How glad are we that Jimmy and Dee Haslam are letting John Dorsey find the Browns' next Head Coach.
Last time, Jimmy hired a professional recruiting firm to help him out. I'm not sure how that worked; I assume they did have some expertise in this niche market (so don't beat them over the head for hiring perhaps the hottest candidate: Hue Jackson).
But I digress: This decision pretty much made itself, since John Dorsey (and his assistants) could open their own NFL Coach Headhunter firm if they weren't busy running the Browns.
There could be as many as seven other teams fighting over various candidates this year, but the people who are projecting this are thinking that Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy and Ravens Coach Jim Harbaugh could be creating two of those vacancies.
McCarthy is unlikely to be fired. That's been blown up partly because of Dorsey's relationship with him. If anybody thinks the Packers' current issues are McCarthy's fault, they need a brain transplant.
But the Harbaugh thing? That's for real, if he fails to make the playoffs this season.
That's just as dumb as firing McCarthy, but the Ravens' ownership hinted at this prior to this season, and they drafted QB Lamar Jackson.
My peeps on NFL Radio say that switching quarterbacks (when the two quarterbacks are markedly different from eachother) will sometimes trigger a coaching change, as ownership targets a new Coach to run a system more amenable to the new guy.
That's still stupid, since I know for sure that Jim Harbaugh could/would "Jacksonize" his offense---but this is how it happens.
We all have even more reason to root against the Ravens now.
As I said before this season started, the prennially-overrated Ravens, even with their terrific free agency moves, remained the least talented and oldest team in the AFC North.
Expecting them to overtake the Steelers or Ravens and win this Division is sheer hubris. Even insisting that they win a wild-card spot out of this dog fight is unrealistic.
Yes, Ravens: by all means blame Jim Harbaugh when your outgunned team doesn't make it so Dorsey can offer him annual revenge in perpetuity!
Here is some great news: The Browns might have three defensive starters back in time for Matt Ryan's Falcons.
Joe Schobert has become vitally important, and most fans don't grok his full value.
In his absence, Jamie Collins had been calling the defenses. I won't presume to pick on him over this, but I just know that this defense has been much tougher vs the run (and on third down) with Schobert than without him.
Part of this is Schobert's still-underrated athleticism. He's not only blown up a lot of screen passes, but stifled some scary opposing tight ends in coverage as well.
Everybody knows about Demarius Randall now. I just need to point out that Gregg Williams has moved him back to man corner before, and he probably will this week, so that he can run his best defense:
Ward is the third starter, check: But the Falcons have Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, AND Mohammud Sanu. If you try to zone-cover those guys, you are dead.
For Gregg, the two outside corners need to disrupt the outside receivers' routes, and now that EJ Gaines is out (and TJ Carrie inexplicably fell on his face), Randall has to be Ward's bookend.
Free safety is less critical vs this specific offense than those two cover corners.
This Browns front CAN put heat on Matt Ryan, and the object is to force him to his third read early...
Nevermind.
The Browns' offense vs the Falcons' defense looks pretty good. Much has been made of the Birds' recent signing of passrusher Irvin.
He's been a scary guy except for this season (he's 31). A Falcons' analyst points out that Irvin was a lot better with Khalil Mack than without him, but...
The Falcons don't have anybody like Khalil Mack, so I must be missing something...
The Browns have a better chance vs the Falcons than they did vs the Chiefs, mainly because of the three returning defensive starters.
And Mayfield, Higgins, Ratley, Callaway, Njoku, Duke, and Chubb DO YOU U N D E R S T A N D?
...No you don't: Everybody there except Higgins and Duke are rookies or second-year players in a new system.
These are all ascending players...
I give up. Most of you are unreachable.
The Falcons' offense seems unstoppable, and Matt Ryan is completing SEVENTY SEVEN PERCENT of his passes (with an above average yards-per-attempt)...
But the Browns have a shot, because they have three key defensive starters back, a flexible offensive coordinator, and a smashmouth running game...
...and Baker Mayfield (unleashed).
I hereby predict that the team which scores more points than it allows will win this game.
I
Friday, November 9, 2018
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Cleveland Browns Secret Weapons, Hopefully Unleashed, I Hope. Maybe.
In search of fresh material, I found this excellent film-session by Jake Burns on David Njoku, and why he can become a truly lethal offensive weapon.
Just check it out--I already get all the receiver stuff, but Jake brought me up to date on Njoku's inconsistent but maturing blocking skills:
David Njoku can be a "full-spectrum" tight end, and not just a K2III-type oversized wide receiver.
The reason why the current Ourlads Browns Depth Chart lists both Fells and Njoku as starters (with Chubb and two wide receivers) is the fact that both offensive tackles have been having issues in pass-protection.
You whippersnappers often don't get this, but REAL tight ends are expected to block. No, I'm serious!
There are even a few dinosaurs still around who are real tight ends, like Ben Watson, and any Steelers tight end, and...errumm...Witten, who just retired, and...
Anyway, Darren Fells is primarily a "blocking" tight end (you youngsters are at least familiar with that).
...but I digress: Njoku has screwed up a lot as a blocker, but has the reach and willingness to become really good at it.
This is important. Defenses treat most of these "pass-catching" tight ends as receivers; ie they use extra defensive backs and zones when they show up in a huddle.
David Njoku can really screw this up if he can become a better in-line blocker.
As we saw vs the Chiefs, Duke Johnson as a receiver attacks the same inside short and intermediate zones that tight ends attack.
Nick Chubb is a serious runner (and so is Duke, for that matter).
All of this adds up to a "ball of confusion" for enemy defensive coordinators trying to match up their defensive personnel and schemes to the guys they see in the Browns' offensive huddle when Njoku is part of it (which is always).
Fells is sneaky, because he is a masssively underrated short and red-zone receiver; but opposing defenses will always treat him like a blocker (*for some reason, per PFF, Fells has, since becoming a Cleveland Brown, gone from one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL to below average, but that can't last*).
Fells was helping out Desmond Harrison on the edge, first and formost. But at right tackle, Hubbard has been targetted and overmatched by edge-rushers too, so don't expect Fells to go away anytime soon, even if Greg Robinson at long last lives up to his pre-draft billing.
Todd Haley had his way (or the highway) of doing things, but I'm hoping that the two-tight end base offense (ie a "12"-set with one running back) is a Kitchens recipe:
Njoku has dropped way too many passes so far, and blown too many blocks (notably in pass-protection), but he actually has big soft hands, and all the tools.
He was inexperienced and raw when he was drafted in 2017. But he means business, and is frankly ahead of schedule.
As you should know, I'm a big Rodney DeValvefield fan, but Seth is too short to be a reliable in-line blocker (which is why he's been tried at fullback as well as H-back oknevermind...)
Jake Burns covers David Njoku and his potential admirably, but what I'm addressing here is the Browns' probable offense going forward.
I have repeatly repeated that the Browns do not need more wide receivers. David Njoku and Duke Johnson are two reasons why.
Look: Both Ratley and Callaway are legitimate deep threats (among other things), but Baker Mayfield is most effective in "three step drop" territory, decisively getting rid of the ball in under 2.2 seconds, and (of course) with the help of a strong running game (with play-action).
Two REAL tight ends work out for him perfectly here, especially when the real wide receivers are Callaway, Ratley, Higgins, and guys named Joe!
I'm kinda burned out on this clueless punditry in re the Browns receivers.
If a reciever drops a pass, you BENCH him! If the other guy drops one, you bench HIM. Maybe you give the first benchee a second chance, or let number three have his shot, but eventually, your message will penetrate their skulls: CATCH THE DAMN BALL OR ELSE DUH.
The 2018 Browns have LOTS of star receivers.
Ask Baker Mayfield (no seriously, ask him!)
Anyway, you whippersnappers, I remember popgun Montana winning several Superbowls with dink-passes, while Marino won zip. YOU should remember Tom Brady winning several in this manner.
Receivers are receivers, regardless of how they're labelled on the depth chart. All Baker Mayfield needs are guys who don't drop the damn ball.
I have hope that Gregg Williams at Head Coach, and Freddie Kitchens (a former quarterback) will not tolerate drops, as Jackson and (especially) Haley did.
There are a bunch of reasons why the Browns haven't won at least six games in 2018. Dropped passes is right up there with referees and botched kicks.
Time to man up, Njoku.
Just check it out--I already get all the receiver stuff, but Jake brought me up to date on Njoku's inconsistent but maturing blocking skills:
David Njoku can be a "full-spectrum" tight end, and not just a K2III-type oversized wide receiver.
The reason why the current Ourlads Browns Depth Chart lists both Fells and Njoku as starters (with Chubb and two wide receivers) is the fact that both offensive tackles have been having issues in pass-protection.
You whippersnappers often don't get this, but REAL tight ends are expected to block. No, I'm serious!
There are even a few dinosaurs still around who are real tight ends, like Ben Watson, and any Steelers tight end, and...errumm...Witten, who just retired, and...
Anyway, Darren Fells is primarily a "blocking" tight end (you youngsters are at least familiar with that).
...but I digress: Njoku has screwed up a lot as a blocker, but has the reach and willingness to become really good at it.
This is important. Defenses treat most of these "pass-catching" tight ends as receivers; ie they use extra defensive backs and zones when they show up in a huddle.
David Njoku can really screw this up if he can become a better in-line blocker.
As we saw vs the Chiefs, Duke Johnson as a receiver attacks the same inside short and intermediate zones that tight ends attack.
Nick Chubb is a serious runner (and so is Duke, for that matter).
All of this adds up to a "ball of confusion" for enemy defensive coordinators trying to match up their defensive personnel and schemes to the guys they see in the Browns' offensive huddle when Njoku is part of it (which is always).
Fells is sneaky, because he is a masssively underrated short and red-zone receiver; but opposing defenses will always treat him like a blocker (*for some reason, per PFF, Fells has, since becoming a Cleveland Brown, gone from one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL to below average, but that can't last*).
Fells was helping out Desmond Harrison on the edge, first and formost. But at right tackle, Hubbard has been targetted and overmatched by edge-rushers too, so don't expect Fells to go away anytime soon, even if Greg Robinson at long last lives up to his pre-draft billing.
Todd Haley had his way (or the highway) of doing things, but I'm hoping that the two-tight end base offense (ie a "12"-set with one running back) is a Kitchens recipe:
Njoku has dropped way too many passes so far, and blown too many blocks (notably in pass-protection), but he actually has big soft hands, and all the tools.
He was inexperienced and raw when he was drafted in 2017. But he means business, and is frankly ahead of schedule.
As you should know, I'm a big Rodney DeValvefield fan, but Seth is too short to be a reliable in-line blocker (which is why he's been tried at fullback as well as H-back oknevermind...)
Jake Burns covers David Njoku and his potential admirably, but what I'm addressing here is the Browns' probable offense going forward.
I have repeatly repeated that the Browns do not need more wide receivers. David Njoku and Duke Johnson are two reasons why.
Look: Both Ratley and Callaway are legitimate deep threats (among other things), but Baker Mayfield is most effective in "three step drop" territory, decisively getting rid of the ball in under 2.2 seconds, and (of course) with the help of a strong running game (with play-action).
Two REAL tight ends work out for him perfectly here, especially when the real wide receivers are Callaway, Ratley, Higgins, and guys named Joe!
I'm kinda burned out on this clueless punditry in re the Browns receivers.
If a reciever drops a pass, you BENCH him! If the other guy drops one, you bench HIM. Maybe you give the first benchee a second chance, or let number three have his shot, but eventually, your message will penetrate their skulls: CATCH THE DAMN BALL OR ELSE DUH.
The 2018 Browns have LOTS of star receivers.
Ask Baker Mayfield (no seriously, ask him!)
Anyway, you whippersnappers, I remember popgun Montana winning several Superbowls with dink-passes, while Marino won zip. YOU should remember Tom Brady winning several in this manner.
Receivers are receivers, regardless of how they're labelled on the depth chart. All Baker Mayfield needs are guys who don't drop the damn ball.
I have hope that Gregg Williams at Head Coach, and Freddie Kitchens (a former quarterback) will not tolerate drops, as Jackson and (especially) Haley did.
There are a bunch of reasons why the Browns haven't won at least six games in 2018. Dropped passes is right up there with referees and botched kicks.
Time to man up, Njoku.
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Free at Last! Mayfield, Duke, Ratley Unchained! Better Late than Never
Baker Mayfield tries hard not to knock anybody, but you can see by Andrew Gribble's quotes of him that he (and other players) are almost giddy to have Freddie Kitchens running the offense.
Mayfield talks about better communication (as in TWO-WAY communication) between the players and this coordinator.
Baker also said that if the players weren't comfortable at, or wouldn't be good at, doing something, they wouldn't do it.
Imagine that! How revolutionary!
I know that Todd Haley would tell you that he communicates just fine. The thing is, he doesn't listen to his players. His "communication" is giving orders.
This was part of his problem with the Steelers: Ben Roethsenberger has been around forever, and Haley refused to listen to him. So you know all his communication with his rookie quarterback was one way.
As I posted a few weeks ago, it was obvious to everybody (including Hue Jackson) except Todd Haley that putting Mayfield seven steps deep, not moving him ever, not using Duke Johnson at all, and running vertical, slow-developing routes was going to get him killed.
Now Freddie takes over, and the sun is shining again.
Kitchens will remain loyal to Todd Haley, who helped his carreer along, but the players don't have to. Listen to them.
Todd Haley is a really smart, capable coach, but he will never be a great one, because he's a "my way or the highway" blockhead who rigidly sticks to his system, regardless of the players he has. Square pegs in round holes.
Freddie Kitchens may or may not be a genius, but he doesn't have to be. All he has to be is REASONABLE.
Lord Insideous in New England has won Superbowls with all sorts of different offensive schemes. Each and every year, he looks at what players he has, and he and Tom Brady just make the most of them.
That's not genius. It's common sense. And Freddie Kitchens has common sense! D U H.
We can be optimistic about this 2018 offense going forward.
It was probably good for Baker Mayfield (in some ways) to be forced to play in a predictable system tailor made to get him killed.
Like he always has, he tried very hard to adapt and overcome, and no doubt this experience will make him a better quarterback than he would have been over time. We can give Haley credit for that.
Kitchens couldn't make drastic changes in one week, and he's still using Haley's playbook (just including the plays that Haley wouldn't let Mayfield or Duke Johnson run...I'm not sure about the bootlegs--does Todd Haley HAVE any bootlegs in his playbook?)
The Duke stuff is pretty obvious, when it's out of the backfield. Defensive backs can't jam him, and he's coming from the middle of the field. You can't really "cover" him--you just keep a safety back and try to smash him as he catches it.
That tendancy/threat will prevent defenses from blitzing as much, as of now, because it's designed to burn inside "run"-blitzes.
Free safeties will have to hang back a little more, and keep one eye on Duke every time he's on the field. In general, defenses will need to run more zone with their bigger safeties and coverage linebackers, and Mayfield can and will carve that up; it's what he does best.
Greg Robinson (and Hubbard) looked good, but take that with a grain of salt. Baker Mayfield was running around, and was ALLOWED TO be a sharpshooter and get rid of the ball quickly.
KC was quickly forced to back off and just focus on stopping Chubb and putting a lid on the receivers.
It's amazing that Todd Haley refused to do these obvious things.
Unfortunately, it's the Browns, so now both EJ Gaines and Denzel Ward joined Terrence Mitchell on the injured list, and Gregg Williams can't run his optimum defense for now.
He'll have to run softer coverage, just in time for Matt Ryan and the Falcons. How very Browns, right? Perfect!
Well we can hope that one or both (Gaines/Ward) can play this sunday--I can't find any news on them yet.
I'm glad that Gregg Williams chose to make Damarius Randall inactive and give him a chance to heal. It's possible that Hue Jackson had been overriding him on this.
The Browns had a snowball's chance against the Chiefs, and this was a very pragmatic and logical decision.
Letting Greg Robinson replace the dinged-up Des Harrison at left tackle was also smart (and set up a competition, based on Williams' performance vs KC).
Gregg Williams doesn't seem "desperate" to prove he can be a great Head Coach (or to save his job hint-hint), as his decisions so far have been realistic and rational.
The Falcons are beatable. Hopefully, the extra week of rest can bring Randall back semi-healthy, and Gregg can get Ward and/or Gaines back in time.
Joe Schobert is a bigee too. He might be back.
Anyway, expect the Browns offense to be MUCH better now that Todd Haley is gone, and Baker Mayfield and Duke Johnson are unchained, and Higgins is back, and Ratley vs Callaway is a legitimate competition.
Mayfield talks about better communication (as in TWO-WAY communication) between the players and this coordinator.
Baker also said that if the players weren't comfortable at, or wouldn't be good at, doing something, they wouldn't do it.
Imagine that! How revolutionary!
I know that Todd Haley would tell you that he communicates just fine. The thing is, he doesn't listen to his players. His "communication" is giving orders.
This was part of his problem with the Steelers: Ben Roethsenberger has been around forever, and Haley refused to listen to him. So you know all his communication with his rookie quarterback was one way.
As I posted a few weeks ago, it was obvious to everybody (including Hue Jackson) except Todd Haley that putting Mayfield seven steps deep, not moving him ever, not using Duke Johnson at all, and running vertical, slow-developing routes was going to get him killed.
Now Freddie takes over, and the sun is shining again.
Kitchens will remain loyal to Todd Haley, who helped his carreer along, but the players don't have to. Listen to them.
Todd Haley is a really smart, capable coach, but he will never be a great one, because he's a "my way or the highway" blockhead who rigidly sticks to his system, regardless of the players he has. Square pegs in round holes.
Freddie Kitchens may or may not be a genius, but he doesn't have to be. All he has to be is REASONABLE.
Lord Insideous in New England has won Superbowls with all sorts of different offensive schemes. Each and every year, he looks at what players he has, and he and Tom Brady just make the most of them.
That's not genius. It's common sense. And Freddie Kitchens has common sense! D U H.
We can be optimistic about this 2018 offense going forward.
It was probably good for Baker Mayfield (in some ways) to be forced to play in a predictable system tailor made to get him killed.
Like he always has, he tried very hard to adapt and overcome, and no doubt this experience will make him a better quarterback than he would have been over time. We can give Haley credit for that.
Kitchens couldn't make drastic changes in one week, and he's still using Haley's playbook (just including the plays that Haley wouldn't let Mayfield or Duke Johnson run...I'm not sure about the bootlegs--does Todd Haley HAVE any bootlegs in his playbook?)
The Duke stuff is pretty obvious, when it's out of the backfield. Defensive backs can't jam him, and he's coming from the middle of the field. You can't really "cover" him--you just keep a safety back and try to smash him as he catches it.
That tendancy/threat will prevent defenses from blitzing as much, as of now, because it's designed to burn inside "run"-blitzes.
Free safeties will have to hang back a little more, and keep one eye on Duke every time he's on the field. In general, defenses will need to run more zone with their bigger safeties and coverage linebackers, and Mayfield can and will carve that up; it's what he does best.
Greg Robinson (and Hubbard) looked good, but take that with a grain of salt. Baker Mayfield was running around, and was ALLOWED TO be a sharpshooter and get rid of the ball quickly.
KC was quickly forced to back off and just focus on stopping Chubb and putting a lid on the receivers.
It's amazing that Todd Haley refused to do these obvious things.
Unfortunately, it's the Browns, so now both EJ Gaines and Denzel Ward joined Terrence Mitchell on the injured list, and Gregg Williams can't run his optimum defense for now.
He'll have to run softer coverage, just in time for Matt Ryan and the Falcons. How very Browns, right? Perfect!
Well we can hope that one or both (Gaines/Ward) can play this sunday--I can't find any news on them yet.
I'm glad that Gregg Williams chose to make Damarius Randall inactive and give him a chance to heal. It's possible that Hue Jackson had been overriding him on this.
The Browns had a snowball's chance against the Chiefs, and this was a very pragmatic and logical decision.
Letting Greg Robinson replace the dinged-up Des Harrison at left tackle was also smart (and set up a competition, based on Williams' performance vs KC).
Gregg Williams doesn't seem "desperate" to prove he can be a great Head Coach (or to save his job hint-hint), as his decisions so far have been realistic and rational.
The Falcons are beatable. Hopefully, the extra week of rest can bring Randall back semi-healthy, and Gregg can get Ward and/or Gaines back in time.
Joe Schobert is a bigee too. He might be back.
Anyway, expect the Browns offense to be MUCH better now that Todd Haley is gone, and Baker Mayfield and Duke Johnson are unchained, and Higgins is back, and Ratley vs Callaway is a legitimate competition.
Monday, November 5, 2018
Browns Head Coach Job Top Target. Ask Bruce Ariens.
Take this seriously: Bruce Ariens says that ONLY the chance to Head Coach the Cleveland Browns could lure him out of retirement.
I know that some of you want to dismiss this, but Ariens is not a mindless blabbermouth, and meant every word he said. He unmistakeably and irrefutably threw his hat in the ring as a candidate to be the next Browns' Head Coach.
He must be insane, right?
I won't bother addressing this ignorant asseninity again: the Browns Head Coaching job is a golden opportunity now.
Baker Mayfield is obvious, but (contrary to local pundits' opinions) so are Callaway and Ratley.
Former top ten pick Greg Robinson did a fine job vs KC at left tackle. He LOOKED like a first round pick for once!
I'm not going to bash raw undrafted rookie Desmond Harrison (the injured starter) here, because he IS just a "baby" (with astronomical potential)...but he has semi-sucked so far, and Robinson did not.
Ariens was the "color man" (ie "expert witness") for the last game vs the Chiefs. He noticed this.
Like every sentient Head Coach candidate, Ariens wonders how good Callaway and Ratley will be in 2019. They take Duke Johnson very seriously. Njoku too.
Mayfield, Chubb, Johnson, Landry check. It's obvious, isn't it? Of course Bruce Ariens envisions winning a Superbowl in 2019 with this quarterback, veteran corps, and emerging skill-talent!
Ariens coached for both the Steelers and Browns. He knows this Division and these players. He knows that the Browns are stacked with emerging talent and have a real quarterback now.
He meant what he said: Bruce wouldn't consider coming out of retirement (and his sweet media gig) unless he thought he could get to the Superbowl in 2019.
But what does he know?
I know that some of you want to dismiss this, but Ariens is not a mindless blabbermouth, and meant every word he said. He unmistakeably and irrefutably threw his hat in the ring as a candidate to be the next Browns' Head Coach.
He must be insane, right?
I won't bother addressing this ignorant asseninity again: the Browns Head Coaching job is a golden opportunity now.
Baker Mayfield is obvious, but (contrary to local pundits' opinions) so are Callaway and Ratley.
Former top ten pick Greg Robinson did a fine job vs KC at left tackle. He LOOKED like a first round pick for once!
I'm not going to bash raw undrafted rookie Desmond Harrison (the injured starter) here, because he IS just a "baby" (with astronomical potential)...but he has semi-sucked so far, and Robinson did not.
Ariens was the "color man" (ie "expert witness") for the last game vs the Chiefs. He noticed this.
Like every sentient Head Coach candidate, Ariens wonders how good Callaway and Ratley will be in 2019. They take Duke Johnson very seriously. Njoku too.
Mayfield, Chubb, Johnson, Landry check. It's obvious, isn't it? Of course Bruce Ariens envisions winning a Superbowl in 2019 with this quarterback, veteran corps, and emerging skill-talent!
Ariens coached for both the Steelers and Browns. He knows this Division and these players. He knows that the Browns are stacked with emerging talent and have a real quarterback now.
He meant what he said: Bruce wouldn't consider coming out of retirement (and his sweet media gig) unless he thought he could get to the Superbowl in 2019.
But what does he know?
Sunday, November 4, 2018
The Chiefs Inexplicably Beat the Browns Somehow. Game Over! We're All Gonna Die!
"No moral victories" is a mantra for daydreamers, and an abstraction. Everybody thinks they're Vince Lombardi.
Vince was a great Head Coach (and person), but the majority of his most famous quotes were unrealistic and impractical.
In reality, relative experience, team talent, referees, injuries, and plain old luck all influence games.
If you're not first, you're last? Nice motivation, but incorrect. Even way back then, when there were what---twelve teams in the NFL? Vince's players all knew that was bullshit, but at least inspirational bullshit, and they went all-out pretending it was true.
The Cleveland Browns just got beat by the Chiefs.
The KC Chiefs are right there with the Rams and Patriots as one of the best teams in the NFL. They're better than the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals.
They're a veteran team. Pat Mahomes is obviously the "real deal" and a Browns "miss", but he is surrounded by the most talented veteran skill-players in the NFL, and coached by Andy Reid.
The Chiefs are aiming for the Superbowl. The Browns are aiming at credibility.
In reality, the fact that the Browns put up a fight was encouraging.
I was irked by the Browns' very talented offense not scoring more points on the Chiefs' so-so defense, but encouraged as well:
New OC Kitchens actually had Baker Mayfield rolling out a few times, and even had recievers running short timing routes occasionally.
When in the pocket, his protection was (overall) significantly better than it has been, and he had time, more often than not!
Baker himself could have done better. He apparently overthrew guys (or threw it away) a lot (I'm not sure which).
It's okay. He is a rookie. Context, remember? Get real.
I was also encouraged by fewer DROPS by his receivers. While there were still too many (three that I'm sure of), it wasn't the usual SEVEN-PLUS #:!$@×+￦#!??
Suddenly, Duke Johnson showed up again! What did Todd Haley have against this guy?
Smashmouth with Chubb worked out, kinda, until the score and time eliminated it. This offensive line should have blocked better. Chubb was hit in the backfield more often than not.
Dan Labbe wonders if the Browns can emulate the Chiefs in 2019 and beyond.
As he points out, it was John Dorsey--and nobody else--who drafted Mahomes, Hill, Hunt--and signed Mitchell Schwartze and--(maybe) drafted Kelce too...
But Dan is wondering if Dorsey can find a great Head Coach.
Dan is assuming that Gregg Williams is a "hold the fort" guy. While I am a huge Lincoln Riley (et al) fan, I don't like his casual dismissal of this former Head Coach given his second chance.
We'll see how the season plays out, but I'm not as ready to just dismiss Gregg Williams as Dan and everybody else is just yet.
For now, the 2018 Browns are looking pretty good.
Didn't you feel it, my fellow fans? Fewer penalties, drops, and screwups? Letting Mayfield run around? The TIME he had to throw (usually)?
I texted my peeps before this game started that anybody who dropped a pass should be benched.
I'm not sure if Kitchens (or Williams) actually did that, but I know that Ratley seemed to disappear after his drop, then showed up again after Callaway's drop.
The receivers in general were much more reliable in this game, for sure. This time, it was Baker Mayfield who screwed up.
I'm not worried about it. Mahomes' and Mayfield's situations are not comparable.
Mahomes spent all but the tail end of 2017 on the bench behind Alex Smith, and got some late experience as a rookie.
Mayfield is a rookie.
Mahomes inheritted Andy Reid, Hunt, Hill, Kelce, a veteran offensive line, etc.
Mayfield has talented rookies mostly, including an undrafted rookie left tackle, a rookie bellcow running back, two rookie wide receivers, a second-year tight end---nevermind, but the fact that the Browns did as well as they did vs a Superbowl contender is encouraging.
Don't say "no moral victories", okay? I'm embarrassed for you when I hear it, and it's awkward.
The KC Chiefs were the best team the 2018 Browns will play, and it's all downhill from here. They're rounding into shape--can't you see it?
I want Denzel Ward and EJ Gaines back, along with Joe Schobert...
Damn Ward's injury "uncorked" Tyreek Hill in this game, and Schobert's absence might have helped Kelce and Hunt out. And Gaines is more than an afterthought.
Gregg Williams had to "back off" and play zone and soft man a lot...long story, but the defense did about as well as any other defense the Chiefs offense has steamrolled.
We can give up on the playoffs, sorta, but not on screwing other teams out of the playoffs.
The Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals are NOT like the Chiefs.
Quit with the Vince Lombardi crap. The 2018 Browns shrugged off the latest "chaotic upheaval" and looked better than they have looked (to the educated eye); all systems go!
While my inner-analyst kinda roots for all losses (for higher draft picks), it also expects 3-4 more wins.
We have to be patient. Again.
Vince was a great Head Coach (and person), but the majority of his most famous quotes were unrealistic and impractical.
In reality, relative experience, team talent, referees, injuries, and plain old luck all influence games.
If you're not first, you're last? Nice motivation, but incorrect. Even way back then, when there were what---twelve teams in the NFL? Vince's players all knew that was bullshit, but at least inspirational bullshit, and they went all-out pretending it was true.
The Cleveland Browns just got beat by the Chiefs.
The KC Chiefs are right there with the Rams and Patriots as one of the best teams in the NFL. They're better than the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals.
They're a veteran team. Pat Mahomes is obviously the "real deal" and a Browns "miss", but he is surrounded by the most talented veteran skill-players in the NFL, and coached by Andy Reid.
The Chiefs are aiming for the Superbowl. The Browns are aiming at credibility.
In reality, the fact that the Browns put up a fight was encouraging.
I was irked by the Browns' very talented offense not scoring more points on the Chiefs' so-so defense, but encouraged as well:
New OC Kitchens actually had Baker Mayfield rolling out a few times, and even had recievers running short timing routes occasionally.
When in the pocket, his protection was (overall) significantly better than it has been, and he had time, more often than not!
Baker himself could have done better. He apparently overthrew guys (or threw it away) a lot (I'm not sure which).
It's okay. He is a rookie. Context, remember? Get real.
I was also encouraged by fewer DROPS by his receivers. While there were still too many (three that I'm sure of), it wasn't the usual SEVEN-PLUS #:!$@×+￦#!??
Suddenly, Duke Johnson showed up again! What did Todd Haley have against this guy?
Smashmouth with Chubb worked out, kinda, until the score and time eliminated it. This offensive line should have blocked better. Chubb was hit in the backfield more often than not.
Dan Labbe wonders if the Browns can emulate the Chiefs in 2019 and beyond.
As he points out, it was John Dorsey--and nobody else--who drafted Mahomes, Hill, Hunt--and signed Mitchell Schwartze and--(maybe) drafted Kelce too...
But Dan is wondering if Dorsey can find a great Head Coach.
Dan is assuming that Gregg Williams is a "hold the fort" guy. While I am a huge Lincoln Riley (et al) fan, I don't like his casual dismissal of this former Head Coach given his second chance.
We'll see how the season plays out, but I'm not as ready to just dismiss Gregg Williams as Dan and everybody else is just yet.
For now, the 2018 Browns are looking pretty good.
Didn't you feel it, my fellow fans? Fewer penalties, drops, and screwups? Letting Mayfield run around? The TIME he had to throw (usually)?
I texted my peeps before this game started that anybody who dropped a pass should be benched.
I'm not sure if Kitchens (or Williams) actually did that, but I know that Ratley seemed to disappear after his drop, then showed up again after Callaway's drop.
The receivers in general were much more reliable in this game, for sure. This time, it was Baker Mayfield who screwed up.
I'm not worried about it. Mahomes' and Mayfield's situations are not comparable.
Mahomes spent all but the tail end of 2017 on the bench behind Alex Smith, and got some late experience as a rookie.
Mayfield is a rookie.
Mahomes inheritted Andy Reid, Hunt, Hill, Kelce, a veteran offensive line, etc.
Mayfield has talented rookies mostly, including an undrafted rookie left tackle, a rookie bellcow running back, two rookie wide receivers, a second-year tight end---nevermind, but the fact that the Browns did as well as they did vs a Superbowl contender is encouraging.
Don't say "no moral victories", okay? I'm embarrassed for you when I hear it, and it's awkward.
The KC Chiefs were the best team the 2018 Browns will play, and it's all downhill from here. They're rounding into shape--can't you see it?
I want Denzel Ward and EJ Gaines back, along with Joe Schobert...
Damn Ward's injury "uncorked" Tyreek Hill in this game, and Schobert's absence might have helped Kelce and Hunt out. And Gaines is more than an afterthought.
Gregg Williams had to "back off" and play zone and soft man a lot...long story, but the defense did about as well as any other defense the Chiefs offense has steamrolled.
We can give up on the playoffs, sorta, but not on screwing other teams out of the playoffs.
The Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals are NOT like the Chiefs.
Quit with the Vince Lombardi crap. The 2018 Browns shrugged off the latest "chaotic upheaval" and looked better than they have looked (to the educated eye); all systems go!
While my inner-analyst kinda roots for all losses (for higher draft picks), it also expects 3-4 more wins.
We have to be patient. Again.
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Hue Was Right about Something. If he was Sincere. The Cleveland Browns (as the Stomach Turns)
I'm good with Hue and Todd both getting dumped, and am all Jacksoned-out like the rest of you, but it's not all black and white.
It never is. Jackson and Haley aren't idiots. If you just ridicule or ignore EVERYTHING they say, you are just a mindless part of a mindless mob.
Well, Hue actually scored some points in one of his post-termination interviews--and did NOT throw Baker Mayfield under the bus.
Writers I respect are foaming at the mouth and distorting/exaggerating everything this guy says! I'm embarrassed for them--but I digress:
In this interview, Hue says that it would have been a better idea to import elements of Mayfield's Oklahoma offense to help him get off on the right foot.
Obviously, that WOULD have made a ton more sense than Todd Haley's rigid, inflexible, Chris Palmer-like approach.
Remember, when the Browns hired Todd Haley, I told you Hue was forced into it.
The thing is, this was because Hue had ignored the fact that DeShone Kizer looked bad in preseason, just like he did throughout his extremeley short college carreer, and named him the starter anyway.
Then HE kept Kizer in the pocket and installed a deep pass...nevermind but Hue himself was a blockhead.
I find it curious that NOW he says he would have imported parts of the Sooners offense to help Mayfield get started.
Still, Baker WAS a first overall pick, clearly out of Kizer's zip-code, and I think that Hue is actually being sincere about this, in my opinion.
After all, it fits the Browns theme so perfectly:
1: Haslam/Dorsey (with just cause) force John Dorsey (with full authority) on Jackson because he was a blockhead, while Dorsey made Laveon Bell Laveon Bell and Antonio Antonio and stuff.
2: Dorsey Palmerizes Mayfield, while Jackson would have made the offense Baker-freindly.
3: When Hue tries to take the offense back so he can DO this, both these guys get fired.
Oh no no no, this wasn't "another clueless move" by Jimmy Haslam, either:
Hue Jackson DID fail, and blamed everybody else for it. Haley DID come in here and "impose" his "my way or the highway" offense on these players without regard to their skill-sets. Square pegs? Round holes?
HALEY failed, big-time!
Haslam (*and DORSEY*) cut their losses.
A lot of the National guys are all over Gregg Williams now due to "Bounty-Gate":
Well Gregg Williams was guilty of encouraging guys to injure opposing quarterbacks, but he had nothing to do with "bounties". The PLAYERS did that.
Yes, it was despicable, but so was Micheal Vick's investment in dog-fighting.
Both these guys have behaved themselves since then. Vick is redeemed. Williams is obviously irredeemable for some reason.
GET. OVER. IT.
AND I'm not kneejerk/reflexibly laughing at Gregg Williams over his assertions that he's had eleven solicitations to become a Head Coach, including four only requiring his signature.
The majority of these offers were no doubt before "Bounty-Gate", and Gregg probably included every offer he ever got, including before he became Head Coach of the Bills, but this bashing is getting rediculous!
Can you see it? EVERYTHING and everybody linked to the Cleveland Browns is under fire again. Every sentence (if not word).
One pundit said "everybody in the NFL community thinks Gregg Williams as the interim Head Coach doesn't make sense", and that's pure bullshit (not to mention idiotic).
Political Correctness is insanity. Real "football people" (and soldiers, and generals, and surgeons, and "real people" in general) live in reality.
...I don't have time to work these idiots over properly here, but in reality, the "football people" think Gregg Williams as the interim Head Coach is the obvious call.
A lot of pundits just make stuff up. They LIE.
The lynch-mob settled down a little with the hirings of Dorsey and Haley, and with Taylor and then Mayfield.
But the terminations of Haley along with Jackson have put it back into overdrive.
Everything Hue Jackson says is pure bullshit, and so is everything Gregg Williams says. Haley is smart to just not say ANYTHING. Haslam HAS to talk, God save him, as does Haley.
There is no mole-hill which isn't a mountain. There are no two consecutive words which can't be distorted.
Don't be a mindless zombie and join that lynch-mob. T H I N K.
Yeah, it looks bad. I mean Mahomes and the Chiefs, of all teams this week? How utterly BROWNS is that?
Baker and company do have a snowball's chance. Ward will be on Hill. Four guys can pressure Mahomes. Mayfield's CAN run a balanced offense vs this defense.
This Browns defense can take the ball away and short-circuit drives. Mayfield vs Mahomes in college was a historic event. Ratley is massively underrated, but Higgins is more significantly underrated.
Still, if the referees have to help the Chiefs steal this one...they will, so...
I have to give Matt Lane (a KC writer) superkudos for a super-objective, insightful, and well-researched article on how the Chiefs' offense can exploit the Browns (current) defense.
This guy is awesome. As a Browns fan, I HATE most of what he says, but as an intelligent analyst, I must accept it.
Matt did his homework, and is over my head in X's and O's...a little.
Anyway just click that link and DEAL with it.
I still think that (now that Chris Haley is gone and Higgins is back) Baker Mayfield might go apeshit himself and win a shootout.
...and then injuries happen. The stars align in certain ways. The referees are occasionally not out to screw the Browns...
Well just don't count the Browns (hopefully "unchained dammit") out.
...What a mess. Is Kitchens a Haley clone like he says he is? Did Haley HAVE any Mayfield-freindly plays in his playbook?
I'm optimistic that Kitchens will reward (or be forced to reward) performance with playing time.
Rashard Higgins should automatically come right back as the number two wide receiver behind Landry.
Nobody gets this: Higgins is averaging over 15 yards per-catch. That's a roughly 50/50 combo of deeper passes and shorter ones he took off and ran with.
Higgins is NOT just a possession receiver!
True, he's not a true "X" receiver, but think with your brain:
Jerry Rice was not an X! He RARELY caught any long bombs! Almost EVERYTHING he caught was short and intermediate, and you know what else?
Bill Walsh's Superbowl dynasty NEVER had a true X-receiver!
Get out of the fkng BOX! Even if you can't think for yourself, both Callaway and Ratley ARE legit X's (...well Ratley for sure anyway).
I digress: I'm glad John Dorsey didn't SPAZZ OUT like most of you would have and spent capital on "known" wide receivers who weren't AS GOOD AS the younger guys already here!
Here's a CLUE:
Great quarterbacks don't NEED a Randy Moss or Josh Gordon or Megatron or whatever! Is Antonio Brown an X? Hint: NO.
Brady, Rodgers, Brees, Montana, Elway---for that matter, Dan Marino had two SMURFS!
Great quarterbacks only need receivers who CATCH THE DAMN BALL.
Rodney Higginsfield is back, and Duke might just be used at wide receiver, and that might be all Baker Mayfield needs.
Browns 75, Chiefs 12. Ok Browns 44, Chiefs 20. Ok Browns 30, Chiefs 33, but that's my final offer.
It never is. Jackson and Haley aren't idiots. If you just ridicule or ignore EVERYTHING they say, you are just a mindless part of a mindless mob.
Well, Hue actually scored some points in one of his post-termination interviews--and did NOT throw Baker Mayfield under the bus.
Writers I respect are foaming at the mouth and distorting/exaggerating everything this guy says! I'm embarrassed for them--but I digress:
In this interview, Hue says that it would have been a better idea to import elements of Mayfield's Oklahoma offense to help him get off on the right foot.
Obviously, that WOULD have made a ton more sense than Todd Haley's rigid, inflexible, Chris Palmer-like approach.
Remember, when the Browns hired Todd Haley, I told you Hue was forced into it.
The thing is, this was because Hue had ignored the fact that DeShone Kizer looked bad in preseason, just like he did throughout his extremeley short college carreer, and named him the starter anyway.
Then HE kept Kizer in the pocket and installed a deep pass...nevermind but Hue himself was a blockhead.
I find it curious that NOW he says he would have imported parts of the Sooners offense to help Mayfield get started.
Still, Baker WAS a first overall pick, clearly out of Kizer's zip-code, and I think that Hue is actually being sincere about this, in my opinion.
After all, it fits the Browns theme so perfectly:
1: Haslam/Dorsey (with just cause) force John Dorsey (with full authority) on Jackson because he was a blockhead, while Dorsey made Laveon Bell Laveon Bell and Antonio Antonio and stuff.
2: Dorsey Palmerizes Mayfield, while Jackson would have made the offense Baker-freindly.
3: When Hue tries to take the offense back so he can DO this, both these guys get fired.
Oh no no no, this wasn't "another clueless move" by Jimmy Haslam, either:
Hue Jackson DID fail, and blamed everybody else for it. Haley DID come in here and "impose" his "my way or the highway" offense on these players without regard to their skill-sets. Square pegs? Round holes?
HALEY failed, big-time!
Haslam (*and DORSEY*) cut their losses.
A lot of the National guys are all over Gregg Williams now due to "Bounty-Gate":
Well Gregg Williams was guilty of encouraging guys to injure opposing quarterbacks, but he had nothing to do with "bounties". The PLAYERS did that.
Yes, it was despicable, but so was Micheal Vick's investment in dog-fighting.
Both these guys have behaved themselves since then. Vick is redeemed. Williams is obviously irredeemable for some reason.
GET. OVER. IT.
AND I'm not kneejerk/reflexibly laughing at Gregg Williams over his assertions that he's had eleven solicitations to become a Head Coach, including four only requiring his signature.
The majority of these offers were no doubt before "Bounty-Gate", and Gregg probably included every offer he ever got, including before he became Head Coach of the Bills, but this bashing is getting rediculous!
Can you see it? EVERYTHING and everybody linked to the Cleveland Browns is under fire again. Every sentence (if not word).
One pundit said "everybody in the NFL community thinks Gregg Williams as the interim Head Coach doesn't make sense", and that's pure bullshit (not to mention idiotic).
Political Correctness is insanity. Real "football people" (and soldiers, and generals, and surgeons, and "real people" in general) live in reality.
...I don't have time to work these idiots over properly here, but in reality, the "football people" think Gregg Williams as the interim Head Coach is the obvious call.
A lot of pundits just make stuff up. They LIE.
The lynch-mob settled down a little with the hirings of Dorsey and Haley, and with Taylor and then Mayfield.
But the terminations of Haley along with Jackson have put it back into overdrive.
Everything Hue Jackson says is pure bullshit, and so is everything Gregg Williams says. Haley is smart to just not say ANYTHING. Haslam HAS to talk, God save him, as does Haley.
There is no mole-hill which isn't a mountain. There are no two consecutive words which can't be distorted.
Don't be a mindless zombie and join that lynch-mob. T H I N K.
Yeah, it looks bad. I mean Mahomes and the Chiefs, of all teams this week? How utterly BROWNS is that?
Baker and company do have a snowball's chance. Ward will be on Hill. Four guys can pressure Mahomes. Mayfield's CAN run a balanced offense vs this defense.
This Browns defense can take the ball away and short-circuit drives. Mayfield vs Mahomes in college was a historic event. Ratley is massively underrated, but Higgins is more significantly underrated.
Still, if the referees have to help the Chiefs steal this one...they will, so...
I have to give Matt Lane (a KC writer) superkudos for a super-objective, insightful, and well-researched article on how the Chiefs' offense can exploit the Browns (current) defense.
This guy is awesome. As a Browns fan, I HATE most of what he says, but as an intelligent analyst, I must accept it.
Matt did his homework, and is over my head in X's and O's...a little.
Anyway just click that link and DEAL with it.
I still think that (now that Chris Haley is gone and Higgins is back) Baker Mayfield might go apeshit himself and win a shootout.
...and then injuries happen. The stars align in certain ways. The referees are occasionally not out to screw the Browns...
Well just don't count the Browns (hopefully "unchained dammit") out.
...What a mess. Is Kitchens a Haley clone like he says he is? Did Haley HAVE any Mayfield-freindly plays in his playbook?
I'm optimistic that Kitchens will reward (or be forced to reward) performance with playing time.
Rashard Higgins should automatically come right back as the number two wide receiver behind Landry.
Nobody gets this: Higgins is averaging over 15 yards per-catch. That's a roughly 50/50 combo of deeper passes and shorter ones he took off and ran with.
Higgins is NOT just a possession receiver!
True, he's not a true "X" receiver, but think with your brain:
Jerry Rice was not an X! He RARELY caught any long bombs! Almost EVERYTHING he caught was short and intermediate, and you know what else?
Bill Walsh's Superbowl dynasty NEVER had a true X-receiver!
Get out of the fkng BOX! Even if you can't think for yourself, both Callaway and Ratley ARE legit X's (...well Ratley for sure anyway).
I digress: I'm glad John Dorsey didn't SPAZZ OUT like most of you would have and spent capital on "known" wide receivers who weren't AS GOOD AS the younger guys already here!
Here's a CLUE:
Great quarterbacks don't NEED a Randy Moss or Josh Gordon or Megatron or whatever! Is Antonio Brown an X? Hint: NO.
Brady, Rodgers, Brees, Montana, Elway---for that matter, Dan Marino had two SMURFS!
Great quarterbacks only need receivers who CATCH THE DAMN BALL.
Rodney Higginsfield is back, and Duke might just be used at wide receiver, and that might be all Baker Mayfield needs.
Browns 75, Chiefs 12. Ok Browns 44, Chiefs 20. Ok Browns 30, Chiefs 33, but that's my final offer.
Thursday, November 1, 2018
The Browns Will Beat the Chiefs I think possibly for sure or not but definitely possibly
I do not like how Andrew Gribble transcribes press conferences and interviews. I do not think that his subjects actually talk like this. I think of Andrew Gribble as a human autocorrector.
Real people do not talk like this. Not even politicians talk like this. It is permissable to quote contractions and normal speech patterns when you are transcribing what people say. You do not need to be a primitive autocorrect program, Andrew.
That said, Andrew wrote a decent synopsis of what new offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens said about what he'll do with this offense now:
We need to consider these facts:
Todd Haley was a mentor for Kitchens, and recruited him to his staff when he came to Cleveland. Assuming Kitchens is an honorable man, he's not going to stab Todd Haley in the back, even remotely, in any thing he says.
Stressing better execution is obvious. Assorted Browns offensive players have irrefutably been screwing up a lot, and there is nothing wrong with Haley's offense genericly.
Freddie is an ex-quarterback, however. He's also not going to tip his hand to the KC Chiefs. Nothing he's said says he's not going to tweak, (or more accurately OPTIMIZE) the Browns offense this week.
I'm really sorry to repeat myself for the fourth or sixth time here, people, but nobody ever seems to listen, except the people who steal my analysis instead of just hiring me:
Baker Mayfield needs to use ALL the modern "gimmicks" which will prevent him from being a stationary and "encircleable", predictable, target, in a predictable location, every freaking time he throws, O B V I O U S L Y.
Kitchens needs to fix this. Ithink hope he will.
Vs the Chiefs defense, just about anything (except the predictable) has a chance of working.
This Chiefs defense is actually vulnerable to the run, but has been rescued by it's unstoppable offense, as opposing offenses have been forced into desperate-passing catch-up mode in most games.
Attacking with Chubb early is obvious, but workable, and we can expect Kitchens to do that. Smashmouth. Hammer them. Wear them down.
Everybody expects the Chiefs to be up by 10 points or so like midway through the first quarter, but I do not.
First, the Browns defense is getting it's cornerbacks and maybe it's middle linebacker back.
Second, I don't think this KC offense has faced a defense like this yet (I'm not sure I could be wrong)--but this defense geta takeaways, and can put Denzel Ward on Tarik Hill...
Third, a more flexible offensive game-plan, the maturation of their youngest players, including Mayfield, should/could produce some offensive points early.
...Nevermind too deep. Yeah, the Chiefs are almost certainly going to beat the Browns. All I'm saying is that it should be much closer than you think.
The Browns have a shot, now that Todd and Hue are gone--even against the Chiefs--if Kitchens and Williams can react quickly enough:
The "turmoil" and "dysfunction" is more good news than bad. I think. Maybe.
I HAVE SPOKEN.
Oops Randy Gurzy weighs in here, and I can't leave this out:
Randy has been harder on Hue Jackson than I have been, and I've disagreed with him more than once, but here he skewers Hue off Hue's first media appearance after his predictable termination:
Hue drove a HUGE bus to this appearance, and threw EVERYBODY ELSE under it.
Randy didn't have all night, but I got time. Gurzi caught all the obvious stuff, but you guys need me to really discredit Hue, as I defend Sashi Brown's players and stuff...
Well okbye
Real people do not talk like this. Not even politicians talk like this. It is permissable to quote contractions and normal speech patterns when you are transcribing what people say. You do not need to be a primitive autocorrect program, Andrew.
That said, Andrew wrote a decent synopsis of what new offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens said about what he'll do with this offense now:
We need to consider these facts:
Todd Haley was a mentor for Kitchens, and recruited him to his staff when he came to Cleveland. Assuming Kitchens is an honorable man, he's not going to stab Todd Haley in the back, even remotely, in any thing he says.
Stressing better execution is obvious. Assorted Browns offensive players have irrefutably been screwing up a lot, and there is nothing wrong with Haley's offense genericly.
Freddie is an ex-quarterback, however. He's also not going to tip his hand to the KC Chiefs. Nothing he's said says he's not going to tweak, (or more accurately OPTIMIZE) the Browns offense this week.
I'm really sorry to repeat myself for the fourth or sixth time here, people, but nobody ever seems to listen, except the people who steal my analysis instead of just hiring me:
Baker Mayfield needs to use ALL the modern "gimmicks" which will prevent him from being a stationary and "encircleable", predictable, target, in a predictable location, every freaking time he throws, O B V I O U S L Y.
Kitchens needs to fix this. I
Vs the Chiefs defense, just about anything (except the predictable) has a chance of working.
This Chiefs defense is actually vulnerable to the run, but has been rescued by it's unstoppable offense, as opposing offenses have been forced into desperate-passing catch-up mode in most games.
Attacking with Chubb early is obvious, but workable, and we can expect Kitchens to do that. Smashmouth. Hammer them. Wear them down.
Everybody expects the Chiefs to be up by 10 points or so like midway through the first quarter, but I do not.
First, the Browns defense is getting it's cornerbacks and maybe it's middle linebacker back.
Second, I don't think this KC offense has faced a defense like this yet (I'm not sure I could be wrong)--but this defense geta takeaways, and can put Denzel Ward on Tarik Hill...
Third, a more flexible offensive game-plan, the maturation of their youngest players, including Mayfield, should/could produce some offensive points early.
...Nevermind too deep. Yeah, the Chiefs are almost certainly going to beat the Browns. All I'm saying is that it should be much closer than you think.
The Browns have a shot, now that Todd and Hue are gone--even against the Chiefs--if Kitchens and Williams can react quickly enough:
The "turmoil" and "dysfunction" is more good news than bad. I think. Maybe.
I HAVE SPOKEN.
Oops Randy Gurzy weighs in here, and I can't leave this out:
Randy has been harder on Hue Jackson than I have been, and I've disagreed with him more than once, but here he skewers Hue off Hue's first media appearance after his predictable termination:
Hue drove a HUGE bus to this appearance, and threw EVERYBODY ELSE under it.
Randy didn't have all night, but I got time. Gurzi caught all the obvious stuff, but you guys need me to really discredit Hue, as I defend Sashi Brown's players and stuff...
Well okbye
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)