Browns vs. Jets: 5 players to watch on Sunday
By Thomas Moore
Aug 13, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell (34) runs the ball during the first quarter against the Washington Redskins in a preseason NFL football game at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
While the Browns promoted running back Shaun Draughn from the practice squad today, the bulk of the running attack should come from Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson.
After splitting time last season with Terrance West, who has since been traded to Tennessee, the Browns are looking for Crowell to take hold of the lead back role.
“He hasn’t shown me anything that he can’t do that,” offensive coordinator John DeFilippo said of Crowell. “I have been with backs in the past where you really worry about from a fatigue standpoint, from a body composition, the way they are built that would worry about a guy that has to carry the ball 20-22 times a game. Crow is a big guy. He is in great shape. Nothing has shown to me that Crow can’t be that workhorse for us.”
From watching the Jets preseason tape, their DL is more of a pass rushing unit than run stopping. Sticking with the run could be key for CLE
— Kevin Jones (@Mr_KevinJones) September 11, 2015
Johnson brings a dimension to the running game that the Browns did not have last season, namely someone who can catch the ball out of the backfield. The only question is how game ready he is after missing large parts of training camp and the preseason, first with a hamstring and then with a concussion.
“As you guys saw in the spring, we did a lot with (Duke) that he got exposed to,” DeFilippo said. “There is not a lot more you can do with a running back that we haven’t done. I am fine with Duke and where he is at right now.”
The Browns have a few things working in their favor. First is the return of center Alex Mack. In the five games Mack started last season, the Browns had 165 carries for 732 yards (4.4 average) and eight touchdowns.
The second is that the Jets will be missing defensive end Sheldon Richardson, the 2013 Defensive Rookie of the Year and a Pro Bowler in 2014, who is suspended for the first four games.
If the Browns can come close to matching last season’s opening day ground attack, when they ripped the Steelers for 191 yards and more than six yards a carry, it should be a very good day at MetLife Stadium.
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