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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For a new year, some new thoughts ...
About the Browns
1. It's time for fans to face the truth. Their team is nearly empty of playmakers on offense, other than having a big-time left tackle in Joe Thomas. The Browns ranked 30th in runs of at least 20 yards. They have five -- three from Chris Ogbonnaya, one from Peyton Hillis and one from Colt McCoy.
2. They ranked 30th in passing plays of at least 20 yards. Guess who leads the team in that category? It's Joshua Cribbs with eight, and questions remain about him even being a starting receiver in the NFL. Next is Greg Little with six.
3. All of this screams Playmakers -- Get the Browns some playmakers!
4. It also underlines that the West Coast Offense is no magic formula. It is no better than whatever was used by the Browns under Eric Mangini. In fact, in some categories, they are worse. No one claimed the Browns would become a top-10 team on offense. But they averaged 16.9 points under Mangini in 2010, 13.9 this season. You can argue that Hillis was injured much of this season, but the Browns kept getting quarterbacks hurt in 2010.
5. My point is absolutely nothing changed in the big picture when it comes to offense. Maybe the passing is a little better, as Little does have 61 catches. They have 16 TD passes compared to 13 a year ago. But the running game is much worse. The goal is the end zone. The Browns simply can't find it.
6. The team must undertake a wide-ranging offensive upgrade. That means you don't trade tons of draft picks to move up and grab a quarterback. It means you admit a need for two receivers, and one should be a veteran with the ability to make clutch catches in traffic.
7. The running game must be a concern. Do they re-sign Hillis after this injury-prone season? They certainly can't count on Montario Hardesty, because he can't stay healthy. Ogbonnaya is a nice backup. Brandon Jackson will be back from his foot injury, but he is not considered a heavy-duty running back.
8. It's amazing the same team that opened training camp with real depth at running back -- Hillis, Hardesty and Jackson -- may need to add a running back. Hillis has battled several injuries and has been fully healthy for only about four games this season.
9. None of this is an enthusiastic endorsement of McCoy. He does not have the physical gifts to be an elite quarterback. But other than Andrew Luck, that guy doesn't appear to be in the draft. Robert Griffin III is a playmaker, but exactly how does he fit into the passing offense? Everything he does is out of the shotgun, which is not the favorite formation of the Browns. He is most dangerous running around, rather than taking a quick drop back and zipping a short pass.
10. Maybe the Browns would be willing to turn their offense upside down for Griffin. If they do draft him, they must institute some major changes. If not, it's a wasted pick.
11. But even with Griffin, they have so many questions at wide receiver and running back that must be filled. Yes, they need a right tackle.
12. The Browns may wonder why the media and fans have been so negative. It's more than the 4-11 record. It's how the team raised expectations for the offense, but didn't deliver. This has been a bad, boring team on too many Sunday afternoons.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For a new year, some new thoughts ...
About the Browns
1. It's time for fans to face the truth. Their team is nearly empty of playmakers on offense, other than having a big-time left tackle in Joe Thomas. The Browns ranked 30th in runs of at least 20 yards. They have five -- three from Chris Ogbonnaya, one from Peyton Hillis and one from Colt McCoy.
2. They ranked 30th in passing plays of at least 20 yards. Guess who leads the team in that category? It's Joshua Cribbs with eight, and questions remain about him even being a starting receiver in the NFL. Next is Greg Little with six.
3. All of this screams Playmakers -- Get the Browns some playmakers!
4. It also underlines that the West Coast Offense is no magic formula. It is no better than whatever was used by the Browns under Eric Mangini. In fact, in some categories, they are worse. No one claimed the Browns would become a top-10 team on offense. But they averaged 16.9 points under Mangini in 2010, 13.9 this season. You can argue that Hillis was injured much of this season, but the Browns kept getting quarterbacks hurt in 2010.
5. My point is absolutely nothing changed in the big picture when it comes to offense. Maybe the passing is a little better, as Little does have 61 catches. They have 16 TD passes compared to 13 a year ago. But the running game is much worse. The goal is the end zone. The Browns simply can't find it.
6. The team must undertake a wide-ranging offensive upgrade. That means you don't trade tons of draft picks to move up and grab a quarterback. It means you admit a need for two receivers, and one should be a veteran with the ability to make clutch catches in traffic.
7. The running game must be a concern. Do they re-sign Hillis after this injury-prone season? They certainly can't count on Montario Hardesty, because he can't stay healthy. Ogbonnaya is a nice backup. Brandon Jackson will be back from his foot injury, but he is not considered a heavy-duty running back.
8. It's amazing the same team that opened training camp with real depth at running back -- Hillis, Hardesty and Jackson -- may need to add a running back. Hillis has battled several injuries and has been fully healthy for only about four games this season.
9. None of this is an enthusiastic endorsement of McCoy. He does not have the physical gifts to be an elite quarterback. But other than Andrew Luck, that guy doesn't appear to be in the draft. Robert Griffin III is a playmaker, but exactly how does he fit into the passing offense? Everything he does is out of the shotgun, which is not the favorite formation of the Browns. He is most dangerous running around, rather than taking a quick drop back and zipping a short pass.
10. Maybe the Browns would be willing to turn their offense upside down for Griffin. If they do draft him, they must institute some major changes. If not, it's a wasted pick.
11. But even with Griffin, they have so many questions at wide receiver and running back that must be filled. Yes, they need a right tackle.
12. The Browns may wonder why the media and fans have been so negative. It's more than the 4-11 record. It's how the team raised expectations for the offense, but didn't deliver. This has been a bad, boring team on too many Sunday afternoons.
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