second season. Eventually, the real experts will get around to noticing how many receivers he used, and tell you: This guy is for real.
Who are the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and what do they all have in common?
Well, did you see Aaron Rodgers last night?
Fantasy players often "draft" Rodgers without any of his receivers, because they can never figure out which will get the most action. He uses everybody, against any defense.
In 2017, so does Kevin Hogan. This means he sees the whole field, and "processes" quickly.
The second-most important thing is, in reality, accuracy. In 2016, Hogan was nothing special there, but in 2017 he's been a whole new player. I was personally shocked by it. It's like the guy went to a laboratory and got himself rebuilt. It's amazing.
Hogan does have a pretty good arm, too. Ignore people who inevitably will say different (the "arm police").
I'm telling you, right now: The Browns will be much better if Kevin Hogan takes over.
Other writers have said that Hue Jackson is acting as if he's on the hot seat. But as he himself said, his number one job is not to develop quarterbacks. His job is to WIN.
That's NOT just to save his job!!! Marty Schottenheimer said "winning is a habit", and so is losing. You can't have a team full of players wondering how they're going to lose this time, over and over again.
That's pure poison. Do you think letting Kizer screw up more is good for him? Do you think he gives this team it's best chance to win? Do you think winning doesn't matter to a YOUNG, developmental team? Get a grip, and forget all the crap you heard about Kevin Hogan.
I had noticed the Browns' acquisition of Bryce Treggs, but never thought he'd play the same week he was signed.
Treggs is very similar to Corey Coleman, except (if his 185 lb listed weight is accurate), around 20 lbs lighter. He's a home-run hitter, not only as a catch-and-run waterbug, but as a deep flyer.
He's best in the slot, but can play outside as well. In this game, he caught 6 for 26 yards, so he's proving reliable as hell.
Ricardo Louis caught EIGHT passes here against a very tough secondary. Both defenses kept a lid on the opposing wide-outs, which is why Louis only got 72 yards.
Now, almost everybody else on Earth is utterly ignoring everything Kevin Hogan did in this game, and declaring the Browns DOA.
BULLCRAP. I repeat: If Hogan had started this game, the Browns would almost certainly have won. If he had started every game, they could be over .500. This is a significant UPGRADE!!!
No, I don't expect the Browns to beat the Texans (even sans Watt) next sunday. That's a scary team! But Hogan will give the dogs a chance, and yes--trade punches with DeShaun Watson, and make it fun to watch.
The Browns do have problems. At wide receiver, Ricardo Louis is emerging as a go-to target. I'm terrified that when Britt returns from injury, Marty Jackson will stick him right back in there. Kasen Williams is showing up, but none of these guys made many big plays, and Hue needs to threaten defenses deep to keep at least one safety back.
That's the main unit issue, as everything else is starting to come together, including even the running game with Crowell, despite Hue Schottenheimer's inexplicable...nevermind.
Njoku and DeValve can and will threaten the deep middle, now that they have a quarterback who will deliver the ball to them, and that might be enough to keep the box and short field from getting too crowded.
Defenses will blitze Hogan inside until he proves he can burn them consistently. He will presumably keep mixing in runs to keep them honest.
Hogan has beaten pressure quite well so far, but he's still inexperienced himself. He will screw up...just a lot less than our beginner.
He'll have to go deep more, but Hue and I aren't worried about that. He has, he can, and he will, all bullcrap aside.
Ricardo Louis hasn't shown all of what he can do yet, and Bryce Treggs just got here. They can go deep outside.
Everything is different now. The Browns (should) have a much better quarterback under center, and now you'll see how much skill talent is on this offense.
I hope DeShone Kizer, when he returns, will do it the way Jared Goff did. Let's keep the jury out on that, shall we?
...oh crap I just looked at the next five games...well I still say the Browns will at least look a lot better...
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