When I saw this I was stunned. The Browns have won 22 LESS games than any other team in the NFL since 1999. The Browns over that time have averaged 18 points a game, again the worst in the NFL. With that said, it only impresses me more with Browns fans, just how loyal they are filling a stadium every home Sunday with a team that loses about 2 out of 3 games for a quarter century.
You would think with that big of a sample that the Browns at the top would be looking to put an end to this TomFoolery. Oh they’ve tried but time and time again they have been their own worst enemy. Ownership has really put its faith and belief in those who embrace analytics, numbers and computer results. And being fair, that IS a part of the modern NFL or heck any biz big or small. In Browns fairness again, they were on the cutting edge of this years ago and were looking forward to thinking this was the blueprint for other teams to follow. And some did, then most did. Then that strict approach was exposed and accepted as being a usable tool, but not the be all end all. The Browns didn’t get that memo.
The teams today having the best success look more like teams of a number of years ago with a far more run/pass balance, great defense and fundamentals. As much as the Browns led the Ivy League analytics charge, they have also been the example of how it doesn’t work for a full 17 game NFL season. Other teams participated, watched and adjusted, the Browns haven’t. Sure the league still goes for it on fourth down more often than ever. Sure, they try the two point conversions more often, but OK, there’s that. Sometimes that works and sometimes not.
The Browns now always seem to be chasing last years trend. This year totally gutting the running game while throwing 50 times a game with a mediocre QB and marginal receiving core, they looked ridiculous at best, and amateurish overall. And for a couple years before having a tiny sized defense, teams just did what you would have done and run it down their throat. Their famous quote was, “Nobody runs the ball anymore.” Well they do when it works, and it did and we looked silly. And now with teams getting back to basics, running the ball is back in vogue. We don’t. We’re chucking to ball all over the yard with Watson’s awfulness, and Winston’s inceptions. And can we all simply agree the DTR experiment needs to end? Mercifully we only have two more games.
There’s not one aspect of the Browns this year that has performed at an admirable level. The defense at times has been good, but not overall. Now, let the rebuilding begin. And nothing can go forward till you get right at the top. In need of football guys who understand the game, the modern game the modern athlete, and the NFL in general. Nothing will really change until you go there. Sadly, there have been many very good football people in their building for many years. Trouble is, we don’t understand this until we do the firing. This goes for front office and on the field, you know the names many are having incredible success after they leave here. And that’s just flat out embarrassing.
So where will they go this off season, as the Browns may be at a tipping point yet again. There are some very good players here, so what will they do? With a last place schedule next year that will help. But are we going to win 4 or 5 games or maybe .500 or better? To be fair, the choice is theirs and theirs alone. The Browns have to decide “collaboratively” (they love that word) what they really want to be. Do they really want to be good? Or do they just want to be right, or will they die trying? Look around you, it’s all around you, start watching the really good organizations. For once, at least pretend you don’t know everything there is to know. Because all this “We’re the smartest people in the room stuff” really ain’t working.
Do they really want to be better, or – this.
