Where do the Browns go from here?*
Some random thoughts on a Browns team that is 0-2 despite being on pace to only give up 264 points, the fewest since the team returned in 1999.
What We Know
This team can’t turn the ball over or commit an over abundance of penalties. Jake Delhomme threw what was essentially a TAINT against Tampa and Seneca Wallace threw a genuine one against Kansas City. Peyton Hillis fumbled deep in Tampa territory, Jerome Harrison fumbled to give KC a short field. Holding penalties, false starts, personal fouls. Add those all up and it’s not good news.
It’s not realistic to expect a team to play a perfect game. That’s just not going to happen. But the Browns have to work even harder than most teams to eliminate mistakes because they can least afford them.
Josh Cribbs is the team’s best wide receiver. Cribbs is the only receiver in the group that the defense has to worry about. Cribbs is a converted quarterback. So what does that say about the other three main receivers?
The defensive secondary is vastly improved over last year with the additions of Sheldon Brown, Joe Haden and T.J. Ward.
The team was smart not to give Jerome Harrison a new contract based on four games from last season. So far, it’s easy to see why the team drafted Montario Hardesty.
What We Fear
That Josh Cribbs may be the team’s best runner. We don’t really know this, though, because the Browns haven’t called his number much this year – only three rushing attempts after averaging 6.9 yards per rush last season. But if it’s true, that doesn’t say much for Harrison and Peyton Hillis.
That the four-game winning streak to end last season was a mirage, built not by a team that was finally showing improvement, but on a schedule that featured teams that had quit on the season (Oakland & Jacksonville), fluke games (Harrison vs. KC) and the most over-rated win in franchise history (Pittsburgh).
That Mohamed Massaquoi, Brian Robiskie and Chansi Stuckey may be the worse wide receiving group in the NFL.
That Jake Delhomme’s ankle injury is worse than we believe.
That the schedule is about to get decidedly more difficult over the next seven weeks.
That Brian Daboll is in over his head as an offensive coordinator.
That this team hasn’t improved as much as we’d hope.
What Does it all Mean?
The season is only two weeks old. We all knew this was a team that is still being rebuilt. We all wanted to believe the team was improving at least in some areas and it has – unquestionably in the secondary and, despite the first two games, at quarterback.
This is not, in any way, a “here we go again” scenario. But it’s also not the end of last season; the four-game winning streak is over and it’s clear that there was no carry-over. While not expecting the Browns to morph into a powerhouse overnight, we were hopeful that the team could be competitive, which in some fashion they have been the first two weeks.
There is still much that needs to be improved on, but that doesn’t mean we can’t raise our expectations of the team, if only slightly. That also doesn’t absolve anyone from taking their share of the blame. We can’t just say, “the talent is not there” and let the coaches off the hook. You win as a team, you lose as a team.
And while it is certainly not going to get any easier in the coming weeks, there’s no reason to give up on the season just yet.
*The Browns go to Baltimore for a game on Sunday against the Ravens.
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The weekend wasn’t a total loss as we bounced back with a big week in the 2010 Cheddar Bay Invitational over at Cleveland Frowns, going 3-0-1:
Penn State (-21) vs. Kent State. Win!
Green Bay (-13.5) vs. Buffalo. Win!
Houston (-3) vs. Washington. Push thanks to a big comeback from the Texans.
Atlanta (-6.5) vs. Arizona. Win! Finally, Derek Anderson does something for a Cleveland fan.
Season so far: 3-2-3.
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Here’s what everyone else is saying:
More about second-half planning and execution: Waiting for Next Year
Browns perfecting second-half disappearing act: Waiting for Next Year
Adjust your expectations: Cleveland Frowns (careful, Frowns is grouchy this week).
Here’s some Cribbs notes for Eric Mangini: Bill Livingston
Error-prone ways a torment to Eric Mangini: Terry Pluto (he’s not the only one being tormented)
Red Right 88 