Recently, the new out of the Cleveland Browns’ offices in Berea have been about change. A couple of scouts have been let go. There was the big hubbub about the mural showing the franchise’s greats in the lobby being removed. However, outside of the mural, which coach Eric Mangini explained is being relocated, what’s the problem? This franchise should get a major facelift.
It seemed when the two scouts were let go; there was an underlying feeling that it wasn’t fair to the pair. I got that same sense when former Phil Savage assistant T. J. McCreight was also fired. My thought was that this sort of thing happens all the time in sports. And when you have made the playoffs just once in ten years, changes need to be made.
Why should there be all kinds of loyalty to people who have produced a 24-40 record over the last four seasons? The first step Mangini and new GM George Kokinis should take is to clean house. The culture of losing needs to be changed.
One of the criticisms several people have had regarding the Browns is they do tend to live in the past. Owner Randy Lerner prefaces virtually every press release announcing the hiring of a new employee, as the new person understands the rich tradition of the Cleveland Browns. That “tradition” ended in the early 1970’s. Since that time, more often than not, the Browns are on the outside looking in at the playoffs.
What needs to be done now is building a solid football organization, something that will be the hallmark of all Browns teams. I think both men understand a winning football team starts with defense, and that’s where Mangini and Kokinis will start the process. Mangini is a former defensive coordinator, that’s his field of expertise. He should start on that side of the ball.
Despite the struggles scoring touchdowns of any kind at the end of the season, there is also probably more of a foundation on offense anyway. There is a quarterback in place in Brady Quinn (I feel Derek Anderson will be traded before the draft). They have a Pro Bowl left tackle in Joe Thomas, and a better than average left guard in Eric Steinbach. They have a former Pro Bowl wide receiver with all kinds of talent in Braylon Edwards, and a great pass catching tight end in Kellen Winslow.
Sure, there are some parts missing, but compared to the defense, there is talent there.
The only impact players on defense are NT Shaun Rogers and ILB D’Quell Jackson. The cornerbacks may be good someday, but both Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald are very raw. So this year’s draft is likely to be defense, defense, and more defense, with a running back sprinkled in.
Kokinis should fire his biggest free agent bullet at cornerback, and I would go full speed ahead for the Raiders’ Nnamdi Asomugha if he were not franchised by Oakland. If he were, then I would try to get Dunta Robinson from the Texans. Getting one of these guys would allow either Wright or McDonald to be the nickel back.
The linebacking corps can be upgraded in the draft by getting either Rey Maualuga from USC or Aaron Curry from Wake Forest. The team needs at least two new starters at linebacker, so drafting one and signing a lower ranked free agent would upgrade that spot.
Then, I would go for a running back with a second round pick. They should be able to get another second rounder for Anderson if they decide to trade him. They could look for another linebacker or a safety with that choice.
The Cleveland Browns need change. What they have been doing for the last ten years hasn’t been working. If Mangini and Kokinis want to go with new toilet paper in Berea, then I’m all for that as well.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 