Cleveland Browns Must Help Robert Griffin III Succeed

Quarterback Robert Griffin III giving the Cleveland Browns hope for the future is the only way the 2016 NFL season won’t be a complete disaster for the club.

The 2016 Cleveland Browns have essentially been one big waste of time for customers who spend money to attend games at FirstEnergy Stadium. Cleveland is no closer to finding a franchise quarterback than the club was a year ago when Johnny Manziel guided the Browns to a win over the San Francisco 49ers. The club’s rookie class is largely unspectacular after 12 games. It feels as if the Browns are destined to finish the campaign winless and 0-16.

However, quarterback Robert Griffin III playing well over the next month can help erase the worst memories from a lost season.

Cleveland head coach Hue Jackson and those running the Browns took a flier on Griffin this past offseason after he flopped with the Washington Redskins. Entering the Week 13 bye, Griffin has not yet proven to be worth even a fraction of what the Browns invested in him. Griffin suffered a shoulder injury late in the opening week of the regular season, and he has since been sidelined.

It is believed Griffin will be able to take the field when the Browns host the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 14 on Dec. 11.

Regardless of how well or how poorly Griffin plays over the next month, the Browns would be downright silly to believe he can remain healthy for any significant amount of time. Griffin’s injury history has been well-documented over the years and he couldn’t even give the Browns four full quarters before experiencing a physical setback that made him a spectator for several months. Cleveland will select a quarterback at some point in next year’s draft.

With that said, next year is for next year. The Browns still have four games to play in 2016, and the team desperately needs a win to avoid finishing the campaign 0-16 and to avoid the inevitable conversations that would come with that record. Thus, Jackson and his staff need to do everything possible to allow Griffin to succeed between now and the afternoon of Jan. 1.

Sep 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) passes against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

For starters, Jackson must stop abandoning the rushing attack in the second halves, whether the Browns are losing 30-0 at halftime or are within a score at the break. Running backs Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson need to accumulate no fewer than 20 total carries each contest between now and Week 17. No exceptions, no excuses.

It’s hardly a secret that injuries decimated the Cleveland offensive line, a unit that looks historically bad as of the start of December, over the past several months. Every play Griffin drops back to pass brings with it the real possibility he could be injured. In reality, Griffin is one devastating hit away from possibly becoming a former NFL player.

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Every opposing defense in the NFL knows quarterback-turned-wide-receiver Terrelle Pryor is Cleveland’s best offensive weapon. Pryor should get his looks in games no matter what schemes he faces, but defenses focusing on Pyror should open things up for tight end Gary Barnidge.

You may remember Gary Barnidge from when he was named to the Pro Bowl squad last season. Those days may seem like they occurred years ago, however, as Barnidge is currently averaging fewer than four catches per game. His struggles aside, Barnidge has proven himself to be a safety blanket while playing alongside Manziel and veteran Josh McCown.

Jackson, his staff and Griffin must create opportunities for Barnidge early and often in games. Crossing patterns, slants and even screens should be on table to achieve this mission. Pryor and rookie Corey Coleman are Cleveland’s most dynamic playmakers, but Barnidge could ultimately become Griffin’s best friend on the Browns if he averages five or even six catches per contest over the next four games.

The previously mentioned Duke Johnson can be an ally for Griffin in multiple ways other than carrying the football out of the backfield. Johnson has become somewhat of a revelation as a pass-blocker, particularly when facing blitz packages. The second-year pro saved both McCown and rookie Cody Kessler more than once already this year and Griffin will need to know when to change things up at the line to use Johnson as an extra blocker.

Outside of those occasions, the Browns should move Johnson out of the backfield to wide receiver anywhere between 6-to-10 times per game. Johnson can spread the field, has solid hands and can take the ball to the house when lined-up against a linebacker. Jackson isn’t feeding the Duke in the rushing attack, so Johnson should receive those touches in the passing game.

Lastly, but quite importantly, Jackson needs to take the overly creative portions from his playbook and burn those pages into dust. I’m specifically referencing those ridiculous packages that include eight players lining up near one sideline before they return to their standard positions,and also any play that involves a running back throwing a pass.

Jackson can and should embrace “trickeration.” The Browns are 0-12, after all. This can be done without seemingly lifting ideas from the Little Giants. Cleveland’s offensive woes can’t be saved by using Johnson as the team’s seventh QB of the season.

None of this, of course, guarantees Griffin will stay healthy for longer than a half, let alone actually play well during the final four games of the year. Griffin leading the Browns to at least one victory is, as things stand heading into the bye, the only hope the club has to prove to fans 2016 was, in fact, part of a real rebuild and not merely one long preseason leading up to next year’s draft.

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