That will be his return game... Replace Flacco after a 1-4 record and 4 straight losses, plays well in their week 6 game against the Titans, then gets hurt in week 7 against the Saints. Flacco goes back in, only to continue their hot mess of a season and benches him when RGIII is fully recovered and ready to play week 17.
Except for the fact that RGIII never fully recovers. Besides . . . if Harbaugh has to decide between a "mended" RGIII and Lamar Jackson - he'll probably stick with Flacco.
Whoa, fellas. Sounds like we need to save some of this for the BOLD PREDICTIONS 2018 EDITION thread...
Sorry for turning it into one. It's for stuff like this: http://www.espn.com/blog/cleveland/post/_/id/5198 And stop the presses... Tony Grossi (awful) wrote a generally positive article about the Cleveland Browns. I'm guessing he had a ghostwriter.
Reading all the write ups of JB moving outside is aggravating. Everyone is framing as him being reluctant and borderline unwilling. He may not have been a LT in the NFL, but his last season at Nevada he played LT, before that RT, before that he moved all around. It's not like he can't do it. This move reminds me of when I play Madden w/ fantasy draft. I always beef up my O-line and always play most of my guys "out of position". I gage the ratings of each guy at each position and put my best overall option out there. I have all the faith in the world that he will work out, and that this does put the best lineman on the field as Hue has said he would do. What I haven't seen said is that this move screams Sashi and the "moneyball" approach. #thanksSashi
By "starting LT" I take it to mean, he will be receiving all the first unit reps in practice in the immediate future. He is a great LG and doing this experiment will not hurt him, if he moves back. I believe they are making a valiant attempt to put the 5 best on the field. It doesn't mean this current option is the best recipe, but we will soon find out. I wouldn't jump to any conclusions, I would just stay tuned. (edit) This gives him a chance to get a weeks worth of practice in before seeing live action in the first preseason game one week from tonight. THAT is when you will see what you have in the LT version of Joel Bitonio.
Hue and the coaches made it sound like this was the final configuration - referring to it at time as "Plan Z" (should have saved that for moving Zeitler over there). Hue went on to say he felt getting the "best five guys" on the line was the key and that's what they've done with this move. Obviously, if Bitonio struggles in the role they'll have to find something else, but it sounds like they've run through their other options. Donald Stephenson retired, Shon Coleman couldn't earn the job, Roderick Johnson's a Houston Texan, and Greg Robinson is a guard. Most importantly, they need to pick a configuration and go with it. The offensive line requires so many snaps just to get in sync as a unit that every time they play musical chairs, it's hurting the cohesion and development.
Please don't take this as pessimism, but I think it's a bit of a worry that we're looking at moving a player that has been excellent at his position on the line into a different role. It shows that they have no other answers at this point and we're not even really started yet. The idea that Hue and Todd are making this move suggests that they are thinking it's the only available option to fill the void at left tackle, which is unarguably the most important position on the offensive line. It will be difficult to get the most out of Tyrod and groom a rookie quarterback if the blindside is a point of weakness. I'm not saying I expect Joel to fail, but it's concerning that we are already considering this. Browns fan from New Zealand by the way. Hello to all.
Welcome! I think that's completely fair - and you're right, worrisome. I expected them to draft a true tackle last May and when they selected Corbett - an NCAA tackle - I assumed he'd be the heir apparent at that spot. The good news here, is that Bitonio does have experience at tackle and has an athletic profile similar to Jack Matthews and Garrett Bolles. Obviously, a *TON* more than that goes into playing the position at a high level, but Joel's a professional and sounds like his buddy Joe Thomas (HOF LT) may be helping him.
Cool. Welcome Browns fan from far away....I agree with the concern. It's not ideal moving JB over to Left Tackle. I was really hoping Robinson could handle the position, but he's obviously not the one. At least both Tyrod and Baker are mobile QB's, because that left side could be an issue.
In all fairness, wasn't there only a day of pads when Robinson went down? Is that really enough time to decide he's not the option?
#NeverForget #ThanksSashi "He's the hero Cleveland deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we'll fire him and deride analytics. Because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian - a watchful protector. Our dark knight."
Yeah, Sashi took the heat for the "supposed" trade debacle involving McCarron, but he saved us from a very bad decision. We ALL knew that trade was bad... #thanksSashi
WELCOME KIWI Brother Given that Robinson is in concussion protocol it's not surprise that they are trying Bitonio at LT. (We discussed this very move on these very boards at length when Thomas announced his retirement.) The only real news to glean from that is that Coleman just isn't cut out to be an OT in the NFL. My only real concern at this time is that NJoku can't catch a friggin pass. Got to watch some of Landry's interview by Steve Smith. Liked the way Landry turned the interview into a coaching session
