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March 20, 2018Back in 2011-12, both Zach Boren and Carlos Hyde were in Ohio State’s backfield together, with Boren leading the way as Hyde’s fullback when both were full-time starters for the Buckeyes. If anyone would know just how well Hyde did (and can do) as a running back, it would be his fullback, right?
Although it was a few years ago that Boren shared the same backfield with Hyde in Columbus, I sat down with the former Ohio State fullback to get to know the Cleveland Browns newest running back. If anything, it will only make Cleveland fans feel better about Hyde and what he brings to the Browns.
It was a while ago and plenty has changed, but you were Carlos Hyde’s fullback for two years at Ohio State. How was it?
It was an awesome experience. Carlos and I had so much fun being in the backfield together and I don’t think there was a bigger/heavier fullback/tailback duo in the Big Ten! Ha.
Fullbacks rarely ever get credit, but did he make sure to show plenty of appreciation for doing all the dirty work and being his lead blocker?
He always did. I think it was an attitude that the entire running back room had though. All of those tailbacks always took care of us fullbacks and always made it well known how appreciative they were. We appreciated their effort too though! The vision and talent that those running backs possessed, especially Carlos, made our jobs so much easier and they made us look better!
His nickname, El Guapo, made its debut when he was at Ohio State. Is that what you guys called him?
El Guapo didn’t make its way into the running backs room or locker room. I think that was his name on social media more than anything. We always called him Los.
What makes Hyde an NFL running back?
Whether its Carlos’ vision as a running back, his underrated speed and also his desire to get YAC, he always works his hardest for every single additional yard. He was a guy that could make cuts in a zone scheme that a lot of other guys could never see, which is what made him thrive in the Ohio State offense. He also was never going to be tackled on the first contact. His physical mindset of getting as many yards after contact as he could was unmatched. We would track those stats in the running backs room and Los always wanted to lead that category. I think he set the tone for the guys to follow like Zeke and J.K. Dobbins.
He has spent all of his career in San Francisco, but now with the Browns, he will deal with plenty of cold weather. While it doesn’t seem like too big of a deal, Hyde will be counted on to have plenty of carries (and gain yards) in the worst of weather. Is his body type good for that?
His body is perfect for that. Los is a bigger back and he gets stronger as the game goes on. He always wanted more carriers and I always thought that after the 10-12 carry mark in a game, he got better. Browns fans will love that about him.
Hyde caught just 34 passes as a Buckeye, he caught 40 in his first three seasons in the NFL before totaling 59 receptions in 2017. What do you think made him turn into a dual-threat running back out of the backfield?
I always thought Carlos could be a dual-threat running back. He was just relied on so much to carry the load at Ohio State and we ran the ball so much that no one ever saw his receiving skills. Teams in the NFL, whether they will admit to it or not, form opinions on players based off of game film from college. Well if Los wasn’t much of a receiver in college, which he wasn’t, San Fran probably thought he wasn’t a dual-threat until he was there for a multitude of years and they finally gave him that opportunity. Even if players do something in practice, a lot of teams won’t give those opportunities to you in games because of their former opinions.
He has yet to notch 1,000 rushing yards in a season and did so just one time at Ohio State. Why do you think that is? Does he have the skillset to do so with the Browns?
Los definitely has the skill set to do that. He just needs the opportunity to do so. In the NFL it is so much harder due to it being a passing dominant league. I think Los will have more success with the Browns than in San Fran due to their mindset of running the ball more than others and let’s be honest, you have to run the ball in the AFC North in order to be successful.
While he will certainly receive plenty of carries, do you think Hyde will get anywhere near 59 receptions this fall after doing so in San Francisco last season?
I think that all depends on the opportunities he is given. I could see the Browns giving Los the bulk of the carries but then getting Duke Johnson in the backfield on third downs as we have seen that in the past, which would make it tough for him to total 59 catches this fall.
During his first four years in the league, he has played the entire 16-game season just once (in 2017), was he injury prone while at Ohio State as well?
People need to realize how long and grueling an NFL season is. Sixteen games in a 17-week window is so hard on your body, especially with hardly any rest and recovery. Playing the running back position and getting hit that many times per game, your body is eventually going to wear down. All it takes is to get hit or bent a certain way one time and you are injured. I wish all football players were Superman, but they aren’t!
Somewhat off topic, but the Browns have drafted just two Buckeyes since their return to the shores of Lake Erie in 1999, with the latest draftee being wide receiver Brian Robiskie in 2009. Why do you think that is?
This is the biggest mystery to any Ohio State and/or Cleveland Browns fan. With how much success the Ohio State football program has had, it is absolutely mind-blowing that the Browns haven’t picked from that pool of talent, especially having a front row seat to all of that talent being that Cleveland is just about two hours north of Columbus. I think after the recent success of so many former Buckeyes in the NFL, you will see the Browns start changing their ways and taking more Ohio State players. I think we are seeing that right now with them bring in Los in free agency. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them taking a Buckeye at No. 4, depending on how the second and third picks shake out, but then also drafting another Buckeye later in the draft.
Teams like the Steelers and Saints are known for drafting Ohio State players and their success is obvious throughout the league. Do the two have any correlation?
I don’t think there is a direct correlation, but there is a reason why those teams are so good. It’s because they select very good players and know how to run their organization. I think some teams in the NFL get caught up in trying to find “diamonds in the rough” or hang their hats on analytics and run their teams based off of percentages and numbers. I am under the belief that if you have very good players in your organization, you are going to be a very good team. It’s as simple as that. I think the Browns may start changing their ways and go more towards taking the best player available at a position of need which is what the top teams in the NFL do, such as the Steelers and Saints. A lot of times those players are former Ohio State guys, as we all know how much talent the Ohio State football program has, especially in recent years.