The Cleveland Browns first step to a solution
The Cleveland Browns have once again proved to be the same old team that loyalists love to hate (or hate to love). It’s 2015 and fans continue shouting to get rid of the front office and coaching staff and beg for a new regime… again.
Week 10 of the NFL season is approaching, and the Browns sit at the bottom of the division and conference at 2-7.
To start the season the questions pertaining to the future was just a small leak that has quickly turned to spewing gasoline in which fans are eagerly trying to throw matches at to initiate a fire.
The debates have increased on whether head coach Mike Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer should retain their respective positions in the organizations. The argument for Johnny Manziel to start over Josh McCown is only getting more intense, while now Browns fanatics are actually vouching for former Browns legend Bernie Kosar to join the front office and offer his advice.
The wide receivers have proved the lack of versatility at the position can’t help either McCown or Manziel, no matter who the starter is.
Tight end Gary Barnidge is a diamond in the rough and has been nothing less than a pro bowler, but NFL teams don’t win games when the only offensive weapon properly utilized is the tight end. No, the Browns don’t have Tom Brady and Barnidge is no Rob Gronkowski.
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Besides big-play Barnidge, running back Duke Johnson has been the only other consistent threat in the passing game. However, while the third-round pick has produced big numbers in the first half of games the production hasn’t translated to the second half of games. He’s had 267 yards in the first half of games while only reaching 102 yards in the second half of games.
Although the passing game with Johnson has shown potential, the running game is putrid and the inconsistency from both Isaiah Crowell and Johnson has limited the Browns offense as a whole.
The offensive line has played well despite the horrendous amount of penalties they’ve given up this season, and this is the only group on the whole roster in which has performed above average on a regular basis.
The defense has been hit with the injury bug as Joe Haden, Donte Whitner, Tashaun Gipson and numerous others have missed several games this season. Still, the defense remains a mystery as the overall production has gotten progressively worse compared to Pettine’s first stint last season.
So with the team performing so awful while possessing so much young talent, why doesn’t Pettine give the young guys a shot to prove their worth and, more importantly, solidify if they’re worth the roster spot going fourth?
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After all, the Browns are not making the playoffs and may as well get a high draft pick for the 2016 NFL Draft, giving the team a better chance to compete next season.
However there is one key component that is preventing this from happening.
Mike Pettine hasn’t been guaranteed if he’ll have a job in Cleveland next year, something that was previously promised in the summer by owner Jimmy Haslam.
Haslam was adamant during the off-season that there would be no switch in the regime after this season, specifically saying things won’t “blow up.”
Of course, recent weeks rumors and debates have taken over Cleveland sports media whether to start from scratch again or not in terms of coaching. Yet, with all of the coverage and speculation one would assume the owner would take a stand by now and assure the job security of his head coach… if his job was indeed secured.
This is why fans don’t see Johnny Manziel starting more games over the veteran Josh McCown.
What is the point in playing your former first-round QB to ensure his development if you won’t be the one coaching him potentially the following season? There isn’t a point because Mike Pettine is coaching for his head coaching position with the Cleveland Browns.
His job as the head coach of an NFL football team is simple… win games.
It doesn’t matter if the record of the Cleveland Browns is 2-7, 9-0, or 0-9. As the coach you’re to prepare your team and give them the best chance of winning each and every game, week in and week out.
It is crystal clear at this point that Josh McCown gives this Browns team a greater chance at winning on a weekly basis, but it’s also clear that he is not the future of any NFL team. He is similar to Cleveland’s QB last season, Brian Hoyer, when it comes to future expectations. There aren’t many because he’s not the answer.
With the flashes we saw from Johnny Manziel in the first half last Thursday night against the Cincinnati Bengals it’s absolutely time to see what the kid can do the rest of the season. But it won’t happen until Mike Pettine is guaranteed that his job is safe next season, and it’s understandable, too.
Cleveland fans have the right to be furious with the current regime, from top to bottom. They have the right to believe that the Browns should find out if Manziel is a permanent solution to a 17-year quarterback problem. They have the right to want to give up on the rest of the season, just like they did last season.
None of this will happen until Jimmy Haslam tells Mike Pettine what the real plan is moving forward, and if the head coach of the Cleveland Browns will stick around for a third season. Until then, expect Josh McCown to lead this team the rest of the season.