NFL Fact or Fiction: Cleveland Browns Will Be Relevant in the Next 5 Years

Currently, the Cleveland Browns franchise is in the early stages of yet another rebuilding phase.  A perpetual losing, starting over and rebuilding cycle seems to have overrun any resemblance of a winning organization that once stood in Cleveland.

There are are many places to point fingers, but the biggest scapegoat continually remains the head coach.

Since the expansion Browns' inaugural season in 1999, there have been six head coaches at the helm of the team.  During that span, the hapless Browns have only managed one playoff berth and a measly two winning seasons.

It is clear, there is a larger problem plaguing the Browns.

Already, the Houston Texans, an expansion team in 2002, are turning the corner.  Their organization went through bumps in the road but they are finally on the winning path it seems.

What have the Texans done differently than the Browns?

For one thing, they've drafted a lot better than Cleveland.  Seven of Houston's first-round picks since 2002 are currently on the roster and contributing to their team.

Also, since 2002, the Texans have only employed two different head coaches.

There's a common blueprint for successful organizations.  Stability in the front office and coaching staff, excellent drafting and effective team management and game-planning.

Then, there's the Cleveland Browns.

Drafting

The Cleveland Browns have been one of the worst drafting teams in the NFL since their inception in 1999.  There are currently only four first-round draft picks since 1999 currently on the Browns roster.

Those picks are supposed to be the building blocks of a franchise.  The inability by prior regimes to effectively scout talent and fill the roster with top-tier talent has significantly set back the Browns' progress.

Mike Holmgren, though, has taken over as team president.

His general manager selection—former Philadelphia Eagles general manager Tom Heckert—has seemingly turned the tide in the personnel department.  Heckert has drafted solid players that will eventually make up the backbone of the Browns roster.

In 2012, the Browns boast two first-round picks as well as two fourth-rounders.  They obtained those picks from the Atlanta Falcons in a blockbuster trade for wide receiver Julio Jones during the 2011 NFL draft.

Management and Coaching

As mentioned, the Cleveland Browns are under the management of president Mike Holmgren.

In hopes of maintaining continuity and building on the progress already happening in Cleveland, Holmgren granted former head coach Eric Mangini another year to prove himself.  Mangini's Browns flopped and finished 5-11—for the second straight year—in 2011.

Clearly, Holmgren did not like what he saw in Mangini's system and its results.  After one year, Holmgren fired Mangini and hired Pat Shurmur, a like-minded disciple of his beloved West Coast offense.  He also abandoned innovative defensive coordinator Rob Ryan in favor of a more stable 4-3 defensive coordinator Dick Jauron.

In doing this, Holmgren set back the clock on progress in Cleveland another two to three years.

It is clear that owner Randy Lerner has taken a completely hands-free approach to running his organization and handed the reins to Holmgren.

Is it the best move for the Browns?

In the long run, maybe so.  However, for the time being, the growing pains and adjustments taking place are far from pretty.

The Browns currently sit at 3-6, despite having one of the easiest schedules thus far in the 2011 NFL season.

Offensive Talent

One of the continual shortcomings of the Cleveland Browns has been a complete void of playmakers.  The stable is nearly empty in regards to players who can impact the outcome of a game with one touch of the ball.  

Quarterback Colt McCoy, currently under regime evaluation, has little to work with.  His best target may be New England Patriot castoff tight end Benjamin Watson.

A lack of both explosive players and consistent performers combined with injuries have greatly contributed to the offensive struggles of the Cleveland Browns.

In 2010, breakout running back Peyton Hillis claimed the mantle of No. 1 running back.  Heading into this season, Hillis, the offensive line and Colt McCoy all looked to become a solid foundation of the Browns franchise.

Injuries to Pro Bowl offensive guard Eric Steinbach, Peyton Hillis, Montario Hardesty and poor play from Shawn Lauvao, Tony Pashos and rookie Jason Pinkston have all shattered those preconceived notions of the Browns in 2011.

Wide receiver, thought to be a major flaw in the Browns offense, is now only another missing piece to the puzzle.  Rookie Greg Little, though, has proven to be a capable receiver but has struggled doing the little things at times.  Joshua Cribbs, perhaps the lone explosive threat on the team, has begun to turn the corner running routes and creating space for himself on those patterns.

Colt McCoy, in his second season out of the University of Texas, has been inconsistent and shaky thus far in 2011.  How much of his struggles should be blamed on him and how much should be accredited to the installment of a new system with a shortened offseason and the injury and personnel shortages?

The Browns must address the right tackle, right guard, running back and wide receiver position in free agency and the draft in the upcoming offseason if they have any hopes of revamping and rebuilding their struggling offense.

Defensive Talent

As mentioned, Dick Jauron and his 4-3 defensive front have brought about another change in the Cleveland Browns.  The Browns switched to the 3-4 defense under head coach Romeo Crennel and never really acquired adequate players to fit that scheme completely.

Jauron's switch to the 4-3 front in 2011 is similarly void of adequate personnel in several key areas.  Despite this, under Jauron's tutelage, his unit has outperformed expectations.

The Browns defense needs a solid pass-rushing defensive end, quick outside linebackers, two bump-and-run cornerbacks who can jam their wide receiver and a ball-hawking free safety to play center field for the secondary.

Right now, youngsters Joe Haden and Jabaal Sheard look very promising and have filled in their roles very nicely.  However, there still remains several holes that need to be addressed.

The 4-3 requires its linebackers to be quick and instinctive.  Chris Gocong and Scott Fujita have proven to be excellent football players and stand out frequently for making great plays.  However, their inadequate reaction and speed often sees them being caught by pulling linemen or discarded by lead-blocking fullbacks.  Their inability to seal the edges has created running lanes for opposing running games.

Opponents running backs have gashed the Browns for 142 yards per game.

The blame does not solely lay on the linebackers, though.  Rookie defensive end Jabaal Sheard creates a strong pass rush but commonly over-pursues and finds the play passing him by.  Opposite of Sheard, Jayme Mitchell finds himself out of position and nowhere near the play.

Containing the edges is critical and the Browns are currently far behind in that regard.

Next is the age-old debate of whether a pass rush benefits and creates a great secondary or whether a great secondary creates a better pass rush.  It is my opinion of the former.  Creating a pass rush will aid and even mask some deficiency in the secondary, such as an aging cornerback (Sheldon Brown) or young defensive backs.

As it stands, the Browns pass rush gives the quarterback too much time to navigate through his progressions.  It is apparent, especially when the Browns blitz five or six defenders, leaving the secondary in man to man coverage and no pressure is still created.  This allows wide receivers to run double-move routes and create space.  No defensive back can always stick with a receiver in this situation, no matter how good they are

It works both ways—without an efficient pass rush, the secondary will continue to suffer.  When the pressure is there, though, the secondary needs to be capable of containing and staying with their coverage.  As it stands right now, the Browns secondary is not completely efficient at either of these vital tasks.

If the Browns are to turn things around in the short term, a dominant safety and complementary cornerback to Joe Haden will also need to be added.

Verdict

The Cleveland Browns will be a relevant team within the next five years.

There are many factors, besides the personnel deficiencies currently plaguing the Cleveland Browns.  Yet, there are very positive signs coming out of Cleveland.

I spoke of continuity earlier.  Pat Shurmur may look to be in over his head as an NFL head coach.  However, Mike Holmgren has already stated an offensive coordinator will be hired in the offseason to assist Shurmur next season and take some of the pressure off him.

Which coordinator Holmgren hires will be crucial to the future success of the Browns.

That future, though, is very bright.

A solid draft in 2012 by Tom Heckert and smart personnel moves in the upcoming offseason are crucial to this turnaround.

Heckert, after all, is the same man who drafted Jeremy Maclin, DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy in Philadelphia.  Once the Browns get their playmakers in place, which they may very well be able to do in next year's draft, the tide will finally begin to turn in Cleveland.

I see it happening before the next five years.  Another five to 10 years of rebuilding will disenfranchise an entire generation of would-be Browns fans.

Holmgren has been around the game of football for a very long time.  He does know more about the game than you and I, and he knows the significance of the position he is in.

Trust the "walrus"—what else can you do?

Randy Lerner sure isn't going to do anything proactive to save the franchise.