FanHouse NFL Season Preview: Cleveland Browns - How Good Is This Offense?

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is right around the corner, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: A year ago at this time,Charlie Frye was the man. That lasted about 10 minutes into the Week 1 Steelers game before Derek Anderson came on in relief, and, well, you saw how things turned out. Anderson led Cleveland to 10 wins, and made the Pro Bowl, but faces pressure to exceed last year's surprising performance. I think he'll be fine, but if he falters, Brady Quinn will be eagerly awaiting his shot. Heat Index: 7

Running backs: Jamal Lewis was left for dead, at least in the professional sense, when the Ravens decided to "move in another direction" last offseason. Lewis signed a short-term deal with the Browns and proceeded to rush for more than 1,300 yards. He now has a new contract and will run behind one of the most underrated o-lines in the AFC. Heat Index: 7

Receivers: Prior to Donte' Stallworth putting out a hit on No. 1 wide receiver Braylon Edwards, these were some of the best pass-catchers in the conference. Actually, Edwards should be fine, and even with Joe Jurevicius on the mend, it's a talented group of big-play threats. And although he listed as a tight end on the depth chart, Kellen Winslow in No. 1A after Edwards. Heat Index: 9

Offensive line: Joe Thomas might've been the best player to come out of the 2007 draft. I suspect Vikings' fans might disagree, but I don't think, in retrospect, Romeo Crennel -- or Anderson -- would rather have anybody else. LeCharles Bentley didn't work out, but Hank Fraley is solid at center, and guard Eric Steinbach makes the left side of Cleveland's line formidable. This unit is much better in pass protection than as run blockers, but that's not necessarily a bad thing given how offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski has built the offense. Heat Index: 8

Defensive line: Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams conservatively upgrade the unit by 10 million percent. Presumably, Rogers will play up to his expectations (something he didn't do in Detroit), but if he doesn't, opposing offenses will continue to run the ball right up the gut until the Browns prove they can stop it. Heat Index: 6

Linebackers: Kamerion Wimbley was so dominant as a rookie that offenses routinely double-teamed him last season. With the addition of Rogers and Williams, he should get more opportunities to make plays. Middle linebacker Andra Davis is unspectacular but very good, and D'Qwell Jackson hopes to get over the hump in Year 3. Heat Index: 6

Secondary: First, the good news: Sean Jones and Brodney Pool are two great young safeties, and Eric Wright plays more like a grizzled veteran than a second-year player. Bad news: everybody else is hurt. Or at least it seems that way. How well the duct tape keeps the secondary together could go a long way in determining how this season goes. Heat Index: 3

Special teams: Even though Phil Dawson and Dave Zastudil are very good at their jobs, returner Josh Cribbs makes this unit. He wants more money -- like Devin Hester -- and he could also be featured more on offense -- also, like Hester. Heat Index: 7

Coaching: Romeo Crennel enters Year 4, and early last season he looked to be firmly in place on the ol' hot seat. Now, he's credited with turning the Browns around. Chudzinski has also garnered praise for making the offense less vomitous. Heat Index: 6

Intangibles:Ken Dorsey count? What about Willie McGinest's veteran leadership? If nothing else, these guys were thisclose to the postseason last season; they have something to play for in '08. Heat Index: 6

Total Heat Index: 65
Expectations will be through the roof, and the Browns will need to get off to a good start to have a chance. Their schedule is brutal and to win the AFC North they will need to beat the Steelers, something they haven't been very good at in recent ... decades.