Cleveland Browns Search for Identity

New Browns President Mike Holmgren has begun installation of the West Coast Offense (WCO) on the North Coast with the trade for Seattle QB Seneca Wallace, who has been immersed in WCO and has close ties to his former coach.

Running the WCO requires precision at both ends from running the tight routes to quarterbacks delivering the ball accurately and quickly. 

Run out of the traditional pro formation, to be successful running the WCO, the quarterback's ability to be an accurate passer and a both fast, smart decision-maker is essential. Receivers who can also stretch the field keeps defenses from creeping up towards the line of scrimmage.

Exactly who on the roster and in the draft are they depending on to pull this off?  Young receivers and inexperienced signal callers whether they have WCO training or not, is not the way to pull this off.

About four years ago, under another coaching and regime change, Romeo Crennell came in to install his version of the 3-4 defense.  After several years of drafts and free agency, the team still has not acquired the necessary pieces to effectively run that defensive scheme either.

In general, front-seven players in the 3-4 need to take on and defeat blocks more often in the running game. Built from the inside out,the nose tackle and the inside linebackers are the three key positions.  Cleveland not only passed on Haloti Ngata in 2006, but actually traded with Baltimore to let the Ravens have him.  Now an All-Pro, Ngata anchors the Ravens 3-4.

Scott Fujita is an acquisition that finally addresses the inside linebacking corp, but the front seven is depleted.  Former aging Jet LB's Bowens and Barton were not the answer.  Wimbley was the last high draft pick at LB back in 2006.  

Cleveland passed on Ray Malaluga at the beginning of last years second round and he went to another division rival, Cincinnati.  Corey Williams has been traded.  Shaun Rogers anchors the middle but has been on and off the trading block and enters his 10th season.

So Cleveland is now in a position of addressing major needs and concerns on both sides of the football because they are locked into schemes on both offense and defense that they do not have the personnel to carry out effectively.

The accumulation of draft picks last year were essentially squandered (C, WR, WR) to get 3-4 material.  And there don't seem to be enough draft picks to address both this year.  the question is then, where will the focus be for this draft?  Where will Holmgren decide to carve out the new Browns identity—on offense or defense?