Following the Week 3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, everyone seems to want to talk about Joe Haden. He’s the one who is the “Athlete Mayor” of Cleveland. He’s the one who throws parties, has composure in front of a camera or a microphone and, so far in his career, has been a player that Browns fans could count on. Cornerback is one of those positions though. You can’t play that position and shut out the opposition. It doesn’t matter who you play against, you’re going to give up passes, yards, and sometimes look silly with flags. And every time you do, it’s going to be a big, wide, stage with nothing to do but walk back to the huddle, try to forget it and try again. While Joe Haden can play better than he has in the first three games of 2014, looking at him and casting blame is too easy. Instead, look where the stats aren’t piling up for the Browns defense in the category of “sacks.”

Everyone knew going into this season that the Browns were going to play a ton of man coverage with their corners left to dangle with receivers. We knew this because the flip side is that Mike Pettine’s defensive scheme was going to get the quarterback. It was meant to take Paul Kruger, Jabaal Sheard, Desmond Bryant, Barkevious Mingo and some of the linebackers and make them quarterback-rushing monsters. So far, the only monster being created by the Browns pass rush is on Joe Haden’s back.

Paul Kruger has been the best of the bunch so far with his two sacks. After that, Karlos Dansby, Jabaal Sheard, and Chris Kirksey each have one. Through three games, this defensive juggernaut has five sacks. Craig Robertson pretty much got a sack against Baltimore, save a behind-the-line-of-scrimmage shovel pass that Joe Flacco “completed” for negative yardage. Paul Kruger was the man who got hands on Joe Flacco to start the fourth quarter that led to an “arm punt” to Tashaun Gipson who intercepted it. So I know that just because sacks aren’t always piling up in the stat sheet doesn’t mean the Browns’ pass rush isn’t working.

I’m also not trying to tell you the Browns’ secondary is playing well. How can I, when this passes for “defense” by the Browns’ top drafted player, Justin Gilbert?

I’m simply saying that in the scope of the team and its struggles, we knew, or should have known, that if the Browns had difficulties putting a pass rush on, that they’d run into this problem.

As the Browns head into their bye week, you can save me the Manziel calls. Brian Hoyer has played more than adequately enough to keep his job. Kyle Shanahan has also called a very competitive offensive game plan to the point where I really don’t have any major complaints. The offensive line is doing a really nice job, including Mitchell Schwartz who has mostly kept his name out of our mouths so far this season. Mostly.

Even the wide receivers who were scaring us all heading into the season have shown a capability to get open, actually catch the ball and make people miss. Sure, I wish they wouldn’t fall down when they have clear lanes to the end zone in back-to-back games, but remember Greg Little and Davone Bess. This is an improvement and the Browns are likely going to get Josh Gordon back as long as he can keep his nose clean.

Of course I think the Browns need to work on their special teams. I don’t know if they want to try out long-snappers this week. I don’t know if Chris Tabor wants to grit his teeth and grab some players by the jersey and get some things straightened out. Certainly in addition to the field goal unit woes, Travis Benjamin needs to fair catch a ball close to the 20 to save it from going down to the Browns 6-yard line with the game on the line and field position being of utmost importance.

But if I have to pick one, I’m looking at the pass rush. I’m looking at all the money the Browns have spent on their payroll on the defensive line. I’m looking at Paul Kruger’s $8 million, Ahtyba Rubin’s $8 million, Desmond Bryant’s $12 million over the first two years in Cleveland. I’m looking at highly drafted guys like Barkevious Mingo and even Jabaal Sheard. This is one of the units that I expected to be a strength of the roster. This is one of the units I expected to be maximized with the hiring of Browns head coach Mike Pettine. This is the spot where the Browns have clear and achievable improvement on the table, if you ask me.

Yes, Joe Haden needs to play better. Yes, Justin Gilbert needs to play better. Right now, though,their play is a leading indicator that the Browns pass rush is not getting the job done.