SI's Ben Baskin wrote a really excellent article on Jarvis Landry, and all the ways he will help the 2018 Cleveland Browns.
Baskin understands X's, 0's, and people. He also does diligent research.
I hadn't known that Jarvis the kid used to break into his school facility at 3 am to use the jugs machine, or that Miami Head Coach Adam Gayce cussed him out when he asked for more routes.
I had known (and told you) what Matt Hasselbeck said: Quarterbacks love guys like Juice Landry when it's do-or-die (and in general). The college coach who had Landry and Beckham at the same time said that Landry (who caught more passes for more yards in their last season) was the guy they trusted most.
Buzzkill Bill Polian (in a moment of clarity) said "why wouldn't you pay that guy?"
Now, what about Josh?
Okay we have a bunch of Olympic calibre conclusion-leapers here. Why the hell are you talking like he might actually miss regular season games and stuff? Take a freaking pill!
Most likely, he's going to "work" this to avoid the drudgery (and injury risk) of training camp.
Being lazy my own self, I get the first part. It's like calling in sick. But in this case, he's still working out really hard on his own, and Dorsey (a former player) is winking at it.
And no, he doesn't really need to work with Tyrod a whole lot to refine their chemistry.
The route tree is the same, and as a second year player, Josh set a bunch of NFL records with three comparatively inferior quarterbacks. He's a huge target who can't get pushed around and wins the 50/50's.
The guys who need that work are Corey Coleman and Antonio Callaway. They're much smaller, and also more "sudden". There's less margin for error between Tyrod and these guys.
As I said, most of what Josh Gordon will do when he does return is take reps away from players who need them more than he does.
Meanwhile, Landry becomes the main guy---but he's not going to do what Gordon does! He's still not an "X" receiver!
Coleman or Callaway will take over Gordon's role and run Gordon's routes.
I read stuff about huge, massive, gaping "holes" at wide receiver without Gordon maannn...change your meds or something, ok? It's getting way too spastic around here.
No no no: Landry probably hogs up more targets (and does go downfield more), but the defenses will also focus on him more, leaving the X single-covered.
With Josh, this is a top five corps. Without him, it's still well above average.
And again, you have Duke Johnson and two tight ends who can play from the slot or wide, in a run-oriented offense.
And this Dez Bryant stuff. Ask Dorsey about any player, and he'll say "sure, we talked about him. He's really good blahblah".
There are mixed opinions about Dez. For one thing, you don't start running more disciplined or precise routes when you're 29, okay?
There are a lot of West Coast elements in Todd Haley's offense, and even if Dez is fresh as a daisy (turns 30 in November), he's not a good system fit.
And believe it or not, Dez is holding out for a one year contract and upper-echelon starter money.
Ask me if I ever thought about bugging out to Mexico, or considered Club Fed as a retirement option. But when I say yes, don't write an article about how Wile E Coyote plans to rob a bank!
It doesn't mean a damn thing. Bryant might make sense if the Browns were on the verge of a Superbowl, but not here or now.
Fortunately, Dez concurs.
Still, Dorsey bugs me sometimes:
He's working out Gramps Jones now?
He's THIRTY FOUR YEARS OLD!!! He missed most of last season with a groin injury (see "Haden, Joe").
Jones can play free safety, and will be dirt cheap, so as a depth player who can teach the whippersnappers a dirty trick or two for one season there might be something here, I guess.
There is less depth at free safety here, so signing this old geezer wouldn't force a younger player with a brighter future out.
Still, is this worth it?
Well, Dorsey doesn't make moves without input from his coaches, and it's likely that this is Gregg Williams' idea. I don't second-guess Gregg Williams.
Adam Jones has been a punk off the field, but seems to have outgrown much of that. He is a dirty player, but he used to be excellent, with a lot of turnovers. Good against the run, too.
I suppose if you pointed a gun at me, I'd admit that if he'd take the league minimum with incentives and no guarantees for one year only, he might conceivably be a good backup free safety. (But then I might ask you to pull the trigger).
It really is possible to overdo this stuff, ya know?
Call me an "ageist" if you want, but I don't trust players over 30.
It's just as well that Ricardo Louis will miss this season. He gets a mulligan and another chance next season, and some younger guy gets a chance he otherwise might not have.
I'll tell you: If I were John Dorsey, I might have suggested to Josh Gordon that he does what he is doing.
With those two guys out of the way, CJ Board and Damieon Ratley will get to practice with Mayfield, and Callaway (now healthy by the way) will be head-to-head with Corey Coleman with the ones.
Gordon is a known quantity, and training camp is about developing players and chemistry.
Louis has been up and down (while Higgins has turned into a solid player), and I suspect his needle was pointing out of here anyway.
If I'm Dorsey I call Josh back around (and maybe after) the first preseason game. Haley would then work him back in gradually---just so he's ready for the "dress rehearsal" in preseason game 3.
Then Haley can make smarter decisions on Janis, Board, Ratley...
There are still too many wide receivers with Gordon, Landry, Coleman, Callaway, Higgins, Ratley, Board, Janis, and probably some other unknown sleeper I'm dissing.
And some of you don't get this part of the practice squad: To get a player there, a team must first waive him. All 31 other teams can scoop him up before he is re-signed.
A guy like Board has a good chance at not getting swiped, but Ratley is a bigger risk.
He needs work with Hans and Franz, but he is an X. In Josh's absence, he should get to work with Mayfield there with the twos (probably opposite Board a lot).
He has a lot of what Gordon has, except for the bulk (Josh has a good 25 lbs on him). He runs like greased lightening.
And check that out: Look at all this speed at wide receiver now! Gordon, Coleman, Callaway and Ratley can all score from anywhere on the field!
Tack on Njoku (if not DeValve) and Duke Johnson and go ahead and say it again:
"But who's he going to throw it to?"
"There's no playmakers."
Somebody will say it! You know they will!
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
The Great Josh Gordon Apocolyptic Catastrophe
Oh My God! The firestorm of texts from my own peeps over this Josh Gordon saying he'll be late reporting to camp stunned me.
Now, my peeps are smarter than most (no offense to the other 2 or 3 of you and all the crickets)...but it shocked me:
Josh is an idiot. He screwed up again, etc.
That's a lynch mob. I never imagined my own peeps as part of a lynch mob.
I had to step in this time...
Anyway, now my peeps (Eman, Black Cloud, and Waittilnextear) didn't lynch ME, so I guess I got through to them.
Yeah I get it: Part of this is how they're pampering this guy. The rest of us either pass our urinalises or get fired period. No paid rehab. We just get fired.
And it galls us to hear this guy who plays a game for a living say he's gonna be late for training camp because he needs more pampering.
But Josh Gordon didn't hire anybody to speak for him, so quit calling him an idiot. He's not just articulate, but intelligent. He's screwed up, and has been weak, but calling him a dumbass is over the top.
I'm personally pissed off about this, because it is "pampering", and none of us who make comparative chump-change for doing real work would still even be employed (by anybody)
But this is what it is. Josh Gordon might be the best wide receiver in the NFL. Business is business, so he gets pampered.
The lynch-mob needs to step back, and do the math. Do we want to win a Superbowl (or three)? If your best vending machine keeps breaking down, but still makes more money than the rest, do you hate it?
This metaphor only goes so far: You can't replace Josh Gordon, and his location is irrelevant. Business is business.
Josh Gordon's teammates and Coaches all love him. Would you rather have Beckham?
I'm as jealous and resentful as you over the ungodly money these spoiled brats all make for playing games, but keep it in context:
Do you resent Duke Johnson for his new salary? Did you resent Joe Thomas for what they paid him? Is Josh Gordon an...well do you like Beckham better?
Niether do his coaches or teammates.
Josh Gordon is still on his rookie contract, and hasn't even been paid that much for most of his carreer. He's either treading water or still in the hole like most of us, while Beckham is...well if you need to hate somebody...
Anyway, Gordon's tardiness is in accordance with his treatment program, which the Cleveland Browns mostly arranged for him.
He has not failed a test. John Dorsey has his back. The sky isn't falling, and you need to step away from the barrels of hot tar and baskets of feathers; take a PILL for cryin out loud!
As my peeps grocked, veterans always look for excuses to avoid training camps too. Well?
This will be good for the other wide receivers too. They'll get more reps. They'll develop faster, and the coaches will get a better bead on the other guys.
Josh lit the NFL up in year two with three mediocre/bad quarterbacks and little help. He doesn't need the work. Todd Haley has some tough calls to make at wide receiver, and is probably glad to keep this known quantity on ice so he can make the right call on that fifth and possibly sixth wideout.
Anyway, until Josh fails a test, leave the pichforks in the barn, okay?
Now, my peeps are smarter than most (no offense to the other 2 or 3 of you and all the crickets)...but it shocked me:
Josh is an idiot. He screwed up again, etc.
That's a lynch mob. I never imagined my own peeps as part of a lynch mob.
I had to step in this time...
Anyway, now my peeps (Eman, Black Cloud, and Waittilnextear) didn't lynch ME, so I guess I got through to them.
Yeah I get it: Part of this is how they're pampering this guy. The rest of us either pass our urinalises or get fired period. No paid rehab. We just get fired.
And it galls us to hear this guy who plays a game for a living say he's gonna be late for training camp because he needs more pampering.
But Josh Gordon didn't hire anybody to speak for him, so quit calling him an idiot. He's not just articulate, but intelligent. He's screwed up, and has been weak, but calling him a dumbass is over the top.
I'm personally pissed off about this, because it is "pampering", and none of us who make comparative chump-change for doing real work would still even be employed (by anybody)
But this is what it is. Josh Gordon might be the best wide receiver in the NFL. Business is business, so he gets pampered.
The lynch-mob needs to step back, and do the math. Do we want to win a Superbowl (or three)? If your best vending machine keeps breaking down, but still makes more money than the rest, do you hate it?
This metaphor only goes so far: You can't replace Josh Gordon, and his location is irrelevant. Business is business.
Josh Gordon's teammates and Coaches all love him. Would you rather have Beckham?
I'm as jealous and resentful as you over the ungodly money these spoiled brats all make for playing games, but keep it in context:
Do you resent Duke Johnson for his new salary? Did you resent Joe Thomas for what they paid him? Is Josh Gordon an...well do you like Beckham better?
Niether do his coaches or teammates.
Josh Gordon is still on his rookie contract, and hasn't even been paid that much for most of his carreer. He's either treading water or still in the hole like most of us, while Beckham is...well if you need to hate somebody...
Anyway, Gordon's tardiness is in accordance with his treatment program, which the Cleveland Browns mostly arranged for him.
He has not failed a test. John Dorsey has his back. The sky isn't falling, and you need to step away from the barrels of hot tar and baskets of feathers; take a PILL for cryin out loud!
As my peeps grocked, veterans always look for excuses to avoid training camps too. Well?
This will be good for the other wide receivers too. They'll get more reps. They'll develop faster, and the coaches will get a better bead on the other guys.
Josh lit the NFL up in year two with three mediocre/bad quarterbacks and little help. He doesn't need the work. Todd Haley has some tough calls to make at wide receiver, and is probably glad to keep this known quantity on ice so he can make the right call on that fifth and possibly sixth wideout.
Anyway, until Josh fails a test, leave the pichforks in the barn, okay?
Sunday, July 22, 2018
Browns Pundits Need Brain Transplants. Captain Obvious to the Rescue
Eli Rogers is a pretty good receiver who would be really cheap to sign, but you've got to stop this Beckham stuff.
Oh for sure, this guy is amazing; up there with Antonio Brown. Any team would love to have him...well mostly. He is kind of a clown.
But he's looking to break the bank for wide receivers (and Ebineezer Bell), and remember that "diminishing returns" stuff?
Well, John Dorsey has Landry locked up, but not Josh Gordon. To be sure, Josh's history and situation make him risky, but he's obviously been working hard (he's ripped like Njoku), and has been on the straight and narrow for over a year.
And Josh is in a contract year. He went in debt during his protracted suspensions, and even now might not be out of those woods yet. His back is to the wall; if he screws up again, he'll probably die broke, saying "I coulda been a contendah!"
The smart money (me) is on Gordon opening another can o whupass in 2018.
Now, you kneejerk guys want to overpay Beckham to what? Keep Gordon off the field? For six-receiver sets (hint: that's illegal I was kidding -snap-snap-).
And if you do pump up your wide receiver payroll to the highest in the NFL and make sure none of them do much, you have
1: Beckham wanting the ball more.
2: Gordon's agent raising hell, and Josh himself determined to find greener pastures no matter what.
3: Beckham wanting the ball more.
4: Landry with 60 catches for 800 yards, and Beckham/Gordon tied with even fewer catches for around 1,000 yards each.
John Dorsey has to think ahead, and anticipate disasters like this.
Every time some superstar looks like he'll shake loose somewhere, somebody in Cleveland thinks the Browns should pay him whatever he wants, regardless of who else is on the roster at his position.
Sometimes it makes sense, and sometimes it doesn't. Beckham in 2018 doesn't make sense (with all due respect to his former teammate Jarvis Landry.)
Even the Eli Rogers stuff is a little troubling.
Look, we start out with Duke Johnson, who can play any wide receiver slot.
Now we add Landry and Gordon. Todd Haley is using Landry as the number two outside receiver in two-wides and in the slot in three-wides.
I've listed the top two wide receivers (and reminded you that Duke is part of this mix), and now we get to Corey Coleman and Callaway.
That's four.
Now, most pundits seem to think that the final roster will include six wide receivers, but I'm skeptical.
This team has not one, but two "wing" tight ends in Njoku and DeValve, a real tight end (who can catch wait and see) in Fells, and Duke Johnson, who we might as well refer to as "Jarvis Landry" in this context.
And obviously, if a running back can't at least catch passes out of the backfield, Todd Haley aint interested.
In reality, five "wide receivers" with these personnel are more like seven or eight.
So the Browns might only carry five "official" wide receivers on game day.
So we might be talking about the last wide receiver here, and they're checking out Rogers?
What about Dameion Ratley? CJ Board? Berry? Is Rogers actually even better than Higgins, Janis, or Louis?
I know one thing for sure: He's shorter than all of the above.
But then Todd Haley is an expert on Rogers, and is likely pushing this kicking the tires stuff on him (plus Dorsey knows better than me who he has a shot at sneaking onto the practice squad).
Remember Keenan McCardell?
I don't know. But Beckham? Please. Stop.
How "hands off" can Hue Jackson be in 2018?
As hands off as Jimmy Haslam has ordered him to be.
Good grief, are you a bunch of kindergarteners or what? Hue Jackson just found ways to lose 31 out of 32 games, and if you blame Sashi Brown for that, you need a brain transplant.
Haslam is taking all kinds of flak for retaining him after that steaming pile of incompetance, but he would have been bashed even more for firing yet another Head Coach after only two years.
"That's insane", you say? You are correct. But that's what the Haslams have to deal with. Pitchforks, ropes, and torches.
Hue Fisher is still here for political reasons. He has no power. His whole carreer is hanging by a thread. If he's fired now, he might not even be able to land a job as an offensive coordinator.
Why can't you people see this? Why are these nimrods even saying the 2018 Browns will suck because Hue Jackson is still here?
I aint Leonardo DaVinci here, but you make me feel like I am, because I feel like an island in an ocean of dumbassitude!
In reality, I'm Captain Obvious!
In conclusion: DUH!
Oh for sure, this guy is amazing; up there with Antonio Brown. Any team would love to have him...well mostly. He is kind of a clown.
But he's looking to break the bank for wide receivers (and Ebineezer Bell), and remember that "diminishing returns" stuff?
Well, John Dorsey has Landry locked up, but not Josh Gordon. To be sure, Josh's history and situation make him risky, but he's obviously been working hard (he's ripped like Njoku), and has been on the straight and narrow for over a year.
And Josh is in a contract year. He went in debt during his protracted suspensions, and even now might not be out of those woods yet. His back is to the wall; if he screws up again, he'll probably die broke, saying "I coulda been a contendah!"
The smart money (me) is on Gordon opening another can o whupass in 2018.
Now, you kneejerk guys want to overpay Beckham to what? Keep Gordon off the field? For six-receiver sets (hint: that's illegal I was kidding -snap-snap-).
And if you do pump up your wide receiver payroll to the highest in the NFL and make sure none of them do much, you have
1: Beckham wanting the ball more.
2: Gordon's agent raising hell, and Josh himself determined to find greener pastures no matter what.
3: Beckham wanting the ball more.
4: Landry with 60 catches for 800 yards, and Beckham/Gordon tied with even fewer catches for around 1,000 yards each.
John Dorsey has to think ahead, and anticipate disasters like this.
Every time some superstar looks like he'll shake loose somewhere, somebody in Cleveland thinks the Browns should pay him whatever he wants, regardless of who else is on the roster at his position.
Sometimes it makes sense, and sometimes it doesn't. Beckham in 2018 doesn't make sense (with all due respect to his former teammate Jarvis Landry.)
Even the Eli Rogers stuff is a little troubling.
Look, we start out with Duke Johnson, who can play any wide receiver slot.
Now we add Landry and Gordon. Todd Haley is using Landry as the number two outside receiver in two-wides and in the slot in three-wides.
I've listed the top two wide receivers (and reminded you that Duke is part of this mix), and now we get to Corey Coleman and Callaway.
That's four.
Now, most pundits seem to think that the final roster will include six wide receivers, but I'm skeptical.
This team has not one, but two "wing" tight ends in Njoku and DeValve, a real tight end (who can catch wait and see) in Fells, and Duke Johnson, who we might as well refer to as "Jarvis Landry" in this context.
And obviously, if a running back can't at least catch passes out of the backfield, Todd Haley aint interested.
In reality, five "wide receivers" with these personnel are more like seven or eight.
So the Browns might only carry five "official" wide receivers on game day.
So we might be talking about the last wide receiver here, and they're checking out Rogers?
What about Dameion Ratley? CJ Board? Berry? Is Rogers actually even better than Higgins, Janis, or Louis?
I know one thing for sure: He's shorter than all of the above.
But then Todd Haley is an expert on Rogers, and is likely pushing this kicking the tires stuff on him (plus Dorsey knows better than me who he has a shot at sneaking onto the practice squad).
Remember Keenan McCardell?
I don't know. But Beckham? Please. Stop.
How "hands off" can Hue Jackson be in 2018?
As hands off as Jimmy Haslam has ordered him to be.
Good grief, are you a bunch of kindergarteners or what? Hue Jackson just found ways to lose 31 out of 32 games, and if you blame Sashi Brown for that, you need a brain transplant.
Haslam is taking all kinds of flak for retaining him after that steaming pile of incompetance, but he would have been bashed even more for firing yet another Head Coach after only two years.
"That's insane", you say? You are correct. But that's what the Haslams have to deal with. Pitchforks, ropes, and torches.
Hue Fisher is still here for political reasons. He has no power. His whole carreer is hanging by a thread. If he's fired now, he might not even be able to land a job as an offensive coordinator.
Why can't you people see this? Why are these nimrods even saying the 2018 Browns will suck because Hue Jackson is still here?
I aint Leonardo DaVinci here, but you make me feel like I am, because I feel like an island in an ocean of dumbassitude!
In reality, I'm Captain Obvious!
In conclusion: DUH!
Tyrod Taylor is Underrated. So is Simeon Thomas. Browns Bashery continued
It's still a slow news week, but Andrew Gribble's mailbag is always good for material. I'll use his article to check out some under-the-radar guys again.
Andrew actually watched the public practices, and hangs around the facility to eavesdrop (shhh) and stuff...and is smart enough to "process" it...long story short yeah, he is kind of a Browns "press agent", but is a great source for certain types of intelligence (for a guy like me).
Left tackle candidate Greg Robinson is Andy's first under-the-radar guy. We can't put lipstick on this pig: Robinson was drafted to be a starting left tackle, and has been a huge bust to date, with two different teams.
This guy came dirt-cheap; John Dorsey laid two bucks on an 8-1 longshot. You never know. Maybe he sheds 15 lbs, or just finally gets desperate/determined, or Joe Thomas fixes him. Cross your fingers (but don't count on it).
Regardless, he could make the roster as a versatile "go-to" depth player. Robinson is not a starting left tackle or bust guy at his age and salary. He guarantees better offensive line depth.
Andrew says wide receiver CJ Board has been impressive, and a Baker Mayfield favorite target. Board was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Ravens last season, and was subsequently released.
He is still listed at 174 lbs., but that's probably bullcrap because Hans and Franz have had him for two offseasons now. He remains 6'2" tall.
I won't dig deeper into CJ, because the wide receivers in front of him on this roster make it nearly impossible for him to get more than a practice squad slot.
Well let me check that again: 1 Gordon 2 Landry 3/4 Coleman/Callaway 5 (imo) Ratley...
Ok he has a shot if they keep six. But with Duke Johnson here, keeping six would be overkill.
Speaking of Damion Ratley, he was Andrew's next under the radar guy. Ratley has also impressed in practice. He's a little taller than Board, and not as skinny (although he definitely needs to pump up).
Ratley is a BIG-play guy with a very high cieling.
Louis and Higgins are listed ahead of Board and Ratley on the current depth-chart, but they predated Hue Jackson, let alone Dorsey and Haley. And they're not scary enough.
The guy I am most excited about is DB Simeon Thomas, who is SIX FOOT THREE, and was a press/man corner in college.
Here is another Hans/Franz project (only weighs 190 lbs so far).
The 2018 Browns are loaded at cornerback and strong safety, but it's not uncommon for teams to carry 8-10 "defensive backs" on their active rosters...
*Ok this is partly because they're used a lot on special teams---moreso with the latest rule changes*
The standard secondary fields four players. The nickel defense is the real "base" defense in today's NFL, and some sort of dime is used over 25% of the time.
Long story short: Simeon Thomas has a great shot at the final 53 in 2018, because he's a matchup guy in a vertically-challenged secondary.
Thomas can contribute situationally immediately. Andrew zeroed in on his press/man skills, but he plays off-man well too.
That means he can take on your Julio Joneses and your Njokus who would overmatch him in press/man right now...long deep story but trust me: Thomas has a great chance not to just make the roster, but to play on defense in 2018.
Justin Currie and Denzel Rice are two more guys Gribble lists.
Let's see Randall Peppers Kindred Ward Gaines Carrie makes six. Currie is getting his props so far and looks good for the final roster. I just dissertationalized on Simeon Thomas which would be eight DBs. Boddy-Calhoun makes nine.
Rice? I just don't know. Micheal Jordon is actually pretty good, and Terrence Mitchell looks better.
Great article by Dan Justik on why Tyrod Taylor looks like the player with the most to prove.
I admit that I haven't read this article yet my own self, but I know Dan is smart, and that I have no doubt said what he said several weeks or months ago.
After telling you how Tyrod has a strong arm and comparing schemes and talents and predicting a best-ever year for Tyrod under Haley, I told you how smart Dorsey was to trade for him, despite/because he was in the last year of his contract.
Tyrod Taylor is generally considered "above average" by the analytics sites; ranked around 13...annually.
Ross Tucker et al don't think that trading the first pick in the third round for Taylor was wise, given that he would be a one-year "rental".
Actually, it was brilliant. Dorsey was/is out to turn things around RIGHT NOW, and the one position he needed to fix to get there was quarterback.
A reliable, proven, experienced veteran, because -snap-snap- you know what, Sherlock? The 2017 Browns would have won several games if it had been Taylor instead of Kizer.
...and probably not one more game had it been Keenum or Cousins.
Now, the best quarterback in this draft class (by a wide margin) gets to wear a baseball cap and take his time while watching a real veteran with a roughly similar skill-set (and I suspect that Dorsey wanted Mayfield all along).
Tyrod's current 16 mil contract is suddenly very cheap, with Cousins making around 12 more million.
Ross and company talk about the player the Browns could have drafted with that top third round pick instead, but he's wrong.
The Browns' core roster was a lot better than Ross thought it was, and Dorsey found himself with too many draft picks!
As it is, they'll have to waive a bunch of good players. There are too many linebackers, wide receivers, cornerbacks, running backs and offensive linemen.
Who would Ross have drafted instead of trading for Tyrod Taylor? Ross was a Business major. Somewhere in there is something called "the law of diminishing returns". Perhaps he needs a refresher course.
Without a veteran quarterback, the Browns were once again going to have to start their rookie in 2018. Of all the veterans available, Tyrod was the only one that fit.
Dorsey did NOT want a long-term overpriced starter, because he had the first overall pick in the bag.
Sure, some people said they should just sign Cousins and forget about drafting a quarterback first or fourth. That's a valid strategy. I respect it.
But when you look hard at Cousins (especially through a PFF lens), you see that he's really good...but not worth what he was ultimately paid.
John Dorsey found himself with a load of talent, money, and draft picks when he came to this team.
He had probably already decided on Baker Mayfield (before he was even hired). Some smart people disagree with him. We'll just have to see who wins that debate down the road.
In Baker Mayfield, those who agree with Dorsey and me see a Rodgers, Brees, or Warner. Locked up cheap for five years.
If you have the first overall pick, and you think that a quarterback is worth that pick, you have to pick him, period. And like I said, John Dorsey might well have had his mind made up before Haslam hired him.
Still with me here -snap-snap-? Ok well you don't draft the next Rodgers/Brees/Warner and overpay a Cousins to keep your draft pick on the bench (demanding a trade) for five years DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
At the same time, you want to protect your first overall quarterback as much as you can.
A few notes on this: the rookie Carson Wentz started out great, but once defenses had film on him, they stifled him.
This is despite the fact that Wentz was a four year starter in a Pro style offense in college.
Mayfield has as much experience as Wentz, but his was all "air-raid", so he has a steeper learning-curve.
He's a LOT more advanced than poor DeShone Kizer (who got screwed by Hue Palmer), but he still needs time to adapt to the pro game.
This is where Tyrod Taylor comes in.
Dorsey gives Mayfield his "red shirt" year.
As I've mentioned, Tyrod Taylor has been above average for his whole career, and last season took a mediocre team to the playoffs.
His floor is above average, and he gets to explore his cieling with the most talented team he's ever had in 2018.
John Dorsey wants to build a dynasty of course, but saw the opportunity to make a move right now. (If you don't believe me, ask Landry, Kendricks, Randall, Gaines, Mitchell, Carrie, Hubbard, Fells, HALEY, etc.)
Tyrod Taylor is the sharp end of this spear. All these "experts" predicting 4 or 5 wins for the 2018 Browns are obviously not on the same page as John Dorsey.
Tyrod Taylor is here to audition for his next and last contract. He knows it will be for somebody other than the Cleveland Browns.
He is happy with this deal, because he believes in himself, and (much like Dorsey) finds himself eyeball-deep in talent.
Tyrod doesn't even see Baker Mayfield as a rival, and is actively mentoring him.
Most pundits don't grok this, but I can translate:
Tyrod is certain that he is better than Baker, period. That's even before the experience part enters the scene.
He feels like Baker's big brother.
Dorsey probably didn't plan on this, but he'll take it!
I need to hammer this some more, since none of you seem to get it:
Tyrod Taylor thinks he's an excellent quarterback, and that he can get into the Hall of Fame with a little help and more hard work.
He doesn't feel threatened by Baker Mayfield, so he's not out to "get" him, and doesn't even hate him.
Agents, lawyers, gossip columnists and Soap writers will mangle this horribly, but here's reality:
This garbage has no place in professional sports. Survival of the fittest is all there is.
All these guys are all-in on this from gradeschool on up. The best man wins...there's no bullshit.
These guys don't hate eachother, and when one proves himself better than the other, they accept it (temporarily).
You people generally don't understand competition anymore...God Bless the Department of Indoctrination.
But I digress anyway Tyrod Taylor is the perfect 2018 Browns quarterback. He just might rank in the top five (or seven, anyway).
He'll sail off into the sunset earning 27-plus mil/year, and Baker Mayfield will take over ( and be ready).
For right now, OBVIOUSLY, Tyrod Taylor gives the 2018 Browns a shot at the playoffs DUH so yes:
Tyrod Taylor has the most to prove in 2018. He is the quarterback, and his team was winless last season.
The more I think about this, the more optimistic I get. Tyrod Taylor is underrated. The quarterback position is overrated. Team talent is underrated. So are "assistant" coaches...
Nevermind okbye
Tyrod's current 16 mil contract is suddenly very cheap, with Cousins making around 12 more million.
Ross and company talk about the player the Browns could have drafted with that top third round pick instead, but he's wrong.
The Browns' core roster was a lot better than Ross thought it was, and Dorsey found himself with too many draft picks!
As it is, they'll have to waive a bunch of good players. There are too many linebackers, wide receivers, cornerbacks, running backs and offensive linemen.
Who would Ross have drafted instead of trading for Tyrod Taylor? Ross was a Business major. Somewhere in there is something called "the law of diminishing returns". Perhaps he needs a refresher course.
Without a veteran quarterback, the Browns were once again going to have to start their rookie in 2018. Of all the veterans available, Tyrod was the only one that fit.
Dorsey did NOT want a long-term overpriced starter, because he had the first overall pick in the bag.
Sure, some people said they should just sign Cousins and forget about drafting a quarterback first or fourth. That's a valid strategy. I respect it.
But when you look hard at Cousins (especially through a PFF lens), you see that he's really good...but not worth what he was ultimately paid.
John Dorsey found himself with a load of talent, money, and draft picks when he came to this team.
He had probably already decided on Baker Mayfield (before he was even hired). Some smart people disagree with him. We'll just have to see who wins that debate down the road.
In Baker Mayfield, those who agree with Dorsey and me see a Rodgers, Brees, or Warner. Locked up cheap for five years.
If you have the first overall pick, and you think that a quarterback is worth that pick, you have to pick him, period. And like I said, John Dorsey might well have had his mind made up before Haslam hired him.
Still with me here -snap-snap-? Ok well you don't draft the next Rodgers/Brees/Warner and overpay a Cousins to keep your draft pick on the bench (demanding a trade) for five years DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
At the same time, you want to protect your first overall quarterback as much as you can.
A few notes on this: the rookie Carson Wentz started out great, but once defenses had film on him, they stifled him.
This is despite the fact that Wentz was a four year starter in a Pro style offense in college.
Mayfield has as much experience as Wentz, but his was all "air-raid", so he has a steeper learning-curve.
He's a LOT more advanced than poor DeShone Kizer (who got screwed by Hue Palmer), but he still needs time to adapt to the pro game.
This is where Tyrod Taylor comes in.
Dorsey gives Mayfield his "red shirt" year.
As I've mentioned, Tyrod Taylor has been above average for his whole career, and last season took a mediocre team to the playoffs.
His floor is above average, and he gets to explore his cieling with the most talented team he's ever had in 2018.
John Dorsey wants to build a dynasty of course, but saw the opportunity to make a move right now. (If you don't believe me, ask Landry, Kendricks, Randall, Gaines, Mitchell, Carrie, Hubbard, Fells, HALEY, etc.)
Tyrod Taylor is the sharp end of this spear. All these "experts" predicting 4 or 5 wins for the 2018 Browns are obviously not on the same page as John Dorsey.
Tyrod Taylor is here to audition for his next and last contract. He knows it will be for somebody other than the Cleveland Browns.
He is happy with this deal, because he believes in himself, and (much like Dorsey) finds himself eyeball-deep in talent.
Tyrod doesn't even see Baker Mayfield as a rival, and is actively mentoring him.
Most pundits don't grok this, but I can translate:
Tyrod is certain that he is better than Baker, period. That's even before the experience part enters the scene.
He feels like Baker's big brother.
Dorsey probably didn't plan on this, but he'll take it!
I need to hammer this some more, since none of you seem to get it:
Tyrod Taylor thinks he's an excellent quarterback, and that he can get into the Hall of Fame with a little help and more hard work.
He doesn't feel threatened by Baker Mayfield, so he's not out to "get" him, and doesn't even hate him.
Agents, lawyers, gossip columnists and Soap writers will mangle this horribly, but here's reality:
This garbage has no place in professional sports. Survival of the fittest is all there is.
All these guys are all-in on this from gradeschool on up. The best man wins...there's no bullshit.
These guys don't hate eachother, and when one proves himself better than the other, they accept it (temporarily).
You people generally don't understand competition anymore...God Bless the Department of Indoctrination.
But I digress anyway Tyrod Taylor is the perfect 2018 Browns quarterback. He just might rank in the top five (or seven, anyway).
He'll sail off into the sunset earning 27-plus mil/year, and Baker Mayfield will take over ( and be ready).
For right now, OBVIOUSLY, Tyrod Taylor gives the 2018 Browns a shot at the playoffs DUH so yes:
Tyrod Taylor has the most to prove in 2018. He is the quarterback, and his team was winless last season.
The more I think about this, the more optimistic I get. Tyrod Taylor is underrated. The quarterback position is overrated. Team talent is underrated. So are "assistant" coaches...
Nevermind okbye
Thursday, July 19, 2018
Browns Bashing is a Hard Habit to Break: Dumbassitude Alert
This New York Post guy says we should bet the "under" (4 1/2 wins) for the Browns in 2018.
He says that the AFC North remains a tough Division. He obviously never read this Blog, or any one of a number of other articles identifying growing issues with the Ravens and the Bengals, and defensive flaws with the Steelers.
The other teams he cites on the schedule indeed look tough, but he ignores several weak sisters.
He concludes that any team coached by Hue Jackson can't win, ignoring Todd Haley and Gregg Williams standing there with the keys to the offense and defense.
He never mentions quarterbacks, either.
Talk about kneejerk, slap-dash, superficial...definitely a top ten dumbest ever article.
Then there's this from the "experts" at ESPN, who rank the 2018 Browns in the basement.
Unlike PFF, these dweebs have license to speculate and extrapolate, so they're just plain dumbasses (with one exception).
Their reasons were nebulous and vague, but I think I sifted out something about Josh Gordon, Baker Mayfield, and Hue Jackson (the human pinatta).
One goober says they have "no choice" but to think the coaching staff sucks...but it might be underrated due to the additions of Haley and Zampese JFC we got another Judge Roberts here!?!
Insanity drives me nuts (sigh that was a joke dammit get it nevermind). Haley and Zampese are part of the coaching staff! And are you calling Gregg Williams a bumb now after one season?
Last time I checked, Todd Haley's offenses have all been really good. Did he become a bumb when he signed his contract?
And what's all this crappy until proven decent stuff? Now, it includes Haley and Williams--what the hell are these guys trying to say?
I mean, they all stipulate about all the emerging and new talent...but count Gordon a negative? With Callaway and Coleman behind him?
They question the coaches ability to develop young quarterbacks, then mention Haley and Zampese, and excuse me: Remember Rodney Taylorfield?
And here is more Mayfield-doubting, as they clearly regard this guy as another DeShone Kizer type project or something (!?)
Wtf these clowns expect Tyrod to flame out and Mayfield to do a Kizer in 2018 STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT.
This isn't me "defending my team", okay? This is me pointing out irrationality and dumbassitude. Given my Browns OCD, I find this insanity the most among the sports punditry, and can get away with exposing it.
On occasion, somebody says something ignorant about the Bengals or Steelers or Flacco or whatever, and I call them what they are too.
And try to understand this: Yeah I'm a Browns fan, but I can take a punch. Josh Gordon was an idiot. Hue Jackson screwed everything up. Kizer was lost. Coleman choked. Nobody can replace Big Joe. Letting Mitchell Schwartze walk was stupid. So was not drafting Watson. I still say that Jimmy Haslam had no choice but to retain Jackson to prove he could be patient, but if I didn't grok politics or marketting, I'd call that stupid too.
Look at this I'm defending myself! I can lick any man in the house dammit!
Come on with it! You got me on Big Ben vs Tyrod, but I got you on Tyrod vs Flacco and Dalton.
I accept Bell as top dog now, but what if he gets hurt, and is he better than the 3 backs in Cleveland? And look tf out for Joe Mixon in year 2! (Mixon is a Bengal, see?)
I digress: If you don't rank the Browns at least in the top 66%, you're a dumbass. If you rank them 27th, you're a moron.
No offense.
THIS JUST IN: You've got to SEE this! Several Browns player spoof the popular show "The Office". Near the end, Myles Garrett just steals it. Check it out! I can't stop laughing!
He says that the AFC North remains a tough Division. He obviously never read this Blog, or any one of a number of other articles identifying growing issues with the Ravens and the Bengals, and defensive flaws with the Steelers.
The other teams he cites on the schedule indeed look tough, but he ignores several weak sisters.
He concludes that any team coached by Hue Jackson can't win, ignoring Todd Haley and Gregg Williams standing there with the keys to the offense and defense.
He never mentions quarterbacks, either.
Talk about kneejerk, slap-dash, superficial...definitely a top ten dumbest ever article.
Then there's this from the "experts" at ESPN, who rank the 2018 Browns in the basement.
Unlike PFF, these dweebs have license to speculate and extrapolate, so they're just plain dumbasses (with one exception).
Their reasons were nebulous and vague, but I think I sifted out something about Josh Gordon, Baker Mayfield, and Hue Jackson (the human pinatta).
One goober says they have "no choice" but to think the coaching staff sucks...but it might be underrated due to the additions of Haley and Zampese JFC we got another Judge Roberts here!?!
Insanity drives me nuts (sigh that was a joke dammit get it nevermind). Haley and Zampese are part of the coaching staff! And are you calling Gregg Williams a bumb now after one season?
Last time I checked, Todd Haley's offenses have all been really good. Did he become a bumb when he signed his contract?
And what's all this crappy until proven decent stuff? Now, it includes Haley and Williams--what the hell are these guys trying to say?
I mean, they all stipulate about all the emerging and new talent...but count Gordon a negative? With Callaway and Coleman behind him?
They question the coaches ability to develop young quarterbacks, then mention Haley and Zampese, and excuse me: Remember Rodney Taylorfield?
And here is more Mayfield-doubting, as they clearly regard this guy as another DeShone Kizer type project or something (!?)
Wtf these clowns expect Tyrod to flame out and Mayfield to do a Kizer in 2018 STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT.
This isn't me "defending my team", okay? This is me pointing out irrationality and dumbassitude. Given my Browns OCD, I find this insanity the most among the sports punditry, and can get away with exposing it.
On occasion, somebody says something ignorant about the Bengals or Steelers or Flacco or whatever, and I call them what they are too.
And try to understand this: Yeah I'm a Browns fan, but I can take a punch. Josh Gordon was an idiot. Hue Jackson screwed everything up. Kizer was lost. Coleman choked. Nobody can replace Big Joe. Letting Mitchell Schwartze walk was stupid. So was not drafting Watson. I still say that Jimmy Haslam had no choice but to retain Jackson to prove he could be patient, but if I didn't grok politics or marketting, I'd call that stupid too.
Look at this I'm defending myself! I can lick any man in the house dammit!
Come on with it! You got me on Big Ben vs Tyrod, but I got you on Tyrod vs Flacco and Dalton.
I accept Bell as top dog now, but what if he gets hurt, and is he better than the 3 backs in Cleveland? And look tf out for Joe Mixon in year 2! (Mixon is a Bengal, see?)
I digress: If you don't rank the Browns at least in the top 66%, you're a dumbass. If you rank them 27th, you're a moron.
No offense.
THIS JUST IN: You've got to SEE this! Several Browns player spoof the popular show "The Office". Near the end, Myles Garrett just steals it. Check it out! I can't stop laughing!
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Ebineezer Bell NOT a Future Brown, PFF Meant No Offense, and Stuff
The Browns have lots of money, but they're not going to pay an older running back wide receiver money so they can bench Duke Johnson and Chubb.
...what is wrong with you people? You are assuming that the 2019 Ebineezer Bell will be as good as the 2018 Bell? You assume that simply because the Browns are one of the few teams who can afford his ungodly salary demands, they will? WHY?
Is it the Jarvis Landry thing? A lot of smart people think Dorsey overpaid him, but to expect him to treat a running back like a wide receiver is really dumb, since running backs' life expectancies are a lot shorter than wide receivers'.
I know I'm not Leonardo DaVinci, but I gotta say, you clowns make me FEEL that smart...in contrast to YOU.
Sigh...Jarvis Landry should remain productive and healthy throughout his contract. Ebineezer Bell will not. He is a running back.
Sigh...wide receivers last at least FIVE YEARS longer than running backs on average DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
Sigh...this is THE biggest reason why Ebineezer's crusade to revise running back salaries is doomed: Jarvis Landry might improve throughout his own contract, and at least have nice trade value. Ebineezer, on the other hand, will almost certainly decline, and amount to massive DEAD MONEY dammit this is obvious ohmmm....ohmmm...
Nevermind I can't win here. It's like trying to teach arithmatic to six year olds.................
PFF ranks the Browns' passrush among the lowest in the NFL. I take no offense to this whatsoever.
PFF can "only go by what they see", and are bound to rely on historical data. They can't speculate, or express opinions.
I, and a whole bunch of legit experts, and you, know that this ranking is rediculous, and so do most of the writers at PFF (but these writers can't really say so):
"Analytics" is the objective PART of analysis. It was never intended to replace coaches or scouts.
I'm sure that Mister Spock would be a pretty good Captain, but Captain Kirk (with his help) was superior. PFF is Mister Spock, see?
We humans know that the upgraded coverage will give the passrushers more time. That Ogunjobi, Brantley, Coley, Garrett, and even Ogbah are ascending players. That they just added a couple more defensive linemen they think will help.
PFF had no choice in these rankings. They have to stick to the numbers. The minute they start speculating, they blow their credibility.
You need to take Numberfire, PFF, et al in context. Remember Captain Kirk asking Mister Spock for the odds of a proposed course of action succeeding? Spock always said something like "seventy seven point three seven four percent chance of failure", and Kirk did it anyway?
Well, the human half of Mister Spock would know that the 2018 Cleveland Browns will present a scary passrush, but his Vulcan half says that's illogical and won't let him say it.
Does anybody else get this?
Now, guys like Wyche or MacAdoo can say stuff like this, and we can call them fulla crap/ignorant or whatever. But the Analytics guys are different.
They'll be right most of the time, but they lack imagination, and can't "project" much.
This is why Sashi Brown and Paul DePodesta repeatedly said that analytics was a tool, never intended to replace coaches or scouts.
PFF is Mister Spock. Gregg Williams is Captain Kirk. PFF and Williams disagree on the 2018 Browns passrush.
Williams will obviously be correct. But DePodesta is still here, and Kirk never fired Spock, either.
The 2018 Browns will be (at least) in the top ten in sacks and pressures.
PFF will have more data, and in 2019 will rank the Browns passrush much higher. Don't be a Doctor McCoy about this, okay?
...what is wrong with you people? You are assuming that the 2019 Ebineezer Bell will be as good as the 2018 Bell? You assume that simply because the Browns are one of the few teams who can afford his ungodly salary demands, they will? WHY?
Is it the Jarvis Landry thing? A lot of smart people think Dorsey overpaid him, but to expect him to treat a running back like a wide receiver is really dumb, since running backs' life expectancies are a lot shorter than wide receivers'.
I know I'm not Leonardo DaVinci, but I gotta say, you clowns make me FEEL that smart...in contrast to YOU.
Sigh...Jarvis Landry should remain productive and healthy throughout his contract. Ebineezer Bell will not. He is a running back.
Sigh...wide receivers last at least FIVE YEARS longer than running backs on average DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
Sigh...this is THE biggest reason why Ebineezer's crusade to revise running back salaries is doomed: Jarvis Landry might improve throughout his own contract, and at least have nice trade value. Ebineezer, on the other hand, will almost certainly decline, and amount to massive DEAD MONEY dammit this is obvious ohmmm....ohmmm...
Nevermind I can't win here. It's like trying to teach arithmatic to six year olds.................
PFF ranks the Browns' passrush among the lowest in the NFL. I take no offense to this whatsoever.
PFF can "only go by what they see", and are bound to rely on historical data. They can't speculate, or express opinions.
I, and a whole bunch of legit experts, and you, know that this ranking is rediculous, and so do most of the writers at PFF (but these writers can't really say so):
"Analytics" is the objective PART of analysis. It was never intended to replace coaches or scouts.
I'm sure that Mister Spock would be a pretty good Captain, but Captain Kirk (with his help) was superior. PFF is Mister Spock, see?
We humans know that the upgraded coverage will give the passrushers more time. That Ogunjobi, Brantley, Coley, Garrett, and even Ogbah are ascending players. That they just added a couple more defensive linemen they think will help.
PFF had no choice in these rankings. They have to stick to the numbers. The minute they start speculating, they blow their credibility.
You need to take Numberfire, PFF, et al in context. Remember Captain Kirk asking Mister Spock for the odds of a proposed course of action succeeding? Spock always said something like "seventy seven point three seven four percent chance of failure", and Kirk did it anyway?
Well, the human half of Mister Spock would know that the 2018 Cleveland Browns will present a scary passrush, but his Vulcan half says that's illogical and won't let him say it.
Does anybody else get this?
Now, guys like Wyche or MacAdoo can say stuff like this, and we can call them fulla crap/ignorant or whatever. But the Analytics guys are different.
They'll be right most of the time, but they lack imagination, and can't "project" much.
This is why Sashi Brown and Paul DePodesta repeatedly said that analytics was a tool, never intended to replace coaches or scouts.
PFF is Mister Spock. Gregg Williams is Captain Kirk. PFF and Williams disagree on the 2018 Browns passrush.
Williams will obviously be correct. But DePodesta is still here, and Kirk never fired Spock, either.
The 2018 Browns will be (at least) in the top ten in sacks and pressures.
PFF will have more data, and in 2019 will rank the Browns passrush much higher. Don't be a Doctor McCoy about this, okay?
Sunday, July 15, 2018
Scoop From Behind Enemy Lines: Steelers Fans not Laughing at Browns
From Behind the Steel Curtain, Shannon White writes an interesting article on the AFC North. If you want to see how the enemy views this world, you should check this out (but it's more a "human interest" piece than analytical).
And he's mostly correct: To date, the Steelers hate, but respect, the Ravens. They simply have contempt for the Bengals, and don't really have an opinion of the Browns.
About what you'd expect.
The interesting part of this to me was how Shannon (rightfully) bashes psychopath Vontez Burfict (the dirtiest player in the NFL).
Earlier, he had mentioned how Terrell Suggs and Ed Reed bashed Hines Ward. Well, Hines Ward was also a vicious headhunter who liked hitting guys in the head with his helmet on blocks.
We could go on to James Harrison and others. Like many Steeler fans, Shannon doesn't seem to "notice" the pattern of cheap shots on his own team (especially since Head Enabler Mike Tomlin took over from Cowher).
But I didn't know that after Big Ben's motorcycle accident, while Browns and Ravens players were sending "get well" messages, at least two Bengals players were saying stuff like "I hope he dies".
There's something wrong with these guys. Marvin Lewis isn't like Tomlin, and doesn't defend the indefensable (thus encouraging it)...but he sure doesn't discourage it, and I wonder if the inmates are running that asylum.
At any rate, Shannon doesn't even get to the Browns til the last couple paragraphs, but here he talks about the influx of talent, and how he expects the 2018 Browns to be actual challengers to his team in 2018.
And that's about right. I run all over the place, and have talked to a lot of Steelers fans. Haven't had a fight yet. In fact, we get along great (well okay I'm digging for opinions and info, so they get to talk about their team and stuff, which helps).
And they're not all toothless yinzers: They GET that the 2018 Browns aren't the 2017 Browns, and they look forward to more interesting games.
Shannon White opens his article up quoting some ignorant Bears fans saying "at least they're not the Browns yuk-yuk".
These are casual fans, though. They repeat stuff they hear or read about their own team, but really are more interested in being part of the "gang" than in the game of football.
It's frustrating for me, because I often find out that I know more about their teams than they do (quickly), and it gets awkward, because they know it too.
Fantasy Football has changed things a lot these days. I play weekly on Draft Kings, and my fellow fantasy guys and I can debate and talk all night...and we know EVERYBODY (well at least the offensive skill guys).
My most fun debates/discussions are with Steeler fans who also play fantasy.
They know about Duke, Njoku, Gordon, Landry, and Taylor. And what the defense is shaping up into, as well.
I tell them, Gordon can pass up Brown. They don't laugh at me whatsoever. I point out that if Duke Johnson had had all the reps Ebineezer Bell got, he would have punked him. They can't argue with that.
We go back and forth on Big Ben vs Tyrod, but that gets complicated, because they're so different, and while Ben is historically more productive, Tyrod is a lot "cheaper", and we're debating which is the better value at their respective prices.
But nobody snickers or rolls their eyes at me, and when we drill down into more Browns vs Steelers specifics, it's great. It's a discussion, and not two guys yelling at eachother.
I can tell you this now, though: These SMART Steelers fans do NOT take the 2018 Browns lightly. I haven't caught even a whiff of arrogance or overconfidence from them.
They do think their team will win both games (they can't help it), but expect it to be a dogfight and a nail-biter.
And those Fantasy-playing Steelers fans also see that the 2018 Ravens and Bengals are less talented than the Browns.
A bunch of fantasy-playing Steelers fans will be drafting Josh Gordon if he's cheaper than Antonio Brown, Tyrod Taylor, and Njoku (over any Steelers tight end). And they'll probably take the Browns defense and special teams over their own as well.
Is any of this sinking in yet?
I haven't played in conventional fantasy leagues yet, but if I do this year, I would:
1: STRONGLY consider Tyrod Taylor. Baker Mayfield has amazing upside, but Tyrod won't LET him on the field in 2018 unless he's injured. He's never had a supporting cast like this, and he's auditioning for his next contract (his future).
Everybody else will fight over the more obvious quarterbacks, but I'd use my top pick on a Johnson or Bell or Antonio Brown or something intead, and get Tyrod later.
2: Cross my fingers and hope Josh Gordon slides a little...but not wait too long.
3: Scoop Njoku up cheap.
4: Draft the Browns defense before the middle (and special teams too if applicable; the special teams are looking real good right now).
This will be a top 8 defense easily, and it will get sacks, turnovers, and score points. It's stacked. Loaded. It will look like Gregg Williams' defenses always looked up until 2017.
5: Hope Landry slides some too. He might, because he's not the "big dawg" here, and fantasy GMs will hesitate on him here due to Duke/Njoku/Gordon/the other running backs etc.
6: Hope to scoop Duke, Chubb, Coleman/Callaway *we'll get a better bead on this as things unfold. One or the other will be the third receiver, and both are lethal weapons* in the bargain basement.
Full disclosure I have never drafted a season-long team, and that's why my suggestions never mentioned specific rounds.
My pal Waittilnextyear (sp?) plays season-long fantasy, and if I try that this season I will interrogate him about that stuff.
I HAVE SPOKEN
And he's mostly correct: To date, the Steelers hate, but respect, the Ravens. They simply have contempt for the Bengals, and don't really have an opinion of the Browns.
About what you'd expect.
The interesting part of this to me was how Shannon (rightfully) bashes psychopath Vontez Burfict (the dirtiest player in the NFL).
Earlier, he had mentioned how Terrell Suggs and Ed Reed bashed Hines Ward. Well, Hines Ward was also a vicious headhunter who liked hitting guys in the head with his helmet on blocks.
We could go on to James Harrison and others. Like many Steeler fans, Shannon doesn't seem to "notice" the pattern of cheap shots on his own team (especially since Head Enabler Mike Tomlin took over from Cowher).
But I didn't know that after Big Ben's motorcycle accident, while Browns and Ravens players were sending "get well" messages, at least two Bengals players were saying stuff like "I hope he dies".
There's something wrong with these guys. Marvin Lewis isn't like Tomlin, and doesn't defend the indefensable (thus encouraging it)...but he sure doesn't discourage it, and I wonder if the inmates are running that asylum.
At any rate, Shannon doesn't even get to the Browns til the last couple paragraphs, but here he talks about the influx of talent, and how he expects the 2018 Browns to be actual challengers to his team in 2018.
And that's about right. I run all over the place, and have talked to a lot of Steelers fans. Haven't had a fight yet. In fact, we get along great (well okay I'm digging for opinions and info, so they get to talk about their team and stuff, which helps).
And they're not all toothless yinzers: They GET that the 2018 Browns aren't the 2017 Browns, and they look forward to more interesting games.
Shannon White opens his article up quoting some ignorant Bears fans saying "at least they're not the Browns yuk-yuk".
These are casual fans, though. They repeat stuff they hear or read about their own team, but really are more interested in being part of the "gang" than in the game of football.
It's frustrating for me, because I often find out that I know more about their teams than they do (quickly), and it gets awkward, because they know it too.
Fantasy Football has changed things a lot these days. I play weekly on Draft Kings, and my fellow fantasy guys and I can debate and talk all night...and we know EVERYBODY (well at least the offensive skill guys).
My most fun debates/discussions are with Steeler fans who also play fantasy.
They know about Duke, Njoku, Gordon, Landry, and Taylor. And what the defense is shaping up into, as well.
I tell them, Gordon can pass up Brown. They don't laugh at me whatsoever. I point out that if Duke Johnson had had all the reps Ebineezer Bell got, he would have punked him. They can't argue with that.
We go back and forth on Big Ben vs Tyrod, but that gets complicated, because they're so different, and while Ben is historically more productive, Tyrod is a lot "cheaper", and we're debating which is the better value at their respective prices.
But nobody snickers or rolls their eyes at me, and when we drill down into more Browns vs Steelers specifics, it's great. It's a discussion, and not two guys yelling at eachother.
I can tell you this now, though: These SMART Steelers fans do NOT take the 2018 Browns lightly. I haven't caught even a whiff of arrogance or overconfidence from them.
They do think their team will win both games (they can't help it), but expect it to be a dogfight and a nail-biter.
And those Fantasy-playing Steelers fans also see that the 2018 Ravens and Bengals are less talented than the Browns.
A bunch of fantasy-playing Steelers fans will be drafting Josh Gordon if he's cheaper than Antonio Brown, Tyrod Taylor, and Njoku (over any Steelers tight end). And they'll probably take the Browns defense and special teams over their own as well.
Is any of this sinking in yet?
I haven't played in conventional fantasy leagues yet, but if I do this year, I would:
1: STRONGLY consider Tyrod Taylor. Baker Mayfield has amazing upside, but Tyrod won't LET him on the field in 2018 unless he's injured. He's never had a supporting cast like this, and he's auditioning for his next contract (his future).
Everybody else will fight over the more obvious quarterbacks, but I'd use my top pick on a Johnson or Bell or Antonio Brown or something intead, and get Tyrod later.
2: Cross my fingers and hope Josh Gordon slides a little...but not wait too long.
3: Scoop Njoku up cheap.
4: Draft the Browns defense before the middle (and special teams too if applicable; the special teams are looking real good right now).
This will be a top 8 defense easily, and it will get sacks, turnovers, and score points. It's stacked. Loaded. It will look like Gregg Williams' defenses always looked up until 2017.
5: Hope Landry slides some too. He might, because he's not the "big dawg" here, and fantasy GMs will hesitate on him here due to Duke/Njoku/Gordon/the other running backs etc.
6: Hope to scoop Duke, Chubb, Coleman/Callaway *we'll get a better bead on this as things unfold. One or the other will be the third receiver, and both are lethal weapons* in the bargain basement.
Full disclosure I have never drafted a season-long team, and that's why my suggestions never mentioned specific rounds.
My pal Waittilnextyear (sp?) plays season-long fantasy, and if I try that this season I will interrogate him about that stuff.
I HAVE SPOKEN
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