The new Browns management stated in the opening press conference of the season that a repeat of last year’s 3-13 season is unacceptable and that they fully expect the Browns to put forth a formidable effort. Also, the new management stressed the importance of improving a defense that gave up nearly 27 points per game last year . The offseason proved that to be true as the team saw mainly defensive upgrades in both the draft and free agency at positions of need such as DE, MLB, CB and S. Browns management finished off the conference saying, “We want to bring the bite back into Dawg Pound.”
Preseason Team Preview
OFFENSE
QBs: The Browns will look for further development out of Colt McCoy. Last season’s 17 TD to 23 INT ratio and 58 completion percentage did not impress the new management. He’ll need to make strides this year in both performance and wins to avoid the Browns looking outside the organization either via trade, free agency or draft for another QB. Last year’s backup Seneca Wallace was cut in the offseason for a bloated salary and unsatisfactory play. His replacement will be Rex Grossman who will hopefully only hold a clipboard all season.
Colt McCoy will look to prove this year he can be a bigtime NFL QB.
RBs: Peyton Hillis received a contract extension from management in hopes he can improve on a down year last season. His success or failure can make or break the Browns season but his downhill style of running is exactly what the Browns need in the cold weather late in the season. Brandon Jackson seems to be the favorite as the #2 back but Montario Hardesty is there to take over if Jackson struggles. Both are on shaky ground after reports surfaced the Browns tried to bring back James Harrison who signed with another team for a higher payday. Owen Marecic will look to improve his blocking in his sophomore campaign and lead the way for a Peyton Hillis 1,000 yd season.
Peyton Hillis will take on the load for the offense.
WRs/TEs: Mohamed Massaquoi will remain the #1 WR but will be pushed by 2nd year man Greg Little who showed spurts of raw potential last year. Brian Robiske won the 3rd WR spot out of camp but Joshua Cribbs and rookies Harlos Randolph and Dominique Taylor will likely push for time if he struggles. Ben Watson will remain the starting TE but Jordan Cameron will be given a shot at the #2 spot over incumbent Evan Moore.
The Browns will look for a breakout for sophomore WR Greg Little after 6 TDs last year.
OL: Joe Thomas and Alex Mack will be the biggest factors on the o-line, both in the passing game and running. Veteran Eric Steinbach returns to man the LG, 2nd year man Jason Pinkston will take over RG from Shawn Lauvao, and veteran free agent Mark Tauscher was brought in to replace the recently released Tony Pashos.
Big FA Mark Tauscher will look to hold down the fort at RT.
DEFENSE
DL: The Browns bolstered their front four by landing one of the biggest acquisitions of the offseason in DE John Abraham. He will likely help mentor his sophomore starting mate DE Jabaal Sheard, who finished his rookie campaign with 5 sacks, as well as provide a balanced pass rush. Another second year player Phil Taylor , who the new Browns management see as the anchor to their revamped defense, will man the DT position and the Browns expect him to make further strides to being an upper echelon DT. Ahytba Rubin will man the other DT position providing another large body to eat up space up the middle.
John Abraham brings leadership and elite DE skills to a Browns defense lacking in both.
LBs: Ikeem Smith, the Browns #1 draft pick, will come in immediately and start at MLB. Many have called him Willis 2.0 for his combination of speed, strength and awareness. D’Qwell Jackson, Chris Gocong, and Scott Sizzling Fujita will fight for the other LB spots although Fujita looks like the odd man out at the moment.
First round pick Ikeem Smith out of SMU brings high expectations and potential to the MLB spot for the Browns.
DBs: Joe Haden will look to take the next step from being a great CB to a lockdown CB this season. The Browns are extremely excited to see his play this season. With Sheldon Brown’s release the Browns will look to rookie 2nd round pick LaBradford Bush to man the opposite side of Haden. Jason Allen and Maurice Leggett were brought in as free agents to play nickel and dime packages. The biggest move for the secondary though was the signing of Tom Zbikowski to a 2 year deal. The former Raven will come to a division rival with a chip on his shoulder. He will play opposite TJ Ward at FS (relegating Usama Young to back up duty) and hopefully will protect the back end for the Browns.
Zbikowski will look to bring some toughness to what was a soft Brown defense last year.
The fans are behind the Browns new management:
Preseason Team Preview
OFFENSE
QBs: The Browns will look for further development out of Colt McCoy. Last season’s 17 TD to 23 INT ratio and 58 completion percentage did not impress the new management. He’ll need to make strides this year in both performance and wins to avoid the Browns looking outside the organization either via trade, free agency or draft for another QB. Last year’s backup Seneca Wallace was cut in the offseason for a bloated salary and unsatisfactory play. His replacement will be Rex Grossman who will hopefully only hold a clipboard all season.
Colt McCoy will look to prove this year he can be a bigtime NFL QB.
RBs: Peyton Hillis received a contract extension from management in hopes he can improve on a down year last season. His success or failure can make or break the Browns season but his downhill style of running is exactly what the Browns need in the cold weather late in the season. Brandon Jackson seems to be the favorite as the #2 back but Montario Hardesty is there to take over if Jackson struggles. Both are on shaky ground after reports surfaced the Browns tried to bring back James Harrison who signed with another team for a higher payday. Owen Marecic will look to improve his blocking in his sophomore campaign and lead the way for a Peyton Hillis 1,000 yd season.
Peyton Hillis will take on the load for the offense.
WRs/TEs: Mohamed Massaquoi will remain the #1 WR but will be pushed by 2nd year man Greg Little who showed spurts of raw potential last year. Brian Robiske won the 3rd WR spot out of camp but Joshua Cribbs and rookies Harlos Randolph and Dominique Taylor will likely push for time if he struggles. Ben Watson will remain the starting TE but Jordan Cameron will be given a shot at the #2 spot over incumbent Evan Moore.
The Browns will look for a breakout for sophomore WR Greg Little after 6 TDs last year.
OL: Joe Thomas and Alex Mack will be the biggest factors on the o-line, both in the passing game and running. Veteran Eric Steinbach returns to man the LG, 2nd year man Jason Pinkston will take over RG from Shawn Lauvao, and veteran free agent Mark Tauscher was brought in to replace the recently released Tony Pashos.
Big FA Mark Tauscher will look to hold down the fort at RT.
DEFENSE
DL: The Browns bolstered their front four by landing one of the biggest acquisitions of the offseason in DE John Abraham. He will likely help mentor his sophomore starting mate DE Jabaal Sheard, who finished his rookie campaign with 5 sacks, as well as provide a balanced pass rush. Another second year player Phil Taylor , who the new Browns management see as the anchor to their revamped defense, will man the DT position and the Browns expect him to make further strides to being an upper echelon DT. Ahytba Rubin will man the other DT position providing another large body to eat up space up the middle.
John Abraham brings leadership and elite DE skills to a Browns defense lacking in both.
LBs: Ikeem Smith, the Browns #1 draft pick, will come in immediately and start at MLB. Many have called him Willis 2.0 for his combination of speed, strength and awareness. D’Qwell Jackson, Chris Gocong, and Scott Sizzling Fujita will fight for the other LB spots although Fujita looks like the odd man out at the moment.
First round pick Ikeem Smith out of SMU brings high expectations and potential to the MLB spot for the Browns.
DBs: Joe Haden will look to take the next step from being a great CB to a lockdown CB this season. The Browns are extremely excited to see his play this season. With Sheldon Brown’s release the Browns will look to rookie 2nd round pick LaBradford Bush to man the opposite side of Haden. Jason Allen and Maurice Leggett were brought in as free agents to play nickel and dime packages. The biggest move for the secondary though was the signing of Tom Zbikowski to a 2 year deal. The former Raven will come to a division rival with a chip on his shoulder. He will play opposite TJ Ward at FS (relegating Usama Young to back up duty) and hopefully will protect the back end for the Browns.
Zbikowski will look to bring some toughness to what was a soft Brown defense last year.
The fans are behind the Browns new management:
