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Preseason Power Rankings No. 22: Cleveland Browns

by Mike Wilkening
Pro Football Talk
July 12, 2014


There are many reasons to want the NFL regular season to just get going already.

One is how the Browns’ roster looks on paper.

Top to bottom, the Browns have a very interesting depth chart, an enviable foundation of both young and experienced talent. While the Browns were just 4-12 a season ago, they have one of the NFL’s best tackles (Joe Thomas), centers (Alex Mack) and cornerbacks (Joe Haden).

However, the Browns (again) don’t have a clear-cut starting quarterback, with veteran Brian Hoyer and rookie Johnny Manziel set to battle it out. They are also in danger of losing wide receiver Josh Gordon to yet another NFL suspension. The Browns also must adjust to their third head coach (Mike Pettine) in three seasons.

There is also the matter of the Browns’ divisional competition. The Ravens have reloaded. The Steelers still have Ben Roethlisberger, who has won far more than he has lost against Cleveland over the years. The Bengals are going for four straight playoff berths. (Four straight!)

Yes, NFL turnarounds can happen. But they need a jumping-off point. So here we are with Cleveland. Do the Browns now have the might to stand in and fight in this tough division? Or will they wilt again like so many other recent seasons?

Strengths.

The Browns have a deep and skilled defense. Only the Seahawks and Bengals allowed fewer yards per opponent play a season ago. Moreover, Cleveland was strong against the run and the pass, ranking in the top 10 in yards surrendered per rush and pass. Pettine has worked with talented, stout defenses with the Ravens, Jets and Bills, and it would be a surprise if the Browns didn’t field an above-average “D” this season.

The line is one of the strengths of the Browns’ offense. Thomas and Mack are Pro Bowlers, and the additions of second-round pick Joel Bitonio and ex-Seahawk Paul McQuistan strengthens Cleveland’s hand even further. Bitonio could get the call at left guard, and McQuistan can play tackle or guard.

Finally, in Gordon and tight end Jordan Cameron, the Browns have a pair of Pro Bowl targets whom they have drafted and developed.

Weaknesses.

If Gordon is banned for an extended stretch, the Browns’ passing game will be put to the test, as opponents will be able to focus upon Cameron. While the Browns did add receivers Andrew Hawkins, Miles Austin and Nate Burleson in free agency, there is no replacing Gordon’s field-stretching and coverage-dictating skill.

The uncertainty at quarterback also must be considered a weakness for the time being. Hoyer has just four career regular season starts, and he comes off an October ACL tear. Manziel is gifted, but it’s unclear how long it will take him to adjust to the NFL game.

The Browns don’t have many major concerns on defense, but they do lack a star pass rusher, with no player exceeding 5.5 sacks a season ago. Collectively, the Browns appear able to generate enough pressure, but it would be nice if a real difference-maker emerged here.

Changes.

Goodness, where do we start? Well, let’s go back to the final day of the 2013 regular season, when the club surprisingly fired coach Rod Chudzinski. After hiring Pettine, the club later parted ways with CEO Joe Banner and G.M. Mike Lombardi, promoting Ray Farmer to G.M.

The changes didn’t stop there. The Browns released inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, a good player for some bad Cleveland teams. They would replace Jackson with Karlos Dansby, who had a monster season for Arizona in 2013 (122 tackles, 19 passes defended, 6.5 sacks). The Browns would also make a big change at safety, signing Donte Whitner to replace T.J. Ward, who signed with Denver. An Ohio native, Whitner is solid vs. the run and pass.

On offense, the Browns added some much needed help at running back, signing Ben Tate in free agency and drafting Terrance West in the third round. The club also changed offensive coordinators, hiring Kyle Shanahan. He’s the fourth offensive coordinator the club has had in the last five seasons.

On defense, former Bills assistant Jim O’Neil takes over for Ray Horton as defensive coordinator, but Pettine’s influence on this side of the ball will be strong.

Camp battles.

All eyes will be on yet another quarterback competition. As a first-round pick, Manziel figures to have his chances to win the job, but Hoyer can’t be discounted, especially if the rookie is at all shaky in the preseason. The Browns’ most spirited play a season ago came with Hoyer in the lineup.

Guard, outside linebacker and cornerback are other positions worth monitoring, but only because the Browns have well-regarded prospects at each spot. Bitonio is one to watch at guard. If Barkevious Mingo can take a step forward, the Browns will be that much stronger at outside linebacker. At cornerback, first-round pick Justin Gilbert figures to be tested by clubs leery of going after Haden.

Prospects.

The Browns’ schedule is a Fluffernutter sandwich on cardboard bread. If Cleveland can handle the tough edges of the campaign, there’s a chance to gobble up ground in the middle.

The Browns begin their season at nemesis Pittsburgh, then host top-class New Orleans and stout Baltimore before the Week Four bye to end September. However, October and November could be more favorable for Cleveland. Though the Browns play five road games in this stretch, three are against the Jaguars, Titans and Bills. The Browns also have home contests against the Raiders, Buccaneers and Texans. If Cleveland is ready to take a step forward, it will make the most of these two months before closing out the season with home games against tough Cincinnati and Indianapolis and road matchups at Carolina and Baltimore.

In the end, the Browns’ season rides on their offense. Only five other clubs scored fewer points per game in 2013. If Hoyer or Manziel seizes the job with skilled play, the Browns could be in the postseason race much longer than in past seasons.

In so many other campaigns, the Browns have marched out overmatched lineups and have tried to grit and grind out wins. This is a different club, one with the skill to be one of the AFC’s surprise teams, a real feel-good story. But there are hurdles, too.

But at some point, it would be nice if the Browns cleared them, you know?

**********

Rankings (so far)

20. St Louis
21. Detroit
22. Browns
23. Washington
24. Dallas
25. Houston
26. Tampa Bay
27. Minnesota
28. Buffalo
29. Jacksonville
30. Tennessee
31. Miami
32. Oakland

Quote:

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluffernutter

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22? I can't remember being higher than 29 in any year that wasn't 2008.

j/c

Nate Ulrich ‏@NateUlrichABJ · 10m
Jimmy Haslam's Pilot Flying J announces it has reached agreement with government & will not be prosecuted, provided it meets the terms.

Nah...he's already posted it in all the other active threads so far today.

Good to hear this, been wondering what was happening on the JH front. Does this legal ruling then deal out the NFL so they don't muddy this water? Or should we still be concerned going forward?

What the heck does the news about Haslam have to do w/Power Rankings? Sheesh.......

It was an oddball post for this thread.............anyway.

I was pleasantly surprised at our rank. I was expecting to be lower. I thought it was a pretty fair assessment.

Updating ...

Rankings (so far)

16. San Diego
17. Kansas City
18. New York Giants
19. New York Jets
20. St Louis
21. Detroit
22. Browns
23. Washington
24. Dallas
25. Houston
26. Tampa Bay
27. Minnesota
28. Buffalo
29. Jacksonville
30. Tennessee
31. Miami
32. Oakland

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/

Quote:

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Rankings (so far)

20. St Louis
21. Detroit
22. Browns
23. Washington
24. Dallas
25. Houston
26. Tampa Bay
27. Minnesota
28. Buffalo
29. Jacksonville
30. Tennessee
31. Miami
32. Oakland

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I think Washington, Dallas, & Houston are all better but we'll see. Good to see someone has a little bit more faith in us though.

and Houston is starting Ryan Fitzpatrick. Not because somebody got hurt, but because that's the best they've got after being stubborn and taking Clowney.

Dallas also lost their starting MLB for the season.

Meaningless.

I'll only be content when the Browns are #1 at the end of the post-season.

Just a general comment.

I could never understand how one "power ranks" a team with an entirely new FO and coaching staff and schemes.

You could rank individual talent of the players but only those who have NFL experience. How in the world could one predict how good or bad it will all come together?

I realize it's a game of speculation but it's fruitless to speculate teams other than the ones that has had continuity. They add some players and lose some players so you wonder how they will improve or digress.

But a team with absolutely no continuity over the years you're just stabbing at the dark.

Agreed.

I remember reading the final predictions last year in the Sporting News and they predicted that the coming year's divisions would finish exactly the same as the previous year.

They paid some stiff to rank the divisions and he copied and pasted the previous years standings.

I think that is done, to a large extent, every year. Let's face it. No matter WHAT the Browns do in a given season, NO writer in the world is gonna get crap for ranking them at the bottom of their power rankings.

Quote:

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I could never understand how one "power ranks" a team with an entirely new FO and coaching staff and schemes.

You could rank individual talent of the players but only those who have NFL experience. How in the world could one predict how good or bad it will all come together?

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It's really not that hard because it doesn't matter in the least if you are right. It's just to generate conversation among fans that are hungry to read and discuss all things football so therefore, this was a success.

So then it does serve a purpose even if it's folly.

As Florida said, gives them something to do to earn their money.

How are teams like Atlanta and Philly ahead of KC?

I believe it's because so many underestimate how wonderful a situation can be when you have a QB who is a smart, efficient game manager.

Sometimes I believe people get distracted easily by shiny things.

It could have to do with the all the lost offensive linemen in KC

And that Philly found a QB last year who threw a staggering 27 TD and only 2 INT. (in 13 games) That is almost unheard of.

As you mentioned, the Chiefs also lost most of their OL, and they won't play the same cakewalk schedule they played last year. They won 11 games, but this was against the 32nd ranked most difficult schedule. That has to be taken into consideration.

PFT Preseason Power Rankings No. 15: Pittsburgh Steelers

by Mike Florio
Pro Football Talk
July 15, 2014

For years, the Steelers have consistently reloaded. As older and/or expensive players exited, younger, cheaper, and in most cases nationally-unknown players stepped in and stepped up.

That trend hasn’t held in recent years. It started along the offensive line, even though the team thrived for several seasons without a stout, highly-effective five-man crew of blockers. The phenomenon spread the last two years, with the Steelers missing the postseason and creating a sense that the front office and coaching staff have had their skills at finding young and talented replacements go the way of the Steve Blass fastball.

It’s not entirely true. The team has developed an uncanny knack for drafting quality receivers in the middle and late rounds, a feat few franchises have accomplished. Defensively, however, the Steel Curtain mystique has faded a bit as the team has struggled to swap great old players with competent young ones.

Still, the Steelers have missed the playoffs for two straight seasons. While no one has sounded the alarm just yet, another less-than-stellar campaign from the Steelers will lend credence to the reality that reloading finally has yielded to rebuilding.

Strengths.

NFL teams either have a franchise quarterback or are looking for a franchise quarterback. The Steelers have one, and while he continues to be less-than-beloved by the locker room at large, Ben Roethlisberger continues to have the full belief of the organization. For good reason. He has more Super Bowl wins that Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Joe Flacco, Tony Romo, Matthew Stafford, and Matt Ryan (all of whom make more money than him), and Roethlisberger continues to perform at a high level amid a supporting cast that often doesn’t. Eventually, the player and the team will face a contractual dilemma; for now, Roethlisberger remains the guy, and his presence ensures that the Steelers will at least be on the fringes of contention each and every year.

After a few seasons that created a sense of meandering, the Steelers have put together a potentially potent depth chart at tailback, with Le’Veon Bell, the still-underrated LeGarrette Blount, and dynamic rookie Dri Archer leading the way. Together, they could give Roethlisberger the right balance to make it easier for him to get something positive out of a work-in-progress receiver room.

The offensive line continues to have plenty of question marks, but there’s no ambiguity about the team’s attitude toward center Maurkice Pouncey. Despite having a year left on his rookie contract and recovering from a torn ACL that limited him to one game in 2013, Pouncey signed a contract that eclipsed Alex Mack’s transition-tag offer sheet from the Jaguars, which the Browns matched. Put simply, the Steelers got a glimpse of life without Pouncey, and they saw enough to know they don’t want it to happen again. His presence in the center of the line will definitely make the team better, not worse, in 2014.

Defensively, the Steelers continue to be all about the linebackers. Even with LaMarr Woodley gone, the Steelers have Lawrence Timmons, transition-tagged Jason Worilds, second-year first-rounder Jarvis Jones, and fleet-footed and versatile rookie Ryan Shazier. To a large extent, their effectiveness depends on the ability of the defensive line to keep blockers away from them. This group may be nearly good enough that it won’t matter.

Beyond any personnel group, the Steelers continue to be the Steelers. Guided by the steady, patient hand of the Rooneys, the folks employed to run the football operations can do so without worrying about hot seats or any of the other short-term, win-now pressures that plague the decision-making of most other teams. It allows the organization to make decisions without regard to saving jobs and with the sole focus of pursuing championships. While another year or two of missed playoffs could test that vibe, the Steelers lack the sense of reckless urgency that other teams with a pair of failed seasons would demonstrate.

Weaknesses.

No unit has seen more talent exit the franchise in recent years than wide receiver. Mike Wallace cashed in with the Dolphins in 2013. This time around, Emmannuel Sanders opted for the Broncos, and Jerricho Cotchery helped fill the pass-catching void in Carolina. Entering camp, the position in Pittsburgh consists of Antonio Brown and a bunch of guys who may or may not make much of a difference. Some of them could. Rookie Martavis Bryant and second-year product Markus Wheaton possibly will follow in the footsteps of Brown, Wallace, and Sanders as unheralded prospects who become high-impact players. Less will be expected of veterans Lance Moore and Darrius Heyward-Bey, who were available to be signed as free agents for a reason.

Heath Miller continues to be one of the favorite Steelers of the past generation, but there’s a strong sense that he’s close to the end. Roethslisberger recently broke out the rose-colored beer goggles, claiming that Miller is back to his old self more than a year after tearing an ACL. Even if the Steelers ultimately take a chance on a guy like Jermichael Finley, the position isn’t as strong as it’s been in the past.

Aaron Smith was one of the best 3-4 defensive ends to ever agree to embrace the anonymity of tying up blockers, and the Steelers have had a hard time replacing him. With Casey Hampton long gone and Brett Keisel possibly not returning, it’s a time of flux for the defensive line. The play of the front three needs to improve or the string of failed seasons will match that number, and possibly exceed it.

Cornerback Ike Taylor has said he’s pissed about the pay cut he had to take to stay in Pittsburgh, but the truth is that the Steelers are the only team that would have given him as much as he’ll get this year. He’ll get that much because the Steelers need him. They need him because they’re otherwise not very good at the position.

Changes.

For a team that has enjoyed contention through consistency, the Steelers have endured plenty of changes in recent years. The departure of Sanders has made receiver the modern-day equivalent of the revolving door at linebacker a generation ago. Then again, that door is still spinning; Woodley went West against his wishes while Worilds opted to stay, at least for one more year.

Disappointing first-rounder Ziggy Hood exited via free agency, and safety Ryan Clark opted for Washington once it became clear that the Steelers weren’t interested in extending his stay, thanks to the restructured deal with Troy Polamalu and the arrival of Mike Mitchell.

As coaches go, there was plenty of speculation that offensive coordinator Todd Haley and/or long-time defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau could take the fall for the team’s struggles. Instead, offensive line coach Jack Bicknell, Jr. got the boot — replaced by Hall of Famer and former Titans coach Mike Munchak, who given the competition could possibly still win a backup job on the team. If he can get the line to play better than the sum of the parts, the Steelers could get back to the postseason and make some noise once there.

Camp battles.

The depth chart at receiver will be a work in progress, with Antonio Brown the clear-cut No. 1 and the rest of the players jockeying for position. Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant will likely vie for the No. 2 job, with Lance Moore penciled in as the slot receiver. Heyward-Bey in theory could be a factor, but he also could be gone by the time Week One rolls around. Dri Archer will play running back and receiver, making him an intriguing option on third downs — especially if he lines up in the backfield and then motions to the slot or flanker.

Archer also will be a factor at running back, where Le’Veon Bell is presumed to be the starter and LeGarrette Blount serves as the backup. Coach Mike Tomlin has said that training camp will determine the ultimate division of labor. That’s a diplomatic way of saying the best guy will be the starter, and if he’s sufficiently better than the rest he’ll be the workhorse. It would take a lot for Archer to leapfrog the other two, but given his speed it’s not impossible.

Cam Thomas arrived via free agency to challenge Steve McLendon for reps at nose tackle. It’s a position where the Steelers definitely need improvement, now.

William Gay and Cortez Allen are expected to battle for one of the starting cornerback jobs. If Ike Taylor’s play dips, it’s not completely out of the question that he’ll end up out of the starting lineup in what appears to be his final season in Pittsburgh.

At safety, Troy Polamalu is back, somewhat unexpectedly. That relegates Mike Mitchell and Shamarko Thomas to compete for the right to replace Ryan Clark. With more and more teams loading up on quality safeties and with the Steelers not as good as they could be at cornerback, it could make sense to find ways to get all three on the field.

Prospects.

When little is expected, the Steelers tend to overdeliver. Last year, a horrible start to the season nearly became a highly unlikely playoff berth. This year, the improvements the team has made should be enough to put the franchise back in the playoffs.

If they get there, the Steelers could be dangerous — especially if they can get back to the plug-and-play-well system that has helped the Steelers remain relevant for decades. The key spots to watch will be receiver and defensive line. If those areas produce, and if fleet-footed rookies Shazier and Archer can run that way on the choppy sod of Heinz Field, the Steelers will once again be winning in January.

If they fail, the franchise could have a different atmosphere come 2015. Especially since a fourth straight season without a postseason appearance would match the longest drought since Chuck Noll became the head coach in 1969.


http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/201...burgh-steelers/

Updating ...

Rankings (so far)

15. Pittsburgh
16. San Diego
17. Kansas City
18. New York Giants
19. New York Jets
20. St Louis
21. Detroit
22. Browns
23. Washington
24. Dallas
25. Houston
26. Tampa Bay
27. Minnesota
28. Buffalo
29. Jacksonville
30. Tennessee
31. Miami
32. Oakland

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28. Buffalo

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The Bills are generally a team I pull for on any weekend their game doesn't impact the Browns in a negative way. This year however, it wouldn't bother me if they only won a game or two because them winning does impact the Browns in a negative way.

I think that Buffalo 1st rounder could easily end up in the top 3 or 4. They paid a steep price for Watkins.

Yeah, Alex Smith was a slouch. He completed over 60% of his passes, threw for 23 TDS and 7 picks, and had over 3,000 yards through the air. Terrible.

Furthermore, Philly's SOS was 30th. That is a HUGE discrepancy.

What do their respective SoS look like this year?

I have read that a lot of people are picking the Chiefs significantly lower this year because they have a much harder schedule this year.