The Cleveland Browns set their 53 man roster over the weekend, and over half of the squad was not on the roster a year ago.

That’s what happens when you go 0-16.  You weren’t very good, and so it should be pretty easy to find players that are better than those who play on a team that can’t even win a single game.

On the other hand, many people, us included, felt the Browns were better than 0-16 a year ago.  We believe the talent was on the roster to win two or three games.

Now, we understand that a 2-14 record would still be one of the NFL’s worst teams, but only two teams have ever lost every game they played, and one of them was the 2017 Cleveland Browns.

At least, they could have escaped that embarrassment.

With the roster changes and a new GM putting that roster together in John Dorsey, the pressure falls squarely on Hue Jackson.  Dorsey has gained the trust of the fans, so if the Browns get off to a poor start, the death knell will be sounding in Berea.

The coach has a veteran quarterback in Tyrod Taylor, and he specializes in not turning the ball over, a problem that plagued the team a year ago.  Cleveland coughed the ball up 41 times, 28 of them on interceptions, both totals were last in the NFL.

Jackson can no longer make excuses for rookie mistakes from his signal caller.

He also has a new play caller in Todd Haley, whose offenses in Pittsburgh have ranked in the top five in yards gained three of the last four years.

Much of that was through the air with Ben Roethlisburger at QB, but in the preseason, he emphasized the running game, something the Browns abandoned as soon as they were trailing, and at times this occurred in the first quarter.

With Carlos Hyde and Nick Chubb, teams will have to respect the run.

The one thing that concerns us is the offensive line, which the coaching staff is still tinkering with, just five days before the opener.

After moving Joel Bitonio to tackle in training camp, it has been reported that Jackson is consider moving him back to guard, and putting undrafted rookie Desmond Harrison at left tackle.  This would also move rookie Austin Corbett to center.

If this occurs, the first snap Sunday would be the first time this group ever played together.  That doesn’t seem to be an optimum situation.

As for those concerned that the “plan” was abandoned, keep in mind 27 of the 53 players on the roster have less than two years experience in the league.

There are only six players, one of them being punter Britton Colquitt, with over five years in the NFL.  And there are only three players over 30, one being Colquitt, and another being quarterback mentor Drew Stanton.

So, this is still a very young football team.

And now is the time to start seeing wins on the field.  After two seasons, where the team and its fans experience just one victory, no excuses will be tolerated.

A poor start won’t be tolerated this season.  There were some who understood the gutting of the roster in order to begin a rebuild, but even their patience is at an end.

So, there is pressure on the coaching staff to start putting some “Ws” together.  Most agree there is talent on the roster.

If the Browns get smoked Sunday in week one, the anger could start to percolate.  The pressure to win is upon the organization.

JD