Safety Positions Could Be Cause for Concern for Browns Defense

Troy Palamalu, Ed Reed, Bob Sanders, and…Abram Elam?

 

Okay, Elam is not in that class quite yet, and he may never reach that elite status. However, head coach Eric Mangini is comfortable with him, and Elam is familiar playing in Mangini’s system. He will also be able to assist his partner in the defensive backfield, Brodney Pool.

 

There was speculation that the Browns were discussing bringing in former Bears safety Mike Brown. Reports were saying that Mangini and general manager George Kokinis were looking at Brown as a player that could provide depth behind Elam and Pool.

 

Currently, Mike Adams is listed as the primary backup behind the two starters.

 

Mangini has also been discussing giving special teams specialist Josh Cribbs reps at free safety. However, it is unrealistic to think that Cribbs can step in and start, or be able to fill in, due to his inexperience.

 

Last season against the Denver Broncos, the Browns squandered a 10-point lead in the third quarter, which was jump-started by a 94-yard touchdown by Eddie Royal from Jay Cutler.

 

Granted, cornerback Brandon McDonald made a poor play on the ball, but there was absolutely no help over the top from the safety position until Royal was about 10 yards away from scoring. That player was Brodney Pool, and safety Sean Jones was nowhere to be found.

 

After the game, running back Jamal Lewis accused players on the Browns defense of “quitting.” That poor angle by McDonald, and the lack of help from the safety position, may have been the play to which Lewis was referring.

 

Mangini and Kokinis may have agreed with that assessment because they never seriously considered bringing Jones back this season.

 

Elam played for the New York Jets for two seasons before being dealt to Cleveland in the deal that sent quarterback Mark Sanchez to New York.

 

This will be the first season that Elam will have an opportunity to start. Last season, he filled in for Eric Smith and registered 69 tackles (48 solo), two sacks, one interception, and three forced fumbles.

 

Perhaps his most memorable forced fumble was against the Buffalo Bills. The Jets were trailing 27-24 with about two minutes left, and Elam rushed on a blitz and slapped the ball away from quarterback J.P. Losman.

 

Defensive end Shaun Ellis picked up the fumble and stumbled 11 yards to end zone to give the Jets a 31-27 lead, and eventually the victory.

 

Pool has been inconsistent in his four-year career with the Browns. Much of his up-and-down play can be attributed to the multiple concussions that he has sustained.

 

Last season he recorded 65 tackles (60 solo), and a career-high three interceptions. Perhaps a new defensive philosophy being instilled by defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will benefit Pool.

 

To put the Browns’ safety situation in perspective, the lack of a pass rush has really hurt the performance of not only the safeties, but the corner backs as well. It is almost impossible to expect defensive backs to be able to cover receivers and tight ends for six or seven seconds on every play.

 

If you go back to former Browns cornerback Anthony Henry’s rookie season in 2001, he led the team, and was tied with Ronde Barber for the league lead, with 10 interceptions. The Browns defense brought down opposing quarterbacks 43 times, a far cry from the 17 sacks last season.

 

If Ryan can figure out how to generate a consistent pass rush, the play of the linebackers and defensive backs will improve drastically.

 

Until then, the safety positions on the defense could struggle yet again.

Steve McNair Succeeded More Times Than Not Against “New Browns”

As many of you have probably heard, former Houston Oilers/ Tennesee Titans and Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl quarterback Steve McNair was found dead in a Nashville condominium this past Saturday, July 4.

Police said that McNair suffered “two fatal gunshot wounds to the head” and “multiple bullet wounds to the chest.” A second body was found next to McNair, who was identified as Sahel Kazemi, who was reportedly lying under a gun believed to be the weapon.

Kazemi was believed to be McNair’s girlfriend, whom he had reportedly been dating for the past couple months. Police concluded that it was a murder-suicide and are talking with acquaintances of both victims.

 

When the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999 as an expansion team, they were placed in the AFC Central Division. The Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans were led by McNair and the two teams met twice a season from 1999-2001.

In 2002, the former home of the Titans, Houston, were awarded a new franchise, the Texans. The Titans were then placed in the AFC South Division. The Browns were moved to the AFC North Divison.

The Browns went three years without playing the Titans until a 2005 meeting. McNair then went on to play for the Baltimore Ravens during 2006 and 2007 before announcing his retirement following ’07.

 

As a tribute to the fallen former co-league MVP, I will highlight McNair’s performances against the “New Browns” as both a Tennessee Titan and Baltimore Raven.

 

1999 Season

 

Week Two: McNair did not play in the Titans’ victory due to an inflamed disc following a win over the Bengals in Week One. McNair would need surgery to repair the disc, while backup Neil O’Donnell led the Titans to a 4-1 record over the next five weeks. The Titans won the first meeting against the Browns, 26-9.

 

Week 12: The Browns and Titans met again where McNair and running back Eddie George rushed for three touchdowns, leading Tennessee to 33-21 win. In that game, McNair went 18-36, for 179 yards to go along with 7 rushes for 45 yards and a rushing touchdown. His 1-yard rushing touchdown put the Titans up for good, 20-14 in the third quarter.

 

2000 Season

 

Week 12: McNair struggled in this game, but received some help from George, who rushed for three touchdowns in a 24-10 win over Doug Pederson and the Browns. McNair threw four interceptions on 25 passes for 204 yards. He also gained 51 yards on the ground on eight carries.

 

Week 16: On this day, mother nature and the snow slowed down McNair, but not George. The former Heisman Trophy winner at Ohio State rushed 34 times for 176 yards and three scores, leading his team to a 24-0 shutout on the shores of Lake Erie. McNair completed just 10 passes on 18 attempts for 79 yards and an interception.

 

2001 Season

 

Week 12: McNair had one of his best games in his battles against the Browns, throwing for 244 yards and three touchdowns.

Wide receiver Derrick Mason caught two of those touchdowns, one for 43 yards and the other for 71. Wide receiver Drew Bennett also hauled in a 5-yard touchdown from the former Alcorn State product. The Titans went on to win this game, 31-15.

 

Week 16: Browns quarterback Tim Couch stole the spotlight in this game, digging his team out of a 14-point hole in the fourth quarter to win 41-38. Couch completed 20 passes for 336 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. McNair went 16 of 25 for 274 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 34 yards on five carries.

 

2002 Season (First season in new divisional alignment)

 

Week Three:  Couch again outperformed McNair in this match up, defeating Tennessee 31-28 in overtime. Couch threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns, while McNair threw for 107 yards and two touchdowns.

 

2005 Season

 

Week Nine:  In what would be McNair’s final season in Tennessee, the former third overall pick in the 1995 draft came up short against the Browns for the third straight time.

McNair saw Trent Dilfer throw for 272 yards and a touchdown to lead the Browns to a 20-14 victory. McNair attempted a comeback on the last drive of the game but was intercepted by Brodney Pool. McNair’s final numbers were 18 of 41, for 235 yards, with a touchdown pass and an interception.

 

2006 Season

 

Week Three: McNair’s first game against the Browns in a new uniform was a successful one. He threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Todd Heap that helped dig the Ravens out of a 14-3 deficit in the fourth quarter.

McNair then led the Ravens down the field two more times for Matt Stover field goals, the last one giving Baltimore a 15-14 lead. The Ravens won the game by the same score and McNair gave his team a 3-0 start to the season. McNair finished the game completing 23 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown.

 

Week 15: The Ravens came into this game at 10-3 and needed a win and a Bengals loss to clinch their first playoff appearance since 2003. McNair attempted just four passes before leaving the game with an injury to his throwing hand.

His backup, Kyle Boller, came in and threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Ravens to victory, 27-17.  McNair would come back the next week to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-7, throwing for 256 yards and three touchdowns.

 

2007 Season

 

Week Four: Baltimore came into Cleveland with a 2-1 record and an opportunity to separate themselves even more from the 1-2 Browns. However, ex-Ravens Derek Anderson and Jamal Lewis had other ideas.

McNair completed 34 passes on 53 attempts for 307 yards and a touchdown. The 34 completions and 53 pass attempts were both career highs, but McNair struggled in red-zone situations.

He went 4 of 8 for 28 yards inside the 20-yard line against a Cleveland defense that had allowed a league worst 11 touchdown passes. The loss was the Ravens’ third in their last four trips to Cleveland.

 

Week 11: McNair did not play in the final meeting between the two teams due to season-ending surgery on his left shoulder. He also battled a groin injury which he sustained on the second play of the season.

The Ravens lost the game, 33-30 in overtime after kicker Phil Dawson’s controversial field goal in the fourth quarter was overturned by the officials. The Ravens finished 2007 with a record of 5-11 and McNair announced his retirement following the end of the season.

 

McNair played in 10 games against the “New Browns.” His record in seven seasons versus the Browns was 6-4 (4-3 with Titans, 2-1 with Ravens). His career statistics against the Browns are as follows:

 

162 completions on 283 attempts (57%)

1,893 passing yards

10 TD, 7 INT, rush TD

 

Steve McNair should go down as one of the most influential quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. He, along with Warren Moon and Randall Cunningham, paved the way for African-American quarterbacks today such as Donovan McNabb, Daunte Culpepper, JaMarcus Russell, David Garrard, and Michael Vick.

McNair set a Super Bowl record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 64 yards on eight carries. On the final drive of that memorable Super Bowl against the St. Louis Rams, he eluded a number of defenders and completed a 16-yard strike to receiver Kevin Dyson that kept the Titans’ hopes alive.

Tennessee came up a yard short from tying the game, but McNair’s scramble to get the ball to Dyson epitomized the type of player that he was.

 

He sacrificed his body for his team and could beat opposing defenses with his arm and his feet. His loss will affect many who loved him and played with him during his 13-year career. He is one of three quarterbacks to throw for 30,000 yards and rush for 3,500 yards (Fran Tarkenton and Steve Young). Many will remember him for his accomplishments on the gridiron, while others will remember him for the controversy that will surround him in this murder case.

Browns’ Harrison Could See Workload Increase In 2009

The Cleveland Browns’ coaching staff is finally seeing what fans have been pleading for over the past three years…more touches for running back Jerome Harrison.

 

Browns head coach Eric Mangini coached a running back in New York by the name of Leon Washington, and he sees similarities in both players’ abilities.

 

“I think Jerome has had an outstanding group of OTA’s [organized team activities] and camps,” Mangini said. “His ability to pick up the protections and run routes out of the backfield, he reminds me a lot of Leon.”

 

One of the reasons Harrison has been getting extra reps in practice is because Jamal Lewis is still rehabilitating from off-season ankle surgery. The other running backs on the roster are free agent-pickup Noah Herron and rookie James Davis.

 

Herron has been in the league one more year than Harrison (Herron was drafted in 2005 by the Pittsburgh Steelers), but is really not considered to be a “feature back.”

 

Davis received increased reps in OTA’s and mini-camps as a result of Lewis’ absence as well and reportedly has impressed the coaches.

 

Many fans were puzzled as to why former head coach Romeo Crennel left Harrison off the game day roster numerous times during his tenure. One of the reasons was because Harrison was a liability in blitz pickup, something that former running back Jason Wright excelled in. The other reason was due to Harrison’s inability to play well on special teams which hurt his chances of seeing action on Sundays.

 

Under the Browns’ new regime, Harrison has made the most of his opportunity and is making a positive impression on the coaching staff. Harrison’s 2008 season highlight was probably his 72-yard touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football.

 

Harrison appreciates the comparisons to Washington, but knows he can’t let it get to his head.

 

“Leon’s a good running back,” Harrison said. “I watched him all through college and the NFL and he’s good. So getting compared to Leon, I take that as a compliment.

 

“You know me, I’m just going to keep working, if the opportunity presents itself I’ll be ready.”

 

After three years of petitioning for more touches for Harrison, it looks like Browns fans will finally get their wish.

Ryan To Implement “46” Defense With Browns

After four years of Romeo Crennel’s very conservative and “vanilla” defensive game plan, the 2009 Browns defense will reveal a new look for opposing offenses.

 

Browns’ defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, whose father, Buddy, created the “46” defense with the Chicago Bears in the 1980’s, will adopt the same scheme with his newest defensive project.

 

One of the reasons the Browns have struggled since returning to the NFL in 1999 is due to the inability to stop opposing offenses. Last season, the Browns recorded a measly 17 sacks as a team, second lowest only to the Kansas City Chiefs (10).

 

Ryan’s “46” scheme is designed around the concept of applying constant pressure at the line of scrimmage. This strategy hinders the opposing offense’s ability to move the ball on the ground and through the air.

 

The “46” defense was named after hard-hitting safety Doug Plank’s jersey number, who often played close to the line of scrimmage and played with reckless abandon.

 

The defensive base consists of four down linemen, three linebackers and a safety close to the line of scrimmage. The other two outside linebackers act as fifth and sixth down linemen, lining up side by side on the opposite side of the field from the rush end. The safety becomes the fourth safety, essentially.

 

The goal of this scheme is to create confusion for opposing quarterbacks because any of these eight defenders can rush the quarterback.

 

The only disadvantage of this scheme is it requires the two cornerbacks to play man-to-man coverage, possibly in a bump-and-run fashion. If they fall behind the receiver, the free safety is the only one who can help in support.

 

This essentially means that starting cornerbacks Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald will be on an “island” with themselves and the receiver they are assigned to cover.

 

Mangini has given a boost of confidence to Wright and McDonald, as well as free safety Brodney Pool, which suggests that he trusts their abilities to adapt well to the “46.”

 

“I liked McDonald’s aggressiveness,” Mangini said. “I liked his style of play even before I was the coach here.”

 

“With Eric, he is a very smart player and his improvement should continue as he continues to learn. He also has good feet.”

 

Mangini remembers when Pool was playing for the Oklahoma Sooners.

 

“The things I am seeing now, are things that I saw in college. Specifically where he ranked? I’m not sure, but he did have those same traits coming out of college that I see here today.”

 

Linebackers D’Qwell Jackson and Kamerion Wimbley have had different experiences in their first three years in the NFL.

 

Wimbley looked like a defensive stud his rookie year, as he compiled 11 sacks. However, over the past two years, he has managed to bring down opposing quarterbacks only nine times.

 

Jackson, who has started each game of his career, came into his own last season as he led the league with 154 tackles.

 

Ryan sees promise in both players.

 

“The sky’s the limit for that young man (Jackson),” Ryan said. “A blind man can see his talent.”

 

When asked about Wimbley’s sack total the past two seasons, Ryan said, “Numbers don’t tell the whole story. The young man has a great ability to rush the passer. We’re working with him to use his hands well, and we’re also working with him on doing more bull rushing and speed rushing.”

 

He added, “I think he’ll have a tremendous season for us.”

 

Based on Mangini and Ryan’s comments on some of the defensive personnel, it seems as though the Browns had the right players to succeed, but the proper coaching is what this team lacked to take it to the next level (playoffs).

 

We will see if the Browns new coaching staff can get players like Wimbley to realize and reach their full potential.

 

Browns 2009 Post-Minicamp Analysis

With the start of training camp about a month away, Browns head coach Eric Mangini has made one thing clear through offseason training activities and mini-camp—he is the man in charge in Berea.

 

When Mangini first accepted the head coaching job in Cleveland, he wanted to infuse a “team-first” attitude in Cleveland. He kept true to his word by trading an unhappy tight end in Kellen Winslow to Tampa Bay.

 

He then “won” personal disputes with disgruntled players Shaun Rogers and Josh Cribbs, sending them the message that “no one player is bigger than the team.”

 

Kicker Phil Dawson, the only player left from the original 1999 expansion team, was reportedly holding out of OTA because he wanted a new contract.

 

Instead of reprimanding Dawson, Mangini brushed off his absence when asked about it by the media and said, “the guys here are making the most of their opportunity.”

 

The quarterback battle between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson has been difficult to evaluate due to the various combinations that Mangini has put together with the offensive line and skill-position players.

 

Both quarterbacks have struggled as Quinn and Anderson have been trying to adapt to a new offensive scheme. Mangini has also shuffled offensive linemen between first and second string.

 

Guard Rex Hadnot and center Hank Fraley have been seen working with the first team, replacing guard Eric Steinbach and center Alex Mack.

 

Mangini would like Steinbach to add some weight in order to make it through the grind of the NFL season, especially in a division that features defensive lineman like Casey Hampton (Steelers) and Haloti Ngata (Ravens).

 

I would expect that a Pro-Bowl caliber player like Steinbach and a first-round pick in Mack will be starting on opening day.

 

Wide receiver Braylon Edwards missed OTA due to an “undisclosed injury,” but it is not believed to be serious. Edwards’ absence has opened the door for rookies Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi and veterans Mike Furrey and David Patten.

 

Reports have indicated that Robiskie has “looked sharp in practices”, and Massaquoi has “been drawing praise from Mangini with his abilities.” The battles for the two and three spots behind Edwards could be very interesting come late July.

 

Third-year cornerbacks Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald have reportedly impressed Mangini and the Browns’ staff as well. Mangini defended both players when asked about their history of getting beat on deep passes.

 

Mangini said, “everybody gets beat deep, but you have to have a short memory and go back and go again or you’ll get beat again.”

 

With another year of experience from both Wright and McDonald, along with the addition of Rod Hood, a weakness of the team last year could become a strength this season.

 

If there is one thing that jumps out at the average Browns fan, it’s that Mangini is creating a competitive atmosphere by having every player battle for their starting position.

 

He’s going to find the best 11 players to start on offense and the best 11 to start on defense, regardless of where the player was drafted or years of NFL experience.

 

After four years of Romeo Crennel’s country club-type atmosphere, Camp Mangini will be a welcoming mind-set in Berea this summer.

Browns’ New Offense Fitting the Mold of the “Smash-Mouth” AFC North

At the beginning of the 2007 season, the Cleveland Browns were perceived as the same team that averaged 14.8 points per game the previous season under quarterback Charlie Frye.

 

Following the first game of the season, Frye was traded to the Seattle Seahawks and in came Derek Anderson, who would go on to have a Pro Bowl season. Anderson struggled in 2008 which led to the firings of general manager Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel.

 

The job security of offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski was also unknown until Eric Mangini was hired as head coach and brought his former Jets assistant, Brian Daboll with him to run the offense. With Daboll now calling the shots on offense, the team’s game plan will have a whole new look than the previous two seasons.

 

With Anderson’s gunslinger arm, he was an ideal fit for Chudzinski’s “big-play” offense. In 2007, he threw for 3,787 yards (7.2 yards per completion) with 29 touchdowns. His primary target at wide receiver, Braylon Edwards, averaged 16.1 yards per catch to go along with 16 touchdown catches. Former Browns tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. recorded 1,106 receiving yards (13.5 yards per catch) with five touchdowns.

 

However, those offensive numbers don’t appear close to being matched or broken in 2009 with Daboll replacing Chudzinski.

 

Before Daboll was wide receivers coach with the Jets in 2008, he coached the special teams unit for the Patriots. This was before the team had wide receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker embarrassing opposing defenses. Do the names Reche Caldwell and Troy Brown ring a bell?

 

The Patriots’ offense spread the ball around to numerous receivers, running backs and tight ends. In fact, New England’s leading receiver that year was Caldwell with 760 yards receiving. These statistics could very well mirror the numbers for the offensive playmakers for the Browns in 2009.

 

If Tom Brady is any indication, Daboll may prefer quarterback Brady Quinn to run his offense over Anderson. Daboll’s offense will require the quarterback to make quick, smart decisions with the football and excel at clock management.

 

There were numerous instances last season when Anderson was unable to execute the 2-minute offense effectively. He never appeared to display a sense of urgency to get the offense organized and burned timeouts because he and the rest of the team weren’t on the same page.

 

Quinn may not have a rocket arm, but coming from Notre Dame, he is an intelligent quarterback who gets the most out of the talent around him (see how many first-round picks Quinn played with at Notre Dame). Daboll’s offense could be the catalyst to jump start Quinn’s professional career.

 

Another indication of how the Browns coaching staff wants the offense to operate is through the signings of offensive linemen Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack and John St. Clair. Mangini then made Cal’s Alex Mack the first center to come off the board in the first round. The front office also traded Winslow to Tampa Bay and signed Robert Royal, who is known more for his blocking skills.

 

Unlike Chudzinski’s offensive game plan, Daboll will more than likely feed the running backs the ball to set up the pass. Jamal Lewis, Jerome Harrison and rookie James Davis could all have major roles in determining how successful the offense will be.

 

Draft picks Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi were brought to Cleveland to make plays. They also displayed excellent downfield blocking skills that impressed Mangini and general manager George Kokinis.

 

Free-agent signees David Patten and Mike Furrey are not what you would call “deep threats” at this point in their careers. These signings could indicate that Mangini coveted “sure-handed” receivers who can help move the chains and keep drives alive. This was an area that the Browns sorely lacked last season after losing Joe Jurevicius to a staph infection.

 

The Browns new-look offense could feature a new starting quarterback in Quinn, along with a plan that emphasizes establishing a running game to set up the pass. With Daboll running the show, look for a more ball-control oriented offense that limits its turnovers and “eats up” the clock.

 

With the Steelers and Ravens following that same formula, it’s a step in the right direction for this 2009 Browns squad.

2009 AFC North Outlook

For the second time in four years, the AFC North will feature the defending Super Bowl

Champion.

 

The Pittsburgh Steelers collected its sixth Super Bowl title in its storied

franchise history. The AFC runner-up in 2008 was the Steelers’ division rival, Baltimore

Ravens, led by rookie quarterback Joe Flacco.

 

The Cincinnati Bengals, a team that has just one playoff appearance and winning record over the past 18 seasons, will receive a boost in 2009 with the return of its Pro-Bowl quarterback, Carson Palmer.

 

This division has the looks to be one of the more competitive ones in the NFL.

 

Let’s take a glance at each team and how the Cleveland Browns match up against their three division rivals.

 

*Team order determined by 2008 division standings*

 

 

 

Pittsburgh Steelers

 

The defending Super Bowl Champions will return the core of its team on offense and the majority of its core on defense. The offense is engineered by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back Willie Parker, and wide receivers Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes.

 

Second-year players who had little impact on the team’s Super Bowl run, but could see a bigger role in 2009—are running back Rashard Mendenhall and wide receiver Limas Sweed.

 

The team’s achilles’ heal, the offensive line, allowed 49 sacks last season—the fourth highest total in the league. The Steelers trailed only the San Francisco 49ers (50), Cincinnati Bengals (51), and Detroit Lions (52) in this category.

 

The defense will return nine out its 11 starters from last season. Third-year linebacker Lawrence Timmons will replace Larry Foote, who departed for the Lions and cornerback William Gay, who could take over Bryant McFadden’s spot.

 

The defense also features two sack artists, outside linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley. Harrison, who signed a six-year extension this offseason, had 16 sacks while Woodley recorded 11.5.

 

First round pick, defensive lineman Evander “Ziggy” Hood could make his way into the defensive-line rotation this season.

 

Overall, the Steelers look to be the favorites to repeat as division champions and compete for AFC supremacy.

 

 

 

Baltimore Ravens

 

In 2008, the Ravens were not considered to be a playoff contender. They finished 2007 with a 5-11 record and placed the fate of their season in the hands of a rookie quarterback in Joe Flacco.

 

One year later, the Ravens and Flacco appear to be the only true threat to dethrone the Steelers in the division.

 

Since leaving Cleveland for Baltimore in 1995, the Ravens had been searching for a franchise quarterback. They have finally found one in Flacco and return all of their skill position players from a year ago.

 

Flacco will have the luxury of handing the ball off to running backs Willis McGahee, LeRon McClain, and Ray Rice. By splitting carries, it will keep all three running backs fresh throughout the season.

 

Starting wide receivers Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton return with Demetrius Williams as the slot receiver. The team added former Philadelphia Eagle tight end, L.J. Smith in free agency, who will back up starter Todd Heap.

 

The Ravens invested their first round pick in Ole Miss offensive tackle, Michael Oher, who could start at right tackle.

 

The defense boasts two perennial Pro Bowlers in linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed. Linebacker Terrell Suggs and defensive lineman Haloti Ngata are also two defenders that opposing offenses always must account for.

 

Second year linebacker Tavares Gooden will try and replace Bart Scott, with cornerbacks Fabian Washington and Dominique Foxworth replacing last year’s starters, Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle.

 

The Ravens season will again depend on the play of Flacco. If he improves upon the season he had last year (2,971 passing yards and 14 touchdown passes), the Ravens will compete for a wild card spot and possibly the division.

 

However, if Flacco goes through the dreaded “sophomore slump,” Baltimore could come close to repeating its 2007 record of 5-11.

 

 

 

Cincinnati Bengals

 

The Cincinnati Bengals’ 2008 season was so bad that they accomplished something that had only been done twice in the past 11 years—a tied game.

 

The Bengals finished with a 4-11-1 record, tying the Philadelphia Eagles 13-13 on November 16. The good news for the Bengals is they will be getting starting quarterback Carson Palmer back, who missed 12 games last season.

 

The offense on paper could be much improved in 2009.

 

With Palmer, running back Cedric Benson, and wide receivers Chad Ocho Cinco and Laveranues Coles—the Bengals should be able to score enough points to keep them in games.

 

The team will place its trust in left tackle Andre Smith, who will be asked to protect Palmer’s “blind side.” Smith, whose draft stock dropped significantly due to a poor time in the 40-yard dash (5.28) and weight issues (332 pounds), was not considered to be a top five pick, but the Bengals selected him anyway.

 

Time will tell if Smith can fulfill that responsibility.

 

The Bengals then selected USC linebacker Rey Maualuga, who dropped to the second round due to off-the-field issues. There were also concerns about his durability, work ethic, and his taking poor angles when pursuing ball carriers.

 

The Bengals also signed defensive tackle Tank Johnson in free agency, who has had legal troubles in the past. They also signed former Cowboys safety Roy Williams.

 

He could give a significant boost to a secondary that intercepted just seven passes last season. The Bengals will also have linebacker Keith Rivers back—who suffered a broken jaw and was knocked out of a game and ultimately the season, by Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward.

 

The success of the Cincinnati Bengals’ 2009 season will rest on the health of Palmer. If Palmer stays healthy and is protected by Smith at left tackle, the Bengals could make a run at second place in the AFC North.

 

With Johnson, Maualuga, Rivers, and Williams on defense they could help improve a unit that ranked 14th in the points allowed last year (364).

 

The Browns’ division looks to be strong with the defending Super Bowl Champion Steelers, and a team in the Ravens who were one victory away from the big game in Tampa last year.

 

With a healthy Carson Palmer and improved defense on paper, the Bengals will more than likely improve on their four win season a year ago. The Browns probably were not going to compete for a playoff spot this year anyway, due to the turnover in personnel and coaching.

 

The three teams in the Browns’ division are also under the same head coaching staffs,  offensive, and defensive systems. Browns’ head coach Eric Mangini has already declared an open quarterback competition, whereas the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals know who their starting quarterbacks are.

 

This could slow the team’s progress a bit as well; however, this is the NFL and stranger things have happened (see Dolphins and Falcons last year).

Browns 2009 Position Battles: Making an Impression

When Browns head coach Eric Mangini was first asked to assess the team’s personnel back in February, he singled out four guys whom he felt were his type of football players.

Those four players were left tackle Joe Thomas, nose tackle Shaun Rogers, linebacker D’Qwell Jackson and running back Jamal Lewis.

As for everyone else, well, if they can’t figure out how to be a “Mangini guy” by the start of the season, they could be changing zip codes very soon.

Most NFL head coaches who inherit a football team want to establish their own identity on both offense and defense. Mangini is no exception, which is evident with the 23 players that were brought in via free agency, trades and the draft.

 

These 23 players, along with the remainder of the Browns’ roster, will have to prove themselves during training camp in July and preseason games in August.

 

Let’s take a look at position battles to keep an eye on throughout this summer’s training camp.

 

Note: Italicized names denotes rookie status

 

Offense:

 

Quarterback

Probable Starter: To Be Determined

 

Candidates: Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson, Brett Ratliff

 

Analysis: This could arguably be the most scrutinized battle in camp. After a Pro Bowl season in 2007 by Derek Anderson, he never seemed to recover following a concussion in preseason last August.

 

Anderson’s 2008 season highlight came in a 35-14 Monday Night upset of the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants, throwing for 310 yards and 2 touchdowns. Brady Quinn performed well against the Denver Broncos in a Thursday night showing, throwing for 239 yards and 2 touchdowns.

 

He struggled the following week against Buffalo, completing 38% of his passes for a 55.9 quarterback rating. A broken right index finger sidelined Quinn halfway through the following game against Houston. Quinn was placed on injured reserve, leaving his status up in the air.

 

Predicted Outcome: The loser of this competition could be used as trade bait to acquire future draft picks, allowing ex-Jet Brett Ratliff to become the primary backup.

 

 

 

Running Back:

 

Probable Starter: Jamal Lewis

 

Candidates for backup competition: Jerome Harrison, Noah Herron, James Davis

 

Analysis: In what could be Jamal Lewis’ final year as a Brown, Mangini will try to squeeze every last yard out of him. Jerome Harrison has shown flashes of promise, but was never given an adequate chance under Romeo Crennel.

 

Noah Herron, who, like ex-Brown Jason Wright, attended Northwestern, could be Mangini’s version of Wright; a smart, hard-working, scrappy running back. Rookie James Davis will compete for touches with Lewis and Harrison.

 

Predicted Outcome: Lewis could benefit from an improved offensive line and healthy starting quarterback. Harrison and Davis could serve as nice change-of-pace backs, keeping Lewis fresh throughout the season. Herron could be used primarily on special teams.

 

 

Wide Receivers:

 

Probable Starters: Braylon Edwards

 

Candidates for 2 and 3 spots: David Patten, Mike Furrey, Josh Cribbs, Brian Robiskie, Mohamed Massaquoi

 

Analysis: Despite all the trade speculation, Braylon Edwards remains a member of the Browns, for now. In what is a contract year for Edwards, Mangini and GM George Kokinis may be hoping that in itself will motivate Edwards to perform like he did in 2007.

 

Edwards admitted last season that he was never the same after teammate Donte Stallworth’s cleats spiked his foot in practice.

 

Rookie Brian Robiskie, considered by many analysts as the most polished receiver in the draft, could surprise many people and claim the other starting position opposite Edwards.

 

Robiskie developed a reputation in college as a precise route runner with excellent hands.

 

Fellow rookie Mohamed Massaquoi, who was drafted as a player with tremendous upside, will have an opportunity to compete for the slot position. He will have to beat out newcomers David Patten and Mike Furrey.

 

Patten won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and brings 12 years of NFL experience to the team. Furrey, a converted safety with the Rams, caught 98 passes for 1,086 yards and 6 touchdowns for the Lions in 2006.

 

Special teams ace Josh Cribbs could see time at receiver as well. However, Mangini has stated that he envisions using Cribbs at multiple positions, including safety or cornerback.

 

Predicted Outcome: Unless a team makes an offer the Browns cannot refuse, expect Edwards to remain in Cleveland. If Robiskie performs well in camp and preseason, he could be the No. 2 receiver behind Edwards.

 

It’s difficult to expect two rookie receivers to contribute right away, so Furrey could become the slot receiver with the veteran Patten mentoring Massaquoi.

 

Cribbs could be used at receiver on trick plays such as reverses or pass plays, but his real value comes on kick and punt returns and kickoff coverages.

 

 

Tight End:

 

Probable Starter: To Be Determined

 

Candidates: Steve Heiden, Robert Royal, Martin Rucker

 

Analysis: For the first time in four years, there is no definite starter at the tight end position. Following the trade of Kellen Winslow Jr. to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Browns are left with Steve Heiden, free agent pickup Robert Royal and second-year player Martin Rucker.

 

Heiden, who had surgery in the offseason to repair a torn ACL and MCL, is questionable for the season opener in September.

 

Royal, signed from the Buffalo Bills, could take over the starting position with Heiden sidelined. Royal is known more for his blocking skills, but is also a capable receiving option as well. In 15 games last season, he hauled in 33 passes for 351 yards (10.6 yard average) and a touchdown.

 

Then there is Rucker, who was drafted last year by former GM Phil Savage. His selection speculated the eventual exile of Winslow, who was seeking a new contract.

 

After Tampa Bay acquired Winslow, their new front office rewarded him with a six-year, $36 million deal, with $20.1 million guaranteed. The deal was the richest contract for a tight end in NFL history.

 

Rucker, who broke a number of Kellen Winslow Sr.’s records at Missouri, now has an opportunity to make his mark in the NFL. With the Browns’ new regime electing not to select a tight end in the draft, it could imply that they see potential in Rucker.

 

He missed the first 11 games of 2008 due to knee surgery early in preseason. With two healthy knees in 2009, Rucker will get his opportunity. Only time will tell if he can fill Winslow’s shoes.

 

Predicted Outcome: Heiden, 32, could struggle to return by the season opener, leaving the majority of the reps to Royal and Rucker.

 

Mangini’s offense requires the tight end to block, which is Royal’s forte. Getting Heiden back would be icing on the cake. Rucker could be the primary receiving target at the position.

 

 

Center

 

Probable Starter: Alex Mack

 

Candidates: Hank Fraley, Alex Mack

 

Analysis: Along with quarterback, the center position could be an area of interest for many fans. When the Browns traded down to the 21st spot in April’s draft, many fans believed Mangini and Kokinis were eyeing linebackers Clay Matthews Jr. or Rey Maualuga of Southern Cal.

 

They were not, as Cal center Alex Mack continued falling to them as they collected extra draft choices.

 

With the Browns’ two main AFC North rivals, the Steelers and Ravens, featuring nose tackles Casey Hampton and Haloti Ngata in the front of their defenses, they needed a premiere center to contain these two forces four times a year.

 

Mack was considered the draft’s top prospect at the center position and could pay big dividends in pass protection and the running game. In order to earn the starting center position in Cleveland, Mack will have to beat out veteran Hank Fraley.

 

It’s difficult to imagine the Browns spending a first round pick on a center and playing him at guard, so Mangini will give Mack every opportunity to unseat Fraley at the position.

 

Projected Outcome: Fraley, 31, isn’t getting any younger and has trouble containing bigger nose tackles. He did a commendable job stepping into a difficult situation back in 2006 when LeCharles Bentley tore his patellar tendon on the first play of practice in training camp.

 

Bentley never recovered and the job was Fraley’s to lose. He stabilized the position for the next three years, but his time may be running out.

 

Mack will forever be known in Cleveland as Kokinis and Mangini’s first draft pick, so there’s added pressure on him from that perspective.

 

Mangini likes Mack’s intelligence, footwork and strength, so it would appear that Mack will be anchoring the center position come opening day.

 

 

 

Tackles

 

Probable Starters: Joe Thomas

 

Candidates for tackle spot: John St. Clair, Ryan Tucker

 

Analysis: One position the Browns don’t have to worry about is left tackle. Joe Thomas has made the Pro Bowl both years he’s been in the league and will only get better.

 

However, there could be competition at the other tackle position. Ryan Tucker, coming off a season where he battled knee and hip problems, needs to prove to Mangini that he can stay healthy.

 

Free agent pickup John St. Clair would be the favorite to start at right tackle if Tucker is unable to play. St. Clair started all 32 games for the Chicago Bears over the last two seasons and is two years younger (31) than Tucker.

 

Projected Outcome: To simplify the situation, St. Clair is one of Mangini’s “guys” and Tucker is not. Therefore, Tucker would have to outperform St. Clair in every aspect in order to win the right tackle job.

 

Tucker has been one of the Browns most consistent offensive linemen over the past six or seven years.

 

It may not be a coincidence that the only game that Tucker started last year was the Monday Night victory over the Giants. The Browns pass protection and run blocking in that game was phenomenal.

 

 

Guards:

 

Probable Starters: Eric Steinbach

 

Candidates for guard spot: Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack, Rex Hadnot, Isaac Sowells

 

Analysis: One of the best moves former general manager Phil Savage made was signing Eric Steinbach away from the Browns’ division rival Cincinnati Bengals. Steinbach was a first team Pro Bowl alternate in 2007 and was solid for them in 2008 as well.

 

However, Mangini must figure out who will fill the right guard position. He signed Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack of the Seahawks in free agency.

 

Womack is a versatile lineman, with the ability to play either guard or tackle. He played in eight games last season, filling in for Rob Sims.

 

Projected Outcome: Again, with Womack being a “Mangini guy,” he will probably be the favorite to start at right guard over Rex Hadnot and Isaac Sowells. Hadnot and Sowells could both compete for the primary backup guard spot.

 

 

 

Defense:

 

Defensive Line:

 

Probable Starters: Kenyon Coleman, Shaun Rogers, Corey Williams

 

Candidates for backup spots: Robaire Smith, Ahtyba Rubin, C.J. Mosley, Shaun Smith, Louis Leonard, Santonio Thomas

 

Analysis: One of the few units on the team that appears to be set in stone is the defensive line. Coming off a Pro Bowl season, nose tackle Shaun Rogers should remain a force at the front end of the defense.

 

Mangini insisted that Kenyon Coleman be included in the draft-day trade that also brought Ratliff and safety Abram Elam to Cleveland. He will likely start at one end spot, with Corey Williams manning the other end.

 

Williams played the entire 2008 season with a separated shoulder, which he had repaired this past off-season. He went from playing defensive tackle in the 4-3 defense in Green Bay in 2007, to end in the 3-4 scheme in Cleveland last year.

 

The Browns are hoping that a year in the 3-4 defense and a healthy shoulder will allow Williams to be effective against the run and in pass rushing situations.

 

The only position battles for this unit should be among the reserves. Robaire Smith, coming off of ACL surgery, has been praised by Mangini and figures to be a big part of the Browns defensive line rotation.

 

Second-year nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin will compete to be the backup behind Rogers, in hopes of keeping Rogers fresh through the season.

 

Former Jet C.J. Mosley will most likely be another reserve end heavily involved in the line rotation. The odd men out could be Shaun Smith, Louis Leonard and Santonio Thomas.

 

 

 

Projected Outcome: If healthy, Coleman, Rogers and Williams will start while Smith, Rubin and Mosley will be the primary backups.

 

The more linemen the Browns can rotate, the more effective they will be as games and ultimately, as the season progresses.

 

The lack of depth on the defensive line last year really showed and Mangini will make sure that will not happen again. Unless they show something in preseason, Shaun Smith, Leonard and Thomas will most likely be cut.

 

 

Linebackers:

 

Probable Starters: Kamerion Wimbley, D’Qwell Jackson, Eric Barton, David Bowens

 

Candidates for backup spots: Alex Hall, Beau Bell, Leon Williams, David Veikune, Kaluka Maiava

 

Analysis: Teams that run the 3-4 defense generally have active linebackers that terrorize opposing quarterbacks and running backs.

 

The Steelers have James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, the Ravens have Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs, and the Patriots have Adalius Thomas and Jerod Mayo.

 

The Browns have yet to find at least two linebackers who they can consistently rely upon to impact a game in a positive way.

 

They thought they found one in Kamerion Wimbley, but after his 11-sack rookie year in 2006, he has produced just nine sacks the past two years.

 

Last season D’Qwell Jackson emerged as an up-and-coming middle linebacker, leading the league in total tackles with 154.

 

Mangini brought two of his ex-Jet linebackers over to Cleveland in Eric Barton and David Bowens. Both are expected to be starters on opening day. Barton was the Jets’ leading tackler with 119 tackles last season.

 

Bowens only produced four sacks in 2008, but knows Mangini’s defensive system and will hopefully mentor Wimbley and the other young linebackers on the defense.

 

Second-year linebacker Alex Hall showed promise in his rookie season with three sacks in limited playing time. It is believed that new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan thinks he can maximize Hall’s potential as a pass rushing specialist.

 

Ryan will also have the challenging task of coaching up Wimbley to help him return to his 2006 form. Beau Bell and Leon Williams, both of whom were drafted by the previous regime, will have to prove to Mangini and Ryan that they belong.

 

Mangini loves the potential of rookie David Veikune. Mangini has stated that he is intrigued by Veikune’s motor, toughness, and smoothness to the way he changes direction. Veikune could surprise and earn significant playing time in different defensive packages.

 

Fourth round choice Kaluka Maiava of USC earned the reputation of being a tough and aggressive player. Playing behind stars like Clay Matthews Jr., Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga, Maiava was the “forgotten man” of the USC defense.

 

He will most likely begin the season on special teams until he can prove that he can become a part of the linebacker rotation.

 

The Browns also claimed linebacker Bo Ruud off waivers from the Patriots. Ruud was a sixth round pick out of Nebraska and spent his entire rookie year on injured reserve.

 

Projected Outcome: The starters will most likely be Wimbley, Jackson, Barton and Bowens, with Hall and Veikune getting reps in various blitz packages. Williams and Bell will need to make a strong impression on the coaching staff to stick around.

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