Aljancic: Making that ‘second jump’ for the Browns is the exception, not the rule – New Philadelphia Times Reporter

Mac Aljancic| Times-Reporter Sports Correspondent

The 2020 NFL season just wrapped up but Cleveland fans have no interest in packing away their passions in the attic beside the Christmas decorations.

Browns Nation is already eagerly anticipating the 2021 kickoff after several long, painful droughts finally came to the end in 2020:First winning season since 2007. First playoff appearance since 2002. First playoff victory since 1994. First playoff road win since 1969.

After their huge leap from 2019 (6-10 record) to 2020 (11-5 regular season record), many expect the franchise to continue its progression in 2021. That would equate to making the AFC title game, and possibly the promised land of the Super Bowl.

But franchise history clearly shows that making that "second jump" is the exception, not the rule. Over the last four decades, the Browns have had five "leap years" when they showed drastic improvement that resulted in a winning record. All but one of those "leap years" were followed by an ugly setback season.

Here is an examination of those eras to identify the similarities to 2020, setbacks, and potential lessons to learn.

SIMILARITIES: Like 2020, 2007 was carried by a huge offensive explosion where young talent meshed beautifully with off-season additions. Cleveland improved from 4-12 to 10-6 and jumped from 30th (14.9 points per game) in 2006 to 8th (25.1 ppg). Three young offensive weapons had breakout Pro Bowl seasons (quarterback Derek Anderson, tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., and wide receiver Braylon Edwards), and free-agent acquisition Jamaal Lewis finished 7th in the NFL with 1,304 rushing yards. This success was sparked by a re-fortified offensive line: starters Eric Steinbach, Hank Fraley, and draftee Joe Thomas were all acquired in the off-season. This Browns boom was also aided by facing the NFLs fifth easiest schedule, according to teamrankings.com (which hadthe 2020 Browns ranked as the second easiest). The 2007 Browns had just threegames vs. teams with winning recordsand played seven opponents with 11 or more losses.

SETBACKS: The offense lost all of its magic in 2008, falling right back to 30th in scoring (14.5 points per game) and a 4-12 record. Anderson, Edwards, and Winslow never again in their careers came close to making another Pro Bowl. The Browns ended up playing the fourth toughest schedule that season.

LESSONS: The 2008 offensive crash-and-burn was greatly due to a collection of 2007 one-season wonder performances. The current Browns offensive line-up is scattered with players whohave already proven themselves as established NFL talent (Chubb, Hunt, Ward, Landry, Mayfield, Beckham, Hooper), so a dramatic decline is very unlikely. The clear red flag, though, is the schedule jump. The 2021 Browns will be challenged by a much stiffer schedule (ninthtoughest in terms of opponents 2020 win percentage) that includes seven 2020 playoff qualifiers.

SIMILARIITIES: Like Kevin Stefanski last season, Butch Davis brought needed structure, accountability, and intensity in 2001 to a franchise that floundered (5-27 record) in the two seasons after its 1999 rebirth. And both eras were led on offense by a young No. 1 NFL draft pick quarterback. The 2002 team went 9-7, a two-game improvement from the year before, and earned a wild-card berth before falling to 5-11 in 2003.

SETBACKS: Unlike Baker Mayfield, Tim Couch was never surrounded with much offensive talent. The top three weapons were mediocre: running back William Green and receivers Kevin Johnson and Dennis Northcutt. Couch himself was pretty "meh" ashis career-high 18 touchdown passes in 2002 ranked just 14th in the NFL, while his 18 interceptions ranked as fourth most that season. After Couch was injured inthe 2002 regular-season finale, Kelly Holcomb had a spectacular playoff performance in Pittsburgh (429 passing yards and threetouchdown throws), then won the starting job to begin2003. Both QBs started eightgames that season, and both struggled.

LESSONS: Thankfully, the 2021 Browns have much more offensive talentand much more stability at quarterback. Those old Browns had major salary cap issues after the 2002 season, creating line-up holes by forcing them to move on from numerous veteran starters. Because of their young roster, the current Browns are in great salary cap shape. But as these players begin to enter their much higher paying second contracts, the Cleveland front office personnel needto be careful not to handcuff themselves financially.

After three losing seasons in Cleveland, including a 7-9 record in 1993, Bill Belichick finally turned the corner with an 11-5 record and wild-card berth in 1994, thanks to the stingiest scoring defense in the NFL (12.8 points per game) spearheaded by the head coach and his young defensive coordinator, Nick Saban. That was followed by a 5-11 finish in 1995.

SIMILARIITIES: Like Myles Garrett of today, the 1994 squad had a premierdefensive lineman in Michael Dean Perry (who made hisfifth Pro Bowl that year). And similar to Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, the 1994 offense was sparked by a dynamic backfield duo: Eric Metcalf and Leroy Hoard (both 1994 Pro Bowlers). And just like in2020, the 1994 Browns had the leagues second easiest schedule.

LESSONS: For 1995, the team signed an elite, diva free agent wide receiver whobecame a distraction and a bust (Andre Rison). Todays team needs to make sure Odell Beckham Jr. will harmonize with the offense that thrived after his season-ending October injury. And if Jimmy Haslam wants to win in 2021, he probably shouldnt make a mid-season announcement that he is moving the franchise, like owner Art Modell did on Nov.6, 1995.

In upcoming Part 2, Ill examine both the bad and good examples of the 1980s Browns.

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Aljancic: Making that 'second jump' for the Browns is the exception, not the rule - New Philadelphia Times Reporter