The Cleveland Browns already leaky linebacking corps took a direct hit today as starting linebacker Chris Gogong tore an Achilles tendon defending a pass play and will be out for the 2012 season.Considering that the Browns already will be without oft-injured Scott Fujita to start the season due to his involvement in the Saints bounty issue,this means the Browns will start the season against the Eagles without two of their starters and will have to start at least one rookie and possibly two.
Gogong had signed a three year extension to his contract after playing very well last season,especially in the final four games of the season,so this is a huge hit to the Browns defense and with the loss of Phil Taylor up front,the Browns suddenly appear to be relying on rookies at multiple spots right away with little time to break them in.
Fourth round pick John-Michael Johnson and special teams standout Kaluka Maiava will likely be the starters on the outside of D"Qwell Jackson with sixth round draftee Emmanuel Acho given a chance for extra playing time as well with the absence of Gogong.
I do think this could be a long run positive as Johnson and Acho will get large amounts of snaps quickly into their careers,which bodes well for the long term,if not the short.
However,for the short team,Johnson,Maiava and Acho are going to make mistakes that a veteran like Gogong would not and that is going to have to be accepted as a part of the process.
Injuries will happen and they do not happen to the Browns more than any other team.
It does seem like it,however,because the team has such little depth over the years that injuries to average starters seems like colossal shots to the jaw because the replacement is usually quite a step down from the starter.
This is where patience and building a team right comes in.
Good teams and their programs have depth because they make to draft the right players for what they do and then break them in slowly,so when a situation such as a season-ending injury hits,they are prepared.
This does not happen overnight and changing philosophies every two or three years consistently delay this process.
That is why I am hoping that when the broom comes out for the "Bob LaMonte mafia",I am wishing that at least Tom Heckert survives.
Heckert has begun this process and even though I disagree with some of his moves,I believe he has the right plan in place for sustained success in Northeast Ohio.
As much as I would love a smashmouth team in Cleveland,the steps are in place for a team in the Holmgren mold and changing now would mean yet another total revamp,which would be the fourth in five years.
This season looked to be a long one,but an interesting one with players worth watching to see if progress had been made.
Today's injury just allows Browns fans to see more of two younger players at the cost of a player better suited to help win now....
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