Cleveland Browns: Plenty of blame to go around for offense

The focus is on the quarterback position as it warrants being, but a lot of factors have combined for the downfall of the Cleveland Browns offense in 2017.

The Cleveland Browns further embarrassed themselves when they were trounced by the Houston Texans to the tune of 33-17 (and it wasn’t even that close), falling to 0-6. The game was basically over the second a woeful overthrow from Kevin Hogan found Jonathan Joseph, who taunted his way to the end zone. This offense simply isn’t equipped to be competitive in its current form and there is enough blame for the guys in the front office, the coaching staff and the locker room.

One of the biggest disasters of this season has been Isaiah Crowell. Crowell actually had his best game to date this season with 58 yards on 12 carries and 15 yards on a pair of catches. That’s not a bad game, but when it’s the high water mark six games into the season, it’s easy to see where this is a problem.

The Browns expected Crowell to be as good, if not better than he was last year. They upgraded the offensive line and it seemed to be all there for him. Between the contract issues that are clearly in his head and calling plays that don’t seem to always work to his strengths, it hasn’t been just a setback, but completely stalled the Browns offense out of the blocks.

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It was pretty obvious Crowell wasn’t in the Browns plans after this season, but they expected him and clearly needed him to be good in a contract year for whoever would ultimately pay him. It’s been a dreadful deal for both sides.

And the Browns didn’t really do a great job of finding depth to insure against this possibility. Duke Johnson is a great weapon and he can carry the ball, but he’s not someone that can just eat carries throughout the game. He needs more touches, but he’s not someone built to get 25 touches in a game, let alone over a series of them. Matthew Dayes, the team’s seventh round pick, was basically insurance for Johnson. He’s built to be a good blocker and receiver, but isn’t a terrific runner, especially between the tackles.

It seemed like the Browns should have carried four running backs coming out of training camp, but they bet everything on Crowell. They even gave him the franchise running back treatment, holding him out of preseason games and resting him during training camp. Protecting him from injury certainly seemed reasonable at the time.

HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 15: Isaiah Crowell #34 of the Cleveland Browns runs the ball in the second quarter as D.J. Reader #98 of the Houston Texans dives to make the tackle at NRG Stadium on October 15, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

So, the Browns don’t have a reliable running game. At least they have some talented wide recei— wait. Corey Coleman gets hung out to dry in Week 2 by DeShone Kizer and he breaks his hand again. Kenny Britt has contributed nothing, so suddenly Ricardo Louis, Rashard Higgins, Kasen Williams and the recently acquired Bryce Treggs are being counted on for production at this position.

There have been some flashes, but the loss of Coleman and the complete nothing from Britt have the Browns on their third receiver for the past month. That’s not a recipe for success. Given that the team drafted four receivers the year before and signed Britt, waiting to see if those options developed was extremely reasonable in year two. If they needed more help, they could address it in the offseason.

That leaves the tight end position, which should be a bigger focus in the offense. They drafted David Njoku, have Seth DeValve and Randall Telfer. This seemed another position where a fourth player in the group seemed to be a smart play, but they’ve stayed healthy. They just need more opportunities to make plays.

Njoku looks tremendous, but he is incredibly raw at 21. He has some moments, has three touchdowns in six games, but it was always going to be a growing process this year. He was a longer term play with some flashes mixed in. He’s provided that so far.

DeValve gets a touch or few every game, but it’s not enough for what he brings to the table. He only finally caught his first touchdown in garbage time of this game. It’s a shame they don’t use his size and athleticism as a bigger mismatch more often. For his part, he also needs to use his size more effectively, especially when he’s matched up against corners.

All of this on top of the fact the Browns have a group of wholly unprepared or ineffective quarterbacks. DeShone Kizer has the most talent of the group, but he’s also not even remotely ready for the NFL as he’s shown to this point. Putting him on the field has not benefited his development to this point. He will almost certainly go back in this season, but it’s difficult to imagine he will get much better without significant work that could take at least one full offseason and possibly more.

Kevin Hogan had his opportunity and lollipopped his way to three terrible interceptions and looked incapable of being anything but a long term project of even being a backup. Cody Kessler isn’t even a consideration by Hue Jackson at this point, which shows where he figures into the quarterbacking picture both now and going forward. It’s difficult to imagine the former third round pick is on the team when the 2018 regular seasons kicks off.

HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 15: Kevin Hogan #8 of the Cleveland Browns looks for a receiver in the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on October 15, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

The plan at quarterback this year has been dreadful. They got rid of anything that even remotely resembled a veteran, most notably Josh McCown, who has the New York Jets, expected to be fighting for the top pick of the draft instead fighting for first place in the AFC East. Even if McCown went out and got injured one game into the season as he has, that’s one more credible quarterback performance than the Browns have gotten this year.

More importantly, McCown just represented the ability not to rush the position and specifically Kizer into playing immediately. While it may not have been a setback for Kizer to play in the first five games, it just hasn’t looked like it has helped him as he’s simply not at a point where he’s developed enough to really make strides forward playing in the NFL.

The bottom line is the offense lacks the firepower for Jackson to really put together a consistent offense. There are areas around the fringes that could improve with emphasis and play calling, but there isn’t a player right now that opponents can reliably have to stop. This is a slight defense for Hue Jackson the game coach, but the Hue Jackson that has input on personnel has been complicit in creating an unworkable situation.

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The front office didn’t pick Kizer without Jackson’s input anymore than they passed on Deshaun Watson without his input. He’s active in the process when it comes to shaping the roster, especially at the quarterback position, no matter how any of his friends in the media trying to spin it differently. (Does anyone believe Hue Jackson was coming to Cleveland without some say in the roster? Would you?)

The front office has done a lot of things to positively impact the overall roster. The offensive line is one of the league’s best. They have a tremendous young defensive line headlined by Myles Garrett, who already appears to be one of the best in the league. They also have impressive linebackers.

So the lines look like they are in good shape, at least for the moment. Left tackle for the long haul is something that needs to be addressed, but that’s getting away from the point that they’ve addressed line play and it’s improved from last year and has staying power for the future. A combination of bad luck and youth have them lagging badly when it comes to the quarterback position and weapons.

Maybe Coleman and Njoku can be household names in the near future, but it’s not happening right now and unfortunately, the Browns are playing games right now. They also still have to find a franchise quarterback, a great running back that fits them and then more receiving threats. Along with the secondary, this becomes the focus for the upcoming offseason, but that unfortunately does nothing to tamp down the frustrations in the moment. The next ten weeks look like they are going to be a rough ride and it’s easier said than done for many to accept riding out this process.

The good news — if there is good news — is that if the Browns find a good running back, they have the infrastructure for them to be successful early. There is no shortage of examples where Crowell has left yards on the field, because he missed a wide open running lane because he either didn’t see it or hesitated. They don’t need a Kareem Hunt or Jordan Howard necessarily, but they certainly are prepared to embrace and enhance one if they get them.

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If they can find a quarterback, they have a lot in place to help them be hit the ground running, assuming a quarterback, be it Kizer or a rookie, is ready to step in and take control. They’ll have some weapons hopefully more comfortable and if they add a running back, they’ve got the line to block for them and help ease them in.

Unfortunately, these are only hypothetical at the moment and they have to actually do it. And the people who are frustrated, rightly, aren’t likely to feel better from hypotheticals from a 1-21 regime filled with “ifs”. The failures by Hue Jackson, the front office, Isaiah Crowell and Kenny Britt have all combined for the NFL offense that simply doesn’t have the firepower at the skill positions right now to do anything more than struggle as they attempt to get their first win of the season, again.

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