5 reasons we can finally believe in the Cleveland Browns
By Clay Goodwin
3. Ability to run the football
Despite the league trend shifting to more passing attempts, successful teams also must be able to run the ball efficiently and use it as a weapon. According to ESPN stats, the four teams who led the NFL in rushing yards last regular season were the Ravens (14-2), 49ers (13-3), Titans (9-7), and Seahawks (11-5). Rushing yards absolutely can lead to success and these teams showed that last season.
Through the first four weeks the Browns lead the league in rushing with an average of 204.5 yards a game while averaging a whopping 5.9 yards a carry. Stefanski runs the ball early and often, and it has worked perfectly. The Browns boast the best running back duo in the NFL with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. They also have an elite line as mentioned on the last slide and have a tremendous blocking full back in Andy Janovich and tight ends Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant. Even the receivers have blocked well down the field and allowed for some big gains.
Nick Chubb went down with an MCL injury and is expected to miss around six weeks. This is a blow to the team obviously as Chubb finished second in the league in rushing last season and was in the top five to start this year. That being said, Hunt is a fantastic player and will not miss a beat. With the line playing so effectively, the Browns should still run the ball very well. Even backups D’ernest Johnson and Dontrell Hilliard played well against the Cowboys and showed they can come in and produce.
Running the ball controls the clock, moves the chains, wears down the defense, and opens the defense for big plays in the passing game. The Browns have run it at an impressive rate and look for that to continue going forward.