Cleveland Browns' Run Game Has No Excuses in 2015

The Cleveland Browns' run game improved drastically from 2013 to 2014. They rushed over 100 more times in 2014 than they did the previous year and had 345 more rushing yards as a result. But most importantly, the Browns increased their rushing touchdown total to 17, up from a mere four rushing scores the year before.

The Browns, partially in an effort to get the most out of then-quarterback Brian Hoyer without asking him to do too much, focused on being a run-heavy team. They averaged 29.8 rushing attempts per game, a top-10 figure. But they didn't have top-10 rushing yardage as a result, only averaging a 17th-best 108 yards per game. 

Though they totaled the fourth-most rushing touchdowns in the league, their yards per attempt of 3.6 ranked only 28th. While the Browns became a more productive rushing offense from a scoring standpoint, the run game still was not as successful as hoped as a means to move the chains. Though the Browns rushed significantly more often in 2014 than 2013, they managed only 11 additional first downs from the run game.

Stat	Value	Rank
Rush Atts.	477	6th
Rush YPG	108.0	17th
Rush TDs	17	4th
Yards Per Rush	3.6	28th
Rush 1st Downs/G	5.5	20th

A lot of the blame went to the offensive line, whose run-blocking capabilities took a major hit when center Alex Mack suffered a fractured leg in October that ended his season. After Week 6, when he was injured, the Browns rushed for 69 yards, 39 yards and 56 yards, respectively, in the three games that followed.

Though they bounced back with 170 rushing yards in Week 10 against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Browns had only four games with 100-plus rushing yards in their final 11 contests compared to four in their first five to start the year.

With Mack healthy again, the Browns have yet another opportunity to re-establish the run game that produced so well for them in the first part of 2014 but ground slowly to a halt as the season wore on. The Browns also have a promising rookie running back in Duke Johnson, who will join the team's 2014 rushing leader Terrance West and rushing touchdown leader Isaiah Crowell in a three-man committee.

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Further, the Browns have more insurance than ever on the offensive line should Mack or another one of the starters suffer a season-ending, or season-affecting, injury. By drafting Cameron Erving in Round 1 this year, the Browns brought on a versatile lineman who can play guard, tackle or center. 

Erving is expected to start at either right guard or right tackle in his rookie year. That means either guard John Greco or tackle Mitchell Schwartz will be forced to the bench. But even that situation helps the Browns, because Greco can play guard or center—he's filling in for Mack at OTAs for precautionary reasons—and Schwartz can play guard or tackle.

Suddenly, Cleveland's depth on the offensive line is significantly better than it was last year. Now, an injury to a starter shouldn't tank the run game as it did last year with Mack. But that's not the only reason the Browns have no excuse not to run the ball better than in 2014. The personnel is also better suited to a successful 16 games of run-heavy offense.

West found himself in head coach Mike Pettine's doghouse at times during his rookie season—something he said he "deserved" when he spoke to ESPNCleveland.com's Tony Grossi in late May. He claimed that he wasn't prepared and thought he knew more than he did, which caused him to be far less disciplined than he needed to be.

Now, however, West is ready for a bounce-back second season, and he uses Pettine's words as motivation, saying to Grossi, "He always tells me I have great talent…(that) I have a chance to be one of the best running backs." West also has Crowell and Johnson as motivators to do better; though carries will be available for all three backs this year, someone will have to emerge as the Browns' top rusher.

Crowell has the edge, at least for now. He's been the Browns' starting back in OTA practices. He led the team in rushing touchdowns last year with eight and was its leader in yards per rush as well with 4.1. Though he didn't have as many carries as West, it doesn't matter when it comes to his odds for success in 2014. 

David Richard/Associated Press

Rounding out the group is Johnson, who just rejoined the Browns for OTAs last week after attending to a family issue in his hometown of Washington, D.C. Though, as Pettine cautioned, Johnson is "probably a typical rookie," via Andrew Gribble of ClevelandBrowns.com, he's also proved to be a quick study. He broke off a run last week that, in Pettine's words, "would have been a 40- or 50-yard chunk" in a full practice or live game. 

Of that run, left tackle Joe Thomas said, "He read his blocks perfectly, he saw the seam, he was patient. That's what you need as a running back. I hope we see that as the season goes on. I think you are going to see a more explosive offense this year." Johnson, meanwhile, knows where his bread is buttered and credited the offensive line, who "created a big seam" for the back to escape through.

Either way, Johnson's elusive speed and proven on-field performance—he's the University of Miami's all-time leading rusher—gives the Browns an added facet to their run game that they lacked last year. He won't just be a third-down, pass-catching back, though he can do that as well. Johnson has the potential to be as well-rounded a running back as any in the NFL presently.

While it's good news that the Browns were able to increase their rushing output in 2014 and, most importantly, improve their rushing touchdown total, this year, they must find greater success using the run game to extend drives.

Because Cleveland's offensive line is in excellent shape and because its stable of running backs is as good as it has ever been, there is no reason why the Browns cannot reprise their run-heavy approach from 2014 and have it pay significantly greater dividends in 2015.