5 Key 2014 Offensive Stats for the Cleveland Browns

Earlier this week, we took a look at five key defensive stats for the Cleveland Browns from 2014. Now, let's look at five key stats for last season's offense.

The Browns offense is far different this year than it was in 2014—they have a new coordinator, a new quarterback, a pair of new veteran receivers, a new tight end and a rookie running back added to the team this year.

So will last year's numbers change drastically with all of these new faces in Cleveland? Let's find out.

Pass Targets to Running Backs: 48

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The Browns did not get their running backs heavily involved in the passing offense last year under then-coordinator Kyle Shanahan. According to Rotoworld's Evan Silva, the Browns ranked last in the league in passing targets to their running backs, with 48. It was easily the lowest number in the league, with the San Francisco 49ers coming in 31st, with 64.

The numbers don't lie. Cleveland's backs saw few passing targets in 2014. Terrance West had 13, Isaiah Crowell had 14, Ben Tate had 12 and fullback Ray Agnew had nine. These 48 targets produced only one touchdown.

But, as Silva notes, the addition of rookie running back Duke Johnson should change things in 2015. Johnson had 65 receptions for 642 yards and four scores in two years at Miami and could see similar production in Cleveland—perhaps as many as 30 or 35 passing targets this year. And Browns coordinator John DeFilippo hasn't been shy about discussing Johnson's role in the passing game.

Granted that Johnson's plays the role he's expected to, the Browns should be in the top half of the league this year in passing targets to their running backs. 

Sacks Allowed: 31

Mike McCarn/Associated Press

Though the season-ending leg injury suffered by Browns center Alex Mack seriously damaged the team's run-blocking, it barely made a dent in its pass protection.

In 2014, Cleveland's quarterbacks were sacked only 31 times, tied for the 13th fewest in the league. Pro Football Focus attributed 17 of those to the offensive line. They ultimately ranked the Browns' line's pass protection sixth in the league. Football Outsiders, meanwhile, gave the Browns' line a rank of 15th in pass protection, but it was still a much higher rank than they earned in run blocking.

Things should only get better this year with Mack healthy and rookie lineman Cam Erving in the fold. Expected starting quarterback Josh McCown is also excited about working with Cleveland's line, saying in May:

"

I knew they were physically good, you see it on tape, but these guys are so smart. It's rare to get a group of five guys that can really see the field the way they do. I've said this all along, they were a big reason why I wanted to come here. After being with them now the last five or six weeks, had I known it was this good, I might not have even had to take a visit [before signing]. They're really sharp. I'm looking forward to continuing to work with them.

"

In 11 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, McCown was sacked 36 times. He will have far less to worry about with the Browns this year. 

Up-the-Middle Run Rank: 29

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Football Outsiders ranked the Browns' run efficiency up the middle of the offensive line last year 29th in the league.

While the Browns were a top-10 line in run blocking on the left side of the line—no shocker, considering that's where two of the Browns' best linemen, Joe Thomas and Joel Bitonio reside—up the middle of the field was a problem for the team. This was likely owed to center Alex Mack suffering a season-ending leg injury in Week 6.

Interestingly enough, the Browns averaged 3.6 yards per carry in the first half and the second half of the season, which seems to indicate that Mack's injury didn't affect the run game as much as had been assumed. But even though the Browns were running up the middle nearly half of the time over the course of the season, it yielded only 3.51 yards per carry on average.

This struggle dragged down the team's entire run game, and it's the biggest sign that Mack's injury did negatively affect the Browns' ability to run the ball. That should turn around with a healthy Mack this year.

Quarterback Rating: 72.8

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

The Browns cycled through three quarterbacks last year—Brian Hoyer started the year as the team's No. 1 on the depth chart, but he gave way to Johnny Manziel. And after both Hoyer and Manziel suffered shoulder injuries late in the year, Connor Shaw got the start in Week 17.

The result was a combined quarterback rating of 72.8 on the season, the second-lowest in the league. The Browns' quarterbacks also had the lowest total completion percentage among passers last season, at 54.6 percent, and they threw a combined 12 touchdowns to 16 interceptions.

The bad news, though, is that Josh McCown had a worse 2014 season than the Browns' trio of quarterbacks. He completed only 56.3 percent of his passes, had a quarterback rating of 70.5 and threw 11 touchdowns to 14 interceptions.

There is a silver lining to this situation, however. McCown is in a much better situation regarding pass protection, he has a more experienced group of receivers to work with and he's joining a team focused on playing strong defense and running the ball well, which will take pressure off of him to carry the entire offense himself.

But there's no denying that 2014 was a rough year for Cleveland's quarterbacks and McCown. But redemption is possible thanks to an improved supporting cast around the Browns' quarterbacks this year. 

Red-Zone Touchdown Percentage: 48.98 Percent

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

The Browns offense ranked 14th in red-zone appearances last year, averaging 3.1 per game. But they came away with touchdowns on those appearances only 48.98 percent of the time, ranking them 24th in the league, down from 52.78 percent in 2013.

Unsurprisingly, the Browns fared better at scoring touchdowns at home, doing so on 54.55 percent of their red-zone appearances. But on the road, they did so only 44.44 percent of the time. And it didn't get better as the season wore on—as the Browns turned from Brian Hoyer to Johnny Manziel and then Connor Shaw at QB, they managed to score touchdowns on their red-zone appearances only 25 percent of the time.

Having more consistency at the quarterback position this year should yield better results in the red zone, as should having a better run-blocking offensive line. The additions of weapons such as Dwayne Bowe, Rob Housler and Duke Johnson also improves the Browns' chances of scoring touchdowns in 2015.

But the Browns have a difficult schedule this year, and they cannot squander above-average red-zone trips by coming away with field goals or worse, nothing at all.