I mostly agree with Mike Hoag that trading Corey Coleman this early looks like a mistake. If Coleman had had a chance to show up in a couple preseason games, his value would have increased.
But it could indeed be that, behind the scenes, Coleman's behavior was harmful to the team. We don't know.
Personally, as you know I'm disgusted by his presence in a garage gang-stomping of one of his neighbors on New Years' Eve.
The victim said that Corey Coleman was the guy who pointed at him after these fkng feral dogs followed him into the parking garage, seeking revenge for uh...a look? His tone of voice? Something he said?
Coleman's brother and another asshole (at least) ganged up on this guy and beat him unconscious (bet they kept kicking and stomping for awhile after that.)
I don't care if Corey never touched this poor guy himself. He was part of it. It was cowardly and beastial, and I can't say I'll miss this guy.
Another reason why Dorsey may have made this move so early is to give the other guys (including three rookies) more reps heading into the season.
Is this added growth worth perhaps a fourth or fifth round pick instead of a seventh? Possibly yes.
And if Coleman got injured yet again?
So I...oh wait...Callaway you freaking...you know we should have seen this coming, right? You know, just a couple days after Coleman goes bye-bye?
2:58 am too. And I can pretty much guarantee you that the cop smelled the weed.
Personally, I would have pretended I hadn't, unless Callaway appeared impaired, but that's just me. Freaking idiot (Callaway I mean).
Well I wouldn't just cut him, like a bunch of puritanical reactionaries will. He's too talented, and business is business (sorry, Virginia).
I know I know, he's aleady got a record as long as my arm, and we already saw Gordon's incredible story happen.
Pluto will no doubt talk about distractions and bad precedences and the team "getting a reputation" and stuff, but I respectfully disagree.
I'm not sure, but I think this will result in a four game suspension and entry into stage 2 of the heathen devil weed destroyer of youth program (the knucklehead was already in stage one, so the suspension might be longer I'm not sure in this case).
So we got this all mapped out: He goes to where Gordon went in Gainesville to "rehab" (what a joke).
Ok here's what I mean: Pot isn't addictive for most people. You can always find somebody who will say heshe was addicted to it, and maybe even describe some withdrawel symptoms if you prompt them (or pay them) enough, but it's a crock.
I'm 62. Do the math. Been there, done that. We all laugh at this stuff. Most of us quit toking when we started getting tested, or just kinda got sick of it, or because it got too expensive. No big deal.
No, the Gordon thing isn't (neccessarily) the same. Gordon had real psychological disorder; possibly including a chemical imbalance.
He couldn't handle stress. That's actually pretty common. You put up with all sorts of crap at work, then you hit the bar diffuse it.
Niether of these guys are addicted to anything other than needing whatever chemical aid is convenient to "take the edge" off.
I'm personally kind of an expert on this. I was never addicted to anything, but did everything (except crack or heroin). Like many (if not most) of you, I hit bars a lot too.
Josh had it worse than the majority of us, and still feels those compulsions. Many of YOU couldn't stand living like a monk, either. No bars. No beer. Ever. It's cruel and inhuman.
You can call these guys weak or stupid, but where the hell does the hate come from?
But I digress: If Callaway was an undrafted free agent depth guy, sure you kick him to the curb and strut around saying "that's how we handle miscreants around here!", but when it's a potential superstar, you decide he deserves a third or sixth chance (but you really mean it this time).
Nah, you let Callaway do "his time" in Gainesville, get him to "confess" the way Gordon did (by the way, I'm not making fun of that here...wow that was R E A L, and is one reason why I feel good about Gordon's prospects).
(Oh my God if Callaway does that, we might get "War and Peace" forget I said anything!)
Moving on, please silence the obnoxious bells, sirens, and flashing lights (and quit with the gas masks and radiation suits...I wish you could see yourself):
Actually, not even Josh Gordon is critical here, and the wide receivers behind Gordon and Callaway don't all suck.
Verily, none of the "survivors" is a Gordon or Callaway type deep threat, but while you've been asleep, slow-pokes Rashard Higgins and Jarvis Landry have been catching deep passes out the yinyang in camp and in the scrimmage, from both quarterbacks, and all sans Gordon.
You people need to get off the Hype Train:
1: Rashard Higgins' combine numbers are barely relevant compared to his real-time NFL performance and what he's done so far in camp this season. He IS a reliable outside receiver who can go deep.
2: Jarvis Landry is also proving that he can be reliable intermediate and deep from anywhere. It looks like he's been stifled by his quarterbacks and coaches to date.
3: Duke Johnson can line up at any WR position.
Pat Kirwan (without Gordon) would say that the absence of a "coverage-dictating X-receiver" is "a problem", but that's hype.
Like real left tackles, there have rarely been more than five of these guys in the NFL in any given season, and just as a bunch of Superbowl teams managed to get there without a Big Joe, they got there without a Gordon (or a Callaway).
Higgins (big/tall/physical) d...
Screw it, you know? I expect people who read this blog to have 3-digit IQs and (while maybe not groking all the nuts and bolts-X's and O's), to fill in a FEW blanks!
Do you get that a Gordon or a Callaway is not critical for the Browns to win? That the QUARTERBACK is more important (oh sorry: You DO get that part excuse me)...
Nevermind I'm with DePodesta and thinking long-term:
I really like CJ Board, and of course Dameion Ratley, et al, and am glad they'll get more reps and better chances here.
You people (and maybe Dorsey I'm not sure yet) piss me off sometimes.
I'm still afraid that Dorsey might sign Dez Bryant or trade for Beckham Jr.
...ok Beckham would be great, but only long-term, and for a lot less money than he's demanding. Dez would be a nice band aid for a contender with a lot less talent.
I like Jarvis Landry a lot, but don't expect him to ever work in an NFL Front office...or get a passing grade in math. It's nice to know that his homie Beckam could be persuaded to condescend to consider signing with the Browns, but...nah.
The sky is not falling. We are not all going to die. Callaway was picked in the FOURTH round. Take a pill. Get off the hype train.
And I'm not "defending" Callaway. I'm just talking business.
This too will pass, and I'm going to take the money line on the Browns vs the Steelers in the opener anyway.
Think with your brain.
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Gregg Williams' Scheme, Ogunjobi, and yes, More Josh Gordon
I stand corrected. In this article about Larry Ogunjobi by Dan Labbe, Dan talked about how Larry was working at nose tackle, and I got ready to inform him that Gregg Williams isn't using nose tackles in the 4-3 again.
Then, as I read on, Larry and Clyde Simmons talked about Ogunjobi working at "nose". Unlike a lot of people, I admit when I am wr...wrroo...incorrect.
I had thought that Gregg was running a conventional 4-man front which has the "over" tackle shaded inside the right guard (and I still think he might have done that in 2017).
But that "nose" designation puts the left inside down lineman (probably) as a "one technique", on the guard's right shoulder.
This explains some things, including Jamie Meder currently starting there.
I like it! A lot of teams use the center to chip a defensive tackle and then target a linebacker in space on runs. Centers tend to be athletic, and are often smaller and less powerful than guards.
Williams is keeping the center off the linebackers, and also trying to overpower him vs the pass (looking for a mismatch).
Naturally, the right guard can "broadside" the nose to seal him off from the strong side on runs, or else go linebacker-hunting himself, but in today's NFL, right guards tend to be ponderous drive-blockers. They can pull and run a pre-scripted "route" to lead-block, but they don't generally adjust well in space when they're not sure where the running back is.
The right guard can also make sure the defensive end on his side can't cross the right tackle's face and come inside, or even rotate back behind the right tackle to free him up and "ride" the end wide...
Uh sorry. I listen to Pat Kirwan too much.
Anyway this alignment seems to open up a big gap in the defensive line, with one guy at one, and the right defensive end at five (outside the right tackle's right shoulder), but of course the linebackers and safeties know all about that.
If you see a nice, inviting soft spot in a Gregg Williams front, you should probably do the opposite of what you want to do.
Besides, now I know why Gregg has been so fixated on defensive ends who can line up "inside". Ogbah (or whoever rotates in), will probably set up on the right tackle's left shoulder a lot...dayumm...
Nobody runs a scheme like this! It's like 3-4 and 4-3 tossed into a blender!
I can hardly begin to unravel this. It's like what happens in the box where I stash my connectors and wires.
Ok but all four defensive linemen (including the nose) attack and seek penetration; no two-gapping "read and react" stuff.
That's kind of obvious with Ogbah, Garrett, Brantley, Ogunjobi, Nassib et al.
I'm getting into the weeds here again skip it.
Anyway Ogunjobi is working with a couple superstars to learn the ropes, and is working at both nose and 3-tech.
With all due respect to Labbe, Larry ranked high last season vs the pass as well as the run per PFF, and is first and foremost a quick-twitch explosive penetrator ideally suited to the 3-technique "under" spot here.
I can't take the latest depth chart too seriously. Regardless of who starts, Ogunjobi will play a whole lot.
As I've said before, Larry can play both inside positions. I'll take a 300 pounder with 6% bodyfat over a Danny Shelton every day of the week (twice on sundays).
Some comments by Hue Jackson on the Bitonio-Corbett duo were informative for those of us who listen:
Hue was really impressed by how they handled some "twists" (and stuff). Slang aside, they're already stifling stunts (by Myles Garrett, among others), which is indeed downright amazing.
Not so much for Bitonio, but Corbett never played inside in college.
...okay see the left guard is tied up with his defensive tackle, and rarely sees a defensive end sneaking around behind the guy he's blocking.
But when Corbett sees Bitonio engaging his guy, he instantly disengages (with a final shove) and slides right to intercept Garrett (or whoever).
Of course, Bitonio is also probably yelling stuff at him, but still, Corbett is not playing like a rookie at all.
As for Bitonio, he has the mental part of left tackle down already (no surprise). I still expect opposing defenses to just try to outsprint him outside, and burn him outside if he doesn't have tight end help.
That's not the disaster that some spoiled Joe Thomas fans think it is, because when a defense commits an edge-rusher like that, it's exploitable, and Todd Haley has the skill talent here to burn it, consistently.
If the "twists" don't work on the left side, opposing defenses will have to go around Bitonio...predictably.
I probably screwed up again (see last post) on the Bitonio to left tackle move. It's way too early to settle this bet, but right now it looks like it should work (see several earlier posts: MOST of the playoff/Superbowl teams in the last five years have not had a left tackle in Joe Thomas's time zone).
A lot of people resent how the team is "coddling" Josh Gordon, and feel it's setting a bad example, etc.
I hear that. I really do.
But Josh Gordon is a proven game-breaking superstar, and business is business. The risk here is the last roster spot, and the reward is several Superbowls. However you feel about this, the Browns are doing the only rational thing with him.
See last (and other) posts: Dorsey might have used this as an excuse to get younger wide receivers more reps, etc: If you're too pissed off to see the logic here, you need to be sedated.
Josh's actual prognosis is anxiety disorder. He is not (neccessarily) prone to addiction. This is why he used every drug in the book (without preference) to escape reality.
He was never physically addicted to anything. His issue was exclusively psychological.
His prognosis is good. His being in Gainesville instead of here is good. The Browns' cutting him slack is common sense.
Business is business. Josh's teammates (including the other wide receivers) get it. Raise hell over what Morton Downey Jr got paid for his last movie all you want, but you watched it, didn't you?
Business is business.
And you know what? Josh Gordon is a good person! A nice guy! And he EARNED all this!
Raise hell with God for not giving you those genes if you want, or making life so unfair, but you buy the tickets and watch the games, and you can't wait to see Josh Gordon, right? Right?
Business is business, and it is what it is.
Think with your brain.
Then, as I read on, Larry and Clyde Simmons talked about Ogunjobi working at "nose". Unlike a lot of people, I admit when I am wr...wrroo...incorrect.
I had thought that Gregg was running a conventional 4-man front which has the "over" tackle shaded inside the right guard (and I still think he might have done that in 2017).
But that "nose" designation puts the left inside down lineman (probably) as a "one technique", on the guard's right shoulder.
This explains some things, including Jamie Meder currently starting there.
I like it! A lot of teams use the center to chip a defensive tackle and then target a linebacker in space on runs. Centers tend to be athletic, and are often smaller and less powerful than guards.
Williams is keeping the center off the linebackers, and also trying to overpower him vs the pass (looking for a mismatch).
Naturally, the right guard can "broadside" the nose to seal him off from the strong side on runs, or else go linebacker-hunting himself, but in today's NFL, right guards tend to be ponderous drive-blockers. They can pull and run a pre-scripted "route" to lead-block, but they don't generally adjust well in space when they're not sure where the running back is.
The right guard can also make sure the defensive end on his side can't cross the right tackle's face and come inside, or even rotate back behind the right tackle to free him up and "ride" the end wide...
Uh sorry. I listen to Pat Kirwan too much.
Anyway this alignment seems to open up a big gap in the defensive line, with one guy at one, and the right defensive end at five (outside the right tackle's right shoulder), but of course the linebackers and safeties know all about that.
If you see a nice, inviting soft spot in a Gregg Williams front, you should probably do the opposite of what you want to do.
Besides, now I know why Gregg has been so fixated on defensive ends who can line up "inside". Ogbah (or whoever rotates in), will probably set up on the right tackle's left shoulder a lot...dayumm...
Nobody runs a scheme like this! It's like 3-4 and 4-3 tossed into a blender!
I can hardly begin to unravel this. It's like what happens in the box where I stash my connectors and wires.
Ok but all four defensive linemen (including the nose) attack and seek penetration; no two-gapping "read and react" stuff.
That's kind of obvious with Ogbah, Garrett, Brantley, Ogunjobi, Nassib et al.
I'm getting into the weeds here again skip it.
Anyway Ogunjobi is working with a couple superstars to learn the ropes, and is working at both nose and 3-tech.
With all due respect to Labbe, Larry ranked high last season vs the pass as well as the run per PFF, and is first and foremost a quick-twitch explosive penetrator ideally suited to the 3-technique "under" spot here.
I can't take the latest depth chart too seriously. Regardless of who starts, Ogunjobi will play a whole lot.
As I've said before, Larry can play both inside positions. I'll take a 300 pounder with 6% bodyfat over a Danny Shelton every day of the week (twice on sundays).
Some comments by Hue Jackson on the Bitonio-Corbett duo were informative for those of us who listen:
Hue was really impressed by how they handled some "twists" (and stuff). Slang aside, they're already stifling stunts (by Myles Garrett, among others), which is indeed downright amazing.
Not so much for Bitonio, but Corbett never played inside in college.
...okay see the left guard is tied up with his defensive tackle, and rarely sees a defensive end sneaking around behind the guy he's blocking.
But when Corbett sees Bitonio engaging his guy, he instantly disengages (with a final shove) and slides right to intercept Garrett (or whoever).
Of course, Bitonio is also probably yelling stuff at him, but still, Corbett is not playing like a rookie at all.
As for Bitonio, he has the mental part of left tackle down already (no surprise). I still expect opposing defenses to just try to outsprint him outside, and burn him outside if he doesn't have tight end help.
That's not the disaster that some spoiled Joe Thomas fans think it is, because when a defense commits an edge-rusher like that, it's exploitable, and Todd Haley has the skill talent here to burn it, consistently.
If the "twists" don't work on the left side, opposing defenses will have to go around Bitonio...predictably.
I probably screwed up again (see last post) on the Bitonio to left tackle move. It's way too early to settle this bet, but right now it looks like it should work (see several earlier posts: MOST of the playoff/Superbowl teams in the last five years have not had a left tackle in Joe Thomas's time zone).
A lot of people resent how the team is "coddling" Josh Gordon, and feel it's setting a bad example, etc.
I hear that. I really do.
But Josh Gordon is a proven game-breaking superstar, and business is business. The risk here is the last roster spot, and the reward is several Superbowls. However you feel about this, the Browns are doing the only rational thing with him.
See last (and other) posts: Dorsey might have used this as an excuse to get younger wide receivers more reps, etc: If you're too pissed off to see the logic here, you need to be sedated.
Josh's actual prognosis is anxiety disorder. He is not (neccessarily) prone to addiction. This is why he used every drug in the book (without preference) to escape reality.
He was never physically addicted to anything. His issue was exclusively psychological.
His prognosis is good. His being in Gainesville instead of here is good. The Browns' cutting him slack is common sense.
Business is business. Josh's teammates (including the other wide receivers) get it. Raise hell over what Morton Downey Jr got paid for his last movie all you want, but you watched it, didn't you?
Business is business.
And you know what? Josh Gordon is a good person! A nice guy! And he EARNED all this!
Raise hell with God for not giving you those genes if you want, or making life so unfair, but you buy the tickets and watch the games, and you can't wait to see Josh Gordon, right? Right?
Business is business, and it is what it is.
Think with your brain.
Saturday, August 4, 2018
Browns Preseason Countercommentary, Common Sense...nevermind
Encouraging words about Joel Bitonio from Myles Garrett, who says he "fits" at left tackle.
Myles ought to know, because he's actually practiced and scrimmaged against him. Myles promises to give Joel hell to help prepare him for the (other) beastly edge-rushers he'll be facing (gee, what a guy!)
I don't believe Myles Garrett is a guy who says stuff he doesn't believe just to mindlessly back up his teammates. He never said anything about Shon Coleman or Austin Corbett.
And I will generously defer to Myles Garrett on this issue, as I still hope to be proven fulla beans for saying moving Bitonio to left tackle would be idiotic.
Shon Coleman is now back at right tackle with the second team, and Greg Robinson (might be out of the protocol already) is the second team left tackle.
I have to agree with Petrack et al that Shon could be on the block.
Chris Hubbard seems to be doing well at right tackle. Robinson was a top five draft pick, and despite his bad NFL carreer to-date, you can't pitch that out the window yet.
Still, don't write Shon off just yet. He's not making a lot of money, and Corbett now looks like the new left guard, and Shon could still be a valuable backup at both tackle spots.
The Browns should be keeping at least eight active offensive linemen (most teams keep nine). I think Austin Reiter will be one of these guys, and (upon further review) so might Spencer Drango.
Given his injury, maybe they can sneak Desmond Harrison onto the practice squad now.
Between Greg Robinson and Shon Coleman, I'm not ready to pick a winner yet (nor should you be. Williams is a seasoned veteran. Coleman enters his third season, and he might well be a little better).
The first team defense has mostly punked the Mayfield-led second-team offense, which is as it should be.
I'm glad the Browns are mixing the first and second offensive and defensive units like this, and am forced to admit that it might be Jackson's idea.
Mayfield is tough, and if you give him a bloody nose he just re-sets and comes back. This gives him no chance to become complacent, and forces him to grow.
I was thrilled to hear that Joe Schobert anticipated and jumped a bubble screen for a pick-six on Baker. It illustrates how abnormally smart Schobert is, and also tells me that he's going to "bet on himself" sometimes this season (long story but he stuck his neck out to make that play).
In all his college carreer, Mayfield probably never had a screen pass intercepted. Now he knows: watch out of sneaky diabolical linebackers like Schobert.
Conversely, Tyrod and the first team offense are looking good, but I do have a bone to pick: If the backup offense faced first team defense, the reverse had to be true on some of this, and it hasn't been reported that way.
Callaway seems to be pulling back ahead of Corey Coleman, but that's tough to say. Callaway had at least one bad drop.
You can't really say he "made up for it" with a big play later. Football isn't roulette or craps. Callaway (and Coleman) have to prove they will catch everything that hits them in both hand, every time, period.
Callaway was working with the ones. After his drop, he caught a deep one from Tyrod. It's significant that Taylor went right back to him, and that (if I read between the lines of the superficial reporting right) the big play was a vertical strike, meaning that Callaway blew somebody's doors off, and Taylor caught him in-stride.
For anybody with a clue, here are some of the things showing up in this training camp so far:
1: Jarvis Landry is not just a slot/short receiver. He has been the star of this camp, and made a ton of intermediate and deep receptions.
2: Tyrod Taylor is not just a dual-threat game manager. He has been throwing deep a whole lot in Haley's scheme, with this team, in this camp.
3: Damarius Randall is looking good at free safety, Jamie Collins is looking like the guy we thought he was, Schobert is a mental freak, and Jamie Meder aint buyin what guys like me are sellin (nor should he--you go boy!)
4: Rashard Higgins will probably make the final cut.
Per Rashad Higgins and John Dorsey (thanks Mary Kay), Josh Gordon is doing fine in Gainesville Florida, and when he comes back it will "be like he was never gone".
Most of you still don't get it, so I have to redundate here: Josh Gordon does not need training camp, or even the first 2-3 preseason games, and Dorsey/Jackson/Haley know it.
I still suspect that John Dorsey actually suggested this sabbadical to Gordon in the first place, so that the younger wide receivers could get more reps.
They get more experience, at higher levels, and the Browns get more film to study so they can make better decisions. Does anybody else get this?
Anyway, Higgins should be backin his lockerroom homie here, because his absence could be the single biggest reason why he (Higgins) makes the final roster.
There's more yet to this: In Gordon's absence, Taylor and the offense are making the most of a roster sans their superstar.
Tyrod is developing chemistry with Coleman, Callaway, and Higgins...
Even last season, once Josh Gordon came back "on-line", everybody else except Duke and Njoku kinda disappeared off Kizer's radar.
In his record-setting sophomore 14-game season, Josh Gordon was the favorite target for three so-so quarterbacks.
He's a crutch. He spoils quarterbacks. In 2017, Kizer wound up just throwing towards Josh's zip code...
Daunte Culpepper was a good quarterback who was overdrafted high in the first round by the Vikings. Probably the worst thing that happened to him was Randy Moss.
Culpepper just threw bombs to Moss. He never became very accurate, refined his "touch", or read past his second option. He mostly either handed off or threw to Moss.
They got near a Superbowl, then lost Randy Moss. That was pretty much it for Culpepper. In fairness, Daunte suffered more than one bad injury after that, but my point is that pre and post-injury, he was mediocre sans Randy Moss.
Tyrod Tylor is a different story, of course. He's been making do with questionable talent ever since he left the Ravens, and has more than earned his stripes.
Still, he hasn't reached his potential yet (quarterbacks do take longer). As is, he's leaning hard on Jarvis Landry. That's not a recipe for growth.
A (sentient) coach can't order a quarterback not to pass to a receiver he trusts (especially when he's the first or second option).
But a GM can deprive him of (in this case) one of his crutches in training camp, and force him to keep spreading the ball around and be accurate with touch etc....
Is any of this sinking in?
The Gordon sabbadical is helping Baker Mayfield too: Check out the receivers he's been working with on the second team, especially vs Gregg's first team offense.
This Cajuste tight end is no joke, however. Sadly, he's a longshot here (unless he qualifies for the practice squad).
But Baker Mayfield is doing great! Clearly, Tyrod Taylor is doing better, but if that's news to you, you should at least be sterilized before you can pollute the gene pool.
I mean, you're a Browns fan, and you're alarmed by a rookie quarterback getting punk...
I can't even talk to you people.
😣 Tyrod sucks. Mayfield sucks. Everything sucks and we're all gonna die screw you okbye
Myles ought to know, because he's actually practiced and scrimmaged against him. Myles promises to give Joel hell to help prepare him for the (other) beastly edge-rushers he'll be facing (gee, what a guy!)
I don't believe Myles Garrett is a guy who says stuff he doesn't believe just to mindlessly back up his teammates. He never said anything about Shon Coleman or Austin Corbett.
And I will generously defer to Myles Garrett on this issue, as I still hope to be proven fulla beans for saying moving Bitonio to left tackle would be idiotic.
Shon Coleman is now back at right tackle with the second team, and Greg Robinson (might be out of the protocol already) is the second team left tackle.
I have to agree with Petrack et al that Shon could be on the block.
Chris Hubbard seems to be doing well at right tackle. Robinson was a top five draft pick, and despite his bad NFL carreer to-date, you can't pitch that out the window yet.
Still, don't write Shon off just yet. He's not making a lot of money, and Corbett now looks like the new left guard, and Shon could still be a valuable backup at both tackle spots.
The Browns should be keeping at least eight active offensive linemen (most teams keep nine). I think Austin Reiter will be one of these guys, and (upon further review) so might Spencer Drango.
Given his injury, maybe they can sneak Desmond Harrison onto the practice squad now.
Between Greg Robinson and Shon Coleman, I'm not ready to pick a winner yet (nor should you be. Williams is a seasoned veteran. Coleman enters his third season, and he might well be a little better).
The first team defense has mostly punked the Mayfield-led second-team offense, which is as it should be.
I'm glad the Browns are mixing the first and second offensive and defensive units like this, and am forced to admit that it might be Jackson's idea.
Mayfield is tough, and if you give him a bloody nose he just re-sets and comes back. This gives him no chance to become complacent, and forces him to grow.
I was thrilled to hear that Joe Schobert anticipated and jumped a bubble screen for a pick-six on Baker. It illustrates how abnormally smart Schobert is, and also tells me that he's going to "bet on himself" sometimes this season (long story but he stuck his neck out to make that play).
In all his college carreer, Mayfield probably never had a screen pass intercepted. Now he knows: watch out of sneaky diabolical linebackers like Schobert.
Conversely, Tyrod and the first team offense are looking good, but I do have a bone to pick: If the backup offense faced first team defense, the reverse had to be true on some of this, and it hasn't been reported that way.
Callaway seems to be pulling back ahead of Corey Coleman, but that's tough to say. Callaway had at least one bad drop.
You can't really say he "made up for it" with a big play later. Football isn't roulette or craps. Callaway (and Coleman) have to prove they will catch everything that hits them in both hand, every time, period.
Callaway was working with the ones. After his drop, he caught a deep one from Tyrod. It's significant that Taylor went right back to him, and that (if I read between the lines of the superficial reporting right) the big play was a vertical strike, meaning that Callaway blew somebody's doors off, and Taylor caught him in-stride.
For anybody with a clue, here are some of the things showing up in this training camp so far:
1: Jarvis Landry is not just a slot/short receiver. He has been the star of this camp, and made a ton of intermediate and deep receptions.
2: Tyrod Taylor is not just a dual-threat game manager. He has been throwing deep a whole lot in Haley's scheme, with this team, in this camp.
3: Damarius Randall is looking good at free safety, Jamie Collins is looking like the guy we thought he was, Schobert is a mental freak, and Jamie Meder aint buyin what guys like me are sellin (nor should he--you go boy!)
4: Rashard Higgins will probably make the final cut.
Per Rashad Higgins and John Dorsey (thanks Mary Kay), Josh Gordon is doing fine in Gainesville Florida, and when he comes back it will "be like he was never gone".
Most of you still don't get it, so I have to redundate here: Josh Gordon does not need training camp, or even the first 2-3 preseason games, and Dorsey/Jackson/Haley know it.
I still suspect that John Dorsey actually suggested this sabbadical to Gordon in the first place, so that the younger wide receivers could get more reps.
They get more experience, at higher levels, and the Browns get more film to study so they can make better decisions. Does anybody else get this?
Anyway, Higgins should be backin his lockerroom homie here, because his absence could be the single biggest reason why he (Higgins) makes the final roster.
There's more yet to this: In Gordon's absence, Taylor and the offense are making the most of a roster sans their superstar.
Tyrod is developing chemistry with Coleman, Callaway, and Higgins...
Even last season, once Josh Gordon came back "on-line", everybody else except Duke and Njoku kinda disappeared off Kizer's radar.
In his record-setting sophomore 14-game season, Josh Gordon was the favorite target for three so-so quarterbacks.
He's a crutch. He spoils quarterbacks. In 2017, Kizer wound up just throwing towards Josh's zip code...
Daunte Culpepper was a good quarterback who was overdrafted high in the first round by the Vikings. Probably the worst thing that happened to him was Randy Moss.
Culpepper just threw bombs to Moss. He never became very accurate, refined his "touch", or read past his second option. He mostly either handed off or threw to Moss.
They got near a Superbowl, then lost Randy Moss. That was pretty much it for Culpepper. In fairness, Daunte suffered more than one bad injury after that, but my point is that pre and post-injury, he was mediocre sans Randy Moss.
Tyrod Tylor is a different story, of course. He's been making do with questionable talent ever since he left the Ravens, and has more than earned his stripes.
Still, he hasn't reached his potential yet (quarterbacks do take longer). As is, he's leaning hard on Jarvis Landry. That's not a recipe for growth.
A (sentient) coach can't order a quarterback not to pass to a receiver he trusts (especially when he's the first or second option).
But a GM can deprive him of (in this case) one of his crutches in training camp, and force him to keep spreading the ball around and be accurate with touch etc....
Is any of this sinking in?
The Gordon sabbadical is helping Baker Mayfield too: Check out the receivers he's been working with on the second team, especially vs Gregg's first team offense.
This Cajuste tight end is no joke, however. Sadly, he's a longshot here (unless he qualifies for the practice squad).
But Baker Mayfield is doing great! Clearly, Tyrod Taylor is doing better, but if that's news to you, you should at least be sterilized before you can pollute the gene pool.
I mean, you're a Browns fan, and you're alarmed by a rookie quarterback getting punk...
I can't even talk to you people.
😣 Tyrod sucks. Mayfield sucks. Everything sucks and we're all gonna die screw you okbye
Friday, August 3, 2018
Clay Matthews the Brown, Jamie Collins, Marty, Gregg, and Machiavelli
It was great to read that Jamie Collins is looking good now that he's healthy again-especially that Gregg Williams is putting him on David Njoku.
Collins had some people knocking his coverage skills before and after he got here, but some guys say that about 90% of the linebackers in the NFL.
Unlike everybody else, Jamie is 6'5", with the same sort of speed that Avery and Kendricks have. He's a "smooth" athlete with loose hips, and this should logically add up to a linebacker you can put on a passcatching tight end.
Avery and Kendricks are both called "inconsistent" in coverage, but what do you expect? Sometimes they've had to try to cover a Duke Johnson, and other times 6'5" tight ends.
Duke can make Collins look even worse, but not DeValve, Fells, or Njoku. Collins matches up with these guys, and I'm glad to at least see flashes of that showing up here.
And I say "put on" Njoku rather than "covering" him because he's also a passrusher.
Way back when we had to walk barefoot uphill to and from school every day, Clay Matthews (the Brown) was lining up in tight ends' faces and jamming them.
Sometimes, he would then turn to run with them, but other times, he would come off that jam going after the quarterback.
This was when tight ends were mostly tight ends; guys who could block well and were reliable short/intermediate receivers.
Marty's use of Clay this way jammed up opposing offenses because conventionally, that tight end was supposed to chip block opposing edge-rushers, who normally lined up outside the tackle.
But here's Conan the barbarian right in his face, wherever he lines up, instead of inside him. No "chip" block here, so you're not running your route anytime soon, and you're not slanting inside either (Clay always had inside leverage).
On run plays, they'd have that tight end engage Matyhews, and the tackle lumber out there to push him outside, but Clay often read this instantly, and...
I guess you whippersnappers would need to see it: Clay would shake off the tight end and be in the backfield before...you'd just have to see that to understand why it's preposterous that Clay isn't in the Hall of Fame but I digress:
In today's NFL, Jamie Collins can sorta-kinda be the same kind of pain in the ass that Clay Matthews was.
For Jamie, he'll be setting up further outside than Clay did, and he has to handle much better athletes (who often can't block for shit), but that dual-threat thing still applies.
In the modern game, and on this team, Garrett and Ogbah are the edge-rushers, and they have to be accounted for by the tackles.
A tight end with Jamie Collins in his face can't chip Garrett or Ogbah. If he tries it, Collins will knock him on his ass and then run him over on his own way to the quarterback (utterly unblocked, unless a running back is held in as a speed-bump...Duke vs Jamie lol)...
Sending a tackle after Collins that far outside is pointless (unless they line the tight end up closer in, which is something else Gregg Williams would like), so running at him isn't a great strategy.
But in all this, I've inadvertently diminished how effective Jamie Collins will (hopefully) be when he actually simply covers these souped-up psuedo-tight ends.
Jamie has a very rare size/speed/quickness combination. He is as big and tall as most tight ends, and also quicker and faster than they are.
Across the NFL, "mismatch" tight ends are all the rage, but if Gregg Williams has his way, that's not going to work here.
Full disclosure: I'm "projecting" here. Since (dammit) it looks like Gregg hasn't been getting my texts or emails, I'm kind of assuming he'll use Jamie Collins like I would anyway, since he has been almost as smart as my humble self so far.
I'm getting kicked out again okbye
Collins had some people knocking his coverage skills before and after he got here, but some guys say that about 90% of the linebackers in the NFL.
Unlike everybody else, Jamie is 6'5", with the same sort of speed that Avery and Kendricks have. He's a "smooth" athlete with loose hips, and this should logically add up to a linebacker you can put on a passcatching tight end.
Avery and Kendricks are both called "inconsistent" in coverage, but what do you expect? Sometimes they've had to try to cover a Duke Johnson, and other times 6'5" tight ends.
Duke can make Collins look even worse, but not DeValve, Fells, or Njoku. Collins matches up with these guys, and I'm glad to at least see flashes of that showing up here.
And I say "put on" Njoku rather than "covering" him because he's also a passrusher.
Way back when we had to walk barefoot uphill to and from school every day, Clay Matthews (the Brown) was lining up in tight ends' faces and jamming them.
Sometimes, he would then turn to run with them, but other times, he would come off that jam going after the quarterback.
This was when tight ends were mostly tight ends; guys who could block well and were reliable short/intermediate receivers.
Marty's use of Clay this way jammed up opposing offenses because conventionally, that tight end was supposed to chip block opposing edge-rushers, who normally lined up outside the tackle.
But here's Conan the barbarian right in his face, wherever he lines up, instead of inside him. No "chip" block here, so you're not running your route anytime soon, and you're not slanting inside either (Clay always had inside leverage).
On run plays, they'd have that tight end engage Matyhews, and the tackle lumber out there to push him outside, but Clay often read this instantly, and...
I guess you whippersnappers would need to see it: Clay would shake off the tight end and be in the backfield before...you'd just have to see that to understand why it's preposterous that Clay isn't in the Hall of Fame but I digress:
In today's NFL, Jamie Collins can sorta-kinda be the same kind of pain in the ass that Clay Matthews was.
For Jamie, he'll be setting up further outside than Clay did, and he has to handle much better athletes (who often can't block for shit), but that dual-threat thing still applies.
In the modern game, and on this team, Garrett and Ogbah are the edge-rushers, and they have to be accounted for by the tackles.
A tight end with Jamie Collins in his face can't chip Garrett or Ogbah. If he tries it, Collins will knock him on his ass and then run him over on his own way to the quarterback (utterly unblocked, unless a running back is held in as a speed-bump...Duke vs Jamie lol)...
Sending a tackle after Collins that far outside is pointless (unless they line the tight end up closer in, which is something else Gregg Williams would like), so running at him isn't a great strategy.
But in all this, I've inadvertently diminished how effective Jamie Collins will (hopefully) be when he actually simply covers these souped-up psuedo-tight ends.
Jamie has a very rare size/speed/quickness combination. He is as big and tall as most tight ends, and also quicker and faster than they are.
Across the NFL, "mismatch" tight ends are all the rage, but if Gregg Williams has his way, that's not going to work here.
Full disclosure: I'm "projecting" here. Since (dammit) it looks like Gregg hasn't been getting my texts or emails, I'm kind of assuming he'll use Jamie Collins like I would anyway, since he has been almost as smart as my humble self so far.
I'm getting kicked out again okbye
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Fathoming Bitonio at Left Tackle, Browns' Urgency, Corrections
Whose idea was it to move Joel Bitonio to left tackle?
It wasn't Bob Wylie's. That was his "plan z". And it wasn't Bitonio's either.
Was it Todd Haley, then? I just don't know. I only know that Wylie was probably overridden.
Everything that Joe Thomas said about Austin Corbett not being a left tackle applies to Bitonio, okay?
Sure, some of Bitonio's left guard experience will transfer. He will see stunts and games coming, and make the right moves. But his feet will still be slow, and the quicker edge-rushers will still beat him.
I understand the rationale, as Hue Jackson said that they simply felt that this was the way to get their five best offensive linemen on the field.
Myles Garrett has been beating Shon Coleman like a drum, and waddyano there goes Greg Williams with a concussion (could be out for weeks).
Dan Labbe (linked article) is right about this looking like a fingers-crossed long-term move.
Well, when you've got lemons, you make lemonade...and the Browns have a bunch of lemons at left tackle (I think).
Everybody is ignoring Austin Corbett here, but he's the biggest part of this!
They didn't draft Austin Corbett where they did to make him a backup. While Big Joe doesn't think he's a tackle, he projects to be every bit as good as Bitonio at left guard.
If you'll recall, Joel started immediately as a rookie, and was pretty good. Corbett has similar college (and Senior Bowl) experience; he's actually even more "polished" than Bitonio was coming out.
They want to get this guy on the field, and moving Bitonio out of his way was the only way to do that...
(Well unless you want to bench Tretter or Zietler.)
How will this work out (assuming Greg Robinson or Desmond Harrison don't salvage it)?
Well, Bitonio is an upgrade over Spencer Drango! He might even be better than Shon Coleman was (though I doubt it).
But the balance of the offensive line should be roughly as good or better than it was (post-Thomas) in 2017.
Bitonio will sometimes need help from tight ends, just like Drango did, but the Tyrod-Baker combo at quarterback will take much of that heat off him in pass protection (now that Hue Palmer has backed off).
Read my earlier posts if you didn't get the rollout/run-pass options/read-options that Taylor and Mayfield offer Todd Haley.
It should upgrade the run-blocking a little. Shon Coleman is a good run-blocker, but Bitonio will probably be a little better at blowing edge-rushers out of the way than he was at blasting defensive tackles who were as big as he was, and Corbett is already prepared to take up much of Joel's slack inside as a run-blocker.
And then there's the (redundancy alert) zone-blocking which Todd Haley will use sometimes:
Bitonio at left tackle is no longer a big part of this, but Austin Corbett can excel in this scheme.
Got your hip waders on?
Inside zone-blocking fits perfectly with run-pass options and zone-reads. (Redundancy alert) an inside zone run looks exactly like a pass to defenses for the first split second, so they must either guess right presnap, or play "on their heels" (hesitantly) til they figure out what the offense is really doing.
Combined with rollouts, run-pass options, and read-options, this is compounded with a Taylor or a Mayfield, because these quarterbacks will decide DURING the play what is going to happen, see?
But I digress: With Bitonio at left tackle and Corbett at left guard, Hue's default power/man and g-power works as well (Corbett can pull as well as Bitonio did).
So overall, this looks like a marginal upgrade over the offensive line which had Spencer Drango at left tackle, and more of an upgrade with this offensive coordinator and these two quarterbacks overall.
With all due respect to Dan Labbe, I can't see any "disasters" looming on this horizon.
Worst case: Bitonio ranks 20th or so in pass-protection, in the top 8 or so in run-blocking, and in the middle overall, of left tackles. That's better than Drango, and in no way a "disaster".
Redundancy alert: I repeat that Joe Thomas's don't grow on trees, and the majority of playoff (let alone Superbowl) teams somehow muddle through without elite passblocking left tackles.
The emergence of athletic quarterbacks and the "college" offensive schemes in the NFL are partly the result of this; edge-rushers are coming out of the woodwork.
If you think that Todd Haley can't cope with the loss of Joe Thomas with these quarterbacks and this offensive talent, you are mentally impaired (I hereby grant Dan Labbe dispensation on a probationary basis since he is usually level-headed and smart, and has never made this kind of dumbass assertion in the past).
Joel Bitonio, Bob Wylie and me would not have moved Bitonio to left tackle, but there it is.
I have some hope for Harrison and Robinson, but they're both out of action, and I get that the Browns want to start winning right now.
The offensive line is the last unit you can monkey around with with time running out. Chemistry matters here first and foremost; these guys need years together before they can fully "mesh", and the 2018 Browns are down to the last week of camp and parts of four preseason games.
Clearly, the Browns mean business (starting with the Steelers in game one).
I get it.
Personally, I would not go "all-in" in 2018, but clearly the 2018 Browns think they can win the AFC North right now.
Dan Labbe is right again: Probably in 2019, Bitonio goes back to guard (where he belongs), but right now, he's the best healthy left tackle, and a veteran, and Corbett can replace him at guard, and they have to carve their offensive line in stone if they want to win this Division in 2018.
Get the Bitonio-Corbett combo all the preseason reps you can, because chemistry is more important to an offensive line than talent (that's redundant too sorry I didn't warn you).
Back to reality: I do get the Bitonio thing, but if John Dorsey signs Pacman Jones or Dez Bryant, I've got rope, torches, pitchforks, hot tar (give me a couple hours on that), feathers etc. ready to go.
Dan Labbe, if you think that Joel Bitonio not being a top half passblocking left tackle would be disasterous, you're way off-target here!
You think I'm a "homer"? If Dorsey does something idiotic like that, you'll see the other side of me.
...Nobody gets this. Why do I bother? Knock-knock anybody home?
Philistines. Okbye.
Update: More Rashard Higgins highlights (with Mayfield). I'd be shocked if Higgins doesn't make it.
The defense picked off Taylor TWICE in goal line drills...
Hard to separate the bad news from the good here, since they're all Browns, but for me it was almost predictable, as Todd Haley and Gregg Williams duke it out.
Williams won this round by a mile.
I have no details yet, but am guessing that one pick was batted by a front seven guy, and another was a contested ball that Corey Coleman (or somebody) lost.
Tyrod Taylor doesn't screw up.
It's mostly good news, because Gregg's defense (except for Garrett) had been getting punked so far, but seems to be coming together now.
You still don't get it:
Josh Gordon or no Josh Gordon, this is an elite defense duking it out with an elite offense.
Oh shut up! How tf can you look at this roster and these coaches and keep up your doom and gloom crap?
Oh yeah. Stockholm Syndrome. Can't blame you much!
...I'll delve deeper into Stockholm Syndrome later, but for now I'll just say I am more sane than you.
Nevermind okbye
THIS JUST IN: Bitonio looked good in pass pro vs Garrett and company! I truly hope to be proven fulla crap here! I was shocked--Bitonio has quicker feet than I'd thought.
Well I'm unique: When I'm proven fulla crap I ADMIT it. I hope I can admit to selling Bitonio short a few weeks from now.
We can't take one practice session to the bank or anything, but so far so good! Keep up the good work, Joel!
It wasn't Bob Wylie's. That was his "plan z". And it wasn't Bitonio's either.
Was it Todd Haley, then? I just don't know. I only know that Wylie was probably overridden.
Everything that Joe Thomas said about Austin Corbett not being a left tackle applies to Bitonio, okay?
Sure, some of Bitonio's left guard experience will transfer. He will see stunts and games coming, and make the right moves. But his feet will still be slow, and the quicker edge-rushers will still beat him.
I understand the rationale, as Hue Jackson said that they simply felt that this was the way to get their five best offensive linemen on the field.
Myles Garrett has been beating Shon Coleman like a drum, and waddyano there goes Greg Williams with a concussion (could be out for weeks).
Dan Labbe (linked article) is right about this looking like a fingers-crossed long-term move.
Well, when you've got lemons, you make lemonade...and the Browns have a bunch of lemons at left tackle (I think).
Everybody is ignoring Austin Corbett here, but he's the biggest part of this!
They didn't draft Austin Corbett where they did to make him a backup. While Big Joe doesn't think he's a tackle, he projects to be every bit as good as Bitonio at left guard.
If you'll recall, Joel started immediately as a rookie, and was pretty good. Corbett has similar college (and Senior Bowl) experience; he's actually even more "polished" than Bitonio was coming out.
They want to get this guy on the field, and moving Bitonio out of his way was the only way to do that...
(Well unless you want to bench Tretter or Zietler.)
How will this work out (assuming Greg Robinson or Desmond Harrison don't salvage it)?
Well, Bitonio is an upgrade over Spencer Drango! He might even be better than Shon Coleman was (though I doubt it).
But the balance of the offensive line should be roughly as good or better than it was (post-Thomas) in 2017.
Bitonio will sometimes need help from tight ends, just like Drango did, but the Tyrod-Baker combo at quarterback will take much of that heat off him in pass protection (now that Hue Palmer has backed off).
Read my earlier posts if you didn't get the rollout/run-pass options/read-options that Taylor and Mayfield offer Todd Haley.
It should upgrade the run-blocking a little. Shon Coleman is a good run-blocker, but Bitonio will probably be a little better at blowing edge-rushers out of the way than he was at blasting defensive tackles who were as big as he was, and Corbett is already prepared to take up much of Joel's slack inside as a run-blocker.
And then there's the (redundancy alert) zone-blocking which Todd Haley will use sometimes:
Bitonio at left tackle is no longer a big part of this, but Austin Corbett can excel in this scheme.
Got your hip waders on?
Inside zone-blocking fits perfectly with run-pass options and zone-reads. (Redundancy alert) an inside zone run looks exactly like a pass to defenses for the first split second, so they must either guess right presnap, or play "on their heels" (hesitantly) til they figure out what the offense is really doing.
Combined with rollouts, run-pass options, and read-options, this is compounded with a Taylor or a Mayfield, because these quarterbacks will decide DURING the play what is going to happen, see?
But I digress: With Bitonio at left tackle and Corbett at left guard, Hue's default power/man and g-power works as well (Corbett can pull as well as Bitonio did).
So overall, this looks like a marginal upgrade over the offensive line which had Spencer Drango at left tackle, and more of an upgrade with this offensive coordinator and these two quarterbacks overall.
With all due respect to Dan Labbe, I can't see any "disasters" looming on this horizon.
Worst case: Bitonio ranks 20th or so in pass-protection, in the top 8 or so in run-blocking, and in the middle overall, of left tackles. That's better than Drango, and in no way a "disaster".
Redundancy alert: I repeat that Joe Thomas's don't grow on trees, and the majority of playoff (let alone Superbowl) teams somehow muddle through without elite passblocking left tackles.
The emergence of athletic quarterbacks and the "college" offensive schemes in the NFL are partly the result of this; edge-rushers are coming out of the woodwork.
If you think that Todd Haley can't cope with the loss of Joe Thomas with these quarterbacks and this offensive talent, you are mentally impaired (I hereby grant Dan Labbe dispensation on a probationary basis since he is usually level-headed and smart, and has never made this kind of dumbass assertion in the past).
Joel Bitonio, Bob Wylie and me would not have moved Bitonio to left tackle, but there it is.
I have some hope for Harrison and Robinson, but they're both out of action, and I get that the Browns want to start winning right now.
The offensive line is the last unit you can monkey around with with time running out. Chemistry matters here first and foremost; these guys need years together before they can fully "mesh", and the 2018 Browns are down to the last week of camp and parts of four preseason games.
Clearly, the Browns mean business (starting with the Steelers in game one).
I get it.
Personally, I would not go "all-in" in 2018, but clearly the 2018 Browns think they can win the AFC North right now.
Dan Labbe is right again: Probably in 2019, Bitonio goes back to guard (where he belongs), but right now, he's the best healthy left tackle, and a veteran, and Corbett can replace him at guard, and they have to carve their offensive line in stone if they want to win this Division in 2018.
Get the Bitonio-Corbett combo all the preseason reps you can, because chemistry is more important to an offensive line than talent (that's redundant too sorry I didn't warn you).
Back to reality: I do get the Bitonio thing, but if John Dorsey signs Pacman Jones or Dez Bryant, I've got rope, torches, pitchforks, hot tar (give me a couple hours on that), feathers etc. ready to go.
Dan Labbe, if you think that Joel Bitonio not being a top half passblocking left tackle would be disasterous, you're way off-target here!
You think I'm a "homer"? If Dorsey does something idiotic like that, you'll see the other side of me.
...Nobody gets this. Why do I bother? Knock-knock anybody home?
Philistines. Okbye.
Update: More Rashard Higgins highlights (with Mayfield). I'd be shocked if Higgins doesn't make it.
The defense picked off Taylor TWICE in goal line drills...
Hard to separate the bad news from the good here, since they're all Browns, but for me it was almost predictable, as Todd Haley and Gregg Williams duke it out.
Williams won this round by a mile.
I have no details yet, but am guessing that one pick was batted by a front seven guy, and another was a contested ball that Corey Coleman (or somebody) lost.
Tyrod Taylor doesn't screw up.
It's mostly good news, because Gregg's defense (except for Garrett) had been getting punked so far, but seems to be coming together now.
You still don't get it:
Josh Gordon or no Josh Gordon, this is an elite defense duking it out with an elite offense.
Oh shut up! How tf can you look at this roster and these coaches and keep up your doom and gloom crap?
Oh yeah. Stockholm Syndrome. Can't blame you much!
...I'll delve deeper into Stockholm Syndrome later, but for now I'll just say I am more sane than you.
Nevermind okbye
THIS JUST IN: Bitonio looked good in pass pro vs Garrett and company! I truly hope to be proven fulla crap here! I was shocked--Bitonio has quicker feet than I'd thought.
Well I'm unique: When I'm proven fulla crap I ADMIT it. I hope I can admit to selling Bitonio short a few weeks from now.
We can't take one practice session to the bank or anything, but so far so good! Keep up the good work, Joel!
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Duke, Tyrod, Ignorance, Rampant Underestimation, and the Browns
So, Duke Johnson likes playing receiver more than he does running back?
Well, if you read this Blog, the Dukester is why I suspect that the Browns might keep only five "official" wide receivers.
Hue Jackson screwed up a lot, but deserves credit for using Duke at wide receiver as much as he did. Todd Haley...well look no further than Ebineezer Bell.
Duke is already mostly where he wants to be, and that's partly why they're paying him a lot of money. He's not being paid to sit on the bench.
The top two wide receivers here are Gordon and Landry (and yeah Josh should be back and be fine. He's working out with that Montgomery guy in Florida who got him all rocked up in the first place).
Callaway and Coleman are certainly going to be in the mix behind them, but Duke is...well, Duke!
Duke and Landry are kind of similar. Duke is scarier after the catch, but also nearly as reliable.
So far this offseason, Todd Haley has been using Jarvis both outside and inside, and he's been running the whole route tree. We could see either of them in the slot or outside, running all the same routes.
That's nice for depth. If one or the other misses time, no adjustments are neccessary.
Duke is different, because he is a dangerous, full-spectrum running back. If he's the only running back to trot to the huddle, that's one thing, but if Hyde or Chubb are with him, the defensive coordinator has to make a tough personnel call.
And there really is no "right" answer, because Duke will line up or shift to the spot that defense least wants him to be, every time.
Duke Johnson should be on the field over 70% of the time in 2018, and end up lining up wide or in the slot on perhaps 60% of those downs, so he should be happy with that.
...and for Fantasy Owners a good value if he's cheap enough.
The Browns have too many running backs and wide receivers now, and Dorsey's biggest challenge with the skill players is finding ways to "max them out".
With the left tackle issue, the only offense he can't run is the traditional deep passing type from the pocket (unless he plans to use Fells like an extra tackle, which would be inefficient as hell; keeping a dangerous skill player on the bench).
And that left tackle thing will absolutely factor in to how Haley designs this 2018 Browns offense.
Duke Johnson fits right in there with Jarvis Landry, as they both get open quickly, and niether drops passes. They're both ideally suited for a West Coast type passing scheme which gets the ball out of the quarterback's hands quickly.
As a running back, Duke adds the dimension of being a great outlet receiver (and pass-blocker).
Haley will also need to run the ball a lot to protect that left tackle.
He has Tyrod, with Mayfield right behind him, so he'll have those quarterbacks moving to the right on rollouts, run-pass options, and read-options
*One of the reasons why the read-option is all "the rage" nowadays is because so few teams have anybody anything like Joe Thomas at left tackle. Did you know that?*
Anyway, Duke Johnson obviously fits all that perfectly as well (of course, so do Hyde and Chubb...)
If you have a brain, you like Dameion Ratley a lot for the future, and if you've paid attention, Rashard Higgins has earned your respect. Corey Coleman has flashed some consistency and reliability, and the sky is the limit for Callaway (okay apologies to the other guys who have done really well in preseason, but there are just so many of you with bright careers ahead of you, I can't include you all).
But right now, proven, known, reliable players who are "playmakers" will float to the top of Todd Haley's personnel packages, and Duke Johnson is unmistakably one of these.
*Running backs are different: They often need work on pass-protection and/or receiving, but the running part is mostly ennate (instinctive), so Nick Chubb is mostly ready to rock right now--see earlier post that includes catching passes---not sure on the pass protection yet*
Njoku is dropping passes right now, like he did last preseason, but he mostly delivered when the lights came on, so I'm not freaking out yet on him.
Somewhat to my surprise, I've been hearing from smart people that he's already become a viable in-line blocker, which is a big plus.
It presents another monkey wrench for opposing defensive coordinators. They can't treat him like an oversized wide receiver now when they see him in the huddle, because he might actually line up at tight end and be part of a stampede meant to trample a smaller "crew" of defenders, or seal off the edge for a deep pass (getting below periscope depth here time to come up a little).
Ignoring Hyde, Chubb, and labels, Haley's most reliable skill players are Landry, Duke, and (yes dammit) Gordon. He will want these three guys on the field as often as possible in 2018.
The second tier of these guys by default has to include Njoku (although as a receiver DeValve has been more reliable; on the second tier you can trade some reliability for the big play potentials by the way). And (for now) Higgins yes Higgins.
Higgins proved in 2017 that he can be more than just a "possession" guy, but he's always been pretty reliable, and is reportedly bigger and stronger now.
Coleman, Ratley, Callaway etc have yet to earn the trust of these quarterbacks. All three are potential game-breakers, but Haley can't rank them ahead of these other guys until they prove they can be trusted.
(That's part of "developing a quarterback" as a "quarterback guru", by the way: making sure his receivers will be where they're supposed to be and won't drop the ball? Helps a quarterback a LOT, believe it or not! HONEST!)
I would expect the "core" offense to include Njoku, Duke, Josh, and Jarvis. With the quarterback and offensive line, that's ten players, leaving one slot.
That will often be Chubb or Hyde, but could also be Fells, DeValve, Coleman/Callaway, or John Doe.
Naturally, some rotation will happen, depending on matchups, injuries, down and distance, so one or even two of the four "base" guys might be on the bench a lot of times, but these are the quarterback's best friends, and Dorsey will make sure that at least two of them are on the field on every down.
Josh Gordon will key this thing. No cornerback in the NFL can cover him without help, and if Josh and his quarterback don't see that deep safety drifting his way, he WILL go deep.
You can roll the dice a little with a 5'11" Callaway or Coleman, because his smaller catch radius makes it tougher for a quarteback to catch him in-stride, and possible for the chasing corner to jump up and deflect it.
You can't do that with Gordon. If Gordon gets by you, it's game over, unless the quarterback can't hit the broad side of a barn (see Kizer, Deshone...okay and Kessler, Cody).
Dameion Ratley might well grow into something like Josh Gordon, but none of the other guys on this roster can...although Higgins can do some of it (too deep you're welcome).
Dez Bryant alert: He might extract his head and sign with the Ravens. I hope so (more on that later).
Colon Illuminati Cowherd just cracks me up sometimes. "Obviously, nothing happens in Cleveland that Jimmy Haslam doesn't have his hands on" what!?!
This ass-hat has Haslam up there with Jerry Jones based on what? "Let's go get him" in re Manziel? The guy has issues: He yammers about how Haslam is a Tennessee booster and how they suck, and somehow implies that he's trying to...oh good grief it's too convoluted to even repeat there is something wrong with Colon Cowherd okay?
Anyway, he was interviewing Eric Mangini, and I did get some useful stuff out of Mangini (who is more like Paul Ryan than Baker Mayfield, if you know what I mean):
Mangini expects Mayfield to take over at some point during the season, but it wasn't for football reasons:
"If the seats aren't filled up, you need to do something to get those fans back. What better way to do that than starting your first round quarterback?"
Good point! And this is indeed where most owners would pick up the phone and give orders.
*Cowherd is delusional about Haslam micromanaging; in fact Jimmy seems to be keeping his hands to himself, but what Mangini said made sense*
They were hypothesising 3-3 after 6 games.
Hat tip to Cowherd for allowing for 3 wins, but they're wrong. Permabashers aside, the Browns fan base would be giddy at that point.
Moreover, they would be against switching quarterbacks (and maybe screwing everything up yet again.)
Eric Mangini was HERE for two years as a Head Coach--how can he underestimate us like that? 3-3 after 6 games and we're not filling seats? We want change for change's sake?
I know I pick on a lot of you and call you idiots and morons and stuff, but the vast majority of you are SENTIENT, and I'm tired of being insulted.
Lately on the road (or near Cleveland), I've found it hard to find Browns fans, but a few of those who are have actually lasted for as many as 6 minutes talking to me about them before their eyes glass over and they're trying to change the subject or talk to somebody else.
Still, they know stuff like good/great players and coaches matter, and they aren't superstitious...
3-3? We're not showing up, and doing "May-field" chants? Give me a fkng break (and f u Eric Tonedeaf).
But that's the consensus of these guys. It's not if Baker Mayfield takes over, but when.
As you guys know, I agree with Cris Carter and PFF and a bunch of other real experts that John Dorsey picked the best quarterback in the last several drafts, but I can't fathom the implicit anti-Tyrod prejudice.
Wait a fkng minute here has Tyrod ever had an arsenal like he has here? Isn't he a year older and better? Didn't he take a (much) less talented team to the playoffs last season?
Okay Baker Mayfield is the future, and will transcend Tyrod, but he CAN NOT be more than marginally better than Tyrod as a rookie--why the hell do you insist on benching Tyrod Taylor any time soon!?!
The most reasonable projection I've heard is "once the Browns are out of contention" (which assumes a lot, because the Bungles and Ratbirds aren't in the 2018 Browns' league).
I don't expect the most talented well-coached team in the AFC North to be out of playoff contention before week 14, if at all.
I said "well-coached" instead of "best-coached" because I have to give the Ravens and Steelers their props, but our guys can toe the line with their guys ok? (Hue doesn't count why does nobody else get that?)
I'm becoming a huge Tyrod Taylor fan here, because I can't handle insanity or injustice, and respect the hell out of guys who clawed their way up from nowhere and EARNED everything the hard way.
After all that hard work and struggle, here are a bunch of people eager to brush him off like he's dandruff. It really pisses me off I thought this was America, you know?
Tyrod Taylor in 2018 is better than Baker Mayfield, and gives the Browns an even better chance to win than he did the Bills last season.
This time, Hue Jackson is right. Baker Mayfield can deal with it. Why can't you?
Well, if you read this Blog, the Dukester is why I suspect that the Browns might keep only five "official" wide receivers.
Hue Jackson screwed up a lot, but deserves credit for using Duke at wide receiver as much as he did. Todd Haley...well look no further than Ebineezer Bell.
Duke is already mostly where he wants to be, and that's partly why they're paying him a lot of money. He's not being paid to sit on the bench.
The top two wide receivers here are Gordon and Landry (and yeah Josh should be back and be fine. He's working out with that Montgomery guy in Florida who got him all rocked up in the first place).
Callaway and Coleman are certainly going to be in the mix behind them, but Duke is...well, Duke!
Duke and Landry are kind of similar. Duke is scarier after the catch, but also nearly as reliable.
So far this offseason, Todd Haley has been using Jarvis both outside and inside, and he's been running the whole route tree. We could see either of them in the slot or outside, running all the same routes.
That's nice for depth. If one or the other misses time, no adjustments are neccessary.
Duke is different, because he is a dangerous, full-spectrum running back. If he's the only running back to trot to the huddle, that's one thing, but if Hyde or Chubb are with him, the defensive coordinator has to make a tough personnel call.
And there really is no "right" answer, because Duke will line up or shift to the spot that defense least wants him to be, every time.
Duke Johnson should be on the field over 70% of the time in 2018, and end up lining up wide or in the slot on perhaps 60% of those downs, so he should be happy with that.
...and for Fantasy Owners a good value if he's cheap enough.
The Browns have too many running backs and wide receivers now, and Dorsey's biggest challenge with the skill players is finding ways to "max them out".
With the left tackle issue, the only offense he can't run is the traditional deep passing type from the pocket (unless he plans to use Fells like an extra tackle, which would be inefficient as hell; keeping a dangerous skill player on the bench).
And that left tackle thing will absolutely factor in to how Haley designs this 2018 Browns offense.
Duke Johnson fits right in there with Jarvis Landry, as they both get open quickly, and niether drops passes. They're both ideally suited for a West Coast type passing scheme which gets the ball out of the quarterback's hands quickly.
As a running back, Duke adds the dimension of being a great outlet receiver (and pass-blocker).
Haley will also need to run the ball a lot to protect that left tackle.
He has Tyrod, with Mayfield right behind him, so he'll have those quarterbacks moving to the right on rollouts, run-pass options, and read-options
*One of the reasons why the read-option is all "the rage" nowadays is because so few teams have anybody anything like Joe Thomas at left tackle. Did you know that?*
Anyway, Duke Johnson obviously fits all that perfectly as well (of course, so do Hyde and Chubb...)
If you have a brain, you like Dameion Ratley a lot for the future, and if you've paid attention, Rashard Higgins has earned your respect. Corey Coleman has flashed some consistency and reliability, and the sky is the limit for Callaway (okay apologies to the other guys who have done really well in preseason, but there are just so many of you with bright careers ahead of you, I can't include you all).
But right now, proven, known, reliable players who are "playmakers" will float to the top of Todd Haley's personnel packages, and Duke Johnson is unmistakably one of these.
*Running backs are different: They often need work on pass-protection and/or receiving, but the running part is mostly ennate (instinctive), so Nick Chubb is mostly ready to rock right now--see earlier post that includes catching passes---not sure on the pass protection yet*
Njoku is dropping passes right now, like he did last preseason, but he mostly delivered when the lights came on, so I'm not freaking out yet on him.
Somewhat to my surprise, I've been hearing from smart people that he's already become a viable in-line blocker, which is a big plus.
It presents another monkey wrench for opposing defensive coordinators. They can't treat him like an oversized wide receiver now when they see him in the huddle, because he might actually line up at tight end and be part of a stampede meant to trample a smaller "crew" of defenders, or seal off the edge for a deep pass (getting below periscope depth here time to come up a little).
Ignoring Hyde, Chubb, and labels, Haley's most reliable skill players are Landry, Duke, and (yes dammit) Gordon. He will want these three guys on the field as often as possible in 2018.
The second tier of these guys by default has to include Njoku (although as a receiver DeValve has been more reliable; on the second tier you can trade some reliability for the big play potentials by the way). And (for now) Higgins yes Higgins.
Higgins proved in 2017 that he can be more than just a "possession" guy, but he's always been pretty reliable, and is reportedly bigger and stronger now.
Coleman, Ratley, Callaway etc have yet to earn the trust of these quarterbacks. All three are potential game-breakers, but Haley can't rank them ahead of these other guys until they prove they can be trusted.
(That's part of "developing a quarterback" as a "quarterback guru", by the way: making sure his receivers will be where they're supposed to be and won't drop the ball? Helps a quarterback a LOT, believe it or not! HONEST!)
I would expect the "core" offense to include Njoku, Duke, Josh, and Jarvis. With the quarterback and offensive line, that's ten players, leaving one slot.
That will often be Chubb or Hyde, but could also be Fells, DeValve, Coleman/Callaway, or John Doe.
Naturally, some rotation will happen, depending on matchups, injuries, down and distance, so one or even two of the four "base" guys might be on the bench a lot of times, but these are the quarterback's best friends, and Dorsey will make sure that at least two of them are on the field on every down.
Josh Gordon will key this thing. No cornerback in the NFL can cover him without help, and if Josh and his quarterback don't see that deep safety drifting his way, he WILL go deep.
You can roll the dice a little with a 5'11" Callaway or Coleman, because his smaller catch radius makes it tougher for a quarteback to catch him in-stride, and possible for the chasing corner to jump up and deflect it.
You can't do that with Gordon. If Gordon gets by you, it's game over, unless the quarterback can't hit the broad side of a barn (see Kizer, Deshone...okay and Kessler, Cody).
Dameion Ratley might well grow into something like Josh Gordon, but none of the other guys on this roster can...although Higgins can do some of it (too deep you're welcome).
Dez Bryant alert: He might extract his head and sign with the Ravens. I hope so (more on that later).
Colon Illuminati Cowherd just cracks me up sometimes. "Obviously, nothing happens in Cleveland that Jimmy Haslam doesn't have his hands on" what!?!
This ass-hat has Haslam up there with Jerry Jones based on what? "Let's go get him" in re Manziel? The guy has issues: He yammers about how Haslam is a Tennessee booster and how they suck, and somehow implies that he's trying to...oh good grief it's too convoluted to even repeat there is something wrong with Colon Cowherd okay?
Anyway, he was interviewing Eric Mangini, and I did get some useful stuff out of Mangini (who is more like Paul Ryan than Baker Mayfield, if you know what I mean):
Mangini expects Mayfield to take over at some point during the season, but it wasn't for football reasons:
"If the seats aren't filled up, you need to do something to get those fans back. What better way to do that than starting your first round quarterback?"
Good point! And this is indeed where most owners would pick up the phone and give orders.
*Cowherd is delusional about Haslam micromanaging; in fact Jimmy seems to be keeping his hands to himself, but what Mangini said made sense*
They were hypothesising 3-3 after 6 games.
Hat tip to Cowherd for allowing for 3 wins, but they're wrong. Permabashers aside, the Browns fan base would be giddy at that point.
Moreover, they would be against switching quarterbacks (and maybe screwing everything up yet again.)
Eric Mangini was HERE for two years as a Head Coach--how can he underestimate us like that? 3-3 after 6 games and we're not filling seats? We want change for change's sake?
I know I pick on a lot of you and call you idiots and morons and stuff, but the vast majority of you are SENTIENT, and I'm tired of being insulted.
Lately on the road (or near Cleveland), I've found it hard to find Browns fans, but a few of those who are have actually lasted for as many as 6 minutes talking to me about them before their eyes glass over and they're trying to change the subject or talk to somebody else.
Still, they know stuff like good/great players and coaches matter, and they aren't superstitious...
3-3? We're not showing up, and doing "May-field" chants? Give me a fkng break (and f u Eric Tonedeaf).
But that's the consensus of these guys. It's not if Baker Mayfield takes over, but when.
As you guys know, I agree with Cris Carter and PFF and a bunch of other real experts that John Dorsey picked the best quarterback in the last several drafts, but I can't fathom the implicit anti-Tyrod prejudice.
Wait a fkng minute here has Tyrod ever had an arsenal like he has here? Isn't he a year older and better? Didn't he take a (much) less talented team to the playoffs last season?
Okay Baker Mayfield is the future, and will transcend Tyrod, but he CAN NOT be more than marginally better than Tyrod as a rookie--why the hell do you insist on benching Tyrod Taylor any time soon!?!
The most reasonable projection I've heard is "once the Browns are out of contention" (which assumes a lot, because the Bungles and Ratbirds aren't in the 2018 Browns' league).
I don't expect the most talented well-coached team in the AFC North to be out of playoff contention before week 14, if at all.
I said "well-coached" instead of "best-coached" because I have to give the Ravens and Steelers their props, but our guys can toe the line with their guys ok? (Hue doesn't count why does nobody else get that?)
I'm becoming a huge Tyrod Taylor fan here, because I can't handle insanity or injustice, and respect the hell out of guys who clawed their way up from nowhere and EARNED everything the hard way.
After all that hard work and struggle, here are a bunch of people eager to brush him off like he's dandruff. It really pisses me off I thought this was America, you know?
Tyrod Taylor in 2018 is better than Baker Mayfield, and gives the Browns an even better chance to win than he did the Bills last season.
This time, Hue Jackson is right. Baker Mayfield can deal with it. Why can't you?
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