Cleveland Browns: Duke Johnson, Space May Spur Running Game

Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson is confident in the running backs the team has despite little investment since he took over the job. He may have a good reason to be.

The Cleveland Browns didn’t draft a running back this year. They didn’t bring in any undrafted free agent running backs after the draft either. Their one move involving running back was signing Terrell Watson off of the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad.

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Nevertheless, Hue Jackson is confident in the running game and has been somewhat hyperbolic in his praise of the group they have. That confidence may come from the fact that Jackson knows where his running backs can win and he can create those situations for them on a consistent basis. The key is likely Duke Johnson and where he wins is space.

Johnson had a productive rookie year largely in spite of his yardage on the ground. On 104 carries, Johnson only gained 379 yards. He missed training camp practices due to a strained hamstring and then a concussion in preseason. Getting a real comfort level between Johnson and his timing with the offensive line was going to be a work in progress. Johnson had some bright spots but his overall production on the ground was mediocre.

Blocking up front, particularly from the tight ends and fullback position didn’t help. It seemed to be counterproductive to clog up the box when the ancillary blockers weren’t effective at their jobs. Johnson either created his own play or was sprung open by some good blocking up the middle by the offensive line.

John DeFillipo’s running game was largely a struggle with the Browns in 2015. Where he did find a good amount of success was in the passing game when he just spread teams out and let Josh McCown in particular focus on good matchups. Even without a real running game, the Browns managed to create a functional offense using this method.

Johnson thrived in space under DeFillipo and had a terrific season as a receiving threat, catching 61 passes for 534 yards, basically becoming the third most dangerous receiving threat on the same behind Gary Barnidge and Travis Benjamin, who is now a member of the San Diego Chargers.

Everything about what Hue Jackson wants to do suggests the Browns are going to spread opponents out and scheme opportunities to create space. This should continue to be a good for Barnidge, who had the best year of his career in 2015, and hopefully provide opportunities for first round pick Corey Coleman. Duke Johnson may be the biggest beneficiary of all, especially with a full NFL offseason and hopefully a fully healthy training camp.

If the Browns run four receiver sets and are competent as a passing offense, Johnson won’t be facing eight-man boxes. He should consistently see just seven in the box and if Jackson employs that wider Baylor spread look (pictured below), that number could be effectively reduced to five. Given the way Johnson runs, this should provide a ton of opportunities to succeed.

Johnson was a nightmare in space as a rookie. Easily creating separation and becoming a giant mismatch for opposing linebackers, Johnson also showed on any number of occasions his ability to make multiple defenders miss on a given play. If the Browns can consistently create those six on seven matchups in the box, (not including the quarterback) Johnson may not make defenders miss on every play but eventually he’s going to break a big run.

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Explosive plays are plays that gain at least 20 yards. As a rookie, Johnson had two explosive plays as a runner but eight as a receiver, which ranked him third on the team behind Barnidge (16) and Benjamin (12). The more space Johnson gets, the more dangerous he becomes.

Johnson isn’t the only back on the team. Isaiah Crowell may benefit from a simpler blocking scheme and more space as well. Crowell struggles with vision and finding the hole but he showed flashes when told to go to a specific spot and attack there. Like Johnson, he has a ton of athleticism and could benefit greatly from the scheme change.

The secret weapon for the Browns may be Terrell Watson. Watson signed with the Browns barely a week after Jackson was hired. Watson is a load, who thrives getting downhill as fast as possible. He’s explosive and has the ability to get to the second level quickly where he then will lower his shoulder and punish smaller defenders trying to tackle him.

The problem with Watson, like Glenn Winston, who also has a ton of size and athleticism, is that it’s largely theoretical. Winston is entering his third season in the league, has been largely just a name bouncing back and forth between the Browns active roster and the practice squad. The combination of Watson and Winston have a total of just one regular season carry between them.

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It remains to be seen if one of them can break through and be productive for the Browns, but this is why so much of this appears to rest on Duke Johnson’s shoulders. Maybe the offense will suit Crowell better and he’ll be more effective, but if Johnson gets hurt and misses time or is simply ineffective, the Browns running game is probably going to suffer for it. Duke Johnson really seems to be the key for Hue Jackson to establish a productive running game this season.