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Projected starting lineups Offense No. Player Pos. No. Player Pos. 17 Braylon Edwards WR 87 Joe Jurevicius WR 80 Kellen Winslow Jr. TE 77 Kevin Shaffer LT 63 Joe Andruzzi LG 84 LeCharles Bentley C 60 Cosey Coleman RG 72 Ryan Tucker RT 9 Charlie Frye QB 34 Reuben Droughns RB 42 Terrelle Smith FB 4 Phil Dawson K Defense No. Player Pos. No. Player Pos. 99 Orpheus Roye LE 92 Ted Washington NT 97 Alvin McKinley RE 55 Willie McGinest OLB 54 Andra Davis ILB 58 D'Qwell Jackson ILB 95 Kamerion Wimbley OLB 33 Daylon McCutcheon CB 24 Gary Baxter CB 21 Brodney Pool S 27 Brian Russell S 15 Dave Zastudil P 2006 Draft No. Player Pos. School 1 Kamerion Wimbley OLB Florida State 2 D'Qwell Jackson ILB Maryland 3 Travis Wilson WR Oklahoma 4 Leon Williams ILB Miami 4 Isaac Sowells OG Indiana 5 Jerome Harrison RB Washington State 5 DeMario Minter CB Georgia 6 Lawrence Vickers FB Colorado 6 Babatunde Oshinowo NT Stanford 7 Justin Hamilton FS Virginia Tech Outside the Huddle The real Cleveland Browns In two seasons, the Browns have added eight players who played at Ohio colleges or grew up in the state. They are quarterback Charlie Frye (Akron), receiver/return specialist Joshua Cribbs (Kent State), defensive end Simon Fraser (Ohio State), linebacker Matt Stewart (Columbus), center LeCharles Bentley (Cleveland and Ohio State), wide receiver Joe Jurevicius (Mentor), punter Dave Zastudil (Bay Village and Ohio University) and offensive lineman Bob Hallen (Mentor and Kent State). Sorry, LeCharlie Bentley petitioned the NFL to allow him to wear No. 00 in honor of former Oakland Raiders Hall of Fame center Jim Otto, whom he idolized for his old-school style of play. The league denied the request. Who's next? The Browns have played the eventual Super Bowl champion in every season since rejoining the league in 1999. They are 0–9 in such matchups, getting outscored 260–68. Five in a row Frye will be the team's fifth opening-game quarterback in six years. The others: Trent Dilfer (’04-05), Jeff Garcia (’03), Kelly Holcomb (’02) and Tim Couch (’01).

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Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner has a realistic view of his role in his organization. "My job is to get myself out of the way and to create continuity so that we have the best chance of winning," Lerner said.

When continuity was threatened at the end of 2005 in a power struggle between GM Phil Savage and President John Collins, Lerner followed public sentiment and sided with his football expert. Collins, a former league marketing executive, resigned under fire. So the second season of the Savage and coach Romeo Crennel era was launched with no significant change on the coaching and scouting staffs. That's the first time that happened since the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999.

It was no coincidence that the club enjoyed its most productive offseason. Blessed with $25 million in salary cap room, Savage signed eight free agents, six of whom are expected to be starters in 2006.

Quarterbacks

The Browns thought they had secured themselves at quarterback for the foreseeable future with a tandem of Charlie Frye and Trent Dilfer. Frye started the last five games in 2005 as a rookie and would take over this year while Dilfer would slide into the role of sage mentor and quality backup. But Dilfer threw a wrench into the plan when he clashed with offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon and essentially talked his way home to northern California. The Browns traded Dilfer to San Francisco in May for a seventh-round draft choice and Ken Dorsey. It was an abrupt decision that left the team uncertain about its depth at the position.

Frye was going to take over the offense in his second season, anyway. But substituting Dorsey, a three-year pro with only 10 starts, at the backup spot was a risky venture. Frye has all the intangibles to mature as a starting QB, but would benefit from the wisdom of a seasoned pro.

Running Backs

At last there is no question about who is the Browns' feature back. Reuben Droughns claimed the job by rushing for 1,232 yards, becoming the first Cleveland back since 1985 to top the 1,000-yard mark. Droughns also broke Jim Brown's record for carries in a season with 309. Droughns was running on bald tires and gas fumes at the end, though, which alerted the club to seek a third-down specialist as a change of pace to Droughns' bruising style. Injury-plagued Lee Suggs could fill that role, but the club drafted Jerome Harrison as insurance.

William Green has settled into a backup role. Fullback Terrelle Smith returns as Droughns' lead blocker. Efforts to expand his game as an occasional ball-carrier and receiver last year brought mixed results. He is a smash-mouth blocker.

Receivers

In 2005, the team's starting receiver-tight end formation was Antonio Bryant, Dennis Northcutt and Steve Heiden. Unless there are unforeseen setbacks, the trio in 2006 should be Braylon Edwards, Joe Jurevicius and Kellen Winslow Jr.

The prospect of Edwards and Winslow, the team's 2005 and 2004 No. 1 draft picks, finally playing together is the major source of optimism for the Browns' offense in 2006. Winslow, who missed his rookie season with a right fibula fracture, tore the ACL of his right knee in a motorcycle accident in May 2005. He had season-ending surgery in June. Edwards was just coming into his own as a rookie when he tore the ACL in his right knee in a December game. The two potential playmakers bonded in rehabilitation and were hoping to be 100 percent in the first month of the season.

Jurevicius was signed to provide professionalism and playmaking in the receiving unit. The native northeast Ohioan has been one of the NFL's most underrated receivers while appearing in Super Bowls with three different teams. Northcutt will start until Edwards returns and then play as a slot receiver.

Offensive Linemen

Savage overhauled two-fifths of his starting unit in free agency with the addition of center LeCharles Bentley and left tackle Kevin Shaffer. Bentley made the Pro Bowl at both guard and center and will take over for Jeff Faine at center. Faine replaced Bentley in a trade with New Orleans on draft day. Shaffer replaces the older and bigger L.J. Shelton, who left for Miami. The rest of the starters are solid veterans: guards Joe Andruzzi and Cosey Coleman, and right tackle Ryan Tucker.

The additions of Bentley and Shaffer - both are 26 - injected youth and experience into the line. But the team has struggled to locate a young tackle to groom for the future. Nat Dorsey, acquired last year from Minnesota, will get first dibs in training camp. Rating: 7.5

Defensive Linemen

The largest hole in the 3-4 defense was filled by one of the league's largest players. Ted Washington, 6'5" and 365 pounds, was recruited from Oakland to fill the demanding nose tackle position.

Crennel hopes for Washington to play up to 50 percent of the defensive snaps and groom his successor. Washington, 38, says he expects to fulfill his two-year contract. Another old hand is left end Orpheus Roye, who had his finest NFL season, he believes, at 33. Roye took well to the 3-4 defense, which is what he played when he broke into the NFL with Pittsburgh. The Browns believe they might get more out of Roye by spelling him more.

Linebackers

Seeking to upgrade his 32nd-ranked pass rush, Crennel called on an old friend, Willie McGinest, to leave New England and take over the strong outside linebacker position. McGinest, 34, now takes on the role of tutor to No. 1 pick Kamerion Wimbley, who will make the transition from defensive end at Florida State to outside linebacker. McGinest was an end at USC and became one of the finest 3-4 linebackers of his era.

Andra Davis will line up at the left inside spot. In his first season in a 3-4, Davis led the team with 199 tackles. Crennel liked what he saw, and the Browns committed to a four-year contract extension for Davis. The other inside spot is earmarked for No. 2 pick D'Qwell Jackson. Matt Stewart and Chaun Thompson also will compete.

Defensive Backs

One of the big surprises in 2005 was the emergence of Leigh Bodden as a bona fide starting cornerback. Bodden started 11 games in place of injured Gary Baxter and co-led the team with three interceptions. With Baxter recovered from a torn pectoral muscle, Bodden could challenge Daylon McCutcheon for one of the two starting jobs.

The safety spots could also come down to a three-way battle between Brian Russell and successive No. 2 picks in 2004 and 2005, Sean Jones and Brodney Pool. Pool is the surest hitter and will be the favorite at strong safety. Jones is bigger, but more comfortable playing deeper, where Russell held the starting job last year for 16 games.

Specialists

The addition of punter Dave Zastudil fortifies the kicking game. The ex-Raven makes up a solid tandem with kicker Phil Dawson (27-of-29 field goals last year). Dawson should have no trouble adapting to Zastudil, his fourth holder in four years.

The return game should benefit from an influx of veterans on the blocking units. The team's depth last year was made up almost entirely of rookies and first-year players, and the lack of experience produced numerous penalties on special teams.

Returners Northcutt (punts) and Joshua Cribbs (kickoffs) both had touchdown returns in '05.

Coaching Staff

The Browns won six games in 2005 with a rookie head coach and two rookie coordinators. They believe a second year together will manifest in a smoother operation and a better familiarity with their roster. Crennel made no changes on his staff other than to promote heralded offensive line coach Jeff Davidson to assistant head coach. Carthon will continue to serve as play-caller. Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham is one of the bright up-and-comers with knowledge of the 3-4.