Nick Dudukovich is a smart guy, and may be right as he cites guys like me suggesting that it would be a good idea to trade Ogbah for a safety or linebacker. But he still calls those "rumors".
Nick is also (sigh) wrong about Duke Johnson being unavailable "because Kareem Hunt can't play until mid season".
Sigh-groan: Dontrell Hilliard EXISTS, ok? And John Dorsey is inviting draft-eligable running backs for off season visits.
Freddie Kitchens can say Duke Johnson "has a role" here all he wants, but unless that role is significantly expanded since Freddie's stint as Offensive Coordinator, Duke is better off elsewhere.
Not that I want to get rid of the Dukester (I would not, for less than a really good player or a third round draft pick). Hilliard can do some, but not all, of what Duke does. Duke is great depth not only at running back, but also wide receiver.
Also, since he plays so little, let's see more of Duke as at least a punt returner.
So while Nick is wrong about it being unwise to trade Duke Johnson (yet), I really like this swiss army knife player, and can't call Nick a dumbass.
Peter Smith, tell us how you really feel about Sheldon Richardson (I kid):
Peter is thrilled that John Dorsey signed this guy, and got me thrilled too.
Much of what he wrote will sound familiar to you, as great minds think alike... ...
Anyway Pete describes 3-technique defensive tackle as a "black hole" prior to Richardson's arrival.
I confess, I didn't notice it like Pete did. Pete describes Trevon Coley as "terrible", and doubts that he's even a good backup on this roster. That's another guy I was wrong about (shhh!)
Peter says that while Olivier Vernon is a better overall player, Sheldon Richardson is really the "missing piece" for this defensive line.
Through 2018, Opposing offenses were often able to double-team Myles Garrett (without using a tight end to chip).
NOW, opposing offenses will need to chip with tight ends, and/or hold running backs in to help protect their quarterbacks. Their offensive linemen can still double-team somebody, but with a Richardson shooting inside gaps, it's more likely to be him.
And as Pete points out, Welks can rely on his Defensive Line to pressure the passer, and use 7 guys in coverage (and remember: He likes 3-deep, off-man and zone inside: that means jarring hits and interceptions).
Peter also points out that on runs, offensive linemen won't be able to get to Joe Schobert so often, either.
I do think Peter is right about interior Defensive Line depth. Coley is not it. There are zero-shade guys behind Ogunjobi, but not 3-techs.
However, Chris Smith and Chad Thomas are DT/DE hybrids who may be able to help out here in 2019.
Gregg Williams tried a *playing hurt* Ogbah there on passing downs in 2018, but it didn't work.
There is more to this story than those of us outside the organization know. How handicapped was Ogbah by his ankle injury in 2018? Could this be why he "regressed" and disappointed? If so, he is not being aggressively "shopped", as bloggers like me guess he is.
Jeffery Simmons is one of the draft-eligable defensive tackles that John Dorsey invited. His injury, combined with his off-the-field history, could possibly cause him to slide all he way to 49th overall in this draft.
Father Flannigan Dorsey might even consider moving up (within reason) a few slots to nab this miscreant, because he's a stud.
Some teams (perhaps 7-9) will have erased Simmons for his off-the-field stuff in the first place. Others will have downgraded him significantly due to the fact that he is essentially a "redshirt" for his first NFL season. And then, this Defensive Tackle class is historically deep.
Unlike John Dorsey, the majority of NFL GMs are on hot seats, and (like their coaches) feel that they need immediate returns from at least their first and second round draft picks.
All of this adds up to John Dorsey having a legit shot at landing the best DT in this draft class in the second round.
I'm not a big Jeff Risdon fan, but the ten "realistic" options he lists for the Browns at 49th overall aren't as dumb as I'd expected, and several even make sense.
The interior offensive linemen don't, since it generally doesn't make sense to draft players who are not as good as the players you already have, but the cornerbacks, safeties, Simmons and DreMont Jones all make sense.
Jeff may be making progress! He was over 50% right on this one!!!
...okbye.
THIS JUST IN: Thomas Moore sounds like me as he discusses the possibility of Dorsey trading Ogbah for a Philly cornerback who projects to safety.
Thomas is feeling kinda salty about all this, because he doesn't think Ogbah sucks, or understand why everybody (not neccessarily including John Dorsey) wants to get rid of him.
I feel Tom's pain, and commend him for correctly labeling this trade speculation as "speculation", and not "rumor".
Anyway nice caustic sarcasm on this one! Let that beast out more often!
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