Can't wait to find out what the Browns got from the Tennessee for Terrence West. Probably no higher than a third round pick, which would be a pretty good deal for them.
West has bellcow potential, and has had a year to refine his blocking and develop as a receiver. They're getting a young guy who's already broken in and can play every down.
Somehow I'm always disappointed in trades, and am a BROWNS fan, so it might be a fourth rounder. Good move, Titans.
But good move Ray, too. I have no idea if rumors of West not working hard enough are true, but either way, Duke Johnson is here now, and Crowell has more tread left on his tires, plus a little more power and speed. The replacement running backs brought in did alright, and in reality running back is just about the easiest depth-hole to fill.
One last thing about Terrence West: Running backs only have so many carries in them. West came out of college with a ton of them. The pundits are oblivious to this, but the gms aren't. This is why he lasted til the third round. Just sayin.
Now, this here Anthony Pasztor guy Ray grabbed off waivers from the Jagwires is an offensive lineman entering his fourth season. That's significant. Year 4 is when many low-round and undrafted offensive linemen blossom.
Pasztor has played left guard, but he's really a right tackle (with a lot of starts). He's not going to challenge Mitchell Schwartz, but represents solid veteran depth at that position, and emergency depth at guard.
Apparently, Cam Erving will back up literally every other position, including left tackle.
The Brown's can play a game with seven offensive linemen active, though it's a tad risky. Ray is still shopping around in the bargain bin, of course, but seven is usually enough, since it's rare to lose more than two big uglies in one game.
Ray Farmer has now released four of his own latest draft picks. It should be starting to dawn on some of you that he and Mike Pettine get along just fine. If you listen with both ears to Pettine himself, he and his assistants had the final say on all the cuts.
Tony, I know it can be tough finding stuff to write about, but let's tone down the fake reality soap opera dramatic stuff for now, ok?
"Dysfunction": What a cool word! Makes dumb people think you're smart and stuff! "Power struggle": Oooh, how dramatic! Hey, uhh...do you actually like football more than the Cardassians? Just wonderin.
Im overjoyed for Jamie Meder the home boy. THE best pre-season player made Mike's decision easy.
Like Scott Solomon, here's a guy that outworked and outthought more gifted athletes and took control by force of will.
He didn't just make the team, you know. Kitchen and Taylor hit the road. Jamie Meder will rotate with Danny Shelton as the number two nose tackle. He'll play on obvious run downs WITH Shelton. Jamie will play a LOT.
Kitchen was big and strong, but slow. Taylor was hurt too much. Meder is 6'2", 295...and was benching 515 lbs a year ago.
Hard work isn't all of it. Meder and Solomon have great instincts. They just automatically know where the ball is, and how to get there.
"Play like a Brown" has been kind of a joke so far, but kudos to Mike Pettine for having the guts to say it, even as he took over a crappy team. He had to know he'd be laughed at, until he won. This is projecting confidence. Inspiring. It's leadership. A leader is a guy that does or says things nobody else has the guts to do or say. Most of the rest of us enthusiastically support him/her. Since we came down from the trees.
Meder, Solomon, Shelton, Hartline, Bibbs, Haden, Dansby, Gipson, Mack...They're examples and believers. Count McCown and Greco and Hitner in there, too.
...apologies to those I left out. I stuck to the obvious ones and left out the super fast smurfs.
I count Josh Lenz among them. Ray will try to put him on the practice squad. I also count the main reason he was released: Terrelle Pryor.
Yeah, you heard me. He finally gave up his dream of being a quarterback and embraced wide receiver. When he knew he was licked as a quarterback, he swallowed that bitter pill and resolved to be the best damn wide receiver ever to play.
I love this. I've been through something like it.
I can't be a quarterback wah-wah ok time for plan b: Go to Randy Moss academy. Learn from veterans. Bust ass making up for lost time. Play special teams. Work with McCown and Manziel after practice.
Yes. Terrelle Pryor is one of Pettine's Browns. He's coming from behind, outworking other guys. Yes, he's gifted, but he's fighting just as hard as Solomon, Meder, Benjamin and yes--Josh Lenz to turn his career around.
Remember Edward Scizzorhands (Braylon?) Well that ain't Pryor. Scizzorhands didn't play like a Brown. Pryor will. Laugh at me now but believe me later: Terrelle Pryor will be an elite player by the end of 2015.
...unless he's crippled, which, being a Browns fan well, you know...
I
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Saturday, September 5, 2015
I'm with Hartline: Browns Roster Cuts
What Brian Hartline tweeted was, as usual, taken out of context, but there can be no doubt that he's disappointed with Josh Lenz's release. So am I.
But Bud Shaw needs a few lessons in football. Six feet tall isn't undersized. What's average for a receiver, Bud? 6'3"? Bud thinks the Browns cut him because of his size, since, you know, they kept Pryor.
Bud also says we have lots of possession receivers already. Yeah guys like Benjamin, Gabriel, and Hawkins are possession receivers and say, waitaminnit...what was that thing about size?
Jeez Bud. Stick to baseball or something.
Ray Farmer, as I've said, doesn't let his ego interfere with his brain. Mayle and that linebacker were also released.
Mary Kay Cabbot thinks they'll try to get Mayle on the practice squad. They might. But they'll probably prioritize Lenz. Ray took a calculated risk here. He has to want to hold onto this kid. Lenz doesn't have the measurables of Charles Johnson, so he might get away with it this time.
Mayle? I hate to call a guy a bust right out of the gate, but...
Mary Kay assumes the ego thing again, forgetting that Gabriel, Williams, Solomon, Meder, and several other prominent players were Ray Farmer reclamations too.
Oh yeah. And Josh Lenz.
I told you they'd try to peddle West shortly after the draft, and that the Cowboys were likely partners. Did you find that amusing?
It's not over. The Joneses felt the asking price was too high. I'm guessing it was at least a third round pick, or even a second.
The Cowboys took their chances, hoping he'd survive through waivers long enough to reach them. Only Ray don't play that. Terrence West remains a Cleveland Brown, and Jerry? The asking price is still the asking price.
You don't cut a good player if you can avoid it. For Ray, it was always trade him or keep him. It's even debatable that Crowell is better than he is. There's little separation between them.
Mary Kay is really good, but if you read her and not me, the Mayle cut and Pryor retention surprises you, and the Lenz cut doesn't.
Ok I'm fishing for a compliment here. Anything? Anything?
Excuse me while I check out the whole list...
Tom Reed gave me the whole scoop. He agrees with Bud Shaw that the Browns super fast microbes are possession receivers, but I'll leave that aside: There are only six offensive linemen on the current roster, so back to the West trade:
Part of what Ray wants from Dallas for West was probably an offensive lineman. Dallas is stacked there, with starting calibre guys collecting splinters.
No doubt Ray is eyeballing other guys in the league, but stay tuned. Rayray could turn Terrence West into somebody like Cam Erving and a draft pick or two any time now.
Tom Reed is a little more surprised by the tight end situation than I am. He thought they'd try to upgrade it more.
In other words, nothing EJ Bibbs has done so far matters.
Oh I get it. None of these guys can replace Dizzy Cameron (when conscious and healthy), but does Tom think those guys grow in trees?
This is why Butterfingers Housler made it. They found it hard to give up on the guy.
Listen: This guy is an old vet. They've got a lot of PRO film on him. Evidently, they believe his dropsies are an anomaly. If you think you know better, get over yourself.
And if they're right, Housler is Cameron and a bag o chips.
Well that's all for now. Just remember you heard everything here first.
Almost forgot: The Dwayne Bowe cut theory probably came from somebody who read an old blog of mine. No credit. No pay. I'm kinda sick of it. That's really low.
But Bud Shaw needs a few lessons in football. Six feet tall isn't undersized. What's average for a receiver, Bud? 6'3"? Bud thinks the Browns cut him because of his size, since, you know, they kept Pryor.
Bud also says we have lots of possession receivers already. Yeah guys like Benjamin, Gabriel, and Hawkins are possession receivers and say, waitaminnit...what was that thing about size?
Jeez Bud. Stick to baseball or something.
Ray Farmer, as I've said, doesn't let his ego interfere with his brain. Mayle and that linebacker were also released.
Mary Kay Cabbot thinks they'll try to get Mayle on the practice squad. They might. But they'll probably prioritize Lenz. Ray took a calculated risk here. He has to want to hold onto this kid. Lenz doesn't have the measurables of Charles Johnson, so he might get away with it this time.
Mayle? I hate to call a guy a bust right out of the gate, but...
Mary Kay assumes the ego thing again, forgetting that Gabriel, Williams, Solomon, Meder, and several other prominent players were Ray Farmer reclamations too.
Oh yeah. And Josh Lenz.
I told you they'd try to peddle West shortly after the draft, and that the Cowboys were likely partners. Did you find that amusing?
It's not over. The Joneses felt the asking price was too high. I'm guessing it was at least a third round pick, or even a second.
The Cowboys took their chances, hoping he'd survive through waivers long enough to reach them. Only Ray don't play that. Terrence West remains a Cleveland Brown, and Jerry? The asking price is still the asking price.
You don't cut a good player if you can avoid it. For Ray, it was always trade him or keep him. It's even debatable that Crowell is better than he is. There's little separation between them.
Mary Kay is really good, but if you read her and not me, the Mayle cut and Pryor retention surprises you, and the Lenz cut doesn't.
Ok I'm fishing for a compliment here. Anything? Anything?
Excuse me while I check out the whole list...
Tom Reed gave me the whole scoop. He agrees with Bud Shaw that the Browns super fast microbes are possession receivers, but I'll leave that aside: There are only six offensive linemen on the current roster, so back to the West trade:
Part of what Ray wants from Dallas for West was probably an offensive lineman. Dallas is stacked there, with starting calibre guys collecting splinters.
No doubt Ray is eyeballing other guys in the league, but stay tuned. Rayray could turn Terrence West into somebody like Cam Erving and a draft pick or two any time now.
Tom Reed is a little more surprised by the tight end situation than I am. He thought they'd try to upgrade it more.
In other words, nothing EJ Bibbs has done so far matters.
Oh I get it. None of these guys can replace Dizzy Cameron (when conscious and healthy), but does Tom think those guys grow in trees?
This is why Butterfingers Housler made it. They found it hard to give up on the guy.
Listen: This guy is an old vet. They've got a lot of PRO film on him. Evidently, they believe his dropsies are an anomaly. If you think you know better, get over yourself.
And if they're right, Housler is Cameron and a bag o chips.
Well that's all for now. Just remember you heard everything here first.
Almost forgot: The Dwayne Bowe cut theory probably came from somebody who read an old blog of mine. No credit. No pay. I'm kinda sick of it. That's really low.
Thursday, September 3, 2015
The Dwayne Bowe Issue
I'm finding some of the comments about the notion that Dwayne Bowe could be released unfathomable.
This article typifies this line of thinking, starting with Solomon Wilcotts not understanding that the coaches were merely using him as a mindless tool to motivate this superstar...ahem...
Nine million guaranteed, ergo they have to keep him, even if it means losing a younger, better player. What? Why?
Farmer loved Bowe, right? So no matter what he's seen of the younger guys doesn't matter. Farmer will ride Dwayne over the falls. He'll keep "his guy" no matter what.
That's a load of crap. Ray Farmer played the game, just like Wilcotts, and he's already proven that he doesn't let his ego interfere with his brain.
First and foremost, you keep your best players, even if it means eating some dead money. Why on earth would you buy a lemon, and refuse to replace it with a cheaper car you already own simply because you paid too much for your lemon?
And "who else is there?" Well, the Browns are in the same boat as the Patriots and the Seahawks in that they lack a true stud number one receiver. Big deal. And Bowe himself isn't that guy do you get that?
Who do they cut to keep Bowe? Josh Lenz maybe? Pryor?
I'm not saying Bowe sucks. I don't know. He's been hurt, and hasn't had much of a chance to prove anything. But I do know that a bunch of younger guys HAVE proven something, and this is a meritocracy. Guaranteed money guarantees you money. Not a job.
I'm not predicting Bowe's release, either. But if you read my blogs, I suggested that he could be a cut WEEKS ago, and I bet you laughed at me.
Finally, keep decrying the Browns lack of offensive playmakers. Just keep that up. Meanwhile you want them to kick a real playmaker to the curb so that Bowe can stay.
Great way to run a business.
This article typifies this line of thinking, starting with Solomon Wilcotts not understanding that the coaches were merely using him as a mindless tool to motivate this superstar...ahem...
Nine million guaranteed, ergo they have to keep him, even if it means losing a younger, better player. What? Why?
Farmer loved Bowe, right? So no matter what he's seen of the younger guys doesn't matter. Farmer will ride Dwayne over the falls. He'll keep "his guy" no matter what.
That's a load of crap. Ray Farmer played the game, just like Wilcotts, and he's already proven that he doesn't let his ego interfere with his brain.
First and foremost, you keep your best players, even if it means eating some dead money. Why on earth would you buy a lemon, and refuse to replace it with a cheaper car you already own simply because you paid too much for your lemon?
And "who else is there?" Well, the Browns are in the same boat as the Patriots and the Seahawks in that they lack a true stud number one receiver. Big deal. And Bowe himself isn't that guy do you get that?
Who do they cut to keep Bowe? Josh Lenz maybe? Pryor?
I'm not saying Bowe sucks. I don't know. He's been hurt, and hasn't had much of a chance to prove anything. But I do know that a bunch of younger guys HAVE proven something, and this is a meritocracy. Guaranteed money guarantees you money. Not a job.
I'm not predicting Bowe's release, either. But if you read my blogs, I suggested that he could be a cut WEEKS ago, and I bet you laughed at me.
Finally, keep decrying the Browns lack of offensive playmakers. Just keep that up. Meanwhile you want them to kick a real playmaker to the curb so that Bowe can stay.
Great way to run a business.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
The Browns Should Sign Ray Rice, RG III, and everybody elsr
...not.
It happens every season. Some fans and analysts want to sign everybody they ever heard of, because they've heard of them.
Often, it insults players already on the roster who are pretty good. In this case, guys like West and Crowell, who are already in their graves spitting out dirt based on preseason.
Ray Rice: Well he could be a bargain for the league minimum. He did have an off year last season coming off an injury, but he's only 28. And he's an effective receiver out of the backfield too.
Is he better than West or Crowell? I don't know. Its not only questions about his unproductive season, but also about how much better the indigenous guys will be in their second seasons.
The browns lack of running success this PRESEASON has more to do with stacked boxes, and no game-planning, than with the backs themselves. Ray Rice at his best might have fared no better.
Sure, let's sign Ray for the league minimum for one season and cut West, Crowell, or Duke Johnson.
Doesn't work for me. Rice has "done his time" for that horrific elevator thing, and is not that person at all. Ask his wife. But still, he brings baggage with him that this team doesn't need.
If you think that furor has died down, just wait til somebody does sign him. That elevator punch will get millions of hits all over again, and that poor coach will get asked all the same bs questions all over again.
Rice might help, a little, but the Browns don't need him.
Wait a minute! Trent Richardson is available!
RGIII: if this guy was a free agent, I might make an offer, but he's under contract, and what do you think the Skins are asking for him?
In the end, I predict they'll get a first round pick and more.
Is he that good? I don't know. Do you? Shaddap it was a trick question and you don't either.
Look at him. He's still kinda skinny. Can he stay healthy this time? Will he check his ego and stop fussin? Manziel has looked better than RG has under center and in the pocket already. Does this bode well?
No you di-enn! Yeah right just bring the wishbone to the NFL! Yeah that'll work! Yeah like communism works! We'll just do it right this time? Jeez. Check out Philadelphia's offense. That's as close as you'll get, and Sam Bradford runs it.
When Ray Farmer drafted Manziel, I didn't like it. When the Browns were bidding on RGIII, I wanted him a lot too.
I'm happy to report that for now I was fulla beans on both counts. Johnny has proved he can read through progressions in the pocket and make the right throw.
RGIII has not.
The Browns don't, in reality, need Ray Rice, and RGIII will be overpriced and might never pan out at all.
The sky isn't falling. Honest.
It happens every season. Some fans and analysts want to sign everybody they ever heard of, because they've heard of them.
Often, it insults players already on the roster who are pretty good. In this case, guys like West and Crowell, who are already in their graves spitting out dirt based on preseason.
Ray Rice: Well he could be a bargain for the league minimum. He did have an off year last season coming off an injury, but he's only 28. And he's an effective receiver out of the backfield too.
Is he better than West or Crowell? I don't know. Its not only questions about his unproductive season, but also about how much better the indigenous guys will be in their second seasons.
The browns lack of running success this PRESEASON has more to do with stacked boxes, and no game-planning, than with the backs themselves. Ray Rice at his best might have fared no better.
Sure, let's sign Ray for the league minimum for one season and cut West, Crowell, or Duke Johnson.
Doesn't work for me. Rice has "done his time" for that horrific elevator thing, and is not that person at all. Ask his wife. But still, he brings baggage with him that this team doesn't need.
If you think that furor has died down, just wait til somebody does sign him. That elevator punch will get millions of hits all over again, and that poor coach will get asked all the same bs questions all over again.
Rice might help, a little, but the Browns don't need him.
Wait a minute! Trent Richardson is available!
RGIII: if this guy was a free agent, I might make an offer, but he's under contract, and what do you think the Skins are asking for him?
In the end, I predict they'll get a first round pick and more.
Is he that good? I don't know. Do you? Shaddap it was a trick question and you don't either.
Look at him. He's still kinda skinny. Can he stay healthy this time? Will he check his ego and stop fussin? Manziel has looked better than RG has under center and in the pocket already. Does this bode well?
No you di-enn! Yeah right just bring the wishbone to the NFL! Yeah that'll work! Yeah like communism works! We'll just do it right this time? Jeez. Check out Philadelphia's offense. That's as close as you'll get, and Sam Bradford runs it.
When Ray Farmer drafted Manziel, I didn't like it. When the Browns were bidding on RGIII, I wanted him a lot too.
I'm happy to report that for now I was fulla beans on both counts. Johnny has proved he can read through progressions in the pocket and make the right throw.
RGIII has not.
The Browns don't, in reality, need Ray Rice, and RGIII will be overpriced and might never pan out at all.
The sky isn't falling. Honest.
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Browns Permabashers Getting Nervous
Most of the fan comments after preseason game 3 at Tampa Bay were fairly intelligent.
Tampa does have a pretty bad offensive line, so the Browns' pass-rush looked extra-good against the pretty stationary Jameis Winston.
It wasn't perfect either, but what game is? Most fans know better than to expect perfection out of any team, because no team has ever achieved it.
One caller to the post-game show really typified the permabasher:
"It was just Tampa Bay" was his favorite line. The hosts were a little flabbergasted. They failed to point out that Tampa had outplayed the Bengals in week 2, or that the same Bills who scraped by against the Browns almost blew out the Steelers in their own dress-rehearsal.
Instead, they pointed out that the Browns did what they were supposed to do in the most important preseason game. They repeated the score several times.
"But it was just Tampa Bay". What would be satisfactory? 50-0?
These people will find something wrong with anything the Browns do.
Probably, this guy thinks Farmer should be fired for drafting Manziel and Gilbert in the first round last year. Nevermind all those undrafted free agents and low draft picks making all those plays, or Terrelle Pryor winding up here, or Shelton or Starks or Hartline or...well I could go on and on and on.
NONE of those other guys matter. Nothing Manziel has done this preseason matters. 31-7 doesn't matter because it wasn't the Patriots. 6 new offensive skill players doesn't matter. An improved record last season with a new Head Coach didn't matter. Kicking butt til Mack went down didn't matter.
It was just Tampa Bay. Good grief.
One thing about the quarterbacks: I remember last season with Hoyer at quarterback, when I saw third and long, I hit the head. I knew that Hoyer would run around some and then throw the ball away.
With any of the other guys, sometimes they get a first down.
Travis Benjamin is a lock for the roster now. The new offense really sets the smurfs up for success.
Did anybody notice that Josh Lenz made a 48-yard play?
The Browns starters didn't run the ball very well. I wasn't able to see the game (I'm in LaTrobe PA shhh!), but I'm assuming that Tampa was stacking the box. If I'm right, this worked like it was supposed to, as the passing game worked like clockwork.
I actually heard one guy say "They scored a touchdown, but took a week to do it." "but"?
No, this is what is supposed to happen by design. When they play the likes of Brady, Rodgers, Big Ben etc., the Browns offense doesn't only want to score, but to keep the scary opposing offense off the field while wearing out the opposing defense.
This gives the badass opposing offense fewer possessions, and with the Browns badass defense, that will rarely happen very quickly either.
Pettine's first objective in this is to keep the score close early on, and then start ripping off longer and longer gains as the opposing defense fatigues.
This formula gives him the best chance to have a late-game lead with the personnel he has.
His second objective then is to pulverize the opposing quarterback as he plays from behind and has to pass more.
After the first drive during Tampa Bay, I didn't like how the offense got stopped again and again. But I felt better when they racked up another long scoring drive after halftime. Those TWO DRIVES ate over 1.5 quarters off the clock.
They'll get better, you see? What if they put just four of those drives together per-game, and score a couple touchdowns and a couple field goals? 20 points, and how much of the game is left?
At least that's the plan. Except that the Browns non-playmakers like Benjamin, Gabriel, Hawkins, Wynn(?), Johnson, and Pryor might spoil it by scoring too quickly.
There's a great chance that Jamie Meder has made this team. As a potential draft pick, he had a lot going against him, starting with the small college he played at and that level of competition. He was ranked the 32nd defensive tackle in his draft by Dwayne Bugler, who nevertheless liked him.
Forget the "small" 295 lb. crap. He was benching 515 lbs as a senior, lettered in wrestling, and his 6'2" height helps him with leverage. This guy could play NOSE tackle.
He's not fast, or even very quick, but it's hard to argue with what he's done here. He has great balance and instincts.
Ozzie Newsome thought enough of him to sign him as an undrafted free agent, then to keep him on his practice squad.
This is actually good news, since as a Raven, Meder learned to play a similar position in a similar scheme to Mike Pettine's. The Ravens broke him in for us! Thanks guys!
Another great grab by Ray Farmer.
Another one was 6th rounder Charles Gaines. WOW! None of his scouting reports indicated that he could be this good this fast. Good thing Ray doesn't read them haha!
Tampa does have a pretty bad offensive line, so the Browns' pass-rush looked extra-good against the pretty stationary Jameis Winston.
It wasn't perfect either, but what game is? Most fans know better than to expect perfection out of any team, because no team has ever achieved it.
One caller to the post-game show really typified the permabasher:
"It was just Tampa Bay" was his favorite line. The hosts were a little flabbergasted. They failed to point out that Tampa had outplayed the Bengals in week 2, or that the same Bills who scraped by against the Browns almost blew out the Steelers in their own dress-rehearsal.
Instead, they pointed out that the Browns did what they were supposed to do in the most important preseason game. They repeated the score several times.
"But it was just Tampa Bay". What would be satisfactory? 50-0?
These people will find something wrong with anything the Browns do.
Probably, this guy thinks Farmer should be fired for drafting Manziel and Gilbert in the first round last year. Nevermind all those undrafted free agents and low draft picks making all those plays, or Terrelle Pryor winding up here, or Shelton or Starks or Hartline or...well I could go on and on and on.
NONE of those other guys matter. Nothing Manziel has done this preseason matters. 31-7 doesn't matter because it wasn't the Patriots. 6 new offensive skill players doesn't matter. An improved record last season with a new Head Coach didn't matter. Kicking butt til Mack went down didn't matter.
It was just Tampa Bay. Good grief.
One thing about the quarterbacks: I remember last season with Hoyer at quarterback, when I saw third and long, I hit the head. I knew that Hoyer would run around some and then throw the ball away.
With any of the other guys, sometimes they get a first down.
Travis Benjamin is a lock for the roster now. The new offense really sets the smurfs up for success.
Did anybody notice that Josh Lenz made a 48-yard play?
The Browns starters didn't run the ball very well. I wasn't able to see the game (I'm in LaTrobe PA shhh!), but I'm assuming that Tampa was stacking the box. If I'm right, this worked like it was supposed to, as the passing game worked like clockwork.
I actually heard one guy say "They scored a touchdown, but took a week to do it." "but"?
No, this is what is supposed to happen by design. When they play the likes of Brady, Rodgers, Big Ben etc., the Browns offense doesn't only want to score, but to keep the scary opposing offense off the field while wearing out the opposing defense.
This gives the badass opposing offense fewer possessions, and with the Browns badass defense, that will rarely happen very quickly either.
Pettine's first objective in this is to keep the score close early on, and then start ripping off longer and longer gains as the opposing defense fatigues.
This formula gives him the best chance to have a late-game lead with the personnel he has.
His second objective then is to pulverize the opposing quarterback as he plays from behind and has to pass more.
After the first drive during Tampa Bay, I didn't like how the offense got stopped again and again. But I felt better when they racked up another long scoring drive after halftime. Those TWO DRIVES ate over 1.5 quarters off the clock.
They'll get better, you see? What if they put just four of those drives together per-game, and score a couple touchdowns and a couple field goals? 20 points, and how much of the game is left?
At least that's the plan. Except that the Browns non-playmakers like Benjamin, Gabriel, Hawkins, Wynn(?), Johnson, and Pryor might spoil it by scoring too quickly.
There's a great chance that Jamie Meder has made this team. As a potential draft pick, he had a lot going against him, starting with the small college he played at and that level of competition. He was ranked the 32nd defensive tackle in his draft by Dwayne Bugler, who nevertheless liked him.
Forget the "small" 295 lb. crap. He was benching 515 lbs as a senior, lettered in wrestling, and his 6'2" height helps him with leverage. This guy could play NOSE tackle.
He's not fast, or even very quick, but it's hard to argue with what he's done here. He has great balance and instincts.
Ozzie Newsome thought enough of him to sign him as an undrafted free agent, then to keep him on his practice squad.
This is actually good news, since as a Raven, Meder learned to play a similar position in a similar scheme to Mike Pettine's. The Ravens broke him in for us! Thanks guys!
Another great grab by Ray Farmer.
Another one was 6th rounder Charles Gaines. WOW! None of his scouting reports indicated that he could be this good this fast. Good thing Ray doesn't read them haha!
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Browns vs Bucs Pergame Drivel
Now that The Johnsons (Duke and Malcolm) are finally available, Flip should run some of the plays that have been kept in the closet.
Up til now, the offense has been limited, not only by the need to hide stuff from real-game opponents, but from the personnel.
As Mike Pettine said, certain plays are designed to make best use of the skill-sets of individual players. Crowell, West and company are good backs, but nothing like Duke as a receiver or outside runner.
The apparently unmentionable Malcolm Johnson is a much bigger factor here than most think.
As good as EJ Bibbs has been, fullback isn't his best spot, and he's been used mostly as an H-back. Malcomb has actually played fullback, and is a little faster.
Expect to see Flip run more two-back sets here--especially the "Johnson-and-Johnson set" YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST dammit...
Anyway, the big Johnson (you heard that here first but don't tell anybody) will lead-block, pass-protect, and run out for passes.
Malcolm is being highly underrated. He won't make a lot of flash plays, but he'll amount to critical insurance, as he'll either pick up a dastardly blitzer or bail out his quarterback as a receiver.
Unlike a lot of fullbacks, Johnson has some real speed, and can actually do something with a dumpoff pass, and he has excellent hands.
This type of player never gets much respect because they don't score from 70 yards out, but this guy will be very important to this offense. He can turn a desperation dumpoff he catches near a sideline and behind the line of scrimmage into five or ten yards as effectively as any running back.
I'm certain that if Terrelle Pryor plays, he will be targeted at least two or three times.
One thing the coaches do need to see is him catching slants and crosses and getting hit. Me too. He got hit a lot as a quarterback, though, so I don't think it will matter.
Go Johnsons!
Up til now, the offense has been limited, not only by the need to hide stuff from real-game opponents, but from the personnel.
As Mike Pettine said, certain plays are designed to make best use of the skill-sets of individual players. Crowell, West and company are good backs, but nothing like Duke as a receiver or outside runner.
The apparently unmentionable Malcolm Johnson is a much bigger factor here than most think.
As good as EJ Bibbs has been, fullback isn't his best spot, and he's been used mostly as an H-back. Malcomb has actually played fullback, and is a little faster.
Expect to see Flip run more two-back sets here--especially the "Johnson-and-Johnson set" YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST dammit...
Anyway, the big Johnson (you heard that here first but don't tell anybody) will lead-block, pass-protect, and run out for passes.
Malcolm is being highly underrated. He won't make a lot of flash plays, but he'll amount to critical insurance, as he'll either pick up a dastardly blitzer or bail out his quarterback as a receiver.
Unlike a lot of fullbacks, Johnson has some real speed, and can actually do something with a dumpoff pass, and he has excellent hands.
This type of player never gets much respect because they don't score from 70 yards out, but this guy will be very important to this offense. He can turn a desperation dumpoff he catches near a sideline and behind the line of scrimmage into five or ten yards as effectively as any running back.
I'm certain that if Terrelle Pryor plays, he will be targeted at least two or three times.
One thing the coaches do need to see is him catching slants and crosses and getting hit. Me too. He got hit a lot as a quarterback, though, so I don't think it will matter.
Go Johnsons!
Friday, August 28, 2015
Hey Tony!
I don't know how somebody can look right at one thing, and see something else. Tony Grossi seems to have that ability.
He once again bemoans the offense's lack of athletes with "size, speed, and explosion".
This was in an article on Calvin Johns---I mean, Terrelle Pryor, who Tony (and I) think would be a big help.
Why are microbes like Benjamin, Gabriel, Hawkins and Wynn on the roster? Because they are fast and explosive. What is it, Tony? If you're not big, you can't be fast or explosive?
What about Duke Johnson? Not as big as Adrian Peterson doesn't count for you either, Tony?
Maybe it was just an off day for Tony. Maybe what he meant was that the offense needs more big AND fast players or something. I just had a terrible thought. Tony, you don't vote, do you?
But Tony is right about Terrelle Pryor. Since Josh Gordon, the Browns don't have anybody like him, and they need to keep him no matter what. Period.
Manziel's arm issues are truly frightening. I remember Tim Couch. Not having Johnny play for the rest of preseason is a good idea.
Tim Couch is regarded by dumb people as a bust, but in reality, he had it all. In his rookie season. with an expansion team full of holes, and under Chris Palmer, he performed admirably.
This was despite the fact that Chris Palmer refused to run anything but a pocket-passing, under center, drop-back offense in order to ease the athletic shotgun quarterback in. Couch's adaptation to the pro game was remarkable. Who knows what he might have done had his head coach not been a blockhead?
It was Couch's chronic tendonitis that ruined him. In a recent interview, he said he tried to alter his throwing motion to take the stress off it. I hadn't known that.
What I did know was that this condition deprived him of strength and accuracy, and the chain reaction wrecked his shoulder next.
I truly hope that Manziel doesn't share this curse. Maybe if Tim Couch had had a chance to take a couple games off and rest it, he might have been ok. Chris Palmer knew better, I guess. Hindsight is 20/20 (and confirms I knew better).
I hope to see Terrelle Pryor and Duke Johnson play Tampa Bay. I also hope to see Malcolm Johnson. Guys like these are why Joe Haden and Dwayne Bowe anticipate a high-powered offense.
In this article by Paul Meyers (Yardbarker) Paul gets all sciency with the PFF stuff to analyze the preseason so far.
That's not really very telling, since the first two games were vanilla and winning was secondary, but I just like this guy's objective analysis, along with his permabasher-maddening conclusions (I won't spoil it).
The offense is built around the offensive line, which looks to enter it's second season with the same starters. That's very important. Most coaches will tell you that a group of journeymen who remain together for a long time can become very good. The Browns offensive line has legit pro bowl type talent at three positions--at least.
With that offensive line, an average quarterback and running backs can succeed.
Well, they're not average here. The Buffalo Bills "exposed" nothing about Josh McCown everybody didn't already know. If he doesn't have time, he looks bad. Duh.
But the Bills have an exceptional passrush, and this won't happen often in real games.
We've seen what EJ Bibbs can do. Wait til you see Malcom Johnson. I still say Crowell is something special, and that we will see this again when the lights go on.
But Duke Johnson is extra-special. The injured guys stepping on the field will make big changes in this offense, and that's what Bowe and Haden are talking about.
Joe makes his living covering wide receivers, and Bowe is a wide receiver, and the two of them must look at eachother and grin when they hear Mike Pettine sounding like Pryor might get cut if he can't play, or pundits talk about how long and arduous the ex-quarterback's journey to wide receiverhood will be.
It could indeed take awhile before the coaches and quarterbacks can trust him to make all the right moves on each play, but not long at all for him to be used effectively as a receiver.
I'm sure Dwayne or Joe would tell you "It's not that hard, man! Lighten up on that!"
Here's another secret: A super-fast big tall guy can make mistakes and get away with it. It's the smurfs, who can't jump or dive as far, and don't have oven-mitt hands, who have to be perfect.
New guys on this offense: EJ Bibbs, the two Johnsons, Bowe, Hartline, and McCown so far. That's a LOT of people is this sinking in yet? There are only eleven, and five of them are stud offensive linemen. I just named six are you getting any of this?
And like Joe and Dwayne say, there's a whole lot of speed here. Grossi can't seem to fathom this, but Joe Haden sure does, because they burn him and his compadres in practice every day.
And now here comes Terelle Pryor. Goody!
He once again bemoans the offense's lack of athletes with "size, speed, and explosion".
This was in an article on Calvin Johns---I mean, Terrelle Pryor, who Tony (and I) think would be a big help.
Why are microbes like Benjamin, Gabriel, Hawkins and Wynn on the roster? Because they are fast and explosive. What is it, Tony? If you're not big, you can't be fast or explosive?
What about Duke Johnson? Not as big as Adrian Peterson doesn't count for you either, Tony?
Maybe it was just an off day for Tony. Maybe what he meant was that the offense needs more big AND fast players or something. I just had a terrible thought. Tony, you don't vote, do you?
But Tony is right about Terrelle Pryor. Since Josh Gordon, the Browns don't have anybody like him, and they need to keep him no matter what. Period.
Manziel's arm issues are truly frightening. I remember Tim Couch. Not having Johnny play for the rest of preseason is a good idea.
Tim Couch is regarded by dumb people as a bust, but in reality, he had it all. In his rookie season. with an expansion team full of holes, and under Chris Palmer, he performed admirably.
This was despite the fact that Chris Palmer refused to run anything but a pocket-passing, under center, drop-back offense in order to ease the athletic shotgun quarterback in. Couch's adaptation to the pro game was remarkable. Who knows what he might have done had his head coach not been a blockhead?
It was Couch's chronic tendonitis that ruined him. In a recent interview, he said he tried to alter his throwing motion to take the stress off it. I hadn't known that.
What I did know was that this condition deprived him of strength and accuracy, and the chain reaction wrecked his shoulder next.
I truly hope that Manziel doesn't share this curse. Maybe if Tim Couch had had a chance to take a couple games off and rest it, he might have been ok. Chris Palmer knew better, I guess. Hindsight is 20/20 (and confirms I knew better).
I hope to see Terrelle Pryor and Duke Johnson play Tampa Bay. I also hope to see Malcolm Johnson. Guys like these are why Joe Haden and Dwayne Bowe anticipate a high-powered offense.
In this article by Paul Meyers (Yardbarker) Paul gets all sciency with the PFF stuff to analyze the preseason so far.
That's not really very telling, since the first two games were vanilla and winning was secondary, but I just like this guy's objective analysis, along with his permabasher-maddening conclusions (I won't spoil it).
The offense is built around the offensive line, which looks to enter it's second season with the same starters. That's very important. Most coaches will tell you that a group of journeymen who remain together for a long time can become very good. The Browns offensive line has legit pro bowl type talent at three positions--at least.
With that offensive line, an average quarterback and running backs can succeed.
Well, they're not average here. The Buffalo Bills "exposed" nothing about Josh McCown everybody didn't already know. If he doesn't have time, he looks bad. Duh.
But the Bills have an exceptional passrush, and this won't happen often in real games.
We've seen what EJ Bibbs can do. Wait til you see Malcom Johnson. I still say Crowell is something special, and that we will see this again when the lights go on.
But Duke Johnson is extra-special. The injured guys stepping on the field will make big changes in this offense, and that's what Bowe and Haden are talking about.
Joe makes his living covering wide receivers, and Bowe is a wide receiver, and the two of them must look at eachother and grin when they hear Mike Pettine sounding like Pryor might get cut if he can't play, or pundits talk about how long and arduous the ex-quarterback's journey to wide receiverhood will be.
It could indeed take awhile before the coaches and quarterbacks can trust him to make all the right moves on each play, but not long at all for him to be used effectively as a receiver.
I'm sure Dwayne or Joe would tell you "It's not that hard, man! Lighten up on that!"
Here's another secret: A super-fast big tall guy can make mistakes and get away with it. It's the smurfs, who can't jump or dive as far, and don't have oven-mitt hands, who have to be perfect.
New guys on this offense: EJ Bibbs, the two Johnsons, Bowe, Hartline, and McCown so far. That's a LOT of people is this sinking in yet? There are only eleven, and five of them are stud offensive linemen. I just named six are you getting any of this?
And like Joe and Dwayne say, there's a whole lot of speed here. Grossi can't seem to fathom this, but Joe Haden sure does, because they burn him and his compadres in practice every day.
And now here comes Terelle Pryor. Goody!
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