He’s just much bigger than everybody else
Five players primed to break out for the Cleveland Browns
5. TJ Ward
After a disappointing sophomore season in which he only managed to play in 8 games after injuring his foot, the 3rd year safety will be looking to bounce back with a strong performance this year. Known for his hard hitting, he tallied 123 combined tackles in his rookie season (basically playing as a deep linebacker, such was the state of the run D) as well as 2 interceptions. He will be looking to improve in coverage this year in order to cement himself as one of the best young safeties in the NFL. Injury free and with a full offseason behind him (free of arrest, unlike many) he is primed to perform and should be a key piece in Dick Jauron’s defense.
4. Buster Skrine
The pocket rocket cornerback, “Buster Move” flashed at times last year when he got on the field and will be looking to benefit from Joe Haden’s potential suspension. He is likely to share slot duties with Dmitri Patterson early on as Patterson recovers from injury and may at some point get the opportunity to show his ability on the outside. Patterson has struggled in the past when asked to play outside, so although as the senior player he make get the first opportunity, it’s not unlikely that Skrine ends up covering for Haden in any absence. Skrine will be aiming to show off his battling qualities and look to put pressure on aging incumbent Sheldon Brown. He won’t get it easy though, as a nice battle for the #3 CB spot seems to be developing between him, Patterson and surprise package Trevin Wade.
3. Eric Hagg
Picked in the 7th round last year, the former Cornhusker was Nebraska’s Defensive MVP over Prince Amukamara his senior year and is a player the Browns have handed the challenge of starting at Free Safety. After losing fan favourite Mike Adams to Denver in the offseason, one of the most competitive camp battles was fought between Hagg and former New Orleans Safety, Usama Young with Hagg eventually winning out. He came with high praise from his former DC at Nebraska, Carl Pelini, who said he was “in his mind” Defensive MVP in his final two years (over the likes of Amukamara and Suh). Like his teammate at starting Safety, Hagg is looking to make up for time lost to injury and the Browns are looking to him to shore up a position that has been a weakness in recent years.
2. Greg Little
I find myself talking a lot about Little’s situation last year. After being suspended from UNC his senior year, he came into his rookie year having not played football in a year and with a shortened offseason and proved to be the best wideout on the team. After putting up 700 yards and 2 touchdowns in his rookie year, the Browns are expecting his numbers to improve this year. They are hoping his trouble with drops will clear up with more football under his belt as he aims to be Cleveland’s first 1000 yard receiver since 2007. Leaner and faster this year, Little should solidify himself as the Browns’ main receiver (though they hope Josh Gordon will be #1 in the future) and with his ability to break tackles and run after the catch should thrive in his second year in the Browns’ West Coast Offense.
1. Jordan Cameron
Jordan Cameron is what coaches refer to as a ‘physical specimen’. He measured in at 6’ 5”, 254lbs at his Combine and ran a high 4.5 40 (that’s very marginally slower than Little, who he has a good 2 inches and 20+ lbs on). Like Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham, he comes from a basketball background and did not play much football in college. Taken as a project in the 4th round of the 2011 draft based on his physical skills, he did not play much his rookie season. This year however he has been the star of camp, making the “biggest jump” of any player and impressed in preseason, catching 3 passes for 63 yards and looking a lot like he can be the matchup nightmare like new-breed TEs Jimmy Graham and Aaron Hernandez. With Ben Watson having repeated injury problems and the wrong side of 30, it’s likely that Cameron will be taking over #1 TE duties in the near future. He looks set to be the #1 breakout star of the 2012 Cleveland Browns.
The Factory of Sadness 