On NFL Radio, former star Offensive Lineman David Diehl was asked by a Browns' fan how good he thought the Browns current front 4 would be, how teams will try to stop him, and who was the scariest edge-rusher he had faced in his carreer.
Last one first: Diehl named Andre Ware, who was literally the only edge-rusher his crew had to change their whole scheme for, down-after down.
Ok: Diehl said that's as good a starting front 4 as there is in the NFL. He said that both Vernon and Garrett can use power as well as speed, and attack from anywhere.
Diehl is a lot more familiar with Vernon, and shed more light on him for me. Per David, Vernon:
Is more a power than speed guy. The best thing he does is "flatten out" his edge-rush, ie he won't overrun the quarterback.
He "knows excactly when to anchor and push the blocker into the Quarterback's lap".
I can unpack that: Vernon is more quick than fast, has leverage as a short guy, with extra-long arms. A lot of edge-rushers can try to "bend the edge" and try to sneak around behind an offensive tackle, but those who can also stop on a dime and get by him underneath are far less common.
Diehl described in Olivier Vernon a guy who can drive a 320 lb guy into the pocket; who doesn't need to "shake him loose".
He's not literally overpowering a guy that outweighs him by 50 lbs, of course. But the bigger, slower guy is at a big disadvantage without his feet planted, and especially when trying to stop dead himself.
Like Myles Garrett, Vernon only needs his outside shoulder inside the tackle's inside shoulder, and he's doomed. Most other edge-rushers have to shake the big guy loose, and can't actually go through him, see?
Deihl says Vernon's ability to screw up Offensive Tackles like this should chase Quarterbacks right into Garrett's arms, but points out that both Garrett and Vernon have been dinged up, and will need to stay healthy this time.
I'll get back to Diehl, but need to insert this:
Diehl isn't considering second-year edge-rusher Genard Avery.
I have compared Avery to James Harrison, but he fits here in some ways:
He lacks Vernon's overall length, even excuding Vernon's wingspan...but he has even better leverage, and is stronger, faster, and quicker than Vernon...
...I was about to say "and Garrett" too, but just can't lean on workout numbers anymore with Garrett...
Anyway I herebye predict that Genard Avery will "spell" Garrett and Vernon situationally, and back them up in general.
Back to Diehl, who said the only way to attack this front 4 is to RUN at them. Keep them on their heels, make them struggle to disengage and chase, and wear them down.
He's RIGHT!!! That's exactly how opposing offenses will try to beat this awesome Browns' front 4! Grind them down!
Without a doubt, Steve Wilks saw this writing on his wall long before I did (err...just now), so the Browns will be working hard on tackling...
This is extremely deep and I will get back to you on it after I figure it out myself, but returning to the shallower end I have good news for you:
1: Not every Offense can just decide to run the ball and pull it off, especially when a Defense is expecting it.
2: The 2019 Browns Offense WILL be in the top 8 in scoring, and should be in the top 5.
Baker Mayfield and Freddie Kitchens are here now, so get over the obligitory first, second, and third possession, rays of hope and fizzles every game.
You get that Mayfield was THE deadliest QB in the Red Zone as a rookie, right? You saw Nick Chubb's audition?
Nevermind you get the idea: in most games, the 2019 Browns will establish an early lead, or at least keep it close.
...this is a little out of the shallow end here, but you can stick with me:
The 2019 Browns will feature a dominating running game of their own, which itself will get stronger as opposing defenses wear down.
OBJ grabbed headlines, as so did Todd Monken, but that didn't change Freddie Kitchens, you people:
Freddie did "strange" stuff, once he was in charge, but stayed ahead of all the DCs opposing him throughout his stint as OC.
Kitchens was sneaky and unpredictable. I believe he had a plan all along--just in case--and was READY (within Haley's playbook) for becoming the Browns OC.
But I digress: Anyway, Freddie Kitchens is unlikely to abandon 2-3 Tight End or 2-Back sets, or the run, simply because OBJ is here now.
Freddie used up his preplanned bag of tricks in 2018, but he's not done yet. No doubt he loves Todd Haley for giving him his shot, but Freddie is just getting started here...and Todd Haley was a massively-overrated blockhead who lucked out with Antonio Brown, Big Ben, Ebineezer Bell, and maybe the best Offensive Line in the NFL.
But I digress again: I believe Freddie Kitchens is a genius with an accent (and of course Mywayorthehighway Haley turned out to be a massively overrated boob).
That's informative, by the way: Big Ben and co did what they did in SPITE of Mywayorthehighway rather than because of him!
Haley was fired by the Steelers after Big Ben explained to reporters that he wasn't allowed to do QB sneaks by Mywayorthehighway...a playoff loss...and an obvious question.
Skipping the Permabashers' predictable response, Freddie Kitchens is a brain and has proven it, under duress!
I get the Stockholm Syndrome negativity, but Hue, Todd, and the other guys aren't here any more, but Baker, Odell, Nick, Myles, Olivier, Greedy, Denzel, etc are.
...Oh I forgot BAKER (not that he matters or anything)
I'll get back to all of this later. Permabashers should go into hiding.
Okbye
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