Cleveland Browns offensive depth chart: PFF fair or not?
By Thomas Moore
Dec 7, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell (34) runs through the tackle of Indianapolis Colts free safety Sergio Brown (38) during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
This is the first position group where we don’t agree with PFF’s rankings.
Second-year running backs Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell are both ranked Below Average and, of course, Duke Johnson is a Rookie.
Related: Competition pushing Browns running backs
Some of our believe in the running game is based on Mack returning from injury, and the fact that Johnson could be a major addition to the offense. But the rankings by PFF are based off last year’s performance, so we can’t hold Johnson being a rookie against them.
West and Crowell combined to rush for 1,280 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, which if they were a single running back would have placed them fifth in rushing and second in touchdowns in the NFL. And did we mention that they did that with McDonald at center? That should be worth some kind of bonus points.
The duo struggled at times as rookie to understand what it means to be an NFL player, but with a year under their belts and the addition of Johnson pushing them for playing time, the running game should be the least of the Browns’ worries on offense in 2015.
Verdict: Unfair
Next: The Quarterbacks