You know what? It seems that every year the Cleveland Browns fall short of expectations. For the past decade now they’ve regularly disappointed those who thought they’d be cinderella, with the exception of 2007 (and they didn’t even finish with a playoff spot in hand in that season).

Things are going to be different this year. I think we’re going to see a year that is similar to the 2001 season in which they are competitive in every ball game and when they fall short on ability on paper, they’ll make up for in heart and effort. It shall be a season in 2009 that no doubt sees the usual amount of heartbreakers and losses in games that they snatch defeat from the jaws of victory; but they’ll also win a few that they have no business winning.

They’re not going to be as bad as many are predicting. All of this ‘the Browns are one of the top 3 or 4 worst teams in football’ is unwarranted. Even with the futility they’ve shown the past decade. These guys have talent on the roster that is going to limit the amount of damage done against them if the man they call Mangenius can just get these guys to buy into things he is preaching.

You look at where games are one; namingly, close games. Those battles are won in the trenches. I like the Browns in this area. They have a surprising amount of depth on the defensive line; anchored by Shaun Rogers. That’s not even counting a guy who I hear might get cut in Corey Williams (the coaching staff is not high on this player’s talents or efforts). Mangini has added a lot of integral and supportive pieces to the defense. There are a lot of darkhorses. I don’t think on paper this defense will look like world beaters, that isn’t what I’m suggesting. But they’ll be good enough to keep this team in games and they might have a few less complete collapses then they did in 2008.

Then you look in the trenches on the other side of the ball. They’ve got one of the finest left tackles in the league in Joe Thomas. The guy is going to be a perennial Pro Bowler and team leader for his entire career. Eric Steinbach and Alex Mack (1st round draft choice) will make this line extremely underrated if they’re in the lineup. If Ryan Tucker can return and contribute in some way they’ll have the makings of a very solid offensive line protecting Brady Quinn.

The key to getting these guys (that means you Braylon Edwards) to buy into what Mangini is selling will be a quick start. The Browns open up their schedule with Minnesota at home where we’ll find out exactly what the Browns are made of. Then they head to Denver and Baltimore for two road contests. Then they welcome the Cincinati Bengals in game #4. Sure, you can come up with reasons that they’ll start 0-4. I can come up with reasons that they’ll be 3-1 after those first four contests, just like the high character and high energy 2001 Browns were.

A fast start means everything to this new regime’s future with this current roster set. Without it, they’ll gut this team. If they can get off to an early hot start and surprise, they’ll build with these current pieces they have. Am I suggesting that this group is going to go the playoffs? Absoutely not. But I think they’ll be in the hunt especially until November. They’ll make themselves the guest at least on the party list. This is because I do believe in some of these athletes on this roster more then most of the so-called experts do.