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A short list from the Plain Dealer:
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2015/09/five_free_agent_running_backs.html#incart_river
I’d be all over Pierre Thomas in a heartbeat. He’s more or less the prototype of what our offensive coordinator has said he’s looking for, and would be a great asset for McCown. He’d also provide a necessary outlet guy and blocker for Manziel when rolling out of the pocket.
Fred Jackson would be a great second choice, he’s a very solid all-around option. Ahmad Bradshaw would be a distant third option, his injury and heavy milage kind of scares me, but he’s another back very much in the mold of what we want.
I would really like the Browns to grab one of these three. Crowell and West have phenomenal talent and potential, but neither one has shown the work ethic to grab the brass ring. They need a veteran to show them how to practice. prepare for games, and leave it all on the field. Ben Tate was certainly not that guy.
I haven’t been keeping up with camp cuts, any other names out there worth mentioning?
One thing I thought very interesting from the Bucs game was that Ronde Barber said the Browns backfield was stacked. He said both West and Cro were very good and he thinks Duke will be very good as well. I’d ignore the comments if they were from a regular talking head, but Ronde Barber is no dummy.
Stacked in terms of talent? Unquestionably. Crowell is a human wrecking ball who has shown the ability to shed linebackers inside and steamroll defensive backs outside. West has a fantastic combination of size and speed, and should be a bell cow for years to come.
What I question is their preparation and work eithic. West demonstrated entitlement and a terrible lack of work ethic when handed the lead job last year, and has reportedly continued that trend this offseason. The fact that Crow, as talented as he is, has not been able to grab the job away from him does not look good either.
To me, we need a stop-gap running back who will be the hardest working man in the room and make West and Crow work hard for every snap they can get. Someone to set the tone and help them turn their talent into success. They also need someone to teach them the receiving game, as neither has demonstrated much success there.
Jackson has a huge chip on his shoulder, and as a guy who worked his way from an indoor football league all the way to a 1000 yeard rusher in the NFL he would be perfect. Thomas and Bradshaw are both guys who were NFL afterthoughts, and worked their tails off to become NFL champions.
To me, it’s a no brainer. Let one of those three pound the rock and set the table, make Crow and West battle for #2. Whichever one wins out, we’ll start next off-season with a clear #1 RB, and a very talented one at that.
Not sure I would want an ‘aged’ RB at this point. Our team isn’t the Colts in which we have so much talent around us and an awesome QB to help mask the fact that we have an older RB who has lost a step…which is what I think most of the vet RBs are at this point. Give me young RBs and give them a chance to prove themselves!
What we saw in the game yesterday is that whoever we put back there HAS to be able to pass block.
Pettine has basically come out and said that Crowell has the starting job. I like his running better but I think West is a better receiver and with Captain Checkdown at QB that will be important. West was actually pretty productive with swing passes.
Duke needs to get healthy. No other way to say it. He took a wicked lick and it’s no surprise he got concussed but I still have hope for him.
Not necessary. No need for any of those guys. Thomas is always injured
Our RBs are fine. Our OC is the issue. 4 yard pass after 4 yard pass will kill anyone’s chance of a run game.Freedom!!!
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