Cleveland Browns: 5 Players Poised to Make an Impact in 2011

After a mediocre and injury-ridden 2010 season, the Cleveland Browns are hoping to come back strong in 2011. Solid seasons from their proven players, such as Peyton Hillis and Joe Thomas, will go a long way towards a better season this fall.

However, getting contributions from certain key players, whether those players are new to the team or returning from injury, will be equally as important to an improved 2011 NFL campaign.

Here are five players who are poised to make a strong impact on the 2011 Cleveland Browns.

No. 5: Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson

Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, the NFL's leading tackler in 2008, has not played in a game for the Browns since Week 6 in the 2009 season. A pectoral muscle tear that required surgery caused Jackson to lose the entire 2010 season, and an almost identical injury to his other pectoral muscle the following training camp was the end of his 2011 campaign.

Jackson is finally healthy this year and is looking to comeback in a big way. Before his injuries, the Browns used a 3-4 defensive scheme. That was a system that Jackson did not use in college. This season, the Browns are switching to a 4-3 defense that Jackson should feel a lot more comfortable in.

Jackson's return will help to shore up the linebacker position for Cleveland. If he can lead the NFL in tackles in a scheme that doesn't play to his strengths, it will be interesting to watch what he can do in 2011 playing in a 4-3 defensive alignment.

No. 4: Wide Reciever Greg Little

For the past few seasons, the Browns have lacked talent at the wide receiver position. Their last talented receiver was Braylon Edwards, but his off-field issues led to his eventual exile from the team to the New York Jets. Some people might also mention Kellen Winslow Jr. as a talented receiver that the Browns had. However, injuries caused him to never live up to his potential and he was eventually traded when he no longer fit in with the team and the direction they were headed.

Since then, the Browns have not had a playmaker at the wide receiver position. The search, however, might have come to an end when the Browns drafted Greg Little out of North Carolina. Little has the potential to be a game-changer for the Browns. His size (6'2" 220 lbs) gives him the ability to gain yards after the catch which is an area the Browns are weak in. His previous experience as a running back combined with his speed will allow him to break tackles and make those big plays the Browns have been lacking.

If Little can live up to his potential, the Browns may have gotten a real talent at a bargain pick in the draft.

No. 3: Tight End Evan Moore

When the Browns signed Evan Moore after he was cut by the Green Bay Packers, they knew they were getting a tight end with great size. However, they did not realize they were getting a guy who could catch almost anything thrown his way and provide a great spark to the offense.

Moore, at 6'6" and 250 lbs, towers over most defenders that he faces—especially when he lines up in the slot or as a wideout. His catching ability, which developed during his college basketball days, gives his quarterback confidence that they can put the ball up and expect him to probably make the catch.

Although the Browns have a solid tight end in Ben Watson, their lack of dynamic receivers gives Moore a chance to really make a difference to this team in 2011. In 12 games last season, Moore hauled in 16 passes for a total of 322 yards and one touchdown. His average reception was 20.1 yards. Those kind of stats prove that, when used frequently, Moore can gain large chunks of yardage in a hurry.

As long as he stays healthy, Moore should be a big part of the Cleveland Browns offense this season.

No. 2: Running Back Brandon Jackson

Last season, the Browns' Peyton Hillis started out strong, but the wear and tear of a full season as the lead running back led to a decline in production in the last few games of Cleveland's schedule. The Browns started the year with Jerome Harrison as their backup tailback. Harrison showed great potential at the end of the 2009 season, but a dispute with then head coach Eric Mangini about his lack of playing time signaled the end of Harrison's tenure in Cleveland. He was traded to Philadelphia for running back Mike Bell.

Bell proved to be an ineffective backup to Hillis, and Cleveland had no choice but to keep inserting Hillis into the starting role. Going into this past off season, signing a reliable backup running back was a priority for the Browns. They do have Montario Hardesty on the roster, but nagging injuries have meant that he cannot be relied upon to produce. Therefore, in the lockout-shortened offseason, the Browns signed running back Brandon Jackson who earned a Super Bowl ring the previous season with the Green Bay Packers.

Jackson gives the Browns exactly what they need at the position. He will be able to give Hillis downs off so that he can stay fresh later in the season. He will also be able to produce when called upon as his stats from last season show. He was thrust into the starting running back role for the Packers and responded with 703 yards on 190 carries and three touchdowns.

By signing Jackson, the Browns shored up a problem that really affected their running game last season.

No. 1: Quarterback Colt McCoy

Last season, Colt McCoy went from being a third-string quarterback who was not supposed to see any playing time to being the Brown's starting QB for their last eight games of the season. Although it was injuries to Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace that led to McCoy to seeing the field when his original role was to just watch and learn, it was his hard-nosed style of play that earned him the eight starts.

In those eight starts, McCoy threw for 1576 yards and six touchdowns with a QB rating of 74.5. Although those numbers shouldn't blow anyone away, McCoy earned those stats while playing through an ankle injury and playing behind an injury-ridden offensive line that could not stop the pressure opposing teams sent at the rookie QB.

McCoy's leadership on and off the field also led to his increased playing time. During the lockout, McCoy held four workouts for Browns players that came to be known as "Camp Colts." His leadership at these events only led to increased respect for McCoy from his teammates. For any team to be successful, the players have to trust and respect their quarterbacks. It is obvious that McCoy has earned that from his teammates.

McCoy is coming into the 2011 season as the undisputed starting quarterback. The entire organization has shown their support of McCoy, and as Brown's fans can attest to, that is not something that has happened very frequently in Cleveland. Not having a quarterback competition in training camp is a relief to players and fans alike.

With eight games in his rookie season under his belt, Brown's fans should be excited to see what he can do with a healthy team, improved talent and a full season as the starting quarterback. Colt McCoy is poised to make the biggest impact on the 2011 Cleveland Browns.