Browns using Kareem Hunt, Nick Chubb together is wishful thinking

The fledgling Cleveland Browns offense might benefit from putting their two best weapons–Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt–on the field together at the same time, but in truth, it’s probably wishful thinking ahead of the team’s Week 14 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.

Stefanski raised everyone’s excitement when he seemed opened to the idea of putting the duo playing together, when asked about it during a Zoom call earlier in the week.

And while it got some headlines, you have to wonder how likely it actually it is.

We’ve been wanting to see the combination on the field, together, ever since 2019. Stefanski was given a pass for a Covid affected 2020 season, but even then, Chubb and Hunt got in-between the lines, together, six times.

With a more normal offseason leading into 2021, Stefanski had plenty of time to implement some looks featuring both backs, yet, they’ve appeared together on the field a grand total of ZERO times.

Stefanski seems pretty calculated, so it would seem out of character for the coach to all of a sudden flash this look in a must-win game when his team hasn’t executed it all season.

No, the option pass-back to Jarvis Landry is in the playbook, but Chubb and Hunt together is too out there (#facepalm).

Browns coach downplaying possibility

Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt spoke on the possibility of using them together, and if the plan is in the cards, the assistant wasn’t tipping his hand.

"“You can [do it],” he said. Obviously, we can do anything in the system. It has the ability to do that. I think we feel real comfortable using those guys as the one-two punch, keeping both those guys fresh throughout the game so we have strong runners in the fourth quarter.”"

If that’s the attitude, hopefully the Browns continue to smash the ball against Baltimore’s defense. The Steelers never wavered in their efforts to pound the ball during their Week 13 win. It meant taking two- or three-yard gains for most of the game, but then ground attack erupted for 35 yards in the final stanza, propelling Pittsburgh to victory.

The Browns will be without tight ends Harrison Bryant (ankle) and David Njoku (if he doesn’t get back from Covid), while the receiving corps has underperformed all season.

Baker Mayfield needs a friend, and it’s short passes to his backs. What better options can you have than Chubb and Hunt.

Hopefully, Stefanski doesn’t let us down, but if he’s like other Browns coaches, well, we know how it ends.