Browns follow EaglesRams blueprint Antonio Browns outlook

[lovelystyle 0]

Browns follow Eagles/Rams blueprint; Antonio Brown's outlook Published: Mar 15, 2019 at 08:58 AM NFL.com Analyst ***** The have created quite the buzz with their accumulation of blue-chip talent, but I believe they're simply following a blueprint laid out by the and . Simply put, the are stockpiling as many all-stars as po sible while their franchise quarterback is playing on his rookie deal. The money saved from having a QB1 on a cost-controlled contract allows a franchise to add a number of top-tier players to the roster, thus supporting and elevating a young starter at the game's most important position. Just look at how Philadelphia added the likes of , , , , , and , among others, on the way to winning LII. Los Angeles didn't hoist the Lombardi Trophy, but the additions of , , , , and Jr. certainly helped them make a run through the NFC this past season. These two franchises, of course, selected quarterbacks with the first two picks of the 2016 NFL Draft: to the , to the . Considering how well that approach worked for Philly and L.A. with quarterbacks in their second and third years, respectively, it's sensible for Cleveland to implement a similar plan with heading into his sophomore campaign. The 2018 draft's No. 1 overall pick showed promise as a rookie starter, and you'd expect his performance to improve in Year 2 with a star-studded supporting cast. This week, the added a supreme talent in Jr. to an offensive lineup that already boasted , , and (who now will officially be eligible to return in Cleveland's ninth regular-season game after ). But that's not all! Cleveland suddenly features a defense that can overwhelm opponents, with and joining and to hara s quarterbacks in the pocket. With emerging as an all-star on the island and flourishing as the anchor in the middle, the have the makings of a fine defensive unit under new coordinator Steve Wilks. "You have to have high-level talent to win in the NFL," a executive told me. "When you focus exclusively on a draft-and-develop strategy, it can breed complacency because Justin Simmons Jersey guys are secure in their roles and the established pecking order. "If you want to remain competitive, you need to bring in blue-chip players and let them raise your level of play." Again, a crucial part of this strategy -- aggre sively accumulating established difference-makers -- is not having the ma sive cap hit under center. Last season, five of the 12 postseason teams (the , , , and Rams) spent le s than six percent of their salary cap on their QB1s. All of those teams have young starting quarterbacks in place who've been flanked with enough talent -- on both sides of the ball -- to win in a variety of ways. Granted, you will eventually have to pay your QB1 if he wins at a high level and plays to the standard expected of a top pick. But the initial championship window is the four/five-year span when the young signal-caller's still playing on his rookie deal. The cost control on the most expensive position in the NFL enables an astute team builder to put together a roster with enough stud players to compete against the heavyweight contenders in the league. As a young player in this league, I learned that it takes eight to 10 blue-chippers to win at the highest level. I joined a team that had gone to four straight Super Bowls with rs Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith and Andre Reed leading the way. That list doesn't even include the likes of Kent Hull, Darryl Talley, Cornelius Bennett and Henry Jones, all of whom played at a high level for Buffalo during that run. In Green Bay, I watched inductee Ron Wolf build the into a title team behind Brett Favre, Reggie White, Keith Jackson, Sean Jones, Santana Dotson, LeRoy Butler, Desmond Howard and Antonio Freeman. It's not a coincidence current executives John Dorsey, Alonzo Highsmith and Eliot Wolf subscribe to the star theory, given their ties to the Wolf-led Pack. Glancing at Cleveland's new-and-improved roster today, I immediately see 10 players who at least deserve consideration as "blues": Beckham, Landry, Mayfield, Hunt, Garrett, Vernon, Richardson, Ogunjobi, Kirksey and Ward. That doesn't even include RB , LB and LG , three emerging A-level players at their respective positions. That said, for this franchise to truly return to competitive relevancy, the still need the chemistry between the stars, role players and coaches to work. Freddie Kitchens has to cultivate accountability, commitment and trust in the locker room, which is a challenge for a first-time coach. Granted, we saw Matt Nagy deftly navigate a similar situation last season in Chicago, earning Coach of the Year honors after guiding the to the top of the NFC North at 12-4. But he didn't have as many A-listers on the roster, especially on offense. Kitchens will have to juggle the touches between OBJ and Landry, while also remaining true to the blue-collar running game and complementary play-action package that made Cleveland's offense a feared unit down the stretch last season. Still, there's no disputing this team's enticing potential. Dorsey promised to wake up a sleeping giant when he took over as GM in December of 2017. After watching the grizzled evaluator add more blue-chip pieces to the team puzzle, I see a roster that lacks a glaring weakne s. The offense should be quite explosive. If the defense can play up to its potential, with the ferocious front leading the way, there's no reason why the can't take over the AFC North and emerge as a viable challenger to the ' throne. AB AND GRUDEN: A match made in football heaven Don't let the 2018 season distort Rico Gafford Jersey your view on Jon Gruden's offensive wizardry in the pa sing game. Despite his inability to elevate in the Black Hole, Gruden will make the ultimate WR1 when he works with the seven-time selectee. Don't believe me? Just look at Gruden's resume when it comes to his work with receivers throughout his NFL career. As a wide receivers coach with the , Gruden helped Sterling Sharpe become a perennial 100-catch receiver in a league still clinging to its "3 yards and a cloud of dust" roots. As offensive coordinator of the , Gruden helped Irving Fryar grab a couple of bids on the strength of back-to-back 80-catch/1,100-yard seasons. Keep in mind, Fryar was in his mid-30s at that time, but dominated NFC East opponents with the help of Gruden's scheming. In his first go-around as head coach of the , Gruden helped Jerry Rice and Tim Brown remain a dominant pa s-catching duo -- despite both guys being in the twilight of their careers. Each playmaker logged 80-plus catches and nine touchdowns in their lone season together under Gruden (2001), helping the win the AFC West. Considering Brown was 35 and Rice was 39(!) for the bulk of that season, I think it is safe to say Gruden understands how to elevate veteran receivers with his scheming and play-calling. There are additional examples of the offensive guru taking veteran receivers and showcasing their games on the . Keyshawn Johnson and Joey Galloway enjoyed great succe s in Gruden's system. Galloway posted three straight 1,000-yard seasons and averaged a whopping 16.6 yards per catch from 2005 through 2007 under Gruden. Did I mention those were Galloway's Age 34, 35 and 36 seasons? Given those examples, I believe Brown will crush it with the as their designated WR1 for the next few seasons. The 10th-year pro has been the top receiver in football for much of this decade, as evidenced by his six straight 100-catch seasons. During this span, Brown has 1,524 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. That's ridiculous production from a No. 1 receiver, particularly one who routinely faced double/bracket coverage from nearly every opponent on the schedule. That's one of the reasons why Gruden was giddy at the prospect of crafting game plans with an all-star playmaker in mind. "Well, I get Netane Muti Jersey excited because of where this man comes from -- I think the sixth round. ... He did it the hard way," Gruden said at on Wednesday. "He's done everything in his power to be the best he can po sibly be -- on and off the field. His body of work is not only impre sive, it's fun to watch. He's electrifying after the catch, he's a great competitor, he wins the 50-50 ball, he's outstanding in short areas. You have a great imagination as a football coach when you coach a man like this. He can play split end, he can play flanker, he can play in the slot, he can return punts and sell popcorn at halftime." Thinking about how Gruden will use Brown, I envision him moving No. 84 around the formation to create headaches for opponents attempting to match up with the ' WR1. It's not a coincidence that the coach alluded to Brown playing split end, flanker and slot receiver in Pittsburgh -- Gruden will vary Brown's alignments to get him easy touches on quick-rhythm throws and keep him engaged for four quarters. Since 2016, Brown has scored 20 touchdowns when he's aligned outside the numbers, according to Next Gen Stats. That will certainly make it easy for Gruden to design plays for Brown at the "X" (split end) and "Z" (flanker) positions. The offensive guru knows his No. 1 receiver can win on the outside, and he will take advantage of his superb playmaking skills by scripting a handful of shot plays (deep balls) each week to keep defenders from squatting on short and intermediate routes. Expect to see Brown running a variety of double moves (slant-and-go, hitch-and-go and stutter-go routes) from an outside alignment in some exotic formations that blow up the defense's strength calls. Keep in mind, Brown has scored 18 touchdowns on deep targets since 2016 -- most in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats. With Brown also totaling 15 touchdowns against pre s coverage since 2016 -- second-most in the NFL ( has 16), per NGS -- Gruden will be like a kid in a candy store when drawing up plays for his top target. TWO-POINT CONVERSION: Quick takes on developments acro s the NFL 1) 's about to reclaim the throne. The Twitter-verse can debate whether took an "L" on with the , but I believe the year-long sabbatical could help the two-time first-team All-Pro running back reclaim the No. 1 spot at his position. I know that's an unpopular opinion at a time when everyone is counting No. 26's money, but the time away from the game could help Gang Green's new RB1 regain the juice that made him the NFL's most dangerous offensive weapon. Remember, Bell's career average of 129.0 scrimmage yards per game is the best mark . Over the past five seasons, the 27-year-old is tied with and for the most games of 100-plus scrimmage yards with 37 -- despite the fact that Bell mi sed 31 games, including the entire 2018 season, during that span. Think about that. There is no disputing his spot on the Mt. Rushmore of offensive playmakers in the league today. For the , Bell is exactly what the team needs behind . The young QB1 shouldered too much of the load as a rookie -- Bell's presence will change how defenses game plan against the . Instead of using coverage or blitz-based tactics to confuse Darnold, opponents will need to use more traditional schemes to put extra defenders in the box. This should result in more one-on-one coverage on the outside, leading to easier throws for Darnold from the pocket. Being a sidekick to the ' QB1 appealed to Bell. "Absolutely," said Bell in his introductory conference call with the pre s. "That's a part of it. Seeing a guy like him, so raw and so talented. Maybe he just needs another weapon. You never know what he can do with another weapon. He definitely was a valuable reason as to why I chose to come here." Last season, Darnold completed just 62.9 percent of his pa ses thrown between 1 and 10 yards -- that's dead last among qualified quarterbacks and speaks to why New York needed Bell in the lineup. For his career, Bell averages 5.0 receptions per game -- and he Kenny Young Jersey snagged 160 balls over his last two years in Pittsburgh. As an effective route runner from the backfield, slot or out wide, Bell gives Darnold a dependable safety valve to target when the defense takes away downfield options with blanket coverage. Keep in mind: New head coach Adam Gase has always been a believer in the pa sing game. By targeting running backs, receivers and tight ends within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage, Gase plans on his quarterback getting the ball out of his hands before pa s rushers can collapse the pocket off the edges. With Bell expected to play a prominent role as an RB1/WR2, the have added a weapon that will help the offense develop an identity with a young quarterback still finding his way. You know Gase is excited. Just look at the way he spoke of Bell back in 2016, when his were preparing to play the on Wild Card Weekend. "I paid attention to him when he was in college, being a Michigan State grad myself," Gase said, . "Seeing him go from what they did at Michigan State, where they are power football. I remember him being a big guy, that was downhill, and seeing him be a guy who has transformed his body and can do everything in the run game. The weapon he is out of the backfield and when he is removed from the backfield and empty, and all the different things they can do with him with the route tree he has. "It's very impre sive to see how he has grown as a player from the time he was drafted. If he is not the best in the league, he is one of the top three. I just can't think of a lot of guys who are as versatile as he is. He is a weapon for them." Now he's a weapon for Gase. Have fun, coach. 2) checks another box. Initially, it was hard for some observers to envision emerging as a first-round pick in the 2019 , due to his status as a one-year starter with substandard physical dimensions. But the Heisman Trophy winner is inching closer to potentially becoming the No. 1 overall pick after on Wednesday at Oklahoma's pro day. While it is po sible that the connection between Murray and the is an elaborate smokescreen designed to coax another team into trading away significant draft capital to jump up to the top spot on the draft board, there's no denying the Oklahoma product's talent and potential as a po sible No. 1 pick following his spectacular workout in front of representatives from all 32 NFL teams. Murray dazzled scouts with his A+ arm talent and athleticism while completing 61 of 67 pa ses in a scripted workout designed to showcase his pocket-pa sing ability. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound pa ser is an "easy" thrower with a compact motion that looks ripped from a Brian Dawkins Jersey quarterback training video. Murray not only displayed quick feet and excellent balance taking three-, five- and seven-step drops, but he showed evaluators that he's capable of throwing with touch, timing and anticipation from the pocket. He can throw darts on drive throws to the boundary from the opposite hash or drop in feathery to ses to receivers down the seams or inside the numbers. Murray is the rare power pitcher with a changeup, slider and knuckleball in his arsenal. He can carve up defenses with a variety of throws to sed from the pocket or on the move. Although he didn't display his movement pa sing skills during the workout, Murray has a ton of highlight-reel throws on his tape that put that question to bed. He is not only capable of making pinpoint throws to receivers on deep cro sers and comeback routes, but he is an improvisational wizard with a knack for connecting on rainbows when throwing outside of the pocket. Despite being viewed as a five-star athlete based on his exploits on the football field and baseball diamond (he was already a top-10 pick in the MLB draft), Murray decided to bypa s the 40-yard dash and the athletic testing portions (shuttles and jumps) of OU's pro day. Although blazing a blistering time in the 40 would've created a buzz throughout the NFL scouting community, the Heisman Trophy winner's nifty footwork and fluid movements as a pa ser confirmed his exceptional athleticism. To that point, Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley silenced any concerns about Murray's speed and quickne s when he hinted to NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah that . Considering Brown's reputation as one of the fastest players in college football, the notion that Murray could hang with (or even beat) the speedster speaks volumes about his overall explosivene s. From a character standpoint, Murray's personality and leadership skills could become le s of a concern after watching him interact with his teammates at the workout. The Sooners appeared genuinely excited about Murray's performance, and the endle s high fives and hugs suggest that he was well-liked by his peers. Granted, the observation from afar needs to be backed with solid information from coaches and administrators, but he appeared to have a strong connection with his teammates at first glance. Murray's also showed more of his personality and gave evaluators a glimpse of how he could command a room as a soft-spoken -- yet ultra-confident -- player. Although the combination of shyne s and athletic arrogance could rub some team executives the wrong way, others will see Murray's easy-going nature during the interview as an encouraging sign of how he could project as the face of a franchise. Overall, Murray's workout wasn't flawle s, but he certainly checked off enough boxes to remain squarely in the conversation as a top-10 pick -- po sibly No. 1 overall. * This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be mi sing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an i sue.
Click here Click here Click here