Cleveland Browns Team Preview & Predictions for the 2015-16 NFL Season

To say that the Dawg Pound is thirsty for a great season from the Cleveland Browns is like saying they’re also waiting for Johnny Manziel to finally blossom into a solid NFL quarterback: they can wait all they want, but it probably isn’t coming any time soon.

The Browns haven’t had a winning season since 2007 and without top-rated free agent signings or a head-turning playmaker, it seems that the Cleveland faithful’s expectations better stay low for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, the Browns’ 7-9 slate last year was the best one they’ve had since going 10-6 eight years ago. Will it get better this season?

Read on for an overview of Cleveland’s key player this coming season along with the team’s key game, best/worst scenarios and a complete list of the Browns’ 2015 schedule.

For more about the 2015 NFL season, click on the following team names for their respective previews:  Green Bay Packers| Atlanta Falcons| Tennessee Titans
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2015-2016 Cleveland Browns Preview

Overview

[sc:NFL240banner ]Does God really hate Cleveland? Cleveland hasn’t seen its rivers turn to blood or lost half of its population to a plague, so no. God doesn’t hate Cleveland. But it appears as though he loves to make fun of the city’s sports’ teams—especially the Cleveland Browns. Last season was no different. It was still the same frustrating, controversy-filled season the Dawg Pound has been used to seeing.

There’s still a lot of work to be done if the Browns are to fare better this season than in 2014. They have a new quarterback in Josh McCown and a not-so-new-or-improved Johnny Manziel (if his training camp debut is any indication). But they will be without Josh Gordon (suspended) and Jordan Cameron (now in Miami), so Cleveland will have to rely on another suspect group of receivers.

The Browns’ backfield has a bit more competence, but Isaiah Crowell, Terrance West and Duke Johnson will find it hard to evade opposing defenses that do not respect Cleveland’s passing game. A solid offensive line should take care of creating gaps for the Browns’ running back, though, with the trio of Joe Thomas, Alex Mack, and Joel Bitonio propping up the line.

As for the defense, the Browns made some adjustments on their front seven via free agency and the draft. Hopefully for Cleveland, those moves will be enough to get its defense out of the mud, particularly against the rush, where the Browns ranked worst last season in yards allowed per game on the ground.

Offseason Review

The Browns, who are +900 to win the AFC North, has always been a notorious team when it comes to ineptitude. They made sure that this offseason continues the team’s tradition of just being a sucker on every level, as general manager Ray Farmer plugged some holes in the team’s lineup with questionable acquisitions.

Take for example the Browns’ decision to sign then-free agent quarterback Josh McCown to a three-year deal back in February. McCown was a decent backup quarterback in Chicago a couple of years ago, but was far from exceptional in his one-year stay in Tampa last season, when he threw more interceptions (14) than touchdowns (11) and finished with 2,206 passing yards on a very poor 56.3 completion percentage.

Moreover, Farmer also added a couple of receivers in Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline, whose performances last season suggest that they have no business being any NFL team’s top two options down field. Bowe had 754 receiving yards and zero touchdowns last season with the Chiefs, while Hartline only tallied 474 yards and two touchdowns. The Browns did some nice work, though, in signing defensive tackle Randy Starks and cornerback Tramon Williams, who should help transform the defense into a better unit.

Cleveland addressed some needs in the draft, too, when it drafted defensive tackle Danny Shelton (12th overall) and center Cameron Erving (19th) in the first round. Shelton is expected to play a major role in stopping the run and is already getting early comparisons to Vince Wilfork. Erving, on the other hand, adds depth in the center position, though coach Mike Pettine appears to have plans of putting him in another position. The Browns also used two third-round picks on running back Duke Johnson and defensive tackle Xavier Cooper.

Cooper fits right into the Browns’ plans of improving their pass rush after producing just 31 sacks last season, sixth fewest in the NFL. Cooper registered 10 sacks across his last two seasons at Washington State.

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Key Player – Danny Shelton

Although he’s just a rookie, Danny Shelton will play a huge role in helping the Browns improve their defense against the run, which was the team’s biggest problem last year. Cleveland allowed the most rushing yards last season (2,265), no thanks to a crappy front seven that giftwraps opposing running backs with clear paths on the ground.

Shelton has to overcome stiff training camp competition from Phil Taylor and Ishmaa’ily Kitchen first but per Pat McManamon of ESPN, “it will be a major disappointment” if the former Washington standout doesn’t become the starting nose tackle this coming season.

Key Game – vs. Oakland (September 27)

It’s crucial for the Browns to get their confidence up, especially early in the season. Whatever happens in Cleveland’s first two games against the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans, the Week 3 matchup versus the Raiders is the Browns’ last chance of winning a game versus a team that finished .500 or lower in 2014 before a brutal stretch. After the Raiders’ game, Cleveland will need all the luck they can have as the Browns get San Diego, Baltimore, and Denver, teams that won 31 total games last season.

Best/Worst Case Scenario for the Season

Best Case Scenario

Thanks to a sturdy offensive line, McCown orchestrates a passing offense that sees Bowe and Hartline’s decaying careers receive a shot in the arm. The backfield leads the offense once again with Crowell, West and Johnson all contributing significant numbers.  The defense improves but not to the point where it can beat quality teams on their schedule. That said, they ‘d finish the season optimistic that next year will be way better after going 7-9 in 2015.

Worst Case Scenario

McCown enjoys much better protection than he had in Tampa, but the poor quality of his targets keeps the Browns’ passing game grounded. McCown plays like a glorified backup quarterback and is christened as “McClown” by the Dawg Pound. Manziel makes a few starts but does little to shed off his draft bust label, as he makes fewer completions than days spent in rehab. In the end, the Browns finish with another 4-12 record.

Complete Schedule

WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET)
1 | Sun, Sep 13 | @New York Jets | 1:00 PM
2 | Mon, Sep 21 | vs Tennessee | 1:00 PM
3 | Sun, Sep 27 | vs Oakland | 1:00 PM
4 | Sun, Oct 4 | @San Diego | 4:05 PM
5 | Bye Week | @Baltimore |
6 | Sun, Oct 18 | vs Denver | 1:00 PM
7 | Sun, Oct 25 | @St. Louis | 1:00 PM
8 | Sun, Nov 1 | vs Arizona | 1:00 PM
9 | Sun, Nov 8 | @Cincinnati | 8:25 PM
10 | Thu, Nov 12 | @Pittsburgh | 1:00 PM
11 | Sun, Nov 22 | Bye Week |
12 | Sun, Nov 29 | vs Baltimore | 8:30 PM
13 | Sun, Dec 6 | vs Cincinnati | 1:00 PM
14 | Sun, Dec 13 | vs San Francisco | 1:00 PM
15 | Sat, Dec 19 | @Seattle | 4:05 PM
16 | Sun, Dec 27 | @Kansas City | 1:00 PM
17 | Sun, Jan 3 | vs Pittsburgh | 1:00 PM

Writer’s Prediction

Cleveland takes a step back and places last once again in the AFC North with a 6-10 record.
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