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.
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