Pluto Intrigued by Potential in Running Game

by Chris Pokorny on May 17, 2009 11:21 AM EDT in General News

In today's column, Plain Dealer writer Terry Pluto recaps why it appears clear that running the football will be the focal point of the Browns' offense this season. After indicating that the Browns have only finished above 20th in the league in rushing once since returning to the league in 1999, Pluto wrote the following:

"Let's consider what the Browns under Eric Mangini and George Kokinis have done. When you trade Kellen Winslow partly because of contract and physical problems, and partly because he's a tight end who can't block, what does that say? When you make center Alex Mack your first-round choice, what does that say? When you sign a tight end who can block in Robert Royal, and when you sign two starting veteran offensive linemen in John St. Clair and Floyd Womack, what is the message? You got it -- the new regime didn't like the blocking last year and wants to run the ball."

Following that, Pluto cites how Mangini gradually improved the Jets' running game. In Mangini's first season, the Jets ranked 20th; they ranked 19th in his second season before finally improving to 9th in his final season. Part of the reason for that? Center Nick Mangold, according to the Sporting News Today, is the league's best center.

On the defensive side, Pluto discusses a similar reason he is intrigued by the potential for the Browns' run defense this season.

In other news, the Browns added a kicker to the roster yesterday (so that Phil Dawson isn't overworked in camp).

The OBR outlines a new drill the Browns will be implementing this year to work on tackling.

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If we are gonna run this year, we NEED to spread out the carries. I dont think Jamal deserves 20 carries a game anymore.

I defineatley think one of our ILBs will be better at stopping the run than davis was last year, whether it be barton, maiva, veikune, or maybe even ruud or bell.

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 17, 2009 11:54 AM EDT reply actions

I agree. All the blocking in the world won’t help Jamal unless he stops stumbling.

Tribe fan trapped in Kansas

by Avindian on May 17, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

better run blocking, which we’ll have this year, will make jamal look a lot better.

by DontCallMeJoey on May 17, 2009 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Also, before the season when Jamal ran for 1300 yds, everyone was doubting that he could still play. If we keep doubting him, he’ll do alright. Maybe not LT in his prime, but alright.

by rufio on May 17, 2009 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I just think he is just getting too old.

Speaking of LT, any chance he is cut after next year?

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 18, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

This is just my own theory, but I don’t see LT ever signing with the Browns even if he gets cut from SD

by Roger Dorn on May 18, 2009 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I see LT taking a pretty big salary hit to stay with SD, and if he can’t then I see him going to a super bowl frontrunner.

Lewis is getting old, but it isn’t impossible that he gives us another decent season. We should look pretty hard at RBs next year in the draft.

Really, we need to get production out of Lewis or one of the other backs or a combination of them. I just hope we can have a running game in some fashion. If holding out hope that Lewis can be productive is blinding me to how much we are screwed, then so be it.

by rufio on May 18, 2009 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Jonathan Dwyer bandwagon

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 18, 2009 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn’t say we’re screwed quite yet. If Lewis isn’t productive we do have Davis to bring up, but he is still a rookie, and Harrison is good for a couple of plays a game. Maybe even throw Cribbs in to the mix. That with the additions to our o-line, in my eyes we have a decent running game.

by tjk_doc on May 19, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Davis could have been decent at stopping the run last year, but all of the players on defense seemed coached to get to a spot 2-3 yards the wrong way of the LOS and wait for the RB to get to them. I don’t care how much you weigh or how strong you are, if a NFL RB hits you with a head of steam, you are going backwards.

Davis might be old and slow, but he could still stand a RB up…if he were turned loose. I don’t know if any LB stands a chance if he is just standing there waiting for the ball carrier to get to him.

by rufio on May 17, 2009 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Jerome Harrison

I would love to see more Jerome Harrison this season, and it is a big shame we didn’t see more of him in 2008. He has only been continuously getting better every year. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry in ’07 and improved on that in ’08 by another yard with 7.2 per carry, and remember those numbers are despite being held back so much so for the past two years. I think the potential for a breakout season is pretty obvious.

by Simmsinns on May 17, 2009 2:32 PM EDT reply actions

his YPC is skewed high b/c of his limited carries. the 6.2 or 7.2 would have been much lower with a more significant workload.

i maintain that harrison is a 5-10 touches/game guy. he’s a change of pace back, not a feature carrier. i definitely hope to see more of him this year, but no so much more.

by DontCallMeJoey on May 17, 2009 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I’d like to see more of him also, but there’s no way he can average 7 YPC if he’s rushing 15-20 times a game like a feature back.

by Buckeye Brad on May 17, 2009 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions

if he did, he’d be the best back in the NFL

by Roger Dorn on May 17, 2009 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I want 10-15 touches for Harrison. 8ish carries and 7ish receptions. He’s dangerous on screens and draws, and could be a major weapon to slow down the pass rush if we really do go with more of a spread look. I don’t buy the idea that he can’t play a role in the passing game.

He isn’t a feature back, no.

Sproles averaged 5.2 carries and 2.16 receptions per game last year, and SD leaned on him much more late in the season (15.66 carries and 4 receptions in week 17 and the playoffs). To me, Sproles’ season averages should be the minimum for Harrison. Harrison is 3 inches and 25 pounds bigger than Sproles and is less tiny. We also don’t have LT to lean on, even an injured LT.

by rufio on May 18, 2009 2:28 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs