Cleveland Browns: Highlighting the Biggest Positional Wars at Training Camp

During the 2011 NFL season, Pat Shurmur made it a point in almost every press conference to compliment how the Browns "competed" throughout their games. Early in 2012, Cleveland Browns players will still be competing, but some will be trying to beat out their own teammates for a spot on the field on Sundays.

This slideshow will highlight the five most intriguing position battles on the Browns roster for the 2012 NFL season and highlight some Cleveland's draft options at those positions. These slides will also give a little insight into what is currently happening at the position battles and talk about who was released at those spots from last season.

Right tackle is the first spot on the list and one of the biggest positions of concern for the Browns moving forward.

No. 5: Right Tackle

Tony Pashos was pretty upset when the Cleveland Browns announced they would release him shortly before the 2012 NFL free agency period in the beginning of March (via ESPN). However, Browns fans did not share in his pain—many were calling for the veteran's release for the majority of the 2011 season.

With Pashos' departure, Cleveland opened a significant hole at the right tackle position for the 2012 season. Oniel Cousins is the only player on the Browns active roster that has any experience playing right tackle and many would agree that they would not feel comfortable with him starting the position next season.

The Browns may select a tackle at some point in the 2012 NFL Draft because of the lack of depth on the offensive line. The best tackle prospect in the draft class, Matt Kalil, has been in contact with the Browns over the past few weeks, and has set a meeting with the Browns for a visit to the team's facility.

Cleveland could always add offensive linemen throughout the later rounds of the draft and the rest of free agency. The lineman class is always the deepest in the draft and some great linemen can even be found on NCAA Division II rosters.

The right tackle spot has to be one of the biggest concerns for the Browns as they try to rebuild their offensive line this season.

Without an addition at the right tackle position, the Browns would be forced to rely heavily on their young guards and inside rushing attack. Colt McCoy would also have to be even more concerned with opposing defensive ends coming at him on every passing down.

No. 4: Quarterback

Colt McCoy was the answer for the Cleveland Browns, then Robert Griffin was the savior, then Matt Flynn became a target, followed by a team led again by McCoy.

The Browns quarterback position will not really be a competition in 2012, but will definitely be talked about if McCoy does not have success early and often next season. Experts predict that McCoy will be the starting quarterback at the beginning of the season, and the team has stated that they are 100 percent behind the former Texas Longhorn moving forward.

The draft will determine how much of a battle this turns into over the summer months. If the Browns choose a quarterback like Ryan Tannehill, it is likely that some Browns fans will be calling for the rookie to start at some point in 2012.

Teams draft quarterbacks in the first round with the intention of letting them play at some point in the foreseeable future. A selection like Tannehill would show a lack of confidence in the Browns' current quarterbacks and could possibly turn the position into a battle earlier than people expected.

McCoy has played well in his first two seasons in Cleveland, but has not had the success that everyone had hoped for at the beginning of his career. Pat Shurmur, Tom Heckert and Mike Holmgren are always looking for quarterback talent and have made it clear that they are willing to bring in new signal-callers every season.

McCoy will be fighting for his future job this season, even if he does not have a current player on the Browns roster trying to beat him out.

No. 3: Guard

Jason Pinkston and Shawn Lauvao filled in for the Browns in 2011 when Eric Steinbach went down with a back injury early in training camp. Steinbach has since been released by the Browns, and the guard positions seem to be open to competition moving forward.

Both Pinkston and Lauvao played well in their opportunities last season and both players are expected to improve for the 2012 season. However, Cleveland had one of their worst rushing attacks in 2011 and many experts blamed the offensive line for the lack offensive production.

Even if the offensive line wasn't the main issue, most fans would agree that the position could use an upgrade. Lauvao and Pinkston may be on the rise, but there have been many occasions where offensive linemen get hurt and the position becomes a revolving door.

John Greco is currently the man set to be the backup guard at both spots.

Greco has had experience playing multiple positions on the offensive line and has been a key part of Pat Shurmur's plans even when he was an offensive coordinator with the St. Louis Rams. However, one would have to wonder if his presence is because of his playing ability or his relationship with the head coach.

Some NFL mock drafts have the Browns looking at the guard position with the 22nd overall pick in the first round. Cordy Glenn from Georgia would be the most likely guard to be taken with that pick if he remains on the board. Glenn is a gifted athlete with quick feet and the ability to pick up the inside blitz very well.

No. 2: Right Defensive End

Frostee Rucker and Jaqua Parker were added by the Browns during free agency to fill a void at the right defensive end position. Rucker was reportedly told by the Browns front office that he would be considered the starter and he was not shy about expressing his gratitude for how the Browns courted him during free agency.

Cleveland would then add Parker to help create competition as well as give the team a bit of an insurance policy if Rucker should get hurt at some point throughout the season.

It is hard to believe the Browns would give the starting job to Rucker without really seeing how the defensive line comes together throughout the summer months. However, Rucker is an immediate upgrade over Jayme Mitchell, who started at the position in 2011.

Parker is a savvy veteran with over 30 sacks in his NFL Career and he can still get the job done despite the wear and tear.

Rucker and Parker will likely play off each other and hopefully push each other for playing time next season. This could be one of the better competitions on the Browns defense given the fact that many of the other starting positions are set in stone.

No. 1: Running Back

Running back will be the biggest question mark for the Browns heading into the 2012 NFL Draft and will likely be a question for the entire upcoming season.

Cleveland currently has four players signed at the running back position, but each has had injury concerns and limited success in the NFL. Brandon Jackson, Montario Hardesty, Chris Ogbannaya and Armond Smith will all be competing for carries throughout the 2012 season and there may not be enough to go around.

Cleveland will likely draft a running back at some point in the first or second day. That will create even more competition heading into the summer and will likely lead to some tough decisions for the Browns front office. If the Browns were to draft a running back like Alabama's Trent Richardson, the other rushers on the roster would be fighting for the backup position and roles on special offensive packages.

Jackson was expected to be the Browns' No. 2 rushing option last season before injuring his toe and missing the entire year. Peyton Hillis and Hardesty ended up carrying much of the load throughout the season and the Browns struggled to find success in the run game seemingly every week.

Jackson started 13 games and rushed for 703 yards for the Green Bay Packers in 2010 and was a key piece in helping the Packers win a Super Bowl that season.