I was wrong and Pluto was right about the Browns' Special Teams units. Like many fans, I have tendancy to ignore them, unless something gets fumbled or blocked or missed.
Thanks to Micheal Hoag, my eyes are now open. Amos Jones sucks.
When they hired him, I saw his (very bad) record, and wondered why. Thanks to Mike's article, I now know why: NEPOTISM.
I guess Amos is like Hue Jackson, and just a nice guy who everybody likes.
John Dorsey signed off on this guy. Bruce Ariens defended him into retirement. It was always the players, ya no?
They got Jarvis Landry returning punts now? I know he can do it, but why not Callaway? Landry is on the field for every offensive snap. Adding return duties to this will wear him out!
The 2018 Browns have one of the deepest rosters in the NFL. Are we going to blame the players again here?
"Amos is my friend! Quit pickin on him!"
Mike is right: The Browns have to consider firing and replacing Amos Jones in-season if this doesn't get fixed immediately IMMEDIATELY.
And by the way, using your every-down go-to wide receiver to return punts when you have a Callaway on the roster is STOOPID.
Patrick Maks wrote a decent "keys to the game" article on the Browns vs Steelers game, but I need to tweak it a little:
The return of Ogbah means a lot more than the return of Christian Kirksey. PFF grades Kirksey at 28.8.
Meanwhile, Genard Avery is their top-rated rookie passrusher in the NFL (by a wide margin in that category).
I know I know, Chris came out of nowhere and became a starter and made a lot of plays and stuff, and we all love underdogs and familiar faces and stuff, but these numbers really don't lie.
Frankly, I was befuddled when Gregg Williams replaced Kirksey with Burgess instead of Avery (not a criticism: Gregg Williams knows what he's doing. Plus, Burgess is pretty good in his own way).
Anyway, I hope a lot of teams don't believe in analytics, since Dorsey is already probably trying to trade Kirksey.
Ogbah, on the other hand, is underrated. Chris Smith and Chad Thomas looked pretty good filling in for him, but Ogbah vs right tackles is a much bigger mismatch. Ogbah is a little lighter, but just as strong, and significantly more explosive and faster. He's really the poor man's Myles Garrett.
He will make a difference vs this specific quarterback. Derrick Carr has completed 76% of his passes, but this is substantially because quarterback-whisperer John Gruden has him throwing bubble-screens, dumpoffs, and quick slants/crosses.
That's smart, given this quarterback and overall offensive talent.
Derrick Carr (per PFF but what do they know?) hasn't done well vs pressure or outside the pocket in 2018. That's a little wierd, since he did better as a rookie...maybe his injuries messed him up--I dunno).
Amari Cooper is a home-run hitter, but has likewise started striking out (ie dropping passes) at an alarming rate.
Carr is a decent athlete, but nowhere close to a dual-threat, and not nearly as accurate on the move as from the pocket.
Gregg Williams can probably get away with a 4-man rush (including Ogbah) and keep 7 back to cover and swarm for most of the game.
Gruden will try to batter them down with Beast-Mode, but he's not like he was, and (between the 10's) shouldn't do too much damage...err...I don't think (you can't count that guy out).
But the Mayfield-led/thusly-rejuvinated offense should take Beast-mode out of the game with an early lead, plus force Carr to go deeper.
This is why the Raiders have led early, but lost late. The 2018 Raiders simply have a so-so defense and a bunch of holes on offense (which John Gruden is struggling to cope with).
Yeah yeah Khalil Mack and I've called Gruden tied with Marvin Lewis (Jackson doesn't count) the most overrated Head Coach in the NFL, but Gruden is doing the best he has with what he's got.
And he hasn't "got" enough.
My fellow fans: The Cleveland Browns are sigificantly more talented and balanced than the Raiders, and are now led by Baker Mayfield.
Todd Haley is the Offensive Coordinator, Gregg Williams is the Defensive Coordinator, Hue Jackson is irrelevant, and niether of the aforementioned is afraid of the Big Bad Gruden or the Black Hole.
If not for the special teams issues (thanks again Mike Hoag), I could safely predict a massacre here.
But let the best team win t-he.
Saturday, September 29, 2018
Friday, September 28, 2018
The Mayfield Effect, Talent, Quarterbacks, Browns vs Raiders, and Why the Browns Will Win
USA writer Jeff Risdon says that Todd Haley will need to tweak his offense now that Baker Mayfield is in charge.
I believe that Haley already had some changes in place as Baker took the field, and that there is no need to change the receivers' side of the passing offense at all.
Baker just executed his part of the same offense better than Tyrod did; the basic scheme is fine as it is.
Jeff is right that we should look for some more roll-outs and run/pass options, as Mayfield remains very accurate on the move (Tyrod actually wasn't--something else I was wrong about).
The run/pass option often helps an offensive line out a lot, as they get to attack the defensive line as if it's a run, and conversely, the defense has to take the run seriously, so they can't really "sell out" or twist or stunt a lot.
Rollouts obviously help an offensive line because the passrushers now have a moving target. They line up and fire out aiming at the pocket, and the quarterback leaving it costs them mojo and leverage vs offensive linemen who have positioned themselves to maximize their advantage.
Count on Todd Haley to make the most of Mayfield's quick reads and mobile accuracy, since it will also help baby left tackle Desmond Harrison (as well as everybody else) out a lot too.
Oh yeah "everybody else" includes the running backs, of course.
This is one of the reasons why Baker Mayfield was obviously the best quarterback in this draft class.
You can't run rollouts or RPO's with a lot of quarterbacks. The ability to consistently make the right decision post-snap isn't common, and the ability for a quarterback to throw with velocity, touch, and accuracy on the move is rare.
Baker Mayfield is first and foremost a pocket passer, and did the vast majority of his damage in college from the pocket. But he also excelled when forced to scramble and improvise.
The Sooners never bothered to exploit these skills (I get it why should they?), but in the 2018 NFL, these skills will come in real handy!
By the way, I predict right now that the 2018 quarterback class will match or exceed any class in history.
Josh Rosen couldn't pull his game out when he replaced none other than Sam Bradford, but he was still very impressive. Darnold is very raw, but already scary (without much offensive help). Josh Allen just stomped a mud-hole in the Vikings' defense (fire all the scouts! Who knew he could RUN like that? Probably not the Vikings, right?)
Good for Micheal Hoag for noticing Rodney DeValvefield's apparent return to health.
I would axe Micheal to say "use" instead of "utilize", because the two words mean the same thing, but he's otherwise really smart:
Micheal points out some X and O stuff, but I need to toss this in:
DeValve's role (at tight end) is nearly identical to that of Njoku. Everybody rants and raves about Njoku's freakiness, but DeValve, when healthy, has outperformed him, and he DOESN'T DROP PASSES.
As I posted yesterday, I hope Njoku will become more reliable for Mayfield than he was for Tyrod for abstract psychological reasons. But if Njoku remains as unreliable as he has been, DeValve will have his job.
(Oh "his job": mismatch "move/wing" tight end; defacto third or fourth wide receiver).
Josh Edwards needs to stop editing interview transcripts and making everybody sound like "Data" from Star Trek, but other than that, he wrote a nice article on the sack-competition going on among the Browns' defensive linemen (and Genard Avery, who Josh was smart enough to include).
Garrett is tied for the lead in NFL sacks with five, but Larry Ogunjobi is right there at seventh.
Gregg Williams said he's using Ogunjobi at nose tackle, and generally inside the A-gaps. Gregg mentioned Ogunjobi's "strength index"...
OMG that's ANALYTICS! Gregg Williams isn't a football guy! Wait...it's even worse: Have you noticed that they never fired Paul DePodesta?
God help us! The Browns are still using analytics and Gregg Williams is one of them!
I kid.
I think Terry Pluto wasted ink on his "worried about Mayfield" article.
Terry reminds us that Baker Mayfield is still just a rookie, and will have some downs to go with his ups. We can't expect him to be as good as he was in a little over one half vs the Jets.
Obviously. But Terry also predicted that Baker will have some "bad games".
NO HE WON'T.
Why should he!?! Baker Mayfield is surrounded by lethal weapons, supported by a top five defense, and coached by Todd Haley.
Even if he wasn't, he started 46 games in college, and had Oklahoma in the top four the last two years! "Air Raid" or no, he operated from the pocket, read five-deep, and...
Jeez here's Terry talking like he's Darnold, or Allen, or Kizer, for that matter!
Yeah, I fully expect some free safeties to pick Mayfield off, but well...read my last post: Baker Mayfield will have some "hiccups" and get sacked and stuff, but he will NOT have a "bad game" in 2018.
Terry might be remembering how Carson Wentz got stifled later in his rookie season, and I get that: Wentz was a (big/strong) quarterback with lots of experience in a professional system.
But Mayfield has more experience, and played at the highest level. He has better offensive weapons than Wentz had as a rookie, is more accurate at every level...
Nevermind but Terry is wrong. Baker Mayfield has no exploitable weaknesses (see last two posts). He is more adaptable and advanced than Carson Wentz was at this point in their respective carreers.
I'm weary of these "pump the brakes" guys, and Terry's article was predictable. Curb your enthusiasm. Let's not build his statue just yet. Yeah yeah.
Once again thanks to Jeff Risdon, Rodney Averyfield is PFF's top-graded rookie passrusher through three weeks (ahead of Chubb and everybody else).
For whatever reason (and by no means am I second-guessing Gregg Williams here), Avery hasn't had a lot of reps, but he's been a major bastard just about every time he's been on the field.
Who can blame Gregg Williams for this? So much talent. So few slots. Sigh...oh well...
Yes, the Mayfield era has begun, and now the Browns have had a few extra days to adapt and get healthy.
Ross Tucker is a big brain, but he predicted that the Browns would lose to the Raiders because the Raiders "are due".
Huh? Ross prefaced this prediction by citing the Browns' white-hot defense, lethal offensive skill-talent, Mayfield, etc.
"They're due?"
Most likely, many of YOU PEOPLE "feel" like that. I get it.
For like two decades, we have YET to see the Browns win two games in a row (with one exception). The Raiders are a talented team, and Derrick Carr is completing 76% of his passes. The Raiders have thus far been competitive, but lost in the fourth quarter.
Everybody expects these issues to be corrected with JohnBelicheck Gruden in charge...it's hard to imagine the imminant turnaround not happening right NOW, at home, especially vs the Cleveland Browns.
But this is 2018, and Baker Mayfield. Baker himself pretty much said what I keep saying: Nothing that happened before now is relevant.
The Raiders' semi-desperate situation, the typical "script", and where the game is played are irrelevant.
The 2018 Browns are better than the 2018 Raiders. THAT is relevant.
The Mayfield effect: This game should not be close. The Browns are the better team. But if it IS close late, Mayfield vs the Raiders defense will beat Carr vs the Browns' defense...
But it shouldn't get that close. Because the Browns are better than the Raiders, period.
And yes, the short rookie Baker Mayfield is "all that" NOW.
Browns 31, Raiders 17.
I believe that Haley already had some changes in place as Baker took the field, and that there is no need to change the receivers' side of the passing offense at all.
Baker just executed his part of the same offense better than Tyrod did; the basic scheme is fine as it is.
Jeff is right that we should look for some more roll-outs and run/pass options, as Mayfield remains very accurate on the move (Tyrod actually wasn't--something else I was wrong about).
The run/pass option often helps an offensive line out a lot, as they get to attack the defensive line as if it's a run, and conversely, the defense has to take the run seriously, so they can't really "sell out" or twist or stunt a lot.
Rollouts obviously help an offensive line because the passrushers now have a moving target. They line up and fire out aiming at the pocket, and the quarterback leaving it costs them mojo and leverage vs offensive linemen who have positioned themselves to maximize their advantage.
Count on Todd Haley to make the most of Mayfield's quick reads and mobile accuracy, since it will also help baby left tackle Desmond Harrison (as well as everybody else) out a lot too.
Oh yeah "everybody else" includes the running backs, of course.
This is one of the reasons why Baker Mayfield was obviously the best quarterback in this draft class.
You can't run rollouts or RPO's with a lot of quarterbacks. The ability to consistently make the right decision post-snap isn't common, and the ability for a quarterback to throw with velocity, touch, and accuracy on the move is rare.
Baker Mayfield is first and foremost a pocket passer, and did the vast majority of his damage in college from the pocket. But he also excelled when forced to scramble and improvise.
The Sooners never bothered to exploit these skills (I get it why should they?), but in the 2018 NFL, these skills will come in real handy!
By the way, I predict right now that the 2018 quarterback class will match or exceed any class in history.
Josh Rosen couldn't pull his game out when he replaced none other than Sam Bradford, but he was still very impressive. Darnold is very raw, but already scary (without much offensive help). Josh Allen just stomped a mud-hole in the Vikings' defense (fire all the scouts! Who knew he could RUN like that? Probably not the Vikings, right?)
Good for Micheal Hoag for noticing Rodney DeValvefield's apparent return to health.
I would axe Micheal to say "use" instead of "utilize", because the two words mean the same thing, but he's otherwise really smart:
Micheal points out some X and O stuff, but I need to toss this in:
DeValve's role (at tight end) is nearly identical to that of Njoku. Everybody rants and raves about Njoku's freakiness, but DeValve, when healthy, has outperformed him, and he DOESN'T DROP PASSES.
As I posted yesterday, I hope Njoku will become more reliable for Mayfield than he was for Tyrod for abstract psychological reasons. But if Njoku remains as unreliable as he has been, DeValve will have his job.
(Oh "his job": mismatch "move/wing" tight end; defacto third or fourth wide receiver).
Josh Edwards needs to stop editing interview transcripts and making everybody sound like "Data" from Star Trek, but other than that, he wrote a nice article on the sack-competition going on among the Browns' defensive linemen (and Genard Avery, who Josh was smart enough to include).
Garrett is tied for the lead in NFL sacks with five, but Larry Ogunjobi is right there at seventh.
Gregg Williams said he's using Ogunjobi at nose tackle, and generally inside the A-gaps. Gregg mentioned Ogunjobi's "strength index"...
OMG that's ANALYTICS! Gregg Williams isn't a football guy! Wait...it's even worse: Have you noticed that they never fired Paul DePodesta?
God help us! The Browns are still using analytics and Gregg Williams is one of them!
I kid.
I think Terry Pluto wasted ink on his "worried about Mayfield" article.
Terry reminds us that Baker Mayfield is still just a rookie, and will have some downs to go with his ups. We can't expect him to be as good as he was in a little over one half vs the Jets.
Obviously. But Terry also predicted that Baker will have some "bad games".
NO HE WON'T.
Why should he!?! Baker Mayfield is surrounded by lethal weapons, supported by a top five defense, and coached by Todd Haley.
Even if he wasn't, he started 46 games in college, and had Oklahoma in the top four the last two years! "Air Raid" or no, he operated from the pocket, read five-deep, and...
Jeez here's Terry talking like he's Darnold, or Allen, or Kizer, for that matter!
Yeah, I fully expect some free safeties to pick Mayfield off, but well...read my last post: Baker Mayfield will have some "hiccups" and get sacked and stuff, but he will NOT have a "bad game" in 2018.
Terry might be remembering how Carson Wentz got stifled later in his rookie season, and I get that: Wentz was a (big/strong) quarterback with lots of experience in a professional system.
But Mayfield has more experience, and played at the highest level. He has better offensive weapons than Wentz had as a rookie, is more accurate at every level...
Nevermind but Terry is wrong. Baker Mayfield has no exploitable weaknesses (see last two posts). He is more adaptable and advanced than Carson Wentz was at this point in their respective carreers.
I'm weary of these "pump the brakes" guys, and Terry's article was predictable. Curb your enthusiasm. Let's not build his statue just yet. Yeah yeah.
Once again thanks to Jeff Risdon, Rodney Averyfield is PFF's top-graded rookie passrusher through three weeks (ahead of Chubb and everybody else).
For whatever reason (and by no means am I second-guessing Gregg Williams here), Avery hasn't had a lot of reps, but he's been a major bastard just about every time he's been on the field.
Who can blame Gregg Williams for this? So much talent. So few slots. Sigh...oh well...
Yes, the Mayfield era has begun, and now the Browns have had a few extra days to adapt and get healthy.
Ross Tucker is a big brain, but he predicted that the Browns would lose to the Raiders because the Raiders "are due".
Huh? Ross prefaced this prediction by citing the Browns' white-hot defense, lethal offensive skill-talent, Mayfield, etc.
"They're due?"
Most likely, many of YOU PEOPLE "feel" like that. I get it.
For like two decades, we have YET to see the Browns win two games in a row (with one exception). The Raiders are a talented team, and Derrick Carr is completing 76% of his passes. The Raiders have thus far been competitive, but lost in the fourth quarter.
Everybody expects these issues to be corrected with John
But this is 2018, and Baker Mayfield. Baker himself pretty much said what I keep saying: Nothing that happened before now is relevant.
The Raiders' semi-desperate situation, the typical "script", and where the game is played are irrelevant.
The 2018 Browns are better than the 2018 Raiders. THAT is relevant.
The Mayfield effect: This game should not be close. The Browns are the better team. But if it IS close late, Mayfield vs the Raiders defense will beat Carr vs the Browns' defense...
But it shouldn't get that close. Because the Browns are better than the Raiders, period.
And yes, the short rookie Baker Mayfield is "all that" NOW.
Browns 31, Raiders 17.
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Potential Trades, More Mayfield, Point of Emphasis on Ruining Football
I just read an article suggesting several trades the Browns should make ahead of the deadline.
If they could get a third or even fourth rounder for Tyrod Taylor (Shane thinks from the 49ers, who just lost Jimmy G for the season), I'd sieze that with both hands.
Shane also thinks the Browns should go after Amari Cooper. That's interesting too. It would depend on what Gruden would settle for.
Cooper has had his ups and downs (including the dropsies), but has, during some stretches, been very much like Odell Beckham Jr. Interesting...
I would NOT trade Austin Corbett!
Cordorelle Patterson (from Lord Insideous) might be fun if cheap enough. Like Shane, I don't like starters playing on special teams.
Shane also recommends signing a certain veteran left tackle (Ty Nsekty) as a free agent this offseason. That's a good idea, if this guy is as solid as Shane thinks he is, but for depth. Shane is kinda jumping the gun on Desmond Harrison.
Harrison has gone from up-and-down in game one to more up than down in game three. He's already a "not too bad" NFL left tackle, and Joel Bitonio will tell you, if you ask him, he's ahead of schedule.
But quality depth at left tackle is always good to have.
Steve Patsko isolates two plays which he feels show how special Baker Mayfield is (especially as a rookie):
In both cases, he keeps plays alive with his feet, progresses through 3-4 reads, then starts "re-reading" (or waiting for a guy who'd fallen down to get back up), and delivered.
One of these plays was the pass Jarvis Landry dropped, and good for Steve, as (unlike most of YOU people), he knows that perfect passes that get dropped are still perfect passes.
Tyrod Taylor wouldn't have made either of these throws (but in fairness to him, he might have scrambled for first downs or more).
Good for Myles Garrett for bashing the rediculous flags being thrown on defensive players for tackling quarterbacks (and we can add Derrick Carr and Aaron Rodgers to the list of quarterbacks who are calling it rediculous.)
Fans get it. Quarterbacks get it. Coaches get it. Why don't these pinheads who are ruining football?
Garrett: He won't risk injury in order to "lay (a quarterback) down "like a child" amen, brother! I love this guy!!!
The quarterbacks are insulted by this bullshit! They consider themselves actual football players, with official man-cards and everything! Read that quote by Garrett. They don't want to be treated like fragile children THAT'S NOT FOOTBALL YOU FKNG IDIOTS!!!
STOP THIS INSANITY N O W!!!
If they could get a third or even fourth rounder for Tyrod Taylor (Shane thinks from the 49ers, who just lost Jimmy G for the season), I'd sieze that with both hands.
Shane also thinks the Browns should go after Amari Cooper. That's interesting too. It would depend on what Gruden would settle for.
Cooper has had his ups and downs (including the dropsies), but has, during some stretches, been very much like Odell Beckham Jr. Interesting...
I would NOT trade Austin Corbett!
Cordorelle Patterson (from Lord Insideous) might be fun if cheap enough. Like Shane, I don't like starters playing on special teams.
Shane also recommends signing a certain veteran left tackle (Ty Nsekty) as a free agent this offseason. That's a good idea, if this guy is as solid as Shane thinks he is, but for depth. Shane is kinda jumping the gun on Desmond Harrison.
Harrison has gone from up-and-down in game one to more up than down in game three. He's already a "not too bad" NFL left tackle, and Joel Bitonio will tell you, if you ask him, he's ahead of schedule.
But quality depth at left tackle is always good to have.
Steve Patsko isolates two plays which he feels show how special Baker Mayfield is (especially as a rookie):
In both cases, he keeps plays alive with his feet, progresses through 3-4 reads, then starts "re-reading" (or waiting for a guy who'd fallen down to get back up), and delivered.
One of these plays was the pass Jarvis Landry dropped, and good for Steve, as (unlike most of YOU people), he knows that perfect passes that get dropped are still perfect passes.
Tyrod Taylor wouldn't have made either of these throws (but in fairness to him, he might have scrambled for first downs or more).
Good for Myles Garrett for bashing the rediculous flags being thrown on defensive players for tackling quarterbacks (and we can add Derrick Carr and Aaron Rodgers to the list of quarterbacks who are calling it rediculous.)
Fans get it. Quarterbacks get it. Coaches get it. Why don't these pinheads who are ruining football?
Garrett: He won't risk injury in order to "lay (a quarterback) down "like a child" amen, brother! I love this guy!!!
The quarterbacks are insulted by this bullshit! They consider themselves actual football players, with official man-cards and everything! Read that quote by Garrett. They don't want to be treated like fragile children THAT'S NOT FOOTBALL YOU FKNG IDIOTS!!!
STOP THIS INSANITY N O W!!!
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
It Wasn't a Fluke. It's Real. The Mayfield Era is here: DEAL WITH IT
Look, Jets: How do you prepare for Baker Mayfield as opposed to Tyrod Taylor anyway?
You really can't. Tyrod, you overwhelm, because you know he's not going to find the right guy in time very often. Do you think that will work on Mayfield?
Is your answer to drop seven and try to cover everybody? Send four guys after him? Hell, he can hit a flea in the ass at twenty yards! Yeah just try that!
Try to make him throw to his left, or to his right? Get him "off his mark"?
I keep telling you this: Baker Mayfield doesn't have any exploitable tendancies or weaknesses. PFF can't find any. John Gruden can't either (well okay John never met a quarterback he didn't like, but his critique of Mayfield was merely accurate).
About all the Raiders can do vs Mayfield in particular is screw up and re-route his receivers. A sneaky safety can always take a deliberately false step to get a rookie to throw it where he wants; stuff like that.
But blitzing corners and safeties, like the Jets did to Tyrod? Well, you might make him eat it a couple times yeah, but he'll also burn you a couple times. And pick the receiver; any of them could turn that into a touchdown because your fast guys are in the backfield.
The Browns offensive line has had protection issues, but it's kind of understandable with an undrafted raw rookie left tackle.
I read one critique which knocked JC Tretter and Darren Fells for some of these problems.
I respect this analyst. But Fells is trying to protect Harrison's edge, and the Jets blitzes came mainly through the a-gaps and from the strong side, and (as I mentioned) they were little fast people.
I'm not sure if a center can call a safety "the mike", or if in Haley's offense the quarterback makes that call anyway...
But this analyst studies films and knows his stuff, so I might be wrong.
Regardless, these issues should get resolved as communication and integration improves. Clearly, the Browns offensive line wasn't ready for six-man rushes with two back end players coming (over and over again).
...ok I just can't leave it there: The running back is responsible for "leakage" or safeties or cornerbacks, see? The Big Uglies have the front seven guys.
There are normally four or five BIG people trying to nail the quarterback, and most defensive lines have at least one defensive lineman who requires double-teams.
Hell, Fells has been playing as much as he has to "funnel" the "edge" at or inside Harrison, so that...too deep sorry--but anyway I can't blame Tretter (or the running back) for not picking up TWO lilipution back end blitzers, down after down!
Jim Miller would tell you: "That's on the quarterback. They're taking two back end guys out of coverage, so you've got single coverage everywhere, and if it's a cornerback, that receiver is your hot read, and you see it right away. You have to hit your hot guy if you don't have time for anything else."
The timing of the Mayfield Era is pretty good, as Ogbah and Kirksey should be ready for the Raiders.
As Mary Kay notes, seven of Jarvis Landry's eight receptions (in slightly over one HALF) were from Mayfield.
How will the Raiders defend that? Double cover Landry? You mean leave Callaway one on one?
You got issues, Raiders: The Mayfield effect:
It's not just his superior (and possibly unprecedented) accuracy, but the response of the players around him.
I'll BET you Njoku stops dropping passes (and that Mayfield will HIT him; giving him a chance to redeem himself---see that's part of the magic: "I know you can do it. I want to lean on you. Just catch it before you do anything else" (helmet-slap)).
Every player on this team wants in on this. Hyde and Chubb probably want to be Beast-Mode. Duke Johnsom wants to be David Johnson.
The whole defense has to be fired up. They're leading the league in turnovers, and have seen all those converted into...ten points!?!
With all due respect to Tyrod Taylor, "that shit's over now! He gonna score!"
Permabashers will of course urge us all to pump our brakes. They will remind us that Mayfield is short. They'll point out his almost-interception and his strip (well the last two are legit).
They'll remind us of all the failed Browns quarterbacks and the annual optimism followed by crashes on the rocks.
It's all bullshit:
The 2018 Browns, quarterbacked by Tyrod Taylor, would have beat the Steelers and the Saints (in New Orleans) had their kicker not screwed up.
Beating the 2018 Jets was not a major achievement, but coming back from 14 points down was.
2017, and everything preceding that, is irrelevant.
My pal E, during the Jets game (after Mayfield had taken over and screwed up (but lucked out), said "I've got that old feeling again."
I said "You mean that Kardiak Kidz feeling?"
The Cleveland Browns are not cursed. There's no "loser-juice" in the water. The coaches are about 40% new and the players are at least 35% new and the new GM...well he's John Dorsey. Heard of him?
And if you think Baker Mayfield isn't the best quarterback in the last several drafts, you don't get it.
The 2018 Browns should whup the 2018 Raiders handily with Mayfield at quarterback, obviously.
More importantly, they should SWEEP THE AFC NORTH (*well if this new kicker doesn't get rediculously bad*).
Ah, shaddap!
1: The 2018 Browns are the most talented team in this Division. That's my opinion, and is debatable, but I say there are NO holes in this roster, and depth everywhere, and a preponderance of young/ascending players, with exactly zero overrated over-the-hill players.
2: Baker Mayfield (you'll have to trust me on this one) might be a "short" rookie, but he already can/will go toe-to-toe with Dalton/Flacco/Roethsenberger right tf NOW.
3: Todd Haley made Big Ben, Antonio Brown, and Ebineezer Bell who they WERE.
The Steelers just outshot the Bucs at home, so they're still scary (hat-tip to their coordinators), but my point on Haley is that he can do for the Browns what he did for the Steelers (and the Greatest Show on Turf)
4: If you think this Gregg Williams defense is a "mirage" or something, you're mentally impaired. I don't think Gregg Williams ever had this much talent before in his carreer.
DEAL with it! Hell, he's got too MANY players he wants on the field! He can run any defense he wants down-by-down, and he doesn't have to blitze so much for once!
I'll avoid the weeds here, but the guys who have bashed Williams for backing Garrett into coverage occasionally don't get it...ok nevermind...
5: See WHO THEY went 1-1-1 against! With which quarterbacks!
Think with your BRAIN.
I HAVE SPOKEN.
You really can't. Tyrod, you overwhelm, because you know he's not going to find the right guy in time very often. Do you think that will work on Mayfield?
Is your answer to drop seven and try to cover everybody? Send four guys after him? Hell, he can hit a flea in the ass at twenty yards! Yeah just try that!
Try to make him throw to his left, or to his right? Get him "off his mark"?
I keep telling you this: Baker Mayfield doesn't have any exploitable tendancies or weaknesses. PFF can't find any. John Gruden can't either (well okay John never met a quarterback he didn't like, but his critique of Mayfield was merely accurate).
About all the Raiders can do vs Mayfield in particular is screw up and re-route his receivers. A sneaky safety can always take a deliberately false step to get a rookie to throw it where he wants; stuff like that.
But blitzing corners and safeties, like the Jets did to Tyrod? Well, you might make him eat it a couple times yeah, but he'll also burn you a couple times. And pick the receiver; any of them could turn that into a touchdown because your fast guys are in the backfield.
The Browns offensive line has had protection issues, but it's kind of understandable with an undrafted raw rookie left tackle.
I read one critique which knocked JC Tretter and Darren Fells for some of these problems.
I respect this analyst. But Fells is trying to protect Harrison's edge, and the Jets blitzes came mainly through the a-gaps and from the strong side, and (as I mentioned) they were little fast people.
I'm not sure if a center can call a safety "the mike", or if in Haley's offense the quarterback makes that call anyway...
But this analyst studies films and knows his stuff, so I might be wrong.
Regardless, these issues should get resolved as communication and integration improves. Clearly, the Browns offensive line wasn't ready for six-man rushes with two back end players coming (over and over again).
...ok I just can't leave it there: The running back is responsible for "leakage" or safeties or cornerbacks, see? The Big Uglies have the front seven guys.
There are normally four or five BIG people trying to nail the quarterback, and most defensive lines have at least one defensive lineman who requires double-teams.
Hell, Fells has been playing as much as he has to "funnel" the "edge" at or inside Harrison, so that...too deep sorry--but anyway I can't blame Tretter (or the running back) for not picking up TWO lilipution back end blitzers, down after down!
Jim Miller would tell you: "That's on the quarterback. They're taking two back end guys out of coverage, so you've got single coverage everywhere, and if it's a cornerback, that receiver is your hot read, and you see it right away. You have to hit your hot guy if you don't have time for anything else."
The timing of the Mayfield Era is pretty good, as Ogbah and Kirksey should be ready for the Raiders.
As Mary Kay notes, seven of Jarvis Landry's eight receptions (in slightly over one HALF) were from Mayfield.
How will the Raiders defend that? Double cover Landry? You mean leave Callaway one on one?
You got issues, Raiders: The Mayfield effect:
It's not just his superior (and possibly unprecedented) accuracy, but the response of the players around him.
I'll BET you Njoku stops dropping passes (and that Mayfield will HIT him; giving him a chance to redeem himself---see that's part of the magic: "I know you can do it. I want to lean on you. Just catch it before you do anything else" (helmet-slap)).
Every player on this team wants in on this. Hyde and Chubb probably want to be Beast-Mode. Duke Johnsom wants to be David Johnson.
The whole defense has to be fired up. They're leading the league in turnovers, and have seen all those converted into...ten points!?!
With all due respect to Tyrod Taylor, "that shit's over now! He gonna score!"
Permabashers will of course urge us all to pump our brakes. They will remind us that Mayfield is short. They'll point out his almost-interception and his strip (well the last two are legit).
They'll remind us of all the failed Browns quarterbacks and the annual optimism followed by crashes on the rocks.
It's all bullshit:
The 2018 Browns, quarterbacked by Tyrod Taylor, would have beat the Steelers and the Saints (in New Orleans) had their kicker not screwed up.
Beating the 2018 Jets was not a major achievement, but coming back from 14 points down was.
2017, and everything preceding that, is irrelevant.
My pal E, during the Jets game (after Mayfield had taken over and screwed up (but lucked out), said "I've got that old feeling again."
I said "You mean that Kardiak Kidz feeling?"
The Cleveland Browns are not cursed. There's no "loser-juice" in the water. The coaches are about 40% new and the players are at least 35% new and the new GM...well he's John Dorsey. Heard of him?
And if you think Baker Mayfield isn't the best quarterback in the last several drafts, you don't get it.
The 2018 Browns should whup the 2018 Raiders handily with Mayfield at quarterback, obviously.
More importantly, they should SWEEP THE AFC NORTH (*well if this new kicker doesn't get rediculously bad*).
Ah, shaddap!
1: The 2018 Browns are the most talented team in this Division. That's my opinion, and is debatable, but I say there are NO holes in this roster, and depth everywhere, and a preponderance of young/ascending players, with exactly zero overrated over-the-hill players.
2: Baker Mayfield (you'll have to trust me on this one) might be a "short" rookie, but he already can/will go toe-to-toe with Dalton/Flacco/Roethsenberger right tf NOW.
3: Todd Haley made Big Ben, Antonio Brown, and Ebineezer Bell who they WERE.
The Steelers just outshot the Bucs at home, so they're still scary (hat-tip to their coordinators), but my point on Haley is that he can do for the Browns what he did for the Steelers (and the Greatest Show on Turf)
4: If you think this Gregg Williams defense is a "mirage" or something, you're mentally impaired. I don't think Gregg Williams ever had this much talent before in his carreer.
DEAL with it! Hell, he's got too MANY players he wants on the field! He can run any defense he wants down-by-down, and he doesn't have to blitze so much for once!
I'll avoid the weeds here, but the guys who have bashed Williams for backing Garrett into coverage occasionally don't get it...ok nevermind...
5: See WHO THEY went 1-1-1 against! With which quarterbacks!
Think with your BRAIN.
I HAVE SPOKEN.
Saturday, September 22, 2018
Gruden's Raiders Favored Over Mayfield's Browns? ...ok works for me!
ESPN's Dan Graziano and (scrolling down) Pat McNanoman have some opinions about the "Mayfield effect", as do a bunch of Browns players who Pat quoted, including Mayfield himself.
That last was informative. Mayfield demonstrates a solid understanding of team psychology; it's not all just "instinct" for him. And Joel Bitonio gets it too.
I guess you can scratch what I posted yesterday about Odenigbo, because the Browns just released him.
I'm pretty sure they'll hold onto dt/nt Devaroe Lawrence, though, because he's unique on this squad. He's the only guy who is actually well-suited to play a conventional "space-eater" nose tackle role on this team.
He doesn't fit Gregg's scheme 85% of the time, but he becomes precious vs some offensive lines and in some situations.
Devaroe can also play defensive tackle or 3-4 defensive end on run downs (especially short yardage), so I think he'll stick around. (Now watch them cut him loose tomorrow.)
Graziano clearly doesn't read this Blog, as he predicts Baker Mayfield screwing up like Sam Darnold. See last post. Baker will screw up--in fact he got stripped and lucked out not throwing a pick last week. But he's vastly more experienced and polished than the rest of his draft class (except for Josh Rosen).
Bucky Brooks offers some suggestions on how the Browns can modify/tweak the offense to help him succeed until he gets some pro games under his belt.
I'm pretty sure that Todd Haley will do most of what Bucky suggests.
When the Panthers drafted Cam Newton, offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski (sound familiar?) brought a big part of Cam's college offense to the NFL, including the read/option.
Cam was not ready to start in the NFL at that point, but was a superior athlete and a big monster. It worked.
Defenses adapted, of course, so Cam, after a white-hot start, sputtered and stumbled somewhat later in his rookie season, but that was okay: He made it, as a winner, and got to work that offseason with an expanded professional playbook.
Of course, Mayfield isn't Cam Newton. Cam took a couple years to actually become a top ten quarterback, because he was never very accurate or decisive, and he had very little experience coming out of college.
Cam Newton took awhile. Baker Mayfield won't. At Oklahoma, he was first and foremost a pocket passer. His mechanics are perfect. He sees the whole field, and doesn't hesitate.
I really like what one commenter said: "He rips your heart out and steps on it".
Baker was mostly running Tyrod's offense when he took over last week. I don't think Todd Haley can change it much, as Mayfield can already do everything Tyrod did, except for the quarterback runs.
Still, some Oklahoma plays should help.
In a world free of mysticism and insanity, the 2018 Browns should be favored over the Raiders beacause they're...well you know...better?
But they'll be underdogs. I'll jump the early line, because it will shrink.
The Raiders are 0-2, having lost to the Rams (decisively), and last week to the Broncos (in a squeaker).
There are some doubts about the 2018 Broncos, butta bunch of smart people have accused the Rams of being the best team in the NFC.
Meanwhile, the Browns were one kicker away from beating both the Steelers and the Saints, and just accidentally got a big upgrade at quarterback on a thursday.
The Raiders traded Khalil Mack, and their pass-rush is unmistakably diminished. Their overall defense doesn't suck, but isn't in the top ten either.
John Gruden (currently tied with Marvin Lewis as the most overrated Head Coach in the NFL) should indeed get Derrick Carr (already really good) to step up and stuff, but right now, Carr isn't handling pressure very well. And Garrett, Ogunjobi, Avery, and probably Ogbah WILL get all up in his face.
Here's what (apparently) nobody not on the Browns roster (or Charlie Weiss or me) get:
Flush all the Browns' offensive stats from the Steelers and Saints games down the terlet. Baker Mayfield presents a new paradigm.
This whole Browns team has been building up talent for three years now. Incompetent coaching and bad quarterbacks (plus general inexperience) has stifled it.
But it's been stuck in a boiler, building up pressure as this team went 1-31. (Oh yeah: the young/emerging talent is the steam, see?)
Well, Baker Mayfield is the valve that releases all that built-up steam to the engine, and gets this whole thing rolling.
Baker Mayfield was the best quarterback in his draft class, and (I believe) in the last several drafts. He's more athletic than Goff, and more accurate than Wentz (or possibly every other quarterback EVER...well ok he's as accurate as Joe Montana, anyway)...
But I digress: YOU PEOPLE keep reminding me that the quarterback is the most important player on any team, and Baker Mayfield just walked on to the field down 14 points near halftime, and pulled it out (by the way the Jets defense is pretty good)...
I haven't done my Raiders home-work yet, but I can right now make a few predictions:
1: Derrick Carr will get sacked at least four times.
2: The Raiders will turn the ball over at least twice.
3: Baker Mayfield will rack up 300-plus yards by air; the offense in general over 500 yards.
4: Mayfield will rank over 100 in quarterback efficiency.
5: Vance Joseph won't miss any extra points, and not more than one field goal.
6: Garrett, Ogunjobi, and Avery will get at least one sack each.
7: The defense will finally score points somehow.
8: Chuckie's face will be beet-red for most of the game.
9: The zebras will flag both teams for unneccessarily ruffling the quarterback's pink tutu at least once each.
10: The better team will win (unless it's fixed).
In other words, the Browns will win.
If I had been the Browns GM, either Mahomes or DeShaun Jackson would have been here now.
But would you take a Brees, Warner, and Rodgers tossed into a blender vs those guys? Well, here's Baker Mayfield. There ya go.
Don't tell me to "pump the brakes", oh wise sage: The Cleveland Browns HAVE a franchise quarterback, right NOW!
Baker Mayfield is NOT DeShone Kizer, or even Sam Darnold. He is NOT a "project"; stumbling around like an infant. Baker Mayfield IS an elite quarterback right NOW DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
Not above average, let alone a "project"; a top ten NFL quarterback right NOW.
The Browns should dominate the Raiders next week, and KEEP winning with Baker Mayfield running the show (and Todd Haley the offense).
Baker Mayfield was a home run, and Ward was at least a triple. Stand by.
This is the Mayfield era now.
Pump the brakes my ass.
THIS JUST IN from Dan Orlosky. Dan isn't quite pumping the brakes, but offers some informative insight in re Baker Mayfield's future.
In my own opinion, I will not vote for Dan when he runs for office, and probably won't buy whatever he is selling--but this is 20% worth the click.
Randy Gurzi weighs in on the nationwide interest in the Browns. I can attest to this, as I talk to NFL fans all over the place (along with fantasy players), and they all want to know about Mayfield, Callaway, etc.
As Randy mentions, "Hard Knocks" has a lot to do with this. But they're now1-1-1, Baker Mayfield got them the first "1", and the people I talk to are taking the 2018 Browns seriously...
...well fantasy football has made everybody who plays it wise to skill-players and matchups-that's why I rarely get laughed at when I recommend Higgins, Duke, the Browns defense, and Njoku...
...Dammit Njoku pisses us off, but somehow got better after Mayfield took over.
...so did Callaway, and Duke...
Landry might have dropped his own on-the money pass due to shock. Callaway simply choked--but he is what we call a "rookie", so...
And look at how Mayfield handled these drops! No finger-pointing or "scenes"; he just "re-set", and twice went right back to the guys who had just dropped passes!
Baker Mayfield takes stuff in-stride, and simply adapts. Ok you dropped that so it's third and eight instead of first and ten. Give the dropper a hard look (or a reassuring grin) and do what you need to do...
You people don't get this yet: Baker Mayfield is a born LEADER.
He's about to fix EVERYTHING, right tf NOW.
Stand by. Stand by.
That last was informative. Mayfield demonstrates a solid understanding of team psychology; it's not all just "instinct" for him. And Joel Bitonio gets it too.
I guess you can scratch what I posted yesterday about Odenigbo, because the Browns just released him.
I'm pretty sure they'll hold onto dt/nt Devaroe Lawrence, though, because he's unique on this squad. He's the only guy who is actually well-suited to play a conventional "space-eater" nose tackle role on this team.
He doesn't fit Gregg's scheme 85% of the time, but he becomes precious vs some offensive lines and in some situations.
Devaroe can also play defensive tackle or 3-4 defensive end on run downs (especially short yardage), so I think he'll stick around. (Now watch them cut him loose tomorrow.)
Graziano clearly doesn't read this Blog, as he predicts Baker Mayfield screwing up like Sam Darnold. See last post. Baker will screw up--in fact he got stripped and lucked out not throwing a pick last week. But he's vastly more experienced and polished than the rest of his draft class (except for Josh Rosen).
Bucky Brooks offers some suggestions on how the Browns can modify/tweak the offense to help him succeed until he gets some pro games under his belt.
I'm pretty sure that Todd Haley will do most of what Bucky suggests.
When the Panthers drafted Cam Newton, offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski (sound familiar?) brought a big part of Cam's college offense to the NFL, including the read/option.
Cam was not ready to start in the NFL at that point, but was a superior athlete and a big monster. It worked.
Defenses adapted, of course, so Cam, after a white-hot start, sputtered and stumbled somewhat later in his rookie season, but that was okay: He made it, as a winner, and got to work that offseason with an expanded professional playbook.
Of course, Mayfield isn't Cam Newton. Cam took a couple years to actually become a top ten quarterback, because he was never very accurate or decisive, and he had very little experience coming out of college.
Cam Newton took awhile. Baker Mayfield won't. At Oklahoma, he was first and foremost a pocket passer. His mechanics are perfect. He sees the whole field, and doesn't hesitate.
I really like what one commenter said: "He rips your heart out and steps on it".
Baker was mostly running Tyrod's offense when he took over last week. I don't think Todd Haley can change it much, as Mayfield can already do everything Tyrod did, except for the quarterback runs.
Still, some Oklahoma plays should help.
In a world free of mysticism and insanity, the 2018 Browns should be favored over the Raiders beacause they're...well you know...better?
But they'll be underdogs. I'll jump the early line, because it will shrink.
The Raiders are 0-2, having lost to the Rams (decisively), and last week to the Broncos (in a squeaker).
There are some doubts about the 2018 Broncos, butta bunch of smart people have accused the Rams of being the best team in the NFC.
Meanwhile, the Browns were one kicker away from beating both the Steelers and the Saints, and just accidentally got a big upgrade at quarterback on a thursday.
The Raiders traded Khalil Mack, and their pass-rush is unmistakably diminished. Their overall defense doesn't suck, but isn't in the top ten either.
John Gruden (currently tied with Marvin Lewis as the most overrated Head Coach in the NFL) should indeed get Derrick Carr (already really good) to step up and stuff, but right now, Carr isn't handling pressure very well. And Garrett, Ogunjobi, Avery, and probably Ogbah WILL get all up in his face.
Here's what (apparently) nobody not on the Browns roster (or Charlie Weiss or me) get:
Flush all the Browns' offensive stats from the Steelers and Saints games down the terlet. Baker Mayfield presents a new paradigm.
This whole Browns team has been building up talent for three years now. Incompetent coaching and bad quarterbacks (plus general inexperience) has stifled it.
But it's been stuck in a boiler, building up pressure as this team went 1-31. (Oh yeah: the young/emerging talent is the steam, see?)
Well, Baker Mayfield is the valve that releases all that built-up steam to the engine, and gets this whole thing rolling.
Baker Mayfield was the best quarterback in his draft class, and (I believe) in the last several drafts. He's more athletic than Goff, and more accurate than Wentz (or possibly every other quarterback EVER...well ok he's as accurate as Joe Montana, anyway)...
But I digress: YOU PEOPLE keep reminding me that the quarterback is the most important player on any team, and Baker Mayfield just walked on to the field down 14 points near halftime, and pulled it out (by the way the Jets defense is pretty good)...
I haven't done my Raiders home-work yet, but I can right now make a few predictions:
1: Derrick Carr will get sacked at least four times.
2: The Raiders will turn the ball over at least twice.
3: Baker Mayfield will rack up 300-plus yards by air; the offense in general over 500 yards.
4: Mayfield will rank over 100 in quarterback efficiency.
5: Vance Joseph won't miss any extra points, and not more than one field goal.
6: Garrett, Ogunjobi, and Avery will get at least one sack each.
7: The defense will finally score points somehow.
8: Chuckie's face will be beet-red for most of the game.
9: The zebras will flag both teams for unneccessarily ruffling the quarterback's pink tutu at least once each.
10: The better team will win (unless it's fixed).
In other words, the Browns will win.
If I had been the Browns GM, either Mahomes or DeShaun Jackson would have been here now.
But would you take a Brees, Warner, and Rodgers tossed into a blender vs those guys? Well, here's Baker Mayfield. There ya go.
Don't tell me to "pump the brakes", oh wise sage: The Cleveland Browns HAVE a franchise quarterback, right NOW!
Baker Mayfield is NOT DeShone Kizer, or even Sam Darnold. He is NOT a "project"; stumbling around like an infant. Baker Mayfield IS an elite quarterback right NOW DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
Not above average, let alone a "project"; a top ten NFL quarterback right NOW.
The Browns should dominate the Raiders next week, and KEEP winning with Baker Mayfield running the show (and Todd Haley the offense).
Baker Mayfield was a home run, and Ward was at least a triple. Stand by.
This is the Mayfield era now.
Pump the brakes my ass.
THIS JUST IN from Dan Orlosky. Dan isn't quite pumping the brakes, but offers some informative insight in re Baker Mayfield's future.
In my own opinion, I will not vote for Dan when he runs for office, and probably won't buy whatever he is selling--but this is 20% worth the click.
Randy Gurzi weighs in on the nationwide interest in the Browns. I can attest to this, as I talk to NFL fans all over the place (along with fantasy players), and they all want to know about Mayfield, Callaway, etc.
As Randy mentions, "Hard Knocks" has a lot to do with this. But they're now1-1-1, Baker Mayfield got them the first "1", and the people I talk to are taking the 2018 Browns seriously...
...well fantasy football has made everybody who plays it wise to skill-players and matchups-that's why I rarely get laughed at when I recommend Higgins, Duke, the Browns defense, and Njoku...
...Dammit Njoku pisses us off, but somehow got better after Mayfield took over.
...so did Callaway, and Duke...
Landry might have dropped his own on-the money pass due to shock. Callaway simply choked--but he is what we call a "rookie", so...
And look at how Mayfield handled these drops! No finger-pointing or "scenes"; he just "re-set", and twice went right back to the guys who had just dropped passes!
Baker Mayfield takes stuff in-stride, and simply adapts. Ok you dropped that so it's third and eight instead of first and ten. Give the dropper a hard look (or a reassuring grin) and do what you need to do...
You people don't get this yet: Baker Mayfield is a born LEADER.
He's about to fix EVERYTHING, right tf NOW.
Stand by. Stand by.
Friday, September 21, 2018
Cleveland Browns Could Have Had Darnold and Bradley Chubb!
I'm hearing a lot of cognitive dissonance on NFL Radio in the wake of the Browns win thursday night.
Nearly every commentator pointed out that the Browns would have knocked off the Steelers and Saints if they'd had a functional kicker.
They all call the Browns defense one of the best in the NFL, and were ranting and raving about what Mayfield did, and how he seemed to lift the entire team.
Some even got into the terrific wide receivers, Njoku, and solid running backs.
All of these were prefaces to "Are they going to make the playoffs? Probably not."
See my point? Okay back to the second paragraph: With a decent kicker, the Browns would have beaten the Steelers and Saints with Tyrod Taylor at quarterback.
The Saints and Steelers are still expected to contend for the Superbowl. A number of very smart people have named either or both as Superbowl favorites.
So why do these guys think the Browns under Baker Mayfield are unlikely to make the playoffs?
In fact, the majority of these guys seem to be expecting the Raiders to beat them next sunday.
Could the Steelers or Saints beat the Raiders? Think they'd have a shot? I'll stick my neck out here, and say I think they would both stomp the Raiders.
The Browns now have Baker Mayfield at quarterback and (cross your fingers) an at least average young kicker -snap-snap-, and have an extra three days to get healthy and prepare, but the Raiders will probably beat them?
I'm not really bashing these guys for their ingrained skepticism. "That's so Browns" has become a common expression. The Browns have been a model of incompetence for decades, and these commentators all got that and 1-31 in their heads.
It does seem unthinkable that any 0-16 team could win nine or more games the very next season. That would be a Disney movie, right? It just doesn't happen in real life!
Therefore, regardless of what this team (and this quarterback) have already proven in the first three games, everybody has to mention that they "probably won't make the playoffs (anyway)" to make sure nobody makes fun of them.
I haven't heard from Nate Burleson yet, but I'm pretty sure that he and Joe Thomas are two guys who would say "why not?"
The why not:
Rookies and young players in general tend to screw up. Callaway, Mayfield, Harrison (left tackle), Ward and others are all rookies filling critical positions.
Garrett, Ogunjobi, Njoku, Peppers and others are all second year players as well. That's eight starters, or around 40%.
I left out Genard Avery, but shouldn't have. I don't think Kirksey will be getting his job back.
This inexperience is one rational reason to doubt the 2018 Browns' prospects, but most of the guys who throw water on their playoff prospects, or even their shot of beating the Raiders don't cite it.
Another reason for pessimism is Hue Jackson's persistant presence as the nominal Head Coach. A number of these guys actually think he's actually running everything, and expect him to mess it up.
Hue doesn't help himself by saying that he needs to review the game films before he can decide which quarterback will start next week after what the whole world just saw.
But I digress:
If you have learned to think with your brain, it is obvious to you that the 2018 Browns have a decent shot at a wildcard slot, if not the Division.
If you just shot beer out your nose, you are not thinking with your brain:
1: Baker Mayfield is not a typical rookie. He started FOURTY college games, the majority of which were at the highest level.
While the offenses he ran and defenses he faced were comparatively simplistic, his recognition and mechanics are already well-honed.
Mayfield graduated college with a doctorate of quarterbacking, while Sam Darnold needed summer school to get his bachelor's degree.
If you think that Baker Mayfield will screw up as much as Sam Darnold still will, you don't get it.
No knock on Sam here: 3-4 years from now, Darnold could be working on his second or third Pro Bowl, for all I know. My point is that Baker Mayfield was more pro-ready than any quarterback in his draft class, maybe including Rosen.
2: Mayfield might just be THE most accurate quarterback ever. If he's not, he's right up there with Brees, Werner, and Montana. Shut tf up: This is a FACT. If you don't believe me, ask Brees, Warner, or Montana.
3: You witnessed this: Everything changed when Mayfield took over. Todd Bowles stopped blitzing his cornerbacks and safeties (because he had scouted Mayfield).
The running game became effective. The defense went apeshit.
Mayfield is magic. The NFL Radio guys have a hard time describing exactly how it works, but Baker Mayfield brings out the best in all of his teammates somehow.
It's partly because he's truly a team guy. We saw him rooting for Tyrod Taylor, and jumping up and down like a cheerleader when a defensive player made a great play.
It's not an act. That's who Mayfield is. Charlie Weiss says that Mayfield, due to that personality of his, was exactly what the perennial loser Browns needed. (Charlie also said that the less emotional, calmer Sam Darnold was what the Jets needed).
Anyway, part of this is that Baker's teammates know that he's one of the guys, and respects all of them.
Everybody loves Baker.
Another part of this "team-elevating" effect that Baker has always had is confidence: They KNOW how just plain good he is, and that if they do their own jobs right, the ball will be gone, on the money, and good things will happen.
No offense to Tyrod Taylor, but Baker Mayfield is simply that much better than he is.
I liked Bryan Hoyer a lot, but remember? Whenever he had to flee the pocket or improvise, the play was over. He'd end up throwing it away.
Tyrod is like that, except he can wreak havoc with his legs (if not contained).
Baker Mayfield sees the field better than both these guys, and he'll as often complete a pass as throw it away.
The receivers know this, so they come back to him, waving at him (and following his hand-signals, as he points at where they should go and stuff--as he runs).
This aint over. We can still make a big play with Baker.
It's a lot different with Tyrod or Hoyer. With these guys, the receivers think "ah, shit" and not much more, once they see them outside the pocket.
Mayfield's magic is hard to break down clinically (I just tried), but it's irrefutable and real, so who cares anyway?
3: The 2018 Browns defense is a turnover machine and a top five unit overall.
Ogbah should be back for the Raiders game, with something to prove.
Do you think this is a fluke? Williams has done a lot of this without blitzing (note I mean sending more than four passrushers).
He did this to the Steelers, Saints, and Jets. I haven't researched this at all yet, but do the Raiders have a top ten offensive line or something? Is Derrick Carr now a master-impoviser now that he's got Yoda Gruden as his Head Coach?
For some inexplicable reason, the 2018 Raiders defense has struggled to pressure opposing quarterbacks...
Ah, but John Gruden is a quarterback expert, so he will know exactly how to screw up Baker Mayfield!
Not really. Mayfield can burn blitzes, exploit zones, go horizontal or vertical, and (listen to me here) HAS no weaknesses!
John Gruden is also tied with Marvin Lewis for the most overrated Head Coach in the NFL title (*Hue Jackson could pass them both up if the Browns do make the playoffs*).
Derrick Carr is a terrific (and improving) quarterback, but I don't think he's as good as Brees or Big Ben...
But I digress (and want to change the subject):
1: Don't expect DT/NT Larry Ogunjobi to disappear any time soon. He is an elite talent, and Gregg Williams is making the most of him.
He IS as good as he looks DO YOU UNDERSTAND? And oh yeah--he's next to Myles Garrett.
2: I had my own doubts, but Damarius Randall is probably one of the best five free safeties in the NFL.
3: When Ogbah gets healthy (should be vs the Raiders) the passrush will get even nastier:
Thanks to Kendricks' release and Kirksey's injury, Genard Avery has had more opportunites, and (as I predicted blush-blush) is a James Harrison-like player.
Ogbah himself has been all but forgotten in many microbrains, but he's only marginally behind Myles Garrett as a passrusher, and as good or better vs the run (get the stars out of your eyes dammit)
Rodney Ogbahfield's return to health will significantly upgrade this defense (more vs the run than vs the pass, but upgrades in both).
This is a domino-effect thing:
Avery is now established as a scary passrusher (inside or outside), but he's also a real linebacker who can cover in zone and stop runs
In Ogbah's absence, Gregg Williams has experimented with various guys to bookend Myles Garrett's passrush, and Avery became that guy, even though he's not a defensive lineman.
As I had predicted (blush-blush).
Anyway, once Ogbah returns to the lineup, he will be Garrett's bookend in both 3-4 and 4-3 "looks"...
As you know if you read this blog (blush-blush) Gregg Williams is likely to rely primarily on Garrett, Ogunjobi, and Ogbah as a base defensive front.
He will want Schobert, Collins, and Avery on the field as often as possible as well.
These are his best six front-end players.
But this is semantics: Collins can put his hand in the dirt (but why bother?). Cousins or Peppers can play WIL.
Really a lot of this crap is silly: Gregg will rotate heavily, and adapt to situations with big strong guys or small fast guys, but will obviously use his best players as often as possible, as often as he can.
The six guys I named are the "core" of Gregg's "front seven" (*an obsolete term*), but he can replace two or three of them (and let them suck oxygen and rest) based on the given situation.
Indeed, Dorsey's recent acquisitions of Odenigbo and Lawrence gave Williams massive flexibility. Both these guys are very good already, but are "specialized".
These are top-flight "rotational" players who...
Too deep in the weeds here. Sorry.
...okbye
The running game became effective. The defense went apeshit.
Mayfield is magic. The NFL Radio guys have a hard time describing exactly how it works, but Baker Mayfield brings out the best in all of his teammates somehow.
It's partly because he's truly a team guy. We saw him rooting for Tyrod Taylor, and jumping up and down like a cheerleader when a defensive player made a great play.
It's not an act. That's who Mayfield is. Charlie Weiss says that Mayfield, due to that personality of his, was exactly what the perennial loser Browns needed. (Charlie also said that the less emotional, calmer Sam Darnold was what the Jets needed).
Anyway, part of this is that Baker's teammates know that he's one of the guys, and respects all of them.
Everybody loves Baker.
Another part of this "team-elevating" effect that Baker has always had is confidence: They KNOW how just plain good he is, and that if they do their own jobs right, the ball will be gone, on the money, and good things will happen.
No offense to Tyrod Taylor, but Baker Mayfield is simply that much better than he is.
I liked Bryan Hoyer a lot, but remember? Whenever he had to flee the pocket or improvise, the play was over. He'd end up throwing it away.
Tyrod is like that, except he can wreak havoc with his legs (if not contained).
Baker Mayfield sees the field better than both these guys, and he'll as often complete a pass as throw it away.
The receivers know this, so they come back to him, waving at him (and following his hand-signals, as he points at where they should go and stuff--as he runs).
This aint over. We can still make a big play with Baker.
It's a lot different with Tyrod or Hoyer. With these guys, the receivers think "ah, shit" and not much more, once they see them outside the pocket.
Mayfield's magic is hard to break down clinically (I just tried), but it's irrefutable and real, so who cares anyway?
3: The 2018 Browns defense is a turnover machine and a top five unit overall.
Ogbah should be back for the Raiders game, with something to prove.
Do you think this is a fluke? Williams has done a lot of this without blitzing (note I mean sending more than four passrushers).
He did this to the Steelers, Saints, and Jets. I haven't researched this at all yet, but do the Raiders have a top ten offensive line or something? Is Derrick Carr now a master-impoviser now that he's got Yoda Gruden as his Head Coach?
For some inexplicable reason, the 2018 Raiders defense has struggled to pressure opposing quarterbacks...
Ah, but John Gruden is a quarterback expert, so he will know exactly how to screw up Baker Mayfield!
Not really. Mayfield can burn blitzes, exploit zones, go horizontal or vertical, and (listen to me here) HAS no weaknesses!
John Gruden is also tied with Marvin Lewis for the most overrated Head Coach in the NFL title (*Hue Jackson could pass them both up if the Browns do make the playoffs*).
Derrick Carr is a terrific (and improving) quarterback, but I don't think he's as good as Brees or Big Ben...
But I digress (and want to change the subject):
1: Don't expect DT/NT Larry Ogunjobi to disappear any time soon. He is an elite talent, and Gregg Williams is making the most of him.
He IS as good as he looks DO YOU UNDERSTAND? And oh yeah--he's next to Myles Garrett.
2: I had my own doubts, but Damarius Randall is probably one of the best five free safeties in the NFL.
3: When Ogbah gets healthy (should be vs the Raiders) the passrush will get even nastier:
Thanks to Kendricks' release and Kirksey's injury, Genard Avery has had more opportunites, and (as I predicted blush-blush) is a James Harrison-like player.
Ogbah himself has been all but forgotten in many microbrains, but he's only marginally behind Myles Garrett as a passrusher, and as good or better vs the run (get the stars out of your eyes dammit)
Rodney Ogbahfield's return to health will significantly upgrade this defense (more vs the run than vs the pass, but upgrades in both).
This is a domino-effect thing:
Avery is now established as a scary passrusher (inside or outside), but he's also a real linebacker who can cover in zone and stop runs
In Ogbah's absence, Gregg Williams has experimented with various guys to bookend Myles Garrett's passrush, and Avery became that guy, even though he's not a defensive lineman.
As I had predicted (blush-blush).
Anyway, once Ogbah returns to the lineup, he will be Garrett's bookend in both 3-4 and 4-3 "looks"...
As you know if you read this blog (blush-blush) Gregg Williams is likely to rely primarily on Garrett, Ogunjobi, and Ogbah as a base defensive front.
He will want Schobert, Collins, and Avery on the field as often as possible as well.
These are his best six front-end players.
But this is semantics: Collins can put his hand in the dirt (but why bother?). Cousins or Peppers can play WIL.
Really a lot of this crap is silly: Gregg will rotate heavily, and adapt to situations with big strong guys or small fast guys, but will obviously use his best players as often as possible, as often as he can.
The six guys I named are the "core" of Gregg's "front seven" (*an obsolete term*), but he can replace two or three of them (and let them suck oxygen and rest) based on the given situation.
Indeed, Dorsey's recent acquisitions of Odenigbo and Lawrence gave Williams massive flexibility. Both these guys are very good already, but are "specialized".
These are top-flight "rotational" players who...
Too deep in the weeds here. Sorry.
...okbye
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