Cleveland Browns Have Questions During Their Mini-Bye Week

Whenever an NFL team plays a game on a Thursday night, it is a routine that is different from their normal routine. Having that short week really limits your preparation time. That really isn't that big of disadvantage though since the other team has the same short week.

There is an advantage to that scenario, too. That is after having two games in four days, the team has ten days before their next game. In a way it is almost like getting an extra bye week.

After the Cleveland Browns huge upset over their most hated rival Pittsburgh Steelers, the feeling among the Browns and the fans is much more positive than it has been all year.

For the Browns, it was like winning the Super Bowl. They can't make the playoffs but it feels good for them to spoil it for the Steelers.

Taking nothing away from the win, this is still a team with more questions than answers. That is why they are 2-11.

Also, The game was the coldest in Browns-Steelers history and the winds were awful. This was the kind of game where getting any kind of passing attack would be very difficult. 

The announcers continually made the point that it would be difficult to get the offense going. Somebody even said that the first one to six might win.

As great as the win was, the weather was a huge factor in helping the defense slowing the Steelers. These extra days of practice are a good time to figure out how the Browns are going to address some of these questions.

Question 1. What to do about the quarterback situation?

Over the past month, Brady Quinn has definitely been making progress. He hasn't turned the ball over and the offense is now producing touchdowns.

Most Browns fans will say that he managed the game on Thursday very well and played much better than his stats indicate given the conditions.

With Quinn's progress, the Browns feel a lot better about him than they did a month ago. He does still have a long way to go and the game still has to slow down for him more. Overall though he is seeing the field much better.

The Browns still have other issues at quarterback though besides Quinn. It may be difficult to resolve them though.

Derek Anderson's days as a Brown do appear numbered. After starting five games, the Browns know he is not their answer. Bringing him back in 2010 even as a back up makes no sense at all.

However, the problem is that he still has a huge contract. It is hard to imagine that any team would want to acquire him at this point with that contract given what he has shown this year.

The other quarterback on the roster is Brett Ratliff. The Browns still have don't know what they have in him at all. Ratliff won't be the starter in 2010.

At least, he won't go in that way. However, the Browns would like to know if he is worth bumping up to the back up or keeping him as the third stringer.

The problem is that the only way to upgrade any trade value for Anderson or find out about Ratliff is to take Quinn out.

That could have both positive and negative consequences. With his recent progress, three more games heading into the offseason would be huge for his further development.

The other side of it though is the Browns could quit while they are ahead. They have seen enough to know there is something to build around or something worth trading for.

Taking him out now wouldn't be considered a benching, it would just be a chance to look at Ratliff or upgrade the value for Anderson.

That is the toughest question to answer.

Question 2. How to address the running game?

Sure the running game had a great performance on Thursday night, but let's be real. Chris Jennings finally scored a rushing touchdown.

That was the first rushing touchdown by a running back all year. Jennings did have a pretty good game altogehter, but nobody is sold that he can be the featured back yet.

Most of the running game came from Joshua Cribbs. That of course was out of the wildcat, which we all know is a gimmick.

This is the AFC North and running the ball especially in November and December is a must. If you have to depend on gimmicks to do it, that is not good enough.

Only one rushing touchdown by a running back through 13 games is not good enough either. Therefore, anybody who thinks the running game is fixed after one game in which gimmicks where a big part of it has to get real.

So how will the Browns address the running game the rest of the year?

There is some talk of putting Cribbs in as the regular runner. That has more negatives than positives. It will take away from his role of Mr. Everything.

He may not be a great route runner, but Quinn can just throw it to him as soon as he gets the snap. That will be good for at least five yards.

Would Cribbs be as effective on returns if he is taking a pounding running between the tackles?

The other option is to continue to rotate Jennings and Jerome Harrison at tailback to see if one can become the featured guy or at the very least be valuable for depth at the position.

Question 3: Do the Browns elevate Evan Moore to the starting tight end?

This should be the easiest question to answer and it should be yes.

He had a really good game against the Chargers and continued to play well in the first half against the Steelers.

He did let one bounce off his hand in the second half and it cost them a first down. It was a tough catch but an NFL tight end has to be able to pull in those one handers. That comes with experience, though.

Robert Royal has been a huge disappointment. At this point, Moore should be given all the reps with the starters.

Question 4: How can the Browns get Brian Robiskie more involved?

Like Quinn, Robiskie is a local hero being that he played at Ohio State. Browns fans have waited all year to see this former Buckeye have more of a role.

Robiskie has been outperformed by fellow rookie Mohamed Massaquoi. However, with three games left the Browns need to find a way to see what Robiskie can do.

They started to get him involved against San Diego, but he wasn't involved at all against Pittsburgh.

There aren't really that many questions on the defensive side. That is not to say there aren't any holes because there are.

However, with all the injuries the Browns have had enough of an opportunity to evaluate their defensive players. The only exception is that they need to get David Veikune in more to see what he has.