Cleveland Browns Have Always Won By Running the Football

Who is the first name you think of when you think of all-time Cleveland Browns?

That is easy for most. The answer is Jim Brown. Brown was arguably the best running back of all time.

Do you even know who the quarterback was when Brown was there?

Apparently it was Frank Ryan and Milt Plum at different times. It really didn't matter though, because the offensive game plan was; give the ball to Jim Brown.

In the '80s and early '90s, the Browns were consistently playoff contenders. They played in a memorable game that featured a series that would later be dubbed, "The Drive."

Although the Browns lost, it was a great game in Browns' history. The star of the game was Ernest Byner. Unfortunately for Byner, he did fumble late and let John Elway be John Elway.

That doesn't change the fact that it was the running game that allowed the Browns to be competitive. Other runners in that era were Kevin Mack and Eric Metcalf. Both were guys that were the difference makers on that team.

Bernie Kosar was the quarterback at the time and will always be a Browns legend. However, if you are looking at all-time NFL great quarterbacks, Kosar won't be anywhere on the list. He was one of those quarterbacks who didn't have the best arm, but was smart and wouldn't kill a team with interceptions.

Although Kosar wasn't an NFL great, he was still perfect for the Browns. He was able to provide enough of a passing game to compliment a great rushing attack.

Right before the original Browns left, they brought in Vinny Testaverde to back up Kosar. Unfortunately, we all know what happened. Every time Kosar made a bad pass the fans wanted Testaverde to play. It was constant back-and-forth between the two.

One comment that stood out in this process was made by Mike Ditka in a pre-game show. He said; "why are they worrying about who is playing quarterback? Give the ball to Eric Metcalf."

The Browns got away from what always worked for them and they started losing as a result.

Kosar was soon out. The Browns drafted Eric Zeier and the quarterback controversy between he and Testaverde was the focus for the year. The Browns never got back to doing what they always did, running the ball. Then the team moved to Baltimore shortly after.

When the Browns re-entered the league, their focus has been finding that franchise quarterback and it has failed miserably. From Tim Couch to Brady Quinn, they are still looking.

This whole year the controversy between Quinn and Anderson has really been the focus. The Browns have had two good passing games all year, against Detroit and San Diego. Those were exciting games, yet both were losses.

For most of the year the running game was put on the back burner to try and see who can be the franchise quarterback. Only in the last three games has the plan been to run the ball, regardless of who is under center. Joshua Cribbs and Jerome Harrison have been magnificent.

There hasn't been much from the passing game, but the Browns have won three-straight.

Now there is talk about what Holmgren will do to address the quarterback situation. The problem is that the franchise has wasted the last decade finding that, instead of focusing on how you really build a winner in Cleveland.

Cleveland is off the shores of Lake Erie and lake shore winds make it cold and windy from November through January. That is why the running game has always been what works in Cleveland.

Chicago went out last year and made the blockbuster trade for Jay Cutler to get a franchise quarterback. The Bears paid a big price for him and it looks like they made a bad deal. Chicago is just like Cleveland, in fact, it is called the Windy City. That has also been a team that has won by running.

So this coming off-season, maybe the Browns should change their approach. Understand that neither of the two quarterbacks may ever be the franchise quarterback. However, also understand that that is never how the Browns have won.

Therefore keep the guy who best compliments the running game. That is the guy who will turn it over less and can run play-action and bootlegs off of the run. We all know which of the two better fits that mode.

Then the real focus needs to be on continuing to build on the running game. The first way to do that is fix the holes in the line. That means this Sunday should be John St. Clair's last game as a Brown.

Then you turn the focus to Harrison and Cribbs and how to best compliment them. There are many Browns fans who still like James Davis and Chris Jennings, but for whatever reason this writer just isn't feeling it with those two.

Toby Gerhart or CJ Spiller would be nice additions to the running game. Also Lendale White as a short yardage specialist can, and should be, looked into for the Browns.

That is how the Browns can build a winner. The good news is Holmgren understands things like this.