Cleveland Browns 2008 Season Preview

The Cleveland Browns go from 2007 underdogs to 2008 postseason favorites with a wily veterans & talented young guns.

Cleveland Browns Preview: Overview

Romeo Crennel and Derek Anderson entered the 2007 season looking at the unemployment line. They ended the 2007 campaign with many wins and acclaim from fans and players alike. The Cleveland Browns are back from the cellar and ready to run wild on the AFC North and the NFL as a whole in 2008. Along the way, the Brownies are leaving labels like “Cinderella” and “Overachievers” in the trash as they storm to victory and improve on a 10-6 record from the 2007 season.

Cleveland Browns Preview: Offseason

The Cleveland Browns entered the 2008 Draft with no first-round pick. With the NFL Draft a diminished prospect, the Cleveland Browns focused on free agency and trades. A blockbuster trade brought in monster NT Shaun Rodgers from the Detroit Lions. A second trade bolstered the three-man line by bringing in DE Corey Williams from the Green Bay Packers. Free agency brought in another bounty of established talent, with New England Patriots WR Donte Stallworth leading the cast. CB Terry Cousin and G Rex Hadnot also came aboard, bringing the final pieces to the off-season puzzle.

Cleveland Browns Preview: Offense

Quarterback Derek Anderson was supposed to be a backup if he was lucky. Instead Derek Anderson took the helm of the Cleveland Browns and threw himself into the Pro-Bowl. 2007 first-round pick Brady Quinn backs Derek Anderson up but has the talent and will to start. Either Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn will be fortunate to step behind one of the best young lines in the NFL. 2007 first-round draft pick LT Joe Thomas is already a Pro-Bowler and holds down the blindside of the QBs. RT Kevin Shaffer is the bookend to Joe Thomas and the two could last for a decade together. G Eric Stienbach is another freak of an athlete and a young gun as well. C Hank Fraley provides veteran leadership and his command of the O-Line is invaluable. Free agent G Rex Hadnot is a versatile blocker and can play multiple positions.

One of the biggest benefactors of the O-Line is RB Jamal Lewis. Also a castoff with a supposedly done career, Jamal Lewis returned to bone-crunching form as the premier power RB in the NFL. FB Lawrence Vickers helped Jamal Lewis gain over 1,300 yards with his dominating run blocking. WR Braylon Edwards played up to his potential and grabbed a Pro-Bowl berth thanks to 1,000 plus yards of receiving and 16 touchdowns. TE Kellen Winslow Jr. who racked up over 1,000 yards also went to the Pro-Bowl. This pass-catching arsenal is upgraded even more by speedy WR Donte Stallworth, who gives the Cleveland Browns offense a deep threat.

Cleveland Browns Preview: Defense

Head coach Romeo Crennel is an expert of the 3-4 defense, having run it as a coordinator with the New England Patriots. Romeo Crennel brings the same complex linebacker schemes to the Cleveland Browns as he did in Foxboro. Massive run-stopper NT Shaun Rodgers comes over from the Detroit Lions to anchor the three-man line. Shaun Rodgers is joined by fellow big bodies, DEs Corey Williams and Robaire Smith on the stout line. With the three big men up front, the Cleveland Browns linebackers are able to fly all over the field. OLB Kamerion Wimbley teams with OLB Willie McGinest to form a strong pass-rushing duo. ILBs D’Qwell Jackson and Andra Davis are both tackling machines and each racked up over 100 tackles in the 2007 season.     

The Cleveland Browns secondary is also a deep unit. CB Eric Wright is an aggressive physical specimen. SS Sean Jones is another outstanding young player, who is both a run stopper and a ballhawk. FS Brodney Pool enters his second year as the new starter. CB Terry Cousin brings veteran leadership to the young squad and still has some fire left in the tank. CB Gary Baxter is trying to mount a comeback after devastating knee injuries.

Cleveland Browns: Special Teams

Former college QB-turned-WR Joshua Cribbs has become one of the best return men in the NFL. In his short three-year career, Joshua Cribbs has already set numerous records and scored on four returns. A threat in both the punt and kick return games, Joshua Cribbs is one of the Cleveland Browns’ most valuable players. K Phil Dawson plays an often thankless role and has gotten the Cleveland Browns more than a few victories off of key field goals. Big-legged P Dave Zastudil is just as much a key factor in the field-position game as Joshua Cribbs.

Cleveland Browns Preview: Outlook

The Cleveland Browns have many historical rivalries in the AFC North. The feud between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals continues for yet another decade. The Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the Cleveland Browns has produced some of the most memorable games in recent NFL history. The Baltimore Ravens round out the AFC North and are aggressive opponents. The Cleveland Browns 2008 schedule is dotted with tough opponents, including the Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and newfound rivals the Houston Texans to name a few. Cleveland Browns Stadium, home of the Dawg Pound, will continue to give the Cleveland Browns a huge home-field advantage.