With the Indians’ season in the toilet, and LeBron, Shaq, and the crew not getting things going until October, it’s time to talk about the city’s most popular sport, football. The Browns start training camp this week under new head coach, Eric Mangini, and there is no doubt the players will realize there is a new guy in charge, if they haven’t already realized that.
Discipline is the key word coming out of this year’s camp. If Mangini has anything to say about it, the mistake filled, penalty riddled, lackluster effort days of the past will be gone. The coach and front office are on the same page and they want this football team to play hard and play smart.
They probably won’t be in the playoffs, but they won’t leave you shaking your head after each contest.
Mangini and his staff are going back to basics, that is, running the ball and playing good defense. They appear to have bolstered the offensive line with first round draft pick, Alex Mack, and the signing of Pork Chop Womack and George Foster to provide bulk and depth.
This makes the reliance on Jamal Lewis as the lead back a curious decision. I believe we will see Jerome Harrison carrying the ball more often, but Lewis’ legs have a lot of miles on them, and you wonder if he can be anywhere close to the back who gained 1300 yards in 2007. Rookie James Davis could get more opportunities than you would think once the season starts.
The running game and being able to control the ball takes pressure off the defense. The Browns brought in some reinforcements, mostly ex-Jets, on that side of the ball. Shaun Rogers is back to anchor the defensive line, but this year he is surrounded by players who have experience in the 3-4 defense.
They also added some veterans to the secondary, namely CB Rod Hood and S Abram Elam, who was picked up in the draft day deal with the Jets. Elam is said to have the capabilities to be an impact player, and Hood allows Mangini and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan to not play a 2nd year man and a third year player at cornerback.
The linebacking position has been shaky since the team returned to the NFL in 1999, but should get an upgrade by replacing Andra Davis with Eric Barton. The key to putting pressure on the passer will fall to getting Kamerion Wimbley to be more productive, and also getting second year OLB Alex Hall on the field more often. Hall showed promise early last season before being ignored by the previous regime.
Most of the fans and media scrutiny will center on the quarterback spot where Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson will vie for the job. No matter who wins the gig, that decision should be made after the second exhibition game so it can be put behind the team, and everyone knows whom the starter will be. I still believe Quinn will be under center against the Vikings in week one.
If they can avoid the injury bug, the Browns will be improved. Health is a huge key in the NFL season, and if Cleveland can stay away from a catastrophe, they will be better in 2009. Not a playoff team, but a 6-10 or 7-9 record looks doable. Until they can beat Pittsburgh and/or Baltimore, they will not be able to get over the hump.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 
The Cleveland Browns have a very good offensive line and a bunch of question marks elsewhere…. Is Brady Quinn truly ready to take over? Does Jamal Lewis have enough left in his tank to be an elite running back? Is Jerome Harrison ready to get more carries? Will they regret trading away Kellen Winslow Jr… who will replace him? Who will be the #2 wide receiver? Will Kamerion Wimbley step up this year or is he a one year wonder? Will all these NY Jet players make the Browns a better team or will they give the media a reason to question Eric Mangini? I can probably come up with many other question marks, but I will spare you the pain of having to think about another pitiful season. We should be looking forward to another AL Central division championship and a playoff run right now, instead here we are talking about Cleveland Browns football during the dog days of summer…. It should not be this way:)