Asking the question "is Dorsey right?" (that Sashi and company didn't draft real players) is dumb on it's face. He is obiously full of crap (and lying).
But Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports) wrote a thoughtful and objective article on this topic, which I unfortunately need to correct:
I'll start with Chris's conclusion, which was almost predictably neutral. I don't know Chris well enough to call him a fence-rider, but in general, too many people think that being objective=being neutral. It doesn't.
Next, the details of that conclusion:
Chris listed six "building block" players who were acquired in Sashi's two drafts:
1: He did not include Tretter, Zietler, Boddy-Calhoun, McCourtey, Schobert, Peppers, or Shon Coleman (he skipped free agency, and sold some draft picks and undrafted free agents way short).
2: Chris's theory that Sashi and co focused on college production in 2015 and combine numbers in 2016 is interesting, and might be partially true, but he takes it too far.
Wilson, Peppers, Ogunjobi and Garrett were all productive in college (*Peppers didn't make a lot of splash-plays but look "production" up in your Funk and Wagnal).
Coleman, Ogbah, and (yes, Chris) Nassib all tested well (or off the charts, in Corey Coleman's case) at their combine. (Chris said Nassib tested poorly! He was tried out at outside linebacker! He's an eye-blink slower than Ogbah in the 40 AT SIX FOOT SEVEN).
Chris probably confuses "building block" with "Pro Bowl Starter", but I can forgive him since that's an all-too-common mistake.
I like Chis. He is smart and tries (way too hard) to be "fair".
But as an analyst, he has a ways to go. You don't form a hypothesis and mold data to suit it. You don't edit data in order to stay neutral. And sometimes being objective means bashing somebody.
I really mean this: To be a good analyst, you need to feel as if lives depend on the accuracy of your conclusions. You can not slant your information, or compromise for any reason (least of all to be politically correct!!!)
Dorsey was simply lying with his "real players" statement, since it's so preposterous that everybody knows he's too smart to believe what he said.
He said it partly to prop up the Head Coach Jimmy Haslam stuck him with, and partly so that he can try to bamboozle us and claim credit when the Browns inevittably start winning in 2018 (it's insulting as hell. Even the permabashers will know better and start bashing him).
Still, as I've said, I love that Dorsey is here, because he's a proven team-builder and judge of talent. I can hold my nose and expect this scumbag to nail down the quarterback(s) and do at least as well as Sashi in free agency and the lower rounds....
No, that last part is too optimistic: Brien Boddy-Calhoun is a STUD. So is McCourtey. So is Zietler. Tretter was a sweet signing. Dayes is a lot like Duke. Don't give up on Zane Gonzalez. I think Howard Wilson will be a terrific cornerback once he heals up. I could go on.
Let's just say that I trust Dorsey more than Sashi at the quarterback position and leave it at that.
Speaking of which, I was GLAD the AJ McCarron trade fell through (and hope that Sashi Brown sabotaged it deliberately, like I would have.)
But McCarron is back in play now:
If you think Kirk Cousins or Alex Smith want to play for Hue Jackson, despite this impressive offensive talent, you haven't been paying attention.
To repeat myself yet again (I apologize, but nobody seems to have heard me the first seven or eight times), these guys are both West Coast quarterbacks, and Hue Jackson WILL NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, let them do what they do best, NO MATTER WHAT.
(Yes I was wrong about Hue, telling you about his huge playbook and adaptability. I need to stop listening to experts so much. Hue is a blockhead, married to his offensive system, regardless of his roster).
These two will will probably accept less money to avoid Hue Fisher.
Enter AJ McCarron (for a much less rediculous price):
CONTEXT: Hue Jackson wanted to win a game or two to save his ass in 2017, and felt McCarron could do that. At that time, we still had hope for DeShone Kizer as a franchise quarterback.
NOW, Kizer looks worse.
If Dorsey can't bring down Cousins or Smith, McCarron may be the ideal "veteran" starter to keep a rookie (Darnold I hope) out of trouble (and behind Kizer on the depth-chart too).
No, you need to listen to me here:
AJ McCarron had an awesome record of success in college, but slid in his draft due to "physical limitations" (including size and arm-strength), and accuracy...
Whah-evah! He did what he did in Andy Dalton's stead as a starter. He was pretty damn good! Some Bungles fans think he's better than Andy Dalton!
Dorsey just said that winning the AFC North was the only acceptable goal next season. If you think Kizer can do that, you're optimistic. If you think a rookie quarterback can do it, you are delusional. If you expect Alex Smith or Kirk Cousins here, you're even more optimistic.
McCarron is a legit veteran. In Cinci, he was well-protected and surrounded by weapons, and coached by Hue.
Same deal here, and he's older and wiser now. I consider AJ McCarron as the Browns day one starter in 2018 a good possibility.
Hue Jackson himself said the ingredients of a franchise quarterback are a running game, protection, weapons, and a strong defense. The Browns quarterback in 2018 will have all this!
Shut tf up! Darnold (I hope) will be only one of five picks ascending from the top of the third round, and as of now the pick after him is fifth overall.
Now you expect Dorsey to screw that up? You're sick, man! You need therapy.
And with Gregg Williams coaching this defense, Ogbah and Collins coming back, Wilson on-line, Peppers broken in etc you think Gregg Williams will fall off the map, even without free agency and the draft?
You people never cease to amaze me. How can you expect second and third year players not to improve?
The Niners won again, leaving the Giants as the only threat to the Browns drafting first overall. I am confident that they have it in the bag, even though they have a shot at knocking off Chicago.
The Texans pick has a good shot at getting higher as well.
By the way, Dorsey could possibly use that pick on Joe Thomas's eventual successor. There is a project-type candidate on injured reserve who Sashi drafted low, but we really don't know. It's very hard to find left tackles lower than that.
The Browns are like a car I once had. At 70,000 miles, things started breaking and needing repairs. After a couple months of this, my Dad said I should get rid of it.
I said "why? Most of it's brand new now!"
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Sunday, December 17, 2017
F--k Rosen
Josh Rosen is a prick. His teammates don't like him. He wore a "F--k Trump" hat to one of Trump's golf courses. The other idiots kneel for the National Anthem. This sucker might grab his crotch.
That's not a leader. Put a "Radioactive" hazmat sign over his face and take him off the draft board.
Dorsey is said to be big on character. I hope so.
To my relief, Sam Darnold is thought to have more upside, and is a good teammate and an adult.
Darnold's issues are mostly mechanical. He's never gone to a quarterback guru, and needs some work to become more consistent. Stuff like re-setting his feet.
Darnold is a dual threat, and actually looks something like Carson Wentz as he sets up or runs. Also like Wentz, he makes things happen when things break down.
He had issues with interceptions, but not for the last several games, during which he threw for seven TDs and two picks. Darnold also has several come-from-behind wins; always a good sign.
He is highly coachable and obviously more intelligent than Rosen.
Darnold is not considered as NFL-ready as Rosen is, but that shouldn't disqualify him. Kizer will return with a season under his belt, and a veteran quarterback could well be signed.
Further, those who mindlessly repeat that any Browns quarterback is doomed is ignorant. Joe Thomas will be back next season, and with him, this is easily a top five offensive line.
Corey Coleman and Josh Gordon are lethal weapons. Crowell's future here is murky, but Duke Johnson's is not. Njoku doesn't even have a cieling.
I was unable to watch the Ravens roll the Browns again, but I do know that DeShone Kizer couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. That's not the supporting cast. That's the quarterback.
I did see the 57-yard Crowell run. That was really impressive blocking. Crow wasn't even touched, and two blockers got to the safety and linebacker.
I don't know enough to call that inside zone-blocking. I know the right guard and tackle were manned up and walling off, but on the left side, two double-teams turned into two big uglies running upfield, and I know Crow was running at an angle, trusting his instincts. Close enough! That's how you block for Crowell!
Why wouldn't a quarterback (who can hit what he aims at) want to play for Hue Jackson and the Browns?
I hope it's Darnold, and that's final for now.
That's not a leader. Put a "Radioactive" hazmat sign over his face and take him off the draft board.
Dorsey is said to be big on character. I hope so.
To my relief, Sam Darnold is thought to have more upside, and is a good teammate and an adult.
Darnold's issues are mostly mechanical. He's never gone to a quarterback guru, and needs some work to become more consistent. Stuff like re-setting his feet.
Darnold is a dual threat, and actually looks something like Carson Wentz as he sets up or runs. Also like Wentz, he makes things happen when things break down.
He had issues with interceptions, but not for the last several games, during which he threw for seven TDs and two picks. Darnold also has several come-from-behind wins; always a good sign.
He is highly coachable and obviously more intelligent than Rosen.
Darnold is not considered as NFL-ready as Rosen is, but that shouldn't disqualify him. Kizer will return with a season under his belt, and a veteran quarterback could well be signed.
Further, those who mindlessly repeat that any Browns quarterback is doomed is ignorant. Joe Thomas will be back next season, and with him, this is easily a top five offensive line.
Corey Coleman and Josh Gordon are lethal weapons. Crowell's future here is murky, but Duke Johnson's is not. Njoku doesn't even have a cieling.
I was unable to watch the Ravens roll the Browns again, but I do know that DeShone Kizer couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. That's not the supporting cast. That's the quarterback.
I did see the 57-yard Crowell run. That was really impressive blocking. Crow wasn't even touched, and two blockers got to the safety and linebacker.
I don't know enough to call that inside zone-blocking. I know the right guard and tackle were manned up and walling off, but on the left side, two double-teams turned into two big uglies running upfield, and I know Crow was running at an angle, trusting his instincts. Close enough! That's how you block for Crowell!
Why wouldn't a quarterback (who can hit what he aims at) want to play for Hue Jackson and the Browns?
I hope it's Darnold, and that's final for now.
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Browns vs Ravens: How Can They Lose? LONG STORY
The Browns should beat the Ravens. S H O U L D.
I know, the eternal and infernal Terrelle Suggs is back, but Jimmy Smith is not. Coleman and Gordon are here this time.
I know, Flacco saves his best games for the Browns, and the Browns are short a starting cornerback, and Ogbah, and Collins. And Thomas.
But player by player, the overall Browns defensive and offensive lines are better than their counterparts. I'll call your Suggs with my Garrett.
The Browns current wide recievers are better too. And the running backs. The Ravens might have an edge at tight end based on blocking and experience, as well as at quarterback.
The Ravens defense got lit up by the Steelers last week, but that's a fluke. They're better than the Browns defense at this point in time, because they don't screw up as much, and get more turnovers.
Suggs will cramp their style. The Browns can't leave Rango alone with him, unless they roll or run away from Suggs.
And of course Hue Jackson needs his vertical routes and deep passes so...
But Duke is here, and for that matter so is Crowell. Hue is using them as short and bailout receivers, and the Ravens defense is vulnerable to plain old runs.
In the last game, Harbaugh and Flacco showed Hue how to cope with a scary passrush via West Coast-like dink-passes (getting rid of the ball quickly).
If Joe Flacco can do it, DeShone Kizer can do it.
Nevermind. Hue will not do that, no matter what. He will play Randall Telfer a lot, and DeValve or Rango less, instead.
Still, it might work! Hue really isn't an idiot. He has turned every running back into downfield, as well as outlet, receivers, and they're very effective in both roles.
With Coleman and Gordon both deep threats, Telfer in to help with that bastid Suggs, and a third receiver of some sort, the set-back should be able to peel out underneath more often than he has to block.
Sans Smith, no cornerback on the Ravens roster can handle Josh Gordon without help. I'm sure that Hue will send both him and Coleman intermediate and deep all the time.
Kizer was just terrible last week, because Gordon was open constantly. He will be open constantly again this week. If Daunte Culpepper could hit Randy Moss, Kizer should be able to hit Gordon after three weeks together. If he can't well...I guess we know what we got at quarterback, right?
No I mean it! Campbell, Hoyer, and Weedon all looked like Dan Marino with this guy ok? If Kizer can't light the Ravens up with him, we definitely don't have a franchise quarterback on this roster (unless it's Rodney Hoganfield).
At any rate, the Ravens will fear Gordon (and Coleman), so they can't stack the box.
Kizer will have to exploit this. He's actually become pretty good at that with both running backs...the Ravens defense should not be able to stop the Browns offense, if the latter executes the game-plan.
Of course, will Hue continue to rotate Gordon in and out? If they get a lead, will they go to the prevent-the-win (offense and defense) prematurely?
Who will encroach? Who will get in a pissing contest and get a personal foul? What will the referees hallucinate or refuse to see this time?
If I'm Harbaugh and saw last week's Browns vs Packers game-film, I'm telling my guys to tackle Garrett and Gordon until they throw a flag (more than once).
The Browns should beat the Ravens. But they probably won't.
THIS JUST IN: Several Browns pundits (Lesmerisis/Shaw for two) predict a Browns' victory! (Lesmerisis says "just enough real players for a win" haha).
Look for Doug to shift his reticule from Hue Fisher to Dorsey. His bashing of Sashi Brown was downright insane, as well as classless and rediculous. He insulted the majority of this YOUNG, INEXPERIENCED roster. He called them fakes.
I can't believe he said that! He must think we're a bunch of morons, seriously!
Seriously! The Browns win nine games in 2018 and he thinks we won't know who drafted or signed who! Yeah Gordon got 1400 yards, Garrett and Ogbah 20 or so sacks, Coleman 1,000, Peppers is all-Pro and so is Collins and this clown expects us to give HIM all the credit!
I already personally despise this guy. He's really good at his job, but he's a backstabber and a manipulator. Sashi didn't acquire "real players"!? My God that's just rediculous! That's a top ten ever dumbest statement!!!
Go get him, Lesmerisis!
I know, the eternal and infernal Terrelle Suggs is back, but Jimmy Smith is not. Coleman and Gordon are here this time.
I know, Flacco saves his best games for the Browns, and the Browns are short a starting cornerback, and Ogbah, and Collins. And Thomas.
But player by player, the overall Browns defensive and offensive lines are better than their counterparts. I'll call your Suggs with my Garrett.
The Browns current wide recievers are better too. And the running backs. The Ravens might have an edge at tight end based on blocking and experience, as well as at quarterback.
The Ravens defense got lit up by the Steelers last week, but that's a fluke. They're better than the Browns defense at this point in time, because they don't screw up as much, and get more turnovers.
Suggs will cramp their style. The Browns can't leave Rango alone with him, unless they roll or run away from Suggs.
And of course Hue Jackson needs his vertical routes and deep passes so...
But Duke is here, and for that matter so is Crowell. Hue is using them as short and bailout receivers, and the Ravens defense is vulnerable to plain old runs.
In the last game, Harbaugh and Flacco showed Hue how to cope with a scary passrush via West Coast-like dink-passes (getting rid of the ball quickly).
If Joe Flacco can do it, DeShone Kizer can do it.
Nevermind. Hue will not do that, no matter what. He will play Randall Telfer a lot, and DeValve or Rango less, instead.
Still, it might work! Hue really isn't an idiot. He has turned every running back into downfield, as well as outlet, receivers, and they're very effective in both roles.
With Coleman and Gordon both deep threats, Telfer in to help with that bastid Suggs, and a third receiver of some sort, the set-back should be able to peel out underneath more often than he has to block.
Sans Smith, no cornerback on the Ravens roster can handle Josh Gordon without help. I'm sure that Hue will send both him and Coleman intermediate and deep all the time.
Kizer was just terrible last week, because Gordon was open constantly. He will be open constantly again this week. If Daunte Culpepper could hit Randy Moss, Kizer should be able to hit Gordon after three weeks together. If he can't well...I guess we know what we got at quarterback, right?
No I mean it! Campbell, Hoyer, and Weedon all looked like Dan Marino with this guy ok? If Kizer can't light the Ravens up with him, we definitely don't have a franchise quarterback on this roster (unless it's Rodney Hoganfield).
At any rate, the Ravens will fear Gordon (and Coleman), so they can't stack the box.
Kizer will have to exploit this. He's actually become pretty good at that with both running backs...the Ravens defense should not be able to stop the Browns offense, if the latter executes the game-plan.
Of course, will Hue continue to rotate Gordon in and out? If they get a lead, will they go to the prevent-the-win (offense and defense) prematurely?
Who will encroach? Who will get in a pissing contest and get a personal foul? What will the referees hallucinate or refuse to see this time?
If I'm Harbaugh and saw last week's Browns vs Packers game-film, I'm telling my guys to tackle Garrett and Gordon until they throw a flag (more than once).
The Browns should beat the Ravens. But they probably won't.
THIS JUST IN: Several Browns pundits (Lesmerisis/Shaw for two) predict a Browns' victory! (Lesmerisis says "just enough real players for a win" haha).
Look for Doug to shift his reticule from Hue Fisher to Dorsey. His bashing of Sashi Brown was downright insane, as well as classless and rediculous. He insulted the majority of this YOUNG, INEXPERIENCED roster. He called them fakes.
I can't believe he said that! He must think we're a bunch of morons, seriously!
Seriously! The Browns win nine games in 2018 and he thinks we won't know who drafted or signed who! Yeah Gordon got 1400 yards, Garrett and Ogbah 20 or so sacks, Coleman 1,000, Peppers is all-Pro and so is Collins and this clown expects us to give HIM all the credit!
I already personally despise this guy. He's really good at his job, but he's a backstabber and a manipulator. Sashi didn't acquire "real players"!? My God that's just rediculous! That's a top ten ever dumbest statement!!!
Go get him, Lesmerisis!
Friday, December 15, 2017
Fake Headlines, Mean Girl Cliques, and the Browns
I read about 5 versions and ten iterations of this "sensational" headline:
"Patriots didn't trade Garopollo to Browns so they could 'do right' by him". Obviously, everybody gleefully leapt on that, as there's nothing more popular than stomping people (or teams) when they're down.
Think back as far as you can, and you'll learn something about yourself. Remember in school, how the most popular kids tended to be the most vicious? That's because nobody wanted to be their victims, so others quickly sucked up to them, and a "clique" was born.
Remember how the king or queen bitch would single somebody out to abuse, and the others would join in?
That's because if they didn't, the search-lights would find them, wondering if they were sympathetic...and were next.
Well most of you (no I was never like that, and in fact started out as the prime target) outgrew this. Even some of the super-rectums eventually realized how much pain they'd caused, and reformed.
But a lot of you are doing the same stuff now with the Browns, and (far worse) people.
That's how this stuff starts: Adam Shefter pretty much confirmed that the Cleveland Browns were not allowed to compete for Jimmy Garopollo. When asked why, he said something like "they knew Kyle Shanahan and felt that this was a way they could do right by him".
The source: Adam Shefter--guessing. But these headlines make it sound like Bill Belichick stepped up to a podium and announced that he cut the Browns out to protect Jimmy G from them.
A whole bunch of you ONLY read the headlines, and are now accepting this as fact. Adam Shefter himself would be the first to tell you: "I was speculating good grief!"
Certainly, however, the Browns were blocked from trade consideration. But this was more likely Garopollo and his agent wanting to avoid the Browns than Bill Belichick.
Keep in mind that at this time, Coleman was injured again, and Josh Gordon was a question mark. For the agent, this, plus the history of Cleveland quarterbacks, was enough.
But I assume that Jimmy G studied this more in-depth, and compared the respective offensive systems and coaches. Unthinkable, right?
Well, Kyle Shanahan uses zone-blocking, like his Dad did.
1: To a defender, a zone run looks the same as pass-blocking for like one full second after the snap.
2: One-cut running backs are almost a dime-a-dozen. Every instinctive running back can instantly function on this system. You can minimize the running back position, saving money and high draft picks. (Isaiah Crowell is an exception--he's the prototype one-cut back).
3: Zone blocking offensive linemen need to be more athletic than big and powerful, so they come cheaper too.
4: Shanahan is more West Coast passing than Hue Lewis, and this suits Jimmy G's skillset better.
5: Jimmy and Bill knew that Hue Fisher would not adapt to Jimmy G.
A lot of you permabashers are blaming the wrong people for these manufactured headlines. But please, don't just shift your target reticule onto Hue Lewis instead. Just back off and think with your brain.
2017 is a dumpster fire ok. But Hue Fisher can win with square pegs in his uncompromisingly square holes, and he will HAVE them in 2018.
Gordon is Green (on steroids), Coleman is Brown, Njoku/DeValve are Eifert (on steroids), and then there's Duke. The offensive line can execute his stone-age run-blocking scheme too...although not as well as they could...well we must accept what Hue will never change so...
Kizer isn't "terminal". You can't count on him coming back like Jared Goff did by any means, but I've already seen enough of him to set his floor at lower-tier starter/top notch backup, and (I insist) his cieling has yet to be determined.
Without a doubt, Dorsey will use the top draft pick on a quarterback in 2018. I still have a hunch that Rosen will float to the top here, but don't care--except that Rosen is more "pro-ready" than the other guys.
I doubt that Cousins or Smith will come here, mainly for the same reasons that Garopollo didn't (imo): The Coach and offensive system.
Still, obviously, unless you expect Ken Dorsey to "miss", the Browns should land a franchise quarterback (assuming they don't already have one) in 2018.
Now he's got another top ten first round pick, a top second round pick, two more second rounders, and a top third rounder to play with.
Dorsey's bullshit politicing aside, he really doesn't have any more real "holes" to fill other than quarterback (well I forgot: because of Hue, he won't be able to pay Crowell enough to stay here, so he'll need a big strong running back too...Kyle Shanahan will be on Crow like white on rice btw).
I like that Dorsey is already aiming at the AFC North Division title in 2018, but this confirms that he is personally a scumbag who should be a politician, because his foundation for that is the team Sashi Brown built for him.
This is PT Barnum stuff. Most of you are born every minute, see?
I strongly suspect that two of those other five top 100 picks not used on a quarterback will be an offensive lineman and a stud running back...
Well the offensive lineman is debatable, since this starting unit is etched in stone, and so is most of it's depth for 2018. I know that Sashi Brown might burn another high pick on a left tackle in case Brantley doesn't work out when Joe Thomas hangs up the spikes. Does Dorsey think long-term like that?
I'll have to check out Dorsey's history with the draft and free agency. General Managers do tend to think long-term in general, but Dorsey's bombasticy (yes I made that word up) is alarming. He sounds more like a Head Coach than a GM.
Well in summary, don't believe everything you read, pick the right targets, quit kicking people when they're down, grow up, and think with your brain okbye...
This just in: Mary Kay Cabbot did some of my homework for me. Good article. That's all I have to say about that.
But wait! There's more! Bud Shaw weighs in on Dorsey dublicity (wow it's that obvious?) Okbye. No I mean it this time.
"Patriots didn't trade Garopollo to Browns so they could 'do right' by him". Obviously, everybody gleefully leapt on that, as there's nothing more popular than stomping people (or teams) when they're down.
Think back as far as you can, and you'll learn something about yourself. Remember in school, how the most popular kids tended to be the most vicious? That's because nobody wanted to be their victims, so others quickly sucked up to them, and a "clique" was born.
Remember how the king or queen bitch would single somebody out to abuse, and the others would join in?
That's because if they didn't, the search-lights would find them, wondering if they were sympathetic...and were next.
Well most of you (no I was never like that, and in fact started out as the prime target) outgrew this. Even some of the super-rectums eventually realized how much pain they'd caused, and reformed.
But a lot of you are doing the same stuff now with the Browns, and (far worse) people.
That's how this stuff starts: Adam Shefter pretty much confirmed that the Cleveland Browns were not allowed to compete for Jimmy Garopollo. When asked why, he said something like "they knew Kyle Shanahan and felt that this was a way they could do right by him".
The source: Adam Shefter--guessing. But these headlines make it sound like Bill Belichick stepped up to a podium and announced that he cut the Browns out to protect Jimmy G from them.
A whole bunch of you ONLY read the headlines, and are now accepting this as fact. Adam Shefter himself would be the first to tell you: "I was speculating good grief!"
Certainly, however, the Browns were blocked from trade consideration. But this was more likely Garopollo and his agent wanting to avoid the Browns than Bill Belichick.
Keep in mind that at this time, Coleman was injured again, and Josh Gordon was a question mark. For the agent, this, plus the history of Cleveland quarterbacks, was enough.
But I assume that Jimmy G studied this more in-depth, and compared the respective offensive systems and coaches. Unthinkable, right?
Well, Kyle Shanahan uses zone-blocking, like his Dad did.
1: To a defender, a zone run looks the same as pass-blocking for like one full second after the snap.
2: One-cut running backs are almost a dime-a-dozen. Every instinctive running back can instantly function on this system. You can minimize the running back position, saving money and high draft picks. (Isaiah Crowell is an exception--he's the prototype one-cut back).
3: Zone blocking offensive linemen need to be more athletic than big and powerful, so they come cheaper too.
4: Shanahan is more West Coast passing than Hue Lewis, and this suits Jimmy G's skillset better.
5: Jimmy and Bill knew that Hue Fisher would not adapt to Jimmy G.
A lot of you permabashers are blaming the wrong people for these manufactured headlines. But please, don't just shift your target reticule onto Hue Lewis instead. Just back off and think with your brain.
2017 is a dumpster fire ok. But Hue Fisher can win with square pegs in his uncompromisingly square holes, and he will HAVE them in 2018.
Gordon is Green (on steroids), Coleman is Brown, Njoku/DeValve are Eifert (on steroids), and then there's Duke. The offensive line can execute his stone-age run-blocking scheme too...although not as well as they could...well we must accept what Hue will never change so...
Kizer isn't "terminal". You can't count on him coming back like Jared Goff did by any means, but I've already seen enough of him to set his floor at lower-tier starter/top notch backup, and (I insist) his cieling has yet to be determined.
Without a doubt, Dorsey will use the top draft pick on a quarterback in 2018. I still have a hunch that Rosen will float to the top here, but don't care--except that Rosen is more "pro-ready" than the other guys.
I doubt that Cousins or Smith will come here, mainly for the same reasons that Garopollo didn't (imo): The Coach and offensive system.
Still, obviously, unless you expect Ken Dorsey to "miss", the Browns should land a franchise quarterback (assuming they don't already have one) in 2018.
Now he's got another top ten first round pick, a top second round pick, two more second rounders, and a top third rounder to play with.
Dorsey's bullshit politicing aside, he really doesn't have any more real "holes" to fill other than quarterback (well I forgot: because of Hue, he won't be able to pay Crowell enough to stay here, so he'll need a big strong running back too...Kyle Shanahan will be on Crow like white on rice btw).
I like that Dorsey is already aiming at the AFC North Division title in 2018, but this confirms that he is personally a scumbag who should be a politician, because his foundation for that is the team Sashi Brown built for him.
This is PT Barnum stuff. Most of you are born every minute, see?
I strongly suspect that two of those other five top 100 picks not used on a quarterback will be an offensive lineman and a stud running back...
Well the offensive lineman is debatable, since this starting unit is etched in stone, and so is most of it's depth for 2018. I know that Sashi Brown might burn another high pick on a left tackle in case Brantley doesn't work out when Joe Thomas hangs up the spikes. Does Dorsey think long-term like that?
I'll have to check out Dorsey's history with the draft and free agency. General Managers do tend to think long-term in general, but Dorsey's bombasticy (yes I made that word up) is alarming. He sounds more like a Head Coach than a GM.
Well in summary, don't believe everything you read, pick the right targets, quit kicking people when they're down, grow up, and think with your brain okbye...
This just in: Mary Kay Cabbot did some of my homework for me. Good article. That's all I have to say about that.
But wait! There's more! Bud Shaw weighs in on Dorsey dublicity (wow it's that obvious?) Okbye. No I mean it this time.
Thursday, December 14, 2017
King, Dorsey, Brown, Rookies, and the Browns
The armchair monday morning hit pieces just keep on coming. Peter King, while way above LaCanfora's mental weight class, is no Adam Shefter.
In the linked hit-piece on Jimmy Haslam, he did unthinkable things to logic. This article was a Picasso...and no that's not a compliment. (Not picking on Picasso btw. He was really good til he found out dumbasses would pay him big money for painting horrific messes).
Peter makes a valid point on the quarterbacks Sashi Brown passed up, but includes Dak Prescott, who 31 other NFL teams passed up at least twice. In point of fact, he was Dallas's "consolation prize" after some Michigan QB was picked.
He assumes that Hue Jackson was lobbying for DeShaun Watson, but more credible sources say Hue was hoping for Malik Hooker.
In his own article, Peter says Dorsey, like Brown (with Hue's approval), rated DeShone Kizer as the fourth best quarterback in his draft. Others rated him higher, and many said he had the highest cieling of all.
He quotes Dorsey as pointing out how young and raw Kizer is, and how he looked good vs Green Bay.
King goes on to imply that Dorsey has inherited a roster which is "full of holes".
WHAT holes? Find me a hole!!! I'm sick of this look at the roster for yourself ok? Which tf NFL team has Pro Bowlers at every fkng position?
Peppers, Coleman Njoku etc are busts already? Tretter, Zeitler, Collins etc all turned into bumbs when they switched uniforms?
I remember what I wrote when Sashi let Terrelle Pryor go and signed Kenny Bowe instead, but I doubt that Peter does.
I didn't like it, but I saw how Britt had done well with his own series of crappy quarterbacks, and noted that Pryor did have separation issues of his own, so I accepted the logic.
In his hit-piece, Peter cites that as a big screwup, but Terrelle Pryor has fallen off the map in Washington as well! Talk about monday morning cherry-picking gimme a break!
Peter thinks Kirk Cousins or Dabold would be smart to avoid the Browns, even with Dorsey in charge.
That's sheer genius! Avoid this offensive line, Duke Johnson, Njoku/DeValve, Coleman, and Gordon...I mean what can you do with that pile of garbage right?
King says he really respects Dorsey, but implicitly predicts his doom. I happen to know that King is a Hue Fisher fan as well, so...uh...what!?
Peter King is the Marvin Lewis of sportswriters.
Dorsey wasted no time making himself look good. The previous regime didn't get "Hue Jackson" players, or "real" players.
Go down the list (I'm sick of repeating myself). 3/5ths of the offensive line, most of the defensive line, all but one linebacker...and just go over these players IN CONTEXT (ie rookie, second year player etc) and find the "fakes".
Is Njoku a fake? Well if he is, so is OJ Howard ok? Would Dorsey have given up on Goff after his rookie season, and stood by Jeff Fisher? Is Coleman supposed to be making a return trip to the Pro Bowl? Is Ogbah a mirage? McCourtey? Boddy-Calhoun? Shon Coleman?
What the hell is this guy talking about? That kind of hyperbole might be what got him fired in KC! Like I said, Dorsey will end up retaining almost every Brown draft pick he inherits, the coaches will end up playing most of them a lot, and that core of talent will start winning as they mature!
Yes, you are what your record says you are, but Bill Parcells was talking about performance and execution, and was including himself.
Can you be talented and not play well? YES. Unless you're Kenny Bowe, it's usually because you're inexperienced, and screwing up! Parcells won Superbowls with VETERANS.
While this disengenuous, self-serving crap out of Dorsey irks me, he's still really good at his job, and probably an upgrade over Sashi. So I can put up with it.
Thank you Dan Labbe for responding to this crap.
Dorsey is right about needing a guy who, in the fourth quarter says "I'm the guy today", and delivers a decisive play, or leads a decisive drive.
It's true that that guy has not been here in 2017,
But even Dan seems to minimize Duke Johnson, Corey Coleman, Josh Gordon, or a returning Njoku. All of these guys can take over a game.
Every investor knows this: Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Dorsey knows that the majority of the players on this roster are going to make predictable "jumps" as they enter their second and third seasons, and is shamelessly framing it so that he can take credit for what Sashi Brown left him...knowing a bunch of you will fall for it.
Dan and I know better.
When the Browns start winning, you need to separate the Brown players from the Dorsey players. If you do that, you'll probably see that they both did great jobs, but only one of them had any class.
In the linked hit-piece on Jimmy Haslam, he did unthinkable things to logic. This article was a Picasso...and no that's not a compliment. (Not picking on Picasso btw. He was really good til he found out dumbasses would pay him big money for painting horrific messes).
Peter makes a valid point on the quarterbacks Sashi Brown passed up, but includes Dak Prescott, who 31 other NFL teams passed up at least twice. In point of fact, he was Dallas's "consolation prize" after some Michigan QB was picked.
He assumes that Hue Jackson was lobbying for DeShaun Watson, but more credible sources say Hue was hoping for Malik Hooker.
In his own article, Peter says Dorsey, like Brown (with Hue's approval), rated DeShone Kizer as the fourth best quarterback in his draft. Others rated him higher, and many said he had the highest cieling of all.
He quotes Dorsey as pointing out how young and raw Kizer is, and how he looked good vs Green Bay.
King goes on to imply that Dorsey has inherited a roster which is "full of holes".
WHAT holes? Find me a hole!!! I'm sick of this look at the roster for yourself ok? Which tf NFL team has Pro Bowlers at every fkng position?
Peppers, Coleman Njoku etc are busts already? Tretter, Zeitler, Collins etc all turned into bumbs when they switched uniforms?
I remember what I wrote when Sashi let Terrelle Pryor go and signed Kenny Bowe instead, but I doubt that Peter does.
I didn't like it, but I saw how Britt had done well with his own series of crappy quarterbacks, and noted that Pryor did have separation issues of his own, so I accepted the logic.
In his hit-piece, Peter cites that as a big screwup, but Terrelle Pryor has fallen off the map in Washington as well! Talk about monday morning cherry-picking gimme a break!
Peter thinks Kirk Cousins or Dabold would be smart to avoid the Browns, even with Dorsey in charge.
That's sheer genius! Avoid this offensive line, Duke Johnson, Njoku/DeValve, Coleman, and Gordon...I mean what can you do with that pile of garbage right?
King says he really respects Dorsey, but implicitly predicts his doom. I happen to know that King is a Hue Fisher fan as well, so...uh...what!?
Peter King is the Marvin Lewis of sportswriters.
Dorsey wasted no time making himself look good. The previous regime didn't get "Hue Jackson" players, or "real" players.
Go down the list (I'm sick of repeating myself). 3/5ths of the offensive line, most of the defensive line, all but one linebacker...and just go over these players IN CONTEXT (ie rookie, second year player etc) and find the "fakes".
Is Njoku a fake? Well if he is, so is OJ Howard ok? Would Dorsey have given up on Goff after his rookie season, and stood by Jeff Fisher? Is Coleman supposed to be making a return trip to the Pro Bowl? Is Ogbah a mirage? McCourtey? Boddy-Calhoun? Shon Coleman?
What the hell is this guy talking about? That kind of hyperbole might be what got him fired in KC! Like I said, Dorsey will end up retaining almost every Brown draft pick he inherits, the coaches will end up playing most of them a lot, and that core of talent will start winning as they mature!
Yes, you are what your record says you are, but Bill Parcells was talking about performance and execution, and was including himself.
Can you be talented and not play well? YES. Unless you're Kenny Bowe, it's usually because you're inexperienced, and screwing up! Parcells won Superbowls with VETERANS.
While this disengenuous, self-serving crap out of Dorsey irks me, he's still really good at his job, and probably an upgrade over Sashi. So I can put up with it.
Thank you Dan Labbe for responding to this crap.
Dorsey is right about needing a guy who, in the fourth quarter says "I'm the guy today", and delivers a decisive play, or leads a decisive drive.
It's true that that guy has not been here in 2017,
But even Dan seems to minimize Duke Johnson, Corey Coleman, Josh Gordon, or a returning Njoku. All of these guys can take over a game.
Every investor knows this: Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Dorsey knows that the majority of the players on this roster are going to make predictable "jumps" as they enter their second and third seasons, and is shamelessly framing it so that he can take credit for what Sashi Brown left him...knowing a bunch of you will fall for it.
Dan and I know better.
When the Browns start winning, you need to separate the Brown players from the Dorsey players. If you do that, you'll probably see that they both did great jobs, but only one of them had any class.
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Cleveland Browns Draft Prospects, Hue, Dorsey
I'm kinda depressed because, according to some "experts", this is a mediore quarterback draft class after all.
Yeah it seems Darnold isn't athletic and has a weak arm, Rosen holds the ball too long, and well you know--they all suck.
Like I remember the Wentz/Goff draft class. None of these quarterbacks have first round talent. Wentz has a long windup and is innaccurate. Goff will need two years on the bench and has a weak arm.
Oh yeah and Deshaun Watson: 45mph muzzle velocity, questionable arm strength, too many interceptions, bad judgement, not big enough, needs lots of work.
Russell Wilson is a potential carreer backup. Ditto Kirk Cousins. Aaron Rodgers is undersized with a mediocre arm. I don't even know what they said about Kase Keenum, but use your imagination.
I guess I've learned a thing or two lately, because I liked Wentz, Goff, and Watson a lot, despite how a lot of analysts tore them to shreds. With Goff, I told you last season: If you are calling this rookie a bust already, you need a brain transplant.
Hell, I guess I'm at least as good at picking quarterbacks as anybody else is!
I don't know enough about this new draft class to have a favorite yet, but I personally like Sam Darnold the person a lot.
Sam's own father calls him "Flat-line". Sam doesn't get high or low. He's just all-business. You can't intimidate him, and he doesn't try to intimidate you.
I can already hear the scouts questioning his leadership, because he's not "fiery" like Tom Brady.
A lot of these people have no freaking idea of what leadership means:
If you are an offensive lineman, receiver, or whatever, and your team is losing, a leader is a quarterback you can count on, period.
That is, you know he won't panic, or hesitate, and will come through in the clutch. This gives you confidence, and hope. This makes you want to be like him.
A guy like Darnold just has to be there to inspire his teammates. He doesn't have to say a word to you when you screw up. All he needs to do is give you a "look".
I like "flat-liner" quarterbacks! Knock them down, beat the crap out of them, intercept them, whatever. They get up. They come back. They don't get shaky, or timid, or desperate.
Hue Fisher thinks he'll indeed be back next season and, more importantly, had an in-depth discussion with Dorsey.
This is good, because Dorsey has great leverage here. Hue is being asked if he thinks Haslam might change his mind and fire him if he doesn't win. Dorsey will fire him if he doesn't do much better in 2018, and with that resume, he'd probably never be a Head Coach again.
So Dorsey no doubt asked him all the questions I would have asked him. Dorsey can't technically tell him how to do his job, but Hue still has to listen to him, or else.
But man, check the comments after this article! What a bunch of cretins!
Now Hue got fired by the Raiders for leaking and undermining too! He didn't even have a GM! Haslam is a buffoon, Hue is the worst coach in history, the Browns will never win til Haslam sells the team---I couldn't read any more.
We never do anything half way around here. No shades of gray at all. Pick some targets and paint them black. Hue can't just be like Marty nooo. He has to be THE worst ever in history. He can't just be a blockhead about his use of personnel and blocking scheme nooo! He has to be leaking and undermining and power-struggling and manipulating too!
It's sick, don't you see that? Jeez I've been as hard on Hue as any sane person, but I don't just make stuff up about him to pile on! You people make personal destruction a project.
Dorsey has leverage. I look forward to the last three games. Let's see if he makes a few changes.
I hope so. It's too soon for yet another Head Coach.
Yeah it seems Darnold isn't athletic and has a weak arm, Rosen holds the ball too long, and well you know--they all suck.
Like I remember the Wentz/Goff draft class. None of these quarterbacks have first round talent. Wentz has a long windup and is innaccurate. Goff will need two years on the bench and has a weak arm.
Oh yeah and Deshaun Watson: 45mph muzzle velocity, questionable arm strength, too many interceptions, bad judgement, not big enough, needs lots of work.
Russell Wilson is a potential carreer backup. Ditto Kirk Cousins. Aaron Rodgers is undersized with a mediocre arm. I don't even know what they said about Kase Keenum, but use your imagination.
I guess I've learned a thing or two lately, because I liked Wentz, Goff, and Watson a lot, despite how a lot of analysts tore them to shreds. With Goff, I told you last season: If you are calling this rookie a bust already, you need a brain transplant.
Hell, I guess I'm at least as good at picking quarterbacks as anybody else is!
I don't know enough about this new draft class to have a favorite yet, but I personally like Sam Darnold the person a lot.
Sam's own father calls him "Flat-line". Sam doesn't get high or low. He's just all-business. You can't intimidate him, and he doesn't try to intimidate you.
I can already hear the scouts questioning his leadership, because he's not "fiery" like Tom Brady.
A lot of these people have no freaking idea of what leadership means:
If you are an offensive lineman, receiver, or whatever, and your team is losing, a leader is a quarterback you can count on, period.
That is, you know he won't panic, or hesitate, and will come through in the clutch. This gives you confidence, and hope. This makes you want to be like him.
A guy like Darnold just has to be there to inspire his teammates. He doesn't have to say a word to you when you screw up. All he needs to do is give you a "look".
I like "flat-liner" quarterbacks! Knock them down, beat the crap out of them, intercept them, whatever. They get up. They come back. They don't get shaky, or timid, or desperate.
Hue Fisher thinks he'll indeed be back next season and, more importantly, had an in-depth discussion with Dorsey.
This is good, because Dorsey has great leverage here. Hue is being asked if he thinks Haslam might change his mind and fire him if he doesn't win. Dorsey will fire him if he doesn't do much better in 2018, and with that resume, he'd probably never be a Head Coach again.
So Dorsey no doubt asked him all the questions I would have asked him. Dorsey can't technically tell him how to do his job, but Hue still has to listen to him, or else.
But man, check the comments after this article! What a bunch of cretins!
Now Hue got fired by the Raiders for leaking and undermining too! He didn't even have a GM! Haslam is a buffoon, Hue is the worst coach in history, the Browns will never win til Haslam sells the team---I couldn't read any more.
We never do anything half way around here. No shades of gray at all. Pick some targets and paint them black. Hue can't just be like Marty nooo. He has to be THE worst ever in history. He can't just be a blockhead about his use of personnel and blocking scheme nooo! He has to be leaking and undermining and power-struggling and manipulating too!
It's sick, don't you see that? Jeez I've been as hard on Hue as any sane person, but I don't just make stuff up about him to pile on! You people make personal destruction a project.
Dorsey has leverage. I look forward to the last three games. Let's see if he makes a few changes.
I hope so. It's too soon for yet another Head Coach.
Sunday, December 10, 2017
They're Still the Browns
I've defended Hue Jackson's playcalling to date, but this almost inexplicable loss to the Packers raised a lot of questions in my mind:
1: What happened to Josh Gordon? I simply can't believe that this defense managed to "take him away" as an option.
Could it be the unwritten "MDP Rule"? (For you whippersnappers, Micheal Dean Perry was a freak defensive tackle for the Browns. He was so quick and explosive, he was in opposing backfields before the offensive line got out of their stances.
Well, the "MDP Rule" says that it's okay for offensive linemen to tackle him as he blows their doors off.)
Well, as we're already seeing, it's legal for linemen to tackle Myles Garrett as well. And as we saw on the blatent pass interferance non-call on the guy who had one of his arms pinned in the end zone, now it's legal to blatently interfere with Josh Gordon as well.
The MDP Rule is meant to make things "fair", since if the zebras were to protect players like this as they do mere human players, they'd first be throwing flags on every play, and later allowing like ten sacks and 300 yards in receptions per-game.
That's not going to sell tickets!
But I can't believe that after Gordon had a certain touchdown reception stolen from him by obvious and gross interference, Hue Lewis would take him off the table.
I didn't watch the game, so I'm not sure. Were the cornerbacks tackling him at the line of scrimmage after that, or just grabbing his jersey and letting him drag them around?
Unless they were, I don't get why he wasn't targeted for the rest of the game.
2: I don't like the Prevent Offense. Through the balance of a competitive game, running on first down is good, and I have no problem with that, especially since it was working so well for Hue.
But here we go again: Where the hell did Josh Gordon go? Seems like he fell off the map exactly when the Browns got a 14 point lead, doesn't it?
3: It looks like Gregg Williams was running a Prevent defense as well. I can't believe I'm suggesting this...oh yeah. Hue is his boss...
...oh goodie more "rifts" and "divisions" and you know---drama! Somebody with an audience will read this and speculate and next thing ya know Hue and Gregg are at war.
Well I didn't see it, and know the defense was fatigued, and can't assume too much, so take the "prevent defense" stuff with a grain of salt.
Certainly, the dink and dunk is hard to defend. Too bad Hue Fisher never uses it (and might not with Smith/Cousins either) but I digress:
The Packers Coaches did a great job adjusting on the fly, and that quarterback played a hell of a game. Give them credit!
Kai Nacua screwed up a couple times, and was an idiot with that jawing and head-butt macho punk bullshit, but overall did a great job!
Kindred, Nassib, Coleman, Schobert were all over the place too...yeah good riddance to Sashi Brown right? DeValve? McCourtey had a tough game...sorta...for him.
Hey I thought Nassib was a bust! Wha happen?
Dorsey is grinning ear-to-ear. He's not going to cut any of these guys! Even Kizer was pretty good! He might not be a franchise quarterback, but he's turning into a solid starter!
Dorsey must be thinking, "at least a top-flight backup with three years left on a rookie contract...I draft a quarterback first overall...Cousins might be available...well if Hue would let him play his game...I can't believe this is real!"
Well Chicago just massacred the Bungles, just when you were thinking the Browns had a shot at winning that one.
Well they still do, if they don't "opt out" of Josh Gordon or go all "prevent"...nevermind.
1: What happened to Josh Gordon? I simply can't believe that this defense managed to "take him away" as an option.
Could it be the unwritten "MDP Rule"? (For you whippersnappers, Micheal Dean Perry was a freak defensive tackle for the Browns. He was so quick and explosive, he was in opposing backfields before the offensive line got out of their stances.
Well, the "MDP Rule" says that it's okay for offensive linemen to tackle him as he blows their doors off.)
Well, as we're already seeing, it's legal for linemen to tackle Myles Garrett as well. And as we saw on the blatent pass interferance non-call on the guy who had one of his arms pinned in the end zone, now it's legal to blatently interfere with Josh Gordon as well.
The MDP Rule is meant to make things "fair", since if the zebras were to protect players like this as they do mere human players, they'd first be throwing flags on every play, and later allowing like ten sacks and 300 yards in receptions per-game.
That's not going to sell tickets!
But I can't believe that after Gordon had a certain touchdown reception stolen from him by obvious and gross interference, Hue Lewis would take him off the table.
I didn't watch the game, so I'm not sure. Were the cornerbacks tackling him at the line of scrimmage after that, or just grabbing his jersey and letting him drag them around?
Unless they were, I don't get why he wasn't targeted for the rest of the game.
2: I don't like the Prevent Offense. Through the balance of a competitive game, running on first down is good, and I have no problem with that, especially since it was working so well for Hue.
But here we go again: Where the hell did Josh Gordon go? Seems like he fell off the map exactly when the Browns got a 14 point lead, doesn't it?
3: It looks like Gregg Williams was running a Prevent defense as well. I can't believe I'm suggesting this...oh yeah. Hue is his boss...
...oh goodie more "rifts" and "divisions" and you know---drama! Somebody with an audience will read this and speculate and next thing ya know Hue and Gregg are at war.
Well I didn't see it, and know the defense was fatigued, and can't assume too much, so take the "prevent defense" stuff with a grain of salt.
Certainly, the dink and dunk is hard to defend. Too bad Hue Fisher never uses it (and might not with Smith/Cousins either) but I digress:
The Packers Coaches did a great job adjusting on the fly, and that quarterback played a hell of a game. Give them credit!
Kai Nacua screwed up a couple times, and was an idiot with that jawing and head-butt macho punk bullshit, but overall did a great job!
Kindred, Nassib, Coleman, Schobert were all over the place too...yeah good riddance to Sashi Brown right? DeValve? McCourtey had a tough game...sorta...for him.
Hey I thought Nassib was a bust! Wha happen?
Dorsey is grinning ear-to-ear. He's not going to cut any of these guys! Even Kizer was pretty good! He might not be a franchise quarterback, but he's turning into a solid starter!
Dorsey must be thinking, "at least a top-flight backup with three years left on a rookie contract...I draft a quarterback first overall...Cousins might be available...well if Hue would let him play his game...I can't believe this is real!"
Well Chicago just massacred the Bungles, just when you were thinking the Browns had a shot at winning that one.
Well they still do, if they don't "opt out" of Josh Gordon or go all "prevent"...nevermind.
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