Greetham: A 2010 Prognosis

[BernietheKid]

Greetham: A 2010 Prognosis
		By Fred Greetham OBR Browns Reporter Posted Aug 13, 2010 | More After watching camp since it started, Fred Greetham offers a look forward at 2010.
BEREA, Ohio--As the Browns get set to start the preseason Saturday against the Green Bay Packers, it will be an opportunity to take a look at the hopefully, ‘new and improved’ Browns. Jake Delhomme is not going to make anyone forget about Otto Graham or Bernie Kosar, but he has brought a steadying force to the team. If Delhomme can eliminate the mistakes-- namely interceptions-- the offense will be way ahead of last year. The Browns aren’t a good enough team to be in the negative area in the turnover ratio. From the observations at training camp on a daily basis, the likes of Ben Watson, Evan Moore, Jerome Harrison and Peyton Hillis are going to be Delhomme’s best friends. The quarterbacks are all throwing a lot of shorter pass routes and thus far haven’t thrown the ball down field a whole lot. Brian Robiskie, Mohamed Massaquoi, Chansi Stuckey and Josh Cribbs have been impressive thus far in catching the ball, it remains to be seen what they will be able to do when the real bullets start flying. Seneca Wallace looks as though he will really be integrated into the plan of attack and he along with Cribbs should legitimately inject some life into the offense. The offensive line looks as though it will pick up where it left off. The left side looks strong with Joe Thomas, Eric Steinbach and Alex Mack at center. Shawn Lauvao has shown good progress at right guard and Floyd Womack was playing right tackle at the end of last season when the Browns were leading the NFL in rushing. Tony Pashos has been slowed by a shoulder injury but should be able to strengthen the right tackle spot. John St. Clair has been working with the first team at right tackle in Pashos’ absence and Eric Mangini said he’s been doing well. The team is counting on running the ball. Harrison showed he can be a very productive back in the final stretch of last season. Hillis was added to the stable and James Davis has looked good in his comeback from a season-ending shoulder injury. Rookie Montario Hardesty hasn’t made it to the field since training camp started with a twisted knee, but he is expected back shortly. Defensively, there is no question the Browns secondary was weak ranking 29th in the NFL. Sheldon Brown, Joe Haden, T.J. Ward and Larry Asante appear to have solidified the secondary. Ward has moved into the starting lineup and has shown good improvement in the early going. Mangini gave Ward unsolicited praise three days in a row this week. Brandon McDonald has had a pretty good training camp—at least on the field-- and if ends up the fourth cornerback, that bodes well for the defense, given the fact he started the past two seasons. The linebacker corps appears very deep. Even with the injury to D’Qwell Jackson, the team has at least three potential replacements that have started many NFL games in Eric Barton, David Bowens and Jason Trusnik. Mangini said that second-year linebacker David Veikune has improved as much as Robiskie has on the defensive side of the ball, but that remains to be seen on the field. Kaluka Maiava also started a couple of games last season on the inside and is in the mix. The defensive line has been without Shaun Rogers and C.J. Mosley and it appears that Ahtyba Rubin will start the season as the nose tackle. Robaire Smith and Kenyon Coleman are holding up at the ends. If Rogers or Smith are suspended by the NFL for gun-related charges, the line might be thin in the early going of the season. Brian Shaefering has shown flashes, but C.J. Mosley hasn’t come off the PUP list yet. Cliff Geathers has potential, but he is raw and slated to be a developmental player this season. The special teams has been one of the strengths of the team for the past several seasons and there is no reason to believe that Phil Dawson, Cribbs and the rest of the crew will disappoint. The biggest question is whether Dave Zastudil is going to be able to punt this season, as he is a major weapon for the Browns in pinning opponents back inside their 20. Most Browns fans are hoping the team is heading in the right direction and it appears they are. They have leadership in place and appear to have added some nice pieces to the roster. Time will tell if these players will pan out, particularly the younger players. The 2010 season is about finding core players for the coming years. Most fans are not expecting the Browns to make the playoffs this season, but most fans are looking for improvement. Whether the team is 6-10 or 8-8, most Browns fans will be happy if by the end of the season it appears the Browns are going to be ready to contend for a playoff berth in 2011.

Scout.com: Greetham: A 2010 Prognosis

[Enigmatic Evil]

Good article here Bernie, and these are my main thoughts...

Though some of us may not want to admit it. Jake Delhomme is probably one of the most important Browns as far as individuals go heading into the 2010 season. He's rebounding off an awful year and the change of scenery seems to have given him some rejuvination. He's meshing well and earning the respect of his teammates and the buzz from OTA's and Camp has done enough to convince all (or most of us) that he is a superior option to either of the two QB's we were running last year. I think regardless of consistancy, we will have a superior passing attack to last year. How much better depends on Delhomme, and the WR's respective ability to step it up and play well.

Mangini mentions that St. Clair is "playing well" in Pachos absence. Now, I'd hardly expect the head coach to dog any of his players' efforts especially in the early pre-season when a single game hasn't been played yet but really I don't think any of us have expectations of St. Clair beyond providing moderate O-Line depth.

Brandon McDonald's strong camp is nothing but great news for us. Lets not be coy here, I don't think for a second that BMac is unaware of the negative buzz that surrounds him. Let's be honest here, pretty much every single one of us doggs him and if I were in his shoes I would be busting my ass, fighting for a starting spot (especially since Wright's hurt) and just trying to earn my spot on the team. If the solid play transitions to the regular season I'd like to see at least a couple picks from him. Anything to get that meek career total of what, one or two up!

This season is absolutely about building a future core. We have many young players who will become the foundation of the future for this team. With the youth we will continue to add along with key veteran features. I look forward to watching this team grow this season, much like they did last season. You can't argue, in the midst of a terrible 1-11 start, and winning the final 4 that the team didn't grow leaps and bounds it felt. I hope for similar progression this season. Facing a tough schedule, the team will have many opportunities to show what they can do against the best the NFL has to offer.

I know Wombat wants us to stop drinking the kool-aid but I am the punch brewer! I think we all should be keeping our chins up for the upcoming year. We aren't going to be world beaters, but we're going to be bringing the fight to the opposition each and every week. We won't have to wince going into a game against a top-tier team knowing they're going to wipe us out. I don't think there will be any ridiculous games this year, like the Detroit game last year. This team will have a different on-field presence.

[Shep]

My overview (and I think this was a good one):

- Mostly , the Browns are laying a very good foundation at RB and OL to more aggressively address the passing game next offseason. It won't take much to add another right side lineman in round 3-ish, just like we did with Lauvao, given that Womack and Pashos don't look to be falling apart or anything.

- We have a very promising "pile" of young running backs and fullbacks that could really help a young quarterback next season, whether it's McCoy or someone new, like Luck, Locker, or Ponder. A very strong line and a deep stable of backs is a good cockpit.

- Delhomme is not going to scare anybody. By all accounts, he doesn't have the zing he had five years ago. But if he can just be accurate and safe with the ball, maybe we can find out what we have in all these young WRs. The problem is, he's mostly been throwing to TEs and backs according to several reports I've read.

- I'm curious to see how the offense looks with Delhomme compared to Wallace. I think Wallace can be a spark and allow for a seamless transition to Wildcat plays, which would keep the defense off-balance without changing personnel. I won't be shocked if a couple preseason games has us ALL talking about that.

- On defense, we should sure as hell be WAY improved in pass defense. Haden is looking good, Wright is back, Ward is getting praised up and down by Mangini (3 picks on Thursday), and even McDonald looks to have taking a major step.

- Now can we generate a pass rush? Because with Roth and Fujita sealing the edges and Rubin and a couple oversized ILBs like Gocong and Barton, I think we'll stop the run really well. I'm curious to see who's on the edges on passing downs.

- I wish I could watch this game live because I'm dying to feel good about McCoy. I really, truly am. Clausen looked good Thursday night and Kafka went downfield to lead his team to a victory with a TD and field goal in the fourth quarter. There's no reason to expect a four-year starter to do less than those two guys unless he just isn't as ready as they are. Those three are the ones I'm comparing. Bradford's on a different level.