DarthMonk wrote:What do you guys see as your weakness? Your strength. Tell me about your center - Mack.
Browns as a whole are a very, very young team. Rookies have started 79 snaps so far this season and I believe the next highest number is Tampa Bay (around 44).
Weaknesses:
LB corps to single out one whole unit. Chris Gocong was on the rise here and losing him in TC to an achilles was a blow. D'Qwell Jackson is an animal but thats about it. Kaluka Maiava has been filling in at OLB for an aging/slow Scott Fujita. He's been a touch above average, if not underwhelming.
RDE's Frostee Rucker and Juqua Parker have provided good rotation for plugging up the run, but they aren't getting enough push on the tackles to demand the extra attention we need to unleash prime LDE, Jabaal Sheard.
Secondary. Outside Joe Haden eliminating half the field, and Sheldon Brown randomly playing like he was back in an Eagles uni, our rotational players Buster Skrine and Eric Hagg have been problematic. I expect Haden to shadow Garcon on most snaps, and Brown to work on Morgan and/or Hankerson.
Punting. Reggie Hodges and his 30 yards/punt make my insides sad.
Strengths:
Offensive line. We all know about Thomas and Mack, but RT Mitchell Schwartz was one of our rookies taken from the Atlanta trade---and he's played exceptional. On multiple occasions, Weeden will get upwards of 4 seconds to stay in the pocket, let the route tree develop, and comfortably deliver his ball. Veteran John Greco has been filling in for LG Jason Pinkston, who damn near died earlier this year from an emergency blood clot. He's filled in admirably the past three weeks.
Defensive line. With Phil Taylor and Ahtyba Rubin finally back, healthy, and playing in tandem, they are getting continuous pocket pressure with a four man front. Rookie 6th round pick Billy Winn is looking more like an early 2nd rounder. Very pleased with their development.
WR. I'm drinking a little orange kool-aid here, but if Josh Gordon had a minicamp (supplemental picks don't have that luxury) to develop, he may have eclipsed 1,000 yards a few weeks ago. For what it's worth, teammates are comparing his size/speed/hands in practice to Andre Johnson. Because of Gordon's emergence into a #1, second year Greg Little has taken full advantage of the secondary's lost attention.
RB. Trent Richardson is as advertised folks. Before re-hashing his ypc, something needs to be cleared up: dude's hurt. And my guess he's been sleeping in a chair every week this season. Week 2 vs. the Bengals, he not only cracked a rib, but suffered a contusion of the rib cartilage. Ribs need two months of doing not-a-damn-thing to heal. Ask Michael Vick. Not trying to be an excuse monger, but there is some cause and effect here. Regardless, T33 has over 1,200 yards in total offense and 10 TD's to his credit. He's doing this with a horrible fullback---Owen Marecic is about as good as any other white guy named Owen---and the immobile Brandon Weeden. Next season Browns nation is expecting very big things from him.
Health. Knock on wood, we might be the healthiest team in the NFL right now.
Finally you asked about Alex Mack. He's started every snap since being drafted and has earned yearly Pro Bowl consideration for a reason. One of my favorite guys on the team since he exemplifies what it meant to be the Brown during the Jim dynasty: a tough SOB. He played a full game last year with appendicitis and hours afterwards, his appendix burst. Mack was in smacking heads the very next week after surgery.
