Now some of the ex-players on NFL Radio are echoing eachother bashing the Browns draft.
They don't generally have a problem with Shorty Mayfield, except that old "AFC Prototype" stuff.
Is Aaron Rodgers a Green Bay prototype? You'd pick an inferior quarterback with your fingers crossed because he's bigger?
Listen to what other GMs have said about Mayfield. It's mostly mental and psychological. The best quarterbacks all have it right in their heads.
Brees, Rodgers, Big Ben, Brady, Payton Manning. Before that it was Montana.
Would you turn down Joe Montana because he was a little guy (with a popgun arm)? Why not? He's not an "AFC North" quarterback!
And they haven't thought it through: Mayfield can operate in the pocket just fine. He likes the pocket! Haley will of course make some adjustments to help him hit the ground running (and to help Tyrod too), but everybody is going overboard over chickenshit.
It's the number four thing, and Ward over Chubb.
Ross Tucker and Brady Quinn each said "can you argue that Ward is a better athlete than Chubb? Of course not." WRONG! That is a preposterous statement, and just because you say it to eachother doesn't make it true.
Chubb is exceptional for his size, but so is Ward. If we're grading on that curve, it's a close contest, but 4.34 at 195 lbs? Ward has the edge. If we just go by the numbers, Ward outclasses Chubb (and Myles Garrett and Jamie Collins for that matter).
Brady and Ross Tucker both value the scary passrusher over the shut-down corner every time, and they're right. Brady hates that guy because he got messed up by them a lot, and Ross because they made his outside teammates look bad.
But Williams wanted Ward, and it's his defense. He explains why here.
Brady did point out that all three of Chubb's defensive line-mates were drafted in the top four rounds. He suspects that he didn't get double-teamed or chipped as much as some other guys (like Bosa). Very interesting!
We can't take that too far: Bradley Chubb is a beast. But he might not be quite as good as, say, Myles Garrett.
Brady still didn't like the Ward pick. But when he said that if Dorsey really wanted Ward over Chubb, he could have traded down and still got him.
That's assuming facts not in evidence. Maybe not at twelve, and probably not below that. But as Peter King reports, nobody offered much for the fourth overall pick. None of the teams from 5 to 12 had much incentive to even make an offer.
Elway actually had a trade-down on the table, but wanted Chubb first. He never considered trading up for Chubb, though.
And this Callaway stuff it was a FOURTH ROUND PICK for cryin out loud! He's a top twenty talent! Did you all flunk math or something good grief! Pick-pick-pick crap how many fourth round picks crap out for cryin out loud!? I sure wish I could get you in a weekly poker game!
Ross Tucker was worse than Quinn, calling Mayfield, Ward, and Austin Corbett all "misses".
Nevermind the first two, but Ross was an offensive lineman. He doesn't think Corbett is going to be a good left tackle. He likes the player, but doesn't think he'll make any impact at all as a rookie.
This still troubles me, too, and this one probably had little to do with Todd Haley.
But the jury is still out here. As I've posted, a lot of smart people really liked this pick, and I'm pretty sure that Dorsey thinks that either Corbett or Bitonio can play left tackle, or at least was determined to max out the competition for that position, along with upgrading depth.
That left tackle competition, by the way, does include Roderick Johnson, who got hurt but didn't die.
...and I'm sorry but screw this "immediate impact" crap too! You have FIVE starting offensive linemen, and they get injured. If Austin Corbett is better than Drango, this is a good pick.
You'll see, because in 2018, one of the starters is likely to get injured, okay? And 3-4 years from now, somebody else will leave, okay? So it's okay to draft a good offensive lineman in the second round, even if he doesn't start right away!
Hue Jackson has clarified his stance on Tyrod Taylor being the starting quarterback:
Since english is my first language, I will translate his original statement:
"Tyrod Taylor is our starting quarterback". I shouldn't need to do this -sigh-. Look at the third word. "Is". Can you find "no matter what", "for the whole season", or anything beyond "is" in this sentence?
Now, Hue has said "Right now", and "I'll never stop a quarterback from being all he can be".
It will take awhile for everybody else to sort these statements out, since Hue was speaking english again, but I can tell you that "Right now" means "right now". Can you find "for the whole season" in there anywhere?
If Baker Mayfield is better than Tyrod, he will start.
This is not Kizer or Kessler here. What happened in the past has nothing to do with this four year starter.
I do hope Tyrod keeps Baker on the bench, and that means he "wins" if it's even close in preseason (preseason isn't the same, and Taylor has done well in real games).
But Baker Mayfield learns (and thinks) fast. He will overtake Tyrod. At some point, he'll get on the field in 2018...
And those of you who can't read english will say "So much for keeping Mayfield on the bench".
Monday, April 30, 2018
Sunday, April 29, 2018
John Dorsey Aiming at AFC North Title in 2018. Stop Laughing.
Some of the calls from Browns fans to NFL Radio are kind of emarrassing. One outraged ass-hat can't stand that they didn't draft Saquon Barkley first overall. He declared, definitively, that Mayfield would have been there at four.
And of course at four it should have been Chubb instead of Ward (I do hear him on that, but he needs to talk to Gregg Williams about that...and my money's on Williams duh.)
Anyway, do you have to bash every single pick?
I guess so. But Mel Kiper gives them a B-minus.
Grading a draft as soon as it's over is rediculous, but Mel was pretty fair.
He skipped Genard Avery, however. I found an NFL comparison for this guy: James Harrison.
He's not an ideal fit for Gregg Williams' 4-3, but Gregg will find ways to use him, because he rushes the passer a lot like the younger Harrison did. (Hopefully he's not a cheap shot artist though).
Harrison was freakishly strong for his size too. Ross Tucker said the first time he saw Harrison, he and his teammates were watching game tapes to prep for a game.
Ross saw this guy "rag-doll" a 300 lb. guard "like he wasn't there". That was James Harrison. "And we were on notice!!"
Avery is as strong or stronger, and is faster. Harrison was about the same height, too. Avery plays the same way--he's nasty and attacks.
The scouting reports look at his height and project Avery inside, but that's a huge assumption.
John Dorsey has found Gregg Williams two more defensive ends who are complete players with passrush upsides.
But Williams doesn't care about labels. He'll go ahead and blitze Avery from different spots on passing downs. Nobody says all four guys have to put their hands in the dirt, or that they can't be a linebacker and three defensive ends.
Avery is a sneaky way to address edge-depth (and give Gregg Williams another monkey wrench). I think this guy might make a big and immediate impact in 2018, and also develop into a really good middle linebacker. Maybe even a strong side linebacker (tough to imagine having him try to cover 6'6" tight ends though).
If you liked another quarterback more than Mayfield, we'll see who was right in 3 years.
If you think Dorsey should have drafted Barkley first overall and crossed his fingers at fourth, you've got to be kidding.
I know I know, I myself thought he might do that, because I thought he might just like three quarterbacks about the same.
But they said what I've been saying for two weeks, before the pick: Mayfield was the best quarterback in this class by far.
You can argue that somebody else has more potential or upside, but you can't (intelligently) deny that Mayfield is right now better than all the other guys (except maybe Rose...nah he was better than him too).
And Dorsey was certainly not the only GM who knew this: He had to make sure he got Mayfield.
Next, Saquon is a running back (okay swiss army knife weapon). He is not as important as a quarterback. Combine that with the fact that the Browns already had Hyde and Duke, and (oh yeah) one of the deepest running back classes in recent memory, and...well?
Still hammering the Chubb vs Ward thing I see. That has to irritate Gregg Williams, who without a doubt asked Dorsey to favor the shut-down cornerback.
All my instincts agree with the Bradley Chubb crowd (check out my pre-draft posts). But I've shut up now, and suggest you do the same.
I might have figured some of this out:
1: Gregg has never had a great defensive end passrushing duo. In fact, Garrett/Ogbah might be the best he's ever had. He's learned to generate pressure from the inside, and with "little fast guy" blitzes.
2: There were already talented young veterans on the roster with nice upside as passrushers (note that all are good vs the run).
3: Dorsey felt he could add to this in the draft, and that, by the time the dust settled on the defensive end cage-match, he'd have better depth behind Garrett and Ogbah.
4: That's in case of injury. Otherwise, Gregg already has quality defensive ends he can rotate in to spell Garrett and Ogbah situationally.
5: Williams NEEDS to run tight man coverage more than he needs to get faster heat on quarterbacks. He had to run soft coverages in 2017, and quarterbacks sliced and diced him underneath.
They usually got rid of the ball quickly.
Dorsey had already upgraded cornerback, and Ward is a true shut-down guy with world-class speed.
A Press corner's main job is to deny one receiver to that quarterback for (ideally) five seconds or longer, and second to nail him where he catches it.
With Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield, Marty Schottenheimer's Browns had two of these shut-down guys, and Clay Matthews got him 17.5 sacks.
There's more to it, of course. These corners set up and use leverage to block in-cuts (instantly taking the quick-hitting, easily thrown routes off the table), and...okay too deep for now, but these guys don't grow on trees.
As it is, with all the new cornerbacks Dorsey has brought in, I don't know yet if any of them can do this.
Joe Haden no longer could, and wouldn't renegotiate. That's why he's gone (and Gordon will eat his lunch). McCourty had a great season, but he wasn't a shut-down guy either.
If you only have one shut-down corner, it still helps a ton. The deep safety can kind of ignore that receiver, giving him a better chance of messing up the first check-down...
Nevermind, but the shutdown corner eliminates the top receiver as a "hot read" on blitzes, and makes it easier for the defense to anticipate who the hot read is and blow him up (I generalize...you don't want more of this right now).
But I do think I understand why GREGG WILLIAMS preferred Ward to Chubb. But then there's
6: Antonio Brown.
7: Ward's speed. Bradley Chubb can't run down wide receivers or running backs, and prevent long touchdowns. Ward can.
There are probably more reasons I haven't thought of yet. Go ask Gregg Williams.
As the guys on NFL Radio (and Kiper) are now finally starting to say, Gordon, Njoku, Landry, Johnson and Hyde (they do sometimes mention Corey Coleman btw) was scary pre-draft.
Callaway is similar to Coleman, except Coleman never got popped for drugs or credit card fraud or domestic abuse err...but he can/will be a great returner, immediately.
But anyway, Chubb the running back is now part of this, and I don't think my peeps appreciate this guy enough. (It's okay they went Barkley-blind. It was hard not to).
He's 5'11", 227 and clocked a 4.52 40, but also jumped 38.5 inches. He benched 29 reps, 7.09 3-cone, 4.25 shuttle.
In any draft class not including Barkley, these are solid numbers for a running back his size; exceeding Pat Kirwan's "70" threshold for explosiveness (I think. Can't remember the last part of his formula, but his bench and vertical has him over 67.5 already).
Anyway, he more or less came in second overall compared to Barkley.
Chubb is not like Barkley, however. He is a vertical, between the tackles power runner. I believe the Jamal Lewis comparison is on the money. The Browns haven't had anybody like him since...well since they had Jamal Lewis himself!
Chubb averaged a paltry 6 YPC in 2017, and only caught four passes. That's because he had to split time with Sony Michel, who caught all the passes (he's kinda like Duke Johnson).
Down the road, Chubb can probably become a good receiver out of the backfield, but only that (not out of the slot).
He is fast enough to get outside, so he's not one-dimensional.
Nick Chubb isn't in Barkley's time zone as a playmaker, but can/does make big plays. He is more dependable. He will smash, batter, and fall forward for 2.5 yards every time, and very rarely get caught in the backfield.
Nick Chubb is a STUD. He will immediately challenge Carlos Hyde for playing time (I feel sorry for McNanoman: He thinks Nick might relegate Hyde to a short-yardage role. Chubb owns that role out of the gate. Pat...nevermind)
New can of worms: Carlos Hyde is a really good running back, but he prospered in Kyle Shanahan's zone-blocking scheme.
Todd Haley is running the offense now (thank god).
I'd expect Todd to lean toward power/man (like Hue), but mix in a lot more zone-blocking than Hue ever did...despite having Crowell...dammit)
Chubb can do both, although he's best at power/man.
Haley has not only Njoku, but also Rodney DeValvefield at tight end (plus now Darren Fells: a real in-line blocker).
He'll be tempted to use two tight ends a lot. Zone-runs would help this work a lot better...sorry too deep again...
Plus he can't bench Landry...
Dammit that still irks me! I like Landry a lot, but not for THIS team! And Dorsey made him the fifth-richest WR in the NFL!
Ah well...I assume Todd Haley had a voice in this, like Williams had a voice in Ward over Chubb, so I'll defer to him. And try to figure out what he's up to.
The first clues are obvious: Landry is a "loss-leader" intended to attract more free agents, and he's as good as a tight end as a quarterback's security blanket.
It's not as "systematic" as a lot of fans think it is:
A quarterback is supposed to check down 1-2-3-4, but more often than not is in deep shit and scrambling before he gets past 2, and he's looking for anybody, see?
A Jarvis Landry comes in mighty handy here, since every quarterback he's ever had looks for him first (and they know where to look for him).
I swear, I don't know how Jarvis does it. He's small, and far from a great athlete. But somehow, he's always open!
I would not have traded for or extended Landry (for that much money anyway), but I do grok their logic. In 3 years, I'll have a chance to do yet another "I was right and you were wrong" dance, and hope I can't.
As-is, Landry's presence dictates a 3-WR base offense, because if you think Landry can be as effective outside, you are dead wrong.
3-wide in turn dictates one running back, and one tight end.
They just paid a possession slot guy a fortune to minimize two tight end, two-back, and--oknevermind:
In Haley I trust. In Williams I trust. In Jackson I don't trust, but that's irrelevant now (whew!)
I went kinda nuts in my last post, all but predicting an AFC North Title in 2018. I need to moderate that now:
The Steelers remain a great team.
So they might manage to win the title again, since they should sweep the Ravens and Bengals, and the referees can be trusted to award them a win over the Browns.
But Dorsey is clearly going for all the marbles right now (see last post), and I have to think he knows what he's doing here.
Look: It goes without saying that he has a "year of grace", and won't get fired after one year. But he's been aggressive as hell with veteran free agents, he drafted a Pro-ready (you'll just have to trust me on this one) quarterback, signed a very solid veteran dual-threat playoff quarterback, and bypassed "upside" for immediate impact throughout the rest of the draft.
And look (again): The 2018 Browns are the most talented team in the AFC North.
Don't fall for the hype! Laveon Bell is awesome so stipulated. So is Antonio Brown! AND that Smith-Shuster guy! AND Big Ben...kinda.
But the Browns offensive line, tight ends, and defense are better. In 2017, the Browns had them in both games (despite Hue Jackson's atrocious playcalling and his boy Kizer at QB).
The Cleveland Browns WERE the most talented team in the AFC North in 2017. They have two real quarterbacks now, and have also stretched their talent-lead.
In game one, we'll see Denzel Ward on Antonio Brown. We'll see Tyrod Taylor, Josh Gordon oknevermind...just keep laughing.
You know those eye-rolls and snorts are what shrinks call a "Pavlovian response", right? Then there's "Stockholm Syndrome"---
Todd Haley is on our side now. Is his replacement as good as he was? Think he can tip Gregg Williams off to a thing or two?
Let's compare Kizer to Taylor (or Mayfield, for that matter).
It's a whole new ballgame in 2018. 0-16 is irrelevant because Hue Jackson can't engineer defeats anymore.
Snicker-snort I'm with Dorsey: 0-16 is irrelevant. Talent and coaching are relevant. The 2018 Browns can win the AFC North.
They're the most talented team, and they have quarterbackS now.
Stand by.
And of course at four it should have been Chubb instead of Ward (I do hear him on that, but he needs to talk to Gregg Williams about that...and my money's on Williams duh.)
Anyway, do you have to bash every single pick?
I guess so. But Mel Kiper gives them a B-minus.
Grading a draft as soon as it's over is rediculous, but Mel was pretty fair.
He skipped Genard Avery, however. I found an NFL comparison for this guy: James Harrison.
He's not an ideal fit for Gregg Williams' 4-3, but Gregg will find ways to use him, because he rushes the passer a lot like the younger Harrison did. (Hopefully he's not a cheap shot artist though).
Harrison was freakishly strong for his size too. Ross Tucker said the first time he saw Harrison, he and his teammates were watching game tapes to prep for a game.
Ross saw this guy "rag-doll" a 300 lb. guard "like he wasn't there". That was James Harrison. "And we were on notice!!"
Avery is as strong or stronger, and is faster. Harrison was about the same height, too. Avery plays the same way--he's nasty and attacks.
The scouting reports look at his height and project Avery inside, but that's a huge assumption.
John Dorsey has found Gregg Williams two more defensive ends who are complete players with passrush upsides.
But Williams doesn't care about labels. He'll go ahead and blitze Avery from different spots on passing downs. Nobody says all four guys have to put their hands in the dirt, or that they can't be a linebacker and three defensive ends.
Avery is a sneaky way to address edge-depth (and give Gregg Williams another monkey wrench). I think this guy might make a big and immediate impact in 2018, and also develop into a really good middle linebacker. Maybe even a strong side linebacker (tough to imagine having him try to cover 6'6" tight ends though).
If you liked another quarterback more than Mayfield, we'll see who was right in 3 years.
If you think Dorsey should have drafted Barkley first overall and crossed his fingers at fourth, you've got to be kidding.
I know I know, I myself thought he might do that, because I thought he might just like three quarterbacks about the same.
But they said what I've been saying for two weeks, before the pick: Mayfield was the best quarterback in this class by far.
You can argue that somebody else has more potential or upside, but you can't (intelligently) deny that Mayfield is right now better than all the other guys (except maybe Rose...nah he was better than him too).
And Dorsey was certainly not the only GM who knew this: He had to make sure he got Mayfield.
Next, Saquon is a running back (okay swiss army knife weapon). He is not as important as a quarterback. Combine that with the fact that the Browns already had Hyde and Duke, and (oh yeah) one of the deepest running back classes in recent memory, and...well?
Still hammering the Chubb vs Ward thing I see. That has to irritate Gregg Williams, who without a doubt asked Dorsey to favor the shut-down cornerback.
All my instincts agree with the Bradley Chubb crowd (check out my pre-draft posts). But I've shut up now, and suggest you do the same.
I might have figured some of this out:
1: Gregg has never had a great defensive end passrushing duo. In fact, Garrett/Ogbah might be the best he's ever had. He's learned to generate pressure from the inside, and with "little fast guy" blitzes.
2: There were already talented young veterans on the roster with nice upside as passrushers (note that all are good vs the run).
3: Dorsey felt he could add to this in the draft, and that, by the time the dust settled on the defensive end cage-match, he'd have better depth behind Garrett and Ogbah.
4: That's in case of injury. Otherwise, Gregg already has quality defensive ends he can rotate in to spell Garrett and Ogbah situationally.
5: Williams NEEDS to run tight man coverage more than he needs to get faster heat on quarterbacks. He had to run soft coverages in 2017, and quarterbacks sliced and diced him underneath.
They usually got rid of the ball quickly.
Dorsey had already upgraded cornerback, and Ward is a true shut-down guy with world-class speed.
A Press corner's main job is to deny one receiver to that quarterback for (ideally) five seconds or longer, and second to nail him where he catches it.
With Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield, Marty Schottenheimer's Browns had two of these shut-down guys, and Clay Matthews got him 17.5 sacks.
There's more to it, of course. These corners set up and use leverage to block in-cuts (instantly taking the quick-hitting, easily thrown routes off the table), and...okay too deep for now, but these guys don't grow on trees.
As it is, with all the new cornerbacks Dorsey has brought in, I don't know yet if any of them can do this.
Joe Haden no longer could, and wouldn't renegotiate. That's why he's gone (and Gordon will eat his lunch). McCourty had a great season, but he wasn't a shut-down guy either.
If you only have one shut-down corner, it still helps a ton. The deep safety can kind of ignore that receiver, giving him a better chance of messing up the first check-down...
Nevermind, but the shutdown corner eliminates the top receiver as a "hot read" on blitzes, and makes it easier for the defense to anticipate who the hot read is and blow him up (I generalize...you don't want more of this right now).
But I do think I understand why GREGG WILLIAMS preferred Ward to Chubb. But then there's
6: Antonio Brown.
7: Ward's speed. Bradley Chubb can't run down wide receivers or running backs, and prevent long touchdowns. Ward can.
There are probably more reasons I haven't thought of yet. Go ask Gregg Williams.
As the guys on NFL Radio (and Kiper) are now finally starting to say, Gordon, Njoku, Landry, Johnson and Hyde (they do sometimes mention Corey Coleman btw) was scary pre-draft.
Callaway is similar to Coleman, except Coleman never got popped for drugs or credit card fraud or domestic abuse err...but he can/will be a great returner, immediately.
But anyway, Chubb the running back is now part of this, and I don't think my peeps appreciate this guy enough. (It's okay they went Barkley-blind. It was hard not to).
- Nick Chubb was severely injured in 2015. Although he had a good season in 2017, he was not back to 100% yet.
He's 5'11", 227 and clocked a 4.52 40, but also jumped 38.5 inches. He benched 29 reps, 7.09 3-cone, 4.25 shuttle.
In any draft class not including Barkley, these are solid numbers for a running back his size; exceeding Pat Kirwan's "70" threshold for explosiveness (I think. Can't remember the last part of his formula, but his bench and vertical has him over 67.5 already).
Anyway, he more or less came in second overall compared to Barkley.
Chubb is not like Barkley, however. He is a vertical, between the tackles power runner. I believe the Jamal Lewis comparison is on the money. The Browns haven't had anybody like him since...well since they had Jamal Lewis himself!
Chubb averaged a paltry 6 YPC in 2017, and only caught four passes. That's because he had to split time with Sony Michel, who caught all the passes (he's kinda like Duke Johnson).
Down the road, Chubb can probably become a good receiver out of the backfield, but only that (not out of the slot).
He is fast enough to get outside, so he's not one-dimensional.
Nick Chubb isn't in Barkley's time zone as a playmaker, but can/does make big plays. He is more dependable. He will smash, batter, and fall forward for 2.5 yards every time, and very rarely get caught in the backfield.
Nick Chubb is a STUD. He will immediately challenge Carlos Hyde for playing time (I feel sorry for McNanoman: He thinks Nick might relegate Hyde to a short-yardage role. Chubb owns that role out of the gate. Pat...nevermind)
New can of worms: Carlos Hyde is a really good running back, but he prospered in Kyle Shanahan's zone-blocking scheme.
Todd Haley is running the offense now (thank god).
I'd expect Todd to lean toward power/man (like Hue), but mix in a lot more zone-blocking than Hue ever did...despite having Crowell...dammit)
Chubb can do both, although he's best at power/man.
Haley has not only Njoku, but also Rodney DeValvefield at tight end (plus now Darren Fells: a real in-line blocker).
He'll be tempted to use two tight ends a lot. Zone-runs would help this work a lot better...sorry too deep again...
Plus he can't bench Landry...
Dammit that still irks me! I like Landry a lot, but not for THIS team! And Dorsey made him the fifth-richest WR in the NFL!
Ah well...I assume Todd Haley had a voice in this, like Williams had a voice in Ward over Chubb, so I'll defer to him. And try to figure out what he's up to.
The first clues are obvious: Landry is a "loss-leader" intended to attract more free agents, and he's as good as a tight end as a quarterback's security blanket.
It's not as "systematic" as a lot of fans think it is:
A quarterback is supposed to check down 1-2-3-4, but more often than not is in deep shit and scrambling before he gets past 2, and he's looking for anybody, see?
A Jarvis Landry comes in mighty handy here, since every quarterback he's ever had looks for him first (and they know where to look for him).
I swear, I don't know how Jarvis does it. He's small, and far from a great athlete. But somehow, he's always open!
I would not have traded for or extended Landry (for that much money anyway), but I do grok their logic. In 3 years, I'll have a chance to do yet another "I was right and you were wrong" dance, and hope I can't.
As-is, Landry's presence dictates a 3-WR base offense, because if you think Landry can be as effective outside, you are dead wrong.
3-wide in turn dictates one running back, and one tight end.
They just paid a possession slot guy a fortune to minimize two tight end, two-back, and--oknevermind:
In Haley I trust. In Williams I trust. In Jackson I don't trust, but that's irrelevant now (whew!)
I went kinda nuts in my last post, all but predicting an AFC North Title in 2018. I need to moderate that now:
The Steelers remain a great team.
So they might manage to win the title again, since they should sweep the Ravens and Bengals, and the referees can be trusted to award them a win over the Browns.
But Dorsey is clearly going for all the marbles right now (see last post), and I have to think he knows what he's doing here.
Look: It goes without saying that he has a "year of grace", and won't get fired after one year. But he's been aggressive as hell with veteran free agents, he drafted a Pro-ready (you'll just have to trust me on this one) quarterback, signed a very solid veteran dual-threat playoff quarterback, and bypassed "upside" for immediate impact throughout the rest of the draft.
And look (again): The 2018 Browns are the most talented team in the AFC North.
Don't fall for the hype! Laveon Bell is awesome so stipulated. So is Antonio Brown! AND that Smith-Shuster guy! AND Big Ben...kinda.
But the Browns offensive line, tight ends, and defense are better. In 2017, the Browns had them in both games (despite Hue Jackson's atrocious playcalling and his boy Kizer at QB).
The Cleveland Browns WERE the most talented team in the AFC North in 2017. They have two real quarterbacks now, and have also stretched their talent-lead.
In game one, we'll see Denzel Ward on Antonio Brown. We'll see Tyrod Taylor, Josh Gordon oknevermind...just keep laughing.
You know those eye-rolls and snorts are what shrinks call a "Pavlovian response", right? Then there's "Stockholm Syndrome"---
Todd Haley is on our side now. Is his replacement as good as he was? Think he can tip Gregg Williams off to a thing or two?
Let's compare Kizer to Taylor (or Mayfield, for that matter).
It's a whole new ballgame in 2018. 0-16 is irrelevant because Hue Jackson can't engineer defeats anymore.
Snicker-snort I'm with Dorsey: 0-16 is irrelevant. Talent and coaching are relevant. The 2018 Browns can win the AFC North.
They're the most talented team, and they have quarterbackS now.
Stand by.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
You Are Wrong: Dorsey Pulled off a GOOD Draft.
Austin Corbett, according to my "panel of experts" on NFL Radio, is a really good player who can start immediately.
The debate over his "length" is about his 33" arms, which some feel would hurt him vs long/tall edge-rushers. But we're talking about less than one inch here, you know?
Corbett will be given a shot at left tackle, and get acid-tested by Myles Garrett. A minority of real experts think he has the tools to play that position.
They really will also give Rodney Colemanfield a chance to win that job, and I'm not dismissing Big Joe's opinion of Shon's ability to pull it off, like Pluto and everybody else does.
Since most of the real experts felt that Corbett was worth that pick, I can't knock Dorsey over it. I still think that two other guys who were drafted later will be good left tackles in three years, while Corbett might be starting at a different position, but Austin has a very high floor.
It was a safe pick.
Nick Chubb was a great pick! He's like Jamal Lewis (remember him?) a S T U D running back.
In college, he wasn't used as a receiver a whole lot, but he can refine those skills and become more versatile. He's mainly just this big ole hammer you pound a defense with til it caves in.
I liked Sony Michel, his partner, more, but I love the "thunder" almost as much. Great pick!
DE Chad Thomas is here as a rotational player, and partly a projection with upside.
He's a complete defensive end who can both rush the passer and stop the run. He can play inside situationally, and has uncharted upside as a passrusher.
Antonio Callaway...wow. Phil Savage, Pat Kirwan, and another former GM jumped all over this one.
Callaway has been in all sorts of different kinds of trouble off the field since his sophomore season, and capped it off with a diluted sample at the COMBINE. (He admitted that he'd smoked pot about six weeks prior).
This clown was radioactive, man! And Dorsey traded up to grab him. Did he really think somebody else (besides Belichi...hmmm...)
Phil Savage said that if anybody else was targeting Callaway, he wouldn't admit it haha.
Lost in the furor was the fact that this guy might well be THE best wide receiver in this draft.
And after hearing Dorsey out, and what the kid said, I'm sorry, but I get it. It was a FOURTH round calculated risk for a potentially elite, game-breaking receiver.
Savage said "they've already got Josh Gordan to deal with, and now they add this guy?"
Great idea!!! AA uses what they call "sponsors". These sponsors mentor newer members, helping them stay on the wagon. It's not just good for the new member, but for the sponsor as well. Josh is about due for his first "sponsoree".
Back to football: Antonio Callaway the player is a lethal weapon, as a returner as well as at wide receiver. He's about the same size as Corey Coleman. Some idiot said he was faster too--you people can't just stick to the facts once you start your stomp-fest, can you?
Coleman has disappointed and is on the ropes, but he's faster than Callaway and 99.5% of the rest of the NFL.
...and after his involvement in that garage-stomping, I have a hard time liking Callaway less.
...but I digress: I might have made this FOURTH ROUND pick. Moderate risk, stratospheric reward why tf not?
LB Genard Avery in the FIFTH ROUND!? GREAT pick! That is one badass real football player there!
Oh...he's only 6'1" nevermind...NOT.
Avery clocks under 4.6 at TWO HUNDRED FIFTY FIVE POUNDS DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
His 3-cones and short shuttles were impressive as hell too, and he's a former state powerlifting champion.
As an inside linebacker, Avery spent most of his time in opposing backfields, piling up sacks and tackles for losses.
Mike would be his first position on this team, but if you think he'll kick Joe Schobert to the curb take a pill.
This guy will probably elbow his way to second string there, but can also play on the strong side.
Count on Gregg Williams to find ways to have him going after quarterbacks in passing situations...from somewhere or other.
It goes without saying that he'll be a huge special teams asset. Excellent pick!!!
WR Damion Ratley is a projection, because he didn't do much in college (except average over 22 YPC). He was almost strictly a vertical threat, but he actually has nice agility, and scouts say he can run the whole tree and shake loose.
And he's tall. Sixth round calculated risk. He could get released, or stuck on the practice squad, or who knows?
Higgins showed some good stuff last season, and Todd Haley will look at the other guys with fresh, objective eyes. Hopefully he will reward performance...Hue Jackson did not.
CB Simeon Thomas has his own off-field red flags, but is 6'3". Stop asking if the Browns really need this player. He's 6'3". They need him. Matchups. That's Football 101.
...but he could get released or put on the squad too.
Overall, I like this draft, even though some of it still confuses me.
Now that Baker Mayfield is here, check out the final tally on the infamous Wentz trade:
Don't give up on Corey Coleman just yet. Shon is coming along nicely, and has a legit shot to start at left tackle. Kizer? I still think he'll be really good in a couple years but ok I'll give you that...nah! They traded him for Damarius Randall, remember?
Kessler ok you win. But Drango is a great utility guy, and Kindred is a STUD (ok weak in coverage, but blitzes and makes plays all over the place--really good player!)
Ricardo Louis does NOT suck! Jordan Payton...ok I'll concede Payton if you concede that Louis is servicable (with a competant quarterback).
I think that Jabrill Peppers will be really good in his second season, and expect great things from Denzel Ward too.
Chad Thomas and Antonio Callaway are still pending.
The reality is: The Browns now have Baker Mayfield, Tyrod Taylor, and all these players.
Wentz is terrific, but I expect Mayfield to be better, because he'll have lethal weapons to throw to, will have time to throw, and won't be trying to come from behind all the time DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
Sashi Brown already kinda won the Wentz trade. If you tell me that this one player is worth more than Peppers, Kindred, Coleman, Drango, Randall, and Ward, you need to jump off that damn HYPE-train, and start thinking with your brain.
Contrary to some fanciful conspiracy theories, tanking in 2017 to secure the first overall pick in 2018 was not part of DePodesta's plan. Hue Jackson accomplished this all by himself.
Hue was given a LOT of talent to work with, and...well?
But Paul did expect to draft in the top 8 with the Browns own top pick, and have the ammo to ok nevermind just trust me they did a great job rebuilding a TEAM, and the team John Dorsey inheritted is quarterback-freindly.
I say "Paul" because this was his plan--not Sashi Brown's. Sashi is a lawyer and a great front-man, but DePodesta did the heavy lifting.
Dorsey (to his credit) knows it, which is why DePodesta is still here.
Maybe Hue Palmer is still here because he somehow managed to "tank" with a very talented roster! Maybe this is Haslam's way of thanking him for nailing down the first overall pick!
Fortunately, it doesn't matter. Todd Haley runs the offense, and Gregg Williams runs the defense. Sashi Brown took the fall, so the pitchforks and torches are satisfied, Hue Jackson can't do more harm and is a charming fellow, and we good now.
This was at least a good draft (Mayfield Ward Chubb Avery Corbett at least) and Njoku Johnson Garrett Collins Peppers Kindred etc etc were already here.
John Dorsey isn't screwing around. Denzel Ward over Bradley Chubb said a LOT, if signing Tyrod Taylor didn't. Austin Corbett was another hint: Dorsey picked him over three left tackles with higher upsides because he's ready to rock right now.
John Dorsey is going for all the marbles in 2018. Ward is aimed at Antonio Brown, specificly.
I'm starting to get optimistic. They have a shot...
0-16 I hear you laughing at me, but:
It's Taylor/Mayfield (not Kizer) at quarterback.
The secondary has been significantly upgraded (and sped up).
Gregg Williams has two new passrushers, and can play press/man now.
Josh Gordon. Garrett, Collins, Peppers, Njoku, Chubb, Duke, Boddy-Calhoun...Schobert Avery etc etc etc this team is LOADED with talent!
Vs the Division rivals, it boiled down to Kizer interceptions at the end, after Jackson playcalls to keep the bad guys in the game. It had to do with coaching and quarterbacks.
The 2017 Browns should have swept this Division!
0-16 or no, look out Stoolers here we come!
The debate over his "length" is about his 33" arms, which some feel would hurt him vs long/tall edge-rushers. But we're talking about less than one inch here, you know?
Corbett will be given a shot at left tackle, and get acid-tested by Myles Garrett. A minority of real experts think he has the tools to play that position.
They really will also give Rodney Colemanfield a chance to win that job, and I'm not dismissing Big Joe's opinion of Shon's ability to pull it off, like Pluto and everybody else does.
Since most of the real experts felt that Corbett was worth that pick, I can't knock Dorsey over it. I still think that two other guys who were drafted later will be good left tackles in three years, while Corbett might be starting at a different position, but Austin has a very high floor.
It was a safe pick.
Nick Chubb was a great pick! He's like Jamal Lewis (remember him?) a S T U D running back.
In college, he wasn't used as a receiver a whole lot, but he can refine those skills and become more versatile. He's mainly just this big ole hammer you pound a defense with til it caves in.
I liked Sony Michel, his partner, more, but I love the "thunder" almost as much. Great pick!
DE Chad Thomas is here as a rotational player, and partly a projection with upside.
He's a complete defensive end who can both rush the passer and stop the run. He can play inside situationally, and has uncharted upside as a passrusher.
Antonio Callaway...wow. Phil Savage, Pat Kirwan, and another former GM jumped all over this one.
Callaway has been in all sorts of different kinds of trouble off the field since his sophomore season, and capped it off with a diluted sample at the COMBINE. (He admitted that he'd smoked pot about six weeks prior).
This clown was radioactive, man! And Dorsey traded up to grab him. Did he really think somebody else (besides Belichi...hmmm...)
Phil Savage said that if anybody else was targeting Callaway, he wouldn't admit it haha.
Lost in the furor was the fact that this guy might well be THE best wide receiver in this draft.
And after hearing Dorsey out, and what the kid said, I'm sorry, but I get it. It was a FOURTH round calculated risk for a potentially elite, game-breaking receiver.
Savage said "they've already got Josh Gordan to deal with, and now they add this guy?"
Great idea!!! AA uses what they call "sponsors". These sponsors mentor newer members, helping them stay on the wagon. It's not just good for the new member, but for the sponsor as well. Josh is about due for his first "sponsoree".
Back to football: Antonio Callaway the player is a lethal weapon, as a returner as well as at wide receiver. He's about the same size as Corey Coleman. Some idiot said he was faster too--you people can't just stick to the facts once you start your stomp-fest, can you?
Coleman has disappointed and is on the ropes, but he's faster than Callaway and 99.5% of the rest of the NFL.
...and after his involvement in that garage-stomping, I have a hard time liking Callaway less.
...but I digress: I might have made this FOURTH ROUND pick. Moderate risk, stratospheric reward why tf not?
LB Genard Avery in the FIFTH ROUND!? GREAT pick! That is one badass real football player there!
Oh...he's only 6'1" nevermind...NOT.
Avery clocks under 4.6 at TWO HUNDRED FIFTY FIVE POUNDS DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
His 3-cones and short shuttles were impressive as hell too, and he's a former state powerlifting champion.
As an inside linebacker, Avery spent most of his time in opposing backfields, piling up sacks and tackles for losses.
Mike would be his first position on this team, but if you think he'll kick Joe Schobert to the curb take a pill.
This guy will probably elbow his way to second string there, but can also play on the strong side.
Count on Gregg Williams to find ways to have him going after quarterbacks in passing situations...from somewhere or other.
It goes without saying that he'll be a huge special teams asset. Excellent pick!!!
WR Damion Ratley is a projection, because he didn't do much in college (except average over 22 YPC). He was almost strictly a vertical threat, but he actually has nice agility, and scouts say he can run the whole tree and shake loose.
And he's tall. Sixth round calculated risk. He could get released, or stuck on the practice squad, or who knows?
Higgins showed some good stuff last season, and Todd Haley will look at the other guys with fresh, objective eyes. Hopefully he will reward performance...Hue Jackson did not.
CB Simeon Thomas has his own off-field red flags, but is 6'3". Stop asking if the Browns really need this player. He's 6'3". They need him. Matchups. That's Football 101.
...but he could get released or put on the squad too.
Overall, I like this draft, even though some of it still confuses me.
Now that Baker Mayfield is here, check out the final tally on the infamous Wentz trade:
Don't give up on Corey Coleman just yet. Shon is coming along nicely, and has a legit shot to start at left tackle. Kizer? I still think he'll be really good in a couple years but ok I'll give you that...nah! They traded him for Damarius Randall, remember?
Kessler ok you win. But Drango is a great utility guy, and Kindred is a STUD (ok weak in coverage, but blitzes and makes plays all over the place--really good player!)
Ricardo Louis does NOT suck! Jordan Payton...ok I'll concede Payton if you concede that Louis is servicable (with a competant quarterback).
I think that Jabrill Peppers will be really good in his second season, and expect great things from Denzel Ward too.
Chad Thomas and Antonio Callaway are still pending.
The reality is: The Browns now have Baker Mayfield, Tyrod Taylor, and all these players.
Wentz is terrific, but I expect Mayfield to be better, because he'll have lethal weapons to throw to, will have time to throw, and won't be trying to come from behind all the time DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
Sashi Brown already kinda won the Wentz trade. If you tell me that this one player is worth more than Peppers, Kindred, Coleman, Drango, Randall, and Ward, you need to jump off that damn HYPE-train, and start thinking with your brain.
Contrary to some fanciful conspiracy theories, tanking in 2017 to secure the first overall pick in 2018 was not part of DePodesta's plan. Hue Jackson accomplished this all by himself.
Hue was given a LOT of talent to work with, and...well?
But Paul did expect to draft in the top 8 with the Browns own top pick, and have the ammo to ok nevermind just trust me they did a great job rebuilding a TEAM, and the team John Dorsey inheritted is quarterback-freindly.
I say "Paul" because this was his plan--not Sashi Brown's. Sashi is a lawyer and a great front-man, but DePodesta did the heavy lifting.
Dorsey (to his credit) knows it, which is why DePodesta is still here.
Maybe Hue Palmer is still here because he somehow managed to "tank" with a very talented roster! Maybe this is Haslam's way of thanking him for nailing down the first overall pick!
Fortunately, it doesn't matter. Todd Haley runs the offense, and Gregg Williams runs the defense. Sashi Brown took the fall, so the pitchforks and torches are satisfied, Hue Jackson can't do more harm and is a charming fellow, and we good now.
This was at least a good draft (Mayfield Ward Chubb Avery Corbett at least) and Njoku Johnson Garrett Collins Peppers Kindred etc etc were already here.
John Dorsey isn't screwing around. Denzel Ward over Bradley Chubb said a LOT, if signing Tyrod Taylor didn't. Austin Corbett was another hint: Dorsey picked him over three left tackles with higher upsides because he's ready to rock right now.
John Dorsey is going for all the marbles in 2018. Ward is aimed at Antonio Brown, specificly.
I'm starting to get optimistic. They have a shot...
0-16 I hear you laughing at me, but:
It's Haley (not Jackson) now at the offensive helm.
It's Taylor/Mayfield (not Kizer) at quarterback.
The secondary has been significantly upgraded (and sped up).
Gregg Williams has two new passrushers, and can play press/man now.
Josh Gordon. Garrett, Collins, Peppers, Njoku, Chubb, Duke, Boddy-Calhoun...Schobert Avery etc etc etc this team is LOADED with talent!
Vs the Division rivals, it boiled down to Kizer interceptions at the end, after Jackson playcalls to keep the bad guys in the game. It had to do with coaching and quarterbacks.
The 2017 Browns should have swept this Division!
0-16 or no, look out Stoolers here we come!
Friday, April 27, 2018
Day Two: How Did Dorsey Do? No I mean it! Cuz I Don't KNOW dammit
There's a lot of talent left entering Day Two.
I focused on the Browns actual (not hallucinatory) needs to list some of the guys Dorsey could target:
Running backs Darius Guice, Ronald Jones, and Nick Chubb.
Left Tackles Conner Williams, Chukwami Okorafora, and the one with the highest upside: Brian O'Neill.
Eric Reid's brother at safety.
Real defensive end Sam Hubbard, and edge-rusher Landry.
Wide receiver Courtland Sutton (they need slot guys like they need a hole in the head).
Terry Pluto likes Ronald Jones the best among running backs, but I'm not sure if I can take him that seriously anymore,
He didn't like the Mayfield pick...pointed out that he wasn't as fast as Russell Wilson...?
6'5/8" is not "barely six feet tall", and is two inches taller than Wilson.
And when exactly did 5'11" become "undersized" for a cornerback?
I figured out at least one reason for Denzel Ward over Bradley Chubb: Antonio Brown. I feel a little better now.
13 minutes:
Guice is a human pinball, but Chubb is a wrecking ball. I don't know much about Jones. Dorsey should nab one of them.
I personally hope he targets Ryan O'Niell.
Terry Pluto is nervous about Shon Coleman starting at left tackle this season, but it's unlikely that even the more experienced Okorafora or Williams aren't going to change that in 2018.
The top two picks are in. A utility offensive lineman😕 and Chubb.
Well at least Chubb I understand. He's really good! Chubb is a big powerful guy who shined at the combine. He split time with Sony Michel at Georgia as the "thunder" to Michel's lightening.
Good pick!
Austin Corbett atop the second round I can't fathom, unless Dorsey thinks he can actually play left tackle. Eman hypothesized Corbett at left guard and Bitonio at left tackle.
I dismissed that, but as I cast about for rationale here, I have to reconsider.
I admit that I'm as befuddled as everybody else by this pick. It looks really, really stupid, especially since he could have traded down.
After more research (thanks Pokorney) I now think Dorsey thinks everybody else is fulla beans and Corbett can play left tackle here.
His "floor" is very high if not. He's ready to start at RT or guard right now.
Look: Lord Insideous drafted a 6'21/2" left tackle in the first round, and said he would compete at left tackle. Nobody dares to bash him for that "crazy" pick, and we need to hold our fire on Dorsey on this one...for now.
At least this guy is taller...by the way what's this "lack of length" stuff? He's not quite 6'5"? Is that like the 5'11" is "undersized" for a cornerback thing? Stop the inanity!
Pick 60 is in...61 there goes DJ Chark. The Jagwires...looks like a dumb pick to me. They're eyeball deep in slot guys too.
The Browns can find OH! The Browns traded down to 67th (don't know what they got yet). But the Bucs got a cornerback of some sort.
That seques nicely into what I was saying before I so rudely interrupted myself:
Dorsey can find big tall possession receivers all the way through the bottom of this draft.
Dorsey (and Williams) seem not to regard "edge" depth with the same urgency as us unwashed masses do.
Chad Thomas, DE. He's a project who has flashed real scaryness, but only intermittently. He has all the physical tools and measurables.
Per Pat Kirwan, more than one coach has told him "if I see a few big plays on his tape, I can teach him to be that good all the time".
Calculated risk. This one, in the third round, I "get". He's not one dimensional, as he is solid vs the run (a real football player). His upside is very high, and his floor is above average.
Thomas seems like Carl Nassib to me, and that's good, since he'll be fighting Nassib for a roster spot.
I can't bash this pick...yet.
Just so you know, I would have drafted O'Neill, Collins, or Okorafora over whatshisname...after a trade-down...as would all of you, probably.
But Chubb is a stud, and Thomas had real value where he was drafted.
Per the organization itself, Thomas is a real football player, like Ogbah. He can be used inside as well as outside...Carl Nassib better get it together!!!
Dorsey got a sixth round pick out of this trade.
If the Browns would just fix the communication glitch between us, I'd advise John to trade up or into 2019 with those day 3 picks.
In summary, O believe that Austin Corbett is here to compete at LEFT TACKLE, Chubb was a pretty obvious pick for this team, and Chad Thomas is like Ogbah.
Grading drafts within 3 years (let alone immediately) is the height of conceit and idiocy, but for the hell of it:
I give Dorsey a "B" so far. Mayfield check. I woulda took the lethal defensive end over the shut-down corner myself, but defer to Gregg Williams and can't deny that Ward isn't a stud (zeroed in on A Brown).
I remain befuddled by the whatshisname pick atop the second round (instead of a trade-down), but Chubb was a winner, and Thomas in the third round was a good value with both a high floor and a very high cieling.
Don't go for the pitchforks or ropes, or light the torches just yet. Dorsey has been doing this for awhile, and we haven't.
I focused on the Browns actual (not hallucinatory) needs to list some of the guys Dorsey could target:
Running backs Darius Guice, Ronald Jones, and Nick Chubb.
Left Tackles Conner Williams, Chukwami Okorafora, and the one with the highest upside: Brian O'Neill.
Eric Reid's brother at safety.
Real defensive end Sam Hubbard, and edge-rusher Landry.
Wide receiver Courtland Sutton (they need slot guys like they need a hole in the head).
Terry Pluto likes Ronald Jones the best among running backs, but I'm not sure if I can take him that seriously anymore,
He didn't like the Mayfield pick...pointed out that he wasn't as fast as Russell Wilson...?
6'5/8" is not "barely six feet tall", and is two inches taller than Wilson.
And when exactly did 5'11" become "undersized" for a cornerback?
I figured out at least one reason for Denzel Ward over Bradley Chubb: Antonio Brown. I feel a little better now.
13 minutes:
Guice is a human pinball, but Chubb is a wrecking ball. I don't know much about Jones. Dorsey should nab one of them.
I personally hope he targets Ryan O'Niell.
Terry Pluto is nervous about Shon Coleman starting at left tackle this season, but it's unlikely that even the more experienced Okorafora or Williams aren't going to change that in 2018.
The top two picks are in. A utility offensive lineman😕 and Chubb.
Well at least Chubb I understand. He's really good! Chubb is a big powerful guy who shined at the combine. He split time with Sony Michel at Georgia as the "thunder" to Michel's lightening.
Good pick!
Austin Corbett atop the second round I can't fathom, unless Dorsey thinks he can actually play left tackle. Eman hypothesized Corbett at left guard and Bitonio at left tackle.
I dismissed that, but as I cast about for rationale here, I have to reconsider.
I admit that I'm as befuddled as everybody else by this pick. It looks really, really stupid, especially since he could have traded down.
After more research (thanks Pokorney) I now think Dorsey thinks everybody else is fulla beans and Corbett can play left tackle here.
His "floor" is very high if not. He's ready to start at RT or guard right now.
Look: Lord Insideous drafted a 6'21/2" left tackle in the first round, and said he would compete at left tackle. Nobody dares to bash him for that "crazy" pick, and we need to hold our fire on Dorsey on this one...for now.
At least this guy is taller...by the way what's this "lack of length" stuff? He's not quite 6'5"? Is that like the 5'11" is "undersized" for a cornerback thing? Stop the inanity!
Pick 60 is in...61 there goes DJ Chark. The Jagwires...looks like a dumb pick to me. They're eyeball deep in slot guys too.
The Browns can find OH! The Browns traded down to 67th (don't know what they got yet). But the Bucs got a cornerback of some sort.
That seques nicely into what I was saying before I so rudely interrupted myself:
Dorsey can find big tall possession receivers all the way through the bottom of this draft.
Dorsey (and Williams) seem not to regard "edge" depth with the same urgency as us unwashed masses do.
Chad Thomas, DE. He's a project who has flashed real scaryness, but only intermittently. He has all the physical tools and measurables.
Per Pat Kirwan, more than one coach has told him "if I see a few big plays on his tape, I can teach him to be that good all the time".
Calculated risk. This one, in the third round, I "get". He's not one dimensional, as he is solid vs the run (a real football player). His upside is very high, and his floor is above average.
Thomas seems like Carl Nassib to me, and that's good, since he'll be fighting Nassib for a roster spot.
I can't bash this pick...yet.
Just so you know, I would have drafted O'Neill, Collins, or Okorafora over whatshisname...after a trade-down...as would all of you, probably.
But Chubb is a stud, and Thomas had real value where he was drafted.
Per the organization itself, Thomas is a real football player, like Ogbah. He can be used inside as well as outside...Carl Nassib better get it together!!!
Dorsey got a sixth round pick out of this trade.
If the Browns would just fix the communication glitch between us, I'd advise John to trade up or into 2019 with those day 3 picks.
In summary, O believe that Austin Corbett is here to compete at LEFT TACKLE, Chubb was a pretty obvious pick for this team, and Chad Thomas is like Ogbah.
Grading drafts within 3 years (let alone immediately) is the height of conceit and idiocy, but for the hell of it:
I give Dorsey a "B" so far. Mayfield check. I woulda took the lethal defensive end over the shut-down corner myself, but defer to Gregg Williams and can't deny that Ward isn't a stud (zeroed in on A Brown).
I remain befuddled by the whatshisname pick atop the second round (instead of a trade-down), but Chubb was a winner, and Thomas in the third round was a good value with both a high floor and a very high cieling.
Don't go for the pitchforks or ropes, or light the torches just yet. Dorsey has been doing this for awhile, and we haven't.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Cleveland Browns First Round: So Far, So Tolerable
Scene: Kurt Warner is asking Brian Billick to compare the top four quarterbacks in this draft to current or former NFL quarterbacks:
When Billick got to Baker Mayfield, he told Kurt Warner he was stumped. Kurt Warner couldn't come up with anybody who compared to Baker Mayfield either. Guess he couldn't find a mirror.
Funniest thing I've seen for awhile. Maybe Aaron Rodgers should have sat right in front of Billick instead. Or Drew Brees.
Billick also repeated that Favre had a much stronger arm than Mayfield. I'm sick of this. Nobody has a much stronger arm than Mayfield! That kid slings it! Favre had a stronger arm. Leave it there.
43 minutes from the draft, Mayock ranks Sam Darnold first, Mayfield fourth. Most of the other guys are split between Darnold and Mayfield.
Mayfield is definitely better, but Darnold does have great upside, as he is a terrific improviser when things break down, and excels at "off-platform" throws.
Accuracy and anticipation. But his record vs top teams...well he's talented as hell anyway...
Mayock mocks Darnold first overall to the Browns and has them trade down to 12 and 23 and draft Denzel Ward and Kolton Miller. I'll buy that for a dollar...except for the Darnold part.
It's also possible that Fitzpatrick could make it to 12 (that would be better). Miller is a better LEFT tackle prospect than Mayock's top tackle (you see left and right tackles are different).
T-minus 7 minutes...
The picks are in Mayfield check. But Denzel Ward over Bradley Chubb (or a trade-down) stunned me.
No knock on Ward, who is the consensus-best cornerback in this draft, but hasn't the secondary already been upgraded a lot?
I don't like this pick, but know my limitations. Certainly, Gregg Williams had a bullhorn voice in this decision, and I'll have to wait my two or three years to do my "I was right and you were wrong" dance (and hope I never get the opportunity).
Well let's see: It looks like Gregg wanted a shut-down guy badly, and didn't think he had one (or enough).
In earlier posts, I pointed out that Gregg had to play more zone and off-man than he wanted to, because Joe Haden had (irrefutably) declined, none of the other perimeter corners qualified as reliable press/man guys, and Jabrill Peppers was a sunstandard free safety.
I do see the logic here: Ward can literally be locked onto an opposing number one receiver and more or less "erase" him for 3.5-4.5 seconds (after that, he's faster than most of them, and can at least catch up to them and muffle the YAC yards)
I guess Gregg is confident that Darius Randall is his "angel" safety, and just felt that he needed a certified "shut-down" corner to make everything else work right.
I'll study on this some more and get back to you. It's really hard to figure Gregg Williams out...this was way out of the box (I mean for non-Buckeye fans).
The Browns secondary seems to have gotten a huge face-lift here. With Howard Wilson coming back from injury, plus Gaines, Carrie, and Randall, it was already looking much better. Denzel Ward really nails it down.
Mayfield is obviously a great pick. I just hope he can "stifle himself" for awhile and let Tyrod Taylor start.
I "grok" Mayfield's attitude. I have been stuck behind players I was better than. I let my frustration show, and got reamed for it. It was political, and unfair, and I couldn't handle it. I GET Baker.
Naturally, there's no comparison between us in terms of excellence or magnitude, but I know that he will master Dorsey's playbook quickly, and know that he is better than Tyrod before game one, and feel like he's getting screwed.
This will be interesting:
Tyrod Taylor is massively underrated, and is a dual threat who can do stuff Mayfield can't. He's a veteran who rarely screws up. He's been where no Mayfield has gone before, and can't be suckered or surprised.
Can Baker accept the fact that, even though he is the better quarterback, he's not the most prepared quarterback?
On to round two:
Color secondary and quarterback covered. Unlike most of you, I do remember that Joe Thomas himself said that Shon Coleman could play left tackle, but Dorsey can't take that to the bank, so he needs to at least draft a project left tackle.
I like Carlos Hyde too, but Dorsey HAS TO nab one of these stud running backs in this rare running back draft.
While this draft is thin on star wide receivers, it's very deep in big possession guys (like Anthony Lazard), and he can scoop one or more of them up dirt cheap.
The top second round pick represents another trade-down opportunity if Dorsey doesn't use it in a trade-up for a left tackle or something...
A note on that: The value of that specific pick is a factor in negotiations due to it's trade value. Count on Dorsey to exploit this, should he trade up.
First round picks get "fifth year club options", or essentially an extra year on their rookie contracts, and Pat Kirwan says that teams will occasionally trade back into the first round as much for this reason as to guarantee the player they want.
Dorsey might also need to "consolidate" his picks.
Hyperbolic Memorex Moron bullcrap aside, the Browns already have a talented, young roster. Dorsey is at the point at which, (in this draft), aside from future left tackle, running back, number two wide receiver (debatable), he's going to start cutting good veterans, or draft picks, if he uses all the picks that Sashi Brown left him.
Trading up is how he can avoid this. Secondarily, trading into the future works well too (you always get a round higher, ie this year's third is next year's second).
Lord Insideous has done this for a long time. It's analytical.
Wow!!! Bill just drafted 6'2 1/2" offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn at 23! Doesn't he read the expert opinions? Wow what a dumbass.
Obviously he's not a dumbass. And for all I know Wynn will be a guard for the Pats. Or he has extra-long arms I dunno.
Back to Dorsey: I know Waittilnextyear liked Denzel Ward at 4, but Dorsey didn't pick him to make Buckeye fans happy.
This pick by the Sith Lord was a lot "crazier" than Denzel Ward, but it goes to show you: The real pros do their own homework, and ignore Mayock, Kiper, and everybody else.
Down to pick 27: Several LEFT tackle (long-term) pospects are still hanging around, along with a sload of running backs.
The Stoolers drafted safety Edmonds at 28. I was glad to see Shazier up there to greet him. I dunno from Edmunds. Hope he sucks.
There goes 30 (cb Mike Hughes to the Vikings, as if they needed help.)
Oh dammit there goes Sony Michel (to the Sith Lord)! It figgers.
Well the first round is over. Sadly, the Cravens landed Lamar Jackson (don't panic! They still suck otherwise and Flacco is still gonna start!)
Anyhoo, now Dorsey has the "first overall pick" again entering day two.
In the woids of Rocky's manager Mick, it's a ting a beauty.
When Billick got to Baker Mayfield, he told Kurt Warner he was stumped. Kurt Warner couldn't come up with anybody who compared to Baker Mayfield either. Guess he couldn't find a mirror.
Funniest thing I've seen for awhile. Maybe Aaron Rodgers should have sat right in front of Billick instead. Or Drew Brees.
Billick also repeated that Favre had a much stronger arm than Mayfield. I'm sick of this. Nobody has a much stronger arm than Mayfield! That kid slings it! Favre had a stronger arm. Leave it there.
43 minutes from the draft, Mayock ranks Sam Darnold first, Mayfield fourth. Most of the other guys are split between Darnold and Mayfield.
Mayfield is definitely better, but Darnold does have great upside, as he is a terrific improviser when things break down, and excels at "off-platform" throws.
Accuracy and anticipation. But his record vs top teams...well he's talented as hell anyway...
Mayock mocks Darnold first overall to the Browns and has them trade down to 12 and 23 and draft Denzel Ward and Kolton Miller. I'll buy that for a dollar...except for the Darnold part.
It's also possible that Fitzpatrick could make it to 12 (that would be better). Miller is a better LEFT tackle prospect than Mayock's top tackle (you see left and right tackles are different).
T-minus 7 minutes...
The picks are in Mayfield check. But Denzel Ward over Bradley Chubb (or a trade-down) stunned me.
No knock on Ward, who is the consensus-best cornerback in this draft, but hasn't the secondary already been upgraded a lot?
I don't like this pick, but know my limitations. Certainly, Gregg Williams had a bullhorn voice in this decision, and I'll have to wait my two or three years to do my "I was right and you were wrong" dance (and hope I never get the opportunity).
Well let's see: It looks like Gregg wanted a shut-down guy badly, and didn't think he had one (or enough).
In earlier posts, I pointed out that Gregg had to play more zone and off-man than he wanted to, because Joe Haden had (irrefutably) declined, none of the other perimeter corners qualified as reliable press/man guys, and Jabrill Peppers was a sunstandard free safety.
I do see the logic here: Ward can literally be locked onto an opposing number one receiver and more or less "erase" him for 3.5-4.5 seconds (after that, he's faster than most of them, and can at least catch up to them and muffle the YAC yards)
I guess Gregg is confident that Darius Randall is his "angel" safety, and just felt that he needed a certified "shut-down" corner to make everything else work right.
I'll study on this some more and get back to you. It's really hard to figure Gregg Williams out...this was way out of the box (I mean for non-Buckeye fans).
The Browns secondary seems to have gotten a huge face-lift here. With Howard Wilson coming back from injury, plus Gaines, Carrie, and Randall, it was already looking much better. Denzel Ward really nails it down.
Mayfield is obviously a great pick. I just hope he can "stifle himself" for awhile and let Tyrod Taylor start.
I "grok" Mayfield's attitude. I have been stuck behind players I was better than. I let my frustration show, and got reamed for it. It was political, and unfair, and I couldn't handle it. I GET Baker.
Naturally, there's no comparison between us in terms of excellence or magnitude, but I know that he will master Dorsey's playbook quickly, and know that he is better than Tyrod before game one, and feel like he's getting screwed.
This will be interesting:
Tyrod Taylor is massively underrated, and is a dual threat who can do stuff Mayfield can't. He's a veteran who rarely screws up. He's been where no Mayfield has gone before, and can't be suckered or surprised.
Can Baker accept the fact that, even though he is the better quarterback, he's not the most prepared quarterback?
On to round two:
Color secondary and quarterback covered. Unlike most of you, I do remember that Joe Thomas himself said that Shon Coleman could play left tackle, but Dorsey can't take that to the bank, so he needs to at least draft a project left tackle.
I like Carlos Hyde too, but Dorsey HAS TO nab one of these stud running backs in this rare running back draft.
While this draft is thin on star wide receivers, it's very deep in big possession guys (like Anthony Lazard), and he can scoop one or more of them up dirt cheap.
The top second round pick represents another trade-down opportunity if Dorsey doesn't use it in a trade-up for a left tackle or something...
A note on that: The value of that specific pick is a factor in negotiations due to it's trade value. Count on Dorsey to exploit this, should he trade up.
First round picks get "fifth year club options", or essentially an extra year on their rookie contracts, and Pat Kirwan says that teams will occasionally trade back into the first round as much for this reason as to guarantee the player they want.
Dorsey might also need to "consolidate" his picks.
Hyperbolic Memorex Moron bullcrap aside, the Browns already have a talented, young roster. Dorsey is at the point at which, (in this draft), aside from future left tackle, running back, number two wide receiver (debatable), he's going to start cutting good veterans, or draft picks, if he uses all the picks that Sashi Brown left him.
Trading up is how he can avoid this. Secondarily, trading into the future works well too (you always get a round higher, ie this year's third is next year's second).
Lord Insideous has done this for a long time. It's analytical.
Wow!!! Bill just drafted 6'2 1/2" offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn at 23! Doesn't he read the expert opinions? Wow what a dumbass.
Obviously he's not a dumbass. And for all I know Wynn will be a guard for the Pats. Or he has extra-long arms I dunno.
Back to Dorsey: I know Waittilnextyear liked Denzel Ward at 4, but Dorsey didn't pick him to make Buckeye fans happy.
This pick by the Sith Lord was a lot "crazier" than Denzel Ward, but it goes to show you: The real pros do their own homework, and ignore Mayock, Kiper, and everybody else.
Down to pick 27: Several LEFT tackle (long-term) pospects are still hanging around, along with a sload of running backs.
The Stoolers drafted safety Edmonds at 28. I was glad to see Shazier up there to greet him. I dunno from Edmunds. Hope he sucks.
There goes 30 (cb Mike Hughes to the Vikings, as if they needed help.)
Oh dammit there goes Sony Michel (to the Sith Lord)! It figgers.
Well the first round is over. Sadly, the Cravens landed Lamar Jackson (don't panic! They still suck otherwise and Flacco is still gonna start!)
Anyhoo, now Dorsey has the "first overall pick" again entering day two.
In the woids of Rocky's manager Mick, it's a ting a beauty.
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