Light at the end of the tunnel for the Browns?

As a Clevelander, it frustrates me that the same fans who are critical of anything that happens to the Cleveland Indians, who were just eliminated from the playoff hunt with two games remaining in their season, are somehow able to see a light at the end of the tunnel in 2014 for the Cleveland Browns.

In spite of over a decade of evidence to the contrary, Browns fans assume that the 2014 season will be different because there were some good signs in the first three games of the season.   There are two problems with that assumption:

1.  Many fans assume that the Browns will improve in upcoming games because the off week gives the squad time to work on correcting issues the team has on defense and on special teams.   I'm certain that the Browns will improve the team over the bye week, but there are 31 other teams in the NFL that are busily focused on improving.    The idea that the 3 extra days of prep that players have during bye week will magically allow the Browns to surpass NFL teams and start a winning run is utterly naive. 

2.  If you've ever run an organization that includes more than 50 people, you understand that human nature is such that bad times provoke turbulence on any team.   We are going to find out how good a leader Mike Pettine is.    One thing is for certain, there is no way that it's all "peace and love" in the Browns locker room.  No organization of dozens of men is EVER perfectly motivated.   My main worry is driven by Pettine's public criticism of Joe Haden.   Pettine's D is very much different from that of Ray Horton, our last defensive coordinator.  Haden became a Pro Bowl Corner in Horton's D.  In Pettine's scheme much additional pressure is being put on Haden who has allowed some big plays.   In an obvious reference to Haden, Pettine publicly commented last week that big name players have to play big time football.    In Pettine's scheme, Haden is asked to play on the right side and the left side of the defense.   Under Horton, Haden usually stuck to the left side of the field.   It's not as simple as saying "cover that guy" when you change sides of the field and surely Haden must be irritated to be raised up as the banner boy by Pettine for the entire team's failure.

Haden is very popular with his teammates and if he starts to complain behind the scenes that this high school coach and his radical changes are the reason behind Haden's woes, what we will witness against Tennessee is that new problems may crop up.

Teams that lose focus and unity do things like fumble the football, throw interceptions and give up more big plays.  Will Pettine be able to hold the team together AND publicly criticize leading players on the team.  Maybe he will, in about one week, we damn sure are going to find out.

It's a certainty that in losing times, Pettine's leadership of the team will be challenged in some way, and unlike past losing teams he coached like the 2012 Jets or the 2013 Bills, this time it will come entirely down to him to solve player rebellions.  Pettine may well emerge from these tough times consolidating his position as leader or he may drive the team into the gutter.   It'll be fun to watch but as for the 2014 season thus far the Browns have won 33% of their games.   To expect them to exceed this percentage during the remainder of the 2014 season is unrealistic.