New-Look Browns

For those of you who don't subscribe to ESPN Insider, I don't blame you. I somehow got a free subscription and I am able to look at a couple more intriguing articles a month. This article was noteworthy, though, since it pertains to the Browns. Since only about 10 people look at my blog, I don't think ESPN will mind me sharing. In his article, Sam Monson ranks the NFL rosters from 1-32. Apparently the Browns rank #24.

24. Cleveland Browns

Johnny Manziel brings an excitement to the Browns faithful that hasn't been there since, well, the last fresh new hope the team drafted at quarterback. As we all know, there has been no shortage of 'em in recent years.





Adding Justin Gilbert in the draft was a big move because in 2013 Buster Skrine struggled badly moving around to accommodate Joe Haden tracking an opponent's top receiver. Skrine allowed nine touchdowns in coverage, tied for the league lead, and the Browns need somebody who can hold up a bit better. Donte Whitner should provide a capable replacement for T.J. Ward in the defensive secondary, but the pass-rush still needs attention or a significant leap in performance by Barkevious Mingo, who wound up playing his way to the bench as a rookie.


Second-round guard Joel Bitonio is scheduled to start, but there's a chance he actually proves to be a downgrade on the criminally underrated John Greco, at least initially. The Josh Gordon situation bears close watching, and Miles Austin could end up cracking the top three of the receiver depth chart, possibly ahead of Nate Burleson.


By the numbers: Whether Brian Hoyer or Johnny Football starts Week 1, it's going to be an unknown quantity for the Browns at the most important position on the team. Joe Thomas gives them a single blue-chip player, and Haden is right on the cusp of that designation himself, heading a group of five high-quality starters across both sides of the ball (20.8 percent). The Browns are projected to start two rookies, and that could rise to a league-leading three if Manziel earns the job.

There is a color code assigned:





So in judging by this color chart, we have 1 elite player, 5 high quality players, 2 good starters, 8 average starters, 4 below average starters, 1 poor starter, 1 player without sufficient information, and 2 rookies.


There can be some fluctuation in this starting lineup. Manziel (gulp) may get the start over Hoyer, Gordon may be suspended for the year meaning Miles Austin gets the start, and Bitonio may not make into the starting O-line group over Pinkston. Let's just use this lineup though.


ESPN, or anyone for that matter outside of Cleveland, isn't too high on the Browns. A lot of this is due to the QB position not being solidified. Fair point. But in looking at the rest of the roster, they've really underestimated the Browns lineup. Hoyer may not have enough information on him, but Tate is at least a good starter. Maybe they're taking into account his injuries, but the player himself is an above-average starter.


Barnidge is probably a below-average starter, if not a poor one. The Browns got him for his blocking ability. With Cameron, who is marked as a good starter, they have a great play-maker at TE and don't need another play-making TE. If Cameron has a similar year this season, he'll need to be bumped into the high quality category.


I'm thinking the only reason Josh Gordon isn't marked as elite is due to the fact that he hasn't played at his level consistently. He's a top-3 receiver in this league, but until he does it again, I guess high quality is where he should be. Nate Burleson is right where he should be, below average, as is Hawkins as an average starter. However on a new team with fresh starts, I think they each move up a category. Miles Austin is probably an average starter. He had a pro bowl season and has had good seasons, but isn't a breakout guy. That's okay, the Seahawks didn't have elite WR's either to win the super bowl.


On the offensive line, Joe Thomas is clearly elite. I would put Mack into that category as well. Greco and Schwartz are average starters, though Schwartz grabbed all AFC North honors. Pinkston has been plagued with injuries, but he is talented. Right now I'd have him as a below average starter, but with Bitonio in the starting lineup currently, we don't know what we'll get out of him. If he can do a decent job on that left side, with Thomas and Mack helping out, that side will be pretty solid for whoever starts at QB.

Switching over to defense is where my biggest disagreements are. According to Mr. Monson, the first four starters on the D-line and secondary are all average. I disagree with all of them. Rubin, Taylor, Bryant, and Kruger are all at least good starters. Mingo doesn't start, but he would be an average starter the way he finished the season. He started out as poor but finished strong. This was a top-5 defense for a lot of the season. This is the team that held AP to less than 100 yards. This D-line is a lot better than average.


They nailed Robertson: he's the only weak spot on the Browns defense. They really need to upgrade this spot next year. Dansby is a great addition, and I agree with the high quality mark. Sheard is ranked as a good starter, but I might put him as an average starter.


Joe Haden is arguably the best CB in the NFL. He is an elite player, not just high quality. They mention him in the article as on the cusp, but he is an elite corner in this league according to Deion Sanders himself. I'll take his word over Sam Monson's. Gilbert is a rookie and will probably get the starting job, and Skrine got himself out of the poor category into the below average. With the year he had last year, that's where he belongs. He's a nickel corner, not a starter. Hopefully Gilbert does better.


I'll agree with Whitner who could become an elite safety, especially in this defense. Gipson, though, should be an average starter, not below average. He's been solid over the last couple years.


In my mind, we have 3 elite players (Thomas, Mack, and Haden), 3 high quality players (Gordon, Dansby, and Whitner), 6 good starters (Tate, Cameron, Rubin, Taylor, Bryant, and Kruger), 5 average starters (Hawkins, Greco, Schwartz, Sheard, and Gipson), 3 below average starters (Barnidge, Burleson, and Skrine), 1 poor starter (Robertson), 1 without enough information in Hoyer who I believe will be a good starter to high quality starter, and 2 rookies in Bitonio and Gilbert. I think Bitonio will look better than he is since he's surrounded by two elite O-linemen. If Gilbert can prove to be even an average starter, that will be more than what the Browns have had in recent years and will really help out the secondary. Mingo would qualify as an average starter while Pinkston would be below average. Miles Austin is an average starter.


Once Hoyer decides to stop trying to slide, he will be able to command this offense efficiently. We all saw what happened to the Browns with not only him but an average starter in Jason Campbell commanding the helm: we won games. We've just held on to Weeden for so long and gone through a ton of 2nd and 3rd string QB's (Quinn, Anderson, the list goes on), we haven't known what it's like to have a decent QB. Hoyer and Campbell were decent QB's, and we won games with them. I don't trust Manziel, and not just because of the off-the-field issues or the fact he's a running QB. For more on him, read my Johnny Fracaso post.


Overall, the outlook for this upcoming season is looking bright. I predict 7 or 8 wins. I think they can go as high as 11 wins or as low as 3. If they got to second place in the division, I'd call that a successful year.