Browns Playmakers Could Use Some Help in 2014
By Mike
Taking a look at the Browns offense it’s easy to see they have several pieces to build around. Two of those pieces happen to be at the skill position in the form of wide receiver and tight end. The talent and playmaking ability of Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron is good enough to make this offense lethal with the addition of a competent quarterback and a skilled running back.
Jun 12, 2012; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Cameron (84) during minicamp at the Cleveland Browns training facility. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
As we are seeing in Denver, it doesn’t take a great running back to take the pressure off the quarterback. Elusive and explosive are not two adjectives you would use to describe Knowshon Moreno, yet he is the Broncos leading rusher and has landed in the end zone seven times in six games on the year. He is averaging 4.7 yards a carry and 9.5 yards a reception. This is the same guy that couldn’t find the starting lineup for a long time and was rumored several times to be on his way out in Denver.
The point being made, is there are these types of caliber running backs on rosters all across the NFL. For instance, in Houston you have Ben Tate. Playing behind Arian Foster, it’s extremely difficult to picture a scenario, except for injury, that he overtakes Foster for the starting job. An unrestricted free agent once the calendar year expires early into 2014, Tate is currently averaging over 5.1 yards a carry. He has strength and power at 5’11 217, but what sets him apart is his quickness.
If you are able to throw some nice money at Tate in the offseason, it would upgrade the position from below average to above average instantly. It’s no secret that his name has been linked to the current front office, as someone they may covet in the offseason. I believe as long as he would want to come to Cleveland a deal could be made.
As far as the quarterback position, which has been discussed this week ad nauseam, will be addressed and fixed in the offseason. A rookie will be drafted early and will compete with Hoyer that much we can almost guarantee. Either way, the quarterback play will be elevated significantly going into the 2014 season.
With all this being said, we get back to the point of the conversation. The Browns already have two bonafide playmakers on the offensive side of the ball in Gordon and Cameron. Add a competent quarterback, an above average running back and you just made the life of opposing defenses against this team miserable. Defenses stack the box to stop the running back and Gordon and Cameron will eat them alive. If they double either Cameron or Gordon, and it’s almost certain the other will have a ton of room to run free and ease the box for you to gain nice chunks of yardage in the running game.
The moral of the story is with these two playmakers already on the roster, adding the other key pieces will not only help the Browns offense, but most definitely put them over the top. Couple that with the number four defensive unit in the league and it’s a lethal combination. A combination that could finally see this franchise heading deep into the playoffs once again.