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

I've given this a lot of thought, sir... do you need me to narrow it down to just one?



All joking aside, if I have to pick *one* issue, it's John Dorsey. Before I get run out of town with pitchforks and torches, hear me out...

John Dorsey took the short-cut to success route and loaded up on talent, then proceeded to hire a first time head coach with only eight prior games of play-calling experience and allowed said head coach to not only call plays, but assemble his own staff. Now, historically we've all been leery of that GM/HC dynamic where meddling is involved, but go back to Dorsey's introduction as GM and remember him talking about his "long list " of coaches he had identified as wanting to work with.

Freddie, in turn and unteathered, hired a defensive coordinator with one full season of previous experience and who was one-and-done as a head coach (admittedly in a tough spot) to man the defense here. Wilks has overseen Denzel Ward regress from Pro Bowler to massive liability and without Damarious Randall, has seen Greedy Williams exposed as another massive liability. He also hired Todd Monken to serve as offensive coordinator, who had three previous seasons of experience. Between Freddie, Todd, and QB coach Ryan Lindley, we've seen Mayfield regress from Top 5 QB to finish 2018 to Blake Bortles-level struggles with decisions and turnovers. We've seen an elite wide receiver reduced to WR4 numbers, and an offense overall that after the opening drive falls into a 2-3 quarter lull that has become -- on many occasions -- too much to overcome. Freddie's staff has been, to be blunt, an unmitigated disaster. Perhaps a firmer hand from the GM with his many coaching connections would have benefited Freddie.

John traded away a very good right guard for a very good defensive end. Twelve games in and it's safe to say that was a disaster. He thought it was a prudent move because he picked a guard at #33 overall in 2018 who was unable to beat any one of seven camp bodies for the job -- including a guy we had to trade for during roster cuts. Now we have a player being paid the second-highest at his postion, unavailable for several games, and under-performing the expendable Emmanuel Ogbah while also having a Zeitler-sized hole at right guard with the position in flux all season and likely needing addressed in the early rounds of the 2020 Draft.

John traded away a first round pick, an improving strong safety, and a mid-round pick for an elite wide receiver. Nearly everyone lauded the move at the time (I know I did) but twelve games in and it's looking like keeping Jabrill, Breshad Perriman, and involving Rashard Higgins more -- in addition to maybe adding an edge guy with that 2019 first round pick would have been the better move. No doubt Landy's benefiting from double coverages towards Odell, but we gave up a lot for what's essentially a decoy. Add in the injury to Burnett and the very real likelihood that Randall's played his last game with Cleveland and now safety is a massive, massive need for the team, needing to be addressed (both positions) within the first three rounds of the 2020 Draft.

In his haste to distance himself from analytics (which the Baltimore Ravens are doing to perfection this season) and to get a coach who wouldn't challenge him yet he wouldn't control, we're left with the incomplete mess we see today. Much of this is salvageable (I think Monken and Wilks need to go) and the way the coaches and players respond in 2020 is going to be huge. But today, if you need me to point the finger, it's at Big John.

 

2018 was supposed to be the franchise-defining draft.

1.1: Baker Mayfield, QB. Currently ranked 33rd in completion percentage and quarterback rating. To call 2019 a "sophomore slump" is being generous. Baker finished 2018 as a Top 5 quarterback and looked destined for greatness. Now, he faces a make-or-break offseason where he needs to prove he is "the guy" in 2020. I'm by no means giving up on him, but most concerning to me is in college we saw him overcome and lift his team up and make the spectacular play. We saw that in 2018 during the second half. I haven't seen a single game this year where that's happened.

1.4: Denzel Ward, CB. From Pro Bowl to Toilet Bowl. Ward has looked lost, out of place, and toast on so many plays this season. He's a liability in coverage and that's simply inexcusable from a Top 5 pick.

2.33: Austin Corbett, OG. Seventeen career snaps as a Cleveland Brown. Traded for a fifth round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

2.36: Nick Chubb, RB. Second-best running back in the NFL being *criminally* under-utilized by the coaching staff. We don't deserve Nick Chubb.

3.67: Chad Thomas, DE. Pressed into starting due to injury/suspension. Offers some low-end starting capability right now.

4.105: Antonio Callaway, WR. Cut after another incident.

5.150: Genard Avery, DE. Situational pass rusher who was traded away, despite injuries at the position, due to lack of playing time.

6.175: Damion Ratley, WR. 21 career receptions for 247 yards and 0 touchdowns. Reduced to special teams role.

6.188: Simeon Thomas, DB. Cut. Currently a practice squad player for Seattle.

Due to mishandling/mismanagement of the roster, we're facing an upcoming offseason with big needs at: EDGE, RT, RG, LT (possibly), FS, SS, and if he doesn't act on Schobert, MLB.

Edit: *fifth round pick for Corbett

 

Not trolling, just going back and reading. Maybe we could all learn something?

This post kinda sums up there season IMO. I'm sure you guys thought I was just trolling when I posted Baker's picture earlier but the QB has to be your leader (it's been an Achilles heel for the Steelers too). If Baker thinks he's arrived of course the team is going to feel the same way. Hopefully for the Browns' organization he will learn from it and take a different path in the future.

 

Because we have an abundance of talent at the position right now...

Seriously. Between this move and Lawrence earlier, what the heck is Dorsey doing with the defensive line? I'm thinking Wilks -- given that he's had so little to work with -- probably ought to be back next season just to see what he can do with an actual complement of players to suit on up Sundays.

 

^^^^^
There's also the whole thing with, ya' know, his life being turned upside down earlier this year.



Evidently, statute of limitations on grief and "football being family" lasts approximately three months.

 

I would fire Steve Wilks *today* just for a shot at adding Rivera as our defensive coordinator. Let him take a year or two off from the head coaching gig before jumping back in.

 

Outside of "fire Wilkes today", I agree with your point.

 

There's no doubt that my faith in both John Dorsey and Freddie Kitchens has taken a serious hit as this season has played out. There have been focus issues with this team all season long. No discipline. I've even questioned the team's effort in a couple games this year, including last Sunday in a "must win" against our arch rival. Not sure what could be more damning on a head coach than that, especially considering all the ridiculous penalties. The expectations were high, as they should have been, and this coaching staff has failed. We infuse all this talent on both sides of the ball, and this team has clearly regressed. They played better under Triple G, not that I thought he was the answer, but it's true. My prediction is that Freddie gets fired and replaced by Ron Rivera, which really does seem like the coach this team needs right now, IMO. We'll see how it goes. I like Freddie, but I am starting to think he might not be able to handle this.

Now, about our GM. I'm not going to blame all the team's woe's on the O-line, but WTF was John Dorsey thinking? Our line is shit, and if he didn't know that going into the season, then shame on him. I trusted when he traded away Zeitler that JD knew what he was doing. I assumed immediately that Austin Corbett was ready to roll. Obviously Dorsey was taking an enormous risk and to say it has backfired would be an understatement. Honestly, if we lose to Cinci on Sunday, we might as well tank from there and try to set ourselves up to land one of those Bama OT's in the draft, or whoever the best prospect is. I doubt we'll get a shot at the kid from Georgia. He looks like top 5 overall to me, but there are some good OT prospects in the next draft, and as we all know, they don't stay on the board long on draft day. I hate to even talk about the draft, but unless we can work a deal for an existing vet, it might be our only option. How can we say our O-line isn't in a state of emergency at this point? Dorsey needs to fix this mess, or it doesn't really matter what flashy skill players we have...

 

That's a big improvement for the Browns when you can say someone is a top 5 pick and you guys have no chance to get him.

When they added all of the veteran personalities they put this HC job out of Kitchens realm.

 

Second year in a row.

Which one(s)?

My argument has been they didn't add enough veteran personalities to the team.

 

It wasn't the number of veterans that mattered, it was the fact that they needed more of a displinarian type coach to mesh the vets and young players together.

 

I don't disagree. I thought (still think) Freddie will be fine... but he doesn't have the experienced staff to lean on that I think would have really helped out this year.

 

The media making this season out to be something more than a building block didn’t help. Once the betting public started buying into that hype the Vegas odds makers jumped on it, and then the whole thing just built up way too much steam.

I was for the Kitchens hire because I believed the stability was necessary for Baker’s growth, but the focus on that got lost in the preseason build up.

Now that things are settling back into reality it appears that Mayfield and the offense have found a foundation to work off of.

A couple weeks later than I would have preferred, but if they can continue this arc going into the off-season then 2019 is not a total loss, IMO.

 

Will be an interesting off-season. If Freddie is let go you could see a roster shake-up. There are several guys getting big bucks next year that a new coach may want to move on from:

Olivier Vernon - 15,500,000 base / 15,500,000 savings
Jarvis Landry - 13,050,000 due / 10,050,000 savings
Sheldon Richardson 12,000,000 due (2M guaranteed) / 8,333,332 savings
Christian Kirksey 8,750,000 due / 7,550,000 savings
T.J. Carrie 7,250,000 due / 6,350,000 savings
Chris Hubbard 6,500,000 due / 4,900,000 savings
Morgan Burnett 3,500,000 due / 3,375,000 savings
Terrance Mitchell 3,000,000 due / 3,000,000 savings

 

You forgot Odell Beckham, Jr. 2019 is the final year of his guaranteed salary. $14,250,000 due / $14,250,000 savings.

 

I didn't want to rile anyone up.

 

You forgot something else. Every one of those guys (except Christian Kirksey) was brought in by John Dorsey. I don't think it's in his DNA to admit he made that many mistakes (in addition to the ones he already rectified). And I doubt he will relinquish final say on the 53 man roster - even with a new HC hand picked by him.

 

Even if Freddie and his coaches are gone, unless he's part of the shake-up, John Dorsey would still have final say. If we replace Wilks, who wants the 4-2-5, then all bets could be off, but with the exception of Kirksey I'd expect to see all those guys back.

Kirksey becomes expendable because of price tag, injury history, and production already at the position. And even that's not a guarantee because he and Schobert would play the same position in the 4-2-5 and if they don't re-sign Schobert, Kirksey would step in to the spot.

Signed through 2020. He'll be gone then, but with no guarantee and nothing tangible at the position outside of Myles, they'll have to keep him.

He's Top 20 in catches and Top 10 in yards right now. He's one of the major reasons for the culture change and moving him would almost guarantee Odell is gone, which leaves you with *checks notes* Taywan Taylor and Damion Ratley. Will. Not. Happen.

Signed through 2020 and after cutting Lawrence, dangerously thin at DT depth.

Likely traded/cut.

Re-signed last season and with injuries to starters this season, depth at the position will be coveted.

Likely kicked inside to guard to address offensive line issues. Browns will need to sign, draft, or trade for a left/right tackle and Hubbard/Robinson are likely going to be playing some musical chairs in the offseason.

The exact type of veteran this team needs (and is missing) and was playing his best ball of the season before injury. I think he's only cut if they (1) resign Randall, and (2) spend an early pick on safety. The free agent market at SS is *not* good.

Basically see above for T.J. Carrie only Mitchell is more talented.

 

Would depend on the hire. If they want to veteran guy like Rivera or McCarthy they are going to want a say in personnel as part of their deal. Tomlin has final control of the 53 man roster. That was part of his deal and he was a young guy. Not all front offices are created the same way. The most likely scenario would be a collaboration of some kind with Dorsey at the very least having to be flexible.