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

THE OFFENSE

It’s the Browns achilles heel since returning in 1999, and no we’re not talking just about bad quarterback play. We’re talking about the offense. With exception of the 2007 season, the Cleveland Browns offense has rarely looked good. They often lead the NFL or being near the bottom of the NFL in points per game, yards per carry, and yards per pass attempt. According to pro-football-reference.com, the Browns have only crossed into the top 10 for overall offense one time since 1999.

That was the aforementioned 2007 season with Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards, and Kellen Winslow, in which all three had career years and went to the NFL Pro Bowl. The Cleveland Browns haven’t had an offensively dominant season since then. Anderson’s mental game fell off, and the Browns jettisoned Edwards and Winslow after they demanded big contracts. They never lived up to those career numbers in 2007, but showed the potential of what big play-makers can do to help a quarterback.

Yet the team hasn’t drafted a wide receiver or tight end in the first round since. They took a chance on running back Trent Richardson to build a run first offense, but that failed as well and now Richardson is on the verge of being out of the league. The Browns are still searching for an offensive identity in 2015.

Last season the Browns went 7-9, but ranked 27th in points per game. They still lack the big play-makers at WR and RB, so how the team won 7 games is amazing. Browns GM Ray Farmer has assembled a new group of WRs and brought in a new QB, but is there any hope for the 2015 offense? Lets look each position and see how the offensive players have done thus far in preseason.

Next: The Revolving Door Continues?