In case you didn’t know, the Cleveland Browns really don’t know how to play football. It’s not that obvious of a fact, and has been the consistent facet of the team since it came back to the league. But this season has taken that to a whole new level.

Armed with the second overall pick, the team looked up to load with the best option at quarterback that the team has had in a long while, at least at draft time. Then, a surprising trade came in from the Philadelphia Eagles and that pick went moved down to eighth overall.

Then, at eighth overall, they traded down again, and were now selecting 15th. In, theory, considering on what the team makes of the picks it got out of these deals, it could be a very good team building example. But, in the interim, the fans are going to have to deal with the consequences.

Cleveland made a nice pick with the selection of Corey Coleman. Any quarterback is helped with better receivers, and the team didn’t have any receivers to speak of any way.

Remember, the team seemed poised to get a quarterback. Who’s going to throw to Coleman? The heavens parted and out stepped RGIII. Wait, that might not be heaven but the other place.

The Browns signed him and believed that they could teach the mistakes that made him injury prone in Washington away. Things looked well in the preseason, he survived, so there was a mild optimism that the former second overall pick could revive his career.

Then came the first full game, against the Eagles. Not only were they strolling out the quarterback that got with Cleveland’s pick he was way ahead of schedule too. It was the ultimate sign of the Browns failure to put together a football team.

Things came out to a whole new level the next week. Josh McCown was the starter. As uninspiring as that sounds, many within the team anonymously gave their support to having the aged veteran under center. They believed the coach, Hue Jackson, worried too much about RGIII and only seemed to focus on him.

Now, they could play team ball and expand the game plan. That’s exactly what happened for the first 15 minutes of the Ravens. Cleveland quickly rattled off a quick 20 points. All they had to do was maintain that large lead.

They couldn’t do it.

Does this surprise anyone? Not really. But the most shocking feature was the toll it took on the team. Starting center Cameron Erving had to check into the hospital with lung issues.

McCown was in serious pain the rest of the game and didn’t leave the field. This was obviously a big factor as to why the team wasn’t able to hold on.

Practice the following week was even worse. The team lost Coleman, who had just had an amazing, breakthrough game. He should be able to come back later in the season, but that’s not great news for an organization looking for the future.

The same can be said about Carl Nassib, who was also injured in the game Saturday. His timetable to return is less certain, however.

For those thinking that Cody Kessler will be the answer in Cleveland, you must be Kessler’s mother. That’s a bit harsh, but after being unable to secure a position any higher than third on the depth chart against the two aforementioned quarterbacks, he was described as being “far away” from being ready to play. But it looks like he’ll get his time to prove his critics wrong, or, quite possibly, right.