The Road Ahead

After a 3-5 start, do the Browns have hope? Can they make a push for a wildcard or even an AFC North title? Sure, it's possible, but things seems to point against it happening. Here are some negative factors:

• Offensive Line Woes -- last season the OL solidified as the season wore on, and William Green started finding daylight. This season the line is ravaged. It's best player is gone for the year, Stokes is banged up pretty good, and Faine will be returning from an injury. Already every lineman has seen significant playing time. Former practice-squad guys are starting. At best, we are a couple weeks out from a 2002-style turnaround, and there's a good possibility things won't improve enough for this to be a strength.
  
• Tough Schedule -- the Browns have the 3rd toughest remaining schedule in terms of winning percentage. It's also 3rd toughest in total yards allowed and total passing yards.
  
• Head coaching -- face it, this is Davis' worst performance to date. In 5 losses and two more dissappointingly close games Davis didn't appear to have his team focused and organized. The win over the Steelers as sweet, but that's been it so far.
  
• Holcomb + Couch -- The team basically does not have a quarterback at present. Couch is on a roller-coaster ride that, while entertaining at times, is not likely to produce a 6-2 second half. Holcomb has had two good halfs of football, but the rest of the time he's either looked lost or has been injured. He's still hurting at present. He's also the team's best hope.
  
• Green drinking at 3 in the afternoon -- On one level I don't blame the guy (it's been a rough first half, and at least it was at the start of the bye week), there's no doubt that this behavior is not befitting a player who's about to bust out in the second half. It's more befitting someone who is discouraged or just isn't that interested. Either way, James Jackson has got to be feeling good right now and thankfully he'd looked good too. Jamel White hasn't done anything; he'll get a chance though.

Of course there does exist a sliver of hope that somehow this team battles back and makes a go of it. In fact, you could argue that getting back into the hunt is not all that unlikely. Maybe they come up short but it would at least be nice to have a shot. IMO, here's what has to happen:

• Holcomb's gotta get healthy -- He's the team's best shot, and with a bad offensive line we need a QB who can release the ball quickly. And he's gotta stay healthy enough to play.
  
• Suspend Green NOW. Don't wait for the league to decide something. Don't wait for the leagal proceedings to evolve. Don't f*ck around. He should be out for at least 3 games and the whole team should know that this behavior whole the season is still on the line is intolerable.
  
• Spread the field. No more bunch or trips packages. Line up 3 and 4 wide. Use single-back sets, none of this stupid tight-end-playing-fullback nonsense. Pass on first down. Throw to Northcutt and Davis. Keep the defense afraid to blitz. Even if it's not "ideal," use the pass to set up the run. It's the strategy that fits this team's talent.
  
• The OL has to hang in there. We don't need excellence, just adequacy.
  
• Continued good play from the secondary. This could save our butt this year.
  
• Bench Morgan for Andre Davis.
  
• Northcutt has to return a kick or two. It's time.