Cleveland Browns

I love the Browns.

I love everything about them.

I love their jerseys, their lids, their old school logo, the fans, the ground, Joe Thomas and, most importantly, Colt McCoy.

McCoy was, in my opinion, the steal of the 2010 draft. A third round pick-up, the Texas Longhorn’s Colt McCoy is the winningest Quarterback in NCAA Division I history. With 45 notches in the W column, second place in Heisman voting, a bunch of school records and a single season completion percentage of over 76%, he looked like a tasty prospect to me. But he slid all the way to the third and all the way to the Browns due his ‘lack of NFL size’, small hands and injury proneness.

Well now is his chance to shine, and shining he is…

McCoy’s pre-season performances have been nothing short of sensational. And it isn’t just the points his team are scoring that make him look like he’s playing better than he is, he is doing everything – everything – right.

His ball protection is superb; his game management is that of a five year starter; his passes are accurate and his release quick; his poise and footwork, refined; and his maturity and toughness are the things you pray for on Draft day.

But will it translate into results? The Browns have drafted well over the last five years, making the right moves on and around the big day to move up for playmakers and having the conviction to stick to their board and always select the number one guy.

Joe Thomas was a great pick, even if he was an easy one. He’s an example of how to draft sensibly and will affect this team’s chances of still being around in the Springtime for years to come. But the Browns ply their trade in the AFC North – that makes things tough. It is almost certainly the most physical division in the NFL and that, in the absence of consistent, season-long protection from the O-Line, can wear a young QB down and intimidate him before he finds his groove. Can McCoy avoid or overcome such harassment? I think he will, but I don’t think it will be enough for them to make the playoffs this year.

Verdict: I have them somewhere around – hopefully just above, probably just below - .500. They could even be as unlucky as to finish 10-6 and miss the playoffs through tiebreakers. It’s not their year – in another division (say, the NFC West) they might come top, but the North? No way. Next year Brownies, next year!



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