Cleveland Browns @ Oakland Raiders (10/16/11; 4:05 p.m.)

[AZ_]

I just want the BAP regardless of position. If it turns out to be a QB then go get him. I do not want them to waste a 1st round pick on a third round talent. Too many times, this team has reached for a player to fill a need instead of just getting the best available player.

Agreed.

 

[Gimme Some Mo]

Switching teams, does this mean you have given up on Braxton Miller too? He surely hasn't shown anything in his first however many games that he is capable of being the guy at Ohio State for the next 3 and half years. Of course, I find it silly to make that decision so soon.

I agree with Doug. Give Colt the entire season before deciding he can't cut it.

I am not an NCAA sports fan and I haven't really watched OSU so I don't have an opinion on that..... However, comparing an 18-19 year old freshman in college to a 2nd year QB in the NFL isn't really a fair comparison.

 

[cdt]

A bad team around him?

Steven Jackson, Mike Sims-Walker, a couple of young talented WRs.

Now Brandon Lloyd.

He's got a team....Colt has a team too.

Look at some of those throws yesterday, it's complete bullshit to call out his team for some of that stuff. And McCoy would probably be the first to admit it too.

Sims-Walker was cut for Lloyd today actually...

Can y'all say flier???

 

[Pavlovic3Ball]

Sims-Walker was cut for Lloyd today actually...

Can y'all say flier???

How good is his arm?

 

[Rich]

A bad team around him?

Steven Jackson, Mike Sims-Walker, a couple of young talented WRs.

Now Brandon Lloyd.

He's got a team....Colt has a team too.

Look at some of those throws yesterday, it's complete bullshit to call out his team for some of that stuff. And McCoy would probably be the first to admit it too.

To often people equate young and talented with good. Just because a guy like Danario ALexander is young and talented, doesn't mean he can actually play. Same goes with someone like Greg Little.

And Sims-Walker? Guy is an ok to decent WR. He'd be a number 3 at best on any good team in the league.

 

[cdt]

To often people equate young and talented with good. Just because a guy like Danario ALexander is young and talented, doesn't mean he can actually play. Same goes with someone like Greg Little.

And Sims-Walker? Guy is an ok to decent WR. He'd be a number 3 at best on any good team in the league.

^ He's better than Robo and Cribbs.

1 Little 2 Mass/Sims 3 Mass Sims

 

[AZ_]

Danario Alexander and Brandon Gibson have both flashed potential.

And I haven't watched Bradford as much as I have McCoy...so I really could care less about Bradford.

McCoy isn't making the passes.

They're simply not there, high or low...just not on target.

Blame whoever you want to, unless Colt McCoy gets better its not going to change.

 

[RealKingofCleve]

I think Bradford is fine. The problem is the Rams have swung and missed a ton over the years in the draft.

I don't get how you can say this but then be so against Colt

 

[Pavlovic3Ball]

I don't get how you can say this but then be so against Colt

I just feel Bradford is a more complete QB. He wasn't a dealt any better of a hand than Colt. The Rams are a friggin mess. And im not against Colt. But he does suck, so I don't see the point of keeping him around after the season. Right now though, we don't have choice. We're stuck with him.

 

[RealKingofCleve]

I just feel Bradford is a more complete QB. He wasn't a dealt any better of a hand than Colt. The Rams are a friggin mess. And im not against Colt. But he does suck, so I don't see the point of keeping him around after the season. Right now though, we don't have choice. We're stuck with him.

But Bradford is playing just as bad if not worse than Colt, so I don't know why you would think Bradford is so much better

 

[Pavlovic3Ball]

But Bradford is playing just as bad if not worse than Colt, so I don't know why you would think Bradford is so much better

Because Bradford has the tools to be a franchise QB. Imo, Colt will never be a franchise QB. Weak arm, can't read defenses, doesn't throw deep, and has trouble passing from the pocket. Im not even a Bradford fan, but I would take him 10x out of 10. He is more of a traditional pocket passer, has good arm strength, etc. He is struggling right now and part of it his fault. The other part is that his 0-line is terrible. Their LT is overpowered 2nd rounder, their guards have trouble pass-blocking, and Jason Smith has been an absolute bust at RT. He actually lost the starting LT spot to Saffold and is in danger of getting benched. Don't get me wrong, im not blaming Colt for all our problems. Our o-line has been shaky and receivers blow. But I don't think Bradford is playing in any better of a situation. Would I want Bradford on the Browns? For what he is being paid, no. But as a young QB, I would take him over Colt everytime.

 

[Smooth]

Care to expand? I know that it isn't a high priority need for us, but the kid fits the system. He is a good blocker, runs well and hits holes quickly and can catch out of the backfield effectively. I feel like Greg Little has a future with this team, as does Mo Mass, so getting another high WR next year might be bad. We need offensive playmakers (although the problem may not even be that) and Richardson is very good.

I'm not trying to be a smart ass, I just want to know why it is such a disaster of an idea.

I understand but right now we have 3-4 very capable RBs... It's too early to tell what's going to happen with Hillis so it's hard to speculate... Even if he does leave, Jackson and Hardesty can be a solid duo for the time being...

The reason I would advise taking a RB that high is because they have the shortest shelf life of any position... I don't want a player that once he hits his 30s is likely done.. RBs are also a position that can be found anywhere and everywhere in the draft... So to take one that high when you can find similar values elsewhere is just not worth it... You can't say the same thing for QBs, #1 WRs, premium pass rushers, etc...

Little and Massaquoi definitely have a future with this team but we still need a #1 WR... Little is a good target but won't likely be a #1... We need someone who can challenge defenses and scare them... Little certainly can do that and is doing that a little but we need a WR on the other side to do that... MoMass is a good WR but he looks to be a possession receiver and nothing more... That's not bad we just need more threats and more playmakers...

I'd also argue that unless a RB is truly special, the offensive line is more dependent on his success than the RB is... So if you have a good system and offensive line, you can plug a good RB in and produce... Whereas you need talent on the outside regardless...

I think we have like 7 or 8 picks in this upcoming draft. I know we get one for Brady Quinn and gave away one for Mitchell this year? Hopefully some compensatory picks since Abe Elam starts in Dallas, maybe Roth or Vickers. Plus two picks from ATL.

Right now the Browns haWe have two firsts, second, third, two fourths, fifth, two sixths and a seventh...

But honestly, I wouldn't be crushed to see this team go heavy on offense with like 4 or 5 picks. We need some damn playmakers. Grab a RT, a WR or TWO, a G, a RB in round 2 or 3. I don't care but something has to be done. We've got 4 sure fire players from what I've seen thus far on D in the last 2 drafts with Haden, Ward, Taylor and Sheard. They've all played great and can only get better. We need to get some more talent on the offensive side of the ball. Solidify the right side of the line. Get some fresh new targets in there. Get another RB since it looks like Hillis might be gone and I don't really think Hardesty is a #1 option and B-Jax is a 3dRB.

Even in the 2nd or 3rd the Browns don't and shouldn't take a RB with all the needs they have... If the Browns go into next year with Hardesty and Jackson, that's not bad at all... It'd be much worse to not address the RT, LB, QB, WR, DE, etc...

I believe going into the next draft the two words they need to keep in mind is nastiness and speed... This team needs to get a bit nastier and develop their speed on both sides of the ball..

As far as what we need, I think they need to address the playmakers on offense and the defensive line... I think those are the two most crucial areas on the team and cover up weaknesses in other areas of the team... So right now I'd go QB (if Colt continues down this path), WR and DE... The defensive line line and playmakers path is what the Colts followed for years and what the Lions seem to be following now...

Not sure how the LT and RT differ. I know LT's have to be mobilie, agile, and able to take on the Ds best pass rusher. What if the Browns had the option of taking Matt Kalil or the Stanford T could he just play RT?

Aside from footwork, in NFL today's NFL I wouldn't say theirs a huge difference... Obviously LT is usually the blindisde protector so they have to be very good pass protectors but the RT has to be adept in pass protecting and not just be the mauler that most think of...

Jonathan Martin, LT from Stanford, and Kalil will both be top-15 picks... They could play LT in a pinch but I don't think you take a RT that high...

I agree with Doug. Give Colt the entire season before deciding he can't cut it.

I don't think anyone is saying Colt shouldn't finish out the rest of the season but right now it doesn't look too good...

And it isn't even about Colt succeeding as much as it is him showing progress, which has seem to gone backwards.. Things he did well last year at times and in college, he isn't doing in college... And he hasn't improved in any areas at all either... Him regressing is not an encouraging sign...

As far as Bradford: him and Colt are two different players... Saying Bradford is on Colt's level is absurd... He may be struggling but that doesn't mean he's a bad QB... the other problem is that his offensive line has been terrible...

As far as Sims-Walker: the fact no one wanted him in the off-season and he couldn't make a mark on a team craving WRs should say something...

 

[MoGottiFor3]

[video=youtube;9Aa8Z5H39eo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Aa8Z5H39eo&feature=feedu[/video]

 

[DDJ7777]

[video=youtube;9Aa8Z5H39eo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Aa8Z5H39eo&feature=feedu[/video]

Didn't watch the video, but I could have sworn this guy said he was going to cheer for the Ravens already. What an attention whore.

 

[AZ_]

Browns: Three Performances of Note

It starts with the QB

Just as the subheading suggests, an offense lives or dies with the play of its quarterback. You can have the best weapons imaginable on your offense, but if the quarterback can’t get the ball to these players, you won’t win many games. In Oakland, McCoy (-1.9) had trouble doing just that. In our preview of this game, while discussing the need for McCoy to perform in the face of pressure, we wrote that McCoy has struggled making plays when pressured, missing the opportunity to make plays. So was McCoy able to step up and make those plays under pressure? Not quite. In 15 drop-backs under pressure, he completed two passes for 11 yards and took two sacks, earning him a PFF QB rating of -4.0 in that scenario. For an example of just how badly McCoy’s inability make good throws under pressure can hurt the team, look at the play at 1:20 in the 4th quarter, where the Raiders send seven defenders after the QB, leaving only four in coverage on the Browns’ four receivers. McCoy tosses one up off his back foot, sending the ball out of the back of the endzone, in front of a fairly wide-open Ben Watson. The Browns ended up scoring two plays later, but those are the throws that McCoy needs to be able to make if he wants to be Cleveland’s long-term answer at the quarterback position.



Not your above-average Joe

Joe Haden’s importance to the Browns defense is obvious and nobody expected Dimitri Patterson (-4.9) to play as well as he, but the point was really driven home by the Raiders’ quarterbacks all game long. Patterson was actually targeted more than every other player on the Browns defense combined and allowed 10 of the 13 passes thrown his way to be completed, good for 128 yards. He particularly struggled with improving receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (+1.5), and was graded negatively in coverage on five plays while covering the speedy wideout. It wasn’t the speed of Heyward-Bey that Patterson couldn’t handle, though, it was his route-running. More than once Heyward-Bey received a large cushion from Patterson, only to pick up a quick first down when the quarterback hit him on a short curl route or a break over the middle. Patterson seemed content to sit back on the deeper routes and yield these shorter timing routes all game, whereas Browns fans are used to seeing Haden have the route recognition to come up and disrupt those timing routes. They might have to deal with Patterson’s style of play instead for at least another week as Haden may not be ready for week 7. Oh dear.



Making the most of an opportunity

As is usually the case for any losing team, there were still some positive things to take from this game for Cleveland. Middle linebacker D’Qwell Jackson (+3.1) had his best-graded game yet in a solid 2011 campaign that has him currently ranked 7th in our cumulative grading of inside linebackers. Scott Fujita (+1.4) didn’t play poorly, but the real story here is the performance handed in by his replacement after he left the game with a concussion. Solely a special-teamer in 2010 after a rough rookie season in 2009, Kaluka Maiava (+2.1) finished the game for Fujita, playing 14 snaps. The fact that he was able to record that grade in only 14 snaps is rather incredible, especially for a guy who hasn’t seen significant playing time on defense since 2009. Watch the back-to-back plays he makes starting at 5:32 in the 4th quarter, as the Raiders attempt to convert on 3rd-and-2, and you can’t help but be impressed by Maiava’s effort. Watch as Maiava stands right guard Cooper Carlisle (+1.7) up at the point of attack, allowing his teammates to flow to the ball and bring Darren McFadden down short of the first. Then watch him on fourth down as he fights through the block of tight end Brandon Myers, gets inside of the blocker, and collapses on Michael Bush short of the first once again. If Fujita isn’t cleared to play for week 7, Maiava could use another solid game to permanently move him into a rotation with Fujita for the rest of the reason.

http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/10/19/re-focused-browns-raiders-week-6/