Cleveland Browns: John Dorsey calls out David Njoku

Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey took the podium today and the NFL combine. During his conference, he took the time to call out David Njoku.

The Cleveland Browns need a blocking tight end. It was readily apparent heading into the 2018 season that general manager John Dorsey was not sold on former first round pick David Njoku’s ability to block. Before last season, Dorsey brought in tight end Darren Fells primarily as a run blocker.

At the very end of today’s press conference at the 2019 NFL Combine, Dorsey was asked about improving the team. He addressed the play of David Njoku in particular. He stated, “I challenge him here today, you know what, improve your run blocking.”

The comments on Njoku can be found at minute 18 of the following video.

Although some fans may find his challenge to Njoku harsh, Dorsey is absolutely correct with his assessment. Njoku is the poster child for former vice president of football operations Sashi Brown’s approach to drafting players. He is an extremely athletic player who must learn to play football at the NFL level.

Sashi had a habit of drafting players like this. For example, Jabrill Peppers is extremely athletic but came into the league with very little man coverage skills. Seth DeValve is an extremely athletic WR/TE out of Princeton who is learning to play tight end at the NFL level. To an extent, Myles Garrett fits this mold. He is an athletic freak that every Browns coach has stated needs to learn more techniques to reach his potential.

This draft philosophy works great when those players can be taught to play at the NFL level.  Peppers showed how well this can work by developing man coverage skills. But for every Peppers there is a Njoku who seems to struggle with the nuances of his position.

Dorsey knows what Njoku can become, but he will not get there until he can figure out how to block at the NFL level. The question on Njoku is does he want to block.

Who can forget the “that’s so Browns moment” when Njoku forgot his assignment allowing a defender to proceed untouched on their way to sacking quarterback Baker Mayfield. We were all dumbfounded as we watched Greg Robinson turn around to watch Baker get sacked. Robinson then proceeded to yell at Njoku for his failure to pick up the block.

The only block I can remember Njoku correctly executing over the past two seasons occurred on a running back Nick Chubb touchdown on the goal line. The defensive end rushed heavily up field while Njoku merely shielded him off from Chubb. I have watched every game on coaches film, it is the only correctly executed run block I can remember (not saying there are not more out there).

The problem with Njoku’s blocking is that he does not seem interested in doing it. His technique is extremely poor. He fails to attain leverage on defenders. His efforts seem halfhearted as he allows defenders off his frame very quickly. In short, Njoku looks like a man uninterested in blocking.

How do you deal with a person uninterested in doing something? Exactly! You challenge them in front of the entire football world to do it.

Your move Njoku. Let’s hope its into the play side gap for an effective run block.