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2009 Cleveland Browns NFL Predictions

Written August 10, 2009 by InfoPlays

2009 Cleveland Browns NFL Predictions The Cleveland Browns have to start over, again. This team makes another transition to a new head coach, their fourth such move since 1999. Eric Mangini takes over as head coach while George Kokinis moves into the general manager’s role. Ten years of starts and restarts have yielded a 54-106 record. That averages out to 10.6 losses/year. The only constant with the Browns since 1999 has been change. Cleveland is, by far, the long shot to capture their division as the Browns are listed at +1400 to win the AFC North according to the most recent NFL lines at Sportsbook.com.

Offense: Some teams can make QB competitions work, but so far the Browns haven’t been able to for years. Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson will compete for the job again this season. Quinn has made just three starts since being drafted two years ago, all last season. He played well against Denver and OK in a win over Buffalo, but struggled while trying to play through a broken finger in a loss to Houston. Quinn is the more accurate of the two quarterbacks, but he lacks arm strength. Anderson, who didn’t get help from his supporting cast with dropped balls all year, played 12 games before suffering a knee injury last season. Mangini and staff have watched tapes of the last two seasons, so they saw Anderson struggle last year but they also saw him throw 29 touchdowns in 2007. There are several questions surrounding starting running back Jamal Lewis after his yardage dropped from 1,304 to 1,002 and his yards/carry dropped from 4.4 to 3.6 over the past two seasons. Mangini believes the problem was the offensive line last year because he likes Lewis’ toughness, so he drafted a center in the first round and signed two free agent linemen while releasing his right tackle. Backup duties will go to Jerome Harrison and Noah Harron, a free-agent signee.

With Kellen Winslow gone to Tampa Bay, and Donte Stallworth serving a suspension, the Browns were forced to go out and get some receivers. They signed Robert Royal to join Steve Heiden and Martin Rucker at tight end to replace Winslow. They drafted two receivers in the second round in Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi. Despite numerous trade rumors, Braylon Edwards remains with the Browns. He was perhaps the biggest reason for their offensive struggles last year, always seeming to drop would-be touchdown passes at the worst possible times. His drop late in the game against Baltimore last season was the turning point. Left tackle Joe Thomas was an excellent draft choice, earning Pro Bowl berths in his first two seasons with the team. The left side is set with Eric Steinbach next to Thomas at guard, but the right side needed reinforcements. Mangini brought in veterans John St. Clair from Chicago and Floyd Womack from Seattle to solidify the right side. They will compete with Ryan Tucker for the starting guard and tackle positions. The staff was not satisfied with center Hank Fraley, so they spent their No. 1 pick on Alex Mack, a highly regarded center.

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Defense: The Browns most consistent player last season played on the team’s worst unit. Cleveland could not stop the run, but nosetackle Shaun Rogers was a destructive force in the middle to earn Pro Bowl honors. Injuries were a big reason for this unit’s struggles, where Robaire Smith’s torn Achilles tendon hurt the line’s toughness, and Corey Williams played the entire season with a bad shoulder. Mangini brought over a pair of players from the Jets in C.J. Mosley and Kenyon Coleman to help Cleveland’s depth at defensive end. The new 3-4 alignment will feature Mosley and Coleman starting beside Rogers. They’ll be asked to clog up the middle while the linebackers will be expected to chase down ball-carriers.

Andre Davis left for Denver and Willie McGinest retired, leaving the Browns depending on two former Jets to upgrade another position of need. David Bowens is expected to start on the outside while Eric Barton will man the inside, though neither are Pro Bowlers. Kamerion Wimbley is the biggest question mark on the outside. He was a first-round pick in 2006 and finished his rookie season with 11 sacks. But he’s combined for just 9 sacks in his last two seasons, so he’ll be asked to get back to pressuring the passer with more regularity in the new scheme. D’Qwell Jackson emerged as a strong inside linebacker last season, but he makes too many of his tackles downfield. Cornerbacks Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald will really have to step up their games. The safety position isn’t much different, where another former Jet in Abram Elam will play along side Brodney Pool. Both are young and have a lot to prove.

InfoPlays Prediction: 4th in the AFC North – Too many questions surround a defense that was one of the worst in the league last season. The new 3-4 look will fit the personnel better under Mangini, but the secondary remains a mess. The quarterback position should be in solid hands no matter who gets the job, but receivers are going to have to step up and make more plays. This squad simply has too many question marks across the board to be able to overtake any other team in the AFC North division.

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