DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Isaiah Crowell questions the Browns' playcalling only 'sometimes,' but thinks about getting paid 'all the time'

Isaiah Crowell questions the Browns' playcalling only 'sometimes,' but thinks about getting paid 'all the time'

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2017/09/isaiah_crowell_question_the_br.html

Updated on September 20, 2017 at 4:44 PM Posted on September 20, 2017 at 3:35 PM

BEREA, Ohio -- Running back Isaiah Crowell only questions the Browns' playcalling some of the time. But as for thinking about getting paid?

"During the game, after the game, before the game, right now, all the time,'' he said. "It's just obvious to think about.''

Crowell, who's in his contract year, is also wondering why the Browns aren't running the ball more. In a 24-10 loss to the Ravens on Sunday, he rushed only 10 times for 37 yards with a long gain of 17. Overall, the Browns ran it only 21 times for 93 yards, including nine times in the second half.

"I wouldn't say upset (with the playcalling), but sometimes I question it,'' he said. "Everybody has their own opinions. I have my own opinions. You might have your own opinions. Hue Jackson has his own opinions. I'm just a player. I don't cross those boundaries. I just control what I can control."



Crowell said he and Jackson talked about the workload after the game.

"He said he wants to get me the ball and stuff like that,'' said Crowell. "But we didn't really go into depth about it. I just told him I feel like I'm a big-time player and I can make plays for the team, and I just kept it at that."

Jackson, when told Crow wants the ball more, said, "I'm sure he does. I don't blame him. We've played only two games. The offensive line is still jelling. We do need to run the ball more, but we need to run smart.''

He added, 'I have no problem with anybody walking into my office" and asking for the ball more, but he said that comes with a big responsibility to produce in a big way "with some long runs."

Crowell has 27 carries for only 70 yards, ranking 31st in the NFL. Through two games last season, he had 30 carries for 195 yards.

"That's why it's kind of discouraging to start off like this because last year I felt like I had a good start at the beginning of the season,'' Crowell said. "Yeah, it's discouraging, but I control what I can control. I just try to do what I can do while I'm out there and take advantage of my opportunities."

Crowell, who came just 48 yards shy of his first 1,000-yard season last year, still aims for a "monster'' season like he promised on the first day of camp.

"Yeah, of course,'' he said. "I have the same feelings just because I feel like I'm a great player, I've got a lot of confidence in myself and I feel like I can help my team be successful. But I just control what I can control. I just let God handle the rest."

Crowell said it's not only good for the whole team if the Browns run the ball more -- they're 25th in the NFL with 150 yards a game -- but for DeShone Kizer too.

"I feel like it could help him out,'' said Crowell. "But at the same time, he's a rookie quarterback and I feel like people expect us to run the ball more, so I feel like they load the box and try to prevent us from running the ball so much and try to make him throw the ball."

Crowell said he'd expect the Browns to run a ton given their financial investment in the O-line.

"I feel like if I'm playing against them that I'm going to try to prevent them from running the ball,'' he said. "That's going to be my main focus. So you've just got to have other people making plays down the field and a quarterback that's doing what he's supposed to do and also the running back that's fitting the ball where he's supposed to fit it at to be successful. Because I feel like that's what everybody's going to be so focused on.''

He said teams are stacking the box "because they know we have a rookie quarterback. And that's how I feel about it."

But he believes he has the perfect solution.

"I feel like I'm a good enough player to overcome that."

What's more, the more he carries the rock, "the better I get. If I have five carries, six, seven carries in the first quarter and it keeps getting better as we go, I feel like I'll pick up rhythm and that's the better I do."

Jackson stressed that the offense, with a rookie quarterback, a new offensive line and now without it's top receiver, is a work in progress.

"But I see light at the end of the tunnel,'' he said.

Crow hopes to see more of it, too.

Crow is not popular w/the fans right now and this article should fuel the fire even more, but I encourage the rational people to focus on these two paragraphs and take note of which one has quotation marks and which one doesn't.



Sometimes, I get the feeling that there are too many people trying to rip this young team apart.

It's a mistake. Just as it always is.

seems like he has 14 games left in Cleveland.

He's right.

well ya we should be running the ball more, but somewhere in there he states he thinks about getting paid all the time. That is not a team statement.

and not much about winning or being successful as a team

Yeah, but it's a realistic one. Maybe I'm just trying too hard to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I would guess that most if not all players think like this, but most don't say it.

I agree with Crow.

Hue talks the talk, but he doesn't walk the walk.

Last year he said we need to run the ball, and didn't. This year he said he was kicking himself for not running the ball more and that we would this year, but we aren't. Well, we did try to run some goofy qb sweep or something with 1st and goal on the 4.

His comment about needing big plays bothers me. You don't need big plays. You need a lot of 4-5 yard plays. Get enough of those and big plays will happen.

I am not going to say I don't like Hue, but I am starting to lean that way.

Hue is acting desperate for Kizer to be the guy.


Be like Crow, Hue. Control what you can control. Don't be so eager for Kize to carry the day or for you to make some wiz-bang playcall. The O-line isn't jelling because you aren't putting the game in their hands. You are putting it in the hands of a rookie QB.

peen, you haven't like Hue for a long time. Last year, you called him a "punk."

Talk to guys like Haden, Greco, Whitner, Dansby, etc about the "team" game. There is NO loyalty in professional sports.

I don't remember saying that, but it is something I could have said. I'll take your word.

That doesn't mean I don't like him, or rather, mabe best to say I don't dislike him, it that makes any sense?

I am on the fence with the guy. This season will tell the tale, but to be honest, it isn't starting well.

Isaiah Crowell wants the ball more in Browns offense
3:48 PM ET

Pat McManamonESPN Staff Writer

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/20767...jackson-do-more

BEREA, Ohio -- Running back Isaiah Crowell has talked with coach Hue Jackson about his limited carries in the Cleveland Browns' first two games of the regular season, Crowell said Wednesday.

"We talked, and he said he wants to give me the ball and stuff like that," Crowell said. "But we really didn't go into big depth about it. I just told him I feel like I'm a big-time player and I can make some plays with the team. I just kept it at that."

Crowell has run the ball 27 times the first two games -- both losses.

The numbers had many -- especially fantasy owners -- scratching their heads about Crowell's role because Jackson had vowed during the offseason that he did not run enough in 2016, and that he would rely more on Crowell this season. It hasn't happened. In Sunday's loss in Baltimore, the Browns threw 42 passes ran the ball 21 times (seven by quarterbacks and receivers). Crowell admitted it puzzled him.

"I wouldn't say upset, but sometimes I question it," Crowell said. "Everybody has their own opinions. I have my own opinions. You might have your own opinions. Hue Jackson has his own opinions.

"I'm just a player. I don't cross those boundaries. I just control what I can control."

Crowell admitted that the fact he is on a contract year is on his mind.

"Of course [I think about it]," Crowell said. "During the game, after the game, before the game. Right now it's just obvious to think about."

"I get it," Jackson said. "We'll get there. I've said to you guys before: We will run the football, and he'll be a huge part. We've played two games. And there's some things that we can do better and we will do better."

A year ago at this time, Crowell had 195 yards and two touchdowns. His 27 carries this season are tied for 18th in the league with Baltimore's Terrance West and San Diego's Melvin Gordon. He has rushed for 70 yards and no touchdowns.

A year ago, he averaged 4.8 yards per carry, seventh in the league. Despite the average, he had just 198 carries, 20th in the league. That led Jackson to vow he would use Crowell more. He's on pace after two games for 208 carries, less than one more per game than a year ago. In two games, the running backs have 34 total carries.

"Yeah, it's discouraging, but like I said I control what I can control," Crowell said. "I just try to do what I can do out there and try to take advantage of my opportunities."

Jackson said his vow remains unchanged, but he will adjust from game to game based on what he feels gives the Browns the best chance to win. He pointed out that when the Browns were in Baltimore, two of the Ravens' better defensive linemen were taken off the field.

"Our job is to win," Jackson said. "It is not just run. It is not just throw. It is what it takes to win the game. We did what we felt it took to win the game to give us a chance. It didn't work. That happens sometimes.

"It is easy to say, 'Well, if you would have run the ball, this would have been better.' Well, you don't know that."

Crowell pointed out that teams are forcing the Browns to throw more with a rookie starting at quarterback. Other teams also are well aware that the Browns invested in the offensive line in the offseason to improve the run game.

"I feel like, yeah, it's best for the team to, in my opinion, run the ball more," Crowell said. "I feel like it'll help him out, but at the same time he is a rookie quarterback and I feel like people expect us to run the ball more so I feel like they load the box and try to prevent us from running the ball so much and try to make him throw the ball."


Guard Joel Bitonio said in each of the first two games the Steelers and Ravens had brought an extra man to the box to stop the running game. That extra man was unaccounted for and sometimes unblocked, Bitonio said.

The only way to drive defenses out of that approach is to make plays in the passing game and force the safety or extra player back into coverage.

"I feel like if someone has an investment to run the ball and have a good offensive line, I feel like if I'm playing against them I'm going to try to prevent them from running the ball," Crowell said. "That's going to be my main focus.

"You got to have other people making plays down the field and the quarterback doing what he's supposed to do and also the running back who's fitting the ball where he's supposed to fit it to be successful. Because I feel like [the run is] where everybody is going to be focused."

Crowell said, though, that he believes he is "good enough to overcome that."

This is what I think a lot of people are not recognizing when criticizing Hue's play calling and also the struggles in the run game.

Correct, and until we prove the ability to consistently make the D pay for it, it's not going to stop.
It's not very complicated: we are young, a bunch of new starters on O, rookie QB. Seems like a good time to start firing coaches.

Crow is no different from any of us.

We do work, we want to get paid for it. If you don't think you are getting paid your worth, it becomes frustrating, you dwell on it, and then a decision is made at some point on what you want to do about it.

Dudes in a contact year... Next year is totally uncertain for him.... I have no issue with him thinking about getting paid... I hope he uses that to have a monster year.... I have zero issue with what he said... We need to run the ball more... We need him to break a few open...

Cool. Three level-headed posts in a row on a topic that I was almost positive that would draw irate responses about evil Crow was. Nice job, y'all.

And I'm so impressed that you didn't bring on the "I know more........", or the "I told you........", etc.

Yes, it's nice.

https://www.dawgtalkers.net/ubbthreads.ph...hts#Post1215542

The Colts cut Peyton Manning. That's all anyone needs to know.

It's probably been said already.

But running from shotgun is killing Crowell.

Kizer needs to buck up. And take some snaps under center. So Crow can actually get some forward momentum.

Not to mention guys like Montana, Lott, and Jerry Rice not being retained.

I agree totally w/your point of view, but I don't think Kize is ready for all of that. I would have sat him for awhile, but what's done is done.

It's going to be a painful learning process.

Let's hope for the best.

Well, considering it was New Years Day I think you should cut some slack, lol.

I said it was very possible I said that.

I was listening to some clips from Hue on WTAM this morning. He was saying that if he gave Crow the ball 25 times he would expect 160-170 yards and a couple of long TD runs.

So he expects his back to gain 2500 yards a season and 36 rushing TD's...that sounds realistic. I wonder what his expectations are for a QB who throws it 30-35 times a game? Maybe 450 yards passing and 3-4 TD'S?

Hue, you are 1-17 in Cleveland. Out of 18 games, I expect 16-17 wins. You are way off schedule. Better pick it up.

I can be unrealistic as well.

Please tell me you listened to it again and realized you miss heard it? He really said that??

So our HC expects his starting RB to average 6.5 yards a carry in return for a standard NFL RB workload?

j/c

So it is now Crow who replaces Haden as the under-performing, vet starter who yaps to the press when he needs to be looking in the mirror and doing his job.

He basically just stated that his primary focus is on getting paid...maybe that's why he's missing assignments or late to them.

This young team doesn't need another Haden-type "performer" yapping to the press. This stuff needs to be kept in-house. We will be a better team when he's upgraded.

Jackson has no problem with Crowell "or anybody walking into the office and saying, 'Coach, give me the ball.' That being said, you better make the plays when you get them, OK? There's another responsibility that comes with that. I start handing it to ya, 25 or 30 times, I'm looking for 160 or 150 yards and a couple scores. That's just how we do it."

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ss...art_river_index

So if your opponents adjust to your strength ,( extra man in the box )you make adjustments " Coaching " .. If your QB is not ready to run an offense ( much of it from under center ) then he he should not be starting ..

This seems to be fairly basic logic !

It is. And it's one of the reasons I would not have started Kizer this year. I also have a pretty strong sense that Sashi had a lot to do w/which QB got the starting job.

I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination , but by the end of the pre season Hogan seemed to be the logical starter for the season..

For the record , not a big fan of the FO having the final say on the 53 either .. And no ; I am not a big fan of Hue as his own " OC " .

I don't think Crowell is a bad player but I'm guessing we could upgrade the position if we wanted to this offseason. This "25 times" thing compelled me to look something up. In Crowell's defense, since being with the Browns, he's only had one game of 20 carries. I didn't look up total touches. Now, this is probably because of a few things:

(1) He didn't start right out of the gate
(2) Our approach may have been to use multiple backs
(3) Most games we're down and passing to try and play "catch-up".

The concern for me is that we're seeing the same old Crow this season as we have in others, regardless of how many touches he has received. Running into linemen, a spurt here or there, falling after minimal contact, a great game dropped in here or there, etc. He'll have a couple awesome games (this Sunday, I'm expecting will be one of them) but if anything, he has been the most consistent player on this team at being average and I'm afraid that is all we're going to get. And if he wants a big pay day, I don't think it will be here if he continues to perform like he has. I'd love to see him take his game to the next level. That would be one less thing to worry about on a team still rebuilding. Another aspect to consider, and I think many have touched on it before is whether his style fits with what Hue wants to run. I don't think we run much of a zone blocking scheme and Crowell did better, I thought, with that approach.

I like that he has been involved a little more in the passing game-- I think this is a place where he can make a difference. The problem is Duke is better at it.

I am sure the FO wants Kizer to start. It's still Hue's team and he can start who he wants. At least that is what head coach means to me. Lot's of teams over the years have had the FO picking the players, and probably to some degree, roster control. I am kind of neutral on that one. I think it can work both ways, and has over the years. It is what it is.

As for Kizer, I didn't want him starting either. To me it would have been better to start someone else, then hand off to Kizer once he was ready. It's clear to me he isn't ready. The problem is that it is going to be hard to pull Kizer at this point unless he is really stinking up the house. Either isn't going to build his confidence.

That said, I do understand the position we are in, thus understand him starting...we need to get a good read on Kizer because there are some good QB's in next years draft. Better than most years. We need to have a pretty safe idea on if we can pass and roll with the Kize, or if we need to fish for another QB.

Hogan has looked good. What's wrong if he ended up being our guy? Would anybody have a problem with that?

I hope Kizer has a good game this week. We need to start winning some ball games, and that isn't going to happen when your qb is posting up a qb rating under 30.

As for Hue, I feel for the guy. He might be a dead man walking no matter what he does. Play to win and go with Hogan and irritate Sashi, or play Kizer to help Sashi see where we are at with the QB position but irritate the owner and fans because we don't win games.

I still like the FO, but one factor that may not have been examined is that in football, 1 game is about the same as 10 games in baseball. In baseball, teams have time to lose, and in baseball, no teams is only going to win 10 and lose 150, which compares to the Browns season of last year. Most baseball teams win at least the equalivant of 6 football games, and lose 10. There is a lot more pressure to win each game in football because 1 loss in like a 10 loss losing streak in baseball, at least as far as the standings are concerned.

That is why football coaches at all levels usually have shorter leashes then do coaches in other sports.

He wants more carries, nothing wrong with that. He's always been a guy that needed a few to get started.

Hue claims to want to run more, but the second we're down a FG - we're a throwing team. He's against it.

Personally, both are wrong but given how bad we are generally at running in what we've seen - both are not wrong either.

Crappy situation, but I agree with the comment above - Crow won't be a Brown next season. I still want to see more Dayes.

That's fine with me.

P.S. I'm thinking the next few games he might do well.

j/c:

Cleveland Browns Scribbles: Looking at Isaiah Crowell, running game -- Terry Pluto

1. I'm not going to criticize Isaiah Crowell for being honest. He will soon be a free agent. He hired the Rosenhaus brothers to represent him after his previous agent couldn't agree on a contract extension with the Browns.

2. Crowell told the media Wednesday that he thinks about his contract, "During the game. After the game. Before the game. Right now, it's obvious to think about it."

3. My only criticism would be that during the game, thinking about your contract is not a good way to eventually get paid. It's one of those dreaded distractions coaches worry about when it comes to their players.

4. Crowell also said, "I feel like I'm a big-time player and I can make plays for the team."

5. Crowell had a good season in 2016, gaining 952 yards and averaging 4.8 yards per carry. But he is not a "big-time" player. At least, not yet. This is his fourth season. He is 24 years old. There is room for him to improve.

6. The bottom line is production. Hue Jackson said he had no problem with Crowell wanting to run the ball more often. But as the coach said, "You better make plays when you get (the ball). There is a responsibility with that."

7. Crowell has carried the ball 27 times for 70 yards. It's hard to know how much of it is the fault of Crowell, how much of it is due to the lack of blocking. But he's averaging only 2.7 yards per carry. His longest run is 17 yards. He has two others for nine yards each.

8. Looking deeper into Crowell's stats, he has gained two-or-fewer yards in 18-of-27 carries. Profootballfocus (PFF) ranks him near the bottom of NFL running backs this season.

9. In fact, 10 of those carries were for one yard or less. Those are very negative plays. It's hard to keep feeding Crowell the ball when not much good is happening. I'm not completely blaming him. I don't know how much the type of plays called or the blocking has impacted his totals.

10. I'll throw this out: Last season, Crowell averaged 12.4 carries per game. This season, it's 13.5.

11. Jackson was concerned about the offensive line as the season opened. All five had not played together during the preseason. Joel Bitonio (knee) missed three weeks. Joe Thomas played only a bit in Game 3 as the Browns protected the knees of their future Hall of Fame tackle.

12. For what it's worth, Profootballfocus (PFF) ranks Joe Thomas as the No. 2 tackle after the first two games of 2017. Shon Coleman ranks a solid No. 24 out of the 72 tackles they graded.

13. A few more grades: Center JC Tretter is 22 of 34 rated. PFF rated 69 guards. Joel Bitonio was No. 8. Kevin Zeitler was No. 23.

14. The strange part is only Tretter is ranked below average. Yet, the line seems to have struggled with run blocking. It's hard to know on pass protection because DeShone Kizer is taking so long to throw the ball.

15. PFF said Kizer averaged an NFL-high 3.3 seconds to throw a pass last week in Baltimore. That was up from 3.1 against Pittsburgh. The average quarterback is 2.6 seconds. But some such as Aaron Rodgers are close to 3.0.

16. The Browns being 0-2 is no shock. Kizer playing like a rather raw rookie should be no shock. The migraine for the rookie quarterback was a real surprise, as happened last week in Baltimore.

17. Kizer said the last time he had a migraine during a game was in high school. Migraines are extremely painful. They can almost be paralyzing in terms of a person being bothered by lights, noises and the inability to quickly react to things. Not all migraines are created equal. Some last for more than a day, others are shorter in length.

18. I'm not in a panic about the migraine issue. But it does mean backup quarterback Kevin Hogan has yet another reason to stay ready. Backups are always one play away from getting into the game. The history of Browns quarterbacks staying healthy is ... well ... they don't. They get hurt.

19. The Browns don't have much choice but to give Kenny Britt more action this week. Corey Coleman (broken hand) is out for at least six games. Rashard Higgins went from the practice squad to being a starter on this week's depth chart, thanks to seven catches in Baltimore. The door is wide open for Higgins or anyone else to establish themselves as a primary receiver for the Browns.

20. I'd like to see more of Kasen Williams. The Browns were very excited when claiming the receiver on waivers from Seattle. They said he had a good first week of practice. He's played only 12 snaps in two games.

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2017/09/cleveland_browns_scribbles_loo.html