Cleveland Browns: Ranking the Browns' Best Offensive Weapons

At the end of last season, there were plenty of positives to take away. The team had a strong running back in Peyton Hillis, a skilled veteran in Benjamin Watson and finally a leader under center in Colt McCoy.

However, there were some negatives with their offense. The Browns finished last season ranked 31st in total points, finishing the season with 271. To really see how bad that is, the first-place team in points, the New England Patriots, finished the season with 518 points.

Now with an offensive-minded coach in Pat Shurmur and the West Coast offense that president Mike Holmgren made famous in Green Bay, the Browns may finally be on the rise on the offensive side of the ball.

In the team's first two preseason games, there is reason to be optimistic for the Browns offense next season. Although they are still a ways away from making it to the postseason, they are moving in the right direction and will improve this upcoming season.

Now that the team has an offense that fits its players, their offensive weapons will benefit greatly.

5) Wide Receivers

Unfortunately for the Browns, their worst offensive weapons is their struggling wide receivers.

Last season, the Browns receivers were almost non-existent in the end zone, thanks to former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's offense, as running back Peyton Hillis would almost always get the ball when the Browns were in the red zone.

The predictability of Cleveland's offense led to several field goals in crucial times in the game when touchdowns are key.

At the end of the year, the Browns receiving touchdowns totaled only 13, while the league leader, Kansas City Chiefs' receiver Dwayne Bowe, led the league in touchdowns with 15.

The Browns first addressed their receiver problem in the draft, selecting North Carolina Tar Heel receiver Greg Little.

Little is a big receiver and is known for jumping over defenders to pull in the ball. He is difficult to tackle in the open field and could very well be the Browns' No. 1 receiver come opening week.

A lot of people thought that the Browns were not done with Little and that they would look to free agency for an impact signing, possibly Sidney Rice. However, free agency came and the Browns did not budge.

Instead, they will go with what they have and hopefully a change to the West Coast offense—an offense that relies on short, quick routes—will help the struggling receivers, including Brian Robiskie, who the Browns have been waiting for to break out.

In the first two preseason games, the Browns receivers have been impressive and almost everyone has been thrown to.

Hopefully their play can continue into the regular season, or else some of them, including Robiskie, may be shown the door.

4) TE Evan Moore

When tight end Evan Moore first arrived in Cleveland, people were wondering where he came from.

After going undrafted in the 2008 NFL draft, Moore was signed to the Green Bay Packers.

Moore struggled with injuries while in college, and unfortunately for him, they followed him to Green Bay, where he was placed on injured reserve after sustaining a knee injury in a preseason game.

He was later released and signed to the Browns practice squad.

Moore was promoted and in only five games, led all tight ends in receptions and yards and was one of the Browns' top receiving targets.

Moore was set to have a breakout season last year, until the injury bug hit yet again, this time in the form of a concussion in Week 2 and a hip injury that would end his 2010-2011 season.

Now, finally healthy, Moore has excelled in training camp as well as the preseason. According to Steve Doerschuk of Sporting News, the 26-year-old is "catching everything in sight."

In his first two preseason games, Moore finished with six receptions for 51 yards, including two touchdowns. He has quickly become one of Colt McCoy's favorite targets and should flourish in the Browns' new West Coast offense.

If Moore can stay healthy, he and fellow tight end Benjamin Watson should be one of the best tandems in the game.

3) TE Benjamin Watson

Last season, as much as the Browns offense struggled, tight end Benjamin Watson was a bright spot.

Watson was signed by the Browns during free agency last season after the New England Patriots, who Watson had spent his entire career with, released him.

In his first year with the Browns, the 30-year-old put up career highs in catches (68) as well as yards (763).

Whoever was under center for the Browns last season—whether it was Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace, or Colt McCoy—Watson was one of his favorite targets, as ESPN points out:

"Cleveland's quarterbacks were mostly incapable of connecting on deep passes, so they checked down to Watson with great regularity."

Watson was good on his own last season, but combined with a healthy Evan Moore, he will give opposing linebackers fits next season.

Although Watson has been in the league for seven years now, he is still only 30 years old and is in the Browns' big-picture plans as the team moves forward with their new offense and head coach.

Watson will benefit from quick passes and short routes in the West Coast offense and should have another career year. 

2) QB Colt McCoy

No one has been more impressive this preseason for the Browns than quarterback Colt McCoy.

In just three preseason games, McCoy has thrown completed 28-of-46 pass attempts for 320 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.

For Browns fans those stats are impressive, but for McCoy, it's something he needs to work on to improve. McCoy strives to be perfect, which is exactly what Cleveland has been waiting for.

In only eight games last season, McCoy showed that he could be the leader the Browns have always needed, including leading Cleveland to two big upsets against the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints.

The Texas Longhorn may not have the strongest arm, but he showed that he could excel in the NFL with his mobility, as well as his intelligence.

In the West Coast offense, McCoy won't be depended on to throw long-yardage passes, but to instead slowly move the ball down the field, killing time of the clock and throwing short-yardage passes to get the first down.

McCoy is a dangerous weapon when it comes to the pass game, but can also beat opponents on the feet, as he showed during his years at Texas as well as with his touchdown run against the Pats.

1) RB Peyton Hillis

When the Browns traded quarterback Brady Quinn to the Denver Broncos, not many people knew the name of Peyton Hillis.

Fast-forward one year and clearly the Browns were the winners in this trade as Peyton Hillis has quickly become one of the most popular names in the league.

Hillis finished a career year with Cleveland last year, finishing with over 1,000 yards, as well as 13 touchdowns, which was third-best in the league and tied the total of touchdowns by Cleveland's receivers.

Whenever the Browns entered the red zone, nine times out of 10, Hillis got the ball. As predictable as the Browns' offensive playbook was last season, opposing defenses still could not stop Hillis.

Whether he barreled through defenders or gained another eight or nine yards with two on his back, Hillis fought for every yard he gained.

As dangerous as Hillis is on the ground, he also showed that he can be a dangerous weapon when it comes to receiving. On several occasions, Hillis would catch short dump passes when the downfield receivers were locked up.

With an offensive mind in Pat Shurmur, the Browns offense should be more unpredictable, which will make Hillis an even better player.

No longer will the Browns run Hillis the first two plays, pass on third down and most likely punt. Keeping the defense guessing makes Hillis an even more dangerous weapon.

You know what they say, "Peyton Hillis doesn't run downhill, that's just the ground trying to get away from him."