Browns Free Agent TE Prospects, Dumb Analysis, Smart Analysis, etc

It's hard to find thought-provoking articles this week, but Randy Gurzi wrote a good one on free agent TEs who could come in and challenge (or complement) Rodney Njokufield.

Randy's intro was extremely refreshing, as it didn't blame Njoku for getting stuck in the Dawg House, or assume that Kevin Stefanski and co would feel the same way.

*I do need to note that Randy assumes more facts not in evidence as he cites a chip on David's shoulder over John Dorsey publicly saying he needed to improve as a blocker.  

Njoku comes from a very successful family loaded with big brains, and his public response to Dorsey's criticism was genuine. Njoku said that he agreed with Dorsey, and would do so.

Intelligent people are not offended by honest and legitimate criticism.  (Well...unless you're Baker Mayfield, but don't get me started on that guy)*

Anyway I'd never heard of Nick Vannet until I read this article, but he sounds very interesting--especially since he will be undervalued (errah...cheap).

He's not the athletic freak Njoku is, but has Austin Hooper-like catch per-target numbers, and the size and reach for both the red zone and in-line blocking.

Some guy named "Dissly" elbowed him aside in Seattle after a promising rookie season, and then he got to back up Vance McDonald on a Steelers' offense...

Vannet is unlikely to "beat out" Njoku, but could well be a great backup, complement, and red zone threat...dirt cheap.

I still can't agree on Tyler Eiffert, even at his own cheap price.  Even if he manages not to get hurt again, he's redundant with Njoku, and competing with him for snaps.

Like everybody else except me, Randy ignores Kareem Hunt, and the obvious 2-back offense Stefanski will obviously run, given the current skill players he inherits.

Tyler Eiffert is not a blocking Tight End, and probably won't be cheap enough to justify displacing a younger, cheaper player with a brighter future so he can be Njoku-light for one---

Ok Randy? A swing and a miss, ok?

Eric Ebron is interesting, however!!! Randy Gurzi zeros in on how Ebron produced with Andrew Luck, as opposed to Stafford and Brissett, and he makes a strong case for this 27-year-old freak.

PFF grades him about 71 overall, with the blocking and receiving scores about right there.  I can assure you that if I could afford PFF's full subscription, I could isolate Andrew Luck with Ebron and show you significantly higher receiving grades, but 71 is pretty good.

Eric Ebron might be a great undervalued addition to the 2020 roster.

PFF grades him marginal in as a pass protector, but decent as a run-blocker and receiver.  Like Eiffert, Ebron redundates with Njoku somewhat, except he's a better in-line blocker, younger, and more durable.

*Eiffert makes more big plays than Ebron, but common sense analytics want you to lock up the younger, more reliable player long-term at the cheapest possible price*

Unlike Eiffert, Ebron is a legit in-line run-blocker, and perfectly fits the Shanahan play action zone-blocking offense (as a blocker, as well as a receiver).

Anyway, Gurzi missed in Eiffert, but between Vannet and Ebron, he's probably found 2 of DePoBerry's top FA TE targets.

Sean Lee is 33.  STOP IT!

What tf is the matter with you people!?!  My god you want to trade a 2nd round pick for a 31 year old often injured OT and pay him 10% of your salary cap too?  

You want to sign a THIRTY NINE YEAR OLD injury-prone Left Tackle?

Trading OBJ is unthinkable?  

You're still counting on Olivier Vernon, aren't you?

...sorry: I was always a Browns fan,  but was clueless until I was in my late 20's, and a dumbass for a long while longer.

I declared Derrick Anderson the franchise QB.  I thought Crowell was a stud RB.

But I'm smarter now.

But I was once as dumb as most of you.

Conklin, Dupree, and Littleton...and ALL the Safeties legit FA Targets for the Browns

Free Agency is almost upon us, and I won't be surprised if, once again, at one minute past midnight a bunch of pending signings are announced.

You know--agents and teams aren't allowed to negotiate until midnight, right? So it's amazing how fast these guys can negotiate deals!

Anyway as usual, most of the punditry is lagging behind my humble self in re some of the targets.

I'm back in like with Jack Conklin, since I finally did my homework and saw that PFF graded him at 74 in pass pro (83.7 run-blocking).  

Some writer told us that Jack was weak in pass protection, and I bought it.  But 74 is a respectable grade (unless you're a Browns fan, and you set that bar at Joe Thomas jeez...)

However, some people are already projecting this R I G H T Tackle's new contract at over 18 mil.

That's where good poker players fold their hands, ok?  Paul DePodesta lets the "foodball guyz" break their banks and won't overpay (by that much).

When the Sashi Brown Front Office signed Zeitler and Tretter, some said that they overpaid for Zeitler.

They might have, technically, but Zeitler remains one of the 3-5 best guards in the NFL.  It was a smart move.

The other bidders will almost always drive a player's price above market value, and (analytics or no) the smartest Front Offices set their do-or-die price a little higher for high-profile players in a weak market.

But 18 mil for Conklin would be 15-20% over market, and that's officially rediculous.  The smartest Front Offices never overpay by that much.

However, Spotrack.com projects 6 years, average 15 mil/year.  There are only 32 General Managers in the NFL, and it's less likely that this writer is a dumbass than one of them are.

DePoBerry may well go after him and allow a 1.5 mil/year dumbass premium (to outbid them, see?)

As I outlined in my last post, a team with a ton of cap space can offer a huge signing bonus in year 1 to mitigate the annual cap-hits in the out years.

They could offer Conklin a 10 mil bonus up front, and actually pay him up to 25 mil in 2020.  Then, as early as 2021, Conklin would cost 13 mil or less (maybe 10 mil guaranteed).

That 10 mil up front would knock some of the prospective bidders out of the auction from the start, since most teams couldn't match 25 mil, right?

Yes, this could actually happen, and so could Bud Dupree.

The Browns have around 65 mil now.  Releasing Hubbard and trading OBJ would push that up over 85 mil.  Only a few teams can match the massive signing bonusses the Browns can offer up front, so if Berry sets his sights on a given player, he'll have a good chance of nailing him down.

Players and agents love big signing bonuses.  It's one big fat huge check they get before training camp even starts.  Often, they'll even accept less overall money in order to put that money in the bank and lock up front-loaded guarantees.  

They're all paranoid about injuries.

Local permabashers will ask why Conklin or Dupree (or one of the elite safeties) would want to come to this "dumpster fire", but the players are usually smarter than that.

Dupree is an expert on the Browns' offensive talent, and sees the hole opposite Garrett 

*I forgot the Vernon release.  15.5 more--they might have over a hundred mil in cap space, ok?  They could dump 50 mil on Dupree and Conklin in 2020 and have 50 mil left!!!*

Conklin knows Tretter and Bitonio and Nick Chubb, and (trust me) all Offensive Linemen want to play in a play-action run-oriented zone-blocking scheme.

If I were me (or DePoBerry), Conklin and Dupree would be my "Plan A" high profile FA targets (I love Littleton too, but he's a linebacker and likely to get even more overpaid than Schobert).

This is what DePodesta does.

I'm a fan too, so I'm conditioned to expect disappointment and failure.  But remember when they signed Tretter and Zeitler?  Andrew Berry had a lot to do with that, and Paul DePodesta had more influence then than after Dorsey got here.

Vernon and OBJ are Dorsey guys.  There are reasons for optimism now!  I've been spelling those reasons out ever since Paul DePodesta was implicitly empowered.

In my dreams, I see Bud Dupree and Jack Conklin as Cleveland Browns.  Then also 2 excellent young safeties and (ideally) Middleton (or Schobert back at a more reasonable price).

The safety part of this is almost easy, as so many are available, and have connections to Stefanski or Woods.  

Linebackers are the running backs of defenses, and are cheap.  Safeties are getting more props these days, but are still comparatively inexpensive, and the Browns can probably address their needs here via free agency.

DePodesta WILL exploit his cash in every case, and spend a lot of his cap money in order to sign the rest of these guys to long-term contracts, but will still probably have 25-35 mil or so in "rollover" money.

As of the draft (in my optimistic fantasy), the Browns "needs" are down to a Left Tackle, Depth on the edge/DL, and...well don't get me started on "the Stefanski offense" and fullbacks and tight ends, ok?

The "wide zone" scheme works with any given combination of skill talent, and Stefanski (like Kubiak and Shanahan) use what players they have.

Maybe some of these clowns would quit blabbing this crap if there was a "FB" in front of Kareem Hunt's name on the depth chart...

Nah!  

But I digress: Rodney Ratleyfield is no OBJ, but ought to be ready to start in his place.  Rashard Higgins should also be re-signed.

Njoku sucked statistically as a receiver in 2019, but showed improvement as a blocker, and if you want a real measure of him as a reciever, look at his first two seasons, ok?

I can't believe that pundits are talking about replacing Njoku already, as if his most recent injury (and OBJ) plagued season is all there is, or something.

I repeat: John Dorsey is gone, and OBJ will be gone soon as well.  Baker Mayfield will be able to hit whoever is open again (and more often than not decide on that presnap), and Njoku will be one of those targets in this offense.

Tight End is NOT a priority for the 2020 Browns, nor is Fullback (although upgrades at each would be nice).

Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta has to look down the road a piece.  He can't count on Kareem Hunt in 2021 (*he should try to extend him right now, while he lacks leverage and the Browns have it, but I doubt that Paul is as smart as...nevermind*)

Anyway in 2020 the Browns will have Chubb, Njoku, Landry, and (sigh remember the OBJ trade) Ratley at the skill positions.

You can bash Ratley if you want, but in his third season I expect him to kick ass.

That's a 21 base offense.  That's 2 "running backs" and 1 Tight End.  There is one WR, and only one slot left over: a TE, WR, or RB.

I guess the permabashers will label Ratley and Njoku "busts", but this is one of the deepest WR drafts in history, and DePodesta knows it...

...and he will probably get a 1st round pick for OBJ, and more picks as he trades down from 10th overall.

Paul DePodesta might just be able to overcome the damage Dorsey did, and get the Browns in contention in 2020...

Well assuming he takes my advice.  (The communications glitch hasn't been fixed yet, so Paul and Andrew don't get my texts or emails).

BUD DUPREE OR BUST for the Cleveland Browns and Stuff

The Browns ought to sign veteran safeties, Offensive Tackles, and EDGE playerS ahead of the draft.

It's only now beginning to dawn on pundits that John Dorsey mistake Olivier Vernon and his 15.5 mil salary are as good as gone.

The Vernon/Beckham hosing trade was really the icing on the cake, as John Dorsey kicked Nassib and Ogbah to the curb as soon as he got here in 2018, and drafted Chad Thomas (a "real football player", I assume) to replace them.

And here we go: Nassib and Ogbah are both available!

I just looked up Chad Thomas on PFF and almost lost my lunch.  Ogbah, meanwhile, scored 70.1 overall, and was about that good vs the pass and the run.  (Nassib was in the high 60s, and better vs the run than vs the pass).

Andrew Gribble listed most of the available free agent EDGE guys (a week ago--some may be franchised or re-signed by their teams).

Peter Smith thinks former 1st round pick Shaq Lawson makes sense.

PFF ranks Lawson with Nassib, except with the pass/run rankings reversed.

(All these numbers for Nassib and Lawson are around 4 points lower than Ogbah's...)

Peter is much better than I am at evaluating players, and he may see something in Lawson that the numbers don't show.  Smith is also thinking about contracts and cap consequences, so might expect Ogbah to cost too much.

But guess who my favorite free agent EDGE guy is.

Bud Dupree looks better as a passrusher, but his price could get rediculous.  Dupree is the best non-geezer second tier guy (stellar scores on PFF).

Ogbah is kinda Dupree light, see?

The top guys are not realistic targets in an inflated market.  The oldest of them still got it...sorta...but would only be one-year bandaids for the Browns...I keep circling back to Emmanuel Ogbah here.

If not Dupree, then Ogbah.  Maybe even Dupree and Ogbah.

Dupree is actually a lot like Olivier Vernon, see?  (Except younger and more durable, of course).

To lock him down long-term might cost 70 mil over 4 years per some estimates (with at least 10 mil as a bonus in year 1 to mitigate the annual salary over...nevermind but the average salary after the bonus would actually be less than what Vernon costs...if you ask, I will answer.  So don't ask).

Dupree is a "linebacker" for the Steelers.  That's not critical as he's Ogbah-sized and puts his hand in the dirt sometimes.  Joe Woods wouldn't have a problem figuring out how to max him out

*Remember, I told you guys (even after Joe said he would run a 4-3 here) that he would run whatever front best suited his personnel.  Labels are for dummies*

Ok I'm officially lobbying for Bud Dupree here.  It'd be kinda like trading Olivier Vernon for him, and getting the results John Dorsey hallucinated envisioned.

Some in Steelers Nation see a franchise tag in Bud's future, but they're a couple cuts away from 22 mil in cap space.  Bud would gobble up over 16 mil of that, and who knows if he re-signs in 2021?

Colbert doesn't operate that way.  He'll try to sign Dupree long-term.  If he does, Andrew Berry will make damn sure he pays through the nose.

The Steelers have problems.  They will continue to win more than they lose, and contend again at least in 2020.

They need to find Ben's replacement, and that's more likely a free agent than a draft pick for them.  Colbert has to save money and rebuild his cap space...nevermind but Dupree is a viable target for the Browns, and they have a decent chance of landing him.

Taking this idealistic fantasy one step further, Andrew Berry signs Dupree and Ogbah (Ogbah for under 8 mil/year after the bonus) and DE/EDGE are covered for 4 years, in depth.

The combined 2020 cap hits could approach 38 mil.  "Oh no oh no!", right?

Well see that's business analytics, and what Paul DePodesta has helped pioneer for Fortune 500 companies, as well as for baseball teams:

Invest what surplus you can in long-term investments.  Ignore the short-term "margins"---you are jumping ahead of inflation and locking up assets in the current

...nevermind.  Anyway, Bud Dupree at under 16 mil/year (as of 2021) and Emmanuel Ogbah at 8/year (ditto) would be well worth 16 mil or so in 2020 bonuses to take non-Garrett EDGE off the table for 4 years.

This is what DePoBerry did when they signed Zeitler and Tretter, see?  They nailed down the interior Offensive Line for years to come.

...Then came Dorsey...

Assuming an OBJ trade, it's also possible for the Browns to cover the secondary pre-draft, and secure a good fa linebacker too.

The 2020 FA class is LOADED with stud safeties, including Rodney Bostonfield.  DePoBerry will sign 2 studs in free agency, for relative chump-change.

They can also stabilize the linebackers dirt-cheap (sorry Joe Schobert--it is what it is).

Yeah I know: I forgot about Offensive Tackle.

Well that looks grim in free agency.  15 mil for Conklin is a non-starter, and everybody else is artificially overpriced too.

DePoBerry will most likely wait the veterans out, like Lord Insideous (Belichick) does every offseason:

The 2020 draft class is LOADED with excellent Offensive Tackles.  Smart agents/players are willing to take less money now, but (believe it or not), most of them don't get it.

It's about EGO, more than anything else---

At any rate, the free agents will start claiming chairs next week, and those without chairs will immediately get desperate.

The semi-smart ones will take the best deal they have at this point before the draft.  (Well of course for some of them, the offers are cancelled because somebody else was less GREEDY so...)

Anyway after the draft, you can sign some good geezers dirt-cheap.

This is more analytics, see?  But I digress:

Ahead of the draft, DePoBerry can possibly nail down MLB, Safety, and EDGE.

OK and DT as well: These guys might already be here, but space-eating nose tackles are a dime a dozen, and this is the real need here.

Adding it all up, post-free agency period 1 and before the draft, DePoBerry have a decent chance of taking DL, Secondary, and MLB off their board, but might still have an issue at Offensive Tackle.

This is still great news for those of you who live on this planet and in this dimension!

If the Browns are unable to sign a legitimate OT or 2 in free agency,  they can certainly find them in this draft class...and of course the greedy geezer who should fire his agent because the Browns now get him for one season for chump-change.

And the Right Guard pundits think they desperately need might already be here...

You people should be optimistic.  I get that after 2+ decades of crapitude (and periodic optimism---always crushed), it's hard for you to not be negative, but this is a very talented young team, and this is a "reset".

From the Front Office down, everything is new.  If you expect more failure despite the talent you have acknowledged, you are stuporstitious.

Paul Moneyball is Starting from Scratch Again Just Cuz Wull Dazz Wudd He Duzz oyeee

A writer on Bleacher Report I won't inflict a link on you over thinks the "analytics crowd" is back in charge in Berea, and will repeat what they did when Sashi Brown took over (ie tear down and rebuild).

This is hyper-shallow and ignorant.

When Sashi Brown (by the way as if he was the guy making the picks--what a joke that is) took over, the Browns didn't have their Quarterback, Tretter, Njoku, Chubb, Landry, Garrett, Ogunjobi, Ward, Wilson/Takitaki/Hunt/Redwine/Richardson etc, all of whome will remain on the roster, and many of which were acquired by the Brown Front Office.

...and several of those who were not were signed with money or drafted with extra draft picks that John Dorsey inherited.

This clown cites the new Browns regime's unwillingness to pay a Middle Linebacker 12 mil, and the release of Kirko as evidence of another "tear-down", and warns us that they might even release Olivier Vernon simply because he is injured all the time and paid 15.5 mil/year.  (I don't know if he got to OBJ...couldn't read the whole thing.  It might have made me dumber.)

Well...I guess he can just rest his case right there, right?

"Moneyball" (snicker-snort).

I'm trying hard to say this in a different way to mitigate the redundancy, but can't help some of it:

The Brown regime indeed tore the roster down to the foundation and started over.  While no Coach or player ever deliberately "tanks", the losing season(s) was/were predictable, along with the higher draft picks.

They piled up cash by releasing and trading older veterans, and more draft picks by trading down (and they did the Osweiler trade; basicly buying a 2nd round pick for 16 mil...too bad nobody wanted Osweiler, or they would have got another high pick for him).

This was the rebuilding PHASE, ok?

Paul DePodesta wanted to hire current Bills HC Shaun McDermott, but was overridden, and we got Hue Jackson.

0-16 in his first year was really sad, but he deserved a break with the new systems and all his inexperienced players.

But 1-15 in year 2...with one of the best Offensive Lines in the NFL (with Bitonio/Tretter/Zeitler inside), Duke Johnson, Schobert, Garrett...

(I could go off on a tangent here, as I was at this time personally seeing how Hue refused to adapt his offense to his personnel---but anyway it wasn't due to talent that that team lost all but one game.)

But that's ok!  The 2018 Browns were entering phase TWO.  They were ready to draft their franchise Quarterback.  They had a great Offensive Line and a decent defense under Gregg Williams, and a bunch of talented players entering their 2nd and 3rd seasons...

And Jimmy Haslam retained Hue Jackson (think DePodesta voted yes on that one?), fired Sashi Brown instead, and replaced him with John Dorsey.

I couldn't understand the Jackson non-firing, but got the Brown thing:  Bullcrap aside, Dorsey was the guy who turned the KC Chiefs into a contender, and players he drafted are still kicking major ass.

Dorsey did a great job in 2018:

He traded DeShone Kizer for Damarius Randall (brilliant), chose Mayfield 1st overall (let's postpone this debate for a couple years, but in my opinion, this was the right pick.  Berry agreed, and I guarantee you so did DePodesta).

We can debate more about Denzel Ward at 4th overall (instead of Chubb), but signing Terrence Mitchell and---well Dorsey rebuilt the secondary (except for Jabrill Peppers) in one offseason cheap!!!

Everything John Dorsey did right in 2018 was "analytical", except paying Hubbard elite Right Tackle money.

At this point, after 2018, John Dorsey was mostly in-line with the DePodesta plan (trust me on this one).

Then Berry left for the Eagles.  Freddie Kitchens was named Head Coach, interim Head Coach Gregg Williams was replaced (this time DePodesta wanted Stefanski but was overridden again), and what happened happened.

This is where John Dorsey went off the analytics rails and set the Browns back.

I won't even recite the whole thing, but in summary Zeitler, Peppers, 17th overall, and (I think) a 3rd round pick for OBJ and Vernon and their 30+mil salaries and injury histories...

Jeez they let anybody write these days!  How can you blame "moneyball" for all this crap!?!

It's ok though: DePodesta can salvage the 31 mil or so and probably a 1st round pick out of this mess, and Mayfield enters year 3, etc.

He's got his Head Coach and GM, and they've got their assistants, and everybody is on the same page.

Another tear-down and 2-3 year rebuild!?! Who tf hires these clowns (instead of me)?

You guys get this, right?  This clown portrays DePodesta as a power-hungry schemer who...

Well this article was senseless:  This idiot assumes that DePodesta will tear the roster down again, despite all the young talent he has helped acquire...

Well carnovirus is "Trump's Chernobyl" so why tf not?

Kill me.

Browns to Trade Down! Sources Confirm that Andrew Berry Has Already blah blah I made this up

Elliott Kennel is starting to come around on trading down from 10 and still getting a starting Left (and possibly Right) Tackle in this year's OT-saturated draft class.

He's only about 4 weeks behind me on that (he doesn't steal my material like some other guys, see?).  But he's still lagging, as he says "a few spots"--naming Josh Jones as one alternative to the "big 4".

In fact, there are a couple other OTs that legit experts have projected as good day 1 starters with great upsides.

You've got to do at least a little math to figure this out, ok?

1: There are only 32 slots per round.  Is it even possible that 7 Offensive Tackles could be picked in the first round?

5 Quarterbacks, 1 Running Back, 6+ WRs, 2 DTs, 3+ EDGE guys, 3+corners, 2+safeties...well I suppose it's possible that 7 OTs could go in the first, but how 'bout in the top 25?

2: Which teams need new starting OTs, and of those teams, what else do they need?  Are they going to take the Tackle instead of the stud skill player or DT, for example?

Elliott, 14 or so slots is not "a little", and that's how far they Berry could safely move down (*if I'm right about that list of 7, and if Berry indeed is willing to hand any of them over to Callahan*).

Even if Berry has only 6 Offensive Tackles he ranks together, he'll reassess once he's on the clock again post-trade-down.  If 2 to 4 of them are still on the board, now he can move down exactly that many slots.

Kennel is an extremely smart guy already, and should be able to see all this stuff within the next 20 years or so.

New guy Frank Teriaka also has great upside as an analyst.  This time, Frank tries to peg 3 Free Agents the Browns might sign.

I can tell, the kid did his home-work.  I don't have a lot of time (or the resources) for player-by-player analysis, so I lean on guys like Frank (Frank, like Elliott, is one of my "go-to" guys already---except Frank is on probation due to his microscopic sample size)

(*They do make analytical mistakes sometimes, but only minor ones*)

Frank's 1st guess is EDGE Shaq Lawson (Bills).

Shaq is in his prime and was a 1st round draft pick.  He never lived up to that, and is technically a bust.

But Frank points out that he got his 6.5 sacks and 17(?) tfl's in 2019 playing 47% of the snaps.

To supplement Frank's further reasoning, I wonder if Lawson has ever played opposite of a guy like Myles Garrett.

Lawson, due to his original draft status and the potential that still implies, will probably command moe munnah than Ogbah or Nassib, but...sigh ok...here is one of Shaq's pre-draft scouting reports.

Sounds like Olivier Vernon, in a lot of ways.

...which is pretty good, since Lawson isn't injured all the time.

Next, Frank likes Redskins LG Ereck Flowers(for the RG slot).

Flowers is another "bust" Left Tackle who turned into a pretty good guard and would fit the zone-blocking scheme.

Like most non-me's, Frank is ignoring Teller, Forbes, Callahan, and the new scheme, and assuming facts not in evidence as he ass umes that Right Guard is a primary need, but I do like Flowers, and he might be really cheap.

Nick Kwiatoski is a young, ascending MLB wit da Chicago Bearss who Frank tinks coot help replace Joe Schobert cheap.

I can't find anything wrong with this.

I do like Seone Takitaki as he enters year 2, and know that Mack Wilson can offset his deficiencies in coverage, but Kwiatoski does sound like Schobert (per Teriaca), and also...I just want to hear Doug Dieken try to pronounce his name, right?

Anyhoo thank you Frank Teriaki.

I'm glad that Tony Grossi has been reinstated, even though he is a hateful heightist monster (good grief) anyway you be careful, Tony!

Quit this Jason Peters crap!  What tf is wrong with you people!?!  Peters was a great Left Tackle for a long time, but as he's aged, he's suffered a lot of injuries and missed a lot of games.

Can't you comprehend that Peters isn't a Quarterback or kicker or coach?  You think he's as good as he was before all those surgeries?  You believe in the cartilage-fairy?  He's THIRTY EIGHT YEARS OLD fcol!

Even the league minimum might be too much for Peters, because the player he kicks to the curb is probably better than he, in his decrepitude, is!

Another new writer (whose identity I am protecting because he is a dumbass) still thinks that Trent Williams is a great idea.

Well wtf a marxist is contending with other marxists to be the anti-Trump nominee so nothing shocks me anymore, but still...

At least a second round pick, and 18 mil/year for a 31 year old who missed over 20% of his games before his holdout?  Ahead of possibly the best Left Tackle draft class in NFL history?  For a team in transition, and in the same Division as the Baltimore Ravens...

With looming Brinks trucks, a new Head Coach, offensive and defensive systems...

18+ mil and a 2nd round pick on an oft-injured 31 year old now...

Last call.  Just in time.  I rest my case.  Wow.

Bad Browns Analysis Again as Usual and Common Sense and Browns Stuff

Kevin Stefansky will (sigh) adapt his offense to the players he has.  All of you nod sagely and agree, and then say he needs a(nother) fullback and blocking tight end.

You read the article about how Stefanski will use Kareem Hunt, and I've told you 100 or so times that he'll be in the slot or outside sometimes...

...but he needs a fullback who can catch and a tight end who can block to run the offense he ran in Minnesota zzinggg!

Certainly, Hunt might leave after 2020, and there are no guarantees about Njoku down the road, so adding either a fb or te wouldn't be a suprise--but the Browns won't pass up edge-rushers, linebackers, safeties, wide receivers (remember the OBJ trade), or offensive linemen for either position.

Frank Teriaca offers up 3 free agent defensive ends that he thinks the Browns need to check out.

Frank's article was a lifesaver to me, as this draft class is light on those guys, and of course Vernon is a GMF.  Myles Garrett is a beast, but needs somebody else to take heat off him.

...but, none of the defensive ends Frank listed look any better than Emmanuel Ogbah or Carl Nassib IS ANY OF THIS SINKING IN YET?  

The notion that Myles Garrett's "opposite number" has to be a bookend edge-rusher is also simpletonian hyperbole:

The Offensive line can only double-team one passrusher.  A defensive tackle who beats one on ones consistantly works as well as a guy on the opposite edge.

Do you get this?  You can slide protection and take Garrett's inside lane away, but the double-teamer is a guard.  It doesn't matter to the other Edge guy, see?  It matters for the defensive tackles duh!

Err...you get that guards and centers normally block defensive tackles, right?

Ok so explain to me how even a Chase Young on the opposite side of the field from Garrett can get him out of a double-team.

...I'm waiting..........

Anyway I like all the veteran de's Frank listed almost as much as I like Ogbah and Nassib, but suspect that in 2020 a passrushing defensive tackle is more realistic.

There are 2 of these already on the roster:

Larry Ogunjobi has declined mainly vs the run, but Sheldon Richardson was fine overall.  Both have been scary penetrators...

I'm tired and will have to get back to this, but for now you stand partly corrected okbye...

Quick takes: CBA talks look like overpaid older guys vs struggling younger guys and retired veterans (especially retirees, who would get over a 35% raise: "Screw them and screw you too, junior.  We can get more more more!")

Exacty when did how much money the employers make become the business of the employees, and football P L A Y E R S turn into "labor"?

Was any offer by the owners going to have a chance for a lot of these older overpaid stars?  Most of them decided to oppose it before they read it.

That's how you do it!  Refuse the first offer and gouge for more!  You can always get more if you're stubborn and greedy enough!

NEVER accept the first, second, third ect offer!

I'm sick of these spoiled brats.  Like I said "screw the retirees and screw you, kid.  MORE MORE MORE STICK EM UP BOSS!!!"

Punks.  Okbye

Josh Uche, Advice for Andrew Berry, Offensive Tackles, and the Cleveland Browns

I need to bring a probable day 3 sleeper again in this draft class:  Josh Uche.

Josh is a nominal Defensive End, but is unlikely to play there in the NFL (except as a situational wide edge-rusher).

Even in college, he was a third and long rotational EDGE guy.  Josh is 6'2", 250 lbs, and can't stand up to offensive linemen vs the run.  He's also a speed and bend guy, but can't yet convert speed to power as a rusher.

Apologies if you already know this, but "speed to power" means you start out threatening to run around the blocker, then run up under his pads while he's stepping out to get in your way.

It's possible that Hans, Franz, and pro coaches can add "speed to power" to Uche's repertoire in time, but for right now, he's all speed.

However, Uche may be a really good NFL linebacker.

The writer who wrote the linked article wasn't the only one who was impressed by how quickly and naturally Uche drops into coverage (zone), and others have said he can cover seam routes vs souped-up Tight Ends.

Uche was one of the biggest stars throughout Senior Bowl week--especially as a passrusher.  That's not insignificant.

At this point in time, lots of scouts love Uche's athleticism and potential, but as a rookie he's probably a special teamer and situational EDGE guy (not really part of a rotation).

In other words, a "project" linebacker.

Down the road a piece, (like in 2021), this guy could compete to start at OLB, and at least get on the field on passing downs.  Meanwhile, Preifer would love him on Special Teams.

Tom Withers (AP) thinks that OBJ's inability to practice had a lot to do with Baker Mayfield's crappy 2019 season, and (duh) I feel like Captain Obvious caught me with my eyes closed.  I totally overlooked this!

OBJ didn't show up for the voluntary workouts.  He was actually recovering from a Quad injury (and that's tough:  you just plain can't use the muscle, see?)  THEN, he has this "core muscle" injury for which he just had surgery, so he was held out of the weekly in-season practices as well.

Baker Mayfield had little opportunity to "sync up" with OBJ...

...ok I didn't know all this before, and am now officially pist off:

The narrative that OBJ wasn't targeted enough is 180 degrees wrong, as Baker Mayfield was forcing the ball to him all season long.

YOU people are bashing Kitchens for not "finding a way to get OBJ the ball", but actually, he was doing the opposite.

While even an impaired OBJ was probably still as good as Jarvis Landry, and still a serious playmaker, this was still political.

John Dorsey traded a ton of assets away for this player, and he was going to be featured in 2019, come hell or high water.

Rashard Higgins disappeared, then so did Njoku.  Ratley got nothing but a few crumbs late in the season.  NOW I get it. John Dorsey was really the one in charge.

It's hard to bash Kitchens over this.  Dorsey made his whole carreer in one 2-year stretch.  It's hard to bite the hand that feeds you.

It is possible that OBJ sticks around for 2020, but only if nobody is dumb enough to offers a first round or multiple picks for him.

Regardless, Kevin Stefanski will run his team as he sees fit.  Paul DePodesta has been in his corner all along, but isn't trying to monkey around with the football side, and Berry was hired after he was (indeed, Kevin had a vote on that).

"Defending Tony Grossi":  Political Correctness is a form of mind control, and the word "midget" isn't perjoritive.  Tony didn't say "nigger" or "faggot", ok? I can't believe this crap is happening.  I wonder if any little people were even offended!  

Where will we be 5 years from now?  How many more words need to be deleted from our thoughts?

Grossi's fixation with Mayfield's height is assenine, but there was no "hate" in what he said, and he shouldn't need defending.

GROW UP.

Hey talk about serendipity!  The Village Elliott strikes again, and backs me up on my last several (pre-Grossi) paragraphs.

Actually click this link, as Elliott gives you the 2018 vs 2019 numbers for Ratley, Higgins, Njoku, Landry and every other receiver who was here for both seasons.

We can set Njoku aside here, as the bulk of his missing stats was due to his injury, but the rest of them simply got elbowed out of the way by OBJ and Dorsey.

Kennel says "OBJ is no excuse", pointing out that most of the other guys failed to bring in enough of the targets they did get, but he's wrong:

Landry and Chubb aside, all the other 2019 sample sizes were microscopic, and statistically irrelevant.

Furthermore, in 2018, Mayfield looked everywhere before and after the snap, and hit the open man quickly.  In 2019, he fixated on OBJ, and only looked to the other guys after the play was broken, and he was scrambling.

Chad Porto revisits John Dorsey's Zeitler for Olivier Vernon trade, and says what I've been saying:  WHAT!?!

I'm not part of any lynch mobs here: I get that Dorsey had a reasonable expectation that Austin Corbett could be a decent RG, and edge-rushers are critical.

Still, Vernon cost an extra 3 mil, was constantly injured, and I need to remind you all that Dorsey dumped both Ogbah AND Nassib ahead of this genius trade.......

The 2019 results Chad cites were kinda predictable for Olivier Vernon, given his injury history and age.

Anybody can judge trades or draft picks in hindsight, but this one?  It was dumb from the ground up.

I'm glad John Dorsey (with all due respect, and I mean that) is gone, because otherwise the Browns might indeed be trying to trade a 2nd round pick for Trent Williams, and planning to pay him over 8% of their salary cap for 3 years.

The OT issue is complicated, as I've now been informed (by Kennel, or maybe Porto) that Jack Conklin is below average in pass protection (given his salary demands, he has to be off DePoBerry's "board"), the FA OT market offers NO certain long-term solutions.

It now looks likely that DePoBerry will rent a geezer for the 2020 season, like Costanzo or Whitworth or somebody (Peters is 38, ok?  Please just stop it, ok?)

They need to sign that veteran instastarter OT ahead of the draft, for several reasons:

1: ANY of them is an upgrade, ready to rock.

2: They lack leverage and will be relatively cheap.  The contract could be for 3 seasons, but with all the guaranteed money in 2020.  They could overpay this player in 2020--it wouldn't matter long-term.

3: The geezer would help the younger guys develop.  (And the Browns will draft or sign at least 2 OTs/4 offensive linemen here duh).

4: The other GMs need to see that the Browns have one Offensive Tackle nailed down ahead of the draft, so they can't anticipate what the Browns will do with a given draft pick.

Lack of information is power.

5: It mitigates the risk of trading down from 10 overall.  The Browns HAVE one 2020 starting OT already.  They only need one more (for now).

Seriously, would you people tell Andrew Berry to get these communications glitches fixed so I can advise him, or at least relay my advice? Obviously, it's critical.

Andrew: Fix safety pre-draft.  Several veteran STUDS are available, and you can afford them---the market is saturated.  Consider low-balling Rodney Radallfield btw.  Take that need off the board!

Let Teller and Forbes sort out RG.  Don't ignore the new blocking scheme, or how well they fit here, or Callahan.

Trade down from 10th overall, and pile up 2020 and 2021 draft picks.  You can draft your Left Tackle low in the 1st and/or high in the 2nd round in this draft class, and projects on day 3 ("top-heavy" my ass).

Andrew, you probably can't nail down Vernon's replacement here.  All you can do is dig up guys like Uche on day 3, or...

Ogbah.  Myles Garrett loved him.  He kicked ass as a rookie.  Let's see what he can do in this defense.

Late note here:

"Aggressive" does not neccessarily mean spastic or stupid.  You people need a dictionary!

Okbye