I just listened to Butch Davis speak about his final roster and the decisions announced today. The area most likely to dominate the headlines is the offensive line, as the Browns try to cope with the season-ending injury to left tackle Ross Verba.

Davis confirmed that veteran Barry Stokes will take the place of the injured left tackle. Stokes had been the first-team left guard, but Davis said he spent about half of training camp at the tackle position.

Melvin Fowler, the team’s thirst-round pick in 2002, will start at left guard. “I think Melvin’s gonna do a damn good job, too,” Davis said.

The team will carry nine offensive lineman and add at least one more to the practice squad tomorrow. Davis noted that in 12 of last year’s 16 games, only seven linemen were activated, so it’s essential that every backup be versatile enough to play multiple positions, especially since linemen aren’t as likely to participate meaningfully on special teams.

That flexibility helped tilt the scales in favor of undrafted rookie Enoch DeMar, whom Davis labeled as the biggest surprise of camp, as he unseated Qasim Mitchell in making the final roster. DeMar can play either guard position and also got some time at left tackle during camp. The free agent out of Indiana has “long arms,” “very good feet” and a birthday on Opening Day, next Sunday, when the Browns host Indy’s team, the Colts.

The coach admitted being “a little bit” concerned about the lack of experience between Fowler and the man lining up next to him, rookie center Jeff Faine, “but we’re gonna have to overcome that.” He said that it’s an advantage that both guards (Fowler and Shaun O’Hara) have also played center, which carries more responsibility for picking up assignments and watching out for stunts and blitzes.

The other reserve linemen are Chad Beasley, Paul Zukauskas, and Joaquin Gonzales, all former seventh-round draft picks.

“My apprehension level is not nearly off the charts yet,” Davis said. I’d call that an inadvertent backhanded compliment.

BUTCH BYTES:

–On C.J. Jones: “You clearly felt like halfway into camp that unless an absolute bomb went off he was gonna make the team. Everytime you gave him somthing to do he had success at it.”

–The tight end position will play “a real complementary part of the pass offense” this year, compared to “pretty insignificant” last year.

–The two players most on the bubble who survived the cutdown were fullback Kevin McLeod and linebacker Sherrod Coates. “They just got better and better and better on special teams.”

–Second-round pick Chaun Thompson missed some valuable time due to injury during training camp, but “he got well fast. He didn’t belabor the issue.” In the preseason finale, “he played dramatically harder and faster” than he did before the injury.