Originally Posted by RaidenDAWG2

Issue 1
Browns Remake Nearly Complete
By RaidenDAWG2, Browns Mod/Writer

Ok, before I get into it, I admit it, I'm a homer...

But I'm not as bad as some people. I will bash our egotistic head coach, our young owner who listens to said coach, and our former OC who now coaches Burress and Ward in Pittspuke.

But I'll save that for another column

That being said, we're better than everybody thinks.

Look at this year's squad, and compare them to the 2002 playoff team.

QB: Jeff Garcia; 2002: Tim Couch
Ok, obviously, I love Timmuh, he's my boy, my favorite player and all...

But Jeff is mobile, Jeff is experienced, Jeff.! ..has a few pro bowls under his belt...

Or so everybody believes. I know Tim doesn't have the best of track records when it comes to injuries, but Jeff's almost as bad. I mean, look at his back for crying out loud.
Advantage: Even.

RB: William Green, Lee Suggs; 2002: William Green, Jamel White
Obviously Green has improved from 2002. The problem becomes, has he matured enough? I believe the answer is yes. He's been showing up for workouts, and seems to be over his drug/fiancee stabbing him problems.

As for General Lee, uh, jury's still out...

It remains to be seen whether Lee can beat the injury bug that's plagued him since his early days at Va. Tech. If he can...
Advantage: 2004

FB: Terrelle Smith; 2002: Aaron Shea and a cast of hundreds! (well, maybe not HUNDREDS...)
Terrelle Smith vs. who?
Advantage: 2004

WR: Dennis Northcutt, Andre Davis, Quincy Morgan; 2002: Kevin Johnson, Dennis Northcutt, Quincy Morgan
There's a reason I list Quincy "Hands of Stone" Morgan last both times. The guy can drop ANYTHING! You name it, feathers, hats, passes right where they need to be, ANYTHING!

KJ was the most consistent receiver in Cleveland, and in fact had some of the best hands in the league according to some scouts. He's gone, and he's been replaced by Northcutt as the team's go-to guy.

I'd say advantage now, except Davis is no KJ, and Morgan can't catch still!
Advantage: 2002

TE: Kellen Winslow, Jr.; 2001: Steve Heiden, Darnell Sanders
Is there any question here?
Advantage: 2004

OL: Ross Verba, Kelvin Garmon, Jeff Faine, Enoch DeMar, Ryan Tucker; 2002: They shall remain nameless for their safety...
No question here, Garmon is a huge upgrade ove! r Shaun O'Hara, who left for New York. Enoch DeMar is a huge guard with a huge upside. Woulabaugh (sp?) is no Faine, and the tackles are steady.
Advantage: 2004

DL: Courtney Brown, Gerard Warren, Orpheus Roye, Kenard Lang; 2002: Same
This group has yet to live up to their potential. Although, I'm giving this advantage to this year's team due to the fact that while CB was healthy last year, he started to play up to his potential.
Advantage: 2004 (by a hair)

LB: Warrick Holdman, Andra Davis, Chaun Thompson; 2002: Dwayne Rudd, Earl Holmes, Darren Hambrick
Nobody in the 2002 group made us forget Jamir Miller's 13.5 sacks in 2001. Andra Davis played like a Pro Bowler last year, and Chaun Thompson has yet to play much.

Rudd's helmet toss costs them this one...
Advantage: 2004

CB: Anthony Henry, Daylon McCutcheon; 2002: Da! ylon McCutcheon, Corey Fuller
Fuller was old when he was here. He's even older in Baltimore...

'Cutch is steady, Henry shut down some of the best in the game last year.
Advantage: 2004

S: Robert Griffith, Sean Jones; 2002: Robert Griffith, Earl Little
OK, so I'm a little presumptive that Jones will win a starting job, but so what? He's better than Little ever will be, hands down.
Advantage: 2004

K/P: Phil Dawson, Can't Even Name Our Punter; 2001: Dawson, Chris Gardocki
Gardocki has never had a punt blocked. I can't name our new punter, and Dawson's lost the only holder he's ever had in the pros.
Advantage: 2002

So there you have it. This year's Cleveland team is better than the one that went to the playoffs a few years back. The division's actually gotten a little more competitive now, but I predict the winne! r will be no better than 10-6, and the last place team no worse than 6-10. It's that tight.

-RD

Next Week: The Tim Couch Era, A Look Back