tiamat63

1 hour ago, Korsou Dawg said:

What baffles me about the AvP firing to begin with, is that it was our offense that kept us in the game for most of the first half against the Texans. It was our D that collapsed, and apparently it was mostly up to the coaching on our side.

https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2024/01/14/browns-texans-jim-schwartz-c-j-stroud-nico-collins/

Now, I don't have the football know-how to distinguish my covers from my duvets, but this sounds pretty damning. The article even mentions wrinkles like professor @tiamat63, so they must know what they are talking about. 

Now, we probably shouldn't make staffing decisions based on a single game, but I do hope Schwartz takes a long hard look at himself. 

I will give an initial impression - it isn't so much a "damning" more so than an "it is what it is".   What the Brownies have been the best with,  defensively at least, are structures that other NFL defenses have gone away from.  Because the better QBs have been shredding single high for 5+ years now.  This stems from the after effects of philosophy shifts in the wake of the Legion of Boom.  That means both offensively and defensively.   

 The most obvious shift is running more two high, like we did under Joe Woods.  Downside, and I've said this all season, sans Thornhill and McLeod to a degree (being hurt)  our safety play doesn't allow for the adjustments to be as effective, either in post snap shifts or pre-snap alignment.  It's a personnel deficiency.  

 It's a classic "we are what we are".  We're good at what we do, probably the best in the NFL at single high because of our corners.  But when Ward is hurt, or we run into teams with the ability to counter those looks while possibly keeping Myles and the pass rush a bit in check, then the result is what you saw in Houston. 

 I'll put in some work tonight a bit, and have more details for you guys over the weekend.  I haven't been around, life has tossed up a curve-ball of pure madness.  It'll be nice to relax and digest some film

44 minutes ago, AP1 said:

There was a meme posted poking fun at Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold being the front runners for the #1 pick in the 2018 Draft while Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen have had, definitively, greater success in the NFL. 

 

That started turning some wheels. Some think QB play in the NFL has never been better, but the 90's might have been the golden era of QB play. Caveat...there might be some asterisks with this list. Joe Montana won all of his Super Bowls in the 80's, but it makes sense (to me) to keep him with this set of QBs because he played against all of them. Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner played in the 90's, but I would consider them in the next era of QBs.

 

90's QBs in the HOF

Aikman

Elway

Favre

Kelly

Marino

Montana

Moon

Young

 

Manning/Brady Era

Manning

Warner

Brady will be in

Roethlisberger will probably be in

Brees will probably be in

Eli?

Rivers?

 

Current NFL QB's

Without a Doubt

Rodgers

Mahomes

Remains to be Seen

Allen

Jackson

Wilson

The rest are too young or have not done enough to get in.

 

What do you think?

Who have I missed?

 

If you're going to have the class of 04 in with Manning and Brady, might as well put Rodgers in that group.  Drafted in 05', wasn't his fault the Pack had him sit behind Farve.  And the bulk of his career success was during that era.

2 hours ago, ballpeen said:

Before the season started we saw reports that the browns o was going to be different and exciting.  Once the season started, it was the same O.

 

Stefanski and more on point, Van Pelt can't get away from 20th century, west coast offense.  If you look at Watson, most of the college QB's heading in to the pro's, they play a 21st century O.  It is shotgun based.  AVP couldn't adjust to getting us in a shotgun based O, and Stump can't coach backs running inside zone runs out of a shotgun.

 

We can't expect to get the most out of our O running a 90's offense in 2024.  That is the same as a team in the 80's running an O out of the 50's.

 

Time to up the thinking.

 I don't ever remember the Brownies running weakside QB power like an old single wing from an empty motion previous to week 1 against Cincy.   Closest I can remember was the QB sweep against PIT to burn clock and make us playoff bound in 2020.  

 While I don't have the numbers, I'm confident in saying there was more gun and 11 personnel usage with Watson than previous QBs.   This concluded with the epic win over the ravens. 

 West Coast is a relative term.  It generally means timing throws, which are structured and layered within every offense in football. And with that, a certain play call string language that mostly meant individually tagging receivers with numbered routes.  Which might not be a predominant in the Browns lingo, but you'll find things derived from it in just about every offense as well. No different than romance languages sharing similarities by having a common ancestor in Latin. 

 Also worth pointing out, one of the most efficient and consistent offenses in the NFL during his time as a head coach has been younger Shanahan in San Fran.  The same team who, last I checked, was top 2 in 21 personnel usage with a vehicle driven by under center ball action and timing throws. 

 Odd how an old dog can still get it done with some old tricks that are windowed dressed appropriately. 

Re: Stef and Van Pelt.  They didn't get Flaccos arm hit as he was trying to bomb a post-corner that ended up in a DBs lap.  And they sure as fuck didn't make Flacco lock onto a primary with a little stick-out, believing he had man all the way instead of reading the strong side hook correctly.  

 Any heavy handed critique lobbed at the coaching staff after how they over performed this season is idiotic at best. 

Alim Mcneil has turned into one of the most underrated IDL in the NFL.   And it really hurts to see that, but good for him and Detroit.  

Lions fucked around that entire 2nd quarter and could have avalanched TB.  Instead they get caught in tempo, and give Mike Evans easy 1 on 1's along with the rest of their shitty man coverage in the redzone.   Bucs take advantage and make it 10 all.

Still not understanding the mindset of Watson being 'The' or really even 'a' problem. His contract creates issues, but the problem with what unfolded this season was that the moment we saw Deshaun and the offense begin to bloom, that hope was immediately snuffed out. I go back to that Ravens game, it was that win which made a push to the playoffs possible and the team used as a springboard to finish the season from.

The Ravens have faced

Jared Goff
Justin Herbert
CJ Stroud
Trevor Lawrence
Brock Purdy  during his MVP talk
Geno Smith
Tua
Matt Stafford

All of them did not beat Baltimore. More to the point, of that lot, only one QB helped his offense score more than 20 points, with several being held under 10.

Watson lit the Ravens up for 3 quarters through injury that required season ending surgery.

Health is an issue, coaching may be an issue, personnel may be an issue. But when Watson started flashing, he flashed like he used to in Houston that made him one of the better young QBs in the NFL. Talent is not a problem here and has never been. 

On 1/16/2024 at 6:17 PM, Dutch Oven said:

Oh wow, Taylor Mays. That's a name I haven't heard, read or thought of in roughly a million years. I remember top 5 of the draft hype surrounding him while he was at USC.

Heard another name I haven't thought of in forever, this is a DEEP dive for Ohio State football. Remember RB Brionte Dunn of Canton Glenoak? He was supposed to be another Jonathan "Beanie" Wells, but the kid was run so much in HS by the time he got to CBus his knees were moosh. "Moosh" is Italian-American for "not good". 

Yeah, his knees reminded me of 'Tone quite a bit.  Basically it was 3 years until the NFL. But by the time he got midway through his sophomore year at tOSU, you could see the wear and tear.   Which, speaking of Beanie, was the reason for the big push to get him. Apart from being the #1 RB recruit, he got a ton of minutes a freshman under Tress. Rare unless you were a special talent or he just absolutely needed you to take starting snaps.   Beanie took a lot of the carries Mo and Brandon Joe had the year or two previous, only difference is he was actually an efficient and much more effective runner.  But that also helped keep Pittman fresh during that 06' season. 

 I say that because Dunn, like you compared him too, was supposed to be the next Beanie.  And like Beanie, the hopes for him his freshman year was backing up and putting in work behind Carlos Hyde.  He had a couple moments, dude just couldn't string it together on, but also off the field. 

 Zeke came in during the 2013 season, and the rest is history   

28 minutes ago, nickers said:

Then how does this woke diversity hire still have a job?

Probably because she's an assistant coach. So if the boss is staying, why would the assistants be fired?  

Ya fucking retard.  Do humanity a favor and at minimum clear your posts with your mother first. She might help prevent you from saying dumb shit. 

This moron aside, not a fan of rolling heads for the sake of optics.  Especially coach Stump.  He's done a hell of a job with every player under his wing so far.  And if Andrew Berry is concerned why Ford hasn't developed into the next Chubb by now, being that they're of a similar physical mold, at some point it has to be understood that you don't hit home runs on every single pick.  Some players just are what they are. 

On 1/13/2024 at 10:03 PM, Unsympathetic said:

I think I'm finished with the Alex Wright and James Hudson Experience.  At a certain point you're not Developmental.. you're a CFL player.  Or the UFL, the new one after the USFL merged with the XFL.

Ronnie Hickman was undrafted for a reason.

Harrison Bryant.. I suppose can stay TE3, but I thought NFL players had heard of switching the ball from one arm to the other.

 Wright was finally found a role he could contribute just a bit.  But his role, once understood how limited it was, could be exploited.  His ability to effect the game in that role can't balance out said liability.  Hudson just isn't progressing and he is what he is, same for Harrison Bryant. 

 Ronnie is Ronnie. Physically gifted by eyes and mind haven't grown since his sophomore year at tOSU. At times he looks like a cut down version of Taylor Mays. 

Maybe Dunn

McLeod, Mo and AWalk all depending on health

Bojorquez

Harmon and Taki struggled bad yesterday. Zadarius is playing on the back 9 and can see the club house. 

Newsome working over top that pick yesterday like a douche bag still sticks in my mind. 

Wowzer .... Voided the boundary lane on that punt.  If Houston ever wanted to fake a punt this game, chances are it'll be there. 

3 minutes ago, Korsou Dawg said:

This sounds like a Nickers 'I told you so' comment

Yeah, don't ever make that comparison again bubs. ❤️

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

If you thought Ronnie was a great DB because of PFF, you should have asked any Buckeye to the contrary. 

Just now, jrb12711 said:

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. 

Patrick got lit up a few times vs Oakland. Gave me hope that flags can balance out. 

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

1 minute ago, Flugel said:

JOK wants to play Defense today

Be blew the TD to the TE, so he's got a lot of making up to do. 

Hickman, this was your problem at tOSU. 

At one point, Stroud was #2 in the NFL against zone coverage.  So Ward needs to be ready to go, because our zone coverage rates climb quite a bit. 

On 1/11/2024 at 5:06 PM, calfoxwc said:

Jim Schwartz needs to be the next HC of the Browns.

 

Everytime I see you on this football board now. 

Re: Schwartz. 

 Pretty understood, from his time in DET, that he's sort of an asshole.  Now, he's closer to 60 than he was in 2010, so maybe he's chilled out a bit and took on an actual leadership role. 

 In the same theme, the man is closer to 60 now. He might not be interested in taking on a head coaching job at this point.  

9 hours ago, Dutch Oven said:

Yes, the billboard is real. He has tons of billboards all over. I live 40+ miles from Cleveland and they are all over, plus he's been doing commercials for years.

He's so well-known that he actually has some billboards with no writing, just his face. THAT's how famous he is here. 

 

If you ever get a chance to meet the man - don't.  

I knew a girl who was a paralegal at one of his offices (he has a couple locations) and I was invited to a 'race night'   The pre-recorded horse race videos, the raffles, open bar, etc etc. 

 Anyhizzle, The Mis makes a cameo appearance. He might have been there 30 minutes?  Yeah.... Belligerent douchebag, especially to the serving staff. 

 I might be a sarcastic asshole, and yes I can come across as brash at times; but I'm fair and a bit more measured than most.  T.M. though? Total shitbird. 

 Obviously this is becoming of nothing and he's a local media sensation, it's just a shame it has to be attached to such a miserable human. 

 HOU is solid against the run and, well, CLE isn't currently a good rushing team.  Given that Anderson and most of the Texans Dline will be back to play, it's going to take a hell of an effort from the Oline and Ford to make them respect running the rock enough to keep them from teeing off on Flacco. 

 Pressure rates rise, turnovers tend to come with it.  Joe needs to avoid the silly throws, including the one's we've seen where they miraculously break our way and don't hurt the offense.  That only goes so far before it bites you in the ass. 

 Texans Oline is shaky, Brownies pass rush will be what makes or breaks the day. Stroud is a great young QB.  But he's still a rookie making his first playoff start.  That and don't let Singletary pop off chunk runs on those HB delays.  That hurt is a couple times last out, and I can't stress how difficult it is beating the same team twice in one season at any level.   

In the end I'm just grateful to see another playoff game given the state of the roster. Should be a great wildcard weekend. 

1 hour ago, Dutch Oven said:

I'm not sure Tex has ever suggested the Browns to draft a non-Aggie in all the years he's been here 😏

Wait, there are others besides A&M?!     My.  Gawd.  

10 hours ago, TexasAg1969 said:

 

No worries. Ainias Smith will beat him out in training camp.🤣

Without even looking up that name I know he has to play for A&M.