Report Card Grades for Every Positional Unit on Cleveland Browns' Roster

The Cleveland Browns have revamped their roster from a season ago and look improved heading in 2012. Just how improved they are will be determined by a difficult schedule that's awaiting them.

Before the 2012 NFL draft, I examined and graded each positional unit on the Browns roster.

Now that the draft, free agency and minicamp have passed, I'm going to examine how these units have progressed with a forward looking insight for the upcoming season.

A lot of the following evaluations are static due to roster cuts in preseason, future signings and trades.

Quarterbacks

Quarterbacks currently on the 2012 Cleveland Browns roster:

1. Brandon Weeden (Unsigned, R)

2. Colt McCoy

3. Seneca Wallace

4. Thaddeus Lewis

Overview: The debate seems to be over on whether or not Colt McCoy is the future quarterback of the Browns. Brandon Weeden may not have been named the 2012 starting QB to date, but it is becoming more and more a certainty.

Clearly, the Browns did not draft a 28-year-old rookie quarterback if they were confident in McCoy moving forward.

McCoy didn't do himself any favors along the way, either. In his 21 NFL starts, McCoy won only six games and none against AFC North divisional opponents.

Weeden has the arm strength, intelligence, maturity and desire to succeed at the NFL level. The only question remains as to how quickly he absorbs the playbook and gels with the offensive system in Cleveland.

The learning curve is big as the West Coast offense uses an entirely different language than the spread offense he is accustomed to. Also, his transition to taking the majority of snaps from behind center will be a shift from the shotgun formations he ran at Oklahoma State.

QB unit grade: B+

Offensive Line

Offensive linemen currently on the 2012 Cleveland Browns roster:

1. Joe Thomas

2. Alex Mack

3. Jason Pinkston

4. Shawn Lauvao

5. Mitchell Schwartz (R)

6. John Greco

7. Oniel Cousins

8. Ryan Miller (R)

9. Dominic Alford

10. Stanley Daniels

11. Jarrod Shaw

UDFAs: Jake Anderson, Matt Cleveland, Garth Gerhart, Jeff Shugarts

Overview: The Browns selected Mitchell Schwartz in the second round of April's draft to fill a dire need at the right tackle position. Schwartz brings physicality and imposing power to the right side of the line. This addition should improve all aspects of the Browns' offense as a result.

More additions, later in the draft and from several undrafted free agents, will compete for roster spots and push the other young linemen who have already secured roster spots.

The biggest positive for this unit heading into 2012 is consistency. Joe Thomas, Alex Mack, Jason Pinkston and Shawn Lauvao have all played an entire season together.

As far as offensive line play is concerned, that is half the battle.

Schwartz also played together with Mack during his senior season at California. The familiarity will do them well as they prepare for battle together this offseason.

Despite the consistency, I still have question marks around Shawn Lauvao at the right guard position. Hopefully, the added solidity at the right tackle position will help him overcome some of the errors that plagued him a season ago.

QB unit grade: B

Running Backs and Fullbacks

Running backs currently on the 2012 Cleveland Browns roster:

1. Trent Richardson (Unsigned, R)

2. Montario Hardesty

3. Brandon Jackson

4. Chris Oggbonaya

5. Adonis Thomas (UDFA)

Overview: The Cleveland Browns made a significant investment into their backfield when they moved up to select Trent Richardson with third third pick in April's draft. Richardson looks like the real deal and immediately bumps this unit into elite considerations.

Montario Hardesty has not shown the flash GM Tom Heckert was hoping for when he moved up to pick him in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. Hardesty has had several injuries that have limited him over the past two years. However, he feels he is ready to finally show the world why he was picked now that he is healthy and past the injuries that have plagued him.

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“The biggest thing is, I’ve been able to go back and train how I train in the offseason, get fully confident and go out there and push myself, things I couldn’t do last year,” Hardesty said. “I was hurt. I missed a year and last year, I was hurt. I’m not going to dwell on that at all. It was something that I had to go through. I got through it and now, I’m healthy. I’m ready to come here and compete for a spot on this team.”

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Brandon Jackson, a change of pace and third down back missed all of 2011 with a toe injury. However, when asked on Twitter about the condition of his toe, Jackson had this to say:

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@bjackson32: "100% put it to the test."

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Chris Oggbonaya filled in adequately in the absence of Hardesty and Jackson, but no one will confuse him for Adrian Peterson. Right now, he has a shot to make the team and provide solid depth in the event of injury. Unfortunately the chance of injury at this position makes the likelihood of Oggbonaya being back in Cleveland a strong possibility.

RB unit grade: A

Fullbacks currently on the 2012 Cleveland Browns roster:

1. Owen Marecic

2. Brad Smelley (R)

3. Eddie Williams

Overview: Owen Marecic has not come out and wowed people at the fullback position. His hands, a large question mark, are a liability for the team in an offense that depends on the ability of its backs to also be very active in the passing game.

Enter Brad Smelley.

Smelley may not be as suited for the fullback position's duties of moving linebackers aside for Trent Richardson, but he has the pass-catching talent down pretty well.

Also, Marecic hasn't done the best of job in that role either.

Smelley is talented, though, and will likely catch on with the team in the special teams and FB/TE hybrid position.

FB unit grade: C+

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

Wide receivers currently on the 2012 Cleveland Browns roster:

1. Greg Little

2. Joshua Cribbs

3. Mohamed Massaquoi

4. Jordan Norwood

5. Travis Benjamin (R)

6. Carlton Mitchell

7. Rod Windsor

8. Owen Spencer

UDFAs: Josh Cooper, Jermaine Saffold, Bert Reed

Overview: Wide receiver play has been the biggest question mark on the Browns roster for several years. Production from the position hasn't captivated or even satisfied the most casual fan in a really long time.

What has the Mike Holmgren regime done in order to improve the unit for 2012?

The Browns will head into 2012 with nearly the same wide receiver group that led the NFL in drops a season ago. Have their been additions? Yes.

Will they make an impact this season? That remains to be seen.

The idea is that Brandon Weeden will improve the play of the team's wide receivers. However, with a group as notoriously bad at holding onto the football and separating from defenses, it remains to be seen how far this team can go before it adds a legitimate No. 1 threat at the position.

Can Weeden's college teammate and undrafted free-agent Josh Cooper make the team and contribute significantly? With the way this group has played, it is not out of the realm of possibility that rookies Travis Benjamin and Josh Cooper both are playing on Sundays.

WR unit grade: C

Tight ends currently on the 2012 Cleveland Browns roster:

1. Benjamin Watson

2. Alex Smith

3. Evan Moore

4. Jordan Cameron

5. Dan Gronkowski

Overview: This group has not changed since the last positional unit grading I performed. Evan Moore, Benjamin Watson and Jordan Cameron should all be factored in heavily into the passing game this season.

Moore began seeing much more involvement in the offense during his sophomore season and hopefully Cameron can do the same. This would set my mind at ease and help warrant his fourth round selection from two seasons ago.

Alex Smith has proven to be a favorite of this coaching staff, especially in dual tight end sets. His superior blocking ability, experience and adequate hands are what is keeping him around and he isn't likely going anywhere anytime soon.

Benjamin Watson needs to stay healthy in order for this unit to play up to its potential. Watson is the best all-around player in this group and is coming off of three concussions in 2011.

Three concussions in a season is nothing to sneeze at. However, it doesn't seem it has discouraged Watson's spirits for 2012.

"It would be one thing if a doctor said, 'Benjamin, you shouldn't play football again,' " Watson said. "But that has never come up in conversation. I'm nowhere near that point."

Overall, there is a lot to like about this group. If they can stay healthy this year, which proved to be a challenge in 2011.

TE unit grade: B

Defensive Line

Defensive linemen currently on the 2012 Cleveland Browns roster:

1. Ahtyba Rubin

2. Jabaal Sheard

3. Phil Taylor* (Injured. Will begin season on PUP)

4. Frostee Rucker

5. Brian Schaefering

6. Emmanuel Stephens

7. Juqua Parker

8. Marcus Bernard

9. Auston English

10. Brian Sanford

11. Scott Paxson

12. Kiante Tripp

13. Billy Winn (R)

14. John Hughes (R)

UDFA: William Green

Overview: Not a lot of attention was paid to the Browns' defensive line after the sixth round of April's draft. However, surgery for Phil Taylor due to a pectoral tear may change that approach.

After the draft it seemed the Browns had finally assembled a fierce defensive front to compete in the formidable AFC North division. Billy Winn and John Hughes were unsuspected picks to some, but they have added significant depth to a unit that now desperately needs them.

Marcus Bernard will also return this season after missing the 2011 season. His value as a situational pass rusher should not be understated.

Free agent additions Juqua Parker and Frostee Rucker will not immediately jump off the page at you, but they both fill a need that will ultimately help the Browns get better at stopping the running game.

That was, after all, their biggest weakness a season ago.

Standouts Ahtyba Rubin and Jabaal Sheard will look to build on excellent seasons and continue to exert themselves as some of the best the game has to offer in the defensive trenches.

DL unit grade: A-

Safeties and Cornerbacks

Safeties currently on the 2012 Cleveland Browns roster:

1. T.J. Ward

2. Usama Young

3. Eric Hagg

4. Ray Ventrone

UDFA: Tashaun Gipson

Overview: The Browns didn't do much to improve the safety position this offseason. After letting Mike Adams walk in free agency and failing to draft his replacement in April, I wasn't sure what the plan was for the position.

However, the coaching staff has been extremely high on second year safety Eric Hagg. Hagg had some experience in 2011 due to injuries in the secondary and that will due him well when preparing for and playing there this season.

T.J. Ward, if healthy, provides an enforcer in the secondary that opposing offenses have to think about in the back of their mind as they run their routes across the middle of the field.

Overall, the lack of competent depth and question marks around Hagg are too much to label this unit as a point of strength for the Browns' defense. In 2011 they were largely untested due to the ease at which teams' ran the football.

As the rush defense improves this year, we'll get to see a true glimpse of how far along they have come in their development.

S unit grade: C+

Cornerbacks currently on the 2012 Cleveland Browns roster:

1. Joe Haden

2. Sheldon Brown

3. Dimitri Patterson

4. Buster Skrine

5. James Dockery

6. Trevin Wade (R)

7. David Sims

UDFAs: Johnson Bademosi, Emanuel Davis, Antwuan Reed

Overview: Much like the safeties, the cornerbacks of the Browns were not fully tested in 2011 as a result of the inept rush defense. Joe Haden remains the sole, reliable bright spot of this unit heading into 2012. However, like his peers, Haden relies on the help of his teammates as much as anybody else. The secondary is reliant on teamwork as much as it is elite physical and mental ability of its players.

Sheldon Brown has not proven he can effectively play with opposing teams' No. 1 or No. 2 receivers. This may be why the Browns locked up nickelback Dimitri Patterson to a three-year contract.

Patterson is not a true cover corner by any means and was picked on repeatedly when inserted into the starting lineup in the absence of Joe Haden. He is experienced, though, and will likely be the first player turned to in the event of an injury to Haden or Brown.

Buster Skrine played a little scrappy in his rookie season. What that means is he looked raw on the field. His athleticism and speed are bar none some of the best in the secondary. However, in order to succeed in the NFL he will need to perfect his craft if he hopes to overcome some of the physical limitations he has.

Rookie Trevin Wade is the biggest question mark of this unit. He may not contribute significantly initially, but as the season progresses he will likely see more of the field as the deficiencies of his peers become increasingly apparent. 

CB unit grade: B

Linebackers

Linebackers currently on the 2012 Cleveland Browns roster:

1. D'Qwell Jackson

2. Chris Gocong

3. Scott Fujita

4. Kaluka Maiava

5. James Michael-Johnson (R)

6. Emmanuel Acho (R)

7. Benjamin Jacobs

8. Quinton Spears

9. Craig Robertson

10. JoJo Dickson

UDFA: L.J. Fort

Overview: Question marks about the availability of Scott Fujita due to a suspension for his involvement in the New Orleans Saints "bounty" program remain.

However, the Browns have added two rookies to the unit who look like solid contributors initially and maybe more further down the line. Emmanuel Acho and James Michael-Johnson will bring fresh energy and athletic ability to a unit that struggled in keeping up with the athletes of the competition in the NFL.

Are both of these guys the answer right away? No, no one expects Acho or Michael-Johnson to walk in and be all-pro caliber players from day one.

The chance is there, though, for them to learn behind seasoned veterans like D'Qwell Jackson and Scott Fujita. Call it on-the-job training.

With Fujita likely to miss time, hopefully one of the rookies can assert himself early in order to crack the starting lineup. The starting squad of Kaluka Maiava, Jackson and Chris Gocong did not fair well as a whole against any one aspect of the game a season ago.

LB unit grade: B-

Special Teams

2012 Cleveland Browns special teams unit:

Place Kickers:

1. Phil Dawson

UDFA: Jeff Wolfert

Punters:

1. Reggie Hodges

UDFA: Spencer Lanning

Overview: With the likely addition of Travis Benjamin to the special teams unit and other young depth along the roster, the special teams unit is likely to improve on a tough first season under ST coach Chris Tabor. Also, Joshua Cribbs's said he wanted to be more involved in special teams in mid-season last year. Hopefully his increased involvement will improve the success of the unit.

The unit was out-gunned a season ago in nearly all aspects of the special teams game.

Phil Dawson, the Browns' most consistent player, will continue to kick the ball through the uprights in 2012.

S unit grade: C

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