Browns commissioned expensive, analytical study on quarterbacks
May 7, 2014Indians 4, Twins 3: Bad defense assists Tribe walkoff win
May 8, 2014Draft rumors galore. — Jay Glazer’s report about the Browns not drafting Manziel at No. 4 caused ESPN to delete its previous report, which said the exact opposite, per Awful Announcing.
In the Dawgs By Nature staff big board, Manziel is actually ahead of Teddy Bridgewater for everybody. That’s somewhat surprising to me, no? At the same time, Mike Maycock’s mock draft has Blake Bortles (at No. 11) as the only QB in the top 15.
But if you really want my recommendation for a tool to use to mill the draft rumors, check out Brian Burke’s neat visualization of draft odds. It shows the percentages a player might be available at a certain pick, based on the top mock drafts out there. It’s pretty neat.
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Local media roundup — A shoutout: Being a local sports beat report is a thankless act. On draft day, I hope to give a loud shoutout to those in the local media that have covered this draft with hundreds and hundreds of reports for their paid job. It’s easier and more relaxing to just do this blogging thing with no commitment. But dang, I really do feel for all of these folks. It’s a tough life.
Here’s what I’m seeing on the Twitters from our Browns writers right now: Tony Grossi’s 12th mock draft discusses trades that could lead to a cornerback. Nate Ulrich gives his five bold predictions, including no QB at No. 4. Mary Kay Cabot’s top scenario features a Wakins-Carr-Roby haul. Zac Jackson wrote that it’s risky to leave the QB selection up to chance. And that’s why Jeff Schudel has Bortles as his pick.
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On math and QBs — As you read yesterday, the Browns reportedly spent $100,000 for some fancy analytical review of the quarterback prospects. That has led them to a reported infatuation with Bridgewater. Ironically, however, there are actually some Internet articles that agree. It’s crazy, I know!
From the mathematical articles I’ve seen: NumberFire’s Jim Sannes has Bridgewater as his top guy, noting his games played make him a bit more confident rather than Manziel. RotoWorld’s Greg Peshek also had an excellent charting article in January, showing how Bridgewater threw more difficult passes and completed them at higher rates. DraftMetric’s complicated risk analysis has Manziel higher.
So some sites could buy into that Bridgewater analytics narrative and wouldn’t have cost the Browns $100,000. It’s kind of a silly narrative at the very last minute. Again, as I’ve quoted before, analytics isn’t a strategy.
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The Shot turns 25 — I know, I know. This is the last thing you probably want to relive. But Esquire’s Sean Manning has an article about 10 things you didn’t know about that infamous Jordan-Ehlo play. Here’s just one tidbit.
7. Jordan wasn’t yelling in euphoria after “The Shot.” He was trash-talking Cleveland fans.
A second after Jordan’s shot went in and the final horn sounded and Ehlo despairingly collapsed into a heap on the court, Jordan again leapt in the air, fiercely pumping his fist. He gave several more fist pumps and yelled, “Go home!” at the dumbstruck Cavs fans, of whom Wilkens wrote, “I’ve never heard 20,273 people so painfully silent.” It was a surprisingly emphatic reaction considering he’d been so confident in the outcome.
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Tweets of the week — And my usual favorite segment is back. Here are some of my favorite tweets of the week. These aren’t necessarily endorsements, of course, but just a random collection of interesting Cleveland-y things.
Ryan Shazier:
4.36 40-yard dash
42 inch vert
130 inch broad jump
6.9 sec 3-cone drill
4.2 20-yard shuttleCornerback numbers. At 240 lbs.
— TCB (@TenCentBeers) May 3, 2014
"Much like many of his fellow Canadians, Kottaras is a left-handed batter." http://t.co/z6Ol1vOJyy
I love that sentence with all of me.
— jon (@nowimjon) May 3, 2014
https://twitter.com/ShaneRogers709/status/463018730856120321
As noted by @GregABedard, Ray Farmer picks #4 & #26 after replacing Mike Lombardi, exactly the same position for Ozzie Newsome back in ’96.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) May 4, 2014
I could never root against John Axford simply because he's Canadian. #CanadiansAreNice
— Rachel (@racmar10) May 6, 2014
#CAVSTACOS I just assume every NBA team has a weekly blogger taco meeting, no?
— 2020 CAVS BELIEVER (@WayneEmbrysKids) May 7, 2014
Francisco Lindor last 10 games: .324/.400/.500. He good. @Gotribe31. #indians
— CJ Wittmann (@CJWittJr) May 7, 2014
https://twitter.com/FightCIubs/status/464151414194044928
"We think Andrew Bynum has cast some sort of voodoo spell which is sucking Roy Hibbert's will to live."
"Cut Bynum. See if that helps."— John E (@jermsguy) May 7, 2014
#cavstwitter @ the @indians game. @WFNYJacob @WFNYKirk @DavidZavac @Nominataur @CavsFangelo pic.twitter.com/CHVTkNovh0
— Ben Cox (@WFNYBen) May 8, 2014
https://twitter.com/RS64mikemayer/status/464371210579480577
https://twitter.com/MattNaugle/status/464371985066496000
116 Comments
T’was the night before draft day, when all through Berea
The Browns coaches headed home, Kyle to Pettine: “I’ll see ya.”
The jerseys were hung in the lockers with care
With hopes that the new season soon would be there.
The players were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of cheerleaders danced in their heads
But poor Ray Farmer just couldn’t snooze
He kept on asking himself: “Which player should I choose?”
“Jadaveon Clowney would look great on this team…
But I’m just not sure if he fits in our scheme.
“Watkins or Evans would fill a great need,
Especially if Gordon can’t avoid the…dropsies.
“I keep hearing that Mack’s the safe pick,
And if I draft another bust, I’ll be outta here, quick.”
But there was one position poor Ray couldn’t escape,
Just one position he knew he must take
At least one, if not two, if not THREE
Players whose names are followed by QB.
Poor Ray took one more glance up and down his Big Board,
Then started to go through his notes once more.
“Everyone thinks with Teddy, I’m enamored
I may have let that slip last time I got hammered.
“I can’t help but see some Big Ben in Blake Bortles,
I’ll just have to keep him away from bar bathrooms,” Ray chortles.
“While I wouldn’t mind a Browns jersey on Derek Carr,
I’m just not sure that he could take this team very far.
“There’s certainly plenty of people calling for JFF,
So much so that I started pretending I was deaf.”
But none of the choices did poor Ray adore,
At least not enough to take at pick four.
“That’s it!” he exclaimed in a rather loud shout.
“I know what to do, I’ve got it figured out!
“I’ll trade back eight spots, maybe even nine.
And then I’ll draft someone for the O-Line!”
What poor Ray didn’t know as he settled on this pick
15 miles yonder, the first torch was being lit.
There is but one way to celebrate the ending of NFL silly season:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM1fkHQP_Pw
I love the Siciliano tweet about Farmer. While we’d love two Hall of Famers in those spots, I think most Browns fans would settle for 2 non-busts.
We are Browns fans. They are either Hall of Famers (whether or not actually enshrined) or busts.
Did cutting Bynum really result in Hibbert coming back to life? What the heck?
that was great
I’m surprised that you’re surprised.
Thank you, sir.
I mean, we joked about it, we laughed about it. But, to think it could actually be real? That Bynum is such a soul-sucking wretch of a man that he literally made Hibbert a 0pt, 0rb, 5-foul (in 19min) player that instantly transformed to a 28pt, 9rb monster once Andrew was sent packing?
I mean, I doubt it was 100% Bynum. But just like how the trade of Granger affected them so negatively, and after what we heard about how he “practiced” his way out of Cleveland, I actually believe he is more cancerous than Lucky Strikes.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYBODY!
Yeah, we can’t open our present just yet, but we’ve got the whole day to shakes them and try to guess what’s in them!
If I get a QB at #4, I’m going to be really unhappy.
Bynum’s like Typhoid Mary.
Oh Drafting Day, Oh Drafting Day…
JNeids set the bar, I hope you have another hour or so free to finish the lyrics.
Haha, I really do not… in fact today isn’t going to be a very fun Draft Day up until 5pm or so. Mostly just sitting around waiting for the hammer to drop as about 100,000 health insurance claims were printed incorrectly over the last 2 months. WAIT FOR IT…
ok, how long did this little mini-masterpiece take?
My fav: “Everyone thinks with Teddy, I’m enamored, I may have let that slip last time I got hammered.”
Do I remember that you are an accomplished haiku artist also? By that I mean not only content but one who understands the 5-7-5 form and that misplaced Western rhyming ruins it. I would love a WFNY throwback tomorrow day and let us vent with a post-first day draft haiku forum.
Oh no, we took Manziel at #4
Woohoo!
Christmas morning is finally here!
Let’s open some presents! I’m ready!
http://www.cityoffilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/bunny.gif
Couldn’t agree more. JNeids threw down the gauntlet. Who wants to challenge?
My conclusion:
1. The Browns will find a way to draft Blake Bortles. Too little has been said about him, which makes me believe he is the target. Maybe not at 4, but somewhere.
2. It has taken a while but I have come around on Shazier. Frankly, he has better numbers than Justin Gilbert (faster 40, more bench reps, higher vertical, longer broad jump, quicker 3-cone drill. He is an inch taller and 35 pounds heavier), so why not play him in the secondary if you think he’s too small for LB? Could he be an excellent ball-hawking safety. Could he ever learn CB technique? Maybe he could revolutionize the CB position with a hybrid technique. Thinking out loud on that…
3. The Browns won’t have a second-round pick by the end of the day. Whether they move up with a 27-32 team or package their second with 26, I see them moving somewhere, somehow.
4. The Browns trade out of the #4 pick. Up? I hope not.
My preference: Manziel and a WR, then Bitonio (or Shazier if they can get him).
What I think they’ll do: Trade down and take Evans, Trade up to take Bortles, then go OL.
i mean, of course there would have to be a Xmas Story GIF….
I worked on it on and off for a couple hours yesterday evening.
Your fav line was almost a potshot at Bernie, but then I thought better.
And you are correct – I LOVED the old WFNY haiku contests and second the notion to bring them back tomorrow morn.
i think it could be a psychological thing, too. Maybe Hibbert was pissed that Bynum was there to take his minutes. Or pissed because he thought Indy felt the need to get Bynum as insurance.
Austin Carr is awaiting the signal…
or we can have a Villanelle tonight, and Haiku tomorrow.
Meanwhile, in Berea, Jimmy summons the boys for a little pep talk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRj01LShXN8
after the pick, I said “Oh Fffffuuuuuuuuuuudddddddddddddddddgggggggggggeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Only, I didn’t say fudge. I said THE word. The BIG one. The queen mother of dirty words.
Hmmmm… what does a Mr. Cavalier signal look like?
his classic 70s afro in sillouette of course
http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mMrREkl8ApO7ZsRMJq6POQw.jpg
After we land SAMMY…
Next to me in the blackness lay my oiled blue steel beauty. The greatest Christmas gift I had ever received, or would ever receive. Gradually, I drifted off to sleep, pranging ducks on the wing and getting off spectacular hip shots.
A haiku artist I may be, a graphics artist I am not. But I imagine it would just be a sketch of AC’s head with a big ol’ grin.
Edit: I like mgbode’s answer better.
After Googling Villanelle, I’ll let someone else take that one and come back for the 5-liners tomorrow.
After Clowney, Robinson, Watkins go in the first 3 picks…
What would it be? The guillotine? Hanging? The chair? The rack? The Chinese water torture? Hmmph. Mere child’s play compared to what surely awaited Browns’ fans.
Look at you. Posting videos. GIFs are next. Wait for it . . .
After alllllllllllllllllllllllllllll the possible scenarios we’ve seen, I think Evans+Bortles+OL(Su’a-Filo?) may be my favorite.
Then we trade back, only to draft Manziel…
Oh, life is like that. Sometimes, at the height of our revelries, when our joy is at it’s zenith, when all is most right with the world, the most unthinkable disasters decend upon us.
and then trade Manziel to the Cowboys, only to take Zach Martin with their pick…
I have since heard of people under extreme duress speaking in strange tongues. I became conscious that a steady torrent of obscenities and swearing of all kinds was pouring out of me as I screamed.
“pot”shot – looks like you already had one.
Shazier is fast, but if you believe the pro-day number that Ohio State put out there, then that is on you.
I’m thinking if they trade down to like 9 they will mess us all up by taking a cornerback, maybe Dennard. Why? Because we haven’t heard word one about a cornerback. And then for a full 90 minutes we will all go Glenn Close crazy in “Fatal Attraction,” sitting in the dark and switching the light off and on, off and on.
fair enough. but i wouldn’t plan to play him at CB. And with the other measurables, he’s intrigued me to the point of acceptance.
Justin Gilbert 🙂
i think Dennard is a real nice player, and i would be thrilled to have him in the secondary. wouldn’t bother me, personally, unless they passed on a Watkins (not that he’ll be there, but just in case) or Manziel at that point.
Yep, I’m the same way. I think paired with Dansby he actually fits quite well at ILB in our scheme (and then 4-3 WOLB). It is why I came around to him on Kanick’s Reader Mock for the #35 pick.
and he is a 3-down LB. I can imagine him blitzing every 3 or 4 plays.
The heavenly aroma still hung in the house. But it was gone, all gone! No Watkins! No Clowney! No Evans! No Mack! Robinson! Matthews! Or Lewan! Gone, ALL GONE!
Zing!
I watched the Shot yesterday but from a baseline view of some Chicago reporter. It was really fascinating to watch it that way. From the back it always looks like Jordan just hangs there; from the front, you can see that Ehlo got his hands right in front, so Jordan *double-clutches* while hanging and then releases. I didn’t think I could be more awed, but that makes the Shot somehow even more incredible. Geez.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g2z1dLzTcM
that’s right – funny, you were the one who made me believe in him. Good points on that mock made me look deeper. I am actually pretty high on him now. But i see him as a LB/S hybrid (which i think will become a big position in this league) who can blitz at will.
see, here you have a choice to watch or not. A demonstration if respect for my brother commenters. Branagh ain’t geeking anyone up against their will.