Part of me believes that all these pundits and prognosticators are wrong. The Browns will not suck again this season. They really will put it together in a hurry. The other three division rivals are all on the descent. The playoffs aren’t out of the question. Surely, no way the draft pick Dallas gets for Quinn will be in the top five.
At some point, the oxygen reaches my brain, and I realize that perhaps a more analytical approach is in order. As training camp opens, here is nothing more than a quickie guestimate of the team’s current ability, along with the most obvious pivot points that will tilt this season one direction or the other.
Unit: Quarterbacks
Talent: Good
Experience: Poor
Depth: Good
Overall grade: Fair
Biggest questions: Which QB will grasp the new offense first and hold down the position with a minimum of mistakes? Will the Frye/Anderson runner-up be headed elsewhere, leaving Dorsey as the emergency option/quasi-coach?
Unit: Running backs
Talent: Good
Experience: Good
Depth: Poor
Overall grade: Fair
Biggest questions: Can Jamal Lewis return to his earlier form and hold up as the workhorse? Will Jerome Harrison emerge as a dependable third-down back?
Unit: Fullbacks
Talent: Good
Experience: Fair
Depth: Poor
Overall grade: Fair
Biggest question: Will Chud entrust Lawrence Vickers with a full slate of backfield responsibilities as a lead blocker, ball carrier, and outlet receiver (passing specifically omitted)?
Unit: Wide receivers
Talent: Good
Experience: Good
Depth: Fair
Overall grade: Fair/Good
Biggest questions: Is the Detroit Diva ready to become a premiere player? Will Travis Wilson develop into a starting-caliber option?
Unit: Tight ends
Talent: Excellent
Experience: Excellent
Depth: Good
Overall grade: Excellent
Biggest question: Will Wheelie’s knee ever allow him to break tackles, block, and become a full-fledged superstar?
Unit: Offensive line
Talent: Good
Experience: Good
Depth: Excellent
Overall grade: Good
Biggest questions: Can a starting five be identified in time to coalesce into a productive force for those key early-season match-ups? Will Joe Thomas learn the system fast enough to be an impact rookie at left tackle?
Unit: Special teams
Talent: Good
Experience: Good
Depth: Fair
Overall grade: Good
Biggest questions: Can new coordinator Ted Daisher assemble effective coverage and return units? Who will win the job as punt returner?
Unit: Defensive line
Talent: Good
Experience: Excellent
Depth: Poor
Overall grade: Fair
Biggest question: Will this unit’s inability to stop the run remain the primary factor that limits the Browns’ success?
Unit: Linebackers
Talent: Excellent
Experience: Fair
Depth: Good
Overall grade: Good
Biggest question: How much can newcomer Antwan Peek contribute to a much-needed improvement in the pass rush?
Unit: Defensive backs
Talent: Excellent
Experience: Fair
Depth: Fair
Overall grade: Good
Biggest questions: Will this unit be known more for its talented playmakers or its youthful mistakes?
I concede that this all comes off as sort of middling. Really, the Browns are a couple of ill-placed injuries away from being a pretty poor team. I dare not even mention their names.
But there is enough talent at enough key positions that it’s not unreasonable to expect an 8-8 season and even to hold out a humble hope, provisional and probably best kept hush-hush, that the ball bounces our way for once, and Cleveland reaches the playoffs. Where anything can happen.
I’ll take another deep breath and try to keep my eyes open to the possibilities more than the perils.
