I can't wait for the home opener. Can you?
I really like that Myles Garrett used the phrase "bloodbath" to describe what this Browns' Defensive Line can do.
And it can this sunday, as, in addition to LT Taylor Lewan MIA, two other starters (including RT Jack Conklin) are not at 100%.
The Titans Offensive Line wasn't very good in pass protection to begin with, either. It's a very bad matchup for the Titans (just the facts, man).
But the Titans have a 247 lb freak running back and a microbe waterbug RB and can run the ball with the best of them.
As my last post outlines, the Titans (having no choice) will have to run and play "small ball" passing-wise.
It's critical that the Browns stifle that running game immediately (if not sooner), because if they don't, play action will work for the Titans.
Some of you don't get that yet: If an offense is running over a defense, the defense has no choice but to stack the box, play more zone, and leave their free safety on an island.
I just found out from somebody (maybe Terry Pluto) that "Mister Downhill" Henry excels running outside.
Try not to fill in any blanks here -snap-snap- still with me?
Derrick Henry isn't shifty or quick, but has amazing straight-line speed for anybody within 20 lbs of him. Speed is all that matters when you're trying to run outside.
This could spell trouble for the Browns' defense. We can wish that Hue Jackson was running the Titans' offense, but these Coaches won't be running G-power and sending Henry up the middle all day.
Henry has the speed to escape all the defensive linemen to the "edge". The Browns front 4 should seal off all the cutback lanes, and push him to the sidelines, but he can still get past them.
At that point, linebackers and DBs are ideally converging, but he can run any one or 2 over.
I'm simplifying this, as I know I've already got you on the edge of a coma...ok sorry:
Hue Jackson is not the Titans' Head Coach or OC, so the Titans will tighten their chinstraps and attack the Browns' outside with Henry.
They hope he won't be touched or rerouted, and can just "curve" vertical at full speed, and run right over Randall and co, see?
My inexplicable communications errors with the Browns continue, so I ask you guys to tell Steve Wilks for me:
1: Don't blitze from outside (except when it's obvious).
2: Blitze inside (with DBs instead of LBs) on neutral downs here and there.
Steve, you need to screw those handoffs to Derrick Henry up (as well as, of course, beating the crap out of Mariota).
Beat Mariota to the handoff. Force Henry to run horizontal instead of diagonal. He's dead meat if he has to slow down or make sharp cuts, after all, so duh.
3: You can run more zone (or at least off-man) outside until you have a safe lead.
Steve, you need that zone early to keep Henry (and that little bastid Dion Lewis) in front of everybody, and the inside (("run")) blitzes to generally disrupt that backfield and stop that monster Derrick Henry before he can get his mojo.
That's it for what you guys need to tell Steve Wilks until this communications glitch is resolved.
Speaking more generally to you people (and Terry Pluto), I have used Rashard Higgins, Chubb, and the Browns' defense (variously) on my inaugural 10-25 cent Draftkings lottery ticket tournament entries (and Delanie Walker too dammit).
Higggins in the slot vs (ex-Brown) lilipution Buster Skrine is a severe mismatch, for the very reason why Higgins is being used in the slot.
Buster Skrine is your ideal nickel corner, intended to match up with your Edelmans and other little shrimps. Skrine can run circles around Higgins, but he is still almost 5" taller, and Baker Mayfield is his Quarterback.
Not Kizer. Not Hoyer...
Most of you still don't get it. Nevermind Browns 30 Titans 17.
Okbye
Here come the Titans, who Nick Snook says are without their Pro Bowl Left Tackle (Lewan) and will start Dennis Kelly instead.
We're familiar with how the Titans' offense will try to compensate, as the Browns' (real) offense finds ways to help their own mediocre Tackles:
You chip, run quick hitters underneath, try to run more, and max protect on third and longs. I would also expect the athletic Marcus Mariota to roll out frequently. Elite slot guy Adam Humphries should be targeted a lot, and they might use Dion Lewis as a receiver.
It's not just Kelly vs Garrett, because Garrett and Vernon might well switch sides, both those guys love to stunt inside.
I don't envy any Offensive Line that has to deal with Murderers' Row(@all rights preserved). Every one of the starters overmatches 90% of the guys they'll face, and they can only double team one of them...and they can beat double-teams anyway.
Nick says that the Titans (with Lewan) ranked 22nd in sacks allowed in 2018, allbeit with injuries and shuffling elsewhere.
The sacks aren't all on the protection, of course. Delanie Walker is an outstanding Tight End, and I already mentioned Humphries and Lewis, but these are most of Mariotta's weapons.
And Marcus Mariotta has held the ball too long. He doesn't make quick decisions (like a certain Quarterback we know.)
I think that Titans offense is in trouble here. If they go by last year's tapes and stats, they buckle their chin straps and try to run over the Browns' defense with Henry (and a pinch of Lewis), but:
That was a different Defensive Coordinator, 3 starting defensive linemen are new, the secondary is upgraded (and everybody including Williams can tackle) and Wilks likes to blitze the a-gaps with safeties and linebackers.
...nahh, my inner-fan and inner-analyst concur that the Browns' defense should beat the snot out of the Titans' offense.
The Titans' defense is tougher, but...
...ok the Browns should pound the Titans to paste.
The Titans, despite their injuries, made the playoffs last season.
The Browns have lost every opener for...
GET OVER IT YOU PEOPLE!!!
Browns 77, Titans minuss 4.
Seriously, most of you suffer Stockholm Syndrome (which is irrational).
Why tf is anybody sweating OBJ's health, as it matters?
Terry Pluto's reservations (he predicts 9-7) mostly make sense.
The rookie kicker and punter part of this are overblown. It's irrational to expect Gillan to...what? And for Seifert to...what, regress? JFC STOP IT!!!
Ok ok Seifert could still cave in like the last guy did, but it...
Why TF are we sweating this? Are Field Goals and extra points going to---
WTF is WRONG with you people!?!
Oh yeah. Stockholm syndrome. Sorry okbye
Sigh. So Antonio Brown posts a letter he got from GM Mike Mayock telling him he is being fined for skipping 2 days of Camp.
Antonio's mostly incoherent gabbling seems to include "hate" or "haters" and stuff.
But if you skip days (especially for a new team) you get fined. It's the same everywhere. If one guy pulls that crap and gets away with it, every other player on that team sees a double-standard and is furious.
Mayock would never have announced or leaked this fine, but Brown publishes it himself, to show everybody how everybody hates him!!!
This comes right after that whole helmet controversey in which Mayock said they had Antonio's back...
You people who keep talking about "big egos" and how the 2019 Browns would handle a couple consecutive losses are obviously talking about OBJ, and it's assenine:
OBJ loses fights with kicking nets. He has questioned game plans. As far as I know, he has never demanded more targets. OBJ has indirectly criticized Eli Manning...I think...but never any other teammate.
Moreover, while OBJ uses all sorts of "jargon" himself sometimes, his tweets etc are always comprehensible even to geezers like me.
And OBJ doesn't bitch about being persecuted or "hated" either. He defends himself when attacked, but is generally positive.
Lumping OBJ and AB together in the same box is extremely lazy, bad analysis. I don't care if you're a Hall of Fame GM or QB---you're still fulla crap here.
OBJ and AB play the same position, but are very extremely different people, and OBJ is not going to be a problem, period.
And Jarvis Landry won't be a problem, either. Baker Mayfield is the biggest personality on this team by a wide margin. He's ticked me off a whole lot already...oh trust me: the whole "big personalities" issue is bullcrap.
As Myles Garrett opines, Baker Mayfield is the real deal as a leader here. Myles was mainly talking about last year's game vs the Texans (in which Mayfield threw 3 first half picks, including one which was returned for a TD).
I learned from this (thank you Myles), because Garrett says that Mayfield never said a word during halftime, and acted as if the first half had never happened.
Myles was studying his Quarterback here in the worst situation he'd faced.
He doesn't go into detail about what Freddie or Gregg said, or anything else. He just says that the TEAM left the locker room for the second half "inspired".
Permabashers will gleefully point out that the Browns lost that game, but then, Garrett's insights are lost on them; Mayfield was a R O O K I E for cryin out loud, and Garrett was talking about his legitimacy as a LEADER nevermind. Permabashers all think they're Vince Lombardi too...the Browns lost that game so Garrett's opinions are irrelevant.
Vince Lombardi had a way with words, but the players got that it was hyperbole. Browns permabashers don't, because they never played sports (or sucked) themselves.
Myles Garrett never played in a 12 or 16-team league in which if you're second you're last and all that crap...but I digress:
Mike Preifer offers some details about a couple technical tweaks which helped Austin Seibert become the Browns' 2019 Kicker.
You whippersnappers don't remember this, but Phil Dawson the rookie was just "pretty good", and that only up to about 48 yards...which should sound familiar to you.
I have a good feeling about Seibert.
I think.
I hope.
But Jamie Gillan was a no-brainer. Jamie isn't neccessarily an upgrade over Colquitt (aside from his coverage/tackling and his extra hang-time), but those of you who think the cap savings between Colquitt and Gillan doesn't matter need brain transplants.
I'll have to spell this stuff out in future posts (like I have in previous posts), but the shorthand for now is 2 mil more or less in cap space MATTERS when you're bidding on critical free agents.
Bearss vs Packerss resultss: Brad Hopkins suspects that Mitch Trubiski "didn't have a lot of options"
I don't know--I'm just repeating what I heard from a legit analyst.
I will guarantee you this much:
Baker Mayfield will have options out the yinyang. That's why Baker exploded the week after Mywayorthehighway Haley was fired in 2018.
Freddie Kitchens turned Baker loose okbye
Jamie Gillan was in a bar with his Dad when John Dorsey called to tell him he'd made the team.
Everybody went nuts, and he drank for free.
As much as this makes me smile, I can't wait to hear what Colon Cowherd thinks of it. It's a "bad look". Go study your playbook. Jamie Gillan, corrupter of youth.
This Greg Robinson thing had me worried. I assume that as this move was made, Dorsey made another offer to extend him beyond his one year.
It was Robinson and his agent who only wanted the one year contract after 2018, and it makes sense for a player who is confident he will earn himself a fat raise in 2019.
But that was before OBJ, Sheldon Richardson, Olivier Vernon, and Greedy Williams. Greg might now want to remain a part of this team longer term.
As I've posted, Greg Robinson is not an elite Left Tackle (as PFF, Numberfire etc mercilessly point out). He should be a little better in 2020, since he's only played Left Tackle in the pros briefly (and fell on his face as a rookie).
Some idiot will offer Robinson top 5 Left Tackle money, and Paul DePodesta John Dorsey will do everything they can to replace him rather than massively overpay him.
Yeah I know, a lot of you don't want to worry about next season's roster before this season has even started, but that's exactly why Paul DePodesta gets the big bucks:
Joe Schobert, JC Tretter, and Damarius Randall will be lining up their own Brinks trucks along with Robinson's next season. If the Browns were to pay each of them what their respective markets will dictate, you can kiss the bulk of that salary cap surplus good bye.
Schobert will probably leave, as Mack Wilson shows great promise, but Randall and Tretter are thornier issues.
Dorsey simply has to target Left Tackles in the 2020 draft. Every veteran Left Tackle who is any good is being paid a ton, and will not be available.
...but the Browns will be drafting in the bottom third of the first round, and the top several Left Tackles will be gone by the time they draft.
Sadly, Paul and John might be forced to massively overpay this average player (dammit) after all...and no doubt his agent knows it ("Stick 'em up!")
The chain reaction could lead to Randall or Tretter's departure. Austin Corbett might be a good center, and there are several players on this roster who aren't significantly worse than Randall...too deep in the weeds, huh?
But the point is, we want a dynasty, ok? Not a flash in the pan all-or-nothing and then rebuild (again) thing. Those of you who say "who cares this is only 2019!" or "we got plenty of money pay him" don't get that.
This is an extremely talented and young team, and as it stands, it will collapse in 2022 or sooner...look do you get this?
1: Count the current Pro Bowlers on this roster, and add in the future ones and those who deserve it but get screwed out of it:
Mayfield Chubb OBJ Landry Bitonio Tretter Garrett Richardson Vernon Schobert Randall Ward Williams? Njoku?
Every one of those guys will be demanding top money. One of them is a Quarterback, and the other is an Edge-Rusher. ...and here we have an average Left Tackle with a huge monkey wrench...
"Who cares?" Everybody who didn't flunk math, Sherlock!
Yeah I get it you like the sausage but don't want to know how it's made.
Anyway Trevon Coley is waived now and the roster makes more sense.
There are 6 WRs with the last 2 being Hodge and Taylor. Hodge is mostly a Special Teamer. Right now Ratley is 4th, but Callaway will be back (if he's not traded) and change things. One of the bottom 2 will probably hit the dusty trail.
Meanwhile, Damion Ratley has a chance to put some plays on tape, and he just might:
Damion Ratley is quite similar to Antonio Callaway, except a couple inches taller. Explosiveness and speed, and eventually a more physical player.
Damion, this is your "moment", dude. You have 4 games to pass Callaway up.
While Rashard Higgins has made himself downright indispensable (playing from the slot a lot by the way), there should be a lot of 3-wides, and Ratley is a legit deep threat, and should get some chances (as Callaway would have).
Like a lot of you, Callaway's violation in conjunction with his (actually deplorable) criminal history makes me nervous.
I'm the same guy who kept defending Josh Gordon and calling his suspensions "persecution". I'll never get that egg off my face, but I learned from that.
I hope Ratley can emerge in 2019 like Callaway did in 2018. Then John Dorsey can trade Callaway (and his sweet contract) for Draft ammo or concievably a Left Tackle.
Oops sorry there I go talking business again. Sorry I can't help it. Call me George RR Martin.
Dynasty: The Patriots are the ultimate prototype, but the Steelers are close. The Saints and Cowboys are worth checking out too.
Every team wants to copy the Patriots. How do they do it?
Sorry, haters, but Bill Belichick is a genius, and would have succeeded (maybe not to the same level) without Tom Brady. (Remember Matt Cassell? What has that guy done since winning 11 games with the Patriots? Anybody home?)
And no, Brady didn't accept less money because his wife makes more money or because of endorsements ok? And no it's not smoke and mirrors either.
Tom Brady took less money to allow his team to keep/sign better Offensive Linemen, guys like Gronk, and defensive players.
This aint rocket science, ok? Joe Flacco wins a Superbowl. Backs up his Brinks truck. The Ravens have to cut a bunch of players, and that's it. Flacco gets hurt repeatedly and never sniffs a Conference Championship game again.
Brady takes less money, so Bill can get/keep talent around him. He doesn't get hurt, and they keep winning, and win multiple Superbowls.
Russell Wilson just took the last nickel he could get. Let's see how the Seahawks do now!
Aaron Rodgers? Drew Brees? Is any of this sinking in yet?
The Eagles just broke their bank for Carson Wentz. They're still pretty loaded...for 2019...then...well, avert your eyes. You don't want to see that.
There are early indications that Baker Mayfield might be as logical and intelligent as Tom Brady, and not gouge the Browns for all he can get.
He races to congratulate the guys who caught his passes or the running backs who made great plays, and he jumps on his defensive teammates the same way.
He GETS that this is a team sport.
I'm frankly disgusted that Tom Brady is the only exception to the "stick 'em up, empty the safe" rule, and that nobody else seems to comprehend the obvious link between Brady's salary and all those Superbowls.
You can't emulate the Patriots completely unless you have a Quarterback who thinks with his brain.
Is any of this sinking in? Is that extra 6 million or so worth a couple concussions and a broken leg because your team had to axe your center and Right Tackle, and a reliable receiver...and oh yeah some defensive guys which is why you're playing from behind GENIUS! Sheer Genius!
Maybe too much to hope for: Baker being as smart as Tom. One thing for sure, though: Baker Mayfield is immune to peer pressure. He's not a drone.
What else do the Patriots do to sustain their success?
Well, they draft well, and "train up" lower picks. They dig up guys like Julian Edelman (a Quarterback), Gronk (who had spinal/back issues), Garapollo (second round) Jacoby Brissett (lower), and a bunch of trench guys.
Belichick's drafts, over time, are solid but not exceptional pick for pick, but Bill stockpiles those picks.
He rarely trades up, and often trades down, and takes future picks a round higher. I read an article a couple years ago that showed how Belichick had acquired a 5th round pick in one trade, and 3 years later used that draft pick in the middle of the second round.
This is what Paul DePodesta does. Bill Belichick says he doesn't use analytics, but he does. He just naturally thinks analytically, and was doing it intuitively before anybody else was (or had a name for it).
Lord Insideous's treatment of older players is evidence. Guys who are 29 or older start backing up their Brinks trucks and are stopped by Security.
"I won't match that offer. Here is my offer. Take it or leave it."
...but of course, the Sith Lord trades these guys a year sooner whenever he can.
Then there's the fact that everybody wants to play for this perennial Superbowl contender, and almost always accept less money for the opportunity.
Quite the racket they got goin, no?
The Steelers are a little different, starting with Big Ben gouging for every last penny like everybody else except Brady.
But the Steelers draft better than the Sith Lord, and develop young players at least as well.
They managed to preserve possibly the best Offensive Line in the NFL, and shrug the losses of Ebineezer Bell and Antonio Brown off, and to significantly upgrade their 2019 defense as well.
Fortunately, Big Ben got big bucks, so...well?
Anyway, all these teams have elite Quarterbacks. Baker Mayfield puts the 2019 Browns right there with them. Mayfield is no "project". He's elite now. Why doesn't everybody get this obvious fact?
In re that, Big Ben and Brady are on their way out (moreso Ben, since he gets to face the Browns defense twice in 2019 and has been injured a lot more).
Lamar Jackson? Ok Mayfield and Mahomes are quarterbacks, see? I'm not sure what Jackson is, but he's not like them in terms of decision-making or accuracy.
I'll head some dumbassitude off at the pass here in re Jackson too: He can hook-slide or run out of bounds as well as Russell Wilson or anybody else. He's more likely to get maimed IN the pocket than outside it.
However, Lamar Jackson is more a "weapon" than a Quarterback. In the crunch, a Mahomes, Mayfield, Rodgers, Big Ben, Brees or whoever will hit that tiny window on 3rd and a mile. Jackson won't.
But I digress: Daryl Ruiter has a "bucket list" for the 2019 Browns. The sweeping the Steelers, winning the Division, winning 4 in a row, and winning a playoff game are all pretty obvious, but the one that matters now is beating the Titans in the season opener.
I haven't bothered to read what Titans TE Delanie Walker said about the hype surrounding the Browns, but don't need to.
Those of you who read that article can correct me if I'm wrong, but here's what Walker said:
We haven't played a game yet. The Titans were pretty good last season. When the whistle blows, it's about who wants it more. We'll see. I like being the underdog. (Insert multiple chiches here _____________________).
Daryl is right. The 2019 Browns overmatch the 2019 Titans and should beat them, period.
No offense to the Titans, who were kicking ass last season until multiple injuries maimed them, but they're no match for the 2019 Browns, and it aint even close.
It shouldn't come down to Field Goals. The full-spectrum Browns Offense, Defense, and Special Teams should all dominate.
No offense to any Titans fans who might stumble across this article: I know that your team doesn't suck. But my team is stacked, ok? And that includes the quarterback.
Listen Titans fans: I wanted the Browns to find a way to draft Marcus Mariotta myself, but am now glad they didn't. I am now overjoyed to have Baker Mayfield instead.
Mariotta is massively talented, and you'd have to be mentally impaired to write him off (yet), but the Browns Defensive Line won't give Marcus, your running backs, or anybody else a chance.
And the hell with preseason (including game 3), here come Landry, OBJ, Njoku, Chubb, etc and this is going to be a problem for your defense.
I've run into both Browns fans and knowelegable fantasy guys who seem universally skeptical about the 2019 Browns.
I can't seem to "reach" them, no matter what I say. Their minds are made up, and that's that. ...and yes, they are allowed to vote.
OBJ=AB. "Big Personalities/Egos". Freddie who? And of course the mandatory history lesson which predates Kitchens, Dorsey, Mayfield, omfg how retarded you people are!
I was about to become politically incorrect okbye
First, some good news for the NFL: Vontaze Burfict, who should be in prison, has suffered his 7th concussion, and might be on his way out.
Prison would be better, of course, since Burfict is a psychopath, and will assault and injure civilians instead.
Unlike the NFL, Law Enforcement doesn't care for violent psychopaths, so Burfict should end up where he belongs anyway.
The one redeeming thing about Burfict is that Antonio Brown was one of his many victims.
Anyway, I'm glad I've accepted that John Dorsey (and DePodesta and the scouts and coaches) know more about building an NFL roster than I (or most pundits) do, because the release of Derrick Willies would have driven me (more) insane.
But in DePodesta Dorsey I trust, and most of these moves do make sense to me.
This roster is still "churning", as it is for 31 other teams. It's unlikely that the final version will have only 3 Tight Ends and 5 Wide Receivers, with 10 Offensive Linemen.
Randy Gurzi gets this, and lists several available veterans he thinks could help the 2019 Browns.
Understand that every GM has a wish list of "ones that got away" in previous drafts, and of players who impressed them.
Many of the players on the current roster are not Dorsey favorites. He no doubt wanted to draft Taywan Taylor in his draft, and doesn't see his bad hands as a deal-killer (or irreparable).
Certainly, Taylor is one of the fastest and most athletic players in the NFL, and belongs on somebody's roster as at least a 6th Wide Reciever (moreso than Braxton Miller).
Taywan Taylor also has great Special Teams potential.
John Dorsey's priority for all defensive and skill players seems to be speed and explosiveness.
Paul DePodesta, if he isn't influencing these moves, at least agrees with them:
The bottom third of the roster should be fast, explosive, and young. This makes Special Teams better, and keeps potential superstars in this system and on this roster.
Me? I would have kept Willies, but the Taylor over Miller moves do make sense --and again, I'm not qualified to second guess Dorsey anyway.
Anyway, Gurzi came up with some interesting players for the Browns:
RB Josh Adams is a proven veteran player being shed by a top Superbowl contending team; a former "bellcow" who Randy says has improved a lot as a receiver.
D'Ernest Johnson has been impressive so far, but he's more like Hilliard than Chubb. Adams could "spell" Chubb, and actually shoulder the load if neccessary.
He did it for the Eagles, so...
TE Dwayne Allen (an ex-Patriot yuk-yuk) is an excellent blocker and underrated as a receiver.
Randy is wrong about Njoku as a blocker. Njoku has improved a lot in that department.
He's also wrong about Njoku's blocking, and thinking that the acquisition of another blocking Tight End is urgent.
Pharoah Brown and Demetrius Harris are both good in-line blockers, and the Browns don't need a third one as much as they need another Njoku or DeValve type.
Dwayne Allen is, however, underrated as a receiver, so Randy might accidentally be right about him.
Safety Su'a Cravens is a Gurzi "spitball" based on Steve Wilks' 4-2-5 base defense, but Randy himself doesn't know if he'd fit better than any of the current "nitro" hybrids on the current roster.
Randy is being thorough here, and in every case speculating about how each player would impact Special Teams.
Cravens is a good player.
Eli Rogers? Steeler WR/returner? Where do I sign!?! That's a no-brainer!!! Nuff said!
Thanks to Randy, I am now aware that TE Luke Willson exists.
Per Randy, Willson is a real Tight End who can block and catch. Gurzi also thinks that Willson might be able to line up and block at fullback sometimes.
Update: Derrick Willies and 8 other Browns' cuts have been signed to the Practice Squad.
I'm surprised that none of the other teams grabbed Willies, but I guess that's why Dorsey gets the big bucks and the rest of us are clueless.
And despite being beyond our comprehension, re-signing 9 waived players is impressive for any GM.
While it could mean that he is a blockhead stuck on favorite players, in Dorsey's case it more likely means that he (and/or DePodesta) played a masterful poker hand.
...but...what tf is wrong with Derrick Willies? Why tf did nobody else claim him? What tf am I missing here?!?
I'm sorry. I am a legit analyst, and this does not compute. My regular readers know that I almost always figure stuff out eventually, but this...this Willies thing...
...Ok well obviously Dorsey was ok with waiving him, and risking him. But just as obviously, he wanted him back. This was a calculated risk.
As an accomplished poker player and competent gambler overall, I don't get this.
Derrick Willies is a prototypical big target playmaker; a proven one in the NFL.
I get that John Dorsey and co might be willing to risk Willies on the open market, but why tf didn't anybody else claim him!?!
This does not compute. Kudos to Dorsey for pulling it off, and I have now confirmed that Dorsey is smarter than most of the other GMs in the NFL.
He waived and reclaimed Willies, right?
You people don't get the biggest part of this:
NFL GMs are "gamblers". They calculate odds. They bluff. Most of you don't get this. I'm here for you:
John Dorsey probably expected to lose Derrick Willies in free agency, but had his eyes on Taylor (and other guys) and was willing to let Willies (etc) go if the cards fell that way.
Context matters, you people, and this is about the bottom of the roster. I love Derrick Willies as much as any of you, but OBJ, Landry, and Higgins were ahead of him, and maybe Ratley, with Callaway waiting.
Taywan Taylor is a lethal weapon who can turn dink passes into TDs and burn deep.
You people don't get Baker Mayfield, or the Monken/Kitchens Offensive system, so you don't comprehend why John Dorsey would risk Willies for Taylor.
Willies is a big target. BAD Quarterbacks need big targets, because they aren't accurate, and have no "touch".
Baker Mayfield is a G O O D Quarterback DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
It looks to me like John Dorsey is loading up on lethal weapons first and foremost, and trusting Baker Mayfield to make accurate and timely passes to them.
Baker Mayfield doesn't need "big targets". He is a sharpshooter. He needs lethal weapons; playmakers!
Read this slowly and carefully:
Baker Mayfield is exceptional. He is exceptionally accurate, in the pocket or scrambling.
Baker Mayfield, unlike over 20 other Starting QBs, doesn't need a "can't miss" target! Taywan Taylor, bad hands and all, might just rate 5th WR in this offense, and be a Special Teams asset.
You people don't comprehend accuracy or touch. You don't grok Baker Mayfield.
Dorsey is all-in on Mayfield: He released Willies and traded for Taylor IS ANY OF THIS SINKING IN YET?
Screw it. Okbye.
With all due respect to a certain comedian, "Bottlegate" wasn't about any one or two specific calls by the referees.
That game was fixed from the start. The comedian only mentions one obviously bad call, but that was just the last straw.
Anyway I found out some more stuff about Wyatt Teller.
His PFF grades for 2018 are just about identical to Eric Kush's. Per PFF, both were above average pass blockers and mediocre run blockers.
It seems like every veteran offensive lineman John Dorsey gets fits that profile.
I've explained that before (sigh): Zone-blocking and RPOs help so-so run-blocking offensive linemen succeed, this is a way for Dorsey to save money, and pass protection must be the priority in today's NFL.
The difference here is that Eric Kush was an older veteran last season, while Teller was a rookie.
Teller is one of the strongest guys in the NFL; a powerlifter like Genard Avery.
According to the reports I read, while Teller had "slow feet" and failed to keep his hands inside at times, he was a good "puller" and good at zone-blocking.
I don't know what blocking scheme the Bills ran last season, but maybe Teller can grade out higher in run blocking with the 2019 Browns...in his second NFL season.
One thing Teller does much better than Kush does is drop his anchor and stand his ground in pass protection.
Remember I told you how every defense would be bullrushing Eric Kush to screw up Mayfield's quick release and blow up the handoffs? Well, that won't work with Teller. Teller will stone those bullrushers, ok?
That, plus the fact that (listen carefully) players tend to make big leaps between their first and second seasons make Teller a great bet to take over Right Guard by the second or third game.
He's already an above average pass blocker, and he has the tools to become a terrific run-blocker too. He showed nice athleticism at his combine, was a Defensive End prior to his conversion, has a solid base, and great power.
Teller might never become an elite guard, but he can plug what is right now a hole in the offensive line; he can be a not weak spot.
As for the 7th round pick trade, that's just the two GMs making a bet on which team will be better. I kinda like it.
I WAS RIGHT AGAIN Jamie Gillan is the Browns new punter!!!
Everybody else was sure that good old Britton Colquitt had it locked up because he had more experience as a holder and stuff like "they're in win-now mode, and can't risk rookie mistakes" he's a P U N T E R you people!!! Wtf you think he'll kick it over his head or what good grief ohmmm....ohmmm...
Anyway Gillan is a couple mil cheaper and his ability to cover and tackle isn't the joke you people think it is.
Gillan has a stronger leg with more hang-time than Colquitt (no offense to that excellent punter), and has become quite accurate too.
John Dorsey in a vacuum might have been a blockhead (?), but for Paul DePodesta (and me), this was a no-brainer.
...we can't risk rookie PUNTING mistakes oh you people...
Seth DeValve and Braxton Miller were waived, and Dorsey traded for WR Taywan Taylor and Guard Justin McCray.
I can't find anything useful on McCray except that he was a Packer, so the Browns know all about him.
Taywan Taylor looks like a...ok I don't get some of this stuff, ok? Both of these guys have experience (and McCray was a starter), but...
Certainly John Dorsey believes in competition (and I concur), but adding a slot receiver and guard in the final cut...
Say, waitaminnit...
Ok 1: Dorsey obviously likes Taywan Taylor a lot (obviously better than Braxton Miller), and has his reasons for wanting McCray.
2: What do I know? John Dorsey's top 2 assistants signed and observed McCray, and know more about him than any of us do.
McCray might be the Right Guard (or Tackle) Dorsey was waiting for (reminder: Dorsey doesn't care what WE think).
Rightly or wrongly, John Dorsey and Paul DePodesta had reasons for all these decisions and moves, and until they screw up (consistently) we need to leave them alone.
As you guys know, I thought Seth DeValve would make it, but I get that his fragility (frequent injuries) weighed against his talent. I'm not too surprised by his release. It's ok with me though, since Seth was a kneeler. And a dumbass.
I can't wish him luck.
The Depth Chart the Browns PR people just put out is mostly a joke, but still marginally informative.
McCray is already listed as the second string Right Guard.
I'm surprised that Trevon Coley survived (as the ninth defensive lineman).
Any long-term readers of mine remember my enthusiastic support of Trevon Coley after the Ravens cut him loose and the Browns grabbed him.
But I was wrong. Trevon Coley shouldn't be on this roster, and there shouldn't be nine defensive linemen. Coley should have hit the dusty trail and made a hole for a more talented player.
Maybe Dorsey thinks he can trade Coley(?).
Looking at this PR Depth Chart again, it doesn't mean much: Corbett is the backup LT, Teller the backup C, etc. The real depth chart looks a lot different.
Actually, us unwashed masses never see real depth charts, partly because they're too complex for us:
Try to stay with me here:
If JC Tretter gets hurt, who replaces him? The simpletonian answer is "the backup center", but it's tons deeper.
Austin Corbett might well be the top backup center, and left and/or right guard. He might indeed be the backup RT too.
Okbye
