Star Wars, Wolf of Wall Street, Cavaliers and more with Brian Spaeth and Ben Cox – WFNY Podcast – 2014-01-09
January 10, 2014WFNY Stats & Info: Cavs frontcourt’s potential without Bynum
January 10, 2014
While We’re Waiting is a space on the WaitingForNextYear website where we share links every day. We’ve been doing it for about four years or so. Denny Mayo used to be much more amusing with his intros, if you recall. You know the drill: Email us with suggestions at tips@waitingfornextyear.com.
Phenomenal research here on the top QBs in the 2014 NFL draft class: “Most notable for Bridgewater is the lack of screens incorporated in the offense. Some have said that Bridgewater throws a high quantity of short passes, however the screens a QB normally utilizes have become short throws so that Bridgewater throws 53% of his passes in the 1-10 yard zones.” [Greg Peshek/Roto World]
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Harsh words on Ray Horton’s part of the Browns late-season collapse: “Haslam and Banner confirmed that Browns assistant coaches can keep their jobs while the team finds a new head coach who will decide their fates. But perhaps they should have given Horton his walking papers along with Chudzinski. He and his defense are just as much to blame for the Browns’ 4-12 2013 campaign as Chudzinski, if not more so.” [Andrea Hangst/Bleacher Report]
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Speaking of tough comments, this is the first I’ve seen from anyone calling for Lombardi’s head. And from a pretty legit writer, too: “The Browns are poised to make a mind-boggling gaffe even before they hire their next coach. Theyâre prepared to lose Assistant General Manager Ray Farmer and keep General Manager Mike Lombardi. Iâm flabbergasted by that possibility because it should be the other way around. I canât believe the Browns would choose Lombardi over ‘one of the up-and-coming stars in the NFL,’ as Browns CEO Joe Banner described Farmer in September.” [Marla Ridenour/Akron Beacon Journal]
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Long article on the Deng-Bynum trade and fertility rates (I know, weird), but it’s generally optimistic for the Cavs: “The way I look at the trade is thus: Cleveland just acquired an immensely solid player that fits perfectly with their long-contract coach’s style and playbook. The player in question is currently having the best season of his career on a cap-friendly expiring deal that neither imperils their summer cap space nor takes minutes from any in-position rookie. Acquiring a player like that is rare. Very rare, actually. Anthony Bennett might lose a few of his struggling out-of-position minutes, but that’s probably for the best when it comes to his future development.” [Aaron McGuire/Gothic Ginobili]
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Oh. My. Goodness. Not sure how I had never seen this before, but this video just resurfaced of Cavs Twitter reacting to the Anthony Bennett selection. Spoiler: There’s a Ben Cox sighting. [Jeff Nomina/Instagram]
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Extended thoughts on Tuesday’s Buckeyes-Spartan classic: “That game was amazing because â clichĂ© coachspeak alert â both teams were able to overcome their weaknesses with determination and the will to win. Ohio State’s weakness was its inability to score. At this point, I’m convinced that if LaQuinton Ross and Lenzelle Smith don’t combine for at least 35 points in big games, Ohio State can’t win. They just don’t have enough guys who can create offense if those two aren’t hitting. And on Tuesday night, it’s safe to say that those two weren’t hitting. They shot a combined 4-for-18 from the field and scored 15 points, which, you might notice, is considerably less than 35.” [Mark Titus/Grantland]
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This certainly isn’t a popular suggestion, but it could make sense: “Asdrubal Cabrera should remain a member of the Cleveland Indians. Not just until the trade deadline, and not just until the end of the season when he hits free agency. No, Asdrubal Cabrera should remain a member of the Cleveland Indians for the foreseeable future. Of course, that means opening up the wallet and signing him to a long-term extension and given the current state of the free agent market that may take more money than any of us yet realize.” [Brian Heise/Wahoos on First]
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Just met this guy the other day, so I’ll of course link to his latest super-popular post on the Hall of Fame. His thesis: The secretive ballot leads to fishy voting tactics: “As my gaze moved back and forth between the spreadsheets and the fogged-up bus window, I gradually came to a realization: the writers who made their Hall of Fame ballots public had voted differently than those who kept their choices secret. Not only that, but from my perspective, those who opened up about their picks had voted more correctly than those who remained anonymous. This phenomenon occurred again in 2012, and then again in 2013.” [Lewie Pollis/Baseball Prospectus]
60 Comments
those charts further illustrate why NOT to draft Carr. they also demonstrate how intelligent Bridgewater was as a QB. he just knows how to rip apart a defense (see his pressure/blitz numbers).
They also show why Manziel would be perfect for the Browns…Manziel to Gordon would be tough to stop.
Asdrubal to 3B is a good idea worth pursuing.
While I wasn’t a Manziel-guy, that article certainly made me feel more comfortable if the Browns draft him.
But obviously, the Browns will draft Carr.
Was Ridenour working the beat when Lombardi was here the first time? That would explain her disdain for him.
I actually might even prefer Fales over Carr. Fales is basically a Hoyer-clone. He doesn’t have the strongest arm (at all), but he throws WRs open and seemed to have a good grasp of when to take risks and when to not take risks. He is my 4th/5th round QB3 guy I’d want (and see if we can spend a couple years on his core muscles to improve his velocity).
I still think the Browns end up drafting Mettenberger and have us all have terrible flashbacks to Weeden except he’s also coming back from a major knee injury and has had Ben Roeth-style off-field issues in his past. Yaaayyy!
Completely agree. The fact that Manziel through more deep balls than anyone else in this QB class and still managed to maintain the highest completion on those percentages certainly helps his case. He would make sense if the team wants to keep feeding Gordon the deep ball.
You just know, though, that Manziel is going to be broken into pieces after a few years in the NFL based on how he plays.
You aren’t running through arm tackles in the NFL the way he did against the vaunted Blue Devil defense.
But you can’t ask him to change, b/c that aspect of his game is what makes him special.
I agree to a certain degree, and the easiest example to turn to is RG3. However, when comparing the two, I think it’s fair to say that Manziel’s throwing ability is much better than RG3’s when he left for the draft. Manziel, unlike RG3, doesn’t rely on his legs to make plays. They’re more of a fall back that also happens to have lethal potential.
Anyone can throw to Gordon as evidenced by the Browns QBs this past season. No thanks on Manziel way to many other potential pitfalls on and off the field.
Finally someone gives me some unknockable evidence to further my belief that after Teddy B. it’s a crap-shoot. I could have told you that about Carr without the #s but there you go. Point in fact yesterday when we discussed him I said no thanks. Bortles kind of falls into the same thing but not as bad. This speaks to the offenses these guys all ran and how I really think it hinders their football intelligence. RG3 was supposed to have the brains and talent kind of funny it’s been Russell Wilson who played at NC State then Wisconsin not to mention playing baseball who turned out to be not only smarter but healthier. I can’t help but think Manziel will follow in RG3s footsteps and not Wilsons for all of the reasons above and then some.
I would have loved to have seen #s for more then just the three though.
Trading him for either a power hitter or starting pitcher is a better one. NOTE: Trade him after the season starts when he hopefully plays inspired for a new contract.
If they can draft Mike Evans it won’t hurt either. Did Brandon Weeden throw a lot of deep balls to and have a stud college WR in a wide open system?
I disagree Griffin can throw better 100% but I do agree that Griffin looks to run more first as opposed to Manziel who uses his legs to evade. He just evades entirely to much which was fine in college but not the pros. IMO.
Yeah, and he had Justin Blackmon.
note on Bortles: he stands in the pocket really, really well under pressure and delivers the ball, which is also shown in those charts. Really great charts that numerically show what many of us have been saying about these guys.
if the Cardinals and their rich farm system and complete lack of SS were unwilling to trade for him though, then who is going to give us a power hitter or starting pitcher?
in terms of scrambling, I think that Manziel is more Wilson than RGIII though. Griffin scrambles and is looking for a running lane. Wilson/Manziel scramble and are looking downfield and scramble when nothing is there.
The big difference with Manziel is that unlike Wilson, he doesn’t shy away from the hits. He needs to learn to do it. Also, we should teach ALL our QBs the proper way to slide.
Kind of why the only other guy after Teddy B. I could get myself to like at #4 was Bortles. After that I say wait which is how the name McCarron was ever uttered from my lips. Believe me he’s the devil I know and lesser of all other potential evil risks. Again, just my opinion.
Well yea that’s how it goes unfortunately. Cabrera has only hurt what value he has had by his play. That being said if he does well early inspired by the possibility of mucho dinero anything is possible, right?
And Weeden had what just about all of us salivate over: a gun for an arm. Unfortunately that’s all he had.
There’s something to say about mobility and the ability to improvise – two things Manziel has that Weeden did not.
I do look forward to the annual “Asdrubal is in the best shape of his life” stories that will start coming out in 2-3 weeks.
I just don’t trust McCarron. I feel like he’s the risk of a 4th/5th round guy, but someone is going to take in in the 2nd round because of all the “wins” at Bama.
I think I’d rather take Connor Shaw in the 3rd (though he’s incredibly inconsistent, when he was good, he was fantastic – basically, he’s this year’s Ryan Mallet).
Yea he did better when he was looking out of shape.
Most of these potential QBs have a lot of what Weeden didn’t!
The Alabama part is what worries me about him. We saw how much a product of Alabama Trent Richardson was so how much were they for McCarron.
Connor Shaw is interesting. Nobody talks about him. And hey I was a big Mallett fan and still am I’d trade a 3rd to the Patriots for him. I just know the Patriots won’t accept!
a successful minor league baseball career?
I wasn’t a big Mallet fan because the talk at the time was he would go late-1st/early-2nd. He went where he should have gone (3rd) but, unfortunately for him, went to a place where he never gets to show his skills (or lack of them).
Not sure I would give NE a 3rd for him as we have nothing to go on tape. So, if they accept, then there’s a decent chance they don’t value him at all. Otherwise, they’d keep him as cheap Brady insurance and deny.
maybe Delilah is his trainer
I’m follicly challenged would she still train me?
Dan Le Batard of Fat B*&^%$#d as I often refer to him as would probably have voted for him!!!!
sure as long as you don’t mind being nagged to death until you finally give in and tell her how to completely undermine everything you have ever worked to obtain?
I have no idea if today’s Mallett is better or worse then the Mallett out of college but I really liked him out of college despite his last game which I believe was against Ohio State where he tried to do entirely to much on his own.
Tom Terrific doesn’t have many years left I don’t know if this is good or bad for Mallett. Thankfully Brady has been able to remain healthy (no jinx no jinx no jinx) so we haven’t had to find out about Mallett.
I’m banking on an inheritance I’ve heard this has worked for others so does that count?
Manziel = LeBron? I might be reconsidering my stance on drafting Johnny Drama after all:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/-daily-jolt/news/20140110/daily-jolt-january-10/?eref=sihp
I know you’ve “dressed up” for your lady so don’t even try to front dude!!! đ
This is a pretty interesting story on firings in the NFL:
http://mmqb.si.com/2014/01/09/nfl-hiring-firing-head-coaches-part-1/?eref=sihp
good read. here’s a lighter read for a Friday too:
http://lightlybuzzed.com/2014/01/06/gus-malzhan-take-clevland-browns-head-coaching-job/
I remember when we drafted a college winner last time. Didn’t turn out too well for us…Oh and I am talking about Colt.
#9 FTW!
Some players…ahem SABATHIA…play better in their natural state rather than trying to get in the best shape of their lifes. Never forget Sabathia eating Captain Crunch by the box, having a Cy Young season, and then trying to eat right when we made the playoffs.
Did he shoot clay with said arm?
He did some kind of trick shot thing I don’t remember exactly. He and the Throwalicious guy should have done a halftime show at the last home game. I mean it wasn’t like Weeden had anything else to do.
#13 was my favorite
25th anniversary Major League baseball cards: http://wapc.mlb.com/cutfour/2014/01/07/66359314/your-favorite-major-league-characters-as-baseball-cards
And Chief Wahoo is not going anywhere: http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2014/01/cleveland_indians_have_no_plan.html
He’s a free agent after this season. So unless it’s a mid-season trade, I don’t see how this happens. Even if he is like the Acab of old, who is going to give up a power hitter or a starting pitcher for a three month rental?
You guys are really making it hard to be optimistic!!! đ
No response = YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!