Terry Pluto knows it's Josh Cribbs and the running backs who are the closest things the Browns' offense has to playmakers. The ball should be in their hands.
Someday, the talent on the Browns' offense might require a more sophisticated philosophy, says Terry Pluto. But right now, this skill-starved team needs to give the ball to Peyton Hillis (and Jerome Harrison, and James Davis) and get out of his way.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- OK, so this set of scribbles will have a definite theme ...
1. Let's consider what the Browns learned at the end of last season -- when they rushed for 900 yards in their last four games. That's right, 900 yards! Yes, they did it against one good defense (Pittsburgh) and others not so good (Kansas City, Oakland and Jacksonville). But we're talking 900 yards on the ground in four games! And we're talking only 363 yards passing -- and one touchdown -- in those four games. So everyone knew the Browns were going to run the ball, and no one could really stop them.
2. In that final four-game winning streak, the Browns threw a grand total of 64 passes -- 16 per game. They ran it 45 times a game. This was an offense committed to running the ball. New team president Mike Holmgren still can't figure out how the Browns won those games throwing for only 91 yards a game -- but they did. You can't win titles this way, but it's imperative for the Browns to win games any way they can.
3. Holmgren wisely upgraded the quarterback position with Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, but it's not like he brought in Otto Graham and Brian Sipe. They are better than the departed Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. But it seemed in the first two games, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was to happy to have someone who could sort of pass -- he forgot about the run, and the major commitment it takes to make a power ground game work.
4. In the 17-14 loss at Tampa, the Browns threw 37 passes, and ran it 23 times. They averaged 4.5 yards per carry in those games, but Daboll turned away from running the ball when Peyton Hillis (41 yards in nine carries) fumbled twice (losing one). In Monday's press conference Eric Mangini mentioned the Browns "ran the ball well" at Tampa. That's true, coach. But they didn't run it enough.
5. In the 16-14 loss to Kansas City, it was 31 passes to 26 runs. Jerome Harrison (33 yards, 16 carries) didn't produce. Hillis (35 yards, eight carries) had some nice moments, but the Browns seemed reluctant to put the ball in his hands -- probably because the fumbles at Tampa.
6. But the Browns should have known that Hillis had only one fumble in 88 NFL carries entering this season. It was his first game with a new team -- maybe he just tried too hard to make big plays and didn't protect the ball. The best thing for Hillis was Harrison (thigh injury) being out in Baltimore, meaning the Browns had to give him the ball. They had to return to their roots of running the ball. In the 24-17 loss to the Ravens, they had 24 passes compared to 29 runs. It produced 173 yards rushing, Hillis with a bullish 144 yards in 22 carries.
7. In Baltimore, the right side of the line was strong, especially when Tony Pashos was at tackle next to Porkchop Womack. Hillis gained 49 yards in six carries running to the right side. Two carries went for 12 and 25 yards. He had six yards in three carries up the middle. To the left, it was 89 yards in 13 carries.
8. Joshua Cribbs said the line was "begging" to run the ball. His 19-yard run was to the left side. Add in a powerful blocking fullback in Lawrence Vickers and a 240-runner in Hillis who seems to always fall forward for extra yardage -- and the Browns can have a good running game again. But they have to remain committed to it.
9. It was Harrison who led the ground game last year. This season, Hillis has been more effective. I prefer the Browns to go with the hot running back, period. Now, it's Hillis. They can mix in Harrison (when healthy). Maybe even some James Davis, too. The idea of a power running game with a big back who can also catch passes is why the Browns drafted Montario Hardesty (out with knee surgery). They want depth at the position.
10. There can be a lot of gnashing of teeth about the lack of passes to the receivers, but Seneca Wallace was 18-of-24 for 144 yards. He threw nine passes to receivers: Cribbs (six), Mohammed Massaquoi (one). He threw six more to tight end Ben Watson. Hillis had eight passes thrown his way. If the Browns had Anquan Boldin and were ignoring a star receiver, then it's a big issue. Cribbs is developing into their best receiver, and he was the target of 33 percent of the passes.
11. I'm not writing about what an ideal team should look like, I'm writing about where the Browns offense is today. They don't have any accomplished receivers. They have two journeymen quarterbacks. They do have a line and a fullback that can really run-block, when that is their mission. So I'm not going to talk about keeping receivers happy when it's Cribbs and the running backs who are the closest things this offense has to playmakers. I want the ball in their hands.