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Position preview: Offensive line
By Jeff Walcoff, Staff Writer
July 11, 2006
Browns fans have long clamored for the team to invest serious time and money into its offensive line. General manager Phil Savage rolled in a year and a half ago and immediately began making adjustments.
During the 2005 offseason, guards Joe Andruzzi and Cosey Coleman, and tackle L.J. Shelton were added. This past March, Shelton departed, but the club added more horsepower in two-time Pro Bowl lineman LeCharles Bentley and left tackle Kevin Shaffer.
The previous two seasons of additions leave the Browns with a near-completely revamped line from when Savage arrived. Right tackle Ryan Tucker is the lone holdover starter from the team's previous era. The line that will take the field this fall is one on which four of five starters have been to either a Super Bowl or Pro Bowl.
Meanwhile, there figures to be more competition than ever in training camp among a crowded list of players competing for backup roles, including Bob Hallen, Kirk Chambers, Dave Yovanovits, Nat Dorsey, and '06 fourth-round pick Isaac Sowells.
Probable Starters
Kevin Shaffer (LT): While fans may not be completely familiar with Shaffer and his previous work over in the NFC with the Atlanta Falcons, the Browns are definitely expecting big things from the five-year vet. The club signed him to a lengthy seven-year deal in March and anointed him the team's starting left tackle immediately.
Ryan Tucker
Photo By John H. Reid III
Joe Andruzzi (LG): A year after joining the Browns as one of Romeo Crennel's first coups from his former team, the New England Patriots, the durable guard is still here, three Super Bowl rings in hand, ready to provide a consistent presence along the team's O-line.
LeCharles Bentley (C): Bentley may be the best offensive lineman the team has had since returning to the league in 1999. Furthermore, he may be the best free agent the team has signed in the same time span. He's exactly what the Browns need in the middle to handle players like the Steelers' Casey Hampton twice a year. Not to mention he's just a little excited about playing in his hometown of Cleveland.
Cosey Coleman (RG): Another '05 addition, Coleman is another piece of the team's commitment to improve its interior line. Andruzzi, Bentley and Coleman provide the best two guards and center the team has had since returning to the league in 1999 and should breathe further life into the running game this fall.
Ryan Tucker (RT): Good old Ryan Tucker. The lone remaining starter on the O-line from the team's previous era is still going strong. Possibly one of the more underrated right tackles in the league, Tucker is durable, tough and provides excellent leadership along his position group.
Also in the Mix
Kirk Chambers (G/T): Typically, a seventh-round pick can't plan much playing time on a consistent basis. An ‘04 seventh-round selection, Chambers has come along nicely and has turned into what both the Browns' old and new era have considered a viable backup.
Nat Dorsey (T): The Browns love the potential of the 6-foot-7, 345-pound Dorsey. They acquired him late last preseason in a trade that sent backup center Melvin Fowler to Minnesota. The Browns tested him a bit last year and, this season, he could see more time spelling Tucker at the right tackle spot.
Bob Hallen (G/C): An unsung member of the team's '06 free agent class, the Mentor, Ohio native is a nine-year NFL veteran with 86 games of NFL experience. Hallen will likely be the team's backup center and could help out as a reserve guard as well.
(left to right) Pete McMahon, Bob Hallen, Nat Dorsey, Dave Yovanovits, asst. offensive line coach Jeff Uhlenhake, Jonathan Dunn
Photo By John H. Reid III
Dave Yovanovits (G): "Yogi" joined the Browns as a waiver claim last August. He only saw the field during two games in 2005, but he's a hard-working interior lineman who impressed coaches early and often a year ago.
Jonathan Dunn (T): The Browns' 6-foot-6, 328-pound seventh-round pick was considered a project at tackle coming out of Virginia Tech a year ago. Now it's time for the tackle, who spent last season on the team's injured-reserve list, to begin showing promise.
Atlas Herrion (T): Herrion spent the entire '05 season on the Browns practice squad, which is more of a vote of confidence than some may think. Practice squads are shuffled more often than not. Herrion then spent the past offseason with the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe and started at guard in World Bowl XIII.
Pete McMahon (T): An '05 sixth-round pick of the Oakland Raiders, McMahon, like Herrion, spent all of last season on the Browns' practice squad. McMahon is a blue-collar guy and will compete for reserve duties on the roster.
Isaac Sowells (G/T): A fourth-round pick in the '06 draft, Sowells has garnered early praise from Crennel and already has been mentioned as a prototypically sized guard who could compete for a starting job as early as a year from now. In the meantime, he'll vie for a backup role on the team.
Ben Brielmaier (G): The former Princeton Tiger started all 20 games at left tackle during his final two seasons in college after switching over from defensive line. He has NFL size at 6-feet-4, 310 pounds.
Rob Smith (C/G): Smith played 33 games with 24 starts at Tennessee. But most importantly, he played both guard spots and center during his time as a Volunteer. In fact, as a co-captain he voluntarily moved from guard to center during his senior year to help fill a void due to injury.
Walter Stith (T): While he most likely won't see the field this season, Stith could be one to watch in seasons to come. The mammoth 6-foot-9, 320-pounder is still growing into his body and learning the role of the tackle, but with his size and ability, his potential is limitless.
Bottom Line
With Bentley and Shaffer now in the fold, the Browns offensive line has the potential to be as good as, if not better than it has been during the Browns' past eight seasons. If they can stay healthy, and if Shaffer - and especially Bentley - are as good as advertised, the Browns my finally have an O-line to be feared around the AFC North.
This is the second part in a series previewing the Browns' position groups in 2006.
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