The Orange and Brown scrimmage is over now, and Jake Burns, my go-to analyst, got right on it with a list of the players he felt helped or hurt themselves.
Jake simply had to mention first that Myles Garrett was lining up on both sides, and inside, and messing the offense up constantly.
That does bear mentioning, because I told you that Garrett and Vernon would switch sides a lot.
Tight End Pharoah Brown looked good, and that's more significant than most pundits think, as Orson Charles isn't nearly as good as they think he is (including as a blockimg fullback).
When the Browns signed Pharoah I told you he had some talent. He's a good blocker, and Jake says he needed a couple catches last night, because he hasn't been productive enough on that side in camp.
Brown is a real Tight End; no fullback gimmickry with this guy. He blocks and is a big inside or red zone target. If he made the team, he'd mainly back up Demetrius Harris, while (I think) DeValve would back Njoku.
...however I'm worried about DeValve, as he is dinged up way too often--talent or no, that gets guys cut.
Eric Kush has taken the lead in the Right Guard Derby according to Jake. He says Kush needs to anchor better, but has been doing best, while Austin Corbett had a lousy night.
It's still early, but...
DT Danny Ekuale had a great time (probably at least partly against Corbett) at Ogunjobi's zero-shade spot.
Some of what Jake said is important, like that Danny kept the offensive linemen off the linebackers vs zone-blocking schemes. That's a biggee, because it means he's not letting the center disengage from him when the guard moves over to "relieve" him (take over the block).
This is hard to do without (being caught for) holding. Doug Dieken eat your heart out.
But Jake said that Ekuale was also in the offensive backfield a lot. Jake Burns thinks Danny Ekuale is quality depth now. I will point out that he's also very young and inexperienced, so his best days are ahead of him.
While Right Guard is still up in the air, at least half of the DT depth question seems to have been answered by another John Dorsey free agent signing.
Drew Forbes had a bad day at guard, but Jake (me too) is reserving judgement. He is brand new and was a left tackle. Jake also isn't sure himself yet if Forbes is a tackle or a guard.
Drew Stanton had a bad night, and Jake wonders if he might fall to third on the QB depth chart like I (blush-blush) suggested several weeks ago.
Look: Drew Stanton is a bad Quarterback. Wins and losses don't change that. He has always had a low completion percentage and too many interceptions. I really like the guy personally, but business is business, right?
And Seifert. Missed 2 from the mid 40's.
Pun intended, Rodney Josephfield has been kicking Seifert's butt all along. Now watch Gurzi or somebody predict that John Dorsey might keep Seifert anyway because he spent a whole entire 5th round pick on him...jeez...
But Gurzi really nails the 5 things that could win the Browns a 2019 Lombardi Trophy, and all of them are perfectly reasonable if you look at history.
First, Freddie Kitchens needs to come through. Then, the defense needs to be elite (check the roster again ok?)
Landry/OBJ need to work like they did at LSU? Nah! Randy gets stuck on labels sometimes, but I'm here to help:
Instead of that, just say the top 3 wide receivers have to kick ass, whoever they are.
OBJ has missed many, many games with injuries. Landry has been the opposite, but one could say he's "due".
Mayfield needs to blossom into a superstar check. Well he almost can't help it, right?
The biggest issue is really the offensive line. This team is far from perfect, and they'll have to coach their way around shaky tackles and stuff.
That's up to Freddie, Todd, and Mayfield (who is being listened to--how refreshing!)
I'm officially predicting that Derrick Willies will nab one of the last 2 WR roster spots, now that I know he's a valued special teamer.
To redundationalize, Willies is the only skyscraper WR on the roster, which makes him unique; as in a change-up or curve ball unique.
Further, Willies has proven he belongs in the NFL in real NFL games that mattered, and vs possibly the best secondary in the NFL...as a rookie.
Damion Ratley, like DeValve, is looking fragile.
I like Strong a lot, as a tall RB playing WR; a real powerful guy who likes to block--but now I'm dissing Hyman, Baker, Montgomery...sorry guys there are just too many of you!
Sheehy-Guiseppi won't make the final roster unless it's as a special teamer. The Browns are eyeball deep in slot receivers already.
But I believe the majority of the WR's released by the 2019 Browns will remain in the NFL...wow-pinch me!
John Steigerwald asked "which AFC North team is most delusional" about 2019?
It turned out to be a pretty smart and insightful article. John picks the Ravens to win the Division, and backs it up with facts and logic...however...
1: The Steelers don't expect to have a better offense in 2019. They expect to have a better defense, thanks to significant upgrades. The offense will just have to scrape by as merely one of the most prolific in the NFL again (sigh).
2: Stop it: Baker Mayfield was a "solid" Quarterback under Mywayorthehighway Haley, and an elite quarterback under Kitchens...as a R O O K I E. DO YOU U N D E R S T A N D?
"Solid" 🖕. John stipulates Kareem Hunt, skips Beckham Vernon Richardson Williams etc in his haste to get to his Ravens.
Whoa there, pard! Why exactly are the Browns or their pundits or their fans delusional?
I mean you call Mayfield "solid" and mention Hunt and that's it?
Yeah the Ravens finished 6-1 to win the Division...by just barely squeaking by the Browns (who had beaten them earlier) in Baltimore.
And that linebacker who intercepted that pass to seal the Ravens win? GONE, along with both of the other starters.
Yeah Harbaugh gets the Big Brass Balls trophy for staking his carreer on Lamar Jackson and changing his whole offense to suit this freak (John got all this 100% right), and yes indeed that offense will me tough to stop.
But really, the way John just brushes the Steelers and Browns off like dandruff blows an otherwise terrific analysis to hell. Sad.
I'm sure that John and I would get along fine and have a (rare) debate. I would win, of course, because he never bothered to research my Browns...see how that works?
Myles Garrett has managed to trim down to 262 lbs (while getting stronger). I gotta wonder if his bodyfat percentage is even survivable. I mean this guy never stops amazing me.
Naturally, he'll be even quicker and faster than he was at 272 lbs. Jake just saw that in the freindly-fire scrimmage. Myles might also have better endurance.
Like Jake says, opposing offenses will have to change things based on where Myles Garrett lines up (which like I predicted will be everywhere).
Huge monkey-wrench! But it's worse than that for the offense, because the Defensive Coordinator can predict how the offense will adjust to Garrett, and exploit it.
Deeper yet, Wilks will be able to anticipate if a given offense will try to run AT Garrett, or away from him; if they'll use 2 tight ends, a fullback...roll away from him or over him...
Every defensive coach wants a guy like this, because he can force an offense to do predictable things; ie "dictate" to them.
Get it? Garrett is here. That tackle can't handle him, so they need the Tight End to chip, and if he's not there, it's probably a run or a rollout to the right, so we---
Okbye
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