Cleveland Browns 2009 Expectations: A Season in Transition

For the fourth time in 11 years, the Cleveland Browns will begin the season under a new regime. New general manager George Kokinis and head coach Eric Mangini will begin their newest rebuilding project with a number of new faces in both the personnel and coaching departments.

 

Mangini brought six former defensive players from the New York Jets with him to Cleveland, four of whom are expected to start.

 

Defensive lineman Kenyon Coleman, linebackers David Bowens and Eric Barton and safety Abram Elam are all expected to be starters for Mangini’s defense. Bowens and Barton were signed as free agents, while Elam and Coleman were acquired in a draft-day trade that allowed the Jets to select USC quarterback Mark Sanchez with the fifth pick in the NFL Draft.

 

The signings of the former defensive players from the Jets, who are familiar playing in Mangini’s system and can guide the other defensive players, could indicate that Mangini believes he can win sooner rather than later.

 

Mangini and Kokinis have also revamped the offensive line, signing free agents Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack and John St. Clair from the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears, respectively.

 

In addition, after trading down twice in the first round of the draft, they selected Cal center Alex Mack with the 21^st pick.

 

Left tackle Joe Thomas and guard Eric Steinbach, two holdovers from the Romeo Crennel/Phil Savage regime are expected to remain staples on the left side of the line.

 

With Thomas, Steinbach and Mack, the Browns could potentially boast one of the most talented left sides in the league.

 

A position that has haunted the Browns since returning in 1999 is at quarterback.

 

Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson will battle it out in training camp and try to prove that he is able to lead the Browns back to respectability. New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s offense emphasizes ball control with more short and intermediate passing plays. This could be an ideal fit for Quinn’s skills, as he does not have the gunslinger arm of Anderson, but possesses great leadership qualities and a high football IQ.

 

With the offseason trade of tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, wide receiver Braylon Edwards will have to regain his Pro Bowl form of 2007 to jump start the offense.

 

Second-round pick Brian Robiskie of Ohio State could be the early favorite to start opposite Edwards.

 

Fellow second-round pick and former Georgia Bulldog, Mohamed Massaquoi, will compete for the third receiver spot with free agent signees, David Patten and Mike Furrey.

 

The Browns will go with a three tight end-rotation with Robert Royal, Steve Heiden and second-year player Martin Rucker.

 

Expectations:

With the additions through free agency and the draft, along with having a healthy starting quarterback in either Quinn or Anderson, a 6-8-win season should not be a stretch for this team.

 

Kokinis and Mangini made it a priority that their draft selections be intelligent, tough and demonstrate a strong work ethic. They have clearly established a plan and system for this team and have followed through on it with their draft selections.

 

In order for the Browns to exceed 6-8 wins, the offensive line needs to gel quickly and return to its 2007 form. All five starters need to keep the quarterback upright and open holes for running backs Jamal Lewis, Jerome Harrison and rookie James Davis. Edwards must put 2008 behind him and focus on holding onto the football and set a positive example for Robiskie and Massaquoi.

 

The defense, particularly the front seven, needs to bring more pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will hopefully make that a point of emphasis. Linebacker Kamerion Wimbley must wreak havoc on the quarterback along with someone, be it Bowens, Alex Hall or rookie David Veikune, complementing Wimbley on the opposite side.

 

It may not come as a surprise (especially to Mangini) if Veikune supplants Bowens as a starter at outside linebacker opening day. There have been reports that Veikune won money off of Mangini after he diagrammed a very complex defensive play in front of the entire team. Obviously, he will have to prove he can perform on the field, but he is clearly intelligent and can retain complex information. Mangini has also expressed confidence in Veikune's ability to make a smooth transition from college defensive end to NFL outside linebacker.

 

An improved and deeper defensive line will hopefully allow the linebackers to roam around in open space to make plays and create turnovers. Coleman, who led all 3-4 defensive ends in tackles with 55 in 2007, will be an upgrade over Robaire Smith, who is coming off ACL surgery. It will allow Smith to be a rotational player at end with Coleman and Corey Williams.

 

Speaking of Williams, this will be a very important season for the former Green Bay Packer. 

 

The six-year veteran had a disappointing first season with the Browns after a separated shoulder early in training camp inhibited his ability to get to the quarterback. He, along with Pro Bowler Shaun Rogers, and the newly acquired Coleman, must play stout against the run and pass so the rest of the defense can fall into place.

 

There are a number of circumstances that could cause this team to fall apart.

 

The season could turn ugly if either Quinn or Anderson or both miss an extended period of time due to injury.

 

Jamal Lewis, who will be 30 when the season starts, may show signs of slowing down as that age is generally when running backs begin to decline.

 

If Edwards continues to have trouble catching the ball, the offense will suffer. Having potentially three new starters on the offensive line could present a challenge as they will need time to gel. Mangini’s former Jets castoffs do not produce as hoped and justify why Jets head coach Rex Ryan let them leave "The Big Apple."

 

If Wimbley is still unable to be a factor in the pass-rushing attack and Bowens, Hall nor Veikune can make an immediate impact, the team sack and turnover totals will remain near the bottom of the NFL again.

 

Starting cornerbacks Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald need to prove that they are starting-caliber players and that their third NFL seasons are indeed their “coming out parties.” Otherwise, opposing receivers will be salivating all season long.

 

Prediction: 7-9, third in AFC North