Cleveland Browns Preview

Here is one of our two football previews for the upcoming NFL season.
With time at a premium,I decided to do the Browns first,so the one that was more important was guaranteed to be finished before Sunday.

Eric Mangini continues his Bill Belichick impersonation with his silly refusal to announce the starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Vikings.
Word has leaked out that Brady Quinn was given the nod over Derek Anderson and I can see why.
It is well known that I am not a Brady Quinn believer,but after spending a first round pick on Quinn and seeing him play very little over the first two seasons,it is clear that now is the time to give the Notre Dame product his opportunity to fish or cut bait.
Quinn seems a better fit with the Browns receivers and a better fit into the offense that Mangini wants to run.
Also,starting with Quinn and then going to Anderson if things go badly is a better plan than leading with Anderson and then going to Quinn.
Brett Ratliff comes over from the Jets to fill the third string spot.
The Browns running game was quite a disappointment last season and if any turnaround is possible in Cleveland,the ground game will have to improve.
Jamal Lewis looks to be about done to me and would be best suited for a "Jerome Bettis" type role that not only would improve his effectiveness but also prolong his career.
Sixth round pick James Davis from Clemson has been very impressive in pre-season play and should see plenty of action,while Jerome Harrison might get the most snaps of all when you consider his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.
Cedric Peerman was claimed off waivers from Baltimore after the Ravens released the sixth round pick.
Peerman is the low man of the depth chart.
Lawrence Vickers will see the most playing time at fullback since he is the only fullback on the roster.

The pass catchers start with the enigmatic Braylon Edwards and end with a lot of questions.
When Braylon Edwards is the guy you need to count on,you have issues.
The long striding speedster led the league in dropped passes last season and was near the top in whining,over-inflated ego and excuses as well.
Edwards should be motivated to shape up as this is a contract season for him.
Joshua Cribbs wants a new contract and in an unusual move in today's NFL is attempting to earn it on the field.
The special teams ace has won the WR position opposite Edwards as the Browns attempt to get the ball into the hands of their most electrifying player more often.
Veteran Mike Furrey comes over from the Lions as the slot possession reciever.Furrey had some solid season in that role in the past as a Ram and should be the hot read for Quinn if he is being pressured.
Second round rookies Brian Robiskie and Mohammed Massaquoi complete the Browns receiving corps.

The tight end spot was given to former Bill Robert Royal over veteran Steve Heiden and second year man Martin Rucker.
Royal is the best blocker of the bunch and that seems to be the attribute most valued by Mangini from a tight end.
Royal specializes in the 2 yard TD flip to the tight end,so don't expect huge numbers with the hands.
Rucker is the pass catcher of the group,but plays soft and I was mildly surprised to see him make the team at all.
Heiden is the most complete player of the three,but has battled injuries over the last few seasons.

The offensive line is anchored by the excellent left side of Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas and guard Eric Steinbach.
The pair ranks among the best in the game and gives the Browns a solid anchor in attempting to pick up the ground game.
I wish that I could say the same about the right side with journeyman John St.Clair and former Seahawk Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack.
Both are better suited as backups,especially St.Clair,but will have to step their game up in order to compete.
Rex Hadnot backs up both players,but better suits as a guard.
The starting center also has not been announced as undersized veteran Hank Fraley attempts to hold off the challenge of first round pick Alex Mack.
Fraley may be the better player now,but Mack better suits the style of play and needs to get experience as soon as possible....

The Browns continue to run the 3-4 defense and I do not see a huge improvement over last years version for the most part.
Shaun Rogers returns to anchor the defensive line from the nose tackle spot.
Rogers was and is the Browns only impact player on the defense and will need to continue his play of last season for the Browns to have any chance of success.
Ahtyba Rubin backs up the Pro Bowler.
Former Jet Kenyon Coleman man one end with Robaire Smith returning from injury on the other side.
High priced bust Corey Williams and yet another former Jet C.J. Mosley are the backups.

D'Qwell Jackson returns as the Browns top linebacker after a breakout season last year.
Jackson led the team in tackles and seemed to be one of the few Browns that was a good fit in the 3-4 defense.
Disappointing first round pick Kamerion Wimbley keeps one of the outside spots in what is likely his last chance to turn around a flagging career.
Two more former Jets hold the remaining starting spots as Eric Barton and David Bowens move in from New York.
Barton is an excellent tackler and Bowens knows the system.
Rookies David Veikune and Kalava Maiava are the long term hopes for those spots and they are the main backups along with 2008 pre-season sensation Alex Hall,who will mainly be used as a pass rusher and returning Leon Williams adds depth as well.

Three of the four starting spots from 2008 stay the same as Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald hold down their corner spots with Brodney Pool back at free safety.
Former Jet Abram Elam replaces the departed Sean Jones at the strong safety slot.
I like Wright,but McDonald would be better as the nickel or dime corner and his starting shows the weakness of the Browns secondary.
Well traveled vet Hank Poteat leads a collection of young unproven backups at corner.
Pool has been average during his time in Cleveland and Elam seems to be about the same.
Veteran Mike Adams and special teamer Nick Sorensen are the depth providers.

Josh Cribbs will be the main kick and punt returner with Jerome Harrison taking a few as well.
Phil Dawson and Dave Zastudil keep the solid core of the kicking game together for another season.

Frankly,this team doesn't look very good and even worse,they don't even look interesting.
James Davis could be fun to watch and seeing if Brady Quinn develops adds something worth paying attention to,but the Browns could be bad and boring and that is not very entertaining viewing and really not getting any bang for my Sunday Ticket buck.

Our Prediction-Giving the Browns every benefit of each game that looks close and we all know that will not happen.
5-11.
However,expect worse......