NFL: A Deeper Look at the Upside of the Cleveland Browns

Okay, Eric Mangini’s Cleveland Browns might stand at 3-5 after Sunday’s beatdown of the New England Patriots, but their record is rather deceiving.

The Browns dismantled Drew Brees’ Saints just two weeks prior to Sunday’s victory and are currently playing their best football led by rookie quarterback Colt McCoy.

Even though they do not appear headed for the playoffs after losing their first three games by a combined 12 points, the Browns might be playing postseason football sooner than we think.

Cleveland’s future formula for success is rather unique, but when your general manager is Mike Holmgren, there is bound to be progress no matter how you cut it. Here’s a deeper look at Holmgren’s master plans.

Building a Legitimate Defense

Sure, the Browns ranked near the bottom of the league in both passing and rushing defense in 2009, but are making strides with the addition of some key players.

I’ll begin in the secondary, where we find new starters Joe Haden, Sheldon Brown and TJ Ward. The additions of Haden and Ward have made an immediate impact being that they were first- and second-round draft picks in 2010. Haden provides superior coverage abilities for a rookie, and since he was drafted seventh overall, his potential is sky high.

As for Ward, he was a rather risky pick when chosen in the second round. He hones his all-out mentality as a big-hitter every week, but his destructive nature has also led to several injuries.

Ward can be a very good player if he plays with more regard for his body, and he without a doubt provides an intimidation factor that the Browns lack at every other position on defense.

The Browns last key addition in the secondary is Sheldon Brown. Even though he’s nearing 30 years of age, he’s a solid player and a former Pro-Bowler for the Eagles.

Brown holds down the secondary as its best player at the moment, and his great man-to-man coverage skill is something that he can teach the younger players for the future.

General Manager Tom Heckert had a lot to do with Brown’s move to Cleveland, since Heckert assumed the same position in Philadelphia.

Now for the rest of the defense, where we find plenty of holes surrounding Shawn Rogers.

The Browns badly lack the presence of pressure off the edges. After last year’s trade of Kameron Wimbley to Oakland, Cleveland basically lost any assistance to help fend off Shawn Rogers’ double-teams.

Perhaps the best idea is for the Browns to draft a defensive end in 2011, when D’Qwell Jackson returns. Jackson’s return as Cleveland’s best defensive player (150-plus tackles in ’09) allows this team to have a stable defensive line and a player with a nose for the ball.

Lastly, Scott Fujita and Dwayne Bowens have done plenty good for a line backing core that is far from pretty on paper. I’m convinced that the players themselves love playing for Rob Ryan, and his passion and fire rubs off on the entire defense.

With a few more key draft picks, and an impact player who can be crowned “captain,” the Browns will have a strong defense for the future. Every great defense in the league has a great player, such as: Troy Polamalu (Steelers), Ray Lewis/Ed Reed (Ravens), Clay Matthews/Charles Woodson (Packers), Patrick Willis (49ers) and Darrelle Revis (Jets).

Peyton Hillis

Yes, I truly believe that Mike Holmgren is a genius for making this trade.

I find it ridiculous that Cleveland had acquired Hillis and a sixth-round pick for Brady Quinn, who is now the fourth-string quarterback for the Denver Broncos! The move once again proves of Holmgren’s plan to find immediate talent to fill the roster, and his knack for finding use out of former draft picks.

Even Josh McDaniels himself has been quoted as saying that the Peyton Hillis trade was one of the worst moves he’s ever made.

It sounds a bit selfish to focus on one player in terms of future success, but Hillis has been the bruiser that the Browns need on offense. He runs hard on every play, and never avoids contact with his stout build.

Hopefully his thirst for contact doesn't limit his time on the field, while he needs to learn how to hold on to the ball as well. Hillis will see a full-time workload the rest of the season, and as he continues to run over or hurdle defenders, he captures the hearts of Cleveland fans.

Colt McCoy’s Confidence and Future Weapons

Colt McCoy has been without a doubt the biggest surprise for the Browns thus far. The kid was not even expected to play this season, but after injuries to both Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, he’s gotten his chance.

McCoy’s stunned the NFL with consecutive wins against the Saints and Patriots. He also managed to throw for 280 yards and a touchdown in his debut against the league’s best defense at the time, Pittsburgh.

I couldn't have guessed that McCoy would control each game this well, as he’s thrown down field with confidence and without any sort of weapons whatsoever. Perhaps this was Colt’s only knock besides his height when he came out of Texas, but he’s proven the naysayers wrong so far.

He’s continued his pattern of completing a high percentage of his passes too, just as he did at the University of Texas. Holmgren took a chance on him in Round Three, and now it looks like McCoy will be the quarterback of the future for the Browns.

One thing’s for sure: This kid is a winner. He owns the record for most wins in college football history, and his future success will depend on not only his decisions alone, but the provision of some offensive weapons.

Structuring a Professional Receiving Corps

Cleveland’s receivers are absolutely dreadful. Their No. 1 receiver in Muhammed Massaquoi is probably a No. 3 on a solid team, while Chansi Stuckey plays across from him as the No. 3.

Ben Watson provides veteran route-running at tight end, and stands as the best receiver for the Browns… but that’s still not much to work with.

I could see the Browns taking AJ Green out of Georgia in next year’s draft, but I’m not sure if it’s worth the wait. Receivers usually take a few years to become great in this league, and with a rookie already at quarterback, the process might take longer than anticipated.

Sure, the Browns still have Josh Cribbs too, but he establishes field position and moves the chains with his gifted vision on kickoffs and versatility in the Wildcat formation. Cribbs lacks the catching ability of a solid NFL receiver, but he still stands as the Browns best player.

My point is that the Browns need immediate impact at receiver. They can’t continue to draft talent and expect to wait for each player’s development, because the Browns might be thinking playoffs as soon as next year. Cleveland needs to find a big-name receiver in free agency or via a trade.

We know that Mike Holmgren is responsible for bringing names like Brett Favre and Reggie White to Green Bay, as he eventually went on to become a Super Bowl-winning coach. Holmgren must pitch the idea of revamping the franchise to several players, while also spending the big bucks in the process.

Just as Baltimore boosted its passing game with Anquan Boldin, Cleveland must give opposing defenses a reason not to put eight men in the box. As an idea, I’d look for Holmgren to possibly pursue Vincent Jackson next season, as he’s got tremendous talent and would love a top receiver-size contract!

Trusting Eric Mangini

I’ll admit it; I wanted Eric Mangini fired after last season, but in the end I had to trust Mike Holmgren.

Holmgren’s trust in Mangini might be most essential to the Browns moderate success this season, considering that a whole new set of coaches would have probably taken the team a few steps backwards.

The thing I like most about Mangini is his amped demeanor on the sideline, and I feel as if he has the players believing in themselves, regardless of how the team looks on paper. It’s almost as if Mangini realizes that Cleveland is a football town that loves a coach who loves his players.

He has this team playing its best football since the 2007 season, and even though Cleveland stands at 3-5, they could very well have two or three more wins without some crucial pick-six’s by Jake Delhomme.

As a last thought, it was Mangini’s decision to start Colt McCoy over the last three games, and it has done wonders in terms of this city’s pulse. He’s given Browns fans a reason to stuff the stadium every Sunday, and he continues to call some exciting and crucial plays such as the fake punt against the Saints and the end-around by Chansi Stuckey against New England.

Eric Mangini has shown signs of a very confident coach, as he seems to have a hold on his job and this exciting team for years to come.

The Cleveland Browns have a very legitimate shot to make the playoffs next season, and with a little bit more talent, there is no reason why they shouldn’t be considered. Mike Holmgren has done a phenomenal job as he continues his quest to turn around the franchise, as the city feels his passion.

With eight games left, anything can happen for this team. 2011 looks even brighter with several draft picks and an official franchise quarterback in Colt McCoy. Keep an eye out for the “Orange Helmet of Power” in the future, as the Cleveland Browns look to claim AFC North recognition and their first playoff win since 1994.