Browns roster ramblings and some predictions

Looking over the final roster, here are some random thoughts:

Best units:
1. Linebackers--Their youth could hurt at first, but they are fast with huge potential. Could develop into the one of the best LB corps in the league down the road.
2. Tight ends--KWII appears healthy, Heiden is always dependable, Dinkins provides depth.

Shakiest units:
1. Defensive line--The starting nose tackle is a year older and the guy being groomed as his replacement is unproven and starting at left end due to injury. Free agency and the draft changed a lot of faces, but can any of them play? Run defense has to be a huge concern.
2. Defensive backs--The talent is there if it is healthy, but that has been a big "if" the past two seasons. The Browns kept 10 DBs, 7 of them CBs for just this reason.
3. Running backs--Jamal Lewis has looked good, but can he carry the load all season, and if he gets hurt, can either of the remaining guys be a starter week in and week out?
4. Wide receivers--Braylon Edwards is talented, but inconsistent. Joe Jurecvicious is dependable, but not a star. Beyond those two, no one has stepped up. Someone needs to.

Most improved unit:
1. Offensive line--A couple years ago the Browns restocked the line with a bunch of past-their prime free agents. This season they rebuilt it with young free agents and draft choices. Steinbach, Thomas, and McKinney are a huge boost, and if Bentley comes back this line could be great.

Players that worry me the most:
1. Ted Washington--he struggled at times last season, with one front office exec saying "He's already retired, he just doesn't know it." His experience and tremendous size earn him the starting spot, but the skills just aren't there any more.
2. Phil Dawson--he struggled the last half of last season, missing 5 of his last 9, and also missed a couple of field goals during the preseason.

The next Browns Pro Bowlers: Kamerion Wimbley and Kellen Winslow

Browns Potential Pro Bowlers over the next few years: Sean Jones, Eric Steinbach, Joe Thomas, Leigh Bodden, Eric Wright, Leon Williams, Braylon Edwards, Brady Quinn

The good, the bad, and the ugly

It's great to have football back again! What a long off-season. On a couple of occassions I have found myself watching the 2nd half of preseason games of teams I have absolutely no interest in, just to get a football fix.

I've been away for awhile, but here's my take on the first few weeks of training camp:

The good:

• Getting Joe Thomas and Eric Wright into training camp on time. This is huge. Both have looked good, and will likely start week 1
• Getting healthy--Gary Baxter and Kellen Winslow have practiced and so far have suffered no setbacks.
• The LBs--Kamerion Wimbley, Leon Williams, Antwan Peek, and Chaun Thompson are quietly having a nice camp.

The bad:

• Injuries--as always, the Browns have been bit by the injury bug already. Nothing season ending, but of note: Eric Steinbach, Orpheus Roye, Willie McGinest, and Leigh Bodden have all been slowed. Bodden worries me the most since it seems to suggest that his ankles have not heeled and may plague him all season.
• Brady Quinn's holdout--its never good for a 1st rounder to holdout, especially when its a QB.
• The WRs--Josh Cribbs is the #3 receiver not because he has been that good, but because the guys supposed to challenge for the spot (Travis Wilson & Tim Carter) have either been hurt or can't hold onto the ball.

The ugly:

• The QB competition--I had hoped that the starter could be named following the 2nd preseason game, but so far that's not the case--and its not because they are both playing so well. Neither Charlie Frye nor Derek Anderson look worthy of starting.
• LeCharles Bentley--I love that he is trying to come back and is progressing so well, but the Browns have not exactly been welcoming him back with open arms--their response has been odd. Seems like something fishy is going on behind the scenes here. I hope I'm wrong.

Browns FA Grades, Part 2--New Arrivals

• Eric Steinbach--G--One of the best lineman available in this free agency and the Browns biggest area of need. Not a superstar, but solid and young. Grade: A.
• Antwan Peek--LB--Quiet career so far. Just starting to blossom in Texans 3-4 when they switched to 4-3. Great upside. Grade: B+.
• Robaire Smith--DT/DE--Another casualty of the Texans switch to a 4-3. Should provide an upgrade over Alvin McKinley on the line. Grade: B+.
• Seth McKinney--C/G--After missing a year due to injury, not sure what level he be playing at, but may challenge for a starting spot, or at the least will serve as a versatile backup capable of playing any of the interior line positions. Grade: B.
• Shaun Smith--DT/NT--A career backup for the Bengals, Smith has good size & youth. Browns hoping that after a year learning from Ted Washington, he will be ready to start. Browns taking a gamble, but there is good upside and very little risk. Grade: B.
• Jamal Lewis--RB--I've had a hard time with this one. I've disliked Lewis for so long, its hard for me to now cheer for him. I think this is another gamble for the Browns, but with limited upside & more risk. The Browns already had a serviceable back in Reuben Droughns. Yes, he struggled last year, but the line was terrible and he was injured. Lewis has also seen his yards per carry decline each of the last 3 years. At best, Lewis will regain his old form, but it will still be behind a work-in-progress line. I just don't see him performing that much better than Droughns. Grade: C. I'm not grading this signing lower only because of he's younger than Droughns and was an elite RB in the past.
• Kenny Wright--CB--He was signed to bolster a position that has gone from one of the best to one of the shakiest on the team due to career-threatening injuries. He's not a superstar, but is almost certainly better than Ralph Brown. Grade: B-.
• Ryan Krause--TE--Signed from San Diego, Krause has only caught 5 passes in 3 years. Still, he is likely here due to his association with new O-coordinator Rob Chudzinski. With the re-signed of Steve Heiden, I don't see Krause contributing much this year. Grade: C.
• Mike Adams--S--Brought in to add depth at safety due to the departure of Brian Russell. Started 8 games for the 49ers last year. Could challenge for a starting spot. Grade: B-.
• Alan Ricard--FB--The lead blocker for Jamal Lewis during his glory years, but was out of football last year due to injuries. Could challenge for a starting spot. I'd prefer to have Terrelle Smith. Grade: B-.

OVERALL GRADE: B. The Browns didn't add many stars via free agency, but overall a solid group that addresses several needs and adds some depth. Past free agent classes have had bigger names, but mostly these were guys in the twilight of their career (Andruzzi, Coleman, Washington, McGinnest), who may have contributed leadership and wisdom, but not much on the field. This years group is younger, with more upside.

Top 10 Free agent moves

This article which appeared in the Detroit Free Press last week lists their opinion of the top 10 free agent moves so far.

They list the signing on Jamal Lewis as #6 and the signing of Eric Steinbach as #8. Personally I would have listed those the other way around. Among trades, they rank the Droughns-Carter trade at #4.

Off-season analysis

The Akron Beacon Journal's Patrick McManamon provides a nice overview and analysis of free agency so far.

It's encouraging that even after Eric Steinbach signed, the Browns offered Kris Dielman of the San Diego Chargers $49 million to sign. Its nice to see the Browns putting some emphasis on building the o-line, but free agency hasn't proven an effective way to build a good line thus far. I would like to see the Browns also add a linemen during the first day of the draft. If LT Joe Thomas is available the Browns should take him. If not, they should look at the best lineman available in round 2.

Browns add another offensive lineman

The Browns signed free agent G/C Seth McKinney to a one-year contract.

McKinney was a 2002 3rd round pick by the Miami Dolphins out of Texas A&M. He has played all 5 years of his career with Miami, starting 34. He's listed as 6'3" and 305 lbs. He missed all of last season after undergoing neck surgery.

My guess is that he will compete for a starting guard spot and also serve as a backup to C Hank Fraley. One possible scenario: If RT Ryan Tucker is unable to return and Eric Steinbach is moved to tackle, then this acquisition becomes even more important as McKinney would then likely start at guard.

First signing: Steinbach to aid O-line

Ok, so let's review the signings thus far. The first guy the Browns nabbed was former Bengals offensive lineman Eric Steinbach. He started 62 of the 63 games he appeared in, and while primarily a guard, he also saw time at left tackle and center. Steinbach was drafted in 2003 in the 2nd round out of Iowa by the Bungles. He was reportedly on the Browns draft radar that year, but after taking center Jeff Faine in the 1st round, the Browns chose not to pick another lineman and instead drafted LB Chaun Thompson in the 2nd.

According the the Plain Dealer, Steinbach was so impressed with the Browns that he cancelled his planned visits to other teams and signed immediately with the Browns. "This is my first visit and I kind of had a gut feeling. As soon as I sat down and talked to the coaches and the personnel people up in the front office, I knew this was the right place for me." Steinbach said. His contract is reportedly worth $49.5 million, with $17 million guaranteed.

I think this is a good signing for the Browns. In a weak free-agent market the Browns signed one of the better players and arguably the best offensive lineman available. Don't get me wrong, he's no Charles Bentley, but if he stays healthy he'll immediately pay more dividends than Bentley has been able so far. He should be able to step in and immediately help the team. Is he worth what they paid him? Probably not, but in the current system of free-agency, teams have alot of cash to pursue middle of the road players.

I hope the Browns use him at his natural position of guard. Although he is versatile, I think that he would be less effective as a tackle. However, if the Browns don't draft LT Joe Thomas from Wisconsin with the 3rd pick and/or Ryan Tucker has a relapse, I wouldn't be surprised to see Steinbach moved to tackle--maybe even LT, with Kevin Schaffer moving to RT to replace Tucker.