First look: Running Backs

It’s so tempting to call the Browns’ ground attack this season one of the best, if not the best, in the entire National Football League.

With Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt operating behind – sometimes next to – Baker Mayfield in the backfield, the possibilities of generating the best Cleveland offense since the halcyon days of Jim Brown and Ernie Green are limitless.

Better than the Pruitts, Greg and Mike? Yep. Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner? Absolutely. They are potentially (hate that word) much better.

These guys are just getting started working as a tandem with the Browns. Chubb established himself last season as one of the best young runners in the NFL, moving into elite territory

They aren’t just two bullets in the gun belt of whoever calls plays – head coach Kevin Stefanski or offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt – this season. They are major weapons for a coach who loves to run the football.

Both young men (Chubb is 24, Hunt will be 25 in a week) have unique qualities that will serve this season’s offense nicely. Chubb, who lost the rushing title to Tennessee’s Derrick Henry in the final week of the season, is your ultimate warrior.

He gained a remarkable 1,055 of his 1,494 rushing yards (70.6%) after contact, many of them with his dazzling speed and ability to maintain his balance. He also contributed 36 pass receptions for another 278 yards. All this despite being forgotten in a few games by coach Freddie Kitchens.

Hunt, on the other hand, is your Swiss Army knife. He can do it all and do it well. He is one of the league’s best runners – he led the NFL in rushing as a rookie in 2017 with Kansas City – and an accomplished receiver out of the backfield.

The Cleveland native (Willoughby South High School) is extremely reliable with the football, fumbling only once in his career – ironically on his first play from scrimmage as a rookie – and is a willing blocker.

Hunt, who played the final eight games last season after sitting out a suspension in the first half, and Chubb combined for 414 touches (80 by Hunt), 2,236 yards and 11 touchdowns. That’s a stunning 5.4 yards a touch.

And that was for a clueless head coach who mishandled his offense that ultimately paved his way out of town. One can only imagine how well and how often Chubb and Hunt will be utilized by whoever calls plays this season.

The mind boggles at the possibilities, especially when Chubb and Hunt line up together, whether in the backfield and/or lined up outside or in the slot. Given Stefanski’s fondness of the ground game, it wouldn’t surprise to see them total close to 600 touches and 20 touchdowns.

And when Stefanski gets close to the opposing goal line or faces a crucial third-and-short situation, he can call on fullback Andy Janovich, whose main role will be to clear paths for Chubb and Hunt.

Sure beats using hybrid tight ends the Browns have employed the last several seasons. A true fullback like Janovich fits the head coach’s schemes much better.

Returnees D’Ernest Johnson and Dontrell Hilliard, rookies Benny LeMay and Brian Herrien and fullback Johnny Stanton fill out the running backs room. LeMay is an intriguing player. The 5-8, 220-pounder rushed for more than 2.300 yards and 20 touchdowns at Charlotte the last two seasons and could challenge for a backup role.

Next: Wide receivers