Happy Browns Day! No matter our expectations for the Browns, the first game of the season always brings fans excitement and optimism.

This year is particularly exciting as Pat Shurmur helms the Browns in his first year as a head football coach in the NFL. Although Shurmur may seem unknown to the average football fan, he is familiar with Holmgren’s style of westcoast offense and he is considered a major development factor in the careers of quarterbacks, Donavon McNabb and Sam Bradford.

I expect the Browns to improve, although it won’t really show up in the win-loss column. I can see the Browns finishing 5-11. Young defensive players such as Joe Haden, TJ Ward, and Ahtyba Rubin made solid contributions last year and incoming defensive players, Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard, will look to add to that success.

The offensive line is taking a hit with Eric Steinbach beginning the year on the injured reserve, but the line should be relatively strong protection for Colt and Peyton.

Peyton Hillis was a workhorse last year. He took so much of a beating that in his final three games he played with cracked ribs. In 2011, he needs help to carry the workload. The Browns addressed this need by signing veteran Brandon Jackson. Jackson had experience rushing and receiving as a running back. Unfortunately, Jackson suffered a bad toe injury and will miss the season. That leaves Montario Hardesty and Armond Smith as backups, both have a combined ZERO NFL games played.

And now, the man who has been heralded as the team leader, the man with maturity and fearlessness, the man known for his strong work ethic, that man is, Colt McCoy. The Texas Longhorn has MUCH to prove in the NFL. I still have concerns over his arm strength, size, and “top ten” QB potential . I am not sure that he can be a quarterback that matches up with Ben Rothlisberger or Joe Flacco. I do know is that we will know what kind of quarterback Colt is by the end of this season.

I know that Colt McCoy has the mental makeup of a quarterback. He’s tough, patient and intelligent. But in 2011, he needs to prove he has the “NFL talent” to be a long term QB.