Lions vs. Browns: 6 Cleveland Players Who Need to Improve in Preseason Week 2

The Cleveland Browns looked great in their preseason debut, defeating the defending Super Bowl Champs, the Green Bay Packers, 27-17. The starting offense looked sharp, as QB Colt McCoy was 9-of-10 for 135 yards and a touchdown pass, and the defense held their own against an incredibly talented Packer offense. 

Although a lot of things were looking up for the Browns, a few players struggled against the Packers' second- and third-team players. 

These are the six guys who are going to have to improve against the Lions in Week 2 if they want to keep their spot on the Browns depth chart, or even roster. 

Coye Francies

Coye Francies has been an off and on player for the Browns, and this season is no different. 

The Browns need to figure out whether this guy belongs in Cleveland. The only person who is going to help Coye perform well enough to stay is Coye. A big game against Lions backups could be a step in the right direction for Francies, who is competing for a spot in the up-and-coming Browns secondary. 

Jarrett Brown

Jarret Brown has gotten a lot of endorsement from the Cleveland Browns this preseason. 

However, his performance against the Packers better not be a sign of things to come. Brown was 1-of-2 with 13 yards passing and one interception in Saturday's matchup, not really impressing anyone on the sidelines. 

With rumors of the Browns looking at Terrelle Pryor, Brown must have a better outing against the Lions, or the Browns may seriously consider drafting Pryor, if he is eligible, in place of Brown.  

Jabaal Sheard

Browns second-round pick Jabaal Sheard is a large part of a revamped Browns defensive line. Paired with first-round pick Phil Taylor and Jayme Mitchell, Sheard is going to have to be a productive pass rusher in order to help the Browns defensive line this season.

Sheard didn't play horribly against the Packers, but he really didn't make any kind of impression, and he wasn't able to rush Packers QB's Aaron Rodgers and Matt Flynn the way he would've liked to. 

He's going to have to make an impact against the Lions in order for the coaches to know that this is a guy who is ready to start and make an impact on the Browns defensive line. 

Jordan Cameron

Ben Watson and Evan Moore anchor a Browns tight end group that is definitely on the rise. 

The depth the Browns have at tight end may be a problem for Browns fourth-round pick Jordan Cameron.

Cameron was recruited out of high school to play basketball for USC. He later switched to play football for the Trojans as a wide receiver, but finished up as a tight end for Lane Kiffin. 

Cameron really did nothing on the field to be drafted. With little experience, he was drafted purely on the results of his NFL combine: (4.6 40, 37.5 vertical leap, and lead all tight ends in shuttle drills), which were extremely impressive. However, to impress Brown's coach Pat Shurmur, Cameron is going to have to play well against the Lions after only having one catch for six yards in his preseason debut. 

D'Qwell Jackson

D'Qwell Jackson has been through a lot these last few years. 

Injuries have held him out of the last two seasons, leading him on the comeback trail for the 2011 campaign. 

For Jackson, it's going to be important to make strides in each game, to show the team that he can play at the level he did three years ago, before he was hurt. He said he was nervous being back out on the field against the Packers, but once the hitting got going, Jackson felt like his normal self.

If Jackson wants his starting job back, he's going to have to make an impression each and every week, including Week 2 against the Lions.  

Montario Hardesty

After a tough injury forced Hardesty to miss the 2010 season, he's got something to prove to the Browns. 

Hardesty was unable to play in the game against the Packers, but in order to save his spot on the Browns roster, he's going to have to play, and play well against the Lions.  

He's coming into this preseason as a dark horse in a revamped Browns running game He needs to prove that he's able to play, and needs to prove it quickly.