Tight-end Kellen Winslow is finally close to 100% and he’s now showing why Butch Davis drafted him so high.  When Davis traded up in the draft to get him, most people in Cleveland were moaning about getting another “Hurricane”.  Winslow is getting open and catching the passes that are thrown in his direction.  He also has been flashing his running ability after the catch.  Winslow has caught 30 passes for 283 yards and 2 TDs already this season.  If he keeps this up and stays healthy all season, he could be a Pro-Bowler this season.

Maurice Carthon is sitting firmly on the hot seat in Cleveland.  Head Coach Romeo Crennel has been sticking by his side, but many in the organization want him fired.  A change could come as early as this Monday.  The Browns play-calling has been pathetic ever since Carthon put on a head-set for the Browns.  This season the Browns are only averaging 16.2 points per game (25th in the NFL) and 261.2 yards per game (31st in the NFL).  There is too much talent at the skill positions for the Browns to be this lousy on offense!

One thing that will help the Browns is just having the time off.  Hopefully Gary Baxter and/or Leigh Bodden will be healthy enough to return for the game against the Broncos.  The pass defense has somehow played decent in their absence.  The Browns are having a hard time stopping the other teams running game.  Opponents are averaging 143.0 yards per game rushing and 4.7 yards per carry.  That has to change if the Browns plan on winning any games the rest of the way.

On offense, the Browns need to run the ball better.  The Browns are only averaging 75.0 yards rushing per game.  Reuben Droughns has run decent the last couple of weeks, but the Browns need him to keep that up.  Also, Charlie Frye needs to know when to throw the ball away.  Frye has already thrown 9 interceptions this season and that is unacceptable for a starting NFL QB.

Brodney Pool started at cornerback last Sunday for the Browns and may stay there for a while.  With injuries to Daylon McCutcheon (out for the season), Gary Baxter and Leigh Bodden…..the Browns need bodies to cover WRs.  Pool gave up a TD to Keyshawn Johnson but he played well overall.

When looking for a bright spot on the Cleveland Browns, this is their beacon of light.  The Browns have two solid kickers and two elite kick returners.  The Browns have held opposing punt returners to 5.7 yards per kick.  The Browns also have only allowed 20.1 yards per kick-off return which is excellent.

Kicker Phil Dawson has been good for a long time.  Because the Browns offenses don’t score alot, he isn’t mentioned with the top kickers, but he does belong up at the top.  Dawson has hit 6 of 7 FGs and all 9 XPTs.  Dave Zastudil has been great for the Browns.  Zastudil averages 45.1 yards per punt, 39.7 net punt yards, and 25% of his kicks are downed inside the 20 of the other team.

Here is where the Browns really excel.  Dennis Northcutt is averaging 12.4 yards per punt return.  Joshua Cribbs is averaging 28.2 yards per kick-off return, and he returned two punts for 43 yards when Northcutt was injured.  These two guys always give the offense good starting field position.

The Browns special teams is the reason they won against the Raiders.  These guys always execute and the Browns have the best special teams in the NFL.

It’s unbelievable how bad the coaching is for the Browns.  During the broadcast of the football game Sunday, it was mentioned that the Browns script the first 12 plays of the game on offense even though they haven’t scored a TD in the first quarter of the last 8 games!  Maybe they should try something new!  Obviously the team isn’t ready when the game starts and I blame that on the lousy coaching coming from Romeo Crennel and Maurice Carthon.  Charlie Frye completed 26 of 43 passes for 173 yards and 2 INT.  Reuben Droughns carried the ball 18 times for 65 yards (3.6 ypc).  TE Kellen Winslow caught 6 passes for 55 yards.

The Browns defense played better than it has been, but still not good.  Rookie LB D’Qwell Jackson came to play as he had 10 tackles.  The Panthers carried the ball 28 times for 119 yards (4.3 ypc).  The Browns allowed the Panthers to complete 20 of 29 passes for 169 net yards passing.

The lone bright spot for the Browns was the continued Pro-Bowl caliber play of return man Joshua Cribbs.  Cribbs returned 4 kick-offs for 119 yards and returned 2 punts for 43 yards.

The Browns have played well the last two weeks, but so have the Panthers since Steve Smith has returned.

The Browns will probably come out with the same gameplan they had against the Raiders.  They will try to pound Reuben Droughns (159 yards rushing) at the soft Carolina run defense (129.8 yards rushing per game) to attempt to shorten the game and keep the Browns defense off the field.  Look for Frye to throw short passes to Kellen Winslow (22 rec, 228 yards) and Joe Jurevicius and then take a few deep shots to Braylon Edwards (17 rec, 324 yards).

Look for the Panthers to run their two-headed running back, DeShaun Foster (267 rushing yards) and D’Angelo Williams (135 rushing yards) at the Browns soft run defense that is allowing 149.0 yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry.  The Browns also have serious problems at cornerback as their top 3 corners are likely to be out Sunday.  Steve Smith (17 rec, 199 yards) and Keyshawn Johnson (22 rec, 306 yards) should both have huge games.

The Browns appear to be overmatched in this game, but the Panthers haven’t blown anyone out this season.  I think the Browns will cover the point spread, but the Panthers will win the game.

The Browns released Alonzo Ephraim who just got finished serving a suspension for substance abuse.  The Browns are pleased with the performance of Hank Fraley and Lennie Friedman.

The Browns released Babatunde Oshinowo and signed cornerback Jeremy Perry from the practice squad.  The Browns are in deep trouble in the secondary as Leigh Bodden is hurting.

Charlie Frye is a little too careless with the football.  Maybe the Browns should make him start sleeping with the ball to realize how important it is to protect it.  Frye has completed 79 of 125 passes (63.2%) for 866 yards with 5 TDs and 7 INT.  Frye has compiled a 73.6 QB rating.  One area that Frye could improve on is getting rid of the football quicker.  Frye has taken 14 sacks so far this season.  Frye is a good running QB, as he has run the ball 17 times for 58 yards and 3 TDs.