Steve Patsco says Corbett is also working at Center some. It's still quite possible that Austin will earn the RG starting slot between now and the regular season, but I have to admit that I was hoping for more positive news.
Kyle Kalis (a Dorsey veteran free agent signed dirt-cheap) was the Right Guard with the first team, and this bears watching.
Dorsey signed 3 street vet Offensive Linemen with a bunch of starts under their belts, and Kalis was one of them.
These guys are "solid" players who are better pass-protectors than run-blockers, and having one of them ahead of Austin Corbett on the depth chart on May 22nd isn't shocking.
But isn't it great to know that if Corbett under-achieves, the Browns will have a decent Right Guard? Or that if Corbett comes through, they'll have terrific depth?
Corbett is also no doubt learning more from Kalis than he is from Campen.
A lot of people are getting overly excited about OBJ in particular and veteran players in general skipping some or all of voluntary OTAs.
Actually, this is pretty ideal, as it gives younger (and fringe) players more practice reps.
This gives the Coaches a better bead on these new players, so that they can make better decisions at cut-down time. It gives the new guys more chances to develop chemistry with Mayfield and their teammates.
Mayfield already practices with OBJ and Landry on his personal time throughout the offseason, and seasoned veterans in general don't need to be with their teams.
These OTAs are the best time to learn about and develop depth players. This will come in handy at cut-down time, and also when you've lost several starters, and it's these OTA players who have to step in for them.
I have to agree that Rashard Higgins is one of the top four WRs on the current roster, but noticed that Dorsey only signed him for 2019.
He could have locked Higgins up pretty cheap for several seasons (making him great trade-bait later on). John Dorsey is clearly not a huge Higgins fan.
Baker Mayfield was all over Higgins today in practice. Certainly he trusts him.
Todd Monken was, of course, general, nebulous, and boring (like most Coaches), but I found some good stuff in what he said.
He detailed how many offensive "installs" there would be, and which "install" the Offense put in today.
Monken was pretty clear on his relationship with Freddie Kitchens. He couldn't divulge tactical intelligence, of course, but did say that he felt that Kitchens' and his own philosophies were compatable.
This was highly informative. Monken is an Air Raid guy. Freddie used some of that in 2018, but was generally more physical-using more tight ends and running backs, and often tighter formations.
Monken said (and repeated) that he and Freddie shared an obligation to "the players".
NFL coaches are usually not english majors, but fortunately you have me to translate:
Monken, like Kitchens, intends to build an offense for his players.
To my readers, this is obvious. You do whatever it takes to max out the unique skill-sets you have on your roster.
But as we have seen, Todd Haley and Hue Jackson never got that memo.
I'm very glad to hear this from Todd Monken. The "Air Raid" label on him technically fits, based on what he did in Tampa Bay, but he's not another Mike Martz; he will adapt to his talent.
Martz? Air Raid, period. My way or the highway. Sound familiar?
Monken said he came here substantially because he felt a kinship with Freddie Kitchens. I'm pretty sure that he meant to say that he was impressed by how he made Todd Haley look like an idiot the instant he took over the offense.
Monken will almost certainly only be in Cleveland for one season. He's probably a Head Coach in 2020. (His signing on here was a brilliant carreer move! He'll get credit for Freddie's playcalling and a LOADED offense including Mayfield. Monken can't lose!!!)
This only makes me respect Todd Monken's brains even more. Too many potential Head Coaches fall on their faces because their egos overwhelm their brains.
Indeed, that happened to Lord Insideous (Belichick) here in Cleveland. (He obviously got over the "ego" part later).
But I digress: Two heads are better than one, and in Todd Monken, Freddie Kitchens seems to have a kindred brain he can trust with installs and coaching, once the game-plans are settled (between them. Freddie isn't an insecure egomaniac either, remember?)
Freddie can trust Monken, and be a General during the week. He can trust Wilks too, so (between PR stuff) he can just wander around and see what his assistants are up to.
It took
Good grief G did I say Kitchens is as smart as Lord Insideous?
But you know what, G? He MIGHT be! Didn't you see what he DID in 2018? Don't you see the massive contrast between him and Todd Haley (and Hue, for that matter)?
But I digress: Monken also "broke down" Baker Mayfield concisely, offering further clues to the Monken/Kitchens offensive scheme.
No surprises here:
1: Zone-blocking. Zeitler is gone, and so are Jackson and Haley. Kitchens is in charge, and Monken runs the Offense now. The Free Agent Offensive linemen Dorsey signed are "wall-off" type run-blockers, but really good pass protectors. Monken used a lot of RPOs in Tampa, and has the people to run those here, and those mandate zone-blocking I mean jeez DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
2: 3-wide base offense. Callaway is a weapon too, wide or in the slot. Even before we get to Higgins or Willies or Jackson, this spreads and lightens opposing defenses laterally, and keeps a safety deep.
...seriously, do you get this? You know, Baker Mayfield is the QB now, right?
3: That "base" offense doesn't mean it will show up more than half the time.
Indeed, the Kitchens' offense will be "baseless".
He'll want Njoku out there as often as possible, and will often need to choose between him and Callaway. He'll get stuck in short yardage situations, and muscle up with his blocking Tight Ends. He'll run 2-backs vs some defenses in some situations.
Remember, in 2018, Freddie ran 3 RB and 3 TE personnel groups sometimes. He won't stop doing that, as long as his blocking TEs and surplus RBs are viable receivers, and Baker Mayfield is his QB.
The "base" should be a spread, forcing defenses to use lighter players and set too many of them up outside to create running lanes.
Njoku, DeValve, Johnson, and Hilliard can line up in the slot or wide.
I defy you to play Defensive Coordinator and figure out how to stop this. Your BEST chance is with Landry, OBJ, and Callaway...at least you can estimate what they will do.
It's late okbye
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