I only really disagree with you on QB and OL, but am probably slightly more optimistic than you on the LB’s which I would call adequate.

I voted for cautiously optimistic.

its Evan Moore not Matt Moore, and why is their a picture of Andra Davis for the LB’s? I disagree with the OL, Hadnot our best guard last year? I am what we all should be and thats cautiously optimistic.

Matt Moore did surprise a lot of people, but he didn’t play for the Browns.

Voted pessimistic – and I am an optimist.

Here are my problems – Jake Delhomme was just terrible last year. Worse than BQ. It would surprise me if he were to become an above average starter at this point in his career. WRs were prolly the worst in the league – I think they will be better , but an average corps would be a tremendous improvement.

Ryan will get the most out of the defense, but other than Big Baby – no real over the top playmaker. I think the team has the talent for 5-11, but I do think Eric and Ryan can squeeze an extra win out of the team.

I do think the Browns new team deserves some major credit – we may actually have real depth at CB, and RB. Much improved over last year.

Nice write up.

I voted cautiously optimistic because of the QB position. I think the Browns have gotten better in many areas: the WR’s, (they’ll will be better just because of more practice), CB, ILB, TE, RB, and right side of the O-Line.

That alone will make the Browns a better team. If we can get anything out of Delhomme, we could be decent.

Good post.

I’ve gotta go with pessimist on WR and QB. Somewherein the middle for everywhere else.

Cautiously Optimistic!

Good piece here, love the point \ counterpoint perspective.

Good writeup. I loved the captions for the pictures.

However, I didn’t see your position on the secondary like you have for every other position. I think you missed that part.

Cautiously Optimistic vote
QB’s – I’m feeling much better about our QB situation than last year. Delhomme has to prove he still has “it”, but I think he will. With the pick up of Wallace and McCoy, I feel much more comfortable with this group.

WR’s – I’m hoping for a breakout year from Momass and Robiskie to contribute more. I also think Watson will play a pivotal role in red zone scoring.

RB’s – Love every part of where we are with this position

LB’s – I agree with you there. No real impact players. Average with a few above average players. Maybe someone will really step up their game this year

DB’s – Very optimistic. Love the addition of Sheldon and Haden. Ward and Assante I will have to see on the field for my judgment on them. I don’t see teams terrorizing us for yardage like last year through the air.

Hmm… I disagree with a few points.

I’m pessimistic about our defensive line but very optimistic about our linebackers. They performed admirably towards the end of the season as things started to gel and I think that they will carry that momentum into this season with vets and added depth in Fujita and Gocong. Those are two very big signings that a lot of folks outside of Cleveland underestimate in my opinion. Although I will say my ass is still a little chapped because I would’ve rather seen us take Rolando as opposed to Haden. But Haden’s a Brown now and I’m with him.

I’m also more optimistic in regards to our offensive line. I believe that the style of play will lend itself to accounting for what is overall a mediocre line. If we can be successful early in our play calling and mixing it up, I think our line is quite serviceable.

I am pessimistic however about our QB situation, at least to an extent. I’m definitely not convinced Delhomme’s got anything left, but I certainly trust Sherman. I’m not too ticked about it though as I believe that if Delhomme plays poorly, we have a choice almost as good at game management in Seneca Wallace. So I suppose what I’m saying is what we might lack in Game 1 ability we make up for in depth. Which is kind of scary/familiar – allegedly.

All in all though I like the coaching, I think we have very good players in key positions (QB, CB, LT, HB, FB) and I think we have players who will perform admirably in other important spots (LB, TE, S). I certainly don’t think we’re exactly back where we need to be, but I pick out 8 games on this years schedule that we ought to win. I’m particularly excited for the game vs KC, a team that has revamped its defense with young talent. That could be a good litmus test for the rest of the season provided we get by TB with a respectable showing.

So, troy145’s 2010 Browns prediction: 8-8.

Mostly optimistic about QBs. I think Delhomme plays slightly below his career average (which is way better than what we saw last year for the Browns). I think Wallace throws much better than Cribbs so he does add something, I just don’t trust Daboll to find the balance between gimmicky and unpredictable.

WRs-more optimistic than you but still not to the point that I feel good about them. I think Robo produces much more than last year. From what I can see on film so far, Quinn and DA rarely looked to get him the ball and when they did he couldn’t capitalize on a few plays he is capable of making. Massaquoi and Robo can both be good #2s. We have no #1 on the roster.

I also think Watson makes a huge impact on our offense, even if the numbers don’t show it.

Lastly, having one QB (and a veteran) will make these guys look better. Just from watching film so far, Quinn was not going where he should have with his reads and missing open people, and there was not the kind of chemistry between QB and WR you need to succeed in the NFL.

Honestly, I think I am being optimistic when I hope for a league average receiving corps.

RBs-Hopeful, but I think a lot depends on health.

OL-I think Womack was our best Guard last year. Steinbach needs to rebound to 07/08 form, Pashos needs to prove he is still a legit NFL OT, and everyone else is unproven.

DL-I honestly think we are loaded if we can stay healthy. Robaire Smith was a beast last year once he was up to speed in the system. I think playing Rogers and Rubin together could be awesome. Coleman and Mosley were underrated last year. Age/injuries are my concern.

LB- Roth is very good if he is happy. Fujita and DQ are both good players. My big question is the ROLB spot. Will Gocong be better in a 3-4? Can Bowens replicate last year? Will someone like Bernard catch fire?

CB-we should be good early and very good as Haden catches on. We can match up with different styles of WR and if Eric Wright gets more physical we could be awesome.

S-I think Ward is better in coverage than people think and I think Asante has a chance to be an above average 3rd S/average 2nd. I think Elam is average at best. Mike Adams played surprisingly well under Ryan last year, for being Mike Adams. I think we are bad early and move to about average with the growth of the rooks.

cautiously optimistic

the only areas i have concerns about are WR and S, and i think both of those will come along okay as the season goes on.

if not for the fact that my heart has been trampled by this team so many times in the past, i’d have gone with completely optimistic. i just know better as a browns fan.

Cautiously optomistic here.

IMO, it all hinges on Delhomme and to a lesser extend the green WR corps. TE should be adequate. If Jake can be servicable to good we have a real shot at .500.

The running game should be able to pick up where it left off last year. We shouldn’t expect 300 yards per game like Harrison did against KC but there is no reason we can’t run for 125 yards + each week, keep the D off the field and open up things for the passing game. We shouldn’t have to ask that much from Jake and the WRs. Hopefully, the run game clicks and we are only throwing it 17 to 25 times per game.

On defense I’m hoping we can claw to around the middle of the pack statistically.

Best case scenario, we run the ball down peoples throats all year, Jake puts in a workmanlike 3000 yd 17 TD 10 INT type year and the defense is solid but unspectacular and keeps the opposition around 20 points per game and we go 7-9 or 8-8.

Provided there is an NFL in 2011 we go after a RT, Pass rusher and big time WR and make a playoff run.

On offense, think New York Giants circa ’86 thru ’90. Grind it out with a stable of RBs and smart, unspectacual QB play.

Phil Simms was far from unspectactual — he was definitely spectactual at times. He has a case for Hall of Fame — perhaps not the strongest case but it’s hardly out of the question.

I think overall we can expect the offense to be better than last year, but how hard is that? There’s potential for a big improvement, but I just don’t know how well all of the pieces are going to fit together.

I’m more optimistic for the defense. Some good players were added to the secondary. I think the biggest improvement will come with getting Rubin and Rogers on the line together. That could prove to be disruptive enough that we won’t have to blitz with as many LBs. At least that’s the way I see it.

I haven’t voted since I choose to be cautiously realistic.

I met Eric Wright in person, and he looks nothing the guy in the picture with guns.

He’s a solid tackler, not really an INT grabber.

But both would help this year.

Die Hard Browns fan that lives in North Carolina. My wife and I are both Panthers fans as well as I have lived here since 1999. I’ve seen every high and low that Jake has been through since he started for the Panthers. I was in shock, in just sheer irony, when we signed him this off season, but I’ve since seen the light on him. Three things that I think everyone should know about Jake:
1) This guy is SUPER FIERY. Upbeat, wants to win……and he will let the coaches know about it if he doesn’t agree with things. He’s not timid like who we’ve had in the past. He’s not a sheep like brady or derek either. That makes me excited to see him qb for us right there
2) He wants to right the ship, so to speak with his career. The panthers were an underdog 5 or 6 years ago, just like the Browns are now
3) Everyone complains about his interceptions last year, but in all fairness, the receivers down here, outside of Steve Smith, are no better than who the Browns had this past season. Countless balls were tipped and dropped and alot of those were right place, right time for the defenses.

Haha, someone revoked their rec.

I think I’m as optimistic as anyone, but did I see that Mack is the best center in the league? What? Yeah he’s good, but the best? Not even close. He wasn’t even a Pro Bowler!

Anyways, I’m quite optimistic about our chances this year and I agree with most of the OP (besides the Mack thing). Our offense should make leaps and bounds if only because Daboll is improving and our defense will have a full offseason to build on their success at the end of last year.

Pro Bowls are at least a starting point. But Mack played very well for, what, 4 games? Jerome Harrison should be the best RB by that logic. And I don’t think Mack outperformed the top centers in the league like Mangold, Kreutz, Jason Brown (despite how horrible the rest of the Rams are) or Jeff Saturday. I admit I didn’t watch all of these guys, but I think it’s entirely too early to put Mack in their class.