Cleveland Browns Preview: Can RB Chris Jennings Make The 2010 Roster?

It was a cold and miserable Thursday December night. The Cleveland Browns were working off a short week following the previous Sunday loss to the San Diego Chargers and now faced hated rival Pittsburgh.

Rookie running back Chris Jennings, two months removed from the practice squad, was seeing his first extended NFL action and suddenly found himself in the middle of what may become the most important game in the history of the expansion era Cleveland Browns.

Frigid conditions coupled with strong, swirling winds made passing the ball nearly impossible, and it was going to take a grind-it-out rushing attack for the Browns to pull off a win, something the team had lacked for the better part of the season.

The Steelers didn't seem prepared for the heart and determination that the Browns showed that night. They expected to simply walk over the 1-11 team and pick up an easy win, but it was not to be.

A smothering defense and a playoff quality rushing attack quickly wore down the will of the visiting team, and Cleveland found itself one back-breaking play away from putting victory firmly in sight.

Then, late in the second quarter, Jennings took the handoff, ran right, turned the corner and cut up field past several Steeler defenders, racing to the endzone for the game's only touchdown en route to a 13-6 Cleveland win.

While Joshua Cribbs was the hero of the game with his spectacular play on special teams and out of the Flash package, Jennings helped show that the Browns were finally playing quality football, and helped the players believe that they were capable of a strong conventional rushing attack.

Jerome Harrison would go on to steal the show in the season's final three games, but as Jennings turned the corner and headed for the endzone that Thursday night, the Browns were turning the corner on the season, winning the final four contests. It was the first rushing touchdown by a Browns running back all season, something that, until then, had seemed like an impossible task.

Now Jennings is faced with an equally daunting challenge: Trying to make the regular season roster for the 2010 season.

The situation in Cleveland's backfield has changed since defeating Pittsburgh. Jerome Harrison went on a breakout three game stretch, amassing 561 yards on the ground and making a case for himself to open 2010 as the starter.

Jamal Lewis is gone for good and the Browns added two new backs, trading for RB/FB Peyton Hillis and taking Tennessee's Montario Hardesty in the second round of the 2010 Draft.

Also in the mix is second-year player James Davis, back from injury and ready to pick up where he left off with an impressive 2009 pre-season.

Hardesty is a strong, powerful runner and the perfect complement for Harrison on the field. He impressed the coaching staff at rookie camp and in OTAs and even has an outside chance of taking the starting job from Harrison.

Not only is Hillis an exceptional blocker in the FB role, but he is a bulldozer of a runner, seemingly born to move the pile and bust through goal line defenses.

And let's not forget that Davis is the guy who kept C.J. Spiller on the bench for two seasons at Clemson. He has a lot to prove and is sure to hit the ground hard entering training camp.

Add in the human hammer FB Lawrence Vickers, and Cleveland has no shortage of talented young backs. It should be an interesting training camp and pre-season, and a lot of fun seeing exactly how each back will be utilized in the offense.

Chris Jennings is a speedy, athletic runner with a quick burst, but he is very raw with his only previous pro experience coming in the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes. He will have to make huge strides in his second year with the Browns to make a serious push for playing time.

While there is always the possibility that the coaching staff will choose to keep two FBs and four RBs on the roster, it is more likely to be a two man race between Jennings and Davis for the final RB spot.

Jennings has shown the ability to play NFL caliber football and if he doesn't end up on the 53-man roster, it will simply be a testament to the talent Cleveland has put together at the running back position.

Should Jennings fail to make the final cut, he may be scooped up by another team looking for a young back with upside and he will bide his time learning, working, and waiting for his next chance to shine.