Elliot Kennel names five Browns who, 2 games in, look like ballers.
Right away, I have to throw a flag on Elliot, who talks about Khaderal Hodge's 4.39 speed.
What? I admit that I might have missed something, but I can't find any mention of that anywhere, and suspect that Elliot is citing a rumor he heard.
At 6’2”, that rare speed would have had Hodge on the map if it was official.
Still, Hodge is the gunner on kickoff units, so he clearly has some nice wheels.
Hodge seems as reliable as Rashard Higgins, but faster. I hear fans axing MKC and co about Higgins, but this is business, and Hodge has edged him out.
I was obviously wrong (again) about the 2020 Browns Stefanski offense, as Hodge was on the field 59% of the time.
They’re not running as many 2-back groups as I had predicted, and when they do, true Fullback Andy Janovich is often the second back.
Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb seem to rotate. Hunt is the 3rd (and long) Back, and takes over in garbage time.
It makes sense, now that I’ve seen it in action. Hunt as a WR is a possession type, whereas Hodge is more dangerous.
3-wides also command nickels, and no doubt Stefanski wants that sometimes.
It keeps both backs fresh, and will extend their carreers (they and their agents are probably quite satisfied with this arrangement).
But I digress: I don’t expect Khaderal Hodge to stop here. He should take over for OBJ when they trade him. I’m a Hodge fan.
Next, Elliot names DT Jordan Elliott for stopping the run.
Nobody should be surprised about this, or the fact that the rookie is integral to the DT rotation already.
Except, if Elliott is right, the 305 lb DT has been 2-gapping (a lot better than Larry Ogunjobi has been).
RG Wyatt Teller has shocked everybody, except maybe Callahan.
Teller was drafted in the 5th round in 2018, so he enters only his third season (he was due) for a big leap forward, (and I completely missed it damn me!)
But as Kennel says, John Dorsey didn’t.
Teller was always a great road-grader, but the scouting reports I read on him made him sound like he lacked the speed for an outside or wide zone scheme (so at least I’m not the only one who was fulla beans).
Teller is one of the best Offensive Linemen in the NFL so far per PFF!
He’s had to deal with some tough customers in Baltimore and Cinci, and I love this dynamic: Teller is the “enforcer” on this Offensive Line.
As Elliot says, the Browns run right a lot, and Teller just mauls somebody...
But meanwhile, Teller has been excellent in pass protection, too.
Kudos to John Dorsey for grabbing Wyatt Teller!
Sione Takitaki ranks 18th among NFL Linebackers so far, but Elliot is wrong: Takitaki can play every down, because he can play every LB position.
Aside from that, Elliot got Sione right. Another Dorsey winner.
Next is DT Larry Ogunjobi:
His highly disruptive performance speaks for itself, but this goes hand-in-hand with Jordan Elliott, who I assume sometimes played the zero-shade so Larry could play the 3-tech (while the amazing Sheldon Richardson played RDE).
Elliot Kennel stuck to “young” ballers for his article, but speaking for the geezers, how ‘bout Sheldon Richardson (and Joe Woods’ creative use of him?)
Speaking of which, Myles Garrett has been playing LEFT DE (vs the Right Tackle) more often than not.
Joe Woods thinks outside the box.
Olivier Vernon has never been any good as a passrusher from the strong side (as a DE or LB) throughout his long carreer.
Garrett has much better length, and is a beast. He overmatches any Right Tackle he faces (and forces chip-blocks and overt double-teams).
Check out PFF's overall defensive player grades.
Myles Garrett graded out at over NINETY, and had 9 hurries (and forced fumble).
Myles isn’t getting sacks (so far) in the new defense, but he’s kicking ass (NINETY per PFF!?!)
So far, so good, if you have two gliel cells to rub together: The RAVENS, new offensive and defensive systems, extended garbage time vs the Bengals, injuries, 6-9 new starters (depending on how you look at it)...
Now, defensive reinforcements returned to practice this week:
Mack Wilson covered well in college, sucked for most of his rookie season, but improved a lot in his last 3 starts
Greedy Williams (DUH) is not guaranteed to start (over Rodney Mitchellfield) when he comes back, because Terrence Mitchell has been better than him all along, and the current regime doesn't care which "Dorsey guy" is better (Dorsey Kitchens always played the high draft pick...for some reason...)
Greedy will definitely upgrade the unit, either way. He's the tallest and second fastest CB on the roster.
Kevin Johnson is a veteran starter who won the nickel job in camp, and looked awesome doing so.
There's no help at Safety, but veteran starter Ronnie Harrison should settle in and play at least as well as he had before, and an ascending Redwine is primed to overtake either starter (I'm not too concerned about Joseph, but Sendejo makes me nervous).
Anyway last call okbye
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