Another great article by Joel Cade: Five Under the Radar Browns players.
Joel kicks it off with Shon Coleman. He explains most of his penalties last season (Offensive line coach Wylie had done this before; long story).
Joel is particularly good at evaluating offensive linemen, and seems to like Shon's chances at left tackle. For me, it's between him and Corbett, and I lean 1.675% towards Corbett.
Austin Corbett is not a "project". Yes, NFL left tackle is a whole new ballgame, but perhaps the foremost reason he was drafted ahead of consensus-better left tackles was the fact that he's unusually "polished" and pro-ready.
Joel thinks it would be best for Austin Corbett to spend his rookie season watching and learning. I respectfully disagree.
Next is Carl Nassib. I couldn't agree more. It'd be insane to write this third year player off the roster (yet).
Like I did last week sometime, Joel points out that it's more common than not for players (especially defensive ends) to come into their own in their third seasons, and this kid has all the physical tools in spades.
Joel didn't mention this, but I will redundate: Carl Nassib is 6'7", and Hans and Franz probably have him pumped up to over 300 lbs now, and I repeat:
None of the other defensive ends on the roster are that big (or "long").
As Joel himself points out later (in re Jamie Meder), in the age of sub-packages, there is a role for Nassib here (and the two of them would probably fit the same anti-run package).
Next, Joel lists backup center Austin Reiter AMEN BROTHER! You'd better believe it! When the Browns drafted Corbett, and all these guys started talking about him playing center, I didn't get it.
1: Reiter was injured, not killed. He is alive and well, and still a Cleveland Brown honest!
2: Austin Reiter is exceptionally athletic; an exceptional inside-zone blocker and linebacker-hunter on the run. He was a good pass-blocker too. He needed to get bigger and stronger, and work on leverage.
Well, we can safely assume that Hans and Franz have been pumping him up, too duh.
Next on Joel's list is Jamie Meder, for the reasons I've cited for years.
Joel suggested that Jamie needs to change his style of play to fit better in Gregg Williams' one-gap scheme, but that's not realistic.
Jamie isn't the athlete the other guys are. But right after Joel said that, he said that Meder fits as a sub-player here.
Defensive line coach (and former quarterback-smasher) Clyde Simmons said he's one of the best run-stuffing defensive tackles he's ever worked with.
And here, Joel missed something:
The "over" tackle usually engages the right guard and two-gaps, even for Gregg Williams.
Briean Boddy-Calhoun naturally. As Joel points out, he's "cross-training" at free safety now. Briean is a shrimp, but plays like he's 220.
Now for the math lesson:
I've read three articles recently: A Browns Film Room on Genard Avery's strengths, an article on how Mychal Kendricks fits into this defense, and another (long overdue and months late) article on how happy Gregg Williams was with Joe Schobert in 2017:
Nothing new here: I told you half way through last season that Schobert was a freaking prodigal "field general" in Gregg Williams' defense.
It was amazing! Schobert had played outside linebacker (mostly in a 3-4) in college (but I told you when they drafted him he belongs inside, remember?)
...then I told you he was not only instictive but really smart too and had a good chance to start in the middle for Williams in 2017 remember?
And a week or so ago I said Schobert isn't the guy Kendricks will challenge here because he's such a prodigy as a field general remember?
(If you're like many people I know, you'll remember thinking of it yourself, just after I published my posts).
Eventually, somebody will catch up to where I was two days after Dorsey signed Mychal Kendricks (redundancy alert): Christian Kirksey (not General Schobert) is on the spot.
Gregg Williams said that now, Joe needs to add some splash-plays to his resume, and he could have said the same thing to the much more experienced Kirksey.
"Tackling machine" is a catchy phrase, but if Kirksey is a machine, so is Joe. But Joe was an edge-rusher in college, and (as I discovered) a basketball star in college.
He weighed 244 lbs at his combine, and posted boring numbers in the drills. He's not a "quick-twitch" athlete, but all along relied on his brains and instincts.
As I mentioned, he shed weight since he was drafted, and had to know he would play inside for Gregg Williams.
Regardless of what Gregg Williams said about splash-plays, he's happy with what he already has in Joe Schobert. He's just "pushing" him now.
Joe Schobert isn't going anywhere, and Kendricks and his clone Avery are the future at outside linebacker.
My guess is that Kendricks will be number one at one outside linebacker slot, and number two in the middle.
Dan Justik has caught up with me on the probability that Nick Chubb will become the predominant every-down running back over Carlos Hyde. Welcome aboard (again) Dan!
Doug Lesmerisis doesn't steal my stuff (I don't think), but lags behind me a lot too (Terry Pluto is the only guy who is less than a week behind me, usually).
Here, Doug compares the Browns to the 76ers, and the similarities are remarkable (and all-Doug).
The Sixers scapegoated the GM who built their team, kept the Head Coach, cashed in all their wins for a top pick, have a thus far disappointing young star (we have Corey Coleman) who could emerge in his third season, etc.
Great article, but not perfect:
1: I'm not a basketball guy, but can tell you that nobody in any sport deliberately "tanks" to get higher draft picks.
I know that Doug understands this, but am irked when he generalizes, because the ignorant masses think that Sashi Brown deliberately sabotaged Hue Jackson and stuff when he writes "tank".
Sashi Brown focused on the draft from the start, and brought in stud veterans in year two. He brought in a ton of talent. Most of it was inexperienced, but that's not tanking. It's up to the coaches to make use of talent.
2: Doug declares the Wentz trade-down a mistake. Maybe it wasn't. We'll know in a couple more years, after we see how a big chunk of this roster performs...because it came from that trade.
Like everybody else except me, Lesmerisis thinks that a great quarterback can win Superbowls with garbage around them.
They can't. Quarterback is the most important position in football, Doug. It's not the ONLY position, and in my own opinion, Mayfield will be better than Wentz anyway.
3: Doug calls DeShone Kizer a "miss", but that's premature. (Redundancy Alert) Kizer was a SECOND round pick who was "raw, and shouldn't start for 1 or 2 seasons".
Hue Jackson not only made the pick (if you think DePodesta did, you're clueless), then started him immediately.
...then kept him in the pocket, and made him throw deep, and wouldn't (nevermind see earlier posts) anyway, DeShone Kizer will certainly become an above average (at least) quarterback in time.
He wasn't a first round pick, and he is a quarterback. Don't call that a "miss" (yet).
...not to mention, Damarius Randall was a first round pick.
4: Doug anticipates the Browns going after AJ Green. He's implicitly expecting Josh Gordon to get busted again, or...whatever, but Gordon is better than Green, and should be cheaper too!
Despite these ass umptions and conclusion-leaps which Doug is prone to, this was still an excellent article overall.
He's even got the "overpaid veteran" guy (for the Browns that's Landry), and "the next GM" comparison (the weakest one-the Sixers guy got in trouble somehow--but made a smart move).
Dorsey's roster is a lot bigger than that, but (not my opinion, but the guys on NFL Radio and other REAL experts' opinions), Dorsey has done a great job so far.
Lesmeris's premis is that the Browns and Sixers look eerily similar, and he made his case in spades.
Doug guesstimates 6 wins in 2018, and I won't quibble with that, but in 2019 he says 10-6 and the playoffs, and that's pessimistic.
1: Two seasons from now, Ebineezer Bell probably isn't a Steeler, and Gramps Rottenburgers might not be either. Ditto Gramps Suggs, Flacco, and a bunch of other geezers in the AFC North.
2: Baker Mayfield WAS THE BEST quarterback in this draft class (or the last one, and probably the next one too), and he'll have had a year to ripen in the nursery.
3: See earlier posts: best (and youngest) talent in the AFC North.
Doug, and a lot of you guys, suffer from Stockholm Syndrome.
You percieve the Stoolers (and maybe even the perennially-overrated Ravens) as godlike/invincable because you've been held down so long.
That's brainwashing. Are you brainwashed?
Well, you are if you think that 0-16 in 2017 or 1-31 in the last two seasons is what the 2018 Browns are.
The 2018 Browns have an 80% new secondary, including the best man corner in this draft, and four upper-echelon young veterans.
As I've told you, Mychal Kendricks and Rodney Averyfield represent big upgrades at linebacker.
Skip the defensive line! Two defensive tackles were rookies...just skip it (earlier posts).
No need to mention the offense--even YOU see Landry, Gordon, Johnson, the offensive line, and Taylor...
Where was I? Oh yeah what's wrong here?
I wish I was close enough to slap Doug Lesmerisis (or you) "out of it": there's NOTHING wrong here (except the downgrade at left tackle).
I don't get Doug (or most of you people he's writing for):
Why should a team with Todd Haley running the offense and Gregg Williams running the defense (for the third year), with a dual-threat proven veteran quarterback, with all this talent lose ten games in 2018?
Wtf is the matter with you people? You expect Tyrod Taylor to crap out vs Big Ben, Brees, Flacco, Dalton?
Can't beat the brilliant genius Marvin Lewis? Can't beat the...nevermind you don't get it, but the players on the 2018 Browns roster do:
1: This is one of the best-coached and most talented rosters in the NFL.
2: Tyrod Taylor is a top ten quarterback *run threat; unofficial upgrade from PFF stats I have access to* who doesn't screw up, and who does have a strong arm that he can use for once...
As Doug Lesmerisis mentioned in his article, Baker Mayfield is the first quarterback the Browns have drafted in the top ten since Tim Couch.
If you are dumb enough to expect either Tyrod Taylor or Baker Mayfield to crap out based on that internet jersey, that's Stockholm Syndrome:
1: Tyrod Taylor is a proven veteran. He did more with less, and done growing yet.
2: Baker Mayfield was the best quarterback in this draft class, and technically the best to come along in several years (including the Wentz and Watson classes) (don't argue with me: see PFF, Numberfire, Charlie Weiss, and several more real experts in an ex-quarterback-deep field including the "arm-talent" obsessed Phil Simms (and his son).
3: Back off this notion that to be a top 5 team, or to win a Superbowl, you need a top five quarterback.
I haven't checked out those stats yet, but will, eventually.
Tom Brady is exceptional, because it doesn't matter who he's got to work with. But Aaron Rodgers is like that too.
Nobody (with a brain) in their right mind declares Tom Brady better than Aaron Rodgers...
Is any of this sinking in yet? The Pats just lost another Superbowl to another more talented team led by Nick Foles.
Wow you mean somebody beat the best quarterback in history with only 21 other guys? How is that possible?
See my earlier posts: Even among real experts like Pat Kirwan, the quarterback is all there is, and...
No, the quarterback isn't all there is. How did Saint Thomas lose?
He lost when the other 21 players overmatched his guys, and had coaches right in the Sith Lord's face.
Doug Lesmerisis and you people need to get over your quarterback fixation, and give the other 21 players their due.
Frankly, it's downright ignorant to think Tyrod Taylor can't do better this year than he did last year...
Duh
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Nick Chubb, the Long View, Jarvis Landry, and the Browns
Thinking more about the bad article I wrote about last time (which called the Browns not naming a starting running back in 2018 a "mistake", and declaring Hyde the frontrunner based on his experience good grief), I went back to research Nick Chubb some more with PFF.
Generally speaking, you can flush everything before 2017, because he played hurt in 2016. (Well, don't ignore the fact that in 2015 up to his injury he caught a bunch of passes for over 10 yards per--that's important).
PFF points out that Chubb never exceeded 50% of the carries in college. This is important, because it put a cap on his numbers, plus reduced the wear and tear his body took (which shortens NFL carreers).
PFF ranked Chubb fourth overall (behind Barkley, Jones II, and Rashard Penny).
Amazingly, Nick Chubb also graded out fourth in "elusive rating", which is impressive for a guy who's regarded as a power runner.
...and I gave up trying to find Barkley on that list after the first 20 names.
To be clear, Chubb scored 94.6 in elusiveness while the top guy (Penny) scored 128.6, so I'm not calling Chubb a "scat back" here, okay?
But in 2017, Nick Chubb averaged 3.8 yards per-carry...AFTER CONTACT. (Actually 6 yards per carry t-he).
But that's impressive, isn't it? Nick also broke 44 tackles in 2017.
He had 18 runs of 20-plus yards in 2017, which is close to two per-game, while splitting time with Sony Micheal.
PFF (couldn't ID the writer) said that Nick Chubb could be the steal of the 2018 draft class (for reasons I listed).
A few points here: I gave up looking for Chubb as a pass-blocker, whereas Sony Micheal was in the top ten. But this is likely due to the respective roles of Micheal and Chubb in that offense.
In the Browns 2018 offense, Duke Johnson will be Nick's new Sony Micheal.
Anyway, Carlos Hyde is a pretty good all-purpose running back, but Nick Chubb is better.
This draft class was amazingly deep at running back, and Saquon Barkley just "eclipsed" everybody else. Nick Chubb might have been the first running back off the board in a lot of draft classes. Carlos Hyde isn't a match for him.
In the "but what do they know" Browns Permabasher zone, Josh Edwards (247 Sports) discusses Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks' discussing the Browns 2018 offense as probably the most improved in the NFL.
I know, that's like falling off a log, but they're both talking night and day (per Brooks B-plus offensive talent).
Bitonio, Tretter, and Zietler will be together for a second season, and both these guys think this will make a big difference.
And it will: As I've posted repeatedly, continuity on an offensive line is even more important than talent. Even average players who are "synched up" can evolve into elite units.
It's more important inside too, as that's the core of inside zones, and it's the center and guards who pull and go linebacker-hunting in Hue's scheme too.
Regardless of what's in the playbook, these players, once they're used to eachother, start covering eachother's butts almost instinctively.
It's not just "repetitions", but also talking to eachother, and reviewing films together. Once they've been together for awhile, the whole exceeds the sum of the parts.
And as Brooks and Jeremiah take as a given, the "parts" are already pretty damn good here!
Bucky Brooks is an ex-player and talent-scout, and has a tendancy to gloss over stuff that most fans don't fully grok.
Bucky says that the Browns wide receivers can be a top five unit "when you include" those tight ends and Duke Johnson. Here's what he means:
1: Njoku will take heat off Gordon, as Kellen Winslow II did for Edwards Scissorhands in 2010.
2: Njoku and DeValve will sometimes line up as wide receivers, so Bucky (a defensive back) considers them as part of the corps.
3: Duke Johnson caught a bunch of passes downfield from the slot, and even outside, so Bucky includes him, as well.
I can't agree with Bucky that four wide receivers corps's are better than the Browns' (especially now that he stipulates that Gordon and Landry are two of the best, and includes Njoku, DeValve, and Johnson his own self), but I'll take "top five" from him.
"B-plus" overall is better than I expected out of Bucky, and is fair.
Tyrod is "pretty good", and we can expect him to do better with better weapons. But we need to curb our enthusiasm while Rodgers, Big Ben, Brady, Brees, Watson, Wentz etc are still hanging around.
Joe Thomas is a GMF now, and both offensive tackle positions will probably change.
For permabashers, B-plus isn't good enough. Screw them.
Brooks also mentions Todd Haley. Remember him?
Pat McNanoman wrote an exceptionally deep and insightful article on Jarvis Landry in re his assertion that he thinks he wants to be the best wide receiver in the NFL.
The positives we all know about, but I have to retract my criticism of Randy Gurzi here, since, per PFF, Landry only converted 53% of his third down targets into first downs.
Anyway, Pat states the pros and the cons of Jarvis Landry clinically and without bias (except he gets into salaries--that's irrelevant.)
While I personally still kinda question Dorsey's Landry decisions, he sure as hell won the perception war here: That (and Taylor) "primed the pump" for other veteran free agents who would otherwise have avoided the Browns.
As Pat himself pointed out, Jarvis clocked 4.51 on his Pro Day, and his assertion that he can play outside and run deeper routes is supported by how Haley has used him thus far in 2018 (he's been catching a ton of intermediate and a few deep passes from Tyrod; he's outproduced everybody, including Gordon).
His blocking shouldn't be dismissed and ignored as it has been, either. Jarvis Landry is a "real football player".
If he's overpaid, or squeezes Duke Johnson, Duke and I can deal with it. We're glad Landry is here (and he'll be markettable in 2019, by which time his cap hit will look a lot cheaper).
Business is business.
John Dorsey can't lose in 2018, so he has two seasons guaranteed. He's maxed this out:
He's brought in a sload of veteran studs and "plus" players who are 28 and younger. He's got a competent offensive coordinator, experienced players, and he can't lose more than 11-12 games (schedule and injuries be damned).
He's got a built-in "fall guy" in Hue Palmer: firing him in-season buys him a third season, if neccessary.
In 2019, he'll have to deal with Josh Gordon (assuming he stays on the wagon). But he'll recoup Tyrod's cap-hit, can maybe turn Landry's salary into at least a third round pick in a trade, and...
Business is business. The harder I look, the smarter John Dorsey looks.
Note: DePodesta is still here.
For a reason.
Generally speaking, you can flush everything before 2017, because he played hurt in 2016. (Well, don't ignore the fact that in 2015 up to his injury he caught a bunch of passes for over 10 yards per--that's important).
PFF points out that Chubb never exceeded 50% of the carries in college. This is important, because it put a cap on his numbers, plus reduced the wear and tear his body took (which shortens NFL carreers).
PFF ranked Chubb fourth overall (behind Barkley, Jones II, and Rashard Penny).
Amazingly, Nick Chubb also graded out fourth in "elusive rating", which is impressive for a guy who's regarded as a power runner.
...and I gave up trying to find Barkley on that list after the first 20 names.
To be clear, Chubb scored 94.6 in elusiveness while the top guy (Penny) scored 128.6, so I'm not calling Chubb a "scat back" here, okay?
But in 2017, Nick Chubb averaged 3.8 yards per-carry...AFTER CONTACT. (Actually 6 yards per carry t-he).
But that's impressive, isn't it? Nick also broke 44 tackles in 2017.
He had 18 runs of 20-plus yards in 2017, which is close to two per-game, while splitting time with Sony Micheal.
PFF (couldn't ID the writer) said that Nick Chubb could be the steal of the 2018 draft class (for reasons I listed).
A few points here: I gave up looking for Chubb as a pass-blocker, whereas Sony Micheal was in the top ten. But this is likely due to the respective roles of Micheal and Chubb in that offense.
In the Browns 2018 offense, Duke Johnson will be Nick's new Sony Micheal.
Anyway, Carlos Hyde is a pretty good all-purpose running back, but Nick Chubb is better.
This draft class was amazingly deep at running back, and Saquon Barkley just "eclipsed" everybody else. Nick Chubb might have been the first running back off the board in a lot of draft classes. Carlos Hyde isn't a match for him.
In the "but what do they know" Browns Permabasher zone, Josh Edwards (247 Sports) discusses Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks' discussing the Browns 2018 offense as probably the most improved in the NFL.
I know, that's like falling off a log, but they're both talking night and day (per Brooks B-plus offensive talent).
Bitonio, Tretter, and Zietler will be together for a second season, and both these guys think this will make a big difference.
And it will: As I've posted repeatedly, continuity on an offensive line is even more important than talent. Even average players who are "synched up" can evolve into elite units.
It's more important inside too, as that's the core of inside zones, and it's the center and guards who pull and go linebacker-hunting in Hue's scheme too.
Regardless of what's in the playbook, these players, once they're used to eachother, start covering eachother's butts almost instinctively.
It's not just "repetitions", but also talking to eachother, and reviewing films together. Once they've been together for awhile, the whole exceeds the sum of the parts.
And as Brooks and Jeremiah take as a given, the "parts" are already pretty damn good here!
Bucky Brooks is an ex-player and talent-scout, and has a tendancy to gloss over stuff that most fans don't fully grok.
Bucky says that the Browns wide receivers can be a top five unit "when you include" those tight ends and Duke Johnson. Here's what he means:
1: Njoku will take heat off Gordon, as Kellen Winslow II did for Edwards Scissorhands in 2010.
2: Njoku and DeValve will sometimes line up as wide receivers, so Bucky (a defensive back) considers them as part of the corps.
3: Duke Johnson caught a bunch of passes downfield from the slot, and even outside, so Bucky includes him, as well.
I can't agree with Bucky that four wide receivers corps's are better than the Browns' (especially now that he stipulates that Gordon and Landry are two of the best, and includes Njoku, DeValve, and Johnson his own self), but I'll take "top five" from him.
"B-plus" overall is better than I expected out of Bucky, and is fair.
Tyrod is "pretty good", and we can expect him to do better with better weapons. But we need to curb our enthusiasm while Rodgers, Big Ben, Brady, Brees, Watson, Wentz etc are still hanging around.
Joe Thomas is a GMF now, and both offensive tackle positions will probably change.
For permabashers, B-plus isn't good enough. Screw them.
Brooks also mentions Todd Haley. Remember him?
Pat McNanoman wrote an exceptionally deep and insightful article on Jarvis Landry in re his assertion that he thinks he wants to be the best wide receiver in the NFL.
The positives we all know about, but I have to retract my criticism of Randy Gurzi here, since, per PFF, Landry only converted 53% of his third down targets into first downs.
Anyway, Pat states the pros and the cons of Jarvis Landry clinically and without bias (except he gets into salaries--that's irrelevant.)
While I personally still kinda question Dorsey's Landry decisions, he sure as hell won the perception war here: That (and Taylor) "primed the pump" for other veteran free agents who would otherwise have avoided the Browns.
As Pat himself pointed out, Jarvis clocked 4.51 on his Pro Day, and his assertion that he can play outside and run deeper routes is supported by how Haley has used him thus far in 2018 (he's been catching a ton of intermediate and a few deep passes from Tyrod; he's outproduced everybody, including Gordon).
His blocking shouldn't be dismissed and ignored as it has been, either. Jarvis Landry is a "real football player".
If he's overpaid, or squeezes Duke Johnson, Duke and I can deal with it. We're glad Landry is here (and he'll be markettable in 2019, by which time his cap hit will look a lot cheaper).
Business is business.
John Dorsey can't lose in 2018, so he has two seasons guaranteed. He's maxed this out:
He's brought in a sload of veteran studs and "plus" players who are 28 and younger. He's got a competent offensive coordinator, experienced players, and he can't lose more than 11-12 games (schedule and injuries be damned).
He's got a built-in "fall guy" in Hue Palmer: firing him in-season buys him a third season, if neccessary.
In 2019, he'll have to deal with Josh Gordon (assuming he stays on the wagon). But he'll recoup Tyrod's cap-hit, can maybe turn Landry's salary into at least a third round pick in a trade, and...
Business is business. The harder I look, the smarter John Dorsey looks.
Note: DePodesta is still here.
For a reason.
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Analyzing Analysis, Baker, Left Tackles, and the Browns
We sane people outnumber the Mayfield-bashers, but many are dug in. The image at the end of this article spells out why you should feel embarrassed for them.
Don't bother telling them. They're not listening. Just have fun hearing their "Yabuts" down the road when he outperforms the other guys...again.
The current yabuts include his air raid system (like Darnold's) and his supportimg talent (for four years at two schools)...and of course the cop tackling him incident (that one's legit, but it was a one-off).
That stuff will go away over time (except for in the elephantine memories of permabashers...they'll bring it up ten years from now what can ya do?)
Nick Dudukovich (Fansided) lists what he feels are four mistakes the Browns made this offseason.
The first was not replacing Joe Thomas.
Nick has a right to his opinion, but Wylie and Dorsey are better qualified to judge these guys than Nick or I are. If you feel a different guy was better than Corbett, or should have been drafted instead of Callaway, that's fine.
But Nick allowed for a Corbett "Red Shirt season". No, that's for Desmond Harrison, who has phenomenal upside. Corbett is a four year starting left tackle who is very advanced technically already.
And if Callaway keeps his nose clean...well there was no comparison talent-wise between Callaway and any left tackle in this draft. That wasn't even close.
Do you draft a much less talented player because you "need" him? I wouldn't. And Pat Kirwan/Gil Brandt etc say "you can't win" doing that.
It's premature to call this a mistake.
Next, Nick lists "giving up on Kizer". Well, in a vacuum, I would agree with him, but if you think it through
1: Damarius Randall fills a serious need at free safety (remember the trade?)
2: Dorsey had Tyrod Taylor and knew he would draft a quarterback.
3: Nick is right that Kizer was used and abused by Hue Jackson, and he shouldn't be judged for that. I mean do you throw a baby in a lake and yell "swim!"?
He might still turn into a really good quarterback in time. But this wasn't all there was to it. This was no mistake. I'm glad Randall is here.
Next, Nick thinks they should have signed another veteran receiver. He cites Gordon's high-risk status, and Callaway's as well.
Here, the writer just reached so far he fell overboard:
1: If you can mention Bowe, Britt, and Landry in the same sentence, you need your head examined.
2: Who do you cut for the jouneyman veteran: Damion Ratley? Coleman?
3: Is your veteran actually better than Louis or Higgins?
4: Callaway and Ratley are the only rookies. Everybody else has been around for over two seasons (with bad quarterbacks...well except for McCown anyway).
Last, Nick thinks they should name a starting running back!?! Why? Most of the teams in the NFL run committees! And most running backs don't complain about it, because it prolongs their carreers.
Running back is THE most instinctive position in football. A lot of college guys need to refine their receiving and pass-protection skills, but they're ready to rock as runners.
Nick thinks they should have named Carlos Hyde the starter based on his experience! He doesn't seem to know the difference between quarterbacks and running backs.
And Nick even says that naming a starter could be used as motivation! More motivation than "playing the hot hand" from week-to-week? That's just plain bizarre!
I regret including the link. Nick did not do well here.
Mitch Zoloty did better. He thinks Shon Coleman will step up at left tackle, and quotes some nice stuff Myles Garrett said about him.
But I read what Garrett said, and it was mostly about working hard and effort. It's something I'd say about my buddy that I humiliate all the time.
Mitch says that Coleman would be targetted by opposing defenses. Actually, maybe not. Chris Hubbard is vulnerable too, and that's partly why he's not a Steeler anymore.
Also, Mitch and everybody else (except me) seem oblivious to the fact that the majority of NFL teams in this era don't have great left tackles, and this includes a lot of playoff and Superbowl teams.
There are tons of ways to "mask" a weak passblocking left tackle, especially if you have an athletic quarterback and use some zone-blocks on runs.
When a quarterback moves to his right (and the left tackle knows he's doing it), it drastically reduces the edge rusher's angles and options. He has to either stunt or go through the tackle. If he tries to go around him outside, he takes himself out of the play.
When a quarterback runs a read-option, he and the running back are reading one of the two defensive ends, and this play is designed to burn aggressive passrushes.
Haley won't want to read-option with Mayfield that much, but with Tyrod he'll do it a LOT.
Quick-hitters (passes delivered in under 2.5 seconds) are another way to protect your left tackle, and this dates back to even before Joe Montana.
This is what he'll do with Mayfield more, once the kid takes over. Jarvis Landry and Duke Johnson are the biggest part of this.
If you have an immobile quarterback and throw deep a lot, you need an exceptional passblocking left tackle. If you have an athletic quarterback, dangerous short receivers and tight ends, and a strong running game, you can get by with...well a Corbett or a Coleman, see?
And please (Nick): Spencer Drango has NO SHOT at left tackle, and is a longshot to even make the final roster now. Anybody who counts Drango in on this competition is clueless.
Back to Mitch Zaloty: Good article, but I think Corbett will overtake Coleman. But it's like a coin-flip, mostly because Joe Thomas said he thought Shon could play left tackle.
...of course, Big Joe thinks Hue Jackson is the best Head Coach he ever played for, so...
Somebody or other knocked Dorsey's offseason because he drafted an undersized quarterback first overall, then an undersized cornerback fourth overall.
That's fine, but in both cases, I have to disagree:
Mayfield was clearly and obviously the best quarterback in this draft class, and what Mayfield told Colon Cowherd about today's NFL was on the money. This height stuff is obsolete.
And Denzel Ward was THE best man corner in this draft class, and he stifled elite wide receivers. He's one of the fastest players in the NFL, and he's 5'11". They're knocking this pick because he's not 6'1"--that's it?!?
You people: You bash analytics, and at the same time nitpick draft picks over an inch or two.
You accuse us analysts of ignoring "intangibles" in favor of numbers, but when we tell you a 6'5/8" quarterback and 5'11" cornerback are as good as they look, you say they're too short!
I conclude this article with a chart. DEAL WITH IT.
Don't bother telling them. They're not listening. Just have fun hearing their "Yabuts" down the road when he outperforms the other guys...again.
The current yabuts include his air raid system (like Darnold's) and his supportimg talent (for four years at two schools)...and of course the cop tackling him incident (that one's legit, but it was a one-off).
That stuff will go away over time (except for in the elephantine memories of permabashers...they'll bring it up ten years from now what can ya do?)
Nick Dudukovich (Fansided) lists what he feels are four mistakes the Browns made this offseason.
The first was not replacing Joe Thomas.
Nick has a right to his opinion, but Wylie and Dorsey are better qualified to judge these guys than Nick or I are. If you feel a different guy was better than Corbett, or should have been drafted instead of Callaway, that's fine.
But Nick allowed for a Corbett "Red Shirt season". No, that's for Desmond Harrison, who has phenomenal upside. Corbett is a four year starting left tackle who is very advanced technically already.
And if Callaway keeps his nose clean...well there was no comparison talent-wise between Callaway and any left tackle in this draft. That wasn't even close.
Do you draft a much less talented player because you "need" him? I wouldn't. And Pat Kirwan/Gil Brandt etc say "you can't win" doing that.
It's premature to call this a mistake.
Next, Nick lists "giving up on Kizer". Well, in a vacuum, I would agree with him, but if you think it through
1: Damarius Randall fills a serious need at free safety (remember the trade?)
2: Dorsey had Tyrod Taylor and knew he would draft a quarterback.
3: Nick is right that Kizer was used and abused by Hue Jackson, and he shouldn't be judged for that. I mean do you throw a baby in a lake and yell "swim!"?
He might still turn into a really good quarterback in time. But this wasn't all there was to it. This was no mistake. I'm glad Randall is here.
Next, Nick thinks they should have signed another veteran receiver. He cites Gordon's high-risk status, and Callaway's as well.
Here, the writer just reached so far he fell overboard:
1: If you can mention Bowe, Britt, and Landry in the same sentence, you need your head examined.
2: Who do you cut for the jouneyman veteran: Damion Ratley? Coleman?
3: Is your veteran actually better than Louis or Higgins?
4: Callaway and Ratley are the only rookies. Everybody else has been around for over two seasons (with bad quarterbacks...well except for McCown anyway).
Last, Nick thinks they should name a starting running back!?! Why? Most of the teams in the NFL run committees! And most running backs don't complain about it, because it prolongs their carreers.
Running back is THE most instinctive position in football. A lot of college guys need to refine their receiving and pass-protection skills, but they're ready to rock as runners.
Nick thinks they should have named Carlos Hyde the starter based on his experience! He doesn't seem to know the difference between quarterbacks and running backs.
And Nick even says that naming a starter could be used as motivation! More motivation than "playing the hot hand" from week-to-week? That's just plain bizarre!
I regret including the link. Nick did not do well here.
Mitch Zoloty did better. He thinks Shon Coleman will step up at left tackle, and quotes some nice stuff Myles Garrett said about him.
But I read what Garrett said, and it was mostly about working hard and effort. It's something I'd say about my buddy that I humiliate all the time.
Mitch says that Coleman would be targetted by opposing defenses. Actually, maybe not. Chris Hubbard is vulnerable too, and that's partly why he's not a Steeler anymore.
Also, Mitch and everybody else (except me) seem oblivious to the fact that the majority of NFL teams in this era don't have great left tackles, and this includes a lot of playoff and Superbowl teams.
There are tons of ways to "mask" a weak passblocking left tackle, especially if you have an athletic quarterback and use some zone-blocks on runs.
When a quarterback moves to his right (and the left tackle knows he's doing it), it drastically reduces the edge rusher's angles and options. He has to either stunt or go through the tackle. If he tries to go around him outside, he takes himself out of the play.
When a quarterback runs a read-option, he and the running back are reading one of the two defensive ends, and this play is designed to burn aggressive passrushes.
Haley won't want to read-option with Mayfield that much, but with Tyrod he'll do it a LOT.
Quick-hitters (passes delivered in under 2.5 seconds) are another way to protect your left tackle, and this dates back to even before Joe Montana.
This is what he'll do with Mayfield more, once the kid takes over. Jarvis Landry and Duke Johnson are the biggest part of this.
If you have an immobile quarterback and throw deep a lot, you need an exceptional passblocking left tackle. If you have an athletic quarterback, dangerous short receivers and tight ends, and a strong running game, you can get by with...well a Corbett or a Coleman, see?
And please (Nick): Spencer Drango has NO SHOT at left tackle, and is a longshot to even make the final roster now. Anybody who counts Drango in on this competition is clueless.
Back to Mitch Zaloty: Good article, but I think Corbett will overtake Coleman. But it's like a coin-flip, mostly because Joe Thomas said he thought Shon could play left tackle.
...of course, Big Joe thinks Hue Jackson is the best Head Coach he ever played for, so...
Somebody or other knocked Dorsey's offseason because he drafted an undersized quarterback first overall, then an undersized cornerback fourth overall.
That's fine, but in both cases, I have to disagree:
Mayfield was clearly and obviously the best quarterback in this draft class, and what Mayfield told Colon Cowherd about today's NFL was on the money. This height stuff is obsolete.
And Denzel Ward was THE best man corner in this draft class, and he stifled elite wide receivers. He's one of the fastest players in the NFL, and he's 5'11". They're knocking this pick because he's not 6'1"--that's it?!?
You people: You bash analytics, and at the same time nitpick draft picks over an inch or two.
You accuse us analysts of ignoring "intangibles" in favor of numbers, but when we tell you a 6'5/8" quarterback and 5'11" cornerback are as good as they look, you say they're too short!
I conclude this article with a chart. DEAL WITH IT.
Monday, June 25, 2018
Gregg Williams 2018: Armed and Dangerous.
I finally saw most of the actual Mayfield vs Cowherd fight, and Baker really cleaned his clock! Never raised his voice or made it personal, but he didn't tolerate bullcrap either, and called Colon on it repeatedly.
Any jury would convict Colon of bias and dumbassitude.
But some of the garbage Colon spewed bugged me, like "You're not Russell Wilson".
Well of course he's not. Wilson is a much more dangerous dual threat, and he played in a pro system in college.
But Colon is just fixated on height, so he refelexively compares him to the shortest quarterback in the NFL. Wilson is over two inches SHORTER than Baker Mayfield.
And why couldn't he have said "You're not Drew Brees" instead?
If Colon had a clue about quarterbacks, he would have cited Brees instead of Wilson, because Mayfield looks a lot more like him than he does Wilson.
He is accurate as hell, gets rid of it quickly, and spreads it around.
If Colon could get over his height fixation, he could have said "You're not Rodgers", or "You're not Warner" (unthinkable, I know, since these two are one whole inch taller).
Russell Wilson is a terrific quarterback, but he's different than these other guys (he's much more like Tyrod Taylor, in fact).
Related: Mitchell's big brother, Geoff Schwartze, is "concerned" about reports that Baker Mayfield "isn't ready yet", and that Tyrod Taylor looks a lot better.
If I were Geoff, I'd feel the same way: Sashi Brown screwed up big-time when he withdrew his offer to Mitchell and let him walk. I'd resent the hell out of anybody who did my little bro that way, but Geoff: that was Sashi Brown, and he's gone now, ok?
But Geoff: You're an analyst now, and you can't keep letting your emotions pollute your analysis!
Mayfield played in an Air Raid system, while Taylor is a seasoned vet, and they haven't even started training camp yet, for cryin out loud! I haven't heard you express concern about any other ROOKIE quarterback yet!
Generally speaking, if you are "concerned" about any rookie quarterback screwing up at this point in his rookie OFF season, you just need to take a pill.
And Geoff Schwartze knows it. It's too bad too, because Geoff Schwartze is a ton smarter than Colon Cowherd, and a mind is a terrible thing to waste.
Mike Florjancic's article on what Gregg Williams had to say about how Mychal Kendricks fits into his defense was really informative.
Gregg again says that everybody needs to play more than one position, because in his defense, it's not "next position player up" in the event of injury, but "next best athlete up".
I'm getting it now: This is partly why (up until 2017) Gregg ran all sorts of exotic fronts. That's about getting his best players on the field as much as he can, regardless of position.
Specifically in re Kendricks and other guys, he says "They can line up at defensive end, but they're not (defensive ends).
Yeah! Clay Matthews II did that a lot! He was often a "stand-up" defensive end (Clay never put his hand in the dirt). From there, he was almost as likely to cover as to passrush.
(He lined up over the tight end and always jammed him first, regardless of what he did next. A true defensive end can't do this stuff).
Martin McConnell thinks Larry Ogunjobi could emerge as a game-changer in his second season. This was a good article, but Martin should have spelled out that Gregg Williams rotated the defensive tackles heavily in 2017, and Ogunjobi did what he did "working part time".
I agree with Martin. Larry was the best of the bunch per PFF and in production per-snap in 2017, and Coley was a veteran. Ogunjobi exceeded expectations, and Williams sees it.
Last season, the defensive line was his deepest unit, but now that he's got Kendricks and Rodney Averyfield, the linebackers might have at least caught up to them.
Before I go on, here are some things Gregg has to keep in mind:
1: Defensive linemen get tired, and need more rest than linebackers. They're constantly in fistfights with generally bigger offensive linemen, sprinting, changing directions, chasing...it's a tough gig. Linebackers don't need so much oxygen.
2: Every Defensive Coordinator in the NFL knows that "3-4" and "4-3" as base defenses is a fiction. You have to run nickels or dimes vs spread offenses, including many "two tight end" or two-back variations.
Last season, Gregg Williams didn't have a good secondary. He played Peppers at free safety, Kindred was lost for the season...
McCourty did a great job, as did Boddy-Calhoun, but Gregg couldn't run press/man coverage. It was off-man and zone. He was vulnerable underneath, and sometimes (especially late in games) over the top, as Peppers "bit" on double moves, and none of his corners could really run with the speedsters vertically.
He had to run a "tame" conventional defense with a 4-man front so he could have a built-in passrush and stop the run. Then there goes Garrett. Then Ogbah, then Garrett again, so...
Oh I forgot Collins.
2018 is night and day different, and John Dorsey deserves most of the credit for it.
Williams now has press/man corners, a true free safety, and strong safeties (and safetybackers) in-depth.
The TWO new linebackers (Kendricks and A V E R Y dammit) are versatile studs (and I repeat: Kirksey, and not Schobert, is on the spot here).
In 2018, we should see more three-man fronts. That's with Ogunjobi or Meder in the middle.
We will probably see Peppers and Kindred at the same time as well; that's a "Big Nickel" or extra-big dime.
Ignoring Kindred and Peppers, who can do linebacker stuff: for Gregg Williams, the rest isn't too complicated for his front 7/6/5:
His top tier studs are Garrett, Kendricks, and Collins.
His second tier is Schobert, Ogbah, Ogunjobi, and RODNEY AVERYFIELD.
His third tier is Meder, Kirksey, and company.
All this stuff about the defensive ends Dorsey just drafted or signed being able to play inside too is almost funny.
They're depth players, and defensive ends first. Carl Nassib is indeed on the bubble, but I'm not counting him out:
He looks to be over 300 lean pounds now, so he's unique on this roster. Nassib could indeed crap out, but this guy led the NCAA in sacks and clocked a sub-4.8 40 at 6'7".
Gregg Williams will be reluctant to let this specimen go, unless both of the new guys are clearly better than him vs both the pass and the run.
But yeah, Nassib is on the bubble. He's entering his third season. That's one season early to bring the gavel down on a player, but Nassib has played a lot, and this is a very deep roster.
Gregg will know more when they put the pads on, however, and I'm just saying: Don't count Nassib out.
Oh, I hear you: Dorsey didn't draft him, therefore he will keep one of "his" guys instead.
Nah! One thing that's become crystal clear about John Dorsey is that he listens to his coaches. Gregg Williams will make these decisions.
Dorsey is an ex-player himself (a linebacker). As evidenced by his "there aren't enough real football players here" statement in defense of Hue Jackson, he's no politician.
He's a terrible liar. I assume he went straight back to Jimmy Haslam and said "If you ever ask me to do anything like that again, I quit."
Still, Jarvis Landry, Mychal Kendricks, and those other veteran free agents are real football players...
But so are Duke, Bitonio, Njoku, Tretter, Schobert, Kirksey, Boddy-Calhoun, Kindred, McCourty, Zietler, Garrett, Ogunjobi, Ogbah etc so...well no politician except Hillary or Nancy would have tried that.
So I'm on the Dorsey-train now 100%, based on what he has done so far, and I blame his idiotic "real football players" statement on Jimmy Haslam ("You need to defend Hue Jackson.")
But I digress: Okbye
Any jury would convict Colon of bias and dumbassitude.
But some of the garbage Colon spewed bugged me, like "You're not Russell Wilson".
Well of course he's not. Wilson is a much more dangerous dual threat, and he played in a pro system in college.
But Colon is just fixated on height, so he refelexively compares him to the shortest quarterback in the NFL. Wilson is over two inches SHORTER than Baker Mayfield.
And why couldn't he have said "You're not Drew Brees" instead?
If Colon had a clue about quarterbacks, he would have cited Brees instead of Wilson, because Mayfield looks a lot more like him than he does Wilson.
He is accurate as hell, gets rid of it quickly, and spreads it around.
If Colon could get over his height fixation, he could have said "You're not Rodgers", or "You're not Warner" (unthinkable, I know, since these two are one whole inch taller).
Russell Wilson is a terrific quarterback, but he's different than these other guys (he's much more like Tyrod Taylor, in fact).
Related: Mitchell's big brother, Geoff Schwartze, is "concerned" about reports that Baker Mayfield "isn't ready yet", and that Tyrod Taylor looks a lot better.
If I were Geoff, I'd feel the same way: Sashi Brown screwed up big-time when he withdrew his offer to Mitchell and let him walk. I'd resent the hell out of anybody who did my little bro that way, but Geoff: that was Sashi Brown, and he's gone now, ok?
But Geoff: You're an analyst now, and you can't keep letting your emotions pollute your analysis!
Mayfield played in an Air Raid system, while Taylor is a seasoned vet, and they haven't even started training camp yet, for cryin out loud! I haven't heard you express concern about any other ROOKIE quarterback yet!
Generally speaking, if you are "concerned" about any rookie quarterback screwing up at this point in his rookie OFF season, you just need to take a pill.
And Geoff Schwartze knows it. It's too bad too, because Geoff Schwartze is a ton smarter than Colon Cowherd, and a mind is a terrible thing to waste.
Mike Florjancic's article on what Gregg Williams had to say about how Mychal Kendricks fits into his defense was really informative.
Gregg again says that everybody needs to play more than one position, because in his defense, it's not "next position player up" in the event of injury, but "next best athlete up".
I'm getting it now: This is partly why (up until 2017) Gregg ran all sorts of exotic fronts. That's about getting his best players on the field as much as he can, regardless of position.
Specifically in re Kendricks and other guys, he says "They can line up at defensive end, but they're not (defensive ends).
Yeah! Clay Matthews II did that a lot! He was often a "stand-up" defensive end (Clay never put his hand in the dirt). From there, he was almost as likely to cover as to passrush.
(He lined up over the tight end and always jammed him first, regardless of what he did next. A true defensive end can't do this stuff).
Martin McConnell thinks Larry Ogunjobi could emerge as a game-changer in his second season. This was a good article, but Martin should have spelled out that Gregg Williams rotated the defensive tackles heavily in 2017, and Ogunjobi did what he did "working part time".
I agree with Martin. Larry was the best of the bunch per PFF and in production per-snap in 2017, and Coley was a veteran. Ogunjobi exceeded expectations, and Williams sees it.
Last season, the defensive line was his deepest unit, but now that he's got Kendricks and Rodney Averyfield, the linebackers might have at least caught up to them.
Before I go on, here are some things Gregg has to keep in mind:
1: Defensive linemen get tired, and need more rest than linebackers. They're constantly in fistfights with generally bigger offensive linemen, sprinting, changing directions, chasing...it's a tough gig. Linebackers don't need so much oxygen.
2: Every Defensive Coordinator in the NFL knows that "3-4" and "4-3" as base defenses is a fiction. You have to run nickels or dimes vs spread offenses, including many "two tight end" or two-back variations.
Last season, Gregg Williams didn't have a good secondary. He played Peppers at free safety, Kindred was lost for the season...
McCourty did a great job, as did Boddy-Calhoun, but Gregg couldn't run press/man coverage. It was off-man and zone. He was vulnerable underneath, and sometimes (especially late in games) over the top, as Peppers "bit" on double moves, and none of his corners could really run with the speedsters vertically.
He had to run a "tame" conventional defense with a 4-man front so he could have a built-in passrush and stop the run. Then there goes Garrett. Then Ogbah, then Garrett again, so...
Oh I forgot Collins.
2018 is night and day different, and John Dorsey deserves most of the credit for it.
Williams now has press/man corners, a true free safety, and strong safeties (and safetybackers) in-depth.
The TWO new linebackers (Kendricks and A V E R Y dammit) are versatile studs (and I repeat: Kirksey, and not Schobert, is on the spot here).
In 2018, we should see more three-man fronts. That's with Ogunjobi or Meder in the middle.
We will probably see Peppers and Kindred at the same time as well; that's a "Big Nickel" or extra-big dime.
Ignoring Kindred and Peppers, who can do linebacker stuff: for Gregg Williams, the rest isn't too complicated for his front 7/6/5:
His top tier studs are Garrett, Kendricks, and Collins.
His second tier is Schobert, Ogbah, Ogunjobi, and RODNEY AVERYFIELD.
His third tier is Meder, Kirksey, and company.
All this stuff about the defensive ends Dorsey just drafted or signed being able to play inside too is almost funny.
They're depth players, and defensive ends first. Carl Nassib is indeed on the bubble, but I'm not counting him out:
He looks to be over 300 lean pounds now, so he's unique on this roster. Nassib could indeed crap out, but this guy led the NCAA in sacks and clocked a sub-4.8 40 at 6'7".
Gregg Williams will be reluctant to let this specimen go, unless both of the new guys are clearly better than him vs both the pass and the run.
But yeah, Nassib is on the bubble. He's entering his third season. That's one season early to bring the gavel down on a player, but Nassib has played a lot, and this is a very deep roster.
Gregg will know more when they put the pads on, however, and I'm just saying: Don't count Nassib out.
Oh, I hear you: Dorsey didn't draft him, therefore he will keep one of "his" guys instead.
Nah! One thing that's become crystal clear about John Dorsey is that he listens to his coaches. Gregg Williams will make these decisions.
Dorsey is an ex-player himself (a linebacker). As evidenced by his "there aren't enough real football players here" statement in defense of Hue Jackson, he's no politician.
He's a terrible liar. I assume he went straight back to Jimmy Haslam and said "If you ever ask me to do anything like that again, I quit."
Still, Jarvis Landry, Mychal Kendricks, and those other veteran free agents are real football players...
But so are Duke, Bitonio, Njoku, Tretter, Schobert, Kirksey, Boddy-Calhoun, Kindred, McCourty, Zietler, Garrett, Ogunjobi, Ogbah etc so...well no politician except Hillary or Nancy would have tried that.
So I'm on the Dorsey-train now 100%, based on what he has done so far, and I blame his idiotic "real football players" statement on Jimmy Haslam ("You need to defend Hue Jackson.")
But I digress: Okbye
Saturday, June 23, 2018
Cowherd Hyperbole, Memorex Morons, and the 2018 Browns
Update on Baker Mayfield vs Colon Cowherd, thanks to Jeff Schudel:
Cowherd actually said the Browns lacked talent, as well? Mayfield interrupted him right there and set him straight (interestingly, extolling Tyrod Taylor's virtues first.)
Jeff included a bunch of complete quotes from Mayfield, and it was impressive. He was civil with this dingbat, but certainly did slam-dunk him. This guy is in full control of himself; he's mature.
Our old freind Nate Burleson was impressed too. The ex-wide receiver has been high on Mayfield all along, but cited this interview as evidence that he's a fighter and a leader.
...Cowherd said the 2018 Browns lack talent...incredible. How can somebody that dumb...nevermind.
A scout said that Tyrod Taylor could keep Baker on the bench for years. That's why he doesn't work in a front office.
If you throw all that contract and budget business out the window, this guy would probably be correct, because Tyrod Taylor is really being underrated, and just fell into an armory full of super-weapons.
This scout knows talent when he sees it, but it won't matter. Like I said several weeks ago, the better Tyrod plays, the more he will cost, and John Dorsey can't be shelling out 25-plus mil/year to keep Mayfield on the bench.
As good as I believe Tyrod will be in 2018, Mayfield was drafted first overall for a reason: Dorsey (and no doubt Haley) expect him to become better than Taylor.
Christopher Marcoch wrote about a generally positive article by a fantasy guy who likes a bunch of Browns players.
But as Chris (and the article he cites) point out, too much skill talent can be a problem (for fantasy owners), because there is only one football.
Chris himself says that looking at Haley with the Steelers isn't as good as looking at how he handled the Rams offense, if you're trying to figure out how he'll use these guys. He's right:
Between Antonio Brown and Ebineezer Bell, Haley had two perennial Pro Bowlers and clutch performers, and he naturally leaned hard on them. Big Ben is a pocket passer, so he didn't get fancy there, either.
The Browns have Gordon, Landry, Njoku, Johnson, and (stand by) Nick Chubb. Behind Ebineezer and Antonio, the Steelers don't...oh yeah Juju Smith Schuster how could I forget that rising star?
Still, the Browns are planning a committee backfield. Duke is pinched by both that and Jarvis Landry. How can you draft a Browns running back (high)?
You'd think Gordon is a no-brainer, but then Josh never had anybody like Landry or Njoku gobbling up receptions (Barnidge was different; Njoku gets deeper ok?)
And Haley will run the ball a lot. Gordon is certainly a good guy to draft, but not as good as the second or third best wide receivers in the NFL, given these circumstances.
But Tyrod Taylor? We have a winner! You should absotively draft Tyrod Taylor!
Look: With this crew, Haley simply has to use some dumpoffs and short (extremely high percentage) passes to augment the running game...I doubt that Tyrod will actually hand off more than 45% of the time.
And he will throw deep, 3-6 times per-game, to Gordon and Njoku. Haley simply has to show this threat to keep defenses on their heels, if nothing else.
And what about those dink-passes? Well, some will go to Duke, who can rock-and-roll with them (then Hyde and Chubb). And I want to see what Landry will do with a little elbow room too. And Coleman or Callaway right?
Then there's Tyrod himself. He'll gain yards on the ground, and nobody wants to be the defense up against him inside your ten yard line, especially if your passrush flushes him out!
Landry scored nine touchdowns last season. Njoku caught a little over 32 passes and scored several touchdowns. Do the math!
I believe that Tyrod Taylor should rank in the top ten in passing yardage, in the top 2-4 in rushing yards, and top 10 in combined TDs.
I bet he even racks up 4 or more 300 yard games.
Go ahead blow your top picks on Brady or Big Ben or Rodgers or Brees or whoever, but nab Tyrod a little lower.
Ditto Gordon (but you probably can't--somebody who doesn't think it through will draft him before you can). But Njoku should be available! He was lethal in the red zone, and Haley will have him on the field inside the 20 every single time!
Don't sleep on Njoku! They'll have to put strong safeties and linebackers on him, in single coverage! Tyrod can't miss him between the hashes, aiming right where the free safety left to go after Gordon! Mark my words! Remember Edwards/Winslow?
And the Browns defense too: Nobody else will want them, so you can get them cheap. Look at all the talent they just added! Look at Gregg Williams' history! There's your humungous sleeper fantasy pick!
You'll draft them low and end up starting them for most of the season. Laugh at me now but pay me a kickback later.
Bill Livingston is a great wordsmith, but his football analysis is superficial (and often sensational).
1: Carson Wentz could not have done as well with that Browns roster as he did with the Eagles.
2: The proceeds from the Wentz trade constitute a good portion of the core of this roster. Several were Sashi Brown picks, and some were the ones he left for John Dorsey.
3: Bill was right: Hue Jackson wanted Kizer. That was by NO means an "analytics" pick!!!
4: Yeah I wanted Watson too, and thought it was dumb to pass him up. I just don't know if that was Sashi or Hue.
5: Sashi Brown wasn't the "analytics" guy. Paul DePodesta was. And he's still here.
Bill was right about how Hue Palmer put Kizer in a no-win situation, but not about much else.
Jeff Risdon (USA Today) lists his version of the Browns' five most winnable games in 2018. Jets, Tampa, Ravens, Bengals, and Raiders.
I was impressed by Jeff's in-depth analysis, which included stuff like the Ravens having faced the Steelers on a previous week, Ogbah/Garrett vs weak offensive tackles, depth, and coaching.
Jeff also mentions the talent on this roster (somebody tweet Colon!)
Like me, Jeff isn't all that impressed by John Gruden, let alone Marvin Lewis. IMO, Gruden just passed up Lewis as the most overrated Head Coach in the NFL (nothing personal I like both guys).
Another thing Jeff points out about all these teams is that they have "holes" in their roster which the Browns can exploit.
The 2018 Browns don't have any such holes. That includes left tackle, if you understand how Todd Haley will use Tyrod (and Baker): No Joe Thomas required, see? No Marquis of Queensbury Hue Palmer official pocket, see?
Jeff also looks at current rosters (unlike the Colons of this world), rather than just 2017 statistics.
I've got to pencil five "w"'s in here. The 2018 Browns don't just have a chance to win these games. They should win them.
...and a few more.
Cowherd actually said the Browns lacked talent, as well? Mayfield interrupted him right there and set him straight (interestingly, extolling Tyrod Taylor's virtues first.)
Jeff included a bunch of complete quotes from Mayfield, and it was impressive. He was civil with this dingbat, but certainly did slam-dunk him. This guy is in full control of himself; he's mature.
Our old freind Nate Burleson was impressed too. The ex-wide receiver has been high on Mayfield all along, but cited this interview as evidence that he's a fighter and a leader.
...Cowherd said the 2018 Browns lack talent...incredible. How can somebody that dumb...nevermind.
A scout said that Tyrod Taylor could keep Baker on the bench for years. That's why he doesn't work in a front office.
If you throw all that contract and budget business out the window, this guy would probably be correct, because Tyrod Taylor is really being underrated, and just fell into an armory full of super-weapons.
This scout knows talent when he sees it, but it won't matter. Like I said several weeks ago, the better Tyrod plays, the more he will cost, and John Dorsey can't be shelling out 25-plus mil/year to keep Mayfield on the bench.
As good as I believe Tyrod will be in 2018, Mayfield was drafted first overall for a reason: Dorsey (and no doubt Haley) expect him to become better than Taylor.
Christopher Marcoch wrote about a generally positive article by a fantasy guy who likes a bunch of Browns players.
But as Chris (and the article he cites) point out, too much skill talent can be a problem (for fantasy owners), because there is only one football.
Chris himself says that looking at Haley with the Steelers isn't as good as looking at how he handled the Rams offense, if you're trying to figure out how he'll use these guys. He's right:
Between Antonio Brown and Ebineezer Bell, Haley had two perennial Pro Bowlers and clutch performers, and he naturally leaned hard on them. Big Ben is a pocket passer, so he didn't get fancy there, either.
The Browns have Gordon, Landry, Njoku, Johnson, and (stand by) Nick Chubb. Behind Ebineezer and Antonio, the Steelers don't...oh yeah Juju Smith Schuster how could I forget that rising star?
Still, the Browns are planning a committee backfield. Duke is pinched by both that and Jarvis Landry. How can you draft a Browns running back (high)?
You'd think Gordon is a no-brainer, but then Josh never had anybody like Landry or Njoku gobbling up receptions (Barnidge was different; Njoku gets deeper ok?)
And Haley will run the ball a lot. Gordon is certainly a good guy to draft, but not as good as the second or third best wide receivers in the NFL, given these circumstances.
But Tyrod Taylor? We have a winner! You should absotively draft Tyrod Taylor!
Look: With this crew, Haley simply has to use some dumpoffs and short (extremely high percentage) passes to augment the running game...I doubt that Tyrod will actually hand off more than 45% of the time.
And he will throw deep, 3-6 times per-game, to Gordon and Njoku. Haley simply has to show this threat to keep defenses on their heels, if nothing else.
And what about those dink-passes? Well, some will go to Duke, who can rock-and-roll with them (then Hyde and Chubb). And I want to see what Landry will do with a little elbow room too. And Coleman or Callaway right?
Then there's Tyrod himself. He'll gain yards on the ground, and nobody wants to be the defense up against him inside your ten yard line, especially if your passrush flushes him out!
Landry scored nine touchdowns last season. Njoku caught a little over 32 passes and scored several touchdowns. Do the math!
I believe that Tyrod Taylor should rank in the top ten in passing yardage, in the top 2-4 in rushing yards, and top 10 in combined TDs.
I bet he even racks up 4 or more 300 yard games.
Go ahead blow your top picks on Brady or Big Ben or Rodgers or Brees or whoever, but nab Tyrod a little lower.
Ditto Gordon (but you probably can't--somebody who doesn't think it through will draft him before you can). But Njoku should be available! He was lethal in the red zone, and Haley will have him on the field inside the 20 every single time!
Don't sleep on Njoku! They'll have to put strong safeties and linebackers on him, in single coverage! Tyrod can't miss him between the hashes, aiming right where the free safety left to go after Gordon! Mark my words! Remember Edwards/Winslow?
And the Browns defense too: Nobody else will want them, so you can get them cheap. Look at all the talent they just added! Look at Gregg Williams' history! There's your humungous sleeper fantasy pick!
You'll draft them low and end up starting them for most of the season. Laugh at me now but pay me a kickback later.
Bill Livingston is a great wordsmith, but his football analysis is superficial (and often sensational).
1: Carson Wentz could not have done as well with that Browns roster as he did with the Eagles.
2: The proceeds from the Wentz trade constitute a good portion of the core of this roster. Several were Sashi Brown picks, and some were the ones he left for John Dorsey.
3: Bill was right: Hue Jackson wanted Kizer. That was by NO means an "analytics" pick!!!
4: Yeah I wanted Watson too, and thought it was dumb to pass him up. I just don't know if that was Sashi or Hue.
5: Sashi Brown wasn't the "analytics" guy. Paul DePodesta was. And he's still here.
Bill was right about how Hue Palmer put Kizer in a no-win situation, but not about much else.
Jeff Risdon (USA Today) lists his version of the Browns' five most winnable games in 2018. Jets, Tampa, Ravens, Bengals, and Raiders.
I was impressed by Jeff's in-depth analysis, which included stuff like the Ravens having faced the Steelers on a previous week, Ogbah/Garrett vs weak offensive tackles, depth, and coaching.
Jeff also mentions the talent on this roster (somebody tweet Colon!)
Like me, Jeff isn't all that impressed by John Gruden, let alone Marvin Lewis. IMO, Gruden just passed up Lewis as the most overrated Head Coach in the NFL (nothing personal I like both guys).
Another thing Jeff points out about all these teams is that they have "holes" in their roster which the Browns can exploit.
The 2018 Browns don't have any such holes. That includes left tackle, if you understand how Todd Haley will use Tyrod (and Baker): No Joe Thomas required, see? No Marquis of Queensbury Hue Palmer official pocket, see?
Jeff also looks at current rosters (unlike the Colons of this world), rather than just 2017 statistics.
I've got to pencil five "w"'s in here. The 2018 Browns don't just have a chance to win these games. They should win them.
...and a few more.
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