The Cleveland Browns have the best return man on the planet in 27-year old Joshua Cribbs.  He has returned 10 kickoffs & punts for TDs in his career which is already an NFL record that he will look to add to in 2010.  Cribbs played in 16 games for the Browns last season and he returned 56 kickoffs for 1,542 yards (27.5 avg) with 3 TD returns.  He has now played in 77 games in his NFL career and he has returned 265 kickoffs for 7,049 yards (26.6 avg) with 8 TD returns.  Cribbs is a threat to score from anywhere on the field as he has the moves, speed and stength combo that no other return man in the NFL has.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BROWNS KICKOFF RETURNERS in 2010:  A+++++

The offensive line is the strength of the Cleveland Browns.  It really showed in the last four games of last season when the Browns didn’t try to pass much and no one could stop their running game and that was because of the O-Line.  It all starts at LT where Joe Thomas is one of the best, if not the best tackle in the NFL.  Thomas is a great run blocker and he’s very good at pass blocking as Jake Delhomme will be able to drop in the pocket without any worries of getting hit in the back.  LG Eric Steinbach is a outstanding run blocker as he always seems to hit moving targets on the second level of the D taking out linebackers.  He’s also a good pass blocker.  When the Browns run to the left side they almost always have success due to Steinbach & Thomas.  Center Alex Mack was solid all year long as a rookie in 2009.  He’s best at run blocking as he’s just plain nasty in that role.  Floyd Womack (RG) and Tony Pashos (RT) are both solid run blockers who are so-so in pass blocking.  Rookie guard Shawn Lauvao and tackle John St. Clair give the Browns quality depth on the O-Line for 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CLEVELAND BROWNS O-LINE in 2010:  A

The Browns finished very strong last season likely saving 39-year old head coach Eric Mangini’s job.  The Browns were only 5-11 (31.3%) in his first year with the team and if it happens again he will likely get fired.  Mangini has a 4-year career record of 28-36 (43.8%) during the regular season and he’s 0-1 in the playoffs.  One thing that’s in the Browns favor this season is that Mangini is 19-13 in even numbered years with 2010 is.  But, he’s only 9-23 in odd numbered years.  President Mike Holmgren might get the itch to return to coaching at any time so Mangini has to get his team to improve in 2010.

35-year old kicker Phil Dawson threatened to hold out this season before coming to his senses.  He played in 11 games for the Browns last season and he made 17 of 19 field goals (89.5%).  Dawson also made 18 of 19 extra points for the Browns as he finished up with 69 points last year.  Dawson has now played in 167 games in his career with the Browns and he has made 229 of 275 field goals (83.3%).  He has also made 273 of 281 extra points in his career as he has 960 points for the Brownies.  The Browns can’t afford to leave points on the field and Dawson is a pretty solid kicker.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BROWNS KICKERS in 2010:  B

23-year old Mohamed Massaquoi burst onto the scene last season as a rookie for the Browns.  He played in 16 games (11 starts) in which he caught 34 passes for 624 yards (18.4 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  The Browns need Massaquoi to be more consistent in 2010.  He had a couple of games that he dominated last season but he also had a few games that you had to check the boxscore closely to see if he played.  He is really fast and can get deep but he needs to improve his concentration on the football.  Despite my nitpicking I fully believe that he could develop into a true #1 WR this season.

27-year old Joshua Cribbs makes most of his money on special teams but that might be about to change in 2010.  The Browns have him penciled in as a starting WR for 2010 heading into training camp.  Cribbs played in 16 games (all starts) for the Browns last season and he caught 20 passes for 135 yards (6.8 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He also carried the ball 55 times for 381 yards (6.9 ypc) with 1 TD run as the QB of the Wildcat Formation in which he is very dangerous.  Cribbs has now played in 77 games (17 starts) in his career with the Browns and he has caught 36 passes for 288 yards (8.0 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 95 times for 620 yards (6.5 ypc) with 2 TD runs in his career.  Look for the Browns to move Cribbs all over the place this season to cause matchup problems for the opposing defenses.

26-year old Chansi Stuckey is penciled in as the #3 WR for the Browns heading into training camp.  Stuckey played in 15 games (3 starts) for the Browns & Jets last season and he caught 30 passes for 318 yards (10.6 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  He has now played in 30 games (5 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 62 passes for 677 yards (10.9 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  Stuckey has also carried the ball 3 times for 7 yards (2.3 ypc) in his career.  Stuckey is a possession type receiver.

22-year old Brian Robiskie was a huge disappointment for the Browns as a rookie last season.  He played in 11 games (1 start) for the Browns last season and he caught 7 passes for 106 yards (15.1 avg) without a TD.  The Browns gave glowing reports of how good Robiskie looked in OTAs but I will believe it when I see it.

Rookie Carlton Mitchell will give the Browns a big target as he is 6′3″, 215 pounds.  He was picked in the 6th round by the Browns out of South Florida.  Many draft experts had Mitchell going in the 2nd or 3rd round so the Browns might have a steal here.

37-year old Bobby Engram played quite a while for the Seahawks and Mike Holmgren.  That’s likely why he’s getting a chance to earn a job with the Browns this year.  Engram played in 5 games (0 starts) for the Chiefs last season and he caught 5 passes for 61 yards (12.2 avg).  Engram has now played in 176 games (113 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 650 passes for 7,751 yards (11.9 avg) with 35 TD grabs.  He will be a longshot to make the Browns’ opening day roster.

25-year old Syndric Steptoe is back for the Browns trying to win a job.  He played in 16 games (5 starts) for the Browns in 2008 and he caught 19 passes for 182 yards (9.6 avg).

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE WRs in 2010:  D