"That was stupid" beats the hell out of "well, young players blahblahblah". And he never said that Denzel Ward is working hard but has a long way to go, either.
Gregg confirmed what I told you guys several weeks ago: Avery and now Kendricks are forcing changes in Gregg Williams' defense.
They're two of Gregg's best all-around players, and both are terrific passrushers, so he's finding ways to get them on the field...like I told you he would. A long time ago.
Gregg really has to show more 3-4 looks in 2018. There are different versions of that, but knowing Gregg Williams, his ought to resemble Wade Phillips' version, in which at least two of the three down linemen attack gaps.
All 3-4's deploy the two "defensive ends" on or inside the offensive tackles. They're called defensive ends, but they're really tackles.
I was slow on the uptake, but I now get why Gregg wanted Chris Smith and Chad Thomas more than more high-profile edge-rushers.
He already had Jamie Collins, and nabbed Avery in the same draft. He might have had his fingers crossed about Kendricks, too--he was a projected salary cap casualty for the Eagles.
These three are all 3-4 type edge-rushing outside linebackers.
Meanwhile, Garrett and Ogbah are both quite capable of moving "down" between guard and tackle and totally out-maneuvering guards.
Larry Ogunjobi can do this (in a slightly different way) as well, but he and Meder are both candidates for both over-tackle and nose tackle as well. (I don't know about Brantley).
Anyway, Gregg Williams now has the tools to run whatever defense he needs to run, with plenty of front seven depth to get past the bumps and bruises.
Damarius Randall reminded you of something else I told you ever since Gregg Williams was hired: Jabrill Peppers isn't really a safety. He's a hybrid player I call a "safetybacker".
Randall brought it home by pointing to a couple plays in which Peppers and Kindred shared the field. Randall told us that Derrick Kindred was the strong safety, but Peppers was kinda sorta a linebacker.
And I told you that Derrick Kindred was playing safetybacker a lot in 2017 himself (and doing a great job too!)
It's got to be hard for opposing offensive coordinators to draw up game plans against a fully-manned Gregg Williams defense.
The only predictable things about him will be that Garrett, Ogbah, Avery, Kendricks, Collins and Schobert will play a lot.
Collins is different from Kendricks and Avery, however (like I told you). As I predicted, Gregg is using Jamie more in coverage.
He got his interception last week out of zone (you don't man up on Ertz from the one yard line). Gregg said Jamie read and anticipated that throw--and said "I can't coach that".
Avery and Kendricks can do this, but not like Collins, who has at least four inches on them.
Collins also fits the 3-4 outside edge-rushing profile too (including the ability to put his hand in the dirt), but expect Williams to lean more on
You remember James Harrison, right? Well, when Dorsey drafted Genard Avery in the fifth round, I immediately told you that (minus the dirty, vicious criminal hits) that's who the Browns just drafted.
Except Avery is both quicker and faster. Avery was a state powerlifting champ too, but I won't say he's stronger than Harrison, neccessarily--(Harrison was freakishly strong; pumped iron obsessively).
Anyway, Avery is every bit as good as James Harrison, which is why Gregg Williams has to get him on the field in passing situations every chance he gets...like I told you when they drafted Avery. That was a HUGE steal by Dorsey!
And I'm hereby telling you now: Genard Avery might get almost as many sacks as Garrett this season.
Redundancy alert: Genard Avery is a LOT quicker and faster than offensive tackles, but he's also only 6' tall, and STRONGER than those big uglies.
Joe Schobert summed it up nicely (paraphrase): "Once he gets going, it's hard to stop him from getting where he wants to go".
Pat Kirwan always talks about "translating speed to power" in re edge-rushers. In a nutshell, that means you make the big ugly think you're trying to get around them, so they take a step and lean to that side, then you plant a foot and drive right up under their pads and drive them back.
Avery does this exceptionally well already, and he's been doing it to some damn good starting offensive tackles too.
I'm glad Hue Fisher has reached the obvious conclusion that the rest of us did several weeks ago, and named Baker Mayfield the number two quarterback.
Baker has been unspectacular, but solid and consistent. He's not a yo-yo kinda player; his floor is high.
Much of this can't be coached or taught. Baker Mayfield's brain never stops functioning; he never panics. Right now, he looks kinda like a "game manager", which is why PFF likes him more than the other quarterbacks in his draft class so far.
He was the best quarterback in this draft class because of what is between his ears. He will progress steadily and certainly, but has already earned Todd Haley's trust.
If Baker Mayfield is pressed into service, even in game one vs the Steelers, he won't be the reason the Browns lose (if they do).
Micheal Hoag predicted who would be retained and cut when "the turk" makes his final rounds, and I can't find much wrong with it.
Mike sees six wide receivers and four tight ends being retained (Cajuste is the fourth tight end, and CJ Board (on my guys-I-like-better-than-Dez Bryant list) is the sixth wide receiver).
Mike expects only two quarterbacks to make the final cut (we know who they are). That seems a little scary, but Roback should make it to the practice squad, and (with all due respect), Drew Stanton is not, and never was, very good.
Mike thinks cornerback Simeon Thomas will get axed. I'm reluctant to agree, since the guy is 6'3", and was actually pretty good.
But Mike's logic is unassailable. Thomas could make it to the practice squad too.
This all makes perfect sense, except if the great Dez Bryant throws his hands up and bitterly, angrily, accepts John Dorsey's offer, there goes Board (ideally to the practice squad).
Board reminds me of Keenan McCardell (look him up).
I need to pick at Mike a bit on his retention of nine defensive linemen and six linebackers (just scroll back to see why).
However, I can't knock the players he retains and cuts...nevermind. Mike is probably right. You don't cut good players just because of the position they play.
The extra defensive linemen will help on special teams (now) more than extra wide receivers or defensive backs would have in 2017 too (as would a fourth tight end).
I tried to pick Mike Hoag apart and failed. A-plus.
...well maybe not quite:
I like James Burgess Jr myself, but not as much as Mike does. The official depth chart could indeed list him as Schobert's backup at MLB, but Mychal Kendricks is probably the guy who will take over if Schobert gets dinged.
But then, Mike's depth chart is still technically correct...dammit you win this time, Mike, but you'll screw up again eventually, and I'll be there! I think.
Gotta love Myles Garrett for playing through injury. Mary Kay's article lacked specificity in re the type of ankle injury Myles played through, but (sigh) I told you all about Garrett's high ankle injury in college:
Remember? MY high ankle sprain commanded a walker (but I couldn't afford one so I used a length of pvc pipe for 6 weeks).
You can't bend your ankle, at all! Your achilles tendon might as well be severed!
Yeah I'm a geezer now and stuff, but (like I told you before they drafted Garrett) he played his last college season for all tense and purposes on one leg (high ankle sprain).
Trust me: Myles Garrett is a major-league badass. I wonder what he might have done in his last year in college with two legs. This guy is just amazing!
And he's SMART as hell, to boot!
Now, for the first time, both his legs are fully functional, and...well?
Hey John Dorsey: Is Myles Garrett a "real football player" in your opinion? Is Boddy-Calhoun/Kindred/Schobert/Johnson/Higgins/Ogunjobi/Meder/Njoku/Duke/Tretter/Zeitler/DeValve?
Obviously, you think Dez Bryant is a "real football player"....
I won't go back there again: but John Dorsey is both a genius and an idiot. Hue Jackson is more idiot than genius. Great time for Jimmy Haslam to "interfere".
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