CLEVELAND, Ohio — One of these days, the crowning achievement of a Browns season has to be about more than making life difficult for a hated rival. But with the spoiler role the only one remaining, they at least deserve credit for embracing it.

In a stadium where Steelers fans wore their colors and waved their Terrible Towels with impunity, the Browns quieted the intrusion with a solid half defensively and two Phil Dawson field goals to lead 6-3 at the intermission.

Pittsburgh’s best-case scenario was to play hobbled quarterback Ben Roethlisberger long enough to get a lead, keep an eye on the Baltimore-Cincinnati game and maybe run in backup Charlie Batch. The Browns didn’t let it happen, at least not in the first half.

I wouldn’t jump to too many conclusions about what playing hard all the way to the end means for a losing team. It doesn’t always mean they’re playing for the coach. In fact, Mike Holmgren has made it clear Pat Shurmur’s job isn’t in jeopardy.

Players play hard in these situations for a lot of different reasons, including their own job security.

A year ago, the Steelers blew the Browns out in a similar situation, 41-9. The Browns knew Eric Mangini was gone, as were many of the players Mangini brought in.

A win over the Steelers hardly puts a bow on this season, not with the Browns finishing 5-11 for the third consecutive year. Two years ago, they helped ruin the Steelers’ season. That one had more riding on it.

If they can win this one, they can only inconvenience the Steelers. But if you get the chance, why not?

If anybody needs tickets to games, remember to click the tickets link at the top.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Weren’t calamity and dysfunction in Berea supposedly put on notice when the Big Show arrived? Now that nickname feels more ironic than anything.

Big Show? Mike Holmgren gave up the stage and his claim to the marquee when he decided he wasn’t going to return to the sidelines. Coaching is what he did best. Did he have to become the mystery man behind the curtain?

Didn’t owner Randy Lerner deem the need to overhaul the organization’s credibility almost as important as fixing the endlessly flawed football operation? Isn’t that why Lerner gave some consideration to the idea of hiring Mark Shapiro once upon a time?

Even if Cleveland sports fans don’t recognize it, Lerner saw how the Indians have done it right under Shapiro; how they dealt professionally and directly with issues; how Shapiro always showed support for his manager when the criticism came in an avalanche.

In which instance have the Browns shown even the slightest inclination in that direction under Holmgren? His tenure has created more issues than it’s resolved.

There was a wasted year with Eric Mangini. Now a season spent with an overwhelmed coach in a dual role, and a kid quarterback running for his life with no receivers to bail him out. That’s Holmgren’s watch in brief.

In this latest episode, a ESPN report cast aspersions on the Browns’ medical staff and head coach Pat Shurmur over the handling of Colt McCoy’s concussion. The father of the quarterback basically leveled both, saying high school trainers he knows would’ve handled it better and that his son had no business returning to the field.

That’s a double broadside shot at the organization, the response to which should’ve come from Holmgren on behalf of the team medical staff and the head coach Holmgren hired. Instead, to answer that criticism — or, more accurately, to not answer that criticism — the Browns trotted out Shurmur Monday to reiterate that procedure was followed after James’ Harrison’s hit knocked McCoy out of the game.

Did that procedure include the league’s sideline concussion test? Shurmur wouldn’t say yes or no. So it’s understandable if you took that as a no. If there weren’t enough evidence — beyond a vicious helmet-to-facemask hit — to administer the test, well, that’s one explanation. Not a great one mind you. But it’s one.

If trainers were overwhelmed by multiple injured players, as right tackle Tony Pashos seemed to suggest, concussive hits still have to take precedent. But, at least that would be a second explanation.

The Browns medical staff has done right by other concussed players. Trainers deserve more than the benefit of the doubt. They deserve clarity. If they followed protocol, do them a favor. Check off each step followed. Or let them explain for themselves.

Was McCoy tested more extensively Thursday night after the game when the Browns’ own PR staff asked the TV people to turn off the camera lights on McCoy’s behalf? Is it true they waited until the next morning to administer the concussion test, after he flew on a plane back to Cleveland and after a night’s sleep?

Was there any danger in that? If not, it can only help the Browns to explain what they knew and when they knew it. The Browns’ inadequate, contradictory response only made it look like they were trying to get their stories straight.

Don’t confuse this with Holmgren not wanting to address a contract situation, or the performance of a first-year head coach. This isn’t about placating the media. Head injuries are serious matters. Players’ welfare is at stake. Much less importantly, so is the organization’s image.

If the Browns wanted to withhold comment until after the NFL and NFLPA officials were done with them Wednesday, Holmgren was the guy to deliver that message in support of an overwhelmed coach, if nobody else.

Shurmur actually said one of Monday’s questions would be better directed at the medical staff. No kidding. Quickly asked if reporters could talk to the medical people then, Shurmur said what amounted to, um, uh, er, maybe … yes, maybe someday.

This would be laughable if the issue weren’t so serious, and if we hadn’t seen this sort of unintentional comedy of errors out of Berea for so long.

On Twitter: @budshaw

Leave your comments on the news below.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The reality of the Browns’ season begins right now, this Sunday in Cincinnati.

It’s the final six games, five of them against teams in the AFC North. Only two are at home.

We can learn much about this team.

Two games with Pittsburgh, two with Baltimore. One with the Bengals.

Combined, the three teams have a 20-10 record.

Cincinnati is an especially sore subject. The Browns began the season with a 27-17 loss to Cincinnati, the home opener for new coach Pat Shurmur. That was a game in which they were flagged for 11 penalties.

It also was a game in which the defensive unit looked like a bunch of guys standing in a circle at a bus stop, staring at some clouds when quarterback Bruce Gradkowski called a quick snap and lobbed a 40-yard touchdown pass to a wide open A.J. Green.

That was a demoralizing debut because the Browns looked ill-prepared.

Their record is 4-6, and the season has been rocky. The question is not if the Browns can finish with a winning record — or even .500. That would be a shock.

So what can we expect in the final six games?

“How about 2-4 with no blowouts, competitive entertaining games would be nice,” Austin Zeizing posted on my Facebook page.

The most recent time the Browns made the playoffs was 2002. Counting that season, they are 4-16 vs. teams in the AFC North during the final six games of seasons.

Overall, the Browns are 19-35 in the “Sad Six” dating back to 2002.

The sad six

“I’m sick of the ‘Oh we need to win for progress the next year,’ ” emailed Justin Heinzmann. “How did Eric Mangini win four straight to end the year?”

That was in 2009, when the Browns beat Pittsburgh and three teams with losing records. But at least it was a 4-2 mark in those final six games.

The only other seasons in which the Browns were better than 2-4 in the final six games were 2007 and 2002.

In the last six games of the season, the injuries pile up. The weather is usually awful. The team often is out of contention. The Browns players might not admit it, but too often they just wanted the year to be over and they played like it.

The Browns ended last season with four losses, three to the teams in their division.

This year, the Bengals, Ravens and Steelers are three of the NFL’s top six defenses.

For the Browns’ Colt McCoy, the final two losses to Baltimore and Pittsburgh were disturbing. Both were on cold, windy days on the shores of Lake Erie, and the rookie quarterback threw six interceptions compared to one touchdown.

Those two games started the real doubts about McCoy’s long-term future with the Browns.

Those also were his No. 7 and No. 8 pro starts, and he was playing for a perpetually losing team that sensed its coach was about to be fired.

Joe Maylish emailed: “I’m not concerned about who they beat as much as McCoy’s ability to play in bad weather and Greg Little emerging as the [team's] No. 1 receiver . . . and improvement in the running game as we saw last week. We all want to see progress, but these three areas will [affect] how they approach the draft in April.”

Yes, this also is the time of year when the hearts of Browns fans turn to spring — and the NFL Draft.

A list of five

But there are six games still left, and here are five things I would like to see from the Browns:

•1. McCoy performing well in the cold weather and under the onslaught of these defenses. The offensive line must keep McCoy from ending up in the hospital, but the quarterback also has to not rush into contact or hang on to the ball too long.

•2. Phil Taylor to play hard as he did in the last two games against some rugged offensive lines in this division. The rookie can be a big-time defensive tackle if he makes an Ahtyba Rubin-type commitment.

•3. Shurmur to show some creativity on offense and for his team to stay disciplined, organized and motivated in games with the Steelers and Ravens, where it could get ugly.

•4. Little to show he can make plays against these defenses. How about someone else giving hope as a receiver?

•5. Someone to show he can consistently run the ball. Do we see Peyton Hillis or Montario Hardesty again for more than two games? Is Chris Ogbonnaya for real?

Notice that I didn’t pick a record.

Jerry Lee Boatner emailed: “Would love to get one against the Steelers, but would not be shocked if they lose all six. Hillis could win the fans back with big games against Baltimore and Pittsburgh.”

If the Browns actually finish 6-10 . . . that means they end 2-4 . . . it will be only the second time since 2005 that they have won at least six games.

Yes, it has been that bad . . . and the Browns do have a chance in these last six games to show things are indeed getting at least a little better.

If you like reading our blog, remember to bookmark it.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns play the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at Browns Stadium in a matchup of 2-3 teams.

The Browns might be without running back Peyton Hillis, who injured his left hamstring in the first quarter of Cleveland’s 24-17 loss to the Raiders in Oakland last Sunday.

Hillis’ career took a temporary turn when he tore his right hamstring three years ago, when he was a Denver Broncos rookie. He may well have been on his way to establishing himself as Denver’s long-term answer at tailback before the injury set in motion a set of circumstances that allowed the Browns to get him at moderate cost — trading quarterback Brady Quinn to Denver for Hillis and two late-round draft picks prior to the 2010 season.

(A recent cleveland.com story detailed Hillis’ career since his college days at Arkansas, and how he has had to prove himself time and again)

On Nov. 6, 2008 in Cleveland, Hillis got a chance to run with the football for Denver after four Broncos tailbacks had been injured. His numbers weren’tt spectacular– eight carries for 24 yards — but he picked up crucial first downs in short-yardage situations as the Broncos overcame a 23-10 Browns lead to win, 34-30.

Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository writes about Hillis’ current injury, and that his injury in 2008 changed things for the Broncos and Hillis. Prior to the game against the Browns, writes Doerschuk, Hillis….:

He had broken out as a receiver a week earlier, not getting a single carry, but catching seven passes for 116 yards against Miami.

He followed up the Cleveland game with a 10-carry, 44-yard game against Atlanta, then accelerated to 74 yards on 17 carries against Oakland.

Broncos fans were hooked when he hit Eric Mangini’s Jets for 129 yards on 22 carries one week later. He just kept getting better every week, even as opponents got more film to study.

He was on his way to another big game a week later, with 58 yards on his first eight carries against the Chiefs.

Late in the first half, he jumped to make a circus catch and was pounced on by defensive backs Jarrad Page and Brandon Carr. His right foot got stuck. His hamstring got mangled. He missed the last three games with the hamstring tear.

Then-Head Coach Mike Shanahan said at the time, “It’s always tough to lose a guy like that, but he will be good for the future. He’s proved that he can play tailback in the National Football League, and that one catch he made was probably as good a catch as you could make … unfortunately, he pulled his hamstring making that catch.”

The Broncos were 8-5 after the Chiefs game but lost their last three games without Hillis. Shanahan was fired. Under his replacement, Josh McDaniels, Hillis was healthy, but he carried just 13 times for 54 yards in the entire 2009 season.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Mary Kay Cabot’s story that Browns president Mike Holmgren says that contract talks with Peyton Hillis are at a standstill for now; Cabot’s update on the Browns’ injuries; the weekly video edition of the Browns Insider, with Cabot, Dennis Manoloff and Bud Shaw talking about the Browns; Plain Dealer Twitter updates from today when Mike Holmgren talked with the media; a Starting Blocks poll on the Browns-Seahawks game; Cabot’s Browns Insider; and, much more.

Goal to goal

Former Browns running back Jerome Harrison has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, though the long-term prognosis for his health and even his football career is good. By Adam Schefter, and according to sources, for ESPN.com.

Concern about injuries among the Browns’ defensive backs, and Browns notes, by Fred Greetham for Scout.com’s Orange and Brown Report.

Stop breaking down every word that Mike Holmgren says. By Criag Lyndall for Waiting For Next Year.

AFC North teams are setting the NFL standard for defensive play this season, Jamison Hensley writes for ESPN.com.

Browns notebook, highlighting running back Chris Ogbonnaya, by Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository.

Mike Holmgren tries to defuse any drama surrounding the Browns, Daniel Wolf writes for the National Football Authority.

Anthony Campomizzi, writing for Dawg Pound Daily, wonders if Browns quarterback Colt McCoy is regressing this season.

The AFC North quarterback watch — including the Browns’ Colt McCoy — by Jamison Hensley on ESPN.com.

Seattle Seahawks coverage on the Seattle Times.

Comment Below!.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns have 13 days left to correct the flaws apparent in Sunday’s 31-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

That leaves lots of time for lots of opinions.

Zac Jackson of FoxSportsOhio.com has some Browns opinions, as he writes:

Peyton Hillis needs the ball. Evan Moore needs to be involved. Armond Smith never, ever, ever should be carrying the ball on fourth and short. The defense is still as slow as Eric Mangini wanted it to be. Had the Browns won Sunday, the timing for the bye week would have been terrible. As is, the timing is great. The Browns are still getting to know one another, their coaches and their strengths. This won’t be the last time they get run out of the building. I guess what’s alarming — and I really don’t know if this violates my own jumping to conclusions rule or not — is that if Colt McCoy isn’t the answer at QB, this whole season is basically for naught. And that goes for two wins, four wins, nine wins, whatever. It’s all about finding that QB and not having to start over. Again.

The Browns are at the beginning of their bye week with a 2-2 record which, indeed, is better than many critics thought they’d be at this time. Cleveland’s next game is on Oct. 16 against the Raiders (2-2) in Oakland.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Mary Kay Cabot’s report that Browns center Alex Mack was sent to the Cleveland Clinic today for an appendectomy; Terry Pluto’s thoughts on Browns coach Pat Shurmur and running back Peyton Hillis; Cabot’s report that Shurmur says Hillis’ playing time isn’t being reduced because of his contract status; video by David I. Andersen of Shurmur and players talking about the Browns; Tony Grossi’s podcast; Mary Kay Cabot’s Starting Blocks TV interview about the Browns; and, much more.

Post patterns

Cleveland Browns Team Report on USAToday.com.

Center Alex Mack has appendicitis, and other Browns health matters, by Matt Florjancic of clevelandbrowns.com.

Re-visiting the Browns’ loss to Tennessee. By Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com.

A (small) mention/criticism of Browns safety Usama Young, by Clark Judge on CBSSports.com.

Pat Shurmur says Peyton Hillis fits into the Browns offense, and Browns notes, by Fred Greetham for Scout.com’s Orange and Brown Report.

There is no running back controversy with the Browns, Steve DiMatteo writes for the Dawg Pound Daily.

The Browns have a tall task in trying to figure out the loss to the Titans, Vic Carucci writes for clevelandbrowns.com.

Peyton Hillis’ contract status won’t lead to diminished playing time. By Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Browns observations by Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository.

There is the quick update of the day.

Read More: Bruce Gradkowski (QB – CIN), Scott Fujita (LB – CLE), Gary Brackett (LB – IND), Robert Mathis (DE – IND), Reggie Wayne (WR – IND), Peyton Hillis (RB – CLE), Donald Brown (RB – IND), Pat McAfee (P – IND), Colt McCoy (QB – CLE), Andy Dalton (QB – CIN), Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns

Week 2 brings the Cleveland Browns into Indianapolis for the home opener, who struggled about as much as the Colts did last week in losing 27-17 to the Bengals, at home. The series between the Colts and Browns has been lopsided as of late, with the Colts winning the past 5 meetings, going back to 1994. The last three meetings, however, have been defensive struggles, all close Colts wins. In fact, the Browns failed to score a touchdown in all three meetings, and haven’t scored one on the Colts since 2002. Possible good sign for Sunday? The last meeting in 2008 needed a Robert Mathis strip/sack/scoop touchdown to win 10-6 in an ugly, ugly game.

The Browns have a new coach this season in Pat Shurmur, who was the Rams Offensive Coordinator the past two seasons, and was the Eagles QB coach for 10 years before that. He replaced Eric Mangini (who I never knew how he got that job to begin with). The Browns are led by second year QB Colt McCoy, who seemed to be hand-picked by team President Mike Holmgren, and feature Madden ’12 cover boy Peyton Hillis. The last time the Colts saw defensive captain Scott Fujita, he was in Miami celebrating a Super Bowl victory with the Saints. He’s now the anchor of a young Browns defense that should improve as the season goes along.

Since I can’t adjust for opponents yet, here’s how both teams did last week in Week 1:

Some thoughts:

• Turnovers will, once again, play a critical role in the outcome of the game. The Browns didn’t force a turnover last week, but did have four sacks of Bengal QBs, which is a huge concern now with Kerry Collins. I’m already at the point where any sack I assume will jar the ball loose. I see it as a minor victory when he holds on.
• The Browns defense wasn’t that great against either Andy Dalton or Bruce Gradkowski, which is a good sign that maybe the Colts passing game can be a little more effective. I’m looking to see if Collins can get anyone other than Reggie Wayne involved in the offense. That will be a signal to me that this team has a good chance of winning.
• The Browns were good at RB Success Rate, but had a fairly high Yards / Carry last week, meaning they probably allowed a couple big gainers, but were pretty good at the point of attack. Maybe we’ll see Donald Brown this week, since he was MIA last week. The Colts will need to have success in the running game to help slow down the Browns pass rush.
• On the other side of the ball, both the Browns Offense and Colts Defense really struggled in all the drive related stats last week, meaning it’s tough to tell who will have the upper hand. Last season, we saw a giant improvement on the defensive side when the Colts played at home, so I’d like to think they won’t be nearly as bad this week. Playing without Gary Brackett won’t help though.
• The Browns were pretty successful in the red zone last week, so for the Colts to win they’ll have to continue to force them into field goals. I haven’t checked, but I feel pretty confident that there might be only one or two people left from 2002, the last time the Browns scored a TD against the Colts. If the Colts do that again, it should be a good day inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
• Slowing down Peyton Hillis, especially early on, will be imperative. I expect them to pound it with him often, so getting him down is crucial.
• It’s not specifically in the stats here, but not allowing a special teams touchdown to Josh Cribbs. It’ll be tough enough for the Colts to win by just letting the Browns offense score the points. Adding in another element scoring points, and it becomes damn near impossible. Pat McAfee just needs to boom the kicks out of the back of the end zone.

Before I started writing this, I had every intention of picking the Browns to win, and I still think they have a really good chance to do so. In fact, I see them as a Jacksonville clone, in that they’ll control the clock, and on third down and X, they’ll run X + 1 curl routes in front of the DBs to gain first downs. The “paper-cut” offense. McCoy is very accurate, so if the Colts aren’t playing up on receivers, it’ll be a long day.

However, after going over these points, and remembering how the team came out in Week 2 last year (defense especially), I think the Colts will win this weekend. It won’t be pretty, but I think they get a win. It’s probably the homer in me coming out, but dammit I want to see this team win.

Colts 17, Browns 13

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — In the second year of building the Browns’ roster, General Manager Tom Heckert adopted a concerted youth movement.

He removed most of the last vestiges of the Eric Mangini era, collected draft choices and disdained free agents anywhere close to the age of 30. The only new player added was offensive lineman Artis Hicks (32), who was signed only after guard Eric Steinbach was sidelined for the year following back surgery.

“We knew we were an older team last year and it wasn’t necessarily just the age, we wanted to improve at certain positions,” Heckert said. “That [anti-] 30-year-old thing, that’s kind of a myth. It worked out that way in a lot of areas, but we don’t go in and say, ‘We’re not going to sign a 30-year-old guy.’

“We just wanted to get younger from a team perspective just because of the fact we want guys that are going to practice every day, we want guys that are going to be out there all the time and it’s tough when you get older.

“We all know there’s going to be injuries and that’s part of the game, but I just think the younger you are the less chance you have to have injuries. It wasn’t really a statement where, ‘We are going to get younger,’ but we know building through the draft that you’re going to get younger anyway. That’s kind of been our plan.”

Last year the Browns’ opening-game roster was the NFL’s second-oldest (average of 27.49 years) and second most-experienced (average of 5.23 years). They had an NFL-high 18 players over 30 and only six rookies or first-year players — tied for second-fewest.

The roster the Browns take into the 2011 season is down to an average age of 26.01 and average experience of 3.77 years. It has nine players over 30 and 15 rookies and first-year players.

It has 20 players who were not on the regular roster at any point last year. That includes five new starters and a new punter.

The Browns lack experience at defensive line and linebacker, but are deeper at wide receiver, tight end, offensive line and cornerback. They should be faster on defense, but head into the season without the true burner at wideout that their legion of fans coveted in the draft and free agency.

Quarterbacks (3)

Starter: Colt McCoy.

Backups: Seneca Wallace, Thaddeus Lewis.

Analysis: McCoy takes over as the team’s 10th starting QB in 13 season openers in the expansion era. McCoy’s attributes — studious, quick-thinking, nimble and accurate — mesh perfectly with the West Coast offense. His grasp of it was evident in a very good preseason. Wallace was exposed to this same system for six years in Seattle. Lewis, a late claim, impressed coach Pat Shurmur in his rookie camp a year ago in St. Louis.

Running backs (4)

Starter: Peyton Hillis.

Backups: Montario Hardesty, Armond Smith (r), Owen Marecic (r).

Analysis: Madden NFL 12 cover boy Hillis is a rarity — a bruising, downhill runner with exceptional hands. Hardesty did not scintillate in his first preseason after ACL surgery. But he took the pounding and is expected to regain form with more reps. Smith, one of two undrafted rookies to stick, was the preseason rushing leader and survived three fumbles. Marecic has legs as thick as redwoods; he struggled in his first camp.

Wide receivers (6)

Starters: Brian Robiskie, Mohamed Massaquoi.

Backups: Greg Little (r), Josh Cribbs, Jordan Norwood, Carlton Mitchell.

Analysis: Coaches believe the receiver-friendly offense will allow Robiskie and Massaquoi to flourish in their third seasons. Little is raw and a bit unpredictable, but physical and flamboyant. He might be the best of the bunch at positioning himself to outmuscle and outleap defenders. Cribbs’ run-after-catch ability needs to be exploited. Norwood is a shifty slot receiver. Mitchell’s broken finger set him back, but coaches love his potential.

Tight ends (4)

Starter: Benjamin Watson.

Backups: Evan Moore, Alex Smith, Jordan Cameron (r).

Analysis: Watson has been dinged up, but he should challenge his team-high 68 catches of a year ago. Moore’s spectacular preseason foretells a breakout year. Smith is the best blocker, but displayed good hands. Cameron’s athletic ability was too tempting for them to pass up in the fourth round.

Offensive linemen (9)

Starters: Joe Thomas, Jason Pinkston (r), Alex Mack, Shawn Lauvao, Tony Pashos.

Backups: Artis Hicks, Steve Vallos, John Greco, Oniel Cousins.

Analysis: When healthy, it is the team strength. But the loss of Eric Steinbach and recurrent nagging injuries to Pashos led them to bolster depth with the additions of Hicks and Cousins. Pinkston can keep the starting left guard job with solid play until Hicks catches up. Lauvao was strong in preseason.

Defensive linemen (8)

Starters: Jayme Mitchell, Phil Taylor (r), Ahtyba Rubin, Jabaal Sheard (r).

Backups: Emmanuel Stephens, Scott Paxson, Brian Schaefering, Marcus Benard.

Analysis: Mitchell and Sheard flashed some outside pass rush in preseason, but both looked vulnerable to the run at times. Taylor beat up on Philadelphia’s rookies, showing he can be a force, too, against the pass. Rubin is always hustling and a model teammate. Benard looks to have played himself into condition and could be instrumental in the sub pass rush. Stephens was a late claim after Atlanta waived him. Paxson had two sacks in preseason.

Linebackers (6)

Starters: Scott Fujita, D’Qwell Jackson, Chris Gocong.

Backups: Quinton Spears (r), Titus Brown, Kaluka Maiava.

Analysis: Gocong missed most of camp with a neck injury and Brown will be out a few more weeks with a high ankle sprain. Fujita clearly has taken on a leadership role in his second season with the team. Protected by the big tackles, Jackson is being counted on to flourish in the new 4-3 alignment. Spears, an undrafted rookie, was a late claim after being cut by the Dolphins.

Cornerbacks: (5)

Starters: Joe Haden, Sheldon Brown.

Backups: Buster Skrine (r), Dimitri Patterson, James Dockery (r).

Analysis: In his second year, Haden could be poised to challenge as one of the AFC’s best corners. Brown is healthy after shoulder surgery and was a much better player in the same defensive system in Philadelphia than here a year ago. Skrine is a speedster with a physical attitude. Dockery’s aggressive style endeared him to the coaches despite some penalties. Patterson should hold down the nickel back role.

Safeties: (5)

Starters: Mike Adams, T.J. Ward.

Backups: Usama Young, Ray Ventrone, Eric Hagg (r).

Analysis: Young’s summerlong hamstring injury allowed Adams to nail down the starting spot. Ward is expected to stay closer to the line of scrimmage and patrol the intermediate passing zones. Ventrone is a key player on special teams. Hagg missed most of his rookie camp with a knee injury, but healed fast enough to make the final cut.

Specialists (3)

Starters: Phil Dawson, Richmond McGee (r), Ryan Pontbriand.

Analysis: At 36, Dawson is still among the best outdoor kickers in northern climes. Signed after Reggie Hodges blew out his Achilles tendon, McGee kicked well in preseason but will be making his NFL regular-season debut. Pontbriand has one bad snap eight NFL seasons.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: tgrossi@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

On Twitter: @Tony Grossi

What do you guys think about this.

What do you guys think about this.

What are your opinions.

Thanks for reading! .

Thanks for reading! .

BEREA, Ohio — Browns receiver Brian Robiskie was working his way through the autograph seekers lined up after practice one day last week when a tiny hand stretched through the crowd and poked him in his muscled shoulder.

“Are those your shoulder pads?” wide-eyed Levi Springer Brown Jr., 4, asked.

Robiskie laughed. “No, those are my shoulders,” he said.

The little boy was undaunted.

“Can I see your shoulder pads?”

Robiskie sent a runner back to the locker room for them and then draped them over the tot’s shoulders to the delight of his 6-year-old sister Lacharia.

“Can I have them?” the boy asked.

“If you take them, I’ll have nothing to play with,” Robiskie told him.

With Robiskie shouldering a bigger role in the Browns’ new West Coast offense, he’ll definitely need those pads, according to Browns coach Pat Shurmur.

“I like Brian,” Shurmur said. “I think he has a chance to be very successful for us.”

The third-year pro out of Chagrin Falls High School and Ohio State is listed No. 1 on the depth chart at one of the receiver spots (Josh Cribbs is No. 1 at the other receiver spot while Mohamed Massaquoi recovers from a foot injury) and hopes to improve on last season’s 29 catches for 310 yards and three touchdowns. Those 29 receptions were fifth best on the team last season, behind Massaquoi’s 36.

Robiskie, who will start Friday night against the Detroit Lions in the second preseason game, already can tell this offense is much more receiver-friendly than that of former coach Eric Mangini.

“It’s completely different than what we had last year,” said Robiskie, who seemed to be really coming on at the end of last season when he got a chance to play with quarterback Colt McCoy. “The receivers are a lot more involved. For me, it’s been a matter of learning it and making sure I’m exact in what I’m doing.”

With the NFL lockout wiping out minicamps that would have helped the Browns adjust to their new coaches and new offense, Robiskie made sure he took part in all four off-season workouts organized by McCoy.

“We were already behind the eight ball a little bit with the new offense and new guys coming in, so we wanted to make sure we got a head start and that when we came into camp we could hit the ground running,” Robiskie said. “Anytime you can get together with guys and work on timing routes, work on those basic fundamentals coming into camp, it gives you a head start. It did for us. A lot of the stuff we went over when we got here, we had already worked on.”

McCoy has noticed.

“Brian’s doing well,” the quarterback said. “He’s playing a lot more X [weak-side receiver] than what he was last year so, again, it’s an adjustment. Not only am I new, but the whole unit’s new. Those things take time. But Robo is playing well.”

During Saturday’s 27-17 victory over the Packers, Robiskie caught a 15-yard pass over the middle from McCoy to set up Josh Cribbs’ 27-yard TD catch. McCoy called the Robiskie play one of his favorite of the game.

“We run a little play-action deep slant,” said McCoy. “Normally, you hit that ball in the first window, but they rolled the safety down, and Robo converted over the top, and I hit him in the second window. It was a nice job by him of staying alive.”

With receivers coming and going with bumps and bruises this preseason, the sight of Robiskie in the starting lineup everyday has been comforting to Shurmur.

“I would say Robiskie has been very steady,” Shurmur said. “You can say that a lot about what he is. He’s just a steady guy in terms of his personality, his performance, being on time and doing the right thing. He’s had a steady camp, and I think that speaks well to him.”

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mschmitt@plaind.com, 216-999-4668

What do you guys think about this.

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns were relatively quiet in the free-agent sweepstakes, but if linebacker D’Qwell Jackson can stay healthy, the effect might be about the same as adding an impact player to the roster.

Jackson led the NFL with 188 tackles in 2008. He has missed Cleveland’s last 26 games, though: the last 10 games of the 2009 season with a torn left pectoral; all of last year with a torn right pectoral. Both injuries required surgery.

Jackson is back, expected to be the starting middle linebacker in the Browns’ new defensive look.

Mike McLain writes about Jackson and his comeback hopes for the Warren Tribune Chronicle:

A lot has changed since Jackson last played in October of 2009. Eric Mangini has been replaced as coach by Pat Shurmur. Along with that change has been the switch in defensive philosophy from a base 3-4 to a 4-3 look.

Jackson played in a combination of the two defenses in college at Maryland, but he’s been strictly a 3-4 inside linebacker in the systems used by former coaches Romeo Crennel and Mangini. He’s learning quickly that the 4-3 could be friendly to his style of play, which combines speed and taking good angles to the ball.

“I’m learning the system, but it’s working to my advantage,” Jackson said. “Adding (first-round draft choice) Phil Taylor at defensive tackle was a big plus. He’s panning out to be a decent player. We have a good group of coaches and a good scheme. They’re not rushing things. I love the defense so far.”

Keep track of the Browns with The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com. Browns coverage includes beat writer Tony Grossi’s story on tight end Evan Moore looking like a playmaker in the Browns’ new West Coast offense; PD Twitter updates from training camp in Berea; Grossi’s Browns Insider; beat writer Mary Kay Cabot’s story on running back Brandon Jackson, the free agent who signed with the Browns after helping the Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl; Cabot’s report that the Browns will attend the Pro Day on Friday for former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

The Browns open their preseason on Saturday night against the Packers at Browns Stadium.  

Rookie Jabaal Sheard has the inside track to start at right defensive end. Training camp is providing him an experience that should only help. Fred Greetham, for the Orange and Brown Report on Scout.com, writes about Sheard getting ready for his first NFL season:  

The 6-foot-2, 255-pound second-round defensive end from Pittsburgh is sharpening his trade every day against Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas.

“I think I’m getting better and better every day going against Joe Thomas,” Sheard said. “I hope I’m giving him some competition.”

Pat Shurmur agrees that the competition will only make Sheard a better player.

“Sheard’s doing well,” Shurmur said. “He has good competition going against Joe, which has really helped him. It’s the daily competition. He’s working on one-on-one pass rush, working different moves. It’s just two good players going against one another. It’s always good to go against great players.”

 

Goal to goal

Coach Pat Shurmur, formerly the St. Louis Rams’ offensive coordinator, is working closely with the Browns offense, Steve Doerschuk writes for the Canton Repository.

ESPN.com’s James Walker wonders if Browns quarterback Colt McCoy is getting a fair chance to succeed.

Offensive lineman Shawn Lauvao is working toward becoming a starter, Nate Ulrich writes for the Akron Beacon Journal.

Rookie wide receiver Greg Little and the tight ends will be keys to the Browns offense, writes Matt Florjancic for clevelandbrowns.com.

Brandon Jackson is getting ready to face his former team, plus more Browns notes by Fred Greetham for Scout.com’s Orange and Brown Report.

Browns notes by Jeff Schudel for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

Pat Shurmur looks forward to seeing the Browns play the Packers. By Scott Petrak for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette.

A Browns training camp report by Daniel Wolf of the National Football Authority.

The Browns surely hope that ESPN.com’s preseason team rankings prove to be wrong.

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