The Browns re-signing Orson Charles probably isn't a big deal. The guy he's really here to try to knock off the roster is pesky Sashi Brown pick Seth DeValve, and per PFF, he isn't in DeValve's zip code.
DeValve is about 62 overall and Charles is a little under 45. Seth is significantly better as a receiver and run-blocker. In pass-pro it's DeValve 77.6, Charles 82.2; hard to imagine Dorsey would use that as an excuse to dump DeValve.
Since I'm here, I can tell you that PFF rated Njoku 65.2 (not bad) as a run-blocker, but 54.7 (mediocre) in pass protection (and by far the lowest of the tight ends on the current roster (except Pharoah Brown, who has no rating yet).
That has to be what John Dorsey was talking about when he "called" Njoku "out" for his blocking.
Demetrius Harris is the best run-blocker, and Seth DeValve is the best pass-blocker; Harris the best blocker overall.
These are the shallowest PFF grades, as they don't separate in-line from in-space or backfield blocks, or chips (I can't afford PFF's "big" package), so we can't take these numbers to the bank.
Demetrius Harris is unmistakably an in-line Tight End like Darren Fells was, and will step right into that role here.
Of the rest, only Pharoah Brown and Njoku have the length for that spot, and Jake Burns burned Njoku's blocking himself in one of his film-room sessions (*and I bet Dorsey saw it*).
As I fuzzily recall, Jake caught David in a bunch of mental errors.
This is too common with super-athletic "weapon" tight ends, and I strongly suspect that they have a problem studying films on opposing passrushers instead of coverage guys, because they don't see themselves as "grunts".
I'm glad John Dorsey fired one across (Sashi Brown draft pick) David Njoku's bow in re his pass-blocking. Jake Burns feels he has the ability to be pretty good at it, and it's sometimes critically important...especially now:
On third and 15 (a lot more common for any offense than most fans realize), the Njoku-type is a curveball for the nickel or dime defense. They have to honor him as a receiver, and even to expect him coming out of a slot.
This will be doubly true with Todd Monkens' influence in the 2019 offense.
When the Njoku-type lines up in-line instead (along with Demetrius Harris on the other side), they can utterly neutralize pressure from the edge, and let the five offensive linemen double-team TWO inside rushers.
This is a seven-man front, and only leaves room for the QB and 3 more skill-players.
Most commonly, a running back needs to be one of these, and (unless he's Duke Johnson) he needs to actually line up somewhere in the backfield.
That's because the defense can't get in his face at the snap, or anticipate where he will go for a pass. They have to either assign a strong safety or linebacker to mirror him, or blitze inside to try to keep him in to protect his quarterback.
In any case, they need to send at least five rushers anyway.
With most offenses, 6 guys in coverage should prevent a 15-yard conversion, but this is Mayfield, Landry, OBJ, and Chubb.
While they can afford to press/man both wide receivers and back that up with another DB each (in zone) and hold a Free Safety "Little Dutch Boy" deep, this quarterback, with all the time in the world, can thread a needle, and these receivers get open in phone-booths and only need one hand to catch.
To quote Baker Mayfield, "You can't stop a perfect pass".
In other situations, it's nice that Njoku is a proficient run-blocker, because the 2019 Browns will run a lot.
I don't hate Hue Jackson like many of you do, but one of his problems was his reluctance to use run/pass options and zone-blocking (*you have to zone-block to sell RPO's*).
Njoku can line up in-line and become an instant receiver or actually make a hole for Chubb (or whoever).
I do not believe that John Dorsey is out to purge all of Sashi Brown's players off this roster. He seems much too SANE and RATIONAL to me for that.
Much has been made of all the players Sashi drafted or signed who are no longer on the roster, but that's generally ignorant:
Kevin Zeitler turned into Olivier Vernon. Jabrill Peppers was integral to the OBJ trade.
Kindred apparently didn't fit Steve Wilks's scheme, but (like the rest of the Brown "cast-offs") got scooped up instantly.
Ogbah for (safety) Eric Murray looked screwed up to me til I saw Murray's PFF grades: 67.5 (pretty good) overall, and a little better vs the run than vs the pass...and an elite special teams player.
Wierdly, I read an article by a PFF writer which described Murray as a depth-player at best, and mentioned his "crappy" grades HEY PFF! WANT AN UPGRADE? HERE I AM! I CAN READ YOUR NUMBERS AND SPELL MY NAME RIGHT TOO!!!
I still think Ogbah will kick some ass now that he's healthy, but Murray is a LOT more than "depth" at a position of need...
Why this campaign against Sashi Brown's players, when Dorsey is trading them for other players? How ignorant, just listing Sashi Brown players no longer on this roster without any context at all!
If you have a BRAIN, keep track of Brown's players! You'll see many of those no longer with this team have long and sometimes great carreers!
And anyway, Sashi Brown didn't pick them. The Coaches, Scouts, and Paul DePodesta picked them. Sashi was a lawyer, mediator, figurehead, and fall-guy.
How long do you think it will take Dorsey to purge DeValve, Schobert, Garrett, Njoku, Higgins, and Tretter off the roster?
Don't get me wrong! John Dorsey came in here and maxed out the draft picks, money, and players he inheritted from the Brown regime.
What's more, he has NOT let a Mitchell Schwartze go, or done anything else as blatently stupid. Dorsey is da MAN!
The Brown regime might well have drafted...well DePodesta...that's probably Mayfield too...nevermind.
Predictably, a bunch of people want us to curb our enthusiasm about the 2019 Browns.
The team is too young. It's too soon. First year Head Coach.
At least it's mainly the Steelers aint done yet (and not the Ravens).
Some pundits are twisting themselves into pretzels trying to find reasons that Baker Mayfield, with Odell Beckham Jr added to what he had as a rookie in 2018, will what...regress? Or...something?
Adding Richardson and Vernon to Ogunjobi and Garrett got us all irrationally over-excited or...something?
Pay no attention to the Antonio Brown behind the curtain...
A guy on NFL Radio said (Yoda-like) "It takes a year". He cited the 2017 Eagles as an example!!! Sheer idiocy! The 2017 Eagles drafted a QB second overall and signed a veteran QB and had the rest of their team mostly built, substantially with free agents.
All these wanna-be Yodas! It's bullshit, people!
The 2019 Browns are already a top 5 talented team in the NFL, with one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Check with the real experts, and they're possibly the best coached team in the NFL (leaving Freddie Kitchens' inexperience aside).
...but curb your enthusiasm...it's still "the Browns", so...
Much has been made of the Parcells Coaching-tree. Lord Insideous (Belichick) is the most famous, but the Parcells tree won a ton of Superbowls.
Freddie only worked for Parcells for one season, but quotes him all the time, and clearly wants to emulate him (strategically).
Kitchens is being massively underestimated by a lot of pundits. Unlike Belichick 1.0, Freddie will gladly delegate a lot of stuff to his coordinators and assistants (like Parcells and Belichick 2.0).
We all saw what Kitchens did in 2018 (initially within Todd Haley's playbook). It was amazing!!!
As for Freddie Kitchens as a Head Coach vs any other Head Coach in the NFL, I am confident that he will not find a way to choke...even though he's "the Browns" now...
DON'T curb your enthusiasm. The 2019 Browns are rightfully the favorites to win the AFC North, and have a legit shot to at least reach the AFC Championship game.
...this is BEFORE John Dorsey digs up his Callaways and Averys in the upcoming draft, and scoops up the desperate veterans (like maybe Berry) after that.
We can't say "Superbowl or bust" yet, but we can predict an AFC North title. The Ravens and Steelers can beg to differ all they want, but Hue Jackson aint here anymore...
...okbye
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