Asking the question "is Dorsey right?" (that Sashi and company didn't draft real players) is dumb on it's face. He is obiously full of crap (and lying).
But Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports) wrote a thoughtful and objective article on this topic, which I unfortunately need to correct:
I'll start with Chris's conclusion, which was almost predictably neutral. I don't know Chris well enough to call him a fence-rider, but in general, too many people think that being objective=being neutral. It doesn't.
Next, the details of that conclusion:
Chris listed six "building block" players who were acquired in Sashi's two drafts:
1: He did not include Tretter, Zietler, Boddy-Calhoun, McCourtey, Schobert, Peppers, or Shon Coleman (he skipped free agency, and sold some draft picks and undrafted free agents way short).
2: Chris's theory that Sashi and co focused on college production in 2015 and combine numbers in 2016 is interesting, and might be partially true, but he takes it too far.
Wilson, Peppers, Ogunjobi and Garrett were all productive in college (*Peppers didn't make a lot of splash-plays but look "production" up in your Funk and Wagnal).
Coleman, Ogbah, and (yes, Chris) Nassib all tested well (or off the charts, in Corey Coleman's case) at their combine. (Chris said Nassib tested poorly! He was tried out at outside linebacker! He's an eye-blink slower than Ogbah in the 40 AT SIX FOOT SEVEN).
Chris probably confuses "building block" with "Pro Bowl Starter", but I can forgive him since that's an all-too-common mistake.
I like Chis. He is smart and tries (way too hard) to be "fair".
But as an analyst, he has a ways to go. You don't form a hypothesis and mold data to suit it. You don't edit data in order to stay neutral. And sometimes being objective means bashing somebody.
I really mean this: To be a good analyst, you need to feel as if lives depend on the accuracy of your conclusions. You can not slant your information, or compromise for any reason (least of all to be politically correct!!!)
Dorsey was simply lying with his "real players" statement, since it's so preposterous that everybody knows he's too smart to believe what he said.
He said it partly to prop up the Head Coach Jimmy Haslam stuck him with, and partly so that he can try to bamboozle us and claim credit when the Browns inevittably start winning in 2018 (it's insulting as hell. Even the permabashers will know better and start bashing him).
Still, as I've said, I love that Dorsey is here, because he's a proven team-builder and judge of talent. I can hold my nose and expect this scumbag to nail down the quarterback(s) and do at least as well as Sashi in free agency and the lower rounds....
No, that last part is too optimistic: Brien Boddy-Calhoun is a STUD. So is McCourtey. So is Zietler. Tretter was a sweet signing. Dayes is a lot like Duke. Don't give up on Zane Gonzalez. I think Howard Wilson will be a terrific cornerback once he heals up. I could go on.
Let's just say that I trust Dorsey more than Sashi at the quarterback position and leave it at that.
Speaking of which, I was GLAD the AJ McCarron trade fell through (and hope that Sashi Brown sabotaged it deliberately, like I would have.)
But McCarron is back in play now:
If you think Kirk Cousins or Alex Smith want to play for Hue Jackson, despite this impressive offensive talent, you haven't been paying attention.
To repeat myself yet again (I apologize, but nobody seems to have heard me the first seven or eight times), these guys are both West Coast quarterbacks, and Hue Jackson WILL NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, let them do what they do best, NO MATTER WHAT.
(Yes I was wrong about Hue, telling you about his huge playbook and adaptability. I need to stop listening to experts so much. Hue is a blockhead, married to his offensive system, regardless of his roster).
These two will will probably accept less money to avoid Hue Fisher.
Enter AJ McCarron (for a much less rediculous price):
CONTEXT: Hue Jackson wanted to win a game or two to save his ass in 2017, and felt McCarron could do that. At that time, we still had hope for DeShone Kizer as a franchise quarterback.
NOW, Kizer looks worse.
If Dorsey can't bring down Cousins or Smith, McCarron may be the ideal "veteran" starter to keep a rookie (Darnold I hope) out of trouble (and behind Kizer on the depth-chart too).
No, you need to listen to me here:
AJ McCarron had an awesome record of success in college, but slid in his draft due to "physical limitations" (including size and arm-strength), and accuracy...
Whah-evah! He did what he did in Andy Dalton's stead as a starter. He was pretty damn good! Some Bungles fans think he's better than Andy Dalton!
Dorsey just said that winning the AFC North was the only acceptable goal next season. If you think Kizer can do that, you're optimistic. If you think a rookie quarterback can do it, you are delusional. If you expect Alex Smith or Kirk Cousins here, you're even more optimistic.
McCarron is a legit veteran. In Cinci, he was well-protected and surrounded by weapons, and coached by Hue.
Same deal here, and he's older and wiser now. I consider AJ McCarron as the Browns day one starter in 2018 a good possibility.
Hue Jackson himself said the ingredients of a franchise quarterback are a running game, protection, weapons, and a strong defense. The Browns quarterback in 2018 will have all this!
Shut tf up! Darnold (I hope) will be only one of five picks ascending from the top of the third round, and as of now the pick after him is fifth overall.
Now you expect Dorsey to screw that up? You're sick, man! You need therapy.
And with Gregg Williams coaching this defense, Ogbah and Collins coming back, Wilson on-line, Peppers broken in etc you think Gregg Williams will fall off the map, even without free agency and the draft?
You people never cease to amaze me. How can you expect second and third year players not to improve?
The Niners won again, leaving the Giants as the only threat to the Browns drafting first overall. I am confident that they have it in the bag, even though they have a shot at knocking off Chicago.
The Texans pick has a good shot at getting higher as well.
By the way, Dorsey could possibly use that pick on Joe Thomas's eventual successor. There is a project-type candidate on injured reserve who Sashi drafted low, but we really don't know. It's very hard to find left tackles lower than that.
The Browns are like a car I once had. At 70,000 miles, things started breaking and needing repairs. After a couple months of this, my Dad said I should get rid of it.
I said "why? Most of it's brand new now!"
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