BUCKLE UP BROWNS FANS!!! This is the season we've been waiting for

Discussion in 'Cleveland Browns' started by TopDawg, Apr 9, 2019.

  1. gidion72 Legend Steelers

    Why play your starting QB with no starters at the skill positions on the field? Hunt might not be a drop off but the rest were.
     
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  2. Duff_Beer_Doug Franchise Player Browns Indians C&D Club

    Who knows? Maybe because Mayfield didn't even suit up for last week against the Colts because he had a good week of practice. It's preseason, with no rhyme or reason to who starts and for how long. And yet the owners have no problem still charging full price for a ticket, parking and concessions for one of these "games".
     
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  3. TopDawg Legend

    I agree with Gid. Why play Baker if none of the other key offensive contributors are involved? That looked like shit.
     
    gidion72 likes this.
  4. kenibals Home Town Favorite Browns

    I buy the argument that by taking away the entire recieving corps, it wasn't a true measure, and I can only hope the #1s are getting lots of reps in practice.

    What I want to know is what did Freddie expect? Did he think Baker would simply raise the level of play of the 2s and 3s, so there'd be no dropoff? He seemed to be genuinely unhappy about the O's performance, and IMO, rightfully so.

    Still, he decided to go without his top guys, so what was he expecting. From my perspective, it is almost entirely the O line that let down. Baker wasn't as sharp as we've seen him, but no run game to speak of at all. Was the plan to throw it around to evaluate the 2s and 3s? If so what did we learn? Jalen Strong isn't there yet. Hollywood is not suited to be a #1. Willies is hit or miss, and Braxton is OKish?

    The D looked truly terrifying. Nuf said. Seibert looked like a real kicker. Sorry Joseph. Overall Special Teams looked good too. Lots of tape for guys on the bubble. I guess that's good.

    Going 4 and 0 in preseason isn't remotely important, but gauging your starting line is pretty vital, given the question marks there, and this game didn't inspire confidence.

    It did make it clear that there is work to be done, and I'm sure Freddie and Co. will be working the guys to get better. I suspect the Dorse will also be plying the phones looking for an oppty to get better too. We shall see.
     
  5. kenibals Home Town Favorite Browns

    I saw some podcaster asking if the Browns would trade Callaway.

    Then I looked at the stats from the game and his name was absent. Is he allowed to play? Is he hurt? What's up with our speedy high flyer (pun intended)?

    As for the podcast: he pointed out that he has little value in a trade at this point, since he's not playing, came to camp ill prepared, and has what appears to be Gordonitis.

    Too bad. He has genuine talent. What once appeared to be a deep roster of high quality recievers, is thinning. It was even speculated that he could be a roster cut.

    What's the feeling out there in the pound? Is Callaway a lost cause? I get the feeling the Browns aren't feeling any pressure to keep him, so maybe the question is will he make the 53 man roster.

    His not playing this past week makes me think they are ready to move on. Otherwise I would have expected him to play if only to raise his trade value.

    What do you think?
     
  6. Lyman "Franchise Asshole" Browns Buckeyes

    Here's my take on it . . .

    Almost half of today's wide receivers and running backs will be on the street in a little over a week. Kitchens and Dorsey already know what these guys can do against 2's, 3's and 4's catching a ball thrown by a 2, 3 or 4. Now they have some tape of these guys playing with the 1's against another team's 1's. In other words, they created an apples to apples comparison by which to help with the roster cut down decisions.

    The O-line, on the other hand, was a bit disconcerting. That was my biggest concern before training camp and it remains so today.
     
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  7. SAS M.V.P. Rams Chargers

    I think it's probably one of those games they needed. Defensively, we pitched a 9-0 shutout against a top-performing offense from last season. The defensive line feasted on Tampa's offense and quarterbacks and should destroy Tennessee (without Lewan, especially) and their glass QB.

    Offense was definitely out of sync, but with a majority of the starters at skill positions not playing and the offensive line being shuffled every series, that's likely to happen. I'd like to have sorted out the offensive line by now - Kush should start at RG... let's not over-think it. Baker was a little high on some of his throws, again likely due to too much discomfort in the pocket.

    For Week 4, it's basically the audition for the final 1-2 spots on the 53 man that are actually open for competition.
     
  8. SAS M.V.P. Rams Chargers

    With the suspension for the first four games, I believe we get to put him on the suspended/exempt tag and keep him off the 53 man until he's re-instated by the League. A lost cause? No, because he's still talented. If Tyreek Hill and Joe Mixon and Josh Gordon (et cetera) keep getting chances, Callaway will get a few more, too.

    That said, he's going to have a hard time producing already behind three WR1's in Beckham, Higgins, and Landry - it's even harder if you're sidelined in shorts. With a little time on task, we saw Mayfield elevate the play of guys like Ratley and Willies last season, so whomever takes over that spot should benefit the most.
     
  9. Lyman "Franchise Asshole" Browns Buckeyes

    Imagine this, if you will . . .

    LT - Joe Thomas
    LG - Joel Bitonio
    C - Alex Mack
    RG - Kevin Eric Zeitler (senior moment)
    RT - Mitchell Schwartz

    And that's only going back a few years. It's not like the Browns are incapable of identifying O-line talent. It's more like they put crap under center, in the backfield and out wide, treat them like shit at the bargaining table or (in Joe's case) simply can't get their shit together in time to support a 12 year All-Pro/HOF career.

    Or, maybe the position coaches aren't worth a tinker's damn. I'm starting to lean towards this.
     
    Last edited: Aug 26, 2019
    SAS likes this.
  10. SAS M.V.P. Rams Chargers

    Who?

    ;)
     
  11. SAS M.V.P. Rams Chargers

    Bingo!

    Although to be fair, it's gotten harder and harder to coach offensive linemen from college to the pros - we've discussed that here, in fact. It was one of the analytical findings for DePodesta and team - better to pay for a prospect another team has developed (e.g., Kevin/Eric Zeitler) than to draft a talented, successful NCAA guy and try to develop into a professional (e.g., Austin Corbett, Cam Erving).
     
  12. Lyman "Franchise Asshole" Browns Buckeyes

    Fixt
     
  13. kenibals Home Town Favorite Browns

    I have to admit, I liked Bob Wylie as a cartoon character, but didn't think much of his work with the O line. I expected Campen to be a step up, but so far the line looks weak.

    Maybe the analytics guys have a point, but whatever the problem is we haven't solved it yet.

    It's not panic time yet, but keeping Baker upright is top priority. Pick the guy and let the 5 become 1.
     
  14. Lyman "Franchise Asshole" Browns Buckeyes

    Browns waive WR Jaelen Strong.

    The timing of this is a bit of a head scratcher. :confused:
     
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  15. crextin Franchise Player Browns

    Makes me wonder if Dorsey is looking to add another O-lineman.

    On a positive note. It is looking like Duke is going to turn into a 3rd rounder.
     
  16. TopDawg Legend

    My take on that is, Derek Willies beat him out for the "big WR" role on this team....We'll see.
     
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  17. TopDawg Legend

    I think Nick Chubb is going to elevate his game this year to the point where he is in the conversation for league MVP....When Dorsey went after his guy, Kareem Hunt, I think it lit a fire under #24.

    You're welcome for the fantasy advice. Get Chubb early, and don't panic if somebody grabs Kareem too early. Chubb = STUD RB.
     
  18. gidion72 Legend Steelers

    Chubb was the bomb at Georgia until he blew out his knee
     
  19. beachbum M.V.P. Manager Steelers

    Chubb was my 11th round keeper from last year. And I took Hunt in the 10th round. Oddly enough Bell was staring me in the face with the 5th pick and AB with the 16th. So I took them. Ugh.
     
    IrishDawg42 likes this.
  20. SAS M.V.P. Rams Chargers


    Roger Goodell: "With the 32nd pick, in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select... "

    (And before anyone says "why would the <fill in your team's name> trade their pick to Cleveland", this is the Browns' pick. You know... because they won the Super Bowl.)
     

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