Most of you people don't know how to use statistics. Since the most recent collective bargaining agreement and the apparent agreement among owners not to play starters in preseason, game 1 for most teams is chaos.
Ignore the Patriots, Steelers, Saints etc here, as they're the exceptions to the turnover rule.
New coaches, systems, and players.
Tomorrow the Browns will face another exception to this rule as the Seahawks come to town.
One analyst predicted that Nick Chubb would "come back to earth" based on the Seahawks' defense's excellent ranking vs the run...after 5 games.
It's true that the Seahawks have stifled opposing running games so far, but none of the guys they stifled was named Chubb.
Shut up: Mixon isn't as good, David Johnson isn't the same since his injury, nor is Gurley get over these preconceptions!
In week 6 the Browns can probably run on the Seahawks' defense, partly because Higgins is back, and (I assume) so is Freddie Kitchens (ie overriding Monken.)
The Browns' Offensive Line sucks at "pass-pro" but can run-block.
...aw crap I've been over and over this! ZONE BLOCK RUN-PASS OPTIONS 3-STEP DROPS SLANTS AND CROSSES UNDER CENTER PLAY-ACTION and (in general) the FREDDIE KITCHENS 2018 OFFENSE DOYEEEEE#!%+?￦$@%!??%+¥!!!.
It's idiotic! OBJ excels at run-after-catch why send him deep all the time?
But I digress: I got my fingers crossed that Freddie Kitchens walked into his first meeting after that massacre last week and took over again.
(I say "again" because it was his offense that stomped the Ravens, see? It's like he's afraid to hurt Monken's feelings or something, and he backed off again and let Monken get Mayfield slaughtered!)
FREDDIE! YOU DESERVE TO BE HERE! TAKE IT! NO MORE MISTER NICE GUY! Freddie, you are blowing this. Take your offense back.
Seattle's pass defense is vulnerable, partly because they don't have a great pass rush.
The Hawks are missing their Left Tackle and Right Guard (not that that matters or anything), and the Browns get Higgins, Williams, and Ward back (yawn)...
Certainly, Freddie Kitchens could mess this one up too, but I can't believe he's that stupid (or suicidal).
Anyway if Baker hands off or pitches out as often as not, and is under center or in a pistol more often than not, and he has slanters and crossers (including OBJ) to hit quickly, the Browns should win this game.
You youngsters don't get a lot of this: Baker Mayfield is Brian Sipe with a much, much stronger arm.
OC Lindy Infante maxed Sipe out with dumpoffs and short passes; I still think he pioneered most of the West Coast offense as well (but I digress):
The 2019 Browns are much more talented than the Kardiak Kidz were per relative standards; ie as measured against their competition.
Brian Sipe under Todd Monken might never have made it off the cab-squad. Under Freddie Kitchens, he would have had a shot.
I'm telling you that Freddie Kitchens is a better OC than Monken, ok? The Seahawks won't win unless Freddie Kitchens LETS Monken LET them win.
I HAVE SPOKEN.
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Friday, October 11, 2019
Russell Wilson and 21 Other Players vs the Healthy Browns. Browns win if Kitchens Doesn't Choke.
Jeff Risdon is normally a great analyst, but doesn't understand the X-receivers role as well as he should. He got most of it right, but the X---not the Y or Z--is the primary deep threat.
The "number one" receiver is normally the X. Most are big and tall, with good straight line speed.
He goes deep a lot in part to compel the defense to hold a safety deep, and to roll that safety towards him (and away from somebody else).
This is why Pat Kirwan calls him a "coverage-dictator".
The X does draw man coverage a lot, because like Jeff said he's fairly predictable; no presnap motion; he's going to challenge the corner in front of him (and try to burn him...ahem...deep if he can, Jeff).
But as Risdon points out, vs the Niners Callaway was playing a new (and more complex) position, so he probably screwed up some.
Oh shut tf up with your "excuses" garbage, Sargeant Rock! What a load of crap you guys carry around in your skulls--I can't believe you can stand erect!
Inexperienced players screw up more than veterans. It's not an "excuse". It's a fact. And no, you are NOT Vince Lombardi (and he didn't buy half of what he was selling you idjuts!)
But I digress: Per Jeff Risdon, the return of Rashard Higgins is moving Callaway back to X (and his comfort zone).
OBJ is the starting X here, so Callaway backs him up (but will be the 4th WR in any group calling for one).
The return of Higgins is more important than people not...me realize. Higgins was being used in the slot a ton when he got injured, see?
Higgins was very effective in this role. Everybody seems to think that slot guys all need to be fast-twitch microbes like Edelman or Amendola or like that, but big physical guys can excel there as well.
In this case, Higgins excelled as a blocker, as well as a receiver.
Rashard Higgins can't create separation like the shorter guys do, but he overmatches the microbes defenses try to stop him with in size and reach, and has become excellent at leverage and positioning.
He's also faster vs cornerbacks than he is against clocks.
Higgins in the slot allowed Landry to set up outside.
I don't fully understand why, but Freddie Kitchens seems determined to use Higgins inside and Landry outside.
To be sure, Higgins reads and reacts to coverage exceptionally well, Mayfield trusts him, and they connect a lot. The slot guy is generally closer to the QB than his other (non-running back) options, and of course Higgins blocks well in space.
I hate that Freddie Kitchens effectively said that hoping for 14-plus play drives was unrealistic, and that you need "chunk-plays".
I hope he was just inarticulate, because it sounded as if he was determined to stick with spreads, the shotgun, 5 and 7-step drops...
That must be it! I mean if you're dealing to Chubb 45-plus % of the time, why tf...well I just don't believe that Freddie is as dumb as he sounds sometimes.
Maybe Freddie is one of those idiot savant autistic types!
Russell Wilson is white-hot and the Seahawks are scary, but it looks like the Browns are getting Ward, Williams, and Higgins back all at once, and nobody (else) seems to have noticed this.
The Seahawks defense is just so-so vs the pass, and their front doesn't compare to the Niners. They are missing both their starting Left Tackle and Right Guard.
Russell Wilson in 2019 looks a lot like Pat Mahomes, despite not having comparable weapons. He will find every tiny little crease and exploit it.
Wilks can't lead this guy into any traps (like every defense Mayfield has faced this season has suckered him), but Russ hasn't faced a Wilks zone with this much talent, either.
Russell Wilson is human, and there is only one of him. The more talented team should win in Cleveland, if the Coaches don't botch it.
The 3-wide ("11" personnel with one RB and TE) might work with Higgins back if Mayfield is under center or 3 steps deep and hands off and hits short routes in under around 1.8 seconds, but I'm getting skeptical.
Yep. I got that old, familiar feeling. You get it. But I'm not there in the G-camp just yet.
Freddie Kitchens is not Hue Jackson. I'm not willing to join your necktie party just yet. Kitchens might pull it (ie his head) out.
I haven't updated my Win/Loss prediction yet: 13-3. As always, I will update this sunday night or monday, after analyzing the most recent data.
Seriously: Browns 27, Seahawks 24...IF...
THIS JUST IN: Joel Cade (citing a Jake Burns film study) tells us what is "wrong with" Baker Mayfield in 2019.
This excellent article enlightened even my humble self (slightly)---nah a lot. Click that link. Burns and Cade got this whole thing nailed. Pray that Freddie Kitchens reads it.
A top 10 all-time article. Click here.
The "number one" receiver is normally the X. Most are big and tall, with good straight line speed.
He goes deep a lot in part to compel the defense to hold a safety deep, and to roll that safety towards him (and away from somebody else).
This is why Pat Kirwan calls him a "coverage-dictator".
The X does draw man coverage a lot, because like Jeff said he's fairly predictable; no presnap motion; he's going to challenge the corner in front of him (and try to burn him...ahem...deep if he can, Jeff).
But as Risdon points out, vs the Niners Callaway was playing a new (and more complex) position, so he probably screwed up some.
Oh shut tf up with your "excuses" garbage, Sargeant Rock! What a load of crap you guys carry around in your skulls--I can't believe you can stand erect!
Inexperienced players screw up more than veterans. It's not an "excuse". It's a fact. And no, you are NOT Vince Lombardi (and he didn't buy half of what he was selling you idjuts!)
But I digress: Per Jeff Risdon, the return of Rashard Higgins is moving Callaway back to X (and his comfort zone).
OBJ is the starting X here, so Callaway backs him up (but will be the 4th WR in any group calling for one).
The return of Higgins is more important than people not...me realize. Higgins was being used in the slot a ton when he got injured, see?
Higgins was very effective in this role. Everybody seems to think that slot guys all need to be fast-twitch microbes like Edelman or Amendola or like that, but big physical guys can excel there as well.
In this case, Higgins excelled as a blocker, as well as a receiver.
Rashard Higgins can't create separation like the shorter guys do, but he overmatches the microbes defenses try to stop him with in size and reach, and has become excellent at leverage and positioning.
He's also faster vs cornerbacks than he is against clocks.
Higgins in the slot allowed Landry to set up outside.
I don't fully understand why, but Freddie Kitchens seems determined to use Higgins inside and Landry outside.
To be sure, Higgins reads and reacts to coverage exceptionally well, Mayfield trusts him, and they connect a lot. The slot guy is generally closer to the QB than his other (non-running back) options, and of course Higgins blocks well in space.
I hate that Freddie Kitchens effectively said that hoping for 14-plus play drives was unrealistic, and that you need "chunk-plays".
I hope he was just inarticulate, because it sounded as if he was determined to stick with spreads, the shotgun, 5 and 7-step drops...
That must be it! I mean if you're dealing to Chubb 45-plus % of the time, why tf...well I just don't believe that Freddie is as dumb as he sounds sometimes.
Maybe Freddie is one of those idiot savant autistic types!
Russell Wilson is white-hot and the Seahawks are scary, but it looks like the Browns are getting Ward, Williams, and Higgins back all at once, and nobody (else) seems to have noticed this.
The Seahawks defense is just so-so vs the pass, and their front doesn't compare to the Niners. They are missing both their starting Left Tackle and Right Guard.
Russell Wilson in 2019 looks a lot like Pat Mahomes, despite not having comparable weapons. He will find every tiny little crease and exploit it.
Wilks can't lead this guy into any traps (like every defense Mayfield has faced this season has suckered him), but Russ hasn't faced a Wilks zone with this much talent, either.
Russell Wilson is human, and there is only one of him. The more talented team should win in Cleveland, if the Coaches don't botch it.
The 3-wide ("11" personnel with one RB and TE) might work with Higgins back if Mayfield is under center or 3 steps deep and hands off and hits short routes in under around 1.8 seconds, but I'm getting skeptical.
Yep. I got that old, familiar feeling. You get it. But I'm not there in the G-camp just yet.
Freddie Kitchens is not Hue Jackson. I'm not willing to join your necktie party just yet. Kitchens might pull it (ie his head) out.
I haven't updated my Win/Loss prediction yet: 13-3. As always, I will update this sunday night or monday, after analyzing the most recent data.
Seriously: Browns 27, Seahawks 24...IF...
THIS JUST IN: Joel Cade (citing a Jake Burns film study) tells us what is "wrong with" Baker Mayfield in 2019.
This excellent article enlightened even my humble self (slightly)---nah a lot. Click that link. Burns and Cade got this whole thing nailed. Pray that Freddie Kitchens reads it.
A top 10 all-time article. Click here.
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Cancel the Coroner and Undertaker. 2019 Browns are Not Dead Yet.
A few notes here:
Charlie Weiss was Lord Insideous's first Offensive Coordinator in New England, and later Head Coach of Notre Dame.
After watching the Monday Night game which shall not be named, he flatly stated that the Browns Offensive Line (overall) is atrocious in pass defense.
Charlie didn't bash Freddie Kitchens or anything, but made these general statements about what you do when you have all the skill players but a turnstile-type offensive line.
Most of this is redundant (extra big guys in for longer passes, run to set up play action, crosses and slants; quick passes, and moving the pocket).
Oh a correction: Baker Mayfield doesn't always roll right. Defenses are loading up to his left and flushing him that way deliberately. The DBs also know how his receivers will try to bail him out. Mayfield will step up and to his left and kill people...which is why they make sure he can't this season.
Anyway I wasn't able to see this mess (thank God), but it didn't sound like there were any called rollouts at all. I could be wrong about that, but if I'm not, Freddie Kitchens needs to get his head out.
Joey Bosa was unstoppable, including on one play by Bitonio AND Robinson, and a moving pocket could have helped them by making him change directions and...nevermind but it's a very basic way to buy an athletic quarterback an extra second or two.
The other thing Charlie mentioned (to compensate for a bad passblocking offensive line) was a 3-step drop.
I learned something new from Charlie here, as he said "You just take a 3-step drop and cut those guys!"
I had to figure out what he meant, but wow...
Again, I missed the game, so I don't know how deep Baker was on most of these plays--but I know Weiss watched it, and he stressed this point for a reason:
The shallower drop takes away the edge-rushers, sorta. The Offensive Tackles hardly need to move to stay in their way or ride them around behind the quarterback.
It keeps the blockers closer to eachother and shrinks the gaps between them.
The cut-blocks Charlie talks about are on the edge-guys as they lean in and try to get behind the tackles.
Charlie (or somebody else) pointed out that Mayfield is deadly when he throws the ball within 1.5 seconds, and the 3-step drop in 2019 pretty much demands that (or a pitchout or handoff) because inside penetration is the next big thing.
The 49ers Defensive Line is awesome (especially a healthy and inspired Bosa), and nobody else the Browns will face are like those guys...but Weiss is still right.
Indeed, Weiss even hinted that he'd be picking the Browns over the Seahawks.
I sure hope so. I just saw 3 more Baker Mayfield commercials. You better believe that kid is under pressure!
Try not to freak out too much. The Browns hung with the Rams and stomped the Ravens. I'm not denying that they sucked like an atomic Hoover vs the Niners (ps give them their props here: Shanahan is awesome and his Dad's system hardly needed tweaking...I think they'll kick the Rams and Seahawks to the curb and win that Division).
What they did to the Browns' defense shouldn't make everybody forget what that defense did vs the Jets/Ravens/Rams ok?
Charlie Weiss said that Mike Shanahan always made sure to have a tight end who could seal off the "outside guy". He'd run his *zone-blocking* scheme and run "stretch"-plays all day.
Thanks to that blocking tight end, who would seal the "edge-setter" linebacker or DE inside, the running back always had a an outside cutback lane.
Charlie called it a "stretch-cut" and made it sound unstoppable. And it sounds like Kyle did that to the Browns...a bunch.
I hope that Freddie Kitchens tries to learn from Kyle Shanahan here, and copy him wherever possible (ditto Monken btw, who I still suspect has led Freddie astray).
PS Charlie Weiss didn't mention RPOs. Run/pass options are misunderstood. It's really a play action fake (or not), but the offensive line zone-blocks, which confuses the defense.
The big weakness with RPOs is that the Quarterback must (ahem) get rid of the ball quickly if he passes, as his offensive linemen are ineligable receivers--and are heading upfield hunting little guys.
But you see it fits, right?
Back to the massacre which shall not be named:
Charlie Weiss and I have just told everybody how to max out the offense.
If you think the Browns' 2019 Defense is a disaster after this game, you are an idiot (no offense).
This massacre was no "fluke" (because Shanahan and the Niners are the real deal), but wtf if you think you just finally saw the "real" Mayfield...and his history is irrelevant, as is his scheme, coaching, and offensive line...well obviously give Mayfield a chance here #$÷+?!#€%÷￦@!?!!!
Baker and co will be ready for the Seahawks.
Charlie Weiss was Lord Insideous's first Offensive Coordinator in New England, and later Head Coach of Notre Dame.
After watching the Monday Night game which shall not be named, he flatly stated that the Browns Offensive Line (overall) is atrocious in pass defense.
Charlie didn't bash Freddie Kitchens or anything, but made these general statements about what you do when you have all the skill players but a turnstile-type offensive line.
Most of this is redundant (extra big guys in for longer passes, run to set up play action, crosses and slants; quick passes, and moving the pocket).
Oh a correction: Baker Mayfield doesn't always roll right. Defenses are loading up to his left and flushing him that way deliberately. The DBs also know how his receivers will try to bail him out. Mayfield will step up and to his left and kill people...which is why they make sure he can't this season.
Anyway I wasn't able to see this mess (thank God), but it didn't sound like there were any called rollouts at all. I could be wrong about that, but if I'm not, Freddie Kitchens needs to get his head out.
Joey Bosa was unstoppable, including on one play by Bitonio AND Robinson, and a moving pocket could have helped them by making him change directions and...nevermind but it's a very basic way to buy an athletic quarterback an extra second or two.
The other thing Charlie mentioned (to compensate for a bad passblocking offensive line) was a 3-step drop.
I learned something new from Charlie here, as he said "You just take a 3-step drop and cut those guys!"
I had to figure out what he meant, but wow...
Again, I missed the game, so I don't know how deep Baker was on most of these plays--but I know Weiss watched it, and he stressed this point for a reason:
The shallower drop takes away the edge-rushers, sorta. The Offensive Tackles hardly need to move to stay in their way or ride them around behind the quarterback.
It keeps the blockers closer to eachother and shrinks the gaps between them.
The cut-blocks Charlie talks about are on the edge-guys as they lean in and try to get behind the tackles.
Charlie (or somebody else) pointed out that Mayfield is deadly when he throws the ball within 1.5 seconds, and the 3-step drop in 2019 pretty much demands that (or a pitchout or handoff) because inside penetration is the next big thing.
The 49ers Defensive Line is awesome (especially a healthy and inspired Bosa), and nobody else the Browns will face are like those guys...but Weiss is still right.
Indeed, Weiss even hinted that he'd be picking the Browns over the Seahawks.
I sure hope so. I just saw 3 more Baker Mayfield commercials. You better believe that kid is under pressure!
Try not to freak out too much. The Browns hung with the Rams and stomped the Ravens. I'm not denying that they sucked like an atomic Hoover vs the Niners (ps give them their props here: Shanahan is awesome and his Dad's system hardly needed tweaking...I think they'll kick the Rams and Seahawks to the curb and win that Division).
What they did to the Browns' defense shouldn't make everybody forget what that defense did vs the Jets/Ravens/Rams ok?
Charlie Weiss said that Mike Shanahan always made sure to have a tight end who could seal off the "outside guy". He'd run his *zone-blocking* scheme and run "stretch"-plays all day.
Thanks to that blocking tight end, who would seal the "edge-setter" linebacker or DE inside, the running back always had a an outside cutback lane.
Charlie called it a "stretch-cut" and made it sound unstoppable. And it sounds like Kyle did that to the Browns...a bunch.
I hope that Freddie Kitchens tries to learn from Kyle Shanahan here, and copy him wherever possible (ditto Monken btw, who I still suspect has led Freddie astray).
PS Charlie Weiss didn't mention RPOs. Run/pass options are misunderstood. It's really a play action fake (or not), but the offensive line zone-blocks, which confuses the defense.
The big weakness with RPOs is that the Quarterback must (ahem) get rid of the ball quickly if he passes, as his offensive linemen are ineligable receivers--and are heading upfield hunting little guys.
But you see it fits, right?
Back to the massacre which shall not be named:
Charlie Weiss and I have just told everybody how to max out the offense.
If you think the Browns' 2019 Defense is a disaster after this game, you are an idiot (
This massacre was no "fluke" (because Shanahan and the Niners are the real deal), but wtf if you think you just finally saw the "real" Mayfield...and his history is irrelevant, as is his scheme, coaching, and offensive line...well obviously give Mayfield a chance here #$÷+?!#€%÷￦@!?!!!
Baker and co will be ready for the Seahawks.
...okbye
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Thursday, October 3, 2019
2019 Browns Offensive Identity, the Mayfield-Kitchens Dynamic, and even Scarier Stuff
The Browns offensive players feel as if they've found their identity, per Nick Snook.
(Note to Nick: The players do not speak like this. They use contractions. It is ok to include contractions in quotes, rather than separate them and make the players sound like robots).
But I digress: The players kept it fairly simple for the fans, and in a nutshell it was:
1: Be physical, run early and often, stick with it, and wear the other defense down.
2: Run different plays out of the same sets (I will translate):
The Browns ran 12 sets (2 tight ends) a LOT. Defenses have to view this as a "run"- set, especially since Njoku is out of commission, and Dorsey/Wilks have stressed in-line blocking for Tight Ends rather than receiving.
The Ravens rotated their FS to OBJ and "capped" him off, but couldn't do that to any of the other receivers, including TE Ricky Seals-Jones.
They went "big" in response to the 12-set, focusing on Nick Chubb (indeed their best option). But Ricky (and Pharoah Brown) vs linebackers and SS's was a bad mismatch, and Landry underneath one-on-one vs anybody is bad too (Landry can get open in a phone booth).
Jarvis Landry is no speed merchant, but when he catches a pass in the open field and the Free Safety is chasing OBJ and there are only 3 other DBs to track him down, he can do a variety of damage.
This is how Landry and OBJ worked together at LSU. People expecting OBJ to start throwing tantrums over not being the center of attention haven't done their homework.
In general, the 2-TE set exploits how modern defenses stack their rosters by forcing their antiquated "base" defenses onto the field.
A tight end can seal off or chip an edge-rusher. Some can motion into the backfield or a lead-block or kick-out block...
See around 13-15 of my earlier posts starting with Freddie's first game in 2018 as the Browns OC. He was brilliant. He still is.
3: The players didn't hit on this much, but I will: A generally fast-paced offense and Mayfield unloading quickly (when they pass).
I think Todd Monken is fixated on sending 4 guys vertical every time to make 5 defenders hang back and turn their backs to the backfield.
It's a valid strategy, which worked out great for him in Tampa Bay.
But obviously, Freddie's Offense works better in Cleveland, in 2019 as well as 2018.
In my opinion, Todd Monken didn't see the difference between Winston, Fitzpatrick, and Mayfield. Todd might be like another Todd (Mywayorthehighway) Haley.
Humble ex-QB Freddie Kitchens probably never had a can't miss, one size fits all genius "system" that would make any given Quarterback great.
I know it seems like I'm repeating myself a lot here, but I'm actually trying to make you understand something that defies language, and I know that most of you still don't get it.
How bout this:
The instant Freddie Kitchens took over the 2018 offense, Baker Mayfield became one of the best Quarterbacks in the NFL.
Despite only playing 13.5 games, he set a bunch of NFL rookie records. Using Mywayorthehighway's playbook, Freddie's offense was nonetheless radically different than Haley's.
Suddenly, Baker Mayfield was completing 70% of his passes to multiple receivers for one of the highest yards per-attempt rankings in the NFL and piling up passing TDs hand over fist!
FREDDIE KITCHENS DID THAT.
2 (or 3) Tight Ends (or Running Backs). Under center. Play-action. Slants, crosses, pitch-outs etc. That was all Freddie Kitchens, you people, and it was brilliant.
Baker Mayfield underestimates our intelligence, as he tells us that it was all about "execution" and had nothing to do with sets or schemes, but it's cool that the kid has Freddie's back.
Behind closed doors, you people, Baker Mayfield almost certainly got in Freddie Kitchens' face:
"Where did the play action go? Why am I always in shotgun? Where did my check-downs go? Why are you doing this to me, Coach!?!"
I'm an intelligent analyst. Do not try this at home. But I'm pretty sure I nailed it.
Baker Mayfield and Freddie Kitchens are a match made in heaven. Baker Mayfield loves Freddie Kitchens, and won't let himbe like me not be all he can be.
Freddie isn't ambitious or egotistical (or insecure) or powermad like most of the rest of us, but he is a genius.
Baker Mayfield won't let Freddie Kitchens self-destruct via lack of confidence or assertiveness or ambition or lust for power.
This is just my "read", of course. I could be almost as wrong as everybody else.
But I'm not. Okbye.
(Note to Nick: The players do not speak like this. They use contractions. It is ok to include contractions in quotes, rather than separate them and make the players sound like robots).
But I digress: The players kept it fairly simple for the fans, and in a nutshell it was:
1: Be physical, run early and often, stick with it, and wear the other defense down.
2: Run different plays out of the same sets (I will translate):
The Browns ran 12 sets (2 tight ends) a LOT. Defenses have to view this as a "run"- set, especially since Njoku is out of commission, and Dorsey/Wilks have stressed in-line blocking for Tight Ends rather than receiving.
The Ravens rotated their FS to OBJ and "capped" him off, but couldn't do that to any of the other receivers, including TE Ricky Seals-Jones.
They went "big" in response to the 12-set, focusing on Nick Chubb (indeed their best option). But Ricky (and Pharoah Brown) vs linebackers and SS's was a bad mismatch, and Landry underneath one-on-one vs anybody is bad too (Landry can get open in a phone booth).
Jarvis Landry is no speed merchant, but when he catches a pass in the open field and the Free Safety is chasing OBJ and there are only 3 other DBs to track him down, he can do a variety of damage.
This is how Landry and OBJ worked together at LSU. People expecting OBJ to start throwing tantrums over not being the center of attention haven't done their homework.
In general, the 2-TE set exploits how modern defenses stack their rosters by forcing their antiquated "base" defenses onto the field.
A tight end can seal off or chip an edge-rusher. Some can motion into the backfield or a lead-block or kick-out block...
See around 13-15 of my earlier posts starting with Freddie's first game in 2018 as the Browns OC. He was brilliant. He still is.
3: The players didn't hit on this much, but I will: A generally fast-paced offense and Mayfield unloading quickly (when they pass).
I think Todd Monken is fixated on sending 4 guys vertical every time to make 5 defenders hang back and turn their backs to the backfield.
It's a valid strategy, which worked out great for him in Tampa Bay.
But obviously, Freddie's Offense works better in Cleveland, in 2019 as well as 2018.
In my opinion, Todd Monken didn't see the difference between Winston, Fitzpatrick, and Mayfield. Todd might be like another Todd (Mywayorthehighway) Haley.
Humble ex-QB Freddie Kitchens probably never had a can't miss, one size fits all genius "system" that would make any given Quarterback great.
I know it seems like I'm repeating myself a lot here, but I'm actually trying to make you understand something that defies language, and I know that most of you still don't get it.
How bout this:
The instant Freddie Kitchens took over the 2018 offense, Baker Mayfield became one of the best Quarterbacks in the NFL.
Despite only playing 13.5 games, he set a bunch of NFL rookie records. Using Mywayorthehighway's playbook, Freddie's offense was nonetheless radically different than Haley's.
Suddenly, Baker Mayfield was completing 70% of his passes to multiple receivers for one of the highest yards per-attempt rankings in the NFL and piling up passing TDs hand over fist!
FREDDIE KITCHENS DID THAT.
2 (or 3) Tight Ends (or Running Backs). Under center. Play-action. Slants, crosses, pitch-outs etc. That was all Freddie Kitchens, you people, and it was brilliant.
Baker Mayfield underestimates our intelligence, as he tells us that it was all about "execution" and had nothing to do with sets or schemes, but it's cool that the kid has Freddie's back.
Behind closed doors, you people, Baker Mayfield almost certainly got in Freddie Kitchens' face:
"Where did the play action go? Why am I always in shotgun? Where did my check-downs go? Why are you doing this to me, Coach!?!"
I'm an intelligent analyst. Do not try this at home. But I'm pretty sure I nailed it.
Baker Mayfield and Freddie Kitchens are a match made in heaven. Baker Mayfield loves Freddie Kitchens, and won't let him
Freddie isn't ambitious or egotistical (or insecure) or powermad like most of the rest of us, but he is a genius.
Baker Mayfield won't let Freddie Kitchens self-destruct via lack of confidence or assertiveness or ambition or lust for power.
This is just my "read", of course. I could be almost as wrong as everybody else.
But I'm not. Okbye.
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Freddie the Reluctant King: Still has to do Right by his Subjects. Do YOUR Job!!!
Elliott Kennel pulls up the stats to back up what I said about the Freddie Kitchens offense that whupped the Ravens in Baltimore.
Through the first 3 games, the Browns were in 11 personnel sets over 90% of the time, whereas in what I call the Head Extraction game, they used 2 Tight Ends literally half the time.
And it worked, just like it did last season, despite the absence of Njoku.
Elliott points out some fun facts that I missed. We all saw how prodigy Ricky Seals-Jones "went off" as a receiver, but Pharoah Brown also caught one for 19 yards, giving the Tight End group over 100 yards for the game.
Also if Elliott is correct, Pharoah Brown may well pass up Demetrius Harris on the depth chart as a blocker, if he hasn't already. Kennel says Brown's blocking had a lot to do with Nick Chubb's big runs.
Seals-Jones looks like a huge "sleeper" as a receiver. He was a five-star college recruit as a wide receiver, however, and John Dorsey notices these things.
I don't know how well he blocks, but he has the size and length for it. This could get really interesting when Njoku comes back!
Bernie Kosar's comments:
Bernie referred to the 2-TE sets "that worked so well last year", and Mayfield sometimes under center (where he can hand off up the gut and use play-action) and "real balance" as reasons why the Browns offense so dominated the NFL'smost overrated best defense.
Another writer wonders if Christian Kirksey has played his last snap as a Brown.
The short answer is yes. Joe Schobert has emerged as possibly the best real linebacker in the NFL, and with the Browns atop the Division at the quarter pole, they really can't trade him...Dorsey will have to pay him...a TON.
5th round pick Mack Wilson has stepped in for Kirksey, and is simply a superior athlete who (barring injury) will displace Kirksey (and his salary).
Wilson is kinda like Joe Schobert in some ways: While Joe has better instincts (reads and anticipates quicker), Wilson is faster, and both cover exceptionally well.
A Ravens TE named Andrews lit up the NFL until he ran into Wilson and Schobert.
But I digress: Sione Takitaki has recovered from an injury which cost him much of his critical first preseason, but projects to be very much in the mix next season, as well as Genard Avery, and (listen carefully) ALL these guys are cheaper than Chris Kirksey.
And think with your brain: Chris Kirksey's "veteran leadership" and sterling character don't offset the confluence of his age, salary, and talent. Good luck, Chris!
More on Freddie:
Freddie was as surprised as many of us were to be named the Browns' new Head Coach.
But Dorsey was helping him, with a stud OC in Todd Monken, a former Head Coach in DC Wilks, and respected veteran assistants.
Despite his stellar performance as the 2018 Offensive Coordinator, Freddie Kitchens was probably as suprised by this as we were, and (I believe) was half expecting a safe to fall on his head after Defenses had a full offseason to study the film of his Offense.
So he deferred to Todd Monken (who, with 2 quarterbacks, ran one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL in 2018).
Yes, he still called plays, but called them based on Monken's sets and game-plans.
Sometime before the Ravens game, Freddie read this Blog (which shall remain nameless blush-blush), and took his offense back (in a nick of time).
NOW, the unusually humble Freddie Kitchens probably realizes that he really is a Head Coach; belongs where he is...that he dominated the Ravens.
I'm still nervous, of course. Freddie should realize that his future depends on his own brain, but I'm still afraid that he might let Monken do his all 11 all the time stuff monday night (and lose badly).
Freddie: It's not about you anymore. Think of this Offense as your child. Are you going to bring the child molesting baby sitter back?
You have to look out for your players. You have to RUN this offense yourself, dude!
Freddie Kitchens is massively smarter than he thinks he is, and may be a genius. Smarter than Monken.
He needs to sink or swim with HIS offense.
The 49ers are frankly a better team than the Ravens, and Freddie needs to run those 12 (or 21) sets and play-action and short routes to hang with these guys.
The "big" sets demand base defenses and stacked boxes; any man coverage is obvious to the Quarterback, but zone is mandatory for most teams, and Mayfield loves man anyway ok too deep in the weeds 2 Tight Ends works okbye
Through the first 3 games, the Browns were in 11 personnel sets over 90% of the time, whereas in what I call the Head Extraction game, they used 2 Tight Ends literally half the time.
And it worked, just like it did last season, despite the absence of Njoku.
Elliott points out some fun facts that I missed. We all saw how prodigy Ricky Seals-Jones "went off" as a receiver, but Pharoah Brown also caught one for 19 yards, giving the Tight End group over 100 yards for the game.
Also if Elliott is correct, Pharoah Brown may well pass up Demetrius Harris on the depth chart as a blocker, if he hasn't already. Kennel says Brown's blocking had a lot to do with Nick Chubb's big runs.
Seals-Jones looks like a huge "sleeper" as a receiver. He was a five-star college recruit as a wide receiver, however, and John Dorsey notices these things.
I don't know how well he blocks, but he has the size and length for it. This could get really interesting when Njoku comes back!
Bernie Kosar's comments:
Bernie referred to the 2-TE sets "that worked so well last year", and Mayfield sometimes under center (where he can hand off up the gut and use play-action) and "real balance" as reasons why the Browns offense so dominated the NFL's
Another writer wonders if Christian Kirksey has played his last snap as a Brown.
The short answer is yes. Joe Schobert has emerged as possibly the best real linebacker in the NFL, and with the Browns atop the Division at the quarter pole, they really can't trade him...Dorsey will have to pay him...a TON.
5th round pick Mack Wilson has stepped in for Kirksey, and is simply a superior athlete who (barring injury) will displace Kirksey (and his salary).
Wilson is kinda like Joe Schobert in some ways: While Joe has better instincts (reads and anticipates quicker), Wilson is faster, and both cover exceptionally well.
A Ravens TE named Andrews lit up the NFL until he ran into Wilson and Schobert.
But I digress: Sione Takitaki has recovered from an injury which cost him much of his critical first preseason, but projects to be very much in the mix next season, as well as Genard Avery, and (listen carefully) ALL these guys are cheaper than Chris Kirksey.
And think with your brain: Chris Kirksey's "veteran leadership" and sterling character don't offset the confluence of his age, salary, and talent. Good luck, Chris!
More on Freddie:
Freddie was as surprised as many of us were to be named the Browns' new Head Coach.
But Dorsey was helping him, with a stud OC in Todd Monken, a former Head Coach in DC Wilks, and respected veteran assistants.
Despite his stellar performance as the 2018 Offensive Coordinator, Freddie Kitchens was probably as suprised by this as we were, and (I believe) was half expecting a safe to fall on his head after Defenses had a full offseason to study the film of his Offense.
So he deferred to Todd Monken (who, with 2 quarterbacks, ran one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL in 2018).
Yes, he still called plays, but called them based on Monken's sets and game-plans.
Sometime before the Ravens game, Freddie read this Blog (which shall remain nameless blush-blush), and took his offense back (in a nick of time).
NOW, the unusually humble Freddie Kitchens probably realizes that he really is a Head Coach; belongs where he is...that he dominated the Ravens.
I'm still nervous, of course. Freddie should realize that his future depends on his own brain, but I'm still afraid that he might let Monken do his all 11 all the time stuff monday night (and lose badly).
Freddie: It's not about you anymore. Think of this Offense as your child. Are you going to bring the child molesting baby sitter back?
You have to look out for your players. You have to RUN this offense yourself, dude!
Freddie Kitchens is massively smarter than he thinks he is, and may be a genius. Smarter than Monken.
He needs to sink or swim with HIS offense.
The 49ers are frankly a better team than the Ravens, and Freddie needs to run those 12 (or 21) sets and play-action and short routes to hang with these guys.
The "big" sets demand base defenses and stacked boxes; any man coverage is obvious to the Quarterback, but zone is mandatory for most teams, and Mayfield loves man anyway ok too deep in the weeds 2 Tight Ends works okbye
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
The Browns Beat the Ravens Because they were BETTER.
While locally my Browns vs Ravene post-game analysis has been repeated by others to my freinds and family members who avoid this Blog, on NFL Radio, they are wondering what's wrong with the (perennially overrated) Ravens.
They weren't wondering this after the Chiefs whupped them the previous week, since it was Pat Mahomes and the Chiefs.
But now that the Browns dominated them in Baltimore, there must be something wrong with the Ravens!
The Ravens kicked the crap out of the Dolphins and Cardinals to open the season, and verily, Lamar Jackson has radically improved as a pure Quarterback.
But while everybody was bitching about how overhyped the 2019 Browns were, the Ravens hype (as usual) got even more extreme as they knocked off 2 tomato cans.
The analysis stunk to high heaven. The Browns domination of the Jets and blown win against last year's NFC Superbowl team were brushed off like dandruff, while the Ravens competitiveness vs the Chiefs was taken seriously.
Why?
The 2019 Chiefs' Defense has been upgraded (check), but isn't in the same class as the Browns' D. Read: The Browns' Defense was the nastiest one the Ravens had to face.
All I read pre-game was that Ward and Williams would be out (nobody seemed to notice Damarius Randall coming back, or the existance of Carrie, Whitehead, or Mitchell...or the fact that Steve Wilks was running the defense...like I said, the analysis was superficial and dismissive.
1: It's irrational to dismiss everything Baker Mayfield accomplished as a rookie based on 3 games vs 2 badass defenses in an inexplicably altered offensive scheme.
And the hell with what Mayfield himself says in defense of Freddie Kitchens: Not until the Ravens game did anything the Browns' offense did look anything like what they did in 2018.
Freddie took his Offense back. OBVIOUSLY. Baker is being a good soldier and good for him, but it's partly because Mayfield believes in Freddie and wants him to stay in charge.
2: The Wilks defense doesn't rely on press/man coverage. The simultaneous losses of Williams and Ward didn't phase him (especially since he still had Rodney Mitchellfield to "man up" here and there).
All these injuries did was put Wilks back where he came from, before he had any "shut-down" man corners.
DUH! Of course Carrie, Mitchell, Whitehead etc worked out fine!
Meanwhile, the pregame analysis barely mentioned the fact that the Ravens' secondary was all but wiped out too.
Anybodywith a brain who reads this Blog knew that the Ravens secondary backups were inferior to their Browns' counterparts.
Every Browns' "backup" was a starter somewhere else, and all except Burnett are young and ascending.
Blah blah Ravens defense blah blah they always kick the Browns ass (*even that is idiotic: check out the last 3 seasons. What tf does 2017 and before have to do with the 2019 Browns and Ravens? Harbaugh check........*).
The Ravens have a solid Offensive Line, but it wasn't a match for the Browns' front four. This didn't matter to most analysts.
They have good WRs, but the return of Randall and the Browns' quality depth didn't matter either.
The Ravens had sledge-hammered their way through 3 games (including vs the Chiefs) averaging nearly 6 yards per carry (by the way: the other guys are good, but Ingram is better).
While the expert analysts on NFL Radio paid lip-service to how these 200+ rush yards per-game helpedBrett Farve Lamar Jackson out, it never occured to any of them that the likes of Garrett, Ogonjobi, Richardson, Vernon, Schobert etc could slow them down considering (you know) the awesome run defenses the Ravens had faced, right?
Sorry guys, but you just don't get how stupid this alleged pregame analysis got, and how in general they always overrate the Ravens.
Many of us aren't too surprised by this dominating win.
People were wanting Kitchens to quit calling plays?!?. AB and Ryan were bashing Mayfield. I (and almost nobody else) was telling Freddie to take his offense back.
Mayfield was "regressing"; Defenses "had his number".
So much bullshit:
Vs the Ravens finally the 2019 Browns offense looked like the (Kitchens) offense.
Hopefully, the "collaboration" is over, and I assume that Todd Monken accepts that Freddie has a better handle on things than he does here.
In my opinion, Freddie Kitchens just wanted to "make a living". Once he saw that he wasn't going to be a pro QB, he aimed at coaching.
It beat the hell out of a real job, and had some upside.
Imo Freddie Kitchens was never ambitious. Being a football coach looked like a way to make a living that wouldn't suck, and he could maybe paint houses or something in the offseason.
This lack of ambition probably has something to do with why Freddie Kitchens remained an assistant coach until the middle of 2018.
All the while, naturally, he daydreamed (or more accurately planned) what he would do if he was in charge.
Suddenly, he was in charge! And he had BAKER MAYFIELD (and Chubb and a top 5 OL and Njoku and Landry and stuff)...
Stay tuned.
They weren't wondering this after the Chiefs whupped them the previous week, since it was Pat Mahomes and the Chiefs.
But now that the Browns dominated them in Baltimore, there must be something wrong with the Ravens!
The Ravens kicked the crap out of the Dolphins and Cardinals to open the season, and verily, Lamar Jackson has radically improved as a pure Quarterback.
But while everybody was bitching about how overhyped the 2019 Browns were, the Ravens hype (as usual) got even more extreme as they knocked off 2 tomato cans.
The analysis stunk to high heaven. The Browns domination of the Jets and blown win against last year's NFC Superbowl team were brushed off like dandruff, while the Ravens competitiveness vs the Chiefs was taken seriously.
Why?
The 2019 Chiefs' Defense has been upgraded (check), but isn't in the same class as the Browns' D. Read: The Browns' Defense was the nastiest one the Ravens had to face.
All I read pre-game was that Ward and Williams would be out (nobody seemed to notice Damarius Randall coming back, or the existance of Carrie, Whitehead, or Mitchell...or the fact that Steve Wilks was running the defense...like I said, the analysis was superficial and dismissive.
1: It's irrational to dismiss everything Baker Mayfield accomplished as a rookie based on 3 games vs 2 badass defenses in an inexplicably altered offensive scheme.
And the hell with what Mayfield himself says in defense of Freddie Kitchens: Not until the Ravens game did anything the Browns' offense did look anything like what they did in 2018.
Freddie took his Offense back. OBVIOUSLY. Baker is being a good soldier and good for him, but it's partly because Mayfield believes in Freddie and wants him to stay in charge.
2: The Wilks defense doesn't rely on press/man coverage. The simultaneous losses of Williams and Ward didn't phase him (especially since he still had Rodney Mitchellfield to "man up" here and there).
All these injuries did was put Wilks back where he came from, before he had any "shut-down" man corners.
DUH! Of course Carrie, Mitchell, Whitehead etc worked out fine!
Meanwhile, the pregame analysis barely mentioned the fact that the Ravens' secondary was all but wiped out too.
Anybody
Every Browns' "backup" was a starter somewhere else, and all except Burnett are young and ascending.
Blah blah Ravens defense blah blah they always kick the Browns ass (*even that is idiotic: check out the last 3 seasons. What tf does 2017 and before have to do with the 2019 Browns and Ravens? Harbaugh check........*).
The Ravens have a solid Offensive Line, but it wasn't a match for the Browns' front four. This didn't matter to most analysts.
They have good WRs, but the return of Randall and the Browns' quality depth didn't matter either.
The Ravens had sledge-hammered their way through 3 games (including vs the Chiefs) averaging nearly 6 yards per carry (by the way: the other guys are good, but Ingram is better).
While the expert analysts on NFL Radio paid lip-service to how these 200+ rush yards per-game helped
Sorry guys, but you just don't get how stupid this alleged pregame analysis got, and how in general they always overrate the Ravens.
Many of us aren't too surprised by this dominating win.
People were wanting Kitchens to quit calling plays?!?. AB and Ryan were bashing Mayfield. I (and almost nobody else) was telling Freddie to take his offense back.
Mayfield was "regressing"; Defenses "had his number".
So much bullshit:
Vs the Ravens finally the 2019 Browns offense looked like the (Kitchens) offense.
Hopefully, the "collaboration" is over, and I assume that Todd Monken accepts that Freddie has a better handle on things than he does here.
In my opinion, Freddie Kitchens just wanted to "make a living". Once he saw that he wasn't going to be a pro QB, he aimed at coaching.
It beat the hell out of a real job, and had some upside.
Imo Freddie Kitchens was never ambitious. Being a football coach looked like a way to make a living that wouldn't suck, and he could maybe paint houses or something in the offseason.
This lack of ambition probably has something to do with why Freddie Kitchens remained an assistant coach until the middle of 2018.
All the while, naturally, he daydreamed (or more accurately planned) what he would do if he was in charge.
Suddenly, he was in charge! And he had BAKER MAYFIELD (and Chubb and a top 5 OL and Njoku and Landry and stuff)...
Stay tuned.
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