Who is to blame for the Browns’ offense?

Sep 27, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson (29) runs the ball on Oakland Raiders cornerback D.J. Hayden (25) during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Raiders won 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The Browns are rumored to be built as a running team, one that will beat down on opposing defenses and control the game, especially when the weather turns cold along the North Coast of America.

So far those rumors appear to be unfounded.

The Browns have one rushing touchdown through three games and are averaging just 3.6 yards per carry. Second-year back Isaiah Crowell is leading the effort, with 128 rushing yards as the Browns have yet to get the running game going.

It was more of the same against the Raiders, as the Browns only ran the ball 14 times. The low number of carries was a result of the Browns trailing for the entire game, but that doesn’t mean the team only had to gain 2.8 yards on those carries.

The signature series of the running game’s struggles came just before halftime against Oakland, when the Browns had the ball first-and-goal at the Raiders’ one-yard line and Crowell could not get into the end zone on two tries.

“When you are on the 1-yard line, you have to score touchdowns. That is the bottom line in this business,” left tackle Joe Thomas said on Monday. “It is about touchdown percentage when you are in the red zone. The closer you are, the more you need to get a touchdown. Obviously, we needed a touchdown right there.”

Through three games, the Browns are averaging just a shade over 86 rushing yards per game, a long way away from the 146 yards they were averaging last season when the offensive line was intact.

“There’s obviously room for improvement,” center Alex Mack told the team’s website. “It’s a long season. We’ll keep plugging away.”

Blame the running backs: 25 percent

Next: Is it the receivers?