Looking forward to 2019, Browns NFL Rookie Draft

That's how I read it as well...

 

I was reading it that they could manipulate what teams are home and away each year based on scheduling conflicts...my bad if that wasn't the case.

 

I don't know why this guy hasn't been mentioned yet, especially considering the success his brother had just last year;

RILEY RIDLEY

CONFERENCE: SEC

POSITION: Wide Receiver

CLASS: Junior

JERSEY: No. 8

RECRUITMENT RATING: 4-star

HT: 6’2

WT: 200 lbs

D.O.B.: 7/21/1996

Receiving & Rushing Table
Receiving Rushing Scrimmage
Year School Conf Class Pos G Rec Yds Avg TD Att Yds Avg TD Plays Yds Avg TD
*2016 Georgia SEC FR WR 6 12 238 19.8 2 3 41 13.7 0 15 279 18.6 2
*2017 Georgia SEC SO WR 8 14 218 15.6 2 1 5 5.0 0 15 223 14.9 2
*2018 Georgia SEC JR WR 14 43 559 13.0 9 0 0 0 43 559 13.0 9
Career Georgia 69 1015 14.7 13 4 46 11.5 0 73 1061 14.5 13
Data courtesy CFB at Sports-Reference.com.


Routes – Has only run a limited route tree but illustrates good traits within those routes that suggest a more expansive tree is within his realm of capability. Does well to sell his route breaks and is fluid in and out of his breaks. Knows how to attack leverage and find space. Ideal step frequency in the routes he is asked to run. Effectively alters his route pace at different intervals of the route to keep corners guessing.

Hands – Soft, natural hands. Plucks the football with ease and the ball sticks. Squeezes the football tightly and secures it to his frame. Was challenged to extend for the ball and had no issues reaching in any direction and snatching the football.

Ball Skills – Put some tremendous reps on tape where he locates the football vertically down the field, adjusts and positions himself to go get it. Has an excellent above-the-rim game and his body control at the catch point is terrific. Attacks the football like an alpha and doesn’t wait on the ball. Excellent control and concentration along the sideline and in contested situations.

YAC Ability – Hasn’t been given favorable opportunities that give him chances to create after the catch but still found ways. Physical and decisive post-catch and illustrates good burst to work up the field. Does well to secure the ball and immediately look to gain yards.

Release – Had no issues winning in the contact window to clear press coverage in college but more variety in his releases will be needed to be consistent in the NFL. Needs to develop more hand technique at the line of scrimmage. Not saying he will struggle to beat press in the NFL, but more development is needed. Is smooth off the line of scrimmage and works into his route stems with good speed and fluidity. Does well to use his release to create leverage and uncover quickly.

Play Speed – Is a big-play threat that is capable of winning down the field. Doesn’t just win with speed, but his blend of ball skills and route-running savvy enable him to win vertically. Has good juice and burst to win after the catch and uncover at all levels.

Blocking – Gets his work done. Does well to locate his hands, leverage his hips and move his feet to seal defensive backs. Can be trusted to hit key blocks on the perimeter on outside runs/screens to his size.

Play Strength – Plays like an alpha. Shields opponents at the catch point effectively. Is assertive and physical as a route runner, blocker and ball carrier. Illustrates outstanding body control and contact balance.

Versatility – Is a three level threat with the ability to excel from the outside but could also be used situationally in the slot. Was not featured in the return game in college.

BEST TRAIT – Ball Skills

WORST TRAIT – Release (needs to evolve)

RED FLAGS – Arrested for marijuana possession in March of 2017.

Riley Ridley’s production in college won’t turn heads but his traits certainly do. In a run-heavy and conservative Georgia offense with numerous other dynamic pass-catching, Ridley didn’t get the opportunities he should have but still led the Bulldogs in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He has all of the physical traits to be a dynamic weapon in the NFL with playmaking upside to all levels of the field. By year three, Ridley has the makeup of a top a highly productive top-two receiving option for a prolific NFL passing offense.

 

When I was watching the Super Bowl, I honestly kept having a re-occurring thought....Why couldn't Andy Isabella be for Baker Mayfield, the same thing that Julian Edelman is for Tom Brady?

Make this happen John Dorsey...

I'm almost ready to change my avatar...lol!

 

I was actually asking almost the same question. Mine was, " could Andy Isabella be the next Brian Brennan"?

 

Boston College guy and a UMass guy....The similarities are everywhere.

 

Remember - Edelman isn't as successful as he is because he's particularly gifted, or because his profile just "works" in the NFL (similar to how there are trends where teams flock to the giant receivers, regardless of whether or not they can create separation, etc). You don't draft a guy just because he reminds you of a current player - especially one who is so scheme-dependent.

Edelman's greatest trait is his route running. He's not going to be quicker than your DB, faster than your DB, bigger or more physical than your DB...

However, New England is going to motion him in a stack look behind another receiver, so he can get off the line untouched, and use the reaction of the defense to that motion to tell him what coverage he's getting, while using the other receivers to help give himself room. Brady just has to throw it to him when he's at the end of his drop, and he knows he'll be fine. It's so disgustingly predictable that you can't believe, week after week, teams let them get away with it. Problem is, you sell out on Edelman, and you'll leave another option open, and it'll be easy for Brady to tell, usually before the ball is even snapped.

If the Browns can find a receiver who knows how to create space in this way much as Edelman does, then draft him and use him that way. Using him another way is likely ineffective - as it would be for Edelman. Ask Edelman to play WR in another role, and he's simply nowhere near as effective.

I only bring this up because you compared this guy and Mayfield to Brady and Edelman. Brady's just throwing to the open man, the system and Edelman are dictating that it's him.

 

They did the very same thing with Wes Welker.

 

No shit.

It's so simple...

C'mon..Teams aren't just allowing these guys to do anything...It's about QB/WR chemistry. Plain and simple. If defenses could stop it they would... Clearly Edelman isn't the prototype WR. He and Brady click like clockwork because each knows what the other guy is gonna do in a given game situation. It takes time, practice and talent to get to that level, but those two have it down stone cold. Only Father-time can stop that combo...

 

I think that's the same thing I've been saying all along...We have Mayfield which is why I am confident our receiving corps will be considered highly moving forward...no matter who that group is. He will utilize them as needed.

 

Well I'd think that Baker could work with any NFL receiving corp. Having the franchise QB is everything, and we finally have a one.... Mayfield can make average receivers look good, and make good receivers look great...That's why I wanna surround him with as much talent as possible. It's fun just to imagine what Baker and Freddie and this offense could do with a true #1 WR...

 

I started in on the DT's yesterday, and I gotta be honest, as much as I'd like to see us get a blue chip WR, going with a first round DT is very likely to happen if that position isn't addressed in free agency. We were not good against the run, and clearly upgrades are needed on that interior defensive front...

This is the guy I studied first, mostly because Mel Kiper was selling him as the perfect fit for Cleveland. And he's not the only one;

https://www.wkyc.com/article/sports...mmons/95-1dda294d-5705-4cb0-88b1-63978608e8ce


JEFFERY SIMMONS, DT - MISS ST.
6'3"/301

Seems like the complete package, and obviously some media members have pegged him for Cleveland. We have a need at the position, but I did see that Simmons has an assault charge for hitting a woman in 2016. I have not researched the details on it, but sometimes I get the feeling that people see these "red flag" guys, and just assume that John Dorsey won't have a problem drafting them... I already know that the assault charge rules him off the board for many here. FWIW, i didn't know about his off field issue, or I'd have likely started elsewhere.

 

Re: Wide Receiver in the 1st round.

Let me start out by saying I was wrong at the start of the season about the 2018 group of WR's for the Browns. Once they had a competent QB throwing them the ball along with a game plan that utilized their strengths, they didn't fare too bad. After all, Mayfield didn't break the rookie TD pass record throwing the ball to himself.

I've seen posts on this very same board about (a) how important the chemistry between QB and receivers is, (b) how it normally takes a few years for receivers to adjust to the NFL game and (c) how a top QB can make good receivers great. I happen to agree with all three of those statements.

That said, I think spending our 1st round pick (and maybe our 2nd round pick) on a wide receiver would be a mistake. Right now, this team has bigger needs on defense. Both in starting players and depth. As such I would really prefer to:

• Stay the course with the WR's we already have to include extending the pending free agents on the current roster.
• Focus the first two (maybe even three) rounds of the draft on DT, CB, and LB.
• Historically, some pretty good receivers came out of the 4th round and later. Start looking for one there if only to keep the succession pipeline full for down the road.

My 2 cents.

 

Given this rumor is already out there, I feel like we can safely rule him out for us.

 

I can see Lym's case making sense..stay away from WR with the first two picks. That being said, we have plenty of ammunition and could move up into rd 2 or 3 if the right guy falls. This team doesn't need 11 rookies, so I think, like last year, Dorsey will make good use of his capital. Hopefully they pull the trigger and get McCoy from TB for a midround pick before they release him..or make other similar moves.

 

I mean, I thought it was pretty obvious too, and then someone said this:

It is. Every game. Watch them.

This is a misunderstanding of the variables that allow that offense to work, but you are right that those two have chemistry. However, it doesn't matter if they're a freaking love connection - if a team sells out to stop Edelman, they will. However, it will leave someone else open. And Edelman isn't getting balls thrown his way because of "chemistry", he's a fantastic route runner who is immediately diagnosing what he's seeing, as is Brady. The "chemistry" just comes in that they trust each other. It takes a lot to get to the point where that "chemistry" even matters.

 

Hey dline, besides coming over like the pompous ass that you always are, what is your fuckin point? Just to tell me there is no possible way that Isabella could ever develope along with Baker in a similar fashion to Brady/Edelman??? Or is it just another strut around like you do when you act superior to everyone else, even though we're all certain you are in your parent's basement??

Nobody is misunderstanding anything....Except you not seeing the obvious in regards to skillset and comparables to NFL WR prospect, Andy Isabella.

I make a completely innocuous remark after watching the SB. Daring to dream that someday Isabella could develop a similar chemistry with Baker, that Edelman and Brady have, and you get burr up your butt about it for some reason...

btw: Thanks for the keen insight that Edelman is a great route runner, and that it takes "a lot" to develop the kind of chemistry he has with Brady...I'm sure some readers were confused, but no doubt that cleared it all up....

 

My point was that, for one, John Dorsey is not the one to make anyone into Julian Edelman. Baker Mayfield isn't going to make anyone into Julian Edelman. Your playcaller and the receiver you're comparing to Julian Edelman can do that, potentially. But, if your playcaller isn't going to call New England's offense, Julian Edelman wouldn't even be Julian Edelman, here.

You're the one who got all uppity and started to thrown a tantrum like a pissant child. Don't try to paint it as my failing that you're too immature and fragile to have an actual, constructive conversation.

 

I think your Lunchable is ready.

Brilliant.

What about Julian's mom? Could she make another Julian?

Deep thoughts, with dipshit Bears fan...

 

I'm sure it's just a coincidence that things spin sideways and stupid every time you ever come to the Browns message boards...