(This guy doesn't seem to write a ton about the Browns. Moore just about sports in general. Interesting perspective)
Written by Ethan Sears
The NFL is stuck in the past, both culturally and in regards to the game of football itself. While other sports have transitioned to an analytics-friendly approach since the turn of the century and reaped rewards, the NFL has lagged behind. When the Cleveland Browns hired Sashi Brown — someone without a long background in football who trusts in computers — as their general manager, they were universally laughed at for no reason other than going outside of the mainstream.
If any team should have been looking for an unconventional approach, however, it was the Browns. One playoff game since (this version of) the team has existed will drive one to extremes, but a year into the project, things look great.
Sure, the Browns were 1-15 last season, but that was a given. Brown had implemented a full-scale teardown — the football version of Sam Hinkie’s process — and Cleveland is now primed to build the core of a championship team over the next few drafts.
Building this way is at the top of a long list of things other teams should be doing. Why? At a given time, there are between 20 and 24 quarterbacks you can fathom having under center on a title-winning team. Of those, about eight require a historically good defense to take a team far into the playoffs. In short, if you don’t have a top-12 quarterback, you’re probably screwed. This is the basis by which all football transactions are made, regardless of whether a team adheres to analytics or not.
So, if you don’t have one of these quarterbacks with whom you can win a title, how do you get one? The answer, by-and-large, is at the top of the draft. Few top quarterbacks become free agents or are available in trades. Teams fishing for quarterbacks in these areas are usually the same teams that end up giving the Brock Osweilers of the world $72 million (more on that later). The Browns understand this, so they’re hoarding draft picks like gold.
Suddenly, instead of fishing for Jay Cutler in free agency, Cleveland has multiple appealing options. And they can wait until the right one comes along instead of rushing into the first semi-appealing draft pick, as evidenced by trading the No. 2 overall pick last season instead of drafting Carson Wentz.
In a year such as this — without quarterbacks filling the top of the draft — the Browns have an easy choice to take the best player — Myles Garrett, a defensive end.
From there, they can trade the No. 12 pick (acquired in the Wentz trade) in a package for Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, take Davis Webb in the second round if he’s available, or simply ignore the quarterback position and start Brock Osweiler this year.
The last option would result in another losing season, and with it the Browns would have a legitimate chance to draft UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen, Washington State’s Luke Falk or another top quarterback option. Cleveland can do whatever it likes, giving it the best chance to build up a foundation.
Tanking also opens up another option that we’ve never seen in the NFL (at least until earlier this month): taking on negative assets in exchange for picks. The Browns have cap space in droves and no chance of competing next year, so they took Osweiler and got Houston’s 2018 second rounder in exchange.
They can keep doing things like this until they build their desired foundation. The Jets want to offload Muhammad Wilkerson’s five-year, $86 million deal? That’ll be a second and third rounder. The Chiefs decide Eric Fisher isn’t worth $48 million over four years? They can get rid of him, if they’re willing to offer up a 2019 second rounder in exchange.
Every bad team should be replicating this. Look at the Jets’ history since 2011. They’ve started (among others), Mark Sanchez, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith at quarterback. They’ve missed the playoffs every year, going over .500 just once. Right now, it looks like their quarterback in 2017 will be either Josh McCown, Jay Cutler or Bryce Petty. The only way for them to compete is to draft a franchise quarterback, but there’s enough talent on the roster to go 5-11 next season. In short, they’re stuck in mediocrity.
Isn’t it better to tear down and be godawful for two years than suffer through ten years where 8-8 is the ceiling?
The only other team that values draft picks the way Cleveland does just so happens to be the New England Patriots. Why? Because Bill Belichick (and his analytics guru Ernie Adams) understands that building through the draft results in a constant churn of good, young players.
The Browns have merely taken it to the extreme because, well, they’re not starting with Tom Brady on their team. Soon, they too will reap the rewards.
...We've won one game since he became GM? Might be a little early to put him up with the best. I've liked more than I have disliked, but we've got to get some W's.
You mess with the "Bull," you get the horns. Fiercely Independent.
You can call what Sashi Brown is doing as analytics, money-ball or whatever you want. All I know as a lifelong fan of this franchise, I believe in him and Hue Jackson also. We are in a really good position to get better in a hurry and be competitive not only in the AFC North but the entire NFL for years to come with all the young talent we will be acquiring. I am just as tired as the rest of you with losing, but for some reason, I think we are finally getting it right this time! Just another thought, select the BPA in this draft, and load up next year to obtain our franchise QB! Just my 02 cents.
LETS GET THIS RIGHT FELLAS...ENOUGH LOSING IS ENOUGH!
Paul Brown revolutionized pro football when he became the leader of the Browns...now...Sashi Brown revolutionizes pro football once he became the leader of the Browns.
Let's look at what it is, the Browns, because of what Sashi and the FO have done will have the draft currency, if you will, to make this team better. They just have to follow through and make the right decisions with that currency. I think we can give him credit for that.
I think it is WAY too early to crown him "one of the best general managers in football". I have many, many positives to reflect on but I also have many questions that still need to be answered, such as
"how well did we draft under Sashi?" "what is our current record after year X?" "how does his staff accept him and does that produce results on the field?" "how has he done keeping free agents from leaving (despite Pryor and the 2016 mass exodus)?"
Until I can reflect upon my questions above, I will be rooting with guarded optimism. I am not dubbing him "champion" until we have our "CHAMPIONSHIP" under his guidance.
I think it is WAY too early to crown him "one of the best general managers in football". I have many, many positives to reflect on but I also have many questions that still need to be answered, such as
"how well did we draft under Sashi?" "what is our current record after year X?" "how does his staff accept him and does that produce results on the field?" "how has he done keeping free agents from leaving (despite Pryor and the 2016 mass exodus)?"
Until I can reflect upon my questions above, I will be rooting with guarded optimism. I am not dubbing him "champion" until we have our "CHAMPIONSHIP" under his guidance.
You might want to explain this. We already know Pryor did not want to be here. GM has spoken on this. What Mass exodus is it you speak of? Were in the beginnings of a rebuild were still trying to figure out who fits and who doesn't.
Dawginit since Jan. 24, 2000 Member #180 You can't fix yesterday but you can learn for tomorrow #GMSTRONG
I want to do it as a Cleveland Brown because that's who I am.”
I was referring to Mack, Shwartz, etc. I am trying to look past them allowing past regimes pickups to walk in favor of drafting/acquiring their own and trying to keep THEM.
I think I may have generalized too much? Sorry if I had.
LOL...........you are making Mag explain something that is a fact and you are ignoring the absurdity of Sashi Brown being "one of the best general managers" in the NFL?????
As I stated near the beginning of this thread, "Great" may be overstating the case. You know as well as I do, that there have been both successes and failures.
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the losers...Socrates
It all depends on who we draft, and how well our rookies from last year progress into this year.
Personally, as of this moment - I like the moves they've made. I can't wait to see what Nassib does coming into William's defense, and how much bigger he gets (is he a Mingo and can't pack on the weight?) with an offseason. Ogbah too. We need to fix up some more holes on defense to give all the players a chance to make a name of themselves.
As of now, I wouldn't call Sashi one of the best in the league. Even if the previous draft class and this upcoming draft class does well, would he earn that title even then?
I've agreed with the strategy, some teams have fallen into it on accident, some "on purpose". The Raiders, The Panthers, The Colts.
All teams that have "bottomed out" for the better. Is Sashi Brown a good manager? LOL stop but can it work, sure it can and their is precedent. The Colts are a prime example of bottoming out for the better and the GM ruining it.
+1, can't wait to see how all last year's draft picks come back and compete....all emphasis has been on Pryor leaving and MAKING news...nice NONE of our draft picks are MAKING news....will love NFL draft because all the BS will be over and we can see REALITY of what FO does with draft picks....I predict we get another slew of good solid players AND citizens.....GO Browns!!!
"You've never lived till you've almost died, life has a flavor the protected will never know" A vet or cop
+1, can't wait to see how all last year's draft picks come back and compete....all emphasis has been on Pryor leaving and MAKING news...nice NONE of our draft picks are MAKING news....will love NFL draft because all the BS will be over and we can see REALITY of what FO does with draft picks....I predict we get another slew of good solid players AND citizens.....GO Browns!!!
Not sure how to link this video/tweet right, but Kessler and the rookie receivers were together working last week.
Paul Brown revolutionized pro football when he became the leader of the Browns...now...Sashi Brown revolutionizes pro football once he became the leader of the Browns.
And Ralph Brown revolutionized the Browns Secondary Play........ lol
Do you want a good football team or a cub scout troop?
I want a good team, that I can be proud of.
I saw the tape showing what Mixon did. Now, maybe he has changed 100%, but that is not the type of person I want on my team. There have been some men who have been abusive towards women who have changed .... but most don't. If Mixon has truly changed, then I might be willing to take a shot on him as an UDFA ..... but I would have to see evidence that he has worked to get this violent part of his persona under control. Just "getting out of jail" isn't enough. Just completing a perfunctory, mandated counselling session or 2 isn't enough. I would have to see evidence of real, life altering, changes.
I want to be proud of my team. I could never be proud of them if they drafted Mixon, without seeing the evidences I outlined above.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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