If you were to nail down the Cleveland Browns identity over the past 20 years what would you say it is? Some might pick the word chaos, or immaturity or lethargy or ineptitude or most likely dysfunction would be the most common choice. Now take those same words and watch this 2020 Cleveland Browns roster and none of those terms would apply. So what has happened to cause such a drastic change in culture and mindset and ultimately in identity? Simply put, it is Alignment.
Alignment
It was a stupid buzzword the entire organization was touting as the latest champion to save the Browns from their own failures and yet for the first time since returning to the NFL in 1999 the Cleveland Browns are on the same page from ownership, to the front office to the coaching staff all the way to the players who are believing this message of Alignment.
It was on display in yesterday’s win in Nashville as the Browns rocketed out to 38 first-half points. Check out this play that required 3 different players to shift or motion 3 separate times. The play resulted in a 75 yard touchdown pass that made both the cornerback caught in the crossfire and the defensive coordinator look silly. You can’t execute plays with this much detail without all players knowing their role and what is being asked of them.
The Browns are playing team football and they look completely different from the team that a year ago had to dismiss its general manager and head coach. If you’re wondering where all this bad luck and heartbreaking decision-making and mind-baffling plays have gone that so riddled the Browns of the past, you only have to look across the field to see that the Browns are now the ones that are causing the chaos, lethargy, ineptitude and dysfunction. We have chronicled the ones that have stood out this year
The Other Guys’ Blunders
- Week 3 Washington: When Antonio Gibson took a short pass to the middle of the field to the sideline and somehow figured out how to fumble the ball in bounds.
- Week 5 Dallas: When the Cowboys converted on a 2-point conversion to bring the game within a field goal and then kicked a squib instead of kicking the ball deep. Then on the very next play Odell Beckham Jr. took the end around 50 yards for a game-sealing touchdown.
- Week 6 Indianapolis: When the Colts were in a one possession game and Phillip Rivers blindly launched a ball down field from inside the pocket and was called for intentional grounding resulting in a safety.
- Week 10 Houston: The Texans missed all of their FG tries including turning a would-be attempt into a cute pooch punt. Then when in the red zone later they failed to convert on 4th and goal after having dropped a would be touchdown on 3rd down. They lost by 3.
- Week 11 Philadelphia: One thing that was familiar for Browns fans was their players fumbling on the goal line in crucial moments like when Miles Sanders somehow lost the football in the middle of a pile right at the 4 yard line
- Week 12 Jacksonville: Jacksonville looked to take the lead after a touchdown made the score 17-19 Jaguars. The following extra point was good but they opted to try to go for 2 after a defensive penalty instead of taking the extra point. Then later in the game after scoring another touchdown the Jaguars were forced to go for 2 given the score was 27-25 instead of 27-26 since they missed the first 2-point try. In what looked like incredibly stupid decision-making, Mike Glennon rolled to his left while looking for an open receiver and started to head towards an open end zone on foot at the 5 yard line. Instead of running in for the score, he backpedaled and lofted a prayer into the back of the end zone for an incompletion. To add even more similarities to the old Browns, the Jaguars fired their general manager after this loss.
- Week 13 Tennessee: Late in the 3rd Quarter and down 41-21, the Titans were trying to make the game interesting. They completed a pass on 4th down that was ruled incomplete but they later successfully challenged the bad call and had it overturned…only to throw an interception on the very next play.
Summary
After 13 weeks the Browns have not beaten themselves. Sure, they were pounded by the Ravens and Steelers and lost a close game to the Raiders that might as well have been in a scene from The Wizard of Oz. However, the Browns have had countless chances to lose games because of poor decision-making, bad coaching or just plain old lack of awareness, but they haven’t. They have let the other teams be chaotic, lethargic, inept and dysfunctional while they have shown that they are poised, energetic, apt and highly functional. In short, they have established their new identity and have left the old days of curses and misfires in the rear view mirror.