Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns: Hue Jackson Establishing Running Game

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The biggest accomplishment of the Hue Jackson era of the Cleveland Browns to this point is the establishment of a productive running game.

Lost in the putrid, though familiar, 0-3 start of the Cleveland Browns is the success of the running game. For the first time since 2009, the Cleveland Browns are on pace to eclipse 2,000 yards for the season as a team. For the first time since 2010, they are on pace to have a 1,000-yard rusher.

The Browns are six seasons and three head coaches removed, going back to Eric Mangini, from finding anything that anyone might consider a reliable running game. Three games in, Hue Jackson has what not only appears to be productive, but also repeatable in terms of a ground game.

Isaiah Crowell is currently tied for second in the league in rushing yards at 274. He’s also tied for first in yards per carry at 6.1. Fellow back Duke Johnson actually averages more per carry at 6.4 yards per. But with only 16 carries, he doesn’t have enough carries to qualify for league-wide rankings. Crowell is on pace for 1,460 yards on the season. That would be tremendous, but just getting to 1,000 yards would be the first time in six years for the Browns.

The last time the Browns had a 1,000-yard back, it was Peyton Hillis in 2010. Hillis ran for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was then voted onto the Madden cover, bought into his own hype, alienated his teammates, and allegedly wanted to be a CIA agent.

In three games, Browns running backs have carried the ball 61 times for 377 yards. That’s an average of 6.18 yards per carry and 125.66 yards per game just from running backs in the ground game. The biggest issue is they are only getting the ball about 20 times per game. Even so, just the running backs on the Browns are on pace for a combined 2,010 yards.

In 2009, the Browns pieced together 2,087 rushing yards as a team. That number included 862 yards from Jerome Harrison, 500 yards from Jamal Lewis, 381 yards from Joshua Cribbs as a wildcat option, and 220 yards from Chris Jennings. Even then, the team averaged just 4.18 yards per carry.

Through three games, the current iteration of the Browns is far more productive and far more consistent than those from 2009 and 2010.

So, what has changed?

Perhaps the biggest benefit of hiring Hue Jackson who in turn brought in Kirby Wilson as the running game coordinator, might be simplifying their running scheme. Especially compared to John DeFilippo, the offensive coordinator from last year, the running scheme was far more streamlined.

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Filippo tried to install way too much last year between zone and gap concepts. Players weren’t always comfortable and they weren’t always used to their strengths. Toward the end of the season, it was simplified and the result was improved production the month of the season, though still inconsistent.

This regime has basically gone to an all-gap scheme blocking scheme. They might have lost a ton of talent and skill up front in Alex Mack and Mitchell Schwartz, but they replaced it with more beef, which is more of a fit in this particular system.

As much as Cam Erving has issues in pass protection and is trying to develop instincts as a run blocker, he is a strong, athletic, big body. Austin Pasztor struggles in space as a pass protector, but he can pull and block down quite well. Both Erving and Pasztor are able to move opponents off the ball.

Players are more confident because there is less to know and they can really focus and improve on a smaller playbook in the running game. It also seems to be more geared toward player strengths. This is not only about the offensive line with Pasztor and Erving, but Crowell.

Offensive linemen received a ton of criticism last year in the running game, but it was Crowell that was horribly miscast in a zone scheme. He struggled to see the holes when they were there—and they were definitely there. Crowell found the most success when the choices were taken out of his hands and he ran to a specific place and had to make the best of it. Rather than thinking and hesitating, he just attacked and took advantage of his tremendous physical talent.

Sep 25, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson (29) stiff arms Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard (25) during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium.The Miami Dolphins defeat the Cleveland Browns 34-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

There are two other elements that have helped the running game. Last year, ancillary blocks killed the Browns in the running game. They got nothing from either the fullback or tight end position when running the ball last year and so many plays would be blocked well from the five guys on the line but were blown up because of failures to execute from those positions.

The Browns have gotten contributions from a pair of players drafted in the sixth round in 2015. Fullback Malcolm Johnson has improved dramatically from his rookie year as a blocker. After struggling for virtually all of his rookie season, Johnson has been far better this year and made one of the key blocks to spring Crowell for the 85-yard run touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens.

The other is tight end Randall Telfer. Telfer missed the entire 2015 season with a foot injury he suffered in his final season at USC. The Browns drafted him anyway, getting him at a discount rate on Day 3 of the draft and stashed him for a year. Despite suffering a hamstring early in training camp, Telfer has quietly, but steadily, moved up the depth chart.

In the third and fourth preseason games, Telfer found himself getting time with the starters because of his ability to block, which is how he was able to secure a spot on the final 53-man roster. The tight end position was useless in run blocking this past season. Jim Dray was signed two years ago specifically to be a blocker, but was awful in that area this past year, leading to his release.

Obviously Gary Barnidge is the starting tight end because of his ability as a receiver. But when the Browns want to bring in more muscle to block, they bring in Telfer. He hasn’t played a ton, but he’s been able to help in limited opportunities. Telfer was really the only tight end the Browns had in camp that showed anything as a run blocker, especially inline, so it wasn’t difficult for him to stand out.

One significant difference between the 2016 running game so far and 2015 has been explosive plays and touchdowns. Through three games, Crowell has three explosive running plays (plays over 20 yards) and two touchdowns. In all of 2015, Crowell had five such running plays and just four touchdowns.

Duke Johnson had two scores last year and has zero in three games this year. His longest run in 16 carries is 17 yards and he hasn’t reached the end zone yet. Both of Johnson’s touchdowns last year were on receptions.

Hue Jackson and his staff deserve a ton of credit for what they have been able to due almost entirely out of players that were on the Browns last year. There might be some maturing both physically and mentally that Jackson benefits from, but this staff has them producing in a way the last group simply didn’t.

The biggest question facing the Browns at this point is whether or not they can sustain this type of production in the running game throughout the season. Health will be a major factor here, which is an area that the Browns have struggled. If they can muddle through, the running game may get even better as it gains confidence.

The other issue that could hold the running game back is Jackson himself. As impressive as his creation is and all the credit he deserves for it, he’s the one that needs to embrace it the most. The Browns might well have the best running game in the NFL if their head coach just gives them the carries to get there.

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