AFC NORTH BROWNS 2014 STRENGTHS: • Improved linebacking corps, hard-hitting defensive backs, depth on special teams Browns Offense All the hype surrounding the offense is centered around rookie Johnny Manziel competing against Brian Hoyer at quarterback. But the Browns’ offense will only go as far as the running game takes them. Ben Tate and Terrance West are both extremely talented and should get plenty of carries this season. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan likes to run the ball and that would be wise with so much inexperience at quarterback. The offensive line has its share of questions, which usually happens when a franchise struggles with a number of losing seasons in a row. If the Browns catch a break and wide receiver Josh Gordon has his suspension reduced, they would benefit greatly. Gordon is appealing the NFL’s one-year suspension for a positive test for marijuana. Gordon had 87 receptions for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns last season, so having that type of production even for part of a season would be huge for the Browns. Hoyer will need to be effective. If he’s not, look for Manziel to jump in. The national attention that will come with Manziel won’t be easy to handle. If Manziel produces, everything will settle down. The Browns would be wise to concentrate on the running game, chewing up large chunks of the clock and allow their improving defense to help. The Browns finished 27th in the league in rushing (86.4 yards per game) and just four touchdowns. They signed Tate away from the Houston Texans and drafted West in the third round of the NFL Draft. This duo should be able to improve on those rushing statistics from last season. Jordan Cameron will help at tight end. Cameron looks to be prepared for a stellar season and he has the uncanny ability to make the difficult catch across the middle as well as provide blocking for both the run and the pass. The Browns’ offense likely won’t light up the scoreboard. But it should be better. Offensive Player to Watch The draft couldn’t have been easy for Manziel, a former star at Texas A&M. Then the Browns traded up for spots and 2014 WEAKNESSES: • Controversy at quarterback, inconsistency on offensive line, veteran leadership CLEVELAND selected the electrifying quarterback with the No. 22 overall pick. Within 25 minutes of Manziel being taken, the Browns sold 200 season tickets and had 300 more renewed. Upon arriving in Cleveland, Manziel was told he’d be backing up Hoyer. But for how long? If Hoyer has a subpar performance in the season opener, it could immediately open up a quarterback controversy and the attention that comes along with that. Also, if the Browns win but Hoyer struggles, the fans will be calling for Manziel. It’s an interesting situation to watch because the whole country is fascinated by Manziel’s potential. Manziel has shown flashes of brilliance thus far, but he’s never played in a regular season game in the NFL. This is going to be one of the storylines to watch in the entire league. Browns Defense Cornerback Joe Haden is one of the main anchors on this defense and he was recently rewarded with a long-term extension. Opposing quarterbacks have avoided throwing the football his way on the field because of his ability to make plays. Linebacker Barkevious Mingo, the Browns’ first-round pick in 2013, had five sacks in 15 games last season. New head coach Mike Pettine brings a complex blitz package and it will be up to the defense to learn those packages. The Browns ranked ninth in yards allowed per game last season, but they were awful in the red zone. The opposition scored 64 percent of the time in the red zone, which is unacceptable. The Browns also gave up the most fourth quarter points of any team in the league – more than nine per game. If the Browns can gain traction on the defensive line, it will alleviate the pressure on Haden and the rest of the defensive backfield. Too many times last season, the cornerbacks and safeties had to make tackles 10-15 or 20 yards downfield. Then the opposing quarterbacks would be able to dissect the Browns’ defense with long throws. It left the defensive backfield too susceptible to the big play. Another problem that must be fixed is takeaways vs. giveaways. The Browns were tied for 25th in the league at minus-eight last season. Turning the ball
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