2009 NFL Preview: #27 Cleveland Browns
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Offseason Additions: Eric Barton (LB); Kenyon Coleman (DE); Abram Elam (S); Floyd Womack (OT); C.J. Mosley (DE); Robert Royal (TE); John St. Clair (OT); Mike Fuerry (WR); Corey Ivy (CB).
Offseason Losses: Kellen Winslow Jr. (TE); Sean Jones (S); Kevin Shaffer (OT); Andra Davis (LB); Willie McGinest (LB); Joe Jurevicius (WR); Travis Daniels (CB); Daven Holly (CB); Jason Wright (RB); Antwan Peek (LB).
Player to Watch: James Davis, RB.
People outside of Cleveland just said to themselves, “James who?” The rookie sixth round pick out of Clemson wasn’t supposed to challenge Jamal Lewis for the Browns’ starting running back job, but that’s exactly what he has done to this point. Cleveland’s coaching staff has reportedly been impressed by Davis’s speed, elusiveness and aggressive running style. But perhaps most importantly, the Browns are thrilled with the way he’s learned how to pick up the blitz, which is a craft most rookie running backs struggle with. To date, Davis has compiled a 7.8-yard per carry average in preseason, while Lewis has only mustered a paltry 2.6 YPC. If he doesn’t flat out take the starting job away from Lewis, Davis will certainly split carries this season and could emerge as the Browns’ every down back in the very near future.
Team Strength: Just as it was in 2007 when the Browns came up just shy of a playoff berth, the offensive line will be a strength for Cleveland this season. Even though some say that his play fell off last season compared to his dazzling rookie campaign, Joe Thomas anchors a unit that also features one of the league’s best guards in Eric Steinbach. The Browns also selected the top center prospect in this year’s draft in Alex Mack, who has already beaten out Hank Fraley to become a starter. Neither Floyd Womack nor John St. Clair is a superstar at their positions, but both have starting experience and are versatile.
Potential Weakness: The Browns are hoping that strength is in numbers, because they’re trying out four different players opposite Braylon Edwards for the No. 2 wideout position. Rookies Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi, as well as veterans Mike Furrey and Joshua Cribbs are all getting a look at the No. 2 spot, although nobody has emerged from the pack yet. Chances are that the team will use a rotation at the position, which would be fine at the start of the season but eventually the Browns are going to need someone to step up. Speaking of Edwards, he’s in a contract year so maybe he’ll look more like the ’07 version and less like every other season he’s been in the league when he couldn’t catch a cold. If Robiskie, Massaquoi, Fuerry or Cribbs emerges as a playmaker and Edwards steps up his play, receiver won’t be a problem this season for the Browns. But as it stands now, it’s a question mark for this team.
Outlook: Eric Mangini worked wonders in his first year with the Jets, so maybe he’ll have the same magic this season in Cleveland. But first and foremost, he needs to make a decision at quarterback. It appears that Brady Quinn will be the starter this season, although Mangini has been reluctant to officially choose him over Derek Anderson. Whether it’s Quinn or Anderson, the QB should be well protected by a solid offensive line. If Davis can continue to flash the same potential in the regular season as he did in preseason, then the Browns should be fine at running back. If not, Mangini better hope that Lewis has one more productive season in his 30-year old legs. Defensively, the line added a quality piece in Kenyon Coleman, who led the Jets’ D-line in tackles last year and should be aided by defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, who had a fantastic ’08 season after coming over from Detroit. At linebacker, new addition Eric Barton should pair nicely with D’Qwell Jackson on the inside, although this team needs to generate more of a pass rush from its front seven and maybe Kameron Wimbley and Alex Hall will help. The coaching staff has high hopes for cornerbacks Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald, but both players need to shake off poor second half performances from a year ago. The Browns also made a highly underrated move on draft day when they acquired safety Abram Elam from the Jets.
There’s no doubt that this team has sleeper-potential, but a lot has to come together for the Browns to challenge for a playoff berth. Whether it comes from Quinn or Anderson, Cleveland must get better play from the quarterback position and they also need some of the young skill position players on offense to step up. Considering how tough their division is, the Browns are going to struggle to keep their head above water for a full 16-game season. But there’s no doubt that this team will be more competitive this year than they were in 2008.
2009 Prediction: 3rd, AFC North.
This spot is fair given their record last year, but as you mentioned the Browns could be a sleeper team this season.
First, both QBs looked pretty good in the preseason. Quinn is probably the guy, and while he doesn’t look like an All Pro, he really looks comfortable running the offense.
Like you said, the O-Line is pretty solid and should improve even more as the year goes on.
Third, you didn’t focus much on Josh Cribbs, but he adds the potential for a big-play guy on offense. By having him on the field as the #2 receiver, the Browns will be able to do all sorts of misdirection plays. That will free up the running game. Also, the offense will be much more dynamic this season, and they have shown they can use the screen pass as well.
On defense, we really don’t know what to expect. If Shawn Rogers stays healthy and they use more formations than last season’s vanilla defense, they might have more success.
G,
Fair enough, but do you think Cribbs will separate himself from Robiskie and Massaquoi to get on the field enough to have a significant impact? Mangini recently suggested that the Browns could enter the season with a rotation at No. 2, which would suggest to me that Cribbs hasn’t done enough to secure that spot.
I don’t doubt his abilities – he’s an athletic presence and he’s been great in preseason. But I wonder if he’ll get enough opportunities to have a impact like you suggest, especially after the Browns spent to second round picks on Robiskie and Massaquoi. I guess if Cleveland extends Cribbs’ contract, that will be a good indication of what kind of role we can expect him to have in their offense.
I like the Browns this year and even considered ranking them ahead of teams like the Bucs, Broncos and 49ers. But I was hesitant based on what they did last year.
Like you said though, Quinn looks comfortable and the Browns had a nice preseason. Time will tell.
Cribbs will likely get more PT at wide receiver than both those guys.
I think the top 5 guys will all get PT (Furrey being the other one), but Cribbs gives them another dimension and he has looked good and gotten more reps in pre-season.
I have been a Cleveland Browns fan since I was 6 yrs. old and I now live in Hyannis Ma. on Cape Cod. I left Akron Ohio after high school in 1978, but my love for the Cleveland Browns followed right along with me. Now I am in the New England Patriot’s territory, fortunately I remained true to my Cleveland Browns. In the past years I have attended a couple of Brown’s Patriot’s games and it was quite scarry. I was singled out as the enemy in which led to verbal insults, but I held my head high and I was very proud. Very proud to be a Cleveland Brown’s fan even in a hostile environment. One of my biggest accomplishments is the fact that I am responsible for my daughter being a Browns fan also. That was one of my lifetime goals, being that she has never lived in Ohio. I was bound and determined to make my daughter a Browns fan, actually it was a very easy task. I just ordered a Cleveland Brown’s leather jacket from HSN on tv so I am awaiting it’s arrival Sept. 17th. When I had words with a Patriot’s fan at the Brown’s Patriot’s game. I told him