Friday, July 23, 2010

Two-A-Days: Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders Preview

Cleveland Browns

Key Additions: QB Jake Delhomme, CB Joe Haden, TE Benjamin Watson, LB Chris Gocong, QB Colt McCoy, RB Montario Hardesty, S T.J. Ward

Key Loses: QB Derek Anderson, QB Brady Quinn, WR Donte' Stallworth, S Brodney Pool, LB Kamerion Wimbley

Now that Mike Holmgren has taken a Bill Parcells role in the Browns, the future is in good hands in Cleveland. Holmgren kept Eric Mangini as coach who must improve in order to keep his job. Another performance like last year will certainly leave him unemployed. The Browns were awful on offense last season as Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson both could not get the job done. They are both gone and Jake Delhomme will probably start, allowing Colt McCoy to learn and observe the veteran until he is ready to take over. The Browns averaged 129.8 yards per game through the air last season. The Browns drafted RB Monario Hardesty from Tennessee to add to the backfield that has Jerome Harrison. Wide receiver is still a concern. Masaquoi has done well, but Joshua Bribs is a lot like Devin Hester and has not proven himself to be a reliable receiver. Delhomme is on a short leash. If he plays like he did in 2008 and manages the game and limits his mistakes, he'll keep his job. If not, you will see either Seneca Wallace or Colt McCoy.

Rob Ryan enters his second season as defensive coordinator after drafting a shut down corner in this years draft in Joe Haden from Florida. He is the type of player that he can feel comfortable leaving one on one, although it will take him time to get acclimated to the NFL. The rest of the Browns defense is one big question mark. They were 20th overall last season allowing 389.3 yards per game against. They were 8h in the league with 40 sacks. T.J. Ward comes in to replace Brodney Pool. The Browns are going to have to keep the points to a minimum in order to win more games this year than they did last season.

Schedule:

1 Sunday September 12 at Buccaneers
2 Sunday September 19 Chiefs
3 Sunday September 26 at Ravens
4 Sunday October 03 Bengals
5 Sunday October 10 Falcons
6 Sunday October 17 at Steelers
7 Sunday October 24 at Saints
8 BYE
9 Sunday November 07 Patriots
10 Sunday November 14 Jets
11 Sunday November 21 at Jaguars
12 Sunday November 28 Panthers
13 Sunday December 05 at Dolphins
14 Sunday December 12 at Bills
15 Sunday December 19 at Bengals
16 Sunday December 26 Ravens
17 Sunday January 02 Steelers

The Browns don't really catch a break with their schedule. They have the 10th hardest in the league and opponents were 132-124 last season. They already play in the competitive NFC North where the Steelers, Ravens, and defending champ Bengals can all easily make the playoffs. On top of that they catch the AFC East, where the Jets, Pats, and Dolphins can easily make the playoffs as well. The division I believe will be too tough for the Browns to handle.

Oakland Raiders

Key Additions: LB Rolando McClain, QB Jason Campbell, RB Michael Bennett, DE Quentin Groves, LB Kamerion Wimbley,

Key Subtractions: QB Jamarcus Russell, DE Greg Ellis, RB Justin Fargas, WR Javon Walker, DT Gerard Warren

Da Raidas enter season 2 under Tom Cable and have moved on from JaMarcus Russell. Russell was awful during his time with the Raiders and looked lost at times trying to gather the offense. Jason Campbell will battle Bruce Gradkowski for the starting job in training camp. Campbell played decent last season and needs to continue to improve. Gradkowski played well in relief of Russell as well. Louis Murphy had an excellent rookie season, however Darrius Heyward-Bey was awful. Those two need to improve their games this year for the Raiders to be successful. They were 31st in points per game and yards per game last season. The running game will be squarely on the shoulders of Darren McFadden after Justin Fargas was cut during the offseason.

The defense is one of the few bright spots on this Raider team. They have one of the best shutdown corners in Nnamdi Asomugha and stud safety Michael Huff. They drafted Rolando McClain from Alabama and signed Kamerion Wimbley to sure up the linebacker position. The Raiders traded for Richard Seymour last season to add more to the defensive line. He needs to play at a higher level and force opposing lineman to pay attention to him and free up some of his teammates for some more one on ones. The Raiders success will depend on who the quarterback is and will they not back up the defense into a corner like Russell has. The defense is talented enough to make this a playoff team.

Schedule

1 Sunday September 12 at Titans
2 Sunday September 19 Rams
3 Sunday September 26 at Cardinals
4 Sunday October 03 Texans
5 Sunday October 10 Chargers
6 Sunday October 17 at 49ers
7 Sunday October 24 at Broncos
8 Sunday October 31 Seahawks
9 Sunday November 07 Chiefs
10 BYE
11 Sunday November 21 at Steelers
12 Sunday November 28 Dolphins
13 Sunday December 05 at Chargers
14 Sunday December 12 at Jaguars
15 Sunday December 19 Broncos
16 Sunday December 26 Colts
17 Sunday January 02 at Chiefs

The Raiders catch the weak NFC West and strong AFC South this season. They have the 18th toughest schedule and opponents were 128-128 last season. They have tough end of the season home games against the Broncos and Colts. If they can shut down some high powering offenses and take advantage of some weak defenses, they can win a few more games than some people would expect.

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