Finally, Nick Dudukovich has written a stinker, so I can correct him.
Nick lists five free agents he thinks the Browns should sign.
He starts by explaining why Jadeveon Clowney isn't one of them: Olivier Vernon's salary. Nick writes this as if Vernon would not be released...or something...
I guess he just thinks the Browns should just recoup that 15.5 mil in 2021 instead of committing to keep paying it to a different player.
Makes sense...but here we go again with this vedderrunn linebagger stuff (Nigel Bradham).
Bradham is terrific in coverage and bad vs the run, so if he's dirt cheap he would be ok as a situational part time player, but some of us prefer to let younger players play and develop, instead of kicking to the curb.
I'm also pretty sure that Joe Woods will blitze his linebackers more than he has them in coverage, see?
Next is the venerable Gramps Peters, who will be 39 years young.
I can't call Nick a dumbass for this one, as he says this would allow the Browns to start Wills at Right Guard in 2020 (then put him at Left Tackle in 2021).
It's an interesting idea, as I think Gramps can still play, sorta, and Wills would kick ass at Right Guard.
But Peters is no longer a good system fit for the wide zone. You want him running around like a Defensive End all day---trying to beat linebackers and DEs to the edge?
Naah! And then who does this guy kick to the curb? A potential future starter or at least quality backup?
And Nick--moving from right to left is difficult, but are you seriously nervous about Wills' ability to do it? In a scheme in which he might be in a true pass set less than 25% of the time?
Everson Griffen--I'm down with that. He could replace Pegleg Vernon for maybe half the money--and maybe for a couple years, too.
RG Larry Warford. While I like the guy a lot, even at 7 mil, that's 6 mil more than the Browns need to spend on a guy who won't be a significant upgrade in this offensive system.
Eric Berry? Where do I sign!?! Well...that is if he's not too expensive. He was an awesome player when healthy, but injuries just ate him up.
He did finally take a year off to "get healthy", but there's no guarantee that at 31 he'll be the same (or won't resume getting hurt).
All of this weighs against him, so he could be quite affordable for the Browns, and would be well worth a small risk.
Nick is wrong to think that Grant Delpit might need time to develop, but Berry excels deep, in the box, over the slot, and is a true Safetybacker, so there will be room for him in nickels and dimes.
He's another geezer that I would consider signing for 2 seasons.
And if Nick is so down on all the young linebackers, he should have listed Clay Matthews III. He fits Woods' system and is vedderrunn leeder who might not cost too much.
Seriously everybody is getting kinda silly with these residual leftover free agents. DePoBerry wants a perennial contender, and to build that, they need to hold onto some of their rookie fringe-players who have upside.
Sure, Berry signed 3 veterans to one-year deals, but they were at positions of need; those guys are here to stop the bleeding for one season (and generate compensatory picks after that).
NOW you seem to have gotten it into your head that Berry should rent every fading geezer they can for leedershibb andd menddoringg arrgh!
Arguably the best Offensive Tackle and Free Safety in the draft might need time before they're ready!?!
JFC QUARTERBACKS are starting from day one--what makes you think Wills and Delpit are projects, for cryin out loud?
Oh come on you need to cut Lamm or somebody to make room for Peters to spare Wills the monumental challenge of kick-stepping with his left instead of right foot one out of five snaps?
Quit picking at it, man! The roster is mostly set, except at Defensive End opposite Garrett, and I mean including Linebacker!
Nobody seems to remember this: Young players usually improve over time! Once Coaches see their attitudes, aptitudes, and work habits, they can predict this growth.
This goes for Mack Wilson and Sione Takitaki.
Joe Woods wanted Jacob Phillips more than the passrusher or any of the coverage guys why?
Well he's 6'3" and faster than the other guys. He isn't as agile as the other guys, but he can run step-for-step with any Tight End, crash down and blow up runs in the backfield, and blitze.
Wilson proved he can blitze last year. Takitaki is a converted Defensive End. Are you paying attention here? Joe Woods probably likes Wilson and Takitaki because he doesn't want his linebackers in coverage
(*Ok well all linebackers need to cover sometimes, because they can't just blitze every pass or offenses will burn that predictable tendancy. But I believe that Woods won't drop his linebackers more than 7-8 yards off the line in zone.
They're road-blocks there, and recievers have to run "under" them, or "over" them deep enough to let the QB throw over the linebackers' heads.
Meanwhile they're set up to stop a scramble or delayed draw or dumpoff.
Phillips is a little different, as he might well "pick up" a Tight End running a seam-route, whereas a Wilson or Takitaki ok nevermind sorry*)
Anyhoo quit trying to park the Browns' young linebackers on the bench. Give them a freaking chance.
I want Teller, Forbes, Harris, Hubbard, Wright etc all to get their chance at the Right Guard position (Callahan didn't list Hubbard or Harris as contenders).
I suspect that Nick Harris might be zeroed in on center over concerns about Tretter's health. JC was injured in Green Bay, and has been playing hurt here (a high ankle sprain, among other things--that dude is a badass, you people!!!)...and Harris is his instant backup, so he might get all his reps at center.
Maybe.
But Tretter is really a mauler better suited to a man than a zone scheme.
Drew Forbes is more agile, and projects better in this scheme.
Zeirlein graded Forbes a 5.9 (backup), citing some severe mechanical flaws in pass-pro, but Forbes was looking good at guard when he got injured in the final preseason game in 2019, and now he has a more favorable scheme and Callahan as his position coach.
I think Forbes has the best chance here, unless Zierlein (who liked Teller much better) was wrong about his lack of lateral mobility and stuff.
(Seriously you want to root for Teller because he's physical and nasty--he has a bright future in the NFL...but it might not be here.)
Chad Porto thinks Nick Chubb might be a sneaky MVP candidate in 2020, and I can't argue.
Even with Kareem Hunt on the same roster, Chubb is custom-made for this offensive scheme, and Kevin Stefanski won't hesitate to ride him hard all season long.
How will defenses slow him down? He's elusive as hell, and brushes arm-tackles off like dandruff. The scheme puts him in the open field every time he takes a handoff, and he'll probably catch over 40 passes in 2020 as well.
In 14 games, Chubb barely missed winning the rushing title as a rookie. If he's not injured, he should surpass that in Stefanski's system this season.
Gotta give Dorsey credit for that second round pick!
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