Even I can't say much about the Browns being all but dominated by the Bengals, yet winning at home.
Baker Mayfield in particular was, flashes aside, putrid again...it's just depressing--what the hell is wrong here?
No offense to the Bengals, who don't really suck as bad as everybody thinks with Dalton at the helm.
The Bengals offense had a great game plan, and a Division rival's success vs the Browns' defense isn't all that upsetting, considering that the defense delivered when it mattered.
But Mayfield...no, not the offense in general, but just Mayfield...
Full disclosure I only listened to the game, but trust Doug and Jim:
The Bengals' defense did a great job stuffing Nick Chubb early on. Hunt had slightly better luck on his few carries, but when you gain or lose a yard, even on first down, you need to pass, see?
The defense knows it, so it's tougher to sell play action.
The Bengals D then exploited Tretter's injury and Hubbard's absence.
No don't bash Freddie's playcalling. He tried to lean on play-action. He used rollouts. He pitched out and threw to Landry and Hunt. Max protect with extra tight ends and running backs. Misdirection--quit using Freddie as your whipping boy.
Any quarterback would have had a hard time under that much pressure, but Baker should be playing better.
Remember, at Oklahoma Mayfield was renowned for his touch and accuracy, whether throwing with his feet planted or in motion. The more pressure he felt, the better he got.
That's not what we're seeing in 2019.
Ah well. So OBJ may have told some people around the league that he wants out of Cleveland. Big deal. He's allowed to express himself, and if you want to bash him for it you are unreasonable.
He's been playing hurt all season long; he'll need an operation at the end of the season. He's been more than a good soldier. Get off his freaking back.
And I'd want out, too. He's having his worst season ever. The offensive line is going to be hard to fix. The run bias looks here to stay. Njoku, Landry, and even Hunt (if he stays) are taking his targets.
Kitchens is under fire and OBJ no doubt fears a regime-change...while stuck in the same division as the Ravens, and he can't even be optimistic about a Superbowl in 2020.
Anyway, the draft pick(s) and/or offensive linemen players which OBJ could fetch in a trade are more valuable to this specific team than OBJ is, and DePodesta Dorsey might already be working on that.
Baker Mayfield shouldn't have picked on the Browns' training staff in public in re how OBJ's injury was (mis)handled, but what he said, if it's true, is upsetting:
If the operation could have gotten a healthy Beckham on the field by game 4, well?
On the other hand, OBJ and his agent were part of this decision.
Baker later admitted that he didn't know the whole story, but was standing up for a teammate who is getting bashed for...well for no reason.
I skimmed an article by a New York writer who said that OBJ and Mayfield poured gasoline on the Browns' "dumpster fire".
I'm so sick of this ignorance. 1-31 was a dumpster fire. A game under .500 isn't...you idiot.
I fully expect to hear "dysfuntional" hundreds of times this week, more Kitchens-bashing, and...mindless parrotting of mindless analysts saying what other mindless analysts said rinse and repeat just shoot me (please) I can't stand this insanity
A lot of people, including Mary Kay Cabbott, are blaming the wrong people for the Browns' dissapointing season.
1: When Freddie Kitchens and Todd Monken don't "connect", it's good for the Browns. Multiple Tight Ends and the 2-back have Freddie's fingerprints all over them.
Abandoning the run prematurely is more likely on Monken. Look no further back than Freddie's 2018 stint as Offensive Coordinator, and compare that to Monken's Buccaneer offense. I mean DUH.
2: Until the second half vs the Steelers, Freddie's playcalling was pretty good, and even here, down and distance can force more passes.
3: Dan Justik exposes the real "culprits" here, and these are the Offensive Line, and John Dorsey.
Aside from Tretter and Bitonio, the Browns Offensive Line is below average (especially at Tackle). Baker Mayfield gets too much pressure too soon, and they've had to go more "West Coast", despite an impressive running game (read play-action) and Mayfield's mobility and ability to improvise.
In fairness to Dorsey (see earlier posts), all of his veteran free agent Offensive Linemen were above average in pass protection per PFF, so his strategy made sense for a zone-blocking offense.
But, as Dan points out, Dorsey overpaid Hubbard, and drafted Austin Corbett atop the second round. Not good.
4: Blaming the Coaches for OBJ's substandard season is simpletonian.
OBJ avoided most of the offseason workouts. Mayfield doesn't "miss" Landry: there it is.
4a: Trying to FORCE the ball to OBJ deep has probably done more harm than good.
Certainly you can bash Kitchens for this, but please make up your mind: Is Freddie incompetent for sending OBJ deep and making Mayfield focus on him, or for doing more West Coast stuff and letting Mayfield spread it around?
New topic: OBJ-bashing is assenine. HE hasn't said anything about wanting "out", let alone made any demands whatsoever.
Pat Kirwan and the rest of you need to quit reminding Beckham that he's under contract and powerless...
Again full disclosure: English is my first language, and I always hear or read what is said or written, verbatum.
I can't figure out why these clowns are picking on OBJ. JFC he can't even answer questions anymore! He could say "yes", "no", "maybe", or "no comment" and get crucified!
Pat Kirwan et al: What tf did OBJ say that you managed to mangle into a "demand" or...whatever? Why TF are you lecturing Beckham on contract law!?!
And yes, I have to invoke Donald Trump and impeachment here, because the similarities are obvious.
Just to clarify for any new readers: OBJ has always been a team player. He has made a fool of himself sometimes, and loves attention, but despite the weekly questions about his unexpectedly low production, he's been a model politician as a Brown.
In a nutshell, OBJ blabbering too much but essentially saying "I don't know" about his future with the Browns shouldn't have got Charlie Weiss, Pat Kirwan et al all up in his face lecturing him about contract law!!!
Good GRIEF OBJ said NOTHING wrong, or even controversial! And here we go with this "Impeach OBJ" bullshit!
Wow. Just...wow.
Thanks to Chris Trapasso, I have noticed new practice squad addition Justin Zimmer, who is a disruptive passrushing Defensive Lineman from...Ferris State?
Yep! Division II. Justin wasn't invited to the 2016 Combine, but blew up a regional combine with amazing numbers, including a 33.5" vertical leap and 7.01 3-cone at 302 lbs., both of which, along with his broad jump and bench press (44 reps) bested Aaron Donald.
Donald clocked a shocking 4.68 40, whereas Zimmer's was 4.86, but if we can come down from the nose bleed section, 4.86 is a decent time for a Defensive End and a great time for a DT.
The leaps and bench press are about explosiveness, or "suddenness", and the 3-cone is about agility and balance. If you took the names off these 2 players and didn't know where they played in college, a lot of scouts would favor Zimmer over Donald (who is shorter and smaller).
That 7.01 3-cone is a good time for a linebacker; okay for a safety--some cornerbacks never get under 7 seconds!
Without a doubt, Zimmer took a huge step up in class when he entered the NFL, and had a lot to learn, but he's now in his third NFL season. That's when these "project" players tend to blossom.
With Myles Garrett suspended, Olivier Vernon dealing with lingering issues, and a possible depth issue behind Ogunjobi and Richardson inside, Justin Zimmer (listed as a backup DT) should get some reps vs the Bengals.
On the Ourlads current Browns Depth Chart, Larry Ogunjobi is actually listed as the starting Left DE (ahead of Chad Thomas), and as we know, Richardson has been playing some Defensive End too.
It seems like Steve Wilks and company are sort of bulking up up front, and using selective blitzes to compensate for Myles Garrett's absence.
I know that the Steelers beat the Browns last week, but if you look at the numbers, it seems to be working okay.
Zimmer could help a lot, IF he's ready to live up to his potential. If Richardson and Ogunjobi can play DE, Zimmer certainly can, and if Aaron Donald can play DT well...there ya go!
Brandin Bryant is listed as the starting DT ahead of Zimmer, and I can't find anything on him. They must see something in him, though.
David Njoku should be active vs the Bengals, and he could make a big difference.
As I've informed my crickets, asshole scumbag analysis-stealers etc, David Njoku looms as a huge secret weapon.
The majority of the people who steal and regurgitate unattributed stuff from this Blog are (so far) oblivious to Njoku's existance (not to mention his impact on the offense)
I expect my extremely few followers (with the exception of my twin brother) to acknowlege my correctitude, since it is obvious and irrefutable.
Anyway Freddie Kitchens is not an idiot, should not be fired (yet), Baker Mayfield is not a bust, and the Browns' fan-base ought to stop spazzing out.
You want to FIRE people...AGAIN!?! How can you reconcile that with your Haslam-bashing?
Can any of you...THINK?
Just...shoot me
It's not too soon for John Dorsey to consider which current Browns short-timers he needs to prioritize, and Justice Sunderland (who might well read this Blog) wonders, as I have been wondering in this space, what about Kareem (Hunt)?
It looks like Justice is one of many who read this blog and regurgitate it sans attribution, but I can't assume that yet. He might actually be a genius in his own right.
Anyway, everything he says is smart and insightful:
Justice thinks that the bidding war for Kareem Hunt might make him just too expensive to keep, but his off the field issues, his injury, and the position he plays (running back, ok?) will mitigate against this.
Hunt also grew up here, has bonded with Nick Chubb and accepted his diminished role, and might accept less money to stay in Cleveland:
1: As a "bellcow" guy, Hunt knows his carreer will be shorter (and more painful).
2: He's Chubb's default backup, and is likely to get more chances, because (see "1").
3: Freddie Kitchens (not Todd Monken) has a unique (starting) role for him in a unique NFL offense which isn't far behind the Ravens conceptually.
4: The Browns are young, and one of the most talented teams in the NFL. Kareem Hunt seems to want to win slightly more than he wants to squeeze crap out of the last Buffalo nickel.
5: (see posts from shortly after Hunt's signing): Nick Chubb has 2 years remaining on his rookie contract. Overpaying Kareem Hunt in 2020 makes him instantly extremely tradeable.
Keeping up with me here?
For at least 2020, paying Kareem Hunt would preserve a souped-up Mack/Byner offense, retain one of the best running/receiving (not to mention blocking) big-play weapons in the NFL.
Ah yeah it gets deep here (sorry). OBJ might turn into GMF in 2020. That trade would free up significant cap space, and re-signing Hunt (as a running back) would be comparatively cheap in the real world.
Obviously, 2019 probably isn't a Superbowl year for the Browns, but 2020 could be.
Retaining Kitchens, Hunt, Schobert, (maybe) Robinson etc could make that difference.
Yeah Kitchens! Freddie knows how to exploit a Chubb/Hunt 2-back offense. I haven't seen that anywhere else in the modern NFL.
John Dorsey needs to pay Kareem Hunt and keep Freddie Kitchens. If he fires Freddie, odds are he has to let Hunt go, because in 2020, Freddie Kitchens might just be THE ONLY NFL Coach who is "dumb" enough to run a 2-back offense...
It amazes me that using 2 running backs (not a scatback and converted linebacker blocking fullback ie a REAL 2-back) is so "unthinkable" in 2019, but do you get this?
If Dorsey fires Freddie, Kareem Hunt is almost certainly a GMF too...unless the new genius converts him to a wide receiver or something (gimme a break).
Freddie Kitchens might not be an offensive genius, but he has common sense, and makes the most of what he has.
That's what Bill Belichick did and does...
IS ANY OF THIS SINKING IN YET?
WTF why do I bother?
This just in: I respect Geoff Schwartze as a tier 2 X's and O's guy and a borderline tier 1 locker room guy, but his blabberage about Freddie's "Pittsburgh Started It" T-shirt (T-Shirtgate) is just plain stupid.
Freddie needs to "grow up", per Schwartze.
No, Mitchell Geoff---it was pretty cool since it was the truth, and the NFL can't fine Freddie for it.
And all the players on the team LOVE Kitchens for it. Schwartze is below average on any subject other than offensive lines and applicable schemes.
Freddie Kitchens needs to get better in some ways, but his choice of T-shirts isn't one of them.
Geoff? This is why you're not a Coach.
Randy Gurzi is getting better at intelligent analysis as he attacks a rumor that OBJ wants out:
He seems to understand, this time, that the rumor is likely based in conjecture from somebody like me, and nothing he or his teammates or coaches or family or agent or anybody else actually said.
That's progress. Randy is getting there.
Anyway, OBJ might well want out as, for whatever reasons, his production remains at historic lows for him.
Beckham has been a great team player. As I said when ignorant people were comparing him to Antonio Brown, while he does love attention, he's not selfish or stupid, and I'd prefer to keep him, but...
Full disclosure: I was less than thrilled with the trade that brought OBJ here. You can check my posts from then and earlier.
In a nutshell, I said that Baker Mayfield naturally distributed the ball to the deepest open receiver.
Mayfield made stars out of nobodies--several of which have been released and disappeared. I didn't consider a superstar wide receiver a priority at all, whatsoever, for this Quarterback.
I now believe that, (exactly as I predicted before and after the trade), compelling Mayfield to favor one receiver and throw deep more often has done more harm than good.
NOW, opposing defenses focus on OBJ in various ways, but always taking the whole top (deep) part of his route tree away.
I can't get too deep in the weeds here, but because OBJ isn't big or tall, one-handed catches or no, he's NOT a good target on vertical deep routes.
The loss of David Njoku hurt OBJ, as Njoku IS a vertical deep threat inside that physically overmatches any one defender in coverage. Njoku makes a big difference!
But the addition of Kareem Hunt should also have taken some heat off OBJ in several ways (but in a nutshell it's mainly that the Free Safety has to be more aggressive in general, and can NOT ever ignore Hunt...)
It's more deep weeds, but ok ok that Free Safety is the break glass-in-case-of-emergency guy; the "cap"; the shoestring td-preventer, ok?
Kareem Hunt as a receiver overmatches any defender they try to cover him with (*the corners are on Landry and OBJ, the SS (or somebody) on Njoku, ergo some linebacker or oversized safety has to try to cover Hunt, and that's just...funny, ok?)
Anyway all-man is idiot-proof for Baker Mayfield---dammit, and...
Too deep. Honest guys, I could break it all down, but you'd get bored and bug (or pass) out.
Anyway I digress: As I (blush-blush) predicted in a post a long time ago, Odell Beckham Jr could be on the trading block after 2019.
His age, history, and contract trump 2019, and he should fetch a first round pick at least.
No knock on OBJ the player or person, but I'll take that deal, and use the savings to keep Schobert and company.
I HAVE SPOKEN
Just a note here on TE Stephen Carleson: He's like DeValve (an oversized WR), but is 6'4", has blocked well, and seems to have already passed up Ricky Seals-Jones. Very promising.
I can't find anything wrong with Randy Gurzi's notion that it might be a good idea for the Browns to bring in Ron Rivera.
*Full disclosure: English is my first language, and I was trained to think with my brain*
Randy shouldn't have to explain to you people that he is talking about hiring Rivera as a consultant for the remainder of 2019--not as a Coach in 2020.
Obviously, Ron Rivera will be somebody's HEAD Coach in 2020 duh.
What Randy is talking about is a way for Rivera to stay busy and make significant extra cash (without voiding his remaining pay from the Panthers) while helping out...
Well Randy is talking about Rivera's protege, Steve Wilks, but really Rivera is a very good HEAD Coach, and could most certainly help Freddie Kitchens out as well.
In separate articles, the Browns are named one of the top landing spots for Rivera in 2020 (most have Freddie on the skids already).
Pragmaticly speaking, contracting Rivera as a consultant now would establish a strong relationship with the Front Office and familiarity with the players...just in case.
I still believe that Freddie Kitchens is growing into a very good Head Coach, and his offensive creativity is important to this team.
This would be a "can't lose"/"hedge your bets"/insurance move by Jimmy Haslam, who could pay Rivera a LOT (no salary cap here, see?)
1: Rivera has a stellar record as a Defensive Coordinator, and "trained" Steve Wilks.
2: He won a Superbowl as a Head Coach, and will obviously probably be THE hottest Head Coach prospect in the NFL due to his record and reputation.
3: Rivera could help ALL the Coaches a lot as a consultant, and (trust me) would be welcomed by both Kitchens and Wilks.
Rivera could advise Kitchens on organizational structure and a lot of other non-"x/o" stuff, and offer stability. His influence would be long-term.
4: Dorsey and the Haslams get to know Rivera and vice-versa (well Rivera gets to know the players, too).
Plan B: Replace Freddie with Ron.
Plan B1: Replace Freddie with Ron and retain Freddie as Offensive Coordinator.
Continuity is important, you people, and that's why even if you think Ron Rivera is better than future Freddie, you...
It's a tight window---do you get that? This is analytics---try to stay with me here:
John Dorsey has spent most of the cap space he inherited from Paul DePodesta Sashi Brown, and has too much young talent to retain.
The Steelers and Bengals have talent issues, but the Ravens are scary, long-term.
Can the Browns hold onto Kareem Hunt?
Don't be an idiot: EVERYBODY will be offering ungodly money for him! John Dorsey will NOT be able to afford Hunt AND Schobert, Randall, Higgins, (kiss Kirksey good bye)...
I want to overpay Kareem Hunt long-term (assuming Freddie Kitchens is also retained).
Screw the "Running Back" label on Hunt: Replace that with "weapon". But he will cost a fortune, ok?
However, if Freddie Kitchens sticks around, Hunt would be worth that, because he can line up anywhere, is a great blocker, can REPLACE an injured Chubb, and is neck-and-neck with OBJ and Chubb as the scariest skill-player on this offense.
Yeah I hear ya okbye
Voice of sanity Doug Lesmerisis channeled my humble self in an excellent opinion piece on the spastic, reactive, tantrum-like reactions of many Browns fans to the Browns loss in Pittsburgh.
Freddie's t-shirt is "T-shirtgate"--what a joke! So some Steelers players said it ticked them off---big freakin deal they know that Rudolph did start it, as does any objective observer! Who the hell told you that NFL players are mentally impaired!?! That's what we call a "steryotype".
If the T-shirt had said "Rudolph Had it Coming", or "Free Garrett", I'd be with the snowflakes on this, but most of your reactions are a joke to us old-timers.
Put on your big boy pants, sissies!
But Doug's main point was that the solution to this problem is not to fire Freddie Kitchens...ie not to fire yet another Head Coach after one season (and start over again).
Fortunately, Jimmy Haslam is loathe to do that as, despite giving the 1-31 Hue Jackson a third year (at least at first), he still has a rep as a "meddling", impatient spazz (knock-knock: anybody home!?!)
Doug must read this Blog, as he joins me in pointing out that this "lack of discipline" narrative in re Kitchens' Browns is utter bullshit based on the first few games of his tenure with one of the youngest rosters in the NFL.
Whitehead was cut loose for social media comments, Callaway for being late and a poor work ethic, and STAR safety Damarius Randall scratched and left home for undisclosed reasons (amazing nobody has leaked that yet by the way: Freddie/John must have promised to fire blabbermouths).
...oh and for the last 4-5 games, the Browns have been one of the least penalized teams in the NFL.
Doug didn't get too deep into what should be done to fix the Browns, but he's right that the right side of the Offensive line needs an upgrade.
I can get deeper:
1: Baker Mayfield and the offense have been damn near unstoppable when running the hurry-up at not obvious times in a game, and Freddie never does it anymore.
The hurry-up locks a defensive personnel group onto the field and prevents substitutions. It also stifles the ability of a defense to adjust to the offense; it forces it to play more "vanilla", and puts it on it's heels.
It wears these defenders down.
When you run hurry-up only when coming from behind with time expiring, the defense can anticipate sideline passes, and not worry about inside runs or passes, but when you hurry up at any other time, the offense can use it's whole arsenal.
Vs the Steelers was the perfect time to use the hurry-up. That's an exceptional defense, and a mediocre offense. You don't worry about keeping that offense off the field, especially in the come-from-behind situation that the Mayfield in-game hurry-up is likely to produce D U H.
2: I'm tired of this "rolling right" Mayfield crap. ALL right-handed Quarterbacks prefer to roll right, which is why called rollouts for them are all to their right.
It's the "called" part that's missing here:
When you have a mobile quarterback who can throw on the move, rollouts are a great way to H I N T. H I N T help a shaky pass-blocking offensive line.
It tanks the edge rush from the left side by forcing that speedster to either try to go through the left tackle or circumnavigate the globe to run around him. It lets the Right tackle attack instead of defend. And (to repeat) it forces all passrushers to react and alter their trajectories after their first steps.
As long as you don't do this too often, called rollouts consistently buy your quarterback at LEAST an extra half second, and often a lot more time to scan the field.
I can't fathom why this is so rarely used by the Browns offense, especially vs this most recent opponent, which can really blow up a pocket.
3: Uncharacteristically, Freddie all but abandoned the run in the second half vs the Steelers.
With all due respect to Lesmerisis, Teller and Hubbard weren't important here, as Chubb and Hunt were both doing damage, and the Steelers defense had to be wearing down.
Just in general, you don't attack the 2019 Steelers defense by air if you can avoid it. There was no reason to get pass-happy at any point during the first 3.5 quarters of this game. This was absotively Freddie's call, and likely the biggest single reason the Browns lost. Yeah you, Freddie!
But I concur with Doug: Freddie Kitchens is learning on the job (like Bill Belichick was awhile back), and has showed some promise.
Now, a few corrections here: There are only so many ways to get the ball to OBJ, and the Browns have tried all of them, sometimes to the detriment of the offense in general.
And let's not go to lala land with this "next man up/no excuses" crap: In the real world, Damarius Randall and Chad Thomas mattered (not to mention Myles Garrett).
Greedy Williams is a rookie, and errumm...who the hell stepped in for Thomas after he got hurt? Probably a guy who wasn't on the team 2 weeks ago, and who none of us ever heard of.
Freddie Kitchens' Browns beat the Bills and dominated the Ravens and Steelers; and hung with the Patriots too.
Freddie Kitchens has earned his second year already (assuming the team doesn't collapse and finish less than 8-8).
Just as nobody with a brain labels a player a "bust" off his rookie season, they can't do that to a Head Coach (who wasn't even a coordinator for over half a season prior to his elevation to Head Coach)
As good as the Ravens are, even I can't predict that the Browns will beat them again, but the Browns should beat everybody else on their schedule.
If they don't, then I will consider thinking about possibly considering the idea of concievably firing Freddie and starting over AGAIN, but I'll probably stand with Freddie anyway (especially if the alternative is Mike McCarthy).
Stick those ropes, torches, and pitchforks where the sun don't shine in re Freddie Kitchens, and get up off him (a T-Shirt...really?)
Don't get me started here: Art Modell was Satan for having hired BILL BELICHICK (among other things), Belichick was an incompetent idiot...most of you people are IDIOTS (no🖕offense).
1: Baker Mayfield is in his second NFL season.
2: The Browns have 2 mediocre Offensive Tackles (sans Robinson vs Pittsburgh btw) and a WORSE Right Guard.
3: Njoku has been mia, DISCIPLINE has deleted a BUNCH of key players: Whitehead and Callaway cut, Morgan Burnett on IR, Randall benched, Garrett suspended, Thomas injured too and you parrots squawk this "next man up" garbage ask the Patriots about that gdammit you cretins (no offense).
The Bengals just stomped the Jets. The Dolphins beat the Eagles. The Titans stomped the Colts, the Jagwires got stomped by the Bucs, and the Texans whupped the Patriots.
Get a grip, you people. As I've illucidated, Freddie Kitchens has apparently not read my Blog, but despite that has done over 60% of the stuff I have recommended. Obviously this makes him at least a borderline genius, and hopefully somebody will turn him onto this Blog.
Sadly, my communications with the organization remain all screwed up ("undeliverable" etc), so Freddie hasn't done the blatently obvious stuff which I (and a bunch of ex-players and coaches) have recommended.
Ok but in 2018 he used a variation of the Wishbone (3 running backs) and 3 tight ends and everything in between to max out what he had to work with, and (lately) in 2019, he (in my opinion) has overrode OC Todd Monken to max out Hunt...
If any of you had a clue, you would see that Todd Monken was running the offense until the bye, and Freddie took over after.
This might be unfair to Monken, of course, as I can't read minds, and have only how he managed his Tampa Bay players to work with, ok?
But FREDDIE I KNOW, ok? And the pony offense and stuff I think is more him than Monken.
...and the notion that Freddie is mentally impaired is grossly ignorant.
The penalties and discipline stuff is bullshit (obviously).
...Oh shit you don't get that after all this if your alleged mind was made up about Donald Trump Freddie Kitchens out of the gate, but:
You should not be allowed to vote, or serve on a jury.
No 🖕offense.
This just in: I can't help including a link to this Irrational idiocy, just so you can see how much smarter I am than---blush-blush nevermind
