NFL 2010 Season Preview: Predicting the Cleveland Browns' 53-Man Roster

The Cleveland Browns are at the halfway point of the 2010 NFL preseason and if NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell has his way, then the regular season would start this upcoming weekend with a new 18-game schedule.

Sadly, the Browns and its fans have to wait through the next two weeks of preseason games with the "dress rehearsal" in Game Three where the starters will play tow and maybe three full quarters, then followed by the fourth game which I like to call the "bubble bowl."

Since it is the halfway point of the preseason, I will give my best shot at predicting the final 53-man roster for the Browns in 2010.

Without further delay, here are my predictions.

Quarterbacks

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BEREA, OH - AUGUST 04: Colt McCoy #12 of the Cleveland Browns gets ready to throw a pass during training camp at the Cleveland Browns Training and Administrative Complex on August 4, 2010 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Depth chart (parenthesis are counting total roster spots):

Jake Delhomme (1)

Backups: Seneca Wallace (2), Colt McCoy (3)

Cut: Brett Ratliff

Analysis:

Both Delhomme and Wallace have given Browns fans something they have not seen in a very long time in only two preseason games and that is how quarterbacks are really supposed to play in the NFL.

Also, McCoy WILL make the roster and WILL NOT get cut regardless of what those who choose to "stir the pot" are saying right now.

Browns team president Mike Holmgren (and quarterback guru if you didn't already know) picked McCoy over Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow, and Jimmy Clausen which should tell you what he thinks of those other quarterbacks.

Ratliff is the odd quarterback out thought solely because McCoy has more potential and upside over the fourth year quarterback.

Running Backs

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BEREA, OH - MAY 01: Montario Hardesty #31 of the Cleveland Browns takes a hand off from Colt McCoy #12 during rookie mini camp at the Cleveland Browns Training and Administrative Complex on May 1, 2010 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Imag

Depth Chart:

Jerome Harrison (4)

Backups: Peyton Hillis (5), Montario Hardesty (6), James Davis (7)

Cut: Chris Jennings

Analysis:

First, you may be thinking that Hillis should be listed as a fullback and not as a running back, but according to the Cleveland Browns' official site, Hillis is listed as a running back therefore he is being listed that way here.

After his impressive running against the Rams, Hillis should be moved right behind Harrison until Hardesty is healthy enough to play and prove himself.

It is also rumored that Hardesty is suiting up for practices this week and he may see some reps in Saturday's game versus the Chicago Bears.

Fullback

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CINCINNATI - SEPTEMBER 28: Lawrence Vickers #47 of the Cleveland Browns runs with the ball during the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 28, 2008 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Depth Chart:

Lawrence Vickers (8)

Analysis:

Vickers is one of the best young fullbacks in the NFL and he needs no backup, but barring injury, Hillis can move over and fill the fullback spot too.

Wide Receivers

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KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 20: Brian Robiskie #80 of the Cleveland Browns looks on during their NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs on December 20, 2009 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Browns defeated the Chiefs 41-34. (Photo by Ja

Depth Chart:

Mohamed Massaquoi (9)

Brian Robiskie (10)

Backups: Chansi Stuckey (11), Josh Cribbs (12), Carlton Mitchell (13)

Cuts: Bobby Ingram, Syndric Steptoe, Jake Allen, Taurus Johnson

Analysis:

It was really too bad the undrafted rookie Jonathan Haggerty went down with a season ending injury in the first preseason game because he would have made the roster over Mitchell, but instead Browns fans will have to wait and see Haggerty next year in training camp.

Anyway, both Massaquoi and Robiskie will be starters and should perform well this season.

Stuckey looks much more comfortable in the slot after being in this offense for a full training camp.

Cribbs is Cribbs.

Tight Ends

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CLEVELAND - AUGUST 21: Benjamin Watson #82 of the Cleveland Browns scores a touchdown in front of Craig Dahl #43 of the St. Louis Rams at Cleveland Browns Stadium on August 21, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

Depth Chart:

Ben Watson (14)

Backups: Evan Moore (15), Alex Smith (16)

Cuts: Robert Royal, Joel Gamble

Analysis:

With Hillis on the roster, he too can line up as a tight end if needed to add to the offenses' versatility and keeping Smith over Royal makes sense because Smith can line up as a fullback if needed.

Head coach Eric Mangini loves versatility and that is why Smith is in and Royal and Gamble are out.

Offensive Line

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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Joe Thomas #73 of the Cleveland Browns defends against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

Depth Chart:

Joe Thomas (17)

Eric Steinbach (18)

Alex Mack (19)

Floyd Womack (20)

Tony Pashos (21)

Backups: Shawn Lauvao (22), John St. Clair (23), Billy Yates (24), Scott Kooistra (25)

Cuts: Paul Fanaika, Casey Bender, Pat Murray, Joel Reinders, John Malecki

Analysis:

St. Clair does look improved over one season ago, but Pashos was brought in and paid to step right into the starting lineup.

Depth does seem to be an issue on the offensive line going into the season.

Defensive Line

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NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 7: Shaun Rogers #92 of the Cleveland Browns walks on the field during the game against the Tennessee Titans on December 7, 2008 at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Depth Chart:

Robaire Smith (26)

Ahtyba Rubin (27)

Kenyon Coleman (28)

Backups: Brian Schaefering (29), Clifton Geathers (30), Brian Sanford (31)

PUP: Shaun Rogers, C.J. Mosley (out for first six games)

Cuts: Swanson Miller, Titus Adams, Travis Ivey

Analysis:

Both Rogers and Mosley look like they will be going on the PUP list to start the season since they have not participated with the team at all during training camp practices.

This will give backups like Geathers, Schaefering, and Sanford opportunities to produce and step in to get the starters breathers in the first half of the season.

Linebackers

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BEREA, OH - AUGUST 04: Scott Fujita #99 of the Cleveland Browns looks on during training camp at the Cleveland Browns Training and Administrative Complex on August 4, 2010 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Depth Chart:

Scott Fujita (32)

D'Qwell Jackson (33)

Chris Gocong (34)

Matt Roth (35)

Backups: Marcus Benard (36), David Bowens (37), Kaluka Maiava (38), Blake Costanzo (39), Jason Trusnik (40)

Cuts: David Veikune, Eric Barton, Titus Brown

Analysis:

Veikune will be the biggest cut the Browns make this year since he was a second round pick from only one year ago.

Trusnik gets the nod of Barton because of his versatility to play both inside and outside linebacker.

Cornerbacks

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KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 20: Eric Wright #24 of the Cleveland Browns puts on his helmet during their NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs on December 20, 2009 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Browns defeated the Chiefs 41-34. (Phot

Depth Chart:

Eric Wright (41)

Sheldon Brown (42)

Backups: Joe Haden (43), Mike Adams (44), Brandon McDonald (45), Gerard Lawson (46)

PUP: Coye Francies

Cuts: DeAngleo Smith, Chris Chancellor, John Bowie

Analysis:

Adams makes the list as a corner due to his versatility to play both safety and corenr and that is why he is listed as a defensive back in the Browns' official site since he can play both.

Lawson squeaks onto the roster just because he has more experience than the other three who got cut.

Safety

Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

CLEVELAND - AUGUST 21: St. Louis Rams #39 Steven Jackson runs by #43 T.J. Ward of the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on August 21, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

Depth Chart:

T.J. Ward (47)

Abe Elam (48)

Backups: Larry Asante (49), Ray Ventrone (50)

Cut: Nick Sorensen

Analysis:

Ward has the starter spot on lock down opposite of Elam over the others, but if there are struggles in the defensive backfield, then do not doubt that Mike Adams will come into the lineup as a safety to play.

Special Teams

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GREEN BAY, WI - AUGUST 14: Phil Dawson #4 of the Cleveland Browns watches his game winning field goal during the NFL preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field August 14, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Tom Dahlin/Getty Images)

Kicker: Phil Dawson (51)

Punter: Reggie Hodges (52)

Long Snapper: Ryan Pontbriand (53)

Injured Reserve: Dave Zastudil

Analysis:

Hodges will fill in for Zastudil for this season while Zastudil recovers from knee surgery and Dawson is just "Dawesome" when it comes to kicking in the inclement Cleveland weather.

Final Thoughts

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BEREA, OH - AUGUST 04: Head coach Eric Mangini of the Cleveland Browns looks on during training camp at the Cleveland Browns Training and Administrative Complex on August 4, 2010 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Mangini is in year two and he needs this team to win at least seven games to keep his job for another season.

Looking over this entire roster, one has to recognize that there is a ton of potential, but will those players who have that potential actually break out in 2010?

Only the next few months can answer that and in the meantime the Browns should still be a fun and entertaining team to watch this season unlike one year ago.

And that's all Browns fans want.