While We’re Waiting… Kipnis drawing more walks
February 3, 2014Is the franchise tag in store for TJ Ward?
February 3, 2014
The off-season already feels old for the Cleveland Browns as it’s been 35 days since they last played football on December 29. As the Browns seem set to announce Kyle Shanahan as their offensive coordinator, and as we sit back and think about how Seattle decimated the Broncos in the Super Bowl, I have a few hopes for the Browns.
I hope that Mike Pettine never makes us second-guess the idea that the Browns could have or should have waited and gotten Seattle’s defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. No doubt that Quinn deserves credit for how Seattle’s defense played this season and especially on the biggest stage in New York across from Peyton Manning. It was a defense that helped Seattle win the turnover battle 4-0 in the Super Bowl. Consider that Seattle’s first three scoring drives were 51 yards, 58 yards, and 37 yards. Seattle’s offense was good, but offenses tend to do a lot of damage when constantly given short-field reps. Back to Quinn.
No doubt he deserves some credit, and it would have been amazing PR for the Browns to hire Dan Quinn on the heels of a defensive performance like Seattle put up in the Super Bowl, but as far as any of us know, that’s just a narrative. Mike Pettine is a hiring that the Browns should be able to stand behind regardless of what Quinn did a week and a half after Pettine was hired. And speaking of narratives, to simplify the hiring process down to the fact that Pettine coordinated for Buffalo with six wins and Quinn coordinated for the Super Bowl champs seems silly. As I said, I hope Mike Pettine never makes us second-guess this.
I hope that Kyle Shanahan is able to work with the pieces in place and make them better. The Browns will obviously have to upgrade many positions and will have decisions to make in order to do that, but I hope we don’t see roster turnover for the sake of “system.” If the Browns want to bring in a free agent running back or wide receiver, that’s great, of course. At the same time, there are some opportunities to improve on this roster. Mitchell Schwartz has played two very uneven seasons to start his career. I don’t think he’s without potential. After two seasons, I remain interested in Josh Cooper as a receiver. I don’t want to overstate that interest, but these are cheap guys under control that an NFL staff needs to make the most of.
Again back to the Super Bowl. Seattle has some high profile receivers like Golden Tate and Percy Harvin, but they also get really meaningful contributions from young, undrafted guys like Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse. That’s not to say Josh Cooper is definitely to the level of either of those guys, but I’m hoping Kyle Shanahan and his staff can finally make the most of young, inherited guys rather than engaging in another complete roster turnover.
I hope the Browns are aggressive in their pursuit of a quarterback this off-season. That doesn’t mean I want them to be stupid and overpay for any of the available options, of course, but I want them to fill three roster spots with potential starters if they must. I understand why the Kirk Cousins rumors are there just like I understood the Ryan Mallett talk with regard to Michael Lombardi. These are dots that are easy to connect just like Hoyer to the Browns ended up happening when it became possible. I can’t tell you whether the Browns should try to trade for Kirk Cousins or not. I do know that Kyle Shanahan is as qualified as anyone to make that judgement.
From my perspective, whether it’s Mallett, Cousins, Johnny Football, Teddy Bridgewater, Brandon Weeden or Vince Young, I want the Browns to be prepared to have competent quarterback play for the entire 2014 NFL season. Well maybe not Vince Young, but you get my point. I don’t need Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace or Jason Campbell. I don’t need Brandon Weeden. As much promise as I saw from Brian Hoyer, I don’t need the Browns betting it all on a guy who was promising for 96 regular-season pass attempts across two-plus football games. Shanahan’s former team in Washington is in its own mess, but I am still envious of the way they doubled down on quarterback in the draft even if I have some doubts about the way they mortgaged the future to acquire RG3.
Look at Seattle yet again. They ended up finding Russell Wilson, but they weren’t afraid to be aggressive as Wilson was forced to beat Tarvaris Jackson and Matt Flynn. Seattle decided they’d had enough of Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst. Signing Flynn was aggressive, even if it didn’t work out, and naming Wilson starter was bold at the time, and it did work out. They aggressively pursued options though.
Most of all, I hope for the Browns because I hope for us. There’s no evidence that the Browns are headed in the right direction or that they’ve done anything well this off-season. Â That’s not a slam on them as much as it’s just a statement of fact. Even the things we like right now, we can’t know if those feelings are founded or unfounded. I just know that at a time where I can’t feel less confident that I even know what it means to root for a set of colors anymore, I wouldn’t be having this existential crisis if the team was just winning and showing signs of improvement and relevance. I’m also tired of the bickering and in-fighting that certainly doesn’t get as toxic in cities where there’s some hope and momentum.
I don’t do New Year’s resolutions, but I really want to talk about football more this year and less about the virtual “reality show” that surrounds the game. That will be much easier if the Browns can win and be exciting again.
Are any of these too much to ask?
60 Comments
My only hope about the Browns’ offseason is that I don’t have to constantly hear/read about it.
the Browns are usually more entertaining in the offseason than they are during the season. I’ll enjoy it while I can.
Kyle isn’t exactly a system type of guy. He’s run zone-blocking everywhere, but he created a whole new offense for RGIII to run compared to with what he had been running. That pairs him well with Pettine who didn’t change the Bills from a 4-3 because that’s the talent they had in place.
I don’t know if it’ll work, but neither seems to be married to their system (or, if they are, then they aren’t opposed to stepping out on them).
I don’t think Cousins is the answer. But I’d take a QB trio of Manziel/Bridgewater, Hoyer, and Cousins over the garbage we’ve seen the past 20 years. The key is not playing favorites and actually having a legitimate competition. One of them has to not suck right?
QB competition worked well for Seattle. That’s exactly why they decided to start Wilson.
Okay, everybody’s 0-0 again. We got a ton of draft picks, a boatload of cap space, and an impatient owner, and worst-to-first isn’t all that unusual anymore. So why not us?
Let’s do it!
I really want to talk about football more this year
ok, let’s start with the zone-blocking scheme. we have run it at times in the past (Mangini/Daboll abandoned their power-blocking when it didn’t work at all their first year and went back to Romeo’s psuedo-zone-blocking system. Their 2nd year, we went more power-blocking and less of that zone-blocking though.)
what does it mean? it is a system that allows smaller, quicker OL to succeed in blocking bigger DL by virtue of utilizing angles rather than lining up and hitting the DL man-on-man.
OT – not much different in either. he’s still responsible for blindside protection on pass plays (usually fastest DE/OLB), outside containment on inside runs, outside seal on outside runs to his side. JoeT can handle whatever is needed anyway. Mitchell Schwartz should be okay in this scheme as well though he’ll still be exposed by the wide-9 DE’s if he doesn’t learn to get better feet to seal the edge.
OG – biggest difference is with these positions, it’s the hardest to master and it’s our biggest weakness. I’m not sure if I’m fine with the shift because we need to completely revamp our OG anyway, or if I’m terrified that our biggest OL weakness has the biggest learning curve. Both?
anyways, their job constantly changes depending on direction of the play and the calls by whoever is calling out the defensive alignment (QB, OC, or OG). The play/call will indicate their first step only. Upon making that first step into their zone, it is crucially important that they recognize where they have to make their second step and take on that man. you see OL’s struggle with zone-blocking where the OC/OG often mistake guys on the edge of the zone and both block the same guy.
also, you will see the OC/OG do some stunt-blocking. Washington liked to do this at times where the OC will hard-step to the right with the RG hard stepping directly behind him to the left. It’s not a true “pull” as if it is done correctly, both players are moving upfield the entire time and just “switching” their blocking assignments to gain better angles on them (surprise, wham!).
OC – usually, this is the guy calling out the protection scheme. if you call the wrong scheme, then you are already lost before the play begins. Steinbach was the guy calling the protections the last time we ran this format (remember Mack was a rookie), so Alex doesn’t have experience here. Still, it is the single biggest reason that we want to keep Mack because otherwise we will likely have 3 players either new to the Browns or position in the interior. that can be a death knell for zone-blocking. Keep Mack & Greco and you only have to worry about finding a RG who is new.
What guys don’t fit? Pinkston may struggle. It is absolutely vital to have that first quick step and he never had one. He was incredibly strong and disciplined with his hands, but sadly, a shift here means he is likely depth (if not cut). Cousins should be gone regardless. Lauvao has a good first step (his issue is with keeping proper level and hands, so this shift actually might help him, but I’m not holding my breath).
Also, one of my favorite 3rd round targets (UCLA, Sua-Filo) is probably no longer a target. His main weakness is that first step. Ah well.
what if you need to give up either pick26 or our 2nd rounder for Cousins? that’s likely what the Redskins would want and I’m not willing to give them that for what would hopefully be our QB3.
Hope springs eternal.
Go Browns.
I doubt he’s worth anything better than a 3rd round pick. He was very mediocre last season.
I haven’t seen anything that tells me Cousins is that much better than Hoyer. (If at all.)
Washington can keep him. I’ll keep the picks.
This will be Lombanner’s second offseason…after a first full season to see what they have.
I bet they’re feeling froggy.
Should make for an “entertaining” next few months… đ
OY VEY!
Someone Google the word hope and post a link to all of it’s uses and possibilities.
Btw did anyone else hear the amazing statistic during the pregame that Seattle has made 1,005 personnel decisions to get to where they were? Man, the Cleveland Browns have a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong way to go. Cleveland Browns fans have an even loooooooooooooooooonger road ahead!
Good luck!
Yeah…
images.google.com search for hope:
http://i.imgur.com/Ucr8xEI.jpg
I doubt he is worth anything better than a 3rd round pick as well. I also doubt Washington gives him up for less than a 2nd.
Hopefully we get at least 3 of the top 50 FA (resign Mack and Ward!)
So, Teddy Bridgewater is hoping to be drafted by Chicago?
this 2011 texans game was my intro to zone blocking course and i’m most pleased to see it being installed here. always thought a guy like steinbach was wasted in the conventional lineblock scheme; he’d have been great in this. (regrettably, i think the same can be said of alex mack.)
Depends on what the Bannermetric equations say.
Avoid spending money!
Chicago has the Bears and used to have the Cardinals. It works perfectly for him!
Ur a sicko! đ
CANNOT. BLOW. THIS. DRAFT.
Yeah period! Notice the green…baby Rock!
Teddy B!!! I like the kid therefore I hope he ends up anywhere but Cleveland or Jacksonville.
Y.NOT.IT’S.THE.1.THING.THEY’VE.DONE.WELL.SINCE.1999?
here’s a starter kit on zone-blocking for you. it’s very basic in that they don’t discuss alot of the wrinkles, but good to get started on.
http://www.revengeofthebirds.com/2013/6/17/4437262/zone-blocking-real-nfl-plays-and-how-it-looks
I’m not good enough to Photoshop that to orange…
I have been a fan of the scheme since the Terrell Davis. He absolutely made that scheme blow up at the NFL level. I hated those Bronco teams, but loved how their OL played as one.
I know zone blocking John Madden you better check yourself before you wreck yourself!
LoL I could but I’m “busy!” 911 what is your emergency?
.AGAIN.
I see you’ve been studying your Bannermetric equations.
You have a thing for these don’t you? đ
.AND.AGAIN.
You better hope in a year you aren’t wishing they’d have kept Shanahan instead!
Indeed…
Man, don’t DO that.
lol
Lets all HOPE Goldberg can coach these bums up this season! By the way now I see why he doesn’t want to be in that suit:
http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/superstar_bio/public/talent/bio/2012/01/goldberg-bio.png
I never thought i’d say this, but what about Vick? Everyone in Philly says he’s been a great leader, etc, etc. could help our young guys and still be enough of a veteran to lead the other vets?
They don’t call me Richard Sherman for nothin’ round here son…don’t even try it…I got this place on lock down!
#Don’tLetMeGetInMyZone
I think Vick has a restraining order from dogpounds.
PETA does not agree…$hamrock on the other hand is perplexed:
http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2008/02/27/1111120/010972-peta-protest.jpg
The most surprising part of this was that it’s only been 35 days since the last Browns game. Doesn’t it seem like it’s been about 3 months? Crazy.
“Thereâs no evidence that the Browns are headed in the right direction or that theyâve done anything well this off-season. Thatâs not a slam on them as much as itâs just a statement of fact.”
…
CLE23 would like to contribute to the conversation but please help him by not writing that something is a statement of fact when it is an opinion.
…
And the reasons there is no evidence that the browns are headed in the right direction or that they’ve done anything well this off-season is because they can only be evaluated after some time has passed. Dont’ forget, there were a lot of Seahawks fans that were opposed to bringing in Pete Carroll. So give it some time please.
hiiii oooooooooooooooo
Is that the same bear who was wearing the Couch jersey, that was stuck in the claw machine, from Denny’s old post?
anyone else getting a little curious why the Browns haven’t made the hiring official quite yet?