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Cleveland Browns: 5 Changes that need to be made after Week 3

By Cody Williams

CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 22: Running back Nick Chubb #24 tries to help as quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns looses the ball as he is tackled by outside linebacker Clay Matthews #52 of the Los Angeles Rams during the third quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Rams defeated the Browns 20-13. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 22: Running back Nick Chubb #24 tries to help as quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns looses the ball as he is tackled by outside linebacker Clay Matthews #52 of the Los Angeles Rams during the third quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Rams defeated the Browns 20-13. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Browns continue to look problematic after a Week 3 loss to the Rams and there are clear changes that need to be made to improve.

Following a Week 3 loss, the Cleveland Browns, the talk of the NFL throughout the 2019 offseason and a pick for many people to be a lock in the AFC playoffs, is now 1-2 to begin the season. The loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football was their second loss at home and their lone win on the year came to a New York Jets team playing without Sam Darnold.

It’s never been hard to see where the hype around these Browns came from. A team that had an exciting and polarizing young quarterback in Baker Mayfield and young defensive stars led by Myles Garrett then added the likes of Odell Beckham Jr. and Olivier Vernon this offseason. Those were supposed to be the moves to take them from 7-8-1 last year to being a playoff team in the 2019 season.

Instead, this is a team that has a litany of problems. The offense has actually looked worse in the 2019 season than it did last year, even with the addition of Beckham. Outside of Nick Chubb, there has been little to no consistency when they have the ball. Admittedly, the defense hasn’t been bad on the whole, especially considering the injuries to the secondary.

Even still, it’s clear that the Cleveland Browns can’t maintain their current course if they want to see the postseason. Sitting at 1-2, changes have to be made. And here are five changes that should be made to this team if they’re going to find success this season.

5. Cutting down the penalties, of course

After just three games, the Cleveland Browns have been penalized 35 times for a total of 327 yards. When you are a team that is giving away 109 yards per game, it’s going to be hard to succeed in the NFL. Thus, it’s not a shock in this regard that this team is only 1-2 after the first trio of games this season.

Issues with penalties aren’t something where you can pinpoint the blame. On one hand, that many penalties are a clear sign of a badly coached team that lacks discipline. At the same time, though, there is a certain point where the players have to take individual responsibility and realize that their lack of discipline is costing the team wins.

Wherever the bulk of the blame for the Browns’ penalty issues lies isn’t important, though. What does matter is that Cleveland isn’t going to be able to reach their potential if they keep giving away yardage in the manner they have been. This is the definition of a team shooting themselves in the foot and, with a team that has plenty of problems, they can’t afford to be doing that as well.

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