Instability on the offensive line has been the biggest single factor in the Browns’ stuggles since 1999. Likewise, an improved starting five, along with some veteran depth, is the biggest single reason that they have won most of their games so far this season.
The unit of Thomas, Steinbach, Fraley, McKinney, and Shaffer has started each of the first eight games, but that’s almost certain to come to an end, just when the Browns face their biggest challenge remaining on their schedule, the blitz-happy Steelers. We saw McKinney leave the Seattle game with a shoulder injury, and he hasn’t practiced so far this week.
Then we learned that Steinbach, perhaps the best lineman on the team right now, twisted his back in practice, and the official site has raised the specter of both guards sitting out on Sunday.
If so, we’d see Lennie Friedman at left guard and Ryan Tucker at right guard. It would also mean that Isaac Sowells and Nat Dorsey would both dress and be one ding or tweak away from stepping into the breach. That’s pretty scary.
For this reason above all, I’m not expecting the Browns to pull the upset this weekend. I just hope they keep it respectable and escape unscathed. I like underdawg status anyway.
By the way, if Tucker gets the call, he would be the 28th different guard to start for the Browns since 1999. That averages out to an utterly astounding turnover rate of one completely new starter every 4.9 games.
If there’s ever a monument built to memorialize the excruciatingly slow establishment of a stable, winning team, the following names should be inscribed:
Jim Pyne, Scott Rehberg, Orlando Bobo*, Jim Bundren, Steve Zahursky, Everett Lindsay, Ross Verba, Shaun O’Hara^, Tre Johnson, Jeremy McKinney, Brad Bedell, Barry Stokes, Melvin Fowler^, Chad Beasley, Enoch DeMar, Paul Zukauskas, Kelvin Garmon, Damian Cook, Joaquin Gonzalez, Joe Andruzzi, Cosey Coleman, Mike Pucillo^, Dave Yovanovits, Lennie Friedman^, Rob Smith, Eric Steinbach^, Seth McKinney^.
^ = currently on an NFL 53-man roster* = deceased
