1: Ryan Fitzpatrick is a good quarterback who is very old. The Browns have a good old quarterback already, and need a YOUNG one ok duh?
2: I'm glad somebody else thinks that the Browns will keep Josh Gordon. You are a master of the obvious.
It's been a tough week finding anything to write about other than the nameless one. Grossi has now shrunken him by an inch and 25 lbs off his combine measurements, btw.
But the Jim Brown stuff is great. It's about time he got a statue.
I'm especially glad to hear Hue Jackson reaching out to Big Jim. Jim has been watching this team, and will have a lot to offer Hue, even if he's not a coach himself.
Tony Grossi will hate this, but with Art Modell's support, Jim Brown knocked down the color barrier in the NFL. Hue Jackson no doubt knows he owes the man something.
And the statue: Put it right in front of the building, so every player has to walk by it. This guy didn't run out of bounds. This guy took a lot of crap and just answered it all on the field.
Let those young players be reminded of that every day. You want a culture change? Here's a good start.
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Browns Wide Receivers
Joe Gilbert did it again in this article. He's unreasonably skeptical about Josh Gordon, and Pryor is in junior college on his way to his (required) wide receiver PHD.
Joe says the Browns need a third big, fast wide receiver. While it's possible that both these guys will fail, it's unlikely. While it would be good to have a surer thing, it's not among the team's priorities.
Pat McNanoman et al also need to really try hard to understand this: The Browns Draft history to date has absolutely ZERO to do with this year. I really wish they'd quit pounding that drum.
For that matter, the fact that we've been here before, optimistic about the new regime, only to be disappointed, is irrelevant as well.
A new start is a new start. New people are new people. Think with your brain.
Joe says the Browns need a third big, fast wide receiver. While it's possible that both these guys will fail, it's unlikely. While it would be good to have a surer thing, it's not among the team's priorities.
Pat McNanoman et al also need to really try hard to understand this: The Browns Draft history to date has absolutely ZERO to do with this year. I really wish they'd quit pounding that drum.
For that matter, the fact that we've been here before, optimistic about the new regime, only to be disappointed, is irrelevant as well.
A new start is a new start. New people are new people. Think with your brain.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Goff, Wentz, and the Browns
Opinion on which quarterback the Browns will draft to replace the unmentionable one are divided between Goff and Wentz.
Before I continue, I need to correct a faulty scouting report on Goff: Due to the nature of his offense, Goff didn't throw a lot of deep passes. When he did, he showed off a strong arm. Stop saying he doesn't have a strong arm simply because he wasn't a mad bomber. You only needed to see a couple of those passes. That's his arm, fool.
I have no idea which quarterback they'll choose. I only know that somebody is probably going to trade up to number one and grab one of the two (or Bosa).
The Browns will prioritize upside. "Pro-ready" won't matter. Regardless of the PR spin, they can't expect to overtake the Steelers and Bengals in 2016.
As I've said, Goff is more pro ready. He might or might not have the most upside, as well, if he has a Bernie Kosar brain.
But it's also not smart to ignore Wentz's athleticism, or make any assumptions about his brain.
In short, there is a 75% chance that the Browns will draft Goff.
Or Wentz.
Before I continue, I need to correct a faulty scouting report on Goff: Due to the nature of his offense, Goff didn't throw a lot of deep passes. When he did, he showed off a strong arm. Stop saying he doesn't have a strong arm simply because he wasn't a mad bomber. You only needed to see a couple of those passes. That's his arm, fool.
I have no idea which quarterback they'll choose. I only know that somebody is probably going to trade up to number one and grab one of the two (or Bosa).
The Browns will prioritize upside. "Pro-ready" won't matter. Regardless of the PR spin, they can't expect to overtake the Steelers and Bengals in 2016.
As I've said, Goff is more pro ready. He might or might not have the most upside, as well, if he has a Bernie Kosar brain.
But it's also not smart to ignore Wentz's athleticism, or make any assumptions about his brain.
In short, there is a 75% chance that the Browns will draft Goff.
Or Wentz.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Mindless Mantras, Labels, Boxes, and the Browns
Craig Lyndall is a smart guy, which is why I include links to most of his articles, despite the fact that he's wrong about a lot of things.
In this one, about the wisdom of re-signing Travis Benjamin, his logic is irrefutable. Unlike some alleged analysts, Craig comprehends that the Rabbit isn't a number one receiver.
But he considers Benjamin a number two outside receiver, as well as a slot guy. He regards the quality of the cornerback as the lone challenge, and ignores the routes and types of coverage.
Travis Benjamin (and Andrew Hawkins) have been forced into playing outside by injuries (and Dwayne Bowe). Outside receivers are often pressed, and physically leveraged outside.
That puts the cornerback roughly between the quarterback and receiver. A good cornerback can bump and jostle a small receiver toward the sideline with his body. It prevents the little guy from getting to full speed as he struggles for balance. He's not where he's supposed to be, and when the passer does find him, any throw is contested, with the cornerback having the advantage.
This is as true for the Z as for the X. Outside is outside.
Slot receivers can be munchkins because they have a two-way go, and are very hard to press. They can't be leveraged outside, because they'll simply go with the leverage, and turn it into a footrace. They also have more room outside.
Travis Benjamin is a slot receiver.
Craig thoughtfully mentioned Josh Gordon as a potential number one, but again ignored Pryor, and seems to think Benjamin is a better number two (Z) than Rodney Hartlinefield.
Craig seems to think any receiver who lacks world class speed shouldn't bother showing up, and that speed trumps height and catch radius...and everything else.
He talks about a "complete overhaul", and describes a team all but devoid of playmakers.
This is common. There are only eleven players on an offense, and six of them are linemen and a quarterback. Of the five remaining, is Barnidge a playmaker? Gordon? Duke? Travis?
Okay, that's four. Why do you keep chanting this mantra? And what is to rebuild? I even left out Andrew Hawkins, and Crowell, who's had a number of explosive plays himself.
Craig is smart, but stubborn. Analysis isn't a series of annual cliches, repeated.
"Playmaker" is a cliche. A label. A box. A good player is a good player. A tall guy with average speed who is money on third down belongs. A guy who gets three carries of over ten yards in a game makes a difference.
Ok I'm sorry. I'm confiscating the phrase "playmaker". You're overusing it. It doesn't mean anything any more. It will be returned to you when you can use it responsibly.
But Craig is right about re-signing Travis Benjamin.
This article on Jared Goff by Nick Master isn't bad, but he screws up badly on the stats. He cites Goff's 14-23 w/l record as a reason for concern.
He mentions (as an aside) his first 1-11 season, then a "but still". No, stop right there. He was a first year starter, and eleven of his twenty three total losses came in that year. He got better in his second season, and became elite in his third. That is what matters.
Nor did he play in a vacuum. No quarterback can single-handedly win a game (well except maybe Cam Newton).
Real scouts will study how he handled blitzes, checked down, used his eyes, placed the ball; his completion percentage, yards per attempt, third down pass efficiency, etc.
Not wins and losses. He played for a small school, and it's a team sport.
Besides, he won most of his games and the Armed Forces Bowl last year.
Goff entered one of the worst teams in college football, and three years later left with a championship. What rational person is concerned?
In this one, about the wisdom of re-signing Travis Benjamin, his logic is irrefutable. Unlike some alleged analysts, Craig comprehends that the Rabbit isn't a number one receiver.
But he considers Benjamin a number two outside receiver, as well as a slot guy. He regards the quality of the cornerback as the lone challenge, and ignores the routes and types of coverage.
Travis Benjamin (and Andrew Hawkins) have been forced into playing outside by injuries (and Dwayne Bowe). Outside receivers are often pressed, and physically leveraged outside.
That puts the cornerback roughly between the quarterback and receiver. A good cornerback can bump and jostle a small receiver toward the sideline with his body. It prevents the little guy from getting to full speed as he struggles for balance. He's not where he's supposed to be, and when the passer does find him, any throw is contested, with the cornerback having the advantage.
This is as true for the Z as for the X. Outside is outside.
Slot receivers can be munchkins because they have a two-way go, and are very hard to press. They can't be leveraged outside, because they'll simply go with the leverage, and turn it into a footrace. They also have more room outside.
Travis Benjamin is a slot receiver.
Craig thoughtfully mentioned Josh Gordon as a potential number one, but again ignored Pryor, and seems to think Benjamin is a better number two (Z) than Rodney Hartlinefield.
Craig seems to think any receiver who lacks world class speed shouldn't bother showing up, and that speed trumps height and catch radius...and everything else.
He talks about a "complete overhaul", and describes a team all but devoid of playmakers.
This is common. There are only eleven players on an offense, and six of them are linemen and a quarterback. Of the five remaining, is Barnidge a playmaker? Gordon? Duke? Travis?
Okay, that's four. Why do you keep chanting this mantra? And what is to rebuild? I even left out Andrew Hawkins, and Crowell, who's had a number of explosive plays himself.
Craig is smart, but stubborn. Analysis isn't a series of annual cliches, repeated.
"Playmaker" is a cliche. A label. A box. A good player is a good player. A tall guy with average speed who is money on third down belongs. A guy who gets three carries of over ten yards in a game makes a difference.
Ok I'm sorry. I'm confiscating the phrase "playmaker". You're overusing it. It doesn't mean anything any more. It will be returned to you when you can use it responsibly.
But Craig is right about re-signing Travis Benjamin.
This article on Jared Goff by Nick Master isn't bad, but he screws up badly on the stats. He cites Goff's 14-23 w/l record as a reason for concern.
He mentions (as an aside) his first 1-11 season, then a "but still". No, stop right there. He was a first year starter, and eleven of his twenty three total losses came in that year. He got better in his second season, and became elite in his third. That is what matters.
Nor did he play in a vacuum. No quarterback can single-handedly win a game (well except maybe Cam Newton).
Real scouts will study how he handled blitzes, checked down, used his eyes, placed the ball; his completion percentage, yards per attempt, third down pass efficiency, etc.
Not wins and losses. He played for a small school, and it's a team sport.
Besides, he won most of his games and the Armed Forces Bowl last year.
Goff entered one of the worst teams in college football, and three years later left with a championship. What rational person is concerned?
Monday, February 8, 2016
Free Agent Market: Running Backs Galore
I have defended Isaiah Crowell, even vs some very smart people. Duke Johnson really needs no defending. I don't consider running back as a team need.
But holy cow, there are free agent running backs coming out of the woodwork! The sheer number of them will suppress their contracts. The Browns have to look at this as an opportunity.
Lamar Miller, Doug Martin, and Chris Ivory are really the top three. They're all YOUNG ENOUGH to matter to a young and building team a year away from contention DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
I like LeGarrett Blount a lot, but he's 29 and his style got him all beat up. I know I'll hear his name a lot, because he's a familiar name. That's a non-starter unless Hue thinks he can be a blocking fullback for the league minimum. (Fullbacks are the hittERS and not hitees so they can play longer).
Committees work fine. Talent is talent. More talent is better. Let's see what happens.
But holy cow, there are free agent running backs coming out of the woodwork! The sheer number of them will suppress their contracts. The Browns have to look at this as an opportunity.
Lamar Miller, Doug Martin, and Chris Ivory are really the top three. They're all YOUNG ENOUGH to matter to a young and building team a year away from contention DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
I like LeGarrett Blount a lot, but he's 29 and his style got him all beat up. I know I'll hear his name a lot, because he's a familiar name. That's a non-starter unless Hue thinks he can be a blocking fullback for the league minimum. (Fullbacks are the hittERS and not hitees so they can play longer).
Committees work fine. Talent is talent. More talent is better. Let's see what happens.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Browns Tight Ends and Fullbacks
Joe Wilson wrote another great piece as he assesses different Browns position groups. This one was on tight ends and fullback.
Other than Barnidge and E J Bibbs, Joe isn't high in anybody. Unlike with the running backs, and as usual, I don't dare argue with Joe.
He really does like Bibbs, though. Joe says he has all the tools of a real tight end. But he's between 6'2" and 6'3". Well Joe knows that and said it anyway so amen.
Bibbs can block in-line, and this is what Joe cited as a big issue last season. Per Joe, Barnidge was marginal, and Dray maybe even worse. This is why Cam Erving played tight end in some two tight end sets last season.
The fullbacks couldn't block either.
This is why, if he is there and Miller isn't at pick 32, the Browns will have to look hard at Hunter, by far the best tight end in this draft.
Joe cites the power running scheme that Hue Jackson likes to run. This includes a second tight end or a fullback.
But I just have to remind Joe and the rest of you, we don't yet know if Hue will run the same scheme without the same personnel. And if he is who I think he is, he won't, because that would be stupid.
He's probably already put his order in with Sashi Brown: Tight end who can block, with a side of blocking fullback.
Nothing is etched in stone, either. Joe is right that fullback Malcomb Johnson was bad last season, but he was a rookie, and deserves another shot.
What Joe said about Bibbs was really encouraging too. Bibbs can also play H-Back or even fullback, though he's a long shot at the latter, where shorter is better.
Well, Hunter could be there. Miller first though.
Other than Barnidge and E J Bibbs, Joe isn't high in anybody. Unlike with the running backs, and as usual, I don't dare argue with Joe.
He really does like Bibbs, though. Joe says he has all the tools of a real tight end. But he's between 6'2" and 6'3". Well Joe knows that and said it anyway so amen.
Bibbs can block in-line, and this is what Joe cited as a big issue last season. Per Joe, Barnidge was marginal, and Dray maybe even worse. This is why Cam Erving played tight end in some two tight end sets last season.
The fullbacks couldn't block either.
This is why, if he is there and Miller isn't at pick 32, the Browns will have to look hard at Hunter, by far the best tight end in this draft.
Joe cites the power running scheme that Hue Jackson likes to run. This includes a second tight end or a fullback.
But I just have to remind Joe and the rest of you, we don't yet know if Hue will run the same scheme without the same personnel. And if he is who I think he is, he won't, because that would be stupid.
He's probably already put his order in with Sashi Brown: Tight end who can block, with a side of blocking fullback.
Nothing is etched in stone, either. Joe is right that fullback Malcomb Johnson was bad last season, but he was a rookie, and deserves another shot.
What Joe said about Bibbs was really encouraging too. Bibbs can also play H-Back or even fullback, though he's a long shot at the latter, where shorter is better.
Well, Hunter could be there. Miller first though.
Friday, February 5, 2016
This is a Manziel-free Zone
Just a quickie here: I didn't read Grossi's article yet, but here are reasons for the Browns to move summer camps to Columbus:
1: Expansion of fan base. Columbus is the DMZ between the Browns and Bengals (actually closer to Cinci). Front-running Steelers fans have also imprinted on the first team they saw winning (like baby ducks).
2: Money.
It's not the big deal people make of it. The media guys don't want to drive down there. Not much meaningful happens in shorts and drills; rookies vs rookies.
....sorry I fell asleep there. That's all.
1: Expansion of fan base. Columbus is the DMZ between the Browns and Bengals (actually closer to Cinci). Front-running Steelers fans have also imprinted on the first team they saw winning (like baby ducks).
2: Money.
It's not the big deal people make of it. The media guys don't want to drive down there. Not much meaningful happens in shorts and drills; rookies vs rookies.
....sorry I fell asleep there. That's all.
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