FanPost

The 2010 Season in Preview: Optimism VS Skepticism

QB

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Optimist:

Jake Delhomme will likely be the starter and if the front office have faith in their 3rd round choice, McCoy waiting in the background to get his opportunity. Jake has had a very successful career. From the 03-04 to the 06-07 season he put up 89 TD's with 58 Int's with a 60% completion percentage. He started off the '07-08 seadon with 8 TD's and 1 Int, but then got injured and sat out the remained of the season. So from past performances and stats alone, JD is the best QB the Browns have had in decades. McCoy is a promising prospect, coming out of a powerhouse programs and being the all-time most winning QB in college history. Seneca Wallace isn't exactly anything to jump for, but he has experience with Holmgren and can be used as a Wildcat option.

Pessimist:

After his injury in 2008, Jake Delhomme has never been the same. He single handily cost the Panthers their playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals by throwing 5 int. Last year he had two 0-4 TD-int games, one 0-3 game and threw 5-15 in outdoor games which is important considering our location. The Panther fans were calling for his head and couldn't wait to get him out of Carolina. Seneca Wallace is an unnecessary player since he can't do anything Cribbs couldn't, and McCoy slipped because he's an undersized spread QB with a noodle arm.

My position - Optimistic. I'm interested in seeing what Delhomme does this year, but worried that he doesn't have the WR targets to make a difference.

Offensive Line

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Be scared, be very scared.

Optimist

The Browns have the arguably 2 best players in the NFL for their positions: Joe Thomas at LT and Alex Mack at C. The supporting players wouldn't have to be dominant to have an extremely effective line. And with the addition of Pashos and Lauvao, with the retaining of Womack and Steinbach, the line shouldn't have a problem protecting JD and opening holes for hardesty.

Optimist

To have a truly epic O-Line, there has to be balance on both sides. The Browns let Hadnot go, who was our best guard last year. Steinbach had an extreme uncharacteristically horrible year and was rated by Profootballfocus.com as the second worst guard in the NFL. St. Clair was a liability and Shawn Lauvao's ability is up in the air. Pashos lost his starting position on his old team to a rookie, and isn't considered starting quality anymore to most analysts.

My position - Pessimistic. Yes the LT and C position is shored, but the other positions amongst the line have to be at least serviceable.

WR

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That is actually orange Crisco instead of gloves on his hands

Optimist:

The rookies have one year under their belt, Robo has been impressive early this preseason, MoMass had a couple of explosive games last year and we added a WR in Carlton Michell who has extremely high upside. We also got a possible legitimate TE threat in Ben Watson and Evan Moore surprised a lot of people last year.

Pessimist:

Last year the WR's played like their hands sweated baby oil last year; couldn't catch a cold if a sick person sneezed in their faces let alone a ball. None of the WR's posses substantial physical advantages over the defense. None of them have particularly impressive speed, strength, height, jumping ability nor are polished route runners. There is no one available to stretch the field, but yet no one has sure-fire hands that would make them possession type receivers.

My position: Pessimistic. This team will not make it in this division with 3 of the top defenses in the entire league without a better and more rounded WR group. Impossible

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RB

Optimist

Harrison ended the year on a strong note, dominating his last 3 games and single handily winning those contests himself. The FO added Peyton Hillis, a Denver fan favorite to play FB and change of pace HB. We also added Hardesty who ran all over the SEC. Should be one of the top RB groups in 2010

Pessimist

Harrison had a few good games at the end of the season, but 2 of them but one where against the 2 worst rushing defenses in the league and against a reeling Shittsburgh team. They also came against teams who arguably could care less about winning and more about draft position.

My position - Optimistic. The RB group on this team has ridiculous talent and potential. There is a balance of power and speed, and everyone is young and still learning.

Defensive Line

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There is a gun in that helmet, he just doesn't know it

Optimist

Rogers may have went down last year, but the team actually performed better with him out of the lineup and replaced with Rubin. The line will be served better with Rubin at the NT position and Rogers using his pass rush ability at DE to get to the QB. Coleman is a solid starter.

Pessimist

The Browns were still the fifth worst in the league at rushing defense. Rogers has his gun charge that will likely get him suspended and Coleman and Mosley aren't anything particularly special. And once again the run defense stunk.

My position - In between. The defense could look good with Geathers but it just all has to come together

Linebackers

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Optimist

Matt Roth came out of the blue at bagged 6 sacks in 4 games. The Browns as a whole were 8th in the league in sacks. Many Fans were surprised by the play of Bowens, Trusnik, and Barton. And there is also the addition of Gocong and Fujita. A very deep linebacker core.

Pessimist

The only way the Browns were able to get to the QB was by sending everyone on their blitzes, leaving the secondary exposed and consequently torched for the most part. The Browns don't have a specific player who will consistently wreck havoc on the opposing line, no one to command double teams or put fear in the O-line. Trusnik may have a high motor and good character, but that didn't stop him from playing like crap and getting taken out of plays, as well with Barton. Fujita is a liablity in coverage, and Gocong in unproven. Veikune so far is a waste of a draft pick

My stance: Pessimistic. We have a bunch of serviceable players, 2nd stringers and depth, but no impact players. Roth could possibly be that, but we'll have to see more of him

Secondary

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Eric Wright ladies and gents

Optimist

Eric Wright was solid as usual. McDonald sucked, as usual, but we picked up the #1 consensus CB in the draft, and also a very solid vet CB in Sheldon Brown who Eagles fans were very pissed about giving up. We also drafted TJ Ward who is a tremendous hitter, and Larry Asante in the 5th round. We lost Pool, but retained Elam who was solid in rush defense. It should be a lot better this year as opposed to last

Pessimist

The secondary was pathetic in 09. Whenever a defense gets torched by a rookie on the Detroit Lions you know its bad. You see TJ Ward getting big hits on his highlight films, but you don't see him getting big interceptions. Or big pass deflections. He was an obvious reach, some had him going in the later rounds. Joe Haden lacks instincts and had all of his junior year Interceptions handed to him in a gift basket. The draft team were also divided between him and Kyle Wilson, which means there were some members of the organization who didn't want him. Elam is terrible in coverage, so while our CB could be better, the S play is still shakey at best.

My stance: Middle ground. By grabbing Haden and drafting two safeties with run support strengths, the coaches seems to be installing a defense where the Corners are responsible for being on an island with their WR, and the safeties maybe playing the run more so than playing coverage. The success of this would all depend on how well Wright and Haden are at man coverage.

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