In most of the recent articles, the notion of the new regime trading OBJ ahead of the 2020 season is unthinkable.
I'm telling you, it's not, sustantially because John Dorsey is gone now.
Vincent Frank (USA Today) wrote a terrific article on what the Browns might be able to get for OBJ.
Vincent did his homework, and lists mostly teams who were in pursuit of OBJ prior to the 2019 season, and offers they were rumored to have made.
1: 3rd year WR Dante Pettis and a 2021 1st round pick from the 49ers.
Pettis is similar to OBJ, except he is 6'1", and an ascending player who could start immediately at X.
I'm not saying that Pettis is as good as OBJ (yet), but Baker Mayfield would be fine with him. The deferred first round pick is money in the bank for non-spazzes (no offense).
Pettis entering year 3 is due enter his prime as a skill-player.
2: WR Marquez Valdez-Scandling and a 2020 second round pick from the Packers.
Valdez-Scandling is a prototypical X-receiver at 6'4" with good hands and great vertical speed. He also enters his third season.
The Packers 2019 Offense was run-oriented, and the highly-underrated big possessian guy Anthony Lazard was drafted by the new regime in 2019.
Scandling's sophomore stats weren't great, but niether were those of any other Packers' receiver except Davante Adams.
3: A 2020 1st and a 2020 3rd from the Pats. Lots of variables here; notably who plays QB for them and stuff.
4: A 2020 1st rounder from the Raiders (19th overall).
5: 3rd year WR Michael Gallup and a 2020 3rd round pick from Dallas.
Gallup is a rapidly rising big/fast sure-handed X receiver. DePodesta would jump all over this one.
But there are variables here too, like the Cowboys cap situation.
Vince seems to think that Dallas might make this move because OBJ could put them over the top. Dallas has great WR depth too, and OBJ is more explosive than Gallup.
Paul or I would take any of these deals to dump 15 mil off our cap and get real (younger, cheaper) value back.
The lowest draft picks listed here would be lower third rounders. Paul and I know that studly interior offensive linemen, safeties, tight ends, fullbacks, running backs, linebackers, wide receivers, and cornerbacks are often found here.
Pettis, Scandling, or (especially) Gallup would immediately help offset the loss of this elite WR, and all 3 players have 2 or more years remaining on their rookie contracts.
Meanwhile, the Browns need offensive tackles more than anything else, and then (assuming Randall is a GMF...which I don't know why everybody is assuming given the new regime) safety.
The lower first round is great for finding stud Right Tackles (or guards) and safeties, you see?
Meanwhile, the more money you have to spend, the better (snap-snap) are you still with me here?
Take just OBJ's cap-savings alone (15 mil):
This could turn into an above average safety and guard, or a stud safety (with money left over) or a scary edge-rusher, or...in free agency.
This is part of analytics: Each year, rookie contracts expire, and the majority of teams (which don't have a DePodesta) have to let guys go that they don't want to.
Often, these guys have been injured, or stuck behind elite players at their positions, or are "out of favor" due to regime-changes and system-changes (see Ogbah, Nassib, DeValve)
There is always a bidding war for the best of these guys, and the winner does need to pay above real market value, but the structure of the contract can mitigate that:
The player always wants as much guaranteed money as possible up front, in case he gets injured or something.
The smartest GMs give them that, and reduce the guarantees in the 2nd, 3rd, etc years. They cough up a stupidly expensive contract that the agent can brag about, but make sure it costs them less as time goes on.
The combination of salary inflation and shrunken cap-hits make the player more tradeable (or releasable) as time goes on.
Both sides are happy with this. The player is guaranteed his big payday, even if he's maimed immediately...still with me here?
Well, if you have more money to throw around, you can make more of these deals, and you know...build a dynasty?
Re-check Vince's hypothetical Pats' trade for OBJ:
Lord Insideous--with a good QB---would do that. His first and 3rd rounders are really almost 2nd and 4th rounders, and he gets a plug-and-play superstar (under contract for awhile) who could put him right back where (to everybody else's chagrin) he has been for a couple decades now.
That's what Paul DePodesta would do in his place (again assuming he had the cap space and a Quarterback).
...err...the Browns' situation is different, which is why they would take the 2 draft picks, right? I don't need to spell that out, right?
If you want to see Kevin Stefanski's offensive vision, look no further than the 49ers.
Kubiak and Kyle Shanahan run Mike Shanahan's system, and everybody except Kyle (so far) has won Superbowls with it. Stefanski only had Kubiak advising him for one season, but aint stupid.
While the Browns need to upgrade their Oline, the rest of the offensive tools Kevin inherits are outstanding, even after the OBJ trade!
Kareem Hunt is being drasticly undervalued, as is Njoku, and as-is Baker Mayfield running as much play-action (and motion) as Kirk Cousins did under Stefanski in Minnesota.
Upgrading 3 positions on the offensive line is very achievable this offseason, and OBJ is absolutely NOT indispensable. The Browns can become an offensive juggernaut in 2020 with 3 signings and/or draft picks...
Nevermind okbye
A real expert named Damien Woodie weighed in (nay: ranted and raved) about new Oline Coach (and possible running game coordinator) Bill Callahan.
Woodie actually played for Callahan the last 3 years of his carreer, and offered real insight into this guy.
The highlights are that Callahan is a grinder on the basics, and never quits drilling them into his players. This is footwork, hand placement, form, etc., and Woodie seemed to think this was important (*he came to Callahan as a five year veteran starter*).
Also, Callahan always built his blocking scheme around his players.
The way Damien said this makes me think it goes deeper than us fans might think; like if you have one road-grader and four zone-blockers, maybe he just says to the road-grader "you just put this guy and anybody behind him in the bleachers", and has the rest work around him.
Then other stuff, like if a guard slides exceptionally well, you do that instead of having a Tight End chip a pia edge-guy (or if he sucks don't).
I know some of you are really advanced and are wondering how a road-grader firing out vertically and driving could work in an inside zone scheme.
You have to use your imagination a little, ok? He simply fires out the same as everybody else, but doesn't let his victim go, and the guy who is suppposed to take over his guy just goes linebacker-hunting himself instead.
Too deep--I was about to address how defenses would adapt and the running back would need to act different and stuff...
Dan Labbe writes a solid article projecting some of the roster decisions Kevin Stefanski and his new GM will need to make, but he left out Paul DePodesta.
Dan is excellent, but I could tell in his article that he doesn't quite understand analytics:
1: Dan says that sans Olivier Vernon, there really isn't much opposite Myles Garrett, and points out that the Browns can afford the oft-injured thirty year old, so he doesn't see them letting him go.
DePodesta (or Bill Belichick) would smirk at this, and dump Vernon without hesitation. He is in decline, as well as injury-prone, and those injuries have hastened his decline.
Chad Thomas, entering his third season, could already be better than Vernon. And rollover is part of cap management: You dump old, injured, and expensive players period.
Next is Chis Kirksey. Dan is right that what they do with Joe Schobert, plus how they see the young guys (Wilson/Takitaki) will matter (and so will the DC and his system), but no...
Kirksey is a great leader and a fiery guy, but actually not a very good player. DePodesta will vote to kick him off the island (and perhaps lobby for Schobert).
See the pattern here? Dan Labbe (and most others) think about "who else is here to replace him?" a lot more than Paul and I.
Paul and I know that all that extra money is good for (wait for it...) hiring veteran free agents!!! Duke, Chris, I love ya man, but we can get somebody better for less buh-bye!
Dan thinks TJ Carrie is too expensive for his role on the team, but...really maybe not: Carrie plays every position except SS, and is a solid all-around player. He played a lot in 2019, too. DePodesta might accept that he's overpriced, but DB is critical in today's NFL (some teams carry NINE or more)...wow how did Dan zig as Paul and I zagged on this one!?!)
Hubbard check.
Dan can't imagine that Kevin Stefanski would ever contemplate parting with OBJ or Jarvis Landry, as he just came from Minnesota, where he had Diggs and Thielen.
Ahem: Stephon Diggs is a prototype number one receiver. He is big and tall and an easy vertical target. OBJ is NOT.
Trust me: Paul DePodesta is already pushing to trade OBJ (and his huge salary) for great value before (or during) the 2020 draft.
I hear ya: "But he just got his surgery and he's still in his prime! He'll probably go apeshit in 2020!"
That's why all the other GMs will want him. A LOT.
Nevermind who will replace him! I vaguely remember some guy named Rodney Higginsfield, and the fact that Baker Mayfield was much better with Landry and guys named Joe than he was with OBJ, and this was not lost on Paul DePodesta, either.
Next Dan gets into 5th year options and extentions, and was perfect there, including Larry Ogunjobi and Myles Garrett...(now he thinks about money!)
Dan Justik is rooting hard for the Browns to hire Rich Scangarello, recently fired by the Broncos after one year as their Offensive Coordinator.
Dan is mainly thinking that Scangerello looks like the best candidate to perform successful head-extraction on Baker Mayfield, whether as an Offensive Coordinator or QB Coach.
Scangerello was Jimmy Garrapolo's QB Coach in San Fran from his first start, and saw Drew Lock to a 4-1 w/l record in Denver.
I'm glad Dan didn't give me anything to correct.
Now, some food for thought: In this article, and Offensive Tackle Andrew Thomas is the consensus favorite 10th overall draft pick for the Browns in 2020.
That makes great sense, obviously, but Thomas is being projected as high as 4th overall so far.
For most of you people, that means the Browns need to trade up.
Nah! You people are still trying to replace Joe Thomas, despite the new prevalence of West Coast concepts, read-options, rolling pockets, RPOs, etc.
DePodesta has been working on it, but (if you listen to the words that come out of his mouth) still isn't a "football guy". But for sure he will argue (vehemently) against any trade-up in this OT-laden draft.
Kevin Stefanski runs a run-first, zone-blocking, play-action offense IS ANY OF THIS SINKING IN?
Best available Offensive Tackle at 10, then maybe at whatever they get for OBJ too.
Let Callahan sort it out.
I'll follow up later about how the Browns can contend in 2020 sans OBJ and stuff later, but an elite Offensive Line is a good place to start---re-read a the last 6 paragraphs...
...I tried.
I agree with Randy Gurzi that new Offensive Line Coach Bill Callahan was a great catch.
Callahan's extensive experience as an Offensive Coordinator and experience as a Superbowl Head Coach is a great bonus for a first year Head Coach, but Callahan's Offensive Lines were ALL really good, wherever he went.
When the Browns hired Campen from the Packers as the new Oline Coach, I didn't get why he was better than Wylie.
The Packers' Offense had just been stifled all season, and Aaron Rodgers got killed...and they...meanwhile, the Browns Offensive Line looked pretty good (with all the same players except Zeitler).
But all these real experts said Campen was highly respected, so I deferred to them like I usually do, assuming they know better than me.
I don't think I'll defer so much in the future. This is an old boy's network, and everybody looks out for their buddies.
Callahan isn't the new OC probably because he doesn't run a system close enough to Stefanski's (I'm guessing), but (guessing some more) is an excellent Oline Coach who can teach zone as well as he can teach man blocking.
Bill might be happy to focus on just one unit again. It has to seem extremely easy for him, and he's made plenty of money already.
He could end up as the running game coordinator or assistant Head Coach or something once the staff is filled out, but as-is he has agreed to coach the offensive line only.
COOL!
Chad Porto wrote a pretty dumb article, but shows promise. He lists 5 mistakes which set up the Browns for failure in 2019:
The first was not drafting an offensive lineman higher.
Greedy Williams is now the CB opposite Denzel Ward, Sheldrick Redwine wound up playing a lot, and is so far the starter at FS if Randall isn't re-signed. Takitaki played significant snaps late, and looks pretty good so far in a non-Wilks defense.
Austin Seibert is (heh-heh) kicking ass (get it?)
Which of these guys should not have been drafted to get out of the way for which offensive lineman?
The 2018 offensive line ranked pretty high overall. Dorsey (and everybody else) expected second year player Austin Corbett to be adequate at RG in place of Zeitler.
I doubt that Chad was second-guessing that at the time.
Next, Chad lists cutting Seth DeValve and Carl Nassib. I agree. John Dorsey is too egotistical. He cut these guys and Ogbah more because they weren't his guys than for any valid reason IMO.
...Well except DeValve is constantly injured, ok? That matters, ok, Chad?
Next, trading Duke Johnson: This is idiotic. Getting a 3rd round pick for Duke was very smart. He was unhappy, and there was no future for him here.
It's not any coach's job to "find ways" to use a given player--especially one with Duke's cap-hit.
I love Duke Johnson, but am objective. Chad Porto isn't.
I agree 100% with Chad that the trade with the Giants was stupid.
Chad's final "mistake" was making Freddie Kitchens the Head Coach instead of interim HC Gregg Williams.
That's debatable on the surface, but Chad goes to the echo-chamber with this "lack of discipline" crap under Kitchens.
Helmetgate only opened the door for Chad to list all of Vontez Garrett's other penalties:
Chad, EVERY passrusher in the NFL is piling up bogus late hit, helmet-to-helmet, and roughing penalties, and the operative word here is BOGUS.
It's legit to say that Gregg Williams was the better option at Head Coach, but Chad would have been better served if he'd left out his reasons why.
...actually I shouldn't have inflicted this link on you guys, but I thought I percieved a glimmer of potential eventual intelligence in it...
Anyway some guy also thinks that Baker Mayfield "chose" Freddie Kitchens. Nooo...
Baker was asked his opinion, and he expressed his opinion. It had marginal weight in John Dorsey's decision.
This guy was telling me that Mayfield needs to be "reigned in" or disempowered or something...like he's running the team?
And Haslam has to go.
Not really fair: Smart guy, but casual fan. I corrected him, and think I was 57.5% effective.
This guy was fixated on some other team the owner of Pilot/Flying J owns which he says is more profitable than the Browns, ergo he doesn't care about the Browns...?
Well you meet all kinds. And...Jimmy Haslam owns 2 other franchises, one of which is 3x as profittable as the Browns, and is almost as bad as Donald Trump and stuff!?!
All kinds Randy Lernerhaslam hyperbole confusion Russian collusion and stuff okbye
Defensive Coordinator George Edwards is being let go by the Vikings, and rumor has it he'll be coming to Cleveland.
It might work. This is Mike Zimmer's Defense (Edwards is rarely even mentioned), but Edwards was a DC before Zimmer hired him, and Edwards has been running that scheme since 2013.
Zimmer is a great defensive mind, and Edwards would no doubt bring his boss's principles with him.
The Vikings Defense is a 4-3, and keeps 4 down linemen in nickels and most dimes. Coverages vary, but are mostly single high or cover 2. Every type of man coverage, and zone.
The Vikings show similar "looks" most of the time, then shift around right before the snap. They also show blitze, then bail instead, and use every twist and stunt in the book.
Zimmer's "trade-mark" set is the double a-gap blitze set, normally used in passing situations.
The two linebackers line up on each side of the center, showing blitze. This drives them nuts, because they don't know if either or both are really coming, and have to just guess, sorta.
The writers who gave me this also missed the fact that this stacked front would force any runs outside.
Everybody is doing that stuff now, and Offenses are adapting, so George Edwards will need to be sneaky and diabolical like Zimmer, and...well Stefanski will know.
The Browns remain in a good place, as they have a lot of options for both coaches and front office people.
Edwards and Broncos OC Rich Scangarello were "late entries".
Scangarello would run the Shanahan system, which is clearly a prerequisite.
Scangarello helped Drew Lock to a 4-1 w/l record, and did a good job overall, considering the players (including quarterbacks) he had to work with.
You guys know I love that Shanahan offense, so I'm just grinning ear-to-ear now. And trust me: so is Nick Chubb, and it might just keep Kareem Hunt here, too.
The offensive tackles too---and of course Baker Mayfield.
A few notes here:
1: ALL running backs can look good in this "one-cut" system, but guys like Hunt and (especially) Chubb can make HUGE plays out of it often and frequently.
2: Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb can do everything a bigger, slower fullback can do, and Hunt has been doing it ever since he was activated.
Now, look at the 49ers. Jimmy Garrapolo gets in trouble when he passes too often, right?
Well, the Niners have a good offensive line, but they get exposed on passing downs. Jimmy is a fine quarterback, but he takes too much heat in those situations, and forces passes.
...sound familiar?
But look at what that team has done, and where it is!
It's the SYSTEM, ok? It protects weak pass protecting offensive tackles, so-so running backs, and even skittish quarterbacks.
I know that Hunt and Chubb are much better than Coleman and Breida, and that Baker Mayfield will be better than Jimmy G. And now, drafting 10th overall (*and wherever they do after they trade OBJ*), they should have better offensive tackles, as well.
The defense is a different story. It's sprung leaks all over the place.
I don't know if they'll release Olivier Vernon, but I know they should, and that DePodesta agrees with me.
Either way, the front four is in trouble. I expect Larry Ogunjobi to bounce back, Garrett is Garrett, and Sheldon Richardson is very solid. Thompson is actually looking decent as well, but you need EIGHT.
There is no comparing the Browns front four to the Niners front four. That Defensive Line needs a serious upgrade.
Linebackers are---well Wilson is here, but Dorsey dumped the most talented one for a bag of donuts, Schobert is a free agent, and...hmm not that bad: Takitaki, and Adarius Taylor is...almost...err average...
Nevermind cornerback is ok, but (assuming the new guys all agree with the fired guys that Damarius Randall MUST GO even if he's dirt-cheap) the Browns might need safety help again!
...I don't get the Randall hate. He didn't get hurt on purpose. He didn't suck. But these writers color him a GMF and never say WHY!
Joel W Cade wrote a great article (as usual) about why he feels the new regime will "punt" the draft (ie trade down and pile up draft picks again).
I wish I could have Joel with me here at Longhorn Steakhouse so we could debate this over tall ones, but since that aint happenin, I need to correct Joel here:
1: Joel expects Dorsey's termination to be a major disruption in the scouting process, and for what data Dorsey himself compiled on college players to be...doubted, or something?
Well no. Dorsey was fired, but the scouts were NOT. The new Front Office isn't starting from scratch here, and John Dorsey's eye for talent will NOT be dismissed by DePodesta, let alone the new GM.
2: Trading down is very possible, but Joel hasn't considered the almost certain OBJ trade. The Browns could draft maybe 10th and 21st in the first round, and have a third third round pick.
3: It's not rocket science. Offensive (or defensive) tackles aren't that hard to scout, and the success-rate for those drafted high are much better than all other positions (except maybe EDGE).
We here know that Greg Robinson was a bust, but he's the exception-not the rule.
4: The Browns are NOT rebuilding, and expect to contend in 2020. They NEED a solid Left Tackle (or anoth...whatever) NOW, and those guys are hard to come by (and rediculously expensive) in free agency.
There are 4 stud OT's who might be there at 10, and who the real experts think are worthy of that pick. Possibly ALL of them could start immediately at LEFT Tackle in this scheme, but certainly 2 of them...and the 2020 Browns should not trade down from that.
With all that being said, I almost always like trading down and piling up draft picks (being "analytical" and all), so if they trade down I won't soil myself like many of you will.
And (oh yes) this is a DePodesta thing:
Trust me: The GM will have given Paul a list of players they would draft at 10 overall, and once the 8th overall pick is in, he will advise the GM on how to proceed:
"Four of your primaries are still there, and seven of your secondaries. You can move down to 13 and lock up one of your top guys, or to 16 if you feel lucky and are willing to draft a second tier player--"
That's DePodesta's job. The GM's job is to decide what he wants to risk based on this advice:
He could trade down further and get an awesome deal...but might lose all of his top targets, see?
DePodesta stays in his lane...are you getting this? So it's up to the GM to figure out what he thinks the other teams are going to do based on their needs, and what he's willing to risk.
...well ok the GM might field a trade offer and consult DePodesta on it too, so he can prevent the GM from getting hosed.
Just as I'm excited about the Shanahan offensive system, I'm thrilled that Paul DePodesta and analytics are finally being taken seriously.
As Joel and I point out, John Dorsey blew DePodesta's plan out of the water with his dumbass trades and stuff. We thank God that the Haslams have finally picked a side.
Idiots cite "1-31" as evidence that "moneyball" doesn't work.
DePodesta opposed Hue Jackson (he preferred Bills Coach Sean McDermott).
Andrew Berry, you people, was the real GM during the Sashi Brown regime. Sashi Brown had almost nothing to do with "football".
Berry was an ex-player, seasoned scout, and scouting boss.
HE drafted Njoku, DeValve, Higgins, Schobert, Peppers, and signed Tretter and Zeitler. Andrew Berry ia smart.
I hope we get him back okbye
One of my peeps texted that nobody would trade any real value for OBJ. Huge miss:
The money and butt-slap are chickenshit, and GMs won't let it override his talent.
The fact that he played the entire 2019 season injured and has never been in real trouble means more to them.
Opposing coaches (unlike many Browns fans) will tell their GMs that OBJ's injury hampered his ability to separate, and he wasn't used as well as he could have been (my readers know: he's not a back shoulder fade guy. He's a catch and run guy).
OBJ is still in his prime. His 15 mil salary has been rendered affordable by inflation, and he has lost what leverage he had to gouge for more due to his meh season and his most recent clownery.
Just as John Dorsey brilliantly traded Jabrill Peppers AND 17th overall for OBJ, some other genius will be compelled to make a big splash in 2020 (except with only one first round pick, and maybe a third or something).
Us moneyball analytics guys all see that OBJ is extremely injury-prone and matchup-sensitive, but the "football" guys don't seem to even think about that!
Lord Insideous would never trade for OBJ, but somebody else will, just like John Dorsey did at a point where OBJ had missed HALF his games with injuries!
...and by the way, YOU people lapped it up!!!
Anyway, more uncommon sense analytics/long-term strategery here:
Olivier Vernon and OBJ cost 15 mil each, and their trade/release along with Hubbard's would balloon the Browns salary cap up into the stratosphere.
The first round draft pick (likely in the bottom half of the round) that OBJ would get back represents a new starter of some sort, on a 5-year rookie deal, so that massive cap isn't even dented.
NOW, Schobert, Hunt, et al could be easily signed (assuming the bidding doesn't get too rediculous), and the Browns might bring down a big one or 2 in free agency (a safety, EDGE guy, or even OT).
DePodesta could do all of this and still "bank" enough to retain Mayfield, Chubb, Garrett etc down the road.
Do you get it?
1: Add 40 mil or so to the cap.
2: Add a 1st and 3rd round draft pick.
3: Retain every Browns FA that some other fool won't massively overpay.
4: Add a couple more front-line free agents (same budgetary limitations).
The two first round picks (both offensive tackles, for all I care) are probable starters who will significantly outperform their rookie contracts.
The two high profile free agents should be under 28, and signed for at least 3 years, with guaranteed monies front-loaded.
While these guys will be expensive, they're plug-and-play immediate impact players, and the contract structure makes them tradeable or releasable in their second or third seasons.
Oo sorry you got a headache?
DePodesta was doing fine (1-31 was irrelevant) til Dorsey got here.
In 2018, John Dorsey did a great job, as he rebuilt the whole secondary, picked Mayfield, and didn't squander the money and picks that Berry and DePodesta left him.
...But he hired Mywayorthehighway Haley as OC and was forced to retain Hue Jackson.
It worked out, as Kitchens/Mayfield kicked butt and Gregg Williams did a great job as Head Coach. 6-10 was a good season for that young team.
In 2019, John Dorsey lost his damn mind as he made that trade with New York, and blew around half his cap space, 2 stud players, and the best part of that draft.
So in 2019, it's 6-10 again under the Head Coach Dorsey picked over Stefanski, and...you're trying to blame analytics for this!?!
Anyway, Dorsey's "big moves" in 2019 set DePodesta's plans back.
Now, finally, Paul has Jimmy Haslam's full attention, because he was right, all along, and all the predictions he no doubt made came true.
I'm reading "dysfuntional" all over the place again. How can I blame you? After 1-31 we get 6-10 2 years in a row and Mayfield getting (a lot) WORSE in year 2?
But stick those sideline outbursts, helmetgate, and OBJ where the sun don't shine, ok? That's all inflated and exaggerated; sensationalized, and I'm disappointed that so many of you buy that garbage.
Let's start over here:
1: Kevin Stefanski, who DePodesta wanted in 2019, is the new Head Coach.
2: DePodesta is still here, and Stefanski comprehends and agrees with his plans to build a dynasty (and is NOT required to turn in his game-plan "homework" every friday duh)
3: With Dorsey gone, much of the damage he did will be undone. Hubbard, Vernon, and OBJ will be "cashed out", and DePodesta's plan put back on the tracks.
4: The intra-organizational conflicts should be gone now. There shouldn't be any conflicting factions.
The organizational structure, which keeps DePodesta outside the "chain of command" and leaves him with one of Jimmy Haslam's ears is bashed by many, and I respect their opinions.
But they don't get it:
1: Haslam does NOT meddle. This is manufactured fake news.
2: DePodesta defers to the professional scouts, as he himself said he does.
3: It is GOOD that DePodesta has a voice, because where he does speak up, it's about how much to pay a given player, how IDIOTIC a proposed trade is, and common sense/business stuff like that.
There will be zero conflict between Stefanski and DePodesta (Stefanski is a brain too, see?), and Berry (or whoever) is the new GM won't come into conflict with DePodesta unless he tries to trade Jabrill Peppers, Kevin Zeitler, and a first round pick for OBJ and Olivier Vernon...
And we can assume that the GM Stefanski signs off on won't even think about stuff like that. Dorsey was the OBJ of GMs.
Now, quit this "big personality" crap. Jeez to hear you people mindlessly parrotting this garbage, you seem to think Mayfield and Landry (remember OBJ is gone) will be running the team or something.
Stefanski dealt with both Thielan and Diggs going public with their issues with playcalling (or whatever it was), but if you ask either of them about their OC now, what do you think they'd say?
And by the way, these players were both wrong.
(Long story don't get me started)
Anyhow, it's prediction time (bookmark this one, ok?):
1: Landry will get the Thielen role, (except probably not miss a bunch of games to injury).
2: Rodney Ratleyfield might get the Diggs role. He should be more physical in season 3 with Hanz and Franz, and he's an explosive and fast freak (with good hands, bullcrap aside).
3: David Njoku will start at Tight End, and will excel at blocking as well as receiving.
4: Rashard Higgins might be re-signed dirt-cheap.
5: Kareem Hunt is re-signed to an expensive (but not Ebineezer Bell-like) contract (for at least 3 years).
Hunt seems to sincerely love working with Nick Chubb, and playing WR and even lead-blocker and stuff in this offense.
5a: For Stefanski, this mitigates the need for more WR's: He can run a 2-back base, and deploy Hunt in the slot or wide anytime he wants.
6: The Browns will land 2 safeties in free agency (and one might be Damarius Randall, dirt-cheap).
7: The Browns will draft an offensive tackle with their first pick, and he will start immediately and kick ass.
8: The Browns will draft at least one more offensive lineman, and sign at least one more (upper echelon) one in free agency.
9: The Browns will draft a BIG, TALL, FAST WR in the middle or lower rounds (a "project").
10: The Browns will sign a serious EDGE-rusher in free agency, and draft at least one as well.
All those are in addition to dumping Hubbard and Vernon and trading OBJ, by the way.
Without mortgaging the future, or being stupid, the new regime can contend in 2020.
The Ravens are the obvious favorites in the Division, but they'll lose some talent to age and the cap, and defenses (including the Browns under Rodney Wilksfield, who were the first), have already found ways to slow that offense down.
The Bengals will have perhaps the best QB to come out in 10 (or 20 or 50) years, and retain significant talent.
The Steelers are in decline. I'm glad to hear that Gramps Ben is coming back. He's TOAST, but he'll start anyway haha.
The AFC North might be the best Division in football in 2020, but Baker Mayfield in a Shanahan/Kubiak/Stefanski system with Hunt and Chubb in his third season can ice that run-oriented cake better than Cousins.
Mayfield is more athletic, and better off-platform. He's even more accurate (based on his whole history excluding 2019), with a stronger arm.
By the way, are you people out of your minds bashing Mayfield for those commercials? Jeez how many "takes" do you think he does? Is he even there for an hour!?!
You people: I'm confiscating the word "distraction". It will be returned to you when I think you can use it responsibly.
Baker's biggest problems in 2019 were his fixation on OBJ and his lack of protection.
His protection will be upgraded this offseason, but so should his BRAIN. As he reviews those game-tapes, he'll see it.
He's no doubt already realized that he fixated on OBJ way too much (when he wasn't open); he will GET IT.
In 2020, Baker Mayfield will be the 2018 version again, and just hit the deepest open receiver period...on-time, ie within 2.5 seconds...
The commercials are irrelevant wtf is the matter with you idiots?
I hope for an OC off the Shanahan tree, and am optimistic as hell, because that stuff WORKS!
John Elway repeatedly beat the Browns to reach the Superbowl, and lost. Then he WON two of them after Mike Shanahan took over.
It wasn't Taylor, ok? It was Shanahan's zone-blocking offensive scheme.
Gary Kubiak backed up John Elway there, ok? When he became a coach, he ran that same system, and won Superbowls with it.
Now Kyle Shanahan's 49ers are Superbowl favorites in year 2 of a "rebuild"...
That's analytics, obviously:
Zone-blocking offensive linemen are rarely "road graders" and tend to go lower in the draft. Ditto "one-cut" running backs.
Mike Shanahan saved lots of money on offensive linemen and running backs, and spent that on star defensive players and wide receivers etc.
You'd think that everybody would copy what he did, but here we are:
Kubiak won 2 Superbowls, Kyle Shanahan is aiming at another, and a lot of Browns fans are bashing Kevin Stefanski already.
You people....
Anyway all the OC candidates are off the Shanahan tree so be optimistic. Be very optimistic. Okbye.
Late addition: Baker needs to quit doing commercials. This will fix everytoyyeedoyeeeduhhheroyeee....
OBJ is a knucklehead, and hasn't done any real harm, and I'll let eberybody else on the planet debate on whether or not summary execution is appropriate for his crimes against humanity.
Besides, I've been recommending that the Browns trade the guy since...well since Dorsey traded for him.
I can tell that most of you are still clueless about analytics, because this move is obvious to all analytical thinkers. The rest of you are ass uming that the Browns would never consider trading OBJ.
Indeed, some of you mock the Browns drafting a WR 10th overall! You have decided that Damion Ratley has no future, and that Stefanski, the new OC, new GM and DePodesta will agree that Rashard Higgins needs to go too.
There's way too much assuming going on here!
The point with OBJ is that Baker Mayfield never needed him in the first place, plus he is injury-prone and (yes) a distraction. I guarantee you that DePodesta fought---sorry repeating myself again:
Everybody is also ass uming that Olivier Vernon and his FIFTEEN MILLION PER YEAR salary are fixtures for 2020. Now that's just nuts, you people!
Listen: With Baker Mayfield, Damion Ratley and Rashard Higgins (or somebody like him) would work out fine, like they did in 2018.
Vernon might (or might not) be better than the rest of the DE's who survived Dorsey's purge, but he will again almost certainly miss at least 6 games...
Hey I sucked at math my own self, but figured it out eventually. Vernon is GONE, and so is OBJ (assuming they can still get a first rounder et al out of him, which is probable).
And Hubbard, obviously.
Where would that leave the Browns in terms of roster needs this offseason?
YOU would say WR. WRONG. I don't know what some of you were watching in 2019, but Rashard Higgins was on the bench, and Damion Ratley was only used in obvious passing downs.
The Browns started Kareem Hunt, and used him extensively as a receiver (context, remember?)
Damion Ratley is a certifiable deep threat. He's actually faster than OBJ, as well as taller (can win more contested catches). He enters his third season.
EDGE? Well you got me there. Chad Thomas showed some promise in his second season, but the position opposite Myles Garrett needs both a scarier passrusher and more depth.
DT could use more depth too.
...obviously, the biggest need is at Offensive Tackle.
Greg Robinson is actually a viable Free Agent option, once we measure him against the (under 30) Left Tackles who may actually be available.
Drew Forbes will get his shot at different positions, and he, Lamm, and Telfer shouldn't be discarded just yet.
The market could make even Greg Robinson rediculously expensive; he might be a GMF.
Fortunately, at 10th overall, the Browns can nab a LEFT Tackle. This draft is loaded with outstanding Offensive Tackles, including 4 who (so far) are being graded that high.
Only one is considered a plug-and-play LEFT tackle, but there's another (a basketball star) who just needs some polishing, and another who is a massive monster who...
Nevermind but CONTEXT, ok? Kevin Stefanski (ps who cares if Gary Kubiak advised him he's a BRAIN not a puppet you cretins) ran a run-first, zone-blocking, RPO/play-action offense in 2019.
Well -snap-snap- that doesn't require a Joe Thomas left tackle to protect a pocket passer from a Myles Garrett for 5 or so seconds so he can stand there in the pocket, shopping around...
Long story short the Browns can land a top-notch (starting) offensive tackle at 10th overall, and maybe another one with the first round pick they get for OBJ, and the draft is by far the best way to address it.
With Randall, Schobert, etc entering free agency, there are issues all over the roster, but linebacker, DB, FB, and WR are more economicaly addressed in free agency than Offensive Tackle.
...Why are some of you writing off Njoku and proclaiming the need for a pass-catching TE?
Because your latest lynch-victim, Freddie Kitchens, benched him? Do any of you know WHY that happened?
...you're writing Njoku off now? WOW!
Yeah Njoku and Higgins, as you simultaneously declare Freddie Kitchens an idiot--you people...no wonder Trump is being impeached.
-snap-snap- Paul DePodesta has a stronger voice now and got an Analytics-freindly (ie smart) Head Coach, and you're writing Higgins, Randall, Njoku, Hunt, and Schobert off while ass uming that OBJ and Pegleg Vernon stick around?
Before you know who the Offensive and Defensive Coordinators or the GM will be?
You people: I remind you that when you "ASSUME", you make an "ass" of "UR Self".
Damarius Randall remains very talented, as does Njoku, Higgins, Hunt...
DePodesta is the lone survivor of the crew that drafted Njoku, Schobert, Higgins, and Ratley, and now you think they're all doomed?
WHY?
If any of these guys is "affordable" enough, they will be re-signed (let's include Greg Robinson here...and Njoku/Ratley remain under contract anyway...I'm just saying they won't get CUT like some people seem to think).
But I digress: Quit saying that "analytics" went 1-31 and implying that John Dorsey fixed it. HUE JACKSON went 1-31, and Paul DePodesta wanted McDermott instead.
I won't redundate again here: just go back 12 posts here and read forward.
Stefanski might change things, but I hope he will agree with Paul that paying up for Kareem Hunt would be smart.
I'm optimistic about this, as Hunt is a slot/wide receiver/lead-blocker/3rd down back/bellcow and home run hitter so.......
Analytics; you don't get that he's on the "running back" pay scale, do you? Well, this was the battle Ebineezer Bell lost...
...anyway it's GOOD that Paul DePodesta has more influence now, and an intelligent Head Coach.
...okbye
