Just when we were feeling good about Mack Wilson's confidence, we are forcefully reminded that he is still a Cleveland Brown (surgery, IR).
Everybody is in panic-mode, as if Seoni Takitaki, rookie Jacob Phillips, veteran BJ Goodwin and youngster Willie Harvey all suck.
Chad Porto is right: If you insist on bringing in another Linebacker, why 31 year-old retread Malcolm Smith? What is this fixation with old geezers?
Because they're competent and cheap? Why not err on the side of upside in a base 4-2 scheme?
2nd year LB Willie Harvey is up from the practice squad. The kid was sensational last preseason until he got injured. That means more than the fact that he was undrafted.
I want to see him get a chance. Too often young players get pushed off a roster in favor of some old eggzzbeereunzzed mendor, and the following season the old guy is retired (having done lirttle), and the young guy is a rising star with his new team.
Randy Gurzi recommends CFL star LB Nate Holley.
Randy is wrong about how Holley would address a "major need" for the Browns, but did a great job finding and describing a really good and ascending young player.
Nate is 5'11", 210 lbs and is not an NFL Linebacker. But he is a sideline-to-sideline tackling machine who excelled as a DB in college.
Per Rotoworld, Holley ranked near the top of all players vs the run, but also had a top-25 coverage grade, so he's a real Strong Safety *(or Safetybacker)*.
If you click that link, you'll see one of the reasons why Holley couldn't find work in the NFL. In 2016, he was suspended after being arrested for kidnapping.
I haven't looked any deeper into that, but he was obviously acquitted or the case dismissed. One of my own relatives was accused of rape, and it nearly cost him his scholarship (before the "victim" admitted that it was consentual and she had accused him to avoid the wrath of her fire and brimstone father).
Anyway Holley played for Kent State, and Andrew Berry has to be aware of him. I hope that he's talking to Holley's agent on the down-low...but of course defer to him if he or Joe Woods disagree with Randy and me.
I won't even bother with the "'X' Linebackers the Browns (could/should) sign after Mack Wilson's Injury" articles everybody is writing. How can you be desperate, sad, spastic, and clueless all at the same time?
Almost all of these guys are just...meh! And some even SUCK!
Browns' pundits are almost universal Memorex Morons. Seoni Takitaki hardly played in 2019 so forget him. Phillips is a...project, or something? Anyway nevermind him. Harvey who?
They admit that Goodson is at least a top rotational player (vs the run), and drone on and on about Woods' 4-2 (and dime, and even Safetybackers), but still see Linebacker as a "major need".
This feels like "1984" or "Brave New World" or "Idiocracy", or the "Twilight Zone", or the Democratic Convention or something.
I'm not sure who will go where now that Wilson is off the board:
Takitaki is the top starter by default. Although his 2019 sample-size was almost microscopic, he graded out ahead of every other Browns' Linebacker as a rookie (above average overall btw).
BJ Goodson will play a lot, especially in short yardage. He insists he can cover as well as stop the run, but at this stage of his carreer, that's probably not (even potentially) true, so...
Rodney Phillipsfield is being rediculously dissed here:
This guy's combine numbers were amazing. (Don't even bash his (so-so) 3-cone because he's 6'3"; he was competitive with most pass-catching TEs there and in the short shuttle).
Level of competition? National Championship. Phillips led his Conference in tackles, and they weren't "cheap" tackles; he made lots of plays in the opposing backfield, when not within 1 yard of scrimmage.
Most scouting reports dinged him in coverage for his stiff hips, poor reads and angles, but he was rarely in coverage, with Patrick Queen as a teammate!
Only the most nit-picky (nobody wins with them) draft analysts found excuses to bash Phillips as a sideline-to-sideline run-stuffer.
Here are some objective pre-draft analyses of Jacob Phillips. He has good "instincts" (and is aggressive) vs the run, and has limitations vs the pass.
I'm tempted to get deep in the weeds on height and matchups here, but don't have all night (and am trying not to bore the shit out of you).
I just can't figure out why I'm the only person on this planet who thinks that Jacob Phillips could start for the 2020 Cleveland Browns (and not suck by the way).
Redundancy alert: Phillips didn't blitze a lot, but sure as hell can blitze. He can't hang with a RB or slot guy in man, but can man up with most Tight Ends, and should do well in zone overall...eventually (later in 2020).
I get that for most of you, this is an optimistic projection on a player who never took a snap in the NFL. Ditto Takitaki based on his microscopic sample size. I'm assuming a lot of "facts not in evidence" here, but that's the difference between lawyers and GMs:
GMs (and scouts) have imaginations.
How much better will Seoni Takitaki be in year 2? Can the starting MLB for a College Championship team, who led the SEC in tackles, contribute as a Browns' rookie? At least a little?
Hmm...
The 2020 Browns don't have a "major need" at Linebacker. I understand why the punditry is fishing around for more depth, and expect Berry to keep looking for more/better depth, but listen to me:
The 2020 Browns Linebackers are adequate or slightly below average at worst, and have lots of upside.
Here again, do you people really think that the Brain Crust sees a Lombardi Trophy as a realistic goal in 2020?
With a mostly new coaching staff, new offensive and defensive systems, a young team with around 5 new starters...sharing a Division with the Ravens and Steelers?
DePoBerry know they have a puncher's chance in 2020, and that they need to be competitive not to get fired...
Malcolm Smith?
Seriously, the Haslams just endorsed kneeling, so they are political. If Haslam's retention of Hue Jackson after 1-31 didn't...
...Haslam had the (well-earned) reputation of firing Head Coaches prematurely; of being impatient.
He HEARD this, and this is why he retained one of the worst Head Coaches in NFL history after 1-31.
Jimmy needed to show everybody how patient he could be, so they would stop bashing him.
BUT he forced Todd Haley on Jackson as his OC. (If you're Hue Jackson after 1-31, are you arguing with your boss over this?)
Sadly, Mywayorthehighway Haley made it worse. (I can't bash Haslam or his advisors here: Todd Haley had a sterling reputation as an OC and playcaller).
Back in the weeds here sorry: My point is that Jimmy and Dee Haslam are just human.
Jimmy inheritted Pilot, (but to his credit, he "blew it up", and bought out Flying J) (sorry more weeds/boredom)...
Jimmy Haslam is a smart guy, but learned early to rely on his well-compensated surrogates and advisors.
Jimmy Haslam is very smart and well-educated, and (more importantly) is a good person. Except he is a sheep, like Comrade Mayfield, except is old enough to know better--but I digress:
Not firing Hue Jackson was dumb, and purely political.
You understand me here? "What will they say about me if I fire another Head Coach after 2 years?"
What will they say?
Who tf said "THEY" are have a clue?
It's so easy to look over a shoulder and second-guess. Any dumbass can do that...
The Haslems are spineless and souless, but not stupid. I prefer Art Modell to them.
At least Art Modell had a soul. He didn't care what color anybody was. Bullshit aside, he stayed in his lane and NEVER interfered with his GMs or Coaches.
He was totally justified to move his team to Baltimore after the Cavs got a second new arena, the Injuns got Jacobs Field, and HE got the FINGER.
Municipal Stadium was built on a land fill. Methane percolated up from under the field. Grass wouldn't grow there--they had to paint it green!
YOU would have took the deal Art Modell did and got tf OUT of here.
Tony Grossi is Sicilian, and Art got him fired (I think), so (facts aside) a vendetta ensued...
Nevermind. Anyhow I miss Art Modell.
Okbye
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