Now that the 2007 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.

In 2 of the past 3 years the Browns have had a runner eclipse the 1,000 yard mark. In 2005 it was Reuben Droughns and in 2007 it was Jamal Lewis. This is important to document because prior to the 2005 season the team had not had a runner go over that mark in 20 years. Now in the past 3 years they have had 2. That shows that there has obviously been an upgrade at the running back position as well as the offensive line recently. Lewis eclipsed the 1,300 yard mark to become only the 2nd Browns running back in team history to break that mark. Hall of fame running back Jim Brown was the only other to do it.

Ironically the Browns are in the same position as they were heading into the 2007 season at the running back position. Backup's Jason Wright and Jerome Harrison are still on the team and still seem set in their roles. Lewis only signed a 1 year deal in 2007 and is not under contract with the team. He has said he would sign a series of 1 year deals moving forward, but the Browns would like to sign him to a 2-3 year deal. Lewis is going to be 29 this season and though he showed he has plenty left in the tank, running backs in the NFL can run out of gas quickly.

Browns G.M. Phil Savage said he thinks a hungry Jamal Lewis is good a Jamal Lewis and he's right. A content Jamal Lewis might be even better though. Lewis ran for over 2,000 yards in 2003 while being happily under contract with the Baltimore Ravens. One has to wonder what he might be able to do in year 2 in Cleveland in a system that he has adapted to very well. What can not be measured in statistics is the leadership Lewis has brought to the team. Though he is not vocal, Lewis leads by example and his work ethic has rubbed off on his teammates. With the theme of continuity ringing through the halls of Browns headquarters we would be shocked if Lewis was not starting again in 2008 for the Browns.

As for Jason Wright, the team really likes him and for good reason. He has shown in the past that he can step in and be an adequate back up, he's a contributor on special teams and he is a solid 3rd down back. Wright's ability to pick up the blitz is a huge benefit and the biggest reason why he is still ahead of the younger, quicker Harrison.

Harrison seems to have been helped by Lewis this past off-season directly. He joined Lewis for off-season workouts and put on some much needed muscle and size. Harrison came in late in the year and really provided a great change of pace to Lewis. Harrison's biggest knock is his ability to pick up the blitz and the fact that he does not play on special teams. We think that will change this off-season though.

So would the Browns sign another RB in free agency? Would they draft a RB? The answer to the 1st question is yes and no. If the Browns and Lewis can't come to terms the team will be forced to address the position in free agency. At the top of that list would be free agent RB Michael Turner from San Diego. Turner is ready to step out from Ladanian Tomlinson's shadow and will be the highest paid RB to hit free agency. He has a familiarity already with the Browns offense and coordinator Rob Chudzinski from his days in San Diego and would step right in with little trouble. The knock on Turner, he's never been an every down starter in the NFL. Can he hold up to the pounding and how effective will he be when he's not spelling an all-world running back like Tomlinson? It's our belief that the Browns will try their best to re-sign Lewis and work Harrison in even more in 2008.

The 2008 NFL draft is extremely deep at the running back position this year and because of it we see the Browns taking a RB last on day 1 or early on day 2. The team still does not seem convinced that Harrison can be an every down RB in the NFL and because of that the attraction may be too strong to ignore in this years draft. With names like Darren McFadden, Felix Jones, Ray Rice, Jonathan Stewart, Rashard Mendenhall, Mike Hart, Chris Johnson and so on you can see there is a glut of talent at the position this year. That means that someone will slide and if they are in the right place the Browns would jump all over them.

With Jamal Lewis under a short term contract the Browns would have the luxury of taking a back in this years draft. They would not have a ton of money tied up in the position and could bring a young player along over the next year or two so that when Lewis is gone his replacement would be ready to step in. This would be the most ideal situation as the team does not appear to be sold on Harrison being that guy.

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