Krunch Time With Katelin: DeShone Kizer Vs. Other Browns QBs First Starts

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE


The Browns fell short in DeShone Kizer's first career start 21-18 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kizer showed a lot of promise in his first career start, going 20/30 for 222 yards in the air. Kizer threw one touchdown and one interception. Kizer also ran for 17 yards and a touchdown. He made normal rookie mistakes like, over throwing wide receivers and holding the ball too long resulting in sacks.

All in all Kizer gives the Browns hopes for the future. Now for the fun of it let us look back on other Browns quarterback's first career starts since '99.


Tim Couch: First start was week two of the 1999 season. Couch went 12/24 for 134 yards and a touchdown in a 26-9 loss against Tennessee. Couch was sacked seven times and lost a fumble. Obviously Couch's career was derailed because of a terrible offensive line.


Charlie Frye: First start, week 13 in 2005. Frye went 13/20 for 226 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-13 loss against Jacksonville. Frye was the first of a few guys, who Browns fans hoped would be our starting Quarterback of the future who was drafted in the mid-rounds.


Brady Quinn: Quinn didn't start a game until his second season in 2008 because of the success of Derek Anderson in 2007. Quinn's first start was week 10 in 2008 against the Denver Broncos. Quinn threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns on 23/35 passing in a 34-30 loss.


Colt McCoy: McCoy was forced into starting because of injuries in 2010. He took on the Steelers in week 6. The Browns lost 28-10 but McCoy went 23/33 passing for 281 yards, a touchdown and two picks.


Brandon Weeden: Brandon Weeden was the first rookie quarterback since the Browns came back in 1999 to start week one of the Season. Kizer was the second since 1999. Weeden's first start was horrendous...and it might not be the worst one on this list. Weeden went 12/35 for 118 yards and four picks in a 17-16 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles.


Johnny Manziel: As I mention the worst "rookie" quarterback debut. Johnny Manziel takes the cake. We all know the situation the Browns were in 2014. Manziel's first start was in week 15 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Manziel went 10/18 for only 80 yards and two interceptions. This was probably the beginning of the end for Manziel in Cleveland...


Cody Kessler: Last year Cody Kessler debuted in week three of the season because of injuries to Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown. Kessler's situation was almost the exact same situation Colt McCoy was forced to make his debut. Kessler put up a winning effort but (unfortunately/fortunately) for the Browns sake lost his debut against the Miami Dolphins 30-24 in overtime. Kessler was 21/33 for 244 yards and only had one turnover which was a fumble.


Looking back at all these quarterbacks, Kizer's debut was basically par for the course. But Kizer's football abilities are far superior then any of these former Browns starters. It should be fun to watch Kizer develop going forward. And boy...and I glad the Browns "Got wiser...and Started Kizer".

Krunch Time With Katelin: 5 Takeaways From The Browns vs Giants Preseason Game

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The Browns pulled off a 10-6 victory against the Giants in the second week of the preseason. The game was hard to watch. Each team had multiple turnovers, dropped passes, and overall sloppy play. But that's how the 2017 Cleveland Browns will win games this season. Sloppy, low-scoring games where the defense forces turnovers and the offense capitalizes on them. But lets get to why we are here. My five takeaways on the game from Monday Night.

1. DeShone Kizer should be the quarterback week one. Is Kizer 100% ready? Probably not. But does he give the Browns the best chance to win? Yes, without a doubt. Brock Osweiler isn't the answer and neither is Cody Kessler. Brock is 6'8 and is still getting passes knocked down at the line of scrimmage. And that's what happened in this game resulting in an interception. If you are counting at home, this is the Browns quarterbacks scoring drives tallies: Kizer (Four) Kessler (One) Brock (Zero) and Hogan (Zero). Yes, Kizer had two of his scoring drives against second-fourth teamers vs the Saints, but he was still playing with the same types of players.

2. Joe Schobert showed why he should be the starting middle linebacker on this team. Schobert a fourth round pick last season was mainly a special teams player last season. And when he did play it was at outside linebacker. But this season he was moved to the inside, he also lost some weight and he is now flying around the field.

3. Briean Boddy-Calhoun. I don't know what more I can say about him. The guy is a football player. He has a nose for the ball. Whether that's jumping a passing route for an interception, blowing up a play in the backfield, or being a hard hitting corner when the receiver catches the ball, the guy is constantly around the ball. I would take 11 Boddy-Calhoun's. The guy has a passion for the game of football and could be a fan favorite by the end of the season.

4. Matt Dayes is pretty good. He could easily become the Browns third down back if the Browns end up using Duke Johnson in the slot during passing downs. Dayes was the second to last pick in the draft and had a leg up in the third running back competition considering he coached by the Browns during the Senior Bowl. I think its a bit early to call the Browns running backs a three headed monster but the way they plan on running the ball the Browns will probably need three guys to keep everyone rested and healthy.

5. The defense showed why the acquisition of Gregg Williams is the best move of the entire off-season. Williams' defense is attacking the ball every single play. We seen Jason McCourty force a fumble, Boddy-Calhoun bait Geno Smith into a red zone interception. Oh and the rookies, Myles Garrett recorded his first sack and Jabrill Peppers...Peppers made veteran receiver Brandon Marshall hear footsteps while he tried to go up for a catch.. Oh and Peppers also made an impact as a punt returner.

Krunch Time With Katelin: 5 Takeaways From The Browns First Preseason Game

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE


The Cleveland Browns defeated the Saints 20-14 in the first week of the preseason. Rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer played the entire second half and lead the team to a win with a 45 yards touchdown pass to take the lead with 1:52 left in the fourth quarter. The game was an up-and-down game for the Browns. They committed 12 penalties most of them being either false starts or because of being lined up offsides. With that being said here are five thing that stood out to me in the game against the Saints.

1. Myles Garrett looks the part as the consensus number one overall pick. Garrett got into the backfield a number of times. Both in passing and run stopping situations. But what was most impressive about Garrett was when he chased down the Saints running back 15 yards down field after he broke a tackle. That was the play that sticks out most to me. Garrett's hustle and speed to run all the way down field to help force the running back out of bounds is exactly why this defense will be vastly improved.

2. The defense causing two turnovers. Both were forced fumbles because the defensive linemen swatted at the ball when attacking the quarterback. If the Browns are going to win games this year this is exactly what they need to do. Give the offense a short field to work with and then capitalizing on it. Which they did, the first fumble recovery ended with a touchdown run from Matt Dayes. And the second was the game clincher with 17 second left.

3. Cam Erving isn't good. Its that simple. At this point I don't know if he will even make the team. The guy tries and gives 100% effort on every play, but at some point the Browns will have to give up on Erving. The tape shows that he looks lost out on the field and the amount of times he gets manhandled on the line is concerning. Yes, he'd be another first round bust for the Browns but at this point I don't think fans care much about that.

Who's ready for some Brock Osweiler?!! pic.twitter.com/48yy2Zv2QO

— Ryan McCrystal (@Ryan_McCrystal) August 11, 2017

4. Brock Osweiler didn't play well statistically. 6/14 for 42 yards. But there were some issues with the Browns receivers though. Kenny Britt had some issues in the red zone. Brock threw a great pass into the corner of the end zone but Britt couldn't get his second foot in for the touchdown. Osweiler also had a nice pass to receiver Ricardo Lewis down the seam but Lewis broke in from his route and the pass sailed incomplete. Brock also had a couple of miss throws. One to Seth DeValve which he just missed him for a touchdown, and on a third and long were Brock took a shot down field but threw the ball out of bounds. Overall I think Brock did okay. He seems to have a nice command of the offense and will probably start next against the Giants but he didn't do anything that would give him a commanding lead in the quarterback competition.

5. I know it was only one game and it was against the Saints second-fourth team, but DeShone Kizer made a nice name for himself last night. He lead the Browns to victory and did a nice job moving the ball down the field. Kizer still has a lot to learn. He was sacked three times and each time it seemed like he held onto the ball way to long. Without a doubt Kizer has the best "arm talent" on this team, as we seen on both of his deep balls and he already has shown an ability to step up into the pocket and throw. It will be interesting to see what Hue Jackson does with Kizer for the game against the Giants. I don't think he'd start Kizer but I do think Coach Hue wants to play Kizer with/against better talent.

.@DKizer_14 going DEEEEEEP.

Got 'em. #NOvsCLE pic.twitter.com/062xVHQg5g

— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2017

Krunch Time With Katelin 7/26/17: 5 Things To Watch In Browns Training Camp

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE


Football is back!!!!

The Browns are getting ready for the 2017 season, headlined by first overall pick Myles Garrett. Its been a successful off-season for the Browns. They've beefed up the offensive line, they've also added players on both sides of the ball in the draft and during free agency. But it wouldn't be an off-season with changes in the coaching staff. Gregg Williams is now the defensive coordinator after the firing of Ray Horton.

And with that being said the number one thing to watch for is the new defensive coordinator and his staff. Gregg Williams has a history of being one of the top defensive coaching in the NFL. He is a hard-nose football guy and is here to help change the culture. We've seen it already...during press conferences he's calling out players and members of the media *cough. And we've also seen bits and pieces of how he interacts with players (before the press conference of the first round picks). And that's what I'm personally interested in. Seeing how Gregg Williams interacts with the defense during camp and how it will set a tone of the defense throughout the regular season.


It wouldn't be a Browns training camp without a quarterback battle. But this time its s triple threat match between: second year quarterback Cody Kessler, Veteran quarterback Brock Osweiler, and rookie second round pick Deshone Kizer. There is an argument to be made for all three of these guys to start week one. Kessler has been in the system for a year and has made improvements to his game. For the record, he might be odds on favorite to start week one.

Osweiler was acquired during the off-season along with a second round pick from the Texans in a deal that was basically a salary dump. The Texans wanted Osweiler off the team and the Browns wanted the second round pick and his contract in order to meet the NFL's cap requirements. There were rumors about Osweiler being traded, which could still happen if there is an injury during the preseason. But as of right now he is competing for the starting job. Osweiler never seemed to fit into what Bill O'Brien wanted to do in Houston and the change of scenery might turn out to be a good thing. He did win a super bowl in Denver while playing a number of games during the regular season and he played well.

Last but certainly not least the second round pick out of Notre Dame, Deshone Kizer. This guy has all the tools to be an NFL quarterback. In my opinion he should just start week one. The Browns aren't going to win a lot of game so I don't see why the Browns would wait six-eight weeks for Kizer to start. I'd rather have a complete year grade for him and if the Browns end up with a top five pick in next year's draft they'd know what they have a the quarterback position. Kizer can make all the NFL throws and for the majority of last season was touted as the top quarterback in the class. But a terrible record and the questionable coaching he had in college seemed to have dropped his stock.


Rookies in general are always fun to watch during camp. They give fans a hope for the future and this year is no different. With 10 draftees this year the Browns are full of young talent. Three first round picks: Myles Garrett, Jabrill Peppers, and David Njoku, Kizer, and defensive linemen Larry Ognujobi and Caleb Brantley are the ones should stand out.

But its not just the rookies this year to keep an eye on but the guys who are entering their second year as professionals. The wide receivers are still extremely young. These guys need to step up. Corey Coleman, Ricardo Louis, Jordan Payton and Rashard Higgins are all vying for playing time. Obviously, Coleman will get his chance as a first round pick, but the other three will be battling each other not just for playing time on offense but showing their worth on special teams.

This might not but just a training camp thing to watch but throughout the preseason is to just keep an eye on the secondary. This is Joe Haden's put-up or shut-up year. He's already been challenged by Gregg Williams this off-season and he is the leader of the defense. Haden had a bounce back year last year after a rough 2015 campaign. Even though 2016 was still an injury plagued season for Haden. Outside of Haden the Browns still have some questions. And it isn't in a negative way but just as an unknown.

Jamar Taylor seems to be a solid starter in the NFL and Briean Boddy-Calhoun played well at times last year. The Browns acquired two veterans Calvin Pryor and Jason McCourty late in the off-season. It will be interesting to see if a change of location would help Pryor and the were McCourty will even play. Whether at the corner position or a safety. And how McCourty's leadership will help the development of Peppers, Derrick Kindred, Bobby-Calhoun, and Ibraheim Campbell

There will be a lot more to talk about during the preseason and I will have articles on specific positions while we lead up to the start of the regular season. And as always I will have the Previews for each game and the recaps along with a random article Browns article during the middle of each week. Its good to be back in the groove of writing and talking Cleveland Browns!!!!

Krunch Time With Katelin: Cleveland Browns NFL Draft Recap

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

Like I stated in my NFL Draft recap "Winners and Losers", the Cleveland Browns were on the winning side of the NFL Draft. It doesn't hurt when you take the best overall player, grab a potential franchise quarterback, and they added an additional first round pick for the 2018 draft.

Day 1

The Browns hit a home run on the first day of the draft. Obviously taking Myles Garrett number one overall, the consensus best player in the draft, is an A+. Garrett is immediately a cornerstone for this franchise. At the 12th pick he Browns traded down with Houston and swapped first round picks and got the Texans' first round pick next season. The Browns at 25th overall took Michigan safety Jabrill Peppers. Pepper is another guy who is going to make an impact from day one. He's already projected to start day one at strong safety. Then the Browns ended up trading back into the first round with the Green Bay Packers. At 29th overall, the Browns took David Njoku, a tight end out of Miami (FL). Njoku is only 20 years old and already has the physical talent for the NFL. He's a willing blocker and with the Browns releasing Gary Barnidge, Njoku should get every chance to start from day one.

Day 2

The Browns might have landed their quarterback of the future, DeShone Kizer from Notre Dame with the 52nd pick. The Kizer pick was great for two reasons. First off, the Browns likely found their quarterback going forward. Kizer is only 21 years old and will have a chance to grow into the position and doesn't have the pressure to start week one like a top 5 pick would have been. Secondly, the Browns didn't have to move up for him. Kizer landed right into their lap so again there is even less pressure on them to start him right away. In the third round, the Browns took defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi out of Charlotte. Ogunjobi made history being Charlotte's first ever player drafted to the NFL. He's projected to play along side of Danny Shelton in the Browns' base 4-3 defense.







Day 3

Day three was interesting to say the least. The Browns started the day taking Howard Wilson a cornerback out of Houston in the fourth round. Wilson is a 6'1" cornerback who should be on the field day one. Then the Browns took Roderick Johnson, a left tackle out of Florida State. Johnson is a project left tackle, so Joe Thomas isn't going anywhere.

Here is where the draft gets interesting.

In the sixth round the Browns took Caleb Brantley, a defensive tackle out of Florida. Brantley was projected to go in the first three rounds, but after an "alleged" assault took place in the middle of April most teams took Brantley off of their draft board. The Browns acknowledged Brantley's off-field situation and they are willing to release him if more comes out about his situation. Then to finish the draft the Browns took Zane Gonzalez, the highest rated kicker in the draft in the 7th round, and Matt Dayes, a running back out of NC State and someone who the Browns coached at the Senior Bowl.

Overall, I give this draft an B+/A-.

They filled multiple holes on this roster and added another first round pick for 2018's draft. They also held true to their draft board and didn't panic to get anyone, they made the smart picks and honestly, they set themselves up for some success in the 2017 season.

Krunch Time With Katelin: Dream Scenarios for the Browns

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE


Well friends we made it!!! Its here!!!

The NFL draft that is...the Super Bowl for us Browns fans. Every year we hype up certain prospects with the hope of them being the savior for this franchise that hasn't got it right since returning in 1999. So lets keep it simple. These are the my dream draft scenarios..."The Good, the meh, and the ugly".

The Good:

1. Myles Garrett at number one and drafting Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Yes, I'm on the Trubisky hype train, and yes a small reason is because "he gets us". But real talk...Getting the best player in the draft and the best quarterback can't not be a good thing. If the Browns think Mitch is their guy and Hue Jackson believes in him then I hope they go get him. Whether they trade up to ensure getting him or whether they wait until the 12th pick. There is going to be a theme with "the good" and "the meh". Myles is the number one overall pick because he is hands down the best player in the draft.

2. Myles Garrett and Tight End OJ Howard. Again, best player in the draft and the arguably the best skilled player in the draft. OJ Howard has been compared to Greg Olsen...and that's his basement. Howard would fit in Hue Jackson's offense from day one. Lining up two tight end sets with Howard and Barnidge would only help Kenny Britt, Corey Coleman, and the running game. Howard is already a good run blocker and has already been coached by Hue Jackson and his staff at the Senior Bowl.




The Meh:

1. Myles Garrett and ending up trading down from 12. Trading down would mean one of "their guys" isn't there at 12. Whether or not they end up drafting a quarterback with the pick, maybe makes it a "good". But it would be extremely anti-climatic after months of mock drafts and running through draft all these scenarios. Again, I guess it would depend on the player they got and the return they got from the pick

2. Myles Garrett and one of the top Receivers (Mike Williams, John Ross, or Corey Davis).  I'm not saying one of the receivers wouldn't fit the Browns but after taking multiple receivers last year, signing Kenny Britt this off-season, and kinda letting Terrelle Pryor walk...I don't know, it would seem weird. A "robbing Peter to pay Paul" type situation.


The Ugly:

1. Not taking Myles Garrett number one overall...even if they take Quarterback Mitch Trubisky instead. Garrett is projected to be a once in a generation type player and with the lack of a pass rush on this team for years now it would be ridiculous for the Browns not to take Garrett. The guy is a beast physically and every other team in the Browns situation would take him.

Its just that simple...MYLES GARRETT NO MATTER WHAT!!!





2. Trading one of the first round picks for Jimmy Garoppolo. I'm not on the Garoppolo bandwagon like some people. I just don't understand why:

A. The Patriots would trade Garoppolo with Tom Brady nearing retirement (Father time is undefeated).
B. Why the Browns would trade a 1st round pick for Garoppolo, who only started a handful of games and even in those games couldn't stay healthy.
C. Garoppolo will be a free agent next season and could be signed (just like the situation with Kirk Cousins and 49ers). Trading a first round pick for Garoppolo would be a situation in which the Browns are negotiating against themselves.

Krunch Time With Katelin: Browns Free Agency Thoughts

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE


Our Cleveland Browns seem to do doing something right...and yeah, I know that sounds crazy. The Browns revamped their offensive line with the signings of J.T. Tretter and Kevin Zeitler, signed wide receiver Kenny Britt, traded for another second round pick (and quarterback Brock Oswieler) and still signed Joel Bitonio to a six year extension.All within the first day of the new league year. Since then its been quiet which is why I thought it would be a good idea to share my thoughts on the signings and also wrap-up the Terrelle Pryor situation.

First, I want to hit on the offensive line moves. It seems the Browns have given up on Cam Erving and might only keep him as a utility lineman. Erving's problems isn't because of a lack of effort but it just seems like he really isn't that good. He struggled a multiple positions in his two years with the Browns and it the Browns would rather not trust him as the starting center protecting whoever is the "franchise quarterback".

Tretter is a really good center but has a list of injuries during his short NFL career. Now, they seem to be freak injuries like the MCL one this past year, but its still going to be a risk with him, which is why the Browns won't get rid of Cam Erving so quickly, and won't (in my opinion) have Cam Erving compete for the right tackle position.

The Zeitler move shows the Browns aggressiveness not just in free agency but for this up-coming season. The Browns front office must believe they will have their franchise quarterback on the roster in July. It would seem crazy for the Browns to sign Zeitler to largest contract in league history for a guard and not have an idea who's going to be playing the quarterback position for the majority of this guys' contract. Now, whether its Jimmy Garoppolo or someone they take early in the draft, it really doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that this regime has identified their quarterback and are going to build around him. And it seems like Hue Jackson convinced Zeitler they have a guy in mind and are going to do whatever they can to get that quarterback into a Browns' uniform.

And the Joel Bitonio extension was an obvious good sign that the Browns value their own players highly. And fans can see that with not just Bitonio's extension but Jamie Collins too. Plus, it is good "PR" for the Browns after last off-season with Mitchell Schwartz and his contract debacle.

Signing Kenny Britt was more about not having a hole at receiver if Terrelle Pryor decides to go somewhere else. And the Browns chose a really solid receiver in Britt to be Pryor's replacement. Britt is coming off of a 1000 yard season, a deep threat to open up the field, and also he's a veteran. He's the same age as Pryor but he's not the athletic freak like Pryor. Britt is a veteran so he can lead the Browns receiver room. Not just on the field but off-field too. Britt had to rebuild his career after multiple off the field incidences that lead to him leaving the Tennessee Titans.  

The best move for the Browns was trading for Houston's second round pick in 2018. The Browns traded their own fourth-round compensatory pick this year for a the second round pick, a sixth round pick, and quarterback Brock Osweiler. The brilliant part of this trade was getting the second round 2018 pick and Osweiler. The second round pick is another asset for the Browns to either draft or to be able to trade up for a certain player they like. But also getting Osweiler "kills two birds with one stone". Osweiler can be the backup quarterback, if the Browns decide to redshirt a rookie quarterback. But his $16 Million guaranteed for this season gets the Browns closer to the NFL minimum they need to spend.  

I believe the Browns probably offered Pryor a similar contract to the one Britt received. But Terrelle and his agent thought he could get way more than he ended up getting. Pryor ended up with a 1-year $6 Million "bet on himself" type deal. Not saying it was a bad idea for Pryor, but if he really wanted to stay in Cleveland, he should have just taken the Browns offer. It would have given Pryor his guaranteed money.

Overall, the Browns moves during the start of free agency have been positive on paper. They still have a lot of cap room to add a player or two on the defensive side of the ball. And hopefully re-sign Isaiah Crowell to be their "bell cow" running back lead by their new look offensive line.

Krunch Time With Katelin: Potential of the New Look Cavaliers

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE


Its kinda crazy how deep this roster is considering where they started this year. David Griffin turned Mo Williams' contract, Chris "Birdman" Anderson, Mike Dunleavy, Jordan McRae and a first round pick into Kyle Korver, Derrick Williams, Deron Williams, and Andrew Bogut. The Cavs now can easily go 12-deep once Kevin Love and JR Smith are healthy. And that still leaves out rookie Kay Felder, DeAndre Liggins (who's played in 47 games, starting 19) and "Champ" James Jones, who is only shooting 59% from three in his 37 games he's played. This Cavs team might be one of the deepest teams in league history. What other team has seven players who were taken in the top five in the draft (including three former first overall picks).  But how will they all fit? That's the question going into the postseason.

That question is going to be a difficult one to answer right now because as of right now everything fits. Deron Williams can run the point guard for the second unit with Richard Jefferson, Korver, Derrick Williams and Andrew Bogut but here is were it gets interesting. Ty Lue will need to balance giving guys like LeBron and Kyrie rest and using the games as a way to find rotations that work. We seen it against Boston. Lue went with a lineup of Kyrie, Deron Williams, LeBron, Derrick Williams, and Thompson to end the game. It gave them three players who can get their own shot and create for each other, and the Williams/Thompson front-court that can attack the boards but still have the ability to switch on the pick and rolls.

The Bogut signing gives the Cavs another rim-protector just-in-case Thompson gets into foul trouble. Bogut has only played in 26 games this year for Dallas (21 starts) so its not like Bogut will play in every game, but his situation is a lot like the situation with Jefferson and Derrick Williams once Smith and Love gets back. Bogut's playing time will depend on the matchup and if the Cavaliers want to give Thompson rest before the playoffs. But the majority of the time it will depend on the type of team the Cavs play. For example a team like Milwaukee, they'll play small with Greg Monroe off the bench (we seen Lue Start Jefferson at power forward instead of Channing Frye), but when the Cavs play Toronto its a different story will the amount of big men they have.

The Cavs will still have their three point shooting lineup in Kyrie, Smith, Korver, James, and Love/Frye or their ability to go "big" with their LeBron, Korver, Jefferson, Derrick Williams, Frye lineup. Its pretty ridiculous the amount of mixing and matching Ty Lue can do. Its like having different formations in football, it will depend on the matchup and how each individual game is going.



All in all, the Cavaliers have a ton of options at their disposal and its going to fun and frustrating at times while they fine who they are. But they should have enough time before the playoffs get started because in reality we know the nine players who will play in every game its the extra one or two where there are questions.

Krunch Time With Katelin: NBA Trading Deadline Predictions

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE


The NBA trading deadline is one of the most hectic time of the sporting year. And this year is looking like one for the ages. Dating back to January there have been a number of moves that could change the state of teams not just this year but in future years. Starting with the Kyle Korver to Cleveland deal, Serge Ibaka to Toronto,  and the surprise post All-Star game Demarcus Cousins trade to New Orleans to play along side Anthony Davis. But that's all in the past and now its time to make some predictions for what's to come in the next 48 hours.

1. Carmelo Anthony doesn't get traded:
It seems unlikely that the Knicks: A. Finds a deal that benefits them going forward. B. The deal involves a contending team for Carmelo to join. The team the holds a ton of assets for a trade like this is the Boston Celtics. The Celtics have the expiring contracts and the potential top draft pick a team like Knicks would want for someone like Melo. But when it comes to the Celtics I don't see Melo waving his no-trade clause to go to Boston. If reports are true, Melo would only waive his (NTC) for Cleveland (play with LeBron) or the Clippers (play with Chris Paul).

2. The Timberwolves make a Deal involving Ricky Rubio:
    Rubio is a solid point guard, but with the way the T-Wolves play spacing becomes an issue. Rubio's inability to shoot the three consistently ends with defense clogging the paint when defending Rubio. And it doesn't help when their frontcourt; Wiggins, Anthony-Towns, and Dieng all have the same strengths of getting into the paint and finishing. Plus with the season-ending injury to Zach Lavine the T-Wolves now have a giant hole at shooting guard. A trade of Rubio to the Cavs for Iman Shumpert has been speculated for a bit since it fits a need for both teams but I don't see the Cavaliers making a trade like this...or one at all.

3. The Cavaliers keep things "Status Quo":
Like I stated in my article "What Should the Cavs Do Now with Kevin Love Out 6 Weeks?", "Status Quo" just means keeping an open roster spot for a player who is a free agent or someone who has their contract bought-out after the deadline. With the injuries to Love and J.R. Smith the Cavs should focus on getting healthy and learn how to play with the players they have now. We seen it take a month or so for Kyle Korver to fit into the Cavs offense and vise-versa. This shouldn't but much of a surprise and fans should think of Korver as their trading deadline acquisition.

4. The 76ers Deal Jahlil Okafor for a Backcourt Player:
With the emergence of Joel Embid the 76ers now have an overstock of frontcourt players. Per reports Okafor was almost dealt to Portland and was rumored in trade talks to New Orleans. The 76ers lack a young shooter guard, and lets keep it 100... Nik Stauskas isn't a starting shooter guard in the league. As of right now teams interested in Okafor are the Indiana Pacers and the Phoenix Suns. So maybe that means Brandon Knight is on the move again.

5. The Knicks Trade Derrick Rose:
If the Knicks trade anyone the smart money seems to be on Rose...and like stated earlier the T-Wolves are seeking to trade away Rubio. Minnesota's head coach Tom Thibodeau is reportedly pushing for a trade that would bring Rose to Minny. It seems unlikely but the contracts aren't too crazy to be worked out and the Knicks might want to get whatever they can for the former MVP.

6. Orlando Trades one (or more) of their Backcourt players:
 The Magic are in a mist of a rebuild...again. And they have a number of player who would seem to fit on multiple playoff teams. D.J. Augustin has played on three playoff teams in his career and its been in a backup role. Augustin is known as a three point shooter who can create his own shot at times and his contract is only $7.3 Million and at the age of 29 the four year deal shouldn't be any cause of concern for teams trading for him. C.J. Watson is older at 32 but like Augustin has playoff experience some teams would want in a backup guard. His contract isn't as bad as Augustin's two years at $5 Million per year. And lets not forget about Jodie Meeks. Meeks is in the last year of his deal

7. Boston Trades for Jimmy Butler:
This one is a long shot but the Celtics should buy into this year and make a big splash. Butler playing along side of Thomas and Horford should give the Cavs an actual series. I'm not saying they could beat the Cavaliers but a Boston vs Cleveland Eastern Conference finals should be an entertain series. The Bulls future is questionable and with the signing of Rondo and Wade they were rushed into contending when in reality that wasn't their plan. So trading Butler for the Brooklyn Nets' pick (which should be a top-4 lock) and expiring contracts is a great place to rebuild.

What Should The Cavs Do Now With Kevin Love Out for 6 Weeks?

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The Cavaliers will be without All-Star Forward Kevin Love for at least the next 6 weeks because of a minor knee procedure. Love was putting up crazy numbers, 20 PPG and 11.1 RPG in 46 games. Love is the only player in the Eastern Conference averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds and is one of only five in the entire league. With the injury to Love, the Cavaliers seem likely to make an acquisition before the trading deadline and during "buyout season". But should the Cavs make a move...and if they do to what extent?

After a day of thinking about life without K-Love for a month and the likelihood of  Love coming back before the playoffs, the Cavs really shouldn't make a giant move like Carmelo (for example). Its not just giving up Kevin Love but potentially a combination of Iman Shumpert and Channing Frye to get Melo doesn't make sense. Sure the addition of Melo would be great on paper with Love out but it would increase the minutes of Korver, Liggins, and Jefferson at the shooting guard position. Which seems fine for the time being but the Cavs should be wary about extending playing time of aging vets like Korver and Jefferson. And outside of gutting their rotation. Why would the Cavs only give themselves a handful of games, before the playoffs, to find the chemistry on-court with a "Big Four". It would seem to benefit the Cavs to stay away from a blockbuster deal and basically play the rest of the season "status quo". So what should the Cavs do, its not like they are going to waste open roster spots?



"Status quo", in this situation, means keeping options open for guys like Larry Sanders, Mario Chalmers, and Jameer Nelson. Whether its a move via a trade or via free agency the Cavs should continue to find guys like Jordan McRae and  Dahntay Jones. Guys who seemed to be afterthoughts but played an important role on the Championship team last year.

Heck, the Cavs hope to have found something like that in Derrick Williams. The former second overall pick in the 2011 draft was looking to join a winning opportunity after being waived by the Miami Heat earlier this month. The guy hasn't been on a team that's won over 32 games in a season...and now he's averaging 21 mins off the bench and scoring about 10 PPG in his short three game stint in Cleveland. And this is all while playing on a 10-day contract.

We know they can win games without Love and fans really shouldn't freak out and want some type of drastic change. It seems like fans forget the run during the 2015 playoffs. Losing Love in the first round and still making it to the finals without him and without any real challenge. But sure, "maybe" the Cavs end up losing a few more games than expected...and "maybe" end the season the second or third seed in the Eastern Conference. That shouldn't cause us fans to freak out. We are still talking about a defending championship team who has shown their ability to fight through adversity. So let me quote Aaron Rodgers for a second "R-E-L-A-X".

Everything is going to be okay and let's not freak out if the Cavs aren't involved in some type of blockbuster trade by Thursday, February 23 at 3p.m. EST.

On Carmelo Anthony, the Cleveland Cavaliers & the New York Knicks Dilemma

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

While watching the Cavaliers take on the Wizards on Monday, Frank Isola of the New York Daily News comes out with an article "LeBron pushing Cavs to acquire Carmelo Anthony even if it includes Kevin Love: Sources". I usually take articles like this with a grain of salt. And hell, even LeBron called Isola and his article "trash". But this article and many reports of "Melo to the Cavs" got me thinking. How would Carmelo fit on the Cavs...and why in the world would the Knicks want Kevin Love?

Now we all have an idea how Carmelo would fit on this Cavalier team. Whether he or LeBron move to the power forward and the Cavs play small ball going forward. Also the addition to Melo would give the Cavaliers another ball dominate shot creator they've been lacking since the "Big 3" teamed up in 2014. But my questions to the idea of Melo for Love (or anyone on the Cavs) is why?

This team took a year and a half to understand how to play together. They had to fire their coach mid-season last year and are just over a calendar year in coach Lue's system. A system which uses Love's strengthens, which we can see by his stats (19.9 PPG 11.1 RPG 38% from three and shooting 15 shots per game, which is up by three from the previous two years in Cleveland) and being named as an All-Star. Love is also one of the top scorers in the first quarter (putting up 34 points earlier this year which is a NBA record). The way Lue tries to get Love going early is a spark the Cavs use day in and day out and it keeps the opposition honest throughout the game, knowing Kevin Love can take over at any point. And let's not forget to mention Love's ability to rebound which is one of the best in the league. His play next to Tristan Thompson only helps the Cavs ability to play with so many shooters. If the Cavs only had Thompson and Frye as 'true" front-court players it would force LeBron or Melo to attack the boards a lot more which could limit the Cavs in transition both offensively and defensively.

Adding Melo to a lineup with Kyrie Irving and LeBron only seems to look good on paper or on NBA 2k. Melo or LeBron aren't the spot-up shooters Love his and aren't the type of players who would consistently play down in the post like Love does. Sure, adding Melo would help in a number of ways. LeBron could take over as point guard of the second unit and give that second unit a legitimate scoring threat. And it could ease LeBron going forward, the Cavs could cut James' mins the rest of the season and in future years. But, it would still force LeBron to play inside more, which could hurt him more than what he's playing now. I understand LeBron would love to play with one of his best friends but trading for Melo seems to be a "robbing Peter to pay Paul" type of situation. Yes, adding another elite scorer is never a bad thing but let's not discredit Kevin Love and what he does. This team finally knows how to play together and they showed us all that its a championship team without a "playmaker" outside of Kyrie and LeBron. So why would they make such a drastic change mid-season.  

The most complex part of this deal is Kevin Love on the Knicks. I just don't understand the thinking adding him. The Knicks already have multiple front court players. They just drafted Kristaps Porzingis 4th overall last year to be their guy paired to Melo, but without Melo and adding Kevin Love does that mean Porzingis will move to Center permanently? Spacing wise it might work out with both Love and Porzingis switching back and forth in the post but they'd still be lacking a Scorer can create for himself and teammates.

And its just not the Porzingis factor. The Knicks gave Joakim Noah a 4-year/$72 million deal this past off-season. And with his inability to stay healthy this season its not like Knicks have teams lining up to trade for him. Speaking of Noah's injuries, his replacement Willy Hernangomez has played really well in Noah's absences. Hernangomez is another young front-court player who was drafted last year. The Knicks traded two second round picks to get him and in his rookie season this year has averaged 6&5 in 15  minutes per game. And I didn't mention Kyle O'Quinn who's on his second year of a four year deal he signed in 2015.

So why all the love for Love in New York? Is it just to get Melo out of town or is it to potentially trade Love this upcoming off-season? Whether the answer to that question is one or the other, or a combination of both, Cavs and Knick fans should be extremely surprised if a deal is even made at all.

Krunch Time With Katelin: Why We Should/Shouldn't Panic About the Cavs

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The Cavaliers just finished up a tough month of January where they went 7-8. It marked the first time since 2006 where a LeBron lead team had a month under .500. Even with that being said the Cavs and their fans should panic to any crazy level but there are a few areas that should have them a bit concerned.

So why should the Cavs be concerned?

1. The Cavs have been beating themselves up this past month. In many of these losses they've committed a ton of turnovers and missed free throws. For example, in their 116-112 OT loss to the Kings on January 25, the Cavs shot 17/34 from the free throw line and committed 18 turnovers. Or even in their loss against the Mavericks. The Cavs shot 71% from the line and committed 17 turnovers compared to the Mavericks who only committed 9 turnovers. Obviously the Cavs are one of the most talented teams in the league and these issues usually end up fixing themselves but their might be a correlation between free throws and turnovers and the second reason why the Cavs might be concerned.

2. The lack of a playmaker outside of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. This might be the main concern going forward for this team. And its just not for the playoffs but during late March and early April when the Cavs will be resting guys like Irving and James. An addition of a playmaker would help ease the minute load for James and Irving. James is averaging 37.5 minutes per game which is leading in the NBA. At 32 years old the Cavs would love to cut down James' minutes by a few especially since the calendar is getting closer to April.

Unfortunately for the Cavs, their help probably won't come until the trading deadline or later (buyout season). There are a few names the Cavs might/are targeting. Guys like Rondo, Deron Williams, and TJ McConnell would fit perfectly. They are all guys who can create shots for themselves and for others, Adding one of these players with the second unit of Shumpert, Frye, Korver, and Jefferson would give LeBron and Kyrie and opportunity to stay fresh for the 4th quarter. Also it pairing one of these guys with LeBron or Kyrie will give them and opportunity to play off the ball, opening up the three-ball for the Cavs' sharpshooters.


With all (or most) of the concerns being aired there are a few reasons why the Cavs shouldn't worry about this rough patch.

1. The Cavaliers are the defending champions and should be given the benefit of the doubt. LeBron is working on going to his seventh straight NBA Finals. He knows how to get his team back on track (if you really think they jumped track...I guess).  This team is a veteran championship team and LeBron and company seem to pick their spots at times. January games matter to lottery teams but for teams like the Cavs, Warriors, and Spurs these games don't really matter. If anything, this is the time of year where teams are trying to get healthy and assessing their situations before the trading deadline. So many this struggle is more of a blessing than a curse.

2. The Cavs aren't 100% health wise. The loss of J.R, Smith and off and on injuries to Kevin Love are putting guys like James Jones and Deandre Liggins into rotation. Usually injuries are one of the reasons to be concerned but with this team it isn't. Even Kevin Love's back aches shouldn't be a problem during the playoffs. And the lack of a scorer and defender like Smith really hurts the Cavs right now. But with Smith back before the playoffs and the injury being only his thumb, it shouldn't take long for him to get back into playing shape before the playoffs.

3. The past three years the Cavs have had January struggles since the "Big three" teamed up. The first year was the two weeks off for LeBron and the J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, and Mozgov trade. And last year was the firing of David Blatt and promotion of Tyronn Lue. The Cavs aren't going to make a drastic change like in years before but we know for a fact this team plays its best during adversity. Hell, they came back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA finals against the best regular season team in NBA history, so who really cares about struggles in January?


Just let me know when the playoffs start.

Krunch Time With Katelin: Five Stories and Thoughts from the 2016 Cleveland Browns

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

2016 was tough year for the Browns. A number of different quarterbacks, a ton of injuries, and the lack of wins resulting in the number one overall pick in the upcoming draft. We knew this past season was going to be rough and the start of a tear-down rebuild, but not many expected the Browns to end up 1-15 at seasons end. With 1-15 there aren't a lot of stories to tell but here are five stories that will help recap this 2016 season.

5. Let's start with the number of quarterbacks this past season. Not counting Terrelle Pryor and Duke Johnson who threw passes this season, the Browns had five different quarterbacks lineup under center for them. Cody Kessler, Josh McCown, and Robert Griffin III started this past season with Kevin Hogan and Charlie Whitehurst taking snaps in relief of Cody Kessler. The quarterback problems started week one when RGIII broke a bone in his shoulder. Then, in week two, McCown ended up breaking his collar bone which sidelined him for a month and a half. Cody Kessler didn't play terrible for a rookie quarterback but he didn't do enough to keep the job for the entire season. RGIII ended up started the last four weeks and didn't help solidify anything for the 2017 season.

4. Jamie Collins, one of the best linebackers in the NFL, got traded from the New England Patriots to Cleveland. The Browns gave up a third round pick for his services. After the Browns traded for Collins it was weird to see on the field. Everyone could tell how good he was and at some points he seemed frustrated with the lack of talent around him. It was also weird to hear the speculation of why Collins was traded out of New England. Whether it was locker room stuff or him being a free agent in 2017...it will hopefully help the Browns going forward.

3. Even though the year was tough a number of players stepped up and made a giant leap. Guys like Christian Kirksey, Jamar Taylor, Danny Shelton and Isaiah Crowell improved immensely because of the opportunity given. Danny Shelton played like a top tier nose tackle. He was constantly disrupting the flow of the opposing offensive line even if statistically the Browns defense didn't play well. Christian Kirksey ranked 6th in total tackles with 143. The past two years he was spelling Karlos Dansby but this year he was all over and was a three down player. He improved on his run defense and has always been a solid in pass coverage. Jamar Taylor was traded to Cleveland from Miami for a handful of spots...in the seventh round of the 2016 draft.

Taylor was a former second round pick who seemed to be a bust for Miami. For his growth this past season the Browns ended up rewarding him with a 3yr/$15 million extension. And finally Isaiah Crowell...who ended up 48 rushing yards short of 1000 for the season. The First few weeks of the season Crowell was lighting it up and was in the top 5 in rushing yards. Because of injuries at offensive line Crowell's 1000 yard season dream came up short, but it was positive in the sense of how the Browns found their starting running back going forward.

2. Terrelle Pryor's transition from quarterback to wide receiver was amazing to see...even if former and opposing players criticized him for being emotional on the field. Its not that people didn't think he could do it, he's a freak athlete, but if he was going to become selfish and become a "diva" on and off the field. While off the field some took their shots at him on the field he played extremely well. 77 catches 1007 yards and four touchdowns in his first full season at receiver is pretty dang good. Hell fans wanted the Browns to sign Pryor to an extension after his crazy game in Miami where he caught eight passes for 144 yards, ran for 21 yards and a touchdown...and threw the ball for 35 yards on 3/5 passing. It will be interesting to see if Pryor has a future in the Browns and Orange but even if he doesn't he was one of (if not the main reason) people still tuned in on Sundays to watch the Browns.

1. The Browns only winning one game this season has to be the number one story. Whether it was speculation Hue Jackson and company were going to get fired at the end of the season...which turned out to be kinda true. Or the number of odd ways the Browns found themselves on the short end of the win column. Like when The Browns stormed to a 20-2 lead against the Ravens and ended up losing 25-20 because of a blocked PAT that was returned for a touchdown and a missed field goal. (and lets not forget about the stupid flag on Terrelle Pryor when he went to give the official the ball) Or when Cody Parkey missed three field goals in one game including a potential game winner, And the Duke Johnson fumble that he obviously recovered but the lady official completely messed up calling a Redskins recovery when Johnson had the ball five yards behind her. And that all happened in consecutive weeks...And the 0-16 parade which divided Browns fans on many social media platforms. Heck, it ended up having one of Cleveland's top radio personalities threatening to run over people who were participating in the parade.(I guess anything for ratings). But All in all the Browns won a game and ten's of thousands of dollars were donated to the Cleveland Food Bank because of the fan funded 0-16 parade and the contributions from the Cleveland Browns and others.

This season was a trip. Remembering all these stories and seeing how social media was during this headache of a season was something to remember...if people didn't pay that close of attention because of the Indians playoff success or the Ohio State University during their thing on Saturday's. But the "try-out year" as I coined in my season preview was a success. I think the Browns have a good idea of were their weaknesses are and now have the tools to fix this team the correct way. And that starts with making smart signing during free agency with the large amount of cap room they have and the number one overall pick in April's draft.