Bill Livingston has finally figured out what I did when the Browns hired Todd Haley: Hue won't be able to mess anything up in 2018. Jimmy Haslam didn't fire him, but has left him with little real power.
I kind of understood this at the time. For Haslam, to fire even a 1-31 Head Coach after two seasons would be have been a PR nightmare.
This way, at least, he retains Gregg Williams and several assistants, so there is some continuity, which has a lot to do with Free Agents' decisions to sign or re-sign with a team.
Make no mistake: It wasn't Sashi Brown's players. It was Hue Jackson, and how he used them. Kevin Hogan (yes Kevin Hogan) should have started game one. Isaiah Crowell should have had some zone-blocking in front of him. The offense should have kept running early in games (Hue never ran a balanced offense, even when the run was succeeding).
Two of his best receivers were tight ends Njoku and DeValve, but both were rarely on the field at the same time. Hue DID pick Kessler (Mary Kay is delusional "Taking one for the team" for cryin out loud), and Kizer:
Well, that was no DePodesta/analytics move! His college stats sucked! His inaccuracy was on display at Notre Dame! HUE wanted him, and was going to start him in game one come hell or high water.
Yeah, this was a "football guy" going with his "gut". And oh. My. God a second and third round pick for AJ McCarron--near the end of the season? HUE!!!
Mike Lucas seems to have spied in on one of Hue's therapy sessions. It's quite revealing.
And you people: "Well he didn't have any players" ZIETLER TRETTER NJOKU SHON COLEMAN GARRETT SHOBERT KINDRED PEPPERS MCCOURTY COLLINS OGUNJOBI COLEY BRANTLEY BODDY-CALHOUN ARE YOU FKNG BLIND OR JUST BRAINWASHED?
Oh yeah, Hue. Dorsey is "cleaning house" and getting rid of all those non-football players--when do you think he'll get around to getting rid of those non-football players huh?
(I didn't mention Kirksey, Duke, Bitonio, or Big Joe because Brown didn't bring them in).
As I had hoped, John Dorsey passed up AJ McCarron (whew!) and made sure to sign (in Tyrod Taylor) a proven winning veteran to make sure nobody can throw the draft pick into the fire prematurely.
He'll listen politely to Hue Jackson's input on who to draft at quarterback, but Hue has no credibility left.
Todd Haley, son of a Director of Scouting, former scout, and now in full control of this offense, will have a much stronger say in this, and if Hue is lucky, he will agree with Haley.
Pat McNanoman just keeps missing: Pat points out that drafting twice in the top five does not neccessarily lead to success (Bud Shaw's reply: NOT drafting twice in the top five yields similar results...dude is hysterical).
Here's what Pat missed: The most recent collective bargaining agreement and the rookie salary structure. All the teams Pat listed got run over by two Brinks trucks, and were forced to dump a bunch of players so they could afford the two top first round picks!
Prior to the rookie cap, nobody really wanted two high first round picks! They routinely held out, missing camp time, and gouged every last penny they could out of their new team.
So Pat's article is irrelevant. Assuming Dorsey doesn't trade down, the two top five picks (even the quarterback) won't put a major dent in Dorsey's budget. He can still extend the players he wants to keep, and even add some more--and thanks to Sashi and Paul, roll a bunch over into 2019.
Remember the word "context"? Somebody tell Pat McNanoman to look it up!
Speaking of Bud Shaw, he had a comment or two on Ryan Leaf (Darnold should try to avoid being drafted by the Browns) as well. I wish I could be as funny as Bud.
I have to talk about the best quarterback in this draft class again (sorry):
Hue's story about how he walked into Oklahoma's building with Baker Mayfield, and he says "hee-hee" (I assume it's Micheal Jackson's version), and everybody else, including the trainers and coaches, "hee-hee" back at him is impressive.
Everybody was happy to see him, you see? And instantly grinning, and screwing around, having fun, you see?
"Hee-hee" is probably an inside semi-joke they all have, but if you fill in the blanks, everybody is looking back at Mayfield with big smiles on their faces, you see?
That's a born leader. Everybody just loves this guy. He's planted flags, grabbed his crotch, and exhibited other classless, immature behaviors (including the rediculous fleeing from police arrest; Ross Tucker thinks the cop that caught him should play in the NFL btw), but I was his age once too, and I was worse (just never got caught).
Sure, he needs to cut that stuff out.
But all of the on-field stuff was aimed at the opposing team (and their fans), and (unfortunately) is partly why they love him.
With his coaches and teammates, he's all positive. No grabbing facemasks or yelling at people. No arguments on the sidelines.
I can't prove this, but I now have enough info to project a little:
When the chips are down, and everybody in the huddle is all grim and angry, I'm pretty sure Mayfield cracks a joke, and they laugh and relax.
Picture this: The team is losing. Mayfield looks at all the grim, tense, determined faces (with a similar expression). Then says "Hee-hee!" with a big smile. No speeches. Just that. And they all grin back and laugh. The tension is broken. They see that their field general isn't troubled, and they know they're going to win.
That's a leader of men, you see?
Now, theory of x, theory of y, there are lots of ways to lead. Leaders can be made, as well as born.
Tom Brady is a taskmaster. He demands perfect routes from all his receivers (he's worse than the position coaches). He is extremely effective.
Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning are/were a little different. More easy-going (although they still correct their receivers frequently in practice).
Mayfield is (I believe) Brady's polar opposite. If you screw up in practice, he might slap your helmet and call you a dickhead, but with a smile on his face. He might ask you, "can you count to twelve without taking your shoes off? If not, we'll have to get somebody who can, because you can't take your shoes off on a play, you know?" (Just imagining, but you get the idea).
I don't think Mayfield is a genius or anything, or as funny as Bud Shaw or anything, but I am convinced that he naturally inspires those around him to excel personally, and is fun to be around.
That MATTERS A LOT. Maybe even more than 70% accuracy (and 65% on deep passes), and perfect mechanics, and extending plays running around, and throwing accurately on the run, and durability, and a quick release.
Hue Jackson's comments have to be taken with a grain of salt. The very fact that he made them means he wants people to think he likes Mayfield (it's called "disinformation").
...Hmm...insideously diabolical trickeration and deceit: Everybody KNOWS everybody lies, so Hue might have Dorsey's green light to just be honest! If Mayfield is the real target, everybody except maybe Lord Insideous will ignore everything Jackson says anyway, or even assume it means the Browns DON'T like Mayfield!
Again, Haslam and the full crew at the Allen and Darnold Pro Days only means they need all the information they can get on them. It certainly does NOT disqualify Rosen or Mayfield, who are both mechanically advanced, and show plenty of tape.
The media (including Mel Kiper) leap to conclusions based on false premises:
1: The full contingents at the Allen and Darnold Pro Days vs the apparent lack of interest in Rosen and Mayfield.
2: The notion that Hue Jackson will decide.
3: The preconception that only big/tall quarterbacks can succeed in the AFC North.
4: The assumption that Todd Haley wants another Big Ben (instead of Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees)...simply because he inheritted Big Ben.
For that matter, ignoring what Hue Jackson said about arm talent, accuracy, and "face of franchise ability", and expecting him to dismiss every quarterback under 6'2" who HAS all the rest, when Cody Kessler was HUE's pick (he's shorter than Mayfield btw).
...okay I heard that! Bullcrap! HUE said "you'll have to trust me on this one" (took ownership/staked his reputation on) that pick, and Mary Kay Cabbott was utterly insane to suggest that he was "taking one for the team" (ie trying to cover Sashi's butt for this THIRD ROUND pick in advance). But her insane assertion was repeated, and came to be accepted as fact (Goerbels eat your heart out!)
NO. HUE JACKSON picked Cody Kessler, and owned up to it!!! The rest is bullcrap. Mary Kay might as well be Hue's PR rep wtf is up with her ohmmm...ohmmmm...
Anyway Kessler was exceptionally accurate (and a pretty boy) but didn't work out. For those of us who don't take MKC too seriously, we figure he could be in Mayfield's corner now.
Mayfield has a MUCH stronger arm, is even purtier, is a lot more athletic, played at a okay nevermind you get it. The "6'2" cutoff point" is largely fictional:
Hue mentioned that around fourth on his list, and has said repeatedly that this is a general guideline/there are exceptions, but everybody ignored that part (especially MKC).
I have no idea what Dorsey will do here. Here's my Blog: you can go back and see how wrong I've been (like 75% of the time) trying to predict what given GMs would do in drafts.
I do think Mayfield IS in play with Allen and Darnold, and Rosen is out (his concussions, immobility, personality).
My own opinion of Mayfield doesn't matter. Trying to predict Dorsey/Haley's favorite, I have to declare a three-way tie.
Interesting, no? Sorry to redundate again, but the notion that the Browns Brain Crust might deem three of these quarterbacks as roughly equal is NOT unthinkable.
In which case, the first overall pick is in play (but only for the Jets at 3, or the Giants at 2). This would be especially tasty if Mayfield is their slight favorite, since he's projected as the fourth quarterback drafted.
Me? I don't screw around. I take Mayfield first overallđź–• and see what happens after that.
Somebody probably gives up most of two drafts to nab Allen or Darnold second (if the Giants don't), and at fourth overall Barkley, Chubb, and Fitzparick are all still there...and everybody wants that fourth pick.
Me? Tough call. I think I'd take Barkley over Chubb or Fitzpatrick, but it's close. Here I consider that Ohio State cornerback...could I trade down and still make sure to get at least him? Naturally, the "haul" would have to be huge...
Once you're past Quarterback, the rules change. Now, you can "gamble" a little, you see? But if you can make sure that the least you'll get is THE best cornerback in the draft, if the "haul" is big enough, then you do it.
I can already hear you caterwalling about who they could have had (if the best cornerback in the class is what you had to "settle for"), but you'll feel better with a stud running back, future left tackle, massive possession receiver etc etc etc, and (it will take you awhile), but come this time in 2019, two first round picks again...
You guys need to get past the instant gratification stuff okay? John Dorsey wants to build a dynasty. And you do that with draft picks, and over time.
I'll show you how Lord Insideous has done this, despite annually drafting in the bottom fourth of each round as he kept winning, in a later post.
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