Underappreciated Browns Who Need to Come Back Healthy

With the first full-squad training camp practice approaching in three days, the 2009 Cleveland Browns need to accomplish a number of things.

First, they need to figure out who’s going to be leading the offense under center; Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson?

Second they need to figure out who will be playing opposite Braylon Edwards. Will it be rookie Brian Robiskie, Mike Furrey or possibly Mohamed Massaquoi?

Maybe most importantly, the Browns need four players to contribute heavily to the team in order to be found under the W-column in the standings more times than not this season.

These four individuals are players whom I believe are the most underrated and underappreciated on the roster. They are (drum roll, please) fullback Lawrence Vickers, tight end Steve Heiden, offensive lineman Ryan Tucker and defensive lineman Robaire Smith.

Unfortunately for head coach Eric Mangini and co., only Vickers will be coming off a rehab-free offseason. Tucker, Heiden and Smith are all coming off surgeries and have been spending most of the offseason working their way back onto the practice field.

Last season, Vickers became the first Browns fullback to help clear the way for a 1,000-yard rusher for two straight seasons since (another drumroll, please) Charlie Harraway back in 1967 and ’68!

Vickers was also named a second alternate in the 2007 Pro Bowl voting and an alternate for the 2008 Pro Bowl.

If offensive coordinator Brian Daboll wants any kind of running game this season, he needs Vickers to help lead the way for Jamal Lewis and Jerome Harrison.

Tight end Steve Heiden is coming off major offseason surgery on both his MCL and ACL.

Last season, in the two games that Heiden filled in for Kellen Winslow, he grabbed eight passes for 132 yards. That’s an average of four catches for 66 yards, which would then translate to 64 catches for 1,056 yards over a 16-game season.

I’m not saying Heiden would have put up those type of numbers, but he is certainly a capable receiver and an above average blocker. He is expected to be back by the season opener on September 13.

Until then, expect to see a lot of Robert Royal and Martin Rucker at tight end.

Then there is offensive lineman Ryan Tucker, who played in one game last season. Ironically, that only game happened to be the 35-14 stomping of the previously undefeated New York Giants. There were obviously other factors that caused the Browns to win that game, such as Steve Heiden starting at tight end, the defense confusing Eli Manning and Braylon Edwards actually holding onto the ball. With Tucker starting that game at right tackle, it helped balance the power blocking on both sides of the line with Joe Thomas and Eric Steinbach.

There have been rumblings that Tucker could be contemplating retirement, leaving the Browns with Rex Hadnot, Floyd Womack, George Foster and John St. Clair competing for two spots on the offensive line’s right side. Tucker’s return would, without a doubt, give the Browns offense a boost.

Finally, it seems as though Mangini is counting on Robaire Smith to make a return to the field and be heavily involved in the defensive line rotation. Smith is also arguably the second best lineman behind Shaun Rogers, because Corey Williams had trouble adapting to the 3-4 scheme last season.

In the Sunday Night game against Pittsburgh last year, Smith tore his ACL and missed the rest of the season. It did a number on the Browns’ defensive line depth, as the team was down to Shaun Smith, Louis Leonard and Santonio Thomas.

In 2007, Smith showed that he could be effective in the 3-4 alignment, racking up 56 tackles (42 solo) and four sacks. Mangini and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan are banking on Smith being healthy and turning a poor 2008 defense around this season.

Obviously a number of things are going to have go right in order for the Browns to be successful. Selecting the right quarterback, a healthy Jamal Lewis and an improved defense are all important, but these four players all played vital roles in the Browns’ 10-6 season in 2007. If they all come back healthy by the season opener and contribute, Mangini could have the Browns around .500 or possibly in the hunt for a playoff birth.