Now that the 2006 season gets smaller and smaller in the Cleveland Browns rearview mirror, we here at www.DawgBones.com want to start looking ahead. In a weekly feature we are calling Browns Spotlight, we are going to take a look at the Browns current positional situations and whether or not they need to be upgraded or left alone. We will also explore whether or not we feel that the team would be best suited to fill their needs via the NFL Draft or free agency. We hope you all enjoy and look forward to hearing all your comments and concerns in The Bone Yard forums.

So far this off-season we have looked at many key positions on offense, maybe none as vital as the guard position. The Browns will look to improve this position this off-season in a big way.

The Browns went into the 2006 season feeling pretty good about their starting guards. After all Joe Andruzzi and Cosey Coleman were returning for their 2nd years as part of an offensive line that produced a 1,200-yard rusher in 2005. No one could have foreseen the struggles the team would have at the guard position in 2006. You never know when age and injuries will take their toll and you hope you have the depth when they do. The Browns found out about both the hard way in 2006.

Andruzzi came out of the gate looking slow and sluggish. As the year went on a chronic knee injury took it's toll. His play was so bad and his body so worn down that the team was forced to go to a 3-man guard rotation for the 2nd half of 2006. Andruzzi ended up missing 2 games do to injuries and the mileage of 3 extended Super Bowl seasons in New England really showed.

As for Coleman, well he has never been known as a good pass blocker. His claim to fame, if you can say that with about a guard, is his run blocking skill. Coleman started 15 games in 2006 and 14 in 2005. His durability has been a hallmark of his 7-year career as well. If nothing else you know what you get from Coleman and you can assume he will be there when the whistle blows on Sunday. Coleman was injured late in the 2006 campaign and wound up finishing the season on injured reserve with an ankle injury.

The 3rd man in the 3-man guard rotation was journeymen Lennie Friedman. Friedman was acquired from the Chicago Bears during the pre-season in exchange for a 7th round draft pick. He was originally brought on board to compete for the Browns dilapidated center position, but found a home as a backup guard. Midway through the season it was apparent that the o-line was struggling, Andruzzi in particular, so the 3-mas rotation was born. Friedman played in all 16 games, starting 2 of them. His play was not stellar, but it was better then Andruzzi's and it had fans calling for a switch. Andruzzi's late season injuries created the switch and the Browns line was markedly better, at least running the ball. The team averaged 97.5 yards rushing per game with Friedman starting. On the season they averaged 83.4 yards per game. We aren't math majors, but that is a significant difference when you take into account the season average includes the games that Friedman started. Without a doubt Friedman was a nice surprise as dept hand his ability to play center and guard is a bonus.

The Browns also decided to take a shot at drafting Isaac Sowells in 2006. Sowells was a tackle at Indiana and the team had visions of him converting to a guard in the NFL. A training camp injury really hampered Sowells progress and he did not see the field until the last week of the season. When he finally did find his way into the lineup it was not as a guard however, it was as a right tackle. Head coach Romeo Crennel sounded puzzled about Sowells and stated that he team does not know what position is best suited for Sowells. It appears that Sowells future may not be at guard, but as a backup tackle. In our opinion he has a better chance of seeing the field as a guard in 2007 then as a tackle.

The Browns also may have found another backup guard in rookie free agent signee Rob Smith from the University of Tennessee. Smith, like Friedman, can play center and guard so his flexibility is a definite positive. Smith joined Friedman in starting the final game of the year in Houston and helped the Browns rush for 127 yards and allowed only 1 sack. Truthfully the play of Smith was better then anyone could have expected and his late season play may be a nice springboard into the 2007 season.

After Friedman and Smith you have developmental players Andrew Hoffman and Fred Matua. Hoffman was originally drafted by the Browns as a DT in 2005 and was asked to switch to guard before the 2006 season. Without a doubt he is a long-shot to ever play for them as a guard, but there is apparently something the team likes about him or they would look at switching him back to DT. Matua was drafted by the Lions in the 7th round in 2006, but was waived right before the start of the season and found a home on the Tennessee Titans practice squad. In late October the Browns signed him to their active roster. He did not see any playing time, but the Browns believe he has some potential and could add some nice depth.

The Browns are faced with some decisions this off-season. Both Coleman and Friedman are free agents and the team is desperate for an upgrade at the position. As a whole the team rushed for 10 yards fewer per game in 2006 and allowed 8 more sacks. A direct reflection of the line and it's current problems. We are not saying the blame all lies on the guards, they were victimized by the play of a first year starting QB and the fact that their starting center in 2006 never arrived until about 10 days before the season started. Coleman will get a chance to test the free agent market and is open to returning. The Browns won't want to re-sign him because if they do that means they have missed out on some potential free agent upgrades. Friedman will be retained due to his flexibility and cost.

With that said let's take a look at the upcoming class of guards in free agency. This could be one of the best groups of free agent guards to hit the market in a long time. The best of the bunch are Cincinnati Bengals Eric Steinbach and San Diego Chargers Kris Dielman. Steinbach will get a lot of attention as he has been a part of one of the leagues best offensive lines over the past 4-years. The Bengals would love to have him back, but just can't afford him. He can play tackle in a pinch so his versatility is a huge plus. He is perhaps the most complete guard in this years crop of free agent guards. He is a pure technician, but can display a nasty streak when provoked. Closely behind Steinbach is Dielman. Dielman has gotten nothing, but high praise from his teammates and is said to be the best linemen on a Chargers line that had the best offense in the NFL in 2006. He is a better run blocker then pass protector, but is still more then adequate at protecting the QB. He plays with a nasty streak, as if he is pissed off, and is the essence of a blue collar linemen. It doesn't hurt that he is from Troy, Ohio and is rumored to be interested in coming back home and would consider a "home town" discount to do so.

The group of guards below these two is pretty damn good as well. Names like Cooper Carlisle, Derrick Dockery, Ruben Brown and Floyd Womack will garner attention as well. As for restricted free agents, there are many, but the price of acquiring one is more then the Cleveland Browns would be willing to pay.

In our minds the Browns will look at both Steinbach and Dielman and in the end will take the kid from Ohio, Kris Dielman. Dielman is familiar with new offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski from their time in San Diego together and fits perfectly into the power running game that the Browns want to use. Steinbach will get more money and will get more fan fare, but Dielman will be the better signing for a team like the Cleveland Browns. Rest assured the Browns will be looking to spend some of their roughly $30 million dollars in salary cap space on a free agent guard.

Well then what about the draft? Are there any options there for the Browns? There are, but in years past the team has neglected to use a first day pick on a guard. G.M. Phil Savage believes linemen can be found later in the draft and history dictates that. We would be shocked to see the Browns use a 1st or 2nd round pick on a guard, but could see them addressing the position in the 3rd round.

This draft is deep at guard and tackles projected to be guards. The Browns would be well served not to repeat the mistake they made in 2006 with Isaac Sowells. Grabbing a guard that has played that position in college as opposed to a tackle and hoping he can is paramount.

Names like Boston College's Josh Beekman, Auburn's Tim Duckworth, Texas Tech's Mannuel Ramirez and Iowa's Marshal Yanda will more then likely be available in the 3rd round and some may fall into the 4th round. The Browns would be well served to grab a guard that can come in and add immediate depth on team that is desperate for it.

It's our feeling that the Browns will sign 1, maybe even 2 guards in free agency. One being a top-tier linemen like Dielman and another that would be a 2nd-tier guard like Derrick Dockery. Signing those two players would make the line significantly better immediately. Dielman being only 26 years old and Dockery being 27 years old have a lot of upside and are ready to hit their primes.

Adding a guard in the draft will greatly depend on the teams ability to sign any in free agency. If they get two young guards of quality in free agency the team could bypass selecting a guard all together or wait until later on day 2 to grab one.

One way or another the team will be adding new guards and desperately needs to.

Next week we will look at another position of great interest to Browns fans, the Centers.

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