Loading ...As it turns out, the New York Giants aren't the only team struggling with injuries. In addition to tight end Alex Smith and defensive back Tashaun Gipson, the Cleveland Browns have downgraded wide receivers Mohamed Massaquoi and Travis Benjamin to out for week five.
Massaquoi has been the number one target of rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden over the first four weeks, while Benjamin is supposed to be the next man up.
"[Massaquoi's] a guy that's been consistent all year," said Weeden. "He's made a lot of great plays. He's made plays not only in the run game, I mean blocking, all those things. He's a guy I have a lot of confidence in. I'm hoping comes back sooner rather than later. He's gonna be missed, but I think just consistency. He's a guy that doesn't make a bunch of mistakes and (he's) a competitor, a great teammate and kind of a leader for the rest of the receivers."
With both receivers out, the Browns will rely heavily on their running game and over-the-middle passes to their tight ends.
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I by no means believe this means “doom” for Sash. He hasn’t practiced with the team for a month. They got comfortable with Brown and Hill, both of whom have had game experience this season already. Rolle is obviously going to play (Was there really any question about that? I said he would play early this week when he wasn’t practicing…they’d have to cut his knee off to keep him off the field).
It will be very interesting over the next two weeks as the team has to make room for both Sash (if they intend to do so) and Canty. In Canty’s case, there’s no reason to speculate. There could be another injury between now and when he becomes roster-eligible. Obviously, an injury today might determine who is cut to make room for Sash, if anyone. I think it’s clear that KP’s injury was a sprain (watching it I hoped it was just a hyper-extension, but I guess it was a bit worse) but it sounds like he’ll be back within 2-3 weeks from now, so they’ll not put him on the designated IR.
IF they want Sash back (and I assume they do), and IF no one is hurt between now and when Canty returns, I think the guys at risk just have to be Kuhn, Scott, Cordle, Petrus (a lot riding for him on how he practiced this week, even if he doesn’t play today), Tryon, Beckum (he comes off PUP too), Jernigan and Barden.
Of all of these guys Scott would be my first cut. Not sure about the second one (and the third if they activate Beckum, or cut him), but while the most obvious ones would be one of Cordle, Petrus, Beckum and Tryon, I don’t think either Jernigan or Barden is safe by any means. Why? Because the Giants have their three top receivers as wideouts in Nicks, Cruz and Hixon, and that is fixed for now. It is also clear that they really hope that Randle plays well today but in any case have him ticketed for competition with Hixon this season. Their next best receiver is definitely Bennett. So, barring injury, they really have little use for Jernigan or Barden. Barden had one good game, one awful one (at least IMO). Jernigan will get some snaps today. He needs to make good on them. Beckum’s future may ride on what they think about Jernigan and Barden. They are not going to carry more receivers than they do now. So for Beckum to make the roster either Jernigan or Barden has to go. I know I will catch flak for this, but I suspect Beckum may have more value going forward than Barden. I think he can do everything Barden has done and much more because he is, simply, a far better athlete. I just don’t think he was used well over the past few seasons. On the other hand, the easiest thing, since Beckum is coming back from an ACL injury, is to IR him and look at his situation again next season.
Anyway, it’s going to be interesting. If I had to bet, I’d say they bring Sash back and dump Scott or Tryon (unless an injury this week makes the decision for them), and then dump the other when Canty returns.
Barden is not going to be cut. No matter what your view is the coaches have Barden as our #4 WR right now when everyone is healthy. Jernigan is not going to be cut for the same reason Austin wouldn’t, he’s a high draft pick and will be given time. Those other players are possible but a key factor is injuries. That’s why a players like Tryon, Cordle and Petrus have better chances than if we were healthy. Ojomo is a definite possibility along with Tracy. It will be interesting.
I do think it’s possible Sash will not be brought back. While he does have some long term value, Brown really has brought what Sash was suppose to. Also, I don’t see keeping 5 safeties again this year when every is back. So a safety likely has to go at some point. I like everyone else assumed it would be Brown but Brown just might be playing Sash off the roster.
If it were up to me I would cut Cordle. Petrus because of athleticism is a good special teams player and he does have talent. I think Cordle is a limited and his value s mostly with us so I think like a blackburn last year he would be available if needed. Petrus could as well but I think Cordle is more likely.
When Canty returns I would cut Sash. I would like to say Tryon but ourother CBs haven’t shown any durabilty. I don’t think we can afford to cut him. Sash seems to have fallen to the 5th safety and while he’s solid on special teams he’s not great there. I don’t think his upside is anymore than a 3rd safety. And Brown just looks better than what I have seen from Sash.
I’m afraid I agree with your last point. Five (healthy) safeties would be one too many. If Stevie has a good day, Sash might be the odd man out. And Sash as a pure cover guy might not have enough to supplant Tryon.
I’m sure the move they’d LIKE to make is to get Ojomo on to IR. With the emergence of Hill as a slot cover guy, Tryon would be expendable, but with all these tender hamstrings he’s not likely to go. Scott is the guy who presently doesn’t bring enough to the table each week. He’s a good teamer, but so is Sash, and if Bradshaw’s future is dark, Scott might have a role going forward. I wasn’t surprised they didn’t activate Sash. There was no clear move to make, and with Brown and Hill playing well, they really didn’t need to have Sash.
This team needs 4 WR’s on game day. Even better with 5. Any less and much of the current playbook is unusable, so Barden’s and Jernigan’s spots are safe.
Barden’s value is in being able to back-up both the X and Y receiver spots. Until Randle emerges as that guy instead, Barden’s value should not be underestimated. He will never be fast. He’s a klutz coming off the jam and he lacks superlative ball skills. But he can run to the hole in the zone and catch the ball. As long as the defender isn’t hanging on him, he can make a play.
Beckum isn’t coming off of PUP to take Barden’s spot. Furgettiboutit. If you wanted to run an offense more like the Patriots, perhaps a guy like Beckum could give you more production than a guy like Barden, but that would require a change in offensive philosophy. I understand Barden’s stock may be trading a little lower this week, but it’s still, IMO, a ‘hold’ and not a ‘sell.’
Looks like Richardson may get the ball 35 times today!!
Biggest mistake anyone can make, though, is to assume that because someone is out they don’t need to worry on defense. The back-ups are NFL players. There are only about 1350 of them dressed each week out of the millions who would like to be out there. You have to respect them all.
Having said that, if the Giants don’t win this game they should have to do a Walk of Shame.
Little and their 2nd round supplemental pick Gordon both have talent. Their TE is kind of like Robinison, a raw athletic guy that could pose some issues for our LBs. Their 3rd down RB looks dangerous out the backfield. Weeden has a good arm so I worry about given up something cheap. For as much as everyone wants us to blitz more I think a more conservative game plan makes sense vs Weeden. The game he played the worse was the Philly game and I look for us to copy their game plan.
If the Giants lose this game, it will be unbelievably embarrassing. But nothing would shock me. The Giants defending against the run? Yikes.
Go Big Blue!
The good news is they won’t need to rely heavily on the pass rush because it doesn’t sound like there will be many passes. Plays into the hands of the Giants because the Giants lately have no pass rush.
Giants are 26-6 Under Coughlin in October.
This should be a cakewalk. Only catastrophic screwups could turn it to the Browns.
agreed. BTW, that sh*t you posted yesterday may have been one of the funniest things I’ve ever read. That was Hysterical!
Best line was Eli being a hard a$$, “Yeah I went there”.
Could be a 2 hour and 20 minute game today, with a combined 65 runs.. Both teams are missing Key WR’s/ Te’s and will both try and run as much as they can