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The Browns have several new faces to go along with the returning players on the offensive line.
Over the next few weeks, ClevelandBrowns.com will take a look at the 2010 Browns, position-by-position. Today’s spotlight is on the Browns’ offensive line.

Overview:

Versatility is a word Eric Mangini used to describe a key characteristic of his offensive line during the 2009 season. Though some changes have been made in the trenches, versatility will again be an important factor for the men up front.

During the off-season, the Browns made several additions to the offensive line: Tony Pashos (signed/free agent), Joel Reinders (signed/rookie free agent), Casey Bender (signed/rookie free agent), Shawn Lauvao (Draft) and Paul Fanaika (claimed off waivers).

The off-season acquisitions add depth and strength to the returning group of linemen: Joe Thomas, Eric Steinbach, Alex Mack, John St. Clair, Floyd Womack, Billy Yates (re-signed), Scott Kooistra (signed/free agent after spending time with the team in 2009) and Pat Murray (signed/free agent after spending time on the practice squad in 2009).

The offensive line played an important role in running back Jerome Harrison’s record-breaking performances at the end of 2009. They helped Harrison gain 286 yards against the Chiefs, a team record and the third-best single-game total in NFL history. Harrison had a team-record 39 carries against the Raiders a week later.

The Browns’ offensive line will again be anchored by Thomas at left tackle. Thomas became the first Browns offensive lineman to make three consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl since the late Pro Football Hall of Famer Gene Hickerson played in six all-star games from 1966-1971. He gave up one sack during the 2009 season.

“It’s a pretty small margin for error to give up no sacks,” Mangini said during the mini-camp weekend. “He’s pretty good, in looking at a lot of left tackles we had. There’s a lot of little things that he can do better, we talk about with him and work on with him but he’s, I think, a unique guy.”

Next to Thomas will be a mainstay at left guard in Eric Steinbach. Along with versatility, Steinbach brings durability to the offensive line. After missing two games during the 2008 season, Steinbach started all 16 contests for the Browns in 2009.

What To Watch For: The development of second-year center Alex Mack.

Mack had a steep learning curve in his transition from the college to professional levels. However, he was able to turn those Training Camp and preseason laps around on the field into a successful rookie year. At the end of the season, Mack was named to The Sporting News’ 2009 NFL All-Rookie Team.

Mack was impressive in his ability to get the ball to the quarterback cleanly and have the quick reaction times needed to block the AFC North’s biggest nose tackles in Pittsburgh’s Casey Hampton and Baltimore’s Haloti Ngata. On several of the Browns’ long running plays, Mack was spotted downfield making key blocks for extra yardage.

Key Stat:

Under first-year Browns coach George Warhop, the offensive line allowed just 30 sacks last season.

Players to Watch:

In order to add depth and size up front, the Browns signed Tony Pashos during the free agency period. Pashos, a 6-foot-6, 326-pounder is an eight-year veteran and brings AFC North roots to Cleveland. Pashos spent the previous three seasons of his career with the 49ers and Jaguars, but was drafted and played for five years in the Ravens organization.

The Browns also drafted an offensive lineman when they took Arizona State product Shawn Lauvao with the 28th pick in the third round (No. 92 overall). The 6-foot-2, 315-pound Lauvao, who has trained in strongman competitions, can work in at the guard or center spots.

If we can run like the last 4 games then Jake should be OK. JMHO

This is unquestionably the strength of this team. Add in Vickers and you really have a dynamic run blocking unit.

I'm excited to see Lauvao and see if he can add some athleticism at RG. Thomas is the best LT in the NFL and the light switch really went on for Mack towards the end of the season.

Steinbach is on the decline IMO but he still is one of the better athletes playing LG. Womack really proved himself as a run blocker toward the end of the year and I really liked the Pashos signing. I was impressed with him when he played for the Jaguars...haven't followed his play with the 49ers.

I can realistically see us being a Top 10 rushing team this year. Possibly top 5 if our defense can stop anyone.

Ben Gay! Ben Gay! B...

I mean

Reinders! Reinders! Reinders!

This is the most important part to our team, If the OL does good then we will be alright. JMHO See the last 4 games.

Quote:

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Key Stat:

Under first-year Browns coach George Warhop, the offensive line allowed just 30 sacks last season.

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Now someone please tell me how many "pressures" were recorded against us last season. And how many of those resulted in INTs or forced errors, or on 3rd down and resulted in a punt.

Number of sacks allowed by itself is not all-telling.

BVy the same token, how many sacks were the result of the QB running himself into trouble, rather then maintaining pocket awareness?

Glass half empty ...... or glass half full?

Or, is the glass, merely a glass?

Quote:

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BVy the same token, how many sacks were the result of the QB running himself into trouble, rather then maintaining pocket awareness?

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An excellent point.....raw numbers are just that. Raw numbers.

Might as well post this here, then . . .

http://www.cantonrep.com/browns/x227291136/Floyd-Pork-Chop-Womack-could-add-beef-to-Browns-line

Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack could add beef to Browns line

CantonRep.com staff report
Posted Jul 06, 2010 @ 05:37 PM
One would not expect a man nicknamed “Pork Chop” to be dainty.

At 6-foot-4, 328 pounds, Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack is not.

One would expect a man Womack’s size to be very visible. In that regard, his “Pork Chop” has been hiding under the vegetables.

If the Browns offense is to break through in 2010, Womack might need to be on Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll’s main menu.

Ideally, Womack would apply his vast NFL learning toward effective play at right guard in an attack that takes off behind quarterback Jake Delhomme.

Rookie starters usually struggle on the offensive line, and the Browns might be better off to break in third-round pick Shawn Lauvao slowly behind Womack.

Offensive line coach George Warhop pushed the tempo in spring practice, partly to see whether Lauvao can keep up, partly to get seasoned linemen ready for a scheme that will take more chances since it now has a seasoned quarterback.

“We have veteran guys,” Womack said. “The younger guys are hanging in pretty good. When you have guys who can learn, you can push the tempo a little.”

Lauvao was drafted in part because scouts think he can be a smart, longterm starter. In the short term, though, if the aim is to be one of the NFL’s surprise teams in 2010, Womack is the safe pick at right guard

It is worth noting that the Browns have two veteran players whose busiest NFL season was under Mike Holmgren in Seattle. In 2008, quarterback Seneca Wallace played in 10 games and started eight. In each of those games, he played behind Womack, who split the year starting at right guard and left guard.

Womack minimizes what the connection means to him now.

“Nobody’s guaranteed a job,” he said. “I mean, (Holmgren) was my coach for eight years in Seattle, but there’s business here now, and I’ve got a job to do.”

What does he expect his 2010 role to be? “I don’t know,” he said. “I’ll continue to work and see what happens.”

The offensive line might become the team’s strongest position group if the winners of the right tackle and right guard position battles play well.

“We’re still learning each other,” Womack said. “We’re still finding chemistry. We’ll just have to see where it goes.”

Womack was a first-year Brown in 2009. Some veteran offensive line observers thought his best work was at right tackle, opening the question of what to do with Womack if the rookie, Lauvao, tears it up in training camp.

Is there a realistic chance Womack could beat out Tony Pashos for the right tackle job, with Lauvao starting at right guard? One guess: Yes.

More likely: Pashos and a guard who answers to “Pork Chop” make up the right side of the line.

Copyright 2010 CantonRep.com. Some rights reserved

It sounds, to me, like we're taking a shotgun approach to finding the starters for the right side. We have a rook and two guys that can fit wherever and we still don't know how well each will do at either positions.

I'm no expert, but I think this is one of those question marks that we can actually be excited about going into training camp and into preseason. We have three guys that COULD be legitimate starters and get moved around.

Two spots for three extremely strong dudes (yes, all o-linemen are strong, but it sounds like these guys are REAL strong) sounds like the right side will be fun to watch this year.

As always, we'll see, but I'm right now.

I just hope Mangini and Co. make decisions on starters earlier rather than later which might give them some time to develop a start on their chemistry before the season starts. The approach last season seemed to be one of switching guys around up until the last minute.

I don't know if that was an inability to make a decision or a planned procedure aimed at getting everyone playing time so they're ready if needed. As important as that is I'd rather see them get some time together early-on in hopes for a stronger start. Pick 'em and play 'em and continue evaluating.