~ The Cleveland BROWNS Depth Chart - (5-27-2023). Subject to revisions.
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Jerome Ford will be KR full-time this season -- he was 6th in the NFL in return distance last season. DPJ did punt returns the second half of last season.. and given the other WR's, could do that this season also. Given these two roles, Grant has no roster spot.. I wouldn’t take him over Bell or Goodwin for WR6.
I wouldn’t roster Phillips this season even on his rookie deal.. every snap he takes is a snap that could go to someone who doesn’t suck.. For this reason Fields should be listed as a lock. Any other LB who’s been doing well in practice would be decent to try as well. Phillips is an athlete who just isn’t good at football.
Jerome Ford will be KR full-time this season -- he was 6th in the NFL in return distance last season. DPJ did punt returns the second half of last season.. and given the other WR's, could do that this season also. Given these two roles, Grant has no roster spot.. I wouldn’t take him over Bell or Goodwin for WR6.
I wouldn’t roster Phillips this season even on his rookie deal.. every snap he takes is a snap that could go to someone who doesn’t suck.. For this reason Fields should be listed as a lock. Any other LB who’s been doing well in practice would be decent to try as well. Phillips is an athlete who just isn’t good at football.
Great point about Phillips and giving others a shot! The next time I see text book form tackle from him will be the first time. On top of being a bad tackler, experience hasn't made him more instinctive at all. With a guy like this - there's a short window where he either develops or the bad habits become permanent. I'd like to see what Schwartz can get out of JOK if he can stay healthy and Fields.
When Andy Reid was asked about the big play Nick Bolton made in the Super Bowl - he said that's why we drafted him. We thought he was the best tackler we saw on film; and he has a great nose for the football. Sometimes the Browns get caught up drafting athletes they think we can develop into good football players; and it doesn't always work.
I welcome the only Defensive Coordinator to earn a Superbowl Ring in New Orleans while understanding Revenge of the Nerds is a sequel. "Come get some!" -
Jakeem Grant Sr.
It's just not in my ? DNA to not pull for a player like WR/ST'er Jakeem Grant...
a.) was to make 3.5M in 2023.. Takes a pay cut to 1.76M in Feb. 2023, just to be able to still get a camp invite
b.) Grant has been in the building all off season, rehabbing his 2nd (same) tore Achilles since last camp..
https://www.si.com/nfl/browns/browns-maven-features/jakeem-grant-interview-on-achilles-recovery
c.) In May.. new Kick-off rule...The NFL safety ?
️ fairy's, now allow fair catches on kickoffs to be given the 25 yard line..(Bubba Vetrone ain't happy)
Would It not shock anyone in the least? NOT seeing Jakeem Grant Sr. fair catch a damn ball all training camp. ?
1) at age 30, ya just hope Grant's wheels have a full camp left giving him a chance
2.) I'm not really sold yet, on watching our RB2 Jerome Ford return kicks, with only Felton behind him ?
More on the Depth Chart
DT-- It's been since 2019 thru 2020 we saw Ogun with Shelton Richardson at DT.. Is Tomlinson & __________ any better of a upgrade?
LB--reports say Taki will start season on PUP... Anthony Walker visited the Commanders before signing back with us in 2023..
CLE
Anthony Walker
---Left knee quad tendon--
on Sept. 22.... I'm no doctor... But, A. Walk needs to be running
& tackling to not add a body this close to camp?
Any FA ILB left? Is Kyle Van Noy worth a FA visit ?
Feels like were going into Training Camp with what we got? like most.. But, the plane ain't loaded to West Virginia yet !
Happy Fathers Day Weekend ! ?
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Jerome Ford will be KR full-time this season -- he was 6th in the NFL in return distance last season. DPJ did punt returns the second half of last season.. and given the other WR's, could do that this season also. Given these two roles, Grant has no roster spot.. I wouldn’t take him over Bell or Goodwin for WR6.
I wouldn’t roster Phillips this season even on his rookie deal.. every snap he takes is a snap that could go to someone who doesn’t suck.. For this reason Fields should be listed as a lock. Any other LB who’s been doing well in practice would be decent to try as well. Phillips is an athlete who just isn’t good at football.
Great point about Phillips and giving others a shot! The next time I see text book form tackle from him will be the first time. On top of being a bad tackler, experience hasn't made him more instinctive at all. With a guy like this - there's a short window where he either develops or the bad habits become permanent. I'd like to see what Schwartz can get out of JOK if he can stay healthy and Fields.
When Andy Reid was asked about the big play Nick Bolton made in the Super Bowl - he said that's why we drafted him. We thought he was the best tackler we saw on film; and he has a great nose for the football. Sometimes the Browns get caught up drafting athletes they think we can develop into good football players; and it doesn't always work.
Great point about Phillips and giving others a shot! The next time I see text book form tackle from him will be the first time. On top of being a bad tackler, experience hasn't made him more instinctive at all. With a guy like this - there's a short window where he either develops or the bad habits become permanent. I'd like to see what Schwartz can get out of JOK if he can stay healthy and Fields.
When Andy Reid was asked about the big play Nick Bolton made in the Super Bowl - he said that's why we drafted him. We thought he was the best tackler we saw on film; and he has a great nose for the football. Sometimes the Browns get caught up drafting athletes they think we can develop into good football players; and it doesn't always work.
The Browns seemingly made some shrewd roster moves this offseason, but the LB unit pretty much is a "God I hope the starters can stay healthy" situation once again.
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Great point about Phillips and giving others a shot! The next time I see text book form tackle from him will be the first time. On top of being a bad tackler, experience hasn't made him more instinctive at all. With a guy like this - there's a short window where he either develops or the bad habits become permanent. I'd like to see what Schwartz can get out of JOK if he can stay healthy and Fields.
When Andy Reid was asked about the big play Nick Bolton made in the Super Bowl - he said that's why we drafted him. We thought he was the best tackler we saw on film; and he has a great nose for the football. Sometimes the Browns get caught up drafting athletes they think we can develop into good football players; and it doesn't always work.
The Browns seemingly made some shrewd roster moves this offseason, but the LB unit pretty much is a "God I hope the starters can stay healthy" situation once again.
The Browns seemingly made some shrewd roster moves this offseason, but the LB unit pretty much is a "God I hope the starters can stay healthy" situation once again.
No kidding but it's always that way. I forget who but some sports pundit said that starting players who have been banged up are probably still better than second stringers. No doubt there's still some crapshoot involved. And like always something that looks shrewd on paper before the season starts.. well you get the idea.
Like the Old Hockey joke: what do the Maple Leaves have in common with the titanic? They both look great until they hit the ice.
WSS
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Great point about Phillips and giving others a shot! The next time I see text book form tackle from him will be the first time. On top of being a bad tackler, experience hasn't made him more instinctive at all. With a guy like this - there's a short window where he either develops or the bad habits become permanent. I'd like to see what Schwartz can get out of JOK if he can stay healthy and Fields.
When Andy Reid was asked about the big play Nick Bolton made in the Super Bowl - he said that's why we drafted him. We thought he was the best tackler we saw on film; and he has a great nose for the football. Sometimes the Browns get caught up drafting athletes they think we can develop into good football players; and it doesn't always work.
The Browns seemingly made some shrewd roster moves this offseason, but the LB unit pretty much is a "God I hope the starters can stay healthy" situation once again.
The Browns seemingly made some shrewd roster moves this offseason, but the LB unit pretty much is a "God I hope the starters can stay healthy" situation once again.
Hopefully all of the offseason moves upfront protects them way better than last year. The only good news about last year was we got to see the alternative to Phillips was an upgrade. I just read JOK spent a lot of time in the weight room (where he added weight and muscle) so he doesn't get bullied by TEs. I don't know if any of this will make you feel any better about the depth but here's a few thoughts. The arrival of Za'Darius Smith as an OLB pushes a very reliable Taki Taki to a backup UNLESS Smith is going to line up exclusively in a 3 point on the edge all year per Gumbs' depth chart. Taki Taki can also be the 1st one off the bench in the Middle. This team has a rarely mentioned backup OLB (Jordan Kunaszyk) that played in all but 2 games last year. He's 6'3" 235lbs and he's been in the league since 2019. He's a great open field tackler and very reliable on STs. Also, Tony Fields got a lot of experience behind a bad situation upfront last year. If the DL improves the way we hope/think it can - he could look a lot better. We're gonna find out pretty soon what we have here...
Let me preface this, by saying trust the depth chart more than my fluent jibberish thinking out-loud here. I can't help but thinking we didn't bring Ogbo Okoronko, Isaiah McGuire, and Lonnie Phelps here to watch 1 guy (that can also play OLB) play their position all year.
I welcome the only Defensive Coordinator to earn a Superbowl Ring in New Orleans while understanding Revenge of the Nerds is a sequel. "Come get some!" -
The Browns seemingly made some shrewd roster moves this offseason, but the LB unit pretty much is a "God I hope the starters can stay healthy" situation once again.
Hopefully all of the offseason moves upfront protects them way better than last year. The only good news about last year was we got to see the alternative to Phillips was an upgrade. I just read JOK spent a lot of time in the weight room (where he added weight and muscle) so he doesn't get bullied by TEs. I don't know if any of this will make you feel any better about the depth but here's a few thoughts. The arrival of Za'Darius Smith as an OLB pushes a very reliable Taki Taki to a backup UNLESS Smith is going to line up exclusively in a 3 point on the edge all year per Gumbs' depth chart. Taki Taki can also be the 1st one off the bench in the Middle. This team has a rarely mentioned backup OLB (Jordan Kunaszyk) that played in all but 2 games last year. He's 6'3" 235lbs and he's been in the league since 2019. He's a great open field tackler and very reliable on STs. Also, Tony Fields got a lot of experience behind a bad situation upfront last year. If the DL improves the way we hope/think it can - he could look a lot better. We're gonna find out pretty soon what we have here...
Let me preface this, by saying trust the depth chart more than my fluent jibberish thinking out-loud here. I can't help but thinking we didn't bring Ogbo Okoronko, Isaiah McGuire, and Lonnie Phelps here to watch 1 guy (that can also play OLB) play their position all year.
Hopefully all of the offseason moves upfront protects them way better than last year. The only good news about last year was we got to see the alternative to Phillips was an upgrade. I just read JOK spent a lot of time in the weight room (where he added weight and muscle) so he doesn't get bullied by TEs. I don't know if any of this will make you feel any better about the depth but here's a few thoughts. The arrival of Za'Darius Smith as an OLB pushes a very reliable Taki Taki to a backup UNLESS Smith is going to line up exclusively in a 3 point on the edge all year per Gumbs' depth chart. Taki Taki can also be the 1st one off the bench in the Middle. This team has a rarely mentioned backup OLB (Jordan Kunaszyk) that played in all but 2 games last year. He's 6'3" 235lbs and he's been in the league since 2019. He's a great open field tackler and very reliable on STs. Also, Tony Fields got a lot of experience behind a bad situation upfront last year. If the DL improves the way we hope/think it can - he could look a lot better. We're gonna find out pretty soon what we have here...
Let me preface this, by saying trust the depth chart more than my fluent jibberish thinking out-loud here. I can't help but thinking we didn't bring Ogbo Okoronko, Isaiah McGuire, and Lonnie Phelps here to watch 1 guy (that can also play OLB) play their position all year.
Yeah, that's the hope, that the DLine keeps the LBs "clean" and less prone to get the crap kicked out of them. I'm not sure when Takitaki will be healthy enough to play at a high level. Hopefully the entire unit has much better health, and if not, the LB unit is a deeper one than last year.
I know they took JOK with a high second rounder, but it still feels like this front office kind of looks at the LBs as "something we'll get to later...."
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The Browns seemingly made some shrewd roster moves this offseason, but the LB unit pretty much is a "God I hope the starters can stay healthy" situation once again.
Hopefully all of the offseason moves upfront protects them way better than last year. The only good news about last year was we got to see the alternative to Phillips was an upgrade. I just read JOK spent a lot of time in the weight room (where he added weight and muscle) so he doesn't get bullied by TEs. I don't know if any of this will make you feel any better about the depth but here's a few thoughts. The arrival of Za'Darius Smith as an OLB pushes a very reliable Taki Taki to a backup UNLESS Smith is going to line up exclusively in a 3 point on the edge all year per Gumbs' depth chart. Taki Taki can also be the 1st one off the bench in the Middle. This team has a rarely mentioned backup OLB (Jordan Kunaszyk) that played in all but 2 games last year. He's 6'3" 235lbs and he's been in the league since 2019. He's a great open field tackler and very reliable on STs. Also, Tony Fields got a lot of experience behind a bad situation upfront last year. If the DL improves the way we hope/think it can - he could look a lot better. We're gonna find out pretty soon what we have here...
Let me preface this, by saying trust the depth chart more than my fluent jibberish thinking out-loud here. I can't help but thinking we didn't bring Ogbo Okoronko, Isaiah McGuire, and Lonnie Phelps here to watch 1 guy (that can also play OLB) play their position all year.
This team has a rarely mentioned backup OLB (Jordan Kunaszyk) that played in all but 2 games last year. He's 6'3" 235lbs and he's been in the league since 2019. He's a great open field tackler and very reliable on STs.
Living in Carolina, you can see why Jim Schwartz maybe the perfect coach for a Jordan Kunaszyk..
https://theriotreport.com/why-the-panthers-kept-udfa-jordan-kunaszyk-on-the-roster/ definition of NFL underdog
JK became a film rat from Luke... I can also tell ya.. From my Week 1 seats at Carolina. Jordan's not running ST lanes at 4.8's anymore, being the 3rd guy down
Kutz is a guy I'd like to see get his chance,with some help from this D-front keeping him clean.. Jordan's no Luke.. but his background & work ethic is what Schwartz see's he can work with.
Browns & Buffett: Got to go fishin, Down to rock bottom again, with just a few Friends -
Having my #2 back return kicks isn't an idea I'm thrilled about. PR maybe, easier job protecting yourself. And while the KR game isn't what it was compared to even 10 years ago, it's still shots you're taking while playing a position that has a short shelf life. While you're still going to be counted on for meaningful minutes behind Chubb.
Jacob Phillips has special teams value, that's it. I've never seen a linebacker more out of place for his run keys and zone drop landmarks at the professional level. He's out there basically just seeing what's in front of him, but not processing or understanding it. He'd be the first LB I'd cut.
JoK putting on weight isn't a bad thing, but it depends on how much. His frame isn't going to be a natural 230lbs. Which is right about the size of Roquan Smith, who was blessed to go from a Chicago team with the IDL to keep him free, and now plays in Baltimore where he enjoys that same luxury. Yes, a bigger key to the health of the 2nd level is by having a quality line in front of them. After all, LB's are just RB's but without the ball. They too tend to have a short(er) shelf life.
Going back to Young JOK himself though, it isn't so much his physical size he needs to improve, but his off-ball consistency. Nobody is going to deny he's great at "see ball, get ball". But when he's the weakside fill man, or in the passing game, he's found himself out of place quite a bit for a guy with his athletic abilities. That lead, most famously, to some frustration I pointed out with Johnny J3. There are good reasons you didn't see him on the field in our nickel and dime situations at times last season. Some as early as week 1 where you'd think you'd want an athlete of his caliber out there. What you see him do is, in a sense, no different than seeing these young iso ballers in the NBA who don't know how to plays as a team yet. Sure, you can run some highlights yourself, but the off-ball work that a coach like Pop would preach for half court offensive efficiency just escapes them. Run fits and finding/choking throwing lanes are about selflessness and understanding, then playing, your role as a LB.
To speak to @gumby73's question about D.T. being an upgrade over Jobi or Richardson...? Well, yes. And given my belief that Ika takes over the shade as a rookie, sooner rather than later, I think you see Dalvin really excel this season as an interior rusher getting more looks at 3tech. It was a role I was hoping Perrion would take over this season, but he needs to work on getting his head straight. But the key to unlocking the pass rush isn't having another pro-bowler *across* from Myles, it's about having a interior push next to him. Dealing with a 3/4 tech and a primo edge rusher on the same side is an absolute bitch for every OL and coach. My prime example has been to point at Leonard Floyd, who was a solid pass rusher before he got to the Rams. But when paired with Aaron Donald, he started netting double digit sacks while he was in L.A.
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This team has a rarely mentioned backup OLB (Jordan Kunaszyk) that played in all but 2 games last year. He's 6'3" 235lbs and he's been in the league since 2019. He's a great open field tackler and very reliable on STs.
Living in Carolina, you can see why Jim Schwartz maybe the perfect coach for a Jordan Kunaszyk..
https://theriotreport.com/why-the-panthers-kept-udfa-jordan-kunaszyk-on-the-roster/ definition of NFL underdog
JK became a film rat from Luke... I can also tell ya.. From my Week 1 seats at Carolina. Jordan's not running ST lanes at 4.8's anymore, being the 3rd guy down
Kutz is a guy I'd like to see get his chance,with some help from this D-front keeping him clean.. Jordan's no Luke.. but his background & work ethic is what Schwartz see's he can work with.
Living in Carolina, you can see why Jim Schwartz maybe the perfect coach for a Jordan Kunaszyk..
https://theriotreport.com/why-the-panthers-kept-udfa-jordan-kunaszyk-on-the-roster/ definition of NFL underdog
JK became a film rat from Luke... I can also tell ya.. From my Week 1 seats at Carolina. Jordan's not running ST lanes at 4.8's anymore, being the 3rd guy down
Kutz is a guy I'd like to see get his chance,with some help from this D-front keeping him clean.. Jordan's no Luke.. but his background & work ethic is what Schwartz see's he can work with.
Great job with the picture of him and good points Gumbs!
When the length of the average play from scrimmage doesn't exceed 4 seconds - you need guys that can always get themselves into position to make the tackle (and they don't always have to be fast like a Tedy Bruschi who beat a lot of faster foot speeds into his hook zones). In order to do that and anticipate what's coming, you have to be well prepared and possess an experience volume to play with a reliable 1st step instinct that gets you to the tackle. JMO, I don't think he'll stay 3rd on the depth chart but I could be wrong about that. He played in all but 2 games last year so the Browns appreciated what he brought to this team behind a weak interior line up front.
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Having my #2 back return kicks isn't an idea I'm thrilled about. PR maybe, easier job protecting yourself. And while the KR game isn't what it was compared to even 10 years ago, it's still shots you're taking while playing a position that has a short shelf life. While you're still going to be counted on for meaningful minutes behind Chubb.
Jacob Phillips has special teams value, that's it. I've never seen a linebacker more out of place for his run keys and zone drop landmarks at the professional level. He's out there basically just seeing what's in front of him, but not processing or understanding it. He'd be the first LB I'd cut.
JoK putting on weight isn't a bad thing, but it depends on how much. His frame isn't going to be a natural 230lbs. Which is right about the size of Roquan Smith, who was blessed to go from a Chicago team with the IDL to keep him free, and now plays in Baltimore where he enjoys that same luxury. Yes, a bigger key to the health of the 2nd level is by having a quality line in front of them. After all, LB's are just RB's but without the ball. They too tend to have a short(er) shelf life.
Going back to Young JOK himself though, it isn't so much his physical size he needs to improve, but his off-ball consistency. Nobody is going to deny he's great at "see ball, get ball". But when he's the weakside fill man, or in the passing game, he's found himself out of place quite a bit for a guy with his athletic abilities. That lead, most famously, to some frustration I pointed out with Johnny J3. There are good reasons you didn't see him on the field in our nickel and dime situations at times last season. Some as early as week 1 where you'd think you'd want an athlete of his caliber out there. What you see him do is, in a sense, no different than seeing these young iso ballers in the NBA who don't know how to plays as a team yet. Sure, you can run some highlights yourself, but the off-ball work that a coach like Pop would preach for half court offensive efficiency just escapes them. Run fits and finding/choking throwing lanes are about selflessness and understanding, then playing, your role as a LB.
To speak to @gumby73's question about D.T. being an upgrade over Jobi or Richardson...? Well, yes. And given my belief that Ika takes over the shade as a rookie, sooner rather than later, I think you see Dalvin really excel this season as an interior rusher getting more looks at 3tech. It was a role I was hoping Perrion would take over this season, but he needs to work on getting his head straight. But the key to unlocking the pass rush isn't having another pro-bowler *across* from Myles, it's about having a interior push next to him. Dealing with a 3/4 tech and a primo edge rusher on the same side is an absolute bitch for every OL and coach. My prime example has been to point at Leonard Floyd, who was a solid pass rusher before he got to the Rams. But when paired with Aaron Donald, he started netting double digit sacks while he was in L.A.
Having my #2 back return kicks isn't an idea I'm thrilled about. PR maybe, easier job protecting yourself. And while the KR game isn't what it was compared to even 10 years ago, it's still shots you're taking while playing a position that has a short shelf life. While you're still going to be counted on for meaningful minutes behind Chubb.
Jacob Phillips has special teams value, that's it. I've never seen a linebacker more out of place for his run keys and zone drop landmarks at the professional level. He's out there basically just seeing what's in front of him, but not processing or understanding it. He'd be the first LB I'd cut.
JoK putting on weight isn't a bad thing, but it depends on how much. His frame isn't going to be a natural 230lbs. Which is right about the size of Roquan Smith, who was blessed to go from a Chicago team with the IDL to keep him free, and now plays in Baltimore where he enjoys that same luxury. Yes, a bigger key to the health of the 2nd level is by having a quality line in front of them. After all, LB's are just RB's but without the ball. They too tend to have a short(er) shelf life.
Going back to Young JOK himself though, it isn't so much his physical size he needs to improve, but his off-ball consistency. Nobody is going to deny he's great at "see ball, get ball". But when he's the weakside fill man, or in the passing game, he's found himself out of place quite a bit for a guy with his athletic abilities. That lead, most famously, to some frustration I pointed out with Johnny J3. There are good reasons you didn't see him on the field in our nickel and dime situations at times last season. Some as early as week 1 where you'd think you'd want an athlete of his caliber out there. What you see him do is, in a sense, no different than seeing these young iso ballers in the NBA who don't know how to plays as a team yet. Sure, you can run some highlights yourself, but the off-ball work that a coach like Pop would preach for half court offensive efficiency just escapes them. Run fits and finding/choking throwing lanes are about selflessness and understanding, then playing, your role as a LB.
To speak to @gumby73's question about D.T. being an upgrade over Jobi or Richardson...? Well, yes. And given my belief that Ika takes over the shade as a rookie, sooner rather than later, I think you see Dalvin really excel this season as an interior rusher getting more looks at 3tech. It was a role I was hoping Perrion would take over this season, but he needs to work on getting his head straight. But the key to unlocking the pass rush isn't having another pro-bowler *across* from Myles, it's about having a interior push next to him. Dealing with a 3/4 tech and a primo edge rusher on the same side is an absolute bitch for every OL and coach. My prime example has been to point at Leonard Floyd, who was a solid pass rusher before he got to the Rams. But when paired with Aaron Donald, he started netting double digit sacks while he was in L.A.
Good news for you - bad news for me. The bad news for me is I made an assumption and provided wrong info off the following statement: "JOK hit the offseason weight room so he can take on tight ends better this year." This is in the Browns roster section in Lindy's Pro Football Preview 2023 where they give the height and weights and a quick comment about each guy. JOK's height and weight remained the same 6'2" 221lbs it was last year so nobody has to worry if he put on too much weight. Sorry for the misinformation on my part.
One thing we should ALL know is it's very common for Professional Football players starting in a front 7 to hit the weight room in the off season. My first thought was why is this even worthy of mention? Then came the thought they probably wanted him to add about 5lbs to his frame or something; or there's ZERO need to point that out. It was the type of sports writer stuff you've warned us about and rightfully so.
I welcome the only Defensive Coordinator to earn a Superbowl Ring in New Orleans while understanding Revenge of the Nerds is a sequel. "Come get some!" -
Having my #2 back return kicks isn't an idea I'm thrilled about. PR maybe, easier job protecting yourself. And while the KR game isn't what it was compared to even 10 years ago, it's still shots you're taking while playing a position that has a short shelf life. While you're still going to be counted on for meaningful minutes behind Chubb.
Jacob Phillips has special teams value, that's it. I've never seen a linebacker more out of place for his run keys and zone drop landmarks at the professional level. He's out there basically just seeing what's in front of him, but not processing or understanding it. He'd be the first LB I'd cut.
JoK putting on weight isn't a bad thing, but it depends on how much. His frame isn't going to be a natural 230lbs. Which is right about the size of Roquan Smith, who was blessed to go from a Chicago team with the IDL to keep him free, and now plays in Baltimore where he enjoys that same luxury. Yes, a bigger key to the health of the 2nd level is by having a quality line in front of them. After all, LB's are just RB's but without the ball. They too tend to have a short(er) shelf life.
Going back to Young JOK himself though, it isn't so much his physical size he needs to improve, but his off-ball consistency. Nobody is going to deny he's great at "see ball, get ball". But when he's the weakside fill man, or in the passing game, he's found himself out of place quite a bit for a guy with his athletic abilities. That lead, most famously, to some frustration I pointed out with Johnny J3. There are good reasons you didn't see him on the field in our nickel and dime situations at times last season. Some as early as week 1 where you'd think you'd want an athlete of his caliber out there. What you see him do is, in a sense, no different than seeing these young iso ballers in the NBA who don't know how to plays as a team yet. Sure, you can run some highlights yourself, but the off-ball work that a coach like Pop would preach for half court offensive efficiency just escapes them. Run fits and finding/choking throwing lanes are about selflessness and understanding, then playing, your role as a LB.
To speak to @gumby73's question about D.T. being an upgrade over Jobi or Richardson...? Well, yes. And given my belief that Ika takes over the shade as a rookie, sooner rather than later, I think you see Dalvin really excel this season as an interior rusher getting more looks at 3tech. It was a role I was hoping Perrion would take over this season, but he needs to work on getting his head straight. But the key to unlocking the pass rush isn't having another pro-bowler *across* from Myles, it's about having a interior push next to him. Dealing with a 3/4 tech and a primo edge rusher on the same side is an absolute bitch for every OL and coach. My prime example has been to point at Leonard Floyd, who was a solid pass rusher before he got to the Rams. But when paired with Aaron Donald, he started netting double digit sacks while he was in L.A.
Good news for you - bad news for me. The bad news for me is I made an assumption and provided wrong info off the following statement: "JOK hit the offseason weight room so he can take on tight ends better this year." This is in the Browns roster section in Lindy's Pro Football Preview 2023 where they give the height and weights and a quick comment about each guy. JOK's height and weight remained the same 6'2" 221lbs it was last year so nobody has to worry if he put on too much weight. Sorry for the misinformation on my part.
One thing we should ALL know is it's very common for Professional Football players starting in a front 7 to hit the weight room in the off season. My first thought was why is this even worthy of mention? Then came the thought they probably wanted him to add about 5lbs to his frame or something; or there's ZERO need to point that out. It was the type of sports writer stuff you've warned us about and rightfully so.
It was the type of sports writer stuff you've warned us about and rightfully so.
Well they gotta write somnethin'. Can't blame 'em for filler when it comes to the Browns.
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before we lose this for the 16th time
We're placing this here..
Don't look now.. but a NFL.com writer has a thought..https://www.nfl.com/news/five-nfl-offseason-storylines-that-are-overblown-three-that-deserve-more-attenti
2) The Browns are a sneaky contender
Last offseason, the Browns were one of the most talked about teams after trading for Deshaun Watson and signing him to a fully guaranteed contract.
This year, the Browns seem to have slipped into the background. That's the effect of one highly disappointing season. Watson struggled during his six starts after returning from suspension, and Cleveland quickly descended back to also-ran status.
Yet, if there's a last-to-first-place possibility (not named the Jets) I'm fascinated by, it's the Browns. I couldn't quite wedge them into my list of the 10 most complete rosters, but I'm already prepared to regret that decision.
If Watson can play anywhere close to the way he did during his Texans career, when he went to three straight Pro Bowls, the Browns will win. There's no need to make excuses for his 2022 play, but strictly from a football perspective, I expect a vastly improved performance.
The roster is in good shape, with their offseason moves precisely geared at targeting weaker spots and avoiding short-term fixes. That's a sounder approach, and they still managed to do well in the draft despite lacking first- and second-round picks.
Either way -- if Watson thrives or struggles -- the Browns are a story in 2023. If they struggle, even in a tough division, it could result in major ramifications. But this seems like a sleeper team. In a way, they remind me a bit of the Vikings heading into last season, when Minnesota won 13 games. A similar one-year flourish in Cleveland won't stun me.
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Having my #2 back return kicks isn't an idea I'm thrilled about. PR maybe, easier job protecting yourself. And while the KR game isn't what it was compared to even 10 years ago, it's still shots you're taking while playing a position that has a short shelf life. While you're still going to be counted on for meaningful minutes behind Chubb.
Jacob Phillips has special teams value, that's it. I've never seen a linebacker more out of place for his run keys and zone drop landmarks at the professional level. He's out there basically just seeing what's in front of him, but not processing or understanding it. He'd be the first LB I'd cut.
JoK putting on weight isn't a bad thing, but it depends on how much. His frame isn't going to be a natural 230lbs. Which is right about the size of Roquan Smith, who was blessed to go from a Chicago team with the IDL to keep him free, and now plays in Baltimore where he enjoys that same luxury. Yes, a bigger key to the health of the 2nd level is by having a quality line in front of them. After all, LB's are just RB's but without the ball. They too tend to have a short(er) shelf life.
Going back to Young JOK himself though, it isn't so much his physical size he needs to improve, but his off-ball consistency. Nobody is going to deny he's great at "see ball, get ball". But when he's the weakside fill man, or in the passing game, he's found himself out of place quite a bit for a guy with his athletic abilities. That lead, most famously, to some frustration I pointed out with Johnny J3. There are good reasons you didn't see him on the field in our nickel and dime situations at times last season. Some as early as week 1 where you'd think you'd want an athlete of his caliber out there. What you see him do is, in a sense, no different than seeing these young iso ballers in the NBA who don't know how to plays as a team yet. Sure, you can run some highlights yourself, but the off-ball work that a coach like Pop would preach for half court offensive efficiency just escapes them. Run fits and finding/choking throwing lanes are about selflessness and understanding, then playing, your role as a LB.
To speak to @gumby73's question about D.T. being an upgrade over Jobi or Richardson...? Well, yes. And given my belief that Ika takes over the shade as a rookie, sooner rather than later, I think you see Dalvin really excel this season as an interior rusher getting more looks at 3tech. It was a role I was hoping Perrion would take over this season, but he needs to work on getting his head straight. But the key to unlocking the pass rush isn't having another pro-bowler *across* from Myles, it's about having a interior push next to him. Dealing with a 3/4 tech and a primo edge rusher on the same side is an absolute bitch for every OL and coach. My prime example has been to point at Leonard Floyd, who was a solid pass rusher before he got to the Rams. But when paired with Aaron Donald, he started netting double digit sacks while he was in L.A.
Good news for you - bad news for me. The bad news for me is I made an assumption and provided wrong info off the following statement: "JOK hit the offseason weight room so he can take on tight ends better this year." This is in the Browns roster section in Lindy's Pro Football Preview 2023 where they give the height and weights and a quick comment about each guy. JOK's height and weight remained the same 6'2" 221lbs it was last year so nobody has to worry if he put on too much weight. Sorry for the misinformation on my part.
One thing we should ALL know is it's very common for Professional Football players starting in a front 7 to hit the weight room in the off season. My first thought was why is this even worthy of mention? Then came the thought they probably wanted him to add about 5lbs to his frame or something; or there's ZERO need to point that out. It was the type of sports writer stuff you've warned us about and rightfully so.
Good news for you - bad news for me. The bad news for me is I made an assumption and provided wrong info off the following statement: "JOK hit the offseason weight room so he can take on tight ends better this year." This is in the Browns roster section in Lindy's Pro Football Preview 2023 where they give the height and weights and a quick comment about each guy. JOK's height and weight remained the same 6'2" 221lbs it was last year so nobody has to worry if he put on too much weight. Sorry for the misinformation on my part.
One thing we should ALL know is it's very common for Professional Football players starting in a front 7 to hit the weight room in the off season. My first thought was why is this even worthy of mention? Then came the thought they probably wanted him to add about 5lbs to his frame or something; or there's ZERO need to point that out. It was the type of sports writer stuff you've warned us about and rightfully so.
Yes, he is a bit light in the pants. So I have little doubt that young JOK is trying to reform is body type a bit. No reason to apologize bubs.
Articles are more clickbait than ever during the off-season. Which is a shame, because there's a good lot of quality content they could dive into and still get eyes on screens.
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Good news for you - bad news for me. The bad news for me is I made an assumption and provided wrong info off the following statement: "JOK hit the offseason weight room so he can take on tight ends better this year." This is in the Browns roster section in Lindy's Pro Football Preview 2023 where they give the height and weights and a quick comment about each guy. JOK's height and weight remained the same 6'2" 221lbs it was last year so nobody has to worry if he put on too much weight. Sorry for the misinformation on my part.
One thing we should ALL know is it's very common for Professional Football players starting in a front 7 to hit the weight room in the off season. My first thought was why is this even worthy of mention? Then came the thought they probably wanted him to add about 5lbs to his frame or something; or there's ZERO need to point that out. It was the type of sports writer stuff you've warned us about and rightfully so.
Yes, he is a bit light in the pants. So I have little doubt that young JOK is trying to reform is body type a bit. No reason to apologize bubs.
Articles are more clickbait than ever during the off-season. Which is a shame, because there's a good lot of quality content they could dive into and still get eyes on screens.
Yes, he is a bit light in the pants. So I have little doubt that young JOK is trying to reform is body type a bit.
This Ute is starting to grow on me.. is 6'4 222 lbs. bigger than what JOK came in at? We put 250K in his hands to sign. He's got room to grow
@flugel you might like this Ute
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Yes, he is a bit light in the pants. So I have little doubt that young JOK is trying to reform is body type a bit.
This Ute is starting to grow on me.. is 6'4 222 lbs. bigger than what JOK came in at? We put 250K in his hands to sign. He's got room to grow
@flugel you might like this Ute
This Ute is starting to grow on me.. is 6'4 222 lbs. bigger than what JOK came in at? We put 250K in his hands to sign. He's got room to grow
@flugel you might like this Ute
Very impressive. You're right Gumbs - this Ute is a Beaute. He hustles and closes fast on people. He's probably also one of those wiry types that is way stronger than he looks. He looks like a young Jevon Kearse, who was a stand-up LBer at Florida once upon a time. He got me excited like Henley did. Great stuff - thanks for sharing!
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To paraphrase Vinny Gambini, let's hope this yute can contribute
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To paraphrase Vinny Gambini, let's hope this yute can contribute
To paraphrase Vinny Gambini, let's hope this yute can contribute
Two yutes?
I'm sorry.... two yoooooouuuuuuuuuuuthes.
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They only have one guy from Utah who's got a shot to make the 53. The other from Utah on the 90 is a PS OL
And unless they're from Utah, the word "contribute" is less funny
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They only have one guy from Utah who's got a shot to make the 53. The other from Utah on the 90 is a PS OL
And unless they're from Utah, the word "contribute" is less funny
They only have one guy from Utah who's got a shot to make the 53. The other from Utah on the 90 is a PS OL
And unless they're from Utah, the word "contribute" is less funny
I'm still laughing at the Gambini reference which was great! Yeah, not just Utah but any kid that goes the Undrafted Free Agent route has a very quick/small window to make an impression. Lucky for him, the Browns have a longer training camp than most teams due to the Hall of Fame Game they are scheduled to play in. This may mean nothing at all - but Gumby mentioned the Browns gave him a competitive signing bonus for an undrafted guy. I mentioned he reminded me of Jevon Kearse playing LBer in a 2 point stance at Florida after staring off as a redshirt 6'4" 215lb Safety in 1995 before moving to OLB in 96. Later on Florida occasionally lined up up in a 3 point stance in obvious pass rush situations. I just went back and looked up Diabate in Lindy's draft guide and he was listed as their 11th best Inside LBer prospect (projected for 6th-7th round). Interestingly enough, he played his 1st 3 years of college football at Florida before transferring to play his final year at Utah.
This type of guy would have to show he can also excel on special teams, but with the changes in the return games the NFL has proposed - that may be even more difficult to accomplish. It'll be interesting to see what unfolds. It looks like there's a lot more competition for starting jobs, active roster spots and even practice squad opportunities in the front 7 this year. With the hiring of Schwartz at DC on top of all this - the defense should be a lot more fun to watch once it all gets underway.
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OK-now I am officially getting excited about the coming defensive storm. These DL additions to MG warrant it IMO.
https://www.brownsnation.com/myles-garrett-made-pffs-record-book-in-2022/
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