Congratulations to Rashard Higgins, who has been welcomed back (err...at a discount) to the Browns after finally being paroled from Dorsey Kitchens' Doghouse.
Higgins (like Ratley) has a good chance to be third on the WR depth chart in 2020...and to barely ever see the field unless Landry or OBJ is injured.
Even if he is third on the depth chart, he may find himself behind Peoples-Jones and Ratley on third and a mile, as they are the deep threats.
Frank Teriaca bears bad news: Two other teams in the AFC North upgraded themselves in the draft as much or more than the Browns did (on paper).
The Steelers got Minkah Fitzpatrick for their first round pick, then giant WR Claypool and EDGE Highsmith. You guys know I loved Claypool, and Highsmith in the third round was a great value for them.
They didn't really improve as much as the Browns did, however.
The Browns got an elite Left Tackle, a Super Safety, a starting caliber Tight End, a terrific wide zone center (who Joe Thomas says could play guard in this scheme), a stud passrushing DT, a tackling machine LB, and a big fast WR with upside.
Frank ranked the Bengals behind the Ravens.
They got some Quarterback (yawn), WR Tee Higgins, and LB Logan Wilson (plus Gaithers and a situational edge-rusher.
Tee Higgins is a truly scary WR and Wilson a terrific LB. Indeed, the Bengals drafted more guys that I picked for the Browns than Berry did.
The Ravens drafted LBs Queen and Harris, a stud RB in Dobbins, and...ok a disruptive huge Nose Tackle and 2 potential starting offensive linemen, so I can see why Frank picked the Ravens first on this list (But I'd still rank the Bengals first because of the Quarterback thing).
Good grief like the Ravens needed 2 more Linebackers and a big monster pocket-collapsing DT! Wow TWO more offensive linemen too really?
It just aint fair, man!
Fortunately, I'm here to remind you guys of the rest of the story:
1: Conklin, Hooper, Sendejo, Joseph, Billings, Johnson, Janovich and Goodson all in free agency ahead of the draft.
Conklin was a huge upgrade, and subsequently Hubbard was re-signed for peanuts for terrific depth at both guard and Tackle.
Hooper is reliable as hell. That's more important than Njoku's big-plays for Baker Mayfield. Billings was a great run-stuffing zero shade rotational player (sorely needed).
Ward and Sendejo were both long-time NFL starters ready to step in and plug 2 holes.
Goodson is a run-stopping linebacker (he, Billings, and Sendejo are good vs the run).
Kevin Johnson was a first round draft pick who got hurt and failed to live up to that status. Berry is taking a flyer on his talent, and hoping that the change of scenery and his coaches will find lightening in that bottle. (If not, Johnson is still worth his dirt-cheap salary as a slot corner and backup).
Janovich is a stud blocking fullback and special teamer.
Rounding it up, before the draft the Browns landed 4 new starters, a strong rotational player, PFF's #2 Fullback, and a good Cornerback with great upside.
Combine that with their draft class, and we could argue that the Browns had the best OFF SEASON in the AFC North.
Adding it up, it's
1: 2 massive upgrades at Offensive Tackle.
2: 2 more Tight Ends, setting up a Ravens'-style 3-TE capability.
3: A true blocking fullback (I'm not that thrilled by it but Stefanski is so ok)
4: Arguably the best Safety in this draft class (high ankle sprain--think Minkah Fitzpatrick, ok?)
5: 2 pretty good starting safeties too.
6: 2 run-stuffing linebackers.
7: 2 strong rotational DTS (one a zero-shade and one a 3-tech)
I'll leave Peoples-Jones alone because I don't get the hype, and Nick Harris, because he's mostly a depth guy.
But in re Harris, as I mentioned, Joe Thomas says he can play guard here! (Do YOU want to correct Big Joe? I don't!)
I already understood the first part of what Joe said: In a wide zone scheme, an offensive lineman is really running sideways.
The defensive linemen are responsible for covering gaps, and this is based on where the offensive linemen are. They have to move with the offensive linemen.
So now you're running sideways, and the more athletic offensive lineman has the advantage. The defender can't blow his doors off or try to jack him up. He can't anchor or even get both hands on him.
Thomas also makes fun of how most personnel guys make a big deal about arm-length.
Shorter guys (guards, for example) can get by a reach-disadvantage by making better use of their lower bodies. (I think Joe means that you can stay low, and bat the taller player's hands away with your forearms *upward blocks* and go in under their pads).
Joe goes on to talk about "levers": Shorter guys have shorter limbs, so they can't generate as much power (that's a strike against Nick Harris).
Anyway, I do believe that Berry drafted Harris to back up JC Tretter, but now think that he will be tried out at Right Guard in 2020, and has a chance.
Nick is smart and technically proficient. He played guard his first 2 seasons (and in a wide zone it's not that different).
Another great article by Elliott Kennel calls the Delpit and Jacob Phillips picks "moneyball".
Elliott's premise is on the money:
Berry (and apparently Joe Woods) is happy to use specialists in situational roles, rather than 11 million dollar men like Joe Schobert.
Now that Elliott mentions it, that's what the Billings and Goodson signings seem to say; both are better vs the run than vs the pass (and both are very inexpensive).
And clearly, Jacob Phillips is a more athletic, souped-up run-stuffer who will leave the field on passing downs.
Sadly, Elliott's analysis wasn't perfect here:
1: Grant Delpit missed zero tackles through the playoffs in 2019, and was a great tackler throughout 2018. It WAS. OBVIOUSLY. The high-ankle sprain he played through that undermined him through his 2019 regular season.
Listen: It's like your achilles is cut. You can't drive off the ball of that foot. You have to immobilize that ankle with layers of tape. Ballcarriers spot this in a hurry, and make you look bad cutting away from that ankle and making you dive at them.
The healthy Delpit will do fine vs the run.
2: Nickel is the real base defense for ALL NFL teams, and that includes the "Big Nickel" which is the most common answer to 2 Tight Ends (or Running backs).
Delpit is unlikely to "rotate" with Phillips (or anybody else). Joseph or Sendejo maybe. Not Delpit.
But Kennel is still light years ahead of most of these goobers, because he's onto the cost-effectiveness of specialists.
Lord Insideous in New England has been exploiting this flaw in the market forever.
Billings is actually a terrific player, but Berry got him cheap because he's not a great passrusher. Goodson was almost free, because he can't cover (and his special teams play is ignored).
Check out Jadeveon Clowney! He's likely to accept a Vernon deal because he's never had 10 sacks in a season, see?
Tackles for losses, turnovers, domination vs the run, coverage ablility, versatility...meh! Somebody will pay a guy with 12 sacks who gets steamrolled by Tight Ends and big backs 19 mil/year, but won't pay Clowney 15.5 mil--it's idiotic (shhh! Let them keep doing it!)
Anyway, Elliott: Mack Wilson should be a starter and every-down linebacker in 2020.
I know that per PFF he sucked as a rookie, but seemed to play really well in games 12-16; like he was "getting it", right?
Mack Wilson excelled in coverage at Alabama. While he came on late vs the run and as a passrusher in 2019, he's a certifiable 3-down Linebacker.
Takitaki fought at a lower weight class and had a lot more rough edges when he turned pro, but showed great promise in his microscopic 2019 sample size.
The pundits panned Seoni for his coverage in college, but he got deflections and interceptions, and was mainly a run-stopper and blitzer, so I have trouble believing these guys (wish I could afford PFF's premium package. But I digress)
Wilson is likely an every down fixture, but the rest of the Linebackers are up in the air.
Woods will rarely use more than 2 actual linebackers in 2020, Elliott, but when he does, Billings will be there, Wilson might NOT be, and Takitaki, Phillips, and Goodson should stop the run.
...and Delpit is probably in that defense too.
DePoBerry upgraded the run defense and secondary significantly, but sort of ignored the EDGE.
I get this (see previous posts): Edge-rushers were more important vs vertical passing offenses than they are now. Shallower pockets let big slow OTs block a much smaller area, and quicker releases give the edge guy much less time. (and the referees well...don't get me started).
As I've mentioned, Myles Garrett (and Olivier Vernon) rote at least as much havoc from the inside as from the outside.
Berry didn't ignore the passrush in general, as (to my amazement) PFF ranks Jordan Elliott as the top DT passrusher in this draft class, Delpit is an excellent blitzer, and Phillips has the length and speed to be used that way.
I look foreward to seeing Everson Griffen or Jadeveon Clowney replace Pegleg Vernon, and hereby predict it:
Olivier, this aint personal. You are a terrific player at both DE and OLB; good vs both the pass and the run---verily, just a great football player.
But you keep getting hurt, and now you're past 30. Even if I irrationally think you might stay semi-healthy for awhile in 2020 for once, I can't expect you to be as good as you were way back when.
Clowney is a lot like Vernon, except taller, quicker, faster, younger, and healthier, so.....
Anyway as-is the Browns 2020 defense will be significantly better than the 2019 version.
Kirksey guys need to get over it. Schobert is certainly a terrific player (and field general), but the 2019 Randall wasn't like the 2018 Randall, and Schobert once again led the NFL in missed tackles.
Wilson, Takitaki, Williams, Redwine, and Rodney Hasselfield et al enter their second seasons.
Billings, Elliott, Phillips, Goodson and Delpit are new.
By the way, the biggest reasons why Andrew Berry will be more successful than John Dorsey?
1: He will NOT systematically purge his roster of "Dorsey guys". OBJ, Landry, Ward, Thomas, Richardson, Wilson, Takitaki, etc are still here.
2: He will NOT trade first round picks and ascending young star players for old, often injured, overpriced veterans (imagine if Dorsey was still in charge for Trent Williams 3.0).
3: Andrew Berry DOES draft players his coaches want. He listens to them!
John Dorsey, in my opinion, not only dictated the roster, but also made Freddie Kitchens the Head Coach so that he could run the team.
Njoku and Higgins benched. Mayfield forcing passes to OBJ. Dorsey. Not Kitchens.
4: No drama. Berry, Stefanski, etc aren't Jerry Springer fans, and left Junior Highschool back in Junior Highschool.
No "power struggles". No juvenile bullshit. No "these guys aren't real football players" or "we gotta keep Schobert because I picked him" crap.
Seriously you people, I had a lot of fights in my ute with guys like John Dorsey. Never with guys like Stefanski or Berry.
The Browns have a great organization. Finally.
As you know, I had trouble figuring out the Jacob Phillips and Dovovan Peoples-Jones draft picks.
Casey Kinnamon helped me out with PJones. I especially appreciate that Casey comprehends that one of 2 Tight Ends and Kareem Hunt will be the "slodd receeeverrr" in Stefanski's 2-Tight End offense, and that a taller outside deep threat was the real need.
In general, DePoBerry seemed to proritize talent/upside over performance (even including Wills and Delpit)
Jacob Phillips shared the field with Patrick Queen and Caisson at LSU, and was a 2-year starter.
Queen covered. Caisson blitzed. Phillips tackled. Leading LSU in tackles surrounded by these high draft picks has to matter, and so should his great combine performance and upside.
Phillips' insincts and tight hips are questioned by smart people, but his ability to come forward and consistently stuff ballcarriers is not.
Phillips is also a lanky 6'3", and that had to matter. He has the length to make throwing over his head difficult, and should get much bigger/stronger.
Jacob is here to play on special teams and to help stop the run in 2020, like Andrew Billings, BJ Goodwin, and Jordan Elliott are.
I'm curious about Joe Woods' specific front line scheme here. Only Billings is a real nose-tackle type. All 3 of the other guys could play 3-4 DE or one-gap inside.
While they can all play the zero-shade and invite double-teams, it's not what they're best at.
But then, a zero-shade can collapse pockets and such by getting into the backfield before the guard can arrive to help, and now you have 4 in the rotation hmmm...
For the moment, Oliviere Vernon is sticking around to bookend Myles Garrett.
I would still be trying to replace him with Clowney or Lawrence, but Vernon isn't bad (or wasn't) when healthy.
The depth at DE isn't very good with Chad Thomas and the venerable Gramps Clayborne (why are you people all talking like he's a great passrusher? Who told you that?)
Well, NFL offenses are evolving, and (like I first said a couple years ago), very few of them run 7-step vertical schemes. Most of today's Quarterbacks are also athletic, and can escape.
2-TE offenses are all the rage, and so are read-options.
Edge-rushers don't have the same impact that they used to. Penetrating Defensive Tackles do.
Garrett comes inside as often as he goes around the tackle, and so does Vernon (and Clowney). They line up inside sometimes!
Defensively, the new regime has added two starting caliber DTs (and quit talking about Elliott as if he's a project), 2 run-stuffing linebackers, 2 starting Safeties, and Delpit (who shouldn't be labelled beyond "Defensive Back").
Schobert is gone, and we'll miss him, but he led the NFL in missed tackles, ok?
The Browns got gashed on the ground because the DLine wore out and guys missed tackles (Wilson too, by the way, but he was a rookie and coming off coverage a lot...and Randall, a little...)
Anyway after more research (and thanks to PFF) I'm flushing most of this "limited range" and "poor tackling" stuff on Delpit down the terlet:
He didn't miss any tackles in the playoffs and was stellar in coverage (again) because his ankle was mostly healed by then! He finally had some time off there so...well anyway playing through that high ankle sprain definitly undermind his 2019 performance, and Delpit was a STEAL in round 2!
The 2020 Browns defense looks a LOT stouter vs the run, including front-line athletes who can deal with zone-blocking.
I'm not sure how Joe Woods will pressure opposing QBs with guys not named Garrett or Vernon/Clowney/Lawrence, but some will come up the gut from DT, and everybody else can blitze.
The secondary is actually all set now with Ward, Williams, MITCHELL, and Johnson (who is a good slot corner ok? O K dammit?)
2 long-time starting safeties plus Rodney Hasselfield and Rodney Redwinefield and now Delpit.
A lot of you people (including me, to a lesser degree) kept echoing this "4-2-5" stuff and ass uming that there had to be a Safetybacker, but there are other ways to do this.
This off season offers clues to those of us who think about this stuff about the "Woods Defense":
They signed DT Billings (a Nose Tackle type), and Goodson (a run-stuffing LB). Then they drafted Elliott, Phillips, and Delpit.
They did not draft any Safetybackers.
So first and formost, a Joe Woods linebacker is an actual linebacker, who is expected to meet ballcarriers in the hole and get them on the ground.
(*Mack Wilson covers well, and Phillips has the tools for it too...and for that matter, Takitaki can cover too--but these moves speak volumes*)
Phillips and Delpitt are both extra tall and fast for their positions.
Billings is a nose tackle, but Elliott is like Ogunjobi and Richardson, and Berry traded down from Baun to draft him.
I suspect:
1: Woods prefers specialists and rotation over hybrids. He'll trade some muscle for more speed and height--just making sure his back end players can all cover first.
2: Conversely, his front 6 can't get bullied or worn down, and have to get pressure and at least force runs outside.
3: Ignore what Woods said about 4-3, 3-4. If he keeps Vernon (or replaces him with Clowney) he can mix in 3-3 fronts with this guy (or even Garrett) standing up (and moving around).
Remember, 3 DT's who can play 3-4 DEs and one nose tackle? Garrett was an OLB prospect, and Vernon played OLB for much of his carreer?
Billings on the center, Ogunjobi or Elliott or Richardson in the B-gaps, Wilson/Phillips/Takitaki (pick 2) and Garrett/Vernon (pick 1) behind them.
Joe Woods should really consider this. It would help him keep his best guys rested, and screw up opposing offenses.
4: Woods does seem to be keeping up with the NFL arms race, as I mentioned.
Speed and athleticism are the best solution to zone-blocking and RPOs, along with inside penetrators.
Joe is no doubt looking right at the Ravens' offense (which just got better dammit).
The Ravens just drafted an excellent Running Back to alternate with and later take over for Ingram, and they're going to keep playing smashmouth and overpowering defenses.
Obviously, you have to stop that first.
That's a tall order...I can't count the ways again here, but it has to do with an excellent Offensive Line, Tight Ends, Ingram, Lamar Jackson, and Coaches smart enough to use them right (dammit).
Anyhoo, the Dline is critical vs the Ravens. They're the dedicated trench-warriors who just have to win their individual battles vs their counterparts.
If they attack (as I know they must), a good Dline can screw up any offense (like the Browns did to the Ravens in game 1 2019).
The Ravens' offense exploits Jackson as a runner and deliberately puts coverage guys between a rock and a hard place as he drifts (or charges) toward the line of scrimmage (damn you to hellll, Harbaughhhh---) but I digress:
Athletic (and numerous) Defensive Tackles and run-stopping linebackers make sense here...especially if the linebackers aren't expected to cover, right?
Woods has cover corners, and should use them outside. The 3 inside guys will include Delpit, and Lamar? Be very, very careful, ok?
Anyhoo aren't you sick of 6'5" Tight Ends burning 6'1" linebackers? Captain Obvious just texted me: "Height and athleticism seems more important than bulk on bucket passes", and I tend to agree.
Vs the Ravens, you must stop the run first (including Jackson himself) with your front 6.
Jackson is still ascending as a pure passer, which is terrifying, but still, if you can stifle his 2 outside (obstensibly his first and second reads) receivers, he has to throw into a tight window, lob to an outlet guy, or throw high to a spot, see?
One of your 6'5" Tight Ends is supposed to be there, right?
Except so is DELPIT. And he can run circles around your receiver and outjump him too.
The 2020 Ravens will be a juggernaut. For that matter, the Bengals are loaded for bear, and the Steelers are treading water too.
Dammit the 2020 Browns are stuck in probably the best Division in the NFL in 2020, and with Burrow and Jackson for a decade or more how...perfect?
Take the gun out of your mouth, ok? The Cleveland Browns are at least as talented as the Bengals and Ravens, and more talented than the Steelers. Baker Mayfield can toe the line, even with Burrow.
I was predicting that OBJ, Hunt, and Vernon would be gone, but they're all still here! (I still see a Hunt trade (or conversion) as possible, and an OBJ trade as a remote possibility, and turning Olivier Vernon into Trevor Lawrence or Jadeveon Clowney as probable, but...
Hunt, OBJ and the rest of this offense in 2020!?!
Might as well shoot for the Superbowl RTFN. No other offense in the NFL is that loaded with talent, and this defense is near the top as well.
...I still hope Hunt and OBJ get traded and Vernon gets replaced, but seeing a team this loaded in action would be memorable.
Whah-evah go Browns okbye
Berry started strong on day 3 with TE Harrison Bryant.
Tight Ends are typically undervalued, but in this case, one could argue that Bryant was the best one in this draft class.
Bryant was probably "discounted" because he only weighs 243 lbs, had so-so combine numbers, and played at the lowest level of competition.
His vertical jump and 3-cone were frankly below average, and would have discouraged me, but what do I know? Zierlein seems to have brushed those numbers off like dandruff.
Bryant did get his chance to answer his small-school question at the Senior Bowl, and by all accounts belonged there with the big boys.
On film (as a receiver) Bryant isn't sudden, but is incredibly smooth. Well-balanced and coordinated--that's probably what Zierlein means by his basketball references.
Bryant is like Seth DeValve, except taller and more durable. He's an H-Back or "move" Tight End who shouldn't set up in-line in any conventional offense.
He did play offensive tackle until he was a HS senior, so he knows how to block in-line, but right now isn't strong enough in that role for the NFL.
As a HS Senior, he was a star defensive tackle (as well as receiver), so this is a very talented guy who will absotively tear it up on Special Teams in 2020.
Bryant sounds like Austin Hooper as a receiver. He exploited zone coverage in college, and has yet to prove he can get open vs man, but he has great hands. He's also dangerous after the catch.
Averaged over 18 YPC.
Bryant needs to get stronger, but can contribute immediately on offense.
A note here in re blocking: Wide Zone scheme, remember? Even if lined up at Y, he's probably blocking in space and on the move, or being a backside speed-bump, rather than squaring up vs guys who can push him around.
Bryant is David Njoku insurance, a reliable target, and special teamer. Great pick in the 4th round!
Center Nick Harris (only 6'1") is only a center, but looks a lot better to a zone-blocking team than to a Hue Jackson team, which is one of the reasons he slid to the 5th round.
A number of people are very high on Harris despite his lack of height, and see him as a potential starter as early as 2021.
He's smart, quick, agile, and technically NFL-ready.
Nick needs to get with Hans and Franz because he's also fat.
Nick "needs to get stronger" because right now big DTs and NTs push him around vs the pass.
In reality, he'll probably never overcome this weakness. He can get stronger, and his shorter stature helps his leverage, but his lack of length and reach disadvantage, plus starting each snap with one hand between his legs, will let the big guys get their mitts on him too quickly.
The offensive scheme here can minimize the number of those situations, and he has the quick feet to jump back and re-set (because he's so short), but he'll always give ground in those situations.
Nick might be a good special teamer too, but this is Tretter insurance/for the future. If these guys are right, Andrew Berry just drafted his next starting center in the 5th round.
Considering that he got this pick from the Colts for moving down 3 slots, that's pretty damn good!
I was kind of afraid of this:
Donovan Peoples-Jones is a shot in the dark.
He's a real deep threat (with an ungodly 44.5" vertical), and some see more in Peoples-Jones than Zierlein does, but there were other guys...
Anyway Peoples-Jones also has special teams potential, and he did have a bad QB situation in Michigan. And it was the sixth round, so that's ok.
1: Mike Preifer must be ecstatic with his new special teams toys this season.
2: For some reason, Andrew Berry didn't seem to see the "glaring" need for more linebackers.
I hear you: What was the Simmons pick about when Malick Harrison and others were still there?
Aside from being a really reliable tackler, what was Andrew looking at there?
Well, I can shed a little light on this:
A: Mack Wilson is good in coverage.
B: It now seems obvious that Joe Woods wants linebackers to mainly stop the run and short passes, and leave coverage to the coverage guys (as hard as that is to believe).
Delpit is almost 6'3", and better in coverage than vs the run. Greedy Williams is another tall defender (who will be bigger and stronger in 2020). I already mentioned Mack Wilson, who was already here, getting dissed by you guys.
I might as well mention that JT Hassel played linebacker in college, too.
3: Berry was here when Sashi Brown signed Tretter and Zietler (and drafted Garrett and Ogunjobi) and is serious about prioritizing the trenches (in depth).
Wills is obvious, but Jordan Elliott was regarded by most as the third best DT in this class. Nick Harris should immediately back up JC Tretter.
4: It looks like OBJ isn't going anywhere.
I guess with Njoku and Bryant, the Free Safety can't come up.
It should work.
I'm embarrassed that I let Bill Polian and others turn me away from Jedrick Wills early.
These guys declared Wills a Right Tackle or a guard, and I was dumb enough to believe them.
After all, these are former NFL Linemen and GMs; legitimate experts. Any competent intelligent analyst defers to the real experts.
My mistake was not listening to the other experts, who disagreed with these guys, and not digging into exactly what was said in these scouting reports with my criticsl thinking cap on.
Joe Thomas picked Wills out of the big 4, and went into some detail on why. Andrew Berry said "Tackles are tackles", and was mostly correct: Modern defenses often put their scariest passrushers on the strong side, Tight Ends are really slot guys who line up everywhere, and Right Tackles have to have to be agile and nimble.
Thomas says that switching from the right side to the left, while very difficult for most guys, is just a matter of practice and repetition.
The nitpicking on this guy is stunning. He should be a guard because he's only 6'4"? Even though he has 34 1/4" arms (that's about par for guys who are 6'6").
Tristan Wirfs is the best athlete, and Becton is Godzilla, but Wills is an athletic mauler with the nastiest attitude out of the bunch, and I strongly suspect that this aggressive mentality was decisive for Andrew Berry and Bill Callahan.
That's infectious. When you see your line-mate snarling and beating the crap out of people, you have to keep up with him yourself.
That's trench warfare. It really is just individuals duking it out face-to-face, and sheer nastiness comes in handy.
And upside? Have you seen Jedrick's arms? Hans and Franz are pointing and laughing "Ooo, look at the gurly-mon!"
There's no denying that this guy wins through power, but he has a lot of room for growth in his upper body (provided it doesn't interfere with his balance).
Big Joe painted a rosy picture of Wills in a wide zone scheme: He can not only beat defenders to the edge in space (*this is a "stretch" play: the playside tackle has to get his shoulder and head outside the edge-setting defender before he can pinch force the running back to go inside. If the tackle can't beat that guy outside, then he uses his own momentum against him and drives him out of bounds*).
Wills can do this, but is extra-forceful on the run and in space. Most zone-blockers will push guys back a little, but mostly wall the defender off, and make him dive off-balance at the running back as he flies by (see Conklin or Joe Thomas tapes).
Wills can drive the defender back and put him on the ground.
When the play goes the other way, the backside tackle cuts off backside pursuit. Think of Myles Garrett or a blitzing OLB. These guys are fast enough to cut the running back off as he turns upfield. Then there are stunts and inside moves the backside tackle has to contend with.
Jedrick Wills stones these guys with powerful punches. Even if they recover quickly, it's too late for them to be a factor in a stretch to the other side.
Big Joe says that the Zone scheme is very "lineman-friendly", and makes so-so blockers look good. Now, the Browns have four elite offensive linemen, and these guys can do a lot more with it.
When I was lobbying for a trade-down (to Jones or Cleveland), the scheme was the main reason, but now, with Wills, they add in some 7-step deep passes, and actually give Baker Mayfield time.
These are neccessary anyway, as every offense finds itself in 3rd and 10 or so (or down by a lot of points with time running out).
I still would have preferred the trade-down (and bet DePodesta did too), but in 2020, Wills instead of Cleveland could make a huge difference in these situations, and gives Stefanski a nice change-up pitch, too.
Short yardage, too! You can't get too fancy in these situations. It's got to be smashmouth, and Jedrick Wills is a certified mauler.
And by the way, here his being an inch shorter (with extra-long arms) gives him better leverage.
More upside: Wills is the least experienced of the big 4, and is not yet a finished product.
The Bengals just got a terrific huge WR. They get Jonah Williams back and are gonna be a huge pain in the ass in 2020.
We can hope their defense sucks. 3 picks down, 5 to go. All the linebackers and safeties are still there.
I can't personally rule out WR Tee Higgins here.
Joe Thomas went into some detail on the Shanahan (Stefanski) offense. This offense benefits more than others from a vertical deep threat WR.
Joe referred to OBJ, but he's only half right. OBJ can get re-routed and lacks an ideal catch-radius in a vertical foot race. Big tall guys are ALWAYS better deep.
This is especially true in an RPO offense, because the ball has to get out in under 2.5 seconds; the QB has to put air under it and trust his target to run under it.
Anyway, the deep threat makes a corner run away from the line of scrimmage and holds a safety deep too. Meanwhile the run-threat has the linebackers moving forward, so a gap opens up for Cooper, Njoku, Landry (or OBJ) to exploit.
The Browns just traded from 41st to 44th with Indi. This makes sense because a lot of good lbs and some good safeties are still on the board.
The Browns got a 5th round pick, really for free here. The Colts needed that stud running back.
It's Safety Grant Delpit. Delpit "regressed" in 2019 after a stellar 2018 season. He had a high ankle sprain, and I completely "get" that. That injury heals slow, and really screws up your ability to drive off that foot.
His issues with tackling are correctable, as are his other more minor flaws, and he'll be 100% again in 2020.
The dude is almost 6'3" (213), which will come in handy vs the Bengals skyscrapers and those Ravens TEs.
He can play anywhere, but is likely a Free Safety first here. He's a capable man and zone corner, and a terrific blitzer.
Joseph, Sendejo, and Redwine are already here, so the Browns can use him at cornerback and move him around in 2020.
Delpit upgrades the whole secondary.
Another trade-down. 74 and 244 for 88 and a 2021 3rd round pick from the Saints.
Some of my peeps are going ballistic. I personally wanted Baun bad right there, but don't hate this move at all.
It's really 2 third round picks for one, and there is a ton of talent still on the board, including several of the top linebackers and some really good guards.
Berry may hit or miss, but clearly has a few players in mind that he feels are as good as these guys, at least one of which will be there at 88.
Some of you guys hate all trade-downs, but this is how you build a long-term, sustainable contender.
Let's see who Andrew's sleeper is...DT Jordan Elliott!
I never even noticed this guy, but he looks to have both a high floor and a high cieling. There's nothing wrong with this guy, and he could become a real disrupter with a little work.
He got double-teamed a lot in college--that won't happen here. He stops the run, stands his ground, and is agile.
DT is well and truly covered; these guys won't wear down like they did in 2019. Richardson and maybe Ogunjobi could move outside situationally to give Garrett and whoever replaces Pegleg some time off.
Speaking of which, it does look like Berry is resigned to finding EDGE guys in free agency.
...unless there's a super-sleeper...
Well Delpit, Elliott, and a 2021 third round pick doesn't suck!
LB Jacob Phillips looks like a special teamer and depth guy. I don't like this one at all.
By the time I publish this, the draft will already be in progress.
Daryl Ruiter predicts a trade-down, and former Browns lineman John Greco hopes not.
The other local guys all mock a Left Tackle at 10, and the Trent Williams rumors just won't go away.
Sigh...I suppose it's remotely possible if Williams were to smell the coffee and sign for 15 mil/year and the Skins would accept the Browns' lower third round pick, but I doubt this.
I'm listening to some guy on the radio gushing about Williams for "just maybe" both the Browns' third round picks, because he is vastly superior to all the Left Tackles in this draft.
Extremism is a sign of dumbassitude.
Hey how about Hunt or OBJ for Williams (and more stuff)?
Skins fans would no doubt argue with that, but both these players are young superstars, while Williams will turn 32 during the 2020 season.
He missed 13 games the season before he held out with an injury, and has never played a full NFL season.
It sounds like he does have a legit grievance with his team doctors (he could have died, after all), but the owner having replaced all those people hasn't changed anything.
That's because now it's about MONEY, and Williams wants to be THE highest paid Left Tackle in the NFL.
There are a bunch of very promising Left Tackles in this class (5 immediate starters)---and you Skins fans think just Williams for Hunt or OBJ is enough?
Hopefully, Trent Williams' salary demands come back down to earth, and he accepts Mary Kay's 15 mil estimate over 2-3 years (18 mil guaranteed, 15 mil with 11 mil guaranteed, and 12 mil with 4 mil guaranteed). He'd be 35 by the end of that deal, and would be quite tradeable in 2021.
Trading the ONE third rounder for Williams, or Hunt for Williams and maybe a 4th round pick would make some sense.
The Browns might luck out with Simmons, or could go ahead and trade down all the way to Cleveland (if not Josh Jones), and take their time buffing out their rough edges.
A contingency deal could be set up now, depending on what the Browns actually do in the draft.
The veterans I'm most interested in are Everson Griffin and Jadeveon Clowney.
Immediately after the draft, a bunch of veteran players will be joining these two in the unemployment line, and the smarter guys will hurry up and grab a chair before the music stops.
I still really like Clowney, even through he's never even had 10 sacks in a season. He still blows plays up in the backfield, and actually covers well; he's kind of a supersized swiss army knife, and he's still in his prime.
Griffen is much closer to the retirement home, but he got 8 sacks in 2019, and would be a lot cheaper than Clowney on maybe a 2-year deal.
Naturally, I'm talking about releasing Pegleg Vernon, right? So you save a lot on Griffen, or get younger and scarier with Clowney.
A few of the new free agents won't suck, either. Olivier Vernon is one example. He will get released because he's too expensive.
Somebody else will scoop him up for like 5 mil, (hoping he will actually play in more than 8-9 games).
Watch Andrew Berry sign a couple more guys to one-year contracts to plug the remaining leaks.
He can spend as much as he wants on these one-year deals (Griffen could be one of these if he holds out any longer). He gets all that money back in 2021 (along with compensatory picks tee-tee).
The draft is on, and the Bengals are torturing everybody-basking in all the attention. Whatever will they do? Your guess is as good as mine!
Oh God 8 more of these?
Here we go: Jedrick Wills at 10th overall (with Wirfs and Becton on the board).
Buzzkill Bill Polian said that Wills was not a Right Tackle because he protected a left-handed Quarterback's blind side, but because he was a Right Tackle.
Joe Thomas disagrees. Big Joe is ecstatic about this pick. Joe says that Wills was the only offensive tackle he couldn't find any serious problems with, and that Wills was his pick all along.
Joe isn't alone, as a LOT of smart people mocked Wills to the Browns and ranked him 1st or 2nd.
I wanted (and predicted) a trade-down, and therefore have to give Andrew Berry a "C" for this draft pick.
Haha that was a joke, ok? I suspect that Andrew Berry and his scouts are a tad more qualified (and informed) than I am to manage an NFL roster, and the notion of me grading him...
Anyhoo, Jerrick Wills is an athletic mauler who will start from day one, and who will fit in this offense perfectly.
He lacks prototypical LT height and reach, but more than makes up for it with his balance and feet. He has ZERO significant flaws or weaknesses.
I still say that Josh Jones or Ezra Cleveland could be as good or better than he is 3 years down the road, but have to admit that Wills' floor is top 10, so...
Right Guard is still unsettled, but the rest of the Oline is now elite.
Jerrick Wills is a long-term "core" player.
The Browns' remaining needs are complicated. While "safety" is covered for 2020, and Redwine and Hassel warrant a lot more respect than they get, Safety could use an upgrade...
I was about to talk about linebackers, but what tf does that mean in 2020? Mainly just oversized safeties!
How can you call linebacker depth a "critical need" for the 2020 Browns?
If you draft a Baun or a Chinn in round 2, you have a linebacker in name or not. If you sign Jadeveon Clowney, you have a legit linebacker.
When the nickel is the 67% NFL defense, how can any team sweat linebackers?
...ok but you guys are clueless because you ass ume a 4-2 front (and not a 3-3) but I'll get into that later.
A skyscraper deep threat WR is another need. A long-term EDGE (if not Clowney) is another. More DT depth, Right Guard (?), and depth everywhere are also needs.
The Browns will probably draft a safety or linebacker or Safetybacker in the second round.
I still think that some idiot body might trade for OBJ, and Kareem Hunt is very attractive to sentient people too.
Well I HAVE SPOKEN. Okbye.
