Randy Gurzi tells me that Cornerbacks Donovan Olumba and AJ Green were among yesterday's roster cuts. While I saw the Chad Thomas release coming, these cuts were kinda stunning.
...as is the retention of 5 Tight Ends, 6 WRs, and 6 LBs.
Special Teams is part of this, of course, and it really looks like this regime is more concerned about retaining talent than filling depth-slots.
They'll no doubt try to stash Olumba and maybe Green on their practice squad.
Looking at the players who were retained, every position looks well-stocked with quality depth (except the OLine--Right Guard still feels shaky there).
But Gurzi lists 5 Free Agents that he thinks the Browns should swoop down and scoop up.
Safety D'Cota Dixon? This does not compute. You have to kick one player to the curb for each player you sign, and this guy is mainly a run-stopper (an extra-Strong Safety) and Special Teamer.
Of course, with 6 Linebackers, 5 Tight Ends, and 6 WRs, the roster has lots of wiggle room, so Randy might be right.
Skyscraper WR Hakeem Butler is really interesting! 6'5", 225 lb WRs don't grow on trees, and the current WR corps is stacked with Liliputions and microbes.
(...ok I exaggerated there, but had to get the line written). Peoples-Jones, Higgins, and Hodge all have decent size, but the top 2 are Liliputions and Natson is a microbe.
I hate Randy's casual dismissal of Butler's drops, but...ok sorry I can't get behind this one. This fills no need, and 3 of the 5 Tight Ends can do everything Butler can do.
A swing and a miss (the count is 1-1).
CB Sidney Jones is a former 2nd round draft pick who's had hammy issues (and underperformed).
Randy thinks the Browns should at least "kick the tires" on this still young (and heavily discounted) player, and I concur.
As you guys know, DePodesta and I love young and cheap former high draft picks entering their 2nd or 3rd seasons. It's a low risk, astronomical reward situation.
Jones' joints are fine, and hammies heal; his specific injuries have done him no lasting harm.
His disappointing performance when healthy comes with a huge asterisk, as he was still learning.
The floor on Jones is an almost-free release, and the cieling is outter space.
Iggles Nose Tackle Anthony Rush is also a great idea.
Eli Ankou is the only real Nose left on this roster, and Rush might be an upgrade over him (he's bigger, anyway).
Linebacker (sigh) Francis Bernard might be a Special Teams asset, and has nice upside. Given that the post-purge Linebackers left behind Takitaki, Phillips, Wilson, and Goodson are nothing to write home about, this guy might make sense.
Randy says he's looked really good in Dallas, and was expected to make their final cut.
I won't quibble with Randy about Bernard being a smart signing, but have to correct him on his dim view of the current Linebackers, and hallucinations there-from:
1: There isn't "hope" that Sione Takitaki will be adequate. His improvement from year 1 to year 2 was predictable. He's actually surprised those of us who think with their brains, as he's looked really good in coverage!
2: BJ Goodson was always a great run-stuffer, but now HE TOO has looked terrific (not just "ok" but terrific) in coverage himself.
3: Jacob Phillips is 6'3", tested off the charts, started for a National Championship team, and led his conference in tackles...and Randy didn't even mention him.
4: Mack Wilson should now be back early in the season.
5: The Joe Woods 2020 Browns probably won't field 3 linebackers more than 30% of the time.
I can't fathom why Randy (and the rest of the flock) keep yammering about a "lack of depth" at Linebacker.
Chad Porto shares some of my own surprise over the new roster, but (unlike my current self) thinks he knows better:
Chad thinks that the Browns should have retained QB Kevin Davidson (as the 3rd QB), and cut WR KhaDarel Hodge.
I get the carrying 3 QBs thing, and defer to Chad on how good Kevin Johnson will become, but KhaDarel Hodge is the Special Teams' gunner, this scheme turns into a "wildcat" at the drop of a real QB, and Johnson will probably make it to the Practice Squad.
Plus, does Chad think Johnson is better than Gilbert (one of the 2 should clear waivers)?
Chad thinks they should have kept FB Johnny Stanton and cut Chris Hubbard.
I respect that logic. Stanton is an excellent player, Hubbard is so-so, and frankly Lamm might be at least as good.
Keeping Guard Micheal Dunn and cutting/trading David Njoku...I dunno. Chad knows more about Dunn than I do, and as you know I would trade Njoku for real value.
...but Chad just hates David Njoku for some reason. He's not even rational on the subject. He would take a bag of popcorn and a lottery ticket to get rid of this guy.
I don't know about Dunn, but my default reaction to Chad is "what tf are you talking about!?!"
Should have cut Pharoah Brown and kept DT Equale:
While 5 Tight Ends is rediculous, Brown is better than Equale, and he's the best blocker.
Equale is the FOURTH "3-tech" on this roster, and he never had a chance vs Ankou in the first place.
Keep AJ Green, cut fellow CB Tavierre Thomas?
No comment. DePodesta and I tend to side with younger players, and they "paid up" for Green, but it's smart to admit your mistakes.
It wasn't DePodesta or Berry who kept Thomas and released Green. It was the coaches.
Chad Porto is really smart, but between him and the current brain crust, I'll go with DePoBerry over Chad (or myself) every time.
Okbye
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