5 Cleveland Browns players feeling the most pressure

Oct 19, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Terrance West (28) rushes against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first quarter at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Richard Dole-USA TODAY Sports

The Browns carried three running backs through the opening weeks of the 2014 season, with rookies Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell joining veteran Ben Tate in the backfield.

The club mixed-and-matched the trio from week to week as they were not sure what they had with the rookies and were hoping one of the three would take a firm grasp on the starting job.

It looked like Tate could be the answer while he averaged 5.89 yards per carry during the first two weeks of the season. But then injuries slowed him and, coupled with the season-ending injury to center Alex Mack, suddenly Tate could not run the ball. The Browns eventually released him after he gained just 93 total yards in his final five games with the team.

While they did their part to erase the memory of the embarrassment of 2013’s baggy-pants farce of a running game, West and Crowell still had trouble, at times, adjusting to the NFL game. That being said, they did combine for almost 1,300 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, giving the Browns the type of rushing attack needed to survive in the AFC North Division.

While their yardage totals and yards per carry were similar, Crowell had a slight edge in yards per carry and had eight of those 12 rushing touchdowns. And despite being an undrafted free agent, Crowell presumably is the more talented of the two as he was the SEC Freshman of the Year at Georgia.

The Browns added the dynamic Duke Johnson in the draft and judging by what he accomplished at the University of Miami, he seems like a lock to not only make the roster, but could push hard for a starting role.

The Browns are committed to running the ball as much as possible this fall, which means it is not out of the question that they could keep all three running backs on the roster. But the team also wants to utilize the running backs in the passing game, and neither West or Crowell are necessarily strong in that area.

If the team decides to go with just two running backs come the fall, West could be on the bubble.

Next: Wide Receiver Travis Benjamin