Right now is certainly the time to be optimistic about the Browns. Without any games played, wholesale changes made to ownership and coaches, this is the time for optimism for a die hard fan.
I'm just taking this opportunity to also point put some missteps I'm seeing at the top. I think Mingo needs to learn the linebacker position, Sheard needs to learn the linebacker position. I think the Browns went into this draft the worst team in the AFC North, and while I see the reasons the franchise chose to diversify its use of assets the last three days, the other teams in the division seem to have come out of the draft with more holes filled. That is a byproduct of consistency at the top. Take it any way you want.
I know what you're saying, I just think they want to see what a lot of these young guys will do in these new systems before they go drafting their replacements already. It seems to me like they went with the top guy on their board with the 6 pick. He fits the D and the DC's mentality very well, imo. Pretty much every DE/OLB getting drafted into a 3-4 is somewhat of a gamble, as most just don't play it in college. Hasn't stopped the Steelers. The QB's in the AFCN are pretty damn good, and right now we've done a good job at trying to make them a little less comfy in the pocket. I thought we did a real nice job in FA with this, as well, whilst weakening the SB champs in the process. It looks like we also have our #2 DB. We added a WR like no other on the roster, and one we desperately needed. We added a kid late who seems like he has a real shot at filling a need at G(well, maybe a need. who knows?). It may not be this year, but most late round OL aren't immediate starters.
Fact is, we have a lot more obvious holes than the other teams in the AFCN. That's not really the fault of this regime, but I thought we were pretty active in FA. No way were we going to fill all the holes this year. Impossible. But, after this upcoming season, I think they have a much better idea of what we really have with this roster. Those teams in our division have the luxury of having a much firmer grasp on that right now. I think at this same next year, we are really in a completely different position. If this goes right, we'll be looking at FA and picks that are helping us make a legit playoff push with a still very young team. Worst case, we find out that some of the guys we were hoping could transition aren't going to make the cut and we go from there. until then, I'm not sure what else the team could have done a whole lot better. Sure, fans are always going to disagree with some picks and what not, but not one of us has any clue, either way, what the on field results of this whole thing is going to be yet.
I completely understand the frustration with this team, especially compared to the rest of the division. I just can't see getting too worked up about this regime's part in it all yet. If it goes as well as I think it's looking to, then we can be right there with them here in a couple years. I'm not sure there was any way it was going to happen any quicker than that.