One guy we can expect to see less of.

When the No. 1 offensive unit lined up, Rex Hadnot was at left guard and not Eric Steinbach. What to make of that? It's no secret that Mangini wants to beef up the line and the wiry Steinbach doesn't fit that mold. The coaches are just experimenting at this point. The rest of the line had Joe Thomas at left tackle, Hank Fraley at center, Floyd Womack at right guard and Ryan Tucker at right tackle. Who knows how long it will be before first-round pick Alex Mack moves ahead of Fraley, but it's surely not going to be the third day of minicamp. Thomas, incidentally, had to run a lap around the practice field after false-starting on one play.

via here.

Sez.EJ

I would not be so quick to write him off just yet. But you gotta love the depth we have when a guy as good as Steinbach may lose his starting spot.

Gips

Steinbach is a little undersized and by midseason last year it was starting to really show i think steiny is a good player overall but not a power run blocking type of guard and can be easily overwelmed by brute force as a pass protector i have often questioned if the little bit of extra speed is worth it and obviously mangini is concerned about it to...

I think Mangini learned his lesson when he saw how much D'Brickashaw Ferguson struggled in '07 after veteran LG Pete Kendall was traded during camp. Not sure he'd do the same thing to Joe Thomas, especially when he's already got new starters at the other three spots on the line.

Steinbach likely doesn't fit into the new regime's long term plans. He's not a great fit for the power running game they're installing, and his contracts numbers start getting crazy next year ($5.75M in 2010, $6.25M in '11). But I think that's something that'll be addressed after this season, with Steinbach either accepting a pay cut or or getting cut.

daddybull1

Steinbach played hurt almost all of last season and I believe his condition added to the woes of Hank Fraley...

Mangini is justified in getting other looks at that position and challanging Steinbach to win the starting job...

If another player performs better then the Browns will be better, so be it...

peace

T.dawg

Vegasdogg

I am willing to bet that EM loves Steinbach and that he wants to see what he has in Hadnot. ES is the starting LG right now. The writer of this piece is not stating any facts.

DTBH

@gips said:
Steinbach is a little undersized and by midseason last year it was starting to really show

Steinbach is wirey and undersized, but how much of that will be cured this year by having Alex Mack next to him instead of Hank Fraley? He may not fit into the long-term plans, but I can't imagine him not starting for us unless they trade him.

Riffer X

Steiny is not going anywhere and is the starter. He does everything well and is extremely athletic, but that doesn't mean he is not effective in the power game. You can have maulers all you want but if they suck at everything else besides straight ahead drive blocking it doesn't serve much of a point.