The Cleveland Browns could use all three after their worst start since they returned to the league as an expansion team in 1999.

Other than a victory over winless Oakland and some strong special teams play, the Browns don't have much to show for their first five weeks of the season.

``We're 1-4. That's what we are,'' coach Romeo Crennel said Monday.

A day after the Browns failed to score a touchdown in a 20-12 loss at Carolina, Crennel said he's pleased with the effort of his players. But he called for more consistency, promising to make that the focus of their bye week.

Crennel declined comment about the performance of offensive co-ordinator Maurice Carthon, who has been blamed by fans and the media for the Browns' difficulty finding the end zone.

``I'm not going to sit up here and analyze players and coaches,'' Crennel said.

Carthon's play-calling has been suspect at times. His decision to have rookie fullback Lawrence Vickers run a halfback option pass on third-and-inches Sunday may have been the defining moment for the Browns' offensive futility this season.

``We thought the play was a good play when we called it,'' Crennel said. ``We thought it had a chance to work, but it didn't.''

Not only did the pass intended for tight end Kellen Winslow fall incomplete, but the Browns were flagged for holding.

``It was third-and-inches? No comment on that one,'' said Winslow when asked about the play after the game.

Carthon has been under fire for two seasons. Last year, his first calling plays as an NFL co-ordinator, the Browns scored a league-low 232 points. This season, Winslow called out Carthon and other coaches for not being aggressive enough.

Crennel, when asked if he would make any changes to his coaching staff over the bye week, said, ``We're going to evaluate that and we'll see what happens.''

He also wouldn't discuss any lineup changes that could occur before the Browns face Denver on Oct. 22.

``That's part of the bye week process, to look at personnel and decide if you need to make changes,'' Crennel said.

At the very least, wide receiver Joe Jurevicius could be starting in place of Dennis Northcutt, who left the Carolina game with a rib injury. He was expected to undergo an MRI on Monday.

Even if Northcutt is healthy, he could still be demoted after a pass bounced off his hands and was intercepted and returned for an easy touchdown in the first quarter Sunday.

Crennel could also make changes to the offensive line, which lost free agent centre LeCharles Bentley during training camp and has been unable to recover. The line has been unable to protect quarterback Charlie Frye, who has made plays despite taking several beatings.

``As long as I've been here I haven't been on an offensive line that has jelled,'' right tackle Ryan Tucker said. ``We've had so much turnover.''

Cleveland's defence has kept the team in games despite several injuries to the secondary that forced safety Brodney Pool to play cornerback against wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson.

Pool performed admirably, but gave up Carolina's only offensive touchdown to Johnson, who after the game actually had kind words for Pool.

``He said I'll get there,'' said Pool, who hadn't played cornerback since high school and was given only a week to prepare.

Aside from the return of Winslow and wide receiver Braylon Edwards from knee injuries, the only bright spot for Cleveland so far has been its special teams play.

Crennel singled out kick returner Joshua Cribbs for making some big plays for the second straight week. Cribbs, who played quarterback at Kent State and was the AFC's top special teams player last week, has exceeded expectations.

``How often do you see a quarterback come in, be a returner and a cover guy, and do it at a high level?'' Crennel said.

Cribbs was part of the Browns' feel-good theme this off-season of northeast Ohio guys _ Frye, Bentley, Jurevicius _ playing for their hometown team. Those good feelings didn't carry over to the season.

``I remember when I first came here that I said I wanted to help this team start winning, get back to our glory days. Nothing's easy,'' Jurevicius said.