So what's the definition of "shut down"? Minnesota: 11 targets, 5 receptions, 62 yards, 0 TDs Baltimore (Week 4): 9 targets, 4 receptions, 34 yards, 0 TDs Cincinnati (Week 7): 10 targets, 4 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD Detroit: 10 targets, 5 receptions, 70 yards, 0 TDs Indianapolis: 7 targets, 3 receptions, 47 yards, 0 TDs That's 36% of his games from 2017 and a combined 47 targets, 21 receptions (44.6% catch rate), 278 yards, and 1 TD. I excluded the game against New England where Brown only played about 1/3 of the offensive snaps, but if you wanted to throw it in there... 3 targets, 2 catches, 24 yards, 0 TDs. (Full game projection: 9 targets, 6 catches, 72 yards, 0 TDs). That's 43% of his games from 2017 and a combined 50 targets, 23 receptions (46.0% catch rate), 302 yards, and 1 TD. Is that "shut down"?
All right... I'll bite. Who're the other two (assuming you have Antonio Brown as your #1 - or at least in your Top 5).
Don't let the human equivalency of a colostomy bags get you down, @Lyman. Just click that beautiful little "IGNORE" button and move on. (Thanks, @Tim) I know it makes it harder to follow (half the reason @showstopper was unblocked - the other half is still waiting for that apology), but ask yourself this... "Have you ever seen a post from one of these Bears fans and thought to yourself, 'Wow... I'm glad I got to experience that.'"?
Everyone is making this into a Ward or nothing argument. I get TD's overzealousness on the kid, I'm excited about him too. But the big picture is a healthy Myles Garrett and Emmanuel Ogbah working together to make Ben get the ball out faster and not allow routes to develop, Along with, not just Ward, but Gaines, Randall and Peppers in his correct position. This defense on paper is much better than last year. I understand they have to execute it, but there is certainly reason for overzealous behavior from Browns fans right now....That's just the defense... The offense is totally overhauled. Should be a 150% improvement over what we saw on the field last year...This is based on proven new commodities in Tyrod Taylor and Jarvis Landry. We could easily be talking a sideways step in stead of an upgrade in Carlos Hyde, but the addition of Chubb makes the RB position overall better.
I know. It's becoming a habit...Try not to be so butt-hurt just because Browns fans are excited and vocal about their excitement on the Cleveland Browns message boards. As much as Bears fans are trying to throw the wet blanket over everything, it seems pretty obvious. But hey, ya got stopper in yer corner. Sooo, good work.
Geezus, how many CB's in NFL history have been drafted higher than Denzel Ward? It's not "overzealousness". It's genuine excitement for REAL reasons. The fact that he played his college ball at Ohio State makes it even better in my book...He was a top 4 overall draft pick. I think that fact gets lost since we also picked #1 overall. That and everybody had their heart set on the DE from NC. ST.... I mentioned Ward in direct relation to the match-up with Antonio Brown because Antonio had had his way against Cleveland for years....Now I believe we have someone that can slow him down. I'm not forgetting about all the other players we've added to the secondary...I'm just referencing the best of the bunch.
Only one other true cornerback has been drafted as highly as Ward, Charles Woodson (1998), post-merger.
The only thing I meant was the expectations of him COMPLETELY shutting down one of the leagues best at his position on day 1 of working. I fully expect him to become the type of player you are describing, honestly. I just don't expect it to be day 1.
Look, I truly believe they entered this draft, based on what they were able to accomplish in free agency and looked each other in the eye and thought. We have a record amount of currency to change this around, how is it best spent? They added pieces in free agency that may not have been available via the draft. Offense and Defense needed booster shots. Offense, what is the number one piece to the puzzle when it comes to making the engine run? Quarterback... Let's look at the available pieces and figure out which one projects to be the best over the next 10-15 years, that includes free agency and the draft by the way. Conclusion: Baker Mayfield #1 priority for the team is finding a way to get this asset on the team...Hell, we are in luck, he's a draft eligible prospect and we have the #1 overall pick...Done Defense, what is the number one piece to the puzzle when it comes to making the engine run? Pass rush...Look around, we fortunately were in position to procur what could be one of the best in the NFL in last year's draft...Done, move on from there then. What is the next piece? Shut down corner. Study long and hard, who is available and what are there skills geared towards? Conclusion: Denzel Ward #2 priority for this team is finding a way to get this asset on the team...Well, thank you Houston, you got your QB, we now have our QB and our second top priority on the defensive side of the ball. Honestly, if Emmanuel Ogbah stays healthy, I don't think this draft could have worked out any better. The players still have to play the game, don't take this the wrong way, but for the available pieces in the draft and our personal team needs, we were able to come away with top shelf talent at our two biggest areas of need without over buying on the product. SAS led the charge and I was on board with Baker since 2017. We felt he was the best QB prospect to come into the league in years, if not decades. I will admit I was higher on Andrew Luck at this point of his career coming out, but other than him...no one has really come close to how I've felt about Mayfield's skill set. Denzel Ward, in nearly everyone's opinion, was the top CB in this draft and a sure top 10 pick in this draft. There was no chance he was going to drop lower than that. When you have a #4 pick to use, you don't get cute and miss out on the opportunity in front of you. Those that say, well, you could have dropped to 6-8 and still got him...don't be so certain and is the return big enough to "miss out" on him? Hell no...they did the right thing.
Neither do I. How does "slowing him down" translate to completely shutting him down week 1? I even said I expect both Ward and Brown to make plays in the opener... I think a lot of Browns fans are still upset we didn't take the DE. Not to mention the last CB we took in the top 10 (just a couple years ago) is among the worst draft picks in NFL history...<<<forget about that. Ward is gonna be a top notch CB in this league. Mark my words ....Will he be "1st team all pro" right out of the gates? It's doubtful, but I don't think Antonio will underestimate him.
I agree with this. In fact, if Cleveland takes Bradley Chubb instead of Ward, I don't think Ward would have made it past Denver.
Denver is ecstatic the Browns took Ward...Chubb and Miller will be a force for many years getting after the QB...they were already set at DB w Harris and Roby
speaking of CB's.... NFL Supplemental Draft 2018: Players, scouting reports, predictions 1. Sam Beal, CB, Western Michigan — Scouting report: A two-year starter at Western Michigan, Beal possess the ideal body type for a perimeter corner in today’s NFL. He measures over 6-0 and showcases an ability to play in man, press and multiple zone coverages. He does not have great bulk; he weighed in at 190 pounds at his Pro Day after dropping from 190 pounds for better testing. He also does not engage with great physicality in coverage, and he needs to continue to build his upper-half strength. Beal, though, is a smooth athlete who turns and runs naturally, and he has the tools to be a long-term starter. At his Pro Day, he recorded a 4.47 40-yard dash, a 37-inch vertical and a 10’6 broad jump, all of which would have put him in the upper echelon of cornerbacks at the 2018 NFL Combine. — What really matters: Beal was forced to leave Western Michigan due to academic ineligibility. He had considered entering the 2018 NFL Draft and garnered interest. He does not have major character red flags other than basic maturity and motivational question marks, both of which could be extinguished upon entering the NFL. Beal was graded as a preseason third-round pick by Optimum Scouting, and he garnered similar grades from NFL scouting services and teams. He had every NFL team, including multiple decision-makers, attend his Pro Day. The Chiefs have interest in both Beal and Alexander, and they have two second-round picks and a need at cornerback. Kansas City might take Beal in the second round or hope Alexander falls to the fourth. — Teams with potential interest: Chiefs, Cardinals, Browns, Colts, Seahawks, Bengals — Prediction: Third round, Browns ^^^What do ya think Browns fans? We might add another stud CB to the mix tomorrow. Lot's of speculation that Cleveland is highly interested.
They just lost Talib...They were all over Ward if Cleveland had taken Chubb. Once again, you show that you don't know wth you're talking about. Rumors were rampant that Denver loved Denzel Ward...
