Cleveland Browns 2009 Season Preview: Mangini's New Beginning

Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. " We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

The Cleveland Browns may have canned Romeo Crennel after a disastrous season (well, more than just one), but they aren't opposed to hiring clones of former Browns and current Patriots coach Bill Belichick. The team went from Crennel, a former defensive coordinator, to former defensive coordinator and -- most recently -- deposed Jets head coach Eric Mangini.

Offense -- Mangini fell off the Belichick coaching tree, so it does make sense to expect some degree of flexibility in the offense. This team shouldn't be married to one style or another, as Belichick is known for coaching a style (and teaching said style) that demands adjustments to exploit different advantages against different opponents. With that in mind, it's kind of fitting that we still don't know for sure who will start under center for the Browns. There are arguments that work both ways. The Browns should be a hard-nosed team that likes to run the ball, and Brady Quinn fits that style more because he is more willing to take what the defense gives him. However, the Browns were 4-12 last year for a reason, and it may suit them better to have a quarterback with the arm to stretch a defense. That's more Derek Anderson's game. Either way, Mangini is keeping his decision to himself for now. Jamal Lewis and Jerome Harrison are back at running back, and Harrison's play last year should help net him a bigger role in the offense. Lewis just turned 30, so the Browns are better off the fresher they keep him. It's Braylon Edwards and question marks at receiver. Who among Mike Furrey and company will step up to help Edwards out? The Browns traded Kellen Winslow to Tampa, leaving them with fewer headaches and less talent at tight end. The offensive line has some pieces, thanks to star left tackle Joe Thomas and rookie center Alex Mack, but it is not a complete unit yet. Heat Index: 6

Defense -- Things should get better here. New coordinator Rob Ryan, formerly of the Raiders, should bring a more aggressive style than what Crennel seemed to prefer. That will help, as the 3-4 is not a defense best played passively. Nose tackle Shaun Rogers rightfully made the Pro Bowl last year, but he was almost alone as a bright spot. End Corey Williams cost the Browns a lot, as they gave up a high draft pick to get him from Green Bay and then gave him a huge contract. He looked out of place as an end, and one has to wonder how long he will hold on to a job if he doesn't improve. Former Jet Kenyon Coleman should start at the other end position. Two more former Jets, David Bowens and Eric Barton, will man linebacker positions, while Kamerion Wimbley is off an 11-sack season. The secondary, which lost Sean Jones to the Eagles in free agency, could be a mess, and it will be made worse if the aggressive Ryan can't find a way to generate pass rush. Heat Index: 5

Special Teams -- Kicker Phil Dawson hit 30 of 36 field goals last year while playing home games in Cleveland. Dave Zastudil averaged an incredible 45.5 yards per punt while playing home games in Cleveland. It looks like the kicking game is sound. Beyond that, Joshua Cribbs gives the Browns a big-play threat in the return game, plus he led the team in special-teams tackles last year. No issues here. Heat Index: 8

Coaching -- Mangini took the fall for a disastrous 1-4 finish by the Jets a year ago. Blame it on Brett Favre all you want, but Mangini is the guy who kept calling on Favre's number when things weren't going well. It seems he's doing the opposite this year, waiting as long as possible to pick a starting quarterback. Once he makes that choice, he'd be wise to show more flexibility if things go poorly. The Browns can ill afford to blindly support an ineffective quarterback when the backup had lasted so long in the team's quarterback competition. Mangini's pedigree may have gotten him this second chance, and it's reasonable to expect him to show improvement as a coach this time around. Heat Index: 6


Intangibles -- It's a clean slate for the Browns, who jump right into the fire in Week 1, facing Brett Favre and the Vikings. Mangini may have a few secrets on Favre, but the ol' gunslinger is a different quarterback in the West Coast Offense. The Browns also play Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Green Bay, and Chicago before their Week 9 bye. A team that should have a notable home-field advantage was just 1-7 at Cleveland Browns Stadium last year, a statistic that needs to quickly improve. Heat Index: 5

Total Heat Index: 30/50 -- There are questions galore about the Browns, even if you assume Mangini is a great fit with this team. Will the eventual starting quarterback play well? Can they run the ball consistently? Who will catch passes besides Edwards? Is anyone going to step up in a pedestrian-looking secondary? Can this team win at home? Overall, there are too many unanswered questions to expect this to be a playoff team in 2009.