The Yonder Alonso Bargain Is Paying Off
July 30, 2018
Five Days Later: What’s New and What’s Happening at Browns Training Camp
July 31, 2018Two of the biggest names the Cleveland Browns added on offense this offseason were Jarvis Landry and Carlos Hyde. After the team went 0-16 last season, those two veterans were players that not only have plenty of talent but two that have been able to prove that they belong in the league in past seasons. They’ve also added a winning attitude, something that a young Cleveland team desperately needed.
With that said, it seems as though Hyde has joined the Way Too Overconfident Heading Into The 2018 Season train, which is conducted by Landry. While Landry has already made it known that the Browns can basically put up 40 points every game and potentially win a Super Bowl at season’s end, Hyde’s expectations are more individual than as a team. While it would only mean good things for the Browns if it does happen, the running back stating that he will not only easily reach the century mark in rushing yards this fall, but wants to be the NFL’s top rusher as well.
“Why stop at 1,000 rushing yards? I’d like to raise the bar a little higher than just 1,000,” Hyde said, according to WKYC’s Matthew Florjancic. “I want to aim for the top rusher in the NFL, not just 1,000.
“You can get 1,000 yards easy, just play every game. I think more than that, try to raise the bar higher and try to be the leading rusher in the NFL, so that’s my standard with it. But I guess it’s good to get 1,000 yards. It’ll be good for me. I’ve actually got a little bonus in there.”
This is coming from a guy who has yet to rush for 1,000 yards in a season through his first four years in the NFL. While his yardage has definitely increased over his last two seasons, both of which he’s run for 930-plus yards, the fact that he’s seemingly making reaching the 1,000-yard mark and potentially leading the league seem somewhat easy is interesting, to say the least.
Over the last 10 years, the lowest amount of rushing yards to lead the league was when Kansas City Chiefs rookie Kareem Hunt led the league with only 1,327 yards. That not only proves how tough it can be, but that’s still almost 400 yards more than Hyde has ever run for in a single season in the NFL. Add in the fact that the highest mark in the league is usually between 1,500-2,000, and the feat is even tougher to achieve.
It may not seem too tough for other running backs across the league to reach 1,000 yards, but the last Brown to reach that mark was Peyton Hillis, who ran for 1,177 yards in 2010. While the suspect quarterback play over the years likely plays into that, it’s tough for a Cleveland running back to reach the century mark in rushing yards, let alone lead the league.
Some things that will make it even tougher for Hyde to reach 1,000 rushing yards, let alone lead the league:
- Cleveland’s offensive line is without future Hall of Fame left tackle Joe Thomas.
- Hyde will split time with guys like Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson.
- The Browns are expected to win between five and seven games this year, which means they’ll be trailing in many games this fall. That will turn into the offense needing to throw the ball much more than running it.
While it would sure be awesome if Hyde led the league in rushing yards, it seems as though the 27-year-old needs to simmer down a bit and just let things play out rather than place expectations that are seemingly too tough to reach.
