The Browns couldn't have been given a more beatable foe for their opener than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
View full sizeFormer Browns tight end Kellen Winslow is the Buccaneers' best player on offense.Their feature running back, Carnell Williams, has had patellar tendon surgeries on both knees.
Their best player on offense, Kellen Winslow Jr., has had six knee operations.
Their quarterback, Josh Freeman, missed two weeks of practice with a broken thumb. He hopes to play Sunday wearing a splint.
One of their starting cornerbacks, Aqib Talib, is serving a one-game suspension.
Did we mention the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Browns' season-opening opponent on Sunday, are coming off a 3-13 season?
And you thought the Browns had problems.
If the NFL is going to send the Browns on the road to start a season for the first time in 12 years, it would be difficult to find a more beatable opponent than Tampa Bay.
The Bucs are entering the second season of a rebuilding program started when they shockingly fired former coach Jon Gruden and General Manager Bruce Allen after a 9-7 season in 2008. Raheem Morris, Gruden's successor, just turned 34 and remains the youngest head coach in the NFL.
Before being named head coach, Morris served as a Tampa Bay defensive assistant coach from 2002 through '05. He then returned as defensive backs coach in 2007 and got the surprise promotion to head coach in January 2009.
During Morris' time with the Bucs, Jake Delhomme, the new Browns' starting quarterback, developed a reputation for beating Tampa Bay while with division rival Carolina. Delhomme won nine of 11 meetings.
"He's the Raheem Morris killer," Morris said at NFL owners meetings in March. "He's broken my heart in a couple different situations at the end of games."
Delhomme's familiarity with Tampa's defense gives the Browns another advantage.
Or, as Morris put it this week in Tampa, Fla., "You got to know that he knows that you know that he knows."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: tgrossi@plaind.com, 216-999-4670
Tony Grossi Scouts the Buccaneers
Kickoff: Sunday, 1 p.m., at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.
Preseason record: 2-2.
Most recent game: Defeated Houston Texans, 24-17, in exhibition game at Houston, Sept. 1.
View full sizeRaheem Morris enters his second season coaching the Buccaneers.Coach: Raheem Morris, 3-13, second year.
Series record: Browns lead, 5-2.
Most recent meeting: Bucs won, 22-7, Dec. 24, 2006, in Cleveland.
League rankings: In preseason, offense was 30th (23rd rushing, 24th passing), defense was 28th (23rd rushing, 24th passing) and turnover differential was minus 5.
Offensive overview: Coordinator Greg Olson has some background in the West Coast offense, but at this stage of a young roster's development, it appears the Bucs will try to run the ball and throw to tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. often. Quarterback Josh Freeman is big and strong, but the Bucs don't want to put too much on his shoulders just yet. Similar to Ben Roethlisberger, Freeman is tough to bring down in the pocket and isn't afraid to tuck the ball and run with it. The offense added some big targets in rookie receivers Arrelious Benn (6-2, 220 pounds) and Mike Williams (6-2, 212). So far, Williams is ahead and joins Sammie Stroughter in the starting lineup. The philosophy on offense will be to grind it out with Carnell Williams, who, amazingly after two patellar knee surgeries, is still the team's feature back.
View full sizeBucs defensive back Ronde Barber.Defensive overview: Morris took over the defense after Week 10 last year and re-instituted the famed "Tampa 2" scheme handed down from Tony Dungy to Monte Kiffin. Morris has added his own deviations this year, prompting it to be called "Tampa 2.1." Morris isn't afraid to blitz. He will use strongside outside linebacker Quincy Black in special packages as a pass rusher. Black led the team in tackles and tackles for loss in preseason and added one sack. Morris is counting on first-round pick Gerald McCoy and second-rounder Brian Price to help improve the defense against the run. McCoy, the No. 3 overall pick, had only three tackles in preseason but was credited with a team-high six quarterback pressures. Cornerbacks Ronde Barber and Aqib Talib are a formidable starting duo, but Talib will serve a one-game suspension for a personal conduct violation.
Special teams overview: They seem to be in a fluid state. They made two major moves over the weekend, dumping one-time Pro Bowl return specialist Clifton Smith and claiming Green Bay punter Chris Bryan, a towering native of Australia. Receiver Stroughter, who had a 97-yard return last season, probably takes over for Smith. Connor Barth, who was the third of three kickers on the team last year, returns this season.
Players to watch: Tight end Kellen Winslow Jr.: He led the team with 77 catches and five TDs last year but hardly played in preseason following his sixth surgical procedure on the knee injured in the 2005 motorcycle accident in Cleveland. He's their go-to guy.
Quarterback Josh Freeman: The strapping (6-6 and 248 pounds) passer enters his second season as the franchise hope after starting nine games as a rookie. He returned to practice for the first time this week after breaking the tip of his thumb on his right throwing hand in the second preseason game.
Cornerback Ronde Barber: Entering his 14th NFL campaign, he's the franchise's all-time interception leader with 37, and his 25 career sacks are the most among active defensive backs.
Injury report: QB Freeman (thumb) returned to practice Tuesday. DT Roy Miller and LB Niko Koutouvides missed practice with undisclosed injuries.
Small world: Bucs tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts had the same job with the Browns in 2007-08. . . . Former Browns on the Bucs include center Jeff Faine (2003-05), tight end Winslow (2004-08) and safety Sean Jones (2004-08). . . . Bucs cornerback Talib was born in Cleveland.