Cleveland Browns:          

2013 RECORD: 4-12  

2012 RECORD: 5-11   

2011 RECORD: 4-12   

2010 RECORD: 5-11   

TEAM OVERVIEW: Welcome to stupid! That is what I wrote 25 months ago and what I repeated 12 months ago when beginning to compile the ’13 draft report for the Browns. Going into last year’s draft, I felt that these Browns had a chance to compete in the AFC North, certainly a division in transition. Instead, Cleveland never fully participated in the draft, missing a golden opportunity. Like other “experts”, I questioned the draft team of Banner and Lombardi, two well below standard talent evaluators. Once again they underperformed. Honestly, how did they expect their new coach to win given the opening day roster? Remember, Cleveland did not even have a kicker until 48 hours before the season started! Cleveland begins ’14 with yet another new coach, as beleaguered owner Haslam never gave Rob Chudzinski and his decent coordinators a chance. Cleveland is 26-70 the past six seasons. Can the new regime make the right moves and close the gap in the AFC North?

KEY STATS: Offensively, Cleveland scored 308 points one year after scoring 302, and two years after scoring far less than that (13.5 per game). The run O actually improved without traded RB Richardson (4.0) but was still low at 86.4 per game. They scored just four rush TD’s. Sacks allowed were high at 49, with their collection of QB’s mostly to blame. The “new” Cleveland Browns had their best ever run D figures in their history, at 111-3.9. One area not perfect defensively was the high 44.5 percent conversion rate on 3rd down for their opponents. Overall, however, the Browns' total D (total yards allowed) came in 9th. 

2013 DRAFT REVIEW: Cleveland was without their 2nd round pick as a result of selecting WR Gordon last July (supplemental draft). That sure worked out! I called LB Mingo is boom or bust pick. He has a great motor but just how strong is this rail thin DL/OLB? He deserves credit for a very solid rookie year (42-5). How disinterested were the Browns in this draft? As one source said in ’13, “(The Browns) took the inactivity theme almost to a state of suspended animation, trading for future picks and passing 107 spots before taking a safety who blew out his Achilles in the 3rd game of the season.” As I suspected, GM Lombardi was overmatched in the war room. The Browns failed in EVERY way on day three of this draft.

1-06, LB Mingo: Thin body frame.  Hasn’t played OLB so best role is as a rookie situational sacker.

3-68, CB McFadden: Short, but solid nickel CB with average speed.  19 rookie tackles and two starts.

6-175, SS Slaughter: Kiper’s 60th best safety not much higher for us!  Waived, returned to practice squad.

7-217, DE Bryant: May move to OLB in 3-4.  26.5 sacks with an after draft DUI!  12-2 as a rookie.

7-227, OG Gilkey: Slow, strong OL has a tendency to play too high.  Played in six games, starting one. 

2012 DRAFT REVISITED: In this draft Cleveland panicked all draft long!  They overtraded to move up one spot.  They took a DT rated NR in the 3rd round.  Here’s the draft gem we noted a year ago: The high school coach of DT Hughes wasn’t sure he would be drafted.  Hughes himself planned his family’s draft party for Saturday, not Friday! Of course supplemental draftee WR Gordon was spectacular and may already have reached top five status for WR’s!  As for the rest, RB Richardson is in Indy after failing badly here.  That extra 1st round pick might salvage their four for one trade to get him. QB Weeden didn’t work out (too many turnovers and way too many sacks). OT Schwartz has started 32 games at RT but must cut down his sacks allowed. The aforementioned DT Hughes wasn’t terrible with a 34-1 ledger. WR Benjamin caught 13 and could become a deep threat. He did fine on punt returns. LB’s Johnson and Acho were on other teams in ’13.  OG Miller played once in ’12 but missed ’13 after sustaining an injury while working out. DT Winn (6-205, * rated) has 47 tackles and 11 starts in two seasons. CB Wade and TE Smelley saw minimal action in ’12 and joined others in this draft class by being cut prior to ’13.

TOP STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS PRIOR TO THE DRAFT: The left side of the OL is the on-field strength, but sacks allowed did go up, maybe due to poor QB decision-making. The run D continued to improve in ’13 so based on their now average figures the new area of weakness is pretty evident: QB play.

FREE AGENCY ANALYSIS AND STAFF NOTES: Offensively, only Brian Hoyer is left at QB. Ben Tate is an instant upgrade at RB. Jim Dray is a filler type at TE. Troubled WR Davone Bess was released. OG Shawn Lavano left. OL Paul McQuistan was added.  Defensively, Carlos Dansby is a good player but why not just re-sign younger LB D’Qwell Jackson? Adding Donte Whitner does not quite make up for losing solid safety T.J. Ward. Back-up CB Isaiah Trufant is now on the team. Cincy did not match the offer sheet Cleveland gave to average WR Hawkins. Mike Pettine is the new Head Coach. He’s had a successful, though short career as a Defensive Coordinator. Kyle Shanahan and his “less than outstanding” ability to work well with others is the new Defensive Coordinator. Co-conspirator’s Banner and Lombardi were axed early in ’14.  The young and very self-confident Ray Farmer is the sole GM.   

2014 DRAFT NEEDS: QB, RT and RG, #2 WR and WR depth, ILB and LB depth, CB, RB, DE, safety depth.  Cleveland must take a QB early. OL needs are real on the right side. The WR need behind stud Josh Gordon is real but can be addressed later thanks to the deep crop. Even with Dansby, ILB especially looks weak. A replacement for CB Skrine and competition for FS Gipson are the needs at DB. Is Ben Tate going to be the sole RB?  No one else on the current roster can help. There’s some youth and maybe talent along the DL but by no means are players such as Billy Winn, John Hughes and Armonty Bryant sure things.