DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2016 NFL Season Looking Back: Browns 13 Bills 33 Post Game Thoughts

Maybe
"numbers and measurements dont correlate with success."

But when you add going to their practices and games and you get to watch every snap they have played from high school on. Then you add discussions with coaches, teammates, and relatives.

Then you bring them in for interviews and private workouts you ought to have a pretty darn good idea of what they can and can not do.

From what I've read, we never sat down with Justin Gilbert. If we did and saw what he was like we probably wouldn't have drafted him.

Bone, Turk:

I think it's more complex than what's been discussed. Here's my thinking.

I've thought all year: "how can I evaluate ANY of these guys playing in this situation?"

Everything, and I do mean everything except the owner is brand new this year.

no cohesion
no chemistry
no consistency in the starting lineup
no culture
no vets (outside of a handful)
no shared history or team experiences

I've found it impossible to figure out ANY player's real potential, because I don't get to see them play on a team. Maybe there's some talent here- who knows? There are certainly some athletic guys... but how much better would ANY of them look if they (and the rest of their team mates) were plugged into a working system?

This year has been a total washout for me in terms of emotion, capital investment and even academic (x's & o's) and 'personal interest' stories. And I'm not really surprised that I feel this way. What else should I have expected, considering everything that's happened in the last 12 months.?

I don't really know these guys. And they haven't given me much reason to try- yet.

IMHO, there's nothing really much to see until the new season rolls around. With so much new this year, all we have to look at are a bunch of parts in a pile. "Some assembly is required" before we can even have a clue what this team might be.

I hate that we've had so many re-starts over the years. The numbers of FO's coaching staffs, GM's, etc. is beyond staggering- it's insanity. This team is perhaps more raw than even the 1999 team, if for no other reasons than youth, inexperience, and a top-down infrastructure still trying to figure out what it is.

I hope Haslam chooses to hunker down and actually COMMIT to something for more than 18 months this time. I know folks will scream when they hear me say it, but: with this team at this time- 3 years is the earliest we should expect to see anything watchable. And that's IF staff turnover is low.

Sorry.... I just started rambling on. Back to my main point: I still don't know how to grade any of these guys because they aren't playing in an established system yet. Half our guys are still learning how to play in the NFL, let alone learn how to play together. We really are that young and raw. Case in point: what would Zeke Elliot look like behind this line? Probably a lot like Isiah Crowell. Same fruit, vastly different trees.


just another .02 in the convo

Teams that win make good personnel decisions.

That includes free agency, the draft, draft free agents, and knowing who to let go and who to keep.

Some teams get it right others do not.

adding to this the ability to teach the draftees how to play in the NFL. Also an environment where the veterans help out the draftees.

Only thing I'll disagree on is your comparison of Zeke to Crow. Zeke wouldn't be tripping over a blade of grass and going down within two yards (before or after) the line of scrimmage.

Nor would he stand there for two seconds before making a decision on where to run.

I don't think he'd be having the success he is now, but I do think we'd be happier with our rushing attack than we are however.

Nor would he stand there for two seconds before making a decision on where to run.

He would if there wasn't a hole there.. either that or he would do his Trent Richardson impersonation and run into the back of the OL.. when there isn't much of a hole, those are your two choices.

He would if there wasn't a hole there.. either that or he would do his Trent Richardson impersonation and run into the back of the OL.. when there isn't much of a hole, those are your two choices.

I would have no problem if Haslam moved the team to Tennessee, London, or Columbus as long as we got another team. I have very little hope of the Browns ever winning under his leadership.

If Haslam has two eyes and half a brain he should be able to see the facts.