NFL Draft

Tommy Eichenberg: A Gritty Linebacker with Old-School Charm

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Tommy Eichenberg

Forget fancy footwork, Tommy Eichenberg is all about getting down and dirty on the field. In today’s NFL filled with sleek linebackers, Tommy’s like a classic record spinning in an age of streaming. This dude loves contact, throws himself into every play, and leaves his mark on the game, old school style.

Tommy Eichenberg
Tommy Eichenberg

The Raider’s Perfect Fit

Las Vegas grabbed Tommy with the 148th pick in the draft, and let’s just say it’s a match made in football heaven. Why? Because Tommy brings the aggression the Raiders crave in their defense. He’s all about the physical side of the game, and Raider Nation is gonna love it.

The Good, the Bad, and the Old-School

Let’s break down Eichenberg’s scouting report:

The Positives

  • Instincts Against the Run: Eichenberg reads plays quickly, positioning himself to take on blocks or make crucial stops.
  • Physicality: He’s strong and physical at the point of attack, extending against offensive linemen.
  • Linear Speed: When charging downhill, he creates stalemates or wins battles against fullbacks.
  • Tackling Technique: Eichenberg wraps up well, minimizing missed tackles.
  • Tampa 2 Coverage: His speed allows him to carry routes against tight ends in this scheme.

The Negatives

  • Lateral Movement: Eichenberg struggles
… Read more at FryingPanSports

The Browns front office must go!

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There is a lot of conversation about whether Kizer is franchise QB the team has needed for so long.  He might be exactly what the Browns need at the most important position in the game.  But it is hard to tell when so many throws that are right on target are dropped by a receiver group that is worse than 2 teams I coached in semi-pro football.

The brain-dead people making draft picks have given HC Jackson a team that is green as baby peas.  They let the 1 WR that had 1000+ yards and was new to the WR position go but brought in a guy that could not catch a cold standing naked on the edge of Lake Erie in a sleet storm.  He also has 1 1000 yard season but has been in the league for years.

They also passed up 2 other QBs that could have started the “rebuild” much earlier and given beaten down Browns fans some hope.  If this group made good choices with those extra picks I might agree.  They do not and the proof is the 1 win we have seen in the two years that they have been in control.

If … Read more at FryingPanSports

Drafting QB Kizer was a good First step BUT…

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 DeShone Kizer was my top QB in a very weak class.  Clearly what happened to the Notre Dame program had a lot more to do with very bad coaching, even worse recruiting, and a brain-dead staff than what Kizer did or didn’t do.  But there are a bunch of issues that the Browns will have to address.

The first issue is Kizer’s mechanics.  A combination of a very pathetic O line, the lack of a consistent run game, and a group of wide receivers that couldn’t catch a cold standing naked in a sleet storm on Lake Michigan, his mechanics went south in a hurry.  But we saw him in 2015 and he as much better.

The question is can the Browns coaching staff get him back to his 2015 throwing motion and footwork?

The personnel department did a good job fixing the O line issues (except for RT) in free agency.  That was a good move because the O line in the draft was below average.  Kizer or whoever starts for the Browns will have better protection than last year.  That should also help the running game.  But this will be as difficult a test for the coaching staff … Read more at FryingPanSports

What will the Browns do in the draft

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NOTE:  On NNR Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports, Tony Williams of Metro NY and I discussed the news of the day and the NNR Mock draft on fryingpansports.com/radio-show.

My view of the world tells me past actions are a good indication of future events.  That does not bode well for Browns fans.  The Browns have had more 1st round picks than any team in NFL history over the last several years.  And for the most part, those guys are not on the roster.  That is what happens when you put a lawyer in charge of the draft.

Part of that was due to the failure of the top draft people to go to the pro days.  When you go to a player’s pro day, you get to talk to those around the player.  A perfect example was the 2014 draft.

In that draft, the Browns had 2 1st round picks.  With the 8th overall pick they selected Justin “No tackle” Gilbert.  Had they gone to his pro day, they would have heard him say “check my film” when someone asked him to catch some punts.

At #22 they selected Johnny “Wreck this league” Manziel… Read more at FryingPanSports

News Notes and Rumors Mock NFL Draft

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Mock NFL Draft

1Cleveland BrownsQB PR CB SMyles GarrettDETexas A&M
2San Francisco 49ersOLB DE T G QBSolomon ThomasDEStanford
3Chicago BearsPR CB S G T TEJonathan AllenDEAlabama
4Jacksonville JaguarsTE RB DT T GLeonard FournetteRBLSU
5Tennessee TitansCB WR ILBMarshon LattimoreCBOhio State
6New York JetsQB OLB CB deHaason ReddickOLBTemple
7Los Angeles ChargersS WR DE G T QBMalik HookerSOhio State
8Carolina PanthersT DE RB CBDerek BarnettDETennessee
9Cincinnati BengalsT G OLB PR RBTaco CharltonDEMichigan
10Buffalo BillsCB S WR TJamal AdamsSLSU
11New Orleans SaintsCB S OLB WRGareon ConleyCBOhio State
12Cleveland Browns O.J. HowardTEAlabama
13Arizona CardinalsILB QB S CBCorey DavisWRWestern Michigan
14Philadelphia EaglesILB CB RB DE Reuben FosterILBAlabama
15Indianapolis ColtsT G DE DT RBMalik McDowellDTMichigan St
16Baltimore RavensOLB WR CB SZach CunninghamOLBVandy
17Washington RedskinsILB dt S RB T
… Read more at FryingPanSports

Last Chance for Analytics

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For Browns fans, these are the times that try men’s souls.  This Browns front office has 1 more chance to turn the team around or it will be gone.  I believe that HC Jackson has some time but not the front office.

My experience tells me when someone thinks they are the smartest guy in the room, very often they are not even in the running.  The Browns Front office is trying something different—Analytics.  The do think they are smarter than the rest of the league.  While Analytics works in baseball or basketball, it will not work in football.

One of the things that analytics suggests is trade down to get more draft picks.  That might work if the front office had any idea what they are doing with the extra picks.  Last Monday we detailed the picks that this administration made in 2016.  None of them were ranked in the top 60 in terms of production.  This year began with that same FO failing to get a deal with Pryor who got 1000 yards in his first season as WR with a bunch of nobodies throwing to him.  Instead they got an 8 year veteran who has just … Read more at FryingPanSports