This is part three of Ryan's extensive breakdown of the 2009 Cleveland Browns. Part one, Part two.
Out with the old...
In with the new.
The Players:
Jamal Lewis: 143 carries, 500 yards, 3.5 YPC, 0 TD's, Long of 18 yards, 8 catches, 88 yards, 0 TD's (IR)
Jerome Harrison: 194 carries, 862 yards, 4.4 YPC, 5 TD's, Long of 71 yards, 34 catches, 240 yards, 2 TD's
Chris Jennings: 63 carries, 220 yards, 3.5 YPC, 1 TD, Long of 16 yards, 9 catches, 56 yards, 0 TD's
James Davis: 9 carries, 15 yards, 1,7 YPC, 0 TD's, Long of 5 yards, 4 catches, 5 yards, 0 TD's (IR)
Lawrence Vickers: 0 carries, 0 yards, 0.0 YPC, 0 TD's, Long of 0 yards, 8 catches, 27 yards, 1 TD
This group, like the Browns season itself, was a roller coaster. At the start of the season, we all had guarded optimism about the running attack. Jamal would bounce back, James Davis was a star waiting to be unleashed on the entire NFL, and we always had the enigma of Jerome Harrison just waiting to get his turn. So we thought.
Fast forward to13 weeks into the NFL season. The Browns stood at a 1-11, and had what was shaping up to be one of the worst offenses in NFL history. The running attack was anemic at best. Jamal Lewis was done at the age of 30 (Who saw that one coming?). Jerome Harrison was deactivated for multiple games in the middle of the season. James Davis was injured in a practice opportunity session and was placed on IR. Chris Jennings was signed off the practice squad. In short, this teams running game was in shambles and had no reason for optimism.
Then Pittsburgh came into town on a Thursday night for a NFL network prime time game. The wind conditions were insane, much like the teams sole win in Buffalo, making a passing game almost non-existent. Maybe the light finally went on for the coaching staff, but instead of having Derek Anderson throw the ball 30 times, they decided to run behind an offensive line that was actually moving people off the ball.
As we know the Browns finished the season on a four game winning streak. They ran the ball like men possessed and didn't care if they ever passed it. Woody Hayes would have been proud.
I posted this before, but it bears repeating.
Over the final 4 weeks of the NFL season:Titans: 603 yards rushing, 151 YPG
Browns: 900 yards rushing, 225 YPG
What this season meant:
What to look for this offseason:
Jerome Harrison is a RFA. I fully expect the Browns to drop a heavy tender on him and I would be very surprised if another team ponied up the draft picks and cash to sign away "The Ghost". He is a virtual lock to return to the Browns in '10.
Jamal Lewis after his injury made noise about retiring, but after rethinking (a.k.a his agent called him and told him that his "retirement" would probably cost him bonus money, so he shouldn't "retire", he should instead wait to be cut) he is still open to return in '10. Don't count on it. I have a better chance at being a Brown next season.
Chris Jennings is a nice player, but isn't anything to write home about. He averaged 3.5 YPC when the Browns O-Line was blowing holes wide open. I don't expect Jennings to be a Brown next season.
I expect big things out of James Davis. He has the tools and if he can come back strong this off-season and show the coaches the same explosion that he showed in the '09 preseason, we just may have a stud on our hands.
Lawrence Vickers will be a free agent after the season (RFA like Harrison if there is no CBA) and is a must sign for the new regime. I hope and expect that he will be back in Cleveland next season.
Draft:
There is some nice talent in the '10 draft at RB. The player I like most is Jonathan Dwyer from GT. Other players that have been mentioned are Toby Gerhart from Stanford, Javid Best from Cal, Joe McKnight USC, and Ryan Matthews from Fresno State. The best thing about the running game improvement for the Browns is that RB is no longer a mammoth need for this team. If a great RB is there in the second, then sure take him, but the Browns don't HAVE to come out of the draft with a RB. There is a big difference between those two.
Free Agency:
As of right now, Ronnie Brown (RFA), Pierre Thomas (RFA), LenDale White (RFA), Darren Sproles, Leon Washington, Chester Taylor, Jerious Norwood, LeRon McClain (RFA) and fast Willie Parker will all be free agents after the season. I have posted it elsewhere, but again, I think the amount of free agents this offseason will be incredible. Just from a name aspect alone, I expect LT, Reggie Bush, Clinton Portis, Thomas Jones, among others to all be FA's.
Teams are getting get out of jail free cards on bad contracts, and RB will be one of the deepest positions in FA because of it.
0 recs | 62 comments
I like where we are going with our running backs. Jerome Harrison and James Davis at 1 and 2 will treat us very well, I would imagine.
That being said I would like to see Dexter McCluster taken in a later round, if available. That guy can make some serious plays. When he is on the field you just cannot afford to ignore him.
Lisol - January 21, 2010
A lot of people actually were less than optimistic about Jamal heading into the season. Even last year, he finished with 1000 yards, but it was not impressive at all. I am a little disappointed that it took so long to bench him/put him on IR, but ultimately the way the season ended, I am pleased with where the run game currently sits.
Roger Dorn - January 21, 2010
Yeah every once in a while the vocal minority is right about a player. I think most people that took a close look at the numbers, especially FO numbers, could clearly see that he was easily replaceable at best.
danvail - January 21, 2010
Was it a vocal minority or majority? I don’t recall anyone with much excitement for Lewis.
Spidey - January 21, 2010 via mobile
I suppose I’m making the distinction between levels of displeasure. I think especially before the season a lot of fans (not a bunch on here, though) thought JL was at least a solid, above average back. The whole 1000 yard rusher crowd. Most people here recognized he at least needed to split time.
Others, like RK, wanted him out of the picture all together.
danvail - January 21, 2010
I for one thought that Lewis would at least be serviceable and that we could have gotten some nice production out of our 2nd back. I did not expect Lewis’s career to end like this (last few years, not just this year). From what I remember of him when he was good he ran hard and strong and I felt that those traits would not be traits that would diminish. Speed yes, but determination and toughness no.
At the end of his career, Lewis ran like a . . .
Villeslgr - January 21, 2010
This pretty much what I thought going into the season.
I thought Lewis would give us 6-8 games of decent-below average running. I then thought that James Davis would take the job and be the greatest running back in the history of man kind.
My goals were low.
Bernie19Kosar - January 21, 2010
Harrison really shocked me. Not that he was capable of the explosive plays- we had seen flashes of that before. But that he was effective in consecutive weeks with 34, 39, and 33 carries. Workhorse and Jerome Harrison in the same thought would never have entered my mind until those performances.
I was at the Jacksonville game. Against one of the best rush defenses in the NFL, playing for an outside chance at the playoffs, and with no threat of a passing attack, Jerome Harrison broke the will of the Jaguars.
All that said, I want a big back on the team. And while that list of potential free agents is nice, I want Jonathan Dwyer. And I want him bad. I’ll be disappointed if he is there in round 2 and we don’t take him.
Ryan Kelsey - January 21, 2010
Wasn’t Harrison a workhorse on his college team? It was the media who said he couldn’t be an every down back because of his size. Maybe he can’t be, but used the right way, he and another back could be an awesome 1, 2 punch for the Browns.
Crazy Ray - January 21, 2010
He was a workhorse for Wash St. his senior year. But he was a JuCo transfer and his Junior year he didn’t start.
I think my perception came mainly from his size, and that it seemed he was often injured after taking hits his first several years in the league. Sometimes it was only for a few plays or the rest of that game, but he seemed to need extended recovery time after every hit he took.
Ryan Kelsey - January 21, 2010
I’d take LeRon McClain instead of Dwyer.
chitown browns fan - January 21, 2010
Yes to all of this.
rufio - January 24, 2010
Nice job B19K. Thanks for the help.
Ryan Kelsey - January 21, 2010
Anytime.
Bernie19Kosar - January 21, 2010
Your comp wig out again?
SpecialBrownie - January 21, 2010
Nope, new computer is now working fine.
B19K just taking some of these positional reviews off my plate was helpful.
Ryan Kelsey - January 21, 2010
Mooncamping would be proud.
BrownDawg1409 - January 21, 2010
actually, mooncamping would be spiteful and criticize us for not recognizing it sooner; but that’s why we love him.
Dawg Nuts - January 21, 2010
I thought he might still criticize that Vickers isn’t his prototypical fullback.
Chris Pokorny - January 21, 2010
Right, his thumbs aren’t properly aligned and his hairline is too flat. Not to mention he has a slight overbite, when everyone knows that the ideal fullback has a significant underbite.
danvail - January 21, 2010
nicely stated.
Dawg Nuts - January 22, 2010
One player that was not mentioned for the draft was anthony dixon from mississippi state.
the reason I say this is because he is the type of guy that complements harrison. he is a hard, inside runner that gets the short yardage very well. harrison has the speed to get big gains. they could be a great 1-2 punch. I want to see the browns maybe get a bruiser back in FA or the draft. a playmaker on the outside might be nice if the browns feel that davis can be that inside runner.
bross09 - January 21, 2010
There are a lot of good backs in the draft. There’s no doubt that we’ll come away with somebody good, if we go in that direction of course.
I say Toby "The Kraken" Gerhart. And yes, I’m being a homebody with that choice.
But the water in the RFA pool seems inviting.
Brownie's Year - January 21, 2010
It depends on where you want to draft gerhart. i do like him but I feel he will be drafted too high for his value.
I do agree. I would love to pick up an RFA. lendale white will not be with that team next year.
bross09 - January 21, 2010
Oh Absolutely. Was just thinking that he would be a good workhorse to help Harrison.
I’m sure he’ll will be taken before the 4th round and I don’t think it would be smart for the Browns to draft him that early. Only cause we don’t need him.
We would be better off if we could get one of those hogs listed above, for cheap. White would be good. He’ll play for hotdogs and vodka. I can see that dude in an orange helmet.
Brownie's Year - January 21, 2010
yeah…gerhart might even be drafted in the 2nd. I like him but not that much…
there are some bangers in the draft that could last to the 4th round.
bross09 - January 21, 2010
I was thinking anywhere from mid-second to late third would be fine. At this point his stocks pretty high because of his season, but we’re still a ways from the combine and the draft itself.
BrownDawg1409 - January 21, 2010
yes. i would probably not draft him before our 2nd pick in the third.
bross09 - January 21, 2010
Great reminder about the get out of jail card. This effect of the uncapped year hadn’t sunk in to my little brain. We got a nice first year return out of Lewis. I wonder if we can find a couple other players like that.
Spidey - January 21, 2010 via mobile
I feel like jamal lewis gets a lot of unfair slack around here. To be fair, the O line played like utter crap the first couple of games, that’s when we faced our toughest competition, and we were still passing the ball too much.
The Licensed Pessimist - January 21, 2010
It wasn’t the first couple games this season that gave him his reputation. He absolutely has sucked for 4 out of the last 5 seasons.
If anything Lewis is vastly overrated: for his career, for his time as a Brown, and for his most recent efforts.
Ryan Kelsey - January 21, 2010
This. And this.
danvail - January 21, 2010
amen.
Ryan Kelsey - January 21, 2010
The O-line had absolutely nothing to do with Lewis’ lack of explosiveness in hitting the holes that were there while they were still open.
woodsmeister - January 21, 2010
I don’t know . . . I could see Mangini keeping Lewis around next year to satiate his need for tough dudes in Brown and Orange. If nothing else, Jamal IS a tough dude . . .
Les Fleurs Du Mal - January 21, 2010
I don’t think so. Mangini wants team players. Lewis sealed his fate with the Browns when he complained to the media midseason. He may be tough but he wants special treatment which mangini doesn’t give unless he thinks it is deserved.
Crazy Ray - January 21, 2010
I would shocked if Jamal was back.
He doesn’t want to come back, and I doubt Mangini/Heckert/Holmgren (Was it called Hoheni?) wants him back.
Bernie19Kosar - January 21, 2010
Hoheini.
golanbatrac - January 21, 2010
The only reason he’d come back for is a roster bonus right?
SpecialBrownie - January 21, 2010
That is the reason that Jamal said he would like to come back.
If he “retired” with years on his contract, I am sure that he would owe some bonus money back.
It was a good point raised by someone other than me. It may have been Dorn or Brad.
Bernie19Kosar - January 22, 2010
How is it unfair to say that Big Jam tiptoes through the tulips??
Brownie's Year - January 21, 2010
woodsmeister - January 21, 2010
Rec for cleverness
drjeo - January 21, 2010
*note to self
Other people get recs off your Tiny Tim references. Never mention him again.
Brownie's Year - January 21, 2010
And a rec for you sir.
Villeslgr - January 22, 2010
Our offense was terrible but Jamal didn’t have the speed to hit some of the holes Harrison can hit. He also quit and didn’t play with the toughness, power, and determination he needed to play with to be effective. I thought he would find those skills again like he did in 07, but he didn’t.
rufio - January 24, 2010
Does anyone like the idea of picking up that Blount guy from oregon in a later round? This is generalizing, but it kinda seems to me that Harrison either breaks off a long run or loses yards. If he is still there in the 5th or 6th round I could see Blount being an excellant short yardage guy to pair with Harrison, think Lendale white with the titans last year. Although davis does have pretty good size, I don’t think we have seen enough from him to rely on him.
iwearmocs - January 21, 2010
Blount won’t even be drafted. He’ll have to try his luck as signing as a undrafted douche bag.
Brownie's Year - January 21, 2010
I think he will be drafted.
We are talking about a league in which PacMan Jones was a first round pick.
I like Blount. It seems like he has learned his lesson this season. He made a mistake, he didn’t rob a bank.
I think he would be a nice get late in the draft. Without the punch, he was a second rounder.
Bernie19Kosar - January 21, 2010
He’s been suspended multiple times. Him screwing up and then regaining trust is a reoccurring theme. He has issues.
I’ve been watching him for a couple years and I hate that dude.
Brownie's Year - January 21, 2010
I’m not saying the kid is a choir boy, but late in the draft (6-7 rounds) he is worth the gamble.
If he comes in and cops an attitude, cut his ass. If he comes in and shows the talent that he has, we have a steal.
Bernie19Kosar - January 21, 2010
Don’t even bother wasting a draft pick on him. Pac Man Jones was before Goodell implemented his “no tolerance” policy. The guy had a national media story when he punched that kid from Boise. Those kinds of reputations have a way of following a guy around.
Now, if he were like Eric Wright and really was a choir boy, even after getting in trouble (though Wright wasn’t convicted of anything) then I might consider him. But after Braylon-dropsies-Edward, I’m not chancing a head case player even for a 7’th rounder.
BrownDawg1409 - January 21, 2010
Blount may have character issues, but it’s really unfair to say that he is a douche bag, or a major team cancer, or anything of that ilk. If you followed the aftermath of the punch he threw, you could tell he may have been cast in a much darker light than he may have deserved. Hell, Chip Kelly was gushing about the kid during the press conference about the suspension. If my memory serves me correctly, he cried during that conference, and fiercely defended Blount. Also, you know damn well that kid on Boise said something awful to him, and probably deserved that punch.
Now, in no way do I condone his actions that night – especially his aggression towards those fans – but I don’t think Blount is some kind of monster. I just think a player who was defended to the degree he was defended, by a coach as highly respected as Kelly, can’t be that terrible of a person; or locker room presence.
Finally, I wouldn’t mind if the Browns drafted him in the middle rounds. He’s a talented back, and he runs damn hard. However, like most others, I would much rather see Dwyer in Orange and Brown.
Chief Wahoo - January 24, 2010
Blount had problems before the punch. I’m pretty sure the announcers had even mentioned during the game how he came into the season having not done the expected work.
Villeslgr - January 24, 2010
Honestly, the kid from Boise had something coming. I don’t really want to say he deserved to get jacked in the face, but…he might have deserved to get jacked in the face. Additionally, who comes up to the opposing team to gloat after the game and doesn’t wear a helmet?
The aggression towards the fans and the people trying to subdue him was really more concerning to me. He was trying to get in the stands to Detroit Piston somebody. I mean maybe you are still in game-mode, and the opposing team comes up to you to gloat and you just let your temper get the best of your for 5 seconds and you hit him. But the whole tantrum after that lasted a while. That’s more serious than making one bad snap decision. The only thing I could think of is that the fans were throwing out racial slurs, but even at that…it’s hard to excuse three bad decisions several moments after making another bad decision.
And following the “asking to be hit” theme, what are these fans doing trying to provoke a 250lb running back who just knocked out a huge guy on your football team with one punch?
rufio - January 25, 2010
You, my friend, have all the right answers.
SpecialBrownie - January 25, 2010
I am guessing a lethal mixture of beer muscles and the police officers holding Blount back.
Everyone is a tough guy when people (and barriers) are in between.
Bernie19Kosar - January 25, 2010
Haha beer muscles and “tough guys behind walls”
Beautiful.
SpecialBrownie - January 26, 2010
Hahaha.
rufio - January 28, 2010
Where do you play ultimate?
No on Blount. He’ll be drafted, but we don’t need him.
rufio - January 24, 2010
I’m glad Lewis is done. Hopefully we can draft a RB like Gerhart. I’d like to see Harrison retain the starting role. I have high expectations for Davis next year too.
emily522 - January 21, 2010
Well, Harrison scored out pretty poorly on the profootballfocus.com site. Not sure why. If he were in the middle I’d be unconcerned but he is near the bottom which is unexpected. I think he greatly benefits from a good OL and the poor defenses we played late in the season but I’ve always thought he should be played more. The only caveat to that was it seemed he didn’t have the durability to play game after game.
To me, it is early to say that Harrison is the “real deal”. I have hopes for Davis but he is somewhat of an unknown at this time. If a decent running back (in either the explosive category or the bruiser category) is available in late 2nd or the early 3rd round, it would be a good idea to hedge our current RBs with a promising rookie. But RB is not a huge priority given the other needs on the team.
Brownsyup - February 2, 2010
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