The Cleveland Browns roster looks like an expansion team. It’s not that much different than the roster in 1999, when the Browns actually were an expansion team. The quarterback spots are filled by a veteran desperate for a second chance to start, an older veteran backup and a developmental rookie. The best skill-position player is a tight end, who had a breakout nobody saw coming at age 30.
Whether you believe Robert Griffin III is the answer at quarterback or not, this team isn’t magically going to turn things around in one of the tougher divisions. Let’s not forget the Browns were 3-13 last season and haven’t made the playoffs since 2002.
Cleveland Browns Regular Season Win Total Odds at BookMaker.eu
Browns Over 4.5 Wins -140
Browns Under 4.5 Wins +120
Hue Jackson is the latest to take the reins of the Browns after Mike Pettine was relieved. The latest rebuild has to be a long-term project. The last coach to survive more than two seasons in Cleveland was Romeo Crennel, and his run ended in 2008. Three coaches since then have been given just two years, and Rob Chudzinski was given just one. You can’t build anything that way. You have to trust a hire and let it play out.
The Browns were fortunate to get Jackson, a hot name after doing a great job as the Cincinnati Bengals’ offensive coordinator. Who knows why he’d want to go to this Browns franchise, which has been remarkably dysfunctional over the past few years. But he’s here, and the Browns have to give him time to turn this around.
One of the first moves Jackson made was to get rid of Johnny Manziel, hopefully bringing some accountability and responsibility to the team. The Browns have to trust their process for once and allow Jackson to build slowly, and maybe see positive results in four or five seasons. While the Browns and their fans want immediate results, it ain’t gonna happen in 2016.
2016 Cleveland Browns Schedule
Week 1: at Philadelphia Eagles ( -7 )
Week 2: vs. Baltimore Ravens ( -3 )
Week 3: at Miami Dolphins ( -7 )
Week 4: at Washington Redskins ( -7.5 )
Week 5: vs. New England Patriots ( -70 )
Week 6: at Tennessee Titans ( -3.5 )
Week 7: at Cincinnati Bengals ( -11.5 )
Week 8: vs. New York Jets ( -5 )
Week 9: vs. Dallas Cowboys ( -5 )
Week 10: at Baltimore Ravens ( -8.5 )
Week 11: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers ( -8.5 )
Week 12: vs. New York Giants ( -3.5 )
Week 13: BYE
Week 14: vs. Cincinnati Bengals ( -7.5 )
Week 15: at Buffalo Bills ( -9 )
Week 16: vs. San Diego Chargers ( -2 )
Week 17: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Cleveland’s record last year was bad enough. In fact it was tied for worst in the NFL. Two of the Browns three wins came against San Francisco and Tennessee, teams hanging with Cleveland at the bottom of the league standings. Two games each against AFC North counterparts Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Baltimore doesn’t bode well for the Browns’ chances of improving their victory total.
QUICK PICK
Consider this a fresh start for the Browns. Year Zero. Expansion, The Sequel. Whatever you want to call it, it’s a total rebuild. This season will probably be ugly, but Jackson will figure out which of these rookies and younger players fit, then will presumably have a nice pick next year. If a terrible season results in Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2017, that’s great.
Another quick change after a couple losing seasons – and there will be losses in Jackson’s first couple years would leave the Browns the same hapless mess they are today, just two years further down the road. The vision should be for what the Browns could be in 2019 or 2020, not the win-loss record of this season or next. We’ll see if Jackson is given the time to pull that off.
Few are expecting a lot of wins, but they could be more competitive than last year. Jackson did a great job in Cincinnati with Andy Dalton, and maybe he can turn Griffin around. If tight end Gary Barnidge repeats his amazing 2015, Josh Gordon comes back from suspension and plays like a star again, and first-round pick Corey Coleman has an instant impact, the passing game could be OK.
The defense doesn’t have a great pass rush or a strong secondary. The offensive line is rebuilding. The quarterbacks aren’t great and the skill-position players are among the worst in the NFL. There’s a long, long way to go and the season shouldn’t be judged in wins and losses but by how the players pick up Jackson’s offense and if some of the young talent develops.
NFL Odds: Cleveland Browns Under 4.5 Wins
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