Breaking Down Cleveland Browns' Likely Opening-Game Starting Lineup
The Cleveland Browns are less than a month away from kicking off the 2015 NFL regular season against the New York Jets. That means the time is ticking away for the Browns to settle their depth chart and determine their starters.
Though three preseason games remain, which means changes could happen anytime, let's make some early predictions as to who will be starting at each position group come Week 1.
Quarterback
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Quarterback: Josh McCown
Backup Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel has made appreciable progress in his second NFL offseason, but it is not enough for him to unseat expected starter Josh McCown—especially as far as Week 1 is concerned. After the team's first preseason game against Washington, according to Northeast Ohio Media Group's Mary Kay Cabot, Browns head coach Mike Pettine said, "I haven't wavered from" McCown starting. He added, "He's firmly the one."
Manziel may get a chance as the season rolls on, especially if McCown struggles. But against the Jets, it will be McCown getting the starting snap.
Running Back
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Running Back: Isaiah Crowell
The Browns have three capable running backs, all of whom will see ample playing time in Week 1 and throughout the season. But when it comes to the back who gets the Week 1 start, that appears set to be Isaiah Crowell.
Cleveland's other two backs, Terrance West and Duke Johnson, will be heavily involved in the team's offensive plans this year. And Johnson, who is expected back from his hamstring injury next week, could eventually overtake Crowell.
But with Johnson having missed so much time and Crowell routinely being treated as a starter this summer, expect Crowell to get that first snap.
Wide Receiver
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Wide Receiver: Dwayne Bowe, Andrew Hawkins, Brian Hartline
Browns receiver Dwayne Bowe has been sidelined recently with a hamstring injury, but that shouldn't keep him from suiting up as a Week 1 starter. Bowe is the Browns' one true tall, deep receiving threat, while Brian Hartline is more of a possession receiver. Andrew Hawkins, the Browns' receiving leader in 2014, meanwhile is best suited to work the slot position.
Other receivers such as Taylor Gabriel, Travis Benjamin, rookie Vince Mayle and even Terrelle Pryor could all have important roles to play in the Browns' receiving game this year. But, as it stands now, Bowe, Hawkins and Hartline look to get the start on September 13.
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Tight End
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Tight End: Gary Barnidge
The Browns brought on free-agent tight end Rob Housler to take over the starting, receiving tight end job that once belonged to Jordan Cameron. But he's the third tight end on the depth chart (via Dan Labbe of the Northeast Ohio Media Group), behind Gary Barnidge and Jim Dray and for good reason—he's dropping too many passes in training camp, according to Cabot.
Head coach Mike Pettine said, "The rest of [Housler's] game has been solid, but that's something that the ball gets thrown to you, you've got to catch it. We're in a bottom-line business. If the ball gets thrown to you, you have to catch it."
Barnidge, meanwhile, has proven he can catch and he can block. Dray can catch, too, but he seems poised for more of a blocking role this year. That means of the three, Barnidge is the likely Week 1 starter at tight end.
Offensive Line
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Offensive Line (left to right): Joe Thomas, Joel Bitonio, Alex Mack, John Greco, Mitchell Schwartz
It appears the Browns' 2014 offensive line will also be their 2015 starters, with Joe Thomas at left tackle, Joel Bitonio at left guard, Alex Mack at center, John Greco at right guard and Mitchell Schwartz at right tackle.
The only way this could change is if first-round 2015 draft pick Cameron Erving can unseat Greco for the right guard job. As of now, Greco has been primarily the first-team right guard in training camp with Cameron working with the second team, according to Andrew Gribble of ClevelandBrowns.com.
In last week's preseason opener against Washington, Erving stepped in for Thomas as the starting left tackle, with Thomas being held out. That's good news about Erving's much-talked-about versatility, but it sheds no light as to whether he'll beat out Greco. The odds are he doesn't—at least not by Week 1—but he could crack the starting lineup later in the year.
Defensive Line
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Defensive Line (left to right): Randy Starks, Danny Shelton, Desmond Bryant
It's hard to adequately predict the Browns' starting defensive line in Week 1 simply because the team takes a situational and rotational approach to the position group.
Even if ends Randy Starks and Desmond Bryant get the start, that does not preclude Armonty Bryant, John Hughes, Billy Winn and Xavier Cooper seeing playing time. The same goes for the nose tackle position. While Danny Shelton could be in for the game's first play, he may split time with Phil Taylor—or vice versa.
But if we're just talking about the first defensive play against the New York Jets, then Starks and Desmond Bryant seem poised to be in it, along with the rookie Shelton, who is just too good to not start immediately.
Linebackers
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Outside Linebacker: Paul Kruger, Scott Solomon
Inside Linebacker: Karlos Dansby, Chris Kirksey
It's possible that outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo is healed up enough from his summertime knee scope to play in Week 1. But it's also possible that he'll cede playing time—and the start—to pass-rusher Scott Solomon, especially when he's already been the established favorite to play early downs, per Cabot.
What isn't in question is that Paul Kruger will be the other Browns' starting outside linebacker. It's also a foregone conclusion that Karlos Dansby and Chris Kirskey will be the team's inside linebackers, though Craig Robertson could also see situational work.
Cornerback
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Cornerback: Joe Haden, Tramon Williams, K'Waun Williams
There is no cornerback controversy in Cleveland—Joe Haden remains a starter on the outside, and veteran Tramon Williams, brought in via free agency, looks right at home on the other side of the field. The only question is at slot cornerback, where K'Waun Williams is trying to fend off Justin Gilbert.
Given Gilbert's preseason Week 1 performance against Washington, in which Pro Football Focus noted that he allowed four catches on eight targets for 46 yards and 53 yards after the catch, and it's clear that Gilbert is the one struggling to earn regular-season playing time. He also would have given up a long Pierre Garcon touchdown, had Garcon not dropped the pass.
Gilbert claimed a "flawless" performance against Washington, according to Tom Reed of the Northeast Ohio Media Group, but head coach Mike Pettine did not see it that way, saying, "He's a guy that we want to have him be a part of what we're doing, and we're coaching him hard. Hopefully he'll respond." Pettine added, "He's explosive. There are times where he shows it, but it’s a consistency thing with Justin. It's got to be more frequent."
If he cannot improve the consistency of his play, K'Waun Williams will easily beat him out to start Week 1 as the team's slot cornerback.
Safety
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Safety: Tashaun Gipson, Donte Whitner
The Browns' safety position will be unchanged in 2015 as far as the starters are concerned. Tashaun Gipson, who has 11 interceptions over the last two seasons, will serve as the team's free safety and Donte Whitner will be the strong safety.
Gipson missed the end of the 2014 season with a knee injury and sat out the team's OTAs, only to show up to minicamp with a hamstring strain. That hamstring hasn't bothered him during training camp, though, so his health is no concern. Whitner, meanwhile, was the Browns' leading tackler in 2014. Both men's jobs are safe.
Special Teams
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Kicker: Carey Spear
Punter: Andy Lee
Long snapper: Charley Hughlett
Kick Returner: Marlon Moore
Punt Returner: Travis Benjamin
Right now, the Browns are trying to determine whether Carey Spear or Travis Coons will be their kicker for the 2015 season. Spear gets the edge, because as we've maintained throughout this battle, his nickname, "MurderLeg", is just too good. He can also kick, which is why the Browns have him on the roster to begin with.
Long snapper and punter, meanwhile, are set, with Charley Hughlett handling the former job and Andy Lee handling the latter one. The only questions are at returner. The speedy—and now healthy—Travis Benjamin seems like a lock to return punts. Right now, the Browns have receiver Marlon Moore penciled in as the kick returner. But the Browns have a logjam of receivers after their top four, and keeping all of them is not an option.
If Moore isn't on the final, 53-man roster, perhaps cornerback Justin Gilbert, running back Shaun Draughn or rookie Duke Johnson will handle that job.
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