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The Offensive Line Part 3: The Healthy Year

John Morgan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:51:01 -0000

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

Players like Matt Hasselbeck make but also create hard decisions. He has been undoubtedly Seattle's greatest quarterback ever, but when is too soon to prepare for the future? And how can you win when you know the player you acquire is not likely better than Hasselbeck's past?

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Steve Hutchinson is an amazing talent. Seattle wasn't building a line of amazing talents. Chris Gray was sagging, Walter Jones in decline, Sean Locklear as serviceable as ever and Chris Spencer and Rob Sims still getting their feet wet. But it had a healthy line. Jones missed one game, the only game missed by Seattle's starting five, and he missed that game as a precaution. It's not well remembered today, but Seattle's 2007 offense was good, even with Shaun Alexander. It was a twelth ranked offense and a 9^th ranked passing offense. The run game was solid outside of Alexander. Maurice Morris had his best season as a pro.

Seattle was healthy in 2007 and other than right guard, it did not seem to have pressing needs at offensive line. Jones was writing the book on modern dominance at left tackle and his historic peers at the position commonly played into their mid- to late-thirties. Sims and Spencer were the subject of Mike Holmgen's scorn, but neither player played that bad, and both were still very young at a position that historically peaks late.

The big flub happened in 2006 and hurt Seattle in the 2007 draft. Tim Ruskell traded the Seahawks first round pick for Deion Branch and then signed him to a six-year, $39 million. He desperately wanted out from Darrell Jacksons's contract, could not retain Joe Jurevicius after Vicious signed for less to play for his hometown Browns, had no interest in keeping Jeremy Stevens, was about to lose Bobby Engram to Graves Disease, and had signed Nate Burleson as a inexpensive project wide receiver and return man. Burleson has fulfilled both roles well. He has cost Seattle $2, $3.5 and $4 million against the cap his first three seasons.

Ruskell saw the Seahawks a contender and didn't see a better opportunity to add a wide receiver. He may have reached a bit, but the enormity of his decision is overblown. Late first round picks are seldom superstars and often outright busts. Had Seattle switched Branch for a generic, late-first round receiver, that receiver would have underperformed the disappointing Branch. It could have used that pick elsewhere however. It could have drafted Ben Grubbs, Arron Sears or Justin Blalock. All three have been solid, though Sears career may be over after a frightening concussion.

This marks the point where we can first say Ruskell was deemphasizing the offensive line. He didn't add significant talent in a significantly talented class, opting instead to draft project player, Mansfield Wrotto, in the fourth. The team made a run at Kris Dielman, but when Dielman frowned at Seattle's weather and went home to San Diego to sign for less, the Seahawks didn't have a plan ‘B'. Its good health at offensive line may have hidden a rotting foundation. Chris Gray started 16 but arguably shouldn't have started one. Excepting Jones, it wasn't very talented, and the youth movement Ruskell started with Spencer, Willis and Sims, was not added to or challenged. Tom Ashworth and Floyd Womack were still primary depth and the most promising successor to Jones was Locklear.

The year that Ruskell's plan was its most effective was also the year Ruskell's plan looked most ominous. Seattle didn't land one of that free agent class's big name guards and didn't acquire talent that could start in a pinch. Had the same injuries occurred that year as have this, Seattle was thinner and weaker and more likely to collapse with Tom Ashworth, Mansfield Wrotto and Steve Vallos thrust into action than even Kyle Williams, modern Wrotto and modern Vallos.

But it didn't and line depth didn't seem like such an awful big deal in 2007. What line could look good blocking Shaun Alexander? It had young parts, an ageless veteran and a defense that was starting to look like the future of the team.

The Offensive Line Part 2: The Transition

John Morgan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:58:30 -0000

This is the season Seattle lost Steve Hutchinson and the foundation of its offensive line began to crumble. Walter Jones was still among the very best at his position, but he was 32 and would turn 33 less than a week after Seattle was bumped out of the playoffs.

That run was paved in part by Tim Ruskell's first ever pick, Chris Spencer, replacing an effectively retired Robbie Tobeck, and rookie Rob Sims replacing the irreplaceable Hutchinson. When Spencer and Sims helped spring an already washed-up Shaun Alexander for 108 yards and two touchdowns against the sixth-ranked Bears rush defense, all was right, Ruskell was in good graces and the future of the Seattle Seahawks seemed bright.

The line was crumbling though. Jones was approaching old, and the intolerance to pain medication that once stood as a testament to his greatness began to loom as a horrible "what if?" Sims could not replace Hutchinson. Chris Gray was 36. Without that insane left side to protect him, Sean Locklear could no longer be trumped up by contrived stats. Seattle was halfway between the collapse of an all-time great offensive line and a rebuilding effort that couldn't possibly be as successful.

Seattle did not invest much into rebuilding the line in 2006. The draft was a bit top heavy and talent poor. Seattle could have selected Guy Whimper with its Sims pick, Willie Colon, Chris Kuper or Jeromey Clary, but if Sims has maybe not been the most valuable lineman selected in the second day, he has been a good player for the pick and more successful than much of his class.

Seattle could have spent an earlier pick but didn't. It's almost impossible to argue that had Seattle kept spent its first or second round picks on offensive linemen, it would be a better team today. Its first round pick, Kelly Jennings, has busted, but so has Winston Justice, selected 39^th, and neither Deuce Latui, 41^st, nor Daryn Colledge, 47^th, strike me as significantly better players than Sims. It could have made a play at a tackle like Marcus McNeill, Andrew Whitworth, Jeremy Trueblood or Eric Winston, but it believed itself set at tackle, and it seemed to be.

Instead, Ruskell added Tom Ashworth. Ashworth was awful: Another body on the pile of winners and veterans that Ruskell has burdened the team with. But Ashworth was fourth string and therefore as likely to play as Kyle Williams. Sean Locklear had been healthy to that point. Ashworth was behind Jones, Locklear, Ray Willis and even Floyd Womack.

Injuries became a factor. Locklear missed five games. Willis missed 15 and was put on IR. Womack was starting at left guard. Locklear's injury forced Ashworth into action and he played like the fourth string tackle he was. The line did not play well and compared to 2005, it was awful.

The talent Ruskell had added was good. It was young and cheap and seemed promising. The line had declined from a peak it could not possibly reach again, but where it had been expensive, aged, but elite, it was now turning into cheap, young and serviceable.

The Offensive Line Part 1: Ruskell the Rookie

John Morgan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:41:21 -0000

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

Seahawks fans are eager for a fall guy after watching their guy fall, but sometimes things go bad without an easy enemy to blame.

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Normally I take this time to rewatch the game a few times and decide my storylines for the week. I have still yet to see the game. The bye week is on its way and there's plenty to discuss, but actual tape analysis might be a little slow coming.

I didn't need to see it to know that starting Kyle Williams beside Steve Vallos was going to be a problem. It was a not so subtle and not so brief reminder that football coaches can overvalue intelligence and intangibles. Vallos chemistry with Williams didn't make it off the practice field. The more important matter is how did Seattle's line get so bad? Could it be significantly better? And is there still hope for improvement?

From Caviar to Cat Food

Seattle started two future Hall of Fame talents on its Super Bowl bound 2005 team. Walter Jones was the best tackle of a historic class. The best tackle in the history of the NFL, according to some. No one currently associated with the Seahawks deserves credit for Jones success or Jones eventual decline. Three fifths of that historic 2005 line are retired or nearly so. The remaining two are paving the way to Canton for another back and injured, respectively. Knowing that so much of that talented line simply got old is cold comfort, but comfort.

Tim Ruskell bears some responsibility for the Seahawks losing Steve Hutchinson. As we know his style better, his fingerprints appear all over that botched attempt to save fifty bucks. The actual mistake was minor compared to the outcome. Ruskell was blindsided by a poison pill clause that introduced the world to the phrase "poison pill clause". He was backdoored by a wily GM and a guard that wanted out. If we can't ever fully excuse Ruskell from that mistake, I think we should at least maintain perspective.

The Seahawks line was in need of new blood as soon as Ruskell took over. The interior was comprised of two journeymen soon to retire and a free agent. The 2004 team, the team I affectionately call the Trader Bob Superfund, was bereft of promising offensive line talent. It was the principles, Chris Terry, Floyd Womack, Jerry Wunch and Wayne the Pain Hunter.

As has been Ruskell's lot, he was fixing the team at multiple positions during the offseason. He drafted Chris Spencer in the first, Ray Willis in the fourth and Doug Nienhuis in the seventh in a linemen- and linebacker-centric draft. Neinhuis was a pure bust, but Willis has developed into a cheap, talented right tackle. Seattle re-signed Willis this offseason and he's been a rock on an otherwise chalk line.

Spencer is a bit more controversial. He hasn't excelled and he hasn't been awful. He hasn't been healthy and he hasn't been wracked with injury. Spencer is only 27 and his potential is still strong, a potential that could mean eight more years of productive football, but he's a free agent or restricted free agent after this season and might not be worth his open market value.

Ruskell did invest in the offensive line. He did it at the right time and with some success. Willis was the first lineman selected in the fourth round and he has been the second most successful. I will give Jason Brown the benefit of the doubt, though I am not sure Brown is in fact more valuable than Willis. Seattle could have selected Logan Mankins or Michael Roos with its Spencer pick, but it didn't. Roos is a pure tackle and could have perhaps played right tackle for Seattle, allowing Locklear to move inside, but Seattle didn't see offensive tackle as a pressing need, or guard for that matter. Value for value, Willis has been a similar find to Roos. It's also notable that Chris Gray would play three more serviceable seasons at right guard, but Robbie Tobeck was out of the league the very next season. Ruskell added starter caliber talent at the right positions at the right time in his very first draft as a GM.

Final Practice/Injury Report: Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) at Cleveland Browns (0-3)

Kirkendall — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:11:14 -0000

OUT	Questionable	PROBABLE
T Andre Smith (foot)	DT Tank Johnson (foot)	RB Cedric Benson (knee)
	CB David Jones (foot)	LB Abdul Hodge (knee)
	CB Johnathan Joseph (foot)	LB Rey Maualuga (knee)
	DT Domata Peko (neck)	S Chinedum Ndukwe (hamstring)
	S Roy Williams (forearm)	T Andrew Whitworth (achilles)

Cleveland Browns

DOUBTFUL	QUESTIONABLE	PROBABLE
K Phil Dawson (right calf)	DE Kenyon Coleman (groin)	LB David Bowens (knee)
RB Jamal Lewis (hamstring)	RB James Davis (shoulder)	DT Shaun Rogers (foot)
G Floyd Womack (ankle)	G Rex Hadnot (knee)	LB Kamerion Wimbley (shoulder)
	G Eric Steinbach (knee)	CB Eric Wright (hand)
	DE Corey Williams (knee)	P Dave Zastudil (right knee)

Practice

BENGALS	WED	THUR	FRI
T Andre Smith (foot)	OUT	OUT	OUT
RB Cedric Benson (knee)	DNP	FP	FP
LB Abdul Hodge (knee)	DNP	FP	FP
DT Tank Johnson (foot)	DNP	DNP	LP
CB Johnathan Joseph (foot)	DNP	DNP	FP
LB Rey Maualuga (knee)	DNP	FP	FP
S Chinedum Ndukwe (hamstring)	DNP	FP	FP
CB David Jones (foot)	LP	FP	FP
DT Domata Peko (neck)	LP	DNP	FP
S Roy Williams (forearm)	LP	DNP	LP
T Andrew Whitworth (achilles)	FP	FP	FP

BROWNS	WED	THUR	FRI
DE Kenyon Coleman (groin)	DNP	LP	LP
K Phil Dawson (right calf)	DNP	DNP	DNP
RB Jamal Lewis (hamstring)	DNP	DNP	DNP
G Floyd Womack (ankle)	DNP	DNP	DNP
LB David Bowens (knee)	LP	LP	FP
G Rex Hadnot (knee)	LP	LP	LP
DT Shaun Rogers (foot)	LP	LP	FP
G Eric Steinbach (knee)	LP	LP	LP
DE Corey Williams (knee)	LP	DNP	LP
LB Kamerion Wimbley (shoulder)	LP	FP	FP
CB Eric Wright (hand)	FP	FP	FP
P Dave Zastudil (right knee)	FP	FP	FP
RB James Davis (shoulder)	--	FP	DNP

Practice Report (Thursday): Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) at Cleveland Browns (0-3)

Kirkendall — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:11:27 -0000

Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evening, we'll update the practice/injury chart leading up to Sunday's game. The chart is pretty self-explanatory. If the player is listed as out, they're out for the game. If they did not participate, they didn't practice. If they were limited, then they only participated during a portion of practice (typically means missing 11-on-11 drills). If the player is listed as full participation, it simply means that they practiced fully and that the only reason they're listed is because injury was an issue the week before.

Practice

BENGALS	WED	THUR	FRI
T Andre Smith (foot)	OUT	OUT
RB Cedric Benson (knee)	DNP	FP
LB Abdul Hodge (knee)	DNP	FP
DT Tank Johnson (foot)	DNP	DNP
CB Johnathan Joseph (foot)	DNP	DNP
LB Rey Maualuga (knee)	DNP	FP
S Chinedum Ndukwe (hamstring)	DNP	FP
CB David Jones (foot)	LP	FP
DT Domata Peko (neck)	LP	DNP
S Roy Williams (forearm)	LP	DNP
T Andrew Whitworth (achilles)	FP	FP

BROWNS	WED	THUR	FRI
DE Kenyon Coleman (groin)	DNP	LP
K Phil Dawson (right calf)	DNP	DNP
RB Jamal Lewis (hamstring)	DNP	DNP
G Floyd Womack (ankle)	DNP	DNP
LB David Bowens (knee)	LP	LP
G Rex Hadnot (knee)	LP	LP
DT Shaun Rogers (foot)	LP	LP
G Eric Steinbach (knee)	LP	LP
DE Corey Williams (knee)	LP	DNP
LB Kamerion Wimbley (shoulder)	LP	FP
CB Eric Wright (hand)	FP	FP
P Dave Zastudil (right knee)	FP	FP
RB James Davis (shoulder)	--	FP

MHR Chalk Talk -- Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos

Steve Nichols — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:30:13 -0000

The Browns are a hard team for me to figure out. Some portions of their game looked good or bad in the preseason, then looked completely different in Week One. Some portions of their game varied widely from the first to the second half of that first regular season game, too. Even their offensive line varies (looks much better on the strong side of the field than the weak side).

But in fairness, how predictable are the Broncos? Kyle Orton didn't look too sharp in his first regular season game for Denver, failing to move the ball down the field much. On the other hand, he gave up zero interceptions and had a good completion rate. (Chicago fans got what Denver fans said they would - a QB that moves the ball down the field like a Pro Bowler, but gets interceptions at the end of drives instead of touchdowns). Denver's vaunted running game? Didn't materialize. Poor special teams coverage? Nope, the team did a solid job. Denver's defense looked better than last year by far, while the offense (still star-studded) looked plain.

In short, this is a matchup of two teams that are morphing before our eyes, and anything can happen. While I'm inclined to favor Denver, there are enough question marks that I don't think the game is a lock by any stretch.

Let's look further into the matchup, and see what is worth watching for...

Browns Offense vs Broncos Defense

The Browns passing offense against Denver's defense is my favorite matchup in terms of intrigue.

vs Doom vs Thomas (courtesy - NFL)

Elvis Dumervil is an elite pass rusher, and has beaten the best left tackles in the League. He faces Joe Thomas, who is an excellent player, and this is going to be a terrific battle. With the 5-2 look that Denver presents (DE - DG - NT - DG - DE and two true LBS), Denver can use the extra pass rusher to form schemes that force the OL to make hard decisions and this may help "Doom". The Browns will counter by using TEs in to block, and the entire Browns' passing offense will hinge on the success of the Browns' offensive line.

I wrote two to three years ago about how the FB is a position being slowly phased out of modern football, to be replaced with more TEs. (The end of this evolution is expected to be 3-TE sets). We'll see some of this theory in the Denver - Cleveland game, as both teams will heavily rely on two-TE or 3-WR sets. I don't expect to see a FB very much for either side.

So, given the coaching theory that 1 defensive lineman is equivelent to 1.5 O-Linemen (based on rules that allow D-Linemen to do more than their counterparts), we see 5 DLs for Denver (they run a 5-2) and 7 (two TEs) for Cleveland. Denver has 7.5 points (1.5 for each lineman) against 7, which are close odds. Denver's LBs shouldn't be a factor on most plays, as there are only really two true LBs on the field in the 5-2 to cover other responsibilities.

Now the key comes down to what Cleveland decides to do. Cleveland has three worthy receivers in Braylon Edwards (a good all-around WR) and Joshua Cribbs (a deep threat who is also a monster in the return game). Some would argue that Mike Furrey should get the start over Cribbs because he is a better all-around receiver. But Denver has an elite secondary, with future Hall of Fame-players Champ Bailey at CB and Brian Dawkins at FS. Denver also also has CB Andre' Goodman, who has been excellent since coming to Denver, as well as Renaldo Hill at SS. As if this isn't enough, Denver has depth at defensive back with rookie phenom CB Alphonso Smith and several players at safety.

If I'm Cleveland's offensive coordinator, I stick with Brady Quinn's strengths and the TEs. Quinn likes to throw to his TEs, and the coverage against even three-receiver sets should lean in Denver's favor. Cleveland should play two-TE sets to match the Denver front five, with the added threat of one or both TEs going into quick routes. This forces D.J. Williams and Andra Davis to make decisions between covering TEs, or watching for the run. Expect Denver's two LBs to be in zone.

Andra Davis (Courtesy - NFL)

A quick note on Andra Davis. A lot of Cleveland fans may look forward to playing against Davis. He was considered slow (true) and not a great asset for Cleveland (true again). But in Denver's scheme, Davis has found his niche as a very effective run stopper, and is getting put in position to (surprisingly) make a difference when the ball goes in the air. As I wrote during the re-loading season, the acquistion of Davis makes sense for Denver. Cleveland fans would be surprised to watch some game film of Davis in Week One against the Bengals, and with a chip on his shoulder, he might be a force in this game as well.

Watch the right side of the Cleveland offensive line. Denver has suddenly found depth by swtiching from a 4-3 to a 5-2, and players ranging from Mario Haggan to Darrell Reid to 1st-round pick Robert Ayers may be rotated in to attack a suspect duo of John St. Clair and Floyd Womack.

A big question mark is Cleveland's RB situation. As of Thursday's practice, Jamal Lewis was limited in practice, and Jerome Harrison practiced fully, but is coming off of a knee injury. Cedric Peerman and James Davis were also limited in practice. Denver's rush defense is much improved, and the new schemes in use by Denver tend to support stopping the run.

Jamal Lewis (Courtesy - NFL)

Cleveland likes to run the ball, and did so (and well) against the Vikings. Lewis is the kind of player that can average over 5 YPC, so I think Cleveland will continue to pound the ball and avoid some of the issues in the passing game. Cleveland's game plan may be as simple as trying to establish the run, force a safety into the box, and then let go with a deep ball. Don't be surprised if the biggest gain via pass turns out to be to a TE, and not Cribbs. Denver's safeties will be making tricky decisions on whether to cover a TE or play over the top of WRs that may streak the field at any moment.

Broncos Offense vs Browns Defense

Denver's run game didn't look so hot in the season opener. I noted two problems here. First, Denver was calling sweeps with Peyton Hillis, who is more of a downhill guy who shouldn't be racing to the edge. But more importantly, rookie Knowshon Moreno was dancing around instead of taking his one cut and committing. This is something that I'm sure the RBs coach (Turner) will be addressing this week in practice. Correll Buckhalter had some flashes, and looks to develop into an effective RB for Denver.

Cleveland's run defense was solid in the first half of Game One, severely limiting an elite Vikings gound game. But when the second half rolled around, the defense rolled over. In Denver, where the altitude makes endurance a bigger factor, watch closely to see if Denver goes into the second half with a lead to wear down the Browns defense.

Denver's pass game is interesting to look at. Brandon Marshall is deadly with yards after the catch, but didn't look comfortable having missed much of the offseason either suspended or holding out. Eddie Royal didn't have a great game, but that's a rare thing. Denver can still count on amazing depth, having seen great play in the preseason from Brandon Stokley, Jabar Gaffney, and Brandon Lloyd. Denver also has receiving threats at TE with Daniel Graham and Tony Scheffler, as well as superior blocking from Graham and rookie Richard Quinn.

Kyle Orton (Courtesy - NFL)

The big question mark is, as always, Kyle Orton. Denver fans that were used to spectacular yards aren't seeing them, and this is bad. On the other hand, Denver fans aren't seeing multiple interceptions, and this is terrific. Orton needs to have two goals for this game...

First, continue to protect the ball. The team can afford to be limited in passing yards while still winning ballgames. With a slow-moving offense though, the team can't afford more than one (if that) interception. Second, as Orton gets more comfortable, he'll need to make more passes. Denver won't win on the running game alone, and needs at least some balance to help the running game to get consistant yards.

An entertaining matchup on this side of the game is Browns NT Shaun Rogers against Denver OC Casey Wiegmann.

Special Teams

Josh Cribbs (Courtesy - NFL)

This is a picture of Josh Cribbs of the Browns. Don't kick or punt to him. If you do, the coverage teams had better be ready. That is all that needs to be said about special teams.

Keys to the Game

Both teams share a crucial goal - get to the opposing QB. Both QBs will have severe problems if they are hurried, and both teams sport excellent pass rushes. The keys to the running games lay in the trenches, so both teams must rely on their offensive and defensive lines to win this game. This game will be won or lost in the trenches in my opinion.

If Dumervil can work his magic on the weak side, Cleveland is in serious trouble. If not, Cleveland still needs to worry about the right side of their line. Likewise, Denver's famous OL showed some cracks against Cincy, and needs to be at their best to stop the Browns' attack against Orton. Expect both teams to play an attacking defense.

While the oddsmakers, experts, and polls seem to show this being a win for Denver, I think the game is more evenly matched than most folks might think. I'll take Denver too, but with the caveat that both teams' fans are probably underestimating their opponents. I expect this to be a close game, with a big-play difference.

Denver -

Pressure Quinn. With enough pressure, Cleveland will have to use TEs to block instead of going on routes. This forces Quinn to pass into a dangerous secondary. If the pressure isn't effective, Quinn can pass to open TEs in the seams, and watch for a deep-threat moment to make a defining score in the game.
Establish the run. Cleveland showed defensive weaknesses in the second half against the Vikings, while Denver didn't seem to sweat against a Cincy team that had their hands on their hips trying to catch their breath in the second half. If Denver's run game is sharp, the pass gets easier for Orton and the pass rush of Cleveland gets negated.
Limit turnovers. Turnovers often determine games, but in a game with the matchups presented in Game 2 of this season, I think they are even more critical. Both teams will fight for short yardage, and I share Guru's predicition that a big play or two will likely swing the game. For this reason, Denver can't afford to lose hard-fought field position on an interception or fumble.

Cleveland -

Pressure Orton. Orton is careful and can hold onto a ball for too long. Orton is under a lot of pressure to succeed in Denver, and pressure on the field against the QB cancels out the star power of an elite receiving and TE corps.
Force third-and-long situations so that Josh Cribbs gets plenty of touches on punts. The more that Denver has to punt, the better the odds of a Cribbs punt return. Denver has an improved coverage team over last year, but do they really want to face Cribbs several times? A big play will likely decide this game, and if it isn't a break away pass (or run), it will be Cribbs.
Don't challenge Bailey. Better QBs and better WRs have made this mistake. Quinn's throws can be effective to TEs, and he can make a lot of short and medium passes for moderate gains around the field. Rookie nickelback Alphonso Smith can be a dangerous threat, as can veteran Goodman. But a medium-range pass to Bailey is suicide. Unless the receiver is clearly down field from Bailey, go elsewhere. As I opined earlier, turnovers and big plays should determine this game. Cleveland may need a deep pass or a return on special teams. Denver will shoot for the turnovers, particularly on INTs.

Poll

Denver -

Wins big

121 votes

Wins moderate

478 votes

Wins close

345 votes

Loses close

34 votes

Loses moderate

17 votes

Loses big

16 votes

1011 votes | Poll has closed

Previewing the Kansas City Chiefs 2009 Schedule: Week 15

Chris Thorman — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:12:05 -0000

More photos » by Tony Dejak - AP

3 months ago: Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn (10) passes the ball to Josh Cribbs for a first down under pressure from Tennessee Titans defensive end Dave Ball (98) during a preseason NFL football game at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

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Week 15 brings the Cleveland Browns to Arrowhead Stadium. At this point in the season, and at this point in our predictions, we have the Kansas City Chiefs sitting on a record of 7-6.

Crazy? Yeah, it is a little crazy. But we are after all Chiefs fans, no?

If you're a casual follower of the Browns like I am, you know about Dante Stallworth and his legal issues. You've heard about the Brady Quinn v. Derek Anderson debate. And I'm assuming you know that Eric Mangini is now the head coach.

But beyond that I don't know that much. After the jump, SB Nation's Browns blogger Chris answers some of our questions about the Browns. I've also added the Browns' depth chart as of now for more reference.

Make sure you check out Dawgs by Nature for all things Cleveland Browns.

Pos	1st String (Starter)	2nd String (Backup)	3rd String
QB
RB	Jamal Lewis	Jerome Harrison	James Davis Cedric Peerman
FB	Lawrence Vickers
WR1	Braylon Edwards	Mohamed Massaquoi
WR2	Joshua Cribbs	Mike Furrey	Brian Robiskie
TE	Robert Royal	Steve Heiden	Martin Rucker
LT	Joe Thomas
LG	Eric Steinbach
C	Hank Fraley	Alex Mack
RG	Floyd Womack	Rex Hadnot
RT	John St. Clair	Phil Trautwein
Pos	1st String (Starter)	2nd String (Backup)	3ird String
DE	Kenyon Coleman	C.J. Mosley
NT	Shaun Rogers	Ahtyba Rubin
DE	Robaire Smith	Corey Williams
LOLB	Kamerion Wimbley
ILB	D'Qwell Jackson	David Veikune
ILB	Eric Barton	Kaluka Maiava	Blake Costanzo
ROLB	David Bowens	Alex Hall	Leon Williams
LCB	Eric Wright	Hank Poteat	Marquis Floyd
RCB	Brandon McDonald	Coye Francies	Gerard Lawson
FS	Brodney Pool	Mike Adams	DeAngelo Smith
SS	Abram Elam	Nick Sorensen
Pos	1st String (Starter)	2nd String (Backup)	3rd String
K	Phil Dawson
P	Dave Zastudil
H	Dave Zastudil
LS	Ryan Pontbriand
KR	Joshua Cribbs	Gerard Lawson	Jerome Harrison
PR	Joshua Cribbs	Gerard Lawson	Jerome Harrison

What do the Chiefs have to worry the most about...Jamal Lewis and the running game or Braylon Edwards and the passing game?

This question is tough to answer since our game isn't until Week 15, so I'll try to base my answer as if the Chiefs were facing the Browns earlier in the year. I'd definitely pick Braylon Edwards and the passing game. The media has automatically written off the Browns, but there is still some potency on the offensive side of the ball. Just two years ago, Derek Anderson and Edwards were Pro Bowlers. Sure, last season's struggles "might" have shown their true colors, but how can anyone guarantee that Edwards won't go back to having the same type of season he had in 2007? Brady Quinn will probably be the starting quarterback. Although he doesn't sling it as much as Anderson, Brian Daboll (the Browns offensive coordinator) would be foolish to leave out the deep patterns to Edwards.

On the other hand, the running game appears bound to struggle as long as Jamal Lewis is in the lineup. He had a down season last year and has not shown the same power he used to have throughout this year's training camp. Lewis claims he's just "holding back" for the regular season, but I think it comes down to him not having very much left in the tank anymore. Fans in Cleveland like our sixth-round draft pick James Davis at running back, but I'm not going to sit here and say that he's going to be awesome. He was great in the preseason, but the real evaluation will come when he's against first stringers in the regular season. This lack of assurance in the running game almost makes Edwards and the passing game more of a threat by default.

Will the Browns use Josh Cribbs as a WR more often? The Chiefs did that with Dante Hall and it seemed to ruin him in the return game. Any thoughts/concerns on that?

Not only should the Browns use Cribbs as a receiver more often, he should and will be starting opposite Edwards (according to our depth chart). He started in the preseason and did very well. I don't think you can compare Cribbs to Dante Hall or Devin Hester in their transitions to wide receiver because they have different styles. Hall and Hester rely more on elusiveness, whereas Cribbs finds the hole, powers through it and keeps on going. During the preseason, we saw several plays against first-stringers in which Cribbs caught the ball on a quick pattern towards the sideline and then stiff-armed the first cornerback he met before being taken down a little bit later by another defender. I know the Browns took Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi in round two this year, but if it were up to me, I'd shelve their growth and give Cribbs the starting opportunity -- I'm that intrigued by him.

The Chiefs are just transitioning to the 3-4 defense. Can you talk a little bit about what the Browns transition to the 3-4 was like a few years ago and how it stands now?

The transition was exciting at first. All we could think about is how our defense was going to be nasty like the Ravens defense. And then, something bad happened -- we saw Romeo Crennel's 3-4 defense in action. Ever since then, it's been a nightmare. We never generated any pressure. We never stopped the run. We never stood out from any other defense in the NFL. Most importantly, we barely had any of the type of players we needed for the system. Last year we acquired Shaun Rogers, but one man can only do so much. I think Mangini and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan have done a better job finding players that are comfortable with the 3-4 alignment, but we're several years into the defense and aren't even half as good as the Ravens' defense.

Many thanks to Chris for stopping by and giving us his answers! Read more about the Browns at Dawgs by Nature.

My prediction for this game is, let's say....17 to 13 in favor of our Chiefs. I don't think we'll have faith in this offense very often this year. Current record at this point: 8-6.

Check out all of our season game previews at this link.

Cleveland Browns Training Camp Report: Day 18 (Evening) - Positives Come Back

Chris Pokorny — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:40:31 -0000

More photos » by Mark Duncan - AP

The offense ran a little smoother for both quarterbacks in the evening session Tuesday.

Browse more photos »

After a preseason game and a few practices of the quarterbacks struggling, they fared a little bit better in the evening session Tuesday. If you missed the recap from this morning's practice, click here.

TRAINING CAMP REPORT - DAY 18 [EVENING] (8/18/09)

Setting the Stage: Here's the main drill to talk about: it was 1st-and-goal from the 9 with just 23 seconds on the clock. Each quarterback would be down 28-20, meaning they would need a touchdown and a two-point conversion. Here is how things turned out for each quarterback...
Drill for Anderson: On the very first play, Derek Anderson fired a nine-yard touchdown pass to TE Robert Royal. Anderson then took it himself for a two-point conversion.
Drill for Quinn: Although it took him four plays to do it, Brady Quinn also scored a touchdown. His first two passes were pretty poor, and after a shuffle pass to RB Noah Herron got him to the two-yard line, Quinn snuck it in for the score. On the two-pointer, he connected with WR Lance Leggett to complete the drill successfully.
Titus Brown Injured: After getting some reps with the first team recently due to LB David Bowens riding the stationary bikes, Titus Brown suffered a leg injury and was seen being attended to by trainers, according to Steve Doerschuk. After practice, it's been reported that he was wearing a walking boot. While Brown was out, he was replaced by LB Marcus Benard.
Mistakes Force Laps: Practice wasn't perfect. Derek Anderson fumbled snaps on back-to-back possessions and had to run. FB Lawrence Vickers dropped a wide open flat pass and paid the price.
The Trick Play: In a goal line drill, on a tackle eligible play, LG Eric Steinbach caught a touchdown from Brady Quinn, according to Rapid Reports. In the same drill, Quinn also tossed a touchdown pass to backup FB Charles Ali.
Back to the Backseat: Now it's the defense making plays on rookie RB James Davis. In a red zone drill, Davis was stopped behind the line of scrimmage by LB Beau Bell. Later on, DE Kenyon Coleman broke into the backfield to stuff Davis again. RB Jerome Harrison missed practice again.
Hurry Up: According to Rapid Reports, P Dave Zastudil practiced punting the ball while running. You never know when that might come in handy -- a bad snap or a dropped snap in a wet game could force that situation.
Starting Line: The first-string line was LT Joe Thomas, LG Eric Steinbach, C Hank Fraley, RG Floyd Womack, and RT John St. Clair.

The Browns will have an afternoon session the next two days to get ready for the Detroit Lions this Saturday at home.

Tuesday Evening's Links/Camp Sources

Tuesday PM: Situational work (Akron Beacon Journal, Ridenour)
Trouble at outside linebacker (Canton Repository, Doerschuk)
Training camp log: Day 18 (Cleveland Plain Dealer, Grossi)

Cleveland Browns Training Camp Report: Day 8 - Rain, Rain, Go Away

Chris Pokorny — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:16:51 -0000

The Browns had a light practice in the rain Saturday before their scrimmage Sunday at the stadium. Here, WR Braylon Edwards goes past CB Brandon McDonald.

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The story of the Day 8 practice was the rain that came, the first time a practice has seen such conditions of this magnitude this season. Eric Mangini decided to keep the team outside to work through the conditions, although few fans showed up. The practice was reportedly "light" today, acting as more of a little preparation for tomorrow's scrimmage at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

TRAINING CAMP REPORT - DAY 8 (8/8/09)

Steptoe Injured: During practice, WR Syndric Steptoe was carted off the field with an injury to his arm or shoulder. He might have aggravated an injury suffered earlier in the week. The reports on Steptoe's injury don't seem too serious at the moment, but I wouldn't be surprised if the coaching staff uses this as an opportunity to place Steptoe on the injured reserve. Doing so would allow the team to keep Steptoe for at least another year if they so choose to.
Good News on Hadnot: Instead of a torn ACL as originally thought, OG Rex Hadnot only suffered a torn MCL. Although this rules out any chance of him being a starter in Week 1, there's a legitimate chance that he could be back by then as a backup.
Not Hitting or Contact: Probably due to the rain and due to there being a scrimmage tomorrow, no hitting or contact was permitted today. Seriously, if you live a long way away from Berea and you picked today as your day to attend practice, then you picked the wrong day.
Two-Minute Success: For the first time in camp, the offense scored during the two-minute drill. Derek Anderson led the Browns offense down the field, eventually firing a touchdown pass to TE Robert Royal.
Edwards Going Strong: WR Braylon Edwards was good as gold again, ending practice by running past DB Brandon McDonald and catching a touchdown pass from Anderson. WR Mohamed Massaquoi caught a touchdown today too, and if the season started today, it might be Edwards and Massaquoi as the top two on the depth chart. In the picture below, you can see Edwards celebrating after a touchdown:
Depth Chart Hints? On the OBR Twitter feed, they were wondering if the depth chart in practice today would serve as a "hint" as who to who is leading the position battles. Here is a recap by position on offense of players with the first team:
- QB: Derek Anderson
- RB: Jamal Lewis and James Davis rotated with each other
- FB: Lawrence Vickers
- WR: Braylon Edwards, Mohamed Massaquoi, and Mike Furrey
- TE: Robert Royal mostly, but Aaron Walker in some pass situations
- OL: Joe Thomas, Eric Steinbach, Alex Mack, Floyd Womack, and John St. Clair. It was noted that Hank Fraley rotated with Mack in the first team, but Ryan Tucker only played with the second team.

The Browns will be at Cleveland Browns Stadium tomorrow for the Brown & White Scrimmage. It is a free, non-ticketed event for all fans. There will be four quarters of play, with each quarter lasting ten minutes. It will be as close to a "real game feel" as you can get without it actually counting in the standings.

Saturday's Link Collection / Camp Sources

Steptoe Gets Dinged (Orange and Brown Report, King)
Bryan Cox and Shaun Smith go at it (Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cabot)

Cleveland Browns Training Camp Report: Day 7 (Morning & Evening)

Chris Pokorny — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 03:05:38 -0000

LB Kamerion Wimbley had a good day generating pressure. So did LB Alex Hall (not pictured), who registered a few sacks.

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I was a bit busy throughout the day today, so I didn't have time to crank out a recap of the morning practice. Considering it's late in the day, rather than breaking what happened into two posts, everything will be lumped into this one post. If something needs to be distinguished between day/night practice for whatever reason, I'll mention it.

TRAINING CAMP REPORT - DAY 7 [MORNING & EVENING] (8/7/09)

No Team Comment on Hadnot: Head coach Eric Mangini would not acknowledge the extent of OG Rex Hadnot's injury, but it sounds like he suffered an ACL injury and will probably miss the entire season.
Bubble Watch: I haven't heard many positive things about OT George Foster. Whether he is getting beaten by defenders, missing assignments, or getting yelled at by coaches, it's hard to say that he'll be on my next roster projection.
Solid Practice for Hall: The OLB competition is still ongoing, but Alex Hall only improved his chances today by getting to the quarterback(s) for a sack several times.

WR Braylon Edwards refuses to drop the football, as he is wrapped up by CB Brandon McDonald here.

Elam Knows How to Tackle: The Browns ran about 20 different matchups of open-field tackling drills. Grossi reports that these drills usually favor the offensive player, because with one good move, they can easily evade the defender (imagine yourself as a defender trying to guess where the offensive player is going to go). S Abram Elam excelled in the drill, being able to take down his assigned player twice -- once with WR Jordan Norwood, and the other time with WR Paul Hubbard. Good open-field tackling is something Cleveland has needed for quite awhile.
From DOWN-TOWN: Kicker Phil Dawson worked on some deep kicks in practice today, with four attempts over 50 yards. He made the first from 54 yards, missed the second and third from 52- and 56-yards, and then made the final one from 56-yards. Dawson and the special teams unit also worked on some onside kicks.
Tight Ends Busy: Our blocking tight ends were busy today, as Robert Royal and Steve Heiden each had three-four catches.
Not a Drop Yet: In four practice sessions, WR Braylon Edwards has reportedly not dropped a single pass that can be ruled as "catchable". Let's hope he keeps that up for the live games.
QB Stats: Sorry if it sounds like I am envying the reporting of Daniel Wolf too much in these training camp recaps, but it's just so refreshing to see someone take the time to provide unique and detailed information regarding the play of the quarterbacks. In this morning's report, Wolf went above and beyond in recording the stats of the quarterbacks from each drill, along with notes on the reasons why the stats looked the way they did. It'd be unfair of me to reproduce everything he said here, so check it out here for the stats.

Rex Hadnot is down, but Joe Thomas is stronger than ever as he blocks DL Corey Williams here.

Assuming You've Read...the above link, here is a quick recap. Both quarterbacks were more effective than they have been the past few practices. The most interesting part was the regular 11-on-11 drill, for several reasons. First off, Alex Mack was involved in another bad snap. He's having one or two of those a practice it seems, and you can't start a player on gameday if they have that problem. Against a team like the Ravens, you're definitely asking for a "gimme" turnover.

Also, Kamerion Wimbley was getting some good pressure, reports Wolf. This is also where Alex Hall recorded two of his sacks -- once on Anderson and once on Quinn. Joshua Cribbs also took a direct snap in one instance and looked to pass, but the defense shut it down and sacked him. If I go through with my intentions to visit the stadium this Sunday, I'm going to try to compile similar statistics on the quarterbacks, time permitting.
More on Massaquoi: The past few days, the camp reports have hinted towards the fact that Mohamed Massaquoi might have an edge over Brian Robiskie. The OBR's article today discusses this more in depth.
Hubbard Watch: It sounds like a quieter day for WR Paul Hubbard again, who reportedly dropped an easy one in the morning session.
Brett...WHO? It took seven days, but for the first time I believe, I am mentioning the name of QB Brett Ratliff. WHO is that you ask? He is the former Jets quarterback we acquired along with Elam, and is behind Quinn and Anderson as the No. 3 guy. In the evening session, he fired a touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards through two defenders.
Close, But No Cigar: CB Rod Hood would have had an interception on an Anderson pass in the evening session, but the ball slipped through his fingers.
Good Battles: Although Edwards has been catching everything in sight, CB Eric Wright has reportedly had very good coverage on him during camp, including today.
Offensive Line: The first-team offensive line during the evening practice was LT Joe Thomas, LG Eric Steinbach, C Alex Mack, RG Floyd Womack, and RT John St. Clair. Based on what has happened in camp, if Tucker is going to play somewhere, it looks like it might be RG.

The Browns will have one afternoon session on Saturday before taking the field for a Sunday scrimmage at the stadium.

Friday's Link Collection / Camp Sources

Training camp report - 8/7 (Dawg Scooper, Wolf)
Browns quarterbacks not scoring in two-minute drills (Cleveland Plain Dealer, Grossi)
LB Alex Hall hopes to build on rookie season (Cleveland Plain Dealer, Grossi)
What is it about George Foster? (Canton Repository, Doerschuk)
No. 2 receivers and Joshua Cribbs (Akron Beacon Journal, Thomas)