2009 Cleveland Browns Position Battles: Deja Vu All Over Again.

It's deja vu all over again in Cleveland. Since 1999 when the "new" Browns were welcomed back to the NFL, they have been consistent at three things: losing, changing management, and quarterback controversies.

Since 1999 the Browns have had a record of 54-106 under three full-time head coaches (Chris Palmer, Butch Davis, and Romeo Crennel) and one interim head coach (Terry Robiskie).

In that 10-year span, they have seen thirteen different quarterbacks start, that list includes: Ty Detmer (two starts), Tim Couch (59), Doug Pederson (eight) Spergon Wynn (one) Kelly Holcomb (12), Luke McCown (four), Jeff Garcia (10), Trent Dilfer (11), Charlie Frye (19 starts), Derek Anderson (27), Brady Quinn (three), Ken Dorsey (three), and Bruce Gradkowski (one).

Ten years, 13 starting quarterbacks. Not exactly what you want at the most important position in sports.

Now entering their 11th season back in the NFL, the Browns are coming off a losing season, have changed management.

And among the many positional battles taking place in training camp will be yet another quarterback controversy.

Entering training camp this year, new head coach Eric Mangini will have to decide which guys are Mangini guys and which players don't fit his criteria. Looking through the roster, I have narrowed the biggest position battles to ten key areas of Mangini's team, led of course by the annual Cleveland quarterback controversy.

Note: Players listed with 2008 stats in parentheses

1. Quarterback  

Contenders: Derek Anderson (10 games, 66.5 QB rating, 9 TD 8 INT) Brady Quinn (3, 66.6, 2, 2)

Long shot: Brett Ratliff 

Overview: In 2007, Derek Anderson came into training camp ready to battle for the starting job with Charlie Frye. By the end of camp Frye was the starter, and Anderson was on the bench in front of rookie Brady Quinn.

After one game, Frye was shipped to Seattle, Anderson became the starter, and Quinn—after missing most of training camp—was closer to becoming the "franchise" quarterback the Browns envisioned when they selected him in the first round of the draft. 

But Anderson had other plans and went on to throw 29 touchdowns while leading the Browns to a 10-6 record, earning his first Pro Bowl experience.

Now, two years later, Anderson and Quinn are battling for the starting job once again after neither quarterback was impressive during last season's 4-12 campaign.

Projected Starter: Brady Quinn. Anderson has a tendency to trust his arm strength a little too much sometimes, which can get him in trouble with turnovers, and after frustrations with Brett Favre as his quarterback last season, look for Coach Mangini to allow Quinn to lead his Browns in 2009.

2. Wide Receiver

No. 1 Starter: Braylon Edwards (55 receptions, 873 yards, 3 TD)

Contenders: Mike Furrey (18, 181, 0) Brian Robiskie (Rookie) David Patten (11, 162, 1) Mohamed Massaquoi (Rookie)

Long shots: Josh Cribbs (2, 18, 0) Syndric Steptoe (19, 182, 0) Donte' Stallworth (17, 170, 1)

Overview: Regardless of all the rumors that swirled around prior to the draft, Braylon Edwards remains a Cleveland Brown and will be a Cleveland Brown when they open the season at home against Minnesota unless someone comes along with an offer that is impossible to pass up.

Edwards is a certain starter, but after him, the depth chart is going to be determined throughout camp.

Rookies Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi will have as good a shot as anyone to win the spot across the field from Edwards; however, don't expect to see both of them start if the Browns open in three-wide sets.

Mangini likely will lean toward Mike Furrey, a smart, instinctive receiver who gets the most out of his ability and isn't afraid to go across the middle. Furrey will be able to fill the role the Browns so sorely missed with the injury to Joe Jurevicius last season.

Donte Stallworth, who was a starter last season, probably would have returned as such this year if not for the DUI manslaughter charge against him. Josh Cribbs will have an outside chance but will need to show vast improvement as a receiver to please Mangini.

Projected Starters: Edwards, Robiskie, and Furrey. Mangini will hope that Edwards can return to the Pro Bowl form of 2007 and that Robiskie can step in early at the NFL level.

Furrey will be a great asset to whichever quarterback becomes the starter because of his smart, instinctive route running and ability to catch balls over the middle.

3. Strong Safety

Contenders: Abram Elam (69 tackles, 2.0 sacks) Mike Adams (44 tackles, 2 interceptions)

Long shots: Nick Sorensen

Overview: Elam is a Mangini guy. He was brought over in the draft-day trade that landed the Jets Mark Sanchez. But Elam is a down-hill, run-support, near-the-line-of-scrimmage safety who has struggled due to his limited coverage skills.

Adams on the other hand is more of a coverage safety who struggles with tackles near the line of scrimmage.

Projected Starter: Elam. Even though he can struggle at times in his pass coverage, he is a hard-working, Mangini guy. If he spends time this offseason and time in camp working on his coverage, Elam could be a gem.

4. Outside Linebacker:

Starter: Kamerion Wimbley (66 tackles, 4 sacks)

Contenders: David Bowens (40, 4) Alex Hall (28, 3) David Veikune (Rookie)

Overview: Alex Hall was a seventh-round pick of the Browns last season, labeled as a project. He struggled in pass coverage but was used in spot situational pass-rush duties.

Bowens, another Mangini guy brought over from the Jets, has bounced around the league and has been a career backup both as a 4-3 defensive end and 3-4 linebacker. He is very active, wins his battles due to his high motor, and is very effective on stunts and in blitz packages. He also struggles with pass coverage, which is why Mangini will use him in blitz packages and on special teams.

Projected Starter: David Veikune. Veikune was a second-round pick by the Browns this year and is a bit of a tweener; however, he has an exceptionally high motor and a quick first step and can be the pass-rushing linebacker the Browns have been looking for. For Mangini, he could be the same type of project as Vernon Gholston was last year.

5. Tight End

Contenders: Steve Heiden (23 receptions, 249 yards) Martin Rucker (2, 17) Robert Royal (33, 351, TD)

Overview: For the first time since Kellen Winslow Jr. played Evil Kneivel in a parking lot, the Cleveland Browns are searching for a starting tight end.

Heiden is a hard-working, smart, instinctive, average-blocking tight end who is a sure-handed receiver. Rucker is a former fourth-round pick by the Browns who Phil Savage fell in love with. Rucker is more of a passing option than blocker, but has shown that he can be a willing blocker. Royal has good size and strength and could be a great dual threat as a blocker and receiver but at times has shown mental lapses and is also a great special teamer.

Projected Starter: Heiden. Heiden is a hard worker, who rarely if ever has mental lapses. He is a team-first player who will do whatever his team asks. He can be a Mangini Guy.

6. Nickel Corner

Starters: Brandon McDonald (75 tackles, 5 interceptions) Eric Wright (66, 3)

Contenders: Corey Ivy (52 tackles, 0, forced fumble) Hank Poteat (41, 2)

Long shots: Coye Francies (Rookie) Don Carey (Rookie) Gerard Lawson (2 tkls)

Overview: Ivy and Poteat are Mangini guys with a leg up on the rookies, Francies and Carey. Lawson is mainly a special teamer, but has speed and size, and with the right coaching could develop into a serviceable talent.

Poteat can be very effective in pass coverage as well as run support, even with his wiry build. Ivy is almost the same player as Poteat but has been known to be beaten by fast receivers on vertical routes.

Projected Nickel Corner: Hank Poteat. Whether it is Poteat or Ivy, look for Mangini to go with one of the veterans over the project in Lawson or the rookies.

7. Second-String Running Back

Starter: Jamal Lewis (279 carries, 1002 yards, 4 TD)

Contenders: Jerome Harrison (34, 246, 1) Noah Herron (no carries since 2006)

Longshots: Marcus Thomas (one-year pro with Lions, no carries) James Davis (Rookie)

Overview: Harrison has shown flash at times and has the potential to be a game changer. Herron is a player in the mold of former Brown Jason Wright, a steady third-down back, who is smart and can catch the ball out of the backfield.

The one player to really keep an eye on is the 2009 sixth-rounder Davis. Had he left school a year earlier, he might have been a third round-pick.

Projected Second-String Running Back: Jerome Harrison. Harrison can be for the Browns what Leon Washington was for Mangini's Jets.

8. Right Guard

Contenders: Rex Hadnot, Ryan Tucker, Floyd Womack

Overview: Hadnot was the starter for the Browns last season but can be very streaky at times. His lapses may keep him on the bench.

Tucker is a mauler and could start at either guard or tackle, though he struggles at time with speed rushers at tackle.

Womack is massive and has a nice combination of size, strength, and quickness; however, he is a much better pass blocker who plays very heavy handed, and he may be better suited as a tackle.

Projected Starter: Ryan Tucker. Tucker is a tough guy who plays to the end of the whistle. He is also extremely consistent and may be better suited to play guard than tackle.

9. Right Tackle

Contenders: Tucker, Womack, John St. Clair

Overview: Tucker, as I stated before, may be better suited to play guard. His struggles with speed rushers, matched with the Browns playing in the black and blue, 3-4, speed-rush-linebackers division, may be his downfall as a tackle.

Womack is a massive and quick pass blocker, but he has a tendency to play heavy and can become lazy and play with his pads high at times when tired.

St. Clair has a big body, good athleticism, and good initial quickness. He is also very instinctive and has a solid hand punch in pass blocking. But he is raw, not nasty, and a below-average run blocker.

Projected Starter: If Tucker is named the starting right guard, this battle could go to the end of camp. Womack and St. Clair are similar players, but I believe Mangini will go with the raw skill of St. Clair and Womack will become a valuable reserve lineman.

10. Center

Starter: Hank Fraley

Contender: Alex Mack

Overview: Fraley has done a solid job as the Browns starting center since being brought in to replace the injured LeCharles Bentley. Mack was the No. 1 center prospect in this year's draft, and Mangini may envision him as his new Nick Mangold.

There was talk after Mack was drafted that the Browns may move him to guard, but he is better suited for the center position in the NFL.

Projected Starter: Alex Mack. Mack is bigger and stronger and may handle the big nose tackles in the black-and-blue AFC North better than Fraley.

Wrap up

Overall, the Cleveland Browns 2009 training camp will be full of battles, led of course by the seemingly never-ending quarterback battle. Will this be the year the Browns find their quarterback or will 2010 be deja vu all over again?