2007 Offensive Coordinator / Fantasy Football Preview - Cleveland Browns

Romeo Crennel - third season as head coach
Rod Chudzinski - first season as offensive coordinator

Background:
Rob Chudzinski comes from two years of work with San Diego, as their TE coach. His move to be the Browns OC only further raises the profile of Kellen Winslow in Cleveland’s offense. In addition to Chudzinksi’s time with Antonio Gates, Rob has worked with K2 previously when he was the OC at UM from 2001-03. His hiring by the Browns is a clear effort to better utilize the most athletic and instinctive tight end in the game (when, you know, healthy…).

Philosophy:
It’s still early to tell, but given the situation at quarterback, I expect to Browns to base their game on the run and use a lot of playaction to get Winslow involved. The Browns have two good running backs now (below) that compliment each other well and enough talent at the receiving position to improve from one of the worst offenses in 2006 to somewhere in the 15-20 range, at least.

Players
Jamal Lewis is down from the 250-255 lbs he’s played at in recent years, weighing in at a svelt 235 lbs in 2007. In the Browns first preseason game against the Chiefs, Lewis looked as strong as ever, but much faster to the hole and even a bit of a threat again around the edge. Lewis was catching the ball well out of the backfield and looks like a very different runner.

Adding to the optimism for Lewis, he signed a one year contract in the offseason and is really playing with something to prove.

“I’m with a new team, so I felt as if I needed to do something new,” he said of his weight loss. “The Browns say they plan on running me a lot more, and I have to be ready.

“This is a fresh start for me, and I want to take it to another level.”

In a recent USA Today article, Lewis pulled no punches on his situation with his former team.

“It was just a bad deal, man,” he says. “I didn’t get along with Coach (Brian) Billick. He didn’t get along with me. There was just a lot of turmoil going on. I needed to go.”

Lewis rips the Ravens for their personnel moves, maintaining the team didn’t do enough to support the rushing game.

“What did they do to make the running game better? Did they bring in new offensive linemen? No,” he says. “They brought in a new quarterback (Steve McNair) … but got rid of Darnell Dinkins, a blocking tight end.

“You know (Brian) Billick. He wants to throw the ball, anyway. I didn’t fit their scheme. I was ready to go. I was tired of just being beat up and talked about.”

Lewis stiff-arms the idea that the ankle problems and that offseason at a prison camp contributed to the spiral.

“That didn’t bother me,” he says. “That just made me go out and want to do better. It was just like they weren’t letting me do my job and they weren’t supporting me. … A 2,000-yard rusher does not forget how to run the football. Somebody may forget how to rush the football. Now I’m in a better place. ”

Interesting words from Lewis, who I think is still at part to blame for his poor seasons in Baltimore. But this new Lewis looks like a real threat again, and a probable top 10 RB in 2007.

Lewis’ addition allows Jerome Harrison to assume the third down, change of pace role he’s more suited for. This should be a good duo.

And the Browns offensive line will be better in 2007. Injuries and poor personnel led the 2006 OL to 31st ranking 3.71 adjusted line yards per carry, according to Football Prospectus. The drafting of Joe Thomas helps immediately, as well as the offseason signing of left guard run blocking specialist Eric Steinbach. That left side duo will be a force this season, if healthy.

At receiver, the Browns intend to use former college quarterback Josh Cribbs as a slash player, ala Kordell Stewart but more like the Jets’ Brad Smith. Right now, Cribbs is more of a threat out of the backfield and in space than as a pure receiver, but he’s learning the position in his third NFL season and has the size and skills to be slot / special teams / 3rd down a playmaker on this team.

Braylon Edwards’ career won’t live up to the talent he possesses until he becomes more of a consistent and reliable option. Considering this passing game will be built around Winslow, I’d expect to see Edwards’ production to continue to be disappointing.

Charlie Frye suffers a bit from the Joey Harrington syndrome, where he’ll look solid for 90% of his plays and then do enough in the remaining 10% to completely screw his team.

Frye has Elway-like skills in the pocket and when on the move. He’s sees the field well and is surprisingly elusive, but just doesn’t make the best decisions to be a real #1 QB for a playoff team. Derrick Anderson seems to be struggling still with the speed on the NFL game, so Frye will be in early until Quinn is ready to play.

The Browns defense, in their third year with the 3-4, finally looks like its ready to be in the top half of the league. They are still old on the DL, but their linebacking unit - with the offseason addition of 3-4 OLB specialist Antwan Peek and the continued development of star OLB Kamerion Winbley - could be one of the best in the league. In the secondary, Leigh Bodden is the most underrated DB in the NFL, but needs to stay healthy for an entire season to earn the accolades he deserves. Fast-rising rookie CB Eric Wright should start on the opposite side to form a decent unit in the defensive backfield. Peek should help with their run defense, but the Browns will likely still be in the 20-32 ranking against the rush.