2012 Record: 5-11

Point Differential: -66

Turnover Margin: +3

Sack Differential: +2

Offense

2012 Ranks

Rushing: 21st

Passing: 29th

3rd Down: 30th

Scoring: 24th

QB: Since returning to the NFL in 1999, the Cleveland Browns’ quest for a reliable starting quarterback has mirrored the last half hour or so of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The final act features Harrison Ford as the film’s protagonist, solving a series of booby traps on his way to eventually recovering the Holy Grail. Cleveland’s version of the flick stars Tim Couch as the blades, Jeff Garcia as the invisible bridge, and Brady Quinn as the phony Grail that causes rapid aging and eventual death. Meanwhile, Sean Connery’s role as the dying father is filled by the fans, who’ve been left to writhe around on the floor, praying for someone to quickly find a miracle cure for their collective wounds. 

In 14 season openers, the Browns have rolled out 11 different starting quarterbacks. Barring injury, 2012 first round draft pick Brandon Weeden will be the first to start consecutive openers since the utterly forgettable Charlie Frye accomplished the feat in 2006-2007. Frye survived about one quarter of his second opening day start and left the game with 34 yards passing and an interception.  He spent much of his time on the field running for his life, and finished with more sacks taken (five) than passes completed (four). Frye was replaced by Derek Anderson, and traded to the Seattle Seahawks just two days later. Needless to say, the organization is holding out hope that Weeden’s second season gets off to a better start than Frye’s did.

As a rookie last season, Weeden was handed the starting job without a challenge. Once news of the team’s impending sale to truck stop magnate Jimmy Haslam became widely known, the moves to draft and start Weeden began to look like a collective Hail Mary call by lame duck front office and coaching personnel in an effort to save their jobs. Regardless of intent, the perception was that Mike Holmgren (president), Tom Heckert (general manager) and Pat Shurmur (head coach) were keeping their fingers crossed that Weeden would play more like a 28-year-old with experience as a professional athlete, and less like an NFL rookie. In the opening day loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, those hopes were dashed.  After being trapped under a giant American flag during the national anthem, Weeden never appeared comfortable. He finished the game just 12-for-35 passing. In the closing seconds, with a chance to take the lead, Weeden threw his fourth interception of the day and sealed a one-point victory for the sloppy Eagles. Browns fans immediately began calling for the team’s backup – and deposed 2011 starter – Colt McCoy.

Things improved for Weeden. He threw for over 300 yards in his second game, and minus that opening day debacle he completed 59 percent of his passes, averaged 233 yards per game, and threw more touchdowns than interceptions (14 to 13) in his other 14 starts. In short, he played like a rookie who had been shoehorned into an offensive system vastly different from the one he’d played in during his college years. 

Following the season, Haslam cleaned house and brought in nearly an entire new front office and coaching staff. After exploring their options at quarterback, new head coach Rob Chudzinski and offensive coordinator Norv Turner have apparently opted to give Weeden a second chance to be the Browns' starter. Turner’s passing offense mixes downfield strikes with confidence-building throws to running backs and tight ends, and appears to be the perfect fit for his second-year QB’s skill set. In this offense, Weeden should be able to raise his completion percentage, yards per attempt, and touchdown tosses while attempting roughly the same number of passes. While it’s unlikely he will avoid the usual growing pains altogether, a 60 percent completion percentage with 3800-3900 yards and 22-25 touchdowns are well within reach – provided Weeden stays in one piece for a full season. 

Unfortunately, the Browns always seem to need a backup quarterback for at least one game per season.  Anderson, in 2007, is the last quarterback to appear in all 16 games.  And Couch, way back in 2001, is the last to start every game. If Weeden can’t go the distance this year, Cleveland will turn to Jason Campbell – a former first round draft pick who is entering his eighth NFL season.  Campbell has started 71 games in his career, and is just barely two years older than Weeden. In Campbell’s last stint as a starter, with the Raiders in 2011, he had the team off to a 4-2 start before an injury ended his season. Campbell is a good athlete with the strong arm his coaches favor.  Should he be pressed into action, the team should be able to run the same offense without many hiccups. 

Brian Hoyer – a favorite of general manager Michael Lombardi – was also signed during the offseason, and will compete for the backup role. Hoyer is not expected to unseat Campbell, but his addition gives the Browns the best depth they’ve had at quarterback in recent memory.  The team should have no problem keeping all three QBs on the 53-man roster.

RB: Heckert’s sanity was questioned in many circles when he spent the third overall pick of the 2012 draft on Alabama running back Trent Richardson. Backs are widely viewed as expendable commodities, who enter the league with wear on their tires, and an odometer that expires sometime around the age of 30. But not only did the Browns feel that Richardson was a premiere prospect worthy of a high pick, they were also willing to move up a spot to ensure they’d be able to draft him. Richardson showed flashes of the ability that led to lofty expectations, but occasionally looked indecisive in the backfield. Often he would tiptoe and dance behind the line of scrimmage, rather than hitting the hole with the authority he had displayed during his college days. In 15 games last season, Richardson rushed for 950 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 3.6 yards per carry. He added 367 yards and a score on 51 receptions. On the surface, Richardson’s rookie statistics may appear disappointing, yet he was often the focal point for opposing defenses, and like many of his teammates, his numbers suffered as the result of Shurmur’s uneven play-calling.

Heading into the 2013 season, fans and media have questioned Richardson’s ability to withstand the rigors of NFL action. He missed a June minicamp with a pulled muscle in his shin, and he is being handled with care this summer. Still, the coaching staff appears poised to lean on Richardson heavily once the regular season begins; and to put his durability in perspective, he started the 2012 season opener just a month after having arthroscopic knee surgery, and battled through nine other games despite suffering from broken ribs. Like any running back, Richardson will take hits and get dinged up, but his toughness should not be in question. A relatively healthy Richardson, even with a few bumps and bruises, should see around 1300 rushing yards, double digit touchdowns, and an additional half-yard per carry this season. Chudzinski and Turner love his receiving ability and will be counting on another 50 to 60 catches this season. Richardson’s three-down ability makes him the most irreplaceable skill player on the current roster.

Running backs play a huge role in Turner’s passing game. In 2009 and 2010, with Chudzinski as his assistant head coach in San Diego, “Darren Sproles the return man” became “Darren Sproles the weapon.” Often playing in tandem with the team’s primary ball carriers, Sproles averaged 814 yards from scrimmage, 52 receptions, and 4.5 offensive touchdowns during those two seasons. When the Browns traded reserve linebacker Emmanuel Acho to the Eagles for diminutive running back Dion Lewis last April, it appeared as though Chudzinski and Turner were looking for a player to fill that "Sproles role" on offense. Sure enough, Turner has recently made that comparison, and Lewis has gradually taken on more responsibilities.  He will also get every opportunity to be the Browns’ primary kick return specialist. Lewis is a virtual lock to make the team and finish the season with more touches than every back other than Richardson.

The coaching staff clearly values versatile backs, which led to the team re-signing Chris Ogbonnaya to a two-year contract. While he only carried the ball eight times last season, he has totaled 47 receptions in 25 games since joining the Browns in 2011. Turner does not often employ a traditional blocking fullback, so Ogbonnaya’s experience and ability to step into this role allows the front office to save a roster spot. Ogbonnaya will see playing time in tandem with Richardson and/or Lewis, as the lead blocker in I-formations, and even as a single back in shotgun sets. He is not likely to carry the ball much, but he should see another 20 to 25 receptions. Moving Ogbonnaya to fullback probably signals the end of incumbent fullback Owen Marecic’s tenure in Cleveland. An average blocker with hands of stone, Marecic will need to prove invaluable on special teams in order to make the regular season roster.

If healthy, fourth-year player Montario Hardesty should have the edge over Brandon Jackson for the final running back spot.  But Hardesty’s durability is a huge “if.” He took first team reps in OTAs while Richardson rested his shin, but has been mostly absent during training camp. After being sidelined with a hamstring injury, he returned and promptly injured his thumb.  The following day, news broke that he would need arthroscopic knee surgery. His return schedule is uncertain.  Hardesty has struggled with injuries throughout his career, but the coaches have seemed encouraged by his 2012 film, as well as the little they have seen on the practice field.  Jackson was brought in as insurance, and depending on how soon Hardesty can return, the Browns may need him.  He is a below average runner, but offers some value in the passing game as a receiver and pass protector.  Undrafted rookie Miguel Maysonet could find a home on the practice squad.

WR/TE: Turner’s offense favors two vertical threats and a tight end as his primary receivers. Josh Gordon has the size and downfield ability of players like Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd, who saw success under Turner with San Diego. Gordon is the ideal target for Weeden this season…except for the fact that he will spend the first two weeks of the regular season on league-mandated vacation thanks to his undisclosed use of codeine cough syrup last offseason. When Gordon returns, and if he stays clean, he should still salvage a decent season with 50-60 catches for 900-1000 yards. He is now a player on a short leash after multiple substance-related offenses, but he seems – at least publically – determined to make the most of his latest “last chance.” 

With Gordon out the first two weeks, third-year player Greg Little will start the season as the big-target receiver in the offense. Little led the team with 61 receptions as a rookie in 2011 but he struggled all season with drops. His hands remained shaky at the outset of the 2012 season, but as the season wore one he became more confident and reliable. Little has always been an outstanding run blocker, and has recently drawn praise for the dedication he has show to improving as a receiver. Even if Gordon is available for 14 games, Little should check in close to 50 catches this season, and should significantly improve on his 11.9 career yards per reception average as he sees more opportunities down the field. 

Second-year receiver Travis Benjamin is the other beneficiary of Gordon’s suspension.  Benjamin, who will almost certainly serve as the primary punt return man, will see extended time as one of the outside receivers with Gordon out, and be mixed in throughout the season. Benjamin is the fastest receiver on the team and flashed his big play ability last year when he averaged 16.6 yards on 18 catches, and 11 yards on six carries. Benjamin worked with veteran receiver Anquan Boldin during the offseason, and has drawn rave reviews for his improved route running. Benjamin has also impressed his quarterback and coaches with increasingly reliable hands. There are only so many passes to go around, but Benjamin is the top candidate on the team to exceed his expected production. He could easily double his numbers from last season.

The Browns’ brass felt they got a steal when they acquired Davone Bess and a seventh round pick from the Dolphins for a flip-flop of fourth round picks and a fifth rounder. Bess is a pure slot receiver – unlike any of the receivers Turner employed during his time in San Diego – who should emerge as the go-to receiver in short yardage, third down situations. Under Shurmur, the Browns were 30th in the league converting third downs, and Bess’ presence should help bring them back to the middle of the pack. Despite his small stature, Bess could also cut into the tight end production typically seen in a Turner offense, as Cleveland’s personnel at the position does not appear terribly dependable.

Third-year man Jordan Cameron is the team’s primary tight end, yet he’s produced just 26 catches in 22 career games. Cameron is a phenomenal athlete who runs a 4.5 second forty at 250 pounds, but he has battled nagging injuries and inconsistent hands. Behind Cameron, Cleveland signed veteran Gary Barnidge, who spent time with Chudzinski in Carolina. Barnidge is a solid specimen with a reputation as a training camp All-Star, but he’s recorded just 18 receptions in 63 career games.  Third stringer Kellen Davis is an average blocker, with a penchant for dropping passes. Neither he nor Barnidge are long-term solutions. The Browns will give Cameron every reasonable opportunity to succeed, but if he falters Bess will likely see an uptick in targets.

OL: In 2007, then-GM Phil Savage used the third overall pick in the draft to select left tackle Joe Thomas out of Wisconsin. Browns' fans immediately fell in love with the blue-collar everyman, who passed up a trip to New York City to go fishing with his father on draft day. Thomas has easily been the franchise’s best and most consistent player since its rebirth in 1999. He has been named to the Pro Bowl after each of his six NFL seasons, and has been named a First-team All-Pro three times.  Thomas has been incredibly durable in starting all 96 of the team’s games since he was drafted, and he is signed through the 2018 season. He has a chance to go down as one of the all-time greats in franchise history.

Second-year lineman Mitchell Schwartz was the 37th overall pick in the 2012 draft and became and immediate starter at right tackle. What had been a major weakness the year before became a position of strength last season. Schwartz started every game and didn’t miss a snap. He is an incredibly cerebral player whose technique belies his lack of NFL experience. While neither Thomas, or Schwartz is a devastating run blocker, they will do wonders to keep Weeden’s jersey clean on passing downs. Schwartz played on both ends of the line of scrimmage in college at Cal, so he could swing over to left tackle in the unlikely event that Thomas misses playing time. 

Like Schwartz, center Alex Mack is a graduate of Cal. He became the 21st overall pick of the 2009 draft, after the Browns traded back several times. Mack is another stalwart on the line, having started all 64 games of his four-year career, and earning a Pro Bowl bid in 2010. He even managed to score a touchdown in the game. Mack is a terrific all-around center, who excels at both run blocking and pass protection. His only drawback is the occasional penalty – last season, he was the most penalized center in the NFL. Still his well-rounded skills and durability easily outweigh the negatives. Mack will be a free agent after the season, but the Browns will almost certainly try to lock him up before he hits the open market. 

The starting guard spots this season were set to boil down to a competition between John Greco, Shawn Lauvao, and Jason Pinkston. However, Lauvao – who had started all 32 games at right guard over the last two seasons – suffered an ankle injury in camp, and will miss the start of the regular season. Enter Pinkston, a fifth round draft pick in 2011 who had started 22 games at left guard before he was felled by a dangerous blood clot last season. Pinkston’s play on the left side had been solid, if unspectacular, but when he was knocked out of the lineup, Greco stepped in and performed admirably. In fact, Greco proved to be one of the better run blocking guards in the league, and earned a five-year contract extension from the Browns this summer. He will remain on the left side of the line, with Pinkston moving over to right guard. Consistent guard play in 2013 will give the Browns one of the best starting offensive lines in the NFL.

On the bench, veteran tackles Rashad Butler and Oniel Cousins could be duking it out for a single roster spot. Originally a third round pick of the Panthers in 2006, Butler has played in only two games over the past two seasons due to a pair of triceps injuries. Cousins is also a former third round draft choice, and has spent most of his career playing right tackle on special teams. However, his ability to move inside and play guard could give him an advantage over Butler. Rookie seventh round draft pick Garrett Gilkey has played well this summer and appears to have the inside track on a roster spot. Gilkey is a strong run blocker who also has experience lining up at right tackle in college at Chadron State.  Ryan Miller, a 2012 fifth round pick, has experience playing guard and tackle, but has been slowed in the preseason by a concussion. If he can get healthy and back up to speed, his versatility could be enough to earn him a spot. Third-year player Jarrod Shaw could stick due to his ability to back up at center and guard. Undrafted rookie tackle Chris Faulk is an intriguing developmental player, but he is still recovering from a knee injury that cost him his entire junior season at LSU. At this point he seems destined to end up on the injured reserve list in 2013.

Defense

2012 Ranks

Rushing: 13th

Passing: 16th

3rd Down: 14th

Scoring: 19th

DL: New defensive coordinator Ray Horton brings an attacking style of defense with multiple fronts, and while the Browns personnel was largely assembled to fit the previous regime’s 4-3 base, the defensive line figures to be an area of strength this season. Third-year veteran Phil Taylor, a former first round draft choice, will man the middle in a three-man front. Taylor is a powerful, penetrating tackle who is stout against the run, and who should be able to generate pressure up the middle.  Taylor missed the first half of last season with a pectoral injury, but added a spark to the defense upon his return. 

Ahtyba Rubin is built for the middle of a three-man defensive line; but Horton favors Taylor’s athleticism, so Rubin will man the left defensive end position in the base defense and move inside in four and five-man fronts.  Rubin was originally a sixth round draft choice out of Iowa State in 2008, and he developed into a full-time starter by his third season.  He has started 45 games since 2010, and has accumulated 142 tackles, nine sacks, and three forced fumbles in that span.  While Rubin was effective pressuring the quarterback two years ago, his strength is in his run stopping.  It will not be surprising to see him leave the field in obvious passing situations. 

The Browns signed lineman Desmond Bryant to a lucrative five-year contract early in the free agent signing period, outbidding a number of teams in the process. Bryant will man the right defensive end position in Horton’s base defense, and like Taylor and Rubin, he is versatile enough to fill other roles depending on the alignment. Though he is most famous for his ridiculous mugshot, Bryant has developed into a serious interior pass rush threat since coming out of Harvard as an undrafted free agent. Bryant’s combination of size, length, and athleticism makes him a key cog in Horton’s defense.

Cleveland’s strength on the defensive line does not end with the starters. Billy Winn, a 2012 sixth round pick out of Boise State, was terrific against the run as a rookie last season.  He is listed as the backup to Bryant at right end, but like so many of these Browns linemen, he has the versatility and size to line up inside or outside. Fellow second-year player John Hughes experienced growing pains after coming to Cleveland as a third round pick out of Cincinnati. Hughes can back up Taylor at the nose tackle or Rubin on the left end. 

Hughes may be competing for playing time with fourth-year lineman Brian Sanford. Sanford has played sparingly in his time with the Browns, and initially seemed like a long shot to earn a spot on the roster, but he has impressed the coaching staff with his tenacity – in particular when pressuring the quarterback. He now appears to be solidifying a role in the rotation, and threatening others for playing time. Ishmaa’ily Kitchen came to the Browns as an undrafted rookie out of nearby Kent State last season. He is a wide, compact, run-stuffer who will thrive in short yardage and goal line situations. He could end up being the primary backup to Taylor at nose tackle, and taking more snaps away from Hughes. The new regime are so impressed with the early play of Kitchen and Sanford, that Hughes may wind up being the odd man out.

Lombardi took some heat when he drafted Armonty Bryant with one of two seventh round picks this past April. The talented defensive end had a past checkered with drug issues. He compounded his previous mistakes by getting arrested for driving under the influence just days after being drafted, and many fans and media members called for the team to cut Bryant loose. The rookie promptly took responsibility, settled his case, and was afforded a second chance. At 6’4” with 36” long arms, Bryant has the length that Horton loves in a defensive end. The team would like to see him add 20 to 30 pounds to his 265-pound frame so that he can move into the defensive end rotation. Adding good weight won’t happen overnight, so Bryant is not expected to see the field much, if ever this season. However, he is a talented player, rife with potential, and will likely be scooped up by another team if the Browns attempt to stash him on the practice squad. More likely they will be forced to use a roster spot on Bryant, and make him a gameday inactive for most of the season.

LB: No position on the defense has seen a bigger facelift than linebacker, as Horton’s expectations are vastly different from those of last year’s defensive coordinator, Dick Jauron. In Horton’s defense, the linebackers will be tasked with providing nearly constant pressure on the opposing quarterback. To facilitate the transition, the Browns made former Ravens linebacker Paul Kruger their number one target in free agency. The former second round draft pick had his best season last year with nine sacks, including 7.5 in the last eight regular season games. Kruger added two sacks in the Wild Card round win over Indianapolis, and 2.5 more in Baltimore’s Super Bowl victory of San Francisco. His reward was a five-year contract worth over $40 million from the Browns in the opening hours of free agency. Kruger is not a great run defender, but he is able to hold his own in limited coverage situations. He even broke up four passes in coverage a year ago. However, his obvious strength is in his ability to rush the passer, and he will be bringing heat primarily from the left side, where he can be expected to create some matchup problems with right tackles and tight ends. Kruger should equal his sack total from last season, and with an increase in snap count, he may even crack double digits.

Former second round draft pick, Jabaal Sheard, moves from left defensive end to right outside linebacker this season, and the early returns have been positive. After amassing eight sacks as a rookie, Sheard started slowly last year but still generated a fair amount of pressure. Over the final seven games of the 2012 season, Sheard picked up six sacks, and proved to be a stout run defender. This year, he will be dropping back off the line a bit, and rushing the passer out of a two-point stance. His smooth transition in practices has impressed coaches and teammates alike. Sheard himself feels confident about the changing role and excited to prove doubters wrong.

Despite the presence of Kruger and Sheard, the Browns used the sixth overall pick of the 2013 draft on LSU pass rusher Barkevious Mingo. Many pundits thought Cleveland would have gone in a different direction, but the new team leadership has clearly placed a premium on pressuring opposing quarterbacks. Mingo has a lean build, but is a tall player with outstanding speed and deceiving power. He often overmatched collegiate tackles by gaining leverage with his explosive first step and using their own momentum against them. Mingo has drawn praise for his moves and hand usage in pass rush situations, and he has shown to be a solid run defender as well. Horton will look for ways to get Mingo on the field with Kruger and Sheard in an effort generate maximum pressure, and may even send him up the middle on occasion – similarly to how the Cardinals used Daryl Washington under Horton last season. Mingo may not be listed as a “starter”, but he will play significant snaps, and he should produce double digit sacks and contend for Defensive Rookie of the Year this season.

Though his signing was less heralded than those of Kruger and Desmond Bryant, Quentin Groves will prove to be an important piece of the puzzle.  His knowledge of Horton’s system make him a de facto coach on the field, and Groves proved to be a reliable run defender and situational pass rusher in Arizona last season – the best of his career to this point.  The Browns will probably even look for ways to get him on the field with Kruger, Sheard and Mingo in some sets.  Groves is a big body with a nasty demeanor, and should help bring an edge to the defense.

D’Qwell Jackson is back for his eighth year with the Browns. After missing most of 2009 and all of 2010 with pectoral injuries, he returned in 2011 to have the best season of his career. Last year, Jackson’s performance was decidedly ho-hum. After a hot start that included a three-sack game against Cincinnati, Jackson tailed off drastically, and particularly struggled in run defense.  While he did a fair job overall in pass coverage, this aspect of his game also dropped off after the first few weeks of the season, and has never really been his forte. Jackson’s presence as a leader on defense still holds value, but he will likely lose significant playing time in this new defensive alignment.

On the other hand, Craig Robertson, in his third year after going undrafted out of North Texas, appears to be a favorite of Horton and company. In fact, the Browns’ new defensive coordinator has referred to Robertson as his “ace in the hole.” He has a smallish build, and has his struggles defending the run, but Horton sees Robertson as an asset in pass coverage. Last season – the first in which he saw any meaningful playing time – the young linebacker showed flashes of brilliance in coverage, especially early in the season. He will be counted on to cover tight ends and even some slot receivers and is likely to see more action as a three-down player than Jackson.

The Browns lack depth behind their starting inside ‘backers. Second-year players Tank Carder and L.J. Fort are listed as the primary backups, but neither has done much to inspire confidence early on this summer. Fort showed some promise in a brief audition last season, but barely saw the field after the season opener, while Carder was a non-factor. James-Michael Johnson, a 2012 fourth round pick, is more talented than his competition, and should be in the mix for a backup job.  However, reports that he has looked “lost” in Horton’s scheme could ultimately cost him a roster spot.  All three young players face competition from Justin Cole – a fourth year player signed in late July – and undrafted rookie Justin Staples from Illinois. Cole is a journeyman who suited up for the Rams last season and Staples is a Cleveland native. Both Justins have outplayed their competition in early game action. There is probably room for three of these five linebackers on the 53-man regular season roster, and special teams play will factor into the final decision.

Secondary: Joe Haden, the seventh overall pick in 2010, let his team down last season when he was suspended for four of the first five games after testing positive for Adderall. He rebounded to have a solid season, with three interceptions and ten pass breakups in 11 games. Haden has fancied himself as one of the league’s top corners, but after an outstanding rookie year, his performance has been middle of the road. Haden and his teammates in the secondary were often victimized last season when opposing quarterbacks had all day to throw. The hope for Cleveland is that Horton’s revamped front seven will create the type of pressure that will force quarterbacks into bad throws.  This should benefit Haden more than any of his fellow defensive backs.  Haden plays with a physical style, and is aggressive going after the ball. He likes to play tight with his man and gamble when there are plays to be made. However, Haden does not possess top end, straight-line speed, so when a quarterback has more than a handful of seconds to throw, he could get burned. If the pass rush is as advertised, these instances should be few and far between.

Cleveland’s offseason plan led to much wailing and rending of garments early on when the Browns did not sign or draft a top-of-the-line cornerback to team with Haden. After modest flirtation with Alabama’s Dee Milliner, the front office ultimately determined that adding Mingo made more sense than drafting a cornerback in the top seven of the draft for the second time in four years. The Browns also checked in with a number of free agent cornerbacks, before signing fifth-year veteran Chris Owens to a cost-effective one-year, $1 million contract. Owens will compete with third-year player Buster Skrine for the starting job, though Owens early performance, and prior success lining up on the outside appear to give him the upper hand. Owens has three interceptions and 14 pass breakups in 58 career games, so it is unlikely he is the long-term solution.

Due to injuries and Haden’s suspension, Skrine was pressed into starting action just a year and a half after being drafted in the fifth round out of Tennessee-Chattanooga. The results were fairly predictable as the inexperienced corner was often overmatched on the outside. Skrine is a feisty player who broke up 11 passes a year ago, but he lacks ideal size and is best suited covering the opponent’s slot receiver. Even if he is able to wrestle the starting job from Owens, Skrine will likely move into the slot in nearly every three-receiver set. 

Eventually, the Browns hope that third round draft choice Leon McFadden will challenge Skrine and Owens for playing time, and the front office views McFadden as a long term answer at slot corner at the very least. But Horton is loathe to play rookie defensive backs early, so McFadden will spend plenty of time watching and learning from the sidelines. If Cleveland opts to keep more than four cornerbacks on the roster, second-year veteran Trevin Wade and rookie free agent Akeem Auguste will be battling for a spot. The early edge goes to Wade, who appeared in 11 games last season on defense and five others on special teams. There is a very good chance that cornerback will be near the top of the team’s shopping list during the 2014 offseason.

At safety, T.J. Ward returns for his fourth NFL season. Ward is a heavy hitter, and aggressive defender, who is coming off perhaps the best year of his career. He has always done well to read and stop the run, but his pass coverage has gradually improved since his rookie year. He is no longer a liability in the passing game. Horton likes his safeties to be interchangeable, and Ward fits the bill.  However, he has had trouble staying on the field dating back to his college days. After playing all 16 games as a rookie, Ward has missed ten games over the past two seasons. He’ll need to stay relatively healthy this year, or the team may opt to let him leave as a free agent after the season. 

When Tashaun Gipson signed as an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming last season, he faced long odds to make the team. Yet, after Eric Hagg flamed out and Usama Young got banged up, Gipson was pressed into action as a starter – and the rookie held his own. Now in his second pro season, Gipson has gone from long odds to odds on favorite to handle one of the safety spots in the base defense. His primary competition comes from fellow 2012 undrafted free agent Johnson Bademosi, who played cornerback in college before becoming a special teams ace for the Browns last season.  Bademosi has seen action at both safety spots this summer, and is a work in progress. But he is a big hitter with strong tackling technique, and he figures to see plenty of action on defense. The hope will be that Bademosi’s increased responsibilities in defense will not completely remove him from kick coverage units where he did an exception job last season.

Behind the top three safeties, sixth round draft pick Jamoris Slaughter – who is almost fully recovered from an Achilles injury that cut his college career short – and undrafted rookie Josh Aubrey appear to be in position to make the 53-man roster. Slaughter is viewed as a versatile athlete who can play both sides of the field, and who would likely have been selected earlier had it not been for his injury. Aubrey was a virtual unknown out of Stephen F. Austin, but has been impressive enough this summer to see reps with the first-team defense.

Special Teams: A unit long considered the strength of the organization, for better or worse, has been clouded in uncertainty since the close of the 2012 season.  After keeping him in town with the franchise tag for two seasons, the Browns finally bid adieu to kicker Phil Dawson, who had held down the job since the 1999 season. Dawson had long desired to play for a winning team, and Cleveland was forced to set him free after he made it clear he was not interested in being part of another organizational restructuring. Veteran Shayne Graham will compete with Brandon Bogotay, who was not even the primary kicker on his college team at Georgia. Graham is accurate from inside 40 yards, but has connected on fewer that 50 percent of his career attempts from 50 or more yards. The team is hoping that Bogotay can harness his superior leg strength, win the job decisively, and grow along with the rest of the youthful roster.

The Browns also parted ways with veteran punter Reggie Hodges, who never fully recovered from the Achilles injury he suffered two years. Spencer Lanning – who has never punted in a regular season game – will duke it out with former Jets punter T.J. Conley in a competition that, like the one at kicker, will likely come down to the wire.

Fan favorite, Pro Bowl return man and special teamer extraordinaire, Josh Cribbs had seen his performance tail off last season; and was allowed to sign with the Oakland Raiders in free agency after generating little interest from the rest of the league. While Cribbs was once one of the most impactful return men in league history, he had suffered a clear drop off as years of wear and tear finally caught up to him. Lewis and Bademosi will get the first crack at replacing Cribbs on kickoff returns, while Benjamin handles the punt return duties on a full time basis.  The only veteran to survive the Great Special Teams Purge of 2013 was long snapper Christian Yount. He will remain unchallenged, though Winn can step in if a desperate situation arises.  In a small twist of irony, despite an almost complete overhaul of his units, special teams coach Chris Tabor was retained from the previous coaching staff.

Forecast: The Browns haven’t won more than five games in a season since 2007, while compiling a 23-57 record in that span  Chudzinski is the team’s fourth head coach in six years. In terms of decision makers, they’ve gone from Phil Savage to Eric Mangini to Holmgren/Heckert to the current team of Lombardi and CEO Joe Banner. This organization desperately needs continuity, and Haslam – despite his legal drama – is well aware. This regime change has the feel of one that will stick and eventually lead to success. Hopes are high, and why not?  But the optimism should be cautious.  This franchise cannot be expected to erase years of futility in one fell swoop. The Browns play in one of the NFL’s toughest divisions, with two games each against the Steelers, Bengals and defending champion Ravens. Toss in road games against three playoff teams from 2012 (Vikings, Packers and Patriots) – and the schedule can appear daunting. Not to mention that the offense and defense have undergone complete scheme changes, while the special teams unit will be breaking in a new cast.  On paper, this is a pretty good team. On paper, maybe even a Wild Card contender. But paper football is for high school study hall. The Browns remain unproven, and lack depth and experience in several key areas. The good news is, they will be vastly improved on offense and defense. The bad news is, they are still a year away from seriously threatening their division foes. The Browns will battle and go .500 in the AFC North, but will miss the playoffs with a 7-9 overall record. 

Justin Higdon, known to Twitter as @AFC2NFC, writes for DraftBrowns.com and contributes to several other sites.

Jeff Risdon’s take: I am a bigger Brandon Weeden fan than most, and I love the hiring of Norv Turner to help maximize his talent. The offensive line is arguably the best in the AFC, and once Josh Gordon returns from his suspension, there is legit talent at wideout. The importance of adding Davone Bess cannot be overstated, and I see a breakout campaign from Jordan Cameron. But what makes me more excited about Cleveland is Ray Horton and the defense. They added quality bookend rushers in Kruger and Mingo, adding speed and depth. The front threesome is deep, versatile, and talented. The secondary remains a concern, and the inside backers and depth players in the back-eight are big questions. So are the overhauled special teams. As Justin noted, the schedule is ominous. I’m on the record as not being a fan of Rob Chudzinski as well, though I think the coordinators mitigate the concern. If the key starters--Weeden, Richardson, Cameron and the defensive front 7--stay healthy, this team could very well win 9 or even 10 games. I’m not that optimistic. The Browns finish 8-8.