You can't hear about a high-profile player in a contract dispute without hearing rumors (usually based on rank speculation) that the Browns are trying to trade for him.
I think it would be awesome to have Khalil Mack in the same defense with Myles Garrett, and I would even cough up a first round pick for him, but No.
One guy speculated that it would take two first round picks (for starters). That's usually crap, as the longer a holdout goes, the more pressure the team is to come down from their understandably rediculous asking price, so eventually, a deal could become possible.
But I won't even go further with this: Mack is trying to become the highest paid defensive player in the NFL. Unlike Ebineezer Bell, these demands align with the market: Mack is WORTH close to that much.
But that much burned up cap space AND the trade compensation? This is getting silly!
Sure, Mack is better than anybody here except for Garrett, but don't let this get all out of proportion:
You will see that Ogbah is pretty good in real games, and Avery (take this to the bank) will kick butt even as a rookie.
If Mack can get 16 sacks, Avery can get 10 or 12. You want to pay around 16 mil/year and multiple draft picks for 4-6 sacks/year?
Get a grip (and that goes for you too Dorsey--are you still chasing Dez Bryant by the way?)
Yeah, Mack would be an upgrade and a difference-maker, but he's a want, not a need. Elementary logic: the return could never offset the price.
The trade and then the contract would do this team more harm than good. Long-term goes without saying, but short-term he's a "bust" if the Browns don't win the 2018 Superbowl GET A GRIP ok?
JC commodity A is worth 50 and commodity B is worth 40. You want to pay 110 for 50, and kick 40 to the curb--that's irrational, even before you get into the trade compensation nevermind this concludes arithmatic 101 dammit.
They got a 2019 7th rounder from the Niners for Shon Coleman. Good deal! They were going to have to cut him anyway. I wish the guy luck. I don't know what his problems were, but he really seemed to be trying.
It's okay to pick on people who screw up or are lazy or whatever (like Johnny Manswell), but when you start bashing guys who bust ass and come up short, you're an asshole.
It's assenine that these guys get paid millions for playing a kid's game, but if you had that chance, you'd be fighting for a roster spot too.
Hue Jackson is keeping his options open as to the left side of the offensive line!!!
People will automatically call him an idiot for even thinking about this this close to the opener vs the Steelers, but I'm not one of them, and niether is Bob Wylie.
I remember Doug Dieken talking about Desmond Harrison in glowing terms (but what does he know?), and Harrison has to be the reason they're considering moving Bitonio back inside.
If you guys read this Blog, you know that less than three posts ago, I said it was probably too late for Harrison this season, since it would disrupt the chemistry.
But upon further reflection, Bitonio played next to Tretter for all of 2017 (with Zeitler as well). Zero disruption. He could play left guard in his sleep (and prefers it).
Des Harrison (what an amazing story) is a left tackle, responsible for a corner. It's a little different for left tackles.
As a rookie (with very little college experience, and that at the lowest level), you can pretty much count on Harrison getting outsmarted and faked out sometimes, and successfully bull-rushed sometimes too until he learns the ropes, but Wylie and the Browns (like Doug Dieken did) need to think hard about putting this physical freak in the ring early. Risk/reward.
Things that matter:
1: Both the top quarterbacks are mobile.
1a: Todd Haley has already factored weaknesses at left tackle, along with this, into the scheme he designed for this offense.
There will be more runs. A lot of the passes will be zone/reads, read-options, play-fakes, screens, and often quick-hitters. Haley has the personnel here to make that work, so a non-Joe Thomas can be protected (until he stops screwing up).
2: Bitonio himself is a key here: He played left tackle for four years in college, and has now been working at left tackle in this offense.
He'd be right next to this kid, all day long, giving him hints and coaching him up.
3: Harrison doesn't need help (ie a chipping tight end) to protect the edge. You won't see passrushers getting around him, because they'd have to go into orbit to do it (and that takes too long).
Defenses would twist and stunt on him, attacking his inexperience/hesitation.
But putting that tight end to his left eliminates the outside speed rush as an option for the edge guy, plus makes a blitze from farther outside problematic.
That tight end would allow Harrison to bias his protection inside...jeez how do I say this...
Well if he doesn't have that tight end to his left, he has the edge, and has to be ready to step to his left and get his hands on that guy, right?
Well, this is exactly where veteran edge-rushers screw up inexperienced (and tall) left tackles. They get them to take that step and lean that way, then they plant their outside foot and drive in under their pads, or simply across their face to sneak around them inside (as the tackle tries to regain his high center of balance on his extra-long legs).
The tight end neutralizes this, because he's there outside the edge-rusher, and a decent chip-block knocks him off-balance and "delivers him into the left tackle's clutches".
Harrison knows this. Now all that edge-rusher can do is come right at him, or cross his face, or stunt, so Des doesn't have to take that fatal step to his left, see?
In essence, just lining that tight end to Harrison's left eliminates like 33% of that edge-rushers options, so Des only sweats the 67% that's left. Pieca cake!
This would happen most obviously in obvious passing situations in which Haley has no choice but to give his quarterback time to shop around and throw deeper.
If you have a Joe Thomas, you can run a four-wide here, but if you don't, you line a tight end security-blanket outside your raw or slow left tackle to limit the defense's options.
You're not actually trading a receiver for a blocker here, since the instant the tight end sees that the edge-rusher is under control (or beyond his reach), he's a receiver again, and this happens a split second after the snap.
Every Browns tight end can do this.
A true "max protect" package would include Darren Fells as a de facto left tackle...but I'm far enough into the weeds here as-is nevermind.
Anyway it is not unthinkable, idiotic, or insane for Hue (and Rob) to consider returning Joel Bitonio to his comfort zone and start a rookie left tackle in game one vs the Steelers, okay?
I concur with you that Hue Jackson is a bad Head Coach, but don't go listing this among his screwups. When you start "piling on" like that, your cerebral cortex is shut down, and you are part of a lynch-mob.
Lynch-mobs are jam-packed with sheep and cowards. They're led by clowns like...oddly enough...guys like Colon Cowherd JFC you're buying what that ass-clown is selling!?! (but I digress):
None of these cuts surprise me. I guess they need to cut 17 more. The arguments will start then.
As Pat Kirwan, Gil Brandt, and my other peeps on NFL Radio taught me, 2-5 guys at the bottom of most rosters will change even after the final cut.
There are a lot of guys floating around in limbo at this point, and guys you were rooting for will still hit the curb, while guys you never heard of will show up.
Braxton Miller is floating around out there. I don't understand what went wrong with him. He is a legit "freak" wide receiver, and an ex-quarterback...anyway Braxton probably shows up on somebody's roster in 2018.
Watch Bill Belichick snatch him up and turn him into a safety.
I respect Jeff Risdon, but have a couple minor differences with his Browns final roster prediction:
I like that Jeff included Dayes and listed four running backs and zero fullbacks. He is correct: This team doesn't need a blocking fullback, and you can't kick a Matt Dayes to the curb.
I like that he keeps Cajuste and puts DeValve on PUP or IR. (I should have thought of that myself.)
Jeff retains five wide receivers, and reserves a sixth slot for a guy he thinks they'll get off waivers.
Sigh: Duke Johnson is as much a wide receiver as he is a running back, and Haley is eyeball deep in "move" tight ends. Ignore the labels. Todd Haley doesn't need more than five "official" wide receivers.
Jeff projects five defensive tackles, and thinks Jamie Meder is on a bubble.
Sigh: The majority of 4-3 'vanilla" defenses carry four defensive tackles-not five. Gregg Williams adapts to his talent, and runs whatever scheme suits what he has.
Jamie Meder is a nose tackle/2-gap defensive tackle human traffic jam/run-stuffer (ask his biggest fan: Gregg Williams).
Williams has been standing up Myles Garrett, and no doubt was behind both the Avery and Kendricks acquisitions. He drafted a DT/DE hybrid (classic 3-4 DE), and signed another one.
Schobert, Kirksey, Burgess, and Bello are collectively better suited to play inside in a 3-4 than in a 4-3. (Schobert is different, though).
Collins is a prototype 3-4 outside linebacker.
Nate Orchard was drafted as a defensive end, but (when not on IR) mutated into a good linebacker in every scheme, and based on what he did to Detriot, he's a LINEBACKER now! Jeff, like everybody else except me, labels him a "defensive end", and figures he's a cut.
As he did with Duke and the tight ends, Jeff here is treating these defensive players per their "labels". Gregg Williams only cares about talent; the best 25 or so football players he can get. He sorts his scheme out based on this...DUH.
Is any of this sinking in yet?
Jeff has the Browns retaining Micheal Jordan at cornerback, and kicking
both Simeon Thomas and Jeremiah McKinnon to the curb.
Screw pedigree, draft status, reputation, etc.
Rodney McKinnonfield has kicked ass throughout this preseason, and I can't fathom why you people still think he's an asterisk.
I like Micheal Jordan myself (see previous posts), but McKinnon has out-performed him. And T J Carrie.
I can see how you want to cut EJ Gaines some slack since he's injured now, but is a proven commodity, but dammit why are you just ignoring everything McKinnon has done here and now?
Based on performance alone, I guess you could cut Simeon Thomas, but JFC he's SIX FOOT THREE and a rookie!
I can't cut Risdon any slack here on his cornerback evaluation (especially after he says the Browns need six wide receivers and nine offensive linemen).
Maybe he's reserving that 6th wide receiver "to be named"slot for Dez Bryant? If he thought Simeon Thomas could make the practice squad, he would have at least mentioned his name.
I'm being too hard on Jeff here. He's almost certainly a lot younger than me, and certainly doesn't suffer Browns OCD like I do. I think back on some of the crap I wrote...long story short, Jeff Risdon might eventually become almost as smart as my humble self!
Friday, August 31, 2018
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Nate Orchard, McKinnon, Shallow Punditry, and the Browns Final Cuts
I was able to listen to most of the first half of the last preseason game vs the Lions, and some of the second half.
No surprise on Mayfield with/against scrubs. It doesn't mean too much, except he is capable of helping some of the other guys make the team with accurate and timely passes (like the big ones to Cajuste and Dayes).
You'll notice that he spread it around equally, too (rather than hammering Callaway over and over again, for example). I believe he was doing this deliberately, to give the coaches something to look out with each of these guys.
If you read this Blog, you know I'm a big Matt Dayes fan, and compared him to Earnest Byner. The coaches have been hammering Chubb hard, and Dayes/Hilliard have barely seen the field except on special teams.
They both looked terrific, but Dayes won this round. Both these guys fit a Duke Johnson role. Hilliard is quicker/faster but a little smaller. Dayes just has something special between his ears (like Byner did).
Dayes should make this team as a Duke sub and special teamer. I think. Not sure about Hilliard--only so many practice squad slots.
The defensive star of the game was obviously Nate Orchard.
This sideline guy keeps talking about Orchard vs Nassib. See my last post: Nate Orchard can and has played outside linebacker in both a 3-4 and 4-3, as well as defensive end in a 4-3.
Carl Nassib is a defensive end/tackle. He was tested at 3-4 outside linebacker at his combine, but since then has committed to defensive end and built himself up accordingly. The two players are totally different.
In Gregg Williams' mind, trust me: Nate Orchard is a capable linebacker in any alignment/scheme, as well as a 4-3 defensive end.
The Browns just cut Mychal Kendricks, so Nate Orchard and Carl Nassib could now both make the final cut.
As you know, I was rooting for Cajuste, but he committed two penalties that I know of, even as he made great plays both blocking and catching. I'm not sure how that will work out with Gregg Williams. I lean towards leniency, since Cajuste is still a young (and desperate) player.
Doug Dieken expressed some opinions on Desmond Harrison (who "started" at left tackle tonight)...but what does he know?
Doug is impressed by Harrison's footwork in pass-protection, and kept singling him out for pancake run-blocks earlier, as well.
Doug came right out and said what I've been saying: The Browns see Des Harrison as a potentially great left tackle. Like me, Doug and Jim are impressed by his meteoric ascent to number two left tackle, and both said he might be starting sooner rather than later.
I get the warm fuzzies when people you guys actually listen to sound like they're reading scripts I wrote (here) several weeks ago.
Dan Labbe (who I assume watched the whole game) weighs in with his angle on players who helped or hurt their chances tonight:
Dayes and Orchard naturally, but his third guy is wide receiver Da'Mari Scott, and cornerback Denzel Rice.
Dan thinks Cajuste was up-and down, and that his fate hinges on the health of Seth DeValve. I get where Dan is coming from here, but still think the Browns might keep four tight ends.
The guy Dan skips over is cornerback Jeremiah McKinnon, who was just...everywhere! Covering, tackling, making play after play. THAT guy made this team for sure! He's been kicking ass throughout camp and preseason!
I know there are a bunch of cornerbacks here, but this guy has been outperforming all of them, except Ward and Mitchell! I'm shocked that Dan overlooked him.
Good article by Fred Greetham:
Fred liked Mayfield's performance...okay (you guys know I say he was the best quarterback in this class, right)--these guys are over the top on this stuff here:
The Browns have extraordinary offensive depth, and the other ten players surrounding Mayfield generally overmatched the Lions' scrubs.
Mayfield had a clean pocket, good down-and-distance situations, and Dayes. This is why two posts ago I predicted a massacre, and pundits ranting about how great Mayfield looked (note: Fred is a pundit...is any of this sinking in yet?)
Fred's analysis of the defense and running game encompassed the whole preseason and was spot-on. Both look dominating (well except for the run vs those pesky Eagles, which Fred overlooked).
Here, the very bottom of the Lions roster racked up points vs their Browns counterparts in the 4th quarter, but the majority of these guys will be on practice squads, in Arena Football or Canada, or just plain have real jobs next week.
Fred notes too many penalties. Amen. Gotta fix that. Most were offensive, but two were on Cajuste. I still root for the guy. Haley can fix him. But yes, he is a possible cut.
Here come the Steelers. Fred points out that the Browns haven't won their opening game since forever. Irrelevant.
New GM. New Offensive Coordinator. Proven, solid veteran quarterback. If you think the Browns will lose because the Steelers have a better quarterback and are veterans who won't screw up (and oh by the way a proven top contender), I respect that.
But if you think this Browns team will lose because previous Browns teams lost all their openers, you're clueless.
These historical stats would be relevant if the given regime and the majority of the players were the same; for example for the Patriots, Steelers, Falcons, Saints, Packers etc.
But they are irrelevant for teams like the 49ers, Rams, or Browns.
As I've posted before, Todd Haley brought more than just himself to the 2018 Browns.
The Steelers new Offensive Coordinator intends to run most of Haley's system as-is (smart guy!) Naturally, they'll have to change the play-calling "language" from that which Haley used (as Haley will have changed his own)...
Well I'll get into that tactical stuff tomorrow.
For now, I came in under the wire for last call at Applebees and have already made this post too long (plus the tactical stuff vs the Steelers will be fascinating by itself).
More generally speaking, the 2018 Browns are not intimidated by the 2018 Steelers. Everybody (except maybe Hue Jackson) expects the better team to win.
You got Antonio Brown? We got Josh Gordon. And Landry. And a better defense than you, chock full of zone-block hand grenades, LaVeon Bell kryptonite safetybackers, and passrushers your quarterback can't shrug off.
More on that later: The point I'll close on here is this: Unless Hue Jackson overrides Haley or Williams, or the referees screw the Browns again, the 2018 Browns won't CHOKE this time.
And the 2018 Browns have better overall talent than the 2018 Steelers. DEAL with it.
No surprise on Mayfield with/against scrubs. It doesn't mean too much, except he is capable of helping some of the other guys make the team with accurate and timely passes (like the big ones to Cajuste and Dayes).
You'll notice that he spread it around equally, too (rather than hammering Callaway over and over again, for example). I believe he was doing this deliberately, to give the coaches something to look out with each of these guys.
If you read this Blog, you know I'm a big Matt Dayes fan, and compared him to Earnest Byner. The coaches have been hammering Chubb hard, and Dayes/Hilliard have barely seen the field except on special teams.
They both looked terrific, but Dayes won this round. Both these guys fit a Duke Johnson role. Hilliard is quicker/faster but a little smaller. Dayes just has something special between his ears (like Byner did).
Dayes should make this team as a Duke sub and special teamer. I think. Not sure about Hilliard--only so many practice squad slots.
The defensive star of the game was obviously Nate Orchard.
This sideline guy keeps talking about Orchard vs Nassib. See my last post: Nate Orchard can and has played outside linebacker in both a 3-4 and 4-3, as well as defensive end in a 4-3.
Carl Nassib is a defensive end/tackle. He was tested at 3-4 outside linebacker at his combine, but since then has committed to defensive end and built himself up accordingly. The two players are totally different.
In Gregg Williams' mind, trust me: Nate Orchard is a capable linebacker in any alignment/scheme, as well as a 4-3 defensive end.
The Browns just cut Mychal Kendricks, so Nate Orchard and Carl Nassib could now both make the final cut.
As you know, I was rooting for Cajuste, but he committed two penalties that I know of, even as he made great plays both blocking and catching. I'm not sure how that will work out with Gregg Williams. I lean towards leniency, since Cajuste is still a young (and desperate) player.
Doug Dieken expressed some opinions on Desmond Harrison (who "started" at left tackle tonight)...but what does he know?
Doug is impressed by Harrison's footwork in pass-protection, and kept singling him out for pancake run-blocks earlier, as well.
Doug came right out and said what I've been saying: The Browns see Des Harrison as a potentially great left tackle. Like me, Doug and Jim are impressed by his meteoric ascent to number two left tackle, and both said he might be starting sooner rather than later.
I get the warm fuzzies when people you guys actually listen to sound like they're reading scripts I wrote (here) several weeks ago.
Dan Labbe (who I assume watched the whole game) weighs in with his angle on players who helped or hurt their chances tonight:
Dayes and Orchard naturally, but his third guy is wide receiver Da'Mari Scott, and cornerback Denzel Rice.
Dan thinks Cajuste was up-and down, and that his fate hinges on the health of Seth DeValve. I get where Dan is coming from here, but still think the Browns might keep four tight ends.
The guy Dan skips over is cornerback Jeremiah McKinnon, who was just...everywhere! Covering, tackling, making play after play. THAT guy made this team for sure! He's been kicking ass throughout camp and preseason!
I know there are a bunch of cornerbacks here, but this guy has been outperforming all of them, except Ward and Mitchell! I'm shocked that Dan overlooked him.
Good article by Fred Greetham:
Fred liked Mayfield's performance...okay (you guys know I say he was the best quarterback in this class, right)--these guys are over the top on this stuff here:
The Browns have extraordinary offensive depth, and the other ten players surrounding Mayfield generally overmatched the Lions' scrubs.
Mayfield had a clean pocket, good down-and-distance situations, and Dayes. This is why two posts ago I predicted a massacre, and pundits ranting about how great Mayfield looked (note: Fred is a pundit...is any of this sinking in yet?)
Fred's analysis of the defense and running game encompassed the whole preseason and was spot-on. Both look dominating (well except for the run vs those pesky Eagles, which Fred overlooked).
Here, the very bottom of the Lions roster racked up points vs their Browns counterparts in the 4th quarter, but the majority of these guys will be on practice squads, in Arena Football or Canada, or just plain have real jobs next week.
Fred notes too many penalties. Amen. Gotta fix that. Most were offensive, but two were on Cajuste. I still root for the guy. Haley can fix him. But yes, he is a possible cut.
Here come the Steelers. Fred points out that the Browns haven't won their opening game since forever. Irrelevant.
New GM. New Offensive Coordinator. Proven, solid veteran quarterback. If you think the Browns will lose because the Steelers have a better quarterback and are veterans who won't screw up (and oh by the way a proven top contender), I respect that.
But if you think this Browns team will lose because previous Browns teams lost all their openers, you're clueless.
These historical stats would be relevant if the given regime and the majority of the players were the same; for example for the Patriots, Steelers, Falcons, Saints, Packers etc.
But they are irrelevant for teams like the 49ers, Rams, or Browns.
As I've posted before, Todd Haley brought more than just himself to the 2018 Browns.
The Steelers new Offensive Coordinator intends to run most of Haley's system as-is (smart guy!) Naturally, they'll have to change the play-calling "language" from that which Haley used (as Haley will have changed his own)...
Well I'll get into that tactical stuff tomorrow.
For now, I came in under the wire for last call at Applebees and have already made this post too long (plus the tactical stuff vs the Steelers will be fascinating by itself).
More generally speaking, the 2018 Browns are not intimidated by the 2018 Steelers. Everybody (except maybe Hue Jackson) expects the better team to win.
You got Antonio Brown? We got Josh Gordon. And Landry. And a better defense than you, chock full of zone-block hand grenades, LaVeon Bell kryptonite safetybackers, and passrushers your quarterback can't shrug off.
More on that later: The point I'll close on here is this: Unless Hue Jackson overrides Haley or Williams, or the referees screw the Browns again, the 2018 Browns won't CHOKE this time.
And the 2018 Browns have better overall talent than the 2018 Steelers. DEAL with it.
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Getting Over Kendricks, Gregg Williams' Defense, Avery, and the Browns
Mychal Kendricks is as good as gone. He may be able to trade testimony or something to avoid prison (probably not), but at the very least he'll be suspended indefinitely.
I won't bother with the details-you'll get all those, but just color him gone.
Ah, quit throwing your hands up with this "same old Browns" crap they paid him chump-change for one year, and how were they supposed to see this coming?
I can't wait til some idiot says "Dorsey should have known." You know somebody will, right?
I'll leave you to wallow in this catostrophic disaster while I work on what matters:
Obviously, this means a linebacker who was going to get cut will make it, and also that Genard Avery will get more playing time (he and Kendricks are very similar; redundant, really).
Let's check out the depth chart:
We know that Schobert, Collins, Kirksey and Avery will make it, and I can certainly give James Burgess a great shot. That's five.
Currie Sheldon Grace I don't know these guys.
Nate Orchard could get new life!
Hear me out: Schobert, Kirksey, Burgess, Collins and Avery all fit in every scheme, but only Collins and Avery are 3-4 edge-rushers (*although Gregg has been using Garrett there a little, and Ogbah has already played the position--decently)...
For some reason I've cooled on Orchard again. I was going to say he's the only guy left who can/has played both SAM in a 4-3 and OLB in a 3-4, but Ogbah and Garrett are now two more who can stand up in a 3-4.
I still give Nate a slightly better shot due to his credible experience at linebacker and passrushing potential.
Jermaine Grace is listed at 6'1", 209 lbs. He has to be safetybacker depth and a special teamer.
Justin Currie is similar. I hadn't noticed this before: This is a Gregg Williams thing--he asked Dorsey to stock up on these "lb/ss" hybrids! I'll have to investigate this further!
Brady Sheldon lists at 6'5", 218 wow! What's goin on here?
Sheldon wasn't invited to his combine, but his combine numbers make him look strong safety-like. The 7.07 3-cone is so-so, but he's 6'5".
More on Sheldon here: He's a safetybacker, allright!
Ourlads still lists CJ Bello (like Burgess), but I thought I saw Bello on that list of cuts last week (might be back on practice squad though).
But now I'm fixated on why all the new free agent linebackers are safety/linebacker hybrids. Gregg already had two in Peppers and Kindred.
Well obviously Gregg Williams isn't going to "downsize" that much.
These are "bottom of the roster guys, and they all look like good special teams' players.
Interesting...Garrett (and I assume Ogbah) standing up sometimes. Kendricks is gone now, but until then Gregg has two James Harrisons in Avery and him. Collins can play 3-4 OLB too, so Gregg had five and still has four.
In Kirksey, Burgess, and Schobert he has the inside of both schemes covered, but for a 3-4 you really should have four active...
But of course Gregg's not "selling out" for either scheme. He just wants to be able to run both, based on situations and matchups.
For Gregg, he uses that safetybacker a lot, so three "normal" inside linebackers should be adequate, since he'll be using Peppers and Kindred as linebackers as well.
Then, of course (redundancy alert) in today's NFL, the nickel is the real base defense (at least 66.3% of the time).
Gregg was ahead of the curve here.
I confess that I don't fully grasp Gregg's safetybacker myself, but I know that he's a strong safety who blitzes (inside) a lot, and a linebacker who has exceptional speed and range.
Kindred did it last year, until he got hurt. Peppers actually did a lot of the same stuff for Harbaugh in college too.
Gregg Williams almost always "sends" four (passrushers), and as often as not sends five.
The first four are kinda built in. The fifth passrusher (if we look at 2017) was often Kindred (inside) until he got hurt, then Briean Boddy-Calhoun (again inside).
You should see why Calhoun is working at free safety this season now. He's excellent in coverage, but also impressive vs the run.
But I digress: two of these "safetybackers" will probably get axed, but one should make it (and Bello might be back).
Don't go by the book on this roster.
Williams' defense kinda resembles the Seahawks defense from 2-6 years ago (when they were elite). Chancellor was their safetybacker.
Gregg can do what he wants in 2018, because he's (suddenly) eyeball deep in press/man cornerbacks (and safetybackers).
The press/man corner deprives the quarterback of a quick target and (usually) forces his receiver outside, so that he (the corner) remains between the quarterback and receiver as he pursues him. He's also big/fast enough to keep up with (and maintain inside leverage on) the receiver, while forcing him toward the sideline.
With two of these press/man guys, Gregg Williams can take a lot more calculated risks (be more aggressive).
In 2017 (to his credit) Gregg played softer coverages and a lot of "vanilla" stuff to minimize the damage. He made the most of what he had.
In 2018, he has everything he could have hoped for, and can't wait for the Steelers on opening day.
And oh yeah: That "safetybacker" is partly there to stifle guys like Laveon Belle (McCoy Brown Johnson too).
THIS JUST IN: Kendricks is a GMF officially.
Told ya!
Stand by for "desperate need at linebacker" articles in the wake of this, but I've already told you why that's bullshit (you're welcome).
The sack contest is now Avery vs Garrett. Let the games begin.
THIS JUST IN from Tom Blair. This is one of the best articles I've ever read. Click that link, right now, period.
I won't bother with the details-you'll get all those, but just color him gone.
Ah, quit throwing your hands up with this "same old Browns" crap they paid him chump-change for one year, and how were they supposed to see this coming?
I can't wait til some idiot says "Dorsey should have known." You know somebody will, right?
I'll leave you to wallow in this catostrophic disaster while I work on what matters:
Obviously, this means a linebacker who was going to get cut will make it, and also that Genard Avery will get more playing time (he and Kendricks are very similar; redundant, really).
Let's check out the depth chart:
We know that Schobert, Collins, Kirksey and Avery will make it, and I can certainly give James Burgess a great shot. That's five.
Currie Sheldon Grace I don't know these guys.
Nate Orchard could get new life!
Hear me out: Schobert, Kirksey, Burgess, Collins and Avery all fit in every scheme, but only Collins and Avery are 3-4 edge-rushers (*although Gregg has been using Garrett there a little, and Ogbah has already played the position--decently)...
For some reason I've cooled on Orchard again. I was going to say he's the only guy left who can/has played both SAM in a 4-3 and OLB in a 3-4, but Ogbah and Garrett are now two more who can stand up in a 3-4.
I still give Nate a slightly better shot due to his credible experience at linebacker and passrushing potential.
Jermaine Grace is listed at 6'1", 209 lbs. He has to be safetybacker depth and a special teamer.
Justin Currie is similar. I hadn't noticed this before: This is a Gregg Williams thing--he asked Dorsey to stock up on these "lb/ss" hybrids! I'll have to investigate this further!
Brady Sheldon lists at 6'5", 218 wow! What's goin on here?
Sheldon wasn't invited to his combine, but his combine numbers make him look strong safety-like. The 7.07 3-cone is so-so, but he's 6'5".
More on Sheldon here: He's a safetybacker, allright!
Ourlads still lists CJ Bello (like Burgess), but I thought I saw Bello on that list of cuts last week (might be back on practice squad though).
But now I'm fixated on why all the new free agent linebackers are safety/linebacker hybrids. Gregg already had two in Peppers and Kindred.
Well obviously Gregg Williams isn't going to "downsize" that much.
These are "bottom of the roster guys, and they all look like good special teams' players.
Interesting...Garrett (and I assume Ogbah) standing up sometimes. Kendricks is gone now, but until then Gregg has two James Harrisons in Avery and him. Collins can play 3-4 OLB too, so Gregg had five and still has four.
In Kirksey, Burgess, and Schobert he has the inside of both schemes covered, but for a 3-4 you really should have four active...
But of course Gregg's not "selling out" for either scheme. He just wants to be able to run both, based on situations and matchups.
For Gregg, he uses that safetybacker a lot, so three "normal" inside linebackers should be adequate, since he'll be using Peppers and Kindred as linebackers as well.
Then, of course (redundancy alert) in today's NFL, the nickel is the real base defense (at least 66.3% of the time).
Gregg was ahead of the curve here.
I confess that I don't fully grasp Gregg's safetybacker myself, but I know that he's a strong safety who blitzes (inside) a lot, and a linebacker who has exceptional speed and range.
Kindred did it last year, until he got hurt. Peppers actually did a lot of the same stuff for Harbaugh in college too.
Gregg Williams almost always "sends" four (passrushers), and as often as not sends five.
The first four are kinda built in. The fifth passrusher (if we look at 2017) was often Kindred (inside) until he got hurt, then Briean Boddy-Calhoun (again inside).
You should see why Calhoun is working at free safety this season now. He's excellent in coverage, but also impressive vs the run.
But I digress: two of these "safetybackers" will probably get axed, but one should make it (and Bello might be back).
Don't go by the book on this roster.
Williams' defense kinda resembles the Seahawks defense from 2-6 years ago (when they were elite). Chancellor was their safetybacker.
Gregg can do what he wants in 2018, because he's (suddenly) eyeball deep in press/man cornerbacks (and safetybackers).
The press/man corner deprives the quarterback of a quick target and (usually) forces his receiver outside, so that he (the corner) remains between the quarterback and receiver as he pursues him. He's also big/fast enough to keep up with (and maintain inside leverage on) the receiver, while forcing him toward the sideline.
With two of these press/man guys, Gregg Williams can take a lot more calculated risks (be more aggressive).
In 2017 (to his credit) Gregg played softer coverages and a lot of "vanilla" stuff to minimize the damage. He made the most of what he had.
In 2018, he has everything he could have hoped for, and can't wait for the Steelers on opening day.
And oh yeah: That "safetybacker" is partly there to stifle guys like Laveon Belle (McCoy Brown Johnson too).
THIS JUST IN: Kendricks is a GMF officially.
Told ya!
Stand by for "desperate need at linebacker" articles in the wake of this, but I've already told you why that's bullshit (you're welcome).
The sack contest is now Avery vs Garrett. Let the games begin.
THIS JUST IN from Tom Blair. This is one of the best articles I've ever read. Click that link, right now, period.
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Hue-Bashing Frenzy, Cowherd the Ass-Hat, Why this Game Matters, and the Cleveland Browns
Hue Jackson predictably got the jackals circling with his dumbass comments about Gregg Williams. Brett Cyrgalis (New York Post) is about the most reasonable national guy I could find, but he's exgaggerating it like everybody else.
I didn't like how Hue Jackson got in such a big hurry to "mark his territory" when a couple coaches objected to Hue's veteran days off policy, but Hue was RIGHT.
But these guys are now attacking Hue for EVERYTHING. Jeez they make Tyrod Taylor's non-throwing pinky boo-boo sound like a spinal injury! Calling Hue a "hypocrite" for sending his "injured" starter back into a preseason game...you're serious about that?
And Hue was right about that, too! Tyrod needed those reps!!!
They're bashing Hue for not giving Mayfield any first team reps too I mean--no mole-hill is too small for these guys to turn into Mount Everest!
Anyway, some of the first team receivers bleed down to the second team, and worked their ways up from the third team--Mayfield's getting some reps with them it's no big deal good grief!
But Hue doesn't go for it on fourth and short in preseason, does his territory-marking bullshit with Gregg Williams (in public...like Gregg did with Ward...?)
He's strutting around like he's Bill Belichick and he's 1-31!!!
Brett was typically over the top in saying the Browns are "still a mess". Hue Jackson is overdoing this "I'm in charge" macho crap yes, but he's not going to be screwing up the games this time around.
Hue is making a fool of himself, but the team is right on track, and things look organized and positive.
I can't recall who, but one of the network guys was about 70% correct in his critique of Jackson:
Haslam doesn't dare fire him YET, but this guy is betting Hue won't survive the regular season. Thanks to his own insecurity, as I posted a couple days ago, that's probably accurate.
I like Hue as a person, and the players all love him too, but he's hurting more than he's helping--both the team and himself.
Colin Cowherd is still an ass-hat. The Eagles pretty much stepped on Tyrod Taylor's face too, and here's Cowherd bashing the rookie for getting his ass kicked by possibly the best defense in the NFL in his third preseason game!!!
"Lost"? "Confused"? Colin and other permabashers see what they expect to see (ever notice they're all body language experts by the way?)
This kind of bashing would be appropriate if Mayfield had a year under his belt, but is utter idiocy right now, especially in this context.
Tyrod Taylor was a little better, I guess, but how can you watch what Jim Schwartze and company did to him and expect the rookie to what? Wave a magic wand and erect a force field around himself?
Cowherd never liked Mayfield in the first place. He's like that Prosecutor or Detective who decide who is guilty first and start building a case against them without investigating anything else.
You know who I mean? Hammer the guy til he breaks and tells you what you told him to tell you? Ignores/avoids exculpatory witnesses? You watch the shows--you know who I mean!
Colon sees what he expects to see. Along with black helicopters.
The early roster cuts are a good idea. If you've already determined that some guys won't make it, you cut them loose to give them a head start on latching on somewhere else (including your own practice squad, I think; not sure if that works in preseason, but they might want to stash Berry or somebody while nobody else is paying attention).
Preseason game four is to check out guys who have a shot, and that field is crowded enough as it is.
As I posted previously, I don't agree with Hue Jackson not putting the first teams in for at least a couple series. Not playing them at all is all in-the-box, blockhead thinking.
But it is what it is until Hue makes Jimmy fire him with his ongoing antics.
Zeitler is the exception. He's missed too much time, and needs a tune-up.
I want to see if Mayfield's offensive line includes Harrison, Reiter, (Zeitler of course) and Robinson.
Reiter is a second year player with a lot of talent at center. Harrison (last post) is the left tackle of the future (if he stays out of trouble). Robinson is a seasoned vet who never got into the same zip code as his scouting reports in the NFL--he could be a good right tackle now.
Now, I would play (rookie) Austin Corbett at left guard a lot here too, since this is a new position for him and he's bound to screw up, but Hue is a blockhead so that probably won't happen.
So I have no idea who plays left guard. Gennesy? Lauina? Doe? (No offense/good luck you guys--I hope you make it).
I hate that most of you kinda ignore this game, because this is where longshots are fighting desperately for their NFL futures. The "losers" here will have to get REAL jobs, and just get to say to their bar buddies "I was in the NFL...briefly".
This is a cage-match. This is where guys like Brien Boddy-Calhoun and Keenan McCardell make their "final arguments". It's not meaningless at all, because stars are born here, in game four of the preseason.
Brian Sipe held on by his fingernails here (back then it was game 6 I think maybe).
REAL fans aren't star-struck. I want to see how guys like CJ Board, McKinnon, Thomas and Jordan perform in this cage match here, because three of those four are probably GMFs.
Mayfield will probably kick ass vs Detroit's backups, because he'll have better protection and weapons.
Colon Cowherd will no doubt be quick to dismiss it as "meaningless", as he will NOW notice the "level of competition" stuff, because that is convenient for him...seriously something's haywire in that guy's head but I digress:
Mayfield should have Chubb, Fells, DeValve, Ratley, Dayes, and Board etc., along with a still-solid offensive line. (He might get him some Callaway too).
I haven't researched the Lions in-depth at all, so I could be wrong about their depth here. I just know that Ziggy Ansah will be parked, and can't find any way to compare Detroit's offense to Philly's...
Gregg Williams should have fun as well, since he now has massive (mostly veteran) depth everywhere.
The team will need to test rookies like Simeon Thomas here, but he also has to sort out vets like Micheal Jordan and McKinnon, so Detroit's second (and third) teams will face a scary back end.
And linebackers (should go without saying by now Avery, Kendricks, Burgess etc.?)
On the defensive line, Chad Thomas is a rookie, but Brantley is back and Gregg needs to check him out, and everybody else is a veteran.
If I can find a way to bet on a massacre here, I'm gonna. Last call okbye
I didn't like how Hue Jackson got in such a big hurry to "mark his territory" when a couple coaches objected to Hue's veteran days off policy, but Hue was RIGHT.
But these guys are now attacking Hue for EVERYTHING. Jeez they make Tyrod Taylor's non-throwing pinky boo-boo sound like a spinal injury! Calling Hue a "hypocrite" for sending his "injured" starter back into a preseason game...you're serious about that?
And Hue was right about that, too! Tyrod needed those reps!!!
They're bashing Hue for not giving Mayfield any first team reps too I mean--no mole-hill is too small for these guys to turn into Mount Everest!
Anyway, some of the first team receivers bleed down to the second team, and worked their ways up from the third team--Mayfield's getting some reps with them it's no big deal good grief!
But Hue doesn't go for it on fourth and short in preseason, does his territory-marking bullshit with Gregg Williams (in public...like Gregg did with Ward...?)
He's strutting around like he's Bill Belichick and he's 1-31!!!
Brett was typically over the top in saying the Browns are "still a mess". Hue Jackson is overdoing this "I'm in charge" macho crap yes, but he's not going to be screwing up the games this time around.
Hue is making a fool of himself, but the team is right on track, and things look organized and positive.
I can't recall who, but one of the network guys was about 70% correct in his critique of Jackson:
Haslam doesn't dare fire him YET, but this guy is betting Hue won't survive the regular season. Thanks to his own insecurity, as I posted a couple days ago, that's probably accurate.
I like Hue as a person, and the players all love him too, but he's hurting more than he's helping--both the team and himself.
Colin Cowherd is still an ass-hat. The Eagles pretty much stepped on Tyrod Taylor's face too, and here's Cowherd bashing the rookie for getting his ass kicked by possibly the best defense in the NFL in his third preseason game!!!
"Lost"? "Confused"? Colin and other permabashers see what they expect to see (ever notice they're all body language experts by the way?)
This kind of bashing would be appropriate if Mayfield had a year under his belt, but is utter idiocy right now, especially in this context.
Tyrod Taylor was a little better, I guess, but how can you watch what Jim Schwartze and company did to him and expect the rookie to what? Wave a magic wand and erect a force field around himself?
Cowherd never liked Mayfield in the first place. He's like that Prosecutor or Detective who decide who is guilty first and start building a case against them without investigating anything else.
You know who I mean? Hammer the guy til he breaks and tells you what you told him to tell you? Ignores/avoids exculpatory witnesses? You watch the shows--you know who I mean!
Colon sees what he expects to see. Along with black helicopters.
The early roster cuts are a good idea. If you've already determined that some guys won't make it, you cut them loose to give them a head start on latching on somewhere else (including your own practice squad, I think; not sure if that works in preseason, but they might want to stash Berry or somebody while nobody else is paying attention).
Preseason game four is to check out guys who have a shot, and that field is crowded enough as it is.
As I posted previously, I don't agree with Hue Jackson not putting the first teams in for at least a couple series. Not playing them at all is all in-the-box, blockhead thinking.
But it is what it is until Hue makes Jimmy fire him with his ongoing antics.
Zeitler is the exception. He's missed too much time, and needs a tune-up.
I want to see if Mayfield's offensive line includes Harrison, Reiter, (Zeitler of course) and Robinson.
Reiter is a second year player with a lot of talent at center. Harrison (last post) is the left tackle of the future (if he stays out of trouble). Robinson is a seasoned vet who never got into the same zip code as his scouting reports in the NFL--he could be a good right tackle now.
Now, I would play (rookie) Austin Corbett at left guard a lot here too, since this is a new position for him and he's bound to screw up, but Hue is a blockhead so that probably won't happen.
So I have no idea who plays left guard. Gennesy? Lauina? Doe? (No offense/good luck you guys--I hope you make it).
I hate that most of you kinda ignore this game, because this is where longshots are fighting desperately for their NFL futures. The "losers" here will have to get REAL jobs, and just get to say to their bar buddies "I was in the NFL...briefly".
This is a cage-match. This is where guys like Brien Boddy-Calhoun and Keenan McCardell make their "final arguments". It's not meaningless at all, because stars are born here, in game four of the preseason.
Brian Sipe held on by his fingernails here (back then it was game 6 I think maybe).
REAL fans aren't star-struck. I want to see how guys like CJ Board, McKinnon, Thomas and Jordan perform in this cage match here, because three of those four are probably GMFs.
Mayfield will probably kick ass vs Detroit's backups, because he'll have better protection and weapons.
Colon Cowherd will no doubt be quick to dismiss it as "meaningless", as he will NOW notice the "level of competition" stuff, because that is convenient for him...seriously something's haywire in that guy's head but I digress:
Mayfield should have Chubb, Fells, DeValve, Ratley, Dayes, and Board etc., along with a still-solid offensive line. (He might get him some Callaway too).
I haven't researched the Lions in-depth at all, so I could be wrong about their depth here. I just know that Ziggy Ansah will be parked, and can't find any way to compare Detroit's offense to Philly's...
Gregg Williams should have fun as well, since he now has massive (mostly veteran) depth everywhere.
The team will need to test rookies like Simeon Thomas here, but he also has to sort out vets like Micheal Jordan and McKinnon, so Detroit's second (and third) teams will face a scary back end.
And linebackers (should go without saying by now Avery, Kendricks, Burgess etc.?)
On the defensive line, Chad Thomas is a rookie, but Brantley is back and Gregg needs to check him out, and everybody else is a veteran.
If I can find a way to bet on a massacre here, I'm gonna. Last call okbye
Monday, August 27, 2018
Hue Jackson is his Own Worst Enemy, Gregg Williams, Roster Cuts, Damion Harrison, and the Cleveland Browns
Hue Fisher doesn't appreciate Gregg Williams' candor, as Gregg said that Denzel Ward made a stupid mistake in taking down a 255 lb tight end (hurting his back in the process).
This doesn't surprise me. But Gregg is working hard but has a long way to go zzzzzzzz...
See last post: I think it's refreshing to have Gregg Williams come out and knock his players in public. And I'm pretty sure that when it occurs to somebody to ask Ward about it, he'll say "well he was right! I was stupid!"
You think Denzel's tender ego is bruised or something? He cried himself to sleep? Come on Hue, put on your big boy pants!
Myles Garrett overran plays a couple times vs the Bills, and opened up escape routes for McCoy and McCarron. If somebody had asked Gregg the right question, he would have told you what I just did. And Garrett would say "well he's right. I screwed up!"
If a guy can't take constructive criticism, or is easily "shamed" or whatever, he doesn't belong anywhere near the NFL.
It would be different if Gregg Williams had called Ward a dumbass or something, but he never goes ad-hominum like that. If you hear "that was stupid" as "he is stupid", go take a remedial english class.
You watch Hard Knocks and see both Williams and Haley yelling at these guys, and we all get that they're trying to make them better.
Indeed, the more they yell at a guy, the better they generally like him. They see potential, so they spend more effort in correcting mistakes, and teaching them. And the players (like you and I) get this.
Why doesn't Hue issue a gag order on them there? Haven't they said "Get your head out", "that was stupid" etc.?
It's just silly. I'm trying not to pick on Hue, but it gets hard sometimes.
Hue is creating tension and a potential conflict out of thin air here. Gregg Williams won't censor himself--you have to know that. He can get a job anywhere. So now Hue will appear weak to the microbrained masses, as Gregg just kinda ignores him and keeps telling the truth.
Hue just can't get out of his own way! He's 1-31 and ought to censor his own self. If he can just keep his foot out of his mouth this season, he can survive even with a mediocre record (despite the fact that he had little or nothing to do with it).
But he can't even do that right! If gossip writers start yammering about "conflict" and "tension" among the coaches, Haslam will have an excuse to fire Hue after all!
Hey HUE! SHUT UP for your own good!
On a slow news day, I've tried to dig into the left tackle situation. PFF either ignores preseason or lacks sufficient data on Joel Bitonio at his new position, so most of what I have on Joel and Greg Robinson is anecdotal (at least until I can catch a "Film Room" on WFNY on them).
I have a general impression that Bitonio didn't suck vs the Eagles...well any more than everybody else sucked, anyway. So I guess that's going okay.
He practices against Myles Garrett. If Joel didn't have the chops to play that position, Garrett would have exposed him immediately. And remember: Garrett himself said Joel "belonged" there.
So the Browns seem to be okay at left tackle.
Desmond Harrison's rise from undrafted, raw, inexperienced longshot to second-string left tackle has been stunning (even to me), especially when he had to pass up Greg Robinson to get there.
Indeed, they're working Robinson at right tackle now behind Chris Hubbard!
This pre-draft profile on Harrison was perhaps the most optimistic, but describes his physical attributes well. As it turns out, this pundit's optimism was justified.
Desmond is the Josh Gordon (or Antonio Callaway) of left tackles. I guess he was a major pot-head, and blew most of his college carreer "in suspension", as it were.
That's how he started out as a big-time prospect, and wound up at West Georgia pushing the Little Sisters of the Poor around.
John Dorsey isn't like a lot of GMs, though. John is a Flea Market shopper, and (as he did with Callaway) scoops up these "problem children" dirt-cheap based first and foremost on their talent.
As a current poker player and former options trader, I naturally like his style (except the :!@?# Dez Bryant '$@×?? thing dammit).
What's most important about Desmond Harrison is his talent. If he's dumb enough to mess up again, it doesn't matter, because he was kinda "free".
You know, I remember Marty Schottenheimer not drafting Warren Sapp due a pot bust...but I digress:
So far, however, so good. Harrison is passing all his tests, both in cups and on the field.
He's 6'7" and ran a 4.9 40. He weighed in at the Senior Bowl at 279 lbs., and at 290-something at the Combine, but my better sources have him at right around 300 lbs right now.
Harrison is a unique talent. He's two inches taller than Joe Thomas (with commensurate reach), and is just as quick and athletic. The word "freak" is overused, but it verily applies to Desmond Harrison.
Harrison's upside is astronomical.
With a guy that tall and light, you expect him to be vulnerable to bull-rushes, and not to be a good run-blocker early on, which is one of the reasons why I projected him as a project-type (maybe practice squad guy) as a rookie.
But there it is: He's Bitonio's backup already!
He can't have practiced against Myles Garrett much, but he has vs the likes of Nassib, Smith, Orchard, Thomas, Avery, and Kendricks, and obviously held his own.
Avery and Kendricks are 7 inches shorter, and top-notch "speed-to-power" leverage bull-rushers off the edge. Desmond Harrison would not be where he is now if he couldn't handle short guys bull-rushing him.
I have to speculate a little here: Harrison must have a really good "punch" vs those human fire hydrants. He must be knocking them off-balance a little before they can get close to him.
Short guys use all sorts of hand-fighting gimmicks to keep taller guys' hands off them (this is why a lot of teams hire martial arts guys as semi-coaches), but apparently Harrison gets his punches home more often than not.
I once knew a boxer who could kick anybody's ass who wasn't over one inch taller than he was, but never managed to "get to" taller guys who knew what they were doing.
If you can't close with those skyscrapers, you get "death from above". Maybe Desmond Harrison's hands are just as good as his feet!
It's too late to monkey around with the left tackle and guard in 2018 (probably), so here (barring injury) I'm really looking at 2019 and beyond with Harrison.
If you're suddenly bored by that, you're not really a fan.
Anyway, in training camp 2019, Desmond Harrison (assuming he doesn't resume smoking the heathen devil weed/destroyer of youth) will be the favorite at left tackle.
Zeitler will be on the block (Corbett).
Sorry immediate gratification forgive me:
Shon Coleman is in trouble. More educated guessing here, but it seems to me that Greg Robinson is ahead of him on the depth chart now.
Robinson has played every offensive line position in the NFL, and has looked pretty good in preseason so far (including at left tackle).
Shon Coleman is a tackle only, and even at right tackle in 2017 was mediocre.
Some pundit has Spencer Drango on the bubble too. That is possible, but it mainly depends on how many offensive linemen the Browns keep.
A few teams carry only seven active offensive linemen. Others carry nine or ten.
I would carry eight, since the possibility of more than three offensive linemen in one game is infinitesimal.
We know the starters already. My other three would be Harrison, Reiter, and...erumm...yeah Robinson (good luck, Spencer!)
As I've posted several times, the new special teams rules will influence all NFL rosters. Teams will tend to retain more tight ends and defensive ends, and fewer wide receivers and secondary players.
Devon Cajuste has a good shot at the final roster with Seth DeValve (four tight ends).
Who exactly the surplus defensive end(s) will be I'm not sure, but Carl Nassib has a good shot at being one of them.
Carl is another unique player. He's 6'7", and probably over (a lean, muscular) 300 lbs by now, with sub-4.8 speed.
As I've posted before, the fact that Nassib is bigger and taller than everybody else will tempt Gregg Williams to keep him around.
Football is all about matchups. Gregg Williams is first and foremost unpredictable and innovative.
All his other defensive ends are under 6'5" and 285 lbs. He can do a lot with them, of course, since they can all be "attack" 3-4 defensive ends as well.
But Nassib should be able to play a conventional two-gap 4-3 defensive end role, as well as overmatch certain guards he sees on the schedule inside (athletic guys who can handle quick-twitch smaller guys but not big guys with a big reach-advantage, see?)
Nate Orchard is in trouble. In earlier posts, I said he had a good shot at the final roster due to his versatility and passrushing ability, but the numbers aren't adding up for him anymore.
In addition to Nassib (Smith/Thomas) at defensive end, there's now Kendricks and Avery at linebacker.
It sucks, because Nate Orchard is a pretty damn good football player.
John Dorsey will try to trade Orchard and other good players ahead of the cuts, but probably won't succeed.
He'll be cutting linebackers, wide receivers, running backs, defensive ends, and defensive backs who belong in the NFL; some of whome are future starters:
Matthew Dayes is one example. Remember this: Dayes will be on your fantasy football maps shortly, and for a long time (if he holds up).
This is a FACT: NFL General Managers can't wait for a bunch of the guys that John Dorsey will have to cut loose this saturday.
There is a surplus of talent on the 2018 Browns' roster, at nearly every position.
Most of you have gone through this preseason optimism and real game disappointment for most of two decades, and I get that.
But it's irrelevant. Talent plus coaching equals winning. No unicorns here--the 2018 Browns have the talent and the coaching. The rest is irrational superstition.
The Steelers are still an elite team. The perennially-overrated Ravens have brought in a bunch of talent. The Browns schedule is tough, and the offense isn't integrated or stabilized yet
Still, if you took the "under" win-loss prop bet on the 2018 Browns, you are a low-grade moron.
What's up with you? Todd Haley took a "stupid pill" when he signed his contract? Gregg Wiliams is "over the hill" after one mediocre season? Tyrod Taylor will manage to get worse here than he was in Buffalo? Gordon will crap out (and take Landry with him) are you out of your gdamn mind!?!
Most of the real pros and (credible) punditry are upbeat on the Browns in 2018, but I check out the unwashed mass comments on these articles, and find a minority of entrenched permabashers saying stuff like this:
"Gordon will be off the team by game three".
"Quit babying this guy! I'm sick of this shit!"
"Landry can't catch a pass over ten yards. Dorsey is an idiot".
"We could have had Allen and we picked this midget?"
"3-13".
"Njoku can't catch a cold".
"Same old Browns."
When I was a kid, I was stupid and ignorant, but I'm proud to tell you I was NEVER THAT bad!
I do feel good about my team's overall fan-base, as most of you seem to have three-digit IQ's, and have proven capable of using your brains for their intended functions.
I guess the majority opinion amongst you is that the Browns should win six or seven games in 2018.
Considering the facts that Marvin Lewis remains in Cinci, the Browns are a lot more talented than the perennially-overrated Ravens---along with the Saints and almost every other team they will face--including the Steelers--and the Browns three coordinators---I'm more optimistic than most of you guys are.
That's cool. I know after you've been disappointed for 18 years or so, it's hard to imagine more than 6-10.
But I was trained to think with my brain, so I expect at least 8-8. At least we can have a debate about it. At least you have homo sapiens brains.
Permabashers are mentally ill, not to mention irrationlal. You can't reason with them.
These people bash Mary Kay Cabbott, Tony Grossi, and everybody else who reports anything accidentally positive about the Browns.
Nevermind/sorry. I'm just glad to feel like most of you guys have a clue for the first time in a long time.
...ok well I guess I've always been optimistic, and have a hideous track history. I've been proven wrong in wins/losses every year since the Browns "re-birth" (with 3 exceptions).
Okay this is for my next post: I had REASONS for my perennial optimism. I screwed up overestimating coaches and quarterbacks, mostly...
If Dorsey ran those offenses and Williams ran those defenses...well I'll save this for the trial okbye
This doesn't surprise me. But Gregg is working hard but has a long way to go zzzzzzzz...
See last post: I think it's refreshing to have Gregg Williams come out and knock his players in public. And I'm pretty sure that when it occurs to somebody to ask Ward about it, he'll say "well he was right! I was stupid!"
You think Denzel's tender ego is bruised or something? He cried himself to sleep? Come on Hue, put on your big boy pants!
Myles Garrett overran plays a couple times vs the Bills, and opened up escape routes for McCoy and McCarron. If somebody had asked Gregg the right question, he would have told you what I just did. And Garrett would say "well he's right. I screwed up!"
If a guy can't take constructive criticism, or is easily "shamed" or whatever, he doesn't belong anywhere near the NFL.
It would be different if Gregg Williams had called Ward a dumbass or something, but he never goes ad-hominum like that. If you hear "that was stupid" as "he is stupid", go take a remedial english class.
You watch Hard Knocks and see both Williams and Haley yelling at these guys, and we all get that they're trying to make them better.
Indeed, the more they yell at a guy, the better they generally like him. They see potential, so they spend more effort in correcting mistakes, and teaching them. And the players (like you and I) get this.
Why doesn't Hue issue a gag order on them there? Haven't they said "Get your head out", "that was stupid" etc.?
It's just silly. I'm trying not to pick on Hue, but it gets hard sometimes.
Hue is creating tension and a potential conflict out of thin air here. Gregg Williams won't censor himself--you have to know that. He can get a job anywhere. So now Hue will appear weak to the microbrained masses, as Gregg just kinda ignores him and keeps telling the truth.
Hue just can't get out of his own way! He's 1-31 and ought to censor his own self. If he can just keep his foot out of his mouth this season, he can survive even with a mediocre record (despite the fact that he had little or nothing to do with it).
But he can't even do that right! If gossip writers start yammering about "conflict" and "tension" among the coaches, Haslam will have an excuse to fire Hue after all!
Hey HUE! SHUT UP for your own good!
On a slow news day, I've tried to dig into the left tackle situation. PFF either ignores preseason or lacks sufficient data on Joel Bitonio at his new position, so most of what I have on Joel and Greg Robinson is anecdotal (at least until I can catch a "Film Room" on WFNY on them).
I have a general impression that Bitonio didn't suck vs the Eagles...well any more than everybody else sucked, anyway. So I guess that's going okay.
He practices against Myles Garrett. If Joel didn't have the chops to play that position, Garrett would have exposed him immediately. And remember: Garrett himself said Joel "belonged" there.
So the Browns seem to be okay at left tackle.
Desmond Harrison's rise from undrafted, raw, inexperienced longshot to second-string left tackle has been stunning (even to me), especially when he had to pass up Greg Robinson to get there.
Indeed, they're working Robinson at right tackle now behind Chris Hubbard!
This pre-draft profile on Harrison was perhaps the most optimistic, but describes his physical attributes well. As it turns out, this pundit's optimism was justified.
Desmond is the Josh Gordon (or Antonio Callaway) of left tackles. I guess he was a major pot-head, and blew most of his college carreer "in suspension", as it were.
That's how he started out as a big-time prospect, and wound up at West Georgia pushing the Little Sisters of the Poor around.
John Dorsey isn't like a lot of GMs, though. John is a Flea Market shopper, and (as he did with Callaway) scoops up these "problem children" dirt-cheap based first and foremost on their talent.
As a current poker player and former options trader, I naturally like his style (except the :!@?# Dez Bryant '$@×?? thing dammit).
What's most important about Desmond Harrison is his talent. If he's dumb enough to mess up again, it doesn't matter, because he was kinda "free".
You know, I remember Marty Schottenheimer not drafting Warren Sapp due a pot bust...but I digress:
So far, however, so good. Harrison is passing all his tests, both in cups and on the field.
He's 6'7" and ran a 4.9 40. He weighed in at the Senior Bowl at 279 lbs., and at 290-something at the Combine, but my better sources have him at right around 300 lbs right now.
Harrison is a unique talent. He's two inches taller than Joe Thomas (with commensurate reach), and is just as quick and athletic. The word "freak" is overused, but it verily applies to Desmond Harrison.
Harrison's upside is astronomical.
With a guy that tall and light, you expect him to be vulnerable to bull-rushes, and not to be a good run-blocker early on, which is one of the reasons why I projected him as a project-type (maybe practice squad guy) as a rookie.
But there it is: He's Bitonio's backup already!
He can't have practiced against Myles Garrett much, but he has vs the likes of Nassib, Smith, Orchard, Thomas, Avery, and Kendricks, and obviously held his own.
Avery and Kendricks are 7 inches shorter, and top-notch "speed-to-power" leverage bull-rushers off the edge. Desmond Harrison would not be where he is now if he couldn't handle short guys bull-rushing him.
I have to speculate a little here: Harrison must have a really good "punch" vs those human fire hydrants. He must be knocking them off-balance a little before they can get close to him.
Short guys use all sorts of hand-fighting gimmicks to keep taller guys' hands off them (this is why a lot of teams hire martial arts guys as semi-coaches), but apparently Harrison gets his punches home more often than not.
I once knew a boxer who could kick anybody's ass who wasn't over one inch taller than he was, but never managed to "get to" taller guys who knew what they were doing.
If you can't close with those skyscrapers, you get "death from above". Maybe Desmond Harrison's hands are just as good as his feet!
It's too late to monkey around with the left tackle and guard in 2018 (probably), so here (barring injury) I'm really looking at 2019 and beyond with Harrison.
If you're suddenly bored by that, you're not really a fan.
Anyway, in training camp 2019, Desmond Harrison (assuming he doesn't resume smoking the heathen devil weed/destroyer of youth) will be the favorite at left tackle.
Zeitler will be on the block (Corbett).
Sorry immediate gratification forgive me:
Shon Coleman is in trouble. More educated guessing here, but it seems to me that Greg Robinson is ahead of him on the depth chart now.
Robinson has played every offensive line position in the NFL, and has looked pretty good in preseason so far (including at left tackle).
Shon Coleman is a tackle only, and even at right tackle in 2017 was mediocre.
Some pundit has Spencer Drango on the bubble too. That is possible, but it mainly depends on how many offensive linemen the Browns keep.
A few teams carry only seven active offensive linemen. Others carry nine or ten.
I would carry eight, since the possibility of more than three offensive linemen in one game is infinitesimal.
We know the starters already. My other three would be Harrison, Reiter, and...erumm...yeah Robinson (good luck, Spencer!)
As I've posted several times, the new special teams rules will influence all NFL rosters. Teams will tend to retain more tight ends and defensive ends, and fewer wide receivers and secondary players.
Devon Cajuste has a good shot at the final roster with Seth DeValve (four tight ends).
Who exactly the surplus defensive end(s) will be I'm not sure, but Carl Nassib has a good shot at being one of them.
Carl is another unique player. He's 6'7", and probably over (a lean, muscular) 300 lbs by now, with sub-4.8 speed.
As I've posted before, the fact that Nassib is bigger and taller than everybody else will tempt Gregg Williams to keep him around.
Football is all about matchups. Gregg Williams is first and foremost unpredictable and innovative.
All his other defensive ends are under 6'5" and 285 lbs. He can do a lot with them, of course, since they can all be "attack" 3-4 defensive ends as well.
But Nassib should be able to play a conventional two-gap 4-3 defensive end role, as well as overmatch certain guards he sees on the schedule inside (athletic guys who can handle quick-twitch smaller guys but not big guys with a big reach-advantage, see?)
Nate Orchard is in trouble. In earlier posts, I said he had a good shot at the final roster due to his versatility and passrushing ability, but the numbers aren't adding up for him anymore.
In addition to Nassib (Smith/Thomas) at defensive end, there's now Kendricks and Avery at linebacker.
It sucks, because Nate Orchard is a pretty damn good football player.
John Dorsey will try to trade Orchard and other good players ahead of the cuts, but probably won't succeed.
He'll be cutting linebackers, wide receivers, running backs, defensive ends, and defensive backs who belong in the NFL; some of whome are future starters:
Matthew Dayes is one example. Remember this: Dayes will be on your fantasy football maps shortly, and for a long time (if he holds up).
This is a FACT: NFL General Managers can't wait for a bunch of the guys that John Dorsey will have to cut loose this saturday.
There is a surplus of talent on the 2018 Browns' roster, at nearly every position.
Most of you have gone through this preseason optimism and real game disappointment for most of two decades, and I get that.
But it's irrelevant. Talent plus coaching equals winning. No unicorns here--the 2018 Browns have the talent and the coaching. The rest is irrational superstition.
The Steelers are still an elite team. The perennially-overrated Ravens have brought in a bunch of talent. The Browns schedule is tough, and the offense isn't integrated or stabilized yet
Still, if you took the "under" win-loss prop bet on the 2018 Browns, you are a low-grade moron.
What's up with you? Todd Haley took a "stupid pill" when he signed his contract? Gregg Wiliams is "over the hill" after one mediocre season? Tyrod Taylor will manage to get worse here than he was in Buffalo? Gordon will crap out (and take Landry with him) are you out of your gdamn mind!?!
Most of the real pros and (credible) punditry are upbeat on the Browns in 2018, but I check out the unwashed mass comments on these articles, and find a minority of entrenched permabashers saying stuff like this:
"Gordon will be off the team by game three".
"Quit babying this guy! I'm sick of this shit!"
"Landry can't catch a pass over ten yards. Dorsey is an idiot".
"We could have had Allen and we picked this midget?"
"3-13".
"Njoku can't catch a cold".
"Same old Browns."
When I was a kid, I was stupid and ignorant, but I'm proud to tell you I was NEVER THAT bad!
I do feel good about my team's overall fan-base, as most of you seem to have three-digit IQ's, and have proven capable of using your brains for their intended functions.
I guess the majority opinion amongst you is that the Browns should win six or seven games in 2018.
Considering the facts that Marvin Lewis remains in Cinci, the Browns are a lot more talented than the perennially-overrated Ravens---along with the Saints and almost every other team they will face--including the Steelers--and the Browns three coordinators---I'm more optimistic than most of you guys are.
That's cool. I know after you've been disappointed for 18 years or so, it's hard to imagine more than 6-10.
But I was trained to think with my brain, so I expect at least 8-8. At least we can have a debate about it. At least you have homo sapiens brains.
Permabashers are mentally ill, not to mention irrationlal. You can't reason with them.
These people bash Mary Kay Cabbott, Tony Grossi, and everybody else who reports anything accidentally positive about the Browns.
Nevermind/sorry. I'm just glad to feel like most of you guys have a clue for the first time in a long time.
...ok well I guess I've always been optimistic, and have a hideous track history. I've been proven wrong in wins/losses every year since the Browns "re-birth" (with 3 exceptions).
Okay this is for my next post: I had REASONS for my perennial optimism. I screwed up overestimating coaches and quarterbacks, mostly...
If Dorsey ran those offenses and Williams ran those defenses...well I'll save this for the trial okbye
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