Green Bay Packers-Cleveland Browns: Rodgers Could Have a Big Day

The only question Browns fans should be pondering going into Sunday’s game is: Just how bad is this team going to lose?

Aaron Rodgers has been the cornerstone of the Packers offense so far this year, and now the Browns defense is getting hit by injuries.

But now that the frustration over losing to the Steelers has passed, fans should dwell on the positive going into each week’s losing experience. After all, the coaching staff already seemingly has decided this team will lose, so why mess with destiny?

This is not to say the Browns are a good team, or that the coaching staff is tanking the games in order to get a better draft pick, but it is being realistic. This team has extremely little talent, therefore, the coaches are approaching the 2009 season as one long exercise in preseason talent evaluation.

It isn’t the losing that is vexing to me, it’s the perception that Eric Mangini and staff aren’t approaching gameday as something to be won, rather they appear to be approaching it as “part of the process,” as Mangini is fond of saying.

Brian Daboll still is the offensive coordinator, so the Green Bay Packers have that going for them. Daboll probably will unleash a completely unimaginative offensive scheme featuring running plays that end at the line of scrimmage, and a four-yard pass on third and long.

Of course, the players on the field have to execute the plays and catch the balls, neither of which they appear capable of doing, but the plays being called in never really look like they were going to go very far anyway even if executed properly.

It can rightly be said Daboll is “learning on the job.” He’s never been an offensive coordinator before, and he’s being mentored by a guy who spent most of his NFL career on the defensive side of the ball.

This adds up to a bad situation.

It is very possible Daboll may one day be a very good offensive coordinator, but it’s difficult to see that now when all you have to do is look at the tape. Daboll is a guy who called a backwards moving play on third and long.

I’m not sure how playcalling that inept can signal greatness down the road, but that’s why I write the columns and Daboll takes credit for his starting quarterback being benched 10 quarters into the season.

Anyway, on to the Packers.

The Packers feature a weak offensive line, given that Aaron Rodgers has been sacked 25 times. Some of those sacks can be attributed to Rodgers holding onto the ball too long, but 25 sacks in six games means you have some holes.

Their offense relies on Rodgers arm as the team only has 506 total rushing yards compared to 1292 passing yards.

Rodgers has a 64.6 completion percentage and a 104.1 QB rating. Not too shabby.

On the defensive side, the Packers have a turnover ratio of +8, meaning Derek Anderson is going to have to be vigilant about giving up interceptions. He’s prone to throwing them, and the Packers are prone to catching them.

For the record, the Browns turnover ratio is -5.

If the Browns are to have any success on Sunday, Joshua Cribbs needs to be utilized more. The Wildcat should be seen early and often. Hopefully, Cribbs will be more comfortable in it this week.

Cribbs reportedly is fighting through some kind of knee injury, but we won't know the impact of that injury until gametime.

The Browns defense now is a lot worse with the loss of D’Qwell Jackson for the season. Eric Wright also may not be in top form after he rolled his Mercedes this week.

Jackson was the team's leading tackler going into this game with 56. Abram Elam is second with 42. That number can't be replaced.

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has done a good job of getting everything he can out of the limited talent he has to work with, and his job just became that much harder.

The same can’t be said of Daboll, which is why my prediction for this Sunday’s game is Packers win big.

I don't like saying it, it pains me to say it, but there it is. The only two questions Browns fans should be pondering at this point are: Which quarterback are the Browns going to draft next year, and how many more picks can Mangini accumulate between now and draft day?