The guys on PFF Radio really like this draftable linebacker: Te'Von Coney (Notre Dame).
Seems counter-intuitive for "analytics guys" to like a guy with sub-optimal size, speed, and explosiveness much, but here's why they do:
Coney was the surest tackler (by far) in this draft, at any position.
This isn't my first Coney reference, as I posted about him a couple months ago, and compared him (mentally) to Joe Schobert. He plays with discipline, and rarely makes a mistake. And now I know, if he gets two hands on you, you are probably going down.
As the pretty good linked scouting report says, the Devins and a couple other linebackers outclass Coney physically, and you don't want him man covering anybody, but he DOES stuff the run, and (again because he's so smart) does well in zone coverage (as he anticipates breaks and reads the quarterback as well as any free safety).
Steve Wilks could make good use of this guy, and from day one. The PFF guys felt he would be worth a second or third round pick, but kinda expect him to go in the fourth round or lower...where Dorsey will be waiting with his basket.
To be clear, he's probably a situational and depth player here, as he's mainly a middle or inside linebacker, and that's Schobert's thing.
Randy Gurzi says that certain PFF writers are lukewarm on the Mayfield/Beckham combo.
Randy doesn't get it either. They talk about a higher average depth-of-target, but Mayfield was way up there in that category in 2018, and Monken won't change that. Nor is Beckham a one-trick pony; nor will he dominate the targets.
Some PFF writers, as I've said, are writers first, and not real analysts. They cherrypick stats and data to support their pre-determined premises, which are based on hunches and "feelings".
This guy has a hunch that Mayfield will lose ground in 2019, because most second year quarterbacks do.
But he is using season-long 2018 stats; not even separating the Haley offense from the Kitchens' offense. This guy works for PFF, and is using season-long grades to rank and anticipate Mayfield 2.0.
That's just plain incompetent. As Randy notes, much of what this guy said was vague and subjective ("just cuz").
More competant analysts at PFF understand that Baker Mayfield is not a guy defenses can "figure out" and stifle by watching films.
Hell, that's why they agreed with Dorsey that he was the best QB in the 2018 class! He had no discernable weaknesses!
AND they make sure to separate Mayfield/Haley from Mayfield/Kitchens.
But the OBJ downgrade was just inexplicable:
As a competent PFF writer noted, Baker Mayfield is a more accurate (and persistant) deep thrower (measured by "yards per-attempt" and completion percentages at various ranges) than Eli Manning.
OBJ is now THE Browns' deep threat, so why would HE decline with Mayfield in a Monken/Kitchens offense!?!
You might suspect that this really bad analyst might have accidentally been right about OBJ's step back but no:
In addition to Sterling Shephard, Eli also threw a lot to Saquon Barkley and Engram.
Because Eli's offensive line was weak in pass protection, Shurmer used OBJ as a deep decoy a lot and hit these other guys underneath a lot to get the ball out of his hands.
Barkley, Engram, and Shephard are no slouches. The Browns offensive line and quarterback are better, and OBJ will NOT be a decoy when he goes deep!
Jake Burns lists a bunch of Offensive Tackles who should be there in rounds 2 and 3. Meh.
Dan Justik lists three Dorsey draft-day trades; two up and one down. He got Chris Jones, Kareem Hunt, and Patrick Mahomes.
'Nuff said?
Randy Randy Randy! Gurzi wrote an article listing 3 players that might be worth a trade-up...and all three probably go in the first round!!!
He even talks about one guy going in the late TEENS!
So sad. I think if Dorsey had ever traded away most of a draft to move up 20 slots, Justik would have found it. Why is Gurzi wasting time with this?
I'm depressed now. Okbye.
Friday, April 12, 2019
Thursday, April 11, 2019
John Dorsey is Only 18 Slots Away From the First Round!!! Trade Imminant!!!
You people. If you ask John Dorsey if he would consider doing anything, he will say yes. So yes, he would consider trading back EIGHTEEN OR MORE SLOTS into the first round.
If it was free. Because if it's not, it would cost him the rest of his draft picks, so stifle that idiocy, ok?
Dorsey needs every draft pick. He's already got several "balloon payments" (Garrett, Schobert, Ojunjobi, Njoku, Callaway, Ward, Mayfield etc) and has depleted much of his cap space.
Damarius Randall enters his contract year in 2019, as well, and he's got to be a priority.
Kareem Hunt is on a one-year contract, and there's no way he won't at least try to re-sign him (so he can trade him).
As another very smart writer described a few weeks ago, Dorsey's approach should be very effective in the short term, but is not sustainable. The Colts are building a roster that looks like it will outlast Dorsey's, and that's because Colbert has stuck to the draft.
Dorsey isn't dumb. He gets this. He's siezed an opportunity to go for all the marbles in 2019/20, but knows he needs to pay for it.
Fortunately, John Dorsey does better than most GMs on Days 2 and 3. He can find his Averys, Hunts, Hills, Callaways etc and get some youngsters in the pipeline to replace the veterans he'll lose in free---
Oh nevermind cuz he's gonna trade back up into the first round! Sorry my bad.
Jeez...
Dorsey will also need to dump some overpaid veterans, including Hubbard and Kirksey. (The Hubbard contract is the main reason I decided OT is a need after all).
Anyway, John Dorsey might move up in the draft to nab a slider he wants, but eighteen slots isn't realistic in this realiity, or on this planet.
Damon Sheehy Guiseppi is probably an underrated dirt-cheap signing.
The Browns need microscopic slot receivers like they need a hole the head, but this 4.38 speedster is a hellacious punt returner, and Dorsey is going out of his way to upgrade special teams talent this offseason.
Damon's story is kinda like Kurt Warner's; you just root for this guy.
Alonzo Highsmith is really the guy who noticed Guiseppi and no doubt bought him to Dorsey's attention.
Ideally, this guy can return both kicks and punts, and maybe help in coverage as well. I'm rooting for him.
All the mock drafters seem to agree that Terrence Mitchell and both the safeties Dorsey just signed suck, as they mock safeties and corners to the Browns in the second round.
While the players these guys "pick" for Dorsey all look pretty good, and would certainly help, secondary is NOT the need these goobers think it is.
I can now give you my updated reality-based priority list (I mean beyond "best available player" period):
1: DT. You need to ROTATE these guys, and there isn't enough depth there.
2: OLB. Kirksey is massively overrated/paid. Adarius Taylor is as good as Kirksey, which aint sayin much.
Despite the fact that under Wilks, 3 real linebackers on the field at the same time will be a rare phenomenon, as-is it's Schobert, Rodney Averyfield, and guys named Joe.
3: CB: A TALL one.
4: Offensive Tackle. Dorsey needs to dump salary, and Hubbard (like Kirksey) is a way to do that-plus Robinson will get too expensive to re-sign.
This order is not etched in stone, and doesn't trump best available. This draft is not (neccessarily) for 2019. It's for depth and embryonic talent that can emerge 2-3 years down the line to replace veterans lost to the salary cap.
The Peanut Gallery doesn't grok the fact that Defensive Tackles take a horrific beating, and any 4-3 defense needs at least THREE GOOD ones to make it through games and the season...
Nevermind. Ogunjobi just faded out in 2018 cuz he's a "quitter" or something...excuse the hell outta me :!@×￦%;?!%+*!!?!
If it was free. Because if it's not, it would cost him the rest of his draft picks, so stifle that idiocy, ok?
Dorsey needs every draft pick. He's already got several "balloon payments" (Garrett, Schobert, Ojunjobi, Njoku, Callaway, Ward, Mayfield etc) and has depleted much of his cap space.
Damarius Randall enters his contract year in 2019, as well, and he's got to be a priority.
Kareem Hunt is on a one-year contract, and there's no way he won't at least try to re-sign him (so he can trade him).
As another very smart writer described a few weeks ago, Dorsey's approach should be very effective in the short term, but is not sustainable. The Colts are building a roster that looks like it will outlast Dorsey's, and that's because Colbert has stuck to the draft.
Dorsey isn't dumb. He gets this. He's siezed an opportunity to go for all the marbles in 2019/20, but knows he needs to pay for it.
Fortunately, John Dorsey does better than most GMs on Days 2 and 3. He can find his Averys, Hunts, Hills, Callaways etc and get some youngsters in the pipeline to replace the veterans he'll lose in free---
Oh nevermind cuz he's gonna trade back up into the first round! Sorry my bad.
Jeez...
Dorsey will also need to dump some overpaid veterans, including Hubbard and Kirksey. (The Hubbard contract is the main reason I decided OT is a need after all).
Anyway, John Dorsey might move up in the draft to nab a slider he wants, but eighteen slots isn't realistic in this realiity, or on this planet.
Damon Sheehy Guiseppi is probably an underrated dirt-cheap signing.
The Browns need microscopic slot receivers like they need a hole the head, but this 4.38 speedster is a hellacious punt returner, and Dorsey is going out of his way to upgrade special teams talent this offseason.
Damon's story is kinda like Kurt Warner's; you just root for this guy.
Alonzo Highsmith is really the guy who noticed Guiseppi and no doubt bought him to Dorsey's attention.
Ideally, this guy can return both kicks and punts, and maybe help in coverage as well. I'm rooting for him.
All the mock drafters seem to agree that Terrence Mitchell and both the safeties Dorsey just signed suck, as they mock safeties and corners to the Browns in the second round.
While the players these guys "pick" for Dorsey all look pretty good, and would certainly help, secondary is NOT the need these goobers think it is.
I can now give you my updated reality-based priority list (I mean beyond "best available player" period):
1: DT. You need to ROTATE these guys, and there isn't enough depth there.
2: OLB. Kirksey is massively overrated/paid. Adarius Taylor is as good as Kirksey, which aint sayin much.
Despite the fact that under Wilks, 3 real linebackers on the field at the same time will be a rare phenomenon, as-is it's Schobert, Rodney Averyfield, and guys named Joe.
3: CB: A TALL one.
4: Offensive Tackle. Dorsey needs to dump salary, and Hubbard (like Kirksey) is a way to do that-plus Robinson will get too expensive to re-sign.
This order is not etched in stone, and doesn't trump best available. This draft is not (neccessarily) for 2019. It's for depth and embryonic talent that can emerge 2-3 years down the line to replace veterans lost to the salary cap.
The Peanut Gallery doesn't grok the fact that Defensive Tackles take a horrific beating, and any 4-3 defense needs at least THREE GOOD ones to make it through games and the season...
Nevermind. Ogunjobi just faded out in 2018 cuz he's a "quitter" or something...excuse the hell outta me :!@×￦%;?!%+*!!?!
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Mentally Impaired Browns "Analysis" vs Intelligent Analysis. No Contest.
Lots of dummies don't get this, but Paul DePodesta is still here, and is substantially responsible for everything that is happening with the Browns.
Dumb people love absolutes, since balancing shades of gray make their heads hurt. Dorsey is great, ergo Brown and DePodesta sucked.
Really, Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta's strategy of an unapologetic rebuild and stockpiling draft picks and money set Dorsey up.
Dorsey executed stage 2 of DePodesta's plan, as Sashi Brown would have, had he not been fired.
If you think that the DePodesta plan had no such payoff in mind, you need a brain transplant.
Verily, Sashi the Cap guy/lawyer couldn't have pulled off the trades Dorsey did--he doesn't have those relationships, and Dorsey is also a better judge of talent than the geek squad.
But Baker Mayfield over Darnold? Paul was definitely all on board with that (like I was), because his analytics said Baker was much better, period.
I'm not sure about Denzel Ward over Bradley Chubb, but I can tell you that DePodesta wasn't upset.
...anyway, DePodesta right now is trying to restrain Dorsey's spending on upper-tier veteran free agents.
It's not as bad as most pundits think it is, however:
Chris Kirksey is beloved, but not a good player. You guys don't seem to get this, but John and Paul do, and may have already replaced him with Adarius Taylor, who is equally mediocre and lots cheaper.
He's one example.
I'm also starting to warm up to this drafting an offensive tackle idea, since if Greg Robinson plays well in 2019, the Browns can't afford him, and Hubbard is overpaid as-is.
Des Harrison is still here, and remains a better athlete than everybody in this draft class, but does indeed have a lot to prove, and can't be counted on.
Campen is getting a bead on that kid now. Is he bigger, or just fatter? Campen can tell how hard Des worked in the offseason-hence how dedicated/disciplined he is...
Anybody who reads this Blog groks that with this quarterback and in this offense, the pass-blocking of the offensive tackles aren't as important as they used to be.
This is why Greg Robinson is as good as gone. Because Mayfield is rarely 7 steps deep, gets rid of the ball so quickly, and is so slippery, Robinson will look awesome again.
DePodesta gets this stuff. Dorsey seems to as well. Some fool will pay Robinson like he's Joe Thomas II and he's a GMF.
Hubbard is not an ascending player, and is overpaid.
Newly acquired veteran Kendall Lamm is servicable (nobably in pass-protection) and much, much cheaper...but not a long-term answer...
So yes, Dorsey should consider offensive tackles in this draft...especially since replacing Hubbard ('s salary) in 2020 has to be a priority.
Anonymous Browns-Bashers are quoted as saying that the analytcs guys who never left (read DePodesta) will be "in the owner's ear" and (I guess) mess everything up.
Well, everything you've read here was analytical. Exactly where would "football guy" Dorsey disagree with any of it? And why do these cretins expect any conflict at all?
These guys are "NFL execs" really?
The dumbest analysis of the Browns' 2019 prospects I've heard so far consisted of a pundit listing Mayfeld, the last half of 2018, Beckham and the other additions, BUT:
"The Browns' history is what it is. We have seen this before. So we need to pump the brakes on this".
They PAY these people to spew this STUPORTITIOUS bullcrap!!! This idiot cites owners, coaches, and players who are retired or dead to indict Mayfield, OBJ, Garrett, Lan---everybody just because they wear some version of the same UNIFORM as a bunch of guys they never even MET!?!
THIS is why we should "pump the brakes"!?!
These people are allowed to VOTE! The Idiocracy is already here!
I rest my case.
For now.
Dumb people love absolutes, since balancing shades of gray make their heads hurt. Dorsey is great, ergo Brown and DePodesta sucked.
Really, Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta's strategy of an unapologetic rebuild and stockpiling draft picks and money set Dorsey up.
Dorsey executed stage 2 of DePodesta's plan, as Sashi Brown would have, had he not been fired.
If you think that the DePodesta plan had no such payoff in mind, you need a brain transplant.
Verily, Sashi the Cap guy/lawyer couldn't have pulled off the trades Dorsey did--he doesn't have those relationships, and Dorsey is also a better judge of talent than the geek squad.
But Baker Mayfield over Darnold? Paul was definitely all on board with that (like I was), because his analytics said Baker was much better, period.
I'm not sure about Denzel Ward over Bradley Chubb, but I can tell you that DePodesta wasn't upset.
...anyway, DePodesta right now is trying to restrain Dorsey's spending on upper-tier veteran free agents.
It's not as bad as most pundits think it is, however:
Chris Kirksey is beloved, but not a good player. You guys don't seem to get this, but John and Paul do, and may have already replaced him with Adarius Taylor, who is equally mediocre and lots cheaper.
He's one example.
I'm also starting to warm up to this drafting an offensive tackle idea, since if Greg Robinson plays well in 2019, the Browns can't afford him, and Hubbard is overpaid as-is.
Des Harrison is still here, and remains a better athlete than everybody in this draft class, but does indeed have a lot to prove, and can't be counted on.
Campen is getting a bead on that kid now. Is he bigger, or just fatter? Campen can tell how hard Des worked in the offseason-hence how dedicated/disciplined he is...
Anybody who reads this Blog groks that with this quarterback and in this offense, the pass-blocking of the offensive tackles aren't as important as they used to be.
This is why Greg Robinson is as good as gone. Because Mayfield is rarely 7 steps deep, gets rid of the ball so quickly, and is so slippery, Robinson will look awesome again.
DePodesta gets this stuff. Dorsey seems to as well. Some fool will pay Robinson like he's Joe Thomas II and he's a GMF.
Hubbard is not an ascending player, and is overpaid.
Newly acquired veteran Kendall Lamm is servicable (nobably in pass-protection) and much, much cheaper...but not a long-term answer...
So yes, Dorsey should consider offensive tackles in this draft...especially since replacing Hubbard ('s salary) in 2020 has to be a priority.
Anonymous Browns-Bashers are quoted as saying that the analytcs guys who never left (read DePodesta) will be "in the owner's ear" and (I guess) mess everything up.
Well, everything you've read here was analytical. Exactly where would "football guy" Dorsey disagree with any of it? And why do these cretins expect any conflict at all?
These guys are "NFL execs" really?
The dumbest analysis of the Browns' 2019 prospects I've heard so far consisted of a pundit listing Mayfeld, the last half of 2018, Beckham and the other additions, BUT:
"The Browns' history is what it is. We have seen this before. So we need to pump the brakes on this".
They PAY these people to spew this STUPORTITIOUS bullcrap!!! This idiot cites owners, coaches, and players who are retired or dead to indict Mayfield, OBJ, Garrett, Lan---everybody just because they wear some version of the same UNIFORM as a bunch of guys they never even MET!?!
THIS is why we should "pump the brakes"!?!
These people are allowed to VOTE! The Idiocracy is already here!
I rest my case.
For now.
Saturday, April 6, 2019
2019 Browns Doomed. Dysfunional Collapse Imminant. Good Grief
This Browns-bashing is getting really silly, especially from Colon Cowherd, who has now just gone off the rails.
A big part of this bashing has to do with the impression a lot of these east and left coast types have of Cleveland itself.
They think Cleveland is Green Bay, or Bismark North Dakota or something. Far too boring for the likes of OBJ.
This is ignorant, and I know. I've been all over this country, and Cleveland is far from the Siberia these goobers think it is.
Sure, OBJ likes shiny things, crowds, and noise a lot more than I do, but hell, we got a casino downtown, two blocks from the flats. We got the lake.
It's hard to match New York and New Jersey for tolls, taxes, and traffic jams, but there are spots around Cleveland where an ex-Giant can find those too.
These people are selling Cleveland way short, and, too, perhaps OBJ himself.
His freindships with Landry and Mayfield are being "overblown", really?
Don't you think Jarvis Landry (who came here from Miami) knows how his brotherfromanothermother feels? Why would Landry lobby to bring this guy he loves here if he thought OBJ wouldn't be happy in Cleveland?
This "control-freak" charge with Haslam and Dorsey is pretty ignorant too. Jeez Haslam says "let's go get him" in re Manziel and suddenly he's a meddling micromanager!?!
And Dorsey? Well he's a General MANAGER, right?
Oh yeah! Per Cowherd, Freddie Kitchens' elevation had nothing to do with his merit, right? Dorsey just wanted a puppet who he could control!
Wow just...wow. He expects Kitchens to be in "over his head" as Landry, OBJ, and Mayfield will push him around or something.
All this drama these people are trying to drum up for the Browns!
Leaving the Soap writers and gossip columnists behind, SS Morgan Burnett's new contract is for two seasons with significant guarantees.
Burnett is unmistakeably expected to start in 2019. Clearly, Steve Wilks feels he's a good fit for HIS scheme.
As I posted yesterday, Dorsey has safety (and possibly the secondary) covered in-depth with Murray and Burnett *WILKS NOT WILLIAMS*.
The Genard Avery unintenional bashing is stunning, as pundits echo eachother wondering if he can eventually become more than a situational passrusher.
Avery was a LINEBACKER in college! He blitzed a lot, but he also covered and blew up runs. When the hell did all these pundits decide a 250 lb guy with 4.5 speed and outstanding agility scores is a "project" linebacker?
AVERY is a question mark, but not Kirksey!?!
Per PFF, the rookie Avery was better than the veteran Kirksey already (and Kirksey SUCKED, by the way)...
Anyway OLB is a need, but Avery is going to start (and excel)...it is Saint Kirksey who is on the bubble...here in the real world.
Defensive Tackle is the number one need on this roster. Linebacker is second. (Tall Wilks-freindly) DB third. Offensive tackle is fourth.
Dorsey will probably go best available throughout.
The final roster will not be perfect.
Welcome to Reality.
A big part of this bashing has to do with the impression a lot of these east and left coast types have of Cleveland itself.
They think Cleveland is Green Bay, or Bismark North Dakota or something. Far too boring for the likes of OBJ.
This is ignorant, and I know. I've been all over this country, and Cleveland is far from the Siberia these goobers think it is.
Sure, OBJ likes shiny things, crowds, and noise a lot more than I do, but hell, we got a casino downtown, two blocks from the flats. We got the lake.
It's hard to match New York and New Jersey for tolls, taxes, and traffic jams, but there are spots around Cleveland where an ex-Giant can find those too.
These people are selling Cleveland way short, and, too, perhaps OBJ himself.
His freindships with Landry and Mayfield are being "overblown", really?
Don't you think Jarvis Landry (who came here from Miami) knows how his brotherfromanothermother feels? Why would Landry lobby to bring this guy he loves here if he thought OBJ wouldn't be happy in Cleveland?
This "control-freak" charge with Haslam and Dorsey is pretty ignorant too. Jeez Haslam says "let's go get him" in re Manziel and suddenly he's a meddling micromanager!?!
And Dorsey? Well he's a General MANAGER, right?
Oh yeah! Per Cowherd, Freddie Kitchens' elevation had nothing to do with his merit, right? Dorsey just wanted a puppet who he could control!
Wow just...wow. He expects Kitchens to be in "over his head" as Landry, OBJ, and Mayfield will push him around or something.
All this drama these people are trying to drum up for the Browns!
Leaving the Soap writers and gossip columnists behind, SS Morgan Burnett's new contract is for two seasons with significant guarantees.
Burnett is unmistakeably expected to start in 2019. Clearly, Steve Wilks feels he's a good fit for HIS scheme.
As I posted yesterday, Dorsey has safety (and possibly the secondary) covered in-depth with Murray and Burnett *WILKS NOT WILLIAMS*.
The Genard Avery unintenional bashing is stunning, as pundits echo eachother wondering if he can eventually become more than a situational passrusher.
Avery was a LINEBACKER in college! He blitzed a lot, but he also covered and blew up runs. When the hell did all these pundits decide a 250 lb guy with 4.5 speed and outstanding agility scores is a "project" linebacker?
AVERY is a question mark, but not Kirksey!?!
Per PFF, the rookie Avery was better than the veteran Kirksey already (and Kirksey SUCKED, by the way)...
Anyway OLB is a need, but Avery is going to start (and excel)...it is Saint Kirksey who is on the bubble...here in the real world.
Defensive Tackle is the number one need on this roster. Linebacker is second. (Tall Wilks-freindly) DB third. Offensive tackle is fourth.
Dorsey will probably go best available throughout.
The final roster will not be perfect.
Welcome to Reality.
Friday, April 5, 2019
Browns Pundits/fans are NOT all that Knowlegable, and so are you...or something...
Former Steeler Morgan Burnett is now regarded by most local pundits as the early front-runner to replace Jabrill Peppers (and Derrick Kindred at Strong Safety, because...
...well he was a Steeler and was a former third round draft pick...I guess...
PFF Grades: Overall Burnett 66.7, Murray 67.5
Vs pass B 62.8, M 66.9
Vs run B 69.8, M 71.2.
It's true that John Dorsey was part of the Green Bay crew that drafted Burnett in the third round, and also that (like the rookie Peppers) Burnett was playing free safety rather than strong last season, so he probably does have the inside track.
From what I hear, as a SS with the Packers, he was a pretty good player, so returning to his comfort zone under Steve Wilks should elevate his numbers over those he showed last season.
But people are ignoring both Burnett and Murray, and mindlessly proclaiming Strong Safety a priority in the Draft.
Actually, Murray is a versatile player who can play several positions in Wilks' 3-deep. While not very fast or sudden, he has a Schobertian nose for the ball (he reads and reacts quicker than most defenders), especially in coverage.
Ideally, enough talent gets in front of Murray to render him a situational player, utility depth, and special teams ace, but you could do a lot worse than this guy as your Strong Safety, ok? Get real.
Burnett was, per PFF, pretty close to Murray while playing deep last season, and should indeed be at least as good as he was as a Packer (which was pretty good) at Strong.
Yes, they lost a really good (and improving) player in Jabrill Peppers, and no, niether Burnett nor Murray look as promising as Peppers, but why do you automatically think that every loss has to be replaced by an equivalent or superior player?
That's Utopian. Sure, Dorsey would love not to lose any ground ever anywhere on the roster, but he (*DePodesta*) has to deal with the real world:
Peppers was the second "first round pick" Gettleman wanted for OBJ. He didn't want to trade him, but deemed OBJ as good enough that he was willing to take the hit...to accept a downgrade at one position for a more significant upgrade at a more important position.
He traded a "9" Strong Safety for a "10" Wide receiver. Now, he has added two "7" Strong Safeties, and yes...may have to scrape by with them.
It's called a "trade-off", Virginia.
GMs need short memories. John Dorsey has taken a minor hit at SS in order to get a major upgrade at Wide Receiver, and does NOT consider SS a priority (rule of thumb: when the playerS at any position are above average, that position is NEVER a priority in the real world.)
On this planet, the real priority needs John Dorsey faces are, in order:
1: DEFENSIVE Tackle depth.
2: A tall (matchup) cornerback.
3: Best available.
As you see, Strong Safety is not included. This is because Dorsey/Wilks's current roster includes two above average Strong Safeties DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
The current Browns secondary (with Wilks in charge) is adequate (and deep). ...errah...do any of you get that Wilks aint Gregg Williams yet?)
Zinggg I'll have to redundationalize this in a future post...but for now, you have to admit that I am a genius, since I beat "utilize" by 4 syllables.
I rest my case.
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Njoku's Role in the Browns 2019 Offense, Strategery, Kitchens, and Stuff
The Browns re-signing Orson Charles probably isn't a big deal. The guy he's really here to try to knock off the roster is pesky Sashi Brown pick Seth DeValve, and per PFF, he isn't in DeValve's zip code.
DeValve is about 62 overall and Charles is a little under 45. Seth is significantly better as a receiver and run-blocker. In pass-pro it's DeValve 77.6, Charles 82.2; hard to imagine Dorsey would use that as an excuse to dump DeValve.
Since I'm here, I can tell you that PFF rated Njoku 65.2 (not bad) as a run-blocker, but 54.7 (mediocre) in pass protection (and by far the lowest of the tight ends on the current roster (except Pharoah Brown, who has no rating yet).
That has to be what John Dorsey was talking about when he "called" Njoku "out" for his blocking.
Demetrius Harris is the best run-blocker, and Seth DeValve is the best pass-blocker; Harris the best blocker overall.
These are the shallowest PFF grades, as they don't separate in-line from in-space or backfield blocks, or chips (I can't afford PFF's "big" package), so we can't take these numbers to the bank.
Demetrius Harris is unmistakably an in-line Tight End like Darren Fells was, and will step right into that role here.
Of the rest, only Pharoah Brown and Njoku have the length for that spot, and Jake Burns burned Njoku's blocking himself in one of his film-room sessions (*and I bet Dorsey saw it*).
As I fuzzily recall, Jake caught David in a bunch of mental errors.
This is too common with super-athletic "weapon" tight ends, and I strongly suspect that they have a problem studying films on opposing passrushers instead of coverage guys, because they don't see themselves as "grunts".
I'm glad John Dorsey fired one across (Sashi Brown draft pick) David Njoku's bow in re his pass-blocking. Jake Burns feels he has the ability to be pretty good at it, and it's sometimes critically important...especially now:
On third and 15 (a lot more common for any offense than most fans realize), the Njoku-type is a curveball for the nickel or dime defense. They have to honor him as a receiver, and even to expect him coming out of a slot.
This will be doubly true with Todd Monkens' influence in the 2019 offense.
When the Njoku-type lines up in-line instead (along with Demetrius Harris on the other side), they can utterly neutralize pressure from the edge, and let the five offensive linemen double-team TWO inside rushers.
This is a seven-man front, and only leaves room for the QB and 3 more skill-players.
Most commonly, a running back needs to be one of these, and (unless he's Duke Johnson) he needs to actually line up somewhere in the backfield.
That's because the defense can't get in his face at the snap, or anticipate where he will go for a pass. They have to either assign a strong safety or linebacker to mirror him, or blitze inside to try to keep him in to protect his quarterback.
In any case, they need to send at least five rushers anyway.
With most offenses, 6 guys in coverage should prevent a 15-yard conversion, but this is Mayfield, Landry, OBJ, and Chubb.
While they can afford to press/man both wide receivers and back that up with another DB each (in zone) and hold a Free Safety "Little Dutch Boy" deep, this quarterback, with all the time in the world, can thread a needle, and these receivers get open in phone-booths and only need one hand to catch.
To quote Baker Mayfield, "You can't stop a perfect pass".
In other situations, it's nice that Njoku is a proficient run-blocker, because the 2019 Browns will run a lot.
I don't hate Hue Jackson like many of you do, but one of his problems was his reluctance to use run/pass options and zone-blocking (*you have to zone-block to sell RPO's*).
Njoku can line up in-line and become an instant receiver or actually make a hole for Chubb (or whoever).
I do not believe that John Dorsey is out to purge all of Sashi Brown's players off this roster. He seems much too SANE and RATIONAL to me for that.
Much has been made of all the players Sashi drafted or signed who are no longer on the roster, but that's generally ignorant:
Kevin Zeitler turned into Olivier Vernon. Jabrill Peppers was integral to the OBJ trade.
Kindred apparently didn't fit Steve Wilks's scheme, but (like the rest of the Brown "cast-offs") got scooped up instantly.
Ogbah for (safety) Eric Murray looked screwed up to me til I saw Murray's PFF grades: 67.5 (pretty good) overall, and a little better vs the run than vs the pass...and an elite special teams player.
Wierdly, I read an article by a PFF writer which described Murray as a depth-player at best, and mentioned his "crappy" grades HEY PFF! WANT AN UPGRADE? HERE I AM! I CAN READ YOUR NUMBERS AND SPELL MY NAME RIGHT TOO!!!
I still think Ogbah will kick some ass now that he's healthy, but Murray is a LOT more than "depth" at a position of need...
Why this campaign against Sashi Brown's players, when Dorsey is trading them for other players? How ignorant, just listing Sashi Brown players no longer on this roster without any context at all!
If you have a BRAIN, keep track of Brown's players! You'll see many of those no longer with this team have long and sometimes great carreers!
And anyway, Sashi Brown didn't pick them. The Coaches, Scouts, and Paul DePodesta picked them. Sashi was a lawyer, mediator, figurehead, and fall-guy.
How long do you think it will take Dorsey to purge DeValve, Schobert, Garrett, Njoku, Higgins, and Tretter off the roster?
Don't get me wrong! John Dorsey came in here and maxed out the draft picks, money, and players he inheritted from the Brown regime.
What's more, he has NOT let a Mitchell Schwartze go, or done anything else as blatently stupid. Dorsey is da MAN!
The Brown regime might well have drafted...well DePodesta...that's probably Mayfield too...nevermind.
Predictably, a bunch of people want us to curb our enthusiasm about the 2019 Browns.
The team is too young. It's too soon. First year Head Coach.
At least it's mainly the Steelers aint done yet (and not the Ravens).
Some pundits are twisting themselves into pretzels trying to find reasons that Baker Mayfield, with Odell Beckham Jr added to what he had as a rookie in 2018, will what...regress? Or...something?
Adding Richardson and Vernon to Ogunjobi and Garrett got us all irrationally over-excited or...something?
Pay no attention to the Antonio Brown behind the curtain...
A guy on NFL Radio said (Yoda-like) "It takes a year". He cited the 2017 Eagles as an example!!! Sheer idiocy! The 2017 Eagles drafted a QB second overall and signed a veteran QB and had the rest of their team mostly built, substantially with free agents.
All these wanna-be Yodas! It's bullshit, people!
The 2019 Browns are already a top 5 talented team in the NFL, with one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Check with the real experts, and they're possibly the best coached team in the NFL (leaving Freddie Kitchens' inexperience aside).
...but curb your enthusiasm...it's still "the Browns", so...
Much has been made of the Parcells Coaching-tree. Lord Insideous (Belichick) is the most famous, but the Parcells tree won a ton of Superbowls.
Freddie only worked for Parcells for one season, but quotes him all the time, and clearly wants to emulate him (strategically).
Kitchens is being massively underestimated by a lot of pundits. Unlike Belichick 1.0, Freddie will gladly delegate a lot of stuff to his coordinators and assistants (like Parcells and Belichick 2.0).
We all saw what Kitchens did in 2018 (initially within Todd Haley's playbook). It was amazing!!!
As for Freddie Kitchens as a Head Coach vs any other Head Coach in the NFL, I am confident that he will not find a way to choke...even though he's "the Browns" now...
DON'T curb your enthusiasm. The 2019 Browns are rightfully the favorites to win the AFC North, and have a legit shot to at least reach the AFC Championship game.
...this is BEFORE John Dorsey digs up his Callaways and Averys in the upcoming draft, and scoops up the desperate veterans (like maybe Berry) after that.
We can't say "Superbowl or bust" yet, but we can predict an AFC North title. The Ravens and Steelers can beg to differ all they want, but Hue Jackson aint here anymore...
...okbye
DeValve is about 62 overall and Charles is a little under 45. Seth is significantly better as a receiver and run-blocker. In pass-pro it's DeValve 77.6, Charles 82.2; hard to imagine Dorsey would use that as an excuse to dump DeValve.
Since I'm here, I can tell you that PFF rated Njoku 65.2 (not bad) as a run-blocker, but 54.7 (mediocre) in pass protection (and by far the lowest of the tight ends on the current roster (except Pharoah Brown, who has no rating yet).
That has to be what John Dorsey was talking about when he "called" Njoku "out" for his blocking.
Demetrius Harris is the best run-blocker, and Seth DeValve is the best pass-blocker; Harris the best blocker overall.
These are the shallowest PFF grades, as they don't separate in-line from in-space or backfield blocks, or chips (I can't afford PFF's "big" package), so we can't take these numbers to the bank.
Demetrius Harris is unmistakably an in-line Tight End like Darren Fells was, and will step right into that role here.
Of the rest, only Pharoah Brown and Njoku have the length for that spot, and Jake Burns burned Njoku's blocking himself in one of his film-room sessions (*and I bet Dorsey saw it*).
As I fuzzily recall, Jake caught David in a bunch of mental errors.
This is too common with super-athletic "weapon" tight ends, and I strongly suspect that they have a problem studying films on opposing passrushers instead of coverage guys, because they don't see themselves as "grunts".
I'm glad John Dorsey fired one across (Sashi Brown draft pick) David Njoku's bow in re his pass-blocking. Jake Burns feels he has the ability to be pretty good at it, and it's sometimes critically important...especially now:
On third and 15 (a lot more common for any offense than most fans realize), the Njoku-type is a curveball for the nickel or dime defense. They have to honor him as a receiver, and even to expect him coming out of a slot.
This will be doubly true with Todd Monkens' influence in the 2019 offense.
When the Njoku-type lines up in-line instead (along with Demetrius Harris on the other side), they can utterly neutralize pressure from the edge, and let the five offensive linemen double-team TWO inside rushers.
This is a seven-man front, and only leaves room for the QB and 3 more skill-players.
Most commonly, a running back needs to be one of these, and (unless he's Duke Johnson) he needs to actually line up somewhere in the backfield.
That's because the defense can't get in his face at the snap, or anticipate where he will go for a pass. They have to either assign a strong safety or linebacker to mirror him, or blitze inside to try to keep him in to protect his quarterback.
In any case, they need to send at least five rushers anyway.
With most offenses, 6 guys in coverage should prevent a 15-yard conversion, but this is Mayfield, Landry, OBJ, and Chubb.
While they can afford to press/man both wide receivers and back that up with another DB each (in zone) and hold a Free Safety "Little Dutch Boy" deep, this quarterback, with all the time in the world, can thread a needle, and these receivers get open in phone-booths and only need one hand to catch.
To quote Baker Mayfield, "You can't stop a perfect pass".
In other situations, it's nice that Njoku is a proficient run-blocker, because the 2019 Browns will run a lot.
I don't hate Hue Jackson like many of you do, but one of his problems was his reluctance to use run/pass options and zone-blocking (*you have to zone-block to sell RPO's*).
Njoku can line up in-line and become an instant receiver or actually make a hole for Chubb (or whoever).
I do not believe that John Dorsey is out to purge all of Sashi Brown's players off this roster. He seems much too SANE and RATIONAL to me for that.
Much has been made of all the players Sashi drafted or signed who are no longer on the roster, but that's generally ignorant:
Kevin Zeitler turned into Olivier Vernon. Jabrill Peppers was integral to the OBJ trade.
Kindred apparently didn't fit Steve Wilks's scheme, but (like the rest of the Brown "cast-offs") got scooped up instantly.
Ogbah for (safety) Eric Murray looked screwed up to me til I saw Murray's PFF grades: 67.5 (pretty good) overall, and a little better vs the run than vs the pass...and an elite special teams player.
Wierdly, I read an article by a PFF writer which described Murray as a depth-player at best, and mentioned his "crappy" grades HEY PFF! WANT AN UPGRADE? HERE I AM! I CAN READ YOUR NUMBERS AND SPELL MY NAME RIGHT TOO!!!
I still think Ogbah will kick some ass now that he's healthy, but Murray is a LOT more than "depth" at a position of need...
Why this campaign against Sashi Brown's players, when Dorsey is trading them for other players? How ignorant, just listing Sashi Brown players no longer on this roster without any context at all!
If you have a BRAIN, keep track of Brown's players! You'll see many of those no longer with this team have long and sometimes great carreers!
And anyway, Sashi Brown didn't pick them. The Coaches, Scouts, and Paul DePodesta picked them. Sashi was a lawyer, mediator, figurehead, and fall-guy.
How long do you think it will take Dorsey to purge DeValve, Schobert, Garrett, Njoku, Higgins, and Tretter off the roster?
Don't get me wrong! John Dorsey came in here and maxed out the draft picks, money, and players he inheritted from the Brown regime.
What's more, he has NOT let a Mitchell Schwartze go, or done anything else as blatently stupid. Dorsey is da MAN!
The Brown regime might well have drafted...well DePodesta...that's probably Mayfield too...nevermind.
Predictably, a bunch of people want us to curb our enthusiasm about the 2019 Browns.
The team is too young. It's too soon. First year Head Coach.
At least it's mainly the Steelers aint done yet (and not the Ravens).
Some pundits are twisting themselves into pretzels trying to find reasons that Baker Mayfield, with Odell Beckham Jr added to what he had as a rookie in 2018, will what...regress? Or...something?
Adding Richardson and Vernon to Ogunjobi and Garrett got us all irrationally over-excited or...something?
Pay no attention to the Antonio Brown behind the curtain...
A guy on NFL Radio said (Yoda-like) "It takes a year". He cited the 2017 Eagles as an example!!! Sheer idiocy! The 2017 Eagles drafted a QB second overall and signed a veteran QB and had the rest of their team mostly built, substantially with free agents.
All these wanna-be Yodas! It's bullshit, people!
The 2019 Browns are already a top 5 talented team in the NFL, with one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Check with the real experts, and they're possibly the best coached team in the NFL (leaving Freddie Kitchens' inexperience aside).
...but curb your enthusiasm...it's still "the Browns", so...
Much has been made of the Parcells Coaching-tree. Lord Insideous (Belichick) is the most famous, but the Parcells tree won a ton of Superbowls.
Freddie only worked for Parcells for one season, but quotes him all the time, and clearly wants to emulate him (strategically).
Kitchens is being massively underestimated by a lot of pundits. Unlike Belichick 1.0, Freddie will gladly delegate a lot of stuff to his coordinators and assistants (like Parcells and Belichick 2.0).
We all saw what Kitchens did in 2018 (initially within Todd Haley's playbook). It was amazing!!!
As for Freddie Kitchens as a Head Coach vs any other Head Coach in the NFL, I am confident that he will not find a way to choke...even though he's "the Browns" now...
DON'T curb your enthusiasm. The 2019 Browns are rightfully the favorites to win the AFC North, and have a legit shot to at least reach the AFC Championship game.
...this is BEFORE John Dorsey digs up his Callaways and Averys in the upcoming draft, and scoops up the desperate veterans (like maybe Berry) after that.
We can't say "Superbowl or bust" yet, but we can predict an AFC North title. The Ravens and Steelers can beg to differ all they want, but Hue Jackson aint here anymore...
...okbye
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
Browns Alalysis Word of the Decade: Dysfunctionalizationalizing.
I guess this Jason Whitlock guy aint buyin what OBJ is sellin, and that's ok.
I'm not a hypocrite, and I distinctly remember a guy who sounded a lot like me saying that trading for OBJ would be dumb for some of the reasons Whitlock cited.
Whitlock says now they've got two number one receivers who want the ball, an "undersized" quarterback, and a first year Head Coach, so it'll be a "dysfunctional reality show".
I want to congratulate Jason for an original and humorous presentation, and (especially) for impressing everybody with that four syllable word, but I think he is wrong:
1: As I've said, OBJ's "antics" are about LOSING, and not about his catching half again as many passes as everybody else.
Landry and Beckham started off as competitors, then became teammates and kept competing with eachother.
I guess they had a pretty good quarterback in college, because he targeted both of them.
OBJ was drafted higher than Landry because he was faster and had a better combine, but in college they were fine sharing the load.
2: Jarvis Landry is used to monopolizing receptions, but isn't actually a "number one" in the NFL. The X-receiver is number one in the NFL, and Jarvis Landry isn't fast enough to be a consistent deep threat, so he aint that.
Beckham IS a real number one receiver, and his pal Jarvis Landry GETS that! He expects defenses to focus on his BFF and get him open more often...
Whitlock is underestimating some of these guys' intelligence (and common sense).
Hey, maybe when Njoku catches too many passes, Beckham and Landry will jump him (or Mayfield) in the shower!
Don't get me wrong here: Jason Whitlock is a cut or five above Colon Cowherd, but I just think he is wrong in this case, as, to continue:
3: Landry and OBJ EXPECT Baker Mayfield not to play favorites. He hits the deepest open guy, period.
Zinggg! Nobody gets this: these two guys have a friendly rivalry between them dating back to childhood. It's made them both better.
If you have a GOOD quarterback, it's about getting more separation, so your (good) quarterback will hit you instead of the other guy.
It goes deeper, too: "Yeah, but I can break more tackles and got over 1.5 YAC yards on you" kinda stuff.
But each of them roots for the other. This is a POSITIVE social dynamic! In fact:
4: Baker Mayfield pushed and lobbied for OBJ in the first place; went out of his way to meet OBJ informally, long before this trade happened.
Mayfield would laugh at Whitlock's assertions (but then, that's because he has that "boulder on his shoulder", as Jason says...)
Baker Mayfield was drafted first overall and set a bunch of rookie records in 13.5 games. Nobody except Cowherd calls him "undersized" anymore, and Whitlock needs to update his Baker Mayfield file:
Baker is SMART, Jason! He's a born leader. No player on this team (including Jarvis Landry) would DARE get in his face.
He has PROVEN HIMSELF, to everybody, already.
For receivers, that's about first downs and completions, believe it or not:
Mayfield made Darren Fells look great, along with Callaway, Njoku, Chubb, and a couple guys that are gone now.
Jarvis Landry saw his yards per-catch go up, but his total receptions go down (to a measly 81!!!)
No problem! Landry GETS it!
A lot of these alleged experts expect every prominant skill-player to be frustrated 13 year olds, and, while that's sadly accurate all too often, it's wrong more often than not.
Jason Whitlock underestimates everybody here, including Freddie Kitchens. His commentary was reflexive, superficial, and presumptive nay! It was malfunctionalizationalizingization! (blush-blush).
Okbye.
I'm not a hypocrite, and I distinctly remember a guy who sounded a lot like me saying that trading for OBJ would be dumb for some of the reasons Whitlock cited.
Whitlock says now they've got two number one receivers who want the ball, an "undersized" quarterback, and a first year Head Coach, so it'll be a "dysfunctional reality show".
I want to congratulate Jason for an original and humorous presentation, and (especially) for impressing everybody with that four syllable word, but I think he is wrong:
1: As I've said, OBJ's "antics" are about LOSING, and not about his catching half again as many passes as everybody else.
Landry and Beckham started off as competitors, then became teammates and kept competing with eachother.
I guess they had a pretty good quarterback in college, because he targeted both of them.
OBJ was drafted higher than Landry because he was faster and had a better combine, but in college they were fine sharing the load.
2: Jarvis Landry is used to monopolizing receptions, but isn't actually a "number one" in the NFL. The X-receiver is number one in the NFL, and Jarvis Landry isn't fast enough to be a consistent deep threat, so he aint that.
Beckham IS a real number one receiver, and his pal Jarvis Landry GETS that! He expects defenses to focus on his BFF and get him open more often...
Whitlock is underestimating some of these guys' intelligence (and common sense).
Hey, maybe when Njoku catches too many passes, Beckham and Landry will jump him (or Mayfield) in the shower!
Don't get me wrong here: Jason Whitlock is a cut or five above Colon Cowherd, but I just think he is wrong in this case, as, to continue:
3: Landry and OBJ EXPECT Baker Mayfield not to play favorites. He hits the deepest open guy, period.
Zinggg! Nobody gets this: these two guys have a friendly rivalry between them dating back to childhood. It's made them both better.
If you have a GOOD quarterback, it's about getting more separation, so your (good) quarterback will hit you instead of the other guy.
It goes deeper, too: "Yeah, but I can break more tackles and got over 1.5 YAC yards on you" kinda stuff.
But each of them roots for the other. This is a POSITIVE social dynamic! In fact:
4: Baker Mayfield pushed and lobbied for OBJ in the first place; went out of his way to meet OBJ informally, long before this trade happened.
Mayfield would laugh at Whitlock's assertions (but then, that's because he has that "boulder on his shoulder", as Jason says...)
Baker Mayfield was drafted first overall and set a bunch of rookie records in 13.5 games. Nobody except Cowherd calls him "undersized" anymore, and Whitlock needs to update his Baker Mayfield file:
Baker is SMART, Jason! He's a born leader. No player on this team (including Jarvis Landry) would DARE get in his face.
He has PROVEN HIMSELF, to everybody, already.
For receivers, that's about first downs and completions, believe it or not:
Mayfield made Darren Fells look great, along with Callaway, Njoku, Chubb, and a couple guys that are gone now.
Jarvis Landry saw his yards per-catch go up, but his total receptions go down (to a measly 81!!!)
No problem! Landry GETS it!
A lot of these alleged experts expect every prominant skill-player to be frustrated 13 year olds, and, while that's sadly accurate all too often, it's wrong more often than not.
Jason Whitlock underestimates everybody here, including Freddie Kitchens. His commentary was reflexive, superficial, and presumptive nay! It was malfunctionalizationalizingization! (blush-blush).
Okbye.
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