Browns O-Line is Worse than I Thought

  
  I wrote about the Browns' Offensive Line a few weeks ago, and basically I took the stance that we needed to tweak things rather than overhaul them.  
   But things have changed.  First I have just realized that John Greco may not be back in 2017 at all.  It's been reported that he may need Lisfranc surgery, which would be a major setback. It's the same injury that Joel Bitonio had.  The good news is that there is a good prognosis for full recovery, the bad news is that it usually takes a full year to recover from, meaning that there is a good chance we won't see John this year.   At age 31, he can still come back, but as Paul Brown used to say, "football is a young man's game."  Ok, so we have no right guard and need to come up with someone. 
     The next problem is that the coaching staff seems to believe that Cam Erving is never going to improve enough to play center at the NFL level.   Hence they tried him at right tackle,  another sore spot for the Browns, and basically admitted that the center experiment is not going to work out.   Erving looked almost like an NFL lineman at times versus the Steelers, but also had a major breakdown in the third quarter as he was overwhelmed by the Steelers lineman as well as linebacker Bud Dupree who blew past Erving to force a strip sack. 
    I don't think the Coaching Staff can trust Cameron with either the Center or Right Tackle positions.  I think he should be made into a backup guard and sent to the weight room to try to rebuild his career. 
    The Browns gave up 66 sacks in 2016, 17 more than the next highest team.  They were incredibly bad.  In fact they were worse than the 1999 expansion team that gave up 60 sacks. 
    So what have we got?  Joe Thomas and a healthy Bitonio are solid on the left side.  Austin Reiter had a good game at center before getting hurt. Let's say he is at least a viable backup, along with Erving at right guard.  We did not have any NFL players at the other three positions.  I believe Austin Pasztor might be all right at guard, but not at right tackle where he played in 2006, and anyway he is a free agent now.    Spencer Drango, Jonathan Cooper and Alvin Bailey were usually overwhelmed at guard.   Shon Coleman had some good blocks versus the Steelers, but you have to wonder why the Coaching Staff didn't play him earlier.  
     Hence I think the only guys that are really established starters are Joe Thomas and Joel Bitonio, and even Joel is not a lock to come back from foot surgery. Hence the Browns are going to have to sign some people during free agency, and try to add some talent via the draft also.  We need to look for a Center, Right Guard, Right Tackle and a guy who we can trust to back up both Tackle positions.   Erving might be given another year to develop, but patience is wearing thin for him.  Austin Reiter was a good backup center, though perhaps Anthony Fabiano might be a competitor after having a start against Pittsburgh, though he managed to hike the ball over RG3's head, which cost the Browns dearly.   I'd like to see some more of Shon Coleman, although as I mentioned already, I have trouble imagining he is very good if he couldn't get playing time on this squad. 
     I realize that Sashi Brown wants to only sign young players but we could a few veteran one-year wonders to stabilize the line, especially to fill out the bench bunch. 

The Fat Kids have killed the team all year long.

     I've been complaining about the Browns' Offensive Line all year long, as they've been trying to kill all of our quarterbacks.   To recapitulate, Cody Kessler has been knocked out of games twice, Josh McCown missed time with a broken collarbone, Robert Griffin III had a broken bone in his shoulder, and Charley Whitehurst was released with an injury settlement.  In addition the Browns lead the NFL in sacks allowed and hits allowed on the quarterback. It's one of the most disgraceful performances in NFL history, frankly.  

Many analysts believe the Browns need to nuke the line, blow it up and start over.  But I don't think so.  Next year, we hope for a healthy Joel Bitonio, John Greco, and Austin Reiter.  Joel is an up and coming star and threat to make the Pro Bowl, Greco has been a reliable and underrated guard, and Austin Reiter outplayed Cameron Erving however briefly before going on IR with a knee injury.  

No doubt the guys we are playing now are terrible.  But almost all linemen will improve greatly between Year 1 and Year 2.  I don't know whether late round draft picks like Shon Coleman and Spencer Drango will be good, but I do know that they will be better than in 2016.  It's just a fact that most rookies need time to understand the intricacies of their position, and they are still getting stronger at age 21 or 22. No way are they at their peak.  

In that regard, Cameron Erving has been terrible.  But to my eye, he's been getting better.  Not good, but better.   And if you look at his history, he switched from defense to offense only in his sophomore year, and then played one year at tackle and switched to center.  He had very little experience and then messed up by insisting he could play all five positions.   Let's be clear.  I don't blame a 22 year old kid for thinking he could do it.  I do blame the Browns coaching staff for not giving him one position to learn.   I want to see how he does in 2017 before going ape.  As other options, we still have John Greco and Austin Reiter.  

I don't think that Austin Pasztor is the stud road grader that we need at Right Tackle. He's a free agent this year for 2017, along with former first round pick Jonathan Cooper.    I would definitely seek a new starter, either via Free Agency or in the draft.   But I might be receptive to bring Pasztor back if he's willing to sign for a modest contract.  I think he played well at guard as a substitute starter in 2015.  I think Pasztor could be moved to right guard to compete with Greco for a job. We'll find out about Cooper too in the remaining games of 2016.  

Some people talk about moving Joe Thomas but that is crazy talk.  Leave the Hall of Famer alone.  He ain't broke, so please don't fix him.  

So, I think we are okay at  four spots with Thomas, Bitonio, Erving and Greco.  Backups are  Reiter, Spencer Drango, Shon Coleman and depending on free agency, Jonathan Cooper and Pasztor. We still badly need a legit right tackle, and probably a developmental guy who can be a backup tackle.  I think you can count on the guys on the  bench being better (not good, but better) than 2016.  

Shon Coleman has had a chance to start, but will have to improve to be first string next year.