We'll eventually find out why Damarius Randall was benched by Freddie Kitchens, but this is a strong Coach laying down the law.
You already know that somehow, some people will manage to whip out that big impressive "dysfunctional" word and say that this demonstrates a lack of discipline, when it's just the opposite.
This is a Lord Insideous (Belichick) move. Do you think the Patriots are undisciplined? I mean they're disciplined because he disciplines them, see? And guys like Whitehead are jettisoned when they get out of hand---get it?
Speaking of the Sith Lord, this "do your job" mantra that Freddie and all his players are repeating is kinda like Bill's mantra, and I am thrilled to be hearing it from this Coach and these players.
Freddie talks about "tunnel vision" and focus, and this is all in Belichick's unpublished "How to Win" manual too.
This is more than an abstract philosophy. A big chunk of the middle third of the Patriots' roster is always replete with "niche"-players or specialists that other teams couldn't find a use for.
Julian Edelman started out as one of these.
Bill gets these undrafted rookies and castoffs from other teams, and asks them to do fill one small, narrow role.
Situational edge-rusher, or inside run-stuffer or space-eater, blocking TE, pass-catching RB, sneaky little slot receiver, or whatever.
As Pat Kirwan told us, this is the biggest part of this "do your job" thing.
That's what these guys do in their first year with the Patriots (usually in addition to Special Teams, of course). They might only show up on offense or defense 1-6 times in a given game, but they do show up, and often make an impact.
In year 2, the Patriots expand these players' roles (ie develop them), but the main thing is, they zero in on just one thing initially, and then build around that.
"Do your job", see? But beyond that, this also means don't "freelance".
Talent aside, the biggest single reason that the Ravens' offense has been so unstoppable is that defenders who are supposed to stay in coverage try to nail Lamar Jackson instead (one of many examples).
That's oversimplifying, as the Ravens deliberately put these poor safeties and linebackers between rocks and hard places, and any Defensive Coordinator who thinks he can micromanage these decisions is an idiot; the 2019 Ravens offense is unprecedented...
However, do you think that the Ravens will dominate the Patriots the next time they play eachother? You don't think Lord Insideous's defense won't find ways to slow that juggernaut down?
And why does everybody think that what the Browns did to the Ravens was a fluke, and can't happen again?
That wasn't a digression: Vs the Ravens in game 1, Steve Wilks' defense was extremely disciplined.
Lamar Jackson was contained in the pocket, and pressured inside. He (and Ingram etc) didn't get gaps to run through inside, because guys weren't overpursuing (getting suckered out of position) and were sticking to their gaps.
Ok now I'm digressing, since the Ravens run G-power a lot and just blast defenders out of the way (don't forget those extra tight ends), but the Browns stood up to that in game one, too, see?
These guys aint sissies, ok?
Anyway, if Freddie Kitchens wants to copy Lord Insideous, I'm ok with that.
And quit insulting Freddie. How he maxed out the offense in 2018 was brilliant, and how he's used Kareem Hunt is---well it's exactly what I recommended, so Freddie is obviously either a genius or reads this Blog!
Back to the Randall thing:
The Steelers (partly due to Randall) are running low on wide receivers, and Steve Wilks can man up on the outside receivers with Ward and Williams.
Hodges has not proven a deep passer, and the Steelers don't show a consistent deep threat.
Wilks can keep 7-8 in the box and send a 5th rusher when needed (and field a Wade Phillips style 3-4 as required).
More Browns than Steelers fans expect Mike Tomlin to outsmart Wile E Coyote Freddie Kitchens, and the Steelers to just sorta tighten their chinstraps a little extra and show this more talented upstart team who's boss or something...
I mean it's the BROWNS, right?
Grow. A. BRAIN.
And (yawn) Freddie wore a "Pittsburgh Started it" T-shirt. So I guess the Browns shouldn't bother showing up, or something?
Freddie Freddie Freddie (sigh)...I LOVE you man!
The rest of you snowflakes, get over it.
From Stooler writer Jeff Hardman comes a good, mostly objective and insightful article on what his Steelers need to beat the Browns this sunday.
He's technically 100% correct: The Steelers' offense needs to "wake up" and establish an early lead to make the Browns give up trying to run the ball, and of course the Steelers' defense has to stop that run early.
Jeff knows his X's and O's, and understands how the "Hunt" Browns' offense works. He's a smart guy, which is the only reason I included this link...
However, Jeff is overlooking a few things:
1: The Hodges-led Steelers' offense can "wake up" any time it wants, but it will still see the 2019 game 13 Cleveland Browns' defense when it opens it's eyes, and that matters.
2: Jeff seems to think that something like a 10 point lead (or something) at the end of the first quarter would force the Browns to bench Hunt (or something) and quit handing off to Chubb...or something.
A TWENTY point lead wouldn't do that.
Like a lot of writers, Jeff doesn't realize that Freddie Kitchens is different than Hue Jackson and Mywayorthehighway Haley or their predecessors, or (apparently) that the 2019 Browns defense is pretty good, so...
3: Lamar Jackson's Ravens offense is (rightfully) all the rage right now. The biggest reason for that is that defenses can study all the films they want, and still not anticipate what they will do after any given snap.
...but the Browns' offense is only slightly more conventional or predictable in 2019, and remains more talented at the skill positions.
The Ravens have Jackson himself plus 3 dual-threat TE's, but the Browns have Hunt, Chubb, Landry, OBJ and (I expect) Njoku all on the field at the same time.
Njoku's return will make it harder for opposing defenses: Prior to his broken wrist, Njoku had become an above average in-line blocker per PFF, and also more reliable as a receiver.
Njoku can line up inside or wide. Hunt can come out of a huddle and line up anywhere. Chubb is being underrated due to Hunt and his role so far, but he can line up anywhere as well (including at WR).
Mayfield isn't a dual threat like Lamar Jackson is, but he has superior weapons, and a superior arm (*"arm" includes touch and accuracy. Not bashing Jackson here, but Mayfield still has the edge as a passer).
Summing it up, the Steelers defense won't "solve" the Browns' offense any time soon.
...I could go deeper here, but you don't want me to.
4: Baker Mayfield thrives on adversity. All this Steeler "outrage" and "revenge" crap only makes him better (especially since it's mostly bullshit in the first place).
5: The Browns are the more talented team:
5a: There is ignorance on both sides: Steelers fans who blame Mike Tomlin for the lack of Superbowl appearances (let alone their 2019 decline) are ignorant misguided.
I dislike the guy myself, but his record speaks for itself: He's a top-shelf Head Coach...down to his third string QB and missing Antonio Brown...in the same Division as the Ravens and Browns so...(GOD it hurts to say this stuff I hate Tomlin; the Steelers Head ENABLER who defends cheap shots by his players "nothing to see here" a scumbag...nevermind)...
But Freddie Kitchens' Browns after the bye-week are 3-1 including 2-1 vs contenders, tied for 2nd as the LEAST penalized team in the NFL, with an elite QB, RB, (but I digress):
And the playcalling has worked *armchair analysts generally say "That's what I wooda done"* and in the last 4 games since the bye week the Cleveland Browns have kicked ass.
The Bills just stomped a mudhole in the Cowboys (just sayin)...
Get up off Freddie Kitchens!
...at least til sunday...and don't blame him if he can't beat the zebras.
May the zebras let the best team win.
1: Devlin Hodges is a very good Quarterback, as in better than Mason Rudolph (see earlier posts). Long-term, Rudolph could come out on top, but right now, Hodges is better.
2: The Steelers Oline will be Maukice Pounceyless. His replacement, BJ Finney, was undrafted, but is a 4 year veteran, so he might not suck...but then, he is NOT like Pouncey, who is a stud. That's gotta sting a little!
3: Larry Ogunjobi will be back, and will definitely be picking on Finney a lot.
4: Olivier Vernon, who didn't play in the first Steelers game, should also be back for the rematch.
5: DT Sheldon Richardson excelled at DE vs the Dolphins (this is not new for him), and Steve Wilks might start moving him around now.
I didn't pay enough attention, and haven't studied films like the guys I cite here do, but suspect that Steve Wilks read my post-Garrett suspension post and ran some 3-man fronts with Takitaki as a 4th passrusher in a defacto 3-4, ala Genard Avery.
Steve Wilks might have ways to compensate for the loss of Myles Garrett. You guys should encourage him to keep reading this Blog, since the communications glitch between me and the organization remains unresolved for some reason, but I digress:
6: Juju Smith-Schuster and Greg Robinson are in the concussion protocol, and have great chances of missing this game.
This messes up both teams, but it's hard to determine who gets hurt worse:
Greg Robinson has actually been playing better, but then the Coaching staff obviously reads this Blog, as they have schemed to mask Robinson and Hubbard's weaknesses.
The Steelers have good depth at WR, and "third string" Hodges will have had reps with the backups.
I guess I have to give the Steelers a slight edge in the concussion race.
7: While the Browns' offense is only now getting it together (with Kareem Hunt online and Njoku due back tee-tee), the Browns' defense is ahead of them.
8: The Steelers' offense is, conversely, in decline. The Bengals' defense stifled them last week, and the Browns...well I'm still pist that the Steelers scored ANY points...
9: Baker Mayfield revels in hostility. He is at his best with his back against the wall, behind enema lines.
10: Except for that exceptional offensive line, the Browns outgun the Steelers talent-wise (oh good grief DUH I mean generally! Fitzpatrick is better than Randall and...
Well you're not retarded you get it right good grief shoot me...
Oh I forgot: The zebras could "prove me wrong" haha---
Everybody is all agog over the 2019 Baltimore Ravens. Well...so am I.
Don't get me wrong: Their Defense is less than perfect, and has benefitted from positiive "game scripts" (opposing teams trying to come from behind).
The Browns defense also managed to short-circuit this offense last time, and have some players to match up with those tight ends etc.
But damn--Lamar Jackson and the 2019 Ravens' offense look all but unstoppable.
Jackson is really the key here, as he has made an ass of me and several real experts with his refined touch and accuracy in year 2; Lamar Jackson is a real quarterback, and he's barely shucked his NFL training wheels.
Some of my fellow Browns fans can't (or won't) handle the truth, but the truth is that I was wrong, and these Ravens are right there with the Patriots as AFC Superbowl favorites...and I don't think even Lord Insideous can overcome Harbaugh with that arsenal.
I do still think that the Browns can beat the Ravens again, now that Kareem Hunt is an integral part of the Browns' own unusual curveball offense, and Njoku will be back shortly, and Mayfield is...himself again...
But the Ravens will win the AFC North anyway. Dammit.
But (oh yeah I forgot) this is STEELERS week again👍!
The bad news is that Mason Rudolph will not start for the Steelers, because Hodges is a better quarterback.
The good news is abundant:
The Steelers defense includes Devin Bush, Mark Barron, and Fitzpatrick, so on paper it looks like they have the answer to the Chubb/Hunt "backfield", except...it didn't work in game one.
Njoku is set to return for the rematch, and (to my surprise) prior to his injury, Njoku was (per PFF) the best blocker of all the Browns' Tight Ends (run/pass)!
The Browns base offense is now unmistakably "21 personel" or 2 backs and one tight end.
As you know, I was high on Ricky Seales-Jones filling Njoku's role, but he's kind of fizzled as a weapon (while actually becoming a good BLOCKER go figure---he's not done yet by any means but I digress):
Njoku is an elite weapon, and Baker Mayfield has him zeroed in.
Quick review: 21 sets with two BIG backs and a REAL tight end represent a very physical run-threat and command 3-4 or 4-3 "base" defenses.
That's 4 actual defensive backs, including a strong safety. The Steelers have Mark Barron, who is really a safety/linebacker hybrid, and they'll use him here...but there is only one of him.
My regulars get this: When the Browns' huddle breaks, Hunt and Chubb often line up in a "T" flanking Mayfield in a pistol.
From here, they can pick up blitzers, go out for passes, or take handoffs. So...do you blitze?
Handoff-wise, they threaten everywhere.
OR, when the huddle breaks, you might get Chubb in an "i" behind Mayfield, and a defacto 4-wide with Chubb and Njoku 2 of those "wide receivers", see?
How do you cover these four guys? Do you man up on them with your two corners and one safety and...?
Do you keep a safety in center field...with CHUBB? Do you blitze (leaving 5 in coverage...with Chubb back there?)
Seriously who mans up on Hunt, Landry, OBJ, and Njoku? At least they don't have to worry about Chubb catching passes...oops!!!
Hahaha this is going to be FUN!
A guy I've been missing, Peter Smith, finally weighed in on the Browns after a long absence, and I'm all over it.
In a nutshell, Pete says Garrett's teammates are fired up by how the league has mishandled the whole situation, including leaking what Garrett said in a closed hearing about a racist comment by the foaming-at-the-mouth, deranged maniac Mason Rudolph as he chased Garrett all over the field.
They're even angrier about the rest of the world now calling Garrett another Jesse Smollet and labelling him a liar.
As Jarvis Landry said, Garrett's fate was predetermined by public reaction, and the mitigating factors like Rudolph having started it, Garrett trying to back away, etc were ignored, as well as Garrett's assertions of a racist comment--which were summarily dismissed.
While (sigh) Garrett needs to be hammered hard for his act, the league also ignored Garrett's history and character. He has now been labelled a dirty player and a liar as the result of one isolated incident.
Lord Goodell has predictably ignored all of this in order to make "an example" of Myles Garrett, and show the world that he is "tough on crime".
Peter says that the team has rallied around Myles Garrett, and is "galvanized" by this whole hot mess.
Pete has to be right about that. Myles Garrett is loved by the whole team for his personality and character. Freddie Kitchens keeps saying "watch the film" (from the beginning).
Garrett's teammates did, and they know that Goodell and co ignored all of it in a headlong rush to "send a message".
Anyway, the Cleveland Browns are pist off now, and will stay that way. Rage is good. Rage works. It will make them practice harder, and play harder.
They will concentrate, and focus. Get the fk outta the way mfkr! It's MINE! YOU CAN'T STOP ME!!!
Peter Smith, as usual, is on the money. He's as good at the "intangibles" as he is at the X's and O's.
The players (and coaches) are taking this personally, and I agree with Pete that the whole team will play significantly better going forward as a result of not only the loss of Myles Garrett, but the rain of bullshit falling all over the team.
As Pete says, you either cave in, or you come out more adrenalized and determined.
Greg Robinson or Hubbard won't get any quicker on their feet, but they won't make false starts, they will mentally be prepared for stunts and twists and stuff, and they WILL be "nastier" in run-blocking.
Baker Mayfield will stop forcing balls to OBJ deep and continue doing what he does best ("distributing").
I HOPE Freddie Kitchens keeps coaching as well as he has in the last 3 games, and rolls the pocket a little more...
...oh maybe you are eyeball-deep in Trump Kitchens-bashing and haven't noticed lots fewer penalties, maxing out Hunt as a receiver, the pony backfield, more crosses and slants, more moving pockets, and...
Anyway the 2019 Browns remain one of the most talented teams in the NFL, even sans Garrett and (temporarily) Ogunjobi and Lawrence.
This rain of ignorance should do more than any coaching staff ever could to make them live up to their hype.
The Browns won't look past the Fins, but I can: They'll demolish the fish, then stomp the "outraged" Stoolers again at Heinz Field...
...well unless the referees say otherwise...
I HAVE SPOKEN.
This is the Idiocracy we live in:
1: The fact that Myles Garrett said nothing about any racist comments by Mason Rudolph during the scrum is GOOD. Not BAD.
He said nothing about this until he was behind closed doors, assuming (hahaha poor kid) that what he said in that appeal would be kept confidential.
2: The "race card" is played too often, obviously, but now Garrett is being compared to "Empire" star Jesse Smollett, (who deliberately fabricated an assault by two "Trump supporters"), for having said in a closed hearing that Rudolph made a racist comment.
My God. Once you people get a guy on the ground, you just can't stop stomping him. More blood! More pain heehee! See that he grabbed my ankle what more proof do we need (kick-stomp).
It's disgusting.
I'm personally between a rock and a hard place here. I was once accused of racial slurs in one incident, and some of my superiors even bought that bullshit.
I find it hard to believe that Mason Rudolph (or any NFL player) could be a racist in 2019.
On the other hand, I cannot accept that Myles Garrett would lie about what he heard.
As I posted last time, I suspect that Garrett heard something Rudolph said wrong, or maybe Rudolph said "I'll kick your black ass" or something like that:
(This is common; black players say that stuff to other black players, and "your pink ass" to white players and stuff. It's a bad habit, but not racist---often banter between teammates and friends.) (Note: No snowflakes here).
But it is possible that Garrett hearing "bigger" the wrong way, or any reference to his race at all, while being bumb-rushed by an obviously unhinged Rudolph and his goon squad, could have been the last straw.
And hell YES, I would cite that in my closed, private appeal hearing as a mitigating factor.
Myles should have known that one or more of the scumbags involved would race to leak this assertion, and that the whole world would crucify him for it.
Mason Rudolph is not a racist. Myles Garrett is not Colon Kaperdick, or a liar. He said none of this in public for Rudolph's and the NFL's benefit. He DID NOT just "make it up".
Get up off Myles Garrett, you sick sadistic maniacs, and rescind your cannonization of Mason Rudolph.
Sigh...of course using the helmet as a weapon blahblah no excuse blahblah could have blahblah inexusable blahblah I gotta spell this out again blahblah...
Anyway good for Freddie Kitchens for really having Garrett's back.
And why the hell is everybody saying Garrett said he heard "nigger"!?! He heard something, but nobody has said what! Garrett is being attacked for telling the NFL that Mason Rudolph used that word when the leak never said that!!!
Give it a couple days, and people will be bashing Trump Garrett for accusing Saint Mason of being in the KKK STOP LEAPING TO CONCLUSIONS!
Pat Kirwan must read this blog, as he sees the Browns top 2 passrushers (Garrett/Vernon) out (plus Ogunjobi) and thinks Fitzpatrick will have time to torch the surviving defense.
However, I expect Mayfield and company to go nuts and pile up points and outscore Fitzmagic anyway.
Kirwan and Miller point out that the Fins' anti-run stats are obsolete, as that defense has been tough on the run over the last few games.
...but Nick Chubb has trampled some of THE best run defenses in the NFL, and that was before Karreem Hunt came back on line.
Frankly, I don't get how Kirwan thinks the Dolphins D might be the one to stop (or slow down) Nick Chubb (or Kareem Hunt).
The Browns' offense has been subjected to a "murderer's row" of top NFL defenses, and the Chubb/Hunt version is just getting started.
Baker Mayfield isn't washed up just yet, either.
Fitzpatrick might torch the depleted Browns' defense somewhat, but Mayfield and the offense should dominate and score more points than he can.
Browns 75, Fins 50.
The Browns are not only missing Myles Garrett, but also Larry Ogunjobi and maybe Olivier Vernon from their defensive line vs the Fins this sunday.
The Dolphins (with Fitzpatrick at QB) have stunned the NFL by winning some games this season, and because of the holes mentioned, this game could be closer than a lot of people think.
1: Fitzpatrick is a seasoned veteran, and can do a variety of damage if given time to throw. He will read quickly, and hit his hot reads on blitzes.
2: He has some weapons, including Davante Parker and rookie freak TE Mike Gesicki. These are big, physical guys who can come down with contested deep passes, or run under zone coverage.
Full disclosure I don't know about the Fins offensive line, but stats show 24 sacks (too many) and a crappy running game so...
Nor is Gramps Fitzpatrick "Fitzmagic" anymore except in brief spurts. His season-long stats and QBR are bad, and he's thrown as many picks as TDs (but he's been better recently, ok?)
My biggest concern is that sans Garrett/Vernon/Ogunjobi all at once suddenly, this Browns passrush could disappear, and Fitzpatrick could slice the defense up.
But Ellis L Williams offers several coping mechanisms...well basically the same ones I did several days ago...but Ellis went into a lot more detail, and educated even my humble self somewhat:
Ellis says that Steve Wilks is sneaky and diabolical. He puts 7 guys on the line of scrimmage and makes QBs and centers guess who is attacking and who will back into coverage at the snap.
He also brings guys up at the last instant (after all the line calls have been made) to provide extra pressure.
I can add to what Ellis said that Wilks uses delayed blitzes (notably Mack Wilson) and deceptive coverage schemes.
Losing SS Burnett to IR hurt, but not that bad. Redwine is emerging, and Wilks has Schobert and Wilson, and the talent to alter his scheme to max these guys out...well that is...if he is as smart as my humble self (blush-blush) but I digress:
Obviously, we can't set Steve Wilks's bar that high, but he might come close...
Seriously, Wilks may have temporarily lost THREE starting defensive linemen, along with his starting SS, and I can't wait to see how he adapts to this:
Will it be that 4-2 base and 3-deep zone again no madder wudd?
But I digress: Ellis Williams thinks Wilks and the cornerbacks can handle life without Garrett/Ogunjobi/Vernon (and Burnett) for one week vs the Dolphins with trickery and deceit vs the Dolphins' offense, and I think he's right.
I also expect Baker Mayfield and the new Browns' offense to dominate in every phase, now that Kareem Hunt is in the mix, and Njoku is a strong possibility, and the OBJ connection is clicking better, and well...who expects the Dolphins to be the first team in 2019 to shut Chubb down?
The Browns should win vs the Fins easily, despite a couple deep burns by Fitzpatrick.
If David Njoku comes back, it's...well it's just party time for Baker Mayfield.
...It's hard not to look forward to stomping the "vengeful" "fired up" Steelers (I mean why should we even show up?) a week later, but I expect the Browns to take the Fins seriously and win.
Oh yeah for sure the Browns are doomed in Heinz Field 2 weeks from now, right? I mean after Garrett tried to brain Rudolph, after the late hit and body-slam, and then said Rudolph had made a racial comment---
Well obviously the Browns are doomed to lose that one, since the Steelers are all pist off and determined and stuff, and Mike Tomlin is so much smarter than Kitchens, and Mayfield chokes and stuff...
Yeah keep telling yourself that:
Helmetgate has galvanized the Browns, ok? The NFL reduced Clowney's suspension by a game. Rudolph skated. Garrett lost it only when getting swarmed by 3 Steelers, and everybody WITH A BRAIN knows who started it.
PS I'm skeptical of any black guy citing racist comments in every conflict with a non-bro, but NOT this time:
That hearing was allegedly private. Garrett's allegation was a "leak". Myles Garrett has been universally pillaried for his allegation...
Jesus "why didn't he say that in the first place?" he was TOWING THE LINE...Screw it I'm skeptical myself about Mason Rudolph blurting out anything racist, but the way everybody it piling on Garrett for saying that (behind closed doors haha) is just...
UNFAIR.
JEEZ Garrett is being bashed for not immediately saying this in public, for well I hear "I know what I heard"; I believe GARRETT!
Why? Well aside from his well-established rep and character, the irrefutable fact that Rudolph lied about the "late hit", having ever been under Garrett, and...
Credibility matters .
Actually, I'm sick of minorities playing the race card in every incident, acknowlege that it's 75% bullshit, and can't imagine Mason Rudolph doing what he did at Oklahoma State if he was a racist.
BUT Myles Garrett isn't Colon Kaperdick, and if HE says "I know what I heard" (after being further pillaried for the leaked assertion etc), I believe Myles Garrett.
...but he might have heard "I don't care that you're bigger" or something the wrong way from a psychotic compulsive liar who is chasing him around and stuff...
Jeez I'm sick of this...okbye.
1: Bob Poppa is lying. Myles Garrett started tackling Mason Rudolph almost bebore the ball left his hand, and then fell off to the side to avoid falling on him.
Poppa keeps describing this as a "body slam" "well after the play was over" in order to absolve Saint Rudolph for his psychotic behavior.
Check the play out on YouTube. Lower left corner. Stop and start it. You'll see that Poppa is either lying or delusional, and that Garrett wasn't flagged because he did nothing wrong.
It GOES WITHOUT SAYING that Garrett did a horrible thing and could have maimed Rudolph and needs to be punished good grief...
But hell yes Rudolph should get more than a slap on the wrist! (But it's cool, since Hodges is better.)
Now Rudolph is certainly lying, first about Garrett's "hit" being late, and then about Myles Garrett ever having been on top of him!
OJ Jurors and Bob Poppa just shut up it's right there on the tape. Rudolph is lying. Oh...no doubt the NFL doctored the tape, right?
MYLES GARRETT DID NOT TOUCH RUDOLPH LATE AND RUDOLPH WAS ON TOP AS THEY HIT THE GROUND.
How can Rudolph get away with this bullshit? How can so many accept it?
Steeler writer John Steigerwald wrote a rarely objective, unemotional article on Helmetgate.
Like me, John stipulates that at least a season-long suspension for Garrett is justified, but tries to correct a bunch of bullshit people are saying to pile onto Trump Garrett:
John says that Garrett didn't fall on Rudolph, to begin with, which is why no flag was thrown. Rudolph went nuts, trying to twist Garrett's helmet off as the two were on the ground.
Garrett did return the favor as they got up, but was backing up as DeCastro fronted for his quarterback (Garrett and DeCastro both looked pretty calm).
It wasn't until Pouncey came around DeCastro to get at Garrett, with a psychotic-looking Rudolph trying to get around him that Garrett lost it and swung the helmet.
Again (sigh) Garrett did wrong and should be punished. But Mason Rudolph started it (and yes he did also kick Garrett in the cup), and Garrett didn't swing the helmet until he was getting mugged by 3 Steelers.
It's too bad he had that helmet in his hand, but this was a "Get the fk off me man!" act, and not a "I think I'll fracture this guy's skull" act.
Garrett did nothing to start this, and the next thing he knows he's getting bumb-rushed and yeah---he finally lost his damn mind.
Steigerwald wrote an excellent article, but check out the comments at the end. I'm not saying that there aren't the same kinds of illiterate overly emotional idiots in Cleveland, but none of them refuted any of what John wrote.
They attacked him personally. That's what ignorant people do in the face of EVIDENCE and LOGIC.
I won't waste your time with a link, but another article entitled "Mason Rudolph explains how melee started". It was a hit piece on Garrett. Mason Rudolph is quoted in it as saying it started when Garrett hit him with his helmet.
Garbage, written by an idiot.
And note to Sheldon Richardson: You are correct that Rudolph should be punished. However, Hodges is better than Rudolph is, so let's leave that alone.
Read This! Like Steigerwald, several former players are trying to stave off the lynch-mobs as they put this ISOLATED incident in context.
The Trump Garrett lynch-mob will no doubt give Bradshaw, McGinest, Strahan, Howie Long etc the Steigerwald treatment.
What do they know, right?
Just a couple notes here: I'm watching Austin Corbett kicking ass as an LA Rams starter at guard in a power/man blocking scheme.
I'm happy for him. And John Dorsey isn't a dumbass for drafting him first in the second round. But maybe he was dumb for trading him for a bag of Doritos.
Not so with the Duke Johnson trade with the Texans, which has now yielded a 2020 3rd round pick.
The Texans just got massacred by the Ravens, but remain a contender.
The AFC South also includes the Colts, Titans, and Jagwires #!@÷×+￦??.
Anyway, it's a dogfight, and every team is competitive. That draft pick might be in the middle third of the round. John Dorsey did this. Give him credit for it.
Also give Dorsey credit for ignoring most of you and NOT trading more first round picks and cap space for IR Redskin LT Gramps Williams.
Now Dorsey might have enough ammo to hold onto Joe Schobert et al, and maybe sign a veteran or two.
He'll also have the first round pick you people wanted him to flush down the terlet, and an extra third round pick too.
The Browns are getting it together now, and if you are predicting less than 8 wins, you are a dumbass.
The Browns should draft between 17th and 21st in the 1st round.
John Dorsey could land a stud guard, or luck out with a left tackle there, but he could also use one of his 2 third round picks (along with the 5th-7th rounders he's added) to move up.
This is more likely than not: The current Browns' roster's biggest weakness is on the outside of the offensive line.
One could argue that this, and Right Guard, are this team's only weakness.
This gets deep here:
Damarius Randall's cheap shots and injuries have undermined his leverage, so Dorsey may be able to afford to extend him now.
The position Joe Schobert plays is undervalued, plus I have a vague hope that he is not a typical mercenary gouger (he's highly intelligent, so he will consider cost of living, how he "fits" here, the complications of moving and learning a new system etc as well as what his hypergreedy agent says, and the last dime he can extract).
That's enough. This is what John Dorsey does.
We all loved Duke Johnson, but Dorsey needed to cash out on him. Dorsey drafted Corbett atop the second round, and 2 training camps later cashed him out for chump-change...
and clowns are bashing DORSEY for his EGO?
Seriously, most of what you people hear and read is garbage. The "power struggle" between Dorsey and Reed in KC. The notion that the only reason Kitchens is the Head Coach is because the legendary Mike McCarthy wouldn't be Dorsey's "puppet".
I grew up without an internet, let alone social media and unreality shows. Then I was trained to think with my brain (ie THINK PERIOD why doesn't anybody GET that!?!)
You people are not rational. You are the organic definition of "garbage in, garbage out"; Goerbel's wet dream come true. You don't think. You quote .
So here we are: the last 3 games don't matter: Kitchens needs to be fired. You cite Garretgate as evidence. You quote Mywayorthehighway Haley.
You are mindless drones.
John Dorsey is doing an above average job. The Browns are 2-1 vs contending teams, and are among the LEAST penalized teams in the NFL since that break, and NOW you want to fire Kitchens!?!
...because he failed to make sure that Myles Garrett wouldn't lose his mind (and seriously, the more I see that tape, the less I blame him) and try to brain Mason Rudolph with his helmet...
Un-ass your heads, please; T H I N K:
Crap I led you here logicly, like a lawyer presenting a case, but OMFG I know that most of you are brainwashed, and conditioned to resist logic, reason, evidence, common sense, etc., so...
The Browns are 2-1 and rarely penalized since the break, Kareem Hunt has transformed the offense, and you think Freddie Kitchens needs to be fired...
...is any of this sinking in yet?
Predictably, Helmetgate has spiralled into an all-out assault on Freddie Kitchens and the Haslams.
These people don't use broad brushes. They just dump barrels of paint out of helicopters.
Let's start with this "most penalized team in the NFL" droning, mindless mantra:
Here is a chart of average penalties per-game for every NFL team. The first column is the season-long average, and the Browns rank as the second-most penalized team behind the Raiders.
Remember, they were penalized 18 times in game 1 (and at least 33% of those calls were BS).
The second column is (listen carefully) the average penalties per game for the last 3 games.
For the LAST THREE GAMES (since the bye), the Browns tie the Panthers' season-long average of 5.7 per game. The Panthers are the second-least penalized team in the NFL.
This part of the Freddie-bashing is out of context. He's got a very young team and has installed new offensive and defensive systems. The referees mugged the Browns in the opener, and it took time for the team to get it together...but...they...DID!!!
Tied for second-least penalized team in the NFL since returning from their bye-week and went toe-to-toe with the Patriots and beat the Bills and Steelers.
And Mywayorthehighway Haley needs a brain-transplant. Myles Garrett, like every passrusher in the NFL, gets BS roughing the passer flags because they can't just stop on a dime or otherwise defy the laws of physics.
Garrett has no meaningful history of cheap shots, and Haley should be ashamed of himself for his cheap shots on this player.
In reality, the Browns are 2-1 since the bye vs 3 winning teams, and were one of the least penalized teams in the NFL for that stretch DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?!
See what I'm saying? Everybody is dog-piling on Freddie Trump Kitchens over this one incident, and it's all irrational gossip.
What has actually happened is a marked improvement in discipline and performance since the bye.
Mayfield looks more like the 2018 version. The defense has stopped the run, and started getting turnovers again. Kareem Hunt is being used expertly, and making a big difference.
More good news here: When the Browns play the Steelers again in a couple weeks, Maurice Pouncey won't be there, but Larry Ogunjobi will.
And yeah, the Steelers will be all fired up and bent in revenge yadda-yadda, but the Browns are still the more talented team. Wave those towels all you want--the 2019 Browns, even without Myles Garrett, will NOT back down.
The referees might beat the Browns in that game, but Mason Rudolph won't.
By the way, Rudolph and Mayfield are good freinds. They combined for over 1,000 passing yards in one college game vs eachother. Just some trivia there...but we shouldn't hate the guy because he lost his own damn mind and tried to take Garrett's helmet off first, then kicked him in the cup, then kept trying to get at him past Clowney.
If we can forgive Myles Garrett, we can forgive Mason Rudolph. And strip-sack and intercept him all game long.
Sans Myles Garrett, the pass rush certainly suffers, but the remaining players are still strong penetrators and pocket-collapsers inside, and Olivier Vernon is still here.
Garrett's absence will hurt. Offensive lines can now target any given defensive lineman with double-teams, as none of the survivors command extra attention and essentially dictate blocking schemes like Myles does.
As I mentioned in my last post, Steve Wilks will need to blitze more. Takitaki might be used more, as he has much in common with Genard Avery, and can set the edge as well as blitze.
I'm not sure how flexible Wilks is, but it's possible he might use some 3-man fronts now, so he can get Takitaki on the field and still have all his coverage guys.
Takitaki is a good blitzer and run-stuffer, see? He can't replace Myles Garrett, but could keep offenses guessing and paranoid, while also stopping the run.
Devaroe Lawrence and Chris Smith will play more, and Lawrence needs to quit freelancing.
Even with Garrett, Wilks has "sent" both Mack Wilson and Joe Schobert on blitzes frequently (and not been burned much by it)...
Yeah I officially predict more Takitaki...not so sure about the 3-man fronts---trust me, John Dorsey regrets trading Genard Avery now as much as I regretted it when he did it...
Hey any of you know Dorsey? Send him a link to this blog! Takitaki is good, but not like Avery. I could have saved Dorsey so much trouble!
While you're at it, tell him to get that glitch fixed that makes all my texts and emails "undeliverable" ok?
This reminds me: The lynch-mob is after John Dorsey too. Bashing him for drafting Callaway in the F O U R T H round despite his off the field/character issues, and acting like his release is an epic failure.
That's just retarded, ok? Antonio Callaway has first round talent, and Dorsey got him in the 4th round. He took a risk. It turns out that Callaway wasn't another Tyreek Hill.
Jeez you people: Mack Wilson and Austin Seibert were 5th round picks. Greedy Williams was a second rounder and Takitaki a third round pick.
...Hmm...Corbett atop the second round...hmm...well obviously Dorsey needs to get his IP people on that communications glitch between me and him and start reading this blog!
But then Nick Chubb, Chad Thomas, Callaway, Ratley, Avery...
Chubb was a home run. Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams are the CB tandem of the future, and I still believe that Baker Mayfield will outperform the other QBs over time. Seibert looks like Phil Dawson, Gillan a stud too...
Mack Wilson won't let Kirksey back on the field, and gdammit let's give Chad Thomas, Redwine, Takitaki et al a chance to develop before we bury them for crying out loud!!!
OBJ hasn't made the impact everybody expected he would, but here's more dumbassitude from Myles Garrett Radio:
"Why isn't Freddie Kitchens getting the ball to him?"
Well he gets 10-12 targets per-game, and focusing on OBJ is probably part of what has been screwing Baker Mayfield up in the first place.
Since the bye (hear that?) we've seen Hunt and remembered Landry and Higgins and been introduced to a guy named Hodge, and Mayfield is back.
...but he's also "zeroing" OBJ more. Stand by: the big plays are coming. A couple feet here, a tad less mustard there, and OBJ has all the green he needs. Bet the house on it.
Especially now. Can you double cover OBJ with Hunt and Chubb on the field (not to mention Landry)?
Is any of this sinking oknevermind pearls b4 swine okbye
