Cleveland Browns

NFL Previews - Cleveland Browns

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Cleveland Browns 2007 Preview

(My Sportsbook) - Consider the unfortunate case of Romeo Crennel.

It was way back in February of 2005 when the then-New England Patriots defensive coordinator, en route to his third Super Bowl title in four years, was a highly sought-after head coaching candidate. He landed with the Browns, who looked at the time to have made a major score with the hire.

Cleveland made sufficient if not earth-shattering progress in year one of the Crennel era, improving from 4-12 to 6-10 in '05 and giving long-suffering Browns fans some hope for the immediate future.

Then Crennel made two decisions that will likely haunt him for the rest of his days. He hitched his wagon to two people, offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon and quarterback Charlie Frye, who eventually proved incapable of performing their respective jobs. The Browns went 4-12 again in 2006, and Crennel was lucky to stay out of the firing line when the season careened to a hideous halt.

In this past April's draft, the Browns made a statement of intent by drafting Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, who will likely start at some point but can't realistically be expected to win in 2007. Which means that unless Crennel has some type of magic serum he's keeping from the rest of us, Cleveland is staring in the face of double-digit losses again this season.

That quickly, Crennel is likely to be a highly sought-after defensive coordinator entering next season.

Given what he inherited and the wayward direction of the organization, is it fair to judge Crennel on three less-than-stellar campaigns? Not really, but chances are the 60-year-old coach will be among the least surprised people in C-Town if and when he is eventually let go.

If Crennel is able to shock the Browns' heart into beating again this season, he will have also shocked the world in retaining his job.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2007 edition of the Cleveland Browns, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2006 RECORD: 4-12 (4th, AFC North)

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

COACH (RECORD): Romeo Crennel (10-22 in two seasons with Browns, 10-22 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Rob Chudzinski

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Todd Grantham

OFFENSIVE STAR: Kellen Winslow, TE (89 receptions, 875 yards, 3 TD)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Sean Jones, S (111 tackles, 5 INT)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 31st rushing, 23rd passing, 30th scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 29th rushing, 15th passing, 22nd scoring

FIVE KEY GAMES: Pittsburgh (9/9), Cincinnati (9/16), Miami (10/14), at N.Y. Jets (12/9), at Cincinnati (12/23)

KEY ADDITIONS: QB Brady Quinn (1st Round, Notre Dame), RB Jamal Lewis (from Ravens), TE Ryan Krause (from Chargers), WR Tim Carter (from Giants), T Joe Thomas (1st Round, Wisconsin), OL Seth McKinney (from Dolphins), OL Eric Steinbach (from Bengals), DE Antwan Peek (from Texans), DT Robaire Smith (from Titans), DT Shaun Smith (from Bengals), LB Kris Griffin (from Chiefs), LB Jason Short (from Eagles), CB Eric Wright (2nd Round, UNLV), CB Kenny Wright (from Redskins), S Mike Adams (from 49ers)

KEY DEPARTURES: RB Reuben Droughns (to Giants), FB Terrelle Smith (to Cardinals), FB Alan Ricard (to Lions), WR Dennis Northcutt (to Jaguars), G Joe Andruzzi (released), DE Alvin McKinley (to Broncos), DE Nick Eason (to Steelers), LB Matt Stewart (injured/out for season), CB Ralph Brown (to Cardinals), CB Daylon McCutcheon (released), S Brian Russell (to Seahawks)

QB: The Browns have three quarterbacks with starting experience on their preseason roster, but it is the one who doesn't who is garnering most of the headlines. Cleveland traded up to steal Quinn with the No. 22 pick of the draft, and whatever other signal-caller wins the starting job out of camp - Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson, or Ken Dorsey - will be operating on borrowed time. Conventional wisdom states that Frye (2454 passing yards, 10 TD, 17 INT) will be the starter in Week 1, after the former third-round pick out of Akron opened 13 games a year ago, but there is little to suggest that he will play well enough to keep Quinn at bay. Anderson (793 passing yards, 5 TD, 8 INT) appeared in five games last season, including one in which he rallied Cleveland for an overtime win over the Chiefs, but few scouts regard him as a bona fide NFL starter. The same goes for Dorsey, who held the clipboard last year after coming to Cleveland in the Trent Dilfer trade.

RB: Gone is Reuben Droughns, who was dealt to the Giants after managing to rush for 1,990 yards over two years in Cleveland. In is former Raven Jamal Lewis (1132 rushing yards, 9 TD, 18 receptions), who is trying to resurrect his career in C-Town after failing to make much of an impact over his last couple of years in Baltimore. The 28-year-old Lewis must remain healthy and be a success, because there is little depth behind him. Backup Jason Wright's (189 rushing yards, 6 receptions) three-year NFL credentials amount to 76 carries, 226 yards, and one touchdown. The third running back on the team will be either second-year-pro Jerome Harrison (60 rushing yards, 9 receptions) or undrafted free agent Chris Barclay, with Barclay helping his cause via strong play in the return game early in camp. Fullback Lawrence Vickers (6 receptions) played in all 16 games after being drafted in the sixth-round of the 2006 Draft, and is a player on the rise.

WR/TE: Whoever plays quarterback will look often to top receiver Braylon Edwards (61 receptions, 6 TD), who is expected to make a positive step forward in new coordinator Rob Chudzinski's offense. Edwards had just three 100-yard games a season ago, but should be more explosive in his second year removed from knee surgery. No. 2 wideout Joe Jurevicius (40 receptions, 3 TD) can be counted on for steady production, but the rotation behind the starters is a question mark. Ex-Giant Tim Carter (22 receptions, 2 TD with New York), 2006 third-round pick Travis Wilson (2 receptions), and return man Joshua Cribbs (10 receptions) are among those vying for playing time, but none has posted more than 26 catches in an NFL season. At tight end, Kellen Winslow was finally able to play an entire season last year and was productive, but comes off microfracture knee surgery and is something of a question mark. No. 2 tight end Steve Heiden (36 receptions, 2 TD) is reliable, and probable third tight end Darnell Dinkins (2 receptions, 1 TD) can contribute in a pinch.

OL: The Browns line has mostly struggled since the organization was re- introduced to the league in 1999, with neither high-profile free agents nor promising draft picks seeming to help the team's cause. Enter another high- profile free agent, ex-Bengals guard Eric Steinbach, and another promising draft pick - No. 3 overall selection and tackle Joe Thomas. The pair is expected to start on the left side, though a preseason knee injury to Steinbach placed that projection in peril. Holdover Lennie Friedman, who can play all three o-line positions, would be the likely answer if Steinbach was unavailable. Hank Fraley is an overachiever at center, and will keep his job unless LeCharles Bentley completes what would be a miracle comeback to the field. Bentley has had multiple knee surgeries that were complicated by a serious staph infection sustained last year, and it still seems unlikely that he would return. On the right side, tackle Kevin Shaffer should be joined by veteran guard and free agent pickup Seth McKinney. Among those providing depth will be Kelly Butler and Nat Dorsey, both of whom started games last year, as well as 2006 fourth-round pick Isaac Sowells. The team will have to make a serious decision on tackle Ryan Tucker, who is a solid player but will miss the first four games of '06 for using a banned substance.

DL: Cleveland played poorly against the run a year ago, a situation that had much to do with the struggles of the club's three-man front. The organization's reaction was to get a couple of free agent ends, former Titan Robaire Smith (44 tackles with Tennessee) and ex-Bengal Shaun Smith (10 tackles with Cincinnati), to flank veteran nose tackle Ted Washington (52 tackles). The two Smiths figure to play in a rotation with holdovers Simon Fraser (36 tackles, 4 sacks), Ethan Kelley (17 tackles), and perhaps Orpheus Roye (32 tackles, 1 sack). Roye started nine games last season, but is 34 and coming off of knee surgery. The 39-year-old Washington, who is on his last legs as a pro, will likely be backed by Kelley. Holdover J'Vonne Parker (4 tackles) might have to hold off second-day 2007 draft picks Melila Purcell and Chase Pittman in his quest to make the team.

LB: The strength of the Cleveland defense is the linebackers, which consist of strong tacklers on the inside and capable pass rushers on the outside. At the heart of the corps are inside men Andra Davis (104 tackles, 2 INT, 1 sack) and D'Qwell Jackson (93 tackles), who aren't asked to make a ton of big plays but are sure tacklers. On the outside are second-year-man Kamerion Wimbley (62 tackles, 11 sacks) and (ideally) Willie McGinest (46 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 INT). Wimbley was Cleveland's top pass rusher as a rookie, and should continue to improve. McGinest is likely to miss the start of the season due to back problems, but the Browns expect a contribution from him at some point. Until that time, former Falcon Antwan Peek (9 tackles, 1 sack with the Texans) will be pressed into service as a starter. Holdovers Leon Williams (40 tackles, 1 sack), Chaun Thompson (32 tackles, 2 sacks), and Mason Unck (13 tackles) will do most of their damage on special teams, though all will be sweating out a roster spot if free agent pickup and special teams ace Jason Short (4 tackles with the Eagles) makes the squad.

DB: Injuries to players like Daylon McCutcheon and Gary Baxter have rendered what might have been an outstanding secondary group merely average during the Crennel era. McCutcheon was released during the offseason, and Baxter (21 tackles, 1 INT) might start 2007 on the Physically-Unable-to-Perform list if he makes the squad at all, meaning this season will mark a new era for the cornerbacks, at the very least. Leigh Bodden (30 tackles, 2 INT) and journeyman Kenny Wright (39 tackles, 1 INT with the Redskins) are both capable pros, and the team would like to introduce second-round draft choice Eric Wright to the corner rotation at some point. At safety, strong side man Sean Jones had a huge year in '06 and will in 2007 join with Brodney Pool (67 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT), who replaces the departed Brian Russell in the free position. Secondary depth will be provided by holdovers Daven Holly (57 tackles, 5 INT) and Justin Hamilton (15 tackles), ex-49ers starter Mike Adams (64 tackles with San Francisco), and fifth-round draft choice Brandon McDonald.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Cleveland has little to worry about in regard to its three main specialists, kicker Phil Dawson (21-29 FG), punter Dave Zastudil (44.0 avg.), and long snapper Ryan Pontbriand. In the return game, Joshua Cribbs (24.5 kickoff return avg., 1 TD, 8.5 punt return avg.) has proven himself capable and might handle both areas. Cribbs could be pushed by running back Chris Barclay, who made a name for himself with an 88-yard touchdown return against the Chiefs in Week 1 of the preseason.

PROGNOSIS: The Browns will enter 2007 as a better team in several key areas, most notably on the offensive and defensive lines, and that should translate into more competitive play and a few more wins. But uncertainty still rules the day in the backfield, as the quarterback situation is tenuous and Jamal Lewis' days as an elite NFL running back appear to be over. And it is those weaknesses that will sink Cleveland in a division as competitive as the AFC North. Things are looking up for the Browns down the road, but in the short- term, they're still the fourth-best team in the division. And that means Crennel will be very fortunate to still be an employee of the organization in 2008.

August 21, 2007, at 10:45 AM ET

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