Written by Jerry Roche

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Browns owner Randy Lerner has his new head coach and general manager in tow. But according to new TCF columnist Jerry Roche, the most important task still lies ahead: finding The Beef to replace a bunch of big, fluffy buns who wandered between the white lines every Sunday in 2008. Jerry has had enough of Andra Davis, Willie McGinest, and Kam Wimbley ... and says the team must find a way to bring in at least three talented LB's this off-season. And he talks about that quest in his second column for us.

 

If you were around before Art the Fart plundered the city, you doubtless recall the Wendy's commercial where Clara Peller would see a big, fluffy hamburger bun and ask, "Where's The Beef?"

That's my beef.

Browns owner Randy Lerner has his new head coach and general manager in tow. But the most important task still lies ahead: finding The Beef to replace a bunch of big, fluffy buns who wandered between the white lines every Sunday in 2008.

A comparison of the Browns' roster to those of the AFC-finalist (and hated) Steelheads and Ratbirds points to the inarguable fact that our beloved homies face a long road before they are a force in the talented AFC North.

Here's proof positive:

• Number of 2009 Pro Bowlers and former Pro Bowlers in Baltimore's starting lineups = 11 (that's half, folks). DE Trevor Pryce, LB Ray Lewis, LB Bart Scott, LB Terrell Suggs, CB Samari Rolle, FS Ed Reed, WR Derrick Mason, RT Willie Anderson, TE Todd Heap, FB Le'Ron McClain and RB Willis McGahee.

 

• Number of Pro Bowler-caliber players in Pittsburgh's starting lineups = 9. DE Aaron Smith, NT Casey Hampton, LB James Farrior, LB James Harrison, CB Ike Taylor, SS Troy Polamalu, WR Hines Ward, RB Willie Parker and QB Ben Roethlisberger.

 

• Number of Pro Bowler-types in Cleveland's starting lineups = 5 (that's less than 1/4th, folks). RB Jamal Lewis, LB Willie McGinest (both of whom achieved their Pro Bowl status long ago, before age had taken its toll), WR Braylon Edwards, LT Joe Thomas and NT Shaun Rogers.

(Yeah, yeah, QB Derek Anderson was a Pro Bowler. But a consensus is fast being reached that he was a one-hit wonder who will be replaced this coming season by Brady Quinn, the first-round draft choice who has yet to prove that he can screw up a game to the same degree as Anderson, the NFL's lowest-rated quarterback in 2008.)

With a new offensive coordinator, healthy starters (including Quinn, Joe Jurevicius and -- fingers crossed -- Kellen Winslow Jr.), the Browns' offense surely will score more touchdowns in 2009 than it did in its final six games of 2008 (zero). Not saying much, I know. But offense doesn't win championships.

The Browns' focus during this off-season must (must, I say!) be on defense.

Pittsburgh and Baltimore have the two top-rated defenses in the NFL, and it is no wonder why. Is the name Ray Lewis familiar? He, Polamalu, Reed and Harrison will be Pro Bowl starters next month. Their positions: LB, SS, FS, LB. Three hitters and a thief.

Now ask yourself how many hitters and thieves the Browns have on defense. Sean Rogers, certainly. And then there's ... uh, um, and er-ah. Doh!

In the 3-4 defense, which all three teams play, linebackers are supposed to do all the gruntwork, with able assistance from nose tackle and safeties. The Browns' beast at nose tackle, Shaun Rogers, provides a solid foundation. Arguably, Sean Jones and Brodney Pool are at least serviceable safeties.

But at linebacker, the Browns currently start the over-the-hill McGinest, the supposedly departing Andra Davis, the underachieving Kamerion Wimbley, and D'Qwell Jackson. The latter, who was the NFL's leading tackler in 2008, is the only dependable LB on the entire roster.

Somehow, some way, Eric Mangini et. al. have to find three linebackers -- not just warm bodies, but talented linebackers -- before September's opening kick-off.

On the free-agent market, who in his right mind would come to Cleveland? There has been talk of the Browns possibly prying Suggs from the Ratbirds -- especially now that former Baltimore director of pro personnel George Kokinis has accepted the Browns' vacant general manager job. But that strategy has been attempted before -- without success. Three years ago, then-general manager Phil Savage (another former member of the Ratbirds' front office) offered Bart Scott $12.5 million to sign with the Browns. Scott opted (smartly) to stay in Baltimore, where he went on to become a Pro Bowler in 2006.

Using the draft to build the team is a slow process, but it could be a rewarding one. Aaron Curry, the OLB from Wake Forest and winner of the 2008 Butkus Award, would be a good start with the fifth pick this spring. College DE's Aaron Maybin from Penn State and Everette Brown from Florida State are being mentioned as possibilities as 3-4 OLB's.  ILB Rey Maualuga, the 260-pound behemoth from USC, is a viable option. James Laurinitis (Ohio State's slightly undersized ILB but 2007 Butkus winner), Clay Matthews Jr. (that name sounds familiar), and Brian Cushing (like Matthews, from USC) could slip to the second round.

This, however, is for certain: To ask the city to accept another season of McGinest, Davis and Wimbley is pure idiocy.

So, Eric ... so, Randy ... "Where's The Beef?"