Tony Grossi and Doug Dieken, among others, offer some ideas of what's wrong with this team.
Injuries at cornerback and safety haven't helped any, and I suspect something was wrong with Joe Haden even before he got knocked silly. This can't explain ranking last against the run, but this, combined with the lack of a consistent pass rush, has a lot to do with all those big numbers enemy quarterbacks are piling up.
Tony thinks a four-man front would work better. It might.
Doug Dieken says Shanahan's outside zone scheme is much better suited to the athletes on this offensive line than the system Flip has installed.
Is Flip a blockhead too?
It's a timing offense, but both quarterbacks hold the ball too long. As Mike said, Johnny missed a couple of first reads. But then as he immediately conceded, the Bengals did a good job of taking the first read away most of the time.
This has much to do with how small the receivers are. It's hard to trust a guy who can't outmuscle or outreach a cornerback. This becomes more acute in the end zone.
Everything would work better if the Browns could just run the ball and, I believe, if Duke Johnson was used on most downs. The blocking scheme and this are technically Flip's job.
I don't hate the guy. Until the last two games, the offense was pretty good despite its flaws and handicaps. He deserves credit for that.
But absent a BIG reversal of fortune and at least four more wins or so, Jimmy Haslam will have a hard time standing pat.
The same people who were bashing him for firing people will be bashing him for not firing people.
I've been here before. Jimmy will need to do something, just to appease the ignorant masses.
Enter Bernie Kosar. In this article by Darryl Ruiter, Bernie says he can fix it, and wants to.
Haslam could fire Flip and hire Bernie. Bernie might have been talking about a front office slot, or possibly even head coach, but offensive coordinator makes more sense.
This could get contentious, though. Mike Pettine would probably be ticked off at having an assistant coach thrust on him. Especially one who would insist on doing things his own way.
I get it. Coaches choose their own staffs and design their own systems. Bernie Kosar is a local icon and a direct threat to Mike's authority. If I were Mike, I would oppose this.
However, it could still work. Lock Bernie and Mike in a room with a white board for a couple hours and see what works out. Leave it up to him.
Mike Pettine wants first and foremost to win. Bernie is an offensive genius.
We who've listened to his analysis and color commentary are amazed by his ability to dissect and predict plays in real-time. He himself is a winner.
If it's done diplomatically, there's a good chance that Mike Pettine himself might hire Kosar.
Until now, Bernie was reluctant to actually work in football again, but this has clearly changed. He has publicly told Jimmy Haslam that he is available.
For all I know, Bernie wouldn't want this job, but we all know he'd be great at it.
For Haslam himself, it would be smart. Local yokels and even some permabashers would ease up on the bashery a little, temporarily.
Imagine it: Bernie is going to run the offense! We have a reason for slight optimism! Good for Mike Pettine! Maybe he'll fix the defense now!
Jimmy. Bernie. Mike. Pick up the phone.
Late insertion: It does seem that Bernie would prefer Head of Football Operations. He'd like to be like his former teami-mate, Doctor Evil Ozzie Newsome.
Ozzie worked his way up through personnel. I have no idea of whether or not Bernie has an eye for talent, though--other than at quarterback.
Would he work with his head coach as, gossip aside, Ray Farmer has? Would he listen to his scouts, and learn what he probably doesn't know about personnel?
I've been sort of defending Ray Farmer (on that note, look for Gilbert to play more after not sucking too much vs Cinci). I don't believe he should be fired.
But Kosar is interesting, and Ray has made some mistakes, like Dwayne Bowe's guaranteed salary.
It's TOO SOON TO JUDGE his draft picks, but he hasn't been perfect. If Haslam has to make a move, using Ray as the fall guy would be the least disruptive.
It's doubtful, though. Bernie? Jimmy? I just don't know.
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