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I think you are missing the pint Pit - Vers with his sneaky manipulation like he always does didn't find a quote by a poster claiming Njoku was a Bust .... he has quoted a post by Bonefish who is clearly responding to a negative post about Njoku and ASKING if he is a bust. If Steve's original post stated as fact - like Vers tried to infer with his original comment - that Njoku was a bust he would simply cut and paste this statement. Instead he's lying and manipulating .... AGAIN.

Right now I think everyone would agree 100% with your post!

I think there are some - including me - who have seen such inconsistent play from Njoku through 4 full season, I just need and want to see him complete the season with his current form before I believe this is the new, real Njoku. Lord knows I want it to be - and when he was drafted I loved the pick and his potential.

I've always viewed Chief David Njoku as a player with 'potential' who earned everything he's achieved. The key was..he showed improvement and put in the effort.

He earned his nickname..THE CHIEF..

Agreed. Always loved the dude anyway. Always argued his hands were improving (because they were). For the most part, he had rather quietly just "done his job".

TBH, I could see anyone's trepidation leading up to the new contract -- and saying "show me" once it came to pass.

All that said, comparing his performance after the extension to Wards?? Pfffttt... Night and day.

j/c:

I agree w/everyone. He’s a good example of what we need more of: improvement and development (and that’s a two way street, both on the players and the staff). I’m afraid Denzel Ward got his deal and seems to be coasting now.

Thanks for pointing that out 888. The post I made the first week was in reference to what Njoku has done for 5-years and 1-week. At that point, he wasn't worth the 13M he is being paid. I am pleased with his performance the last few games but 2-3 games do not make a season. If you actually look at what Njoku has done the first 5-games this year compared to the first 5-games all his previous years, 2022 has a few more yards but his YPC are down from last year and TD's are a wash.

In 2022 first 5-games:
29 targets - 24 receptions - 289 yards - 12.0 YPC - 1 TD
In 2021 first 5-games:
17 targets - 14 receptions - 260 yards - 18.6 YPC - 1 TD
In 2020 first 5-games:
on IR 3 of first 5-games
In 2019 first 5 games:
on IR 3 of first 5-games
In 2018 first 5-games:
33 targets - 20 receptions - 190 yards - 9.5 YPC - 0 TD
In 2017 first 5-games:
13 targets - 12 receptions - 118 yards - 9.8 YPC - 3 TD's

Njoku's best year (2018) based on total yards:
88 targets - 56 receptions - 639 yards - 11.4 YPC - 4 TD's
Kelce 2021 (not best year):
134 targets - 92 receptions - 1125 yards - 12.2 YPC - 9 TD's
Andrews 2021 (not best year):
153 targets - 107 receptions - 1361 yards - 12.7 YPC - 9 TD's
Waller's best year (2020):
145 targets - 107 receptions - 1196 yards - 11.2 YPC - 9 TD's
Kittle 2021 (not best year & missed 3-games due to injury):
94 targets - 71 receptions - 910 yards - 12.8 YPC - 6 TD's

You'll have to excuse me for not anointing Njoku as one of the best TE's in football considering his past performance after just 5-games. I'll be a believer after he puts together a 1,000-yard season with 8 plus TD's. Maybe then he'll show that he belongs in the same talk as the other TE's. Afterall, he is in year 6 and being paid like a top tier TE, when will we see a complete season of top tier play?

Good point D4L

I just hope that doesn't take until their 6th NFL season to accomplish like it did with Njoku. That's not a normal timetable. Which was my main concern. He certainly got better over time in his blocking. But blocking TE's are a dime a dozen. From a production standpoint his numbers most certainly did not align with his contract numbers. And as has been said we aren't far enough into the season to predict how this will all go.

He certainly has all of the potential and needed physical attributes to be a great TE. That's just not something we saw in his first five seasons in the NFL.

If we have to wait until year six for draft picks to reach their full potential that will make for a very long time period of them under performing.

Yeah, that’s true PIT. You’d like to think it takes about half as long for a guy to really click with everything

Looking at that list, I'd say that Jacoby and Pocic are really exceeding expectations. I also think that Njoku is establishing himself as a TE who is on the rise. One other thing to note, is that while Wills started off w/a low grade, he is steadily moving up the rankings in the last few weeks. He's actually playing very well and I think he is establishing himself as our long-term LT.

No doubt. I remember when Harris went down and thinking we were relying on Pocic .. and not thinking good thoughts but he’s been very solid.

It’s a little painful for me to always look at our superb offensive grades and rankings and still know that we are under .500. That sucks.

That list also shows we still need some additional reliable targets at WR. I'm guessing Watson will help make the receivers better but we def. still need help there. Need DPJ to take a step forward.. He had a good game last week. Need more of those.

DPJ hasn't been targeted a ton this year, but it appears to me that he is catching the ball when it's thrown to him. I also think he has made a couple of difficult catches. But yeah, we need more help at that position.

DPJ has been a good productive WR based on his draft slot. I like that he makes contested catches and is pretty physical on the outside.

Compare what he’s brought us to what Schwartz has and it’s laughable

This a really interesting article w/charts and videos.

I think DPJ has been even better than the stats show. Brissett has missed him a ton. Glad they are starting to work him into the game plan more.

DPJ is a more than capable #2. I had high hopes after his rookie season, he regressed last year and was battling injuries too. Good to see him doing well again. He can definitely win contested catches and is good at locating and catching the ball at it's high point on deep passes.

IMO with Cooper. DPJ. Njoku, and Bell our WR group isn't that bad but we do need one more productive guy.

Once the Browns move on from the Stefanski years, they need to do whatever it takes to retain Bill Callahan...utilize that new brake division.

I agree. I think Cooper is more refined and a better WR than anyone in recent memory. He doesn't bring the attitude and passion Landry did - but he exudes class, has supreme route running and hands, and has a "been here before - doing my job" mentality much like Chubb. Blue collar, no need to spend energy on "look at me" stuff.

Brissett has missed alot of guys, he just don't see them. Watson at the helm will show us alot more of where we really are from a receiving standpoint. I think DPJ will look alot better with more targets

Ward and Clowney ruled out against the Pats.

j/c:

Damn.

100m for the 4th lowest rated player on the team, and the bottom of the barrel are all Berry picks. Not a good look for AB

The Ward performance this season has been frustrating. I’m sure the coaches and FO feel the same way

--All on defense ... by coincidence? NO!

--Have many of these players graded out this poorly historically? NO!

--Has the coaching staff put these players in the best position to succeed? Probably not.

I'm kinda starting to wonder if the players might be kinda helping Joe Woods out of Cleveland, or something. It's totally just speculation and wondering out loud, but man, there sure are a lot of guys who are historically among the better players in the league that are ROYALLY sucking wind so far this year.

If a player is dogging it to get a coach fired, said player needs to be shown the door. But I don’t think that is what’s happening.

I have been wondering the same thing.

Me neither. I think there is evidence enough to show without a doubt there is a problem with the coaching of the Defense. That's Woods - and that is also Stefanski. Being the main influencer over a dynamic offense does not excuse the pee poor defensive showing. And waiting till week 6 to "focus on tackling" which is what so many posters sighted as a major issue all year is taking the Mickey.

I mentioned on a post 5 days ago that maybe our D players just don't like their DC and his scheme. I also mentioned on a post this morning that I'm getting the feeling after reading and listening to some of the players that there is more going on behind the scenes that we don't know about. Others on this board seem to be feeling the same way.

Some players are best suited for man on man coverage

Looks like Teller has taught him some tricks. WOULD LOVE a line full of Tellers.

Not saying I have any inside information but there does appear to be something off.

Well where there is smoke ... well you know ... when I hear people [Jake Burns] talk about players "making business decisions" when critiquing the game film. That's usually an indication that your radar on the subject is calibrated correctly. Right or wrong.

Could it be Joe Woods is trying to fit a square peg in a round hole with our D players so to speak?

J/c

The article that says we should re-sign Pocic … i never even thought of that before, but it might be a good idea