Way too early 2020 Cleveland Browns bold predictions

Chubb passes the GOAT.

Nick Chubb came into his own in 2019. The talented second-year running back absolutely exceeded all expectations and finished second in the league in rushing with 1,494 yards. Those numbers put him at No. 4 all-time in the Browns’ single-season record book. The three seasons in front of Chubb were logged by the great Jim Brown. In fact, the three next best seasons were all also recorded by Brown. Company doesn’t get any more elite than that.

As unreal as this sentence is to see in type, Chubb will break Jim Brown’s single-season mark of 1,863 yards rushing in 2020. You read that correctly. What Chubb was able to do in 2019 was only a prelude to what is in front of him this season.

Chubb was able to attain 1,494 yards with an inconsistent play-calling approach. Chubb was able to get the number of carries he needed to put up ridiculous numbers, but by no means was the offense ran through Chubb as it should have been. The Browns were still a pass-first offense that featured Chubb. The intention to run everything through the dynamic runner was simply not there.

That all changes with the arrival of Kevin Stefanski. The 2020 Cleveland Browns will be a run-first and run often offense. Stefanski employs a zone heavy running scheme that fits Chubb’s attributes to a T. When you add the scheme change with the fact that now Jack Conklin will be anchoring the right side of the offensive line, defenses are in trouble. Both of Chubb’s career-long runs (88 yards and 92 yards) were stretch plays to the right where he was able to stick his foot in the ground and find the seam. Those long gash runs will be a recurring theme in 2020.

Side note: many people are pointing to the fact that Kareem Hunt being on the 2020 Browns will limit Chubb’s numbers. It is this writer’s belief that Hunt will be picked up by another team and a second-round pick will be awarded via the tender.

Nick Chubb will rush for over 1,900 yards in 2020.