Ten Bold Predictions for the 2010 Cleveland Browns Post-NFL Draft

[BernietheKid]

Ten Bold Predictions for the 2010 Cleveland Browns Post-NFL Draft
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Written by Daniel Wolf




The 2010 NFL Draft is a thing of the past now, and the Cleveland Browns have OTAs followed by rookie camp in May and June.

Then players have approximately two months off before coming back to begin training camp in August.

Even though it may be a bit early for 2010 season predictions, the following are 10 bold Browns predictions post-NFL Draft.



1. Josh Cribbs Will No Longer Return Punts

When the Browns were hosting college prospects before the NFL Draft, it was reported that several players were tested to see how they were able to field and return punts.

Mike Holmgren has been very vocal is saying that Cribbs will have more of a featured role on offense and not returning punts would help keep Cribbs fresh during games. Plus, he is 100 percent more talented returning kicks.

Other players on the roster who could possibly return punts include: CB Gerard Lawson, WR Chansi Stuckey, RB Jerome Harrison, and S Larry Asante all have had some experience being a returner on special teams.



2. Jake Delhomme Will Recover From a Poor 2009 Season

Delhomme is a veteran quarterback who may be in his mid-30's, but he is savvy and smart to not let a poor 2009 season stop his career in its tracks.

Past quarterbacks who have also been to the Super Bowl and have been able to bounce back from a very bad season include both Brett Favre and John Elway.

Delhomme may not have the Hall of Fame resume they had, but the point is veterans can have a bad year and bounce back from it positively.

In 2010, Delhomme will do the same and have a solid overall season.



3. Shaun Rogers Will Not Get Traded, and He Will Be As Good As Ever

Rogers may be in the middle of legal issues and could face some jail time plus an NFL suspension (probably three to six games), but when it's all said and done, Rogers will be as dominant as ever.

Many think that Rogers is trade bait, but no team would want the burden of his off-the-field issues and his huge contract, so the Browns will be stuck with him unless they cut him.

Cutting a player like Rogers is just not smart, and after the dark clouds pass, Rogers will get back on the football field with a new focus and play better than ever in 2010.



4. Rookie Running Back Montario Hardesty Will Be Starting Mid-Season

Running back Jerome Harrison will get the starting spot early in the season, but Hardesty's straight ahead and attacking running style is better suited for head coach Eric Mangini's offense.

Hardesty will be reminiscent of when Mangini had running back Thomas Jones while with the New York Jets and he will use him that way too.

If so, then look for Hardesty to be the Browns' first 1,000 yard rookie running back since Kevin Mack ran for over 1,000 yards as a rookie in 1985.



5. The Browns Will Run a Formation With Both Cribbs and Wallace

Both Cribbs and new Browns backup quarterback Seneca Wallace are very similar players in that they have played many different positions on offense including: quarterback, running back, and wide receiver.

Cribbs has been running the Wildcat formation successfully that past two seasons, but when both of these players are on the field and the same time, there is no telling what will happen and this is an advantage for the Browns every time.



6. Rob Ryan Will Have a Defensive Formation Without Any Lineman

Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is one of the best at what he does because he not only came from an NFL coaching pedigree, being the son of Buddy Ryan, but he can field a dangerous and attacking defensive unit with the right players.

Several times in 2009, Ryan ran some situational formations on defense where there was only one defensive lineman so don't be surprised when he brings out a formation that had zero lineman in some kind of blitz package.



7. Receiver Carlton Mitchell Will Become a Downfield and Redzone Threat

Mitchell has both the size and speed to become a real threat in the NFL and even though most wide receivers have trouble adapting to the NFL game quickly, sometimes there are players who do.

In 2010, Mitchell may start off slow, but look many deep passes from Delhomme to Mitchell and quite a few jumps balls and/or fade passes into the back of the endzone.



8. Eric Mangini Will Be a Completely Different and Better Coach

Mangini has a bad rap across the NFL and sadly he does not fit that profile when you meet him in person.

Said to be very down to Earth and approachable, Mangini will benefit by Holmgren's presence and absorb everything Holmgren teaches not only to help keep his job on the Browns, but to better himself as a coach too.

Mangini will listen and the changes will be evident on the sidelines and on the football field.



9. The Browns Will Start the 2010 Season With a Record of 2-0

The Browns start the season against the Chiefs and Buccaneers in weeks one and two of the regular and if they continue their winning ways at the end of 2009, then they could go into Baltimore in week three undefeated against a Raven team who could also be undefeated.

Week three could be the game of the week and an AFC North showdown for sole possession of first place.

Crazier things have happened in the NFL.



10. The Browns Will Not Have Double-Digit Losses in 2010

The Browns have only had three seasons of not having double-digit losses since their return in 1999.

Which leaves nine seasons of double-digit losses.

This team may still be rebuilding in the new Holmgren era, but he will get this franchise in the right direction and the double-digit losing season will become a thing of the past starting in 2010.




Dawg Scooper: Ten Bold Predictions for the 2010 Cleveland Browns Post-NFL Draft

[YtownBacker]

Bold my man............................but not out of the realm.

I do think some are very possible. I think using Cribbs on coverage teams is really dumb. We know have some guys that can take those duties away from him and let him play a bigger role on offense.

Hell, if this isn't the year he shows some progress at WR then how about a little more time as a RB or followup with the experiment of him as a safety.

[BernietheKid]

I agree I think some of these will happen. I think the Hardesty, Rob Ryan not using a DL, the Browns starting 2-0 and Mitchell being a red-zone threat could be a very real possibility.

[golfer704u]

Numbers 2,4 and 7 are the only ones I'd question. other than that I agree 100% with this article.

[Greythan]

Sign me up! (Its early as we're not yet to training camp, but I love this time of year when no matter what my mind tells me, my heart says: "This is the year!!!")

[Inspecta]

At first I thought this was a national guy writing this, but alas it's not.

It's a nice homer-ish article. I can't completely disagree with each of these propositions individually, but the chances of all or most of them coming to fruition are not very good. I hope to God I'm wrong and we have a 2007 type season except playoffs. Man that would be sweet.

[hiwaygal]

Originally Posted by Greythan

Sign me up! (Its early as we're not yet to training camp, but I love this time of year when no matter what my mind tells me, my heart says: "This is the year!!!")

me too! me too!

I love everything this guy says. Don't care if it's homerish...it's nice to read something POSITIVE about our Brownies for a change!

[Inspecta]

Oh yeah, I love reading this stuff as welel, and Grey you're absolutely correct, this is the best time of year to be a Browns fan. Hope springs eternal brother!!

What differentiates this year from other years however is for the first time since our return we have a leader who is proven and has an established plan, and from the looks of things has everybody on the same page. That goes a long way in the NFL.

I really think everything hinges on JDH's ability to rebound from his bad year. Others aren't very hopeful, but as Flugel and others have pointed out there a plethora of middle aged QB's who had bad years with their teams, was let go and caught fire with a new team. A change of scenery does wonders for a player.

I'm praying we have a Kurt Warner situation on our hands. Not saying he's gonna put up those types of numbers, but we'll see. All he has to do is protect the ball, and make a few plays a game. I have a feeling with the Hardesty pick we plan on being a running team primarily. If we can run the ball as well as we did at the end of the year, with Cribbs running the WC thrown in, we can be pretty dangerous. And not in a rams "greatest show on turf" sorta way from years back. But we can be the type of offense that puts a HUGE amount of pressure on the opposing teams offense, because we will have the ability to sustain really LONG drives. I'd love an offense that just chews up clock. So when we get the ball in the 4th quarter the other team is like "oh shit" cause they know that they might not get the ball back.

Who knows, it's spring and we all have high hopes. Hell even Rich has high hopes, which I've never seen him in that type of mindset, so that could be a good omen

[Legacy Fan]

Daniel Wolf (the author) is a pretty solid writer and pretty knowledgeable.

That said, I have a hard time buying into items 4,5,7. Tandem backs are the new NFL, just like the pass heavy side of it. Both guys will be splitting carries (hopefully).

Wildcat isn't much of a change-up from the WCO outside of having your offense potentially lose its rhythm.

I hope he's right about 7 - we need it. But, I dont know.

[Inspecta]

Also while I think Hardesty could be solid for us, I think there's one thing wrong with his prediction about him.

He says Jerome will get the start to begin the season but Hardesty will come on later, and still rush for 1,000 yards? I guess he's banking on Hardesty completely blowing up the spot once he gets in there.

If he's that high on him, and Jerome is as talented as he is, man, could we? Dare I say.....have a throwback to the Byner Mack year with 2 1,000yd rushers?
Holy shit that would be sweet.

[Legacy Fan]

Originally Posted by Inspecta

If he's that high on him, and Jerome is as talented as he is, man, could we? Dare I say.....have a throwback to the Byner Mack year with 2 1,000yd rushers? Holy shit that would be sweet.

I would definitely scorch my shorts.

[Danamal]

"Wait till next year" has been my battle cry since I was a Brown's fan and im 45 fuckin years old!
Let's just say im cautiously optimistic about our chances of less suckage this season.