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Cleveland Browns: Grades from game vs. Jets

By Jonathan Goehring

Oct 30, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Jets outside linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin (55) tries to sack Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Jets won 31-28. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Jets outside linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin (55) tries to sack Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Jets won 31-28. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 30, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell (34) jumps into the Dawg Pound after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell (34) jumps into the Dawg Pound after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Running Backs: C

It was expected to be a rough day for the Clevleand rushing attack against the second-ranked Jets run defense. While the Browns’ running backs did not have very good outings, they were surprisingly efficient and productive when called upon.

Isaiah Crowell led the way rushing with 29 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. However, Duke Johnson was much more explosive, rushing for 29 yards in just 4 carries. In total, the Browns averaged 3.8 yards per carry, which can be considered average. Against a stout New York defensive line, this is about as productive as fans could have expected Crowell and Johnson to be.

The problem was the running backs only got 15 carries as opposed to 51 pass attempts. Especially for a team which spent most of the afternoon on top, this is a wildly disproportionate offensive game plan. This limited the production of the running game to a total of 58 yards and a touchdown, far from enough to get the job done.

But the running backs still did what they could to contribute to a pass-heavy game plan. Crowell especially picked up blitzing Jets defenders consistently all afternoon, even in obvious passing situations. This is encouraging, but it is only one area in which Cleveland running backs showed improvement.

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