Josh Cribbs on the Jets: “We’re not the Browns. We’re not the team that gives up.”
October 28, 2013ACLs and Futures: What to expect from Travis Benjamin and Brian Hoyer
October 29, 2013Cleveland sports fans are waiting. Thus, while we’re all waiting, the WFNY editors thought you might enjoy reading. Because you never know how long we might be waiting. So here are assorted reading goodies for you to enjoy. Send more good links for tomorrow’s edition to tips@waitingfornextyear.com.
“I think there are so many teams that could use Cleveland wideout Josh Gordon, so many receiver-needy contenders, and with the trade deadline coming Tuesday, he’s the most obvious candidate to be moved. Gordon, who is signed through 2014, will cost an acquiring team only $437,000 for the rest of the season (as opposed to, say, looming free-agent defensive end Jared Allen, who would cost $7.57 million to a team for the last nine weeks of the year). I realize Gordon could be a positive substance test away from a lengthy suspension, but if I’m the Patriots, and I still have my full load of 2014 picks, I’d offer Cleveland a fourth-round pick that could conditionally upgrade to a third- depending on performance and try to get Gordon.” [King/Monday Morning QB]
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“The Ace in the Hole with this group is the “Jack” of all trades if you will; Jarrett Jack. When I saw this signing come across my Twitter feed, I instantly loved it. He is the perfect sixth man for this year’s Cavaliers. He can play either guard position, brings playoff experience and can score the ball. This is a very similar situation to what Jack played in last season in Golden State: a young star point guard, with his equally young backcourt partner on a team with playoff aspirations.
Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters have a great mentor in Jack, something they haven’t really had since they entered the league. Just the addition of Jack alone makes this group an intriguing one. Making all the pieces work together, now that’s just another thing on Mike Browns to-do list.” [Mancini/Stepien Rules]
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“Two months ago, I expected Bynum to play in about half of the Cavaliers’ 82 games this season. I later nudged that projection forward to 50. Last week, after watching him work out with Coach Potapenko in Cleveland, I considered pushing that number as far out as 60 but I can’t quite go there. Not yet anyway.
For now, I can go as far as predicting 55 games played for Bynum this year. That’s not 55-straight games, obviously, because I do expect him to take scheduled days off throughout the year even if he does remain healthy. He’s not likely to play on the second night of a back-to-back, for example, nor will the Cavs training staff expect Bynum to push through signs of obvious pain. But I do believe 55 games is reasonable based on what we know now, with Bynum playing his best and most consistent basketball after the break.” [Bowers/Stepien Rules]
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“The linebacker position is still not solidified yet. We’re not Ohio State expectation level at the linebacker position,” Meyer said. “After this past week, I think most other positions played at a very high level. So linebacker is one area we’re keeping our finger on hard, because we need to improve the level of play and the number of linebackers we have in the program.”
One of those linebackers is Devan Bogard. His season has come to an end, though, for the second straight season. A torn ACL in the same knee as 2012 will sideline Bogard, who recently made the move from cornerback to Will linebacker. The sophomore, injured in Game No. 8 last season, has been a major contributor on special teams both years with the Buckeyes.” [Rowland/Eleven Warriors]
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Your Uni-Watch NBA preview. [Lukas/ESPN]
70 Comments
You’re (seemingly) willing to trade a 4th, maybe 3rd, for Gordon, and not getting desperate if you’re told no. He’s as fungible as a 4th, maybe 3rd, rounder.
Personally I think 32 is a bit harsh. I agree he’s not a top 10 kind of guy yet. But he definitely has the talent and potential to be one. All in all I think trading him for less than a 1st rounder is a huge mistake. A lot of highly touted college wideouts don’t pan out. And as of now at worst he’s a legitimate number 2 receiver, at best a solid to good #1 with the potential to be a top 10 guy in this league. But you’ve already seen that he can play in the league, which you can’t say about anyone we may draft in the 3rd round. Personally I think you look at the WR position like I look at the RB position. I think it’s harder to get a good reciever than you think (unless you have Manning or Brady as they make mediocre recievers look great)
Good stuff Ben. These are good numbers regardless of the suspension and being a 2nd year player, and having Weeden throwing the ball in some of those games
“you can be down your top three pass catchers, and still have a decent offense” when you have Tom Brady!
True, but we’ve already got defensive liabilities on this team on the perimeter. God I hope Brown can get these guards to play a little D
I watched most of that game, too, and every time they showed Fisher, I’d say his expression was more “Weekend at Bernie’s.” The guy is utterly emotionless.
Tristan appears to have grown an inch or so since he was drafted and also has a 7′ wingspan. I really think that, when it is all said and done, Tristan gets moved over to Center. While he doesn’t match up well with Dwight Howard and Marc Gasol, who does? Ben Wallace was a 6’9 center and was a legit DPOY. Tristan probably won’t be that good defensively, but he already appears far more polished offensively.
I’m not concerned with Bennett playing 4. I just don’t think he can play the 3. In fact, I think he’d be better at the 5 than he would at 3…which isn’t saying that I think he’d be an effective 5.
Finally my friend that is where our agreement must end. I do not see TT as a #5. I think he can play there in a pinch if someone is hurt. But I really do not like him there as a long-term prospect. Will he play there? That’s another question alltogether. But should he? I don’t think so personally
Right. QB would be the complete opposite of fungible.
But we don’t have a Tom Brady. Meaning we need better receivers than NE does to be competitive
It’s not as simple as that, but when you take out the best WR, everybody is facing a better defender as well, and if nobody consistently draws the Safety, the overall defense is more effective than before. Not to mention our WR2 gets the dropsies and those kill drives when you don’t have somebody reliable to throw to and it reduces the number of chances for the offense. I think it would affect the overall offense more significantly than you’re suggesting.
There are 5 guys ahead of him drafted in the 3rd round or later right in total yards right now, but he missed two games. He’s 4th overall in yards per game (with our qb’s!) behind only 1st round picks. In fact 10 of the top 12 guys in yard per game were drafted in the first two rounds, and only 6 out of the top 21 were drafted in the 3rd round or later. I know there were quite a few that ended up with very productive seasons last year, but how many of them were catching passes from guys named Manning or Brady?
I think that demonstrates how QB’s are more important than WR’s, but not necessarily that the WR position is really that fungible. NE has been the exception more than the rule over the years.
I think it’s more important for the Bigs to play D…they tend to cover up a lot of mistakes made by guards. That being said, I think that Bennett can be a strong presence in the post but excessively weak on the perimeter (defensively.) His wing span will help him on pick and rolls and he has some pretty good athleticism for a 4.
Basketball is all about matchups. Tristan (with his mobility) presents his own matchup problems against many centers in the league. Unless Bynum comes back fully healthy, we don’t have a long term solution at the 5 (because I don’t believe Zeller will ever be more than a backup.) Looking in the collegiate ranks, I don’t see anyone there that is going to challenge as a long time stud in the middle. Instead, you are getting guys like Nerlens Noel and Anthony Davis, athletic freaks at their positions, but not necessarily stout in the middle. In a league that is getting increasingly more small-ball (due to the way advanced stats are playing out) TT has the look of a guy who can get some viable burn at Center. Maybe not 30 minutes per game there…but if he’s getting 15 minutes there and 15 minutes at PF, you’ve got 30 minutes of production. Even if you give Bennett 30 minutes solely at PF, you’re still only pulling 45 of a possible 48 minutes at the PF slot. I think the two can (and should) coexist on the Cavaliers roster.
does NE have a decent offense?
http://www.nfl.com/stats/team
pts/game = 17th
yds/game = 18th
yds/play = 29th
3rd down % = 29th
ToP = 24th
now, do you want to compare these rankings to the years where Brady has had his weapons?
17th according to Football Outsiders – I think decent is a good term. It’s not great by any means, but still effective enough.
He’s also playing on a team that chucks the ball up a lot because they need to, they’re frequently down and have issues running the ball. That’s not all on him, but it’s like noting the guy who gets 20 points a game on a 20 win NBA team. Somebody’s got to score (pick up yards). His catch rate of 54% is below average, and unlike most depth threats, has yet to draw a PI penalty.
in the context you are using, I think it was mis-used. you were trying to say that you could lose your top3 receivers and be fine. NE has seen a huge dropoff.
and note that it’s really 19th as the DAVE column includes their preseason projections, which I really detest this far into the season. that puts them behind Pitt, Tenn, and KC in terms of offense.
2012 – they were 1st. in the NFL. by 8% offensive DVOA (that’s a lot)
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamoff2012
C’mon Mike…I mean Steve. Now you’re just being silly.
Anyway he’s still here, so your plan to trade away everyone failed.