Training camp preview: Cleveland Browns

It was another long season in 2009 for the Browns, as Cleveland once again brought up the cellar in the AFC North with a 5-11 record. And new boss Mike Holmgren arrived this offseason and started tearing things down, including trading his two main quarterbacks, Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn. And Holmgren decided to keep on coach Eric Mangini in large part because the Browns won their final four games of 2009.

In addition, Holmgren signed Jake Delhomme, who sure looked washed up with the Panthers last season. If he performs in the preseason the way he did in 2009, he will struggle to keep the job. Seneca Wallace knows the system, but has never been much more than a backup, and the Browns might not want to turn the offense over to him. Colt McCoy is the heir apparent but he won’t play this year.

Cleveland brought three rookies into the secondary including No. 7 overall cornerback Joe Haden. The team also added two veterans (Scott Fujita, Chris Gocong) to its linebacker unit. Holmgren is asking Mangini’s defense to carry the team again. That defense surrendered the second-most yards in the NFL in 2009, but it notched 40 sacks and showed improvement by season’s end.

Rookie running back Montario Hardesty impressed coaches during offseason workouts. He will push Jerome Harrison for the starting job. At wide receiver, the Browns will count on young WRs Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie as well as return ace Joshua Cribbs.

The Browns haven’t tasted an NFL playoff win since 1994. The team has been 6-10 or worse six times since last reaching the postseason in 2002.

Site: Browns training facility (Berea, Ohio). Reporting date: Last Friday (R), Friday.

Key arrivals: CB Sheldon Brown, QB Jake Delhomme, CB Joe Haden (R), RB Montario Hardesty (R), LB Scott Fujita, LB Chris Gocong, QB Colt McCoy (R), T Tony Pashos, QB Seneca Wallace, TE Benjamin Watson. Key departures: QB Derek Anderson, G Rex Hadnot, RB Jamal Lewis, S Brodney Pool, QB Brady Quinn, WR Donte’ Stallworth, OL Ryan Tucker, DE Corey Williams, LB Kamerion Wimbley.

WagerWeb.com regular season over/under win total: 5.5

Key camp questions: The Browns will implement facets of the West Coast attack that helped Holmgren reach three Super Bowls as a head coach. Jake Delhomme has the experience to make it work but needs to have a comeback at age 35 after a miserable ‘09 in Carolina. Sheldon Brown, Haden and Eric Wright will compete for the two starting spots at cornerback. All three will play regularly. On offense, Harrison, who rushed for 561 yards in his final three games of ‘09, will try to hold off the bigger and younger Hardesty. Harrison still must prove he can be a full-time starter. The wide receiver and defensive back positions could be the Browns’ biggest weaknesses, but both should be improved.

DEPTH CHART

Offense

QB: Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace

FB: Lawrence Vickers, Peyton Hillis

RB: Jerome Harrison, Montario Hardesty

WR: Mohamed Massaquoi, Josh Cribbs

WR: Brian Robiskie, Chansi Stuckey

TE: Ben Watson, Robert Royal

LT: Joe Thomas, John St. Clair

LG: Eric Steinbach, Billy Yates

C: Alex Mack, Eric Ghiaciuc

RG: Floyd Womack, Shawn Lauvao

RT: Tony Pashos, John St. Clair

Defense

LE: Kenyon Coleman, Brian Schaefering

NT: Shaun Rogers, Ahtyba Rubin

RE: Robaire Smith, C.J. Mosley

OLB: Matt Roth, Jason Trusnik

ILB: D’Qwell Jackson, Kaluka Maiava

ILB: Scott Fujita, Eric Barton

OLB: David Bowens, Chris Gocong

CB: Eric Wright, Coye Francies

CB: Joe Haden, Sheldon Brown

SS: Abram Elam, Nick Sorensen

FS: T.J. Ward, Mike Adams

Specialists K: Phil Dawson

P: Dave Zastudil

KR: Josh Cribbs

PR: Josh Cribbs

LS: Ryan Pontbriand

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