Pro Football Focus: Nuggets from the Cardinals Game

by Chris Pokorny on Dec 22, 2011 11:00 PM EST

Each week, Pro Football Focus takes a quick look back at each of the game's that took place in the previous week and analyzes them. Their review of the Browns vs. Cardinals game is now live. After the jump is a recap of some of the interesting things had to say, along with my own commentary.

Do you remember hearing about defensive end Jayme Mitchell against the Cardinals? There were a lot of defensive standouts against Arizona, but Mitchell was not one of them, according to PFF. They ripped him so much that I feel I need to link to their comments on him in full:
You may not have realized this, but Jayme Mitchell (-4.7) actually played 53 snaps against the Cardinals. A Cardinals team that features Levi Brown, the lowest rated left tackle in our Pass Blocking Efficiency ranking heading into the week. So Mitchell, who had two sacks against Jake Long earlier in the year (just how injured was Long?) may have expected to turn around his slumping season. He didn’t. In fact he didn’t even make a contribution on the stat sheet as Brown swallowed him up in the pass game, and Jeff King had fun moving him about in the run game. I hate to say such definitively negative things but Mitchell is hands down the worst starting defensive end in the league. It’s frankly ridiculous the Browns thought that Mitchell could hold up to the heavy workload they’ve expected of him.
Ouch.
PFF praised backup quarterback Seneca Wallace for making the offense look "more functional" than it did under Colt McCoy. They noted the following statistic for Wallace when the blitz was brought: "13 times the Cardinals sent five or more men and the results were an impressive 9-of-13 for 148 yards and a touchdown." Of course, a lot of that yardage came on Wallace's big touchdown throw to Greg Little.
Despite having a tough match-up against defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, offensive guard Shawn Lauvao continued his stretch of positive performances in the second half of the season; PFF specifically cites the Arizona game as Lauvao's best game to date.
Wide receiver Greg Little broke three tackles during the game. PFF claims that Little is now tied for the league-lead on the season in broken tackles for receivers with 14 (the other is the Panthers' Steve Smith). Other neat statistics from PFF: the Browns only missed one tackle all game, and they blitzed Skelton 12 times (he was 3-of-12 for 25 yards and 3 sacks on those plays).

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Jayme Mitchell looks hurt to me. But, the guy sucks.

(hang my head in shame)

by Bernie19Kosar on Dec 22, 2011 11:26 PM EST reply actions

Also, great note on Little. The guy is a player.

by Bernie19Kosar on Dec 22, 2011 11:27 PM EST reply actions

I think the cornerbacks were just surprised he caught the ball.

by Johnny G . on Dec 23, 2011 12:05 AM EST up reply actions 5 recs

Mitchell made levi brown look good

Levi fing brown.

by The Licensed Pessimist on Dec 22, 2011 11:48 PM EST reply actions

You may have point but…. HE BATTLED.

by macdowellm03 on Dec 23, 2011 3:17 AM EST via Android app up reply actions

That’s future hall of famer Mitchell to you!

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Dec 24, 2011 9:52 AM EST up reply actions

There were a lot of defensive standouts against Arizona, but Mitchell was not one of them

There goes that Championship. And here I thought he was the teams’ best pass rusher.

Dawgs by Nature -- where Montario Hardesty, apparently, 'did some good things'.

by North Coast Flea on Dec 22, 2011 11:51 PM EST reply actions

No Super Bowl for us. :(

I take this optimism shit seriously.

"Who gives two shits about Matt Roth besides Matt Roth and Matt Roth’s mom?" - LocalMan

Follow @thekozina

by The Licensed Optimist on Dec 23, 2011 1:12 AM EST up reply actions

Also, it seems we should have blitzed a lot more.

Dawgs by Nature -- where Montario Hardesty, apparently, 'did some good things'.

by North Coast Flea on Dec 22, 2011 11:54 PM EST reply actions

Mitchell is hands down the worst starting defensive end in the league.

oh snap

by Brownie's Year on Dec 23, 2011 12:02 AM EST reply actions

There’s still no doubt that Mitchell is a first ballot HOFer.

by C.b.I on Dec 23, 2011 12:16 AM EST reply actions

Shawn is really really developing nicely. Get a good RT next to him and this line will be a force to be reckoned with next year. Something that people worrying about with a rookie QB should think about.

by Johnnypronto on Dec 23, 2011 12:55 AM EST reply actions

Lauvao is doing way, way better than I expected. If we can snag a top RT in the draft or in FA, the O-line will be set when Steinbach returns next season, along with some new depth in Pinkston.

I take this optimism shit seriously.

"Who gives two shits about Matt Roth besides Matt Roth and Matt Roth’s mom?" - LocalMan

Follow @thekozina

by The Licensed Optimist on Dec 23, 2011 1:15 AM EST up reply actions

This. our RT situation has just been bad, and Lauvao is still learning. use our 2nd first rounder or a 2nd rounder or a solid (not Pashos solid, actually solid) FART and I think we’ll be ok…with Oline anyways.

Dawgs By Nature - The REAL International House of Pancakes

by Gabe Durrant on Dec 23, 2011 8:13 AM EST up reply actions

our RT situation has actually been fine since Pashos started playing, but he has trouble staying healthy so I wouldn’t mind a nd/3rd rounder on a RT.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
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by bross09 on Dec 23, 2011 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

He’s good on pass pro but not so great run blocking. He’s a total liability trying to run a screen pass or any sort of outside blocking that requires him to run. He does need ankle surgery though so he could get better there. I hope we keep him but bring in some quality veteran RT if one is available. Oneil Cousins and Artis Hicks are not going to cut it.

by HenryDawg on Dec 23, 2011 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

Pashos will be 32 years old going into his 10th season in 2012. Considering that and his size and persistent health issues I think his days are numbered career-wise.

That was my understanding.

by burntorangeandbrown on Dec 23, 2011 5:47 PM EST up reply actions

I hope we can bring in a good FA RT too. Pashos just isn’t cutting it.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Dec 23, 2011 9:54 PM EST up reply actions

Anyone who’s any good coming up on the end of his contract? I don’t want someone who was just cut. Nobody cuts a good FA RT. (See: St. Claire – he was a rotten FA RT).

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened."
— Winston S. Churchill
I have the best wife - ever.

by JustBob on Dec 24, 2011 10:33 AM EST up reply actions

They only cut the stinky ones.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Dec 25, 2011 4:12 AM EST up reply actions

I’ve read where they are talking about Pinkston moving to RT after Steinbach comes back, and that the coaches think that is his natural position and he fit in great there…..moving him there earlier in the year may have made sense then, but apparantly they didn’t have anyone they trusted to play LG.

What you do is so loud no one hears what you say.

by allsides on Dec 23, 2011 2:35 PM EST up reply actions

Pinkston has spent his entire career at OT- this is the first he’s playing at OG- so I guess they switched him inside when Steinbach went down. Meaning we had no depth at OG at all.

Good that he’s had 16 games pro experience working alongside JT though- that’s set him in good stead.

....just need a guy called Byner to play RT...

by LondonBrown on Dec 23, 2011 4:25 PM EST up reply actions

Pinkston was drafted to play guard. He played tackle in college but the FO didn’t think he had the athleticism or body type to do it in the pros. I think it’s more likely we see him move over to the right guard slot if Steinbach comes back and then Luvao becomes depth.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Dec 24, 2011 9:54 AM EST up reply actions

Wasn’t there talk of Pinkston at RG and moving Lauvao out to RT next year?

Even Doug Dieken admits Joe Thomas is the real #73

by Doc's Kid on Dec 24, 2011 11:13 AM EST up reply actions

Where did you read this?

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Dec 23, 2011 8:08 PM EST up reply actions

To be fair to Mitchell, his natural position is LDE and he switched over because Sheard was more comfortable on the the left. Also to be fair, Mitchell is the slowest player on the field.

by HenryDawg on Dec 23, 2011 11:33 AM EST reply actions

And to be fair, B19K guaranteed he would work out at DE

by The Licensed Pessimist on Dec 23, 2011 1:14 PM EST up reply actions

Sweet fancy Moses, do you hate me or what?

Too bad we don’t have Aaron Maybin to take some snaps, right?

by Bernie19Kosar on Dec 23, 2011 3:31 PM EST up reply actions

And to be fair, I never guaranteed anything, but by all means, continue to lie.

I would expect nothing less from you.

by Bernie19Kosar on Dec 23, 2011 3:32 PM EST up reply actions

That’s his MO. He makes up stuff, strawmans, and moves the goalpost until you prove how full of crap he is, then he disappears from the thread.

Dawgs by Nature -- where Montario Hardesty, apparently, 'did some good things'.

by North Coast Flea on Dec 23, 2011 5:29 PM EST up reply actions

U mad?

by The Licensed Pessimist on Dec 23, 2011 5:50 PM EST up reply actions

I always thought he was only half serious. I thought he would be good too because of his size but I never knew how slow he was. I guess we can’t blame Mangini for that one. He’s still decent depth/rotation guy.

by HenryDawg on Dec 23, 2011 4:17 PM EST up reply actions

I wasn’t serious. He was just being optimistic, but most people knew Mitchell probably wouldn’t amount to much at RDE

by The Licensed Pessimist on Dec 23, 2011 6:07 PM EST up reply actions

I think he is hurt.

by Bernie19Kosar on Dec 23, 2011 7:59 PM EST up reply actions

I think he is both hurt and not very good.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Dec 23, 2011 8:12 PM EST up reply actions

LDE and RDE aren’t incredibly different to the point where that is a reasonable explanation for why mitchell is so bad.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Dec 23, 2011 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

Well I think it’s fairly different because unless you’re ambidextrous your going to be stronger on one side of your body or the other. DE is one of the only positions where you spend the majority of time moving in the same arc direction so the side of your body your most comfortable with will dictate which side your more comfortable rushing from. Go run in a circle, I bet you one direction feels more natural than the other. Race horses are the same way, they’re all faster running counter clockwise because most of them have a bilateral strength preference. I know its not quite the same thing but its similar conceptually. Of course Mitchell sucks mostly because Taylor or Rubin could probably smoke him in the 40 and both are definitely quicker than Mitchell. Also most quality athletes will over come those things but Mitchell is probably below average.

by HenryDawg on Dec 23, 2011 4:24 PM EST up reply actions

You play your best DE and OLB on the left side. Also known as the Strong side. The switch of Sheard and Mitchell was necessary. Mitchell stinks and was benched later on. He’s only playing now because of injuries.

by Brownie's Year on Dec 23, 2011 6:52 PM EST up reply actions

We move linebackers based on strong/weak but we don’t move our line based on that distinction. Sheard always plays left regardless of strength of formation.

Typically, you see teams with their better pass rusher on the right, but Sheard just likes something about playing on the left. The fact that we are “St. Claireing” him against everyone doesn’t hurt, either.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Dec 23, 2011 8:11 PM EST up reply actions

Right, at certain times the LBs switch. But their primary position still stands.

And teams do play their best DE on the right. But it doesn’t make it the status quo. I wouldn’t call it typical either.

by Brownie's Year on Dec 23, 2011 10:41 PM EST up reply actions

And teams do play their best DE on the right. But it doesn’t make it the status quo. I wouldn’t call it typical either.

It’s actually very typical. teams play their best DE on the right to go after a QB’s blind side.

by The Licensed Pessimist on Dec 24, 2011 12:30 AM EST up reply actions

Right, in pre-season I thought Sheard was overmatched against LTs but he does great with RTs. Part of it is that where he’s more comfortable, the other part is that RTs aren’t as good as LTs. But the match up is worth it.

by HenryDawg on Dec 23, 2011 11:36 PM EST up reply actions

I do think it’s different, but if he was good period, he should be able to play RDE well even if his strength is LDE. He may just not be that good and he seemed to have disappeared even before the switch.

I teach good life choices. That's why I almost didn't graduate high school.
Follow @BRoss2013

by bross09 on Dec 23, 2011 9:56 PM EST up reply actions

Different enough that the coaches thought the move would help Sheard.

Spoiler alert: I think they were right.

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened."
— Winston S. Churchill
I have the best wife - ever.

by JustBob on Dec 23, 2011 9:20 PM EST up reply actions

I think the difference was just a comfort thing. I can’t really explain it, but playing a different side than you’re used to just feels weird.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Dec 24, 2011 9:57 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I was just being a smart ass. I’m sure that going against RTs (as pointed out above) also makes a diff.

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened."
— Winston S. Churchill
I have the best wife - ever.

by JustBob on Dec 24, 2011 10:35 AM EST up reply actions

Browns coaching

Shurmar is not a qualified head coach.He coaches not to lose,which is what happens.Versus the Steelers McCoy should never gone back in.Vs. the Rams he called plays to set up a F/G.Vs. the Cardinals he punts on 4th and an inch stopping a drive, c’mon your 4-9 .Go for it! With a 1:10 left in the Ariz. game he calls plays to run out the clock and get to OT;that almost backfired but the Browns did get beat in OT.Earlier in the 4th Qtr. the Browns had sacked the QB and it was 2nd and 19,but they pulled back and the Cards get a first down and eventually a TD. That was Jurod’s fault but he’s doing a good job.Murmar stinks!
Eagle 45

by Eagle 45 on Dec 23, 2011 6:18 PM EST reply actions

I needed eye drops after reading this.

by Brownie's Year on Dec 23, 2011 6:42 PM EST up reply actions

I went for the full blown eye wash station. Hazardous shyte. Hazardous.

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened."
— Winston S. Churchill
I have the best wife - ever.

by JustBob on Dec 23, 2011 9:23 PM EST up reply actions