CLEVELAND, Ohio -- I can tell you that Pat Shurmur is the fifth man to coach the Browns on opening day since 1999. 
That Colt McCoy is the 10th opening day starting quarterback since 1999.
That the Browns have not employed this form of the West Coast offense since 1999, while the new 4-3 defense hasn't been used for six years.
But I can't tell you much about the Browns. That's because we really haven't seen the Browns with even most of their key players in a preseason game.
Think about it.
It's great that Joe Haden and Sheldon Brown return at cornerback, but T.J. Ward and Usama Young are projected to start at safety. They never played together before this season, and both have battled hamstring injuries in training camp.
The starting linebackers are supposed to be D'Qwell Jackson, Scott Fujita and Chris Gocong. Only Jackson has been healthy all camp -- a major plus as he's played only six games in the last two years. But this group in the new defense has not played together at all as Gocong is battling a pinched nerve in his neck.
The injuries to the offensive line are scary.
It's never a good sign when a player is claimed off waivers and is immediately a candidate to start at left guard, as is the case with Artis Hicks. Right tackle Tony Pashos has his foot in a walking boot. The Browns indicate this is not a big deal. But Pashos has played only 11 games in the last two years because of injuries.
If Pashos is out, then Oniel Cousins (recently cut by Baltimore) will start.
Need some good news?
McCoy is the ideal quarterback for the new offense thanks to his precise passing and his ability to move around the pocket. This is a minority opinion, but the Browns seem to have enough receivers and pass-catching tight ends to give McCoy the targets he needs. Don't be surprised if Joshua Cribbs finally has his breakout season as receiver.
The running game should be strong, Peyton Hillis gaining 1,177 yards last season. In his two years as the Rams offensive coordinator, Shurmur called enough plays for Steven Jackson to rush for 2,657 yards.
But Montario Hardesty had only five preseason carries as he comes off knee surgery. The other backup runner, Brandon Jackson, is out for the season with a foot injury. In order to prevent Hillis from becoming a 250-pound walking bruise by Thanksgiving, Hardesty has to stay healthy or the Browns must find another viable running back.
So the offense can be effective, if the blocking is adequate ... but that's a huge IF. Yes, many teams seem to have the same onslaught of injuries -- but I hate thinking about them before the Browns have played even their first game.
In terms of rarely seen continuity in training camp, the starting defensive line of Jayme Mitchell, Phil Taylor, Ahtyba Rubin and Jabaal Sheard have stayed healthy. Marcus Benard could end up leading the team in sacks, even though he doesn't start at defensive end. There is some talent here.
Shurmur has wisely stayed away from any hint of concern about not having the vast majority of his key players practicing -- but that has to be a real concern for a new staff making so many changes in offense and defense. Rarely have the Browns opened a season where so little is known because so few of the main actors have been on the preseason stage. This is an indictment of the depth, but not a general slam at the talent of the starters. Some of these guys are a real upgrade over what we've watched the last few years.
We do know the team is much younger. That's a good direction for a franchise that has had two winning records since 1999 -- the last being in 2007. Since then, they are 14-34.
But how will they play? Who knows?
But I'll say this much -- all the changes have me very curious to find out.
Original story:
http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index.ssf/2011/09/cleveland_browns_new_look_dese.html
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