Cleveland Browns: 5 reasons Browns will bounce back vs New York Jets

1. Back to basics

Freddie Kitchens has to go back to the game film and wonder what the heck he was doing by not running the ball.

He has to know that having Baker Mayfield drop back into the pocket, slinging it 40 times a game is not a formula to success.

The first-year head coach has to come to this realization because he’s already lived it. When he took over as offensive coordinator, Mayfield was showing serious signs of regression because Todd Haley was having him pass a ton and defenses were teeing off.

When Kitchens took over, the running game was finally utizlied, with Nick Chubb emerging as the star.

Chubb rushed the ball 17 times for 75 yards (4.4 average) against the Titans, but it wasn’t enough. Overall, Browns back carried the ball 19 times.

Chubb should be rushing the ball 20-25 tames and then whomever is backing up, whether it be Dontrell Hilliard or D’Ernest Johnson should be getting 5-7 carries.

The Jets allowed the Bills to average 5.1 yards per carry in Week 1, so this contest is really shaping up to be a great one for Chubb.

Additionally, I don’t really care how touchdowns come, but it was peculiar to see Kitchens give Hilliard the ball near the end zone toward the end of that first drive last week.

Was Kitchens getting cute? The game was in the early phases. Establish your No. 1 back by getting him into the end zone.