It's time for our final piece in the trenches this week as part of our Cleveland Browns training camp 2009 preview. On Wednesday, we previewed the starters/contenders for the offensive line, with extra focus on the right side of the line.

As it stands right now, here are the top two scenarios for the right side of the line you would like to see:

-Womack at RG, Tucker at RT (45%)
-Tucker at RG, St. Clair at RT (23%)

97% of the voters agree that Ryan Tucker should start. Of those people, 59% of them want a scenario in which Tucker starts at right tackle, while the other 41% want him to start at right guard. I was in the group that preferred Womack at RG and Tucker at RT.

8. HANK FRALEY - BACKUP CENTER

Hank Fraley (#66)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 310
College: Robert Morris
Experience: 10 years
Note: Valuable experience

From being a team captain in 2008 to (presumably) being on the bench in 2009, there is an outside chance that Hank Fraley will start at the right guard position for the Browns. Not many of us think that will happen though, considering he received just 2% of the votes in Wednesday's poll.

Fraley's best chance at starting will be at the center position. If that happens, Fraley probably won't really "win" the job; it'll just be a case in which Alex Mack appears to need a lot more work at the NFL level.

Fraley began his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, helping pave the way to several NFC Championship games. In 2006, the Browns were desperate at the center position. LeCharles Bentley went down with an injury on the first play of training camp, and Bob Hallen said "screw this" and retired. All we had left were a couple of third-string free agents competing for a starting role. Phil Savage was able to make one of his best acquisitions during his time in Cleveland in Fraley, who was coming off of a shoulder injury the previous season. Fraley exceeded expectations in 2006 and 2007, but he failed to reach those expectations in 2008. Maybe it's a little unfair to write him off after one bad season, but either way, Fraley was never intended to be a long-term solution. His chances at making the roster this year might come down to who the coaching staff likes better -- Fraley or Rex Hadnot. I think there will be room for both of them.

Player Quality: C-
Final Roster Odds: 60%

9. GEORGE FOSTER - BACKUP LEFT TACKLE

George Foster (#72)
Height: 6-5
Weight: 338
College: Georgia
Experience: 7 years
Note: Former 1st rounder

Signed in June by the Browns, George Foster is a former first-round pick of the Denver Broncos. Of the people not listed in Part 1 of the offensive line preview, Foster has the best chance at starting. In 68 career games, he has started in 57 of them, with most of those starts coming at right tackle.

Foster's build is right in line with what Mangini is seeking: 6-5, 338 pounds. When he was signed, you guys debated what role he (as well as other lineman) could play this year. When you have several veteran players, I imagine a competition being between two players, maybe three at most. Ryan Tucker, Floyd Womack, and John St. Clair are already competing for the right tackle position. Can Foster really even have a chance to see some reps in training camp at right tackle? That's where the question of, "wait a second, does that mean Joe Thomas is the only player on the depth chart getting reps at left tackle?" That's where Foster potentially comes in.

But, that could easily change. Maybe Mangini will stick to something like this in training camp:

LT: Thomas, St. Clair
LG: Steinbach, Hadnot
C: Mack, Fraley
RG: Tucker, Womack
RT: Tucker, Foster

There's really no definitive reason why St. Clair would receive the shot at right tackle over Foster. We'll have to wait and see how things unfold in training camp.

Player Quality: C+
Final Roster Odds: 80%

10. ISAAC SOWELLS - BACKUP...GUARD? TACKLE?

Isaac Sowells (#61)
Height: 6-3
Weight: 320
College: Indiana
Experience: 4 years
Note: Quiet 4th rounder

With all of the veteran talent on the Browns line now, I'm surprised that Isaac Sowells is even being allowed to stick around for training camp. I fault Romeo Crennel for only having a fourth-round draft pick participate in one game during his first two seasons when there were opportunities for him to play more, but he wasn't very impressive in backup duty last season.

Overall, Sowells doesn't have much experience despite entering his fourth year in the league, doesn't appear to play at a high level, doesn't appear to be in-line of seeing very many reps, and is not eligible for the practice squad. The deck is stacked against Sowells; barring a couple of injuries in training camp to other players, Sowells will probably be an early cut so the team can get a better look at some of the undrafted free agents that might go on the practice squad.

Player Quality: D?
Final Roster Odds: 10%

11. DUSTIN FRY - YOUNGER BACKUP CENTER

Dustin Fry (#62)
Height: 6-3
Weight: 314
College: Clemson
Experience: 3 years
Note: Former 5th rounder

Dustin Fry was a 5th round draft choice of the St. Louis Rams in 2007. He played in four games that year, but in 2008, he was released from the team's practice squad. The Browns added him to their practice squad a week later, and that is where he finished the 2008 campaign.

Fry played college football at Clemson where he played in 47 games, starting 36, registering 171 knockdown blocks on 2,192 plays.

Back in the 2007 season, there seemed to be serious consideration that Fry would be the starting center for the Rams. Things didn't unfold that way though, and fans were surprised that Fry only made the practice squad in 2008 after their team's line had struggled the year before. Fry can also play the guard position.

Final Roster Odds: 10%
Practice Squad Odds: 40% (if eligible)

12. KURT QUARTERMAN - PRACTICE SQUAD GUARD

Kurt Quarterman (#63)
Height: 6-5
Weight: 348
College: Wisconsin
Experience: 2 years
Note: He's HUGE

During the 2007 and 2008 seasons, Kurt Quarterman was signed and released from the practice squads of the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Giants several times. He was added to the Browns' practice squad last season at the end of October. Like Fry, that is where he finished the season.

One thing sort of stands out when you look at Quarterman's profile box to the right: he's HUGE. If the weigh-ins are accurate, he is the second-largest person on the team, second only to Shaun Rogers. Maybe I'm making too big of a deal out of Mangini's craving for large offensive linemen, but on size alone, that has to give Quarterman an advantage to making the practice squad.

Final Roster Odds: 2%
Practice Squad Odds: 60%

13. MARLON DAVIS - UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT GUARD

Marlon Davis (#79)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 300
College: Alabama
Experience: Rookie
Note: Only UDFA

Guard Marlon Davis is our lone undrafted free agent offensive lineman this season. Davis was a four-year member of the Crimson Tide offensive line. He became a starter as a junior in 2007, and started all 11 games as a senior including the All State Sugar Bowl against Utah.

Here is a scouting report from Sports Illustrated on him:

POSITIVES: Undersized, low-to-the-ground lineman best in a small area. Bends his knees, blocks with leverage, and seals defenders from the action with solid body positioning. Squares into opponents turning them off the line and displays good strength at the initial point of attack. Quickly gets into blocks, patient in pass protection, and keeps his head on a swivel. Flashes the ability to pull across the line of scrimmage, block in motion, and gets chips on linebackers. Works well with line-mates and plays with a large degree of explosion.

NEGATIVES: Must improve his overall strength as he struggles to finish blocks. Bends at the waist or overextends into blocks, which adversely affects his balance. Not light on his feet and struggles sliding in space.

ANALYSIS: Davis is a solid small area mauler with the body type to play guard in the NFL. He must improve his strength and iron out his game, yet he is worth a look in camp this summer.

Link

It's hard to imagine him getting a legitimate shot at the roster. He'll be fighting for a practice squad position.

Final Roster Odds: <0.5%
Practice Squad Odds: 15% (pure guess)

OL Position Quality: B (Backups Only)

The grade above takes into consideration what the Browns will have between the two players that do not win a starting role from Part 1 of the preview. Our depth far surpasses what we have had in the past, as everybody has significant starting experience. What we are lacking is youth in our depth. That might come down to how a younger player like Fry can contribute on special teams. If Fry is needed there, maybe Fraley gets the boot and we go with Fry/Hadnot as the potential backup centers.

Right now, here are the nine offensive linemen I think will make the roster: Joe Thomas, Eric Steinbach, Ryan Tucker, Alex Mack, Floyd Womack, John St. Clair, Rex Hadnot, George Foster, and Hank Fraley. All veterans (minus Mack). When training camp rolls around, it'll be easier to speculate which youngsters might usurp one of the veterans.

People and their Twitter feeds these days.

Adam Schefter, who would formerly create a buzz on NFL.com or the NFL Network, chose the social networking service to make a projection -- one that relates to a member of the Cleveland Browns.

Prediction based on what I'm hearing: Phil Dawson will not kick for Cleveland this season. He wants a new contract and there's a standoff.

-Adam Schefter's Twitter Page

We knew that Dawson originally held out of of voluntary workouts because he wanted a new contract. However, this is first I've heard of anything since Dawson returned during the minicamp sessions. Schefter is well-connected in the NFL, and while I doubt there is a swarm of sources flooding him about Dawson's situation, I don't think he would rehash an old rumor for the sake of reaching for news.

It'll be interesting to discuss the kicker situation further in a couple of weeks (according to our training camp preview schedule) with this in mind. Speaking of training camp previews, the new time for Part 2 of the offensive line preview will be some time in the afternoon on Friday. That should be plenty of time to discuss it the rest of Friday and all day Saturday, before we begin the wide receiver position the following week.

(Flashback to 2005 offseason)

"He's not like most first-time coaches," said Joe Linta, Crennel's agent. "He's a guy with more credentials.

"Although he hasn't been a head coach, he has five Super Bowl rings. The Browns aren't just getting a coach.

"They're buying into a program. They are getting 25 years of experience and knowledge."

The 2005 off-season was sweet.  Butch Davis era was done.  The Cleveland Browns needed some new blood.  The Browns had hired a hot-shot young GM from Baltimore in Phil Savage.  The Browns decided that the newest era of the Browns needed a defensive make-over.  Savage went looking for a defensive coach that ran his style.  Phil Savage set his gaze on New England.  Year in, year out the Pats seemed to have good defenses.   Yes New England had a so called "defensive genius" as a head coach, but he couldn’t do all that by himself could he?  He had the help of long-time assistant Romeo Crennel.  Crennel was chosen to be the 11^th head coach in the history of the Cleveland Browns.  We were promised a new team.  We were promised a 3-4 defense that would mirror Baltimore and New England.  We signed Jason Fisk.  We drafted Antonio Perkins.  We were about to win a crapload of football games.  Times were good. 

(Present day)

Romeo Crennel stunk.  Todd Grantham was a power hungry fool.  Jason Fisk sucked.  Perkins never played.  Belichick was that smart good at cheating.

Ummm…. Let’s try this again.

Continue reading this post »

We're staying in the trenches still, but this time on the opposite side of the line. In 2007, our offensive line was tremendous compared to the previous eight years. Our starting quarterback was sacked less than once per game (14 times in 16 games), something that usually sounds like a Peyton Manning statistic. Our line did not specialize in the running game, but they still helped pave the way for a 1,300 yard season for Jamal Lewis.

Last year, things got much, much worse. Derek Anderson was sacked 14 times, but in just 10 games. That's still not a bad number, but the stats don't show how often Anderson was drilled by a defender, causing a desperation throw that would only lead to disaster. Lewis was getting hit in the backfield far too often.

When Eric Mangini took over the Jets, he made a commitment to the offensive line by drafting the likes of D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold in the same season. He already had a stud left tackle on the Browns roster and a solid left guard, but the rest of the line to the right of them was shaky.

Gone is Kevin Shaffer. In come veterans Floyd Womack and John St. Clair. In comes rookie center Alex Mack. And, waiting in the wings is the one and only Ryan Tucker. The offensive line is shaping up to be pretty darn good, but with a plan to become a unit that excels in the power running game.

Today, in Part 1, I will cover seven players who are competing for five spots. Tomorrow, the other six offensive linemen on the roster will be covered.

1. JOE THOMAS - STARTING LEFT TACKLE

Joe Thomas (#73)
Height: 6-6
Weight: 305
College: Wisconsin
Experience: 3 years
Note: All-around beast

After a Pro Bowl rookie season in 2007, Joe Thomas earned the same honors in 2008. It didn't seem like he played as well this past season, although he wasn't anywhere close to being terrible. He remained our best offensive lineman throughout the season. If anything, his struggles were a combination of the products around him struggling or being out with injuries.

The Browns have had a lot of high draft picks turn out to be busts, and a lot of left tackles taken early have ended up being nothing more than average. We were very fortunate to have the No. 3 pick in 2007, because we shouldn't have to worry about this position for about a decade. What should we look forward to with Thomas in training camp? Just don't pull a LeCharles Bentley, and everything should be fine. No, not just fine. Great.

Shaun Rogers is our best defensive player, and Joe Thomas is our best offensive player. It's good to have those foundations set in place in the trenches.

Job Security: A+
Player Quality: A+
Final Roster Odds: 100%

2. ERIC STEINBACH - STARTING LEFT GUARD

Eric Steinbach (#65)
Height: 6-6
Weight: 295
College: Iowa
Experience: 7 years
Note: Told to beef up, but not to shut up

I don't buy in to the reports from earlier in the offseason that Eric Steinbach could end up being a surprise cut. The rumor started due to Steinbach not being the type of "big" offensive lineman that Mangini would like. After Mangini asked Steinbach to add a few pounds, more fuel was added to the fire.

Any way you look at it though, I don't see how any of the above would cause Mangini to cut our best interior offensive lineman.

I don't know what Steinbach weighs in at right now; the roster page says 295, but he reportedly added 12 pounds  back at the beginning of June, and Terry Pluto indicated that he was somewhere in the 270-range last season.

"The key is adding weight but also keeping Steinbach's quickness, which is the key to his success."

-Terry Pluto, Cleveland Plain Dealer

Beyond bulking up, Steinbach needs to remain healthy this year. He missed a few games last season to injury and was banged up even when he did play, hurting an already thin Browns line. Mangini might decide to rotate Steinbach in-and-out of the lineup this season for instances where he really wants to pound the ball, but in no logical scenario do I see him cutting Steinbach.

Job Security: A
Player Quality: A-
Final Roster Odds: 99%

3. ALEX MACK - STARTING CENTER

Alex Mack (#65)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 311
College: California
Experience: Rookie
Stats: Sex appeal

After a manageable 2007 season, center Hank Fraley just didn't quite cut it last season. Having two hungry, powerhouse defenses in our division, the Browns can't afford to be vulnerable straight up the middle. When Brady Quinn goes for a playaction pass, the ideal scenario would have the defender still at the line of scrimmage, not a foot away from him. Fraley's level of play degraded last season, and I could only imagine it getting worse this season.

Enter rookie Alex Mack out of California. We tried a center once in the first round (Jeff Faine) an had decent results. With Mack, we don't need him to be a Pro Bowler -- just the stable presence that Fraley was starting to lack. In fairness to Fraley, Mangini is not going to award Mack the starting job right away. And, with all rookies, the possibility always exists that it takes a longer time to adjust to the NFL; not everyone can do it as well as Thomas did. In other words, Mack isn't a guarantee to start Week 1; but I believe he will.

If you missed them or would like to look back, here are two very good pieces we featured on Mack shortly after he was drafted back in April:

Highlights of C Alex Mack, No. 21 Overall Pick of the Cleveland Browns

Questions Answered About Alex Mack by California Golden Blogs

Job Security: B
Player Quality: TBD
Final Roster Odds: 100%

4. RYAN TUCKER - STARTING RIGHT TACKLE

Ryan Tucker (#72)
Height: 6-6
Weight: 315
College: TCU
Experience: 13 years
Note: Injury issues of late

Do not take it literally that Ryan Tucker is listed below Mack. I did it that way to make more of a transition from the left side of the line to the right side of the line, which is where we now stand. In an overall ranking, a healthy Tucker would be No. 2 or No. 3 on my list.

With Shaffer anchoring the right tackle position the past two seasons, the position is now open for Tucker to take again. Although, technically, it's not like Tucker ever really lost that position. In 2007, he was suspended for the first four games of the season. When he returned, he was place at right guard. Last year, early indications in training camp were that Tucker would see some time at tackle over Shaffer. That changed due to another injury for Tucker; he only played in one game. That game was a memorable one against the New York Giants. That game itself explains the difference Tucker can have on our pass protection.

The almighty question for Tucker is can he do it for 16 games again? He's done it before, so it might just require a little bit of luck from the football gods. He's been in the league for 13 years, but I don't think that plays into the equation yet. He's still good enough to play at a high level.

One more note: it's shaping up to be Ryan Tucker vs. Floyd Womack vs. John St. Clair vs. Rex Hadnot for the two positions on the right side of the line. In reality though, only one position is "up for grabs". Tucker will start at either right guard or at right tackle -- that might depend on where Mangini feels one of the other three guys fits in best. At this time, I'm projecting Tucker at the right tackle though.

Job Security: B- for right tackle, A for starting somewhere
Player Quality: B+
Final Roster Odds: 99%

5. FLOYD "PORK CHOP" WOMACK - COMPETING FOR STARTING RIGHT GUARD

Floyd Womack (#77)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 328
College: Mississippi State
Experience: 9 years
Note: "Pork Chop"

Floyd Womack is my early favorite to be the Browns' right guard. While not a long-term solution, he has plenty of starting experience in the league and has played every position on the line except for center. While Womack is a candidate at right tackle too, right from the get go when he was signed in March, I made my prediction known:

"Although the signing of Womack so soon after the release of Kevin Shaffer might seem like a sign that he will be placed at right tackle, I wouldn't count on it. Womack, originally a fourth round pick in the 2001 draft, has only started in 47 of the 90 games he has played. Last season, Womack started 14 games -- 8 at right guard and 6 at left guard." (Link)

At 328 pounds, Womack would be about 50 pounds heavier than Steinbach was last year on the line. He has the bulk and the experience, but is he "good enough" to be a starter?

Job Security: B-
Player Quality: C+
Final Roster Odds: 98%

6. REX HADNOT - COMPETING FOR STARTING RIGHT GUARD

Rex Hadnot (#70)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 320
College: Houston
Experience: 6 years
Note: Starting guard in '08

We can't count Rex Hadnot out of the picture just yet, considering he is the reigning starting right guard of the Browns. Prior to that, he had significant experience with the Miami Dolphins for several seasons.

You'll find that Hank Fraley is missing from today's piece (he'll be listed in Day 2). It looks like it could come down to a situation where we will keep one or the other -- Fraley or Hadnot. Fraley has more experience but appears to be on the downside of his career. Hadnot has experience at center and guard, and while he wasn't dominant last year, he wasn't manhandled the way Fraley was at times. This is a plus for Hadnot's roster chances, where youth would prevail over the aging veteran.

As far as actually winning the right guard position, we'll have to see. Hadnot seems to be at a disadvantage to start though since he lacks the experience at tackle. If Tucker is the guard, he's got no chance to start. If Tucker is the tackle, then he'll have to beat out a more established and versatile Womack.

Player Quality: C
Final Roster Odds: 75%

7. JOHN ST. CLAIR - COMPETING FOR STARTING RIGHT TACKLE

John St. Clair (#78)
Height: 6-5
Weight: 315
College: Virginia
Experience: 10 years
Note: Loved then forgotten

For the Chicago Bears last season, John St. Clair started all 16 games. Originally, the Bears made it known that it was a priority this offseason to bring him back...only to see him get signed by the Browns. This irritated many Bears fans at first over at Windy City Gridiron, our SB Nation affiliate:

Well, are you happy now? Most of you got your wish, St.Clair is gone. Now were a little closer to being seriously f**ked.

Not all the reactions were that drastic, mind you. The consensus seemed to be that St. Clair was mediocre, and fans thought he could be brought back for cheap. He ended up signing a 3-year, $9 million deal with the Browns. Several months later, Bears fans are now saying "John Who?" after the team signed Frank Omiyale, Orlando Pace, and former Brown Kevin Shaffer. The Bears upgraded at the position, but, similar to Womack at guard, St. Clair can fill at one-year void as a starter if necessary. If not, then he would be our best backup tackle.

Player Quality: C
Final Roster Odds: 95%

OL Position Quality: B+ (Starters/Contenders Only)

NOTE: Tomorrow I will have Part 2 of the offensive line preview, where depth players Marlon Davis, George Foster, Hank Fraley, Dustin Fry, Kurt Quarterman, and Isaac Sowells will be looked at.

Be sure to vote in the poll below, just like all of you have been doing with the other position previews. It'll be interesting to see which combination draws the highest approval rating at right tackle.

After covering the potential starting defensive linemen of the Browns yesterday, now it's time to take a look at the players who will be competing for the reserve roles. When you consider that someone like Shaun Rogers isn't an every down player, it remains important that there isn't too significant of a dropoff in production down the depth chart.

For a reminder of Part 1 of the defensive line, click here.

5. C.J. MOSLEY - BACKUP DEFENSIVE END

C.J. Mosley (#69)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 305
College: Missouri
Experience: 5 years
Stats: 17 tkls in 2008

A former sixth-round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings, C.J. Mosley has spent the past three seasons with Mangini and the Jets. He doesn't have a lot of starting experience (7 starts in 47 appearances) but was a versatile backup who kept his mouth shut.

Here is what thejetsblog.com had to say about Mosley back in February when Mosley was still a free agent:

"I liked Mosley a lot as a ‘depth guy’ for the Jets. He had a high motor and gave the Jets solid pass rushing depth on sub packages." Link

He already received a positive endorsement from general manager George Kokinis back when Mosley was first signed by the team.

"C.J adds another piece to the defensive puzzle," said Kokinis. "He is a competitive defensive lineman that runs to the football and will fit in well with the players in that group."

Player Quality: C
Final Roster Odds: 90%

6. SHAUN SMITH - BACKUP DEFENSIVE LINEMAN

Shaun Smith (#91)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 325
College: South Carolina
Experience: 6 years
Stats: 36 tkls, 11 games

Sometimes you just get that vibe that a player isn't going to be with your team very much longer. Right now, that feeling is at the expense of defensive end/defensive tackle Shaun Smith. After a decent 2007 season, Smith made a lot of noise in 2008. Unfortunately, that noise was made off the field, like when he allegedly punched quarterback Brady Quinn in the face. Yep, that's a nice way to make the fans love you.

On top of that, according to Tony Grossi from a report in May, the new coaching staff told Smith to "Shape up and shut up." That doesn't exactly sound like a warm welcome, especially when two of Mangini's former defensive linemen have been signed (Coleman and Mosley) and there are younger players who will shape up and shut up. Once deemed a very reliable and versatile backup to Rogers at the start of last season, Smith's pompous demeanor has overshadowed the playmaking ability we thought he had.

Player Quality: D for detrimental to the team
Final Roster Odds: 60%

7. AHTYBA RUBIN - BACKUP DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Ahtyba Rubin (#71)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 330
College: Iowa State
Experience: 2 years
Stats: 11 tkls in 2008

If S. Smith isn't going to be the backup to Rogers, then Ahtyba Rubin has a fair shot at claiming that role. Rubin is tied with Louis Leonard for being our second-largest lineman, and he showed some promise during his limited action last season.

In our big win against the Buffalo Bills last season, he recovered a Fred Jackson fumble in the third quarter. His best statistical game came in Week 16 against the Bengals when he recorded 5 tackles in a 14-0 loss. This is the type of situation where it would've been really nice to record some of these games and look back at Rubin's plays. Maybe rufio's assessment of him during a game last year can be improved upon:

"He needs to get lower in his stance though, I can always tell its him and nor Rogers because he is so high in his stance." -rufio, during a game thread against the Texans

Player Quality: TBD
Final Roster Odds: 80%

8. LOUIS LEONARD - BACKUP DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Louis Leonard (#93)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 330
College: Fresno State
Experience: 3 years
Stats: 25 tkls in 2008

It's difficult to speak on Leonard's specific weaknesses, but something has to be up when you receive more playing time than a rookie (Rubin) in 2008, but fail to create the same type of buzz.

Although Leonard has been in the league for two years with three different NFL teams, last year was technically his rookie season in terms of playing time. He and Rubin have similar builds, but I can't see the Browns keeping both players unless they decide to part ways with S. Smith. Down the depth chart, you get to a point where players are pretty much replaceable. We found Leonard on the free agent wire, and chances are we can find another player like him if necessary during the season.

Final Roster Odds: 40%

9. SANTONIO THOMAS - VETERAN DEFENSIVE LINEMAN

Santonio Thomas (#97)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 305
College: Miami
Experience: 3 years
Stats: 13 tkls in 2008

Just who is Santonio Thomas? He's been in the league longer than you'd think. He started his career as an undrafted free agent for the Patriots back in 2005. He spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons on the Patriots' practice squad before finally seeing some in-game action in 2007.

The Browns signed Thomas after Robaire Smith's season-ending injury last September. Once again, with minimal playing time to go by, it's hard to evaluate these types of players. Thomas should head into training camp as an underdog though, and should only be in the mix if the team decides to rid of S. Smith. At 27 years old, he's also 3-5 years older than Leonard and Rubin. It's hard to imagine him improving upon his game at this point, so unless he shows standout ability over either of them, his roster odds won't be very good.

Final Roster Odds: 25%

10. MELILA PURCELL - PRACTICE SQUAD DEFENSIVE END

Melila Purcell (#97)
Height: 6-5
Weight: 295
College: Hawaii
Experience: 1 year
Stats: 2 year practice sqd

It seems like a rare case where none of the defensive linemen above Purcell are eligible for the practice squad anymore. Melila Purcell, on the other hand, who I keep forgetting is still on the team, can still go on the practice squad. Would he like it? Probably not, as he has spent the past two seasons (minus one game) there.

Yahoo still has Purcell listed at 266 pounds, which is more of what he was like in his college days. He weighs in at 295 pounds now, but lacks the NFL experience to make a splash at the defensive end position, especially with Mangini's pair of Jets ready to see playing time there. When the Browns chose to sign Thomas last season after Smith's injury instead of promoting Purcell, it was probably a telling sign.

It's probably time for Purcell to try to catch on elsewhere. Of note, rookie linebacker David Veikune, who fans and coaches seem to be high on already, was initially Purcell's backup in college at Hawaii.

Final Roster Odds: 25%
Practice Squad Odds: 40%

11. ADAM HOPPEL - UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT DEFENSIVE LINEMAN

Adam Hoppel (#67)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 300
College: Cincinnati
Experience: 3 years
Stats: 13 tkls in 2008

Our only rookie defensive lineman in camp this year, I headed over to Scott Wright's Draft Countdown to look for a scouting report on Adam Hoppel. There was none.

Hoppel grew up in Ohio, making him a semi-local player. Hoppel's family has a background in wrestling, including his father who was a three-time state high school champion, his uncle who wrestled at Bowling Green, and his cousin who was an NCAA Division III wrestling national champion at Muskingum. When it came time to make a decision, Hoppel chose football over wrestling. Now he'll get the chance to play for the team I'm sure he watched fairly often growing up.

Stats from his biography: "Saw action 35 career games and racked up 81 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks… Recorded four sacks as a senior" Hoppel appeared to play the defensive tackle position at Cincinnati, but would fit in more as a defensive end in our defense.

Final Roster Odds: <1%
Practice Squad Odds: 25%

DT Position Quality: C- (Backups Only, Minus the Loser of Coleman vs. Smith)

It's safe to say that the Browns will definitely carry six defensive linemen, with a good chance that they'll carry seven and a (very) outside chance that they'll have eight. These players should have near-guaranteed roster spots:

Locked Up: Shaun Rogers, Corey Williams, Kenyon Coleman, Robaire Smith, C.J. Mosley.

That's five, without really having a backup nose tackle. In a battle of Rubin vs. Leonard, I'd take Rubin as the sixth man. If we choose to go with a seventh player, which I believe we will, it should come down to Leonard vs. S. Smith. If the coaches feel S. Smith has responded well enough to their blatantly honest advice, he should be our final lineman. If not, that's when the odds of making the team improve for the rest of the bunch in the list.

After covering quarterbacks, running backs, and fullbacks last week, it's time to move "Down into the Trenches", our Week 2 training camp preview theme.

We started last season with a promising defensive line of Robaire Smith, Shaun Rogers, and Corey Williams -- all three of whom were supposed to be above average or better. We ended the season with Rogers and Williams still playing, but Rogers was the only one who made any real noise. In a 3-4 defense, that's not going to cut it.

Today, we review the starting defensive lineman. There are only three spots to fill, but I've included four lineman since one of the positions is set for a nice training camp competition.

1. SHAUN ROGERS - STARTING NOSE TACKLE

Shaun Rogers (#92)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 350
College: Texas
Experience: 9 years
Stats: 75 tkls, 4.5 sacks

He's big, he's bad...he's Big Baby Shaun Rogers. If there was one bright spot in last year's dismal season, it would have to be the fantastic play of Rogers. He was the most consistent player on either side of the ball. Gone were the criticisms of his days in Detroit, when he was considered "lazy". To be fair, Rogers did appear sluggish in Detroit, meaning that same mentality could kick in at some point with Cleveland. For now, let's just hope it doesn't.

Worst Attribute: Can't Play Every Down - This is obviously more of a weakness related to the rest of the Browns' defensive line. It was just baffling to see how much of a dropoff we would suffer when Rogers was not in the game; third-string running backs would start tearing us up for 100+ yards in just one half of action. Rogers' does require time off though to stay fresh and be effective by the time the fourth quarter comes around, which is as close of a weakness I can come up with without being too analytical.

Best Attribute: Commanding the Double Team - With only three defensive lineman in a 3-4 defensive scheme, you need a nose tackle who requires a double team. Fellow division rivals Casey Hampton of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kelly Gregg of the Baltimore Ravens have been stable for their respective teams. When the Browns first went to the 3-4, who did we have? Jason Fisk? Ted Washington? Acquiring a player like Rogers was a necessary risk, and it paid off, at least for one year. Rogers makes it possible for everything else to fall into place, specifically for our defensive ends and our linebackers. This year, we'll see if Mangini and Ryan are able to get Rogers' supporting cast to play at a higher level.

Various Concerns / Comments - Nobody was getting to the quarterback last year except for our 350 pound nose tackle. Rogers and Mangini initially got off on the wrong foot, but from all of the recent reports, it seems that the two have genuinely made up to each other. Another special aspect of Rogers' game is his ability to block field goals, something he did at least once for the Browns last season.

Job Security: A+
Player Quality: A+
Final Roster Odds: 100%

2. COREY WILLIAMS - STARTING DEFENSIVE END

Corey Williams (#99)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 320
College: Arkansas State
Experience: 6 years
Stats: 50 tkls, 0.5 sacks

He's...he's...he's...well, I guess you can say that he is no Shaun Rogers. There is a far gap between the production level of our No. 1 linemen (Rogers) and the No. 2 linemen (Williams). And, Williams is really only rated at No. 2 due to the production he had prior to coming to Cleveland last year.

Williams was a sixth-round draft pick in the 2004 draft by the Packers. (Side note: Boy, are the Browns the only team in the NFL that can't find a breakout d-linemen in a later round?) After Green Bay franchised him last year, he was dealt to the Browns for a second-round pick. The deal seemed great on paper -- we got a potential Pro Bowler for a draft choice; draft choices are often hit-or-miss. The only concern was whether Williams could transition to the 3-4 defense. How'd he do...?

Worst Attribute: Not a 3-4 Guy - ...obviously not good enough. After recording back-to-back seven sack seasons with the Packers as a defensive tackle/defensive end hybrid in their 4-3 system, he just looked out of place with the Browns. It was probably a mistake by the Browns to not move him around more often, or to not run a few plays similar to the ones he ran in Green Bay. Instead, he seemed like the Kamerion Wimbley of the defensive line; it's not working, but rinse and repeat again and again.

Best Attribute: Durability - After our defensive line was banged up in general last season, Williams was able to provide some stability by starting all 16 games, something he has now done for three consecutive seasons. While Williams' play wasn't great, it was average enough so that it probably would've been better than some of the other players on our roster. Williams also played through most of the season with a bum shoulder.

Various Concerns / Comments - Williams has been quoted as being intrigued by some of the new things Ryan's 3-4 scheme brings to the table. With his shoulder doing better, hopefully Williams will be able to make the jump from average to Pro Bowl caliber once again.

Job Security: B+
Player Quality: B-
Final Roster Odds: 100%

3. KENYON COLEMAN - POTENTIAL STARTING DEFENSIVE END

Kenyon Coleman (#93)
Height: 6-5
Weight: 295
College: UCLA
Experience: 8 years
Stats: 55 tkls, 0.5 sacks

Acquired by the Browns via our first first-round draft trade this past April, Coleman begins the point where there is really a big question mark as to who will start at the other defensive end position. Right now, the two biggest players in the competition are Kenyon Coleman and Robaire Smith.

Coleman came over from the New York Jets, where he spent two seasons with Mangini. Two years ago, he had 83 total tackles; last year that number fell to 55 tackles. As his numbers seem to match the general scouting report I've been reading about Coleman, he excels more in run defense than he does at rushing the passer (but that's what Wimbley and company are supposed to be for, right?).

Coleman won't be a tremendous player, but he can be a fair asset in a proper rotation at the defensive end position.

Player Quality: C+
Final Roster Odds: 99%

4. ROBAIRE SMITH - POTENTIAL STARTING DEFENSIVE END

Robaire Smith (#98)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 310
College: Michigan State
Experience: 10 years
Stats: 4 sacks in 2007

Considering how Williams played last season, a healthy Robaire Smith has the potential to be the second-best defensive linemen on the team. I loved it when the Browns signed him two years ago, I loved how he played during the entire 2007 campaign, and I continued liking what little I saw from him in 2008.

As we all know, Williams ruptured his Achilles' tendon in Week 2 last season, ending his season. He's been rehabbing ever since, which is the reason he's not listed as a definite starter. Besides acquiring Coleman for depth, you have to imagine that Mangini wanted him as insurance in case Smith was unable to return as a full-time starter. While there aren't a lot of reports to go by, the consensus seems to be that Smith will be ready to return and participate in training camp.

At the top of his game, Smith excelled at the defensive end position for us -- and that was without having Rogers at the nose tackle position. Given the choice between a healthy Smith and Coleman in a competition, I would pick Smith in a landslide. This will be more of a wait-and-see thing though; if things go terribly wrong and Smith just doesn't look healthy enough to play, I suppose there is an outside chance he could be a surprise training camp cut. I won't back on that possibility though.

Player Quality: B+
Final Roster Odds: 95%

DT Position Quality: B (Starters/Contenders Only)

NOTE: Tomorrow I will have Part 2 of the defensive line preview, where depth players C.J. Mosley, Shaun Smith, Louis Leonard, Ahtyba Rubin, Adam Hoppel, Santonio Thomas, and Melila Purcell will be covered.

With the talent gap between Rogers and Williams and the uncertainty of Smith's health, the "B" grade is a very loose projection. While it sounds positive, it is not the dominant rating a 3-4 unit like the Ravens have achieved -- far from it. From the list of players to be covered tomorrow, Mosley and S. Smith had the best shots at being included in today's article. S. Smith has some starting experience with the Browns, and Mosley also came over from the Jets. However, since S. Smith has been a locker room nuisance and Mosley was a backup in New York, barring a training camp injury, I don't see either player competing for a starting role. That doesn't mean they or some of the other players on the list won't play near-critical roles in terms of depth, however...

With the running back training camp preview, you sort of get a two-for-one. With only two fullbacks on the roster, it wasn't worth giving the position its own three-to-four-day period. Nonetheless, you'll still have two full days to talk all you want about Lawrence Vickers and Charles Ali, as well as continuing the discussion on the running backs.

Romeo Crennel did a horrible job utilizing the roster he was provided with. The fullback position was included in that. Vickers was once praised by Crennel and Savage as a huge asset to the offense -- yet how many times did we run the ball with Jamal Lewis without Vickers in the backfield? Or, how many times were we struggling to protect the quarterback, but Charlies Ali would motion out of the backfield to the top of the screen?

Eric Mangini had a reliable fullback last year in veteran Tony Richardson. Richardson mostly did what he has always done -- blocked. It should be noted that the Jets only carried one fullback on their roster though, which could leave Ali shafted.

1. LAWRENCE VICKERS - STARTING FULLBACK

Lawrence Vickers (#47)
Height: 6-0
Weight: 250
College: Colorado
Experience: 3 years
Stats: 5-of-6 in short runs

Is Vickers still a future Pro Bowler, as he looked to be two years ago? That'll depend on how he is utilized by Mangini. Vickers missed four games last season, allowing Ali to gain some experience in his place. People have suggested before that Vickers should be given more carries as almost a "third running back", like some teams do. He has the speed to pick up some nice yards, but I see Mangini keeping his non-blocking offensive involvement to a minimum.

I'm not going to do a specific worst attribute/best attribute for the fullbacks; I tried coming up with something, and the categories I came up with seemed a bit "forced" just for the sake of trying to find something.

Vickers seemed to improve upon his third-down situations last year.

1. 3rd-and-1: 2 yard gain (first down)
2. 2nd-and-1: 4 yard gain (first down)
3. 3rd-and-1: 2 yard gain (first down)
4. 3rd-and-1: No gain (led to punt)
5. 4th-and-1: 1 yard gain (first down)
6. 2nd-and-1: 2 yard gain (first down)

Five out of six isn't bad, and if I recall correctly, that is better than his 2007 campaign. Vickers also has pretty good hands; although we might not be running fullback screens as often as I'd like, his hands are definitely an asset when you get down on the goal line off of a playaction pass.

Job Security: A+
Player Quality: B+
Final Roster Odds: 100%

2. CHARLES ALI - BACKUP FULLBACK

Charles Ali (#41)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 255
College: Arkansas-Pine
Experience: 2 years
Note: Special teams

As an undrafted rookie free agent two years, Ali made the roster. He returned last season and ended up playing in all 16 games. Most of his action came on special teams, but when Vickers was hurt, he gained some starting experience. As a blocker, he wasn't elite, but he wasn't a weakness either. Throughout the season, Ali was praised by the coaches as another coveted player.

With a new coaching staff, it doesn't come down to talent as much as it does a numbers game. Personally, I am in favor of having two fullbacks on the roster. In a big game, I always want the luxury of having a backup ready to enter the game. A player like Noah Herron might be able to fill that role temporarily, but he doesn't have the same bulk that Ali does. Mangini carried one fullback when he coached the Jets last season; it's hard to believe that he'd change his mind and definitively want two fullbacks. Ali's chances will likely come down to whether or not special teams coordinator Brad Seely wants him on the roster or not. I say he'll make it.

Player Quality: C+
Final Roster Odds: 60%

FB Position Quality (Overall): B

Expanding more on keeping two fullbacks, another option is to just consider one of your tight ends a backup fullback. Darnell Dinkins could have been an emergency fullback last year; could Robert Royal or Steve Heiden be given that consideration this year? Two years ago, the Jets did have two fullbacks on their roster, but both of them were listed as hybrid fullbacks/tight ends.