DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns shopping running back Duke Johnson, sources say

While I agree that Hunt appears to be the better all around back, I feel that Chubb has not shown all he can do yet. Nobody thought he would be good catching out of the backfield, since he never had to do it. But I think he shows the skills to be good at it. Given time, I think it will show who is the better guy. Could be either one, and that is freaking awesome.

Defenses facing a split backfield with Hunt and Chubb, are going to have a tough time deciding who to key on. Then you have the rotation of the two, no drop off.

I know we got a lot of talent at WR, but I would love to see us become a team that can run the ball at will. I might be old school, but to me that really gives the loser a defeated feeling. Physically take it to them.

We have already seen that Freddie will put multiple backs in at the same time. Not as far fetched as it would have been just a year ago.

Yet Duke's touches actually went down after Freddie took over the offense.

I think it's entirely plausible that this time next year that while every seems to think Hunt was a great pick-up to gain future assets, the opposite may ring true and we keep Hunt and trade Chubb who would actually hold more value while still being on his rookie contract. Arizona would be a good place while they try to get their team in check. He'll stay out of the AFC and out of the AFC North for the next 3 years...

I agree, the only disclaimer being the smaller sample size with Chubb. I think they both can squarely shoulder any load, both get better as the game goes on. I think Chubb shows that he is a little more physical, but ironically, that's mainly because he doesn't possess the elite elusiveness that Hunt does. Chubb will finish by trying to run through you. Hunt may take you out of your shoes or throw you down with a devastating stiff arm... pick your poison, he'll be as physical as he needs to be on any given play. Hunt is an elite back catching passes out of the backfield. Chubb has shown he is more than worthy but he's really not yet on the same level. If given the choice of only one, with the only consideration being how they perform on the field, I'd take Hunt every time.

David Johnson ring a bell?

I wouldn't feel comfortable moving Chubb until Hunt's had a year and another off-season of behaving himself, especially since he's back "home."

In regards to what?

I would not move Chubb, this league chews up RBs and spits them out. Always keep two formidable RBs going forward... that's my dynasty plan, anyway.

He's the starting RB for AZ and is considered one of the better backs in football. Why would they make a trade for Chubb. I think they have more issues elsewhere on their team than RB.

Im not trying to get rid of either per se, just saying I wouldn't be surprised to see Chubb go. I don't think we'll be able to keep both forever, but a two headed monster is always nice... like DeAngelo williams/Jonathan Stewart or devonta freeman/tevin coleman or kamara/ingram, or icky woods/james brooks or Larry johnson/Priest Holmes, or ladainian tomlinson/michael Turner, or roger Craig/rathman, or okoye/word, or dunn/alstott, or my favorite from tecmo bowl Bo Jackson/ Marcus Allen....

j/c:

I hope we keep both Chubb and Hunt. I'm not sure if that line of thinking is intelligent, but I really like both backs and I think we can kill teams w/both dudes playing w/OBJ and Landry.

It would probably be wiser to trade one of them, but I'm being selfish in wanting to keep both of them. If we do move one of them, I would predict it would be Hunt.

Yo..........typing this out has me thinking realistically about what's going to be on the field for the Browns: Baker, OBJ, Landry, Chubb, and Hunt. Are you kidding me? That is like an All-Star team. Throw in Callaway and Njoku as secondary pieces and you are talking about a great offense.

I just hope the coaching and Baker are ready for this.

jc

In what universe do we get rid of Chubb or Hunt?

Exactly who are you going to replace them with that is better?

No one.

And this is from a person who doesnt like Hunt.

jc

Why is it, every time we get depth at a position, the discussion automatically becomes "Let's trade away the depth." Several years ago, we theoretically had depth on the DL, an the discussion became, "Let's trade some DTs." Now we have 2 Pro Bowl Quality RBs, and the discussion is now, "We need to Trade one of them. Can't anyone be happy that we have depth for a change and that depth makes the Browns a better team ??

Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?

I think some people are just misreading what is written. Honestly, I don't think it's about trying to trade someone away. As a fan and I probably speak for all of us when I say I hope we keep Chubb, Hunt, and Duke and trade none of them. However, I also know that in 2-3 years all 3 won't be here.

We currently have Mayfield, Chubb, Hunt, Duke, OBJ, Landry, Callaway, Njoku all on the roster.... is it realistic to think that in 2-3 years that all of them will still be here? Heck, they might not all be here next year. I can already tell you at least one of them will be a free agent.

We aren't building our team to win 2-3 years from now, we've built this team to win NOW.

Priority #1 is retaining Mayfield at any and all costs. Everyone else is expendable.

This is a general question...

I always had Hunt pegged as more of a pass-catching RB ala Duke. How well-rounded is he? Knock on wood, if Chubb went down, would Hunt be able to temporarily be that bellcow back?

I think that might be something I'm missing in this conversation. I have Hunt purely as an upgraded Duke Johnson, w/o any overlap with Chubb's responsibilities.

[quote=oobernoober] This is a general question...

I always had Hunt pegged as more of a pass-catching RB ala Duke. How well-rounded is he? Knock on wood, if Chubb went down, would Hunt be able to temporarily be that bellcow back?

I think that might be something I'm missing in this conversation. I have Hunt purely as an upgraded Duke Jo

His stats say he's probably more like Chubb than Duke.

Rushing

2017 - 181 Attempts - 825 yards - 4.5 avg (Short season)
2018 - 272 Attempts - 1327 yards - 4.9 avg.. (full season)

His stats say he's probably more like Chubb than Duke.

Rushing

2017 - 181 Attempts - 825 yards - 4.5 avg (Short season)
2018 - 272 Attempts - 1327 yards - 4.9 avg.. (full season)

Forgot to add, he did catch 79 balls over that period of time. Do he does that pretty well also... Yeah, I think he's more like Chubb than Duke

I think those dates are backwards

From Wikipedia ..

Kareem AJ Hunt (born August 6, 1995) is an American football running back for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Toledo and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. As a rookie in 2017, he led the NFL in rushing yards and was selected to the Pro Bowl.

j/c

I certainly am not one who suggested we ever decide between Hunt and Chubb as which to keep. My only contention was when looking at the rookie season of both players I think Hunt has the edge on production. I think if I had to choose which back was better, I would have to give the edge to Hunt. He is more versatile. Yet at the same time Chubb almost eclipsed 1000 yards rushing after only having three carries in the first three games. So to me an argument could certainly be made in either direction.

So far in Duke's career he hasn't shown to be in the same league as either of those two RB's. He certainly has talent and the ability to be a part of the puzzle no doubt about it. But I don't think anyone can even attempt to make a legitimate argument that Duke is the same caliber of RB as Hunt and Chubb.

I could see Dorsey using Duke and/or Ogbah to move up in the draft … JMHO

Think he can still have a role.

Returns, RB, Slot, he is versatile and provides a lot of depth.

Providing he is willing to take the backup role... honestly I do not think we will get much for him.

One of the unmentioned (maybe only less mentioned) problems with getting rid of Duke is that Hunt is only a half-year rental at this point. Plus, he has to stay out of trouble.

Solid backs are relatively easy to find though. And, they are being used in the passing game more in college. So, replacing Hunt/Duke shouldn't be an overly imposing bridge to get over when we reach it.

It comes down to whether Dorsey thinks he can get more value for Duke in trade than he is worth to the team.

Why is Hunt a 1 year rental ? He is a restricted Free Agent after the season. The Browns will control whether he goes or not. Match an offer, or receive compensation.

Solid backs are easy to find. However, in Hunts rookie season, where he actually played in all 16 games, he had 1327 yards rushing with an average of 4.9 yards per attempt. He also had 53 receptions for another 455 receiving yards. He also made the pro bowl as a rookie.

There's a big difference between an elite RB and solid RB. An elite one isn't as easy to find.

If the Le'Veon Bell mess has shown anything, it's that you can't take anything for granted. They haven't placed a tender on Hunt "at this point," so for now he's a 1 year deal.

That's all I was saying.

There is a difference between elite and solid backs. How big it is may vary.

Situation can play into it some. Damien Williams looked pretty good filling in for Hunt.

That's not to say Hunt isn't a good back. He is a good one.

It can be hard to keep multiple good backs happy. In Bell's case, it was hard to keep one happy (no disrespect to Conner, but he was an unknown.)

I wouldn't expect it to take anywhere near as long to find a good back as it took us to find a good QB if we did need one for whatever reason. Dorsey's been pretty good picking them. *shrug*

I think signing Hunt shows just how happy he was with one he had already selected. Rookie pro bowler and leading rusher who compiled almost 1800 yards as a rookie pretty much says it all.

For the last twenty years I've been hearing this stuff about RBs being easy to find and replace. All that time I have watch back after back get pummeled by the fanbase. Easy to find or replace? Until now the Browns couldn't do it for like twenty years. And when we did have a decent guy, when he was injured we had nothing again.

Having Chubb on a rookie deal, and Hunt basically for nothing is a dream come true. Even thought of moving either makes me sick. Unless you can't afford both, you keep them until the cost starts to hurt other positions.

We might field two pro bowl backs next year. That has got me fired up.

Damien Williams had 50 carries last year. He has 183 for his career, and last year was the 1st year he averaged more than 4 yards/carry. (and he did get to 5.4 yards/carry in a very limited role) He did have 23 carries last year, but only 7 yards/catch.

Hunt had 800 yards rushing through 8 games, and caught 24 passes, for 14.5 yards/catch.

There is a big difference between good, and elite.

Well some people refuse to let facts get in the way of what they say and think.

Having Chubb and Hunt on the field should be great.

I've never said otherwise despite what some people seem to think.

Keeping them on the field "together" as they play up to their potential for the next however many years would be amazing.

Doing that might be more difficult than it seems at first glance. *shrug*

I like to have contingency plans at least considered.

There's obviously a difference, but the numbers were surprisingly comparable, on a per start basis, considering Williams isn't a very heralded back.

I'd take Hunt over him every time.

The other thing I was kind of saying is that if you had put Hunt behind a bad OL/in a "bad offense" he might not have appeared as good.

It's kind of fluid. A mediocre back behind a great OL can look good. A great back in a bad offense can look not as good.

The "difference" between the two isn't always apparent on the stat sheet or scoreboard.

Hunt should be able to work just fine in our offense.

I'd like to think that a lot of backs would.