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Who is to blame for the Browns’ offense?

By Thomas Moore

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Sep 27, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) makes a pass for seven-yard gain against the Oakland Raiders during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

The easiest answer, which also makes it the laziest, is to blame McCown for the problems.

After all, he was at quarterback yesterday for the loss, and Johnny Manziel won his start against Tennessee, so that obviously means the Browns would have won with Manziel in the huddle yesterday, right?

In a word, no.

Manziel supporters want to point to the Titans’ game as proof that Manziel is ready to take over as starter based on a couple of highlight-reel passes to Travis Benjamin. That same group wants to conveniently excuse the opening game against the Jets, where Manziel played all but one series, because Manziel had to come off the bench with “no preparation.”

But in the frenzy to anoint Manziel as the savior, there are a few facts that are being overlooked. In the two games that Manziel ran the offense:

  • The Browns only averaged 297 yards, good for 30th in the NFL.
  • The Browns averaged 19 points per game, good for 23rd in the NFL.
  • The Browns only converted 44 percent of its third downs, good for 11th.
  • The Browns averaged 14 first downs.
  • Manziel only completed 53 percent of his passes, which puts him with Ryan Mallett and Jameis Winston at the bottom of the rankings.
  • Manziel earned grades of -2.6 and -2.7 from Pro Football Focus.

Meanwhile, on Sunday against the Raiders, McCown:

  • Led the Browns to 355 yards of offense.
  • Led the Browns to 20 points.
  • Converted 50 percent on third down.
  • Led the Browns to 21 first downs.
  • Completed 57 percent of his passes.
  • Earned a grade of -2.5 from Pro Football Focus.

Basically, the offense has performed the same no matter who is at quarterback. We know that is an inconvenient truth, but there it is black and white.

Blame the quarterbacks: 25 percent.

Next: Is it the running backs?

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