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Just to continue the discussions...



Pit, I wasn't trying to suggest anything. And I certainly wasn't implying teams were overlooking him. I was simply stating that during his 1000 yard season he had at least 50% more receptions than his previous high water mark seasons. His YPC was actually down comparatively too.

I'm not trying to find optimism either. I'm simply stating that he was targeted more during that 1000 yard year. That is an outlier sure, due to the (new) QB throwing to him more. (He had three different QBs in 2014, 2015 & 2016.) I'm not saying he suddenly improved or anything else, just that each season has to be taken on it's own merits and set of circumstances. Had he been thrown to more in those other years, he likely would have had better numbers. I don't know why he wasn't thrown to more, could be for many reasons, but the difference in targets is significant.

I don't know if he'll prove out to be a valuable #2 (I certainly don't see him as a #1) or will be a complete bust, but I also don't see one drop (albeit a wide open drop) as a reason to label him a bust (not saying you have). I'm simply saying that we don't know what we have yet, and that the 1000 yard season graphically demonstrates that he's capable of those type of numbers. Even though they only happened one year.

At this point it's up to him to prove he's worth throwing to. He has to gain the coach's and QB's confidence. Starting out with a big drop will hinder that, but it shouldn't shut the door on the season. Bottom line, it's up to him now.

I actually agree about Coleman ... he's showed improvement thus far. I'm high on him right now

Coleman's made some really nice, athletic and/or acrobatic catches recently. I'd like to see him and Kizer develop to the point where the passes are placed well enough to allow him to catch and run. When that happens we'll have a burner who can score from anywhere on the field, IMO. It will also help his longevity if he doesn't have to dive, jump, or get slammed by a defender every time he's thrown the ball.

just think if gordon gets back

I can't. Refuse to set myself up for disappointment. But man, that would be something.

I know that this may not be the thread but I didn't watch the game but. can someone fill me in on if the rookie tight end Njoku played ? just asking

No negatives, and that's a good thing. He has a long way to learn.

THANKS

i was actually surprised how much he played. I expected more of Telfair than Njoku

He had a holding call. But then he made up for it with a catch for a 1st down.

Compared to the preseason, he looked better. But he just has to get more comfortable in the system, and he needs to become a better blocker. The blocking thing is key, and it'll make a big difference.


I've always heard he's a willing blocker though. Just has to get better. He's very young, but physically, he'll be a beast

There was a pass near the end zone where he drew a pass interference penalty. He was definitely interfered with, and the ball was high, but I was a little surprised he didn't catch it. He's going to make those kinds of catches once he gets comfortable. (Had he caught it, he would have bulled his way in for a score.) I'm excited to watch him develop.

Browns notebook: Kenny Britt brushes off questions about starting status: ‘You’ve got Hall of Famers who have dropped balls’

By Nate Ulrich
Beacon Journal sports writer
BEREA: Kenny Britt wanted to drop the subject.

The veteran wide receiver can’t afford to drop anything else.

Not after the way coach Hue Jackson reacted to Britt’s performance Sunday in the Browns’ 21-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Britt was wide open when he dropped a pass from rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer with 11:27 left in the fourth quarter on second-and-19 at the Browns 22-yard line. The Browns went three-and-out. After a disappointing preseason, Britt finished the regular-season opener with one catch for 13 yards on three targets.

On Monday, Jackson called the drop “inexcusable” and wouldn’t commit to Britt keeping his starting job for Sunday’s road game against the Baltimore Ravens (1-0). Jackson said Wednesday he would let the practice week unfold before making a decision on Britt’s role.

“I’m not talking about it,” Britt said of the drop before Wednesday’s practice. “You all talking about it. It’s been behind me. That’s nine years in the league. You don’t get there for no reason. You’ve got Hall of Famers who have dropped balls.

“I think it was magnified because of the point of the game. Of course, we needed all the plays, especially when you’re down by a couple points.”

Britt insisted Jackson hadn’t said anything to him about the play.

Told the coach said his starting spot isn’t guaranteed, Britt said, “Things happen.”

Asked if he should be starting, Britt said, “You earn that spot, right? OK then.”

Well, has Britt earned it?

“I earn everything that I got in my life,” he said.

The Browns signed Britt in March to a four-year, $32.5 million contract, which includes $17 million guaranteed, with the hope he’d serve as their No. 2 receiver opposite Corey Coleman.

Britt, 28, conceded he feels extra pressure to capitalize on every play for his young QB.

“I believe that’s everybody on the team,” he said. “We rely on each other. It’s a team game.”

The Browns need Britt to produce for them like he did for his former team. He started all 15 games in which he appeared last season with the Los Angeles Rams and had career highs in catches (68) and receiving yards (1,002) to go along with five touchdowns.

Kizer said he trusts Britt to “score some touchdowns” for the Browns.

“There are times where there is going to be two guys on him and it is going to be a ball that is right at his face and he is going to catch it,” Kizer said. “It will be a big hurray, and everyone is going to forget the one that he dropped against Pittsburgh, honestly.”

Link

There's more to the article, I've only included the part about Britt.

Where I think Britt is in trouble is the role he is supposed to fill on this offense. He's the vet receiver. He's supposed to be the steady, reliable receiving option (we sure as hell didn't bring him in for his game-changing performances). Hall of Fame WRs DO drop balls, but he ain't a HoF WR, so he shouldn't be worried about that.

Well we've both given our opinions of Britt and I believe in a respectful, debate style way. The only thing left to do is see how it plays over the course of the season. Being an avid Browns fan, I actually hope you're right and I'm wrong about this.

Indeed, and much appreciated. I know we both want wins, period.

No one will be worried about Britt's drop because Louis, Williams and Duke are gonna make everyone forget that he is even on this roster.

I'd be okay with that too. (Of course $17M is a big number to swallow for a guy sitting on the bench. But hey, it's not my money.)

Well, that's one of the prices to pay for going with the shotgun approach like we have for the WR position.

I don't know, oob. Going after Britt in FA for $32.5M seems pretty targeted to me.

(Correction: $17M is only guaranteed if he plays three days into the 2018 season. If he's cut before that, they're on the hook for $10.5M)

For that one guy, maybe. But all the WR-related moves they've made in the short time they've been here speak more to a scattered, high-volume approach (imo).

I agree with that. I also think they were scrambling in their first draft. I'd expect them to be far more concise during the upcoming draft, and I'd expect a high pick, true #1 WR to be taken.

i agree ... i'd see us taking a WR at some point early, unless gordon goes through a miracle or something

I would agree except that I don't see a "true #1" Wr in this draft. Some nice Wr's, but not a true #1. Still a long college season, but I don't think the value will be there.

and it should be remembered that their first draft came after having Farmer choose only 1 WR during his tenure, Vince Mayle, who was later cut and signing Dwayne Bowe. So the cupboard was pretty bare when the current FO got here. Just a bunch of smurfs.

St. Brown maybe? (I won't attempt spelling his first name) Or Cain? You're right, it's still early.

In that case, he better step it up or he will be cut by season's end.

j/c

Two of four receivers drafted last year are on the team and contributing...one is a starter. The two 5th Rd guys from last year are gone and didn't pan out (one on the PS for some odd reason). Happens.

The Steelers 3rd Rd pick from 2015 didn't work out for them...but he's on our team now.

K Williams might be our reverse Snead "karma payback".

The position is certainly a work in progress.

"(one on the PS for some odd reason)"

Maybe because he has good hands, runs good routes, has good double moves and is an all hands receiver, oh and did I mention that he is only 22.

Other than not having great speed, I can't see a reason why not.

You likely know more about him than I do and I've read about his traits - that you listed above - in more than one place. So there are others who see his value as well.

The odd part to me is that they had him all last year on the 53 and he reportedly has those skills yet he's on the PS - and not the 53 - when we need guys who can do what he can reportedly do.

Well hopfully those guys end up being better talent, but that is yet to be determined.

Why he did not get more playing time and targets? I think that was a coaching decision. I think that Hawkins was preferred and even Louis saw more PT and targets, though his hands where suspect, the youngster has got sise and speed over Higgins and was a higher draft pick.
I know that the company line says that don't figure into the equation, but I think that most of us know that it does, because of wanting to be proven correct. Ego's get in the way, but at least the new staff and FO are not giving these guys three years to prove themselves as in the past.

Are you talking about Higgins ????

Yes sir.

http://scout.com/nfl/browns/Article/DeShone-Kizer-defended-Kenny-Britts-dropped-pass-107406250

A sign of maturity from Kizer:

“I know who he is," Kizer said. "He knows who I am. That ball is going to be right back in that same spot. There are times where there is going to be two guys on him and it is going to be a ball that is right at his face and he is going to catch it. It will be a big hurray and everyone is going to forget the one that he dropped against Pittsburgh, honestly.”


And I disliked how Britt handled it:

Britt wasn't very talkative to reporters when asked about the dropped pass on Wednesday.

"You seen what happened,” he said. “I’ve got one drop this year.

“I think it was magnified because of the point of the game. Of course, we needed all the plays, especially when you’re down by a couple points.”

Britt did not look up and face reporters, but sat with his head down facing his locker. He was asked how important it is to put the drop in the past?

“I’m not talking about it," he said. "You all talking about it. It’s been behind me. That’s nine years in the league, you don’t get there for no reason. You’ve got Hall of Famers who have dropped balls.”

New week, clean slate, let's see what happens next.

yep, hope he contributes this one