If you’re not disgusted with the new Cleveland Browns offense by now, you should be. Through eight quarters, the Browns offense has scored just one touchdown. This begs the question – where is the high-flying, vertical, Norv Turner offense that was pitched to fans before the start of the season?
While I have tried to stick up for Brandon Weeden, in the NFL, a quarterback either has the “it” factor or doesn’t. Though it’s sad to say, it is clear that he doesn’t. Every great quarterback in the NFL has an internal clock ticking down in his head that goes off when it’s time to step through the pocket or vacate the area. While he does stand tall and take some fierce hits, that internal clock is missing. Add to the fact that Weeden often reminds fans of Bernie Kosar running and that is a recipe for disaster. Much like Derek Anderson, Weeden is a good kid with a rocket arm, but not the future QB of the team we so desperately cling to.
Using the fact that Josh Gordon has been missing is a poor excuse. Through two games, the Browns have had no sense of direction and look out of synch. To be a winning football team, third down conversions are crucial. On third downs, the Browns are 5 of 29 for a disgusting 17% conversion rate. On any level of football, this is unacceptable.
Weeden’s pocket presence is horrendous and the right side of the offensive line is getting blown up. While much of the o-line blame can go on Oneil Cousins, what is quietly being ignored is the play of second year right tackle Mitchell Schwartz. Especially in pass protection, Schwartz is getting manhandled by linebackers. Three delay of game penalties, especially coming off of an injury timeout is inexcusable! Heading into a Minnesota, something has got to give and the excuses are wearing thin. This is the NFL.
Is the Greg Little project experience over? While it seemed like Little had turned the corner from a maturity stand point since his guru-meeting with Alonzo Mourning last year, he has not. It is really sad because I have watched little stay after practice and work hard, but unfortunately it has not translated in games. I have counted six drops in the first two games. Little is Braylon Edwards 2.0 and not the Edwards of 2007. Little also had his car towed late last night for another traffic violation.
The only offensive weapon living up to the hype is the third year tight end Jordan Cameron. To start the season, Cameron has 14 receptions for 203 yards and a touchdown. Arguably, he has been the only go-to guy Weeden has had and this could be a big year for Cameron.
Depending on how you view it, the good news is that there are 14 games to go to prove many of these concerns wrong. But, to say that this is getting really old is an understatement. Hey, at least the Browns can finally stop the run.
Ryan Ruiz is the Cleveland Browns Beat Writer for The Inscriber: Digital Magazine. You can follow him on Facebook: Ryan (BrownsWriter) Ruiz and Twitter @ryanpruiz24. Ryan is also a Browns correspondent for The Sportsfix. Tune in every Friday at noon on www.thesportsfix.net.