Like I posted, I think putting Des Harrison at left tackle now would be a good idea if they believe he can handle it.
Joel Bitonio says he can. Joel says Harrison is a prototype left tackle (and Captain Obvious concurs).
...but here goes Hue again! He says he's still thinking about making the switch for the Steelers game, but is leaving it as-is for now.
? Don't you think that Harrison could--you know, benefit from a few first team practice reps next to Bitonio?
And why the dithering? What more do you need to see? Hue, you...I just...wow. Bet you had to mark your territory with Wylie this time:
"If we're going to do this, we need to get him over there n--"
"I used to sit where you sit, but now I sit here, and it's my call".
"But if he doesn't get--"
"I used to be where you are, so I know how--wait where are you going? Bob? Bob?"
A bunch of dinged players returned to practice, including Josh Gordon, Genard Avery, Seth DeValve, and Damarius Randall. Most of the team is now healthy, and they'll need that this week.
The Browns signed Jeremiah McKinnon and Dontrell Hilliard to the practice squad, which is good news. Dayes (probably claimed by another team) outshined him last week, but Hilliard is a really good third down back who can do Duke Johnson stuff.
Randy Gurzi is sold on Terrence Mitchell, Njoku, and Garrett. Me too.
Mitchell is just coming into his own now. You really can't cover Njoku. But when he got to Garrett, Randy pointed out that in 11 games as a rookie, Garrett got more sacks than Khalil Mack and JJ Watt in their respective rookie seasons.
The Browns expect to face Ebineezer Bell this week. That's news?
Well it's good news, kinda, since he hasn't been working with his team, and will be rusty.
This is one of the reasons why the 2018 Browns have a shot at beating the Steelers at home.
I know that a bunch of you are laughing at me, but last season, a Browns team which was significantly inferior to the 2018 version almost beat the Steelers twice...I mean what's funny, man?
John Dorsey and Joe Schobert are two more reasons:
The Steelers' new offensive coordinator is retaining most of Todd Haley's system (smart guy). Naturally, they've changed the language (as Haley did when he started over here), but Schobert is a "sign-stealer".
He called the defense vs Haley twice last season, so he's already familiar with their tendancies and patterns. Haley will have sat down in the film room with Joe to review a bunch of film, and offered some deeper insights.
The Steelers can change their "code book", but really can't change the system too much, because it was built around these players, and is about the best one for them.
They'll have a couple curve balls to throw at Gregg Williams, but can only get so cute.
Four more reasons are Denzel Ward, Terrence Mitchell, Demarius Randall, and Derrick Kindred. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Antonio Brown, and Ebineezer Bell are probably the best trio in the NFL (for the moment).
Big Ben hits them in-stride and on the money, even if he's "running" or getting tackled; even after the play has broken down.
They'll score points on any defense, and they'll do it to the Browns, too.
But this year is different: Gregg Williams can tighten up the coverage this time (at least on Brown).
Brown is a YAC guy, not a deep threat. I'm not sure about Mitchell, but Ward can outrun him if he shakes loose. He might catch several passes, but probably can't turn them into big plays.
Smith-Schuster is bigger and faster. They might press him, and keep Randall on top of him to cap him off.
Not much you can do about Bell in the slot; you need off-man or zone, and cross your fingers.
BUT if he tries that "patience" stuff on runs vs this 2018 Gregg Williams defense, he'll get in trouble, because he'll find a lot of orange and Brown sharing his backfield with him.
Speaking of which, several defenses gave the Steelers a hard time; disrupting routes and forcing Ben to hold the ball. The problem is, that big clod improvises as well as any quarterback in the NFL, and this is where most of their biggest plays come from.
You can jam Brown for a few seconds, but after that he'll separate on you, and Ben is looking for him.
The 2018 Browns will have an upgraded pass-rush to go with their man corners. They WILL get to Big Ben early and often.
Yeah, he'll drive us nuts and pull that "GOT him--oh shit again?" stuff again sometimes, but sometimes they really WILL sack him, see?
Another few reasons are Jarvis Landry, Josh Gordon, Njoku, and Taylor. The Steelers defense is just so-so. TJ Watt is just one of eleven in the real world. They don't suck, but they're not in the 2018 Browns' zip code.
Of course, the Browns will need to run the ball. That's where the Steelers could give the homies a hard time.
Running the ball early vs the Steelers is almost critical, though.
Fortunately, Todd Haley isn't Hue Jackson, so he will sometimes use zone-blocking, run-pass options, and read/options, instead of just going power/man up the gut. Haley should also know exactly how to attack the defense he practiced against last season.
If the Browns can "establish the run" early, it could make all the difference in this particular game.
The Steelers offense is too dangerous to allow on the field. Gordon just came back, Callaway is a rookie, the offensive line is in transition, the offensive system is new, as is the quarterback.
The Steelers defense is just so-so, but they're veterans in a well-established system. They can dial up pressure when they need to.
Anyway, the 2017 Browns almost beat them twice, this team is significantly better than that team (including at quarterback and offensive coodinator), so why are you laughing? Anybody home? You speak english?
THIS JUST IN from Randy Gurzi on the left tackle issue.
If Hue is trying to be insideously diabolical, he's an idiot. I respectfully disagree with Randy about a switch this late being (neccessarily) unwise: If Harrison is good enough (already), he should play.
Corbett is a rookie too. Bitonio back at left guard restores last season's inside unit, and (see last post) Harrison can be "protected" for now, and the interior line chemistry is more important--the tackles are kind of separate (more on that later).
If this kid is all that, postponing the change will do more long-term harm than good. Get the unit of the future out there now, so you don't need to monkey around with it later.
Get it done now, and quit wasting this kid's time.
THIS JUST IN: Bell wasn't at practice monday. There is no way he can be himself in the opener, assuming he does show up. I hope he does play.
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