The last time the Browns played Seattle was the 2001 season opener, Butch Davis’ first game as coach. Of the Browns’ 22 starters on offense and defense that day, only six are scheduled to start on Sunday (Morgan, Jackson, Roye, Warren, McCutcheon, and Little). Compare that to 12 returnees for the Seahawks.

There are several reasons for all that churn, but it’s clear that the building of the Browns during the Davis regime has not been very well coordinated. Lots of faulty assumptions, changes of heart (or gut), and mistaken priorities. Three years into this project and we still have the least experienced roster around.

In this parity-driven, salary-capped league, the difference between a 10-6 playoff year and a 6-10 disaster is mighty slight. High draft picks and pricey free agent signees must pan out. While injuries and luck play an exaggerated role, so too do effective game-planning and mid-game adjustments. And when key players end up missing games for reasons that could have been controlled, it’s devastating.

It’s not just turnovers that kill you. When it’s ill-managed, turnover will do it too.