DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum A case for Ray Farmer

While I think that Haslam "wants to get things right", I also think that he is conscious of his developing reputation of not giving people no time to do their jobs.

I think that either Farmer or Pettine are gone at the end of the year. Either, not both. I believe that Pettine will be the survivor. I think that there have just been too many mistakes with the draft and in free agency for him to survive. I think that a player like Dwayne Bowe has to stick in Haslam's craw. I just cannot see Farmer surviving. I think that he will be the one, the only one, to go. (And I mean out of the 2 of Farmer and Pettine. I do think that there will be changes on the defensive staff)

--I wasn't addressing that to you. It was for anyone's consumption.

--Believe it or not, you and I are in 90% agreement. I have stated for years that talent gaps are myths. 100%. We also agree this isn't rocket science. Successful teams that are perennial playoff teams aren't better "drafters" than the non-successful ones. It appears that way for two reasons...they have their FQB allowing them to focus on other needs ...and the players are allowed to grow and develop under stable conditions and to your point, there isn't constant roster turnover.

--Where we disagree is on two fronts. You like to claim I don't grasp what you are saying. I know exactly what you are saying, we just disagree on the root cause. I agree roster turnover stunts growth. But you are always going to have roster turnover with HC/GM turnover. That's what comes with the change. This isn't something new that just happened with Farmer. This happens with every new regime change. Stop with the regime turnover and you'll see a stop in roster turnover.

--The other place we disagree is applying a black and white assessment to who gets blame. Did Farmer not have the backbone to draft who he wanted and instead caved to his coach's wants? Perhaps. Should Farmer own that? Yes, his job is to pick the best players. But I think his job is also to help create a harmonious organization, especially when he and the head coach report to the same guy. For an inexperienced guy, he probably leaned alittle too much this way. Yes, that goes in his negatives column, but if you knew he wanted Beckham and Bridgwater but tried to please his coach and owner, would you think differently of him? Most people might see this as a sign of weakness. I see it as inexperienced guy trying to please his coach and owner, never in a million years believing it would backfire the way it did.

--I'm not saying it went down that way, but in my opinion there are shades of gray to this that aren't being considered. This doesn't mean that either Pettine or Farmer is blameless. They are both inexperienced guys who made a ton of mistakes along the way. But I think Farmer takes a disproportionate amount of grief on here. Pettine has been an awful coach in almost every way imaginable...game day management, player development, scheme fits, training camp, lack of preparedness, lack of discipline, lack of flexibility. But the most common thing I read is Farmer hasn't given him the talent. A better coach gets this exact same team to 8-8, IMO.

--It sucks arguing about stuff like this. I wonder if we will ever get to experience a FQB and the stability that comes with it. Sometimes it just seems like it's not in the cards for the Browns.

I keep Pettine over Farmer any day of week.
Every Sunday Pettine is over matched talent wise on the field.
Farmer has added to a already embarassing culture with Textgate, porous FA moves and more
porous drafting.
you think the Dolphins and Chiefs are missing Hartline Bowe and Starks? Heck no.
yeah that deadly duo of Bowe and Hartline really lit it up this year to the tune of 600 yds and 2 TDS combined.
how did Farmers "smurf WR" philosophy work out? Gabriel was undrafted for a reason and
the Bengals let Hawkins walk for a reason.
playoff teams let players go for a reason.
Farmer has assembled a roster that needs to be blown up and rebuilt yet again.
Bill Belichek couldn't win 5 games with this roster.
I predicted 3 wins at the beginning of the year.
this team has gone backwards.
3 wins in the AFC North in 2 years.
a offense ranked 29th in scoring.
a QB that is more concerned about being a celebrity then franchise QB.
A defense that has very few game changers and no guys that can get to the QB.
Pettine if he stays needs to bring in experienced game day coordinators.not bozos that are learning on the job.

lol come on dude.

Farmer isn't the reason we got a defensive scheme that has our OLB trying to cover WR's.

Farmer isn't the reason we abandoned the run every game.

Farmer isn't the reason for poor clock management.

you can place blame on Farmer for a ton of things, but a ton of things also fall on pettine.

As much as i hate mingo, the fact of the matter is that he was drafted to rush the QB. his rookie season he had 5 sacks.

the last two years, he's been dropping into coverage. surprise surprise, he sucks at it. that ain't farmer's fault. that's scheme.

our coaches got players doing things they have no business doing. Kruger had what, 11 sacks last year? now we got him dropping into coverage more as well. surprise surprise, he sucks at it.

the lack of talent excuse isn't flying. we've had the same offensive linemen from last year. that was suppose to be the strength of this team, remember?

now we suck at run blocking. the only thing that changed was the coordinator. the lack of talent excuse doesn't fly.

those midget WR's you're complaining about? balled out last year. hell, we upgraded with hartline. now they suck. the only thing that changed was the coordinator. lack of talent excuse isn't flying.

i would love a huge target WR, but let's make this clear, last year, with the same WR corp, they weren't the problem, Hoyer was.

and the majority of people already admitted that we weren't losing from QB play this year.

So all we can do is look at the defensive side of the ball.

so what happened last year. we lose Ward, replace him with Whitner. everybody swore up and down he was an upgrade over Ward, even though Ward is a pro bowler. ok. now all of a sudden, people changed their tune to "it was a lateral move". lol...ok.

We get Dansby to replace Jackson at ILB. everybody swore up and down that was an upgrade. ok. that's two pieces that everybody on this board swore up and down was an upgrade.

then this year, the whole leadership crap came from pettine. so what happens, we get rid of PI skrine, replace him with Williams, who is a pro bowl CB.

we lost how, Rubin and Sheard?

thats not enough pieces that justifies a lack of talent excuse. we was a top 10 defense just last year, and now we're last in almost every category on that side of the ball?

remember, we was a top ten defense even with Gilbert not playing and K'wan playing over him.

so the lack of talent excuse isn't flying with me.

Belichek would absolutely have us winning more than 5 games, because 1: he wouldn't be having an injured QB playing that's an inch away of losing his arm.

2. he wouldn't have his players playing out of position.

3. he actually knows how to scheme and manage the clock.

I want Farmer gone like the rest of you. unlike the rest of you, however, i want pettine's trash ass coaching gone, too.

Haslam has no business even interviewing Chip if he is not all in with Chip's concept.

Here is where BTTB and I disagree. Yes, you try keeping talent. I agree you don't dump talent for less value or dump a B player for another B. BUT, and this is a big BUT, you must build a team that fits the direction from owner to the last man on the team.

Hiring a coach every other year means owner has no clue what type of team he wants on the field. Banner preached, starting with Philly and bringing to Cleveland, it is important getting the right coach. I think it is equally important having a GM who believes the same.

I think Pettine created an atmosphere he wanted with the players given. Pettine wanted a tough, bloody your nose, players. Farmer struggled, so far, bringing those type of players. Either Farmer does not understand or does not want that type of team. If there is a difference of philosophies, Haslam must make changes.

Having a coach adjusting what he thinks is a winning solution means you're not allowing the coach to execute his strengths. BTTB's theory seems a short term solution. Correct me if I'm misinterpret. I think where Kelly failed not getting best talent. Was it because that talent didn't exist? If so, Lurie should have understood. Again, it is a buy in by owner, coach, and GM.

As Chip attempted, he acquired specific people to do specifics. Lurie more interested in the hype as oppose to believing Kelly's concepts.

Haslam firing Pettine to get Kelly means he never was sold on Pettine's philosophies and a wasted hire. More I think how Farmer was hired I'm having my doubts Haslam knows what he wants.

I think my theory has merit because I see successful teams change coordinators without major changes. When it happens in Cleveland, you see big shifts.

Haslam must commit. If we see a wholesale dump, Haslam doesn't have a clue what he wants and is looking for coaches with hype like Lurie. He keeps one or both, Farmer/Pettine, he has a vision. Looking at the other teams in the AFCN you see just that a vision. They haven't wavier much over the years. Changes in Coaches haven't disrupted their success.

As I see Cleveland today they have pieces that fit. Talent level must improved. Is this Pettine or Farmer? Is it, because they were rookies, a lack of experience? Is it because either one did not focus on the plan?

I agree with 99% of this. What do you think of perhaps someone like Mike Smith as a HC? He has had success in the past. He has credibility in the league. He was not given a job last season by a team.

Voleur

Smith is a gameday disaster. Remember how badly he botched that game against us last year? He does that kind of stuff all the time. Mike Smith makes Mike Pettine look like a time management genius.

By what standard? If his objective to build his brand of football and his talent requirements wasn't available, yet, he puts together his brand. His mistake was not doing it from the start. Big Money...errr....Holmgren preached similar. It is best establishing from the get go. Thus, not firing Mangini from the start showed he wasn't committed.

Overall objective is building your football program. If you have a definition for all 53 players, you get those guys. From there, you build improving areas when you can.

I disagree it is a ego thing. It is more having a formula. The NFL is more difficult and time consuming than in college. In college, you simply use a grocery store concept and go get your players. In the NFL, you must acquire over time drafting and FA.

It is why I believe you must have a owner, GM, and HC who want to build a specific product. It is why it takes awhile to build. It is why you have peeks and valleys early in the process. It is why coaches add former older players to the team. It is more establishing your principals replacing with better talent going forward.

What about his first two years?

If Kelly doesn't control the personnel I think he can be successful. Tennessee seems to be a perfect fit.

Lurie didn't buy into it. My opinion he likes what Andy Reid built. Kelly didn't like Reid's style. Kelly's game is different than Reid. Making Kelly coach like Reid wasn't working for Kelly. If the team was good enough, why did Lurie fire Reid? Lurie should have hired someone like Reid.

I believe you are wrong. It has come out that Kelly didn't have a chance to give up personnel control, he was just fired.

He has since said that he doesn't require personnel control at his new job.



http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/201...sonnel-control/



http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/144557...s-next-move-nfl

Do you think Haslam hires both Ed Marynowitz and Chip Kelly?

Chip was Haslam's first preference.

I'm not sure what he would do.

I definitely would take Kelly over Pettine, that's for sure. If we had Kelly I would also say that keeping Manziel would be more likely:



http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-foot...-broke-my-heart

For the GM, I think it would have to be an experienced person who has clear control over the roster. If we hired Kelly's buddy it would just be more of what he did with the Eagles.

as much as Mike Smith had it bad with clock management, he got those teams to the playoffs.

i know we're suppose to expect more from an HC, like titles and such, but at this point, i'd just be happy with consistently competing for a playoff spot.

we haven't had that since butch davis.

I'd Go with Chip over Smith though. I'm not so sure, but the only offensive minded HC we had here was Chud and Shurmur. all the rest have been defensive minded. just interesting to me.

Is this a bad thing? If Haslam really believes in Kelly, I wonder. I think we agree Kelly is a good coach. I am assuming Marynowitz and Kelly can work together.

I'm not a fan of Kelly's style. I prefer Mangini or Pettine. I can learn to like Kelly if he builds a winner!!

If they hire Kelly, it will require a major personal change. It won't be pretty for a couple of years. Can fans handle it? Nope!!! But, remember what Belichick started.

I just don't want a guy who would do whatever Kelly wants. That's essentially giving him personnel control.

I think we're better set up to run Kelly's read/spread option type offense than the Eagles were. JF at qb, the speedy midget receivers, good zone blocking and Duke Johnson are already here. The only problem is keeping JF from getting killed.

I think Duke Johnson would thrive in Kelly's system. A poor man's LeSean McCoy.

And we saw how that worked out. First I was never a believer that Chips offense would survive in the NFL and second I would never want someone having control over personal that would trade McCoy for Murray to use as an edge rusher.

OL would need an overall. Quickness is missing. I'm not saying Cleveland's OL isn't good. It is simply not built for Kelly's scheme.

Defense lacks speed everywhere but the DL. It also needs more attitude. Think Seattle.

Is that blocking scheme much different than Shanny's ZBS? A lot of people here seem to think that worked well with these same players (until Mack went down).

Exactly I think this OL would fit his Offense pretty good, not say I want Kelly in Cleveland though ...

Read my novel above! I think if Haslam, Kelly, and Marynowitz can commit it'll work.

My only concern is Haslam friends with Peyton Manning. Talk about oil and water scheme wise compared to Kelly. I am not sure Haslam commits.

I think it is different. I'm unsure I could give a technical answer as to why. I do know Kelly's schemes are more run driven with a lot of pulls and options. ZBS is a sophisticated system. He wasn't running a complex scheme in college.

If Kelly's buddy is to be hired, then I don't want Kelly.

IMO, Chip Kelly should go back to the college ranks where his offense works.

Kelly's offense in 2013: 2nd in yards, 4th in points.
2014: 5th in yards, 3rd in points.
2015 (when Kelly had personnel control): 15th in yards, 16th in points.

His offense works. He just seems to be an egomaniac.

His offense works until it doesn't; when the NFL figures it out.

Our when he undermines his own self. Kelly is smart enough to adjust.

You don't have a very good offense like he did just doing the same thing over and over.

poor man's? not so sure of that... i think he is going to be a really good player.. jmo.

Roster talent is NOT a myth it does exist, that’s not the point. The point is the value of time playing together overcomes players better suited to the system the coach wants to run. Take a look again at Kelly his scheme and the players he viewed as more ideal to run that system didn’t produce better results nor did they execute his scheme better.

Over the long haul Kelly’s overturn of the roster may bear fruits and that’s why I said Laurie likely did more damage to the team in the long haul. You can apply the same theory to the Browns over the long haul the changes Text made may bear fruit, but here is what sends me over the top on Text, his drafts were so so bad regardless of what scheme you run.

I don’t doubt the talent of a player like Gilbert. In fact watch Gilbert he has mad raw skills but lacks the head for the game. Text should have known those things and avoided the guy. The part I find most alarming is while he did a complete about face the past draft he missed on the talent side by a wide margin. Shelton is a nice player and will get better over time, but Erving is horrid and its drafts like these that hamstring the future. So it’s more than just learning its fundamentally flawed ability to make good talent choices and to look at drafting from all angles. Talent/ skills/ smarts/ off the field issues, bla, bla, bla.



The highlighted part is easily changeable and its why I keep saying regardless of who you choose to replace Text or Pet with they MUST be committed 1000% to building on what’s here not just changing it. But to say that change is automatic to change in the front office is false it’s a choice and it’s a choice we HAVE to be careful to avoid if we make a change. Roster turnover and rebuilding can be avoided and continuing to build can be done.

I know you have seen me say Banner was the right guy, but you haven’t put the reasons for me saying that together. Banner in his 1st year took a wait and see approach and it was applauded by me and some other people. And it was the wisest choice he could have made. What he did was he allowed the young talent to begin to gell and from there he planned to sort thru that talent pick targeted areas to improve.

If you think about it, it was very wise he even took that a step further he banked draft picks for the following year, for several reason but mainly so he could make better more informed choices and target areas of most need. With the relative youth we had at the time waiting and seeing was far and away the better avenue, and hey it wasn’t about change for changes sake it was change for betterment and that’s where Text falls flat on his face.

To go back to your point about that when you blow up the FO roster flipping begins I would say we have a pretty damned good example of that not being so. So do you get it on this topic? No you don’t IMO.

That’s why you see me keep saying change can and should occur but it needs to be targeted and incremental –vs- wholesale. It’s not that Text didn’t need to make changes he just tried to make those changes too quickly, and he also targeted the wrong players repeatedly.
Whether Pet was a part of that or not is of no consequence to me he is the guy responsible harmony isn’t his responsibility talent is. You’re making a very weak argument here to say the least.


See what I have said above but Bugs the team has to do one thing perform and work as a team they don’t have to reflect or be a perfect unit. Of course that is the goal but winning and retaining talent that has proven to be effective together with the guys they play with is far and away more important.

When we assemble a group of people here that put team ahead of some dream team ideal they have and do what’s best will change our fortunes. Our problem is we try to do too much too fast and it kills us in the end. Incremental targeted change over time will garner the results.

I can show examples of us not following that simple formula and how it has back fired on us repeatedly time and time again. Steady improvement is possible, overnight success will never happen and that’s the mistake we repeatedly make.

Think, think, think.

if chip came here he wouldn't have any divas to get rid of..

its not like pett is never gonna coach in the nfl after this weekend. romeo and mangini and chud are still coaching.

I am trying to get a handle on the forum's opinion of Mike Smith. I seem to have about an even split on his being a good coach. Am I reading the forum opinion incorrectly? I feel that Chip Kelly has less support as a potential Browns HC.

Swish, I did not realize that agreeing with you once can be a hazard on here. HEHE. Or perhaps your agreeing with me is a hazard? The talent is not going to get significantly different next season. The system that Pettine has run has degraded the team growth. The younger players are not progressing as they should be and to me that speaks about coaching not drafting.

I mentioned that I do not believe the talent levels for most teams changes that much from player to player. Our defensive backs talent level of Tramon Williams versus Buster Skrine is it really that much of a talent difference? Is play of Austin Pasztor much different than Bitonio? Is McCown a huge upgrade talent-wise from Hoyer? I think that the Browns are about as talented in 2015 as they were in 2014. The only other constant that effects the play on the field is coaching. Trader Ray has given Pettine players to coach up to get the best out of their talents and Pettine has failed to do so IMHO. Fire Pettine Sunday night. Do not wait for Monday. Hire Mike Smith or another experienced HC that can recognize the talents he has and put the players in a position to succeed.

Excellent read...


Should Mike Pettine and Ray Farmer stay or go?

FRED GREETHAM
11:02 AM
link

With the season coming to a close Sunday against the Steelers, will this be the end of Ray Farmer, Mike Pettine or both in their tenure with the Browns?

The lifeblood for an NFL team is the acquisition of players. As the Browns are currently constructed, that falls on General Manager Ray Farmer.

But let’s not be naive here.

Farmer has input from scouts, personnel assistants, the coaching staff and yes, possibly the owner. Whether they like it or not, the coach and GM have to be on the same page to be successful. The way the set up is currently with the Browns, Farmer and Pettine were brought together in a form of a ‘shotgun marriage’.

Pettine was hired by Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi, as was Farmer. However, after Banner was fired, Farmer was elevated to GM to replace those who brought him in. The logical process is for the GM to hire his own coach to make sure they have a good working relationship.
That didn't happen with the Browns this time.

Pettine and Farmer have insisted that they have a good relationship, but the way some of the moves have played out clearly has shown a disconnect.

Farmer does have final say on the roster and the moves, but it is not realistic to think he made all of the key roster decisions in a vacuum. In other words, if Pettine said ‘I need a press cornerback at the top of the draft’, Farmer and the scouting department would bring him the top rated cornerbacks to look at and would get he and the defensive coaches input on who they feel would best fit the system. It is hard to put all of the blame on Farmer for the drafting of Justin Gilbert. Pettine had to have bought in on the move. The same could be said with roster cuts. If the coaching staff has Dion Lewis as the fifth-string running back, it wouldn’t make sense for Farmer not to cut him. The same could be said for Willie Snead and others, so we're not going to cast all of the blame on Farmer as Pettine has some culpability, as well.

In the first off-season, Farmer had the deck stacked against him. He was promoted to GM on Feb. 11, 2014 from assistant GM when Banner and Lombardi were let go so he was familiar with what was going on but didn’t have final say in any transactions. With little time before free agency and the NFL Draft, Farmer had to go with the staff put together by Banner/Lombardi as he went into the key time of the off-season for evaluating and acquiring players. Since becoming the GM, Farmer has made over 400 personnel transactions and obviously, with that given number there’s going to be hits and misses.

With that said, let’s look at the body of work under Farmer and Pettine. We’re going to refer to both of them in the decision making process, but obviously the buck stops with Farmer as the man in control of the 53-man roster.

In the two off-seasons that Farmer/Pettine have been in charge, let’s take a look at some of the key decisions made during their watch.

2014 Free Agent Additions: Karlos Dansby, Donte Whitner, Isaiah Trufant, Jim Dray, Ben Tate, Andrew Hawkins, Paul McQuistan, Nate Burleson, Earl Bennett and Miles Austin.

Summary: The decision was made to add Dansby and Whitner as veteran defensive additions to replace D’Qwell Jackson and T.J. Ward for their play and leadership abilities. Both have played well, at times but haven’t been the consistent play makers they were expected to be. Jackson has been the consistent tackler with the Colts that he was with the Browns, while Ward went to the Pro Bowl last year with the Broncos, as did Whitner.

Hawkins has been a consistent slot receiver, while Austin helped on third down and Dray was a solid blocking tight end.

Tate, Trufant, McQuistan, Bennett and Burleson had little, if any impact on the 2014 team.

2014 NFL Draft: 1b-Justin Gilbert, 1d-Johnny Manziel, 2-Joel Bitonio, 3a-Christian Kirksey, 3c-Terrance West, 4b-Pierre Desir

2014 Undrafted Rookie Free Agents: Isaiah Crowell, Taylor Gabriel, K’Waun Williams

Summary: The top of the draft is where Farmer/Pettine have been criticized the most. Rather than staying at the Browns pick at five, the Browns traded down once with Buffalo to nine and then back up to eight to take Gilbert, eschewing a needed wide receiver like Sammy Watkins, Brandin Cooks or Odell Beckham, Jr. Gilbert thus far, has been a colossal bust, having not been able to get on the field in two years despite cornerbacks going down with injuries and poor play ahead of him. Farmer should be given credit for acquiring the Bills No.1 draft pick in 2015 for the draft day trade, which was used to draft Cameron Erving, but that doesn’t give them a pass for ignoring the addition of a play-making wide receiver.

The jury is still out with Manziel. He has shown significant progress on the field, but not much off of it. His durability is an issue as it appears his strength is what he did in college and that is getting out of the pocket and running to keep the defense on it’s heels as evidenced by his franchise record 108 rushing yards against the Chiefs. However, if he runs too much, he is more susceptible to injury. The Browns have a big decision to make before the 2016 draft as to whether to build around Manziel or select another quarterback as the Browns will be picking near or at the top of the draft, unless they think that Austin Davis can be the long-term answer at quarterback.

Bitonio looks like he’s going to be a solid offensive lineman for a long time. Kirksey has been a solid performer in coverage and has been able to provide pressure, as well as being a core special teams player. Desir has been mostly a non-factor in 2015. West was traded after a somewhat productive, but inconsistent rookie year.

It could be argued that Farmer did better at finding undrafted rookies than drafted players as Crowell, Gabriel and Williams have all been solid contributors and have been as productive as any of the draft picks, if not more so.

2014 Key Free Agent Losses: D’Qwell Jackson, T.J. Ward

2014 Key Roster Cuts: Dion Lewis, Charles Johnson, Willie Snead

2015 Free Agent Additions: Josh McCown, Tramon Williams, Randy Starks, Brian Hartline, Dwayne Bowe, Rob Housler, Andy Lee (trade), Austin Davis, Terrelle Pryor, Robert Turbin

Summary: McCown was better than advertised and put up good numbers when he wasn’t injured as evidenced by his franchise record 457 yards passing against the Ravens. Bowe and Hartline were signed to shore up the wide receiver position, but Bowe was a major disappointment, considering he was signed to a two-year $12.5 million contract, including $9 million guaranteed this year. Hartline was a solid contributor until he was injured.

Davis has displayed the ability to come in and provide a spark off the bench. Lee has been an upgrade at punter.


Defensively, Williams was the big addition and played well, at times. However, with Joe Haden injured for most of the season, Williams was beaten too many times trying to cover the opponents top receiver. Starks didn’t do much to shore up the rushing defense, while Housler, Pryor and Turbin were non-factors.
2015 NFL Draft: 1-Danny Shelton, 1b-Cameron Erving, 2b-Nate Orchard, 3a-Duke Johnson, 3b-Xavier Cooper, 4b-Ibraheim Campbell, 4d-Vince Mayle, 6a-Charles Gaines, 6b-Malcolm Johnson, 6c-Randall Telfer 7a-Hayes Pullard, 7b-Ifo Ekpre-Olomu

2015 Undrafted Rookie Free Agents: E.J. Bibbs, Darius Jennings

Summary: Shelton has been solid but less than expected after being drafted 12th overall. His work ethic should allow him to develop into a good player. Erving has struggled but showed some improvement as of late. Orchard has come on and showed the pass rush he was advertised to bring recently. Johnson has become a proficient pass receiver out of the backfield and should get better as a running back. Campbell filled in when Whitner was injured and Gaines started over Gilbert and Desir late in the season. Malcolm Johnson was praised by the coaching staff for his blocking at fullback. Ekpre-Olou and Telfer spent their seasons on injured reserve, while Pullard was signed off the Browns practice squad to the Jaguars active roster.

Bibbs showed enough promise in the preseason to make the team, but rarely played, while Jennings filled in late in the season. However, none of the undrafted free agent rookies had the impact of the 2014 class.

2015 Key Free Agent Losses: Ahtyba Rubin, Jabaal Sheard

2015 Key Roster Cuts: Phil Taylor (injured), Ish Kitchen, Shaun Draughn, Turbin, Billy Wynn (trade)

Overall, Farmer/Pettine have made some good moves and have made some bad, but by-and-large there have not been many ‘playmakers’. In today’s NFL, the passing game is prominent and successful teams have big play weapons at wide receiver. Under this regime, they have not brought in any receivers that would be classified as ‘playmakers’. Josh Gordon and Travis Benjamin would be in that category, but were not brought in by this regime.

It’s been well documented and obvious that Farmer’s two drafts have not immediately made an impact. Farmer has said that he likens draft picks to ‘slow brewed coffee’ taking time to develop. However, in the NFL today rookies all over the league are making impacts in their first years. The Browns have had four first-round choices under Farmer and Pettine’s watch in Gilbert, Manziel, Shelton and Erving. Shelton is the only one that has been a clear-cut starter since joining the Browns. The jury is still out on the other three, but clearly have not had the impact of teams in similar position to the Browns like the Raiders who added Khalil Mack, Derek Carr and Amari Cooper in the first round of their last two drafts. It should be noted that Raider’s GM Reggie McKenzie was criticized for his draft picks in his first few years on the job.

It appears that placing the seldom used transition tag on Alex Mack in 2014 could cost the Browns a Pro Bowl center. Instead of placing the franchise tag on Mack, the transition tag allowed Mack to get an offer from another team and the Browns had a chance to match it. The Jaguars signed Mack to an offer sheet, which the Browns quickly matched. However, there was a clause in the contract that allowed Mack to opt out after the 2015 season. Mack can walk away from the Browns this off-season and the Browns will get no compensation whatsoever. Mack has the option of playing the contract out or opting out and re-signing with any team, including the Browns. The Browns used a first-round pick on Erving last spring to replace Mack if and when he leaves, addressing a position that didn’t need to be addressed if Mack wasn’t able to walk away without compensation.

Also, several pending free agents such as Mitchell Schwartz, Tashaun Gipson and Benjamin are possibly headed to free agency and if so, there will be no compensation. Farmer was able to sign Gary Barnidge to an extension before he hit free agency. In the past two years, the Browns have lost some valuable free agents in Rubin, Sheard, Jackson and Ward. Rubin was praised by Seahawks coach Pete Carroll as one of the cogs in the Seahawks top rated rushing defense. Sheard has made plays all season for the Patriots.
Besides losing the free agents, Farmer/Pettine have cut Lewis, Snead and Johnson. Lewis was a key cog in the Patriots offense this season at running back until an injury cost him the season. Snead has been one of the top receivers for the Saints.

One question one could ask if why do some players go elsewhere and seem to thrive? It obviously is not due to lack of talent but because of the way they are used by the coaches. The logical conclusion is the coaching staff is not always playing to the player’s strengths.
To add to the mix, Farmer was also suspended for the first four games of the 2015 season for texting during games in 2014.

The big question for Jimmy Haslam going forward as to the future of Ray Farmer and Mike Pettine is can they come together and do a better job of finding the right players that fit the system the Browns are playing and will be able to add ‘playmakers’ to the roster?

Pettine frequently says the NFL is “a bottom line business”, and given the results of the two seasons on the job—a 10-21 record before the Steelers game—is continuity worth it for the sake of continuity or is their hope for real growth and progress?

We shall soon find out.