In a slow news week for the Browns, Tony Grossi wrote an interesting article on what the Browns can learn from the Jagwires. (I kid. Obviously it's "Jaguars", just as "spaghetti" isn't "pasketti", but everybody is getting dumber...and trying to hide it by saying "utilize" instead of "use"...sorry.)
Anyway, Tony leads off with the JagUARS de-emphasizing analytics in their personnel decisions. This is Tony's opinion, based in the owner's analytical son being moved over to their soccer team, and Tony's bias against "moneyball".
But he's right about everything else. Tom Coughlin knows players, and Doug Marone (like Coach Coughlin), doesn't tolerate screw-ups.
I want to add this to Tony's analysis: Together, they've constructed a very physical team.
Tony cites four elite defensive free agents signed this offseason. They pretty much rebuilt their secondary in one stroke. It went from so-so to top notch all at once.
And they spent a very high draft pick on the very physical Leonard Fournette.
Tony says we shouldn't think that because Keenum and Bortles are in the playoffs, this means adding a journeyman quarterback to a good team is a formula for success.
This bothers me a lot, because it means that Tony never got the memo on Keenum. He has proven to any objective person that he is no journeyman.
He's right that an elite quarterback is better than just a guy, but really this is a back-handed way of bashing DePodesta's strategy of building the supporting cast first, and getting the quarterback later (when he has a chance to succeed).
But he's also talking about A J McCarron, and he's right.
Tony says that hiring Dorsey, Hunt, etc. is a good start. He stops it there, because Hue Jackson is no Marone.
On the quarterback topic, Thomas Moore compared Kirk Cousins to Blake Bortles, and I was pretty shocked. Their stats are pretty similar! However, Cousins completion percentage is much higher.
Still, food for hesitation. "How much is too much?", he asks. SpotTrac and others project Cousins' salary at between 25 and 28 million bucks!!! Is he better than Brady, Rodgers, Brees, Ben, and literally everybody else now? How does this make any sense at all?
I guess I'm back on the Alex Smith (and a high draft pick) train again.
I'm tired of this "playoff performance" crap in re Smith. Check out Andy Reid's playoff history, including with Philadelphia. He goes to the prevent offense and defense.
Check out Smith's statistics in those games! How can you point a finger at him? It's superstitious and irrational, and I'm sick of it. Alex Smith is a terrific quarterback when he's not handcuffed, and his receivers don't drop unbelievably accurate high-point fourth down passes in field goal range.
A few final points:
1: Jason McCourty should make a fine free safety (like his twin bro in New England), and this could happen if free agency and the draft bring in more cornerbacks, and Howard Wilson looks good.
2: Allen=Kizer. Hue might agree with Mel Kiper, but Dorsey won't.
3: A quarterback who completes over 70% of his passes on 9.5 yards per attempt is worth a serious look no matter how short he is.
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