Ray Horton is probably throwing articles and invectives at his players as i write this. Nobody except Nassib and maybe Kirksey seems able to tackle a girl scout.
It's intolerable. The worst part is that, more often than not, the players were where they were supposed to be, in position. They got their hands on ballcarriers quickly...then fell off or got pushed or dragged downfield.
I didn't see the game, but I have to assume that the defensive line got pushed back, as well.
Fortunately, it's fixable. Tackling is a skill. The real experts will tell you, it hasn't been taught to highschool and college kids the way it used to be, and the big hitters seem to get all the accolades.
But the bottom line is, low approach, center mass, wrap arms, drive. It's not that hard!
In fairness, sure the ball carrier has the initiative, and can juke and jive, and force you to dive sideways and stuff. But he cant do that if he is reached first, or if the other defenders are converging as they should. Defenders can use eachother and the sidelines to box guys in. One who anticipates well can get at them before they can make a cut.
There was good news here, too. RG3 was much more effective.
Charlie Casserly said he was getting to his second read several times; real progress for him. Too bad his knees were ruined and he can't run any more, huh?
Terrelle Pryor (yawn) blew Trufant's doors off, which probably made Gilbert feel better about himself.
This play was identical to the one vs Green Bay. It's the one i described last year, when Pryor first came to the team: "You just go deep to the corner". It's not complicated (Tony). Pryor just hits the nitrous oxide out of the gate and outruns everybody, period. He could always do that. He was born that way.
Hue doesn't care that now other teams have that on tape, because the only thing they can do about it is hold a safety deep and to that side so he can get in front of it. Or else put the corner at least seven yards back and concede everything underneath. Hue will be happy to exploit either, especially when Coleman and then Gordon are on the field too.
The Browns first unit didn't try to run that much. I still think Hue is focusing on the passing game first. Pass protection is the hardest thing for running backs to get really good at, and pass blocking is much harder for everybody else, too.
Passing depends on timing and integration, and a lot more can go wrong.
I seriously think that Hue Jackson considers his running game a fete accompli. Any offensive lineman will smile when you say the word "run", because it means they get to bash the defenders instead of getting bashed, and because it's much simpler for them.
When Kessler took over, they did go to the ground more in earnest, and we finally got to see Terrelle Watson make him some road pies. Jim Donovan, over and over again, started to say he was down, only to sit up staighter and say he was still moving forward. What a BEAST!
Crowell is faster and can make big plays, but he knows he's got a fight on his hands now.
Hassan is even better even sooner than I had imagined. On his strip sack, he was a 4-3 defensive end. I could be wrong, but it looked to me like he was lined up extra-wide (I'll have to look again). At any rate, nobody bothered to block him.
I havent seen the many other plays he has already made, but have to assume that generally people were trying to block him on those.
That's promising. Hassan hasn't been on the first team YET, but he seems to comprehend how to tackle people, on top of the other stuff.
The flag on Gilbert was wrong, and he actually did a decent job overall. I don't know if anybody told you, but that Julio guy is pretty good
Just heard Deron Cherry say he missed tackles and got burned by no-name receivers. I'm skeptical. Donovan and Dieken pointed out that Gilbert was tackling guys he hadn't been covering, and he'd be matched up with Jones most of the time schematicly.
I can't trust even a former New England Patriot who objects to veteran days off. That's irrational. I'm disinclined to expect objectivity out of the guy.
This just in! Terry Pluto saw the game, and him i trust: Terry says Gilbert missed tackles and looked timid. I stand corrected. He's been around too long to treat like a rookie project. This does not look promising.
Terry also said that Cam Erving actually looked pretty good this time, but the snap RG3 had to chase down was just the worst of several high snaps. I think it's just a matter of practice. More good news than bad here.
Pluto also pointed out that RG3 is averaging 2.5 seconds from snap to throw in preseason. In the past, he'd hold it an average of 3 seconds. Considering the fact that he goes deep so much, and has to be part wide receiver to handle Erving's snaps. He's more decisive. This arrow definitely points up.
The defense needs work, obviously, but the offense hasn't yet begun to show what it can do. Once the twin towers, Coleman, (pick two), and Barnidge share the field with the mad bomber back there, defenses stack the box at their extreme peril, and the run will be there.
Look, if you just heard me call RG3 the greatest or predict a Superbowl in 2016, wash your ears out with soap. It's okay not to be gloomy all the time, really!
What I did say was that this will be a good offense, the defense won't suck as bad as it did in this game (could it? Well they didnt give up 50 points, anyway), and the longer term future looks good.
The combined practice with Tampa Bay is a great idea. Both units should make a jump here. This will be a fun week.
Late add: More on Terrelle Watson:
I checked out his draft scouting reports, and found a lot of different opinions. Mike Martz was very pro-Watson, which carries a little extra weight.
I watched his highlights from Azuza Pacific, and immediately dowgraded the report which described him as an "upright runner". Like Pat Kirwan, i think that's a joke, since most running backs lean forward into impacts, and nobody can run very fast all hunched over. It's a dumb comment, generally.
Listen: When you are 6'1", it looks like you are running upright no matter what you do! Terrelle in particular leans his shoulders into contact.
All I saw were his highlights (his greatest hits), but i still learned a lot.
In the whole tape, i saw him caught from behind only twice. He did have space around him most of the time on this record, but i did catch a couple piles of defensive bodies dripping off a moving mass trucking downfield at around 3mph.
One critique said he lacks a second gear, which seems true. But it also said he's too cute and avoids contact too much. Well, I saw the highlights, and he does avoid contact, but always heads downhill. Jerome Bettis avoided contact, too.
Terrelle Watson is more than a human battering ram, okay? Unlike most big bruisers, this guy might still be playing football in four years, and get more big gains because he can and does avoid contact when he can.
Yes, this was Azuza State and he was running over little guys, but he broke all of the Nigerian Nightmare's rushing records, and was a similar prospect.
No, he won't outsprint people like he did in college, and NFL linebackers won't fly off him like water off a duck, but he belongs in the NFL and the Browns are lucky to have him.
You mark my words: Terrelle Watson will play a LOT this season. I doubt that he will pass up Isaiah Crowell, but look for him near the goal line and in jumbo packages.
This was a good move. So far, one of many by this new staff.
Friday, August 19, 2016
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Jamie Meder, Malcomb Johnson, and the Cleveland Browns
Jamie Meder, as Nick Dudukovich writes, is indeed in competition with Danny Shelton for playing time, but not just him.
He can play right defensive end (really a tackle here) as well. I'm thrilled that Hue Jackson and company are ignoring where guys came from, and rewarding performance.
All coaches talk that talk, but don't walk the walk. Players see the favoritism, and become discouraged, frustrated, and resentful.
Meder has found ways to make plays ever since he's been here.
As I've written, he's not that big, or quick, or fast. But he's kind of short, and maxes out his leverage. He's also just plain strong as hell.
Danny Shelton is no bumb, but he's 6'5", and may not have solved his issue with playing too high.
I learned from LeCharles Bentley that a key ingredient for a player to stay low is ankle flexibility. That makes a lot of sense, and could be hurting Shelton. Just a theory.
Meder also has great instincts (a nose for the ball). After the way Eddie Lacy bullied his way through the first string front seven last Friday, you know that Ray Horton will be taking a hard look at Meder, at least on neutral and running downs.
And good for the kid! I love the underdogs.
I finally saw highlights of the Packer game. I know that Griffin took the blame (means nothing that's his job), and Hue says he shouldn't have thrown the ball on the interception.
However, RG3 did clearly expect Gary Barnidge to pull up and turn around, and this would have walled off the bad guy and probably be caught.
Hue used the words "too early", which probably meant in the game, or on downs. Probably, Hue wants his quarterback to be extra-careful until a point deficit or third down kicks the stakes up. They were in field goal range, too.
Tony Gross said on NFL Radio the other day that Josh Gordon hadn't had any reps yet, and was overweight, so getting him on the field might be a year long project.
Nah! At 25, he'll drop that weight quickly. He's a veteran receiver familiar with every route. He may not play against the Falcons, but he should see some snaps in the third pre-season game.
I want to see Gordon, Pryor, and Coleman all on the field at the same time. By now it might be starting to sink in: That is scary. That will scare Bill Belichick, let alone everybody else.
I agree with Terry Pluto that little was proven or disproven about the Browns running or passing games in Green Bay, as the starting backs only got one carry each, and RG3 had two series.
It could be that Hue Jackson simply wanted to work on the passing game first, and called passing plays for that reason alone.
I was pleased to hear Malcomb Johnson's name mentioned by Jim Donovan, as he sprang Duke loose for a big gain off a fine lead block.
That's encouraging for Malcomb, who was pretty bad as a rookie, and also offers clues to Hue Jackson's plans.
That is, he might prove me wrong and keep one true fullback (rather than an extra h-back) on the roster.
Macomb isn't really a prototype, though. He's a bit of an H-back himself, as he has played that and even tight end. He's a good receiver, and he's deceptively fast.
If Hue does use a true fullback, it could give Connor Hamlett a boost, as he's a true in-line tight end. (Not to dis Randall Telfer or JP Holtz, who also fit that mold, but Hamlett seems to have taken the lead in that race).
DeValve and Bibbs are more h-backs who can also split out. An offense running two backs has less use for H-backs.
Between DeValve and Malcomb Johnson, the guy who might be most threatened is EJ Bibbs.
Bibbs, however, could back up Malcomb, and be a general utility guy, and that could save him.
We're talking about some good players here, by the way. None of them has proven anything yet, but contrary to popular misconception, that doesn't erase their ability or potential.
DeValve has been dinged up, and has yet to see the field. Stand by: This guy can play (call that another prediction).
I hope Atlanta plays more of its starters this week.
That's all I got. Just tell Grossi wide receiver isn't rocket science.
He can play right defensive end (really a tackle here) as well. I'm thrilled that Hue Jackson and company are ignoring where guys came from, and rewarding performance.
All coaches talk that talk, but don't walk the walk. Players see the favoritism, and become discouraged, frustrated, and resentful.
Meder has found ways to make plays ever since he's been here.
As I've written, he's not that big, or quick, or fast. But he's kind of short, and maxes out his leverage. He's also just plain strong as hell.
Danny Shelton is no bumb, but he's 6'5", and may not have solved his issue with playing too high.
I learned from LeCharles Bentley that a key ingredient for a player to stay low is ankle flexibility. That makes a lot of sense, and could be hurting Shelton. Just a theory.
Meder also has great instincts (a nose for the ball). After the way Eddie Lacy bullied his way through the first string front seven last Friday, you know that Ray Horton will be taking a hard look at Meder, at least on neutral and running downs.
And good for the kid! I love the underdogs.
I finally saw highlights of the Packer game. I know that Griffin took the blame (means nothing that's his job), and Hue says he shouldn't have thrown the ball on the interception.
However, RG3 did clearly expect Gary Barnidge to pull up and turn around, and this would have walled off the bad guy and probably be caught.
Hue used the words "too early", which probably meant in the game, or on downs. Probably, Hue wants his quarterback to be extra-careful until a point deficit or third down kicks the stakes up. They were in field goal range, too.
Tony Gross said on NFL Radio the other day that Josh Gordon hadn't had any reps yet, and was overweight, so getting him on the field might be a year long project.
Nah! At 25, he'll drop that weight quickly. He's a veteran receiver familiar with every route. He may not play against the Falcons, but he should see some snaps in the third pre-season game.
I want to see Gordon, Pryor, and Coleman all on the field at the same time. By now it might be starting to sink in: That is scary. That will scare Bill Belichick, let alone everybody else.
I agree with Terry Pluto that little was proven or disproven about the Browns running or passing games in Green Bay, as the starting backs only got one carry each, and RG3 had two series.
It could be that Hue Jackson simply wanted to work on the passing game first, and called passing plays for that reason alone.
I was pleased to hear Malcomb Johnson's name mentioned by Jim Donovan, as he sprang Duke loose for a big gain off a fine lead block.
That's encouraging for Malcomb, who was pretty bad as a rookie, and also offers clues to Hue Jackson's plans.
That is, he might prove me wrong and keep one true fullback (rather than an extra h-back) on the roster.
Macomb isn't really a prototype, though. He's a bit of an H-back himself, as he has played that and even tight end. He's a good receiver, and he's deceptively fast.
If Hue does use a true fullback, it could give Connor Hamlett a boost, as he's a true in-line tight end. (Not to dis Randall Telfer or JP Holtz, who also fit that mold, but Hamlett seems to have taken the lead in that race).
DeValve and Bibbs are more h-backs who can also split out. An offense running two backs has less use for H-backs.
Between DeValve and Malcomb Johnson, the guy who might be most threatened is EJ Bibbs.
Bibbs, however, could back up Malcomb, and be a general utility guy, and that could save him.
We're talking about some good players here, by the way. None of them has proven anything yet, but contrary to popular misconception, that doesn't erase their ability or potential.
DeValve has been dinged up, and has yet to see the field. Stand by: This guy can play (call that another prediction).
I hope Atlanta plays more of its starters this week.
That's all I got. Just tell Grossi wide receiver isn't rocket science.
Friday, August 12, 2016
Cleveland Browns Outrageous Predictions
I have to build up to this prediction by making my case for it first. If I don't, you'll laugh me out of court.
Exhibit a is Rodney Pryorfield. Exhibit B is Corey Coleman.
We will compare the two, item by item:
Pryor is six inches taller and around 25 lbs heavier. His hands are bigger, too.
Both clocked similar 40 times.
Pryor can be compared to Calvin Johnson. Steve Smith comparisons to Coleman are ridiculous, but he does roughly compare to Antonio Brown and Beckham Jr.
Pryor isn't a sudden cutter, and relies on his size and speed more than Coleman. Coleman is much more explosive out of the blocks and out of his cuts. Coleman will make you eat dirt when you miss him and land on your face. Pryor will make you eat dirt when he runs you over.
Experience: This is what all of you are missing:
Coleman played in the Baylor offense, where he ran only two or three routes. He's been a receiver for a long time, so he has figured out how to get open and catch the ball...
Pryor is an ex-quarterback who knew all the NFL routes before he switched to receiver. While it's true that intellectual knowledge isn't the same as "doing it in a game" knowledge, it's the same knowledge Coleman is learning from scratch.
Last year, Coleman was playing for Art Briles, while Pryor had been through most of a training camp as a wide receiver, running all the routes.
After his (stupid) release, he practiced those routes obsessively until he was brought back. He didn't accomplish anything in the real NFL games he played in, but he faced real starting cornerbacks and safeties, and took this experience into the off season with him.
Coleman's season ended a few weeks earlier.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, which player has more NFL experience, and knew the NFL route tree before the start of training camp?
I can't hearr youuu!
Now, both these guys can play anywhere, but which should be the x (primary to the quarterback's left), and which the z (to the right)?
Wrong! Pryor should be the x. Good grief I go through all that and you're still laughing? You don't vote, do you? Please don't, ok?
A true number one NFL receiver forces double coverage, and can BEAT that coverage. He's not just a decoy.
This is why number ones tend to be big skyscrapers. They're too strong to get jammed, or bumped off their routes. They can consistently reach their spot on time, and more importantly, use their greater size and reach to catch a well-thrown pass no matter how many defenders surround them.
Am I saying Pryor is better than Coleman? Hell no! Coleman is a freak! Just a different kind of freak.
Imagine having Megatron and Antonio Brown on the same team. Who would play the x?
Now, here is why: A defense can only double cover one guy, normally. That will be the guy who goes deepest most often. They hope to at least take down the x where he catches it, and converge on any short or intermediate receiver.
The defense's best cornerback plays where Haden plays, across from the x.
Think about it. Joe Haden can be on Pryor like white on rice, but if he can't reach that ball (or pry it loose) Pryor wins, period.
Coleman is different. He can make Joe's life hell, but Joe can jostle him, play him soft to keep him shallow, reroute him, etc., and if he's close when the ball arrives, he can break it up.
If Pryor makes a catch, a 210 lb. safety can slam into him, but he has a good chance of hanging onto the ball. Not so with Coleman. In fact, he could get hurt.
Forget about rank and prestige here: Coleman vs a number two cornerback in single coverage is a good thing, right? Can you see it? Coleman in space?
So my prediction is that, barring injury, by the end of pre-season Pryor will be the x and Coleman the z.
It's just labels. This would make Coleman the primary on a lot of plays, with Pryor a true decoy.
I need to do more research, but I think Antonio Brown played z a lot before his bigger, taller fellow wide receiver got himself suspended. I know for sure that a lot of his big plays came off the right side.
If Pryor weren't here, of course Coleman would default to x, and I believe do a great job. But putting him in a more favorable position could make him just...awesome.
There are questions about RG3, but I don't think this explains why nobody seems to understand why Hue Jackson can't wipe the smile off his face.
If the Browns can move the ball on the ground, this offense will be a juggernaut.
Ah jeez I give up. Everything I just said is true, and you're still laughing.
Please, for the love of God, don't vote!
Watch the Browns vs Green Bay for me. Jordan Payton could be tried at x. Ricardo Lewis has the tools, but has dropped passes. Nobody else fits the profile, and none as well as Pryor.
If Pryor isn't used on the left side in this game, I assume it's because he's still got his training wheels on, and they want him to master the right side before they move him over.
I did finally find out that Pryor remained at z with Coleman out. That's encouraging for RG3, since it means that he was sometimes hitting his second read (and doing it quickly).
I wish I knew who was even at x. Reporters are so lazy. Whoever it was didn't do much.
I really want to hear about Terrelle Watson too. He could be somebody!
Will DeValve play? I really want to hear about that guy too. Can't wait are you ready for some footballllllll?
Exhibit a is Rodney Pryorfield. Exhibit B is Corey Coleman.
We will compare the two, item by item:
Pryor is six inches taller and around 25 lbs heavier. His hands are bigger, too.
Both clocked similar 40 times.
Pryor can be compared to Calvin Johnson. Steve Smith comparisons to Coleman are ridiculous, but he does roughly compare to Antonio Brown and Beckham Jr.
Pryor isn't a sudden cutter, and relies on his size and speed more than Coleman. Coleman is much more explosive out of the blocks and out of his cuts. Coleman will make you eat dirt when you miss him and land on your face. Pryor will make you eat dirt when he runs you over.
Experience: This is what all of you are missing:
Coleman played in the Baylor offense, where he ran only two or three routes. He's been a receiver for a long time, so he has figured out how to get open and catch the ball...
Pryor is an ex-quarterback who knew all the NFL routes before he switched to receiver. While it's true that intellectual knowledge isn't the same as "doing it in a game" knowledge, it's the same knowledge Coleman is learning from scratch.
Last year, Coleman was playing for Art Briles, while Pryor had been through most of a training camp as a wide receiver, running all the routes.
After his (stupid) release, he practiced those routes obsessively until he was brought back. He didn't accomplish anything in the real NFL games he played in, but he faced real starting cornerbacks and safeties, and took this experience into the off season with him.
Coleman's season ended a few weeks earlier.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, which player has more NFL experience, and knew the NFL route tree before the start of training camp?
I can't hearr youuu!
Now, both these guys can play anywhere, but which should be the x (primary to the quarterback's left), and which the z (to the right)?
Wrong! Pryor should be the x. Good grief I go through all that and you're still laughing? You don't vote, do you? Please don't, ok?
A true number one NFL receiver forces double coverage, and can BEAT that coverage. He's not just a decoy.
This is why number ones tend to be big skyscrapers. They're too strong to get jammed, or bumped off their routes. They can consistently reach their spot on time, and more importantly, use their greater size and reach to catch a well-thrown pass no matter how many defenders surround them.
Am I saying Pryor is better than Coleman? Hell no! Coleman is a freak! Just a different kind of freak.
Imagine having Megatron and Antonio Brown on the same team. Who would play the x?
Now, here is why: A defense can only double cover one guy, normally. That will be the guy who goes deepest most often. They hope to at least take down the x where he catches it, and converge on any short or intermediate receiver.
The defense's best cornerback plays where Haden plays, across from the x.
Think about it. Joe Haden can be on Pryor like white on rice, but if he can't reach that ball (or pry it loose) Pryor wins, period.
Coleman is different. He can make Joe's life hell, but Joe can jostle him, play him soft to keep him shallow, reroute him, etc., and if he's close when the ball arrives, he can break it up.
If Pryor makes a catch, a 210 lb. safety can slam into him, but he has a good chance of hanging onto the ball. Not so with Coleman. In fact, he could get hurt.
Forget about rank and prestige here: Coleman vs a number two cornerback in single coverage is a good thing, right? Can you see it? Coleman in space?
So my prediction is that, barring injury, by the end of pre-season Pryor will be the x and Coleman the z.
It's just labels. This would make Coleman the primary on a lot of plays, with Pryor a true decoy.
I need to do more research, but I think Antonio Brown played z a lot before his bigger, taller fellow wide receiver got himself suspended. I know for sure that a lot of his big plays came off the right side.
If Pryor weren't here, of course Coleman would default to x, and I believe do a great job. But putting him in a more favorable position could make him just...awesome.
There are questions about RG3, but I don't think this explains why nobody seems to understand why Hue Jackson can't wipe the smile off his face.
If the Browns can move the ball on the ground, this offense will be a juggernaut.
Ah jeez I give up. Everything I just said is true, and you're still laughing.
Please, for the love of God, don't vote!
Watch the Browns vs Green Bay for me. Jordan Payton could be tried at x. Ricardo Lewis has the tools, but has dropped passes. Nobody else fits the profile, and none as well as Pryor.
If Pryor isn't used on the left side in this game, I assume it's because he's still got his training wheels on, and they want him to master the right side before they move him over.
I did finally find out that Pryor remained at z with Coleman out. That's encouraging for RG3, since it means that he was sometimes hitting his second read (and doing it quickly).
I wish I knew who was even at x. Reporters are so lazy. Whoever it was didn't do much.
I really want to hear about Terrelle Watson too. He could be somebody!
Will DeValve play? I really want to hear about that guy too. Can't wait are you ready for some footballllllll?
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Des Bryant, X Cooper, and Ray Horton
Thanks to Mary Kay, now I know that X Cooper is replacing Des Bryant. Mary said "at right defensive end", but had to have meant left. The left defensive end plays on the offense's right side.
I stand corrected. Cooper has the quickness and range, but suffers a reach disadvantage vs offensive tackles.
Ray won't have him doing the exact same things as Des did. He's already modified things to adapt to the shorter guy.
Mary Kay's article quotes Horton extensively, and shed more light on where he's at and what he plans. He says they're still in the experimental phase, and trying to find the best defense for the current personnel.
He mentions a 4-3 as one of the possibilities for the base, but as is his wont, Horton will keep throwing knuckleballs and curves at opposing offenses down-by-down.
Ogbah's switch to defensive end really isn't a switch. As I've mentioned, he's a 4-3 defensive end and a 3-4 outside linebacker.
Mingo's occasional moves inside are interesting, and hasn't surprised me much. I look forward to seeing how it works out. No predictions.
Des Bryant has a legitimate point about getting paid something this season. Per the contract, the Browns owe him Zippo, but he was working out, and there is a moral issue here.
Unfortunately, Des will be 31 years old next season, and makes a lot of money. Business is business, and he may be released.
Aw, quit your whining! His replacements are already on the roster, and by this time next season, one or more of them will be better than the old guy coming back from a serious injury.
I'm as big a Des fan as anybody else, but a front office can't get sentimental. The 2016 Browns really are like an expansion team in many ways, and old guys won't be around by the time they're ready to contend.
I stand corrected. Cooper has the quickness and range, but suffers a reach disadvantage vs offensive tackles.
Ray won't have him doing the exact same things as Des did. He's already modified things to adapt to the shorter guy.
Mary Kay's article quotes Horton extensively, and shed more light on where he's at and what he plans. He says they're still in the experimental phase, and trying to find the best defense for the current personnel.
He mentions a 4-3 as one of the possibilities for the base, but as is his wont, Horton will keep throwing knuckleballs and curves at opposing offenses down-by-down.
Ogbah's switch to defensive end really isn't a switch. As I've mentioned, he's a 4-3 defensive end and a 3-4 outside linebacker.
Mingo's occasional moves inside are interesting, and hasn't surprised me much. I look forward to seeing how it works out. No predictions.
Des Bryant has a legitimate point about getting paid something this season. Per the contract, the Browns owe him Zippo, but he was working out, and there is a moral issue here.
Unfortunately, Des will be 31 years old next season, and makes a lot of money. Business is business, and he may be released.
Aw, quit your whining! His replacements are already on the roster, and by this time next season, one or more of them will be better than the old guy coming back from a serious injury.
I'm as big a Des fan as anybody else, but a front office can't get sentimental. The 2016 Browns really are like an expansion team in many ways, and old guys won't be around by the time they're ready to contend.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Cleveland Browns Talent, Pass Rush, Coverage
"The Cleveland Browns have one of the least talented rosters in the NFL".
I don't bother noticing who says this stuff any more. I think my man Ross Tucker might still say it. Smart people say it. But it makes absolutely no sense.
First, the definition of talent is ability. It's separate from experience. Maybe some of these guys are confusing talent with performance.
Still, guys like Coleman, Hassan, Ogbah etc. come with what we call "scouting reports"...nah, that cant be it...
Let's use the training camp depth chart (for what it's worth) to rate the talent on this roster. We'll go from one to five, with five being Joe Thomas, and one the next guy the Browns waive.
Remember now: we're talking about talent. That is, ability.
...oh wow...well we can simplify this! Going along the line of scrimmage, everybody is a five except...Drango? Ok he might be a three. Except it's hard to say that when he's ahead of Pazstor.
Why are you laughing? Who isn't above the eightieth percentile? Erving? Not according to his scouting report!
Greco? Not according to PFF! Pryor? Get real: ability, remember? Aside from the right tackle, these guys are all fives. That's reality.
Griffin is a five (abilityabilityability is it sinking in yet?)
I'll throw you a bone and call Crowell a four. Happy now? Oh ok three, but that's my final offer (and is dumb.) I'll demote Duke to a four (dumb also) there now shut up.
So the least talented team in the NFL must all be on defense, right?
Well, Haden is a five, and---skip it lets just look for a player who is less than a three. I cant find any. There aren't any.
In fact, I submit to you that Shelton, Ogbah, and Gilbert are also fives.
So what are these guys talking about here? I guess the long snapper, punter, and kicker must REALLY suck! No? Ok then 29 or so other teams must be Superbowl contenders right?
Sometimes we just get so used to hearing and repeating something that we can't stop. No rational being could say this roster lacks talent. Stop the inanity!
The two recent intrasquad scrimmages have to be taken with a grain of salt, of course. Not only were they not in full pads, but they know their opposite numbers by heart.
The offense's inability to run was probably exaggerated, as was their domination by air.
One commentator declared that the defense would have to "scheme" a pass rush. That's extremely premature.
When you're not allowed to hit the quarterback, you can't sell out to go after him. Too often, you can't divert or pull up in time, or are even off-balance and fall into his legs.
This is especially true for the guys like Ogbah, Nassib, Orchard, and Kruger who aren't "benders", and scrape by blockers rather than run around them.
The offense also had a lot to do with the lack of pressure. RG3 was sometimes on the move, and the quarterbacks got rid of it quickly.
The great and horrible part of the scrimmages was the devastating air attack. It shows a lot of promise for the offense, but is alarming for the defense.
Contact was allowed, and this meant that the defenders were trying to impede and reroute the receivers, exactly the same as they would in a real game.
Coleman, and then Pryor, were unstoppable. Not only that, but they were wide open.
A lot of Browns fans assume this means that the cornerbacks all suck, rather than that the Browns have a couple of lethal weapons at wide receiver. That's sad. You're emoting, not thinking.
Well, one of the starters never played, and I'm not sure, but if the other one played at all, it was limited and brief.
Without intelligent reporting or films, I need to guess at this, but I think I saw single coverage, as Horton had the defense focus on the backs and tight ends. Just a guess, though.
Pryor matching Coleman in scrimmage two may have told me a lot. I suspect that when Coleman was held out, Pryor moved to his X spot on the left side.
Amazingly, the ex-quarterback can already do that! Wow, he must be the smartest person ever born!
But I digress: If I'm right, it means Griffin was hitting his first read a lot. That, in turn, would mean that he hasn't proven that he's improved yet.
Everybody knew that he had great arm talent (although it's hard to imagine he was as accurate as he is now), but he hasn't been forced to check down under fire yet.
Green Bay should expose that. They'll probably double the X to force that, and they run a 3-4 too, so random blitzes are built in; they should get heat on him, at least on a few plays. I look forward to that.
Of course, double covering Pryor might not matter with his size and strength. That guy will never really be covered, because there will always be an area where he can catch it. And Griffin can deliver into that small window.
Pre-season is only for serious fans, because they want to see the rookie sixth round pick, and if the guy from the 2015 practice squad has turned into a player yet.
Case in point is Justin Gilbert. The fact that he's been embarrassed by Pryor and Coleman doesn't alarm me as much as it does normal fans. Joe Haden will probably do better, but I don't know how much better.
He's managed to muffle AJ Green, and held Megatron to merely respectable stats.
Gilbert might not be that good in the final analysis, but he might not suck either. It's still too early to flush him.
His first big test will be Green Bay.
Pre-season is fascinating for a legitimate analyst. It's easy to talk about future truck drivers and grocery clerks, but Ross Tucker begs to differ.
Tucker was undrafted. He wasn't even invited to his combine. He was big, and super-smart, but not much of an athlete.
None of us would have noticed him, let alone given him a chance. But he made it, and started, and backed up, and was a good NFL offensive lineman.
There are a bunch of Ross Tuckers fighting tooth and nail for NFL futures in the third and fourth quarters of pre-season games.
To us, they're nobody. We change the channel.
Well, not me. I want to see if Ricardo Lewis keeps dropping passes. I want to see if Payton can pass Higgins. If Kessler can be all Hue thinks he can be.
Injuries (and suspensions) happen, and some of these low round picks and undrafteds end up playing in real games. I want to know them.
Ross will tell you, those second halves vs "future grocery clerks" are a crucible; a war. The few who stand out survive, and it means something.
I won't be able to watch Browns vs Packers, but I'll be listening to Jim and Doug tell me about it, right through the final gun.
The big questions: Will the Browns be able to run the ball? Will the defense get heat on the quarterback? Will Griffin come back down to Earth? Will Gilbert keep getting toasted?
In reality, Green Bay has less overall talent than the Browns do. At this point, they'd probably kill to have Coleman or Rodney Pryorfield.
Sure, I'd love to have Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews, but I don't subscribe to hype. Football is a team sport, and Rodgers doesn't have the weapons RG3 has. That's reality. Deal with it.
I'm hoping that Gilbert will find his job easier here, because Green Bay doesn't have a Coleman or a Pryor.
More importantly, I want to see RG3 under pressure. In a pocket. Checking down. He needs to prove it.
Hue thinks he will, and in Hue I trust.
I don't bother noticing who says this stuff any more. I think my man Ross Tucker might still say it. Smart people say it. But it makes absolutely no sense.
First, the definition of talent is ability. It's separate from experience. Maybe some of these guys are confusing talent with performance.
Still, guys like Coleman, Hassan, Ogbah etc. come with what we call "scouting reports"...nah, that cant be it...
Let's use the training camp depth chart (for what it's worth) to rate the talent on this roster. We'll go from one to five, with five being Joe Thomas, and one the next guy the Browns waive.
Remember now: we're talking about talent. That is, ability.
...oh wow...well we can simplify this! Going along the line of scrimmage, everybody is a five except...Drango? Ok he might be a three. Except it's hard to say that when he's ahead of Pazstor.
Why are you laughing? Who isn't above the eightieth percentile? Erving? Not according to his scouting report!
Greco? Not according to PFF! Pryor? Get real: ability, remember? Aside from the right tackle, these guys are all fives. That's reality.
Griffin is a five (abilityabilityability is it sinking in yet?)
I'll throw you a bone and call Crowell a four. Happy now? Oh ok three, but that's my final offer (and is dumb.) I'll demote Duke to a four (dumb also) there now shut up.
So the least talented team in the NFL must all be on defense, right?
Well, Haden is a five, and---skip it lets just look for a player who is less than a three. I cant find any. There aren't any.
In fact, I submit to you that Shelton, Ogbah, and Gilbert are also fives.
So what are these guys talking about here? I guess the long snapper, punter, and kicker must REALLY suck! No? Ok then 29 or so other teams must be Superbowl contenders right?
Sometimes we just get so used to hearing and repeating something that we can't stop. No rational being could say this roster lacks talent. Stop the inanity!
The two recent intrasquad scrimmages have to be taken with a grain of salt, of course. Not only were they not in full pads, but they know their opposite numbers by heart.
The offense's inability to run was probably exaggerated, as was their domination by air.
One commentator declared that the defense would have to "scheme" a pass rush. That's extremely premature.
When you're not allowed to hit the quarterback, you can't sell out to go after him. Too often, you can't divert or pull up in time, or are even off-balance and fall into his legs.
This is especially true for the guys like Ogbah, Nassib, Orchard, and Kruger who aren't "benders", and scrape by blockers rather than run around them.
The offense also had a lot to do with the lack of pressure. RG3 was sometimes on the move, and the quarterbacks got rid of it quickly.
The great and horrible part of the scrimmages was the devastating air attack. It shows a lot of promise for the offense, but is alarming for the defense.
Contact was allowed, and this meant that the defenders were trying to impede and reroute the receivers, exactly the same as they would in a real game.
Coleman, and then Pryor, were unstoppable. Not only that, but they were wide open.
A lot of Browns fans assume this means that the cornerbacks all suck, rather than that the Browns have a couple of lethal weapons at wide receiver. That's sad. You're emoting, not thinking.
Well, one of the starters never played, and I'm not sure, but if the other one played at all, it was limited and brief.
Without intelligent reporting or films, I need to guess at this, but I think I saw single coverage, as Horton had the defense focus on the backs and tight ends. Just a guess, though.
Pryor matching Coleman in scrimmage two may have told me a lot. I suspect that when Coleman was held out, Pryor moved to his X spot on the left side.
Amazingly, the ex-quarterback can already do that! Wow, he must be the smartest person ever born!
But I digress: If I'm right, it means Griffin was hitting his first read a lot. That, in turn, would mean that he hasn't proven that he's improved yet.
Everybody knew that he had great arm talent (although it's hard to imagine he was as accurate as he is now), but he hasn't been forced to check down under fire yet.
Green Bay should expose that. They'll probably double the X to force that, and they run a 3-4 too, so random blitzes are built in; they should get heat on him, at least on a few plays. I look forward to that.
Of course, double covering Pryor might not matter with his size and strength. That guy will never really be covered, because there will always be an area where he can catch it. And Griffin can deliver into that small window.
Pre-season is only for serious fans, because they want to see the rookie sixth round pick, and if the guy from the 2015 practice squad has turned into a player yet.
Case in point is Justin Gilbert. The fact that he's been embarrassed by Pryor and Coleman doesn't alarm me as much as it does normal fans. Joe Haden will probably do better, but I don't know how much better.
He's managed to muffle AJ Green, and held Megatron to merely respectable stats.
Gilbert might not be that good in the final analysis, but he might not suck either. It's still too early to flush him.
His first big test will be Green Bay.
Pre-season is fascinating for a legitimate analyst. It's easy to talk about future truck drivers and grocery clerks, but Ross Tucker begs to differ.
Tucker was undrafted. He wasn't even invited to his combine. He was big, and super-smart, but not much of an athlete.
None of us would have noticed him, let alone given him a chance. But he made it, and started, and backed up, and was a good NFL offensive lineman.
There are a bunch of Ross Tuckers fighting tooth and nail for NFL futures in the third and fourth quarters of pre-season games.
To us, they're nobody. We change the channel.
Well, not me. I want to see if Ricardo Lewis keeps dropping passes. I want to see if Payton can pass Higgins. If Kessler can be all Hue thinks he can be.
Injuries (and suspensions) happen, and some of these low round picks and undrafteds end up playing in real games. I want to know them.
Ross will tell you, those second halves vs "future grocery clerks" are a crucible; a war. The few who stand out survive, and it means something.
I won't be able to watch Browns vs Packers, but I'll be listening to Jim and Doug tell me about it, right through the final gun.
The big questions: Will the Browns be able to run the ball? Will the defense get heat on the quarterback? Will Griffin come back down to Earth? Will Gilbert keep getting toasted?
In reality, Green Bay has less overall talent than the Browns do. At this point, they'd probably kill to have Coleman or Rodney Pryorfield.
Sure, I'd love to have Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews, but I don't subscribe to hype. Football is a team sport, and Rodgers doesn't have the weapons RG3 has. That's reality. Deal with it.
I'm hoping that Gilbert will find his job easier here, because Green Bay doesn't have a Coleman or a Pryor.
More importantly, I want to see RG3 under pressure. In a pocket. Checking down. He needs to prove it.
Hue thinks he will, and in Hue I trust.
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Dumbassitude and Rodney Pryorfield
In keeping with my policy of protecting my readers from dumbassitude, I haven't included a link to this article, and won't identify the dumbass in question:
An AFC North alleged analyst looked over the Browns wide receivers.
First, he lumps Hawkins in with Gabriel and calls them just guys. That's not too bad, but still, when healthy Hawkins led the team in receptions, and some of that was as an outside receiver, and not from the slot.
Gabriel doesn't belong with him. After showing promise as a rookie, he dropped half the passes thrown to him, and back to the bench.
This guy had Coleman ranked sixth among the wide receivers in his draft class, calling him "undersized".
This is annoying. Hawkins and Gabriel are undersized. Coleman is 5'11", 194. That's not ideal, but it's not undersized. I'm not sure exactly when "adequate" crept from 5'10" to 6'2", but it's a mental distortion.
Coleman is taller than Odell Beckham, Antonio Brown, and if I had some time I'd give you six or seven more stud receivers. He's MUCH bigger than Steve Smith, and I'm kind of stunned that the distortion has even shrunk Coleman down so that people can compare the two.
Rightfully, this pretend analyst cites the ultra-simple Baylor offense he played in, but obviously Coleman has the physical tools to execute every route exceptionally well once he learns it.
The guy calls the Baylor trio (including RG3) on this roster a "cute story" prior to dismissing it as irrelevant. Surely I can't be one of the only two guys on Earth who combines that with Hue Jackson and Art Briles visits to expect some Baylor offense in 2016?
I myself am guilty of utterly ignoring Coleman pre-draft due to my own fixation with skyscrapers, but holy crap SIXTH?
I never ranked the receivers. For me, I just knew that we had lots of slot receivers and needed bigger outside guys, so my own priorities were Brownscentric.
But if I had ranked them, based on TALENT, Coleman's super-athleticism and speed would have placed him at or near the top of a solid but pedestrian draft class.
But then, I focus on TALENT and upside. I would never, ever draft an inferior player simply because I feel he's more "ready".
Early on the article, this clown nods to Coleman's talent, but pities him for going to a "dumpster fire" organization.
Hue Jackson, Pep Hamilton and the rest have to be looking at each other and shaking their heads. "When did we turn into losers?"
The writer mentions Payton, Higgins, and Lewis. I think he might have said something about them (I can't look at that steaming pile of incompetence again).
He is fair to Josh Gordon, sort of, but cites his 24 catches for a little over 300 yards after his return from suspension two as a reason for concern.
Well first off, that translates to close to eighty catches and over a thousand yards. Second, Gordon is still very young. While it's possible he lacks the maturity and discipline to put the work in to recapture his old magic, the odds are that this older Josh, playing for Hue Jackson, will be dedicated.
Now that the Ohio State scrimmage happened, I'm glad Corey Coleman was held out. What happened was highly informative for everybody except ME.
No need to rub it in. But I just want to. The fake writer above forced himself to mention Terrell Pryor's existance, but couldnt stop snickering long enough to elaborate.
Yoda will be madly yanking on our leashes now, reminding us that it was just a scrimmageitswaytooearlyblablah yeah yeah ok shut up.
But with Coleman out, the very next man up was Pryor, and this probably reflects the real depth chart. The two top corners were out (so stipulated), but Pryor was unstoppable.
Also of note was Rg3's excellence. This was very encouraging, and he's now done it with two different receivers.
I told you so. Now I'm telling you this wasn't a fluke, and I'll be saying I told you so a lot more. I mean in re Pryor; RG3 could still fall on his face.
Or not.
An AFC North alleged analyst looked over the Browns wide receivers.
First, he lumps Hawkins in with Gabriel and calls them just guys. That's not too bad, but still, when healthy Hawkins led the team in receptions, and some of that was as an outside receiver, and not from the slot.
Gabriel doesn't belong with him. After showing promise as a rookie, he dropped half the passes thrown to him, and back to the bench.
This guy had Coleman ranked sixth among the wide receivers in his draft class, calling him "undersized".
This is annoying. Hawkins and Gabriel are undersized. Coleman is 5'11", 194. That's not ideal, but it's not undersized. I'm not sure exactly when "adequate" crept from 5'10" to 6'2", but it's a mental distortion.
Coleman is taller than Odell Beckham, Antonio Brown, and if I had some time I'd give you six or seven more stud receivers. He's MUCH bigger than Steve Smith, and I'm kind of stunned that the distortion has even shrunk Coleman down so that people can compare the two.
Rightfully, this pretend analyst cites the ultra-simple Baylor offense he played in, but obviously Coleman has the physical tools to execute every route exceptionally well once he learns it.
The guy calls the Baylor trio (including RG3) on this roster a "cute story" prior to dismissing it as irrelevant. Surely I can't be one of the only two guys on Earth who combines that with Hue Jackson and Art Briles visits to expect some Baylor offense in 2016?
I myself am guilty of utterly ignoring Coleman pre-draft due to my own fixation with skyscrapers, but holy crap SIXTH?
I never ranked the receivers. For me, I just knew that we had lots of slot receivers and needed bigger outside guys, so my own priorities were Brownscentric.
But if I had ranked them, based on TALENT, Coleman's super-athleticism and speed would have placed him at or near the top of a solid but pedestrian draft class.
But then, I focus on TALENT and upside. I would never, ever draft an inferior player simply because I feel he's more "ready".
Early on the article, this clown nods to Coleman's talent, but pities him for going to a "dumpster fire" organization.
Hue Jackson, Pep Hamilton and the rest have to be looking at each other and shaking their heads. "When did we turn into losers?"
The writer mentions Payton, Higgins, and Lewis. I think he might have said something about them (I can't look at that steaming pile of incompetence again).
He is fair to Josh Gordon, sort of, but cites his 24 catches for a little over 300 yards after his return from suspension two as a reason for concern.
Well first off, that translates to close to eighty catches and over a thousand yards. Second, Gordon is still very young. While it's possible he lacks the maturity and discipline to put the work in to recapture his old magic, the odds are that this older Josh, playing for Hue Jackson, will be dedicated.
Now that the Ohio State scrimmage happened, I'm glad Corey Coleman was held out. What happened was highly informative for everybody except ME.
No need to rub it in. But I just want to. The fake writer above forced himself to mention Terrell Pryor's existance, but couldnt stop snickering long enough to elaborate.
Yoda will be madly yanking on our leashes now, reminding us that it was just a scrimmageitswaytooearlyblablah yeah yeah ok shut up.
But with Coleman out, the very next man up was Pryor, and this probably reflects the real depth chart. The two top corners were out (so stipulated), but Pryor was unstoppable.
Also of note was Rg3's excellence. This was very encouraging, and he's now done it with two different receivers.
I told you so. Now I'm telling you this wasn't a fluke, and I'll be saying I told you so a lot more. I mean in re Pryor; RG3 could still fall on his face.
Or not.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Cleveland Browns Who Look Good So Far
Phil Savage and Solomon Willcotts did a show in NFL Radio from Berea as part of their training camp tour. These guys are both high on my credibility list, so I paid close attention to their comments.
Phil said that Ogbah will probably play defensive end more as a rookie than outside linebacker. He cited his unusual strength.
So far, he looks correct. Ogbah has been working there. I just wish I could see it, or that there was a reporter who knows a 3-4 from a 4-3. I had assumed that Ogbah would put his hand in the dirt in Ray Horton's frequent 4-man line looks, but doubted that he would in the 3-4 (really more 4-3 under due to where the players set up).
Hassan is here to play LEFT defensive end (5 technique) in that 3-4. Ogbah isn't as long or tall, and despite his freakish strength, and can't gain much more weight without sacrificing speed and mobility.
I suspect that he's a 4-3 defensive end here. Ogbah is first and foremost a passrusher. Although, (new thought here), in Horton's 3-4, the right defensive end is really a one-gap defensive tackle who attacks between guard and tackle.
Ogbah could do that, and be really disruptive. Phil is a football guy, and might have been talking about that position as well.
Cooper or Hughes are who I expected there. They're bigger guys who should be able to stand up to the pounding over time, but the thought of Ogbah there sometimes is exciting to think about.
Unfortunately, due to amateurish reporting, I'm just guessing here.
Willcotts no doubt shocked the world by saying that every single day, Terrell Pryor "does something special". I know I know, amazing, right? And here we thought he'd need another two or three years to master the complexities of wide receiver!
Chuh. Phil took it from there, saying that he'd expect them to put him in the slot a lot. From here, he's close at hand for the end-arounds and motion plays, but Phil also pointed out what a huge mismatch a super fast 6'5" 230 lb. WR would be for any slot corner.
Really, though...for any cornerback, period.
It's not true that the slot corner is the third-best cornerback on a given defense. It's become a specialty position, usually requiring a shorter, quicker, faster player than those better suited to the outside. That's why I laugh so hard at people projecting Justin Gilbert inside.
Like Brian Hartline, except more so, Pryor is the little nickel cornerback's kryptonite. Any lobbed pass sails over his head, and he lacks the BULK to reroute them, or even get in their way much.
Defenses adapt, of course, by shifting a bigger taller outside cornerback inside against these big slot receivers, but that still forces teams to dig deeper in their depth charts for an alternative outside, or else play the little nickel guy out there instead.
I still expect a lot of Baylor type offense to be run here, with Pryor further outside, but no doubt Hue Jackson is eyeball deep in both big and small slot receivers here, and can run conventional sets as well.
...and I know from the fact that Pryor has burned Gilbert that he's working outside too. No thanks to the reporters, who all seem to think he's a gimmick.
I'm thrilled that Connor Hamlet is making a big splash at tight end. As my crickets know, I'd all but dismissed this guy. I may have been wrong and hope I was.
Hamlet is 6'7" and blocks well; he's a real tight end. He doesn't have Gronk's speed, of course, but back in the day, tight ends were tight ends. You could depend on them to catch a five or ten yard pass, run somebody over, and get swarmed under.
These days, we seem to just sort of ignore five or twelve yard gains. It's really stupid.
IF Hamlet keeps this up, he gives Hue more options. In-line blocking aside, he's a huge, reliable target who mismatches any safety or linebacker trying to cover him.
Hue is doing all he can to make things easy for the quarterback. Solomon and Phil talked at length about motion, and how much of it there is in Hue's embryonic offense.
As Solly (the ex-safety) said, motion exposes coverage. How the defense reacts to the motion indicates zone or man, and who is on who. Bernie Kosar could figure this out without help, but most quarterbacks can't.
These two also talked about the West Coast quick release pass plays they were seeing.
This surprised me a little, because that's absolutely not what RG3 does best. But it makes more sense with all that motion, along with more big, tall targets.
Oh crap I hate this: Yes RG3 is black and I've implied that he doesn't read coverage quickly. I've also said he was a 4.0 student and cited his interviews to describe a REALLY smart guy. Now shut up he's been indecisive and held the ball too long in the West Coast period. I'm colorblind YOU need checked shut tf up.
But speaking of RG3, I also paid attention to the player interviews. All were asked about the quarterbacks, and gave pc answers.
Of course they had to. They can't take sides. But you can still figure things out between the lines.
All of us have a compulsion to express opinions. As we dissemble and change the subject, we can't help but expose something.
Joe Thomas, maybe the most blunt Brown ever, went straight to how early it was, and how the quarterbacks and receivers were still learning stuff.
Well, he was avoiding the fact that to this point McCown is the best quarterback. This shouldn't surprise anybody after 2015. He's actually really, really good, and a 300 year veteran!
McCown's own comments helped as well. You have to study him extra hard, but he still coughs up clues.
I love Josh. I'm not religious like him, but he's just a great person. He trusts God to make the final calls, but meanwhile helps his potential replacements as much as he can. He sort of adopts them, and brings them up like he would his own son.
Josh talked about how great the quarterback room was (including RG3).
RG3 is listening to Josh. That's important. Given RG3's history as an arrogant selfish punk, it means he has been humbled, and has matured enough to take coaching even from an older player. It means a lot.
RG3 might not actually be better than McCown at the point where Hue Jackson names him the starter (which he almost certainly will).
I've heard of trade talks with Dallas in re McCown, and heard a call to NFL Radio from an especially stupid Browns fan citing needs at defensive end, cornerback, running back (I can't go on) and asking which suspended Dallas defensive ends might be involved in a trade.
The hosts (Brady Quinn is the only one that counts for me) told him it would have to be a draft pick and the Browns wouldn't trade for a suspended player. He then pointed out defensive schemes and fits.
He should have called the caller an idiot and hung up on him.
Brady Quinn, I need to tell you, isn't the dumbass pretty boy some (including me) might think he is. He seriously researches every team in depth, and as a bonus grew up a Browns fan. Rich Gannon has left NFL Radio, but Quinn is actually a better analyst than he was.
He went into the motion stuff in Jackson's apparent Browns Offense as well, and how it helps a quarterback diagnose coverage pre-snap, and even pre-determine his target.
It doesn't surprise me that Corey Coleman is humiliating everybody who tries to cover him.
What did tell me a lot is how three different people described one play:
Willcotts and Savage talked about how Coleman dropped a touchdown pass from RG3.
Pat McNanoman mentioned how RG3 had underthrown that pass.
Pat isn't an RG3 fan, and exposed himself here. I'm not bashing Pat here, since he seems to try to be objective, and is pretty smart.
But another unfortunate tendency in us humans is to see what we expect to see. Pat thinks Coleman is terrific, but RG3 not so much.
I haven't seen the film, but from this agglomeration imagine a pass which Coleman needed to reach behind him for, his getting both hands on it, and dropping it.
Pat needs to be taught intelligent analysis. The ex-safety and coach/gm never mentioned ball placement. They just said Coleman dropped it.
Sorry I harp on this, but if you read this blog, you understand that part of my mission here is to teach people to think with their brains, and expose those who don't.
Cam Erving is looking good. Isn't that astonishing? I read another article which asserted that Erving in 2015 sucked at "left and right guard".
That was lazy and dumb. Erving sucked at left guard, but was ok at right guard. The writer should be taken out and shot.
Alex Mack was ranked 13th among centers by PFF in 2015, so in general a lot of fans are panicking over nothing with his loss to free agency. Likewise, Erving was the best center, and considered by some the best offensive lineman, in his draft.
The Browns could take a step back at right tackle (still not sure I grok the Schwartz move see earlier entries), but the overall offensive line should be solid...
In fact, the best offensive line in the AFC North is between the Browns and Bengals.
I love that Hue is giving the older vets days off. They need more reps like they need a hole in the head, and Hue gets to check out and develop their backups and future starters. If you don't see the obvious logic here, you need a brain transplant, even if you played for the Patriots.
Schobert could play more as a rookie than many expect. He's a real linebacker (not a hybrid player), and he fits anywhere in a 4-3 alignment.
Ray Horton uses 4 (or 5 and occasionally 6) man fronts a lot, which puts Ogbah's, Kruger's, etc hands in the dirt. Schobert can blitze, cover, and stop the run.
Scoobie Wright, as I've said, is similar, but Schobert is ahead of him, and I suspect faster.
I'm not alarmed over Gilbert getting toasted by Pryor and Coleman (yet).
Pryor overmatches any cornerback, and Coleman is a physical freak himself. Both these guys will humiliate elite cornerbacks a lot, and my bar for Gilbert isn't set in the stratosphere.
It shouldn't be for you, either. Gilbert is clearly fighting for his future against suddenly excellent competition, and yeah he and Joe Haden and everybody else is in for more embarrassment.
That's right. The Browns wide receivers, even pre-Gordon, are scary. Deal with it.
Phil said that Ogbah will probably play defensive end more as a rookie than outside linebacker. He cited his unusual strength.
So far, he looks correct. Ogbah has been working there. I just wish I could see it, or that there was a reporter who knows a 3-4 from a 4-3. I had assumed that Ogbah would put his hand in the dirt in Ray Horton's frequent 4-man line looks, but doubted that he would in the 3-4 (really more 4-3 under due to where the players set up).
Hassan is here to play LEFT defensive end (5 technique) in that 3-4. Ogbah isn't as long or tall, and despite his freakish strength, and can't gain much more weight without sacrificing speed and mobility.
I suspect that he's a 4-3 defensive end here. Ogbah is first and foremost a passrusher. Although, (new thought here), in Horton's 3-4, the right defensive end is really a one-gap defensive tackle who attacks between guard and tackle.
Ogbah could do that, and be really disruptive. Phil is a football guy, and might have been talking about that position as well.
Cooper or Hughes are who I expected there. They're bigger guys who should be able to stand up to the pounding over time, but the thought of Ogbah there sometimes is exciting to think about.
Unfortunately, due to amateurish reporting, I'm just guessing here.
Willcotts no doubt shocked the world by saying that every single day, Terrell Pryor "does something special". I know I know, amazing, right? And here we thought he'd need another two or three years to master the complexities of wide receiver!
Chuh. Phil took it from there, saying that he'd expect them to put him in the slot a lot. From here, he's close at hand for the end-arounds and motion plays, but Phil also pointed out what a huge mismatch a super fast 6'5" 230 lb. WR would be for any slot corner.
Really, though...for any cornerback, period.
It's not true that the slot corner is the third-best cornerback on a given defense. It's become a specialty position, usually requiring a shorter, quicker, faster player than those better suited to the outside. That's why I laugh so hard at people projecting Justin Gilbert inside.
Like Brian Hartline, except more so, Pryor is the little nickel cornerback's kryptonite. Any lobbed pass sails over his head, and he lacks the BULK to reroute them, or even get in their way much.
Defenses adapt, of course, by shifting a bigger taller outside cornerback inside against these big slot receivers, but that still forces teams to dig deeper in their depth charts for an alternative outside, or else play the little nickel guy out there instead.
I still expect a lot of Baylor type offense to be run here, with Pryor further outside, but no doubt Hue Jackson is eyeball deep in both big and small slot receivers here, and can run conventional sets as well.
...and I know from the fact that Pryor has burned Gilbert that he's working outside too. No thanks to the reporters, who all seem to think he's a gimmick.
I'm thrilled that Connor Hamlet is making a big splash at tight end. As my crickets know, I'd all but dismissed this guy. I may have been wrong and hope I was.
Hamlet is 6'7" and blocks well; he's a real tight end. He doesn't have Gronk's speed, of course, but back in the day, tight ends were tight ends. You could depend on them to catch a five or ten yard pass, run somebody over, and get swarmed under.
These days, we seem to just sort of ignore five or twelve yard gains. It's really stupid.
IF Hamlet keeps this up, he gives Hue more options. In-line blocking aside, he's a huge, reliable target who mismatches any safety or linebacker trying to cover him.
Hue is doing all he can to make things easy for the quarterback. Solomon and Phil talked at length about motion, and how much of it there is in Hue's embryonic offense.
As Solly (the ex-safety) said, motion exposes coverage. How the defense reacts to the motion indicates zone or man, and who is on who. Bernie Kosar could figure this out without help, but most quarterbacks can't.
These two also talked about the West Coast quick release pass plays they were seeing.
This surprised me a little, because that's absolutely not what RG3 does best. But it makes more sense with all that motion, along with more big, tall targets.
Oh crap I hate this: Yes RG3 is black and I've implied that he doesn't read coverage quickly. I've also said he was a 4.0 student and cited his interviews to describe a REALLY smart guy. Now shut up he's been indecisive and held the ball too long in the West Coast period. I'm colorblind YOU need checked shut tf up.
But speaking of RG3, I also paid attention to the player interviews. All were asked about the quarterbacks, and gave pc answers.
Of course they had to. They can't take sides. But you can still figure things out between the lines.
All of us have a compulsion to express opinions. As we dissemble and change the subject, we can't help but expose something.
Joe Thomas, maybe the most blunt Brown ever, went straight to how early it was, and how the quarterbacks and receivers were still learning stuff.
Well, he was avoiding the fact that to this point McCown is the best quarterback. This shouldn't surprise anybody after 2015. He's actually really, really good, and a 300 year veteran!
McCown's own comments helped as well. You have to study him extra hard, but he still coughs up clues.
I love Josh. I'm not religious like him, but he's just a great person. He trusts God to make the final calls, but meanwhile helps his potential replacements as much as he can. He sort of adopts them, and brings them up like he would his own son.
Josh talked about how great the quarterback room was (including RG3).
RG3 is listening to Josh. That's important. Given RG3's history as an arrogant selfish punk, it means he has been humbled, and has matured enough to take coaching even from an older player. It means a lot.
RG3 might not actually be better than McCown at the point where Hue Jackson names him the starter (which he almost certainly will).
I've heard of trade talks with Dallas in re McCown, and heard a call to NFL Radio from an especially stupid Browns fan citing needs at defensive end, cornerback, running back (I can't go on) and asking which suspended Dallas defensive ends might be involved in a trade.
The hosts (Brady Quinn is the only one that counts for me) told him it would have to be a draft pick and the Browns wouldn't trade for a suspended player. He then pointed out defensive schemes and fits.
He should have called the caller an idiot and hung up on him.
Brady Quinn, I need to tell you, isn't the dumbass pretty boy some (including me) might think he is. He seriously researches every team in depth, and as a bonus grew up a Browns fan. Rich Gannon has left NFL Radio, but Quinn is actually a better analyst than he was.
He went into the motion stuff in Jackson's apparent Browns Offense as well, and how it helps a quarterback diagnose coverage pre-snap, and even pre-determine his target.
It doesn't surprise me that Corey Coleman is humiliating everybody who tries to cover him.
What did tell me a lot is how three different people described one play:
Willcotts and Savage talked about how Coleman dropped a touchdown pass from RG3.
Pat McNanoman mentioned how RG3 had underthrown that pass.
Pat isn't an RG3 fan, and exposed himself here. I'm not bashing Pat here, since he seems to try to be objective, and is pretty smart.
But another unfortunate tendency in us humans is to see what we expect to see. Pat thinks Coleman is terrific, but RG3 not so much.
I haven't seen the film, but from this agglomeration imagine a pass which Coleman needed to reach behind him for, his getting both hands on it, and dropping it.
Pat needs to be taught intelligent analysis. The ex-safety and coach/gm never mentioned ball placement. They just said Coleman dropped it.
Sorry I harp on this, but if you read this blog, you understand that part of my mission here is to teach people to think with their brains, and expose those who don't.
Cam Erving is looking good. Isn't that astonishing? I read another article which asserted that Erving in 2015 sucked at "left and right guard".
That was lazy and dumb. Erving sucked at left guard, but was ok at right guard. The writer should be taken out and shot.
Alex Mack was ranked 13th among centers by PFF in 2015, so in general a lot of fans are panicking over nothing with his loss to free agency. Likewise, Erving was the best center, and considered by some the best offensive lineman, in his draft.
The Browns could take a step back at right tackle (still not sure I grok the Schwartz move see earlier entries), but the overall offensive line should be solid...
In fact, the best offensive line in the AFC North is between the Browns and Bengals.
I love that Hue is giving the older vets days off. They need more reps like they need a hole in the head, and Hue gets to check out and develop their backups and future starters. If you don't see the obvious logic here, you need a brain transplant, even if you played for the Patriots.
Schobert could play more as a rookie than many expect. He's a real linebacker (not a hybrid player), and he fits anywhere in a 4-3 alignment.
Ray Horton uses 4 (or 5 and occasionally 6) man fronts a lot, which puts Ogbah's, Kruger's, etc hands in the dirt. Schobert can blitze, cover, and stop the run.
Scoobie Wright, as I've said, is similar, but Schobert is ahead of him, and I suspect faster.
I'm not alarmed over Gilbert getting toasted by Pryor and Coleman (yet).
Pryor overmatches any cornerback, and Coleman is a physical freak himself. Both these guys will humiliate elite cornerbacks a lot, and my bar for Gilbert isn't set in the stratosphere.
It shouldn't be for you, either. Gilbert is clearly fighting for his future against suddenly excellent competition, and yeah he and Joe Haden and everybody else is in for more embarrassment.
That's right. The Browns wide receivers, even pre-Gordon, are scary. Deal with it.
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