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2009 Cleveland Browns NFL Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd on August 18, 2009

browns 81809 Following a 10-win season in 2007, the Cleveland Browns’ fan base was revived and excited heading into the 2008 season. But they were severely let down when their team finished just 4-12. That was enough to finally send Romeo Crennel packing. In comes Eric Mangini. But will he be able to rally the troops to get the Browns playing winning football again? Find out where I have Cleveland finishing in the AFC North in this 2009 NFL betting preview. NFL odds makers have listed the Cleveland Browns at +5500 to win Super Bowl XLIV.

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Offense – A major key to the success of the 2007 season was the quarterback play of Derek Anderson. Anderson looked like a completely different player in the nine games he started last season. He and Brady Quinn will battle it out for the starting job. Anderson has the stronger arm, but Quinn’s better with the short routes and that will likely land him the starting job in Brian Daboll’s hybrid West Coast offense. The Browns would also like to put an emphasis on running the football and that falls on Jamal Lewis for at least one more season. Lewis has rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons with the Browns. He will likely be joined in the backfield by fullback Lawrence Vickers. The receiver position may have lost Kellen Winslow and Donte Stallworth, but I’m optimistic about the players that remain. I expect a bounce back year from Braylon Edwards, who caught 80 passes, 16 for touchdowns, in 2007. Edwards led the NFL in drops last season and he will be out to prove to every NFL franchise that he’s got glue fingers in this contract year. I like the move made to draft Ohio State’s Brian Robiskie, and Mohamed Massaquoi is a promising rookie as well. Plus, you have to love what receiver Joshua Cribbs brings to the return game. The Browns add center Alex Mack and signed tackle John St. Claire and guard Floyd Womack to give them more depth up front than they had a year ago. Pro Bowl tackler Joe Thomas is the Browns’ headliner up front.

Defense – The Browns must do a better job at defending the run this season. They finished 28th in the NFL against the run in 2008. The 16 rushing touchdowns they allowed were double what they gave up in 2007. Shaun Rogers played well at nose tackle, but he didn’t get enough help. Mangini is confident that Kenyon Coleman and Corey Williams will do the job this season.

Replacing inside linebacker Andra Davis was a priority this offseason and the Browns came through with Eric Barton. He has played the last five seasons with the Jets so Mangini and he know each other well. He will start alongside fellow inside backer D’Qwell Jackson, who has led the Browns in tackles over the last two seasons. Alex Hall and Kamerion Wimbley will likely man the outside spots.

Browns fans were catching themselves saying “not again” along with some more colorful language all too often last season in reference to cornerbacks Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald, who were beaten over the top way too often. Abram Elam will replace Sean Jones at safety and team with Brodney Pool.

Prediction: 4th AFC North – I have the Cleveland Browns picked at the bottom of the barrel in my AFC North predictions. An adjustment period is expected under a new coaching staff so I don’t expect the Browns to greatly improve on last year’s four-win season, unless one of the Cleveland QB’s can play out of their mind like Anderson did in 2007. The Browns are listed at +1575 to win the AFC North Division at Bookmaker.

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