Wednesday, May 1, 2019

2019 Browns: AFC North Favorites. Arguably the Most Talented Team in the NFL. BUT...

The PD has been doing a good series on how the 2019 Browns were built, but Sam Penix offers an objective, well-researched, and insightful Cliff Notes version.

The only fault I found was his mention of the rumored McCoy trade in a positive light, right on the heels of telling us that the Browns now have the second highest payroll in the NFL.

Indeed, Sam mentioned that Dorsey's free spending was his biggest problem in KC, and pointed out that Paul DePodesta was still here (perhaps to keep a leash on him).

This McCoy stuff is idiotic.  I'd be glad to have him or Suh in the DT rotation, but not for ten mil/year or something, and not in exchange for future draft picks too! (See?  It's double stupid).

I'll try not to redundationalize more, but it's just astonishing to me that this isn't as blatently obvious to everybody else on the planet as it is to Elliiot Kimmel and me!

Well...Hillary Clinton isn't wearing an orange jump suit either so why tf am I surprised?

No I mean it: It's "Idiocracy" happening right before my geezerly eyes!  I never thought to link Orwell's "1984" to "Idiocracy", but the link is seamless! Stop educating and start indoctrinating and nobody thinks critically anymore.

The Marxists...but I digress:

I'm sure that John Dorsey will find a "bandaid" rotational Defensive Tackle soon, without doing anything idiotic.

I can guarantee you that Paul DePodesta has told him and Jimmy that there are a bunch of old DT's on the streets already, and more (McCoy among them) doomed to get cut due to their inflated salaries...

Do you people understand that these contracts are front-loaded with guaranteed monies because GMs want to have the option to bale out in the third or fourth year without a severe dead-cap penalty?

Zzinggg!

How bout this, you whippersnappers:  Back in my day, we said "Don't trust anybody over 30".  Well, I can change that to "Don't overpay any non-Quarterback over 30".  Get it now?

It is curious that Dorsey drafted exactly ZERO DTs, and to-date hasn't brought many undrafted ones in either.

There are many possible explanations for this.  The two most likely are:

1: That DePodesta added up the flood of draftable DTs and the number of veteran stud DTs who are costing their teams too much, and determined that there would be quality veteran rotational DTs available dirt-cheap after the draft-dust settles.

Sorry you youngsters: That's more "supply and demand".  You should look it up on the internet.  It used to be taught in schools.

2: Steve Wilks likes the other DTs already here, and/or wants to mix in some 3-man fronts to get his studs their rest-breaks.

I've been chewing on this since Dorsey drafted Takitaki in the third round.  Much like Genard Avery, he can be a legit Edge-rusher; a 3-4 OLB.

With Chad Thomas (and Chris Smith, who might get traded) on board, the exotic front potential is very interesting *Smith and Thomas are DT/DE hybrids*

I have been telling you that Wilks, like Williams, would always run a 4-man front.

First, I was wrong there: Gregg ran 3-man fronts sometimes; he used his three linebackers more consistently.

Second, Wilks was only a DC for one season before he was a Head Coach.  We can infer some things from the Coaches he served under as an assistant, but really, this is a microscopic sample-size based on two very different defenses.

For all we know, Steve Wilks could be a LOT different than Gregg Williams.

3: Wilks most certainly had input into this offseason (and especially this draft).

Dorsey drafted two linebackers (who could cover), a safety (best deep; not a Strong Safety), and two cornerbacks (one of which projects as a safety).

All this tells most of YOU people nothing, but I'm ready to start speculating:

1: Takitaki and Avery are going to rush from the edge a LOT on passing downs, and that means real DEs getting breaks.

2: Thomas and (maybe) Smith will spell Larry or Sheldon on passing downs too.

3: Steve Wilks likes at least one of the backup DTs he inheritted more than everybody else does.  

4: Wilks will run a 3-man front in many nickles and all dimes.  Sparing you the math, this whole RPO phenomenon (on the heels of the Read-Option), and the unprecedented success of "Air-Raid" Quarterbacks in the NFL have changed the game.

RPOs mandate zone-blocking, and the Quarterback has to throw quickly, because his blockers are going upfield as technically illegal receivers within a little over 2 seconds.

Vs the Steelers, Wilks can play it straight, but vs the Bengals or Ravens, he can't.

The Steelers and Bengals' Offensive Lines are among the best in the NFL (especially the Bengals after this draft).

Steve Wilks has to "avoid contact" (ie use 3 Big penetrators shooting gaps, one (or two) OLBs sneaking inside or outside (stunt, twist who cares?)

Still with me?

Greedy Williams has to compete blahblah this is even funnier than John Dorsey proclaiming that Duke Johnson is not for sale.

But I digress again: 

If Steve Wilks is as smart as my humble self, he will prioritize linebackers both in coverage and as passrushers...

I'll explain this more comprehensively later, but for the moment: Enema QBs are in trouble.


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