Of course he is still wrong, as he lists the volatile OBJ and "unproven" Freddie Kitchens as 2 of his reasons. I have addressed these assertions often and frequently, and won't repeat myself here--but in brief these 2 issues won't trump the talent which Simon stipulates permeates the Browns' roster.
Amazingly, Simon actually refers to the 2018 season opener vs the Steelers as a "should have won" game for the Steelers!
With Tyrod Taylor at QB, Carlos Hyde at RB, and Todd Haley calling the plays, the Browns missed...how many field goals? Simon was a fan with that statement.
He also refers to the horrifically lopsided Steelers domination of the Browns, and shame on him. How many of the Browns on the current roster were even here 2-3 years ago?
And Baker Mayfield might become a good Quarterback? This becomes important, as Simon also points out that nobody on the current Browns has ever beaten the Steelers.
The fact is, Baker Mayfield can't wait for his rematch with the Steelers because it's Big Ben and one of the toughest challenges he will face!
These Cleveland Browns have a Junk Yard Dawg Quarterback and no Stockholm Syndrome! They see no reason why the big bad smirking Steelers should defeat their superior talent.
Don't get me wrong, as to redundationalize yet again, the 2019 Steelers are indeed getting overly dissed, and remain strong Division and Superbowl contenders. They could beat the rebuilt Browns once, or even twice...
Simon is right about a new defensive system, a bunch of players who haven't played together yet, and (I'll give Simon this one) the fact that the Steelers might have the best Offensive Line in football.
Jake Burns has turned me into the President of his fan club here. This time he's found two veteran Defensive Tackles, who remain unsigned, that he feels could insure the depth behind Richardson and Ogunjobi.
These are long-time Chief Allen Bailey and long-time Charger Corey Liuget.
These guys are 30 and 29 respectively, and Liuget has recovered from a quad tear which took the majority of his 2018 season away from him.
Both are long-time starters who were released for cap reasons. They're most likely one year "discount" signings.
I like Liuget a little better because he's bigger and stronger (no problem playing the zero-shade), and there are several nominal "Defensive Ends" on the current roster who can fill in at the "3-technique" (the quick penetrator).
Liuget splits double-teams and knocks guards down on his way into the backfield.
As Jake says, the Browns need better depth inside, and these 2 proven, long-term upper-echelon starters would make terrific bandaids.
Randy Gurzi names 3 rookies to keep an eye on in Training Camp (after Mack Wilson and Sione Takitaki, who could each play significant snaps---Wilson excels in coverage more on that someday):
Safety Sheldrick Redwine is a bigee with me as well, since the only questions about the 2019 Browns secondary are 1 Strong Safety and 2 Free Safety depth.
Gurzi is thorough here, and offers an insightful overview of the rest of the safeties and their potentials, but Redwine is a hell of a player.
Randy thinks that Redwine might well see significant time on defense in 2019, one way or another, because he can play everywhere.
Randall's Free Safety backup is unsettled, as is the Strong Safety, and the Wilksian hybrid S/LB...
And of course Damarius Randall, like Joe Scobert, might see his Brinks truck turned away from the dock in 2020; the linebackers and Redwine are potential replacements (nice job John Dorsey!)
Redwine should also be a key special teamer.
Speaking of which, Randy lists Kicker Austin Seibert next...
Seibert was indeed probably the pick of this draftable litter, but really isn't that impressive. Compared to Seibert, Zane Gonzalez was a superstar, and...well...you know...
Last on Randy's rookie list is Greedy Williams.
That one was easy, but Randy: "A solid cover corner"!?!
Good grief. And these issues with his tackling are somewhat inflated by clueless people who expect Steve Wilks to run all-zone all the time.
I've heard this rubber-stamping from Jake Burns too...I guess I'm the only "idea" person in Cuyahoga County or something!
No shut up do you hear me? How STUPID would Steve Wilks have to be to make Denzel Ward, Greedy Williams, and Terrence Mitchell cover in zone???
Why am I the only person in Cleveland who...ohmmm...ohmmmmmm.....
Steve Patsco wonders whether or not the 2019 Browns can or will get out of the basement vs opposing Tight Ends.
He offers a lot of hope, as he says that Steve Wilks the Panther and then the Cardinal did pretty well against opposing TE's.
In my not humble expert opinion, it looks great for Steve and the 2019 Browns vs emema Tight Ends too (and you can check with Jake Burns on this...after 4 or so regular season games):
THIS season, Wilks can man up on both outside receivers, because for once he has...you know...the talent to do it duh?
Ok so his Free Safety isn't worrying about the outside receivers so much; not "rolling" to either side (offering the QB an easy read every down), and instead really playing center field, see?
So (like Felix Wright did with Dixon and Minnifield way back when) the Free Safety "flies cover" and reacts to what happens in front of him.
Felix Wright was no bigger than most cornerbacks, but he was a human missile vs running backs and tight ends, and most of his hits are still legal today.
Is any of this sinking in yet? Unless Steve Wilks is as overrated as Mywayorthehighway Haley, he'll adapt his defense to his players. DUH. DUH DUH DUH DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?!
Anyway in re Pokorney's Tight End coverage question, Damarius Randall's freedom/discretion "caps" their seam routes; it should have the Free Safety in position and coming forward in a race for the ball itself on any seam-pass to a Tight End, see?
...nevermind I've lost more than half of you already, but I'll go back to personnel:
Joe Schobert and Mack Wilson are exceptional in coverage (vs RBs and TEs), and it looks like Redwine, Burnett, and Whitehead are also fighting over who gets to cover the running backs and tight ends.
You people don't get this, of course (
Joe Schobert might technicly "man" cover a Tight End, but that Tight End is generally at least 4" taller, 20 lbs heavier, and faster than he is in a dead sprint, see?
A Schobert can hang with these guys for 3 seconds or so (partly because he anticipates their routes and stays deeper), but the passrush is expected to get at the QB before he gets in trouble, see?
Aw the hell with it--it's hairline deep, and I could ramble on for decades.
Anyhoo, I respectfully bet Simon Chester a beer that the 2019 Browns will sweep the Steelers instead of the reverse.
I have to repeat this here: The Quarterback makes the Head Coach more often than vice-versa, and the best Head Coaches get tf out of their QB's way...
For cryin out loud we SAW this in 2018 the instant Kitchens took over!
...nevermindokbye
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