I read about 5 versions and ten iterations of this "sensational" headline:
"Patriots didn't trade Garopollo to Browns so they could 'do right' by him". Obviously, everybody gleefully leapt on that, as there's nothing more popular than stomping people (or teams) when they're down.
Think back as far as you can, and you'll learn something about yourself. Remember in school, how the most popular kids tended to be the most vicious? That's because nobody wanted to be their victims, so others quickly sucked up to them, and a "clique" was born.
Remember how the king or queen bitch would single somebody out to abuse, and the others would join in?
That's because if they didn't, the search-lights would find them, wondering if they were sympathetic...and were next.
Well most of you (no I was never like that, and in fact started out as the prime target) outgrew this. Even some of the super-rectums eventually realized how much pain they'd caused, and reformed.
But a lot of you are doing the same stuff now with the Browns, and (far worse) people.
That's how this stuff starts: Adam Shefter pretty much confirmed that the Cleveland Browns were not allowed to compete for Jimmy Garopollo. When asked why, he said something like "they knew Kyle Shanahan and felt that this was a way they could do right by him".
The source: Adam Shefter--guessing. But these headlines make it sound like Bill Belichick stepped up to a podium and announced that he cut the Browns out to protect Jimmy G from them.
A whole bunch of you ONLY read the headlines, and are now accepting this as fact. Adam Shefter himself would be the first to tell you: "I was speculating good grief!"
Certainly, however, the Browns were blocked from trade consideration. But this was more likely Garopollo and his agent wanting to avoid the Browns than Bill Belichick.
Keep in mind that at this time, Coleman was injured again, and Josh Gordon was a question mark. For the agent, this, plus the history of Cleveland quarterbacks, was enough.
But I assume that Jimmy G studied this more in-depth, and compared the respective offensive systems and coaches. Unthinkable, right?
Well, Kyle Shanahan uses zone-blocking, like his Dad did.
1: To a defender, a zone run looks the same as pass-blocking for like one full second after the snap.
2: One-cut running backs are almost a dime-a-dozen. Every instinctive running back can instantly function on this system. You can minimize the running back position, saving money and high draft picks. (Isaiah Crowell is an exception--he's the prototype one-cut back).
3: Zone blocking offensive linemen need to be more athletic than big and powerful, so they come cheaper too.
4: Shanahan is more West Coast passing than Hue Lewis, and this suits Jimmy G's skillset better.
5: Jimmy and Bill knew that Hue Fisher would not adapt to Jimmy G.
A lot of you permabashers are blaming the wrong people for these manufactured headlines. But please, don't just shift your target reticule onto Hue Lewis instead. Just back off and think with your brain.
2017 is a dumpster fire ok. But Hue Fisher can win with square pegs in his uncompromisingly square holes, and he will HAVE them in 2018.
Gordon is Green (on steroids), Coleman is Brown, Njoku/DeValve are Eifert (on steroids), and then there's Duke. The offensive line can execute his stone-age run-blocking scheme too...although not as well as they could...well we must accept what Hue will never change so...
Kizer isn't "terminal". You can't count on him coming back like Jared Goff did by any means, but I've already seen enough of him to set his floor at lower-tier starter/top notch backup, and (I insist) his cieling has yet to be determined.
Without a doubt, Dorsey will use the top draft pick on a quarterback in 2018. I still have a hunch that Rosen will float to the top here, but don't care--except that Rosen is more "pro-ready" than the other guys.
I doubt that Cousins or Smith will come here, mainly for the same reasons that Garopollo didn't (imo): The Coach and offensive system.
Still, obviously, unless you expect Ken Dorsey to "miss", the Browns should land a franchise quarterback (assuming they don't already have one) in 2018.
Now he's got another top ten first round pick, a top second round pick, two more second rounders, and a top third rounder to play with.
Dorsey's bullshit politicing aside, he really doesn't have any more real "holes" to fill other than quarterback (well I forgot: because of Hue, he won't be able to pay Crowell enough to stay here, so he'll need a big strong running back too...Kyle Shanahan will be on Crow like white on rice btw).
I like that Dorsey is already aiming at the AFC North Division title in 2018, but this confirms that he is personally a scumbag who should be a politician, because his foundation for that is the team Sashi Brown built for him.
This is PT Barnum stuff. Most of you are born every minute, see?
I strongly suspect that two of those other five top 100 picks not used on a quarterback will be an offensive lineman and a stud running back...
Well the offensive lineman is debatable, since this starting unit is etched in stone, and so is most of it's depth for 2018. I know that Sashi Brown might burn another high pick on a left tackle in case Brantley doesn't work out when Joe Thomas hangs up the spikes. Does Dorsey think long-term like that?
I'll have to check out Dorsey's history with the draft and free agency. General Managers do tend to think long-term in general, but Dorsey's bombasticy (yes I made that word up) is alarming. He sounds more like a Head Coach than a GM.
Well in summary, don't believe everything you read, pick the right targets, quit kicking people when they're down, grow up, and think with your brain okbye...
This just in: Mary Kay Cabbot did some of my homework for me. Good article. That's all I have to say about that.
But wait! There's more! Bud Shaw weighs in on Dorsey dublicity (wow it's that obvious?) Okbye. No I mean it this time.
Friday, December 15, 2017
Thursday, December 14, 2017
King, Dorsey, Brown, Rookies, and the Browns
The armchair monday morning hit pieces just keep on coming. Peter King, while way above LaCanfora's mental weight class, is no Adam Shefter.
In the linked hit-piece on Jimmy Haslam, he did unthinkable things to logic. This article was a Picasso...and no that's not a compliment. (Not picking on Picasso btw. He was really good til he found out dumbasses would pay him big money for painting horrific messes).
Peter makes a valid point on the quarterbacks Sashi Brown passed up, but includes Dak Prescott, who 31 other NFL teams passed up at least twice. In point of fact, he was Dallas's "consolation prize" after some Michigan QB was picked.
He assumes that Hue Jackson was lobbying for DeShaun Watson, but more credible sources say Hue was hoping for Malik Hooker.
In his own article, Peter says Dorsey, like Brown (with Hue's approval), rated DeShone Kizer as the fourth best quarterback in his draft. Others rated him higher, and many said he had the highest cieling of all.
He quotes Dorsey as pointing out how young and raw Kizer is, and how he looked good vs Green Bay.
King goes on to imply that Dorsey has inherited a roster which is "full of holes".
WHAT holes? Find me a hole!!! I'm sick of this look at the roster for yourself ok? Which tf NFL team has Pro Bowlers at every fkng position?
Peppers, Coleman Njoku etc are busts already? Tretter, Zeitler, Collins etc all turned into bumbs when they switched uniforms?
I remember what I wrote when Sashi let Terrelle Pryor go and signed Kenny Bowe instead, but I doubt that Peter does.
I didn't like it, but I saw how Britt had done well with his own series of crappy quarterbacks, and noted that Pryor did have separation issues of his own, so I accepted the logic.
In his hit-piece, Peter cites that as a big screwup, but Terrelle Pryor has fallen off the map in Washington as well! Talk about monday morning cherry-picking gimme a break!
Peter thinks Kirk Cousins or Dabold would be smart to avoid the Browns, even with Dorsey in charge.
That's sheer genius! Avoid this offensive line, Duke Johnson, Njoku/DeValve, Coleman, and Gordon...I mean what can you do with that pile of garbage right?
King says he really respects Dorsey, but implicitly predicts his doom. I happen to know that King is a Hue Fisher fan as well, so...uh...what!?
Peter King is the Marvin Lewis of sportswriters.
Dorsey wasted no time making himself look good. The previous regime didn't get "Hue Jackson" players, or "real" players.
Go down the list (I'm sick of repeating myself). 3/5ths of the offensive line, most of the defensive line, all but one linebacker...and just go over these players IN CONTEXT (ie rookie, second year player etc) and find the "fakes".
Is Njoku a fake? Well if he is, so is OJ Howard ok? Would Dorsey have given up on Goff after his rookie season, and stood by Jeff Fisher? Is Coleman supposed to be making a return trip to the Pro Bowl? Is Ogbah a mirage? McCourtey? Boddy-Calhoun? Shon Coleman?
What the hell is this guy talking about? That kind of hyperbole might be what got him fired in KC! Like I said, Dorsey will end up retaining almost every Brown draft pick he inherits, the coaches will end up playing most of them a lot, and that core of talent will start winning as they mature!
Yes, you are what your record says you are, but Bill Parcells was talking about performance and execution, and was including himself.
Can you be talented and not play well? YES. Unless you're Kenny Bowe, it's usually because you're inexperienced, and screwing up! Parcells won Superbowls with VETERANS.
While this disengenuous, self-serving crap out of Dorsey irks me, he's still really good at his job, and probably an upgrade over Sashi. So I can put up with it.
Thank you Dan Labbe for responding to this crap.
Dorsey is right about needing a guy who, in the fourth quarter says "I'm the guy today", and delivers a decisive play, or leads a decisive drive.
It's true that that guy has not been here in 2017,
But even Dan seems to minimize Duke Johnson, Corey Coleman, Josh Gordon, or a returning Njoku. All of these guys can take over a game.
Every investor knows this: Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Dorsey knows that the majority of the players on this roster are going to make predictable "jumps" as they enter their second and third seasons, and is shamelessly framing it so that he can take credit for what Sashi Brown left him...knowing a bunch of you will fall for it.
Dan and I know better.
When the Browns start winning, you need to separate the Brown players from the Dorsey players. If you do that, you'll probably see that they both did great jobs, but only one of them had any class.
In the linked hit-piece on Jimmy Haslam, he did unthinkable things to logic. This article was a Picasso...and no that's not a compliment. (Not picking on Picasso btw. He was really good til he found out dumbasses would pay him big money for painting horrific messes).
Peter makes a valid point on the quarterbacks Sashi Brown passed up, but includes Dak Prescott, who 31 other NFL teams passed up at least twice. In point of fact, he was Dallas's "consolation prize" after some Michigan QB was picked.
He assumes that Hue Jackson was lobbying for DeShaun Watson, but more credible sources say Hue was hoping for Malik Hooker.
In his own article, Peter says Dorsey, like Brown (with Hue's approval), rated DeShone Kizer as the fourth best quarterback in his draft. Others rated him higher, and many said he had the highest cieling of all.
He quotes Dorsey as pointing out how young and raw Kizer is, and how he looked good vs Green Bay.
King goes on to imply that Dorsey has inherited a roster which is "full of holes".
WHAT holes? Find me a hole!!! I'm sick of this look at the roster for yourself ok? Which tf NFL team has Pro Bowlers at every fkng position?
Peppers, Coleman Njoku etc are busts already? Tretter, Zeitler, Collins etc all turned into bumbs when they switched uniforms?
I remember what I wrote when Sashi let Terrelle Pryor go and signed Kenny Bowe instead, but I doubt that Peter does.
I didn't like it, but I saw how Britt had done well with his own series of crappy quarterbacks, and noted that Pryor did have separation issues of his own, so I accepted the logic.
In his hit-piece, Peter cites that as a big screwup, but Terrelle Pryor has fallen off the map in Washington as well! Talk about monday morning cherry-picking gimme a break!
Peter thinks Kirk Cousins or Dabold would be smart to avoid the Browns, even with Dorsey in charge.
That's sheer genius! Avoid this offensive line, Duke Johnson, Njoku/DeValve, Coleman, and Gordon...I mean what can you do with that pile of garbage right?
King says he really respects Dorsey, but implicitly predicts his doom. I happen to know that King is a Hue Fisher fan as well, so...uh...what!?
Peter King is the Marvin Lewis of sportswriters.
Dorsey wasted no time making himself look good. The previous regime didn't get "Hue Jackson" players, or "real" players.
Go down the list (I'm sick of repeating myself). 3/5ths of the offensive line, most of the defensive line, all but one linebacker...and just go over these players IN CONTEXT (ie rookie, second year player etc) and find the "fakes".
Is Njoku a fake? Well if he is, so is OJ Howard ok? Would Dorsey have given up on Goff after his rookie season, and stood by Jeff Fisher? Is Coleman supposed to be making a return trip to the Pro Bowl? Is Ogbah a mirage? McCourtey? Boddy-Calhoun? Shon Coleman?
What the hell is this guy talking about? That kind of hyperbole might be what got him fired in KC! Like I said, Dorsey will end up retaining almost every Brown draft pick he inherits, the coaches will end up playing most of them a lot, and that core of talent will start winning as they mature!
Yes, you are what your record says you are, but Bill Parcells was talking about performance and execution, and was including himself.
Can you be talented and not play well? YES. Unless you're Kenny Bowe, it's usually because you're inexperienced, and screwing up! Parcells won Superbowls with VETERANS.
While this disengenuous, self-serving crap out of Dorsey irks me, he's still really good at his job, and probably an upgrade over Sashi. So I can put up with it.
Thank you Dan Labbe for responding to this crap.
Dorsey is right about needing a guy who, in the fourth quarter says "I'm the guy today", and delivers a decisive play, or leads a decisive drive.
It's true that that guy has not been here in 2017,
But even Dan seems to minimize Duke Johnson, Corey Coleman, Josh Gordon, or a returning Njoku. All of these guys can take over a game.
Every investor knows this: Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Dorsey knows that the majority of the players on this roster are going to make predictable "jumps" as they enter their second and third seasons, and is shamelessly framing it so that he can take credit for what Sashi Brown left him...knowing a bunch of you will fall for it.
Dan and I know better.
When the Browns start winning, you need to separate the Brown players from the Dorsey players. If you do that, you'll probably see that they both did great jobs, but only one of them had any class.
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Cleveland Browns Draft Prospects, Hue, Dorsey
I'm kinda depressed because, according to some "experts", this is a mediore quarterback draft class after all.
Yeah it seems Darnold isn't athletic and has a weak arm, Rosen holds the ball too long, and well you know--they all suck.
Like I remember the Wentz/Goff draft class. None of these quarterbacks have first round talent. Wentz has a long windup and is innaccurate. Goff will need two years on the bench and has a weak arm.
Oh yeah and Deshaun Watson: 45mph muzzle velocity, questionable arm strength, too many interceptions, bad judgement, not big enough, needs lots of work.
Russell Wilson is a potential carreer backup. Ditto Kirk Cousins. Aaron Rodgers is undersized with a mediocre arm. I don't even know what they said about Kase Keenum, but use your imagination.
I guess I've learned a thing or two lately, because I liked Wentz, Goff, and Watson a lot, despite how a lot of analysts tore them to shreds. With Goff, I told you last season: If you are calling this rookie a bust already, you need a brain transplant.
Hell, I guess I'm at least as good at picking quarterbacks as anybody else is!
I don't know enough about this new draft class to have a favorite yet, but I personally like Sam Darnold the person a lot.
Sam's own father calls him "Flat-line". Sam doesn't get high or low. He's just all-business. You can't intimidate him, and he doesn't try to intimidate you.
I can already hear the scouts questioning his leadership, because he's not "fiery" like Tom Brady.
A lot of these people have no freaking idea of what leadership means:
If you are an offensive lineman, receiver, or whatever, and your team is losing, a leader is a quarterback you can count on, period.
That is, you know he won't panic, or hesitate, and will come through in the clutch. This gives you confidence, and hope. This makes you want to be like him.
A guy like Darnold just has to be there to inspire his teammates. He doesn't have to say a word to you when you screw up. All he needs to do is give you a "look".
I like "flat-liner" quarterbacks! Knock them down, beat the crap out of them, intercept them, whatever. They get up. They come back. They don't get shaky, or timid, or desperate.
Hue Fisher thinks he'll indeed be back next season and, more importantly, had an in-depth discussion with Dorsey.
This is good, because Dorsey has great leverage here. Hue is being asked if he thinks Haslam might change his mind and fire him if he doesn't win. Dorsey will fire him if he doesn't do much better in 2018, and with that resume, he'd probably never be a Head Coach again.
So Dorsey no doubt asked him all the questions I would have asked him. Dorsey can't technically tell him how to do his job, but Hue still has to listen to him, or else.
But man, check the comments after this article! What a bunch of cretins!
Now Hue got fired by the Raiders for leaking and undermining too! He didn't even have a GM! Haslam is a buffoon, Hue is the worst coach in history, the Browns will never win til Haslam sells the team---I couldn't read any more.
We never do anything half way around here. No shades of gray at all. Pick some targets and paint them black. Hue can't just be like Marty nooo. He has to be THE worst ever in history. He can't just be a blockhead about his use of personnel and blocking scheme nooo! He has to be leaking and undermining and power-struggling and manipulating too!
It's sick, don't you see that? Jeez I've been as hard on Hue as any sane person, but I don't just make stuff up about him to pile on! You people make personal destruction a project.
Dorsey has leverage. I look forward to the last three games. Let's see if he makes a few changes.
I hope so. It's too soon for yet another Head Coach.
Yeah it seems Darnold isn't athletic and has a weak arm, Rosen holds the ball too long, and well you know--they all suck.
Like I remember the Wentz/Goff draft class. None of these quarterbacks have first round talent. Wentz has a long windup and is innaccurate. Goff will need two years on the bench and has a weak arm.
Oh yeah and Deshaun Watson: 45mph muzzle velocity, questionable arm strength, too many interceptions, bad judgement, not big enough, needs lots of work.
Russell Wilson is a potential carreer backup. Ditto Kirk Cousins. Aaron Rodgers is undersized with a mediocre arm. I don't even know what they said about Kase Keenum, but use your imagination.
I guess I've learned a thing or two lately, because I liked Wentz, Goff, and Watson a lot, despite how a lot of analysts tore them to shreds. With Goff, I told you last season: If you are calling this rookie a bust already, you need a brain transplant.
Hell, I guess I'm at least as good at picking quarterbacks as anybody else is!
I don't know enough about this new draft class to have a favorite yet, but I personally like Sam Darnold the person a lot.
Sam's own father calls him "Flat-line". Sam doesn't get high or low. He's just all-business. You can't intimidate him, and he doesn't try to intimidate you.
I can already hear the scouts questioning his leadership, because he's not "fiery" like Tom Brady.
A lot of these people have no freaking idea of what leadership means:
If you are an offensive lineman, receiver, or whatever, and your team is losing, a leader is a quarterback you can count on, period.
That is, you know he won't panic, or hesitate, and will come through in the clutch. This gives you confidence, and hope. This makes you want to be like him.
A guy like Darnold just has to be there to inspire his teammates. He doesn't have to say a word to you when you screw up. All he needs to do is give you a "look".
I like "flat-liner" quarterbacks! Knock them down, beat the crap out of them, intercept them, whatever. They get up. They come back. They don't get shaky, or timid, or desperate.
Hue Fisher thinks he'll indeed be back next season and, more importantly, had an in-depth discussion with Dorsey.
This is good, because Dorsey has great leverage here. Hue is being asked if he thinks Haslam might change his mind and fire him if he doesn't win. Dorsey will fire him if he doesn't do much better in 2018, and with that resume, he'd probably never be a Head Coach again.
So Dorsey no doubt asked him all the questions I would have asked him. Dorsey can't technically tell him how to do his job, but Hue still has to listen to him, or else.
But man, check the comments after this article! What a bunch of cretins!
Now Hue got fired by the Raiders for leaking and undermining too! He didn't even have a GM! Haslam is a buffoon, Hue is the worst coach in history, the Browns will never win til Haslam sells the team---I couldn't read any more.
We never do anything half way around here. No shades of gray at all. Pick some targets and paint them black. Hue can't just be like Marty nooo. He has to be THE worst ever in history. He can't just be a blockhead about his use of personnel and blocking scheme nooo! He has to be leaking and undermining and power-struggling and manipulating too!
It's sick, don't you see that? Jeez I've been as hard on Hue as any sane person, but I don't just make stuff up about him to pile on! You people make personal destruction a project.
Dorsey has leverage. I look forward to the last three games. Let's see if he makes a few changes.
I hope so. It's too soon for yet another Head Coach.
Sunday, December 10, 2017
They're Still the Browns
I've defended Hue Jackson's playcalling to date, but this almost inexplicable loss to the Packers raised a lot of questions in my mind:
1: What happened to Josh Gordon? I simply can't believe that this defense managed to "take him away" as an option.
Could it be the unwritten "MDP Rule"? (For you whippersnappers, Micheal Dean Perry was a freak defensive tackle for the Browns. He was so quick and explosive, he was in opposing backfields before the offensive line got out of their stances.
Well, the "MDP Rule" says that it's okay for offensive linemen to tackle him as he blows their doors off.)
Well, as we're already seeing, it's legal for linemen to tackle Myles Garrett as well. And as we saw on the blatent pass interferance non-call on the guy who had one of his arms pinned in the end zone, now it's legal to blatently interfere with Josh Gordon as well.
The MDP Rule is meant to make things "fair", since if the zebras were to protect players like this as they do mere human players, they'd first be throwing flags on every play, and later allowing like ten sacks and 300 yards in receptions per-game.
That's not going to sell tickets!
But I can't believe that after Gordon had a certain touchdown reception stolen from him by obvious and gross interference, Hue Lewis would take him off the table.
I didn't watch the game, so I'm not sure. Were the cornerbacks tackling him at the line of scrimmage after that, or just grabbing his jersey and letting him drag them around?
Unless they were, I don't get why he wasn't targeted for the rest of the game.
2: I don't like the Prevent Offense. Through the balance of a competitive game, running on first down is good, and I have no problem with that, especially since it was working so well for Hue.
But here we go again: Where the hell did Josh Gordon go? Seems like he fell off the map exactly when the Browns got a 14 point lead, doesn't it?
3: It looks like Gregg Williams was running a Prevent defense as well. I can't believe I'm suggesting this...oh yeah. Hue is his boss...
...oh goodie more "rifts" and "divisions" and you know---drama! Somebody with an audience will read this and speculate and next thing ya know Hue and Gregg are at war.
Well I didn't see it, and know the defense was fatigued, and can't assume too much, so take the "prevent defense" stuff with a grain of salt.
Certainly, the dink and dunk is hard to defend. Too bad Hue Fisher never uses it (and might not with Smith/Cousins either) but I digress:
The Packers Coaches did a great job adjusting on the fly, and that quarterback played a hell of a game. Give them credit!
Kai Nacua screwed up a couple times, and was an idiot with that jawing and head-butt macho punk bullshit, but overall did a great job!
Kindred, Nassib, Coleman, Schobert were all over the place too...yeah good riddance to Sashi Brown right? DeValve? McCourtey had a tough game...sorta...for him.
Hey I thought Nassib was a bust! Wha happen?
Dorsey is grinning ear-to-ear. He's not going to cut any of these guys! Even Kizer was pretty good! He might not be a franchise quarterback, but he's turning into a solid starter!
Dorsey must be thinking, "at least a top-flight backup with three years left on a rookie contract...I draft a quarterback first overall...Cousins might be available...well if Hue would let him play his game...I can't believe this is real!"
Well Chicago just massacred the Bungles, just when you were thinking the Browns had a shot at winning that one.
Well they still do, if they don't "opt out" of Josh Gordon or go all "prevent"...nevermind.
1: What happened to Josh Gordon? I simply can't believe that this defense managed to "take him away" as an option.
Could it be the unwritten "MDP Rule"? (For you whippersnappers, Micheal Dean Perry was a freak defensive tackle for the Browns. He was so quick and explosive, he was in opposing backfields before the offensive line got out of their stances.
Well, the "MDP Rule" says that it's okay for offensive linemen to tackle him as he blows their doors off.)
Well, as we're already seeing, it's legal for linemen to tackle Myles Garrett as well. And as we saw on the blatent pass interferance non-call on the guy who had one of his arms pinned in the end zone, now it's legal to blatently interfere with Josh Gordon as well.
The MDP Rule is meant to make things "fair", since if the zebras were to protect players like this as they do mere human players, they'd first be throwing flags on every play, and later allowing like ten sacks and 300 yards in receptions per-game.
That's not going to sell tickets!
But I can't believe that after Gordon had a certain touchdown reception stolen from him by obvious and gross interference, Hue Lewis would take him off the table.
I didn't watch the game, so I'm not sure. Were the cornerbacks tackling him at the line of scrimmage after that, or just grabbing his jersey and letting him drag them around?
Unless they were, I don't get why he wasn't targeted for the rest of the game.
2: I don't like the Prevent Offense. Through the balance of a competitive game, running on first down is good, and I have no problem with that, especially since it was working so well for Hue.
But here we go again: Where the hell did Josh Gordon go? Seems like he fell off the map exactly when the Browns got a 14 point lead, doesn't it?
3: It looks like Gregg Williams was running a Prevent defense as well. I can't believe I'm suggesting this...oh yeah. Hue is his boss...
...oh goodie more "rifts" and "divisions" and you know---drama! Somebody with an audience will read this and speculate and next thing ya know Hue and Gregg are at war.
Well I didn't see it, and know the defense was fatigued, and can't assume too much, so take the "prevent defense" stuff with a grain of salt.
Certainly, the dink and dunk is hard to defend. Too bad Hue Fisher never uses it (and might not with Smith/Cousins either) but I digress:
The Packers Coaches did a great job adjusting on the fly, and that quarterback played a hell of a game. Give them credit!
Kai Nacua screwed up a couple times, and was an idiot with that jawing and head-butt macho punk bullshit, but overall did a great job!
Kindred, Nassib, Coleman, Schobert were all over the place too...yeah good riddance to Sashi Brown right? DeValve? McCourtey had a tough game...sorta...for him.
Hey I thought Nassib was a bust! Wha happen?
Dorsey is grinning ear-to-ear. He's not going to cut any of these guys! Even Kizer was pretty good! He might not be a franchise quarterback, but he's turning into a solid starter!
Dorsey must be thinking, "at least a top-flight backup with three years left on a rookie contract...I draft a quarterback first overall...Cousins might be available...well if Hue would let him play his game...I can't believe this is real!"
Well Chicago just massacred the Bungles, just when you were thinking the Browns had a shot at winning that one.
Well they still do, if they don't "opt out" of Josh Gordon or go all "prevent"...nevermind.
Saturday, December 9, 2017
Terry Pluto Analyis Corrections, Dorsey, Hue Fisher
Ma man Terry Pluto wrote a decent article on what went wrong with Sashi Brown. It's only decent, since it requires a bunch of corrections:
1: Substitute the word "speculations" for "story" in re Hue's alleged dissatisfaction with some of Sashi's draft picks.
Terry and Doug Lesmerisis have the bad habit of taking stories written by other members of the sportwriters guild at face value. Lesmerisis is chasing Hue Fisher around asking him about "leaks", and Hue says he doesn't know what he's talking about.
I lean towards believing Hue. This LaCanfora was probobly manufactured by somebody like me (except devoid of scruples). Speculation.
2: Isn't it a tad early to judge Corey Coleman? Broken hands aside, he was an extremely raw talent coming out of Baylor. As Terry himself points out, it often takes time for wide receivers to develop in the NFL. Well, that goes double for one whose route-tree had only three branches!!!
Corey's development has been further stalled by his injuries. He's only now approximating one season's worth of experience, with a new rookie quarterback...who isn't very accurate btw.
3: Ogbah is good against the run, but is also a really good passrusher.
4: Terry writes that aside from Myles Garrett, none of the picks from Sashi's two drafts show "star quality".
I dislike this nebulous term, and the black-and-white thinking behind it.
Ogbah could return in his third season to pile up double-digit sacks (and tackles for loss, and maybe a couple interceptions). This is more likely than not, if Myles Garrett can stay healthy on the weak side.
Corey Coleman was a functional number one receiver until Josh Gordon came back...he was pretty much Kizer's only option not named Johnson or Njoku. He's one of the fastest AND quickest players in the NFL, and now he's behind Gordon wait a freaking minute willya!?!
Schobert isn't a Pro Bowler yet, but give me a break.
It's early to judge Njoku too, isn't it? And Peppers? What were they supposed to accomplish as rookies?
What about Ogunjobi? Can we exempt the injured rookie cornerback Wilson? It's hard for right tackles to be "stars", but if they could, Shon Coleman would be glimmering pretty good already.
And anyway, in reality, every Superbowl team is 75% lunchpail guys--"star power"? You build teams from the ground up. The "stars" ice that cake.
I get Terry's point here, however: The ignorant masses don't get this. Terry does, but he's still wrong about what a bunch of these guys have shown.
5: Terry whiffed big-time on Kenny Britt. Britt was Hue's one-eyed mildewed stinky teddy bear, and Dorsey took it away from him.
Hue didn't want to give up that teddy bear! He was yanking Josh Gordon off the field to get Britt on it, even in hurry-up mode with time running out! He put him in front of Jordan Leslie too!
I guess that's all my corrections. Terry is right about the other stuff.
Dorsey is likely to try to sign a top veteran QB and draft one atop the draft.
Terry is accidentally right here. He assumes that because he signed Alex Smith when he started with Kansas City, he'll do the same now.
Well, the team he inherits matters. If Dorsey doesn't think this team will be ready to knock off the Steelers in 2018, he won't waste cap money on an old geezer quarterback.
But as Dorsey kinda said himself, Sashi Brown set him up perfectly. Even with Hue Lewis in charge again next season, the Browns can toe the line with the Stoolers in 2018, so a Cousins or even a Smith is worth paying for.
Dorsey will probably have to draft a big smashmouth running back to replace Crowell (who might take LESS money to get away from Hue Fisher), but he has everything else (except a proven QB) already.
Dorsey is in heaven. He can use his top pick on a quarterback, can afford a Cousins (well i...
Say, waitaminnit...Cousins is first and foremost a West Coast quarterback. Would Hue Fisher do to him what he did to Crowell, and try to make him a mad bomber?
Yes, wait a minute here, Waittilnextyear: Cousins will cost 14% of the cap on the low end. If Hue Lewis won't let him do what he does best, this aint as good as it looks on paper.
Dorsey is stuck with Hue Fisher for at least one season, and with Cousins or Smith, niether fits the passing scheme Hue Lewis is currently running, and we now know that Hue Fisher will not alter his scheme to help them out.
...well I might be being unfair here: Just because he won't let Crowell do what he does best doesn't neccessarily mean he'll try to make Smith or Cousins long bombers.
Dorsey has his work cut out for him. Andrew Berry will help him out here, but so will talking to Hue:
"If I signed Kirk Cousins, how would you use him?"
"I'd start him!"
"I know, but he's a West Coast guy. Timing. Crosses, slants, YAC?"
"But he has a good arm too. We need the vertical stuff to open up the run."
"Would you use some more crosses and slants to help him out?"
"Of course I would! But you have to threaten them deep to keep them back! If you try to nickel and dime them they can come down and stuff you; jump those routes and stop the run".
"So if I got Kirk Cousins for you, you'd still have him going deep a lot?"
"Well, that's how we're built! Gordon, Njoku, Coleman--that's what they do best!"
Game over. No Cousins.
All three of these guys (especially Coleman) excel at taking short passes deep.
I'm assuming a lot here, and maybe Hue Fisher would adapt (at least a little) to Cousins or Smith, but you need to think about how Hue would use these guys.
Certainly, Dorsey will. We can be optimistic that Hue Fisher is better at adapting to quarterbacks than he is at adapting to one-cut running backs and pass-catching tight ends.
Smith and Cousins are both pretty old and expensive. Hue Lewis's mindset will influence what Dorsey does, heavily.
Cousins is younger, so Dorsey can look beyond Hue with him. If Hue manages to stifle Kirk in 2018, he can fire Hue, and hire a Head Coach who will make the most of him.
Smith is older. Dorsey will NOT pursue him at all, unless he is confident that Hue will make the most of him in 2018.
Dorsey is here to build a dynasty. Hue Fisher is here to win right now. This dynamic has not changed. Stand by, as new "leaks" will tell us about "rifts", "power struggles", "dysfunction", etc., until the Browns start winning.
Stand by. Whoever Dorsey drafts, Hue wanted the other guy. Depending on which veteran QB Dorsey might sign, Hue will have opposed it or it will have been his idea, depending on how he does.
There will be conflicts. Leaks. Power struggles. Drama. Lots of drama.
The Browns have a real shot at beating the Packers tomorrow. They really do.
UPDATE: Terry Pluto just made his prediction for this sunday's game vs Green Bay (another Browns loss).
The Browns might well lose, and Terry's logic was perfect except for one thing:
Terry felt Josh Gordon would make a difference, but "not enough".
You need to understand this: You simply can't act like Josh Gordon is "minor". Terry has Stockholm Syndrome: He thinks the new Randy Moss can't change the inevittable domination of the awesome Green Bay defense.
Can't account for one more touchdown, or even 1-2 more field goals.
That's irrational.
1: Substitute the word "speculations" for "story" in re Hue's alleged dissatisfaction with some of Sashi's draft picks.
Terry and Doug Lesmerisis have the bad habit of taking stories written by other members of the sportwriters guild at face value. Lesmerisis is chasing Hue Fisher around asking him about "leaks", and Hue says he doesn't know what he's talking about.
I lean towards believing Hue. This LaCanfora was probobly manufactured by somebody like me (except devoid of scruples). Speculation.
2: Isn't it a tad early to judge Corey Coleman? Broken hands aside, he was an extremely raw talent coming out of Baylor. As Terry himself points out, it often takes time for wide receivers to develop in the NFL. Well, that goes double for one whose route-tree had only three branches!!!
Corey's development has been further stalled by his injuries. He's only now approximating one season's worth of experience, with a new rookie quarterback...who isn't very accurate btw.
3: Ogbah is good against the run, but is also a really good passrusher.
4: Terry writes that aside from Myles Garrett, none of the picks from Sashi's two drafts show "star quality".
I dislike this nebulous term, and the black-and-white thinking behind it.
Ogbah could return in his third season to pile up double-digit sacks (and tackles for loss, and maybe a couple interceptions). This is more likely than not, if Myles Garrett can stay healthy on the weak side.
Corey Coleman was a functional number one receiver until Josh Gordon came back...he was pretty much Kizer's only option not named Johnson or Njoku. He's one of the fastest AND quickest players in the NFL, and now he's behind Gordon wait a freaking minute willya!?!
Schobert isn't a Pro Bowler yet, but give me a break.
It's early to judge Njoku too, isn't it? And Peppers? What were they supposed to accomplish as rookies?
What about Ogunjobi? Can we exempt the injured rookie cornerback Wilson? It's hard for right tackles to be "stars", but if they could, Shon Coleman would be glimmering pretty good already.
And anyway, in reality, every Superbowl team is 75% lunchpail guys--"star power"? You build teams from the ground up. The "stars" ice that cake.
I get Terry's point here, however: The ignorant masses don't get this. Terry does, but he's still wrong about what a bunch of these guys have shown.
5: Terry whiffed big-time on Kenny Britt. Britt was Hue's one-eyed mildewed stinky teddy bear, and Dorsey took it away from him.
Hue didn't want to give up that teddy bear! He was yanking Josh Gordon off the field to get Britt on it, even in hurry-up mode with time running out! He put him in front of Jordan Leslie too!
I guess that's all my corrections. Terry is right about the other stuff.
Dorsey is likely to try to sign a top veteran QB and draft one atop the draft.
Terry is accidentally right here. He assumes that because he signed Alex Smith when he started with Kansas City, he'll do the same now.
Well, the team he inherits matters. If Dorsey doesn't think this team will be ready to knock off the Steelers in 2018, he won't waste cap money on an old geezer quarterback.
But as Dorsey kinda said himself, Sashi Brown set him up perfectly. Even with Hue Lewis in charge again next season, the Browns can toe the line with the Stoolers in 2018, so a Cousins or even a Smith is worth paying for.
Dorsey will probably have to draft a big smashmouth running back to replace Crowell (who might take LESS money to get away from Hue Fisher), but he has everything else (except a proven QB) already.
Dorsey is in heaven. He can use his top pick on a quarterback, can afford a Cousins (well i...
Say, waitaminnit...Cousins is first and foremost a West Coast quarterback. Would Hue Fisher do to him what he did to Crowell, and try to make him a mad bomber?
Yes, wait a minute here, Waittilnextyear: Cousins will cost 14% of the cap on the low end. If Hue Lewis won't let him do what he does best, this aint as good as it looks on paper.
Dorsey is stuck with Hue Fisher for at least one season, and with Cousins or Smith, niether fits the passing scheme Hue Lewis is currently running, and we now know that Hue Fisher will not alter his scheme to help them out.
...well I might be being unfair here: Just because he won't let Crowell do what he does best doesn't neccessarily mean he'll try to make Smith or Cousins long bombers.
Dorsey has his work cut out for him. Andrew Berry will help him out here, but so will talking to Hue:
"If I signed Kirk Cousins, how would you use him?"
"I'd start him!"
"I know, but he's a West Coast guy. Timing. Crosses, slants, YAC?"
"But he has a good arm too. We need the vertical stuff to open up the run."
"Would you use some more crosses and slants to help him out?"
"Of course I would! But you have to threaten them deep to keep them back! If you try to nickel and dime them they can come down and stuff you; jump those routes and stop the run".
"So if I got Kirk Cousins for you, you'd still have him going deep a lot?"
"Well, that's how we're built! Gordon, Njoku, Coleman--that's what they do best!"
Game over. No Cousins.
All three of these guys (especially Coleman) excel at taking short passes deep.
I'm assuming a lot here, and maybe Hue Fisher would adapt (at least a little) to Cousins or Smith, but you need to think about how Hue would use these guys.
Certainly, Dorsey will. We can be optimistic that Hue Fisher is better at adapting to quarterbacks than he is at adapting to one-cut running backs and pass-catching tight ends.
Smith and Cousins are both pretty old and expensive. Hue Lewis's mindset will influence what Dorsey does, heavily.
Cousins is younger, so Dorsey can look beyond Hue with him. If Hue manages to stifle Kirk in 2018, he can fire Hue, and hire a Head Coach who will make the most of him.
Smith is older. Dorsey will NOT pursue him at all, unless he is confident that Hue will make the most of him in 2018.
Dorsey is here to build a dynasty. Hue Fisher is here to win right now. This dynamic has not changed. Stand by, as new "leaks" will tell us about "rifts", "power struggles", "dysfunction", etc., until the Browns start winning.
Stand by. Whoever Dorsey drafts, Hue wanted the other guy. Depending on which veteran QB Dorsey might sign, Hue will have opposed it or it will have been his idea, depending on how he does.
There will be conflicts. Leaks. Power struggles. Drama. Lots of drama.
The Browns have a real shot at beating the Packers tomorrow. They really do.
UPDATE: Terry Pluto just made his prediction for this sunday's game vs Green Bay (another Browns loss).
The Browns might well lose, and Terry's logic was perfect except for one thing:
Terry felt Josh Gordon would make a difference, but "not enough".
You need to understand this: You simply can't act like Josh Gordon is "minor". Terry has Stockholm Syndrome: He thinks the new Randy Moss can't change the inevittable domination of the awesome Green Bay defense.
Can't account for one more touchdown, or even 1-2 more field goals.
That's irrational.
Friday, December 8, 2017
Dorsey? Really? Browns in Good Hands!
I was ready to join Lesmerisis in bashing the decision to fire Sashi Brown.
Fortunately, I didn't have to. ( Les is overboard on "power struggles", "sabotage", "leaks" and conspiracy theories, and I'd prefer not to get any of that LaCanfora on me if I can avoid it).
Anyway...John Dorsey? I feel sooo much better!
No offense, Sashi, but Dorsey is the real deal, and an upgrade over you.
Get this straight: Wentz and even Watson are D E B A T A B L E decisions, but the influx of team talent the Brown regime brought in is irrefutable err...by any rational measure.
But Dorsey? That's the cream of the crop! You can't NOT hire that guy!
Analytics is just a word. If you can pick talent, you can pick talent. It doesn't matter how you get there. Indeed, Bill Belichick said he doesn't use analytics, but he does. That's how he thinks. Nobody ever told him it was "analytics".
So DePodesta has a shot at being retained, despite how wrong he was about Wentz, and Andrew Berry has a better chance, because he did a great job (and is a "foodball guy").
I believe the retention of Hue Fisher for one more season may have been a precondition of Dorsey's contract, since he'd otherwise see how Hue used his personnel and want to fire him.
Try to comprehend that this was a plumb job offer for Dorsey due to the team record, the young talent, and the loaded 2018 draft picks Sashi Brown piled up.
What will Dor...wow there goes Kenny Britt I already LOVE this guy!!!
Uh-oh! Now Hue can't use Kenny in his "wide receiver rotation" to get Josh Gordon off the field! It will have to be Gordon and Ricardo Lewis now! Think Dorsey checked with Hue on this?
I don't.
I love Dorsey already. This is one move Sashi should have made before game four. He's not allowed to tell Hue Jackson how to use his players, but he is allowed to take away that lice-infested one-eyed stinky teddy bear and pitch it so the kid can't...well you know.
Much as Hue Lewis drives me mad, I didn't want him fired (yet). Been there, done that. No more starting from scratch, at least not now.
Hue is a blockhead, but not incompetent. He has made the most of Duke Johnson as a dual-threat, even as he's stifled Crowell. He is making the most of Njoku and DeValve, albeit rarely at the same time.
His power/man blocking scheme combined with deep passes is a good, proven formula.
Because of Hue Fisher, Isaiah Crowell will probably leave in free agency, as any team willing to zone-block will go after him...but that's it.
Duke, Corey, Josh, Seth, and Njoku will be back. So will Big Joe. Hue Lewis will have the ideal array of weapons to fit his scheme...
Except for a big powerful running back.
Quarterback is a whole different can o worms.
Waittilnextyear wants Dorsey to bring Kirk Cousins here. That would be fine with me, but not for a record-breaking contract; not for "any price".
Others leapt to Alex Smith, since Dorsey signed him and knows him.
Don't expect John Dorsey to open the vault and invite everybody in. Don't expect him to scrap DePodesta's long-term plan, or sell out for all the marbles in 2018.
The Browns WILL draft a quarterback (probably first overall) in the 2018 draft. Cousins and Smith know this. They also know that DeShone Kizer could turn into a pretty good quarterback possibly maybe conceivably.
While I'm at it, Dorsey drafted Rodney Hoganfield...
A Kirk Cousins could be the ticket in 2018 if Dorsey could swing it, because the team around the quarterback will be loaded, and have the talent to contend.
I can hear Permabashers asking who Cousins would throw to derroyy?
Gordon, Coleman, Johnson, and Njoku for starters. Any of this sinking in yet?
The Browns do have a shot at upsetting the Packers this sunday. The Kizer-Gordon connection has another week to chemistrationalize, (and Dorsey confiscated Kenny Britt from Hue Fisher).
The Pack in vulnerable to opposing quarterbacks and to the pass in general (just not tight ends--partly because Matthews keeps them in to block a lot).
The Pack isn't built to run the ball, and the Browns are built to stop it. They'll need to pass more than they want to with Brett Hundley, and McCourty will be on the top guy.
Shelton (yawn) should be back, and the Browns should be able to get heat on Hundley.
Hundley will burn them on the ground but ah the hell with it the Browns are the better team and Josh is back and talent should just fkng prevail at home for once ok?
Fortunately, I didn't have to. ( Les is overboard on "power struggles", "sabotage", "leaks" and conspiracy theories, and I'd prefer not to get any of that LaCanfora on me if I can avoid it).
Anyway...John Dorsey? I feel sooo much better!
No offense, Sashi, but Dorsey is the real deal, and an upgrade over you.
Get this straight: Wentz and even Watson are D E B A T A B L E decisions, but the influx of team talent the Brown regime brought in is irrefutable err...by any rational measure.
But Dorsey? That's the cream of the crop! You can't NOT hire that guy!
Analytics is just a word. If you can pick talent, you can pick talent. It doesn't matter how you get there. Indeed, Bill Belichick said he doesn't use analytics, but he does. That's how he thinks. Nobody ever told him it was "analytics".
So DePodesta has a shot at being retained, despite how wrong he was about Wentz, and Andrew Berry has a better chance, because he did a great job (and is a "foodball guy").
I believe the retention of Hue Fisher for one more season may have been a precondition of Dorsey's contract, since he'd otherwise see how Hue used his personnel and want to fire him.
Try to comprehend that this was a plumb job offer for Dorsey due to the team record, the young talent, and the loaded 2018 draft picks Sashi Brown piled up.
What will Dor...wow there goes Kenny Britt I already LOVE this guy!!!
Uh-oh! Now Hue can't use Kenny in his "wide receiver rotation" to get Josh Gordon off the field! It will have to be Gordon and Ricardo Lewis now! Think Dorsey checked with Hue on this?
I don't.
I love Dorsey already. This is one move Sashi should have made before game four. He's not allowed to tell Hue Jackson how to use his players, but he is allowed to take away that lice-infested one-eyed stinky teddy bear and pitch it so the kid can't...well you know.
Much as Hue Lewis drives me mad, I didn't want him fired (yet). Been there, done that. No more starting from scratch, at least not now.
Hue is a blockhead, but not incompetent. He has made the most of Duke Johnson as a dual-threat, even as he's stifled Crowell. He is making the most of Njoku and DeValve, albeit rarely at the same time.
His power/man blocking scheme combined with deep passes is a good, proven formula.
Because of Hue Fisher, Isaiah Crowell will probably leave in free agency, as any team willing to zone-block will go after him...but that's it.
Duke, Corey, Josh, Seth, and Njoku will be back. So will Big Joe. Hue Lewis will have the ideal array of weapons to fit his scheme...
Except for a big powerful running back.
Quarterback is a whole different can o worms.
Waittilnextyear wants Dorsey to bring Kirk Cousins here. That would be fine with me, but not for a record-breaking contract; not for "any price".
Others leapt to Alex Smith, since Dorsey signed him and knows him.
Don't expect John Dorsey to open the vault and invite everybody in. Don't expect him to scrap DePodesta's long-term plan, or sell out for all the marbles in 2018.
The Browns WILL draft a quarterback (probably first overall) in the 2018 draft. Cousins and Smith know this. They also know that DeShone Kizer could turn into a pretty good quarterback possibly maybe conceivably.
While I'm at it, Dorsey drafted Rodney Hoganfield...
A Kirk Cousins could be the ticket in 2018 if Dorsey could swing it, because the team around the quarterback will be loaded, and have the talent to contend.
I can hear Permabashers asking who Cousins would throw to derroyy?
Gordon, Coleman, Johnson, and Njoku for starters. Any of this sinking in yet?
The Browns do have a shot at upsetting the Packers this sunday. The Kizer-Gordon connection has another week to chemistrationalize, (and Dorsey confiscated Kenny Britt from Hue Fisher).
The Pack in vulnerable to opposing quarterbacks and to the pass in general (just not tight ends--partly because Matthews keeps them in to block a lot).
The Pack isn't built to run the ball, and the Browns are built to stop it. They'll need to pass more than they want to with Brett Hundley, and McCourty will be on the top guy.
Shelton (yawn) should be back, and the Browns should be able to get heat on Hundley.
Hundley will burn them on the ground but ah the hell with it the Browns are the better team and Josh is back and talent should just fkng prevail at home for once ok?
Monday, December 4, 2017
Cleveland Browns: Who to Blame
I have to start with a question more objective media types would ask Hue Lewis in the wake of the loss to the 49ers:
Why was Josh Gordon sent to the sidelines and replaced by Britt or Louis after each and every target? Especially in a hurry-up, down by nine points with time running out...who substitutes in that situation? Whywhywhy?
Who else rotates their top receiver in and out like he's a situational defensive tackle? Does Hue hand out Participation Trophies too? Why isn't the backup center getting to play?
I'm disappointed with DeShone Kizer, who was again mediocre. In fairness, he's only been with Gordon for one week, and was under intense pressure, but he's simply not accurate.
It looks like Kizer can become a good quarterback in time, but I really doubt he's that rare bird they call a "franchise" quarterback.
The Niners just won (Jimmy G was good), so the Browns are now two games ahead in the First Overall Pick Derby.
If only Hue can keep rotating Josh Gordon in and out (I didn't pay attention maybe he does that with Coleman too with who--Treggs? Higgins?), running power/man with Crowell, and keeping DeValve or Njoku on the bench, they have a good shot at losing at least two more games.
I'm torn about what do do with Hue Fisher.
For those who don't see what they decide to see, Hue has not made the most of his skill players.
If Seth DeValve had had ten or fifteen more targets, or Hue had been more flexible with the blocking scheme, the Browns might well have won half of those games lost by a field goal or less.
And this Louis/Britt/Gordon rotation?
For many, Sashi is Trump and Hue is Hillary.
Vic Carrucci said that he doubts that Jimmy Haslam can be happy with "this analytics stuff".
Recent "revelations" according to sources say that Hue Jackson liked Carson Wentz a lot. By implication, we are to believe that Hue was pounding the table against that massive trade-down away from second overall.
Pundits constantly project their own opinions into the minds of the subjects they write about.
Hue Jackson signed off on the Wentz trade. He preferred Malik Hooker over DeShaun Watson. He was happy to get DeShone Kizer.
Rather than just reporting, at every opportunity, the media is campaigning for Hue, and against "this analytics stuff".
And it gets rediculous, as with Carrucci, who had his mind made up the day the new Front Office was announced that it would fail, and subconsciously filters everything he sees or hears to support his "platform".
Haslam may be upset about Wentz or Watson, but not about Peppers, the Colemans, Njoku etc cubed to the second power.
The talent is here, but it's embryonic. You need very little imagination to anticipate widespread imrovements by the 2018 training camp.
Second-year players: One starting offensive lineman (technically two with Rango), one passcatching tight end, one of the top two wide receivers, and the real third wide receiver on offense.
On defense, it's one starting tackle, a starting defensive end, the starting middle linebacker, one starting safety, and the nickel back.
Rookies: The top passcatching tight end, starting defensive end, two active rotational defensive tackles, the top backup linebacker (currently starting), and a starting safety.
These FIFTEEN players don't say it all (Kizer makes 16 btw), but if you have two gliel cells to rub together you can comprehend why assignments are missed, poor angles are taken, bait gets taken, and bad reads are made.
This is why all coaches want veteran players, and why "experience" is their favorite word.
Well obviously, these guys will all be more experienced next season...how many different ways do I need to spell out this obvious, self-evident fact?
So guys like Vic Carrucci should just shut up for awhile, and give these pre-schoolers and kindergarteners a freaking chance!
And while they're at it, give that same chance to this "whole analytics thing".
It would just be brilliant to fire the people who filled up this nursery the year before they stop falling down-going boom.
Hue, I don't know about. He has his round holes and keeps pounding square pegs into them. The players will naturally improve, and are more representative of the Front Office.
If only one of the two warrant a third season, it's them. If somebody has to go, it's Hue Lewis.
Why was Josh Gordon sent to the sidelines and replaced by Britt or Louis after each and every target? Especially in a hurry-up, down by nine points with time running out...who substitutes in that situation? Whywhywhy?
Who else rotates their top receiver in and out like he's a situational defensive tackle? Does Hue hand out Participation Trophies too? Why isn't the backup center getting to play?
I'm disappointed with DeShone Kizer, who was again mediocre. In fairness, he's only been with Gordon for one week, and was under intense pressure, but he's simply not accurate.
It looks like Kizer can become a good quarterback in time, but I really doubt he's that rare bird they call a "franchise" quarterback.
The Niners just won (Jimmy G was good), so the Browns are now two games ahead in the First Overall Pick Derby.
If only Hue can keep rotating Josh Gordon in and out (I didn't pay attention maybe he does that with Coleman too with who--Treggs? Higgins?), running power/man with Crowell, and keeping DeValve or Njoku on the bench, they have a good shot at losing at least two more games.
I'm torn about what do do with Hue Fisher.
For those who don't see what they decide to see, Hue has not made the most of his skill players.
If Seth DeValve had had ten or fifteen more targets, or Hue had been more flexible with the blocking scheme, the Browns might well have won half of those games lost by a field goal or less.
And this Louis/Britt/Gordon rotation?
For many, Sashi is Trump and Hue is Hillary.
Vic Carrucci said that he doubts that Jimmy Haslam can be happy with "this analytics stuff".
Recent "revelations" according to sources say that Hue Jackson liked Carson Wentz a lot. By implication, we are to believe that Hue was pounding the table against that massive trade-down away from second overall.
Pundits constantly project their own opinions into the minds of the subjects they write about.
Hue Jackson signed off on the Wentz trade. He preferred Malik Hooker over DeShaun Watson. He was happy to get DeShone Kizer.
Rather than just reporting, at every opportunity, the media is campaigning for Hue, and against "this analytics stuff".
And it gets rediculous, as with Carrucci, who had his mind made up the day the new Front Office was announced that it would fail, and subconsciously filters everything he sees or hears to support his "platform".
Haslam may be upset about Wentz or Watson, but not about Peppers, the Colemans, Njoku etc cubed to the second power.
The talent is here, but it's embryonic. You need very little imagination to anticipate widespread imrovements by the 2018 training camp.
Second-year players: One starting offensive lineman (technically two with Rango), one passcatching tight end, one of the top two wide receivers, and the real third wide receiver on offense.
On defense, it's one starting tackle, a starting defensive end, the starting middle linebacker, one starting safety, and the nickel back.
Rookies: The top passcatching tight end, starting defensive end, two active rotational defensive tackles, the top backup linebacker (currently starting), and a starting safety.
These FIFTEEN players don't say it all (Kizer makes 16 btw), but if you have two gliel cells to rub together you can comprehend why assignments are missed, poor angles are taken, bait gets taken, and bad reads are made.
This is why all coaches want veteran players, and why "experience" is their favorite word.
Well obviously, these guys will all be more experienced next season...how many different ways do I need to spell out this obvious, self-evident fact?
So guys like Vic Carrucci should just shut up for awhile, and give these pre-schoolers and kindergarteners a freaking chance!
And while they're at it, give that same chance to this "whole analytics thing".
It would just be brilliant to fire the people who filled up this nursery the year before they stop falling down-going boom.
Hue, I don't know about. He has his round holes and keeps pounding square pegs into them. The players will naturally improve, and are more representative of the Front Office.
If only one of the two warrant a third season, it's them. If somebody has to go, it's Hue Lewis.
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