CLEVELAND, OHIO (TheOBR.com) – Good afternoon, Cleveland Browns fans!
It’s Friday morning, which is time for DEEP THOUGHTS on everything Cleveland Browns at the OBR. As your resident provider of deep thoughts, presented with zero humility, I’m proud to present this latest edition of the Massive Morning Missive, which is chock-full of deep thinking so intense you need a scuba suit to delve into its depths. Yup.
REVENGE OF THE NERDS: NFL color analyst Mark Schlereth went off on analytics on a recent podcast, calling analytics adherents “freaking morons” and offering a couple of examples where analytics can fall apart.
In his first example, Schereth challenged the analytical notion that teams should attempt two-point conversions more frequently, stating that NFL teams typically practice only two different plays related to the conversions. The assumption here, I guess, is that teams don’t have the bandwidth to practice more conversion plays.
After that, Schereth went after an analyst who said a particular team should run to the left 65% of the time, arguing that it would be a bad idea if a team were, for example, lined up against Aaron Donald, who would be to the left.
This is what one might call a “hot take” in the analytics-obsessed NFL, with teams like Cleveland that lean heavily into the concept. I suppose, in a way, the Browns’ lack of success would fuel narratives like Schlereth’s rant.
The answer, of course, is that one needs coaches and executives who are smart enough to know when to use analytics as a tool and not as gospel. Both of the above examples are cases where a smart coach would override the analytics or adjust their playbook accordingly. Anyone making decisions blindly, based solely on analytics, would be as doomed as a team that ignores them completely. I believe that there are no teams at either end of that particular spectrum.
Analytics are neither “the answer” nor the province of Schereth’s “morons”. It’s just another tool that can be part of a team’s approach, and a useful one at that.
MIXED EMOTIONS: As Pete Smith ably pointed out yesterday, Browns cornerback Greg Newsome must have conflicting feelings about his new opportunity to move to the outside cornerback role in 2025. His opportunity was enabled by the very unfortunate Achilles injury to Martin Emerson, who went down in practice on Tuesday afternoon. Likewise, Quinshon Judkins’ legal issues open up an opportunity for Dylan Sampson and other running backs.
The NFL is an absolutely brutal business. Injuries can easily derail a career (although we all hope that’s not the case for Emerson), and any loss of athletic ability due to injury can permanently disqualify a player from being able to compete at the level required to play in the league. When that happens, players are often discarded as teams quickly move on. CBA approved, of course.
As a businessman, moving on from an employee or contributor is often very hard, to the point where I am very loath to do so. But it’s as necessary in business as it is in the NFL, and it’s essential in nature as well, where new generations of life spring up to replace those who pass away. Only through constant renewal can systems or species move forward.
Returning to the matter at hand, we cannot ignore that the NFL is similar to other systems, where the drive to win (or survive) requires constant adaptation. It truly tests the talent of the coach and player personnel executives to make sure that “next man up” is available. One of the failures of many successful teams, and why there are so few true NFL dynasties, is that successful franchises struggle with depth because star players who emerge on these teams require big chunks of salary cap to retain their services.
This is why teams like the Steelers have been successful for extended periods. They’re not afraid to face the questioning associated with moving on from a player who is currently contributing but needs to leave so that others can flourish. As brutal as it is, GM Andrew Berry of the Browns is much the same, facing down intense criticism for letting Nick Chubb go.
Life can be very tough. Not everyone will emerge as a winner. It’s something you learn to accept as you grow older.
CONGRATULATIONS, NOAH! Speaking of the “next generation”, OBR alum Noah Weiskoph has found a new full-time role covering the North Carolina Tar Heels for 247 Sports. Noah is a hardworking young man who was a valued contributor during his time here, and we’re excited to see what he can do as a full-time reporter for one of our partner sites.
DON’T FORGET! will be hosting a constantly updated stream of updates during today’s training camp on our Insider Discussion board. Watch the front page and announcement bar for the direct link.
Have a good one! GO BROWNS! Newswire Bloviation Archive
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THE LIFT
Positive news from the world of sports and beyond…
Is life widespread throughout the cosmos? Complex organic molecules found in planet-birthing disk – (space.com)
As I’ve mentioned in this space before, life is either common throughout the universe or very rare. Either outcome is very profound for people who ponder such things. We’re getting an inkling, however, that life may pop up more frequently than our lack of contact with extraterrestrials may suggest. Here we find the “stuff of life” (not life itself) simply out there as a new solar system forms far away. I still contend that, based on our experience here on Earth, life is possible and plentiful, but intelligent life capable of space travel is scarce. We live in exciting times when humans are accumulating the tools to find out.
WRAPPING UP
When not going so deep that he’s invisible to observers, Barry McBride is the Publisher and Founder of the OBR and bloviates this nonsense every morning. You can follow him on Twitter @barrymcbride or write him at barry@theobr.com if you are so compelled.
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