NFL Combine 2012: Teams with Most Work to Do in Indianapolis

All the focus of the 2012 NFL scouting combine will be on the players participating, but they're not the only ones with work to do.

The NFL teams themselves have to take the week in Indianapolis as not just a showcase, but a chance to legitimately better their roster. Whether it is crossing players off the board, moving them up or down, or even adding them for the first time, NFL teams have to find a way to separate the countless number of players eligible for selection.

Some are great at this and take the opportunity seriously. Others, not so much.

For certain teams it could be the difference between success and failure in 2012, and the following five teams must avoid failure at any cost.

Cleveland Browns

This is a monumental combine and draft for the Cleveland Browns organization and current regime. With two first-round picks at their disposal and the need for a new quarterback also on the list, the Browns cannot afford to waste a single minute in Indy.

If Peyton Manning joins Matt Flynn on the open market the Browns may actually get a chance to land a quarterback at No. 4. But if things spiral out of control or the Browns become enamored with a particular quarterback, they’re going to have to take him as early as possible.

This combine and draft will make or break the Browns’ future under Mike Holmgren and Pat Shurmur.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

New coach Greg Schiano not only has to find players he wants early in the draft, but he needs to find players he can trust. This is the former Rutgers coach’s first stint in the NFL and he’ll never survive if his players don’t buy into his system.

The Bucs have a lot of money to spend in free agency, and by doing solid work at the combine they’ll know what positions they can successfully target in the draft and which positions they need to target with their excess cash on the market.

Look for the Bucs and Coach Schiano to be extremely thorough and extremely active.

Washington Redskins

Like the Bucs, Washington has some money to spend. We also know Daniel Snyder loves to spend money irresponsibly. The ‘Skins will need to identify which positions they can afford to search for in the draft versus those they need to address with veterans.

By doing thorough work in Indy they’ll have a great idea of exactly what the draft has to offer as well as when and where they can jump on particular players.

If the Redskins want to compete in the NFC East they’re going to need to find a quarterback first. This is the time for them to assess when and where to do that.

Dallas Cowboys

Division foes of the Redskins, the Cowboys are on the opposite side of spectrum in nearly every way. This team doesn’t have a ton of holes – although they can stand to make a few upgrades – and need to find one or two particular players to help elevate them back to postseason status.

With the No. 14 overall pick they’ll have an opportunity, for the second straight year, to potentially add a sure-fire starter in the first round.

The Cowboys simply cannot miss in this draft or their entire season could quickly disappear.

Expect Jason Garrett and Jerry Jones to make their presence felt in Indy.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals have two first-round picks to work with thanks to Carson Palmer and the Raiders. While that sounds great in theory, we’re quickly closing in on the time for the Bengals to make something of it.

They haven’t been the best drafting organization in recent years, but they hit a grand slam with A.J. Green and Andy Dalton a year ago. Now they’ll have the opportunity to repeat that success with two picks in the mid-to-late first round.

If Cincinnati wants to have any chance of making it back to the postseason it’ll have to find talent it can use immediately with both of these draft picks.