As Dan Justik writes, Daniel Jeremiah describes what he feels is the ideal "core" of a strong NFL team.
Justik goes through the Browns' roster to see if the Browns have the pieces Jeremiah describes.
Quarterback check.
Three offensive "playmakers"? Justik lists Chubb, Landry, and Duke. Up until this moment, that's been about right, but it's almost certainly changing even now:
Callaway and Njoku are making strong moves in their rookie and second respective seasons.
While Duke is unmistakably a playmaker, he is being unavoidably displaced by Nick Chubb and Callaway's emergence.
Jeremiah meant three playmakers who are on the field for most offensive downs. Also, at least one of the three is ideally a deep threat (again: Callaway or Njoku).
But the facts that Dan and I disagree about who the third playmaker is, and that there are three contenders, is a very positive sign.
Jeremiah also lists three top-flight offensive linemen. Obviously in Bitonio, Tretter, and Zietler, the Browns have that covered. These guys might be the best inside triad in the NFL.
Daniel Jeremiah says that there should be two strong passrushers on defense. Justik was sharper than most analysts, as he asserts that Genard Avery is the Browns' number two behind Myles Garrett (thank you, Dan!)
Avery is being used rotationally for now, as Tanner Vallejo is actually pretty good. But Avery is only a rookie, and has made a disproportionate impact on opposing quarterbacks when he has been on the field.
The future is extremely bright for Genard Avery, who, as I've said, strongly resembles one James Harrison.
Last on Jeremiah's list: Three defensive playmakers.
Schobert, Ward, and Randall check. You'd think Jamie Collins should be in there, but he hasn't been living up to his contract.
Here again, the Browns have a few extras, as Terrence Mitchell has been stellar, and Jabrill Peppers is blossoming into a very good strong safety/linebacker too.
It will be fun to focus on this Browns' core vs the Panthers...
Speaking of which, per PFF, the (current) Panthers don't have that core.
I guess you could call Cam Newton an offensive playmaker as well as a quarterback, so that with Moore and McCaffree they have those covered, but the Panthers don't have the three strong offensive linemen.
They do have a nice defensive core per Daniel Jeremiah's specs.
Corrections: Terry Pluto mentions drops by Callaway and Njoku, but he's using season-long stats. Both players have been reliable for the last three weeks. BAD Terry!
Travis Rodgers lists three reasons why the Browns will beat the Panthers. I don't get the nerd references, but he's right about their new kicker possibly being problematic, Cam's shoulder, and a certain 39 year-old defensive end.
The denial and starry-eyed hero-worship of Julius Pappers reminds me of Ray Lewis in his last few seasons.
Even the guys on NFL Radio either said Lewis was as good as ever, or kept their heads down, but it wasn't true.
Another example: Bill Belichick vs Bernie Kosar (diminished skills):
Bernie's skills were irrefutably diminished. He never recovered from the elbow injury he suffered on a hit by Derrick Thomas in Kansas City.
After that, his deep accuracy was garbage, and his arm was considerably weaker. More denial and hero-worship, and Bill was pillaried.
Bernie never started another game in the NFL after Bill cut him. DEAL with it.
Anyway, the Panthers haven't been able to get heat on opposing quarterbacks later.
Lord Insideous and I have part of that figured out.
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