Cleveland Browns: Why wouldn’t Isaiah Crowell like what he sees from the team?
By Ryan Rosko
To some degree, there is hype surrounding what the Cleveland Browns could do this fall and running back Isaiah Crowell is one of the players who believes they are going to be successful.
Leading up to training camps and preseason games, every NFL team’s fan base believes their team can accomplish big things later in the year. Unfortunately for most, that optimism goes away quickly. For Cleveland Browns fans, that is a normal feeling many feels each year.
However, since head coach Hue Jackson was hired, slowly but surely, there is legitimate hope that Cleveland can put together a solid foundation for the future. On paper they have talented players at key positions, but that won’t matter much if they do not play well when it counts.
Adding two free agents along the offensive line in right guard Kevin Zeitler and center J.C. Tretter, the Browns have their best offensive line unit in years! Combining the o-line with a young and promising defense, Cleveland will be in more games this fall.
If they can win five to seven games, that would be a major boost going forward.
Sure, they still have question marks at wide receiver and quarterback, but Cleveland does have a strong running game (at least in 2017), led by Isaiah Crowell. Crowell is in a position to really excel this fall and improve his stats to the point that he could become a pro-bowler.
That said, according to Jordan Hill of the Columbus Ledger-Inquirer, Crowell stated his thoughts on what Cleveland is doing:
"“I feel very good about it. I feel like we’re building something special. A lot of people are underestimating us, but I feel like we’re going to shock the world.”"
Given what Crowell has to work with this season, why wouldn’t he be confident? Besides, he knows as a running back this is his best chance to do well and get paid.
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After all, running backs (outside of star players) are replaceable more often now than they were in the past.
If Cleveland can get enough out of their quarterbacks (while simultaneously improving their WR corps), then Crowell will carry a smaller burden. Too many times we have seen opposing defenses loading the box with eight or nine players, not even worrying about the passing game.
Just imagine what Crowell could do if Cleveland can get a passing game going and their play-action improves. Should Crowell reap the benefits of an improved offensive line and (hopefully) steady and consistent quarterback play, then he would be destined for a career year.
Next: 2017 NFL Draft aftermath
Football is just around the corner and soon enough we will see if Crowell can take his game to the next level.