He may need to learn 'functional' speed, but he's got it there IMO.

Watching the highlight of the Crow run that Pryor "escorted", not only did Pryor not aid the run with a block, he did not gain ground on Crow...

I'm not sure what our receivers will look like in 2016, but I'm definitely worried about what they look like NOW. LOL. Hartline hasn't had the season that many of us were hoping for, and just as he looks to be settling in...BOOM. I hate it for him, and for our team. Just who in the HELL is Manziel going to be throwing the ball to? Benji, Jennings, Marlan Moore, Pryor, and Barnidge? Yikes. I guess you could add in the RB's as receivers too, especially Duke, but man. It's slim pickings out there. I'd say we will see Dwayne Bowe, but I don't even know if we will. And even if we do, I'm assuming there is a reason he isn't playing besides Pettine not liking him. The very little I saw of Bowe, he looked painfully slow and didn't get a millimeter of separation.

Now, as far as NEXT year, we have some work to do. I'm going to go out on a limb and say Farmer is toast. That means whoever comes in needs to address the WR position immediately, and it can't be done solely in the draft. I know we busted on big money to Bowe, but we have to try again. I don't know the FA's for next season, but there has to be someone out there with at least a little size. Gordon will be back (stop laughing), and so will Benji (I hope), and Barnidge. We need that "Michael Crabtree" type of receiver. The guy with great hands and some size that can move the chains. Hell, maybe Hartline can be that guy, but as we're seeing this year, we need depth.

Does he have the humility to do the hard work Monday-Friday to play like a giant every down, every week?

I simply don't think Pryor will put in the work - he's performed zero actions in his entire history that suggest he has the capacity to grind and achieve. Everything in his life has been relying on his athleticism and never looking to go beyond that.

@bringbackbrownie2 said:

Agreed. He was running alongside Crow on one of his 50 yarders today and looked like a giant.

A giant blocker?

@why said:

I'd really like to see Pryor in some red zone looks. Dude looked huge out there compared to the rest of the group . . .

@mudfly said:

We'll never lern.....er.......

Slow Learner.

@westside-steve said:

We'll never lern.....er.......

@unsympathetic said:

Bowe was signed to get Cleveland over the minimum roster cost for a team.. so that Lerner could keep banking the sweet profit from revenue-sharing. He was not ever going to catch passes on Sunday.

Damn you Lerner!

WSS

@calfoxwc said:

Well sure, drafting a WR somewhere in the draft makes sense, but not with your first pick. I think with Gordon, Benjamin and Barnidge out there, Pryor is going to have an easier time finding himself open. I like the thought of Gordon, Barnidge and Pryor in the red-zone, all together.

Since I'm feeling in a ridiculously optimistic mood, I'll take it a step further. How about Pryor? I don't expect much from him during these four games, but what excites me is hearing that he reported last week in basically the best physical shape possible. He didn't get down on himself, he only worked harder. So if he's on our team, how hard is this guy going to work during the offseason? He's probably going to report to mini camp looking even better, and by the time camp comes around, who knows? Listen, I'm not saying Pryor is going to be great or anything, but anyone with his immense physical gifts has a chance, and that chance is augmented when the individual has tremendous work ethic.

So we have Benji, Gordon, Pryor, and Hawkins. That's a combination of size, speed, and homerun talent (I hope). And yes, I understand how ridiculous I sound, but I don't feel like singing the blues right now. Eventually things will work out, and it will take a bit of luck for the pieces to come together.

@tour2ma said:

Agree with the thrill deficit, but two things hurt Gordon's 2014... the long delay between camp and playing, and limited QB arms.

Eliminating the first factor is on him (assuming the NFL does not drag out his reinstatement as long as it did his hearing under the new CBA). Clearly we're in better shape with the latter factor.

And Hart is ours through 2016...

http://overthecap.com/player/brian-hartline/671/

I'm a Gordon supporter, but last year was on him.

Deandre Hopkins managing with that limited arm.

Zombo

@tour2ma said:

Undoubtedly that was a factor for JG in 2014.

Looking forward, I'd imagine McC would enter 2016 camp as #1. Mostly because 1's will get less work than 2's early Pre-season. If JM is here, I foresee another real QB battle. In any case I'd expect a game rusty JG to see more field time than most of the other 1st teamers.

WSS

@westside-steve said:

How much time do they have to get in sync with any of the quarterbacks? I think that was a big problem coming back in cold.

If Pet, or whoever, can bring himself to choose one in the preseason...

Undoubtedly that was a factor for JG in 2014.

Looking forward, I'd imagine McC would enter 2016 camp as #1. Mostly because 1's will get less work than 2's early Pre-season. If JM is here, I foresee another real QB battle. In any case I'd expect a game rusty JG to see more field time than most of the other 1st teamers.