Monday, July 2, 2018

Wylie Insights, the Left Tackle Derby, Business, Corbett, and the Browns

Good article by Dan Labbe on the left tackle Derby.  If you read this Blog regularly, it will all sound familiar, but Dan actually talks to Wylie and those guys.

Most of what Wylie said will sound familiar too (hey!  HE must read my Blog!)

I can't resist redundandationalizing on Bitonio at left tackle here yet again:

What does Wylie say about that?  He might be a decent left tackle, but he's an elite left guard.  Leave him where he is!

But Wylie is a little overboard on Shon Coleman's transition from right to left tackle, because Coleman played left tackle in college.

Certainly, he was zeroed in on right tackle as a pro, and has never been at left at this level, but it's not like he forgot everything he did in college.

I did learn something from Wylie, however: "Triggers":  Wylie said "the last place you're looking is the guy in front of you."

I didn't know that!  I guess a left tackle has to sorta scan the whole defense (or at least the front seven) and figure out how they're going to come after him in advance.

I had no idea!  

I can only wildly guess at what Wylie is talking about:

1: The alignment, of course: How many guys are on the line, are they in gaps or in faces, is there an edge guy way outside on the right, etc.

2: Have you seen this set on film? If so what did they do that time?

I'll stop my amateurish wild guessing here, but now I know another reason why so many guys crap out at left tackle, and another reason why Big Joe is going to the Hall.

But this new information does spice up the handicapping!

This is a little like what quarterbacks have to do.  I think in the case of the left tackle it's mostly presnap, but you still need to "process" a lot in a few seconds.

Well, I can't speak to Shon Coleman, but after watching the "Film Room" on Austin Corbett, he looks like he can do this (read "triggers" like Wylie said).

Corbett seemed to anticipate stunts and other dirty tricks defenses tried on him.  After what Wylie said here, I now think that this had everything to do with why Dorsey drafted him atop the second round.

But Labbe's article lists undrafted free agent Desmond Harrison as a longshot in 2018, and rightfully so: He's the only guy with Joe Thomas-like athleticism in this race.

He's rightfully a longshot because he's very inexperienced, has a very checkered past, and (for all we know) might be a dumbass.

But you can't count physical talent like that out.

Gil Brandt thinks the Browns might burn a third round 2019 draft pick on cornerback Sam Beal in the supplemental draft.

Sam Beal has great upside, but is inexperienced, and doesn't get as many turnovers as you'd expect.  He's 6'1", but kinda light at (max) 186 lbs.  However, he's a natural born press/man corner, and should get bigger.

I hear you: Aren't the Browns stacked at cornerback already?

Well, it's about value, and the big picture:

Consensus grades Beal around the top of the second round, so he's a bargain in the third round.

You draft him now, and you get to coach him up starting right now, so that he enters training camp in 2019 with one NFL season under his belt.

He's probably over 195 lbs now,  and has been married to the juggs machine (jeez he's a converted wide receiver his hands can't be that bad!)...and he's competing to start opposite fellow 2018 rookie Denzel Ward.

Gaines and Carey are really good, and Wilson and Simeon Thomas show great upside, but if Sam Beal looks to Gregg Williams and company like a better PRESS/MAN cornerback than two of these guys, you draft him.

Wilson just got injured AGAIN.  Thomas is an educated guess.  Carey and Gaines have been injured, and aren't considered elite PRESS/MAN cornerbacks...

You get this, right?  They're excellent cornerbacks in general, but maybe not Hanford Dixon or Frank Minnifield is any of this sinking in yet?

...and of course Sam Beal would be locked up for four years dirt-cheap.  

There's also a safety the Browns could nab even lower, but it's last call so nevermind okbye


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