Oniel

Cousins

If he’s ready to go by Sunday, Pashos should be an immediate upgrade at right tackle. The two players at the bottom of Pro Football Focus’ pass blocking efficiency for offensive tackles are Oniel Cousins and Artis Hicks, Pashos’ fill-ins over the first three weeks.

Claimed off waivers from the Ravens in August, Cousins got into just four games last season. He won’t be guaranteed a roster spot in 2012.

Oniel Cousins was expected to get the start, but the Browns know he would have gotten whipped by highly-athletic Colts LE Robert Mathis. Hicks isn’t much better, but he has a little more mobility. We’re expecting a run-heavy attack for the Browns today. Other inactives: QB Thaddeus Lewis, WR Carlton Mitchell, S Eric Hagg, LB Titus Brown, OL Steve Vallos and TE Jordan Cameron.

Immobile Oniel Cousins will get the nod at right tackle, meaning he’ll square off with ultra-athletic Colts LE Robert Mathis. It’s a severe mismatch. The Browns’ offense may make the Indy defense look passable this week, but don’t buy the results long term. The Browns would be smart to attack the Colts with heavy doses of Peyton Hillis, as opposed to 40 more pass attempts.

The Browns desperately need Pashos back as Oniel Cousins is a liability on the edge. While Pashos isn’t anything close to a stud, he’s a better option than the immobile Cousins.

RT Jared Gaither has been the subject of trade rumors since curiously skipping a minicamp practice on Saturday. Coach John Harbaugh, though, says Gaither has a sore foot, and will see a specialist this week. We doubt Harbaugh is outright lying, but it’s fairly certain that Gaither is on the trading block. Oniel Cousins stepped in with the first team while Gaither sat.

Harbaugh expects Gaither to get a cortisone shot and begin working out with the team shortly. The coaches have been raving about Oniel Cousins’ performance at right tackle in practices, and they appear comfortable with him as a starter. It’s unclear if Gaither remains on the trading block.

It doesn’t look like Lauvao will be ready for Sunday’s game against the Ravens and that is awful news for the Browns. Backup Oneil Cousins turned in an epically atrocious performance in Week 1, committing four penalties and serving as a turnstile in the run game. Lauvao, who has been out of his walking boot for about a week, can’t get back soon enough.

Lauvao sustained a true high ankle sprain roughly two months ago. He was able to split first-team reps with fill-in starter Oniel Cousins on Monday. Getting Cousins out of the lineup would be fantastic news for the entire Browns offense. He’s graded out as PFF’s No. 68 guard among 70 qualifiers through four weeks.

Cousins played so poorly against the Dolphins in Week 1 that he deserved to get benched. The problem is the Browns have no depth with Shawn Lauvao (ankle) sidelined and Jason Pinkston (ankle) on short-term IR. Cousins is going to get embarrassed in Week 2 by Haloti Ngata and friends. He committed four penalties in Week 1.