Cleveland Browns Preview: Position Battles During Training Camp

(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Every year there are battles that occur on NFL rosters during training camp. Those battles are for starting and backup positions on the depth charts.

One battle that seems to always get attention is the battle for the starting quarterback on the Cleveland Browns. Sound familiar?

Since Brady Quinn was drafted, in 2007 as their “franchise quarterback,” the Browns have had a quarterback carousel at the most important position on their offense: starting with Charlie Frye, then Derek Anderson, Quinn, Ken Dorsey and finally Bruce Gradkowski.

If the Browns are to get out of their constant state of rebuilding, then new Head Coach Eric Mangini will need to put an end to this rotating door of a position since the team had quarterback Bernie Kosar.

No flip of a coin needed to decide who will win the starting quarterback job on the Browns. Coach Mangini will analyze and over-analyze his quarterbacks. His final decision will hopefully be the right one and the Browns will look for consistent performances out of the quarterback spot.

In training camp 2009, the Browns will have several very interesting position battles that many experts and fans will be keeping their eyes on.

WIDE RECEIVER DEPTH CHART BATTLES

Major Battle Participants: Brian Robiskie, David Patten, Mohamed Massaquoi and Mike Furrey

Position Battle Analysis:

With the legal issues of Donte Stallworth becoming more clear as time passes, it looks like Coach Mangini will be moving forward without Stallworth on the roster. The WR position used to be a strong spot on the Browns roster, but injuries and some bad luck have made this position one of the more questionable spots on the team.

Braylon Edwards has publicly stated that he wants to play for the Browns and it looks like the team will not be trading him so he will still be the No. 1 receiver, but after him is just a smoke cloud of competition.

There is no clear cut choice of a No. 2 receiver to line up opposite of Edwards, or even the No. 3, 4 and 5 receivers, but a mix of veterans and rookies can prove to be some interesting competition during training camp this summer.

There have been many additions at wide receiver of the past few months, but no move was bigger than picking up Brian Robiskie. Robiskie was labeled by many experts as the most polished and safest wide receiver pick in April's NFL Draft. He has great hands, route running ability and the he can leap above defenders to go up and get the ball.

The selection of Robiskie was not done for the fans, as some experts say, but he was selected because of his team first attitude, his intelligence and his love for the game. A perfect fit for a team that needed more consistent playmakers and a good locker room guy. Robiskie is already considered to have the inside track at landing the No. 2 wide receiver spot on the Browns opposite of Braylon Edwards (if he doesn't get traded of course).

Patten, Massaquoi and newly acquired Furrey will also be battling for the No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 spots on this roster, but it's probably safe to say that there is a better than average chance that all of these guys get a spot on the roster at wide receiver.

Predicted Depth Chart Outcome:

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