The most pressing issue for the Cleveland Browns every year is whether the guy behind center is suitable or not…
While quarterback is the most important position on the field, the Browns have also struggled severely in the running department. Since 1999, the Browns have only had three players rush for over 1000 yards, Jamal Lewis doing it twice. It should come as a major concern because the quarterback cannot simply be blamed for every failure of the offense. Without a run game, defenses loosen up the players in the box and focus their attention towards defending the pass.
2015 saw a resurgence in the career of Josh McCown and there were some weeks where he played lights out and made the necessary throws to win football games. However, without a run game he was forced to throw for an average of nearly 40 attempts per game. In comparison, the Bengals as a team averaged 32 attempts per game. The Browns relied on McCown for seven full games as he averaged 300 yards passing and threw for 12 touchdowns to only four interceptions. A solid run game could’ve been the answer to the Browns losing close games against Oakland, San Diego, Denver, Arizona and Baltimore. In the order of those games the Browns leading rusher had 36, 63, 38, 18 and 27 yards rushing, that’s less than 200 yards in five down to the wide football games.
In two out of the Browns three wins last season, it was the run game that was appealing. Against the Titans, Crowell averaged nearly 5 yards per carry and scored a touchdown as the team ran for 116 yards on 30 carries. Against the 49ers, the Browns ran for 230 yards on 40 carries and put two scores in the endzone. While McCown did all he could to win games through the air last year, it goes to show that a solid and balanced run game is the key to winning in the NFL.
Robert Griffin III is the presumed starter for the Browns heading into the season. Given his change of scenery and working to become a pocket passer, the Browns will need to establish a run game in order to ensure his success.
They return their leading rushers in Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell, both of which had a rough year in 2015. Questions remain with both backs as being the lead however, Crowell and his lack of vision at the line of scrimmage and Johnson’s knack for bouncing everything to the outside instead of pushing forward. Hue Jackson has expressed confidence in both options but he also brought over Terrell Watson from the Bengals practice squad and Glenn Winston remains in the shadows waiting for his opportunity (again).
It remains to be seen what the Browns depth chart will look like in 2016 but they’ll be looking for more reliability in the rushing departmemnt. The Browns last 1000 yard rusher was Peyton Hillis who shocked us all in 2010. 2016 will be hoping for a new surprise at running back.