Cleveland Browns Preview

The Cleveland Browns look to be slightly improved going into the season,but far from a threat to contend for the playoffs.
The Browns have two winnable games to start the season with (Tampa on the road,Kansas City at home) and they had better get one of those in the win column because after those two,the schedule gets tougher as not until their game in Jacksonville on Nov 21st does a game appear that is a pickem matchup.
That is a span of seven games in between,so an 0-2 start could mean an 0-9 start would not be out of the realm of possibility.
That might mean the end of Eric Mangini as coach,I think the Browns could win the first two games,but with the caveat that they could drop both as well.


The Browns have completely revamped the quarterback position with three new passers replacing the three on the roster from 2009.
Jake Delhomme,Seneca Wallace and Colt McCoy are in with Derek Anderson,Brady Quinn and Brett Ratliff elsewhere.
Delhomme was downright awful last season as a Panther and has tons of questions,but if he is even close to past performance (other than 09),he should be an upgrade over Anderson and Quinn.
Not saying that will be the case,but it could be.
Seneca Wallace was a source of frustration of me in Seattle appearances,but Mike Holmgren loves him and a poor first five or six games for Delhomme could see Wallace as the placeholder for the remainder of the season.
I am looking forward to Wallace and Josh Cribbs running some formations together that could prove to be interested as long as the Browns allow some creativity instead of the run up the middle that so often was the call from the single wing last season.
Colt McCoy will be the third stringer and with luck will see little to no action...

Montario Hardesty's season ending injury could mean that Jerome Harrison could finally have his long deserved chance to see if he can be the full time ball carrier.
Harrison had better take advantage of it early though,but if he does not,Peyton Hillis looks to be a Mangini and (eventual) fan favorite and could get his chances.
James Davis rounds up the trio at running back with vicious blocking Lawrence Vickers the full timers at fullback with Hillis seeing time there as well....

The wide receivers look pretty similar to last season as only sixth round pick Carlton Mitchell is new to the group that ended last season.
Mohammed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie will start after inconsistent rookie seasons.
Massaquoi was the better of the two last season,but Robiskie has been reported to be sharp all summer.
Robiskie will need that improvement as a similar year to last season will likely land him on the bust list.Josh Cribbs returns as the all around threat and possession receiver (and Mangini favorite) Chansi Stuckey joins Mitchell to round out the corps.
Improvement from the second year players are mandatory or this group will definitely rank near the leagues bottom.

The Browns kept four tight ends,which seems to me to be one too many.
Ben Watson was brought in from New England to be the leader of the group.
Watson could be headed for a career season considering the wideouts in Cleveland.
Evan Moore returns as a pass catcher after a strong finish to the 2009 season,but Alex Smith was kept and both players have a similar skill set.
Look for one to go eventually once the injuries start to set in unless it is at tight end.
Rock handed Robert Royal was kept as the blocking tight end for goal line/short yardage situations,as it sure wasn't for his pass catching.

The offensive line looks similar to last season as the depth chart shows all five starters from last season starting again.Joe Thomas and Eric Steinbach rank among the games top left side of the line and Alex Mack showed All-Pro level potential at center.
The right side still has questions with Floyd "pork chop" Womack at guard and the sieve like John St.Clair at tackle.
St.Clair on the team is mildly surprising,but starting over free agent signee Tony Pashos is stunning.
Pashos and/or third rounder Shaun Lauvao could be starting on the right side before the season hits the midway point.
Steve Vallos was claimed from Seattle for depth and could see lots of action by seasons end.
Vallos can play guard and center and even tackle in a pinch and is the type of versatile lineman that all teams can use.
Billy Yates provides more depth at the interior line spots.

The defense does look improved to a degree especially in the secondary,but pass rush questions continue to plague the team.
The defensive line looks pretty similar with starters Robaire Smith,Shaun Rogers and Kenyon Coleman.
Smith was decent enough last season,but only finished with 1 and a half sacks with Coleman providing the same number from the other end.
A motivated Rogers can change things with his up the middle rush,but Rogers missed much of camp and we will see just what kind of shape he is truly in.
I liked what I saw from Ahtyba Rubin late last season and I thought Rubin on the nose and Rogers at end provided more zip to the pass rush.
You could see more of that as Rogers rounds into top shape.
Derreck Robinson and Brian Schafering provide the remaining depth.

The Browns kept eight linebackers and the group does look improved,although no real impact players were added.
Cleveland looks to be depending on a full season of Matt Roth providing a solid rush from the outside backers slot.
Roth was a difference makes in his six games as a Brown and the team needs that type of play to continue.
Scott Fujita arrives from New Orleans to man the other outside position.
Fujita is an excellent tackler and brings the "intangibles" that Mangini loves so much to the field.
D'qwell Jackson will miss some time early on,but will eventually bring his skills to the field on the inside.Veteran Eric Barton returns from injury to man Jackson's spot for now.
Former Eagle Chris Gogong will be the other starter at inside backer with another Mangini favorite David Bowens back again to see action.
Special teamers Blake Costanzo and Jason Trusnik return as special teams ace and down the roster backer depth.

The secondary looks to be much improved with three strong additions to the lineup.
Veteran Sheldon Brown was obtained from the Eagles to start at one corner with returnee Eric Wright manning the other.
Top pick Joe Haden will be the third corner for now,but with development could move Brown to safety next season.
T.J. Ward was a second round selection that will start at the free safety position with Abram Elam starting at the strong spot.
Elam was a bit of a disappointment to me last season and needs to pick his game up with Mike Adams breathing down his neck as a nickel back.Adams played safety and corner last season,but with the additions of Brown and Haden can play his more natural position of safety.
Special team stars Nick Sorensen and Ray Ventrone round the crew out....

Phil Dawson returns at kicker and Reggie Hodges replaces the injured Dave Zastadil as the punter with Josh Cribbs starring as the full time returner.

I get razzed about picking the Browns for roughly the same record every year,but this year could see another similar record.
However,I do see the team as improved,but playing a tough schedule hurts their chances.
I'll go 6-10 or 7-9 if you want to give them every close game and figure they will get one game that they shouldn't on paper...

Will try to be back tomorrow with the Seahawks preview....