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Cleveland Browns:
This Year's Most Overrated Team
by
Bill
Chuang
Head
Columnist
9/7/08
Archive
This year, there is no clear cut overrated team. I was thinking
it
might be Minnesota who Dr. Z of SI.com picked to represent the NFC in
the Superbowl. When I look at this team, though, they are solid
all
around, and if they can get even some decent QB play out of Tarvaris
Jackson, might make a splash in the playoffs. After all the
Ravens won
the Super Bowl with Trent Dilfer at QB. Most other sites have
them
rated in the 10-15 range which I think is about right, so I don’t think
they are particularly overrated.
Last week Philadelphia was also put into the mix
after SI picked them
to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. That’s probably
just SI
trying to be controversial. No other publication or website has
the
Eagles even close to the Super Bowl.
The darlings of this offseason seem to the Cleveland Browns. They
went
10-6 last year and were just edged out of the AFC North Championship
and the playoffs by the Steelers. They basically overhauled
their
defensive line this year and added another playmaker on offense.
Most
sites and publications have them ranked in the top 10 and taking the
AFC North crown from Pittsburgh. Considering the Browns are 0-4
this
preseason, picking them as overrated may seem like piling on, but
problems with the Browns were evident even before the preseason started. |
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The strength of their offense is the offensive line. With Joe
Thomas
at left tackle and Eric Steinbach at left guard, this unit gave up 19
sacks last year. This allowed Derek Anderson to have his breakout
year
and made Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards pro bowlers.
The line
returns essentially. Though this line has not played well during
the
preseason, I expect this unit to solidify once the real games
begin.
QB, Derek Anderson had spectacular numbers last year, but these numbers
tailed off toward the end of the season. Defensive coordinators
will
have had a full offseason to analyze his strengths and weaknesses, so
he won’t be able to sneak up on any teams like last year.
Nevertheless, with time to throw to his outstanding cadre of receivers,
he should at least have another good year. That receiver corp was
bolstered by the addition of Donte Stallworth in the offseason.
Stallworth was basically shoved into the background last year in New
England after they acquired Randy Moss, but was a very solid if not
spectacular receiver in New Orleans and Philadelphia prior to his stint
in New England. They will miss Joe Jerovicious who is out for at
least 6 games after being placed on the PUP list with an
injury.
At RB, Jamal Lewis returns after rushing for 1300 yards last
year. He
is only 29, but his body has absorbed a lot of hits over his career, so
it will be interesting to see if he can even come close to repeating
that type of production.
All in all, I think the Browns offense is in good shape.
Their big
question mark is on defense. Last year, the Browns were ranked
30th in
the league in total yards per game, 27th against the run, so in the
offseason, they added Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams to the defensive
line. Rogers can be a beast when properly motivated, and a new
environment in Cleveland may give him that motivation. Because
Cleveland plays a 3-4 defense, Rogers will play nose tackle and asked
to stop the run. Though he has never played the nose in the NFL
or in
college, he has played the run well in the preseason. Rogers can
also
provide a strong push up the middle or play end on passing downs.
Corey Williams will play next to Rogers as a 3-4 end. Since he
came
from Green Bay which plays a 4-3, it’s unclear if he will be able to
handle the responsibilities of the end in a 3-4 alignment. I know
that
the Steelers were also interested in acquiring Williams, and since the
Steelers have years of experience in evaluating and developing
defensive ends for their 3-4, I suspect Williams will do well.
Robaire
Smith will be the third lineman. The problem with Cleveland’s
version
of the 3-4 defense is their lack of linebacking. In a 3-4, the
linebackers are the stars, such as Joey Porter, Mike Vrabel, Shawne
Merriman, and Demarcus Ware. They pressure the QB and make the
tackles
while the linemen absorb the blockers. There is no Merriman in
Cleveland. Kamerion Wimbley was drafted to fill that role
and had a
good rookie season, but his performance tailed off in his second
season. Willie McGinest, who will probably start on the other
side, is
too old and has never had the kind of success in Cleveland that he
enjoyed in New England. He will likely share snaps with Antwan
Peek
who is a better athlete, but inconsistent. Perhaps a stronger
defensive line will open things up for these linebackers. In the
middle D’Qwell Jackson is solid and should be even better with a
stronger line. He’ll play alongside Andra Davis, who
is also solid.
The biggest problem on defense is in the secondary. They traded
away
their best cornerback, Leigh Bodden, to obtain Rogers. I keep
hearing
that their other corner, Eric Wright would have been a first rounder
last year if not for his off field problems. While this may be
true,
Wright has not yet shown it on the field. In the offseason, the
Browns
lost Daven Holly, a valuable nickel back who was to have pushed for a
starting job. Sean Jones and Brodney Poole are the
safeties. Jones
is a ballhawk who had 5 interceptions each of the past two
seasons.
Given the deficiencies in the secondary, I expect the Browns to
struggle against teams with strong passing games.
The Browns boast one of the best special teams units in the
league.
Pro bowler returner Joshua Cribbs can turn a game around in an
instant. Kicker Phil Dawson and punter, Dave Zastudil are solid.
Perhaps the biggest impediment to the playoffs for the Browns is their
schedule. It’s been well publicized that the Steelers have the
toughest schedule in the league, perhaps one of the toughest in league
history, but the Browns play almost that same schedule. The
biggest
differences are games against the Denver and Buffalo while the Steelers
play San Diego and New England. While San Diego and New England
are
certainly two of the best in the AFC, Buffalo and Denver should be much
improved over last year. Given that the Steelers made the
playoffs
last year, and the Browns have to play them twice, they will have
exactly the same number of games against teams that made the playoffs
last year. The Browns won’t get to play a 4th place schedule like
last
year. These Browns are not a team accustomed to winning. If
they
don’t win early, there will be a lot of finger pointing. After a
tough
opening game against the Cowboys, they play their three division
rivals. They especially need to beat the Steelers in Cleveland
the
second game of the season. If they aren’t able to beat their
archrival
at home when everyone is picking them to win the division, their season
could go spiraling out of control.
| For all their much
ballyhooed offensive prowess, the Browns were ranked
8th in points per game last year with 25.1. The Steelers, right
behind, ranked 9th with 24.6. While the Browns made big splashes
through trades and free agency, Pittsburgh quietly improved through the
draft and maturation of its own players. With an infusion of youth at
linebacker, return of Aaron Smith at DE, and the addition of strong
inside runner, Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh should be much
improved.
Given the problems on defense and the much tougher schedule to go along
with the pressure of an expected playoff run, I don’t see the Browns
doing better than 7-9 or 8-8. Browns fans will once again be
hitting
the remote for reruns of the Drew Carey Show in January. |
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