PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Here are five observations from Browns camp:

	Tim Couch threw a career-high 21 interceptions last season.

1. The Cleveland offense, which finished last in the league a year ago, was supposed to be much improved this season. The operative term there is "supposed," at least based on the two Friday combined workouts with the Buffalo Bills, when Cleveland looked pretty much as anemic as it did in 2001. There were stretches Friday when the Browns were manhandled by a Buffalo defense not exactly known for its muscle. The rebuilt blocking quintet still hasn't come together and, as a result, the running game struggled even before first-round tailback William Green departed with a right shoulder injury. But far more disturbing was the inconsistent play of fourth-year quarterback Tim Couch. It's always dangerous to draw conclusions from the impressions gained in a couple practices. But even with a better surrounding cast, a problem each of his first three years, Couch did not throw the ball well and wasn't particularly aggressive. He still threw way too much into a crowd, and he doubled-pumped several times, a manifestation of indecision. And he has a touch of tunnel vision when it comes to No. 1 wide receiver Kevin Johnson. For the last two years, it's been chic to justify Couch's uneven performances by chalking them up to the offense in general. In his fourth season, it's time to quit making excuses for Couch, and expect him to play like the first overall selection in the 1999 draft. Cleveland is a chic pick of the pundits to go to the playoffs in 2002. They won't get there if the offense isn't better and, at least on Friday, it wasn't.

2. The league's most larcenous defense in 2001, Cleveland had 42 takeaways, and 33 of those were interceptions. Expect much of the same in 2002. The Browns are not unlike a basketball team that comes up with every loose ball. Coordinator Foge Fazio expects that, when the ball is in the air, it belongs to his secondary and the unit has bought into that philosophy. On at least four occasions Friday, the Cleveland defensive backs came down with tipped passes, and that's not just happenstance. Cornerback Corey Fuller also had a brilliant interception on a ball thrown deep up the right sideline. "We live for takeaways," said second-year cornerback Anthony Henry, who had 10 interceptions as a rookie. "We kind of like to think we're ball magnets. Most times, if it's a jump ball or a tipped ball, we're going to get it." Fazio likes to use a lot of smoke and mirrors upfront, and will re-do schemes from week to week, all because he wants to apply pressure on the pocket and force mistakes. If there's a ball rolling on the ground, the chances are pretty good a guy in a brown jersey is going to wind up on top of it.

3. Johnson had 84 receptions in 2001, and really emerged as a top-flight wide receiver in his third campaign, but it is still uncertain who will start opposite him. The favorite still is second-year pro Quincy Morgan but, after a strong few opening practices of camp, his performance has really tailed off. There is a suspicion that Morgan is beginning to take for granted that he has a starting job wrapped up. That kind of attitude might earn him a boot in the rear end from coaches, who feel it's time to light a fire under Morgan again, to get him going. The top challenger right now is oft-injured JaJuan Dawson, who has solid physical tools but has spent too much time in the whirlpool through his career. Look for second-round pick Andre Davis, a receiver from Virginia Tech with incredible speed, to start getting more meaningful repetitions. Third-year pro Dennis Northcutt, who came into the league regarded as a potential playmaker, has been terribly disappointing and is on very thin ice with the staff.

4. The Cleveland defensive front four should be one of the most effective quartets in the league provided right end Courtney Brown, the first overall selection in the 2000 draft, can figure out a way to stay healthy. In left end Kenard Lang, left tackle Gerard Warren, right tackle Orpheus Roye and Brown, the team has four guys who average just 25.8 years of age and 4.3 seasons of league experience. "Young and hungry, that's us," said Warren. "It all starts with us, man, and we know it." Three of the four starters are former first-round draft choices and two of those three were among the top three players chosen in their respective draft classes. But early in camp it's the player who was not selected in the first round, Roye, who has turned up his game. Roye has bounced between tackle and end through his career, but the Browns feel his best and most effective position now is at right tackle. For much of the offseason, he heard the rumors about how he might be cut for salary cap reasons. Roye restructured his contract to stay with the team. The Browns should be happy he did.

5. Davis wants a bunch of slobberknocker 300-pounders on the offensive line, massive guys who come hard off the ball, human road graders to clear the way for Green. He'll get his way, what with the additions the Browns made during the offseason, and the line will be better than it was a year ago. But there is going to be a somewhat painful period of breaking in and the Browns, who haven't quite located the comfort zone, are not there yet. Right tackle Ryan Tucker, a former St. Louis starter, will bring a tough-guy mindset and will fit in well with left tackle Ross Verba. It appears that the knee woes that have plagued Tre Johnson won't preclude him from earning a starting job at right guard. The most surprising player has been former undrafted free agent Shaun O'Hara, who is currently working with the top group at left guard. Cleveland signed Barry Stokes in free agency to play left guard, but O'Hara has stolen the job from him, at least at this point.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.