Get Real About Kirksey and Taylor. Coverage 101. Browns Stuff.

With all due respect to Dan Justik, when FA Linebacker Adarius Taylor was signed, I told everybody he was another Christian Kirksey (except cheaper hint hint).

That's not a compliment, as -snap-snap- Taylor and Kirksey rank in PFF's basement among linebackers.

Taylor is here to challenge Christian Kirksey.  The hope is that competition will make one or the other mediocre.

Nor is it very significant that Taylor was on the field in 3-linebacker sets, since that formation will be rare in the Steve Wilks defense. At least 80% of the time, there will be 2 or fewer real linebackers on the field.

I learned from Jake Burns that KitchenMonken are not running a lot of spreads.  Instead, they're using tight formations, with the outside receivers not far from the Tackles.

That's more a Kitchens than a Monken thing.

The trade-off:  These sets allow defenses to consolidate more inside to clog running lanes, but it keeps a TE (or 2) inside to block (including chips), and gives those outside receivers more field to work with.

That is, they can go outside as well as inside without running out of real estate.  This screws up press/man coverage, which uses leverage and the sideline to shrink throwing windows.

It fits the Run/Pass Option perfectly.  The ball has to come out quickly on passes, or else the zone-blocking linemen become ineligable receivers as they block downfield.

You get the press/man stuff, right?  If OBJ or somebody is lined up 6 yards from a sideline, that cornerback can set up on his inside shoulder and force him outside.  The receiver has to move even closer to the sideline to get by him, and an out-route is...well the ball would have to be in the air before he makes his cut, and he's reaching and dragging his toes; it's too tough.

If the receiver lines up 11 yards from the sideline, that corner can't leverage him.  If he tries to, the receiver can blow his doors off without running out of bounds.

With help, he can use outside leverage, but only if...nevermind sorry.

The majority of teams the Browns will play won't be trying to press the Browns receivers anyway.  Some of you think press/man corners grow on trees, but--like real X-receivers--they don't.

Many teams don't even have one of these guys.  Very few have two.  Most teams (like the 2018 Cardinals, for example) are forced to play zone.

In this case, the tighter Browns formations give the outside receivers room underneath, and Mayfield...man, I almost don't want to think about what he'll do to them. It will be ugly...

Back to the linebackers: Kirksey could be released, Schobert might get traded, Takitaki is just getting started.

Jake Burns says Genard Avery has been with the EDGE guys (not the linebackers), and in one situational package lines up outside while Myles Garrett moves inside.

I really like that!  It's terrifying.  This kind of stuff is one of the reasons why Defensive Line depth isn't an issue.

...okbye