Cleveland Browns: 2015 Mid-Preseason Review Part 1 QB’s and RB’s

Jun 16, 2015; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back

(20) during minicamp at the Cleveland Browns practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Shaun Draughn, Jalen Parmele, and Tim Flanders

In training camp, you often have bodies to replace bodies. In the case of Shaun Draughn, Jalen Parmele, and Tim Flanders, they are the “other guys” in the Browns running back department. While none of the guys have great track records in the NFL, they are players who Ray Farmer and his staff have seen something in.

For Parmele, he has played late in both of the preseason games and he has had a couple of runs that surprised fans. He seems to be quick, agile, and has the ability to make people miss. The chances any of these guys makes the team are slim, but Parmele is a guy who could find himself on the Browns roster or at worst the practice squad.

The Browns track record of keeping running backs healthy is not great, and Parmele is guy who has NFL experience and seems to have some potential as a play-maker. He might be worth keeping around. This would mean that Flanders and Draughn might find themselves as the odd men out by camp’s final cuts.

The Browns have long loved Draughn’s ability, but the question will be is there room on the roster? He is injured so he has not gotten a lot of opportunities in camp or in the first two preseason games. He along with Flanders still have a lot to prove.

The Browns will definitely carry three running backs into the first game with Crowell, West, and Johnson, so the path for those two players may be through special teams? Is it worth the roster spot?

That decision will be up to Pettine and Farmer, but I’ve liked the play of Parmele thus far in the preseason and believe he deserves a spot on this team. The key for all three of these guys will be the time they get in the final preseason game. With the starters and second string players playing well into the third and fourth quarters, its doubtful these three will see meaningful minutes.

The potential return of Johnson might also hurt their chances of playing on Saturday as well. If these guys get the time though, they should take advantage of it. Whether that is on special teams or coming out of the backfield, Parmele, Draughn, and Flanders needs to do all they can to survive the looming roster cuts.

Next: The Summary, Camp's Biggest Surprises, And A Look To Part 2