Cleveland Browns: 5 Bold Predictions for Pat Shurmur and Colt McCoy

With the basketball season just ending and the baseball season passing its halfway point, it would only be befitting that we start talking about possible predictions for the 2011 Cleveland Browns season. The latest word is that the current labor situation in the NFL should soon be coming to an end, so we must now shift our focus to what we can expect from new head coach Pat Shurmur and probable Week 1 starting quarterback, Colt McCoy.

There are numerous questions surrounding the Browns upcoming season. The main concern will be, because of the prolonged lockout, whether or not the Browns players and coaches will be able to gel and build chemistry before the start of the season.

The Browns were able to provide playbooks to a few players during the 24-hour period in which the lockout was lifted, but without coaching it is not sure how much the players can progress in the new West Coast offense and 4-3 defense. 

But, with August around the corner, Browns fans cannot help thinking about the upcoming season and what this team could possibly accomplish.

D'Qwell Jackson Will Lead the NFL in Total Tackles

Dick Jauron should be pretty excited to have the "tackling machine" D'Qwell Jackson roaming around the field as his starting middle linebacker. The transition to the 4-3 defense will benefit Jackson greatly. He will not have to go up against offensive linemen as much because the additional defensive tackle within the 4-3 scheme will hopefully allow Jackson to roam around the field making tackles on the running back and also in coverage.

When D'Qwell came out of college, many were convinced that he would be a great middle linebacker in the NFL, especially if he was playing within a 4-3 scheme. But the Browns, who had a 3-4 defense at the time, drafted him hoping that he could become their leading tackler.

After a few good seasons, Jackson was destined to break out and become a perennial Pro-Bowler. However, a couple of torn pectoral muscles has since halted his once promising career. Nevertheless, if Jackson can play a complete season without any serious or nagging injuries, he has a great chance to lead the NFL in total tackles.

Rookie Phil Taylor Will Quickly Allow Browns Fans to Forget About Shaun Rogers

A couple of years ago, when the Browns decided to trade Leigh Bodden to the Lions for Shaun Rogers, everyone, including myself, thought that we had finally found the disruptive defensive tackle who was going to abuse the opposing offensive linemen. But now, looking back on it, we should have realized that he quickly would be past his prime and that his reputation as a player who "gives up" on plays was not just because he was playing in Detroit.

Now we can turn the page, because with the drafting of Phil Taylor in the first round, it gives many hope that we can now have a cornerstone player on our defensive line. Many scouts believe that Taylor will have the same problems with staying in shape much like Shaun Rogers.

However, Taylor played in the pass-happy Big 12 in which he would play around 70 to 75 plays a game, so there should be no question about whether or not he has the endurance to play the entire game. Also, with Ahtyba Rubin playing next to him, it will allow Taylor to show off his bull-rushing ability on passing downs and stuff the line during the running plays.

He is not going to have any fascinating plays but will be consistent, which is something Browns fans have not experienced much lately.

Montario Hardesty Will Have More Rushing Yards Than Peyton Hillis

People may call me crazy but, for some unknown reason, I believe that Hardesty will overtake Hillis as the starting running back early in the 2011 season. My belief is that early on in the season, teams will stack the line and stuffing Hillis for little to no gain.

If Hardesty can stay healthy and get on the field, he will be able to bounce those inside runs outside for large gains. Eventually, Browns fans will see that Hardesty is able to run just as hard as Hillis but he is just more athletic and faster.

I am not trying to say that Hillis is not going to get touches anymore. Hillis is the type of player you need on the field as much as possible. But, when both he and Hardesty are on the field at the same time, I think that Hardesty will get the touches in those situations.

Colt McCoy Will Throw for 3,000 Yards and 25 Touchdowns

Did I just say 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns? Might be asking too much for a second year quarterback in his second offensive system, but if there was one thing Colt McCoy showed us last year, it was determination to get better. With him taking over the leadership role during the offseason, holding player camps and teaching the playbook to the other players, it shows that he wants to win. 

There is no doubt that McCoy's skill set is best fitted within the West Coast system in which Coach Pat Shurmur is implementing. Short and accurate throws with great timing with the receivers will be the key to Colt's success. If he can do that, I believe that he will put up some good stats—more so, he will be able to put large numbers in the win column for years to come.

One quote from McCoy that will never be forgotten was when he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round. He went on to say that his goal was to come to Cleveland and do one thing: "win games."

Pat Shurmur's First Season as an NFL Head Coach Will Be a Successful One

Pat Shurmur's level of success will not depend on whether or not his offense will move the ball down field and score points, it will depend on if Dick Jauron will be able to stop the power run games of Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.

If the Browns are able to go sign a few free agents who are familiar with the 4-3 defense and West Coast offense, they should be able to win at least seven games, if not eight. It is hard to call a sub-.500 record a success, but with the lack of talent and the limited amount of time to implement a new defense and offense, a 7-9 record would be a godsend.

Shurmur was one of the under-the-radar head-coaching hires during the offseason, but now, with everyone from Shurmur to Heckert to Holgrem on the same page, hopefully they can propel the Browns into playoff contention—it just won't be in 2011.