10 things to fix the Browns, Part II
6. Figure out Brady Quinn
I will be the first to say that I have touted Brady Quinn as a legit QB ever since the Browns drafted him. I loved the fact that they moved up to get him. But, things haven't gone so smoothly in his time in Cleveland. Obviously. Here's his year-by-year stats heading into next season (he won't play again this season, as he is on IR).
I won't repeat all of the information you can get on that link, but the one fact I want to point out is that his QB rating has increased each year from 56.8 to 66.6 to 67.2
Yes, I realize those are pathetic numbers.But what I am highlighting is improvement. Quinn has yet to have a full season under his belt. I don't think its possible to give him a true evaluation until he plays 16 games as the Browns starting QB. That's 16 games where he knows that he is the starter, without having to look over his shoulder. Because, don't forget, he has yet to be in that situation...I am sure that in the back of his mind he knows that he is one INT away from getting benched. No QB succeeds in that mindset. So, if you can't properly evaluate him, how are the Browns supposed to know what to do with him? Let's look at the good and bad, briefy:
The good
- This season, BQ has shown an aptitude for operating in the no-huddle offense, which is good, especially for a young QB. Also, the Browns offense seems to be more productive in the no-huddle. This also demonstrates his ability to command the other 10 guys in the huddle and also his knowledge of the playbook and what plays need run in certain situations...something another QB...Derek Anderson....has yet to master.
- His decision making seems improved as compared to last year. Though, it must be noted that he doesn't take many chances on deep balls. Whether that is him being gun shy or the playcalling is a whole seperate issue.
- He beat the Steelers. Yes, the Steelers. I know, anyone with working eyes knows the Browns won that game in spite of BQ. But, he didn't lose the game, did he?
The bad
- Sometimes I watch BQ play the QB position, and he does things that make me say "Are you serious?" Mostly how at times he completely misses his target. Like not even close. That needs to get better or he is done in the NFL.
- His most-talked about deficiency is how he apparently is incapable of throwing the deep ball. Again, I think there are many factors at work here. It could be receivers not getting open. It could be BQ not wanting to take a chance at throwing an INT. It could be the playcalling from Daboll. Most likely, it is a combination of all three. But the book on him now is that he can't wind up and throw it deep. That determines how defenses attack the Browns, make no mistake about it.
So, those are the good and bad things about BQ (in brief, of course). So, back to my original question. What to do with him? I'll go ahead and say that I think the Browns should stick with Brady Quinn and open camp next season with him as the unquestioned, unrivaled starter. Give him a whole season and assuming he stays healthy, see what he can do. Save their top-10 draft pick on a player at another position...how often do first-round QBs really work? For every Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco and Ben Roethlisberger there is a Jamarcus Russell, Cade McCown and Matt Leinart. So I'd stick with him and concentrate on filling the needs around him.
The Browns have options. They can do what I just mentioned and keep him and develop him. They can bring in competition for him (rookie, veteran like Matt Hasselbeck) and say "let the best man win". They can cut him and move on. They can trade him for probably a 5th-round pick or so. My feeling is that if they do decide they want to move in a different direction, try and least get compensation for him and please, don't draft a QB in the first round. No Tim Tebow. No Colt McCoy. No Sam Bradford. How about putting together a package to the Eagles for Kevin Kolb? For example, two draft picks, Brady Quinn and cash? Think about what the Texans did in dealing for Matt Schaub, Mike Vick's backup in Atlanta at the time.
7. Figure out the key pieces and keep them
Part of fixing the Browns is deciding who are the key players and retaining them. I included the picture on the right because D'Qwell Jackson is seen. He is a player the Browns need to keep. He is also a player, along with Jerome Harrison, Abram Elam, Hank Fraley and Matt Roth, that are free agents at the end of the season. Why do I mention this? Because depending on the NFL's collective bargaining agreement situation, all of the aforementioned players will be unrestricted free agents, which means they are free to sign with any team, or they will be restricted, which means if they go to another team, that team would owe the Browns compensation (draft picks). The CBA is up in the air right now. But assuming there is no CBA, which is how it looks now, all of those players are restricted, which means the new regime will have to decide who to keep, and who to let go and get draft picks in exchange for. I'd like to see them keep all of those names I mentioned (Jackson, Roth, Elam, Harrison, Fraley).
My point is that when a new regime takes power, they want to bring in their own players. So Mike Holmgren needs to decided what current players he wants to incuded in the team's future and move forward.
Tony Grossi, The Plain Dealer's longtime Browns reporter and the best in the business, breaks down the whole free agency thing in the link below...his explanation is much, much better than mine:
Eric Mangini went through this during last offseason. He decided he wanted to make wholesale changes, so he purged guys like Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow and Sean Jones. He got draft picks for Edwards and Winslow. The jury is still out on all of the rookies. But by getting rid of Winslow and Edwards, he stripped the team of its main offensive weapons, which is a reason for the team's pathetic showing for most of this season. He also brought in several former Jets...the problem is, they were the Jets backups. Guys like David Bowens, Eric Barton and Chansi Stuckey. None of these guys have made a difference.
So, a plea to Mike Holmgren: Keep the current Browns who have talent and fill in the rest with solid draft classes and SMART free agent signings. No Dontae Stallworth-type deals, thank you very much.
8. Let's see some continuity
This one is more than obvious. Randy Lerner is a billionaire. He can afford to hire coaches and GMs, fire them and pay them for years and years, hire more coaches and GMs and fire more coaches and GMs and pay them for years and years and on and on and on and on.....it needs to stop. Period. The Browns are still paying Romeo Crennel. Still paying Phil Savage. Will be paying George Kokinis. Will be paying Mangini after he gets let go. And now they are paying Mike Holmgren and will have to pay for a new coach. It's staggering.
I hate to go back to them again, but look at the Steelers, who, even though it sucks to say, are the model NFL franchise. Three coaches since the 1970s. The Rooney family has a plan and stick to it, they ride the ups and downs and it pays off with Super Bowl rings. Six of them.
Randy Lerner can't change the fact that he switches coaches and GMs more than Tiger Woods switches blonde porn stars. But Randy Lerner can change the present and the future....keep Mike Holmgren for the duration of his contract. Give him the keys (all reports say this is indeed the case). Let him build his team his way. And it will take time..Holmgren even said as much at his first press conference. Next season may be rough, And so might 2011. But at this point, I am willing to endure a couple more bad seasons for a nice payoff. Patience is a virtue. Do it right this time, Lerner.
9. Address the lines.
Another obvious one. But crucial.
On the offensive line, Joe Thomas is a man. A real man. He is a perennial Pro Bowler and is a bookend tackle. Alex Mack has a chance to be another perennial Pro Bowler. I would love to see the Browns invest first day draft picks on another tackle and an offensive guards. Championships are won up front. Eric Steinbach is overpaid and overrated. Pork Chop Womack? More like Beef Jerky Womack. Ryan Tucker, Rex Hadnot....time for an upgrade, folks. Invest some money in the OL. Give Brady Quinn and Jerome Harrison a fighting chance. Or whoever the QB and RB may be in 2010-2011.
On the defensive line, much depends on whether or not the team goes back to a 4-3 scheme next season or stays in the 3-4. Actually, either way it will be a hybrid scheme because aside from Baltimore's 3-4 and and the Giants' 4-3, there really are no true one-scheme defensive sets anymore. Its a mix and match. The Browns have players that are suited for both, surprisingly. Wimbley can be an edge rusher in a 4-3 and be a coverage linebacker in a 3-4. Shaun Rogers is a beast no matter what scheme he is in.
In any case, the Browns' defensive line also needs an upgrade. Their run defense is very hot or very cold (mostly cold) and they have a non-existent pass rush. This season, the Browns rank 29th against the pass and 28th against the run. They have generated 37 sacks, good enough for 9th overall. That is a surprising stat, even as I write this. Wow.
Could Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh be a fix in this year's draft? Maybe, but he will most likely go No. 1 or No. 2 overall, so Browns fans probably need to get him out of their heads.
10. Pay Josh Cribbs.
Did I mention that one already? Was it No. 1 on my list? Lock him UP.
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