Can the Cleveland Browns compete or is 11/12 another learning curve?

The Cleveland Browns are a well supported team that every season keep raising the question "When will it be our turn?" and early on in the preseason the Dawg Pound are already wondering if they can compete in their division or if this will be about finding experience for second year McCoy and 1st year Brown's coach Shurmur.

Some are saying it's too soon for the Browns to compete and can only hope to gain experience and build around the core of their offense, RB Peyton Hillis, QB Colt McCoy and WR Joshua Cribbs.

A year a go a lot of the Brown's hopes rested upon the shoulders of Jerome Harrison and who would of thought that the now leading RB Peyton Hillis would of blossomed so effectively. With this surprise last year it's led some fans wondering if WR Mohamed Massaquoi or WR Carlton Mitchell could turn into another piece that gives McCoy plenty of positive options to throw too.

The first outing of the Brown's 2011/12 season was a home preseason game against the reigning Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers. With Jake Delhomme released it has left Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace to compete for the starting job and both got a fair shot at proving themselves against a fantastic team. McCoy, who looked comfortable running Shurmur's new West Coast offense, went 9 of 10 for 135 yards with one 27 yard touchdown pass to the talented Josh Cribbs. In McCoy's outing Peyton Hillis also got a touchdown showing that the form of last season was indeed no fluke. Hillis is becoming somewhat of a star and is the face of video game Madden 2012, a highly respected achievement. He finished the game with 5 attempts, 16 yards and 1 touchdown, continuing to build on impressive numbers from last season.

While most fans are expecting to see Colt McCoy with the starting job come September 11th, back up Seneca Wallace will think otherwise and didn't harm his chances, completing 11/17 for 99 yards with 0 touchdowns. Although youngster McCoy topped one of NFL's top QB's it is nice for Browns fans to know they have a reliable back up with more experience who if needed, can step up and be relied upon. In most pre seasons browns fans would be impressed with the stats of Wallace from this pre season game however in McCoy it appears the Browns have a future star that could well solve their 12 year search for a leading NFL QB. One thing is for sure, Both QB's will have chances to prove them self in this tough 16 game schedule when injuries or pressure could lead to the other getting time on the field.

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Seven to watch

DB- Joe Haden

RB- Peyton Hillis

RB- Montario Hardesty

QB- Colt McCoy

LB- D'Qwell Jackson

WR- Joshua Cribbs

K- Phil Dawson

If these 7 Browns can perform admirably and be backed up by consistency from the rest of the team then the Browns could be in for an unexpected season.

Positives

1- The Browns are young and hungry for success

2- They have a new system that could really work for the players in Cleveland.

3- They have impressive stars such as Hillis, Cribbs & McCoy.

4- Bengals and Ravens are weakened and this leaves room for the Browns.

5- Little is expected of this team, so no pressure as in Pittsburgh.

Negatives

1- Other than Hillis, McCoy & Cribbs the Browns have minimum offensive weapons.

2- A lot of their success depends on Cribbs who tends to play in 3 positions every game.

3- The Browns are a young and inexperienced team.

4- The Browns have a new, unique and youthful coach which could prove difficult.

5- This team has been used to losing year in year out and it could prove tough to change.

Prediction

7W-9L

This should be the realistic expectation on a young and always improving Browns team. However if certain players over perform or new additions perform better than expected then the browns could perhaps win a game or two more.

In conclusion it appears the Browns don't have enough to compete and win the division or even a wildcard place, however the Browns will improve and will be tough opposition for any team who in the past perhaps expected to beat the Browns nine out of ten times. If the new coach and new players fit in well then the Browns can expect a record similar to this prediction, however if injuries and bad luck don't get a chance to settle in then don't be surprised to see the Browns become a respectable and tough team to face.

By Kenny Brown
ProFootball-fans.com Cleveland Browns Correspondent