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Cleveland Browns 2010 Season Preview

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08/27/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There's a new sheriff in town in regards to the Cleveland Browns, and it hasn't taken long for Mike Holmgren to show an organization that's been trying in vain to achieve sustained success who's boss.

The former Super Bowl champion coach, who now holds the title of Browns team president, was brought in by owner Randy Lerner near the end of the 2009 season to create a winning culture the storied franchise hasn't seen since its second incarnation in the NFL more than a decade ago. And Holmgren, along with new general manager Tom Heckert, has wasted no time cleaning house in the wake of Cleveland's sixth campaign of double-digit losses in the last seven years.

Gone is the bumbling quarterback tandem of Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson, orchestrators of the league's worst offense in 2009, as well as washed-up running back Jamal Lewis. A defense that surrendered the second-most yards in the NFL last year is expected to have four newcomers holding down starting jobs by the beginning of the regular season.

Head coach Eric Mangini was able to save his job by guiding the team to four straight victories to close out last season, but the Bill Belichick disciple is on essentially a one-year trial period with the new regime. So are most of his players, as the Holmgren/Heckert braintrust declined to grant long-term extensions to several veterans entering the final year of their contracts, with invaluable return specialist Josh Cribbs the lone exception.

That philosophy should keep the Browns highly motivated to build off last year's strong finish and attempt to leave their customary residence in the basement of the AFC North Division. But in order to move up, the club is likely going to require a resurgence out of the declining Jake Delhomme, Holmgren's hand-picked choice to take over at quarterback, and for inexperienced skill players such as rookie running back Montario Hardesty and second-year receivers Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie to quickly come of age.

Delhomme, who guided Carolina to three playoff trips and one Super Bowl appearance in seven seasons as the Panthers' starting signal-caller, is among a host of battle-tested performers from winning programs to be added to the roster. Cleveland landed free-agent linebacker Scott Fujita from the reigning world champion Saints and acquired cornerback Sheldon Brown and linebacker Chris Gocong in a trade with Philadelphia, with ex-Patriots tight end Benjamin Watson also coming over via free agency.

All will be asked to lend needed leadership to a team that finally hopes it has found the right combination at the top, and provide a glimmer of optimism to a city that's still smarting from its very public jilting by hometown hero LeBron James over the summer.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2010 edition of the Cleveland Browns, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2009 RECORD: 5-11 (4th, AFC North)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2002, lost to Pittsburgh, 36-33 in AFC Wild Card

COACH (RECORD): Eric Mangini (5-11 in one season with Browns, 28-36 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Brian Daboll

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Rob Ryan

OFFENSIVE STAR: Josh Cribbs, WR (381 rushing yards, 20 receptions, 6 TD)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Shaun Rogers, DT (36 tackles, 2 sacks)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 8th rushing, 32nd passing, t29th scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 28th rushing, 29th passing, t21st scoring

KEY ADDITIONS: QB Jake Delhomme (from Panthers), QB Seneca Wallace (from Seahawks), QB Colt McCoy (3rd Round, Texas), RB Montario Hardesty (2nd Round, Tennessee), FB Peyton Hillis (from Broncos), WR Bobby Engram (free agent), TE Alex Smith (from Eagles), TE Benjamin Watson (from Patriots), T Tony Pashos (from 49ers), OL Shaun Lauvao (3rd Round, Arizona State), LB Chris Gocong (from Eagles), LB Scott Fujita (from Saints), CB Sheldon Brown (from Eagles), CB Joe Haden (1st Round, Florida), S T.J. Ward (2nd Round, Oregon)

KEY DEPARTURES: QB Derek Anderson (to Cardinals), QB Brady Quinn (to Broncos), RB Jamal Lewis (released), WR Mike Furrey (to Redskins), WR Donte' Stallworth (to Ravens), TE Steve Heiden (released), T Ryan Tucker (retired), OL Rex Hadnot (to Cardinals), C Hank Fraley (to Rams), LB Alex Hall (to Giants), LB Kamerion Wimbley (to Raiders), CB Hank Poteat (not tendered), S Brodney Pool (to Jets)

QB: Holmgren quickly decided he wouldn't tolerate another year of the inaccurate Anderson and the weak-armed Quinn running the offense into the ground, releasing the former and trading the latter to Denver in March. While Delhomme (2015 passing yards in '09) has a far better track record than those two, he wasn't any better statistically than that comical combo last season. The 35-year-old hit on under 56 percent of his throws and threw 18 interceptions against just eight touchdown strikes with the Panthers, while Quinn and Anderson compiled an 11:18 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 50 percent completion percentage. The Browns do possess a capable and athletic backup in offseason pickup Seneca Wallace (700 passing yards, 3 TD, 2 INT), whom Holmgren coached for several years in Seattle, and added a developmental project in the draft with the third-round selection of ex-University of Texas standout Colt McCoy, whose accuracy and smarts seem to make him well-suited to the West Coast scheme Holmgren will eventually install.

RB: Jerome Harrison (862 rushing yards, 34 receptions, 7 total TD) went from seldom-used to superstar during Cleveland's late-season surge in 2009, with the fifth-year pro racking up an eye-popping 561 yards and five scores over the team's final three wins. That performance still hasn't guaranteed the smallish back a featured role in the game plan, however. The team is extremely high on Hardesty, a 225-pound bruiser taken in the second round of April's draft who's impressed Mangini with his physicality and quick pickup of the offense. Both figure to get their share of touches and will welcome the return of fullback Lawrence Vickers (8 receptions, 1 TD), one of the game's better lead blockers. Versatile Peyton Hillis (54 rushing yards, 4 receptions), acquired from Denver in the Quinn trade, should get plenty of work in third- down situations and as a receiver out of the backfield. His addition and Hardesty's emergence could make once-promising sophomore James Davis, who missed most of last year with a bum shoulder, expendable.

WR/TE: The receiving corps' limited experience and lack of a vertical threat played a big part in the Browns' league-worst ranking in passing offense last year, so it's surprising Holmgren did little to shore up this area. The team did bring in longtime Holmgren charge Bobby Engram to serve as a possible mentor to the young group, but it's unclear whether the former Seahawks standout has anything left at age 37. It looks like Cleveland will roll with 2009 second-round picks Massaquoi (34 receptions, 3 TD) and Robiskie (7 receptions) out wide, with the unspectacular Chansi Stuckey (30 tackles, 2 TD) used primarily out of the slot and Cribbs (20 receptions, 1 TD) lined up all over the field in order to take advantage of his uncanny open-field skills. The Browns utilized the tight end sparingly last season, but that could change with Watson (29 touchdowns, 5 TD), an accomplished pass-catcher and sound red- zone target with the Patriots, now in the fold. Practice squad graduate and converted wide receiver Evan Moore (12 receptions) also showed potential during a late-year audition in 2009, while veterans Robert Royal (11 receptions, 1 TD) and Alex Smith (ex-Eagles) are fighting to stick as the blocking tight end.

OL: Here's one part of the Cleveland offense that deserves some positive reviews. Left tackle Joe Thomas has more than justified the third overall pick the team used on him in the 2007 draft, earning All-Pro recognition in each of the past two seasons, while 2009 first-rounder Alex Mack immediately stepped in and solidified the center position and may have some honors coming his way in the future. Left guard Eric Steinbach is both consistent and durable, having missed just three games in his first seven NFL campaigns. There's more concern on the right side, where returning starters Floyd Womack (guard) and John St. Clair (tackle) are more or less stopgap options and free-agent signee Tony Pashos, expected to compete for St. Clair's job, missed most of last season with a fractured shoulder blade. Womack is being pushed by rookie Shawn Lauvao (Arizona State), a third-round choice in April who's viewed as the future at right guard. The losers of those preseason battles will join holdover Billy Yates at the reserve spots.

DL: All three regulars from last season's front wall are back in 2010, although some of their roles may change in the coming year. Shaun Rogers (36 tackles, 2 sacks) held down the nose tackle position until suffering a season- ending broken leg in late November, but third-year pro Ahtyba Rubin's (38 tackles) strong play upon taking over could kick the three-time Pro Bowler over to end. It's a move that makes sense, as Rogers' best asset is rushing the passer and Rubin's stoutness versus the run should benefit a defense that allowed the fourth-most rushing yards in the league last year. With Rogers making a slow recovery from his injury and having a potential suspension looming due to an offseason arrest, it's quite possible Rubin opens the season as the starter alongside incumbent ends Kenyon Coleman (38 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Robaire Smith (62 tackles, 1.5 sacks), with C.J. Mosley (18 tackles) and Brian Schafering (12 tackles, 1.5 sacks) the main backups.

LB: Although the Browns posted a very respectable 40 sacks last year, Holmgren decided to trade away top pressure producer Kamerion Wimbley to the Raiders for the pick used to select McCoy. Fujita (58 tackles, 1 sack), who's never totaled more than 4 1/2 sacks at any point of his eight-year career, had been ticketed to take over that spot, but the heady vet could also start out inside with projected starter D'Qwell Jackson (59 tackles) likely to miss the season's first month with a chest injury. The good-sized Gocong (44 tackles, 1 sack) is slated to man the other inside position, with outside returnee Matt Roth (32 tackles) aiming to duplicate an excellent finish to 2009. The ex- Dolphin amassed four sacks and was a force against the run after being claimed off waivers in late November. Jackson is also a skilled run stopper, and the defense suffered in that department after the tackling machine sustained a year-ending pectoral tear in Week 6. Second-year pass rusher Marcus Bernard (14 tackles, 3.5 sacks) seems to be in line for increased snaps on coordinator Rob Ryan's unit after putting together a strong camp, with Mangini favorites David Bowens (71 tackles, 5.5 sacks) and Jason Trusnik (56 tackles, 2.5 sacks) back to supply depth in addition to their duties as core special teamers.

DB: In dire need of some help for the steady Eric Wright (65 tackles, 4 INT, 14 PD) at cornerback, Cleveland made bolstering that position an offseason priority and accomplished its mission by obtaining the hard-nosed Brown (51 tackles, 5 INT, 17 PD) and grabbing University of Florida talent Joe Haden in the first round of April's draft. The moves give the team three quality covermen and should allow for more press coverage that will enable the aggressive Ryan to unleash more blitzes and stunts designed to create turnovers. The Browns had a mere 19 takeaways last season, the second-fewest in the league. More secondary assistance was provided through the draft with the second-round selection of Oregon's T.J. Ward, the leading candidate to replace injury-prone Brodney Pool (to Jets) at free safety. 2009 leading tackler Abram Elam (91 tackles, 1 sack) will return to his post at strong safety, with displaced 2009 starter Brandon McDonald (55 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) and Mike Adams (69 tackles, 1 sack) to be utilized in nickel and dime situations.

SPECIAL TEAMS: If there's one aspect the Browns do excel in, it's this one. Cribbs (27.5 KR avg., 11.9 PR avg.) is the league's premier return man, having scored 10 touchdowns taking back kicks and punts in his five NFL seasons, and Mangini loves to stockpile overachieving special-teams types (i.e. Trusnik, linebacker Blake Costanzo, safeties Nick Sorensen and Ray Ventrone), so it's no surprise Cleveland fields one of the NFL's best coverage units. The team even sports a two-time Pro Bowl long snapper in Ryan Pontbriand, back for an eighth year at that often-overlooked spot, while veteran Phil Dawson (17-of-19 FG's) remains a reliable kicker as he enters his 12th season with the organization. The one questionable area is at punter, where Reggie Hodges (39.8 avg.) is a downgrade from intended regular Dave Zastudil, who's out for the season with a lingering knee injury.

PROGNOSIS: Those banking that last year's late flurry of wins -- all of which came against non-playoff teams -- will carry over and vault the Browns into contention in 2010 may be in for a letdown. While the defense shows promise, Cleveland still has major questions to answer on the offensive side, and bringing in a past-his-prime quarterback to throw to the league's most uninspiring group of receivers hardly provides any answers. While it looks as if the Browns had a nice draft and seem on their way to building a foundation for the future, the bottom line is this current outfit still isn't good enough to challenge the Ravens, Bengals and Steelers in a rugged AFC North.