The Browns at the Bye

A few words on the Cleveland Browns on their bye Sunday,since the Buckeyes were off,I have little football to write about.

The Browns are 4-5,but could be playing as well as anyone in a suddenly ailing AFC North and with some luck,could be far better in the win-loss columns.
Had Rob Chudzinski started either Brian Hoyer or Jason Campbell instead of the hopeless Brandon Weeden,the Browns could be as good as 6-3.
I certainly think better play at quarterback would have beaten Baltimore in week two and would have held on to a 10 point halftime lead over the Lions.
I'm trying not to get too excited.The Browns trail the Bengals by two games,but can make waves with a win next week over those same Bengals and should Baltimore defeat Cincinnati today,that game could put the Browns just a half game back.

The division (and future) suddenly looks a little brighter since the Steelers seem to headed down the wayward path under noted know it all Mike Tomlin (just ask him) and look to be overhauling their defense under Tomlin not Dick LeBeau and the Ravens seem to have confused a last year effort to "win it for Murderin' Ray" with a solid franchise along with mixing up Joe Flacco's playoff performance with an elite QB and paying like one-the door might be opening where it was locked before.

Things aren't perfect either for now or the future.
Neither Hoyer or Campbell have proven anything more than stop gap measures at QB and the running game is bad to put it simply.
The Browns will need to find a young quarterback,need a runner BADLY and another wide receiver to match with Josh Gordon or even replace Gordon in case he leaps off the wagon and into suspension.
As good as Gordon can be,the Browns cannot use him as a top pass catcher alone on faith.

The pass rush has improved under Ray Horton,but the linebackers have been exposed in coverage and could use another starter.
Joe Haden has improved to the point of being Pro Bowl caliber and a shutdown corner that most teams dream of having and Buster Skrine has taken a huge leap forward at the other corner,but I'd still like another since third rounder Leon McFadden rarely plays.

T.J. Ward has had a huge bounce back year at one safety and if the team can re-sign him,Cleveland could use Ward as the thumper and find a playmaker at the other safety.

With seven games to go,six of the seven seem winnable (at New England is the other),but only Jacksonville at home is one that looks to be a heavy favorite in,so who knows how this could go.
However,for the first time in a while,I feel better than usual about those Brownies!!!