People who think that Hue Jackson wants to retain smurf wide receivers with stone hands aren't thinking.
Who were the smurfs on the Bengals? Uh...Mohammed Sanu?
If a smurf is really special, like Steve Smith or Julian Edelman, well of course he's a keeper. And I can see Hawkins who, when healthy, led the team in receptions. But Gabriel?
Didn't you see all those drops? They kept sitting him back down and bringing him back. He kept dropping passes. At the end, it was anybody but him. Didn't you see that?
Coleman, at 5'11", is the shortest of the four wide receivers drafted, and unlike Ray Farmer, Sashi Brown didn't scour the country for undrafted smurfs either.
Darius Jennings played very well once they had given up on Gabriel--didn't you see that? If you really think they just HAVE TO keep a little tiny guy in order to make sure to cut a draft pick, why Gabriel?
Remember me? I compared Gabriel to Steve Smith. Predicted a great year for him. I was wrong. I admit it.
Microbes are not critical to an offense. There is no rule saying that your slot receiver has to be tiny.
No, I'll predict this right now: Not just Coleman, but Higgins and Payton as well, are almost certain to make this final roster.
I like Hartline, but the latter two do what he does, so I think he's hitting the dusty trail. I also believe Rodney Pryorfield stays, and that's four. This leaves room for Hawkins and...well I won't shovel dirt on Gabriel yet. He did catch well as a rookie, so he might get it back together.
But if not, it's Jennings or somebody they sign.
I have to agree with PFF about Ricardo Lewis so far, but he comes with a big asterisk: If he doesn't start catching the damn ball in a hurry, he should make it to the practice squad.
And he could be converted to safety. He's a terrific athlete. He could (eventually) be a great defender. Maybe even a cornerback!
These are the best excuses I can find for Sashi having drafted him in the fourth round. They just wanted the athlete.
I've done more digging on Seth DeValve, and really think they stole the guy. When you compare him to wide receivers, he's just a guy. But compared to tight ends, he's just a freak. Just a couple inches shorter than the ideal...with a forty inch vertical jump.
He still has room on his frame for more muscle, notably in his lower body. He's very lean now.
He was NOT injured. As we now know, he had a growth plate issue in both feet, which has been corrected. He is healthy.
He's also remarkably intelligent and disciplined. As a tight end, DeValve can make an impact as a receiver as a rookie. He's really the fourth pass-catcher who almost certainly makes this roster.
The pass-catchers are shaping up nicely. We can call DeValve Barnidge II. I can't find that undrafted tight end they just signed, but he's a probable keeper too because he can actually block well in line and is an underrated receiver.
Then you've got your scary deep threats in Coleman and Pryor. If Hawkins makes it, fine. There's a sneaky little guy with sure hands and some speed.
Then you've got the possession guys in Payton and Higgins. It's a nice balance. Hue Jackson can run any offense he wants with the skill players he has. Payton is like Sanu. Higgins is ten pounds away from Hartline.
I would guess that for now it could be up to 50% Baylor offense to make it easy for the new receivers, as well as RG3, but a lot of more conventional stuff as well.
Honestly, I'm finding it harder and harder to remain pessimisticly pragmatic and superstitious. I have to keep reminding myself that letting Mack and Scwartze walk destroyed the entire offensive line and stuff.
By the way, I don't believe RG3 can't succeed without his college offense. He tried to do too much too soon in Washington, and before he was fully healed.
He sputtered, but didn't fall on his face like it's been described. Statistically, he was never even below average.
I have little doubt that he's more advanced now than he was then.
But the Baylor offense is still extremely logical, because of Pryor and Coleman, as well as the guy who put it on the map. That's how they can hit the ground running in 2016.
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Wait the Browns Defense Might Not Suck Either!
Ray Horton has rightfully taken some dings for his post-Arizona defenses. They did tend to fold at crunch-time, and weren't the sack factories he wants.
No, it's not because it's too complicated. Regardless of the alignment, it's attack-oriented, and the players know pre-snap what to do. It's frankly the opposite of the Ryan/Pettine defense because the players play (rather than hesitate and analyze).
Talent does matter. As I've been repeating repeatedly, the pre-off-season roster was quite talented, and was handicapped by a Rubic's Cube scheme.
Paul Kruger doesn't belong in coverage. Tashaun Gipson isn't a strong safety. Whitten shouldn't be in center field. Sometimes simpler is better: Let the players do what they do best, even though the offense will see it coming.
The types of players they drafted should be telling, right?
In Schobert and Scooby, they got instinctive attack guys who make plays in the backfield. Schobert can play outside, as well.
Nassib and Ogbah are passrushers. In fact, every front seven guy on the new roster gets sacks.
The Browns haven't been able to stop the run for years. If you think Ray Horton will fix that all at once, you're too optimistic.
The four inside linebackers who make this team will include three who are very good at stopping the run (as in for zero yards), and should make it very hard to run between the tackles.
Stop thinking it's all on the defensive linemen. Linebackers are the guys who are supposed to hog all the tackles in the NFL. Most defensive linemen are badly overmatched by tailbacks, especially with guys as big as they are hanging on them.
In Ray's scheme, unlike Pettine's, two of the defensive linemen attack gaps, pulling three offensive linemen with them to make big messes in the backfield. A safety and inside linebacker, or two inside linebackers, are there to intercept the running back as he tries to circumnavigate these pile-ups.
The gaps between the pile-ups are predictable, because the aggressive defensive end and tackle are forcing it. When it works as intended, the back's inside gaps are filled.
He can go outside, of course. This defense will be attacked on the perimeter. It will get burned sometimes. You'll have to deal with that.
But Ray doesn't make it easy. The outside linebackers are real passrushers, and will be coming. The left defensive end will sometimes shoot inside. A Schobert or a Scooby won't wait for it-they'll be in the backfield as soon as they read run, and be in pursuit if they can't blow it up.
It's a downhill defense. An Ernie Shavers "You go or I go" defense. Shavers won 9 out of ten fights. Just got knocked out in the ones he lost. His best defense was his offense.
Ray wants to win nine out of ten downs, see?
I don't believe Horton has had this much talent on his more recent teams.
If Mingo and Gilbert get it together, it could be one of the best, right away.
Especially Gilbert, the knucklehead. Even if he's a dumbass, or remains a knucklehead, Horton might just do the "Just don't let that guy catch anything" thing with him.
Ray was a defensive back himself, and might be able to fix him. That would be huge, because his Gilbert's potential is off the charts.
Maybe he'll crap out again I don't know. But then, the Browns did get the 5'11" Jamar Taylor from the Dolphins. Horton and a fresh start might produce a winner here.
Mingo is different. He's serious and works hard. Now he's much bigger and stronger. Ray really likes him.
He could still match up with tight ends in coverage. I can't help thinking that this is what Ray meant when he mentioned "doing what I ask him to do".
You don't want Kruger or Orchard or Ogbah doing that (well Ogbah possibly), but Mingo has the hips for it, and it's very important these days. Tight ends are running rampant. Take that tight end away and good things happen.
No, it's not because it's too complicated. Regardless of the alignment, it's attack-oriented, and the players know pre-snap what to do. It's frankly the opposite of the Ryan/Pettine defense because the players play (rather than hesitate and analyze).
Talent does matter. As I've been repeating repeatedly, the pre-off-season roster was quite talented, and was handicapped by a Rubic's Cube scheme.
Paul Kruger doesn't belong in coverage. Tashaun Gipson isn't a strong safety. Whitten shouldn't be in center field. Sometimes simpler is better: Let the players do what they do best, even though the offense will see it coming.
The types of players they drafted should be telling, right?
In Schobert and Scooby, they got instinctive attack guys who make plays in the backfield. Schobert can play outside, as well.
Nassib and Ogbah are passrushers. In fact, every front seven guy on the new roster gets sacks.
The Browns haven't been able to stop the run for years. If you think Ray Horton will fix that all at once, you're too optimistic.
The four inside linebackers who make this team will include three who are very good at stopping the run (as in for zero yards), and should make it very hard to run between the tackles.
Stop thinking it's all on the defensive linemen. Linebackers are the guys who are supposed to hog all the tackles in the NFL. Most defensive linemen are badly overmatched by tailbacks, especially with guys as big as they are hanging on them.
In Ray's scheme, unlike Pettine's, two of the defensive linemen attack gaps, pulling three offensive linemen with them to make big messes in the backfield. A safety and inside linebacker, or two inside linebackers, are there to intercept the running back as he tries to circumnavigate these pile-ups.
The gaps between the pile-ups are predictable, because the aggressive defensive end and tackle are forcing it. When it works as intended, the back's inside gaps are filled.
He can go outside, of course. This defense will be attacked on the perimeter. It will get burned sometimes. You'll have to deal with that.
But Ray doesn't make it easy. The outside linebackers are real passrushers, and will be coming. The left defensive end will sometimes shoot inside. A Schobert or a Scooby won't wait for it-they'll be in the backfield as soon as they read run, and be in pursuit if they can't blow it up.
It's a downhill defense. An Ernie Shavers "You go or I go" defense. Shavers won 9 out of ten fights. Just got knocked out in the ones he lost. His best defense was his offense.
Ray wants to win nine out of ten downs, see?
I don't believe Horton has had this much talent on his more recent teams.
If Mingo and Gilbert get it together, it could be one of the best, right away.
Especially Gilbert, the knucklehead. Even if he's a dumbass, or remains a knucklehead, Horton might just do the "Just don't let that guy catch anything" thing with him.
Ray was a defensive back himself, and might be able to fix him. That would be huge, because his Gilbert's potential is off the charts.
Maybe he'll crap out again I don't know. But then, the Browns did get the 5'11" Jamar Taylor from the Dolphins. Horton and a fresh start might produce a winner here.
Mingo is different. He's serious and works hard. Now he's much bigger and stronger. Ray really likes him.
He could still match up with tight ends in coverage. I can't help thinking that this is what Ray meant when he mentioned "doing what I ask him to do".
You don't want Kruger or Orchard or Ogbah doing that (well Ogbah possibly), but Mingo has the hips for it, and it's very important these days. Tight ends are running rampant. Take that tight end away and good things happen.
Monday, May 9, 2016
Scary Browns Thoughts: Wait'll they Get a Loada This
The nattering naybobs are starting to come out questioning the Browns Draft picks and doing the woodacooda thing.
I've been strongly tempted to do the same thing, and actually agree with Peter Smith on a couple picks, notably Boeringer, the freak wide receiver who gets dissed much like Terrell Pryor.
But Pete disagrees with Hue about a quarterback. I can't let myself touch that one. I've got to see a coach screw up at least a little before I start thinking I know better than him, ya know?
And Pete was way off on Crowell. I got one question for Peter: WHAT hole!? When there is no hole, he didn't miss the hole. Where did you see a hole?
Peter's right about his not being as balanced, strong, and/or "beast mode"-y as a guy his size should be, but he's still really good with zone-blocking and when there IS a hole.
And the Browns don't need another guard...although Pete sure makes a great case for a studly one that the Bengals got after the Browns passed him up in the third.
I respect Pete, who is fair to everybody except Kessler and Crowell. I wish we could drink some beer and argue about it.
A Pittsburgh writer doesn't think the Browns did a good job of upgrading the pass rush. That guy isn't a dummy either, but he's still wrong.
He says that Ogbah will be learning a whole new position, and in reality so will Nassib.
He's mostly right. Ogbah has rarely rushed the passer from a standing position before. Wow he won't know where to put his feet or anything! He'll be so confused!
Sorry I couldn't help that. Certainly it's much simpler for a down lineman, but let's not go overboard with this transition stuff, and the best passrusher(s) among the outside linebackers WILL be down linemen in sub defenses.
And Nassib hasn't had to worry about the run. He was a defensive end, but not the left end in a Horton defense, where he'll sometimes have to stand up the right tackle and watch the edge and the inside gap.
But in both cases, the Pittsburgh guy doesn't get that these guys are both semi-projects, and aren't expected to make huge impacts as rookies.
Just like a lot of local yokels and black clouds, this guy also doesn't get that Kruger and Mingo can't get much of a pass rush going when they're running around in coverage.
Check it out: Von Miller couldn't either. I can prove it! Show me one play in which Miller covered somebody and got a sack on the same play. See? Is it sinking in yet? Knock-knock anybody home?
On to what I really wanted to talk about. Yep. Pryor.
Gil Brandt was talking about Des Bryant the other day, and how some guy said he only runs like 3 patterns.
Gil chuckled, and said Bryant only needs to run three patterns. Mark (I forget-another former GM) compared it to a pitcher with a 95mph fastball and an 87 mph change-up.
Well?
I thought about this more after discussing the Baylor offense. The thought is that Hue would mix a lot of that in (with the brand new Baylor receiver) to help RG3 get back on his feet.
But isn't it also perfect to give Terrell Pryor a head start?
What do they say about Corey Coleman? He basically only ran two routes. Because he played for Baylor.
Ok so don't you think Terrell Pryor could learn two routes by the end of pre-season?
Actually, he's already learned all the routes, and is more advanced than Coleman is. He'll probably help Coleman learn the rest of the route tree.
It's true that wide receivers have a lot of nuances to learn, and that things look a lot different to a receiver than they do from the pocket.
But I'd bet money that Hue Jackson has already decided to have Pryor focus on two routes for the moment, and will use him in the Baylor offense right away.
Get Coleman going immediately. Put RG3 in his comfort zone. And turn that physical freak ex-quarterback loose.
Coleman. Pryor. Barnidge. Johnson. RG3. I can see Hue grinning from here.
THIS JUST IN: Peter Smith must have read my blog last night because he just talked about how the Baylor offense might help the Browns running game.
He should have had enough class to include a link to my blog, as I have to his article. I can't say more, since he could have seen the Baylor applications for himself, and the bulk of his article was as usual original and smart.
He repeated his "vision" criticism of Crowell which is wrong, but focused on Duke Johnson as the tailback here.
I'd overlooked that. I'd become preoccupied with the bigger, stronger Crowell and the fact that Duke is a good wide receiver.
I also don't like to think about Duke trying to block linebackers in pass protection.
But Pete is right here: Duke as a runner and outlet receiver is a good fit in this Baylor backfield.
The 21 or 22 personnel grouping would force a bigger, somewhat slower defense into the field, whereas only one running back would bring out a nickel or dime defense, even if one of the receivers was wing tight end DeValve.
That might not be as effective, as the two faster defenders on the "slot" guys could cheat inside a little further, and coverage specialists could sometimes defeat picks by switching assignments. In fact, in this case Crowell might still be the better option as a runner, if he can start blasting these little guys instead of trying to scrape by them.
Still, Johnson has more big plays in him, is better in the open field, is surprisingly hard to take down (wish Crowell would learn something from him there), and can't be covered as a tailback.
Crow might sometimes stay in to handle pass rush leakage, but Duke could flare out as an outlet receiver, with those big gaps on either side to exploit.
Any combination could work.
But I still just can't wait to see Terell Pryor and Cory Coleman on the same field, running the same two patterns, with RG3 back in Baylor...I'm all a-twitter.
I've been strongly tempted to do the same thing, and actually agree with Peter Smith on a couple picks, notably Boeringer, the freak wide receiver who gets dissed much like Terrell Pryor.
But Pete disagrees with Hue about a quarterback. I can't let myself touch that one. I've got to see a coach screw up at least a little before I start thinking I know better than him, ya know?
And Pete was way off on Crowell. I got one question for Peter: WHAT hole!? When there is no hole, he didn't miss the hole. Where did you see a hole?
Peter's right about his not being as balanced, strong, and/or "beast mode"-y as a guy his size should be, but he's still really good with zone-blocking and when there IS a hole.
And the Browns don't need another guard...although Pete sure makes a great case for a studly one that the Bengals got after the Browns passed him up in the third.
I respect Pete, who is fair to everybody except Kessler and Crowell. I wish we could drink some beer and argue about it.
A Pittsburgh writer doesn't think the Browns did a good job of upgrading the pass rush. That guy isn't a dummy either, but he's still wrong.
He says that Ogbah will be learning a whole new position, and in reality so will Nassib.
He's mostly right. Ogbah has rarely rushed the passer from a standing position before. Wow he won't know where to put his feet or anything! He'll be so confused!
Sorry I couldn't help that. Certainly it's much simpler for a down lineman, but let's not go overboard with this transition stuff, and the best passrusher(s) among the outside linebackers WILL be down linemen in sub defenses.
And Nassib hasn't had to worry about the run. He was a defensive end, but not the left end in a Horton defense, where he'll sometimes have to stand up the right tackle and watch the edge and the inside gap.
But in both cases, the Pittsburgh guy doesn't get that these guys are both semi-projects, and aren't expected to make huge impacts as rookies.
Just like a lot of local yokels and black clouds, this guy also doesn't get that Kruger and Mingo can't get much of a pass rush going when they're running around in coverage.
Check it out: Von Miller couldn't either. I can prove it! Show me one play in which Miller covered somebody and got a sack on the same play. See? Is it sinking in yet? Knock-knock anybody home?
On to what I really wanted to talk about. Yep. Pryor.
Gil Brandt was talking about Des Bryant the other day, and how some guy said he only runs like 3 patterns.
Gil chuckled, and said Bryant only needs to run three patterns. Mark (I forget-another former GM) compared it to a pitcher with a 95mph fastball and an 87 mph change-up.
Well?
I thought about this more after discussing the Baylor offense. The thought is that Hue would mix a lot of that in (with the brand new Baylor receiver) to help RG3 get back on his feet.
But isn't it also perfect to give Terrell Pryor a head start?
What do they say about Corey Coleman? He basically only ran two routes. Because he played for Baylor.
Ok so don't you think Terrell Pryor could learn two routes by the end of pre-season?
Actually, he's already learned all the routes, and is more advanced than Coleman is. He'll probably help Coleman learn the rest of the route tree.
It's true that wide receivers have a lot of nuances to learn, and that things look a lot different to a receiver than they do from the pocket.
But I'd bet money that Hue Jackson has already decided to have Pryor focus on two routes for the moment, and will use him in the Baylor offense right away.
Get Coleman going immediately. Put RG3 in his comfort zone. And turn that physical freak ex-quarterback loose.
Coleman. Pryor. Barnidge. Johnson. RG3. I can see Hue grinning from here.
THIS JUST IN: Peter Smith must have read my blog last night because he just talked about how the Baylor offense might help the Browns running game.
He should have had enough class to include a link to my blog, as I have to his article. I can't say more, since he could have seen the Baylor applications for himself, and the bulk of his article was as usual original and smart.
He repeated his "vision" criticism of Crowell which is wrong, but focused on Duke Johnson as the tailback here.
I'd overlooked that. I'd become preoccupied with the bigger, stronger Crowell and the fact that Duke is a good wide receiver.
I also don't like to think about Duke trying to block linebackers in pass protection.
But Pete is right here: Duke as a runner and outlet receiver is a good fit in this Baylor backfield.
The 21 or 22 personnel grouping would force a bigger, somewhat slower defense into the field, whereas only one running back would bring out a nickel or dime defense, even if one of the receivers was wing tight end DeValve.
That might not be as effective, as the two faster defenders on the "slot" guys could cheat inside a little further, and coverage specialists could sometimes defeat picks by switching assignments. In fact, in this case Crowell might still be the better option as a runner, if he can start blasting these little guys instead of trying to scrape by them.
Still, Johnson has more big plays in him, is better in the open field, is surprisingly hard to take down (wish Crowell would learn something from him there), and can't be covered as a tailback.
Crow might sometimes stay in to handle pass rush leakage, but Duke could flare out as an outlet receiver, with those big gaps on either side to exploit.
Any combination could work.
But I still just can't wait to see Terell Pryor and Cory Coleman on the same field, running the same two patterns, with RG3 back in Baylor...I'm all a-twitter.
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Hue Lets the Dawgs Out
Dawgs By Nature wrote one of the most comprehensive and Best Browns Draft Analysis I've ever read. I kept waiting to read something stupid or ignorant, and it just never came.
Chris Pokorny should get some kind of award for this piece. He included links to an analytics expert's take on each player which was in turn impressive.
Naturally, you don't want to check that out before you read my own humbly brilliant insights:
Hue Jackson can't run only a Baylor offense in the NFL. NFL defenses will figure out how to beat any one scheme, and every scheme has weaknesses.
But Hue can sometimes use the same personnel for the Baylor that he does in a conventional 21 or even 22 pro set (two backs one tight end or two backs two tight ends).
This puts the defense in a base personnel. Some defenses would use a big nickel, replacing one run-stopper with a safety/linebacker hybrid or a box safety. That's the Duke Johnson effect.
This is a run grouping they'll see trotting to the offensive huddle, and they can't go little.
Now, when the huddle breaks, Barnidge and Duke, along with Coleman and new tight end Seth DeValve or somebody, go way outside, past the slot.
This is bad news for the defense. The two cornerbacks go to the outermost receivers. Who goes with Duke and Gary?
Well, one of the conventional safeties almost has to go with Duke, but the other one can't commit and leave the deep middle a vacuum waiting to be filled. He has to hang back and plug the inevitable leak.
Depending on if it's base or big nickel, it's the strong box safety or a linebacker (inside, or weak side, never a 3-4 OLB) who has to go say hi to Gary Barnidge.
Now you've got a free safety (sweating profusely) hanging back in center field, and the other safety and a linebacker way over in the cornfield, leaving six guys in the box.
It's RG3 in the pistol, and he's got Crow next to him, so they can't sell out blitzing. They have to try to overpower the center and maintain containment outside.
Crow can block, or run, or catch. Most defenses will blitze one guy just to try to pin the running back in the backfield and take him off the table as a receiver.
From here, the Browns can run a read-option, pitchout, rollout, or anything else.
Note: If it's a run, it could go to either side of the field. That is, the defenders will not be able to flood the weak side and ignore the strong side, as they did for the first twelve games of last season DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
The clustered receivers have another advantage, as they can crisscross and make the defenders run around each other, opening them up.
Corey Coleman is from Baylor. One of the two knocks on him is the limited route tree he ran there. Vertical or inside cross.
Interestingly, this could kill a third bird with one stone: Terrell Pryor could play in this offense immediately.
This is especially bad for a defender when the outside receiver goes horizontal across the middle. He is left in pursuit, trying to catch up.
That's what the deep safety is there for, of course, but he's going to be late. This pick could be run on both sides, and at least one receiver will almost always race vertically down the sidelines to pressure that safety.
If Crow gets the ball, he has acres of space to exploit. On the strong or the weak side.
The Browns couldn't do this all the time, of course. They need to be able to load up in short yardage, and some defenses won't be as vulnerable to the Baylor as others.
You can't use motion or run bubble screens out of this set.
The Browns drafted four receivers, including DeValve. DeValve is like EJ Bibbs, and could knock him off the team. The undrafted sleeper tight end (Holtz) also has a good chance, as he can block in-line. That guy could, in fact, be Barnidge's eventual replacement.
Three tight ends. Higgins and Jordon Payton are kind of like Hartline, and could knock him out.
Nobody is like Hawkins, but he's been hurt, and I don't know if Hue will see the need for microbes.
Chris thinks they'll keep six wide receivers, and may be right. Chris even agrees with me that Rodney Pryorfield should have time to prove himself and, if released, be among the last (and don't bet on that.)
Here's another refreshing article by a guy who might have stole his material from me.
Many of you will laugh at him, as he concludes by saying 9-7 wouldn't surprise him.
You might find that optimistic (me too), but you shouldn't laugh at people who back up everything they say as well as this guy did.
He's right: RG3 isn't a bumb, and Hue Jackson will make an RG3-friendly offense. The offensive line lost two, not four, players, and isn't a shambles at all. Corey Coleman joins Barnidge, Duke, and Crow as a pretty good skill quartet.
Heard they cut Scott Solomon. I was afraid of that. Stay tuned on that guy, though. He's good. He'll be around.
The Browns will now be releasing some pretty good players. Wow, that didn't take long!
Chris Pokorny should get some kind of award for this piece. He included links to an analytics expert's take on each player which was in turn impressive.
Naturally, you don't want to check that out before you read my own humbly brilliant insights:
Hue Jackson can't run only a Baylor offense in the NFL. NFL defenses will figure out how to beat any one scheme, and every scheme has weaknesses.
But Hue can sometimes use the same personnel for the Baylor that he does in a conventional 21 or even 22 pro set (two backs one tight end or two backs two tight ends).
This puts the defense in a base personnel. Some defenses would use a big nickel, replacing one run-stopper with a safety/linebacker hybrid or a box safety. That's the Duke Johnson effect.
This is a run grouping they'll see trotting to the offensive huddle, and they can't go little.
Now, when the huddle breaks, Barnidge and Duke, along with Coleman and new tight end Seth DeValve or somebody, go way outside, past the slot.
This is bad news for the defense. The two cornerbacks go to the outermost receivers. Who goes with Duke and Gary?
Well, one of the conventional safeties almost has to go with Duke, but the other one can't commit and leave the deep middle a vacuum waiting to be filled. He has to hang back and plug the inevitable leak.
Depending on if it's base or big nickel, it's the strong box safety or a linebacker (inside, or weak side, never a 3-4 OLB) who has to go say hi to Gary Barnidge.
Now you've got a free safety (sweating profusely) hanging back in center field, and the other safety and a linebacker way over in the cornfield, leaving six guys in the box.
It's RG3 in the pistol, and he's got Crow next to him, so they can't sell out blitzing. They have to try to overpower the center and maintain containment outside.
Crow can block, or run, or catch. Most defenses will blitze one guy just to try to pin the running back in the backfield and take him off the table as a receiver.
From here, the Browns can run a read-option, pitchout, rollout, or anything else.
Note: If it's a run, it could go to either side of the field. That is, the defenders will not be able to flood the weak side and ignore the strong side, as they did for the first twelve games of last season DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
The clustered receivers have another advantage, as they can crisscross and make the defenders run around each other, opening them up.
Corey Coleman is from Baylor. One of the two knocks on him is the limited route tree he ran there. Vertical or inside cross.
Interestingly, this could kill a third bird with one stone: Terrell Pryor could play in this offense immediately.
This is especially bad for a defender when the outside receiver goes horizontal across the middle. He is left in pursuit, trying to catch up.
That's what the deep safety is there for, of course, but he's going to be late. This pick could be run on both sides, and at least one receiver will almost always race vertically down the sidelines to pressure that safety.
If Crow gets the ball, he has acres of space to exploit. On the strong or the weak side.
The Browns couldn't do this all the time, of course. They need to be able to load up in short yardage, and some defenses won't be as vulnerable to the Baylor as others.
You can't use motion or run bubble screens out of this set.
The Browns drafted four receivers, including DeValve. DeValve is like EJ Bibbs, and could knock him off the team. The undrafted sleeper tight end (Holtz) also has a good chance, as he can block in-line. That guy could, in fact, be Barnidge's eventual replacement.
Three tight ends. Higgins and Jordon Payton are kind of like Hartline, and could knock him out.
Nobody is like Hawkins, but he's been hurt, and I don't know if Hue will see the need for microbes.
Chris thinks they'll keep six wide receivers, and may be right. Chris even agrees with me that Rodney Pryorfield should have time to prove himself and, if released, be among the last (and don't bet on that.)
Here's another refreshing article by a guy who might have stole his material from me.
Many of you will laugh at him, as he concludes by saying 9-7 wouldn't surprise him.
You might find that optimistic (me too), but you shouldn't laugh at people who back up everything they say as well as this guy did.
He's right: RG3 isn't a bumb, and Hue Jackson will make an RG3-friendly offense. The offensive line lost two, not four, players, and isn't a shambles at all. Corey Coleman joins Barnidge, Duke, and Crow as a pretty good skill quartet.
Heard they cut Scott Solomon. I was afraid of that. Stay tuned on that guy, though. He's good. He'll be around.
The Browns will now be releasing some pretty good players. Wow, that didn't take long!
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Cleveland Browns: We're Not All Gonna Die Yet
I admit to never having heard of the Browns undrafted free agents (or half the draft picks). I lack the time and software to dig into them all, but fortunately I have help.
Thomas Moore (Fansided) alerted me to four of them to keep an eye on. Thomas is really good at building in quotes from smart people on these guys, rather than just being opinionated like me.
Craddock is a kicker, and I can't get too excited about him, but since he is a very good kicker, he has a real shot.
Mike Matthews' reviews are confusing. Tom does us the favor of saying that he is expected to be a backup.
It would be nice to have a Matthews on the roster again. Mike didn't inherit all the great genetic stuff physically, but we can safely assume that he's a brain and that his technique is already perfect.
It's unfortunate that he's only 6'2" without extra-long arms. Centers with longer arms are very desirable, since the farther he can stretch his right hand out to grip the ball, the farther away the entire offensive line can set up from the defensive line.
I hope he makes the cut, though, because not only Erving, but the other young guys, can learn a lot from this guy.
And because he's a Matthews, he really could be a sleeper.
Tight end J.P. Holtz could definitely be a sleeper. His college scheme required him to block a lot, but Tom (and those he quotes) describe him as a very good receiver too.
This should sound familiar, since Gary Barnidge was always a good receiver. In his case, it wasn't only his scheme, but the fact that he played behind high draft picks.
Holtz has a great chance of sticking around, since he is already a good in-line blocker. Barnidge and the wr/te just drafted are not. (In fairness, Barnidge is competent, but you don't waste him like that when you lack wide receivers).
Stample is a great inside run-stuffer well-suited to play nose tackle in a conventional 3-4.
Thomas seems to see more of a need for more of these guys than I do on this defense, though. Still, aside from the fact that Lawrence-Stample is a compact 6'1", his description matches that of John Hughes, who is older, under contract, and tradeable.
Among the draftees, Ricardo James is a potential sleeper. CBS Sports (probably Rang--that's the link) bottom lined him as a backup or big slot guy, but I can't fathom why.
He dropped a lot of passes, which of course is a huge red flag (especially for me). I wouldn't have touched this guy before the fourth round.
The drops are the big drawback. We have experienced Greg Little and Braylon Edwards here, so we bristle when we see that.
But I'm a geezer, so I remember that Jerry Rice dropped passes in college and as a rookie before doing what he did (btw also clocking over 4.6 in the 40).
Locally, I remember Webster Slaughter. He had a vision issue which messed up his depth perception. He dropped passes, until this was corrected. Then he became mister reliable.
Tim Couch's go-to guy (not going to look up his name here) was a converted quarterback who wore out the jugs machines practicing one-handed.
Girl Brandt said "You can coach hands. You can't coach tall, or fast".
Ricardo is blistering fast, big, and strong. He gets open, and he's lethal after the catch. If the Browns coaches can fix his stone hands, he's a stud, period. I mean a number one receiver.
Fortunately, the current regime is necessarily patient. I know that the vast majority of fans with 3 digit IQ's are as well (no offense to the rest of you honest).
The damned Steelers just reloaded, and could even be the top AFC Superbowl contenders now.
The cornerback they drafted high last season and lost to injury will return to health, and now they've added a corner/safety hybrid and another cornerback...along with a really disruptive pia interior defensive lineman dammit.
Now they get that damn running back with the funny name back too. Miller retires ok-they nabbed a tight end who's even BETTER oh god make it stop...
They're going to cut through the NFL like a hot knife through butter.
The Browns could knock off the perennially overrated Ravens once or twice, and outcoach the Bengals once if the stars align, but .500?
Grow up. Hue will spew but this is a rebuilding season, period.
Oh make no mistake: RG3 did what RG3 did, Hue Jackson is Hue Jackson, the defense was already very talented, and...ok but Steelers/Bengals not just yet.
You will get this part: The 16 Browns might win enough games to make absolutely sure that they can't get the number one pick no matter what. Even Black Cloud can see that.
But I cherish some hope for RG3 or Kessler.
Another article asked if running back is ok. It sort of made fun of Hue Jackson gushing over Crowell and Johnson. It pointed out that Crowell's average is now 3.8 ypc, behind an elite offensive line.
I must repeat myself here: The modified blocking scheme and run-left-only idiocy for most of last season got Crowell torpedoed and buried under mountains of defensive flesh for the majority of last season.
I have no access to these statistics here, but I'll bet if you isolate the last four games of 2015, Crowell probably averaged over 5 ypc, the bulk of it running to the strong side.
They didn't use a fullback and the blocking tight ends sucked. The team was pass-oriented because it was constantly coming from behind, and Crowell rarely had the chance to wear defenses down.
The underestimation of Isaiah Crowell is shallow and lazy and just plain dumb.
Hue MEANT what he said! Crowell and Johnson ARE more talented than the duo he had in Cincinnati!
Stop thinking Hue Jackson is a little kid, or a liar.
The Browns just added a lot of talent at wide receiver, tight end, linebacker, and defensive line. And safety. And offensive line.
Thomas Moore (Fansided) alerted me to four of them to keep an eye on. Thomas is really good at building in quotes from smart people on these guys, rather than just being opinionated like me.
Craddock is a kicker, and I can't get too excited about him, but since he is a very good kicker, he has a real shot.
Mike Matthews' reviews are confusing. Tom does us the favor of saying that he is expected to be a backup.
It would be nice to have a Matthews on the roster again. Mike didn't inherit all the great genetic stuff physically, but we can safely assume that he's a brain and that his technique is already perfect.
It's unfortunate that he's only 6'2" without extra-long arms. Centers with longer arms are very desirable, since the farther he can stretch his right hand out to grip the ball, the farther away the entire offensive line can set up from the defensive line.
I hope he makes the cut, though, because not only Erving, but the other young guys, can learn a lot from this guy.
And because he's a Matthews, he really could be a sleeper.
Tight end J.P. Holtz could definitely be a sleeper. His college scheme required him to block a lot, but Tom (and those he quotes) describe him as a very good receiver too.
This should sound familiar, since Gary Barnidge was always a good receiver. In his case, it wasn't only his scheme, but the fact that he played behind high draft picks.
Holtz has a great chance of sticking around, since he is already a good in-line blocker. Barnidge and the wr/te just drafted are not. (In fairness, Barnidge is competent, but you don't waste him like that when you lack wide receivers).
Stample is a great inside run-stuffer well-suited to play nose tackle in a conventional 3-4.
Thomas seems to see more of a need for more of these guys than I do on this defense, though. Still, aside from the fact that Lawrence-Stample is a compact 6'1", his description matches that of John Hughes, who is older, under contract, and tradeable.
Among the draftees, Ricardo James is a potential sleeper. CBS Sports (probably Rang--that's the link) bottom lined him as a backup or big slot guy, but I can't fathom why.
He dropped a lot of passes, which of course is a huge red flag (especially for me). I wouldn't have touched this guy before the fourth round.
The drops are the big drawback. We have experienced Greg Little and Braylon Edwards here, so we bristle when we see that.
But I'm a geezer, so I remember that Jerry Rice dropped passes in college and as a rookie before doing what he did (btw also clocking over 4.6 in the 40).
Locally, I remember Webster Slaughter. He had a vision issue which messed up his depth perception. He dropped passes, until this was corrected. Then he became mister reliable.
Tim Couch's go-to guy (not going to look up his name here) was a converted quarterback who wore out the jugs machines practicing one-handed.
Girl Brandt said "You can coach hands. You can't coach tall, or fast".
Ricardo is blistering fast, big, and strong. He gets open, and he's lethal after the catch. If the Browns coaches can fix his stone hands, he's a stud, period. I mean a number one receiver.
Fortunately, the current regime is necessarily patient. I know that the vast majority of fans with 3 digit IQ's are as well (no offense to the rest of you honest).
The damned Steelers just reloaded, and could even be the top AFC Superbowl contenders now.
The cornerback they drafted high last season and lost to injury will return to health, and now they've added a corner/safety hybrid and another cornerback...along with a really disruptive pia interior defensive lineman dammit.
Now they get that damn running back with the funny name back too. Miller retires ok-they nabbed a tight end who's even BETTER oh god make it stop...
They're going to cut through the NFL like a hot knife through butter.
The Browns could knock off the perennially overrated Ravens once or twice, and outcoach the Bengals once if the stars align, but .500?
Grow up. Hue will spew but this is a rebuilding season, period.
Oh make no mistake: RG3 did what RG3 did, Hue Jackson is Hue Jackson, the defense was already very talented, and...ok but Steelers/Bengals not just yet.
You will get this part: The 16 Browns might win enough games to make absolutely sure that they can't get the number one pick no matter what. Even Black Cloud can see that.
But I cherish some hope for RG3 or Kessler.
Another article asked if running back is ok. It sort of made fun of Hue Jackson gushing over Crowell and Johnson. It pointed out that Crowell's average is now 3.8 ypc, behind an elite offensive line.
I must repeat myself here: The modified blocking scheme and run-left-only idiocy for most of last season got Crowell torpedoed and buried under mountains of defensive flesh for the majority of last season.
I have no access to these statistics here, but I'll bet if you isolate the last four games of 2015, Crowell probably averaged over 5 ypc, the bulk of it running to the strong side.
They didn't use a fullback and the blocking tight ends sucked. The team was pass-oriented because it was constantly coming from behind, and Crowell rarely had the chance to wear defenses down.
The underestimation of Isaiah Crowell is shallow and lazy and just plain dumb.
Hue MEANT what he said! Crowell and Johnson ARE more talented than the duo he had in Cincinnati!
Stop thinking Hue Jackson is a little kid, or a liar.
The Browns just added a lot of talent at wide receiver, tight end, linebacker, and defensive line. And safety. And offensive line.
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Browns Quarterbacks: They Don't Suck.
On Kessler: The consensus on this guy is that he has a high floor and a low ceiling. That is, he can become a really good backup, or a journeyman starter.
I like Terry Pluto's analysis here, as he zeroes right in on the main issue: Kessler has done poorly on passes of over twenty yards.
As Terry points out, the "franchise" guys hit around 50% on these. Kessler is down around...was it 32%? 29%? Anyway pretty bad.
But Terry knows what Hue knows. While this statistic does indeed separate the men from the boys, accuracy is more important.
As Jim Miller taught me, and Greg Cosell concedes, and Tom Brady has proven, arm strength can be enhanced over time.
Most immediately, fine-tuning footwork and other mechanics gets a new quarterback off to a good start.
Per Miller, the rest is mostly drudgery: Throwing a lot, for distance and velocity (weight training doesn't help).
Kessler doesn't have a weak arm. Just an "adequate" arm. Bob Rang (I think) honed in on hesitation, or indecision, on deep routes, as well.
But Hue said "you've got to trust me on this one", and I literally do.
To me, the criticisms of Kessler seem a little over the top. More precisely, the standard he falls short of is that of a franchise quarterback. If Wentz succeeds and Kessler fails...really? Really?
Is he accurate? Extremely. Does he make good decisions? Absolutely. Can he evade pressure? Yup. Is he a leader? Indubitably.
The low percentages on twenty-plus yard throws are definitely a concern here, but not the fact that he's only about as tall as Aaron Rodgers, or loses accuracy throwing on the run (like Tom Brady).
Hue seems to think he can fix everything that's REALLY wrong with Kessler. So far, per consensus, that's deep accuracy. Period.
I don't believe Kessler can unseat RG3 as the starter any time soon. For one thing, that deep passing stuff isn't natural for him, and will take time.
Another reason is this: Coacheze aside, Hue Jackson appears to be adapting his offense to RG3 already, in some of the ways Mike Shanahan did in his rookie season.
As I learned from the linked article (which you should check out after reading my own humbly brilliant insights), the Baylor offense isn't a gimmick. Defenses can't come up with answers to it as easily as they did the read-option or wildcat. It's a legitimate scheme with the legs to last.
Later, when you click the link, you'll see it's a four-wide. The weaknesses are obvious: No in-line tight end or fullback. The quarterback is more vulnerable, especially from the edge.
There are other disadvantages, but I'll get to those later if I feel like it, and anyway the really smart guy who wrote the article covered it.
The advantages are many. Like any four wide, it forces the defense to run a dime defense, and take a passrusher/run defender (or two) off the field.
Nowadays with 3-4 wides the rule rather than the exception, teams seek out linebacker/safety and safety/cornerback hybrids, and load up on defensive backs. Hue Jackson can't nurse any delusions about replicating Griffin's rookie success in Washington.
Still, the four wide stresses depth, and wears down secondaries. It's also harder to find really good coverage guys than it is to find big guys, and you know, they get hurt a lot, you know?
The Baylor offense pushes the two slot guys to the outside next to the outside receivers. This, in turn, draws two defenders further outside (and away from the pocket, quarterback, and tailback).
In the Browns version of this, Gary Barnidge (and possibly the wide receiver they just drafted to play tight end) are two of the "slot" guys lined up next to the real wide receivers.
Defenses have an answer: the Big Dime. If they're lucky, they have a safety/linebacker hybrid they think can hang with the big guy, and they position him somewhat inside, since the slot guy is more likely to break inside at some point, and you want that guy biased inside, against the run.
Ideally, the offense has two deep threats, and can put one on each side. This forces the two remaining coverage guys (usually safeties) to play backed off somewhat, and away from the box.
This offense makes zone coverage impractical, if not impossible. It forces some version of man coverage because the receivers are clustered. This is easy for the quarterback to read pre-snap.
Now, you have a bunch of small, fast people , four of which are lined up way over here and way over there (with one cluster closer, of course, but I won't get into that here), and two more little guys kind of more inside but still backed up ten or so yards and in predictable locations, see?
This leaves five defenders to rush the passer, and as the first line of defense vs the run. You have five blockers. They can only send five passrushers.
Would play action work here, do you think? I do! Because this defense is terrified of the run. Because the running back has massive open space to exploit before the little guys can converge on him.
Oh, but it's much, much worse than that. The defense will know that Hue wants to protect RG3, but also that he might be the fastest guy on the field, and can be very painful if he isn't contained by a disciplined rush, or if he simply decides or is intended to gouge them with his legs.
I must digress here: RG3 has been hurt badly, and isn't very big, but is not made of glass. He is also very intelligent, and given his personal experience and Hue's guidance, can certainly master the complexities of the sidelines and the hook slide.
In fact, some of the RG3-bashing I've heard is racist. That accounts for at least half the dirt that's been shoveled onto his premature coffin in his premature career grave.
Since I'm digressing anyway, RG3 is an exceptional deep passer by the way.
End of digression: The Baylor offense lends itself to major gougery in the running game, plus dumpoff passes.
There is literally a blocker for every run defender in the box, and the guy the running back needs to make miss or run over won't reach him til he's a yard or four downfield.
Versus that much defensive speed, huge plays aren't to be expected.
Just you know, like 3, 6, 13, 22, and maybe 30 yard gains, is all.
So we'll still need a running back since so far we only have one playmayger who can consistently score from 50 yards out...jeez...
I like Terry Pluto's analysis here, as he zeroes right in on the main issue: Kessler has done poorly on passes of over twenty yards.
As Terry points out, the "franchise" guys hit around 50% on these. Kessler is down around...was it 32%? 29%? Anyway pretty bad.
But Terry knows what Hue knows. While this statistic does indeed separate the men from the boys, accuracy is more important.
As Jim Miller taught me, and Greg Cosell concedes, and Tom Brady has proven, arm strength can be enhanced over time.
Most immediately, fine-tuning footwork and other mechanics gets a new quarterback off to a good start.
Per Miller, the rest is mostly drudgery: Throwing a lot, for distance and velocity (weight training doesn't help).
Kessler doesn't have a weak arm. Just an "adequate" arm. Bob Rang (I think) honed in on hesitation, or indecision, on deep routes, as well.
But Hue said "you've got to trust me on this one", and I literally do.
To me, the criticisms of Kessler seem a little over the top. More precisely, the standard he falls short of is that of a franchise quarterback. If Wentz succeeds and Kessler fails...really? Really?
Is he accurate? Extremely. Does he make good decisions? Absolutely. Can he evade pressure? Yup. Is he a leader? Indubitably.
The low percentages on twenty-plus yard throws are definitely a concern here, but not the fact that he's only about as tall as Aaron Rodgers, or loses accuracy throwing on the run (like Tom Brady).
Hue seems to think he can fix everything that's REALLY wrong with Kessler. So far, per consensus, that's deep accuracy. Period.
I don't believe Kessler can unseat RG3 as the starter any time soon. For one thing, that deep passing stuff isn't natural for him, and will take time.
Another reason is this: Coacheze aside, Hue Jackson appears to be adapting his offense to RG3 already, in some of the ways Mike Shanahan did in his rookie season.
As I learned from the linked article (which you should check out after reading my own humbly brilliant insights), the Baylor offense isn't a gimmick. Defenses can't come up with answers to it as easily as they did the read-option or wildcat. It's a legitimate scheme with the legs to last.
Later, when you click the link, you'll see it's a four-wide. The weaknesses are obvious: No in-line tight end or fullback. The quarterback is more vulnerable, especially from the edge.
There are other disadvantages, but I'll get to those later if I feel like it, and anyway the really smart guy who wrote the article covered it.
The advantages are many. Like any four wide, it forces the defense to run a dime defense, and take a passrusher/run defender (or two) off the field.
Nowadays with 3-4 wides the rule rather than the exception, teams seek out linebacker/safety and safety/cornerback hybrids, and load up on defensive backs. Hue Jackson can't nurse any delusions about replicating Griffin's rookie success in Washington.
Still, the four wide stresses depth, and wears down secondaries. It's also harder to find really good coverage guys than it is to find big guys, and you know, they get hurt a lot, you know?
The Baylor offense pushes the two slot guys to the outside next to the outside receivers. This, in turn, draws two defenders further outside (and away from the pocket, quarterback, and tailback).
In the Browns version of this, Gary Barnidge (and possibly the wide receiver they just drafted to play tight end) are two of the "slot" guys lined up next to the real wide receivers.
Defenses have an answer: the Big Dime. If they're lucky, they have a safety/linebacker hybrid they think can hang with the big guy, and they position him somewhat inside, since the slot guy is more likely to break inside at some point, and you want that guy biased inside, against the run.
Ideally, the offense has two deep threats, and can put one on each side. This forces the two remaining coverage guys (usually safeties) to play backed off somewhat, and away from the box.
This offense makes zone coverage impractical, if not impossible. It forces some version of man coverage because the receivers are clustered. This is easy for the quarterback to read pre-snap.
Now, you have a bunch of small, fast people , four of which are lined up way over here and way over there (with one cluster closer, of course, but I won't get into that here), and two more little guys kind of more inside but still backed up ten or so yards and in predictable locations, see?
This leaves five defenders to rush the passer, and as the first line of defense vs the run. You have five blockers. They can only send five passrushers.
Would play action work here, do you think? I do! Because this defense is terrified of the run. Because the running back has massive open space to exploit before the little guys can converge on him.
Oh, but it's much, much worse than that. The defense will know that Hue wants to protect RG3, but also that he might be the fastest guy on the field, and can be very painful if he isn't contained by a disciplined rush, or if he simply decides or is intended to gouge them with his legs.
I must digress here: RG3 has been hurt badly, and isn't very big, but is not made of glass. He is also very intelligent, and given his personal experience and Hue's guidance, can certainly master the complexities of the sidelines and the hook slide.
In fact, some of the RG3-bashing I've heard is racist. That accounts for at least half the dirt that's been shoveled onto his premature coffin in his premature career grave.
Since I'm digressing anyway, RG3 is an exceptional deep passer by the way.
End of digression: The Baylor offense lends itself to major gougery in the running game, plus dumpoff passes.
There is literally a blocker for every run defender in the box, and the guy the running back needs to make miss or run over won't reach him til he's a yard or four downfield.
Versus that much defensive speed, huge plays aren't to be expected.
Just you know, like 3, 6, 13, 22, and maybe 30 yard gains, is all.
So we'll still need a running back since so far we only have one playmayger who can consistently score from 50 yards out...jeez...
Browns Linebackers, Wide Receivers FIXED.
As we saw in this draft, analytics doesn't only mean bigger faster stronger. In most cases, the Sashi and Hue prioritized production.
The best examples of this were the two inside linebackers, Joe Schobert and Scooby Wright.
Neither is a physical specimen, or very fast. But they are complete linebackers who can cover, shed blocks, stop the run, and blitze.
What makes them exceptional values where they were drafted is the single most valuable (and hard to quantify) trait an inside linebacker can have: Recognition.
Some call this an intangible, but it can be seen and measured in game tapes.
If you run them in slow motion starting just prior to a snap, you can see which (non-lineman) defender moves first. This is the guy who senses where the ball is going, and has the confidence to commit. Your 40 time doesn't matter when you're a step ahead of everybody else.
Another trait these two have in common is aggressiveness. Many linebackers pile up lots of tackles, but when you look deeper, you see that most of these tackles are after one to five yard gains, and from behind.
Scooby and Joe are disruptors who choose gaps and attack them to get tackles for losses.
Scooby gets dinged for being on the ground too often. CBS Sports says he needs to reign his energy in.
I believe that means he gets suckered by cutbacks. It's easy to get decked when you're trying to stop and turn around against the flow.
This is less something a Ray Horton will coach out of him than something he'll correct through experience.
Mike Pettine would stress lane discipline more than Ray Horton will.
It's great that the Browns drafted Schobert first. While he's similar to Wright, he is more disciplined, and Scooby will benefit from this competition.
The last thing you want to do to a linebacker with great recognition and anticipation is put a leash on him. Without that head start his eyes and brain give him, he becomes just another guy.
What all the receivers have in common is an ability to separate and YAC. These are West Coast traits, but also Air Coryall and Norv Turner traits.
Not since Josh Gordon have the Browns had a real deep threat. Benjamin had the speed, but not the length or catch radius.
Coleman is four inches taller, and physical enough not to be jostled by wind gusts.
I still insist that Terrell Pryor is heavily in this mix, and can ultimately emerge as another Gordon, but Coleman has already proven it.
However, just like Pryor, he needs a lot of work. As you've heard and read, he ran a very short and stunted route tree, and doesn't have much experience outside of the slot.
It's okay though. Sashi and company are also going for upside over pro readiness, which is why they chose Coleman over Mel Kuiper's more obvious wide receiver in the first round.
A lot of these guys seem incapable of grasping this reality: The Browns admit to themselves that they won't be kicking the Bengals or Steelers to the curb any time soon.
That seems unthinkable to most football people (and pundits). What "message does this send to your players?"
Well, if your players are dumb enough to believe in fairy tales, you're not going anywhere anyway. And by the way, football players don't just lay down and die when they know their team isn't very good yet.
The sheer volume of this draft (and don't forget the one to three undrafted free agents who will stick around) guarantees that over thirty percent of this roster will be rookies, even after one or two of the wide receivers are released.
They and the second year players will be fighting for their careers. Even the third year players are still on the ground floor.
That's plenty of motivation.
Football players aren't stupid. Believe it or not, they can reason out that there are fourteen new guys here, with two first and two second round picks in 2017 and Hue Jackson. They can accept losing in 2016, as long as they see a bright future ahead.
Nassib could be one example of upside over pro readiness. Not including him, the Browns now have six outside linebackers fighting for four slots.
I think it's likely that Nassib is here to play left defensive end. If so, he'll have to go see Hans and Franz and improve his leverage.
Nassib is a thin 277 lbs now, but could easily carry 300 without losing speed (especially since his butt and legs are skinny too). He'll need that to play DE in this system. He won't be ready for full time duty in 2016, but could be a monster in 2017.
Before, I proposed trading Joe Thomas, partly because I didn't expect him to be around by the time the Browns started winning.
Now, I'm glad they kept him. Because these numbers say that they can be competitive in 2017, and contend in 2018.
How can you read this when you're rolling your eyes like that? And what are you laughing at?
The best examples of this were the two inside linebackers, Joe Schobert and Scooby Wright.
Neither is a physical specimen, or very fast. But they are complete linebackers who can cover, shed blocks, stop the run, and blitze.
What makes them exceptional values where they were drafted is the single most valuable (and hard to quantify) trait an inside linebacker can have: Recognition.
Some call this an intangible, but it can be seen and measured in game tapes.
If you run them in slow motion starting just prior to a snap, you can see which (non-lineman) defender moves first. This is the guy who senses where the ball is going, and has the confidence to commit. Your 40 time doesn't matter when you're a step ahead of everybody else.
Another trait these two have in common is aggressiveness. Many linebackers pile up lots of tackles, but when you look deeper, you see that most of these tackles are after one to five yard gains, and from behind.
Scooby and Joe are disruptors who choose gaps and attack them to get tackles for losses.
Scooby gets dinged for being on the ground too often. CBS Sports says he needs to reign his energy in.
I believe that means he gets suckered by cutbacks. It's easy to get decked when you're trying to stop and turn around against the flow.
This is less something a Ray Horton will coach out of him than something he'll correct through experience.
Mike Pettine would stress lane discipline more than Ray Horton will.
It's great that the Browns drafted Schobert first. While he's similar to Wright, he is more disciplined, and Scooby will benefit from this competition.
The last thing you want to do to a linebacker with great recognition and anticipation is put a leash on him. Without that head start his eyes and brain give him, he becomes just another guy.
What all the receivers have in common is an ability to separate and YAC. These are West Coast traits, but also Air Coryall and Norv Turner traits.
Not since Josh Gordon have the Browns had a real deep threat. Benjamin had the speed, but not the length or catch radius.
Coleman is four inches taller, and physical enough not to be jostled by wind gusts.
I still insist that Terrell Pryor is heavily in this mix, and can ultimately emerge as another Gordon, but Coleman has already proven it.
However, just like Pryor, he needs a lot of work. As you've heard and read, he ran a very short and stunted route tree, and doesn't have much experience outside of the slot.
It's okay though. Sashi and company are also going for upside over pro readiness, which is why they chose Coleman over Mel Kuiper's more obvious wide receiver in the first round.
A lot of these guys seem incapable of grasping this reality: The Browns admit to themselves that they won't be kicking the Bengals or Steelers to the curb any time soon.
That seems unthinkable to most football people (and pundits). What "message does this send to your players?"
Well, if your players are dumb enough to believe in fairy tales, you're not going anywhere anyway. And by the way, football players don't just lay down and die when they know their team isn't very good yet.
The sheer volume of this draft (and don't forget the one to three undrafted free agents who will stick around) guarantees that over thirty percent of this roster will be rookies, even after one or two of the wide receivers are released.
They and the second year players will be fighting for their careers. Even the third year players are still on the ground floor.
That's plenty of motivation.
Football players aren't stupid. Believe it or not, they can reason out that there are fourteen new guys here, with two first and two second round picks in 2017 and Hue Jackson. They can accept losing in 2016, as long as they see a bright future ahead.
Nassib could be one example of upside over pro readiness. Not including him, the Browns now have six outside linebackers fighting for four slots.
I think it's likely that Nassib is here to play left defensive end. If so, he'll have to go see Hans and Franz and improve his leverage.
Nassib is a thin 277 lbs now, but could easily carry 300 without losing speed (especially since his butt and legs are skinny too). He'll need that to play DE in this system. He won't be ready for full time duty in 2016, but could be a monster in 2017.
Before, I proposed trading Joe Thomas, partly because I didn't expect him to be around by the time the Browns started winning.
Now, I'm glad they kept him. Because these numbers say that they can be competitive in 2017, and contend in 2018.
How can you read this when you're rolling your eyes like that? And what are you laughing at?
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