Offense, starting slowly

IMO, Tony Grossi has done pretty good job reporting through the Browns interesting offseason and QB situation. He seems to be tempering his own inclination towards negativity with this coaching staff too (just my impression). Usually this time of year I'm scouring bulletin boards looking for the training camp scoop, but this year there just is not a lot of important info out there that Grosi isnt covering. The memebers at BerniesInsiders probably disagree with me strongly but Tony's been spot-on so far. Anyway, today he gives everyone a few words to live by the next month:

It's a long preseason. But soon, the coach will choose his quarterback. And then the personality of this offense - and the running game - will emerge.

He also reminds everyone that a preoccupation with who will be the starting QB is likely to skew everything this preseason -- the team may pass the ball more, and the offensivel line may not round into shape as quickly as hoped. Those are kind of scary things; I really hope Butch doesn't try and evaluate the QBs by running an unrealistic gameplan.

Yesterday also marks the first depth chart of the year -- big news after many months of offseason speculation. No H-back? Barry Stokes a second-team tackle? Yep, for now. It's gonna change a lot but it's interesting to see how the coach's line 'em up right now.

Jamel White started practicing again. If I were Butch I'd leave him out of this week's game or play him sparingly. Let Green get a little rhythm, let Jackson take his lumps, give McLeod some carries to see what he can do.

Actually, James Jackson is kind of an interesting story this year. He's in the last year of his contract and might not have made the team had Suggs been healthy. Besides a handful of nice runs he never showed very much as a starter, but this year he is playing to continue his career -- either with the Browns or with someone else next season. This preseason watch him closely -- he has some talent and could be feeling a sense of urgency. And of course it will be a nice thing to have yet another effective RB in the stable this year.