Another Loss That Wasn't As Bad As Feared

While the Browns were falling 23-20 in overtime to the Broncos I couldn't help but wonder what could have been of this season. For a team with many injuries and a decimated offensive line the Browns looked good. Again, the defense showed it was playoff worthy. Lee Suggs showed a little. Couch was okay -- not good enough to win the game, but he kept the team in it, especially with a great toss to Davis for the last TD. Warren had perhaps his best game. Andra Davis looked good too.

While it was unfortunate Michael Lehan lost Lelie on that long pass at the end of regulation, it was at least heartening to see the Broncos have to step up and really gut it out to beat a supposedly hapless 4-9 Browns team. It's proof just how small a margin there is between a good/bad team right now. In the see-saw NFL there's no reason to think the Browns won't make a playoff run in 2004. Sucks now though.

Sunday hopefully underscored to the front office what any Browns fan already knows -- the offseason priority has to be with the offensive line. Oh, what I wouldn't give for a Kyle Turley in free agency and another Faine-caliber player at guard via the draft. You can bet that the Holcomb/Couch saga would have ended much differently had that been the case this season too.

Part of me hates to say it but, overal, I still like this year's team. With the notable exception of the offensive line, I think almost every unit stands to improve in 2004. As of Dec. 15 my ideal offseason goes something like this....

Draft -- 2 OL, 1 QB, 1 DL, 1 DB...
Free Agency -- 1 or 2 OL, 1 S, 1 LB, 1 TE
Internal moves -- Resign Northcutt, retain Couch and Holcomb, retain Warren, release Green, renegotiate/release C. Brown.

I don't believe getting a free agent quarterback is the cure to what ails the quarterback position; I really believe it starts in the trenches, at least in this offense, and that Couch can play the position well enough to win consistently. Keeping/jettisoning Couch is a tough decision in football terms, but it's even tougher in financial terms. My vote is for keeping him. However, drafting a passer in the first 3 rounds would not be a wasted pick. Assuming Holcomb remains the backup, it'd be a good idea to groom a successor.

William Green's situation presents the most potentially damaging problem to this team. I doubt he'll be back, and if he is he won't be a dominant player. The financial impact of releasing him is going to really hurt, but won't be devastating. It helps that James Jackson, Jamel White, and the intriguing Lee Suggs are all signed to reasonable contracts. After last season's tear-inducing spring to the endzone vs. Atlanta I will be sorry to see William go, but the road he faces now is daunting and relying on a big contribution from Green would be foolish.

Something has to give with Courtney Brown as well, though he is a good football player when on the field. Two things have been dissappointing -- his lack of dominance and his tendency to get hurt. Which means he is vastly overpaid and will either be cut or will renegotiate down to a better number. It will probably come down to whether or not Butch Davis sees Brown on this team for the next couple years.

Anyway, to say it again, the offseason has already begun...