Editor's note: Tony Grossi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN 850 WKNR.

Training camp takes on a different tone on Monday when preparations begin for the Browns’ first preseason game Thursday against the New Orleans Saints.

After eight practices and one team scrimmage, all the orientation, all the installation, all the experimentation should be winding down. Once the preseason games begin, the real season isn’t far behind. Decisions have to be made at certain positions to ready the starters for the games that count.

Historically, Browns coaches have missed the mark on the fundamental objective of the preseason – getting the team ready for the real season; hence, its 1-17 record in season openers.

Coach Hue Jackson stated on Saturday that he has changed his philosophy about preseason games from a year ago. After going 0-4 in preseason and 1-15 in the real season, there is a new urgency to this Browns’ exhibition season.

“I don’t want to go 0-fer again,” Jackson said. “We need to go win.”

So it’s a good time to review the Browns’ position groups.

Quarterback

I am expecting Jackson to promote Brock Osweiler to the first team this week. For the sake of maintaining the respect of his team, primarily his veterans, he has no other choice.

It’s not that Osweiler has been lights-out. He hasn’t looked any better than other journeymen who have come through these parts – and there have been a few. But the veterans can see the other three quarterbacks are not ready to win. So keeping Osweiler at bay would diminish Jackson’s integrity within his team.

Promoting Osweiler at this time does not guarantee him the starting job against Pittsburgh on Sept. 10. But it puts him in the driver’s seat, and that is why Jackson had to think long and hard about this move.

DeShone Kizer? His day will come. It is not now.

He has not had a setback. His future is bright. It is counter-productive to rush him in.

Cody Kessler has been an enigma. There isn’t anyone more diligent in putting in the time to improve. Yet the results aren’t there. Kessler’s suspect arm strength – forget the analytics numbers; the ball hangs when he throws beyond 10 yards – absolutely requires him to be exceptional in quickness of release. It’s just not there.

Kevin Hogan, on the other hand, has a quicker release than Kessler. If Hogan received more reps, I suspect he would produce better than Kessler.

Running back

Seventh-round rookie Matthew Dayes has accomplished a lot, opening the eyes of the coaches. Reserves Terrence Magee and Brandon Wilds also have had their moments. But the best of them is not dislodging Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson from the top two spots. And Dan Vitale is the only true fullback in camp.

Wide receiver

The coaches desperately want Corey Coleman and Kenny Britt to open the season healthy. So far, so good. If you could guarantee each would be available for 16 games, I would say this position is not as bad as advertised. So cross your fingers.

So far, I don’t see anyone coming out of the next wave and making a big impact. The middle-round Class of 2016 -- Ricardo Louis, Rashard Higgins and Jordan Payton – has been slightly improved, but does not yet engender confidence that any can be really productive. Receivers coach Al Saunders has his work cut out for him.

Tight end

Rookie first-round pick David Njoku passes the eyeball test. But expectations should be muted by the fact that we don’t know if his marvelous body can take the beating that’s in store for him.

Seth DeValve better be good – and available – in his second season. I still don’t believe Gary Barnidge – who is still unsigned -- couldn’t make this team.

Offensive line

I consider center JC Tretter the key here. If he stays healthy and solidifies the center position, everything will be fine. If he doesn’t, at least the Browns this year stocked up on other center candidates, though none is as advanced as Tretter.

If the season begins with John Greco as the sixth man, this position group will be strong. If, for whatever reason, Greco is shipped out, my concerns about depth multiply.

Defensive line

I’m ready to say that Myles Garrett is the most promising prospect – on defense or offense – to arrive in the expansion era. That includes Joe Thomas, by the way. Garrett will be the NFL defensive rookie of the year, barring injury. Thomas pegged him the “total package.” I can’t say it better.

I imagine left end Emmanuel Ogbah should be the beneficiary when Garrett joins the first team full time. So far, Ogbah has been relatively quiet.

Other than Garrett, a buzz has started about unsung defensive tackle Trevon Coley. He has outplayed rookie draft picks Larry Ogunjobi and Caleb Brantley since OTAs.

This position group is deep. One or two recognizable names could wind up being cut.

Linebacker

Jamie Collins and Christian Kirksey are locked in. Everyone likes what they see there.

The middle linebacker spot is getting interesting. Tank Carder is driven to prove he is more than a special teams captain and second-year Joe Schobert seems to be thriving in his position change inside.

Of the others, Dominique Alexander and James Burgess have stood out.

Cornerback

Joe Haden is healthy, is about seven pounds heavier, is being effectively prodded by coordinator Gregg Williams, and is determined to reclaim his status as one of the league’s best cornerbacks. All is good.

Jamar Taylor, Jason McCourty and Briean Boddy-Calhoun round out a decent top four. Health here is the key.

Safety

Jabrill Peppers will be a nasty addition to the defense. He brings an attitude, a presence, and looked in the scrimmage to be a hitter and a good open-field tackler. He also will upgrade the return game a ton.

The free safety position is a concern. It’s Derrick Kindred’s job to lose, and he is making the transition from in-the-box strong safety to deep safety. Can he be a ballhawk? He says he’s working hard on it.

Kicker

Cody Parkey v. Zane Gonzalez will go down to the wire. I hope the Browns don’t base their decision solely on Gonzalez’s draft status. Parkey is pretty good.