They've proven to be impatient in Cleveland, where the expansion Browns have
suffered numerous injuries, including losing their No. 1 overall pick
quarterback Tim Couch for much of the 2000 season.
| |
CAMP AT A GLANCE
|
| |  |
| Butch Davis enters his first year in Cleveland. |
|
Location:Browns training facility, Berea, Ohio.
Rookies report: July 23
Veterans report: July 27
Preseason schedule:
Aug. 11: Green Bay
Aug. 18: Tampa Bay
Aug. 24: at Washington
Aug. 31: at Carolina
|
Still, though, Chris Palmer was fired after only two seasons and replaced by
University of Miami's Butch Davis, who's expected to infuse energy and higher
expectations into the franchise immediately.
Man in the spotlight
Davis and Couch have to share this category. Davis
expects a lot of himself and his staff and a lot is being expected of him
after seasons of 2-14 and 3-13 the last two seasons. And Couch, who missed
the last nine games of 2000 with a broken right thumb, still has a lot to
prove.
Key position battle
There's a wide-open competition for receiver, where
Dennis Northcutt, Kevin Johnson, JaJuan Dawson and rookie Quincy Morgan are
vying to start. Northcutt, a second-round pick last year, had a disappointing
rookie season largely because of a silly training camp holdout that hampered
his progress.
Biggest adjustment
The Browns desperately need to find an every-down
running back -- something they've lacked. The hope is that Errict Rhett, the
best they have, recovers well from the surgery he had on a broken foot last
fall.
Rookie report
As with any young, struggling team, the Browns are looking
for immediate impact from draft picks such as Florida defensive tackle Gerard
Warren, who should step in and play on the same line that boasts 2000 No. 1
pick Courtney Brown. Cleveland is looking for Morgan to challenge at the
receiver position.
Browns' complete offseason moves
