2006 season recap
Failure to launch
The Browns were not expected to vie for a playoff spot in 2006, but any hopes they had of making progress in their second season under coach Romeo Crennel were dampened early on. The team was hampered by injuries even before the season began, and both the offensive and defensive units hovered near the bottom of the league rankings all season.
Key camp questions
Will the Browns offense be able to put points on the board in 2007?
This offense has shown potential in recent seasons, but injuries and inconsistent play have held the team back. The Browns hope this year will be different. Tight end Kellen Winslow II, who underwent surgery on his right knee in January, should be fully recovered by the start of camp. Center LeCharles Bentley, who suffered life-threatening complications from knee surgery last year, says he will be ready for the home opener in September. Braylon Edwards, one season removed from knee surgery, will figure heavily in new offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski's plan if he's fully recovered. The strengthened offensive line -- including free-agent guard Eric Steinbach and first-round pick Joe Thomas -- should help both the running and passing games.
Will running back Jamal Lewis upgrade the running game?
With the Baltimore Ravens in 2003, Lewis ran for 295 yards against the Browns, breaking the NFL's single-game rushing record. Now that he's a Brown, Crennel hopes Lewis still has enough left in his legs to repeat the 1,132-yard season he had in 2006 with Baltimore. He'll be counted on to boost a running attack that lost Reuben Droughns to the Giants.
Will the team's fate be sealed by Week 5?
The Browns open 2007 with three of their first four contests at home against AFC North foes. If the team can establish early success in the division, the rest of the season's tough road games won't seem as daunting. If the team fails to show the Dawg Pound any immediate improvement over 2006, the team will have a difficult time trying to dig itself out of the early-season hole. That makes training camp -- with a new offensive coordinator and a lot of new players -- all the more important.
Key position battle
QBs Brady Quinn vs. Charlie Frye vs. Derek Anderson
Quinn spent the last two years running the offense at Notre Dame under Charlie Weis, a former NFL coordinator, so he might be ready to step into the starting role sooner than expected. Frye has two NFL seasons under his belt, and despite an erratic 2006, his much-improved line and wide receivers could help him keep the job all season if he is able to hold off Quinn in training camp. Anderson, who played with the first team in minicamp, could also make a move.
Rookie spotlight
OT Joe Thomas
By the end of the 2006 season, the Browns had 12 players on injured reserve and were badly in need of some healthy -- and durable -- bodies heading into 2007. Starting with first-rounder Thomas from Wisconsin, the Browns had one of the finest drafts in the AFC. He will fill an immediate hole at left tackle and should anchor the Browns' line well into the future.
On the spot
Coach Romeo Crennel
Coming off a disappointing 4-12 season, the Browns' third-year coach has to be feeling some pressure to get things headed in a positive direction. The team never recovered from the early training camp and preseason injuries last season, but after an impressive offseason that created a solid depth chart for 2007, Crennel at least has the personnel in place to test his system.
Fantasy focus
RB Jamal Lewis
A veteran running back who most feel is now past his prime, Lewis signed with Cleveland in the offseason and will serve as the team's new featured back. A low-end No. 2 fantasy runner or flex starter, Lewis could be in for a difficult season in a questionable Browns offense.
