Editorial: Cleveland Browns running game continues to stumble

Karl Kimbrough, Sports Writer

By Karl Kimbrough, Cleveland Urban News.Com Sports Writer
(www.clevelandurbannews.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio-After a losing 2011 NFL football season where the Cleveland Browns won only four out of 16 games, the coaches identified the offense as priority in building a winning team.

 By using their first three picks in the 2011 NFL draft on offensive players and fourth and second round supplemental draft picks on wide receivers, the Browns began to reshape their offense. The first two draft picks in the first round were used to acquire a top rated running back and quarterback. So, after one quarter of the 2012 season has been played, have these picks helped the Browns?

If wins is the barometer, then the answer is a resounding no as the Browns have begun the season with four losses in a row. Last year the Browns averaged 13.6 points per game for the entire season: This year, through four games, they have averaged 18 points.  So, Browns fans should be happy with this improvement right? Not so fast. Even though they average more points and even more yards passing, there is an alarming imbalance in rushing and passing attempts, making the team’s offense one dimensional. The Browns have been inconsistent in making first downs and maintaining drives. Trent Richardson, the Browns all American running back, only attempted three rushing plays in the second half of the game against the Baltimore Ravens and four times against the Buffalo Bills. In both games, the Browns trailed by seven points or less going into the second half.

So, why not run the ball more and why has Shurmu (the Browns coach) given up on the run often and soon? One reason is that Shurmur is feeling the pressure of winning and doesn't have confidence in the run. Another reason is that it's not working because of the way he is coaching the run.  Trent Richardson has shown that he is a beast of a running back. He can run you over, just ask Kurt Coleman of the Eagles. Richardson can beat you to the outside edge, evidenced by his speed as he scored easily on a toss play against the Ravens. He can make you miss when he gets to the second level of the defense, just ask the Bengals. In acquiring Mitchell Schwartz in the draft to play right tackle, the Browns were supposed to have solidified their offensive line. Are these offensive linemen under achieving?  Our supposed new and improved running game has an elementary scheme. The Browns have sent their all star caliber running back between the tackles on almost every running play.

You may say, what's wrong with running between the tackles, don't all NFL football teams do that?

Yes they do, but not exclusively. Richardson has the power, the speed and the cutting ability to run to all parts of the field with good vision, and he is not just a Peyton Hillis type power back.

The Browns blocking scheme is elementary in that they primarily plow straight forward. With this type of scheme, it is not difficult for seven men in the tackle box to stop it and take away possible running lanes. As each man takes his man at the snap of the ball, you have five on four and with three linebackers coming up to fill the gaps, there is not going to be much of a gap to get to the second level. 

This is why we have seen so many long first downs. In addition to only running between the tackles, Pat Shurmur rarely calls running plays on second and third down. He'll run on second down if there is an incomplete pass on first down. 

The Browns play caller is very predictable and doesn't give the opposing coach much of a challenge. One good adjustment that he's made is incorporating the sprint draw more. With the same blocking scheme, the sprint draw gives the slight look of a pass slowing down the run defense and creating better opportunity for a running lane between the tackles.

 Former San Diego Charger offensive lineman Eric Moten, who was one of the better offensive guards in the league during the 1990s, recently agreed with my assessment of the Cleveland running game. Moten said, “The Browns use a man blocking scheme most of the time, it's not a pro-style running attack, it's elementary.”

 Moten went on to say that the zone blocking scheme would better suit Trent Richardson because he can get to the edge of the defense and create one-on-one situations. It allows the Browns to get a double team on a defensive lineman or linebacker. It also gives the Browns offensive linemen a better chance to block on linebackers and defensive backs on the second and third levels of the defense.

While the Browns strengthened their offensive line, if they don’t use these new players more efficiently, they will continue to struggle to put points on the board and this season could be over before it has started.


Reach Karl Kimbrough at Kimbrough@Cleveland Urban News.Com

Reach Cleveland Urban News.Com by telephone at 216-659-0473 and by email at editor@clevelandurbannews.com.