I can't seem to find Pete Smith's latest 7-Round Mock Draft on the Spin Zone, but I learned quite a bit from it, like:
Pete said Damarius Randall played poorly when healthy. As always, I defer to the Coach who studies films and PFF on this, and stand mostly corrected. However, the new Defensive system might have been a factor, and if everybody else feels the same, the Browns might be able to re-sign him for peanuts (that's Front Office analytics, Pete).
This was part of Peter citing a need at safety. If Smith is right about the new regime hating on Damarius Randall after watching his 2018 films, they're likely to make safety a "splash" priority in the free agent market.
The Browns' coaching staff has connections to 4 of the top 5 safeties, and the Vikings have cap issues.
I repeat that a heavily-discounted Randall will be objectively considered, and it's possible that he and one of these top five guys could join Redwine and Rodney Hasselfield ahead of the draft (more Business analytics).
While you don't pass up any superstars at any position in the draft, "covering" both safety positions ahead of the draft takes that position off the table as a priority--allowing other positions of need (with better depth than safety in this unique draft) to be prioritized (more DePodesta-litics).
Peter picks a Left Tackle first, and I don't even remember which one, but what he said...or the next-best guy.
I love that Peter picked each of his Offensive linemen with the "wide zone" (got to look that one up all I knew was inside and outside) blocking scheme in mind.
Peter does find some later-round talent that doesn't fit power/man but does fit zone. In an earlier mock that I did find, he picks tackles in both the first and second rounds.
Maybe he will again if the Browns sign or re-sign two veterans before the draft?
Peter also expects Pegleg Vernon to be back (sigh) but drafts Josh Uche (EDGE, Michigan State) in the 3rd (like the other guy I cited a couple posts ago) as "depth", but:
Peter actually mentions that Joe Woods likes to use a 3-4 type strong side linebacker sometimes hmmm....
Peter Smith has me outclassed in some ways, but for sure not in business analytics or capology. He probably found Olivier Vernon's replacement in Uche.
Don't get me wrong here: Vernon is freakishly strong for his size, and excellent at holding the edge and vs the run in general, and Uche can't match him in these respects (at least not yet).
This is no doubt why Peter expects Pegleg and his 15.5 mil salary to be on the 2020 Browns team, and for Vernon to be as good as ever, and to actually play for the majority of the season and stuff god---this is so frustrating! Even guys I admire and revere can't get a grip on arithmatic!!!!
He also assumes that OBJ will be back too, and mocks a 4th or 5th round WR to fill what he percieves as a weakness at #3 WR.
Here, I finally got Peter in his own front yard:
Damion Ratley finally got a few chances last season (his second, after spending most of his first on IR).
He was only targeted 24 times, catching 12 for 16.6 YPC, almost exclusively as the 4th or even 5th option on 3rd and (very) longs (by the way at Rashard Higgins' expense, and behind Kareem Hunt in the second half).
Ratley is now still 6'2" and certainly over 200 lbs. He clocked a 4.36 40, a sub-6.9 3-cone, a 38.5 vertical jump at the combine and on his Pro Day.
In 2017 he averaged over 21 YPC (on 30 receptions) at Texas A&M.
Ratley came to football late but kicked ass at the lowest level before going to A&M; he was still considered a "raw" prospect in the 2018 draft, then lost much of his rookie season to injury and Rashard Higgins.
He needed to get more physical and run more precise routes. His hands were never at issue...
I wonder why Peter Smith is dismissing both Ratley and Higgins as third WRs, and also why he's ignoring Kareem Hunt in that role...even in the unlikely event that OBJ isn't traded...
Then there's Rodney Hodgefield...jeez, Peter hates everybody!
KhaDarel Hodge is another big, physical Rodney Dangerfield who gets ignored by most experts until they get the old 2x4 in the forehead.
Pete! Give these guys a chance! And anyway until Hunt is gone he's one of the top 3 receivers anyway. They're going to a West Coast or that and Air Coryall and you don't think Ratley OR Higgins OR Hodge is...
Anyway Ratley is a viable vertical threat, but has yet to prove it, but Peter is writing him off already, as he has Damarius Randall and Rashard Higgins.
I don't dare go further vs Peter Smith here. As it is, I'm afraid I'll shortly see brutal film analyses and PFF stats on each and every player I just defended...
But still: Stay tuned.
...okbye
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