jrb12711

Watched a little bit while grilling for Easter. Pretty enjoyable, but the kickoff was wonky. Of the 5 or so kickoff returns I saw, they all made it to the 40+ yard line. They were not using the new kickoff system the NFL will either, I thought they were. But definitely some good talent, wasn't amateur hour.

On 3/19/2024 at 8:04 PM, Dutch Oven said:

He's coming off a shoulder injury and will shortly just now start throwing. 

So instead of having three QBs in off-season camps and the beginning of Training Camp, they can have three plus Watson slowly (hopefully) rounding into shape. And as I've said often, shoulder injuries are tricky. The recovery process isn't always linear with shoulder injuries. 

I think they learned their lesson after kind of going half-assed with their QB room at the beginning of last season. 

 

It's funny how when I bring this up other fans like to put their fingers in their ears. But the reality, despite the mediocre play overall, is that this injury is very unique. We're over 6 months from the injury occurring and he's just picking up the football to start throwing. Compare that to a lot of other serious injuries (ACL, hell even achilles tears) and you see guys already significantly ahead of what conditioning for those things look like.

I wouldn't doubt for a second there's behind the scenes serious concerns about re-injury or just long-term issues. Combine that with well below average overall play and missing 39 games he could have played over the the last three seasons? This could get even uglier, fast, and having much more competent back-ups is very prudent.

A realistic take on this could be- "we used 5 QB's last season to include signing a 38 year old off the street. Let's be a good bit more aggressive in having more talent at the position this season".

With that being said, it's hard not to at least raise an eyebrow to this signing in term of the belief of Watson's game going into the season. 

13 hours ago, Neo said:

Is it me, or are the Stealers having a better FA than we are? Wilson is a clear upgrade over Pickett, and they signed Patrick Queen for 3yr/41 million. Could we have afforded that?

I mean, one thing about not being super active in FA is the result of having a good team. The Steelers objectively had (have) more needs than Cleveland does. They were in the back half of the league in both total offense and defense, for example. They also came into FA with a lot more cap room than Cleveland. Re-signing guys like Hurst to keep the best defensive unit somewhat together is great.

It's almost like drafting late in the first round- may not get the exciting guy but it almost always means the team was good the year before.

1 hour ago, Dutch Oven said:

Traded a well-liked turnover machine at backup for a not well-liked turnover machine at backup.

Bold move, Cotton. 

At least apparently he's an extremely solid locker room guy. I could believe that to be true based on his personality.

To me this reeks of two things:

1) At the end of the day, Winston's game is very similar to what we saw Flacco do last season. High Risk, high reward (a la Favre) mentality. Candidly,  I see it strictly from a talent standpoint as a slight upgrade and of course a much younger player. Also, just being blunt Flacco gave me major "Fitzmagic" vibes. I get a strong feeling the FO felt the same way.

2) Don't underestimate this move being a sneaky way of protecting Watson. If QB1 comes out next year and looks crappy, the fan base would be rioting to have Flacco put in the game. Just won't happen with famous Jameis.

But back to it, we have a new back-up QB:

https://nfltraderumors.co/browns-signing-qb-jameis-winston-to-one-year-deal/

17 minutes ago, tiamat63 said:

The world at large has been shifting to this mindset, the last decade or so it has really picked up steam.  Not just in football, but just about every aspect of life. 

 

 I can't stand it.    Especially when it's something I've loved and been deeply devoted to pretty much my entire life. 

Especially when so often this comes with the mindset of "having your cake and eating it too".

Add more but expect the same product without adding resources (or otherwise being against adding them) has made so many parts of life become jaded. You're right, it's crazy that the NFL is so against adding even a few more spots of roster flexibility amongst so many things.

14 minutes ago, BernieSuperBowl2 said:

Desperate move by a team desperate for a quarterback. Russ isn't the 2013 Russ, he's a washed up primadonna. But I guess it's a slight upgrade over Pickett, which isn't saying much.  

The only thing is that Denver for whatever reason set that man up to fail every step of the way. It's wild in hindsight- the Watson contract may go down as the worst but at least the Browns are actively trying to work to his strengths. Interestingly, from week 10 on last season Wilson also had weeks where he was top five QBR kinda guy (including against the Browns). I can't imagine giving 110% when the time threatened to bench you for taking the guaranteed money they agreed to in the first place.

Do I think he will even play a top 15 level? No- but I get a strong feeling they will incorporate a lot of the Seattle scheme that made him so good which they did so little in Denver. Given I might have been an upgrade at QB for Pittsburgh last season, who knows.

1 hour ago, AP1 said:

The 49ers folded in nearly the same manner as the Bills, on their last drive, and the Lions.

Shanahan is just a choker, there's no other way to say it. I absolutely think he's a great coach, but at some point the reality of the scores catch up to you. Of course, it doesn't help when you go up against the GOAT and what looks to be the 2nd best, or maybe even the future GOAT, each time but still.

Anywho, time to wallow until training camp- I hope everyone stays healthy and happy. Always a pleasure to yuck it up throughout the season, look forward to it again soon.

12 hours ago, Dutch Oven said:

There wasn't a chance in hell he was staying in Ann Arbor.

He knows what is coming down the pike for them. 

He pulled the ol' Pete Carroll, that's for sure.

Can't blame him though- coaching in college has to be fucking hard now. It makes my head whizz just trying to follow the news let alone be boots on the ground.

On 11/7/2023 at 5:56 PM, Dutch Oven said:

Unfortunately Myles skipped a voluntary offseason camp back in the spring, so he's been eliminated by the league for Defensive Player Of The Year consideration.

I heard he didn't get 8 sacks in that one game too despite people on here saying he should have- what a sham.

I swear man, the Bills are such a case study on the dilemma of "is it better to get there and lose, or not get there at all". It seems obvious most would pick the first option, the Bills fan have absolutely gone through it. 4 straight super bowl losses, this current run- oof.

7 hours ago, bbedward said:

There was a drive at or near the end where it looked like Allen had a couple wide open check downs for easy first downs but then chucked it deep twice and they punted.

Combined with the missed FG, they just got out-executed.

KC is also getting hot, at the best time. Hopefully they dunk on Baltimore and then the NFC wins the SB.

 

Yep, it was tough to watch- not to mention taking those check down takes more time off the clock. 

A part of this puzzle too is that RB coach Stump Mitchell and TE coach were canned too. I'm guessing they have an OC already on the hire list and are given them reign to hire those guys for the team. I thought ol' Stump did a fantastic job coaching up the RBs but what do I know.

I'm not categorically opposed to it- the offense was just wonky with Watson under center. Someone also made a fair point that it's not like these guys were being poached in ways we see across the league in other "offense first" coached teams like San Fran, LA Rams, etc.

1 hour ago, Flugel said:

I wonder if the Bob Slowik that was the DC for the Browns in 1999 is the father of Houston's OC Bob Slowik.

He sure is, actually: https://www.houstontexans.com/team/coaches-roster/bobby-slowik

Not only did I (begrudgingly) think he called an excellent game, he has all the allure that teams are salivating over in terms of "coaching tree" as well. It seems like Bill B. is interested in the Atlanta job, but he'd make a great fit there with the weapons they have.

I kept my thoughts more in my head because I wanted to manifest positivity, but I candidly wasn't super surprised with the outcome. The playoffs are notorious for putting teams flaws in a microscope, and the three under the Flacco era were:

1) Joe Flacco interceptions (and really, the turnovers in general)- I forgot the exact stat, but they said during the game they were the first team in some crazy amount of years to make the playoffs with the amount of turnovers had this season.

2) the defense playing markedly worse on the road than at home

3) a complete lack of a run game to balance the offense

Those three factors, in that order really, caused this game simply to not be close. Fortunately, there's some reason to believe #1 and #3 could vastly improve just with people the Browns are getting back (although not getting into the Watson debate). The 2nd bullet, though, is very befuddling and really needs to get addressed during the offseason. I like Schwartz a lot and I'm fine bringing him back, but it's crazy how polar opposite the team was. 

Kudos to the Texans too- I'd be pretty surprised if Slowek doesn't get the nod for a HC vacancy in the coming days.

I’m genuinely not upset to be honest. This is why I was begging for the Jags to win. Hopefully this team can avoid the injuries next year. The obvious holes on offense God willing can stay healthy for next season. Peace and love fellas. 

Of course the browns had a penalty and it wasn’t even shown. 

Just now, tiamat63 said:

Ward isn't 100%, we've gone to more zone and our safeties can't handle it. 

Against the best QB in the nfl against zone. Idc who is hurt you gotta take some chances against tendencies. The first half game plan was atrocious.

Newsome is playing the worst game of his life. But more importantly I can’t wrap my head around what this defensive game plan was today. Like just completely baffled. 

2 minutes ago, tiamat63 said:

Good no call.  You have to protect yourself sooner, Joe. 

Let me ask you an honest question. If that’s Mahomes does the flag come out? I think we both know the answer and that’s what is so frustrating. 

Missed assignment aisde the xtreme over pursuit to the edge is inexcusable.

That drive was chess against checkers- defense was totally lost. Gotta stop the fucking zone looks.

18 hours ago, jrb12711 said:

I hear you, but I agree with Flugs and I think this sort of makes me feel that way even more. Why pay Bill that much money to not coach to bring in Vrabel, who would likely be in a lot of ways to same as Bill B. in the first place? The timing (one year left) is just very odd to me. Just seems like a situation where they really want to catch fire with a "new" approach.

 

Welp, I was wrong haha. I guess they thought Mayo was too good to let go.

47 minutes ago, hoorta said:

FWIW, whatever Kraft has to pay Bill for next year's contract (a reported $25 million) that's peanuts to a billionaire. 

Vrabel is the obvious choice. Proven commodity, played for the Patriots under Bill.   But if Kraft wants another Lombardi before he croaks, I agree with what NFLN just said. The Patriots are in for a rebuild, not something a coach can instantly fix. Even if they manage to land another C J Stroud with their #3 pick, anyone see the Texans as Super Bowl winners this year?  

It is the end of an era... Checking... Sean McVay was five years old when Bill became the head coach of the Browns.  

I hear you, but I agree with Flugs and I think this sort of makes me feel that way even more. Why pay Bill that much money to not coach to bring in Vrabel, who would likely be in a lot of ways to same as Bill B. in the first place? The timing (one year left) is just very odd to me. Just seems like a situation where they really want to catch fire with a "new" approach.

1 hour ago, bbedward said:

They want Vrabel

Also nobody has asked to interview Schwartz afaik, maybe not that hot of a commodity.

Ravens and Cowboys DC seem to be hot defensive candidates though.

I'll be interested to see where the Patriots go, to be honest. I actually wouldn't be surprised if they go in a completely different way. Kraft is 82 years old and this move, to me, signals trying to get one more shot at glory. Could that be achieved by going the "Patriots way" and hiring Vrabel? Maybe. But part of me thinks if they wanted to keep this Patriots way why not just keep Bill through next season (end of his contract).

I just get this vibe they may try to get that lightning in a bottle coach like McVay or Shanahan.