Cleveland Browns Season Preview

This is a shortened version of our usual Browns preview as our attention has been on the Hagerstown Suns.
I also missed the second half of the Ohio State blowout of San Diego State (it was 35-0 when I left for the Muni),so unless I have time later in the week to look at the tape,I would guess that I will not have time for a Buckeye review of their 42-7 victory over the Aztecs.

The Cleveland Browns enter,Sigh,another new era of Browns football that sees another persons personnel shipped out in favor yet another rebuilding program.
The problem is that I just don't have a ton of confidence in what is being done thus far under the Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi front office.

At quarterback,Brandon Weeden returns as the starter in what is likely his last gasp at the job.
As bad as that sounds for a player in his second season,it's true.
I do have some hope for improvement under offensive coordinator Norv Turner,but the weapons that Weeden has are the same as last season other than Davone Bess and that did not work so well last season.
Veterans Jason Campbell and Bryan Hoyer are the backups and it would not surprise me at all,if one or both see playing time as the season progresses.

Trent Richardson returns for his second year after an injury plagued rookie season.
Richardson had better stay healthy as the only back behind him is former Raven Bobby Rainey,who played very well in the Baltimore pre-season.
Richardson might be the main piece of any success from this offense.
Former halfback Chris Ogbonnaya converts to fullback,which helps in the passing game,but the jury will be out on his full time blocking effectiveness.

The Browns return the same group of receivers as last year with one exception.
Josh Gordon shows the skills of a possible elite receiver,but will miss the first two games due to a suspension.
Greg Little starts on the outside and faces a key season.Little has the tools,but despite improvement last season,still dropped too many passes.
The only addition is former Dolphin Davone Bess,who should thrive in the slot position and be the safety valve for Brandon Weeden.
Speedy Travis Benjamin will see plenty of time,Josh Cooper returns as the backup to Bess and Tori Gurley was one of the seeming thousand personnel moves before the season to be added.

Jordan Cameron is a popular sleeper to break out this season as the starting tight end.
Cameron has the ability to do so,but has had issues staying healthy,so we will see he can do so.
Gary Barnridge was added from Carolina as a blocking type and former 49er MarQuies Gray was added recently to the team.

The offensive line is again paced by Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas,who is among the best in the game at his position.
Mitchell Schwartz was very strong at right tackle last season in his right year as he shored up a weak spot on the line.Rashad Butler and Martin Wallace are the pedestrian backups.
John Greco had a huge season last year at guard and put himself as a starter after a career spent as a backup.
Shaun Lauvao is back after struggles last year at right guard with former starter Jason Pinkston pressing him for his job and rookie Garrett Gilkey will see the field often as well.
Alex Mack is very solid at center and will give the interior line the foundation for the inside running game...

The Browns moved to an aggressive 3-4 defense after piling up linemen for a 4-3 defense.
The defensive line is the strength still after the Tom Heckert moves,despite the change the Browns still have that depth.
Cleveland will start Ahtyba Rubin on one end and former Raider Desmond Bryant on the other.Second year men Billy Wynn and John Hughes will rotate in and out and I think Winn might have a good year on tap.
Phil Taylor will be the regular on the nose with Ishmma'ily Kitchen backing him up.Kitchen is a developmental project that the team hopes can give Taylor a rest when needed.

The Browns needed to upgrade the linebackers if they were moving to the 3-4 and they attempted to do so.
Jabaal Sheard was converted from defensive end to start at one outside slot and pass rushing star Paul Kruger was signed to an expensive contract to start at the other.
Both will need to produce to show that the decision to switch defenses were successful.
First round pick Barkevious Mingo will miss the first game,but will see plenty of action as will former Cardinal Quentin Groves,who is coming off his best season in the league.
D'Qwell Jackson will start at one inside spot with Craig Robertson starting at the other.
Jackson's best seasons were as the middle linebacker in a 4-3,so keep that in mind.
Second year men Tank Carder and Brandon Magee are the backups.

The secondary still has questions for me as the team did not address issues at both corner and safety.
Joe Haden is back as a number one corner,but neither of the teams two corner additions could beat out the oft' beaten Buster Skrine at the other corner.
Skrine has ability,but is better suited for nickel back duty.
Leon McFadden was drafted in the third round and former Falcon Chris Owens will be on the field,but not beating out Skrine makes me wonder.
T.J. Ward is solid at one safety but second year man Tashaun Gipson is being given the chance to start at the other.
A veteran might have been a better idea.
Johnson Bademosi and Josh Aubrey are the less than inspiring backups.

The kicking game features two new kickers are Billy Cundiff replaces the great Phil Dawson.
Cundiff replaced Dawson a few years back when Dawson was injured,so he has Cleveland experience.
Cundiff's weakness is kicking long field goals,so keep that in mind.
Spencer Lanning will be the punter and hold for Cundiff on placement kicks.

The Browns will rotate returners,but look for Bobby Rainey to see lots of kickoffs and the elusive Travis Benjamin will get plenty of punt returns...

Now we reach the time that Ryan loves-prediction time.
He asks if I have ever predicted a winning record and the answer is no.
It won't start this time either.
I fail to see what the huge upgrades are to see big improvements.
Davone Bess is a help on offense and Paul Kruger will be a defensive gain,but Desmond Bryant as the other big free agent signee is a quality player at the teams deepest position.
Barkevious Mingo looks to be the only player to help from the draft,so I just don't see the improvement on the overall.

I see six winnable games,four at home and two on the road.Let's give them three or four of those,another surprise win and you get 4-12 or 5-11.
I'll go with 5-11 and plenty of changes next season,especially on the offense and in the secondary.....