Some Nevada betting service predicts that the 2019 Browns won't make the playoffs. Jim Rome (the anti-Cowherd) waxed eloquent in response, and it was fun to listen to.
But Jim missed a few adjectives, like "stupid", and "mentally impaired".
Jim was kind of emotional, as he asserted that this prediction is insulting not to just the team, but the fans, as well. Frankly, it was pandering to the dumbest among us...can't complain, though.
I'm not insulted. Vegas doesn't make personal judgements, and the betting services aren't actually predicting anything.
They make their money off the "juice" on both sides of a given bet. In order to do that, they have to balance the amount of money bet on each side.
In the case of the Browns playoff bets, since the trades and signings, everybody is betting on the Browns to make the playoffs, so the sports books have to make the Browns less attractive, and encourage the stupid those who doubt them to bet their money against them.
It's serious money, people; might be billions. Right now, I'm guessing the books are exposed at least 2:1 "for" the Browns making the playoffs, and everybody with a brain knows they probably will.
Nothing personal, folks. Just the market seeking balance, like it does in the stock and commodity markets. By now, it's probably a computer program setting these odds and lines.
Still, the idea that the 2019 Browns won't make the playoffs is Cowherdian (that is to say emotional, bizarre, and irrational).
I've stipulated that all 3 rivals probably regained lost ground on the Browns in the draft. The AFC North could become the toughest Division in football again...
But why would you bet against the most talented team, with one of the top two (real) quarterbacks?
Spastic hysteria continues, as some dumber version of me speculated about John Dorsey's eagerness to trade assets to Tampa Bay for Gramps McCoy and his big cap hits.
Nick Dudukovich beat me to the punch in pointing out how utterly stupid and clueless that would be.
The Bucs probably have to release this 31 year old (because nobody else with a brain will trade for that contract), and Nick is right that Dorsey would have a chance to land this guy cheap, for 2 years max.
He's also right that among 31 other teams, somebody is libel to spazz and overpay him. But Ndomikong Suh is out there, too, so...
Jake Burns did an eye-opening film study of third round linebacker Sione Takitaki. This guy is better than I thought he was!
This guy has much better instincts than some scouting reports led me to believe. Indeed, one of Jake's favorite words in this article was "sensed", as Takitake repeatedly reacted to things he couldn't see.
Much as I like Joe Schobert, I expect Dorsey to cash him in for a draft pick (or something) early, and I expect Christian Kirksey to be a GMF before 2020 as well. Rodney Averyfield, Takitaki, and (maybe) Mack Wilson are the future here.
As I've mentioned, Dorsey has coverage covered (haha) with all the new DBs and linebackers (especially Mack Wilson), and Steve Wilks doesn't need Schobert's rare brains like Gregg Williams did either.
Gregg is now DC for the Jets, and might be asking the GM to trade for Schobert, as "Field Marshalls" are hard to find.
Kirksey's contract makes him untradeable.
"Afterthought" draft pick Offensive Lineman Drew Forbes turns out to be the "best kept secret" in this draft class.
He wasn't invited to the Combine. He played at the lowest level of competition, and even here, scouts found fault with him (boiling down to a lack of physical strength, and of course his short arms.)
But Forbes is a genuine athlete, and with Hanz and Franz's help will get bigger and stronger.
Even here, John Dorsey may well have dug up another sleeper.
Are any of my previous posts sinking in yet? The 2019 Browns will be a ZONE-blocking team, and Forbes is tailor made for those blocking schemes (at any position).
As I write this, I'm watching a replay of Baker Mayfield's 14 point comeback vs the Jets when he took over for the injured Tyrod Taylor.
It was night and day, wasn't it?
And Mayfield did this with Todd Haley calling his plays, Carlos Hyde as his running back...well just in general Baker had to overcome really bad coaching and a benched Chubb in addition to the 14 point deficit he inheritted.
Are you people aware that Colon Cowherd thought that firing Jackson and Haley was a bad move? I now suspect that Colon's "puppet" theory in re Kitchens might have it's roots in Dorsey's trading Carlos Hyde away in order to force Mywayorthehighway Haley to use Nick Chubb...
My god can you GET any dumber than that!?!
As you guys know, I was calling Dorsey a genius for trading Carlos Hyde and forcing Haley to use his best running back.
I just watched the Browns beat the Jets again and unlock the Bud Lite (or whatever) coolers again.
That was the "baby" Baker Mayfield, but I couldn't find any mistakes anyway. (Well ok he got stripped in his first series and Bitonio caught it on the bounce and rumbled for a first down anyway wow...I'm getting superstitious about this..."Mayfield effect", ya no?)
Baker Mayfield served notice to the NFL in that game that he was the real deal.
Sadly, Hue Jackson and Todd Haley were still in charge...
Actually I know how popular it is to blame everything on Hue Jackson, but Haley's control of the offense was written into his contract when Haslam hired him...
...Nevermind Hue was at least almost as bad.
But anyway those who doubt Freddie Kitchens after what he did after Todd Haley was fired...err...WHAT!?!
JEEZ how can you manage NOT to see that Freddie has a former Head Coach and a top Head Coach candidate on board now, and a freaking all-star coaching staff buttressing that?
The permabashers should all be dead by now, as their mental contortions snapped their spines...
Nevermind. I have five dedicated followers, and know that they are all sentient.
So I got that goin for me...
More draft grades are rolling in. Some of it is funny...in a sad way. But some of the comments are informative, as some guys really like Redwine and Wilson more than others.
But really Mel Kiper was absolutely right: You can't judge this Browns' draft without listing OBJ as a first round pick.
Greedy Williams in the middle of the second round? He's an elite talent. Both of the Browns top picks will make major impacts in 2019.
But what about the other guys?
Well, I believe some of them are being sold short, starting with Sione Takitaki (a pending Doug Dieken favorite).
PFF was not impressed by Mack Wilson, but Takitaki's grades are pretty damn good in all phases, per them. His workouts showed explosiveness and agility, too.
Sione may have been off some teams' draft boards for his idiotic off-the-field antics (arrests and suspensions) early in his college carreer, and this certainly made other GMs nervous.
For the more analytical types, his lack of a clearly defined position, and lack of "vetting" as a stand-up linebacker made him seem "iffy".
John Dorsey (and I...and Paul DePodesta) are the opposite: Takitaki improved steadily during his time after the position switch, and took over some games, capped off with 19 tackles in the Idaho Bowl.
As us former traders say, the trend is your friend, and for me it's always a no-brainer to scoop up an ascending player near the bottom of his growth curve.
Interestingly, niether PFF (to my knowlege) or Mel Kiper felt, as many did, that the third round was too high for Takitaki.
One bad amateur pundit thought Takitaki should play WIL so that his "weaknesses could be masked", but smarter people see him at any position, but especially SAM.
Comparisons between Genard Avery and Sione Takitaki aren't that far off the mark, as they're both very strong and aggressive.
Actually, Takitaki is a little taller, and was more consistent in coverage in college. Avery is a little faster and stronger (weightlifting champ; 250 lbs).
But Sione Tatitaki and Genard Avery are similar enough to eachother that they will compete for the same roles in the Steve Wilks defense.
One of them will start, and both should play a lot. Avery has the NFL experience, but Takitake the height and coverage skills--the Strong side linebacker has to cover tight ends sometimes.
Why do I say "one will start"? Because these two are best suited to that particular role.
Next up is 4th round pick Miami Safety Sheldrick Redwine. Like Sione Takitaki, Sheldrick switched positions (from Corner to Safety), so he didn't put as much "on tape" as other Safeties.
At 6', 195, he's also on the small side (for a Strong Safety). Also like Sione, Sheldrick played all over the place in Miami, and had no clearly defined role.
Dorsey keeps repeating this "play the game of football" phrase, and we're seeing what he means. He nabs these real football players cheap, because most other GMs are worrying about whether or not they will fit perfectly.
We need to step back here, and re-examine Dorsey's previous 2019 back end additions:
Eric Murray is quite similar to Redwine; a converted Cornerback who covers well. Burnett is a solid Strong Safety (who played at Free Safety last season).
ALL these guys, including Damarius Randall, can play Cover 2 as well as Cover 3 or 1. They can match up to a slot receiver, and Murray and Redwine cover off-man or zone outside.
Redwine is a big hitter, too.
In other words, ALL these "safeties" can play anywhere, and they're all at least above average vs the run.
Back to Redwine: Damarius Randall's contract is up after 2019, and Redwine has the tools to potentially replace him at FS.
It is very possible that Randall and Dorsey can't find a middle ground, and Dorsey has to plan for painful losses like this.
Redwine does need some polishing, but isn't the project some people imply he is. He will upgrade Special Teams for the moment, but will immediately challenge Murray for playing time (and a roster spot).
There's another Dorsey thing: He throws too many dogs in the ring and just accepts that he will lose a few in the melee.
He drafted Donnie Lewis Jr (another Cornerback who could play Safety) in the 7th round. Donnie is a small-school guy with NFL tools. He has a shot, but my point is, Dorsey has once again deliberately overloaded a position (this time safety and linebacker).
I like this. I would do this. It gives me more confidence that Dorsey can sustain this team through the upcoming salary balloon-payments...but I digress:
Mack Wilson, graded low by PFF but right behind the Devins by Kiper and others at linebacker, didn't play much until his junior season (his last). He has all the physical tools as well, but was a consensus nice value pick in the 5th round.
As my evil twin will attest, I'm a glass half full kinda guy, but I also understand John Dorsey's insideously diabolical sneakiness in proritizing psychology and potential in the lower rounds, and Kiper and several others have Dorsey's back on Wilson.
My evil twin would call this whole article "Koolaid-drinking", since it sounds so positive, but he can never find anything dumb or irrational; can't refute anything at all in any of my articles.
But I digress again: I'm sorry I gotta just skip the kicker, and disagree with Kiper that the 5th round was too high for him. It's the FIFTH ROUND, and (as us Browns fans are acutely aware) kickers MATTER.
Drew Forbes is an athlete, and that matters most in 2019:
Not everybody has written Forbes off as an offensive tackle bases on his short arms.
Look, I don't deny that reach is important in the trenches, but when you tell me that an inch or even two separate a tackle from a guard, that's getting silly.
Now: Forbes fits the Offensive Scheme the 2019 Browns will run. It will be a predominantly zone-blocking scheme.
RPO's require zone blocking. Zone-blocking blows up the defense's run-or-pass keys.
Long story short: Forbes has a great shot at at least making the Practice Squad, but also of making the final roster, or more:
(ahh, shaddap evil twin) Monken and Kitchens are cooking up (get it? "cooki--" ah shit nevermind) something NEW here.
These two mad scientists should concur that Nick Chubb, Duke, Hunt, and Rodney Hilliardfield are all great "one-cut" running backs well-suited to a zone-blocking scheme, and pass-catchers.
Most fans don't get any of this. I distinctly remember when I lost my father: I said "of course Ozzie (Newsome) isn't much of a blocker", and Dad disageed, and I had to explain it to him.
Oh! That reminds me! Why do so many of you people think that Deadeye Mayfield needs more skyscrapers?
Why do you hate Dameion Ratley and Derrick Willies so much that you felt that Dorsey needed to kick them to the curb?
Dumbasses. Can't tell the difference between Baker Mayfield and Daunte Culpepper. Can't factor in Njoku. Gotta call Ratley a bust after one season, and dismiss Willies because he was undrafted.
Did you even watch how Baker Mayfield handled the Red Zone as a rookie in 2018? He threw stick-passes to normal-sized guys!
Shee! Njoku was his bucket-pass guy from 30-plus yards out! This is obvious to me...
But I digress again:
Here are a few predictions:
1: Christian Kirksey is a GMF this year or next. I think THIS year.
2: Joe Schobert will be traded. Soon.
3: Seth DeValve, Duke (duh), and everybody else (except Garrett, Ogunjobi, Njoku, Tretter, etc he got "stuck with" chuh...) are on the block.
Joe Schobert's missed tackles mean more to the Browns than they do to us, and John Dorsey just drafted two linebackers and acquired three safeties who can cover as well as he did in a Wilks defense, and the two new guys are better vs the run, and well...
They "play the game of football" (damn Dorsey needs a press agent but I digress) okbye
The practice of pundits grading any teams' draft a couple days after the fact is (as most of them admit) assenine, but I couldn't help reading this.
I won't argue with anybody, and nobody said anything stupid, but I just need to point a few things out:
1: As Pat Kirwan, Gil Brandt, Phil Savage et al will tell you, if you like a player and expect him to come off the board before you draft again, you draft that player.
Nine times out of ten, if you "see" something special in this player, others have seen it too. If you think you're the smartest guy in the room, you will outsmart your own self.
And what the pundits say is irrelevant. You're the one who has done your own research, and you're a genuine pro. You draft that player. Period.
2: Make no assumptions about Joe Schobert, who led the NFL in missed tackles last season, and has legit trade value. And why does everybody assume Kirksey is carved in stone?
Jeez Mack Wilson is early in his growth curve, and gets picked on over his 72 overall PFF grade...but have you seen Kirksey's!?!
I think it's under 55 (not going to check it right now).
Again, Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, Baker Mayfield, Schobert, Njoku, Callaway and Chubb all came within a two-year period, and their contracts will expire in a tight window.
The current salary cap surplus won't cover Baker Mayfield's contract for one season.
Dorsey isn't done with his housecleaning yet, and he didn't draft Schobert or Kirksey...so loading up on linebackers makes sense.
Now, one guy really liked Miami safety Redwine (like I did) and Mack Wilson where they were drafted, and that sounds rational to me.
Oh yeah...Damarius Randall's contract expires in 2020, by the way...
The downside of Dorsey's splashy trades and signings is that their Division rivals have a much clearer bead on the specific threats they will be facing. This influenced their respective drafts.
Look at the Steelers draft: Devin Bush finally (kinda) replaces Shazier, WR Dionte Johnson (ideally) replaces AB, Justin Layne joins Joe Haden trying to stifle the Browns' great receivers...
Well not exactly: None of the Browns' top three is over 6' tall, and they love humiliating taller cornerbacks who can't change directions fast enough--but they could put Layne on Njoku so that could work.
The rest of the Steelers' draft looks like best available, and I respect their history. At least half these guys stick around, and two or three are contributing in 2-3 years.
Colbert knows what he's doing.
The Ravens draft class is more frightening, as they added a truly scary slot receiver and a deadly red zone outside receiver, along with DE Jaylon Ferguson. All three of these guys are probable instastarters: the WR's are upgrades (and they already signed RB Mark Ingram from the Saints), and Ferguson will mitigate some of what the Ravens D lost in free agency.
I gotta say, I'm not as confident now as I was three days ago. The Steelers should remain an offensive juggernaut, and has just upgraded their defense significantly.
The Ravens' defense will probably lose a step, but Lamar Jackson is suddenly armed to the teeth with offensive weapons, and Hargrove can make that work.
The Browns are indeed the most talented team in the Division now, but it' still going to be a nailbiting dog-fight.
Can't even count the Bengals out. They drafted LT Jonah Williams in the first.
I don't know about TE Drew Sample (in the second round), but the fact is the Bengals draft as well as the Steelers, and I guess they now have their next TE.
They drafted Buckeye Micheal Jordan in the 4th round, too.
All three rivals probably regained lost ground on the Browns in this draft. They all had their first round picks, and generally more when the dust settled. And in reality, all three other teams draft well (except the Ravens, who have whiffed a lot in recent years--I don't get that...Ozzie lost it?)
There are messages for a bunch of you people to be found in this draft, and I will help you finger it out:
1: Dorsey and the coaches like Desmond Harrison a lot more than you do.
1a: They don't regard Left Tackle as nearly as critical as you Memorex Morons do (see recent posts: the game has evolved and Mayfield is the QB now).
2: They didn't prioritize DT depth, like we all did. There are many possible explanations for this:
A: Steve Wilks is not Gregg Williams.
B: MOST of the real DE's can line up inside.
C: Once Greedy Williams was nabbed, it guranteed two press/man shut-down corners (with Mitchell for depth).
This lets Randall (and everybody else) play zone and react more aggressively to everything else offenses attempt.
An all one-gap defensive line could work well here. You could rest Ogunjobi (the zero shade).
I'll have to get back to this later, but in a nutshell: Steve Wilks (with THREE shut-down outside corners, Avery and Taka...taki (whuh-evah)) might not NEED the big inside guys as much or as often as Williams did; ie:
If you have superb coverage, you don't need no steenking zero-technique!
I know I know you dint get that. Stay tuned.
Wow, John Dorsey really wanted linebackers and defensive backs, right?
Terry Pluto is takling about speed as a common denominator for all these draft picks, but that's only part of it:
Greedy Williams is different than the other guys in that he is pretty experienced and refined. Dorsey simply had to go get him when he slid that far...
Hell, he was the consensus best cover corner in this class; generally regarded as a top ten overall talent. He's an instant and significant upgrade; we got the next Dixon/Minnifield here with Mitchell for outstanding depth.
But the other guys were less experienced, see? One or two-year starters.
Takitaki played Defensive end before switching to linebacker for his last two seasons.
His first season at this unfamiliar position isn't important. What Dorsey and company saw was how he played in 2018; how much better he became, and his upward trajectory.
And this player can be described in one word: "Beast".
Some scouting reports treat him as a backup with some upside, while others are highly complimentary. I strongly suspect that some amateurs watched his 2017 tapes without separating them from the 2018 ones.
Disgusting. Anyway, Takitaki isn't yet a finished product, but as a former DE, he can shed blocks and blow things up.
Safety Sheldrick Redwine spent two seasons on the 'Canes bench as a cornerback before switching to safety (and kicking ass).
Redwine actually played all over Miami's defense. He's a very good player who slid due to his inexperience and indefinite position.
The guys on NFL Radio kinda "went off" on LB Mack Wilson. He was rated by some as the 52nd best player in the draft, and Gil Brandt had him at 78th.
I couldn't fathom what Pat Kirwan said: He doesn't show good judgement on blitzes, so he's not a 3-down player?
?
Anyway everybody else says Wilson is a 3-down player, and many listed him right behind the two Devins at Linebacker.
...and...he was a one-year starter! So he SLID, see?
Drew Forbes simply represented value to a zone-blocking NFL team in the 7th round. He probably won't play tackle in the NFL.
He's athletic and quick, but his arms are short...well who knows? Arm-length isn't all there is to it. Is Baker Mayfield still too short?
I'll skip the kicker and Forbes:
Pluto is right: All these guys are fast.
Both of the linebackers are good in coverage, and coverage was an obvious priority for both DBs.
Four defensive players, folks. The Browns are now eyeball deep in safeties, cornerbacks, and linebackers.
The secondary is now merely "full", as today's teams commonly carry 9 or more defensive backs, but heads will roll among the linebackers.
As it stands, the two draft picks join Kirksey, Schobert, Avery, Adarius Taylor, Ray Ray Armstrong, and no doubt some poor guy I'm leaving out.
I can't see the Browns retaining more than five of these guys. We can pencil out Ray Ray, but another incumbent will need to go.
Trying to sneak either Takitaki or Wilson onto the Practice Squad is unlikely. Somebody would steal them off waivers, and both are ready to play in the NFL right away.
I have to go back to this: Taylor is about as good as Kirksey, and a lot cheaper, and Joe Schobert is about to get unbearably expensive, so---.....
I guess Dorsey and company prioritized talent over need in some cases, as DT depth was not addressed at all.
Dorsey will no doubt be back on the phones as we speak, trying to dig up some more one-year bandaids (he'll find a couple. The old guys get desperate. Supply and Demand, remember? I'd take Suh for 2.5 mil!)
That will sort itself out, but for now, the Browns' Defense is rebuilt, especially for Steve Wilks.
With all these safeties, Wilks can run any coverage scheme he wants, play-by-play, with man coverage on the two outside receivers to set it up (damn...Ward and Williams? Holy cow!)
Some of you remember Dixon and Minnifield. These guys took opposing teams' top two wide receivers off the table; sealing off their inside cuts, and jostling them towards the sideline (nothing illegal, mind you-- but you know you have to stick with the guy, so you're going to sorta bump into eachother, right?)
These were the seasons that Clay Matthews got all his sacks, and Felix Wright his interceptions.
Clay was a freak (check), but Wright was a spider...minding his web. The undersized, not very fast Free Safety Felix Wright would "bail out" Frank or Minni when he had to, but that wasn't often.
He was single high, and deep. Middle of the field; "center" field. With his two corners sealing off the inside, any other pass the quarterback threw would be coming towards him, and Felix Wright read it right, every time!
Dixon and Minnifield bought Felix Wright this freedom, as they so rarely let a receiver get inside of them. Felix could zero in on the run, the slot (yes there were slot guys back then; Brian Brennan was maybe the first of that kind but I digress).
Felix Wright played from 25 yards downfield (you know like in Gregg Williams' scheme, and as you will see Wilks' scheme too you...geniusses)...
Anyway, Felix got his interceptions and blew up opposing running backs moving foreward, and that's exactly how Steve Wilks will use Damarius Randall.
I kinda can't wait. The other teams in the AFC North drafted to beat the Browns.
The Ratbirds drafted a super-slot wr and a big target WR (Boykin--verily a stud).
The Stoolers drafted CB Justin Layne and a WR who could possibly be as good as Antonio Brown (you know---with their quarterback...not that this matters or anything)...
The Bengals drafted two offensive linemen and a quarterback.
The Steelers will once again be the team to beat in the AFC North. Their offense is INTACT, and as good as it has been. Same Quarterback. Same Offensive Line. AB, Ebineezer? These clowns need to get over themselves.
AND the triple-damned Steelers Defense just got a top-notch cornerback and elite linebacker (I haven't done all my research yet; the bastards probably found at least one sleeper in the 6th or 7th round too dammit).
The Ravens? Meh. Like the Bengals, ya no?
No doubt some Ravens and Bengals fans would pick this bone. Allrighty then:
Best AFC North QB: Debatable, but Mayfield or Rottenburgers.
Best OL: Sorry it's the Steelers...and the Bengals are very good too...and ok nevermind: It's the Steelers first (not by much) and then pretty close for the rest (except the Bengals and Browns have a slight edge over the Ravens imo).
Best running backs: What a mess! All 4 teams now have studs (in depth) at RB. I'd give everybody else a slight edge over the Steelers though.
Best Wide Receivers (and slot receivers): Da Brownss! Not by a huge margin or anything, but gimme a break OBJ Landry Callaway etc there it is!!!
Best Tight Ends: This is close too, except Eiffert is perpetually injured (and can't block)...tie between the Steelers and Browns...but it's a tight race.
Best Defensive Line: Browns. Hands down. Period.
Best Linebackers: Fuzzy area. Pitt runs a 3-4 and the Ravens a unique hybrid. Tough to compare...
Oh! The Steelers drafted Devin Bush (dammit) and already had TJ Watt ;!$@?÷￦!!! but ok the Browns are a close second (with their own James Harrison).
Best Secondary: Browns. Was this a trick question?
Special Teams?
Please adapt: Dorsey actually drafted a kicker to compete with Greg Joseph, who (in point of fact) was pretty good overall after his horrific first game.
He hired one of the most respected Special Teams coaches in the NFL, then signed and drafted several special teams' aces, including Damon Sheehy Guiseppi (sp?)
I can't make a Special Teams comparison here, but I can guarantee that the Browns units will be significantly better than they were in 2018.
Coaching: I beg to differ with the majority of Ravens fans I've met, as I think Harbaugh is as good as it gets. He's getting blamed for EVERYTHING. I think Ravens fans are even worse than Browns fans.
I'm less impreseed by the Steelers Head Enabler Mike Tomlin, who encourages cheap shots and stays out of Big Ben's way mostly.
I have no idea about the Bengals new Coach, but know for sure that there will be a lot of disruption as he tries to install his new system.
I will give Hargrove a slight edge here, but gotta give Freddie Kitchens and his staff what respect they have EARNED, and tell you that the Browns are as well coached as any team is.
Yeah it will be a dog-fight as usual, but the 2019 Browns are rightfully favored to win the AFC North.
Amazing but true: the only reason why this most talented AFC North team isn't again expected to finish 3rd or lower is because they have Baker Mayfield now.
Greedy Williams lived up to his name in predicting that the Browns will win the Superbowl.
I remember my own punkdom distinctly, and have a lot of stuff I wish I could take back, but Greedy might be right!
The 2019 Browns (as is) match up with ANY team in the NFL, with an elite quarterback...
Why NOT? The most talented team in the NFL has a legit shot at all the marbles.
I guess this will be obsolete by the time anybody reads it, but what the hell Happy Hour is when it is.
Here are CBS Sports' 24 top remaining players that the Browns are now 17 picks away from, and there are a bunch of really good players in this bunch.
There are SEVEN cornerbacks on this list, topped by Greedy Williams, who was generally expected to be the first corner drafted in the first round.
Hate to say I told you so, but the other GMs saw all these cornerbacks and opted to fill other voids first (supply and demand. They used to teach us this stuff in school).
Anyway that's over, as the first cornerback taken should trigger an avalanche. There's a good chance that four or more of them will be gone before 49.
Everybody assumes that Dorsey will draft a cornerback at 49 because guys like Gurzi think Terrence Mitchell sucks, but John Dorsey doesn't agree with them.
Obviously, we saw what happened when Mitchell went down and Ward missed time last season, so of course he wants at least one more outside corner badly.
But not at the expense of "best available player".
In reality, a rotational defensive tackle and (yes I admit I was wrong) passblocking offensive tackle are approximately as important here.
CBS Sports lists four offensive tackles in their top 24. The one most mocked to the Browns is Yodney Cajuste, but they like Dalton Risner a lot better, as he held Montez Sweat in check in their game, and was impressive at the Senior Bowl.
But Daniel Jeremiah threw some cold water on Risner as a pure pass-blocking tackle, and I trust Daniel.
There are only TWO Defensive Tackles left, and one of them is Zach Allen. Everybody here loves Dre'Mont Jones, of course, but Allen is comparable, can play outside, and may have more upside.
If John Dorsey does make a move up here, it could be for Jones or Allen, and yes: there's a good chance he agrees with CBS Sports and sees them as approximately equal.
Supply and Demand.
Doug Lesmerisis thinks the Browns should draft an offensive tackle at 49. Doug lists everybody except Yodney Cajuste, and mentions that Risner is a better run-blocker than pass-blocker, but would take him anyway.
That's the "dart board" approach to the NFL Draft. As I've pointed out several times, for John Dorsey, pass-blocking trumps run-blocking at every Offensive Line position (with good reason).
Further, Doug is still trying to replace Joe Thomas. Clearly, Doug lives in either Myopia or Oblivia Ohio, because a whole lot of stuff is flying right over his head:
The REASON everybody wants passrushing Defensive TACKLES more than EDGE guys now is because NFL offenses have evolved.
We just saw Josh Rosen displaced by Kyler Murray, after only recently seeing Mahomes and Mayfield breaking out. Sam Darnold is athletic, and who saw Josh Allen doing all that damage with his legs coming?
And what's all the "rage"? The Run/Pass Option (which by the way requires zone-blocking by the way).
Jurassic Doug thinks Mayfield is Kosar, or Rosen, or just some quarterback that needs to stand there seven yards deep, scanning the field, looking for guys to uncover.
Zzinggg!
Doug also missed Freddie Kitchens' frequent use of extra tight ends and running backs, and Dorsey's calling Njoku out over his pass-blocking zing-zinggg!
The game is evolving, and under Kitchens and Monken, the Mayfield-led Browns are in front of these changes.
The RPO, Read-Option, and old fashioned West Coast offenses mitigate edge-rushers and help offensive tackles.
The "Air Raid" Quarterbacks who used to all flop are now dominating the NFL, and that's why one-year starter/microbe Kyler Murray just got drafted first overall, and the statuesque Josh Rosen was traded zinggg!
Doug, please snap out of it: A Joe Thomas is always great to have, but is NOT available in this draft class, and is NOT mandatory in 2019 either.
I really like Doug Lesmerisis, but this article by him really sucked.
John Dorsey could draft an Offensive Tackle at 49th overall, but only because Hubbard is overpaid, Robinson is on a one-year contract, and Des Harrison has to back up his talent with discipline and hard work.
The next Joe Thomas? Wow, Doug. Just wow.
Dan Justik lists three veteran players the Browns should consider trading for, and I like all of them.
All are young, lack leverage, and their teams lack leverage as well (could be forced to cut the players)...great job, Dan! Absolutely ruthless 👍
We are talking about lower-round picks (*or expendable players*) for these guys, and no cap hits.
Soloman Thomas has disappointed with the Niners (not unlike Ogbah here), but is extremely talented, and Dan thinks he might prosper in Cleveland as a (dirt cheap and desperate) rotational DE.
Darron Lee and Karl Joseph are just plain good players...again, good for Stone Cold Dan Justik!
Pick 35 Jawaan Taylor...14 to go...
Oh! Oh! Greedy Williams are you kidding me!?!
About the ONLY thing wrong with Greedy is that he's a beanpole. He needs Hans and Franz to pump him up, but that's all.
Williams will immediately compete with Rodney Mitchellfield for his starting role (and probably win).
Even if he doesn't, Greedy is TALL, and Steve Wilks can now put him on skyscraper opposing receivers while he puts Denzel Ward on other guys.
The Browns' back end is now covered DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
You probably don't, so I will explain:
If you have a top 5 Free Safety, a slightly above average strong safety, two top ten press/man corners, Carey, and Greedy Williams (and oh yeah) Eric Murray well...on THIS planet, you have an above average secondary, ok?
Great pick by Dorsey!
Remaining needs: DT Depth, OT depth...in that order.
And look for Duke/DeValve/Schobert etc trades.
Wow my bro Ed is calling me a "homer" because I love the Williams pick and the bartender is cutting me off after only 7-10 tall ones.
Why is everybody always pickin on me? And JFC my TWIN calls ME a homer? Why have I bothered existing for this long? How ALONE can I get? How utterly unrecognized and meaningless can I get?
I never saw linebacker Sioni Takitaki coming in the third round, but in Dorsey I trust, and this guy looks pretty good!
Where were they hiding this guy?
Oh sorry--I guess I'm a homer because I like this guy, now that I've checked him out, and kinda trust John Dorsey...
...Nevermind🖕
Randy Gurzi and a few others keep incorrectly saying that the Browns need a cornerback to start opposite Denzel Ward.
It's a good thing Rodney Mitchellfield isn't as thin-skinned as OBJ, but I will speak up for him:
Randy, stop insulting Terrence Mitchell, who PFF ranked as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL in 2018. Indeed, Mitchell ranked ahead of Ward himself in some circles.
Why do you hate Terrence, Randy? Does his broken arm mean he's fragile? Do you think he must have been a one year wonder? Is he too short?
Cut it out, Randy! Just say "the Browns need more depth at outside Cornerback"!
I get it, I think: You think a tall guy would be ideal, so that the defense could match up better vs opposing skyscrapers, but why are you calling Terrence Mitchell a bumb, Randy?
The Steelers just drafted Devin Bush and the Bengals Jonah Williams. Both smart moves...dammit.
The Bengals are being treated like the Browns now, but should be a pretty good team in 2019, with talent on both sides of the ball.
But Devin Bush will finally put the Steelers' D back on the map dammit. Long story (more later)...
Ok Ryan Shazier's tragic injury kinda gutted the Steelers' defense. Shazier was an athletic freak who was kinda replacing Troy Polumalu for them.
Devin Bush is that kind of player.
Fortunately, the Steelers had to cough up their second round pick to move up to nab Bush...and if the Steelers think Bush will be enough...well...the Steelers really NEEDED that second round pick (and more).
I'm holding out for the Ratbird pick before I cash out tonight ah! Marquis Brown, a 5'9" WR (CBS Sports gave this pick an "A", so now we know it was a home run, right?)
Ok be very afraid of the Ravens now because they drafted a slot receiver for their sharpshooter quarterback to exploit...
Seriously I will somehow manage to deal with this, in spite of CBS Sports' "A" grade on the pick...
What a JOKE!
In reality, the other teams in the AFC North made up some ground on the Browns, but not enough. The Steelers upgraded the most at a critical position, but lost their second round pick to do it.
The Bengals got the top left tackle...an extremely smart long-term move, and a very good short-term pick as well; the Bengals will again have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL in 2019, and a chance to slow down Garrett and TJ Watt.
But the Ravens drafting a slot receiver? For "Dead-Eye" Lamar Jackson? Ooo, scary!
Sorry I'm overreacting: The smurf is there to get open quick and catch point blank passes for YAC yards, I get it. It will even work sometimes.
Well on to Day 2.
