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I thought this was interesting, especially looking at our past rosters and seeing the transformation take place since Phil and RAC arrived.

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Progress, improvement continue
Steve King, Staff Writer
03.07.2008
With free agency and the salary cap, all NFL teams are re-made to some extent each offseason.

Players come and go.

It just happens. It's part of the league now -- as much as Monday Night Football, TV timeouts and new stadiums.

But the makeover the Browns have experienced since general manager Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel took over in 2005 is more -- much more -- than the norm. It has been dramatic, to say the least.

From 2004, the year before Savage and Crennel arrived, through the 2007 season, there was a combined total of just three offensive and defensive starters left -- and all of them played different positions last fall from what they had three years before.

Andra Davis was the middle linebacker in 2004, when the Browns employed a 4-3 defensive scheme. Last year, he shared one of the inside linebacker spots in the 3-4 with Leon Williams.

Orpheus Roye was the right defensive tackle in 2004, and last season shared the left end spot with Shaun Smith.

Because of an injury, Ryan Tucker split time at right offensive tackle with Joaquin Gonzalez in 2004. Last year, Tucker started at right guard.

But everything else is different.

And it will be even more different in 2008 because the Browns released Roye and traded for two defensive lineman in Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers. In addition, they dealt Leigh Bodden, a fixture at cornerback the last two seasons, and signed wide receiver Donte Stallworth.

More change. And when you consider that the Browns addressed one of their greatest needs (defensive line), the change is for the better.

The 2004 Browns were but 4-12 and lost nine straight at one point. They improved to 6-10 in 2005 but fell back to 4-12 again in '06 before soaring to 10-6 last year and just barely missing the AFC playoffs.

Now the Browns want to take the next step in 2008 by getting into the postseason and making some noise, which is why they've already made so many moves, especially on a defense that struggled last year.

To understand just how much work Savage and Crennel have done on the roster, here are the 2004 through '07 Browns starting lineups.

2004 starting lineups

Offense

Wide receivers -- Antonio Bryant and Dennis Northcutt.
Left tackle -- Ross Verba.
Left guard -- Enoch DeMar.
Center -- Jeff Faine.
Right guard -- Kelvin Garmon.
Right tackle -- Joaquin Gonzalez/Ryan Tucker.
Tight end -- Steve Heiden.
Quarterback -- Jeff Garcia.
Fullback -- Terrelle Smith.
Running back -- William Green/Lee Suggs.
Defense

Left end -- Ebenezer Ekuban.
Left tackle -- Gerard Warren.
Right tackle -- Orpheus Roye.
Right end -- Kenard Lang.
Weak-side linebacker -- Warrick Holdman.
Middle linebacker -- Andra Davis.
Strong-side linebacker -- Chaun Thompson.
Left cornerback -- Anthony Henry.
Right cornerback -- Daylon McCutcheon.
Strong safety -- Robert Griffith.
Free safety -- Earl Little.
2005 standing lineups

Offense

Wide receivers -- Antonio Bryant and Dennis Northcutt.
Left tackle -- L.J. Shelton.
Left guard -- Joe Andruzzi.
Center -- Jeff Faine.
Right guard -- Cosey Coleman.
Right tackle -- Ryan Tucker.
Tight end -- Steve Heiden.
Quarterback -- Trent Dilfer/Charlie Frye.
Fullback -- Terrelle Smith.
Running back -- Reuben Droughns.
Defense

Left end -- Alvin McKinley.
Nose tackle -- Jason Fisk.
Right end -- Orpheus Roye.
Left outside linebacker -- Matt Stewart.
Inside linebackers -- Andra Davis and Ben Taylor.
Right outside linebacker -- Chaun Thompson.
Left cornerback -- Gary Baxter/Leigh Bodden.
Right cornerback -- Daylon McCutcheon.
Strong safety -- Chris Crocker.
Free safety -- Brian Russell.
2006 starting lineups

Offense

Wide receivers -- Joe Jurevicius and Braylon Edwards.
Left tackle -- Kevin Shaffer.
Left guard -- Joe Andruzzi.
Center -- Hank Fraley.
Right guard -- Cosey Coleman.
Right tackle -- Ryan Tucker.
Tight end -- Kellen Winslow.
Quarterback -- Charlie Frye.
Fullback -- Terrelle Smith.
Running back -- Reuben Droughns.
Defense

Left end -- Orpheus Roye.
Nose tackle -- Ted Washington.
Right end -- Alvin McKinley.
Left outside linebacker -- Willie McGinest.
Inside linebackers -- Andra Davis and D'Qwell Jackson.
Right outside linebacker -- Kamerion Wimbley.
Left cornerback -- Leigh Bodden.
Right cornerback -- Daven Holly.
Strong safety -- Sean Jones.
Free safety -- Brian Russell.
2007 starting lineups

Offense

Wide receivers -- Braylon Edwards and Joe Jurevicius.
Left tackle -- Joe Thomas.
Left guard -- Eric Steinbach.
Center -- Hank Fraley.
Right guard -- Seth McKinney/Ryan Tucker.
Right tackle -- Kevin Shaffer.
Tight end -- Kellen Winslow.
Quarterback -- Derek Anderson.
Fullback -- Lawrence Vickers.
Running back -- Jamal Lewis.
Defense

Left end -- Orpheus Roye/Shaun Smith.
Nose tackle -- Ethan Kelley/Shaun Smith.
Right end -- Robaire Smith.
Left outside linebacker -- Willie McGinest/Antwan Peek.
Inside linebackers -- Andra Davis/Leon Williams and D'Qwell Jackson.
Right outside linebacker -- Kamerion Wimblrey.
Left cornerback -- Eric Wright.
Right cornerback -- Leigh Bodden.
Strong safety -- Sean Jones.
Free safety -- Brodney Pool.


And in 2008 (tenatively)....

Offense

Wide receivers -- Braylon Edwards, Donte Stallworth, and Joe Jurevicius.
Left tackle -- Joe Thomas.
Left guard -- Eric Steinbach.
Center -- Hank Fraley.
Right guard -- Seth McKinney/Ryan Tucker.
Right tackle -- Kevin Shaffer.
Tight end -- Kellen Winslow.
Quarterback -- Derek Anderson.
Fullback -- Lawrence Vickers.
Running back -- Jamal Lewis.

Defense

Left end -- Corey Williams/Shaun Smith.
Nose tackle -- Shaun Rogers/Shaun Smith.
Right end -- Robaire Smith.
Left outside linebacker -- Willie McGinest/Antwan Peek.
Inside linebackers -- Andra Davis/Leon Williams and D'Qwell Jackson.
Right outside linebacker -- Kamerion Wimbley.
Left cornerback -- Eric Wright.
Right cornerback -- Brandon McDonald.
Strong safety -- Sean Jones.
Free safety -- Brodney Pool.



What's funny is that I still have Madden 2005 and haven't ever upgraded to a newer version because I've had 2 kids in the past 19 months and frankly haven't had any time at all to play video games. But each year, I transform the Browns roster into the current one and start my dynasty over. Needless to say, I think this year's version will be ridiculous. I just hate still seeing Jeff Garcia's face in a Brown's helmet when I'm waiting for the game to load.

This looks familiar to the post I made about a week ago that got moved to the tailgate.

https://www.dawgtalkers.net/showflat.php?...true#Post359991

Wow, we went from one of the best Left Tackles in the game to ONE OF THE BEST LEFT TACKLES IN THE GAME!!

Makes me wonder if we'll try to resign Seth McKinney. Also wondering what is going on with Daven Holly and why we haven't heard any noise from the FO regarding getting a deal done on him, and if they actually do intend on doing something with Gary Baxter or not.

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Also wondering what is going on with Daven Holly and why we haven't heard any noise from the FO regarding getting a deal done on him, and if they actually do intend on doing something with Gary Baxter or not.

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Holly was tendered so unless someone is willing to part with a pick, he's our and we still retain the right to match I think...

Cool... yeah, I forgot about that. Thanks

I think maybe one could have been born and then his wife got pregnant 10 months later...but I'm sure this isn't what he wants us to talk about....

I'm really happy with where the Browns have gotten to. I can't wait until we solidify our linebacking corp and our defensive backs....not to mention the QB position.

We're close...

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Also how many of those '04-05 guys are lurking on here

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I don't know... but many of them have plenty of time to do so...