I told you how good Robinson looked good (notably vs fast edge-rushers) vs the Giants second teamers.
Dan Justik did a great job deducing the probable reasons, one of which was Robinson's concussion. Without that, the Bitonio shift might never have happened. Robinson bounced back much sooner than expected.
Dan is also right about Austin Corbett not doing great at left guard. I didn't watch Austin, so can't say much about him in particular, but for now I'll take Dan's word for it, as the Giants erradicated the Browns running game (in the backfield), so at least 2-3 guys were turnstiles.
Dan is also right that Bitonio was dragged to left tackle kicking and screaming, while Robinson was drafted in the top five as a left tackle--and his poor NFL perfomance to-date doesn't quite render that fact irrelevant.
It's still very early, so we don't know who the left tackle will be in game one yet. But if I had a nickel to bet, right now I'd bet on
This would restore the already-established chemistry to the veteran inside unit, and put two experienced veterans outside.
I'm rooting for Williams to be a late bloomer, and still don't think Bitonio could be nearly as good there as he is at guard.
Ross Tucker is calling our team "the Cleveland Molotov-Cocktail Browns" now, and trying to figure out a lot of what's going on here. And I can't blame him.
His co-host on NFL Radio was our old friend Phil Savage (who was trying very hard to be diplomatic).
Ross can't wrap his head around Hue Jackson "punishing" Antonio Callaway by forcing him to play the entire game vs the Giants.
I suppose you could call it a "slap on the wrist" "punishment", since he no doubt got tired of all that sprinting and cutting, and I guess he has sore ribs or something, but it still seems more like reward than punishment for a rookie trying to grow and prove himself.
But context here: Callaway didn't notify the team about his stop. This was his offense. It's not a major thing.
Ross and Phil point out that Corey Coleman was traded in that time-window, and this info might have aborted that.
Nah! The Strongsville cop who popped Callaway sounds like his attorney: Coleman was a gmf either way.
Of course, Ross wasn't done yet: This whole Dez Bryant thing. Ross points to Dez criticizing his owner, quarterback, and coach, and what some of his former teammates say about him, and asks why anybody would sign this guy.
Amen, brother! So Ross is rolling his eyes and shaking his head. Phil Savage stammered and stuttered some, and eventually came up with "I really doubt that the Browns will sign Dez Bryant" (THANK YOU PHIL I SURE HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT!)
Ross then had to dig into the Josh Gordon stuff, and flirt with tin foil hats and black helicopters, as is his wont:
Is there something going on here that we don't know about? Did they know about this all along, and if so, why didn't they tell anybody?
If you read this Blog, you already know the probable answers.
I love Terry Pluto, but really have to take him behind the woodshed this time:
He's said (again) that the Browns still need another veteran wide receiver.
Terry always says this, because he thinks wide receiver is rocket science.
But now, Rashard Higgins is a veteran, just like Landry, Gordon, and Duke Johnson.
Phil and Ross referenced this in re the Bryant stuff; the Browns have a deep wr corps, even before you include Antonio Callaway, who looks like he'll make an impact in 2018 his own self.
Phil didn't fail to mention Njoku and DeValve here.
Note to Terry Pluto: You are slipping, man! Saying the Browns need another veteran wide receiver in 2018 is just plain DUMB (and I got that straight from Captain Obvious, ok?)
I like this stuff in camp, where Haley is yelling at Williams about contact with Baker Mayfield, and Williams yells back that "somebody has to block them!"
"Heated exchange" yeah okay. 50/50 these two kind of agreed to bark at eachother for the cameras in advance, but either way it's meaningless except to guys like LaCanfora.
The Browns unofficial depth chart for friday's game vs the Bills didn't have much "shock value". Ogunjobi is starting, and so is Bitonio at left tackle.
Terrence Mitchell has (so far) siezed starting cornerback with both hands, and aint givin it back.
Callaway starts (at X note that) opposite Landry again. Even with his early drops vs the Giants, he has leap-frogged Corey Coleman and is (so far) proving that well, TERRY, that he doesn't belong on the BENCH, Terry HINT-H I N T.
PFF ranked Tyrod Taylor high, and Greg Robinson second at left tackle (oh and Njoku the best tight end) in preseason week one.
Naturally, you can't take any of this to the bank, as there's no real game-plans and a bunch of second and third stringers involved etc etc etc, but you can't dismiss it completely.
Tyrod's sample size was microscopic (two series), but he completed every pass and scored a touchdown (to Njoku). Njoku prospered with two quarterbacks.
Robinson played for a long time. Granted, it was vs second and third-teamers and a vanilla scheme, but oh! Oh!
I'm re-watching Browns vs Giants here, and I just noticed something:
Mayfield-to-Higgins for (around) 23 yards:
Higgins is juking and jiving, then puts the brakes on. His two coverage guys are now both ahead of him, and he creates separation when he slows down.
Ok well, Higgins never looks back (for the ball) until this point. And waddyano, there it is!
Higgins had to jump a little for it, but it was an easy catch for him, and he even had time to turn and run with the ball.
Higgins KNEW the ball would be there for him, see?
Well, maybe the best way to evaluate a timing/west coast quarterback is to zero in on his receivers, you know?
Higgins never glanced back, until that football was DUE. He KNEW it would be in the air and on-target, because he's practiced with Mayfield a lot.
Well, Baker Mayfield is a rookie "air-raid" quarterback, and in preseason game one he's executing an "air-Coryall" passing offense already, see?
Get it? Maybe not, but my spidey-sense says I should change the subject:
I think Carl Nassib will make the final roster, and this has nothing to do with his Hard Knocks financial-planning speech:
He's almost certainly a LEAN 300-plus lbs by now, and he's probably still quicker and faster than the free agent and draft pick who are projected to kick him to the curb (along with outweighing them by 20 lbs and out-"lengthing" them massively).
Nate Orchard has a good shot too, because he can play anywhere. Both Nassib and Orchard are passrushers who are (ahem):
REAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS.
But then, John Dorsey is "courting" Dez Bryant, so I have no idea what he might do next, and can't believe he's smart enough to sandbag Me.
Dez Bryant really? I think Dorsey is just plain "fidgety", and can't leave well enough alone. He could have the perfect team, but couldn't help monkeying around with it, ya no?
As I mentioned several posts ago, this is probably why he got fired in KC (after the draft but before free agency);
His boss was wise to him, and his timing was perfect.
Dez Bryant? Really? I rest my case.
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