Many fans stated in the Preseason that this was the year that the Browns would dethrone the Steelers and rule the AFC North and we would have 10 to 11 wins this season.
There were posters stating the Browns offensive line was top 5 in the league, that we would have many Pro Bowl players on this team and yada yada yada.
I posted before the season that the Browns were reading there own press clippings and needed to prove things on the field.
Well seems many of us fans were wrong about this team and have placed the blame on everything from RAC, DA, Braylon Edwards and Savage and others.
What I feel that we are all missing is that yes this team won 10 games last year but look at the teams we beat to get those 10 wins.
I believe that this team does not have as much talent as many people have been led to believe which is the primary reason we sit at 3-5 today.
Look at the offensive, at wide receiver we have Edwards and Stallworth has not been healthy to get on the field and after that we have guys like Steptoe, Sanders ect who would be the 5th receiver on most teams, at running back we were expecting a season from Jamal Lewis like last season but its becoming obvious that the Lewis of 2008 is not the Lewis of last season and we have no back behind Lewis that can carry 15+ times per game, their have been fans/posters wanting to see more of Steve Heiden fact is the guy is a good backup but he is not in the class of Winslow and if he started and played each game you would see that IMO, the offensive line last year dominated some very poor defenses but this year that same OL has played some pretty good defenses and the run blocking is not close to last season and its not just because Tucker is out, as a whole the entire offensive line is not playing anywhere near what they did last season.
Look at the defense, other than Shaun Rogers at NT, this team does not have any playmakers on defense who can change the outcome of a game with a big sack/interception ect, many Browns fans want to put Sean Jones in the same class with Polamalu and Ed Reed but those guys make big plays and game changing plays each week and Jones does not. look at the linebackers on this team in a 3-4 defense your playmakers are supposed to be your linebackers, what linebackers on this team are playmakers?
So if you look at this team I believe we all over judged the talent on this team and this team is not as talented as many want to believe.
True to some extent D.A. has been a problem but he is not the sole reason this team is 3-5.
RAC has proven to be a terrible coach but you are only as good as the talent you have.
Now look at Phil Savage, all the Savage supporters want to say all the talent he has brought in, yes that talent looks good on paper but look at all his aqusitions and how many true playmakers have he brought in? Corey Williams? No, Donte Stallworth? No, and look at his draft picks, would anyone today still rather have Wimbley over Ngata of the Ravens? in 4 years Savage has had 2 picks in the top 3 of the draft and selected Edwards and Joe Thomas both excelled last season against weak teams and both at best have had average seasons this year and Wimbley is looking more like a bust each game and Savage other draft choices while average to better than average NFL players there is not one superstar or soon to be star among any player Savage has drafted or signed as a free agent.
In all the blame first goes to Phil then RAC and others, folks this team is not as talented as many of us thought it was or would be.