Ball Played: Profiling the Indians after the NFL Draft and a big win over the Tigers
May 4, 2016Browns share a “May 4th” Star Wars-themed video
May 4, 2016The Cleveland Browns may have drafted four wide receivers during the 2016 NFL Draft, but they neglected drafting another key playmaking position on offense: running backs. Why is that, you ask? Head coach Hue Jackson has high praise for his current running back duo of Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson Jr., per 92.3 The Fan’s Daryl Ruiter:
“I’m very comfortable with our group. I think we have some really good players there.”
In 2016, Crowell totaled a team-high 706 rushing yards (no typo, 706 yards was the team high rushing mark) to go along with four touchdowns on 185 carries. The second-year running back also had 19 receptions for 182 yards and one touchdown. While Crowell was the runner, Johnson was the scatback playmaker out of the backfield or in the slot. During his rookie season, Johnson came away with 61 receptions for 534 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 104 rushing attempts for 379 yards.
Although many figured that Jackson would bring his own runners to the team, the head coach seemed to have plenty of positive things to say about his current running back tandem.
“I’ve been getting so much mail or phone calls or people saying, ‘Well wait a minute, why don’t you guys have a running back?’I really think that Isaiah Crowell is a really good running back,” Jackson said. “I think he’s going to have a sensational season. I really do.”
“I think (Johnson’s) going to have a great year as well,” Jackson said. “Those 2 guys are as good as I’ve seen in a while. Their talent is extreme.”
Why is Jackson so high on his two running backs? As the Bengals’ offensive coordinator, the head coach had Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard. Hill is the down hill runner (Crowell) as Bernard has an easier time making plays happen in space, especially in the passing game (Johnson). While they are both sharing time at the same position, the two bring complete different styles of play to the field.
“Obviously Isaiah is very explosive,” Jackson said. “He’s got quick feet, he’s fast in the hole, he runs with good pad level. Duke has suddenness and quickness and he an go catch the ball with anybody. He does so many different things that gives your offense a boost. We haven’t put the pads on yet and they have to do it, but I believe that we have the potential to be very good at that position.”
While the Browns will have plenty of new faces on the offensive side of the ball in 2016, it seems as though their running back tandem will continue to stay together heading into the upcoming season. Whether or not that is a good thing, remains to be seen.
7 Comments
Crow is RFA next year. Contract year
If I recall, Crow had a decent end to the season, it just took him a long time to ramp up to that.
I’m all for an optimistic coach but when I read the headline (“these two guys are as good as I’ve seen in awhile” I had to laugh. By awhile, I’m sure coach means the last 3 months because his backfield in Cincinnati is far to superior to ours (I’m sorry to say). Hill and Bernard are both legitimate 3-down running backs who split time out of necessity. Crow and Duke are decent but far from complete players who have to b mixed and matched constantly to hide their flaws and exploit their strengths.
I just hope this quote doesn’t wind up being bulletin board material twice a year for the next couple years. I don’t think our front 7 can handle an angry Hill/Bernard tandem.
By the time he rebuild these guys are planning becomes competitive (3-5 years, if all goes well), a running back drafted now might be past his prime or injured. It’s smart to stick with the relative youth we already have and draft at positions that tend to take a while to develop (QB, WR, OL). We will pick someone up in the third round next year or the year after if needed. I think it’s a wise move.
Pessimistic view: future bulletin board material
Optimistic view: Hue is a great evaluator and developer of talented players, and when he says “best I’ve seen in a while,” he means raw talent.
Yeah, probably the first thing.
I’ll have what Hue’s having.
“my room mate Mary Is getting paid on the internet 98$/hr”..,……..!wc327ctwo days ago grey MacLaren P1 I bought after earning 18,512 DoIIars..it was my previous month’s payout..just a little over.17k DoIIars Last month..3-5 hours job a day…with weekly payouts..it’s realy the simplest. job I have ever Do.. I Joined This 7 months. ago. and now making over. hourly 87 DoIIars…Learn. More right Here !wc327:➽:➽:➽➽➽➽ http://GlobalSuperJobsReportsEmploymentsSuperGetPayHourly$98…. .❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦:❖❖:❦❦::::::!wc327…….