1. Phil Taylor will be the best player on the Browns D
Throughout the preseason, there was no Browns player on D that impressed me more than Phil Taylor. He looks to have adjusted back to a 3-4 (the scheme he played at Baylor) with ease and is in position to have a dominant season at NT. He is very fluid and explosive for his size and in the preseason displayed the ability to pressure the QB and clog the lanes against the run. The coaching staff and FO are excited about his potential at NT, and, if he can stay healthy, I think in 2013 he will be the most dominant player on the Browns D.
2. Ray Horton is one and done as DC
The Browns DC, already an aggressive playcaller, is coaching with a chip on his shoulder this year after being passed over for the several HC jobs that opened up at the end of last season. Handed a stacked front 7, the aim is to turn the Browns into one of the top Ds in the NFL. If he manages to achieve that then I think he is short for Berea. To go further, if it’s the case that the Steelers struggle again this year, I could see Horton taking over the reins if they choose to part ways with Mike Tomlin.
3. The Browns win at least 3 Divisional games
The AFC North is somewhat of a crapshoot this year. The Steelers look to be in a rebuilding phase and the Ravens are somewhat of an unknown quantity after retooling following the loss of several veteran players. The Bengals are deep and talented, but they remain the Bengals. I think the Browns have the ability to beat all of these teams (especially since AFCN games are usually scrappy affairs) and can see them picking up 3 divisional wins in 2013. The team won two last year and have improved over the offseason, whilst the rest of the division remains unsettled.
4. Browns are top 5 in sacks
The Browns loaded up the front 7 in the offseason. They spent big money on Desmond Bryant and Paul Kruger, as well as bringing Quentin Groves across from Arizona with Ray Horton. They spent their top pick on pass rusher Barkevious Mingo and changed to a 3-4 defense geared at getting pressure. They were just outside the top 10 last season and have massively upgraded their ability to get to the QB. I can see them improving their sack number to the 8-10 needed to crack the top 5.
5. Brandon Weeden starts all 16 games
Weeden is in an improved situation from 2012. Better coaching, improved players and a new scheme tailored to his skillset. The Browns will play much more out of the shotgun and Weeden will be much more comfortable than his rookie year, when he looked off the pace. His play will improve from 2012 and although he may not do enough to remain the long term solution at the position, I think his play allows him to retain the starting position over Jason Campbell and Brian Hoyer.
The Factory of Sadness 