Browns Head Coach Mike Pettine Places 28th in NFL.com Power Rankings

By and large, Cleveland Browns fans have bought into head coach Mike Pettine. Some of the national media has not.

In NFL.com's annual power rankings of the league's 32 head coaches, Pettine ranked 28th, a three-spot improvement from last season.

Pettine's placement is relatively fair, as he ranks above Jim Tomsula (49ers), Dan Quinn (Falcons), Todd Bowles (Jets), and Jay Gruden (Redskins). However, placing both Gus Bradley (Jaguars) and Joe Philbin (Dolphins) ahead of Pettine is arguably wrong, given Pettine's handling of the adversity surrounding the Browns in 2014.

Either way, here is the analysis of Pettine, written by NFL Media analyst Elliot Harrison:

"Pettine looked to have things turned around in Cleveland last season, getting off to a promising 7-4 start -- and then the bottom fell out. Turning to Johnny Manziel at quarterback didn't do anything to brighten the gloomy finish to the year. Pettine's defensive background should come in handy, as the Browns have plenty of young talent to work with, players -- like former first-round pick Justin Gilbert -- who, if they pan out, could make quite a difference going forward. However, Pettine must also prove he and his staff can work wonders with quarterbacks."

The writeup is accurate, and surprisingly absent of any Cleveland slights. As Harrison states, Pettine and his new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo must make the most out of a lackluster corps of quarterbacks.

With just one season under his belt, Pettine has a lot to prove. He's worked wonders so far, but he faces major obstacles, ranging from a weak offense to a strong schedule. Pettine can work his way up the list, but he'll have to earn every inch.