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Browns camp preview By Matt Williamson
Scouts Inc.
Cleveland Browns Camp
Site: Browns training facility
Location: Berea, Ohio
Start date: July 23 (rookies), July 26 (vets)
2005 Record: 6-10
Expanded NFL Training Camp Coverage
Three Burning Questions
Is Romeo Crennel capable of lifting the Browns out of the gutter?
Since Crennel and Phil Savage arrived in Cleveland, the team has taken positive steps and greatly improved its roster. That being said, there is still a lot of work to be done to approach the Bengals or Steelers. Crennel has an impressive track record. He is very bright and well-respected by the players. He got a defense that was devoid of talent to play respectably last season, which is a bigger accomplishment than many realize. Crennel is certainly capable of leading the Browns out of the gutter, but it is far too early to say if he can take Cleveland to the promised land.
Camp battle to watch
D'Qwell Jackson vs. Chaun Thompson
Thompson
Jackson
Andra Davis will start at one of the inside linebacker spots, but there is competition for the position next to him. Thompson has been an enigma in his first three seasons in the league. While big and fast, with some very impressive physical traits, his instincts and production have yet to match these abilities. He played outside last season in the 3-4 scheme. After proving incapable of being the pure pass rusher coveted for the position, he will give it a shot inside. This move could bear fruit or be the beginning of the end for Thompson in Cleveland. As a rookie, Jackson obviously lacks experience and could take some time to adjust to the speed of the game, but he is intelligent and competitive. Jackson could use more bulk and strength to withstand bigger blockers, but his instincts are far superior to Thompson's.
Will the defensive front seven show much improvement?
The Browns probably had the worst front seven in the NFL last season and gave this area much attention this offseason. Cleveland added Ted Washington in free agency to serve as the true nose tackle in the 3-4 scheme. The Browns also brought in Willie McGinest to play outside linebacker and provide some pass rush. Both players still have some gas left in the tank. McGinest's contributions in the locker room will be invaluable, but on-the-field expectations should not be overblown for either player. Kamerion Wimbley and D'Qwell Jackson were fine draft picks. Both could have bright futures in Cleveland, providing stability and big plays, but Wimbley probably will not be a regular player -- he has never played linebacker before. Jackson needs to improve his strength and power to take on bigger blockers in this defense. The front seven is improved, but not by leaps and bounds like some would like to believe.
Might the Browns actually have a decent offensive line?
The additions of LT Kevin Shaffer and C LeCharles Bentley should make the Browns' offensive line formidable. There will be some problems early on as the new players learn to play with each other, but for the first time since the franchise came back to Cleveland, the Browns have starting linemen who would start for most teams in the league. Bentley will be a huge upgrade over Jeff Faine, who used to get manhandled by powerful defensive linemen like Casey Hampton. Shaffer isn't a hammer in the run game, but is light on his feet and should do an acceptable job of protecting Charlie Frye's blind side. The three returning starters are experienced, tough and more than adequate. Depth is a concern, but Cleveland now has a starting offensive line that should at least rank in the middle of the pack in the NFL. This is something it has not been able to say before this year.
The player under the microscope
The expectations in Cleveland are higher this year than when Frye took over the reigns as the starting quarterback last season. Little was expected at that point and the Browns wanted to see what they had in their young rookie quarterback. They saw enough to deal Trent Dilfer to San Francisco and make Frye the starter from day one. Cleveland has spent quite a bit of money and draft picks to build a strong supporting cast for Frye and now his mistakes will not be forgiven so easily. Of course, he is still unpolished and needs a lot more NFL experience, but Frye is a very hard worker, has the physical abilities to shine and has some magic to his game. His teammates respect and believe in him. Now it is on Frye to take the next step.
Breakout player
The Browns felt comfortable trading Chris Crocker to the Falcons because of Brodney Pool, their second-round selection from last year. Pool is a big, fluid athlete who covers a lot of ground and shows good versatility. He has the ability to cover a receiver in the slot, play the deep half of the field and be a force near the line of scrimmage in the run game. He has very good ball skills and natural hands for the interception. He still needs some work with his overall recognition and is more comfortable in the short and intermediate zones than deep down the field, but he will get plenty of reps in training camp and this preseason. Expect Pool to make a name for himself this season.
Comeback player of the year
Kellen Winslow could not have started his career under tougher circumstances, but he is just too good of a football player to keep down. Winslow is ultra competitive. He fights and battles on every snap, and works extremely hard off the field to be great. He has very high expectations for himself and rare natural abilities to reach those lofty goals. Winslow has an extreme snap in his hips, is a force as a blocker in line or on the move, and looks to find contact. His athleticism is off the charts. He has elite body control for a tight end, great speed, fluid hips and the ability to leave his feet to catch a poorly thrown ball. He is capable of being the type of player teams build an offense around and Frye will look to him early and often. If he stays on the field, Winslow will be special.
Offensive philosophy
A former fullback under Bill Parcells, offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon believes in running a physical, ball-control offense. He now has an offensive line that can help make that possible. In this rugged division, the Browns can now begin to approach the other three offenses in terms of pure physicality. Reuben Droughns is a good fit in this scheme because he can pound on a defense and adds attitude with the ball in his hands. Obviously, a ball-control running attack would take a lot of pressure off Frye and help the Browns win the time of possession battle. The Browns also have a good group of receiving weapons. Winslow and Braylon Edwards are coming off major injuries, but both are great players to build a passing game around.
Defensive philosophy
Crennel wants to replicate in Cleveland the success he had in New England. Last season, the pieces simply were not in place for that to happen, but the Browns brought in some short-term answers and drafted a few players who could become long-term solutions. The front seven still needs a ton of work, especially along the defensive line. The secondary looks to be pretty solid, and with another successful offseason, this defense could begin to resemble what Crennel had to work with in New England.
Scouts Inc.
Cleveland Browns Camp
Site: Browns training facility
Location: Berea, Ohio
Start date: July 23 (rookies), July 26 (vets)
2005 Record: 6-10
Expanded NFL Training Camp Coverage
Three Burning Questions
Is Romeo Crennel capable of lifting the Browns out of the gutter?
Since Crennel and Phil Savage arrived in Cleveland, the team has taken positive steps and greatly improved its roster. That being said, there is still a lot of work to be done to approach the Bengals or Steelers. Crennel has an impressive track record. He is very bright and well-respected by the players. He got a defense that was devoid of talent to play respectably last season, which is a bigger accomplishment than many realize. Crennel is certainly capable of leading the Browns out of the gutter, but it is far too early to say if he can take Cleveland to the promised land.
Camp battle to watch
D'Qwell Jackson vs. Chaun Thompson
Thompson
Jackson
Andra Davis will start at one of the inside linebacker spots, but there is competition for the position next to him. Thompson has been an enigma in his first three seasons in the league. While big and fast, with some very impressive physical traits, his instincts and production have yet to match these abilities. He played outside last season in the 3-4 scheme. After proving incapable of being the pure pass rusher coveted for the position, he will give it a shot inside. This move could bear fruit or be the beginning of the end for Thompson in Cleveland. As a rookie, Jackson obviously lacks experience and could take some time to adjust to the speed of the game, but he is intelligent and competitive. Jackson could use more bulk and strength to withstand bigger blockers, but his instincts are far superior to Thompson's.
Will the defensive front seven show much improvement?
The Browns probably had the worst front seven in the NFL last season and gave this area much attention this offseason. Cleveland added Ted Washington in free agency to serve as the true nose tackle in the 3-4 scheme. The Browns also brought in Willie McGinest to play outside linebacker and provide some pass rush. Both players still have some gas left in the tank. McGinest's contributions in the locker room will be invaluable, but on-the-field expectations should not be overblown for either player. Kamerion Wimbley and D'Qwell Jackson were fine draft picks. Both could have bright futures in Cleveland, providing stability and big plays, but Wimbley probably will not be a regular player -- he has never played linebacker before. Jackson needs to improve his strength and power to take on bigger blockers in this defense. The front seven is improved, but not by leaps and bounds like some would like to believe.
Might the Browns actually have a decent offensive line?
The additions of LT Kevin Shaffer and C LeCharles Bentley should make the Browns' offensive line formidable. There will be some problems early on as the new players learn to play with each other, but for the first time since the franchise came back to Cleveland, the Browns have starting linemen who would start for most teams in the league. Bentley will be a huge upgrade over Jeff Faine, who used to get manhandled by powerful defensive linemen like Casey Hampton. Shaffer isn't a hammer in the run game, but is light on his feet and should do an acceptable job of protecting Charlie Frye's blind side. The three returning starters are experienced, tough and more than adequate. Depth is a concern, but Cleveland now has a starting offensive line that should at least rank in the middle of the pack in the NFL. This is something it has not been able to say before this year.
The player under the microscope
The expectations in Cleveland are higher this year than when Frye took over the reigns as the starting quarterback last season. Little was expected at that point and the Browns wanted to see what they had in their young rookie quarterback. They saw enough to deal Trent Dilfer to San Francisco and make Frye the starter from day one. Cleveland has spent quite a bit of money and draft picks to build a strong supporting cast for Frye and now his mistakes will not be forgiven so easily. Of course, he is still unpolished and needs a lot more NFL experience, but Frye is a very hard worker, has the physical abilities to shine and has some magic to his game. His teammates respect and believe in him. Now it is on Frye to take the next step.
Breakout player
The Browns felt comfortable trading Chris Crocker to the Falcons because of Brodney Pool, their second-round selection from last year. Pool is a big, fluid athlete who covers a lot of ground and shows good versatility. He has the ability to cover a receiver in the slot, play the deep half of the field and be a force near the line of scrimmage in the run game. He has very good ball skills and natural hands for the interception. He still needs some work with his overall recognition and is more comfortable in the short and intermediate zones than deep down the field, but he will get plenty of reps in training camp and this preseason. Expect Pool to make a name for himself this season.
Comeback player of the year
Kellen Winslow could not have started his career under tougher circumstances, but he is just too good of a football player to keep down. Winslow is ultra competitive. He fights and battles on every snap, and works extremely hard off the field to be great. He has very high expectations for himself and rare natural abilities to reach those lofty goals. Winslow has an extreme snap in his hips, is a force as a blocker in line or on the move, and looks to find contact. His athleticism is off the charts. He has elite body control for a tight end, great speed, fluid hips and the ability to leave his feet to catch a poorly thrown ball. He is capable of being the type of player teams build an offense around and Frye will look to him early and often. If he stays on the field, Winslow will be special.
Offensive philosophy
A former fullback under Bill Parcells, offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon believes in running a physical, ball-control offense. He now has an offensive line that can help make that possible. In this rugged division, the Browns can now begin to approach the other three offenses in terms of pure physicality. Reuben Droughns is a good fit in this scheme because he can pound on a defense and adds attitude with the ball in his hands. Obviously, a ball-control running attack would take a lot of pressure off Frye and help the Browns win the time of possession battle. The Browns also have a good group of receiving weapons. Winslow and Braylon Edwards are coming off major injuries, but both are great players to build a passing game around.
Defensive philosophy
Crennel wants to replicate in Cleveland the success he had in New England. Last season, the pieces simply were not in place for that to happen, but the Browns brought in some short-term answers and drafted a few players who could become long-term solutions. The front seven still needs a ton of work, especially along the defensive line. The secondary looks to be pretty solid, and with another successful offseason, this defense could begin to resemble what Crennel had to work with in New England.
