Browns: 3 players who need to step up in rematch against Bengals

D’Ernest Johnson

If you need PFF to tell you that Kareem Hunt has been bad at rushing the ball between the tackles, I don’t know what to tell you. This isn’t a “Well Wyatt Teller has been hurt” issue either. Hunt couldn’t do it with Teller either. Sure, he’s had some games where he’s done some work, but that was off-tackle stuff. Hunt’s been doing alright off tackle. Between? It isn’t his game anymore if it ever was.

Give D’Ernest Johnson the start. He may not be as good as Hunt, let alone Nick Chubb, but against Dallas and Indianapolis, he showed bursts. He’s got shakey hips and shoulders that dip, the right kind of combo needed for making way up the gut. The Browns need that type of play too. They have to be able to beat a team down the middle to best set up the play-action pass. That’s part of the issue, the Colts and Steelers didn’t need to fear the play-action. If the defense isn’t going to bite on the play, what’s the point of the offense then?

The Browns need that play, that’s not even a debate. Hunt is a fine player, but he’s shown he’s not on Nick Chubb’s level and it’s not even close. Johnson may not be much better but we know Hunt isn’t a between-the-tackles runner, we don’t know that about Johnson, yet.