FanPost

2nd Edition Depth Chart


Decided to take another shot at the Depth Chart, hoping to make this a monthly thing up until the first preseason game in August. This time I have taken the Rookie Minicamp, OTA's, Phil Taylor's Injury, Scott Fujita's Suspension and I've also read up on the rules of the Practice Squad and other miscellaneous roster rules (3rd QB doesn't count against total). I have switched a few things around and even added a few new sections, most notably the Practice Squad section.

Thanks for all the comments on my first attempt, they were helpful, have at it!!!

53 Players Total

QB:

1) Brandon Weeden 2) Colt McCoy 3) Thad Lewis

Note- Weeden is clearly the favorite to be the starter and has a cannon for an arm. Colt McCoy can still have a place on this team if he can accept the role as a back up and keeps working on getting better, I see no reason why not to have him over Seneca Wallace. He is younger, cheaper and has proved he's tough. Thad Lewis stays on as the 3rd QB, which doesn't count against the roster total.

RB:

1) Trent Richardson 2) Brandon Jackson 3) Montario Hardesty 4) Chris Ogbonnaya

Note- Thought a lot about this and couldn't let any of the four go on this round. Injuries have always been a problem at this position for the Browns and I'm not willing to let Ogbonnaya go just because we have 3 guys in front of him. Richardson is a tank, Jackson will hopefully show why the Browns signed him last year and Hardesty will help with some of the work load if healthy. Ogbonnaya is a good option catching out of the backfield and can even block for Trent to spell....

FB:

1) Brad Smelley

Note- Marecic is a tough guy, but I see Smelley's versatility and familiarity with Richardson outweighing that. I had initially booed when the Browns picked Smelley, but I am now a big believer and would be disappointed if the Browns don't keep him. I guess you can peg me as a Brad Smelley Apologist.

WR:

1) Greg Little 2) Mohamed Massaquoi 3) Travis Benjamin 4) Jordan Norwood 5) Josh Cribbs 6) Josh Cooper 7) Carlton Mitchell

Note- Thrown around this group since I last posted at the beginning of May. Against my better judgement, I couldn't get rid of Mitchell. One more season to try to see some production. I do, however, have Travis Benjamin listed as our 3rd option. I think we'll see him emerge during camp and hopefully his speed will initially help him get off the line against the physical corners in the league. Cribbs is a wildcard, as I'm not sure what his role is going to be in terms of receiving and I think it is very dependent on MoMass and his production. Josh Cooper hangs on and may challenge Jordan Norwood for time at the slot.

TE:

1) Ben Watson 2) Evan Moore 3) Jordan Cameron 4) Alex Smith

Note- Another group I've not been able to cut from. I went on an anti-Cameron run last time and have seen they expect bigger things from him. I almost cut Alex Smith but think they'll keep him for insurance blocking on the right side if either Schwartz or Lauvao struggle. Could also see 1 of these 4 in blocking a FB occasionally.

LT:

1) Joe Thomas

Note- C'mon lets be real. Mighty Joe makes opposing defenses cry by just looking at them.

LG:

1) Jason Pinkston 2) John Greco

Note- Pinkston has been touted for his off-season work at Bentley's lineman camp. Hoping he can improve on his strong finish last year. John Greco backs up Pinkston and can fill in at Center if needed.

C:

1) Alex Mack

Note- Mack makes Jamison Hensley regret his preseason rankings and turns in a Pro Bowl season. He played last season through appendicitis last year, I'm starting to wonder if he eats iron for every meal of the day.

RG:

1) Shawn Lauvao 2) Ryan Miller

Note- Initially had Lauvao sitting behind Miller in my first one, but its clear the FO has Lauvao starting at RG. Hopefully Lauvao benefits from having a stronger RT on his side. Ryan Miller, who might be one of my favorite draft picks, is an absolute monster and can play G or T. He'll back up Lauvao and could take his position if Lauvao struggles.

RT:

1) Mitchell Schwartz 2) Oniel Cousins

Note- Mitchell Schwartz is smart, strong and tough. Nothing about that sounds bad. Schwartz should be an anchor on the right side for the next decade. Cousins sticks on as back-up after starting on the 1st team during OTA's. He can back up either both tackle positions.

26 Offensive Players total

LE:

1) Jabaal Sheard 2) Juqua Parker 3) Emmanuel Stephens

Note- Sheard keeps on keepin' on after a great rookie season. Parker serves as mentor and rotates in, possibly on the other side if the Browns plan to move Rucker inside on the 3rd Down, especially with the absence of Phil Taylor inside. Stephens showed his ability last season and hangs around.

LDT:

1) John Hughes 2) Billy Winn

Note- The DT position will be the most rotated position on the team. Rubin will hold down one side and I think Hughes will be dubbed the starter but Winn, Paxson, and even Schaefering and Rucker will rotate in until Phil Taylor comes back around. Hoping Phil Taylor will be back on Week 9 against Baltimore or in Week 11 (Bye Week in 10) against Dallas.

RDT:

1) Ahtyba Rubin 2) Scott Paxson

Note- Ahtyba Rubin could be a Pro-Bowler this year after a pretty solid 2011 campaign. Looking to see him get better and better as long as he remains healthy.

RE:

1) Frostee Rucker 2) Marcus Benard 3) Brian Schaefering

Note- Frostee Rucker is going to be relied on heavily on the line now that Phil Taylor is hurt. Between DE and DT, we could see him on the field quite a lot. Marcus Benard will hopefully come back from his accident and ready to contribute, although I'm not expecting much from him. Schaefering is underrated and has proved he belongs on the team to play snaps when the starters need a breather.

LOLB:

1) Chris Gocong

Note- Gocong will move the strong side or SAM with Fujita out. While I realize there is no one backing him up, both Acho and Maiva will be expected to contribute with Fujita out. I could see the Browns possibly keeping a 6th while Fujita is gone but we'll see over the next few months.

MLB:

1) D'Qwell Jackson 2) Emmanuel Acho

Note- D'Qwell Jackson is the captain of this defense and I expect huge things out of him. Acho is often listed as an OLB but I see him as more of a MLB (slower) and a contributor on ST.

ROLB:

1) James-Michael Johnson 2) Kaluka Maiva

Note- While most probably see Maiva starting on the weak side or WILL, I see Maiva as being a rotational and ST player. I think the Browns got a pretty solid talent in Johnson and he has already showed his ability to play all 3 LB positions, part of the reason why I only have 5 LB on the roster. While I am concerned about depth, some good luck and solid research by Tom Heckert on Johnson could prove to keep the LB corps afloat.

CB:

1) Joe Haden 2) Sheldon Brown 3) Dmitri Patterson 4) Buster Skrine 5) James Dockery 6) Trevin Wade

Note- Joe Haden is a solid #1, Sheldon Brown will eventually get replaced by Dmitri Patterson at #2 and we could see Buster Skrine move into the rotation as the nickle corner. While Heckert said Brown will remain at corner, I could see him moving to FS if Young and Hagg struggle or SS if Ward has any injury problems. Dockery and rookie Trevin Wade provide depth and ST speed.

SS:

1) TJ Ward

Note- Returning from last year's injuries and hopefully back to the form of his rookie year. No back-up at whoever is the back up (Hagg in this case) can back up both SS and FS.

FS:

1) Usama Young 2) Eric Hagg

Note- While I am intrigued by Eric Hagg as the starting FS, I think Usama Young will start the season at FS. This is not to say that Eric Hagg won't play, because I think he definitely will and could even end the season as a starter, but Young will start the season as starter in my opinion.

K:

1) Phil Dawson

Note- One more year for Phil, then on to retirement and eating burritos.

P:

1) Reggie Hodges

Note- Hopefully he'll be healthy and productive, if not Spencer Lanning could be our new P for years to come.

LS:

1) Christian Yount

Note- After getting signed late last season, I pray to Joe we don't have any more problems at LS.

27 Defensive/ST Players

53 Total So Far

PUP/Suspended:

1) Phil Taylor (PUP List Through Week 8)

2) Scott Fujita (Suspended Through Week 3)

Practice Squad

1) Garth Gerhart (UDFA from Arizona St) 2) Dan Gronkowski 3) Johnson Bademosi (UDFA from Stanford) 4) Adonis Thomas (UDFA from Toledo) 5) Jermaine Saffold (UDFA from Missouri State) 6) JB Shugarts (UDFA from Ohio State) 7) Matt Cleveland (UDFA from Idaho) 8) Bert Reed (UDFA from Florida State)

Left Off:

Seneca Wallace

Owen Marecic

Rod Windsor

Syndric Steptoe (kidding!)

Auston English- disappointing because I like him, but probably not gonna make it.

Quinton Spears

Ray Ventrone

Spencer Lanning

While I realize OTA's, injuries, camp, and pre-season could change a lot, this is what my thoughts are for now. What does everyone think? Now its your guys' turn!

This is a fan-created post. Dawgs By Nature assumes no responsibility for the content listed.