Browns' New Offense Fitting the Mold of the "Smash-Mouth" AFC North

When former Browns quarterback Charlie Frye was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in 2007, Derek Anderson was given an opportunity to start and he burst onto the NFL scene, registering a Pro Bowl season.

However, Anderson struggled in 2008, which contributed to the firings of general manager Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel.

The job security of offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski was also unknown when Eric Mangini was hired as head coach. Mangini ended any speculation of Chudzinski's future by bringing 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 one Chudzinski assembled 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, it will be difficult to match or break those offensive numbers in 2009 with Daboll replacing Chudzinski.

Before Daboll was wide receivers coach with the Jets in 2008, he was a defensive coaching assistant for the Patriots in 2000.

He earned a promotion to coach the wide receivers in 2002 and held onto the positon through the 2006 season. This was before the team had wide receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker embarrassing opposing defenses in 2007.

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 Browns' skill-position players 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 two-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 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 an offense built around ball control, which will limit its turnovers and “eat 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.