Written by Dave Kolonich

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There’s something so unsatisfying about handing out offensive awards to these Cleveland Browns.  Be it the lack of glitter, or perhaps just the trophies themselves flaking off into dust….the offense just doesn’t seem worthy of taking home hardware.

2010 Midseason Awards – Offense

But as for that suddenly high-powered defense…

Let’s go back to the scorecard.

Best Injury
Shaun Rogers

Without question, Shaun Rogers’ offseason rehabilitation helped pave the way for the emergence of Ahtyba Rubin at nose tackle.  After some six years of pretending to find suitable nose tackles from the likes of Jason Fisk and Ted Washington, the Browns actually stumbled onto one in Rubin.  Of course, a still not healthy Rogers was the only reason for Rubin’s ascent into the starting lineup. 

Best Future Injury – Wishful Thinking 1
Shaun Rogers

And if you know anything about the current coaching staff, it is that for some inexplicable reason, a relatively healthy Rogers always gets the start over Rubin.  Of course, last week could have proved to be an exception, as Rogers shifted to end….which caused catastrophes all over the planet.  Perhaps we should just hope for one last ankle sprain.

Best Prediction of an Injury
Robaire Smith

The moment that Robaire Smith took his first snap of the season, most careful Browns observers realized the following:

The beginning and end to Smith’s season will be quite different.

And right on cue, the high mileage veteran defensive lineman survived just six games of the regular season, before being placed on Injured Reserve with a back problem.

Anyone surprised by this? 

Best Prediction of an Injury 2
Kenyon Coleman

And with Smith down, naturally this makes Kenyon Coleman even more vulnerable. 

Best Prediction of an Injury 3 – Draft Edition
A Youth Movement Along the Defensive Line

There’s something to be said for experience, at least until that experience can no longer walk on its own.

Speaking of which….

Worst Regression – Eric Barton Memorial
Eric Barton

Well, we can’t just give away Barton’s own trophy.  Although some will have you believe that Barton’s play has been effective this season, the reality is that the veteran linebacker combines slow reaction times with a lack of physical toughness.  Of course, much like John St. Clair on the offensive side of the ball, there is something that Barton does which is completely appealing to Mangini.

Worst Regression – Non Eric Barton Division
Eric Wright

Some would argue that this is the most obvious award to be given away on the defensive side of the ball.  And while Wright has certainly struggled this season, an even more alarming trend is beginning to reveal itself in Cleveland.  For the second consecutive season, a Browns’ cornerback has been isolated and destroyed by opposing offenses.  You may remember a certain mercurial corner named Brandon McDonald.

Anyway, the real question becomes this – is Rob Ryan’s defense inherently flawed?  Or, does the talent at the corner position need to be completely revamped?

Best Revelation
Scott Fujita and Matt Roth

Most of knew that Roth was a pretty good player last season, and certainly Fujita has had his moments as a pro.  However, the combination of the two players have increased both the physical and mental toughness of the defense.  Fujita is without question the veteran leader of the defense, while Roth functions as the ideal of physicality that the team wants to display.

Best Revelation 2
Marcus Benard

But of course, neither Fujita or Roth are nearly as exciting as the team’s leader in sacks.  It’s easy to forget, but Benard is still basically a rookie – at least in terms of actual game experience.  Yet, he’s also proven himself to be the team’s most dynamic pass rusher in some time. 

And yes, only in Cleveland can those last two statements co-exist.

Worst Realization
Age

Despite the recent efforts of the defense, the most depressing thoughts are these:

1.  This defense is not an elite NFL unit.

2.  The front seven is not exactly young.

Or in other words, this current defense is acheiving thanks to the work of several players who will be past their prime by the time the Browns’ offense catches up.

The Andra Davis Lunch Line
Chris Gocong

I’m still not sure what to make of Gocong.  For about a month, Gocong played tenatively – somewhat mirroring his inside partner Barton – but has contributed over the past two games.  Gocong is a decent inside pass rusher and has improved against the run, but still suffers from the kind of “tweener” body that has plagued Browns’ linebackers in the past.

The Anthony Henry Supper Club
Sheldon Brown

Here’s what we know about Brown through seven games:

1.  He can’t cover receivers deep.

2.  He can’t be as physical with receivers as he was early in his career.

3.  He’s probably better suited to playing safety.

4.  He’s still one of the best corners we’ve had during the expansion era.

Sean Jones Foundation Honoree
Abe Elam

It’s easy to make a case for why someone would like Elam as a person.  Elam is not a typical brash athlete.  He’s thoughtful, from the area and endured more in his childhood than all of us have during our entire lives.  However, as a rational fan, I can easily state that Elam is a bad fit for the Browns’ defense.  Because he can’t cover deep receivers and isn’t athletic enough to be a real pass rushing threat, Elam is kind of stuck in a Browns’ version of purgatory.

And speaking of which….

Eye of the Beholder
T.J. Ward

While Elam takes most of the blame (at least the portion not assigned to Eric Wright) for the Browns’ secondary woes, it’s worth noting that Ward has been mostly terrible in pass coverage.  Part of the reason for Wright and Brown’s struggles in man coverage could be due to the fact that Ward is still pretty much lost regarding his pass coverage assignments. 

But, because we are desperate for a playmaking safety in Cleveland….Ward will be forgiven every time.  Every time he lays out an opposing receiver that is.

Defensive MVP Through 7 Games
Ahtyba Rubin

Clearly, a case could be made for Roth – or even Fujita here.  However, Rubin has solidified what has been a problem area for the Browns over the past six seasons.  The run defense has greatly improved with Rubin at nose tackle and lately, the linebackers playing behind Rubin have been given more opportunities.

Defensive MVP Through 1 Game
David Bowens

Bowens deserved his once in a lifetime game against New Orleans solely because he was so good, yet so overlooked down the stretch of 2009.  And now, he’s part of what will become a Browns legend for decades to come.

Future Award – Wishful Thinking 1
Rob Ryan Plays Defense First

The game Ryan called against New Orleans was a perfect example of how a defensive coordinator can create confusion with ordinary schemes.  The Browns truly did nothing unique regarding their defensive looks against the Saints, but because they never showed any real pre-snap looks, the opponent was continually confused. 

Contrast this gameplan with some of Ryan’s earlier work - in which corners, safeties and linebackers telegraphed blitzes from a mile away – and the hope here is that the Browns’ defense remains aggressive, but in control.

Future Award – Wishful Thinking 2
Things Remain the Same

Much like how the majority of the 2009 season revealed volumes about the need for improving the team’s secondary, let’s hope the same thing occurs over the second half of 2010.  Having said this, the 2009 season produced a 2010 draft that targeted the secondary.  Let’s hope the same occurs in 2011.

Of course, maybe we can add a couple defensive linemen into the mix.