Welcome to Cleveland, Tony Fields

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I'd have to look back into game tape and I just don't think I'm going to do that, but I know my takeaway from Takitaki last year was that people are going to fall in love with him over a couple big plays, but he didn't do anything special on those plays, unless you count not dropping a ball thrown to you as special.

That pick he dropped into zone and the QB threw it to him. I know there were some big plays behind the line of scrimmage where the dude just wasn't blocked. Might've been the same game as the interception.

Results are nice, but I care more about what you did. It was like a lot of Micah Parsons's highlights, where he got a tackle for loss behind the line of scrimmage and people were like "See?! Look how good he is!" but the play call was a run blitz. A linebacker on a run blitz who is unblocked better be making that play. To me, that's not special. That's expected.

All that said, this has nothing to do with Tony Fields. His roster status likely has nothing to do with Takitaki as they don't play the same roles on defense. I'd be shocked if Fields didn't make the club. I'd be more ready to release Malcolm Smith, even after how surprisingly well he played last year, than to leave Fields off our roster.

 

[CBBI]

I'd have to look back into game tape and I just don't think I'm going to do that, but I know my takeaway from Takitaki last year was that people are going to fall in love with him over a couple big plays, but he didn't do anything special on those plays, unless you count not dropping a ball thrown to you as special.

That pick he dropped into zone and the QB threw it to him. I know there were some big plays behind the line of scrimmage where the dude just wasn't blocked. Might've been the same game as the interception.

Results are nice, but I care more about what you did. It was like a lot of Micah Parsons's highlights, where he got a tackle for loss behind the line of scrimmage and people were like "See?! Look how good he is!" but the play call was a run blitz. A linebacker on a run blitz who is unblocked better be making that play. To me, that's not special. That's expected.

All that said, this has nothing to do with Tony Fields. His roster status likely has nothing to do with Takitaki as they don't play the same roles on defense. I'd be shocked if Fields didn't make the club. I'd be more ready to release Malcolm Smith, even after how surprisingly well he played last year, than to leave Fields off our roster.

I approach the LB room in terms of "who did this regime draft and sign?" above all else.

They signed Walker. They signed Smith. They drafted JOK, Fields and Phillips.

They did not draft Takitaki or Wilson.

2+2. Those two seem to be the most at risk.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I approach the LB room in terms of "who did this regime draft and sign?" above all else.

They signed Walker. They signed Smith. They drafted JOK, Fields and Phillips.

They did not draft Takitaki or Wilson.

2+2. Those two seem to be the most at risk.

I hope "did we draft them?" means absolutely zero in the evaluation process.

It's certainly possible that the players who weren't specifically drafted to fit this coaching staff aren't the most valuable players on the roster. It's also possible that the players with less time on their rookie contracts are worth less than the players with more years left. So those obviously play a role and stem from your "who did this regime draft and sign?" question.

But, I hope this front office is smarter than to be attached to the whole "our guys" thing. I someone helps your football team, it shouldn't matter who brought them in.

 

[CBBI]

I hope "did we draft them?" means absolutely zero in the evaluation process.

It's certainly possible that the players who weren't specifically drafted to fit this coaching staff aren't the most valuable players on the roster. It's also possible that the players with less time on their rookie contracts are worth less than the players with more years left. So those obviously play a role and stem from your "who did this regime draft and sign?" question.

But, I hope this front office is smarter than to be attached to the whole "our guys" thing. I someone helps your football team, it shouldn't matter who brought them in.

Sure. I don't disagree. I believe this front office is smart enough to stick with the best guys.

That said...

Right or wrong, I think "did we acquire this guy or did we inherit this guy?" at the very least would be a tiebreaker if two guys are similarly skilled/similarly proven.

If either Takitaki or Wilson had shown more, this really wouldn't be a discussion. They'd simply have more certain roster spots. But really they're just as unproven as Phillips, JOK and Fields.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I hope "did we draft them?" means absolutely zero in the evaluation process.

It's certainly possible that the players who weren't specifically drafted to fit this coaching staff aren't the most valuable players on the roster. It's also possible that the players with less time on their rookie contracts are worth less than the players with more years left. So those obviously play a role and stem from your "who did this regime draft and sign?" question.

But, I hope this front office is smarter than to be attached to the whole "our guys" thing. I someone helps your football team, it shouldn't matter who brought them in.

I think it is more along the lines of an acquisition providing insight into how the FO evaluated players already on the roster. If they were satisfied with them, it's unlikely they'd have made as many acquisitions at those positions as they did.

 

[Vee-Rex]

I think it is more along the lines of an acquisition providing insight into how the FO evaluated players already on the roster. If they were satisfied with them, it's unlikely they had made as many acquisitions at those positions as they did.

I think there are multiple factors involved. Contract and perhaps taking who they thought were the best players available?

Walker and Smith are both 1-year deals. Why not take a flier on Fields, especially if he was rated highly by them? Similarly, Chubb is on the last year of his contract and maybe Felton was rated high for them at the spot he was taken. Doesn't mean they are dissatisfied with Chubb or Hunt (just as it doesn't mean they're dissatisfied with Takitaki). I think Mack is gone but I do think this team should give Takitaki at least one more year. I won't flip tables or anything if he's cut, but I'd just rather get rid of Smith.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I think it is more along the lines of an acquisition providing insight into how the FO evaluated players already on the roster. If they were satisfied with them, it's unlikely they'd have made as many acquisitions at those positions as they did.

Which sort of speaks to my second paragraph, no? The players not brought in by this organization may not be the most valuable.

There are a myriad of reasons why we'd keep players brought in by this group. I just hope "Because they're our guys, damnit!" isn't one of them.

 

[Randolphkeys]

The linebacker group controls their own destiny, just like the right guard position we all fretted about last summer.

I wrote a longer piece on the linebacker room near the end of the regular season. The plan last season was for low cost vets BJ Goodson and Malcolm Smith to be bridge vets. They were dirt cheap and the younger group was supposed to take away snaps with very little resistance... but Goodson and Smith remained critical as the team stayed in the thick of competition.

So just like in 2019 when fans were waiting for someone, anyone to lock down right guard, I'm sure coaches would be happy for someone, anyone to step up this off-season. It doesn't have to be "their guy". Nobody cared that Tretter was Dorsey's guy because he improved so much over the off-season.

 

[Lee]

I hope "did we draft them?" means absolutely zero in the evaluation process.

It's certainly possible that the players who weren't specifically drafted to fit this coaching staff aren't the most valuable players on the roster. It's also possible that the players with less time on their rookie contracts are worth less than the players with more years left. So those obviously play a role and stem from your "who did this regime draft and sign?" question.

But, I hope this front office is smarter than to be attached to the whole "our guys" thing. I someone helps your football team, it shouldn't matter who brought them in.

They did we draft him means more in the type of LB they want. They drafted 2 LB's this year, both are small for LB's but fast, especially JOK. That is the opposite of Takitaki. When evaluating a Chubb or Baker, they realize they are both potential franchise cornerstones and could fit into any teams scheme, when talking about a 3rd round and 5th round LB, you are looking for them to fit a scheme which i dont really think Wilson or Takitaki do at this point.

I agree they both could be in jeopardy, but as someone pointed out to me, Smith is too because of his age.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Bump.

Guy has been right place right time a lot today.

 

[Vee-Rex]

Bump.

Guy has been right place right time a lot today.

He had a strong preseason too. He has a knack for being around the ball.

Could be a starter for us next year to be honest.