Your TEAM is as Important as Your Quarterback

I found a pretty good article which discusses what the Browns can learn from the Eagles.  

It's pretty good because it gives Roseman his props for wheelin' and dealin' and building that team.

However, as usual, it declares the Wentz trade a dumbass move for the Browns (and attacks analytics, which is all the rage these days doncha know).

Thanks to this same article, I can now itemize what the Browns got for Wentz:

The two Colemans, Kessler, Ricardo Lewis, Kindred, Peppers, Drango, and Kizer.......the fourth overall pick in 2018, and Philly's second round pick in 2019.

We can call Kessler and Lewis misses now, but Kindred is an excellent player, Drango has made himself a key fixture at four positions (maybe they should work him at center now), Shaun Coleman is developing into a stud just like Mitchell Schwartze did, Coleman is a lethal weapon for any decent quarterback, Peppers is obviously a starter at some position (and a returner), and like I've said, if you've closed your book on Kizer after one season (in which he should never have started), you need a brain transplant.

And which players are in the discussion at fourth overall this season?  Saquon Barkley and Baker Mayfield, for two.

I know Wentz is the real deal, but what would he have done being coached by Hue Jackson, and with the Browns receivers they had in 2017-2018 (minus Louis and Coleman, of course)?

And by the way, Roseman lucked out with Sam Bradford (the Vikings coughed up a first round pick for him when Bridgewater went down.  This was after Wentz kicked ass as a rookie replacement for him).

The article bashed the Browns for letting Gramps McCown go, but here again, the Browns were not expecting to contend, and here again, Josh was knocked out for the season with the Jets.

Analytics predicted that, by the way.

(As you know I love Josh McCown more than the writer of this article ever did, but I think with my brain.  Josh gets it.)

The essence of the article isn't stupid or ignorant, however:

You need that quarterback, and a good backup.  You need continuity.  You need good coaching, and talent.

What else is new?

And it seems to utterly elude this writer that it's okay to get the coaching and talent first.

You know I wanted Hue Jackson fired.  But when they hired Todd Haley, and Hue handed him the keys to the offense, I changed my mind.

There won't be a new offensive system now (I'm assuming that Haley will need to learn Jacksoneze, instead of making all the players learn a new language).

...DePodesta no doubt suggested this...

...

John Dorsey has declared winning the AFC North in 2018 as his target, but Haslam's target for not firing a bunch of people again is more like 8-8.

...DePodesta is no doubt targeting playoffs in 2018 and Superbowl in 2019.

I wonder if Dorsey wanted him fired, but Jimmy wouldn't do it.  After all, Haslam owns Pilot/Flying J, and knows that Mister Moneyball Analytics can fix anything.

Whether or not the "football guy" wanted the "moneyball guy" fired or not is irrelevant, since they're on the same page now anyway.

2018 is time to bring in high profile veterans (including a quarterback) via free agency and take a serious shot at all the marbles.

Thanks to "moneyball", the Browns have too much cap space, along with too many draft picks (you know, partly because of that Wentz trade?)

They can sign Cousins or Foles, an elite cornerback, and possibly even a good left tackle in free agency and still have 50 mil left.  They'll have to trade some of their draft picks into the future to avoid wasting them on guys they'll have to cut (like tight ends, defensive tackles, guards, centers, right tackles, linebackers, more than one edge-rusher or wide receiver, etc).

"Lots of needs" indeed: Refer back to this linked article, which is anchored in the fact that Philly got Carson Wentz.  "Get your quarterback", right?

WHY?

So he can get rid of the damn ball and hit the broad side of a barn, mostly! Because if he doesn't, he makes your receievers and offensive line look bad (to ignorant people) and (oh yeah) you LOSE a lot!

Well how tf can you say the quarterback is all there is and there aint no more, declare DeShone Kizer a bust, and still blame it on his receivers? Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out!?

Carson Wentz would have done better yes, but not by much, because Jackson would stick him in a cage, make him carry the offense because he can't stick with the run, because he wouldn't have Coleman but would have guys named Joe and a rookie Njoku because even with no wide receivers left he won't use DeValve and him at the same time oh! Oh! OHHHHH ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND WHAT DO YOU USE FOR A BRAIN---

Err sorry...Anyway yes Wentz, Foles, Cousins, Taylor, McCarron, Keenum etc would have done better than the rookie Kizer.

And one of them will.