2006 Cleveland Browns Season Preview

the team officially hired head coach Romeo Crennel. Savage and Crennel are two more apples that fell from the Belichick tree (Savage was an assistant coach under Belichick in Cleveland and Crennel was Belichick's defensive coordinator in New England).

The marriage so far between Savage and the Browns makes one think of the union of two 20-year-olds, not yet out of college and unsure of where to live or what to do in life. The honeymoon was great (they went to Indianapolis for the Scouting Combine) but times got rough when reality set in. The love is there, but both sides come from different backgrounds. Savage grew up in a good front office with fantastic support, mainly from his boss Ozzie Newsome. The Browns were abandoned at an early age (in fact, they became Savage's old team the Ravens - but that's Jerry Springer stuff) and when they moved back into the NFL, they had a head coach run out on them before the 2004 season was complete.

The couple had angry fans telling them to get their futures in order, and both sides were frustrated with losing ten games during the first year. Eventually in late December, the Browns were nearly pushed to their limit by the one issue that is the leading cause of divorces in this country: finances. Browns team president John Collins and Savage (a keen talent evaluator, not an accountant) could not see eye-to-eye. It's not like life was easy - Savage had married into bad credit and debt that was left over in the form of dead money from a previous Cleveland relationship (Butch Davis).

The Browns and Savage decided to focus on their love for each other and salvage their marriage with counseling, courtesy of team owner Randy Lerner. The biggest rift in the marriage was bridged when Collins resigned. This made it easier for Lerner to help Savage and the rest of the franchise reconcile before any divorce papers were signed. Lerner reaffirmed his faith in his new GM and had him develop a closer rapport with his fellow football-minded colleague, Crennel, and reminded the rest of the Browns staff that the debt from the Davis era was paid off and a fresh start looked promising.

We won't know exactly how this Browns-Savage marriage turns out until Cleveland actually hits the field again, but so far it looks somewhat promising. The team had one of the best offseasons of any club in the NFL. With $26 million in available cap space (dead money freed up and a new collective bargaining agreement was reached), Savage and the Browns attacked the free agent market. They came out with six new starters, though headliner LeCharles Bentley, the Pro Bowl center who was supposed to help turn the offensive line around, wound up injuring his knee on the first day of training camp and was lost for the season. However, Cleveland still has three new players with Super Bowl rings (Willie McGinest, Ted Washington, and Joe Jurevicius). None of the three are long-term solutions, but learning how to win games is the best way to develop a football program. That's what all three of these players can help do; they will help reshape the mindset in Cleveland.

In spring, Savage and the Browns had their second draft, in which they found two future star linebackers, a third-down back, and three more players who, if they don't start right away, likely will in 2007.

Will it all be enough to save the marriage? We don't know - there is a lot of damage to fix. The Browns were the lowest scoring offense in the league last year (13.6 points per game) and two of their brightest prospects, wide receiver Braylon Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow, are both coming back from major knee operations. The couple also had a lot of intense, hurtful arguments about the pass-rush (ranked 32nd with just 23 sacks in 2005) and pass protection (Cleveland allowed 45 sacks, third most in the NFL). Both agree improvements are vital here. Furthermore, rumor has it that friends of both sides say they are having problems in the red-zone (ranked dead last offensively last season).

No one said it would be easy. Not all marriages can turn out like the happily-ever-after world in New England, or that hot, passionate relationship up in Indy. The goal is for this couple to have a caring, loving marriage built on trust - one where they raise their children and grow old together like the Steeler family down the street (who the Browns hate, by the way).

Below we take a capsule look at the 2006 edition of the Cleveland Browns, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2004 RECORD: 6-10 (t3rd, AFC North)

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

COACH (RECORD): Romeo Crennel (6-10 in one season with Browns, 6-10 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Maurice Carthon

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Todd Grantham

OFFENSIVE STAR: Reuben Droughns, RB (1232 rushing yards, 2 TD, 39 receptions)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Andra Davis, LB (149 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 25th rushing, 23rd passing, 32nd scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 30th rushing, 4th passing, 11th scoring

FIVE KEY GAMES: Baltimore (9/24), N.Y. Jets (10/29), Pittsburgh (11/19), Cincinnati (11/26), at Baltimore (12/17)

KEY ADDITIONS: QB Ken Dorsey (from 49ers), WR Joe Jurevicius (from Seahawks), WR Travis Wilson (3rd Round, Oklahoma), TE Darnell Dinkins (from Ravens), T Kevin Shaffer (from Falcons), NT Ted Washington (from Raiders), OLB Willie McGinest (from Patriots), OLB Kamerion Wimbley (1st Round, Florida State), ILB D'Qwell Jackson (2nd Round, Maryland), P Dave Zastudil (from Ravens)

KEY DEPARTURES: QB Trent Dilfer (to 49ers), WR Antonio Bryant (to 49ers), TE Aaron Shea (to Chargers), TE Keith Heinrich (to Dolphins), C Mike Pucillo (to Redskins), T L.J. Shelton (to Dolphins), DT Jason Fisk (released), OLB/DE Kenard Lang (released), LB Ben Taylor (to Packers), CB Ray Mickens (to Jets), S Chris Crocker (to Falcons), DB Michael Lehan (released)

QB: One very critical factor that wasn't touched on above is the quarterback situation. Crennel and offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon are relying heavily on second-year pro Charlie Frye (1002 passing yards, 4 TD, 6 INT), who as a third-round draft pick last season started the final five contests, going 2-3. In fact, Cleveland is relying heavily on the 6-4, 217-pounder from nearby Akron: their backup quarterbacks are Ken Dorsey (481 passing yards, 53.3 completion percentage, 2 TD, 2 INT, 66.9 rating with the 49ers) and Derek Anderson, who has never taken a snap in a live NFL game. Cross those fingers, Dawg Pound. Frye brings to the table solid athleticism that grants him the ability to make throws on the move. His arm strength meets the criteria, as well, though he's not going to be mistaken for Dan Marino.

RB: Carthon will likely lean on his ground game even more in 2006. Last season, running back Reuben Droughns (1,232 rushing yards, 4.0 AVG, 2 TD) set a franchise record for most rushing attempts in a season (which, surprisingly was only 309). He gained 1,232 yards but found the end-zone only twice and also had six fumbles (fortunately just one resulted in a turnover). Some are concerned about the 215-pound back's durability. His production tailed off late in the year, though Crennel said it had more to do with Droughns (and everyone around him) relaxing once he hit the 1,000-yard plateau.

Durability is not simply a concern with backup running back Lee Suggs (8 carries, 15 yards) - it is a serious issue. Suggs (who tore his ACL in college at Virginia Tech) has missed 23 games in his first three years in the NFL. More alarming is that his injuries have been widespread; he's hurt his shoulder, neck, toe, ankle, and thumb. Cleveland recently completed a trade with the Jets that sent Suggs to New York in exchange for defensive back Derrick Strait, but the deal fell through when Suggs failed his physical. The trade showed that the Browns still believe that 28-year-old William Green (78 rushing yards) can be a part of this team. Off-the-field problems (mainly drug-related) have made the former first-round pick a gigantic bust.

Fifth-round rookie Jerome Harrison (Washington State) was drafted to be the much-needed third-down back for this offense. With fullback Terrelle Smith (12 receptions, 58 receiving yards, 1 TD) being one of the most punishing lead-blockers in football, yet having limited receiving abilities, and Droughns, Suggs, and Green all having sub-standard pass-catching skills as well, the Browns are counting on the speed and shiftiness of the 5-9, 202- pound Harrison to help improve the 28th-ranked third-down offense of a year ago.

WR/TE: Relying on a second-year quarterback to lead your offense is tough enough as it is. It's even tougher when the status of your two best pass- catching targets, Braylon Edwards (32 receptions, 512 receiving yards, 3 TD) and Kellen Winslow (DNP), is up in the air. Both are coming off ACL injuries. After showing flashes during a 32-catch rookie season, the No. 3 overall pick Edwards injured his right knee on December 4. At least he got on the field; Winslow, the sixth-overall pick from 2004, tore his right ACL in a motorcycle accident prior to training camp last season. His return would not be so ominous if it weren't for his lacerated liver and kidney, as well as the fact that he missed virtually all of his '04 rookie season with a broken right leg. Edwards had surgery in January but is already practicing and could, miraculously, be ready for the season opener. If he doesn't go in Week 1, he'll likely return sometime in October. Winslow is healthy and has been going full speed in training camp, though what type of player he can be during the regular season now remains to be seen. His backup, Steve Heiden (43 receptions, 401 yards, 3 TD), had a career-high in catches last year, but the Browns offense (especially now that they're starting the 24-year-old Frye under center) is built around the notion of having an athletic, playmaking tight end. Heiden's status tops off at "solid veteran."

The arrival of Joe Jurevicius (55 receptions, 694 yards, 10 TD with the Seahawks) could not come at a better time. Jurevicius grew up in Timberlake, Ohio, which is just 20 miles east of Cleveland, and the opportunity to return home was too tempting for the ninth-year veteran to pass up. He will start as the underneath receiver in this offense, where he is outstanding at running after the catch. With the shifty Dennis Northcutt (42 receptions, 441 yards, 2 TD) working out of the slot, third-round rookie Travis Wilson (Oklahoma) could find himself starting in place of Edwards to begin the season. Wilson is not a breakaway threat but he moves well enough and has good strength that enables him to make the tough catch.

OL: This year, the Browns spent enough money to buy every home on Euclid Avenue by signing two-time Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley to a six-year, $36 million contract and left tackle Kevin Shaffer to a seven-year, $36 million deal. However, as previously noted, Bentley is out for at least the '06 season after tearing his patellar tendon (knee). To make matters worse, the team's other offseason acquisition inside, Bob Hallen, abruptly retired during training camp. Thus, it will be either Lennie Friedman (acquired from the Bears in the preseason), Alonzo Ephraim or Ross Tucker (who was traded over from New England for a seventh-round pick in early August) starting at center. Ephraim has been decent so far but will miss the first few games serving a suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy with Miami last year. That leaves Friedman and Tucker to battle for the job.

The Browns had the ex-Falcon Shaffer as the highest-rated tackle in free agency, though they overpaid to get him. He is a good starter who plays bigger than his 290-pound size, but his skills are more oriented for the right side. In Atlanta, he played left tackle, but that was with the left-handed Michael Vick at quarterback.

At right tackle, Nat Dorsey has not capitalized on his impressive potential and will likely return to being a backup once starter Ryan Tucker, who has been nursing a knee injury, returns. Kirk Chambers has also gotten some reps with the first unit at right tackle, but the third-year man has not performed much better than Dorsey.

The Saints drafted an offensive lineman earlier than the sixth round for the first time in eight years this season. The man they chose was tackle Isaac Sowells (Indiana), though at only 6-3, 324 pounds the team has already made him a guard. Sowells will spend time developing in a reserve role for at least his first year.

DL: We all know that Romeo Crennel is a defensive specialist (seems like most head coaches are these days) who runs that Belichick 3-4 scheme. Last year that scheme helped this team rank fourth against the pass and third in the red zone, but it failed to do two critical things: stop the run and pressure the quarterback. The Browns allowed 137.6 rushing yards per game, third-worst in the NFL. They had a pathetic 23 sacks as a team, fewest in the league. Savage and Crennel wasted no time addressing these issues, bringing in a pair of Crennel's former Patriot employees in nose tackle Ted Washington (37 tackles with the Raiders) and outside linebacker Willie McGinest (45 tackles, 6 sacks with the Patriots). Both give defensive coordinator Todd Grantham experience on the field and leadership in the locker room and help fortify the team's front seven. And yes, both are old.

Washington is 38 and, especially considering he weighs 365 pounds, he'll need regular breaks during games and probably days off from practice during the week. But don't let his date of birth fool you into thinking that he won't make a significant impact up front. Washington has made his team's run- defense better wherever he goes, whether it's been Buffalo, Chicago, New England, or Oakland. Obviously, the Browns will need good production from backups Ethan Kelley (21 tackles, 1 sack) - a 330-pounder who is another ex- Patriot, by the way - and sixth-round rookie Babatunde Oshinowo (Stanford), who weighs 305 pounds and is a smart player, but perhaps still too raw. The ends are Orpheus Roye (88 tackles, 3 sacks) and Alvin McKinley (68 tackles, 5 sacks). Roye is an 11th-year veteran who has spent most of his career as a defensive tackle in a 4-3. However, he produced 88 tackles (third on the team) in his end role last season and was also the club's most frequent visitor to opponents' backfields (which was still not too often). Of course, Cleveland does not want to see their end making all the tackles; they'd much rather Roye's 305-pound presence cause congestion at the line of scrimmage and enable the linebackers to make plays.

While he's not Cleveland native Drew Carey, McKinley has good size (6-3, 294) on the right side. His skills make him more of a rotational player, but the Browns do not have anyone to rotate him with. Fourth-year pro Nick Eason (19 tackles, 2 sacks) might have the girth to contribute, but second-year player Simon Fraser (1 tackle) was called in for duty as a rookie about as often as LeBron James was called for traveling during the NBA playoffs.

LB: McGinest is 34 but anyone who saw his NFL postseason single-game record 4.5 sacks against the Jaguars in the wild card round last year knows the savvy veteran can still play. He has great timing and instincts as a blitzer and he finishes plays near the line of scrimmage and in the backfield.

But McGinest's greatest contributions will come in teaching this team's three rookie linebackers the ways of the 3-4. Cleveland drafted Kamerion Wimbley (Florida State) in the first round, they traded up to get D'Qwell Jackson (Maryland) in the second, and they invested a fourth-round pick in Leon Williams (Miami (FL)). Crennel is not fond of starting rookies, but all three are building blocks who are expected to be a formidable unit for years to come. In other words, here's your Bruschi-Vrabel-Johnson (with the knowledgeable McGinest overseeing the project).

Wimbley was a defensive end at Florida State and will likely be limited to situational pass-rushing duties his first season. Coaches expect it will take the speedy 6-3, 241-pounder some time to adjust to his new position. However, he has had a solid training camp.

Chaun Thompson (82 tackles, 5 sacks) worked in the starting outside role a year ago and tied McKinley for the team lead in sacks. Most of his playing time should come inside this season.

D'Qwell Jackson is the rookie most likely to start right away. He was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year last season and led the conference in tackles in each of the past two years. His greatest strength coming into the league is his intelligence. He doesn't have ideal size (6'0", 228) and he'll struggle getting off blocks (especially early on), but his production as a Terrapin speaks for itself. His arrival means Matt Stewart (38 tackles, 1 INT) will likely move back over to his more natural outside position.

Leon Williams is listed as a backup inside linebacker, though the Browns may choose to groom him as the eventual replacement for McGinest on the outside. He is incredibly athletic but does not have the highest football IQ. Williams will never crack the starting lineup as an inside backer because the Browns just signed fifth-year pro Andra Davis (149 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT) to a five-year $20 million contract this past year. Davis is currently the face of this franchise - he's a respected presence in the locker room, an active member of the Cleveland community, and has been by far the team's most productive player the past couple of years. He led the Browns with 149 tackles in 2005 - though the generous Cleveland coaching staff credited him with 199. This season, the focus for Davis will be on his growth in this scheme. His sack total (two) and tackles for loss (five) from a year ago both need to increase.

Savage and Crennel certainly have put a lot on the plate of linebackers coach Mike Haluchak. But with seven able bodies to work with - as well as second- year players David McMillan (active for only four games) and Nick Speegle (2 tackles), both late-round draft picks who can't be given up on just yet - the Browns can mix and match until they discover a pass-rush. McMillan has impressed coaches in this capacity thus far throughout August.

DB: The Browns defensive backfield is commendable, though it's not as good as it appeared on paper last season. Surrendering the fourth-fewest passing yards in the league was partly a result of giving up the third-most rushing yards. Still (aside from the failed Derrick Strait trade), Cleveland did not make any major efforts to adjust their personnel here over the offseason, choosing instead to rely on the development of young safeties Sean Jones (5 tackles) and Brodney Pool (25 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) and the contributions of veteran Gary Baxter (23 tackles, 2 INT), who was signed over from Baltimore as the No. 1 corner in 2005, but spent most of the season on IR with a torn right pectoral muscle. Baxter, though, has been nursing an injured left pectoral muscle in training camp.

The starting strong safety job is a two-man competition between Pool and Jones. The Browns believe Pool is their best pure athlete on defense, though Jones (who, himself has outstanding athleticism) is the leading candidate for the starting job, based on his higher level of awareness. Pool has better range, but Cleveland wants their safeties to be able to provide help in run support.

Leadership and simple smarts is the reason 28-year-old free safety Brian Russell (66 tackles, 3 INT) has a job. Russell doesn't have prototypical athleticism and his tackling is, well, it's awful, really. But he is a great leader who understands what is going on and is able to effectively communicate that to his teammates.

If Russell is unavailable (or if his lack of speed is great enough to prevent him from running on the field in time), the Browns could consider putting Pool at free safety and starting Jones at strong safety.

Opposite Baxter (who has tremendous man-to-man cover abilities, particularly against the deep ball) could be Daylon McCutcheon (78 tackles, 2 INT), so long as he's recovered from arthroscopic knee surgery - which he likely will be. McCutcheon is an eighth-year pro who has been on the verge of being replaced for, well, eight years. He has been with the team since its return to the league in '99, serving as an unspectacular yet solid presence week in and week out.

Filling in for McCutcheon while his knee heals has been Antonio Perkins, who has performed well in training camp but is not a strong enough player to garner a regular starting position. Leigh Bodden (57 tackles, 3 INT) is capable of competing for a starting job. He led the team with 17 passes defensed a year ago.

Cleveland has had to give reps to annual fringe players like Pete Hunter, James Thornton, and Ralph Brown throughout camp, because of all the injuries at the cornerback position. They tried to bolster their depth by bringing in Strait, but, again, that trade with the Jets fell apart when Suggs didn't pass his physical.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Kicker Phil Dawson (27-29 FG) set a career-high for made field goals last season. His 27 three-pointers were also the second most in Browns history. He missed only two attempts, though he also missed two extra points. Punter Kyle Richardson had a bad 2005 season, which is why the Browns went out and got Dave Zastudil (43.5 average with the Ravens). Punt return duties fall to Dennis Northcutt (10.5 average), the franchise's all-time leader in this department. Northcutt would probably be dangerous returning kicks, as well, but the team likes Joshua Cribbs (24.3 average) in this role.

PROGNOSIS: Before Bentley went down, it would not have been too crazy of an idea to talk about the Browns being a potentially surprising nine or ten-win team. Cleveland has added a lot of veteran leaders in key places on both sides of the ball. If their first and second-year players learn quickly, the team will have a slew of athletic playmakers on offense and defense. However, there are a lot of "ifs" in that paragraph. The bottom line is that Bentley is not available, which makes the front five nearly as weak as it was a year ago, and thus, does nothing to aid a young and unproven quarterback like Frye. The defense does have breakout capabilities, but realistically, with so many young players, it will take this unit a season or two more to jell in Crennel's complex 3-4. Thus, it is more logical to expect another 5-11 or 6-10 type season from the still-rebuilding Browns.

Andy Benoit is the author of the book Touchdown 2006: Everything You Need to Know About the NFL this Year. For more information, visit www.touchdown2006.com

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