Cleveland Browns: Amidst The Losing A Plan Is Forming

The fact that the Cleveland Browns are 0-8 is surprising nobody. It was felt their weak roster and rookie coaching staff meant for lots of losing in 2016.

Yet even in the process of watching it unfold, it’s clear the new regime has a plan in place. It involves a carefully thought out approach involving the acquisition of draft picks, a young foundation and then using some of those picks to acquire key veteran talents at opportune times. No team drafted more players in this past college selection meeting than the Browns. They wanted to overturn as much of the roster as possible.

They put their trust in head coach Hue Jackson that he could get them playing well quickly. Despite having no wins, it’s evident the team isn’t an instant pushover. They’ve been in several of their games this year and probably should’ve won a couple of them already. It’s just they don’t have the depth or experience in too many spots to keep their leads.

A centerpiece to the problem is their defense. Put simply they just don’t have enough playmakers to get consistent stops when they need them. They’re 31st against the run and are allowing 29 points per game. That can’t change until they get pieces in place to help.

So what to they do? They take advantage of an opportunity.

That is a tremendous addition to the defense for Cleveland. Jamie Collins is the type of player a team can build around. To get him for a relatively modest draft pick is a downright steal and indicative of the smart process they’re operating by. Good drafting, smart trades and careful free agent maneuvers is often the fastest way for a team to become a true contender. Whether ownership will trust the process and let it play out remains the biggest question.

Their reputation to date does not offer much hope for that, but things change. It seems Haslem has decided to sit back and let his people do their work. Don’t be surprised if that trust rewards him and the Cleveland Browns fans soon enough.