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

Aug 13, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell (34) runs the ball during the first quarter against the Washington Redskins in a preseason NFL football game at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Isaiah Crowell

The supposed leader in the clubhouse, Isaiah Crowell took the team and fans by storm last season. After going undrafted in the 2014 draft, the former Georgia Bulldog found himself battling for a spot on the Browns 53 man roster. With Ben Tate and Terrance West ahead of him, it was a long shot that Crowell would get a real shot.

However, the running back kept his head down and worked hard, and then took advantage of his first opportunity when Tate got hurt. His motor and willingness to keep working hard eventually helped him to surpass West and became the started by the end of 2014. Has he taken that opportunity to heart and turned it into a starting gig in 2015?

So far, not so much. It’s actually one of the most surprising things about training camp 2015. The running backs as whole have left the coaching staff miffed by their lack of effort. Perhaps it has to do with the short life for running backs in the NFL and wanting to preserve their bodies for the rigors of the regular season? Or maybe it’s just a lack of motivation without a veteran like Tate to challenge them? Whatever it is, Crowell’s lack of effort is the most surprising.

After running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery called out his running backs, Crowell took the challenge to heart. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Crowell believes he has what it takes to win the starting job.

"“I feel like it’s very important (to win the starting job). Just because everybody wants to be the starting guy, nobody wants to be a backup and I feel like I have what it takes to be the starting guy.”"

Has his play thus reflected that statement? Unfortunately not yet. In two preseason games Crowell has rushed for 20 yards on 9 carries. While he hasn’t gotten much of a workload, it begs to question whether “The Crow” is hungry right now?

He has a few runs that have shown flashes of his play last season, like his huge run on the FG tying drive by McCown before halftime of the second preseason game against Buffalo. On the play he stiff-armed a couple of Buffalo defenders and scurried for 13 yards. It serves as his best run of the preseason on game film thus far. His play has left a lot to be desired, but Crowell shouldn’t be overlooked.

I for one believe that he is simply reserving himself for the regular season, and the workload suggests maybe the coaches are doing the same. Crowell has the best big play ability from a pure rushing standpoint. However, his running back teammates will challenge Crowell all season. Crowell has to give this team his all going forward, and preseason game number three is a big step towards proving to fans that he deserves to start week 1 of the regular season.

Next: Is It Better To Look To The West?