Ok these clueless people keep talking about the "wide receiver challenged" Browns, and I just don't get it.
Let's start with the two healthy (drafted) rookies:
Antonio Callaway has finally started catching a majority of the passes thrown to him. Baker Mayfield and I seem to be the only ones who noticed.
Dameion Ratley lucked out on that one catch he bobbled before securing it, but generally has been reliable.
Both of these players have extremely high cielings and game-breaking quickness and speed.
The other thing they have in common is that they are rookies. That means they are getting better, and should continue to improve game by game (like Baker Mayfield).
How does this get turned into "they both suck"?
Is Jarvis Landry washed up? Oh I hear ya Mary Kay "they focus on Landry and it's over".
No it's not, because Ratley and Callaway are improving game by game, and will start making defenses pay dearly for that strategy.
That's three. Rashard Higgins might be back this sunday. He IS very reliable, and more dangerous than anybody (including me) ever suspected. Mayfield is very comfortable with him.
Higgins is a big tall strong guy as well, who has worked every wide receiver position including X.
That's four, and even if you inexplicably want to flush ALL the rookie wideouts down the terlet based on their uneven performances up to the middle of their rookie seasons, Higgins and Landry are tried and true.
And here again is Duke Johnson. He can line up inside or outside at wide receiver, get open, and catch what is thrown to him short or intermediate!
Dammit Todd Haley refused to use Duke in that role (like Hue did use him in 2017), and here you are trying to say Duke doesn't count! Bullcrap! He Proved it last season! And that's FIVE, by the way!
I like the other two injured rookies a lot too. These guys might not get back on the field in 2018, but they've proven they belong in the NFL.
Making some spastic trade right now guarantees that one or both of these guys gets cut in 2019 WHY?
You people are also blaming these receivers for not getting open when the majority of their routes have been vertical, with Baker Mayfield stuck in a predictable pocket and getting kitchen-sinked and stomped into the ground all game long!
That's not the wide receivers dammit that's the COACH!
1: Baker Mayfield is athletic and does throw accurately on the move. He is 6' tall and can't shrug guys off like Big Ben. He is quick and decisive, and does get rid of the ball quickly if he has an option to do so.
2: It's much easier for press corners to cover vertical routes than crosses or slants in the first couple seconds after the snap.
3: Both Ratley and Callaway have the suddenness and speed to run West Coast type patterns, and consistently shake coverage short and quick.
Indeed, this is what Callaway does BEST, and it's most of what Landry did in Miami!
Haley used Landry more aggressively, which was good, but he went to the other extreme, and all but did away with ALL his short routes! Landry is more than he showed in Miami, but he's NOT an X receiver: Todd Haley was not making the most of him.
4: Haley did exactly what Hue Jackson did to DeShone Kizer last season, and Chris Palmer did to Tim Couch:
He ran a vertical passing offense with a pocket. Predictable and slow-developing.
Baker Mayfield managed to turn some lemons into lemonade when he squirted out of a couple of his death-traps (he reminds me of Brian Sipe, the way he does that), but generally, well...
Todd Haley screwed him and the receivers over, okay?
And the pundits are oblivious to that so far (not for long, since as usual some scumbag will steal this and pretend he thought of it himself), but this is why he was fired.
Jimmy Haslam isn't a "football guy", but John Dorsey, and probably at least two consultants Jimmy has hired are.
I guarantee you that the "football guy"consennsus was "what the hell is he doing!?!"
Remember Cam Newton? Rob Chudzinski (long before Chip Kelly by the way) "imported" some of Cam's college offense to help him out as a rookie.
It worked. And here was Cam, with barely over one season's worth of college starts, marginal accuracy, expected to be a "project"...and he just kicks ass as a rookie!
As I've mentioned, Todd Haley or Chris Palmer might well have Kizerized Cam Newton. He might be a bad joke today.
I know Robert Griffin III hit the rocks after his rookie season, but took the NFL by storm as a rookie, because his own coaches adapted their offense to him.
Most of the "crazy" college concepts these adaptable coaches introduced to the NFL were copied by other teams, and persist to this day, probably in every playbook.
Why couldn't Todd Haley have done that for Baker Mayfield (and Ratley/Callaway/Duke)?
Is any of this sinking in yet?
I hardly care about Hue Jackson, but for me, the Haley firing was definitely good news.
Pat McNanoman wrote an unusually good article in which he brings up current Green Bay Head Coach Mike McCarthy as a potential Head Coach candidate in 2019, should the Packers cut him loose.
But Pat is overly dismissive of Gregg Williams because he went 17-31 as Head Coach of the Buffalo Bills.
As I recall, those Bills had NO TALENT AND NO QUARTERBACK, so I'm not writing Gregg off just yet.
Tony Grossi finds the current Browns organizational structure "insane", as the Head Coach and General Manager have equal access to the owner.
Tony should never run a company.
This is a fact: When a GM and Head Coach disagree, the GM is wrong about as often as the Head Coach is. Tony thinks the Head Coach needs to answer to the GM, even if the GM is an idiot...
Clearly, Tony thinks Jimmy is an easily manipulated idiot. Dorsey wasn't being politically correct when he said "the owner wants to hear both sides" (or something like that). He could as well have said "Big deal!"
Take a pill, Tony!
Pat took "same scheme and same plays" at face value. WRONG!
This was hopefully a bald-faced lie...
Looking back on Haley's carreer, he hasn't worked with any quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield. The closest one to Baker was Kurt Warner.
Kurt Warner was actually a basketball star, and a lot more athletic than he looked as a quarterback. Haley kept him in the pocket too.
Haley DID use Ebineezer Bell at wide receiver a lot, so there is a place for Duke Johnson there, but I'm not sure if Todd has ANY read-options, run-pass options, or rollouts at all in his playbook.
God, I dearly hope Kitchens and company are lying, because if they keep doing what Haley did...please, for the love of God, kill me (and cross your fingers I beat Baker Mayfield to heaven...it might be a close race).
I now think that Todd Haley has been lucky, and was overrated (including by me). Throughout his carreer, he's had outstanding quarterbacks and veteran talent to work with.
Good-to-great offensive lines, too.
My bad. I've been calling Haley the Savior. Nah!
Okay who do the Browns play next?
...Uh-oh...okbye
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Monday, October 29, 2018
Dysfunction, Power Struggles, Who Cares? Good Luck Kitchens!
The Pittsburgh Steelers are top contenders for the 2018 Superbowl, and I don't need all your spastic kniption fits here after they (predictably) beat the Browns at home.
As Terry Pluto points out, the last two teams that played the Browns decided that the best way to mess Baker Mayfield up was to "keep him in the pocket"
This was a great strategy, since Todd Haley was already doing that for them!
Well he and Hue are gone now.
Interim OC Freddie Kitchens is a former stud quarterback, and has coached every offensive skill position except wide receiver. He has worked under Ken Weisenhunt and Bruce Ariens.
He doesn't have any meaningful experience calling plays, and has never been an offensive coordinator at any level.
I want Kitchens to get his big break here, and am not freaking out about the playcalling stuff yet.
The first 15-20 plays are scripted, and I hope that Kitchens will accept input from Mayfield (it goes without saying that Haley did not).
"The Wolf" offers some solid insight into Kitchens, stressing his time under Ariens in Arizona, where he helped revive Carson Palmer and turn David Johnson into a monster.
Anyway, I have a hunch that this former quarterback will quit Chris Palmerizing poor Baker and getting him smashed.
While it's important for every NFL quarterback to function in the pocket, and good for them to get used to the pocket, Chris Palmer used Tim Couch exclusively that way.
Now, Tim Couch was a terrific scrambler who could throw on the run. He ran an all-shotgun air-raid offense in college.
Palmer refused to concede any part of a classic drop-back offense to help Couch acclimate whatsoever. If Tim Couch had been Cam Newton, Palmer would have destroyed him, immediately.
Todd Haley was doing this to Baker Mayfield.
When the Chargers and Steelers Head Coaches tell you that "containing" Mayfield in the pocket was an integral part of why they beat the Browns, you need to think about that.
Kitchens might well see that for Mayfield (and with these running backs), a little read-option, run-pass option, and rollout action would help Mayfield out a lot.
Duh:
Mayfield has been swarmed by the Chargers and Steelers, because they know exactly where he will be on every single gdam snap.
Any offensive lineman will tell you, if the quarterback is always in the same place, a defense will find ways to get at him (predictability is bad, see?)
Haley made it worse by stressing deep passes, almost as much as Hue Jackson did in 2017. Haley has not exploited Mayfield's quick release/decision-making, OR the abilities of Duke, Callaway, or Ratley to take short passes deep.
Anyway, it's just COMMON FKNG SENSE to mix in the variables I mentioned to HELP THE OFFENSIVE LINE PROTECT THE QUARTERBACK.
The run-pass option, for example, is blocked as if it's a run; the offensive linemen get to attack. A rollout is a curveball; it deprives the blitzers and gap-shooters of their target-zone (ie where Haley or Palmer will guarantee to put the quarterback).
It gives the offensive linemen a big advantage on a given down, and makes defensive coordinators back off in general.
That's not Kitchens' department, but we can hope that he will listen to Bob Wylie, and arrive at several obvious conclusions which Todd Haley couldn't.
Duh.
I'm okay with Williams as an interim Head Coach, because I don't believe he's as ambitious as other guys, and won't mess everybody else up.
Defensive coaches can come up with some insideously diabolical offensive stuff, however (see Belichick).
They understand offense as well or better than their counterparts.
Anyway, I'm kinda glad both those guys are gone, and will root for the interim guys.
...or Lincoln Riley in 2019.
Cut the crap: Of course Riley is committed to trying to get his Sooners a National Championship this year, and can't reneg midseason.
So he won't say what you want him to say.
But he WILL seriously consider rejoining HIS quarterback in a very attractive situation in 2019.
...I mean assuming the new interim crew doesn't pull the Browns out. Give these underdawgs a chance.
As I've repeated many, many times, the Browns offensive coordinator doesn't need to be a genius. He just needs to be adaptable, and have common sense.
Gregg Williams doen't need to do a whole lot as the new Head Coach:
They have to use Haley's language and playbook for the rest of the season, but Williams is no doubt eager to exploit Baker Mayfield himself.
Most likely, Gregg has been trying to figure out why Haley never made the most of his quarterback, or offense in general.
He was no doubt looking forward to a "chess-match" kinda situation in practice, and well...been dissappointed.
NO DOUBT, Gregg Williams last season knew he could do better than Hue Jackson, and this season knew he could do better than Todd Haley if he were running the offense.
I dream of Lincoln Riley in 2019, but I'm not counting Gregg Williams out just yet.
Don't spazz out over the disruption here: They'll stick with Haley's system and playbook.
I'm just optimistic that they will optimize their offensive skill-talent more intelligently, and of course have more COMMON SENSE. SINCE OBVIOUSLY THEY ALMOST HAVE TO Gdammit.
I know Grossi et al see a huge setback/collapse here, but I think not:
The new guys might unleash the talent which the old guys were suppressing, as of this sunday.
Count on Baker Mayfield getting way more assertive behind closed doors right now (and probably bringing Kosar in for backup).
Just know that this very young but extremely talented team still has a shot at the 2018 playoffs. The sky has not fallen.
Gregg Williams is at least extremely smart, and Kitchens was a quarterback.
I'm confident that the new crew will outperform the old crew, starting this sunday.
And this "power struggle" crap? Jeez get a LIFE! Haley and Hue were mostly on the same page, but the instant Hue talks about getting more involved with the offense, jeezus here comes the fkng pundit-driven melodrama!
Hue and Todd are probably commisserating over how they got screwed over by Haslam and Dorsey.
Big deal. Get over it. They both sucked. Get over it.
I HAVE SPOKEN.
As Terry Pluto points out, the last two teams that played the Browns decided that the best way to mess Baker Mayfield up was to "keep him in the pocket"
This was a great strategy, since Todd Haley was already doing that for them!
Well he and Hue are gone now.
Interim OC Freddie Kitchens is a former stud quarterback, and has coached every offensive skill position except wide receiver. He has worked under Ken Weisenhunt and Bruce Ariens.
He doesn't have any meaningful experience calling plays, and has never been an offensive coordinator at any level.
I want Kitchens to get his big break here, and am not freaking out about the playcalling stuff yet.
The first 15-20 plays are scripted, and I hope that Kitchens will accept input from Mayfield (it goes without saying that Haley did not).
"The Wolf" offers some solid insight into Kitchens, stressing his time under Ariens in Arizona, where he helped revive Carson Palmer and turn David Johnson into a monster.
Anyway, I have a hunch that this former quarterback will quit Chris Palmerizing poor Baker and getting him smashed.
While it's important for every NFL quarterback to function in the pocket, and good for them to get used to the pocket, Chris Palmer used Tim Couch exclusively that way.
Now, Tim Couch was a terrific scrambler who could throw on the run. He ran an all-shotgun air-raid offense in college.
Palmer refused to concede any part of a classic drop-back offense to help Couch acclimate whatsoever. If Tim Couch had been Cam Newton, Palmer would have destroyed him, immediately.
Todd Haley was doing this to Baker Mayfield.
When the Chargers and Steelers Head Coaches tell you that "containing" Mayfield in the pocket was an integral part of why they beat the Browns, you need to think about that.
Kitchens might well see that for Mayfield (and with these running backs), a little read-option, run-pass option, and rollout action would help Mayfield out a lot.
Duh:
Mayfield has been swarmed by the Chargers and Steelers, because they know exactly where he will be on every single gdam snap.
Any offensive lineman will tell you, if the quarterback is always in the same place, a defense will find ways to get at him (predictability is bad, see?)
Haley made it worse by stressing deep passes, almost as much as Hue Jackson did in 2017. Haley has not exploited Mayfield's quick release/decision-making, OR the abilities of Duke, Callaway, or Ratley to take short passes deep.
Anyway, it's just COMMON FKNG SENSE to mix in the variables I mentioned to HELP THE OFFENSIVE LINE PROTECT THE QUARTERBACK.
The run-pass option, for example, is blocked as if it's a run; the offensive linemen get to attack. A rollout is a curveball; it deprives the blitzers and gap-shooters of their target-zone (ie where Haley or Palmer will guarantee to put the quarterback).
It gives the offensive linemen a big advantage on a given down, and makes defensive coordinators back off in general.
That's not Kitchens' department, but we can hope that he will listen to Bob Wylie, and arrive at several obvious conclusions which Todd Haley couldn't.
Duh.
I'm okay with Williams as an interim Head Coach, because I don't believe he's as ambitious as other guys, and won't mess everybody else up.
Defensive coaches can come up with some insideously diabolical offensive stuff, however (see Belichick).
They understand offense as well or better than their counterparts.
Anyway, I'm kinda glad both those guys are gone, and will root for the interim guys.
...or Lincoln Riley in 2019.
Cut the crap: Of course Riley is committed to trying to get his Sooners a National Championship this year, and can't reneg midseason.
So he won't say what you want him to say.
But he WILL seriously consider rejoining HIS quarterback in a very attractive situation in 2019.
...I mean assuming the new interim crew doesn't pull the Browns out. Give these underdawgs a chance.
As I've repeated many, many times, the Browns offensive coordinator doesn't need to be a genius. He just needs to be adaptable, and have common sense.
Gregg Williams doen't need to do a whole lot as the new Head Coach:
They have to use Haley's language and playbook for the rest of the season, but Williams is no doubt eager to exploit Baker Mayfield himself.
Most likely, Gregg has been trying to figure out why Haley never made the most of his quarterback, or offense in general.
He was no doubt looking forward to a "chess-match" kinda situation in practice, and well...been dissappointed.
NO DOUBT, Gregg Williams last season knew he could do better than Hue Jackson, and this season knew he could do better than Todd Haley if he were running the offense.
I dream of Lincoln Riley in 2019, but I'm not counting Gregg Williams out just yet.
Don't spazz out over the disruption here: They'll stick with Haley's system and playbook.
I'm just optimistic that they will optimize their offensive skill-talent more intelligently, and of course have more COMMON SENSE. SINCE OBVIOUSLY THEY ALMOST HAVE TO Gdammit.
I know Grossi et al see a huge setback/collapse here, but I think not:
The new guys might unleash the talent which the old guys were suppressing, as of this sunday.
Count on Baker Mayfield getting way more assertive behind closed doors right now (and probably bringing Kosar in for backup).
Just know that this very young but extremely talented team still has a shot at the 2018 playoffs. The sky has not fallen.
Gregg Williams is at least extremely smart, and Kitchens was a quarterback.
I'm confident that the new crew will outperform the old crew, starting this sunday.
And this "power struggle" crap? Jeez get a LIFE! Haley and Hue were mostly on the same page, but the instant Hue talks about getting more involved with the offense, jeezus here comes the fkng pundit-driven melodrama!
Hue and Todd are probably commisserating over how they got screwed over by Haslam and Dorsey.
Big deal. Get over it. They both sucked. Get over it.
I HAVE SPOKEN.
Saturday, October 27, 2018
The REAL Reasons Why the Steelers will Probably Beat the Browns
Few of us expect the Browns to beat the Steelers in Heinz Field tomorrow, including me.
The Steelers are a veteran team, while the Browns remain one of the youngest teams in the NFL.
It doesn't help that the referees always favor the Steelers over the Browns (count on two or more blatently bad critical calls), or that in 2018, the refs are irrefutably "out to get" the Browns (don't get me started. Just keep your mouth shut).
I can't fault any pundit for predicting a Browns loss here, but I sure as hell can refute some of the reasons they cite:
1: The Browns wide receivers are NOT a bunch of losers! I mentioned in my last post that Dameion Ratley, despite not being allowed to play as much as Butterfingers Callaway, has caught 9 of 11 passes from Baker Mayfield in the last two games.
Ratley hasn't yet made a big splash play, but he matches or exceeds Butterfingers athletically, and it's profoundly ignorant to write him off (and that not only goes for the pundits, but for Todd Haley!)
Landry is Landry.
What about Duke? "Derr uh heez nodd a wide--" ahh, shaddap! Last season, Hue Jackson had him in the slot and outside too when he wasn't a running back, and he PROVED he could play wide receiver, and was RELIABLE.
I'm sick of this crap! ASK Baker Mayfield if he has weapons! Hell YES he does, but (redundancy alert) Todd Haley is inflicting Butterfingers Callaway on him ahead of Ratley, and keeping Duke Johnson on the freaking bench in favor of...jeez I can't even think of who at wide receiver!!!
Listen you guys: Go ahead and predict another Browns loss, but don't be blaming any of it on a lack of talent! Blame the COACH who refuses to USE his talent!!!
2: The Browns lost cornerbacks Terrence Mitchell AND EJ Gaines, and Damarius Randall is playing hurt! Last week, HE played cornerback while Briean Boddy-Calhoun played free safety!
Why tf are these clowns all declaring the wide receiver corps a disaster/the reason why Baker Mayfield's Browns will lose to Big Ben's Steelers?
Listen to me: Baker Mayfield can rack up points on this Steelers defense IF IF IF he has RELIABLE RELIABLE RELIABLE receivers, okay? Three of these are Ratley, Duke, and DeValve...but noooo! Todd Haley knows better!
Then there's the Chris Palmer offense---
I can't fathom Todd Haley! Jeez he turned Bell into a swiss army knife, then comes to Cleveland and turns Duke from a swiss army knife into a benchwarmer third down back!
He treats Baker Mayfield just like Big Ben! ALL OF US see the differences between these two quarterbacks, because they're blatently OBVIOUS.
Where tf did "adapting my offense to my personnel" go!?! Has Todd Haley got fkng Alzeimers or something?!?
I dearly hope that behind the scenes, Baker Mayfield and (yes) Hue Jackson have slapped Todd Haley awake, because if Haley uses the same personnel and runs the same scheme, the Browns are dead meat.
Todd Haley...extremely disappointing so far. (*not for playcalling. Just for EVERYTHING ELSE dammit*).
The Browns have an outside chance tomorrow...if TODD HALEY ALLOWS IT.
The Steelers are a veteran team, while the Browns remain one of the youngest teams in the NFL.
It doesn't help that the referees always favor the Steelers over the Browns (count on two or more blatently bad critical calls), or that in 2018, the refs are irrefutably "out to get" the Browns (don't get me started. Just keep your mouth shut).
I can't fault any pundit for predicting a Browns loss here, but I sure as hell can refute some of the reasons they cite:
1: The Browns wide receivers are NOT a bunch of losers! I mentioned in my last post that Dameion Ratley, despite not being allowed to play as much as Butterfingers Callaway, has caught 9 of 11 passes from Baker Mayfield in the last two games.
Ratley hasn't yet made a big splash play, but he matches or exceeds Butterfingers athletically, and it's profoundly ignorant to write him off (and that not only goes for the pundits, but for Todd Haley!)
Landry is Landry.
What about Duke? "Derr uh heez nodd a wide--" ahh, shaddap! Last season, Hue Jackson had him in the slot and outside too when he wasn't a running back, and he PROVED he could play wide receiver, and was RELIABLE.
I'm sick of this crap! ASK Baker Mayfield if he has weapons! Hell YES he does, but (redundancy alert) Todd Haley is inflicting Butterfingers Callaway on him ahead of Ratley, and keeping Duke Johnson on the freaking bench in favor of...jeez I can't even think of who at wide receiver!!!
Listen you guys: Go ahead and predict another Browns loss, but don't be blaming any of it on a lack of talent! Blame the COACH who refuses to USE his talent!!!
2: The Browns lost cornerbacks Terrence Mitchell AND EJ Gaines, and Damarius Randall is playing hurt! Last week, HE played cornerback while Briean Boddy-Calhoun played free safety!
Why tf are these clowns all declaring the wide receiver corps a disaster/the reason why Baker Mayfield's Browns will lose to Big Ben's Steelers?
Listen to me: Baker Mayfield can rack up points on this Steelers defense IF IF IF he has RELIABLE RELIABLE RELIABLE receivers, okay? Three of these are Ratley, Duke, and DeValve...but noooo! Todd Haley knows better!
Then there's the Chris Palmer offense---
I can't fathom Todd Haley! Jeez he turned Bell into a swiss army knife, then comes to Cleveland and turns Duke from a swiss army knife into a benchwarmer third down back!
He treats Baker Mayfield just like Big Ben! ALL OF US see the differences between these two quarterbacks, because they're blatently OBVIOUS.
Where tf did "adapting my offense to my personnel" go!?! Has Todd Haley got fkng Alzeimers or something?!?
I dearly hope that behind the scenes, Baker Mayfield and (yes) Hue Jackson have slapped Todd Haley awake, because if Haley uses the same personnel and runs the same scheme, the Browns are dead meat.
Todd Haley...extremely disappointing so far. (*not for playcalling. Just for EVERYTHING ELSE dammit*).
The Browns have an outside chance tomorrow...if TODD HALEY ALLOWS IT.
Friday, October 26, 2018
Bad Browns Reporting, Garrett/Mayfield Leaders, Refs Hate Browns
Mary Kay is having a bad week. She thinks Gregg Williams was upset when Myles Garrett bashed the blatently obvious bad calls against the Browns.
Gregg never said a word about what Garrett said. He just said that on that play (and others he's seen), he's angry that defensive players, when they see an offensive lineman stand upa full second before the snap, relax and wait for the expected flag, rather than do their jobs.
Gregg apparently feels that this "oh cool he jumped -sigh-" reaction to the blatently obvious false start vs San Diego actually opened the door for that touchdown.
Passrushers didn't attack. Coverage guys didn't jam and cover. Everybody bided their time, waiting for that flag.
Williams never said anything about Myles Garrett pointing out the obvious. At most, he might have been bashing Garrett for being one of those defensive players who "let up" and waited for the flag/whistle.
Hue Jackson is a different story. HE wants Garrett and everybody else to shut up and just take it.
No doubt, Hue feels threatened by Garrett, since it's his job to speak up for his team...
...........
Both coaches were obnoxiously PC, talking about how tough it is for officials and they do their best blahblah. They have to spew that bullcrap OR ELSE, but at least Williams was brief, and stressed (again) that the players still need to play.
Hue...I'm sick of him.
Anyway, Myles Garrett will not and should not shut up. His outbursts are measured, calm, objective, and intelligent. He is a "leader".
Hue wants him to shut up. Gregg Williams doesn't.
This is the second article in a row in which Mary Kay utterly misinterpreted the very quotes she cited.
Sticking to the PC crap, Baker Mayfield is semi-defending Todd Haley in public, and I get that:
There's nothing wrong with Todd Haley's system. Baker, being Baker, expects to adapt and overcome, and knows that in order to become an elite NFL Quarterback, he has to kick ass from the pocket.
Baker Mayfield doesn't ask for or expect special treatment.
And he is correct: The players need to stop screwing up.
The talent is here to execute Haley's offense, but they're still screwing up. Mayfield himself has screwed up, and knows it.
Mayfield is smart to say this stuff in public.
But behind closed doors, I'm telling you that he is asking for Duke, Ratley, read-option, run/pass options, etc.
By the way: Baker's backing Haley after Hue talked about "getting more involved" with the offense was a calculated move.
I haven't tried to figure it out yet, but can tell you for now that Todd Haley owes him, and Hue is in deep shit.
Gregg never said a word about what Garrett said. He just said that on that play (and others he's seen), he's angry that defensive players, when they see an offensive lineman stand upa full second before the snap, relax and wait for the expected flag, rather than do their jobs.
Gregg apparently feels that this "oh cool he jumped -sigh-" reaction to the blatently obvious false start vs San Diego actually opened the door for that touchdown.
Passrushers didn't attack. Coverage guys didn't jam and cover. Everybody bided their time, waiting for that flag.
Williams never said anything about Myles Garrett pointing out the obvious. At most, he might have been bashing Garrett for being one of those defensive players who "let up" and waited for the flag/whistle.
Hue Jackson is a different story. HE wants Garrett and everybody else to shut up and just take it.
No doubt, Hue feels threatened by Garrett, since it's his job to speak up for his team...
...........
Both coaches were obnoxiously PC, talking about how tough it is for officials and they do their best blahblah. They have to spew that bullcrap OR ELSE, but at least Williams was brief, and stressed (again) that the players still need to play.
Hue...I'm sick of him.
Anyway, Myles Garrett will not and should not shut up. His outbursts are measured, calm, objective, and intelligent. He is a "leader".
Hue wants him to shut up. Gregg Williams doesn't.
This is the second article in a row in which Mary Kay utterly misinterpreted the very quotes she cited.
Sticking to the PC crap, Baker Mayfield is semi-defending Todd Haley in public, and I get that:
There's nothing wrong with Todd Haley's system. Baker, being Baker, expects to adapt and overcome, and knows that in order to become an elite NFL Quarterback, he has to kick ass from the pocket.
Baker Mayfield doesn't ask for or expect special treatment.
And he is correct: The players need to stop screwing up.
The talent is here to execute Haley's offense, but they're still screwing up. Mayfield himself has screwed up, and knows it.
Mayfield is smart to say this stuff in public.
But behind closed doors, I'm telling you that he is asking for Duke, Ratley, read-option, run/pass options, etc.
By the way: Baker's backing Haley after Hue talked about "getting more involved" with the offense was a calculated move.
I haven't tried to figure it out yet, but can tell you for now that Todd Haley owes him, and Hue is in deep shit.
Don't Trade For Receivers. Just Play the Best Receivers You Have. DUH
I need to correct Dan Justik on a couple of points:
1: The Browns have playmakers at wide receiver. I think I get what Dan really means: They don't have reliable playmakers right now.
Except he's wrong about that too, because they have Jarvis Landry, who is for now the guy opposing defenses focus on, and Duke Johnson, who has been inexplicably underused by Todd Haley.
They also have Rodney Ratleyfield, who catches most of the passes thrown to him, and like Duke is inexplicably kept off the field in favor of the unreliable-as-hell Callaway!
Rashard Higgins should be back this week or next week. His "rep" is that of a reliable possession guy, but you wouldn't know that based on his play in 2018.
2: Dan is overreacting: Ratley is a rookie, but he's playing like a veteran already, and keeps getting better. You want to put him back on the bench? Can't you tell the difference between him and Callaway? (Must be Haleyitis).
Because Higgins might be one week away from coming back, you regard it as an emergency to replace him?
Then there's Landry. And Duke.
Truly, Todd Haley is stuck on Callaway for some reason, and doesn't like using Duke at wide receiver, but that's not their fault; it doesn't negate their talent...the Browns have playmakers at wide receiver, and they'll get scarier as the season unwinds!
That being said, I do think Dan has a good potential trade target in Sterling Shepard. That guy is really good, and did play with Mayfield in college.
Do I like him better than Ratley? Nuh-uh because Ratley is an X receiver, and not even "broken in" yet.
Better than Higgins? Maybe. Higgins is another bigger target who is just now "blossoming".
Better than Callaway? Oh hell yes, but that's based in the kid's amazing drop-rate so far. If it was just Callaway, I'd take the astronomically more reliable and equally as lethal Shephard in a heartbeat.
Better than Duke? Not really, since Duke is a Swiss Army Knife.
Better than Landry? No.
Unlike Dan, I'm prepared to allow young players to develop (ie play), so I won't panic.
I gotta admit, though: Shephard is really good...a third and a fifth?
Dan keeps making me go "hmm".
Okay here's what Todd Haley should do:
1: Make sure not to give Ratley too many reps. Baker likes him too much, and we need to force him to throw to Callaway so that Callaway can learn how to catch the ball.
2: Keep Seth DeValve off the field. We can't be giving Mayfield reliable crutches like that. Bad for his development.
3: Don't use Duke Johnson as a receiver. He might take reps away fromButterfingers Callaway.
4: Don't use the read-option, run-pass option, or rollouts. Baker needs to stay in the pocket.
Remember when Chris Palmer had Tim Couch? Now that's how todestroy develop an NFL quarterback!
Seriously...Todd Haley might be a genius, but he lacks common sense. I couldn't call any plays, but yes: I would do a better job of putting the best 5 skill players on the field, and adapting my offense to their skill-sets.
THIS JUST IN: Mary Kay has a lot of Todd Haley quotes, but she herself also doesn't see what's right in front of her:
The first time she mentions Ratley, it's to say that Haley has been forced to let him play because preordained starting X receiver Callaway can't run a correct route or catch a cold!
Haley himself lists every wide receiver except Ratley!!! He made it clear that he is determined to bench this kid again as soon as anybody else gets healthy!
What the hell did Dameion do? Does he look like somebody Haley hates?
In the last two weeks Ratley has caught nine of eleven targets, including all three last sunday. Even Mary Kay said Baker is reluctant to throw to Callaway, but not to Ratley. There is a REASON for this!!!
Haley stands up there and says Baker has to trust his receivers, and won't let his most reliable receivers on the field!
I was being sarcastic with my earlier paragraphs, but I'll be damned if Haley didn't just about say that crap for real!
What are you saying, Todd?
I've rarely seen a more profound case of cognitive disonance (not to mention obtusity).
If Baker is stuck with Callaway and a fixed pocket again vs the Steelers the Browns will lose. Eventually, Mayfield will have to target butterfingers, and we know what will happen.
I won't blame Callaway. I'll blame Haley.
So should you.
1: The Browns have playmakers at wide receiver. I think I get what Dan really means: They don't have reliable playmakers right now.
Except he's wrong about that too, because they have Jarvis Landry, who is for now the guy opposing defenses focus on, and Duke Johnson, who has been inexplicably underused by Todd Haley.
They also have Rodney Ratleyfield, who catches most of the passes thrown to him, and like Duke is inexplicably kept off the field in favor of the unreliable-as-hell Callaway!
Rashard Higgins should be back this week or next week. His "rep" is that of a reliable possession guy, but you wouldn't know that based on his play in 2018.
2: Dan is overreacting: Ratley is a rookie, but he's playing like a veteran already, and keeps getting better. You want to put him back on the bench? Can't you tell the difference between him and Callaway? (Must be Haleyitis).
Because Higgins might be one week away from coming back, you regard it as an emergency to replace him?
Then there's Landry. And Duke.
Truly, Todd Haley is stuck on Callaway for some reason, and doesn't like using Duke at wide receiver, but that's not their fault; it doesn't negate their talent...the Browns have playmakers at wide receiver, and they'll get scarier as the season unwinds!
That being said, I do think Dan has a good potential trade target in Sterling Shepard. That guy is really good, and did play with Mayfield in college.
Do I like him better than Ratley? Nuh-uh because Ratley is an X receiver, and not even "broken in" yet.
Better than Higgins? Maybe. Higgins is another bigger target who is just now "blossoming".
Better than Callaway? Oh hell yes, but that's based in the kid's amazing drop-rate so far. If it was just Callaway, I'd take the astronomically more reliable and equally as lethal Shephard in a heartbeat.
Better than Duke? Not really, since Duke is a Swiss Army Knife.
Better than Landry? No.
Unlike Dan, I'm prepared to allow young players to develop (ie play), so I won't panic.
I gotta admit, though: Shephard is really good...a third and a fifth?
Dan keeps making me go "hmm".
Okay here's what Todd Haley should do:
1: Make sure not to give Ratley too many reps. Baker likes him too much, and we need to force him to throw to Callaway so that Callaway can learn how to catch the ball.
2: Keep Seth DeValve off the field. We can't be giving Mayfield reliable crutches like that. Bad for his development.
3: Don't use Duke Johnson as a receiver. He might take reps away from
4: Don't use the read-option, run-pass option, or rollouts. Baker needs to stay in the pocket.
Remember when Chris Palmer had Tim Couch? Now that's how to
Seriously...Todd Haley might be a genius, but he lacks common sense. I couldn't call any plays, but yes: I would do a better job of putting the best 5 skill players on the field, and adapting my offense to their skill-sets.
THIS JUST IN: Mary Kay has a lot of Todd Haley quotes, but she herself also doesn't see what's right in front of her:
The first time she mentions Ratley, it's to say that Haley has been forced to let him play because preordained starting X receiver Callaway can't run a correct route or catch a cold!
Haley himself lists every wide receiver except Ratley!!! He made it clear that he is determined to bench this kid again as soon as anybody else gets healthy!
What the hell did Dameion do? Does he look like somebody Haley hates?
In the last two weeks Ratley has caught nine of eleven targets, including all three last sunday. Even Mary Kay said Baker is reluctant to throw to Callaway, but not to Ratley. There is a REASON for this!!!
Haley stands up there and says Baker has to trust his receivers, and won't let his most reliable receivers on the field!
I was being sarcastic with my earlier paragraphs, but I'll be damned if Haley didn't just about say that crap for real!
What are you saying, Todd?
I've rarely seen a more profound case of cognitive disonance (not to mention obtusity).
If Baker is stuck with Callaway and a fixed pocket again vs the Steelers the Browns will lose. Eventually, Mayfield will have to target butterfingers, and we know what will happen.
I won't blame Callaway. I'll blame Haley.
So should you.
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
NFL Officials are Ruining Football. Time for an Investigation
Dear NFL Referees: It is illegal for any player to hit any other player in the head with his helmet!
You didn't just lie to us about the slide--you deliberately ignored the helmet-to-helmet rule, and actually TOLD us it's legal for players to hit eachother in the head with their helmets!
Who tf do you think you're bullshitting? You keep screwing our team and making lines of crap up to tell us we didn't see what we just saw.
Then you say "gee sorry" and fine somebody after you have caused our team to lose the game.
It's amazing: In the same game, you flag Ogbah for...touching Jameious Winston on the shoulder?
Gregg better get on this! Tell your guys to stop touching quarterbacks! You're not playing against the Browns, you know!
Yeah, the Browns keep finding ways to lose...to the other teams AND THE REFEREES.
That referee was not mentally impaired. He was CORRUPT. Call the fkng FBI. Seriously.
You didn't just lie to us about the slide--you deliberately ignored the helmet-to-helmet rule, and actually TOLD us it's legal for players to hit eachother in the head with their helmets!
Who tf do you think you're bullshitting? You keep screwing our team and making lines of crap up to tell us we didn't see what we just saw.
Then you say "gee sorry" and fine somebody after you have caused our team to lose the game.
It's amazing: In the same game, you flag Ogbah for...touching Jameious Winston on the shoulder?
Gregg better get on this! Tell your guys to stop touching quarterbacks! You're not playing against the Browns, you know!
Yeah, the Browns keep finding ways to lose...to the other teams AND THE REFEREES.
That referee was not mentally impaired. He was CORRUPT. Call the fkng FBI. Seriously.
Monday, October 22, 2018
It's Getting Deep in Berea, but Baker Mayfield is the New Sherrif in Town
Well, these referees were just plain horrible. It is NOT legal to hit ANY player in the head with their helmet, period, let alone a quarterback who is obviously starting to slide.
The referee correctly threw the flag, but was overruled, and here's the translation: It is legal to hit Browns quarterbacks in the head!!!
How can these clowns get away with this garbage?
Brad Cagnon (Bleacher Report) wrote a nice article on how the Browns Coaches are ruining Baker Mayfield's inaugural season.
I do have to say that probably one third of the 14 flags thrown against the Browns were bullcrap, but there were still too many, and this has to be on the guys in charge.
Look, some penalties you just have to deal with. If a left tackle is beaten, and his quarterback is about to get crushed, he will tackle the guy, and the Coach will accept that.
Ditto a toasted cornerback who is about to give up a certain touchdown.
But jumping offsides that often, false starts, etc are clear evidence of a lack of discipline.
But how, exactly, do you enforce discipline? You can't bench these players, as due to injuries, team depth is already being sorely tested.
Still, Belichick does it somehow. The Ravens are disciplined, as are the Saints, Rams...somehow, those coaches always have disciplined teams.
It's not just the penalties, however: Vs Tampa Bay, Mayfield's receivers held up their end, kinda--but that was the first time! If this wasn't the Browns, you could assume that chemistry has improved and they should be even more effective next week, but...
Then oh come on man! Peppers' fumble on that return? Jeez some how, some way, they find a way to LOSE!
Peppers had a great game as both a returner and a defender. As usual, just when you're smiling at a young Browns player and reaching out to pat him on the back, OOPS!
It's maddening. Senseless. Insane.
Hue Jackson is taking most of the heat for all this, but Todd Haley has been running this offense, and that offense has managed to go scoreless in the first quarter of nearly every game.
Dorsey just had to confiscate his favorite toy to force him to use Nick Chubb. I don't like that.
Read all my previous posts: I've been a huge Todd Haley fan, and expected him to rescue this offense and max out the skill players.
But so far, he's made me miss Hue! At least Hue used Duke Johnson liberally at various positions, and Njoku and DeValve combined for over 60 catches and a lot of yards.
I'm not ready to convict anybody just yet. Njoku only had one idiotic rediculous drop last week, but he IS one guy who can be benched (replaced by DeValve). (Update: DeValve never got on the field, and Pharoah Cooper was just brought onto the active roster. Haley seems to really hate DeValve!)
Njoku wouldn't even have been on the field in my offense, but Todd just really really likes him better, so the drops don't seem to matter to him.
I'm curious to compare Callaway and Ratley snap-counts too, because Ratley has PROVEN himself a lot more reliable than Butterfingers. I bet Haley used Callaway as much or more!
Way to look out for your rookie quarterback, Todd!
I mean DUH!
Ohmmm....ohmmm...
Todd Haley has a long and commendable record as an offensive coordinator, and I do not. That's why I'm reserving judgement.
His playcalling seems just fine to me. His players simply haven't executed well. As I mentioned, all those stupid drops. Every time there's a big play, you look for the flag that will reverse it.
Somehow San Diego's secondary blows up timing on every receiver and looks like...well just dammit that crew should not have been able to do that!!!
(of course, they couldn't stop Rodney Ratleyfield, but...)
Playcalling? Oh that's easy to pick on. When something doesn't work, it's a bad playcall, right? Oh how eriudite you simpletonian monday morning coordinators are! You people....
Todd Haley doesn't tell players to blow blocks, screw up patterns, or drop passes. That's not what "play calling" means, and you're not ready to step in for Todd Haley in your wildest dreams...
Ohmmm....ohmmm...
Baker Mayfield himself will probably get more assertive now. He'll let Haley know he wants Ratley and Duke on the field all the time, and won't back down.
(Interestingly, Hue might have his back here if Haley digs his heels in---ooo, the intrigue and power struggles!!! LaCanfora will jump all over it, and for once it might be legit for a change!)
The defense is doing it's job. Down Schobert and two of his top three corners, Williams forced four more turnovers and kept the Browns in it vs a decent offense, and Gregg doesn't need to be lumped in with Jackson or Haley.
Hair-trigger passrushers jump offsides sometimes. Defensive coaches can't tell them to "make sure" or whatever, because that first step is their biggest edge.
Gregg can hammer a defensive back for continuing to mug a receiver 10 yards downfield, but can't blame him for a total bullshit call (of which there have been many).
Is he supposed to tell Myles Garrett not to tackle the quarterback? To be kinder and gentler?
Don't be a spazz. Don't blame EVERYBODY.
Baker Mayfield is in charge now, and Dorsey has his back. PFF wants you to know he's the best rookie quarterback in the NFL, and already in the top half of all quarterbacks.
Mayfield has leverage, and will use it. "I want Duke. I want Ratley. I want more run/pass options, zone reads, and rollouts, and so does the whole fucking offensive line!"
Trust me: However this coaching issue sorts itself out, Baker Mayfield is NOT going to be a "good soldier", and will be heard by the Haslams.
The 2018 Browns are still contenders, because Baker Mayfield won't accept bad coaching.
Stand by.
Update: Butterfingers was on the field much more than Ratley, and is still listed ahead of him on the depth chart. No. Matter. What.
Ratley again caught most of his targets, while Callaway caught one of TWO. Doesn't matter! Todd Haley does not reward performance or penalize screwups. He has not adapted his offense to his personnel.
He is a blockhead
Yes, Hue Jackson: You DO need to step in here! I don't think you can make it worse. Maybe you can accidentally fix it.
The referee correctly threw the flag, but was overruled, and here's the translation: It is legal to hit Browns quarterbacks in the head!!!
How can these clowns get away with this garbage?
Brad Cagnon (Bleacher Report) wrote a nice article on how the Browns Coaches are ruining Baker Mayfield's inaugural season.
I do have to say that probably one third of the 14 flags thrown against the Browns were bullcrap, but there were still too many, and this has to be on the guys in charge.
Look, some penalties you just have to deal with. If a left tackle is beaten, and his quarterback is about to get crushed, he will tackle the guy, and the Coach will accept that.
Ditto a toasted cornerback who is about to give up a certain touchdown.
But jumping offsides that often, false starts, etc are clear evidence of a lack of discipline.
But how, exactly, do you enforce discipline? You can't bench these players, as due to injuries, team depth is already being sorely tested.
Still, Belichick does it somehow. The Ravens are disciplined, as are the Saints, Rams...somehow, those coaches always have disciplined teams.
It's not just the penalties, however: Vs Tampa Bay, Mayfield's receivers held up their end, kinda--but that was the first time! If this wasn't the Browns, you could assume that chemistry has improved and they should be even more effective next week, but...
Then oh come on man! Peppers' fumble on that return? Jeez some how, some way, they find a way to LOSE!
Peppers had a great game as both a returner and a defender. As usual, just when you're smiling at a young Browns player and reaching out to pat him on the back, OOPS!
It's maddening. Senseless. Insane.
Hue Jackson is taking most of the heat for all this, but Todd Haley has been running this offense, and that offense has managed to go scoreless in the first quarter of nearly every game.
Dorsey just had to confiscate his favorite toy to force him to use Nick Chubb. I don't like that.
Read all my previous posts: I've been a huge Todd Haley fan, and expected him to rescue this offense and max out the skill players.
But so far, he's made me miss Hue! At least Hue used Duke Johnson liberally at various positions, and Njoku and DeValve combined for over 60 catches and a lot of yards.
I'm not ready to convict anybody just yet. Njoku only had one idiotic rediculous drop last week, but he IS one guy who can be benched (replaced by DeValve). (Update: DeValve never got on the field, and Pharoah Cooper was just brought onto the active roster. Haley seems to really hate DeValve!)
Njoku wouldn't even have been on the field in my offense, but Todd just really really likes him better, so the drops don't seem to matter to him.
I'm curious to compare Callaway and Ratley snap-counts too, because Ratley has PROVEN himself a lot more reliable than Butterfingers. I bet Haley used Callaway as much or more!
Way to look out for your rookie quarterback, Todd!
I mean DUH!
Ohmmm....ohmmm...
Todd Haley has a long and commendable record as an offensive coordinator, and I do not. That's why I'm reserving judgement.
His playcalling seems just fine to me. His players simply haven't executed well. As I mentioned, all those stupid drops. Every time there's a big play, you look for the flag that will reverse it.
Somehow San Diego's secondary blows up timing on every receiver and looks like...well just dammit that crew should not have been able to do that!!!
(of course, they couldn't stop Rodney Ratleyfield, but...)
Playcalling? Oh that's easy to pick on. When something doesn't work, it's a bad playcall, right? Oh how eriudite you simpletonian monday morning coordinators are! You people....
Todd Haley doesn't tell players to blow blocks, screw up patterns, or drop passes. That's not what "play calling" means, and you're not ready to step in for Todd Haley in your wildest dreams...
Ohmmm....ohmmm...
Baker Mayfield himself will probably get more assertive now. He'll let Haley know he wants Ratley and Duke on the field all the time, and won't back down.
(Interestingly, Hue might have his back here if Haley digs his heels in---ooo, the intrigue and power struggles!!! LaCanfora will jump all over it, and for once it might be legit for a change!)
The defense is doing it's job. Down Schobert and two of his top three corners, Williams forced four more turnovers and kept the Browns in it vs a decent offense, and Gregg doesn't need to be lumped in with Jackson or Haley.
Hair-trigger passrushers jump offsides sometimes. Defensive coaches can't tell them to "make sure" or whatever, because that first step is their biggest edge.
Gregg can hammer a defensive back for continuing to mug a receiver 10 yards downfield, but can't blame him for a total bullshit call (of which there have been many).
Is he supposed to tell Myles Garrett not to tackle the quarterback? To be kinder and gentler?
Don't be a spazz. Don't blame EVERYBODY.
Baker Mayfield is in charge now, and Dorsey has his back. PFF wants you to know he's the best rookie quarterback in the NFL, and already in the top half of all quarterbacks.
Mayfield has leverage, and will use it. "I want Duke. I want Ratley. I want more run/pass options, zone reads, and rollouts, and so does the whole fucking offensive line!"
Trust me: However this coaching issue sorts itself out, Baker Mayfield is NOT going to be a "good soldier", and will be heard by the Haslams.
The 2018 Browns are still contenders, because Baker Mayfield won't accept bad coaching.
Stand by.
Update: Butterfingers was on the field much more than Ratley, and is still listed ahead of him on the depth chart. No. Matter. What.
Ratley again caught most of his targets, while Callaway caught one of TWO. Doesn't matter! Todd Haley does not reward performance or penalize screwups. He has not adapted his offense to his personnel.
He is a blockhead
Yes, Hue Jackson: You DO need to step in here! I don't think you can make it worse. Maybe you can accidentally fix it.
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Baker is Real Deal, Bucs in Touble. Referees Won't Save them this time.
As this article outlines, Baker Mayfield has lost nearly 200 yards (and a few touchdowns and several first downs) to rampant drops.
I know, it's hard to fathom that multiple receivers (including Jarvis Landry) are the problem, and not the one guy they all have in common, but it's true.
Now, a few pundits are already trying to moderate how hard Baker throws the ball; criticizing his touch.
Sorry, guys. Baker has exceptional touch, and often has to rifle it into tight windows. And guys? Those receivers get paid to c a t c h the damn ball.
I'm not worried about Jarvis Landry. The guy was correct that some of the balls thrown in his direction were throwaways. The numbers sites call those "targets" (so they need to work some bugs out in judging receivers as well. They simply shouldn't count throwaways).
Jarvis nevertheless had a bad game, but he'll bounce back.
Can't wait to see Nick Chubb unchained, and Duke used more. Thank you again John Dorsey (no offense Carlos).
Good for Myles Garrett to speak out about the way the referees have been jobbing the Browns all season. They've cost the Browns at least two wins.
Don't say "well they shouldn't have let it get that close". That's irrelevant, and the other team gets a gdam vote! What, you don't deserve to win unless you win by a touchdown? If it's closer than that it's okay for the refs to help the other team win?
I know the coaches have to blabber those mindless cliches, but fans who parrot them are embarrassing. If the games had been officiated fairly the Browns would have won four games by now, period.
I fully expect Baker and this team to rebound from last week's massacre and take Tampa Bay out behind the woodshed.
Nick Chubb might sputter and chug early, but he can bust it loose on any given carry, and will seem to get stronger as the game progresses.
Tampa's defense has been soft vs both the pass and the run (and vs opposing tight ends too).
Naturally, since this is the Browns, that defense will look like a Superbowl contender for a series or two (sigh), but the new Browns offense is too explosive.
Dameion Ratley has passed up fellow ROOKIE Antonio Callaway on the depth chart, because he catches the damn ball. This is the 1-2 punch now: Ratley and Landry (Ratley at X).
Todd Haley SHOULD favor reliable hands over raw speed, and put Duke at wide receiver (when not at running back) over Callaway, until the latter proves he can catch two damn passes in a damn row.
I kinda think Njoku will be allright. His drops were mental, I think. But for sure Seth DeValve can catch.
You see? The "weapons" are here for Baker Mayfield. Haley just has to put the most RELIABLE receivers on the field!
I'm not too clear on why Callaway was assumed to be way ahead of Ratley in the first place, as Ratley actually had more college experience, and is an even more impressive physical freak too. Do these guys get extra credit for getting in trouble or something?
Mayfield got a lot of work with Ratley through camp and preseason (and since), so keeping Ratley on the field for Baker is a no-brainer.
Baker didn't get to work with Landry much at all, up until he took over. Vs the Chargers last week, this was evident.
But that will improve this sunday. Like Josh Gordon, Jarvis Landry is "quarterback-freindly", and reliable as hell.
All the offensive needles are pointing up for the Browns.
The Bucs offense is a different story, with Mike Evans and DeShaun Jackson at WR.
I don't believe in Jamius Winston. I mean I think he is, or will be, pretty good--but not great. And really ditto Mariotta from the same draft class.
Somebody needs to compare that class to this one; Kinda Mariotta/Winston vs Mayfield/Darnold/Rosen/Allen. I wonder if you tossed all those guys into the same class how it would have worked out.
I don't know about the rest of it, but I can pretty much guarantee that John Dorsey still would have drafted Mayfield first overall.
Think about that.
But I digress: The Browns offense is due to work some bugs out and is explosive and potentially physically dominating. The Browns defense got punked last week, but Winston can't do what Rivers did (Baker Mayfield said "you can't stop a perfect pass"). Rivers hit a bunch of microscopic windows (and got rid of it quickly).
You people need to know that this combination of accuracy, touch, and decisiveness is rare. Big Ben, Andy Dalton, or Joe Flacco couldn't have done that (although Dalton is close).
It is concerning that Carrie is now starting opposite Ward, because he hasn't played well at all this season. Nor has Boddy-Calhoun. That's why I think Winston might do some damage.
...and then there's the fact that the Browns can't seem to cover tight ends, and the Bucs have OJ Howard AND Cameron Brate dammit...
...and Schobert is out and Kirksey will replace him...ok I'm going back and taking the "over" now but I digress:
The Bucs got big issues on their offensive line. They have a really good left guard, and guys named Joe. The Browns defensive line has them outgunned, and Genard Avery should be the starting WIL backer too.
Winston is reasonably mobile, but not dangerous, and Gregg can kitchen-sink him.
Peyton Barber is a good running back, but I frankly expect Baker, Nick, and company to establish an early lead and undermine the Bucs running game.
I guess I'm in the minority, as the Browns are 3.5 point underdawgs. That might have something to do with what Rivers did to this defense last week.
There is no comparing the Bucs offense to the Chargers' offense. They're not in the same zip code. The Chargers defense rose to the occasion last week, but is, in reality, better than the Bucs defense as well.
Winston is working off some rust check, but the Browns have superior talent and depth everywhere, and Mayfield, Ratley, Chubb, Callaway, Avery, Ward, and Robinson are all rapidly-ascending rookies, and this is Todd Haley's first season here.
I opened this post citing the article pointing out that Baker Mayfield's box score doesn't reflect his actual performance to-date, or his performance tomorrow or beyond.
Those more accurate PFF numbers describe a top 13 NFL starting quarterback...already.
We can debate about pass-protection and stuff, but Nick Chubb is a better running back than Carlos Hyde, and Duke Johnson should be on the field in some capacity on every snap. That's about to happen (thanks yet again Dorsey!!!)
Really, folks: I expect the Browns to dominate the Bucs like the Chargers dominated the Browns last week.
Bold predictions:
1: Ratley will catch 7 passes for over 100 yards and 1 TD.
2: Ditto Landry.
3: Duke and Chubb will combine for over 150 ground yards.
4: Chubb will bust loose for a long TD.
5: Duke will catch 6 passes for over 74 yards.
6: Winston will get sacked 4 times and throw two or more picks.
7: Baker Mayfield will not exceed one pick and will get at least 3 TDs (by air or himself).
8: The Browns tight ends will combine for over 90 yards. The Bucs tight ends will combine for more. Dammit.
9: The referees will screw both teams and ruin the game (*they might screw the Browns more*)
10: Genard Avery will get at least two tackles-for-losses, five overall tackles, at least a half-sack...etc.
11: The Browns will win by a comfortable margin in a high-scoring game (because of the damn Bucs damn tight ends and the Browns vulnerability to same plus the attrition in their secondary)...oh yeah "over"...definitly "over"...but I digress:
Browns 55, Bucs and Refs 24.
Update: The under/over is 52. I was kidding. That's about right.
Dammit.
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