Browns Offseason Needs

Here are some key questions the Browns face going into this season, provided there is one.  Who will be the Browns pass rusher switching to the 4-3 defense?  Who will step up and be their #1 receiver?  Finally, how can this team sure up its offensive line play?

Another important question is how will the Browns young players continue their good play from last season.  The Browns have a lot of players at key positions that don’t have much NFL experience like quarterback Colt McCoy and corner Joe Haden.  Especially, after the draft the Browns need to sign a couple veteran free agents to answer a few of these off season questions.

As many answers as the Browns draft provided, even more questions came about.  Even with the drafting of former Pitt end Jabaal Sheard and Phil Taylor on that defensive line, they still lack depth.  Rubin had a good season last year in the 3-4, but other than him it will be interesting to see which linebackers the Browns might move up to the line.  The issue up front is that the Browns will have a new defensive coordinator in Dick Jauron.  The Browns need to evaluate if they have a player on their roster with the new schemes that is capable of getting double digit sacks on the line.

It’s possible they do, but if not there should still be free agency.  The young players like Sheard will probably need time to develop, but going into a potentially strike shortened season with a new defense especially hinders the rookies.

At receiver Mohammed Massaquoi is considered the Browns top receiver.  That is not adequate considering he hasn’t caught over 40 balls in each of his first two seasons.  Chansi Stuckey is the slot receiver and he did catch 40 last season, but no one is sure wheter he will return to Cleveland next year.  The Browns leading receiver was ex-Pats tight end Ben Watson who had 68 receptions.  Hillis also contributed 61 catches, but neither of those two players are actually receivers.

Now being that the Browns are switching to a West Coast style offense under new head coach Pat Shurmer, they are going to need at least one go-to receiver.  Last season in St. Louis, with rookie quarterback Sam Bradford, Shurmer had great success as offensive co-ordinator without a premier  #1 receiver.  But, the Browns did attempt to get a couple more targets for McCoy and the offense in North Carolina receiver Greg Little and lengthy end out of USC Jordan Cameron.  They are both great athletes, but had limited playing experience in college and don’t look for either to be ready to start in the NFL anytime soon.  This team needs a veteran receiver like a Steve Smith or Chad Johnson to make an immediate impact and share some veteran wisdom to an otherwise young receiving core.

On the offensive line, the bright side is the left side of the line.  Eric Steinbach, Joe Thomas, and Alex Mack are as formidable as any side of the line in the NFL.  The right side of the line is another story.  Last season the Browns struggled to protect McCoy especially at the right tackle position.  Shawn Lauvao assumed the starting role at right tackle ending last season as a rookie by default.

Tony Pashos was brought in by the Browns last offseason to play right tackle, but spent most of the season injured.  Both Floyd Womack and Jon St. Clair never worked out with Cleveland.  They traded two 6th round picks to move into the fifth round and select tackle Jason Pinkston 150th overall.  He has a great chance of starting this season.

One of the biggest unknown for the Browns is how Peyton Hillis , Colt McCoy, TJ Ward, and Joe Haden will play in the future.  Last season as rookies Ward led the team in tackles with three and Haden had six interceptions (tying him for the most for NFL rookies).  McCoy, who was supposed to sit last season according to President Mike Holmgren, started 8 games and completed 60% of his passes.  He has stepped up to be a leader in the offseason organizing and hosting player voluntary offseason workouts for the team.  Hillis ran for almost 1200 yards and caught 61 balls in his breakout year.  Three of these four players were rookies last year and are hoping to avoid the sophmore slump.

The Browns can also use some additional depth in the secondary and linebacking core.  The rookie defensive backs played well last year, but veterans like Sheldon Brown and Eric Wright struggled in coverage.  You know the Browns are looking forward to D’Qwell Jackson rebounding from a pectoral injury that has kept him sdelined for most of the last two seasons.  But even if he does return to old form, do the Browns have linebackers that can not only stop the run but also cover.

So the Browns still need a receiver, defensive end, corner back, and even a backup running back.  They will have to make some moves in free agency to give themselves a chance to compete in the AFC North this season.  They did a decent job in the draft of filling need, but offensive firepower is still a concern.  There are some interesting players that will be available and they were very active in free agency last year.  So, don’t be surprised to see them going after some big name veterans soon.