Cleveland Browns make smart move in re-signing Orson Charles

The Cleveland Browns re-signed free agent Orson Charles, a bonecrushing blocker who does more for the offense than many people think.

The Cleveland Browns re-signed free agent Orson Charles, a bone-crushing blocker who many fans may never have even heard of. The 6-foot-3, 257 pound Charles is listed as a tight end, but much of the time he lines up like a fullback or H-back, and blocks for fellow Georgia Bulldog Nick Chubb and company in the running game.

He only made three receptions for 23 yards in 2018, but that isn’t very important. What’s much more significant is that his blocking opened holes for Chubb, who set a Browns rookie record with 996 rushing yards. Blocking in the running game doesn’t show up in the box score, but you can bet that when Chubb and Charles go out to dinner, Chubb picks up the tab. The presence of Charles no doubt will warm the hearts of old school fans. Somehow it just doesn’t seem like Browns football without a tough fullback on the team.

Of course, the game has changed a lot since the days of Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack, two stars starting in the same backfield and both putting up big numbers. These days, the feature back is almost always a halfback with the fullback being mainly used for blocking purposes. That’s fine with Charles, who seems to enjoy making his living by giving and taking shots along the trenches. He is the consummate blue collar football player. Just give him a hard hat and a lunch pail and let him go to work.

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With the recent signing of Kareem Hunt, there has been some talk the Browns will find ways to put both Hunt and Chubb on the field at the same time. Well, maybe, but it might make just as much to pair them with Charles. There is still a lot to be said for Power Football, with a massive blocking back working between the tackles to soften things up for Nick Chubb and the other backs.  Opposing defenses are going to have to think twice about automatically double covering Odell Beckham Jr., lest they become flattened by the Browns’ running game.

Charles started two games last year and played in 13 games before giving way to a sprained ankle late in the year. But he took 173 snaps on offense last year and was a mainstay on special teams with 265 total snaps, good for fourth on the team.

Charles is known as a fiery leader in the locker room and sidelines, famous for loud screaming and frequent pushing and headbutting to get his fellow players engaged.  According to Andrew Gribble of ClevelandBrowns.com, offensive lineman Joel Bitonio has taken to wearing his mouthpiece on the sidelines because of the risk of getting headbutted by the hyper-enthusiastic Charles.

Charles is not a shoo-in to make the team, but he does have the inside track. With Hunt in limbo, the Browns still have Chubb, Duke Johnson and promising second-year back Dontrell Hilliard to pair with Charles. He is going into camp as the first string fullback, and is also a blocking tight end and special teams ace. The departure of blocking tight end Darren Fells enhances Charles’ chances. Likewise, if the Browns succeed in trading Johnson, the backfield will be a little less crowded and Charles should have an excellent shot at reclaiming his job for the regular season.

On Twitter, Charles posted this message after re-signing with Cleveland: “If you knew half my story you would understand why I will never take playing this beautiful game for granted. I’m extremely excited to get back to work with my boys and play in front of the best fans in the league. Now, let the grind begin!”