Overrating a Winning Culture, Real Needs

As Marty Schottenheimer said, winning is a habit.  These were much wiser words than "the officials can't affect the outcome of a game".

However, for the 2013 Cleveland Browns, it aint all that.  Here's why:

You'd think that strong finishes mean strong subsequent starts the following season, but they often don't.  A strong finish kept Eric Mangini here as head coach for the first year of the Holmgren regime.  How did that work out?

In fact, it's pretty common for teams who finished strong to stumble out of the gate the following season.  In fact, it's more common for bad teams to come back as good teams.

And that's a context: This is the last five games of a first season.  Even if the Browns go 1-4 the rest of the way, it really won't affect 2014.  New season.  New hope.  New players.  In fact, more determined players.

That winning "habit" begins with the first win of 2014.  You just need to try to make that game one.  Game 16 of the previous season might as well have been a decade ago.

Why do we get all mystical and superstitious about this stuff?

What would winning out this season accomplish?  Well, the frustrated children would be temporarily appeased, but in the real world it would only accomplish lower draft picks.

Most people who post comments like second place is last place, there can be only one, etc. are generally parroting catch-phrases they heard.  They fantasize a lot.  They're emotional, and they haven't ever been there.  Nor are they thinking, so much as feeling.

The cold, detached, logical mind breaks it down thus: If the Browns finish badly, they will draft higher in every round.  This is THE year that they can trade up, if neccessary, to nail down a franchise quarterback, and then draft offensive linemen, recievers, and everything else they need.

2014 would have them in immediate contention; a more talented and formidable team with depth at the most critical position; the missing piece. (I actually think Hoyer is all that, but let's grab the 22 year old stud for insurance and the future).

If the Browns were to win out and finish 9-7 and out of the playoffs, yipee!  Their highest pick is now at least in the high teens, and here we go again not having enough ammo to get the franchise QB, or else trading away half their picks to get him.

Congratulations!  Now you need to cross your fingers Hoyer doesn't get hurt or fall on his face, and you won't get another chance at a franchise guy for the forseeable future.  You're now drafting in the low teens in every round, and can't draft the same quality players you could have ten or so slots higher.

Good for you, temper-tantrum guy!  You've established a winning culture in a season that didn't matter anymore, and made it much harder for this team to get on top and stay there for the next twelve or so years!  I'm so happy for you!

You ate candy til you puked every Halloween, didn't you?  Just couldn't save any for later, could you?

I'm kind of hoping the Browns lose.  That's right--I'm a heretic!  Burn me at the stake if you can find me and I don't plug you first!  Go ahead, issue your fatwah!  "This guy thinks with his brain!  Kill the traitor!"

As for the Browns needs, I don't hate Greg Little as much as a lot of you do, but I would like to see another scary wide reciever opposite Gordon.  Devone Bess has been inexplicably disappointing, and that reciever could even be a slot-type who does what Bess was supposed to do; running around underneath.

I believe that Norv and Chud retain high hopes for Owens, and Obgannaya is a keeper, but I'm sure that they'll look for another big running back.  

Maybe indeed that battering ram fullback for short yardage, if he can also catch the ball.

The offensive line isn't the disaster it's being painted to be, but Mitchell Schwartze hasn't developed as well as hoped at right tackle.  He would look better at guard.  Rather than target a guard, I suspect they'll look for a right tackle and move Schwartze over to effectively upgrade two positions.

While not critical, an inside linebacker would help a lot.  Tank Carder isn't bad, but can't cover well, as we saw when Roberts went down.

Cornerback is always a need, even of you have three good ones, which--come next season--I believe they will.

The '13 Browns aren't as deep as they should be at some positions, and this is why after the quarterback is nailed down, the Browns could go best available the rest of the way.

Fortunately, right tackles, guards, and slot recievers slide to the second or even third round, and blocking fullbacks and inside linebackers go even lower.

Many of these "needs" aren't really needs, either.  This is a pretty talented team.  It has some soft spots to address, but not really any "holes".

If they can just get that quarterback, the rest should slide into place, and the team can be loaded for bear between the draft and free agency.  Ready for prime-time.

...if they don't win too much now.