Isaiah Crowell, Duke Johnson Are Adding Extra Dimension to Browns Offense

The Cleveland Browns went into the 2015 season hoping to get more from their running backs, not just as ball-carriers but also as receivers. And though this plan got off to a slow start, it appears to be getting ever-closer to reaching fruition, based on the team's Week 4 performance.

It started when the team chose John DeFilippo to replace Kyle Shanahan at offensive coordinator. DeFilippo has never shied away from using running backs in the passing game, and the drafting of Duke Johnson in Round 3 in May seemed only to confirm what we already knew.

But Johnson's hamstring injury, which hobbled him for much of training camp, meant that he would be behind schedule when it comes to executing Cleveland's playbook to the fullest right away. So while Browns running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery saw Johnson as a versatile, Thurman Thomas-type back, it took time to ease Johnson onto the field.

	Player	Tgts.	Rec.	Rec.%	Yds.	TDs
2014	Crowell	14	9	64.2%	87	0
	West	13	11	84.6%	64	1
	Tate	12	9	75.0%	60	0
	Total	39	29	74.3%	211	1
2015	Johnson	17	15	88.2%	117	1
	Crowell	5	5	100.0%	75	0
	Draughn	3	2	66.7%	1	0
	Total	25	22	88.0%	193	1

According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson played 31, 26 and 33 snaps, respectively, in each of the Browns' first three games of the season. But that role expanded to 45 snaps, or 60.8 percent of the Browns' offensive plays against the San Diego Chargers in Week 4, and Johnson took advantage of every opportunity he was given.

Johnson rushed a pedestrian eight times for 31 yards, averaging 3.9 yards per carry. But where he shined—and why the Browns drafted him in the first place—was in the passing game. He was Cleveland's receiving leader against San Diego, targeted 10 times by quarterback Josh McCown, for nine receptions totaling 85 yards and a score, bringing his yards from scrimmage to 116 on the day. DeFilippo finally saw his vision realized. 

Johnson's role as a receiver, in particular, is necessary for a Browns team that needs a multidimensional offense. While players like Travis Benjamin, with his speed and big-play ability, and Gary Barnidge with his reliability are assets, leaning heavily on them in traditional receiving roles can make the Browns predictable. There needs to be a wrench thrown into the works, which is where Johnson fits in.

The difference is already evident. In 2014, the Browns threw a total of 39 passes to running backs, with 29 completions netting the team 211 yards and one score. Already this year, 25 passes have been thrown to the Browns' backs, with 22 completions for 193 yards and a touchdown. This offense is neither stagnant, nor vanilla, when it comes to the ways they are using their backs. 

That's not to say that Johnson won't have a role running the ball, but it won't be as big as that of Isaiah Crowell's. Crowell is currently the Browns' leading rusher, with 49 carries for 191 yards and a touchdown, and is averaging 3.9 yards per carry.

Jason Miller/Getty Images

While he's yet to break 100 yards in a game this year, he's also yet to break 15 carries in a game—something tough to do given Johnson's presence, as well as the fact that a healthy Robert Turbin will be taking the field in a short while. However, the fact that Crowell has tightened his grip on a lead back role that Montgomery lamented no one wanted back in August is a good sign for things to come.

Things aren't as run-heavy in Cleveland as they first appeared they would be, with the Browns rushing a total of 86 times to 93 passes. But this balanced offense is a good thing for the Browns, especially when it is incorporating throwing to the running backs. A pass to a running back, especially those thrown at or behind the line of scrimmage, is like a run play, only with an opposing defense caught (ideally) unaware to some degree.

But most importantly, two aspects that the Browns were focused on emphasizing and improving during the offseason are starting to gain steam. Crowell and Johnson give the Browns more offensive options and the pair have begun to prove they can meet the expectations. They are two big reasons why the Browns offense shows improvement on a weekly basis.