By now it’s no secret that the Browns offensive line remains the worst unit on the team. Rushing for 72.3 yards per game ranks them last in the leauge, as does 32 first downs rushing. Their 3.5 yards per attempt is 30th of 32 teams. The Browns have two runs all year for 20 or more yards (only Indy has fewer), while only the Texans have fewer than the Browns’ three rushing TDs. Twenty-seven other teams average more time of possession than Cleveland’s 28:18 per game. It’s actually an improvement over last year that the Browns have allowed the 12th most sacks in the league. Their 69 penalties are third most in the league (though the other units are far from blameless in that regard).

So who are these men up front? Only one of the starting five, left tackle Ross Verba, the Packers’ first pick in 1997, was drafted higher than the fourth round. Starting left guard Barry Stokes, a free agent signed last April Fool’s Day, has already been waived nine times in his career! Center Dave Wohlabaugh, a steady if unremarkable veteran, will likely give way next year to third-round pick Melvin Fowler. Right guard Shaun O’Hara (wearing Otto Graham’s old number 60) is an undrafted overachiever, smart, versatile, but slightly undersized. Right tackle Ryan Tucker, the Rams’ 1997 4th-round pick, was another free agent signee this spring. He’s talented but has a suspect knee and is prone to penalties.

What do these five all have in common? None has ever been to a Pro Bowl. Also, all five are white guys. I don’t know if there’s any significance to that, but I will note that the Browns this year have waived two black lineman, former starters Tre Johnson and Roger Chanoine, whom other teams have already seen fit to sign. And at tight end, Mark Campbell, Aaron Shea, and Steve Heiden — all white — have gotten most all of the playing time, while Rickey Dudley (black) was cut in the preseason and signed elsewhere. Again, I don’t know the motivation behind each of these moves. I’m just noting — without judgement — a rather unusual pattern.

The rest of the lineman are raw. Paul Zukauskas, last year’s 7th-round pick, is the veteran of the group. Rookie Fowler has played in only one game, showing potential in subbing for an injured Wohlabaugh against Tampa Bay. The two other rookie backups are 7th-round picks Joaquin Gonzalez and Chad Beasley, who couldn’t stick with Minnesota. Sitting out this year on injured reserve is gargantuan guard Qasim Mitchell, listed at 6’6″ and 335 pounds. Mitchell was signed as an undrafted free agent, collecting a signing bonus of $26,250, the largest upfront money any undrafted player got this year. He is a project with huge upside potential at the Browns’ weakest position.

But for this year’s sake, perhaps a simplified scheme will help the existing crew establish some consistency. The Browns’ formations reliably telegraph the play calls, so some more unpredictability is also essential. I think this unit will improve slightly as the year goes on and rookie William Green gains experience, but look for the offensive line to be the main focus during the off-season.