Team Preview: Cleveland Browns

We would be liars if we said we weren’t impressed by the Browns last season. Derek Anderson put on a clinic on how to run a 3-step-drop-and-throw last year, enabling an offensive line with a few question marks to gain some experience and confidence without risking their quarterback’s neck. Jamal Lewis was wildly inconsistent last season. He posted 5 100+ yard rushing games last season, including one of 216 against Cincinnati. On the other end, Lewis had 4 games of under 40 yards. However, Lewis is approaching 30, entering his 9th season in the league. Longstanding football theory states that there are only a certain number of hits a running back can take in a career, and Lewis may be approaching that tipping point.

While Lewis was originally seen as a 1-year solution, was signed in the off-season to a 3-year contract. The Browns also lack a proven backup to Lewis, so if he falters this team could lose their running game, turning into the Detroit Lions of the Mike Martz era.

On paper, the Browns offense is loaded with Braylon Edwards, Dante Stallworth, Kellen Winslow Jr, and Joe Jurevicius. However, Jurevicius has landed on the PUP list with a knee injury that will hold him out of at least the first six weeks of the season. This could mean an increased role in the offense for kick-returner extraordinaire Josh Cribbs. Anderson is also sidelined with a concussion and his return for week 1 is questionable. If Brady Quinn’s performance against Detroit last week is any indication, Browns fans have to hope Anderson is able to play again soon. We Steelers fans know what it’s like to have a quarterback who gets dinged in the noggin before the season starts. It doesn’t exactly make for the greatest recipe for success and every sack brings your stomach to your mouth.

The Browns were very aggressive in free agency, with their biggest move being the re-signing of quarterback Derek Anderson, who single-handedly turned the Browns from the joke they were in Week 1, to the playoff contenders they were in December. The Browns also added wide receiver Dante Stallworth from New Engaland and defensive tackle Sean Rodgers from Detroit.

Will Rodgers be able to improve the Browns defense, which ranked 30th in the league in total defense and 27th in the league in run defense? He was part of a Lions defense which was marginally better (23rd in the league) against the run last season. The Browns defense was the weak link of their team last year. Time and time again, the Browns had an inability to stop teams when it counted, almost in resulting in a loss to St. Louis had it not been for some stellar catches by Kellen Winslow to allow them to come back.

In the secondary, Eric Wright enters his second year at corner and Brodney Pool is coming into his own as a free safety, giving the Browns an improvement in a secondary that had been absolutely torched in prior years.

The Browns are the darling of many media experts to win the AFC North this season. Do they have what it takes? The Browns haven’t beaten the Steelers since 2003. The Steelers have won 9 consecutive games over Cleveland and 15 of the last 16. Even though no team has won the AFC North two consecutive years, Cleveland has not won a division title since 1989 when they lost in the AFC Championship game to Denver on what we all know as “the drive.”

So the question remains? Can the Browns top the Steelers?

The Browns, even though they have a stellar offense, are in place for a massive debacle. Last year they were powered by a weak schedule that got them near the top, and this year they must make their way through a strong schedule against the AFC South and NFC East. Granted the Steelers must play the same schedule, but Cleveland has some question marks, especially on defense. Offense wins games, defense wins championships.

Ian’s 2008 Prediction: 7-9
John’s 2008 Prediction: 8-8