Defining Expectations for 'Progress' in 2010

When Randy Lerner hired Eric Mangini last year, it was with the understanding that the new coach was going to have to blow up Club Romeo, and rebuild from the ground up.

Most knowledgeable football people would agree that process usually takes 3-4 years to run its course to completion.  While we now have a new President, Mike Holmgren has decided to keep Mangini and continue down the path the team began travelling a year ago, which effectively means that we're entering Year Two of "The Process."  So it's about time that we define what constitutes acceptable progress for this team in 2010.

Having established that we are, at best, only one third of the way through this most recent rebuilding project, defining this year's progress solely on the basis of the Browns' win/loss record in 2010 would be exceedingly difficult, and more than a little unfair.  Instead, let's focus more on some of the individual steps required to build what we all truly want—a perennial contender.

Rebuilding the Front Office

Good football teams have good football people running them up top.  The Browns haven't had a strong front office since their rebirth.

The hiring of Holmgren was the first step toward developing a strong, credible management team.  In the coming days and weeks, the Browns need to complete the picture by hiring good people into the General Manager, Pro Personnel Director, and Scouting Director positions.  These individuals should bring experience and knowledge to the table, along with a team-oriented attitude that will allow them to work together cohesively while still providing a variety of opinions and perspectives.  "Yes-men" and egomaniacs need not apply.

Addressing Contract Concerns

Yes, I'm referring to Josh Cribbs here (amongst others).  I want him playing and happy next year, as do most Browns fans.  But the Browns need to be realistic when addressing this.

Josh is undoubtedly worth more to the Browns than his current salary suggests.  He even brings more value than the recent contract offer made to him.  He's probably worth somewhere around $3 million a year, depending on incentives and escalators.  If the Browns can make him happy for something in this neighborhood, it should get done sooner rather than later.  If that's not good enough for him and his agents, and the team can receive good trade value for him, move him before the draft and add some players that will contribute every down.

Also start working immediately to get key free agents like Jerome Harrison back under contract as soon as possible.

The sooner the Browns can determine how some of those story lines play out, the sooner they can start finalizing their priorities for the draft and free agency.

Solid Drafting

The rookie draft is very difficult to grade effectively until about three years after the fact.  But the Browns should be able to grab a couple impact players who can start immediately, and a bunch more with a high upside that should become contributors in fairly short order.

Having our new management team demonstrate solid talent evaluation capabilities in the draft will be, in and of itself, significant progress over previous regimes.  Seeing those players grow and improve every week on the field will be proof that the team is moving in the right direction

Identify Our Quarterbacks

Perhaps we have our franchise quarterback on the roster today; perhaps we don't.  One way or the other, the Browns need to identify their best possibility for the role, and get him under center from Day One of training camp so he can get as many reps with his supporting cast as possible.  If we have unquestionably identified our franchise quarterback by the end of 2010, that alone puts us light-years ahead of where we are today.

On-Field Progress

As noted earlier, judging this year's progress solely by wins and losses is a highly misleading tactic in the second year of a complete rebuilding project.  That's especially true for a team in a tough division like the AFC North, playing a schedule as tough as next season's appears.  So I'll deliberately avoid using the win/loss record as a measuring stick, and instead focus on the following:

• A roster of players who put the team first, buy into the program, and give 100 percent effort every play.
• Evidence of a well-coached team, who practice discipline and fundamentals, and fully grasp the intricacies of the system they're playing in from Week One.
• Across-the-board improvement in performance at every position.  There are numerous positions that can be easily upgraded just by personnel changes, and there's room for growth and improvement from even the very best players on the roster.
• Competitive level of play for 60 minutes per game, regardless of opponent.  No more easy wins for anyone ; no more playing the role of patsy.
• Passion and dedication from every member of the organization, from the top on down

If the Browns can successfully accomplish all of the above, the wins will naturally come.  Furthermore, they'll be one year closer to fielding the perennial contender we all want to see in Cleveland.