Here are the exper-participants in this Browns' Round Table:
Connie Klusionleeper, Joe Twelvepack, Black Cloud, Judge Mental, and Ray O Sunshine. I, of course, am ME, but will just pick topics and break up fights.
Topic 1: Can the Browns make the playoffs in 2018?
Connie Klusionleeper: Definitely! Jarvis Landry catches 100 passes per season, Tyrod Taylor took the Bills to the playoffs last season, Josh Gordon is back and should eclipse his record-breaking season...too much to list in this format!
Just to touch on some of the other factors, while Corey Coleman is obviously a bust, Antonio Callaway is a terrific replacement. Njoku should catch over 60 passes for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns, now that he will be the clear-cut top tight end.
Did you see Landry's hype-video? Clearly, Tyrod Taylor is all synched-up with Gordon, Landry, and Njoku.
Black Cloud: Not a chance. They have one of the toughest schedules in the NFL. Corey Coleman is a bust, Callaway a career criminal, there is no left tackle anymore, Gordon is one test away from gone, Landry averaged 8.7 yards per reception, the Browns offense and defense were garbage in 2017, and Dorsey blew the draft!
Instead of drafting Sam Darnold, he drafts a 6 foot air-raid quarterback first overall! Then, instead of Bradley Chubb, he drafts an undersized cornerback! Then, instead of a real left tackle, a project offensive lineman. And later, a wide receiver with a rap-sheet longer than my arm, and who's here to keep him out of trouble? JOSH GORDON!
I rest my case: they might win 4 games.
Ray O Sunshine: The 2018 Browns should win the AFC North, and after that, who knows?
Tyrod is just coming into his own, and has a virtual arsenal full of weapons to work with. Haley and Williams are great coaches. The defense might be even more stacked than the offense.
I can't see how this team can lose a game to any division rival.
Judge Mental: I have considered these arguments, along with a preponderance of the evidence.
This is a complex case, with a great deal of circumstantial evidence, and sparse irrefutable facts.
We must, perforce, therefore, resort to inference and, if you will, "educated guesses", in an effort to reach a satisfactory verdict.
Were this forum so organized as to enable me to hear and evaluate two clearly opposed arguments, I could rule in comfort.
However, in this haphazard, vague forum, I must, in good conscience, recuse myself.
Joe Twelvepack: What? Huh? Why the hell did you bring that guy h--
ME: Joe, stick to the question at hand, or I'll have to cut you off again.
Joe: Ok sorry. What was the--
ME: Can the Browns make the pl--
Joe: Oh yeah! I think so, maybe.
ME: And? Because?
Joe: Yes.
Next Topic:
Nevermind. You guys can all go home now. I can't do this anymore. Stick around, Joe.
Connie Klusionleeper: You're gay lovers, aren't you?
Joe: You ignorant bitch fu--
ME: No, Connie. Just go home now, ok?
Black Cloud: What about me? I'm smarter than Joe, and I'm thirsty too!
Joe: I'd be slashing my own wrists in one hour! You're a world-class downer, death of the party we're fkng all gonna die bummer--
ME: (Calm down, Joe). But Black Cloud, yeah. You are a bummer. Please go home.
Ray O Sunshine: You're kicking me out too?
ME: Ok you can stay.
Judge Mental: In view of these social interractions, I feel compelled to ask--
ME: Go home, your honor.
Joe: And take your--
ME: Joe?
Joe: I hear ya. Have a nice night, your highness.
ME: "Can the 2018 Browns make the playoffs" was a trick question, because most of you don't know the difference between "can" and "will".
Unlike a few real experts, I have never predicted that the Browns will make the playoffs in 2018, but have said that they can.
They have a legitimate shot, because they are the most talented team in this Division, and also maybe the best-coached (see previous posts: Hue Jackson is a figurehead).
As this "curb your enthusiasm" article points out, the 2018 Browns aint perfect, and things could go wrong.
I commend the writer for his lawyerly effort to "dig up dirt" on the 2018 Browns.
But go ahead and click the link. The writer is reaching to fill out his "five reasons" why the Browns could still suck in 2018.
His two strongest points were lack of continuity and lack of Joe Thomas. He makes a great case for the former, as he cites an Eagles "dream-team" which looked invincable, then fell on it's face.
And yes, that could happen again here especially here! (Something in the water?)
But as I've explained, the left tackle thing is over-inflated in 2018, given Taylor and Mayfield...and Todd Haley.
Here are some facts for you, Judge Mental:
Which team in the AFC North lost the least, and gained the most, talent?
Which team upgraded it's coaching staff the most?
Which team has the most durable quarterback, and the best backup?
Which team has the deepest backfield, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive line, defensive line, linebackers, and secondary?
The things most "analysts" fixate on are overinflated.
Pat Kirwan will probably once again project the Steelers winning the division based on Ben, Brown, and Bell. He is wrong:
Tyrod Taylor is the second-best quarterback in this division, and it is close between him and Big Ben, when you factor in Taylor's efficiency and mobility.
Ebineezer Bell was awesome under Todd Haley, and you have to assume their new offensive coordinator won't screw that up...and trust me: they have given up on meeting his ungodly salary demands, and intend to run him into the ground while they've still got him.
But in reality, Duke Johnson outperformed him as a receiver, and was close to him as a runner too. The only reason that Duke Johnson isn't ranked with Laveon Bell is the fact that Bell was used a lot more.
Bell is bigger and stronger than Duke, but that's it.
Nick Chubb is cast as a "hammer", but in reality, he has Bell-like vision/patience, and even (maybe) similar receiving skills. And he's bigger and stronger.
Even ignoring Carlos Hyde, who Chubb will have surpassed by game one, if you think the Steelers' backfield is significantly better than the Browns, you're not rational. And if Bell gets hurt, well...
Nevermind. I could go on all night.
The 2018 Browns can make the playoffs: I HAVE SPOKEN.
Andrew Gribble wrote another this-will-sound familiar article on Jabrill Peppers, and how playing free safety last season will help him out a lot as a strong safety and safetybacker.
He will understand better what is going on around him.
What's new here is some of what assistant DB Coach Jerrod Kruse told Andrew about Peppers the free safety:
Jerrod says that the 2017 Browns were tops in the league against the deep ball, and Jabrill Peppers had everything to do with that.
Per Kruse, Peppers did what he was asked to do, and that was first and foremost to keep a lid on opposing offenses. Kruse shrugs off criticisms of Peppers in that role, implying that those critics didn't get what his actual job was in that Gregg Williams defense (which couldn't run press/man on the outside).
But now Peppers is back to strong safety and safetybacker along with Rodney Kindredfield, and that got me to wondering:
What is the closest thing Gregg Williams might have to a base defense (which puts his best eleven players on the field)?
*Ok defenses have to adapt to offenses and situations, so it's simply not possible to have any one personnel group, but I'm just trying to put myself in Gregg's shoes and sorta ranking guys*
First off, skip the two outside corners. They have to play 99% of the time, so we're really talking about the other nine players.
Well, the no-brainer is Myles Garrett, which leaves eight.
On the next rung, you've got to have Ogbah, Kendricks (that's right Kendricks), Collins, and Kindred. Yeah KINDRED I said dammit.
I don't care where he was drafted or who drafted him, that guy is a stud.
That's five (of nine non-cornerbacks), leaving four players.
Well, you really have to have a free safety, so Damarius Randall is the default here (I bet he'll be terrific though), leaving three slots.
Well, Larry Ogunjobi has to be one of the last three. He's an inside player and a rising star. Highly underrated, terrific upside, plays pass and run, one or two-gap, enters year two just watch this guy!
Two slots left: Well, if you remember that Gregg Williams leans on a "Field General" middle linebacker who literally "quarterbacks" the defense, one of those guys should be Joe Schobert...
But here it gets complicated. Kendricks and Collins are both experienced veterans, and one or both might be able to make those calls.
Schobert is a tackling machine and an underrated athlete too, however, so I gotta include him.
The last slot (given the variables) has to be a tie between Jamie Meder, Trevon Coley, Jabrill Peppers, and Briean Boddy-Calhoun.
Ok maybe Brantley or somebody else I dunno.
Poor Gregg Williams! He's got too many good players!
But he can sure run any "type" of personnel group he wants on any down, in any situation, against any offense.
I rate Derrick Kindred over Jabrill Peppers because he's better than Peppers is so far. You people all expect Peppers to just elbow Kindred out of the way, but you're wrong.
Jabrill Peppers has an athletic edge on Kindred, and might just be awesome in year two, but that would just force Gregg Williams to figure out how to get them both on the field as often as he can, because (read my lips) Derrick Kindred is, and will remain, a stud.
A lot will change between now and Game one, so right now we're just guesstimating.
Will Larry Ogunjobi keep kicking ass when he gets to play more (because if he does, he has a good shot at the Pro Bowl)?
Will Caleb Brantley overtake Trevon Coley? And just how good will this overall defensive line be?
In 2017, Gregg ran as much of a 4-man front as he could, but that could change in 2018.
Williams has now moved Peppers up and added Kendricks. He is also now stacked with man cornerbacks, and cross-training Boddy-Calhoun at free safety.
This season, Gregg might field more 3-man fronts to get/keep guys like Schobert and Peppers on the field.
Jamie Collins can put his hand in the dirt, and Kendricks can stand up in a defensive end slot. Meanwhile, both Garrett and Ogbah (not to mention their backups) are fully capable of lining up inside.
On the other hand, Meder is...nevermind poor Gregg Williams I feel so sorry for him.
But 26 or so of his peers don't.
Will Baker Mayfield make a play for the starting job in training camp?
Yes, of course he will. He will bust ass and fight like he always has. Then he'll accept that Tyrod's "lead" on him was too great to overcome, and accept his redshirt season.
Can the Browns have a bigger player than LeBron?
Yes, but it's Mayfield, and you need to wait awhile.
Myles Garrett is all that, but he's a defensive end, so he can't win.
Jarvis Landry says Tyrod Taylor looks amazing. Amazing.
Evan Western (a Green Bay guy) wrote about how all these ex-Packer front office guys (including Dorsey) just massively upgraded the Browns' roster.
I only had time to "skim" this article, but I think it's pretty good (and will sound familiar to my crickets).
However, Callaway in the FOURTH round shouldn't surprise anybody, Nick Chubb is in Hyde's face rtf now (and is superior to him), Jamie Collins was injured, not killed, and Kendricks isn't here to "help" Schobert and Kirksey, and Austin Corbett is a legit contender to start at left tackle in 2018.
Evan calls Denzel Ward a "clone" of Packers stud Sam Shields based on his combine numbers. I don't know Shields yet so no comment.
Okbye.
Andrew Gribble discusses what tight end Darren Fells brings to the Browns (aside from 6'7", 270 rocked up lbs).
This will, of course, sound familiar to you if you read this Blog regularly, but I still include the links because each writer is a little different (except the ones that copy/paste my posts and then change a few words here and there).
But I digress: When discussing the left tackle derby, I keep forgetting to mention the tight ends!
Teams without an elite passblocking left tackle (ie the vast majority, here on Earth) have their tight ends chip-block to help the big guy out.
All that means is that they set up to deprive the edge rusher of his outside lane, and then give him a shove (to the inside) before they go out for a pass.
Wide-nine edge guys kind of short-circuit this, as they line up extra-wide. The left tackle is stuck where he is, but the tight end can still line up in the edge rushers' face, or shaded inside or outside of him.
That is, he can still make himself an impediment, and leverage him into a long, slow loop if he goes outside, or directly towards the tackle if he goes inside.
There are all sorts of ways a tight end can help a left tackle in pass protection, which is what they did last season to help an overmatched Drango.
But it can get tough when your tight ends are more oversized wide receivers than they are in-line blockers, as is the case with both DeValve and Njoku.
A note on these guys:
DeValve is just a pile of muscles, but remains around 6'2", and most edge guys have a significant reach advantage on him.
That's (one reason) why he's been working at fullback and H-back in camp: It prevents a passrusher from getting his hands under Seth's pads at the snap, and forces them to come near or through him in space.
Njoku has the "length" to play in-line, and I'm hearing that he's kept improving at that ever since he came here. But he probably won't ever be a great in-line blocker, and Haley will try to avoid wasting him that way as much as he can.
This is where Fells comes in. Fells is possibly THE best blocking tight end in the NFL, okay? So quit yawning! REAL football fans appreciate the "infantry".
Fells has great size and length for this job (in fact he actually overmatches many edge-rushers in both reach and size). Fells can take most edge-rushers on all by himself. He can BE the left tackle when neccessary!
Njoku/DeValve can't do this. Few tight ends can. Fells is a rare bird, and his mere presence in the huddle will have defensive coordinators going "heavy"---nevermind that's gamesmanship and I didn't warn you to bring your snorkels or hip-waders.
Anyway, Fells can not only chip-block, but can literally turn a five-man offensive line into a six-man offensive line, and a left tackle into a defacto guard.
The upshot here is that I think Haley/Dorsey were afraid that Big Joe would pull the pin, and targeted Fells as insurance, in case the new left tackle was developmental, or simply below average.
Now, I don't know who will win the left tackle derby, but I know he won't be Joe Thomas.
As I've tried hard to explain repeatedly, Todd Haley will help out the new left tackle with a lot of movement, zone runs, smashmouth runs, etc.;
Basicly, the quarterback will often move away from the right edge-rusher and force him to go through the left tackle (or go on a big adventure outside, ya know?)
But Fells is another tool in that chest; especially for third and fifteens, or for late in games where you need lots of points fast, and you can't get cute, and have to go deep.
In these situations, defenses blitze like crazy, and attack every gap.
I hear you: Well if Njoku is also there, that's a two tight end offense, and who does that in that situation?
Doesn't matter. Gordon, Landry, Njoku, and Johnson need to be on the field here, period. These are the guys Todd and Tyrod can count on, and that's a scary quartet.
Fells allows those four weapons on the field, while providing a "max-protect" look (and make no mistake: The defense's best edge-rusher is all his---the tackle inside him is now a guard).
No defensive coordinator in this situation (except maybe Romeo Crennel) would run anything "cheaper" than a nickel, regardless of that "two tight end" look.
But if you think about this, where does this leave them?
Remember, Duke can line up anywhere.
Well, if you're a defense up by 10 points with 2:50 left in a game, how do you do this?
You can't bring your free safety up with Josh Gordon on the field, and furthermore have to rotate him that way out of self-preservation.
That's two. You got nine left. Next up are Njoku and Landry.
You can't double-cover either. You have to play off-man on Njoku with a defensive back of some sort (eight left). You can try to jam Landry, because he can't blow your doors off, but you need a good cornerback for that, and you probably need off-man for him too anyway. Seven left.
You can "send" seven, but not really: You can't risk all those one-on-ones and leave all that green grass available for Njoku or Landry.
Opps! Dammit Duke is lined up wide! Empty backfield! Off-man on him too. So much for blitzing to lock him in the backfield.
You don't have enough guys to blitze! I mean, you can send one guy, but...
Sorry I got off in the weeds there, but Fells' ability to take on edge-rushers makes a big difference here.
If I were a beat writer, I'd watch for Garrett or Ogbah vs Fells in practice. I'd expect them to fake and then bull-rush him.
Of course, the Beat writers who will be there won't notice, so we'll never know.
But Fells is more than a blocker. He played pro basketball for awhile, and returned to football late. He's only now refining his receiving skills.
I'm telling you right now, Todd Haley will use him as a red-zone receiver, and that when he can chip and go, he's a Tyrod security blanket.
But of course, then there's the run-blocking, which is why in typical score/time situations, most defenses will field base defenses when Fells and Njoku are both in the huddle...
I will save that lecture for a later post.
Randy Gurzi says that Madden Football ranks Baker Mayfield ahead of all the other rookie quarterbacks, and got it right.
Obviously. As Randy says, if Mayfield were two inches taller, nobody would question his being drafted first overall. Mayfield was obviously the best quarterback in this draft.
Period.
"Joel Bitonio open to playing left tackle". I didn't bother reading this article, but assume that somebody turned "I'll do whatever they want me to do" into "breaking news".
I'm trying not to rehash what Wylie and I said about this, but look: Corbett's resume is about identical to Bitonio's was when he was drafted, and he's got an edge in athleticism.
Let the left tackle keep playing left tackle, and the elite left guard keep playing left guard.
Don't throw a hand grenade into the Bitonio-Tretter-Zeitler foxhole just when that unit is about to leap forward due to it's continuity.
Amateurs...jeez.
Christian Kirksey feels optimistic about the 2018, and explains why. Chris is a smart guy.
I hope he's also a team guy, because he's probably going to lose his starting job to Mychal Kendricks.
As I've told you, if you think Joe Schobert is the player on the bubble, you don't get it.
I like Kirksey the "tackling machine", but PFF doesn't. They love Kendricks, and it's not even close. (They grade Schobert significantly higher than Kirksey as well).
This is interesting: As a Browns fan watching games, I saw Kirksey making all these tackles, and felt like he was a stud.
But PFF isn't a "fan" (just the facts).
Christian Kirksey (PFF be damned) is an above average starting linebacker, and I hope nobody offers a fourth round or higher draft pick for him, since he'd be a terrific backup in 2018.
Business is business. Deal with it.
And you people need to consider this:
Sashi Brown found Joe Schobert in the basement, Briean Boddy-Calhoun on the street, nabbed Jamie Collins cheap, drafted Njoku, Ogbah, Ogunjobi, Brantley, and DeValve, signed Zeitler and Tretter, retained Meder, and left John Dorsey with a bunch of extra draft picks, the most notable of which turned out to be Denzel Ward.
I despise kangaroo courts, smear campaigns, and injustice in general, so redundancy or no, I have to go to bat for Sashi Brown one more time:
1: Sashi relied on Paul DePodesta and his scouts. He himself knew his limitations, and never pretended to be smarter than anybody else.
2: Hue Jackson had his right to pick his quarterback in his contract. Hue made the final call on all these decisions.
Personally, I'm now leaning towards "smart move" in re the Saint Carson Wentz trade-down. I would have grabbed Watson with both hands, and not drafted Kizer above the third round, but listen carefully:
HUE PALMER made these calls!
Jeez even without that contract stipulation, do you think Paul DePodesta would have bypassed DeShaun Watson low in the first round, and then drafted Kizer?
I mean sure, lay all the rest of the draft picks at Sashi Brown's feet (he'd like that), but you're burning him at the stake for the quarterbacks, and this is obcene:
Hue Fisher blames Sashi Brown?
Many of you fell for that, but as I've written, Haslam didn't. He retained Hue Palmer for political reasons, and fired Sashi because Dorsey was available.
Redundancy alert:
Contract or no, Hue Palmer has zero power or leverage, and whether or not he was a Baker Mayfield fan, John Dorsey (and probably DePodesta) made that pick.
For all I know, Hue didn't want Tyrod Taylor either.
Nah I can't hate Hue (who can?) He might even be a better "overlord" than he was a "busybody" in 2018 (Bill Belichick followed this pattern).
Doesn't matter. Todd Haley runs the offense, Gregg Williams the defense, and they had massive input in the draft and free agency.
Hue Jackson might own the record for failure in the NFL, and certainly is the first Head Coach ever to keep his job after 1-31.
You get this, right? No more "Hair-Trigger Haslam" crap (by the way I coined that). See how extraordinarily patient he is?
It's so funny to watch you guys fall for it! And Mary Kay and company! Everybody talking about the "Hue Jackson offense" and "Hue might decide to--" I mean...
And this "Hue will get fired if--" stuff. Hue will get fired any time Haslam feels like it. He's already proven to the lynch-mob how patient he is by retaining perhaps the losingest coach in history, so now you can't lynch him if he fires him!
Jimmy's bro is the Governor of Tennessee. He knows what he's doing.
I get depressed watching this crap. Hue blames Sashi for 1-31. Now if "he" wins 6 or so games, he'll take credit for it, or if "he" "disappoints" he's the scapegoat, and YOU PEOPLE are being played...
Ok sorry you Browns fans aren't all sheep. You know stuff like Njoku is gonna be a moster, Gordon already is, and the 2018 Browns are scary etc. ...
Well last call okbye
7/3 is amazingly oprimistic in Browns coverage. Marc Sessler lists five reasons why he thinks the Browns can make the playoffs in 2018.
If you read this Blog it should (sigh) sound familiar.
But whoa Nellie! Steelers writer Dave Bryan reports that James Jones and Maurice Jones-Drew both predict that the 2018 Browns will sweep the Steelers!!!
Even I never went that far!
But these guys are ex-players, and they tend to dwell on nebulous abstractions like coaching and talent, rather than the stuff that really matters, like how many games a team lost last season.
Somebody tweet Colon Cowherd, and have him set these two amatuers straight like he did Baker Mayfield!
I know I'm supposed to do the Bill O'Reilly thing and throw the permabashers a bone to prove how objective I am, but...
Well I do have to say that I think a sweep is optimistic...kinda:
Well I guess these guys are looking at the mostly new secondary and Kendricks, and expecting the Browns 2018 defense to give the Steelers offense hell.
You know that Ward will be on Antonio Brown wherever he goes. While nobody in the NFL so far has done more than keep a lid on Antonio, Ward is the closest thing anybody has to his kryptonite.
Ward's recovery speed is phenomenal, and he can catch Brown from behind (he's much faster). And some teams don't try to jam Brown--Ward will.
Then there's Ebineezer Bell: When he lines up at wide receiver, it will probably be vs a nickel (unless the new OC uses 12 sets--two tight ends--more than Haley did in 2017. He shouldn't).
That means that Ebineezer might have a genuine cornerback on him---but at least Peppers or Kindred; not a true linebacker. Gregg Williams can match up with the Steelers offense now, you see?
And Big Ben: Well he's a sitting duck, okay? They can't get fancy with that big old slowpoke; they face an actual pocket, and don't need to sweat containment.
I respect that bumblebee offensive line, but there are only five of them. Now that Williams (I think) has his free safety and cornerbacks out the yinyang, he'll be sending a fifth guy all the time.
Bell thrives on vision and chaos, so he "coasts" and hesitates.
But 1: Todd Haley used inside zone-blocking to set him up for that. Will the new guy? Might be another Hue Fisher!
2: Gap-shooting/attacking defensive lines can mess up the inside zone; in fact most offenses won't try it vs that kind of defense.
3: Bell will get blitzed just like Big Ben. He'll often escape the blitzer, but still be "forced" to commit--often in the direction Williams perfers (a better term is "funneled")
The 2018 Browns defense is built to match up with the Steelers offense, and I assume that's one thing Jones and Jones Drew see when they predict a Browns sweep.
But they must also see the Browns offense (now run by the Steelers' own long-time offensive coordinator, who knows that defense intimately) vs the Steelers defense.
The Steelers defense is pretty good, but that's all. Those of you with Stockholm Syndrome think it's the Steel Curtain (and forget that Brian Sipe and co beat it several times by the way).
T J Watt is phenominal, but there's only one of him. Joe Haden is so far one of their starting cornerbacks.
The Steelers ranked 5th overall while the Browns were 14th, but:
1: The Browns started two rookies, and leaned on more rotational rookies at DT. Their starting MLB and DE were second year players, and they were generally inexperienced, ascending players.
The Steelers had TJ Watt, but only one of him. That was a veteran defense; static or in decline.
2: While the Steelers couldn't make a lot of moves, the Browns added Denzel Ward, Mychal Kendricks, two defensive linemen, Damarius Randall, two top-notch veteran corners, another drafted corner, I mean...do I need to spell it out, really?
3: The Steelers defense yielded 19.4 points per-game while the Browns coughed up over 25. It's about a two field goal difference.
The Steelers were usually in the lead, and often rendered opposing offenses one-dimensional late in games.
Tyrod Taylor, Josh Gordon, Njoku, Duke, Suggs survey says: That won't happen vs the Browns in 2018.
Maurice and James weren't picking on the Steelers. They just know coaching and talent when they see it.
I still can't predict a sweep. Some how, some way, the zebras will make sure the Steelers win one.
But both teams will sweep the perennially-overrated Ravens-check.
Martin McConnell wrote about how the Browns could win Superbowl 53 (2019).
Great article! Martin factors in dumb luck and stuff, but the second of his five reasons is "defense wins championships".
As usual, for my regular readers there's not much new here. Marty identifies most of the young talent here under Gregg Williams' insideously diabolical management.
I just need to add that not only Denzel Ward, but also Rodney Averyfield and Rodney Simeonfield will enter their second seasons in 2019, and the latter two are potential starters as well.
Redundancy alert: Marty might be stealing from my Blog, like several other scumbags, but anyway he points out how Dorsey has created intense competition at every single position on this roster.
"Iron sharpens iron". (See my post from around 5 weeks ago gdammit).
In the end, Martin sounds skeptical: Everything has to go perfectly. In 2019.
The Eagles winning the Lombardy last season wasn't about luck. They were more talented than the Patriots, Pederson and company refused to fall for Lord Insideous's Jedi mind-trick, and Nick Foles forgot he was a "loser".
Tom Brady is human. Gronk was MIA. Screw the mystical crap: The better team won.
The 2019 Browns will be one of the most talented and deepest in the NFL. If Williams and Dorsey are still here (in whatever capacities), they'll be one of the best-coached, as well.
Give Marty a day or a week, and these things might "occur" to him:
1: I'd like to see Kendricks extended, but Genard Avery is his clone, and is younger and cheaper.
1a: Jamie Collins will be very tradeable, should Dorsey/Williams think extending Kendricks instead of keeping Jamie is smarter.
2: What if BOTH Corey Coleman and Antonio Callaway emerge as lethal weapons? It's irrational to assume that either of them will just crap out. Coleman has little trade value now, but...
3: Damion Ratley is no joke. He's much closer to 6'3" than "6'1"" and he clocked 4.36 in the 40. He showed up well in the agility drills as well.
His big issue is that he's skinny and needs Hans and Franz to pump him up. Come 2019, Ratley will be bigger and stronger (and possibly even quicker and faster): I predict that if he hangs around here somehow in 2018, Ratley will be the favorite at number 3 in 2019...
Okay well I mean behind Gordon and Landry; he's an outside receiver, not a slot guy...okay I mean right behind Gordon on the outside okay? But a deep/red zone threat you get that right?
4: Tyrod Taylor is center stage in 2018, while Baker Mayfield gets to collect splinters and watch, as he did when he transferred in college.
If you don't get that Baker Mayfield was the best quarterback in this draft class (including "upside"), I can't persuade you.
But in my (well-supported by a bunch of legitimate ex-qb, coach, and GM opinions 👇), Baker Mayfield is like Aaron Rodgers, Kurt Warner, and Drew Brees.
Just a mention here: One ex-quarterback pointed out in a lengthy film-study how Mayfield throws from his tippy-toes. He compared him to Drew Brees, who does the same thing.
Whenever he's stationary (ie not running for his life), this is how Mayfield sets up; on his toes--and he throws from this stance (in Mayfield's case, with plus arm-strength and deadly touch and accuracy; I mean it's hardwired into him--this is "how he throws", see?)
Well I assume he's a size eleven, so (pause whilst I do complex calculations) I estimate that Baker is temporarily 6'4"-plus when he stands in a pocket (and I mean "stands", because as the former quarterback analyst pointed out, Mayfield "plays on his toes" every chance he gets.
Screw the deep analysis: Baker Mayfield was the best quarterback in this draft class, and might be better than Wentz and Watson too:
As a pure passer, Mayfield is clearly better than both (deal with it).
...well that's kinda it, aint it? I mean, Watson (assuming he's like he was before his injury) is a scary dual threat, and Wentz is bigger and stronger and (assuming he's like he was before) can run around...
I'm not bashing these guys by any means. For all I know they could both be Hall of Famers.
But I prefer Baker Mayfield to both of them.
He's more accurate (at every level, including deep). Mayfield is a natural-born leader:
Once again, I'm not bashing Watson or Wentz here: It's just that Mayfield is all over the place, talking to the whole team (offense and defense). He's "one of the guys". It's genuine, and that's why all his coaches, as well as all his teammates, loved him.
This MATTERS.
I've lost most of you here, but let me simplify it:
I prefer Aaron Rodgers or Kurt Warner or Drew Brees to Big Ben, or even Tom Brady.
In 2019, Baker Mayfield will have himself a PARTY.
Superbowl? I don't know. But with all due (or undue) respect to Martin, it won't come down to luck.
Good article by Dan Labbe on the left tackle Derby. If you read this Blog regularly, it will all sound familiar, but Dan actually talks to Wylie and those guys.
Most of what Wylie said will sound familiar too (hey! HE must read my Blog!)
I can't resist redundandationalizing on Bitonio at left tackle here yet again:
What does Wylie say about that? He might be a decent left tackle, but he's an elite left guard. Leave him where he is!
But Wylie is a little overboard on Shon Coleman's transition from right to left tackle, because Coleman played left tackle in college.
Certainly, he was zeroed in on right tackle as a pro, and has never been at left at this level, but it's not like he forgot everything he did in college.
I did learn something from Wylie, however: "Triggers": Wylie said "the last place you're looking is the guy in front of you."
I didn't know that! I guess a left tackle has to sorta scan the whole defense (or at least the front seven) and figure out how they're going to come after him in advance.
I had no idea!
I can only wildly guess at what Wylie is talking about:
1: The alignment, of course: How many guys are on the line, are they in gaps or in faces, is there an edge guy way outside on the right, etc.
2: Have you seen this set on film? If so what did they do that time?
I'll stop my amateurish wild guessing here, but now I know another reason why so many guys crap out at left tackle, and another reason why Big Joe is going to the Hall.
But this new information does spice up the handicapping!
This is a little like what quarterbacks have to do. I think in the case of the left tackle it's mostly presnap, but you still need to "process" a lot in a few seconds.
Well, I can't speak to Shon Coleman, but after watching the "Film Room" on Austin Corbett, he looks like he can do this (read "triggers" like Wylie said).
Corbett seemed to anticipate stunts and other dirty tricks defenses tried on him. After what Wylie said here, I now think that this had everything to do with why Dorsey drafted him atop the second round.
But Labbe's article lists undrafted free agent Desmond Harrison as a longshot in 2018, and rightfully so: He's the only guy with Joe Thomas-like athleticism in this race.
He's rightfully a longshot because he's very inexperienced, has a very checkered past, and (for all we know) might be a dumbass.
But you can't count physical talent like that out.
Gil Brandt thinks the Browns might burn a third round 2019 draft pick on cornerback Sam Beal in the supplemental draft.
Sam Beal has great upside, but is inexperienced, and doesn't get as many turnovers as you'd expect. He's 6'1", but kinda light at (max) 186 lbs. However, he's a natural born press/man corner, and should get bigger.
I hear you: Aren't the Browns stacked at cornerback already?
Well, it's about value, and the big picture:
Consensus grades Beal around the top of the second round, so he's a bargain in the third round.
You draft him now, and you get to coach him up starting right now, so that he enters training camp in 2019 with one NFL season under his belt.
He's probably over 195 lbs now, and has been married to the juggs machine (jeez he's a converted wide receiver his hands can't be that bad!)...and he's competing to start opposite fellow 2018 rookie Denzel Ward.
Gaines and Carey are really good, and Wilson and Simeon Thomas show great upside, but if Sam Beal looks to Gregg Williams and company like a better PRESS/MAN cornerback than two of these guys, you draft him.
Wilson just got injured AGAIN. Thomas is an educated guess. Carey and Gaines have been injured, and aren't considered elite PRESS/MAN cornerbacks...
You get this, right? They're excellent cornerbacks in general, but maybe not Hanford Dixon or Frank Minnifield is any of this sinking in yet?
...and of course Sam Beal would be locked up for four years dirt-cheap.
There's also a safety the Browns could nab even lower, but it's last call so nevermind okbye
Slow news day. Baker is marrying a babe. This is good. Women civilize us. And no offense to anybody, but I'm glad this confirms he's not gay.
Peter Smith showed up again, projecting the final roster. I found several things to disagree about, but Pete is probably more likely to be right than I am.
With that disclaimer in mind:
1: I think Desmond Harrison has a good shot at the final roster. Peter doesn't even mention his name. The guy needs to put on some weight, but is otherwise an impressive tall fast athlete.
With Duke Johnson available to line up at wide receiver, and Todd Haley's probable willingness to use two tight ends or backs sometimes, Todd can afford to keep two rookies behind the veterans.
It's not just about 2018, and Harrison's cieling is much higher than those of Louis or Higgins.
He might well be right about Jeff Janis, because he's really good on both sides of the ball on special teams.
2: Nope. Can't find anything else to disagree about.
But Peter brings up a few players I never checked out:
1: DB Micheal Jordon. Actually, I have checked this guy out, and he's a sleeper. He's a big cornerback who Pete says can play safety, and he's done a good job in his limited opportunities.
2: Dontrell Hilliard is an undrafted running back out of Tulane who Peter thinks might bump Matthew Dayes off the practice squad.
His workout numbers are impressive as hell. I haven't checked out what he did in college yet, but as a specimen, I can sure see what Pete is talking about!
I like Dayes a lot, and can't count him out. I've compared him to Earnest Byner. ...can we keep them both, please?
I've missed Peter Smith. He's one guy who's ahead of me sometimes, and points me at players I've overlooked, like Hilliard and Jordan.
Please write more Browns stuff, Pete!
Somebody else wrote a "Don't Forget About Caleb Brantley" article (which I haven't read yet).
Well, I never did, but still think Ogunjobi is better, and Coley is at least as good. Brantley is a valuable player in a very deep defensive tackle rotation.
Oh yeah! Peter thinks Nassib will make the cut, too.
Well okbye
