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.
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