Browns shed age, veterans for Shurmur’s first season

Associated Press

BEREA

Scott Fujita’s cubicle has been moved from one end of Cleveland’s locker room to the other, right next to where kicker Phil Dawson dresses.

“Yeah, this is the old guys’ section,” the 32-year-old linebacker cracked.

Everywhere else, these are the baby Browns.

One of the NFL’s oldest teams last season, Cleveland has undergone a major infusion of youth. First-year coach Pat Shurmur’s current roster is overloaded with young, inexperienced players.

The Browns have 11 rookies and 31 players with three seasons or less of NFL playing service, a dramatic shift from last year’s squad.

For last year’s season opener against Tampa Bay, the Browns had a league-high 18 players who were 30 or older. This year, they have nine.

In 2010, Cleveland’s average age on Week 1 was an AFC-high 27.49 and the Browns had six rookie or first-year players. Their current average age is 26.01 with 15 rookie or first-year players.

“We got young in a hurry,” Shurmur said. “That’s no excuse for failure.”

But their youth is probably why so little is expected from the Browns this season. They are rebuilding with youngsters, ones who will have to grow up in a hurry for Cleveland to escape this 12-year cycle of losing. Youth has been served. It remains to be seen if it will survive.

“I look at it positively, we’re going to find out pretty quick who can play and who can’t,” said Dawson, 36. “I still believe there are enough veteran guys around here to steer the way.

“We’re certainly young, there’s no way around it, but ignorance is bliss some times. We’ll embrace it and go with it.”

When the Browns take the field for their opener Sunday against Cincinnati, they’ll do so with inexperienced players dotting their starting lineup and at vital positions.

Quarterback Colt McCoy, who turned 25 on Monday, made eight starts as a rookie last season, which he began as the team’s No. 3 QB.

McCoy will be protected up front by rookie left guard Jason Pinkston, pressed into duty sooner than expected after Eric Steinbach underwent season-ending back surgery.

One of McCoy’s top targets will be rookie wide receiver Greg Little and McCoy will hand the ball to running backs Montario Hardesty and Armond Smith, who have yet to play one snap as pros.

Cleveland’s defensive line will include two rookies, tackle Phil Taylor and end Jabaal Sheard, and rookie defensive back Buster Skrine appears to be the team’s nickel back. Also, Richmond McGee hasn’t punted in a regular-season game or held for a PAT or field-goal attempt.

“It’s going to be the first live action for a lot of these guys,” Fujita said. “Until you play real games, you really don’t know what you have.”