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Isaiah Crowell carries calm nerves, big goals for 2nd season
Posted 2 hours ago

Kevin Jones
Staff Writer
@Mr_KevinJones Facebook
Browns running back much more confident after rookie season

There’s already one major difference Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell has noticed about himself at the start of training for his second NFL season: He’s more relaxed.

After spending the offseason in the Bahamas, Miami and addressing kids in Georgia about how valuable second chances can be, Crowell, with his 225-pound chiseled frame, has arrived back in Berea with assurance he can build off his rookie campaign.

By any measure, the undrafted Crowell tore down the expectations placed upon him as the third-string running back to begin the season. His eight touchdowns were one shy of what Hall of Famer Jim Brown posted in his rookie season with the Browns back in 1957. Crowell became a fan favorite of the Dawg Pound with the intensity he showed each time he had the ball.

But after an 88-yard outburst in Atlanta, including a galloping 26-yard touchdown run, Crowell admittedly hit the dreaded rookie wall. In the Browns’ final five games, the young running back carried the football 58 times for 161 yards – good for just 3.6 yards per carry.



After some self-reflection and a better understanding of how the NFL works, Crowell told Cleveland Browns Daily on Monday why he thinks the city of Cleveland will see a much improved No. 34 on Sundays.

“It was being too anxious. I feel like that will be better for Year 2,” Crowell said. “I was trying to get everything down pat and move too quickly. But now, I feel like I can be more patient.

“Now, I feel more confident. It’s not really too much different – it’s just football. I can be relaxed out there and focus on helping my team win.”

Even though the Browns have revamped their passing game with wide receivers Brian Hartline and Dwayne Bowe, coach Mike Pettine has been clear Cleveland will go as far as Crowell – and fellow rookie Terrance West – can take them.

Instead of developing a rivalry for who gets the most carries, Crowell and West have embraced each other, and have even made a pact together. Somehow they kept it under the social media radar, but Crowell flew up to Baltimore this offseason to get some workouts in with West, and, in turn, West flew down to Atlanta.

That pact? Both Crowell and West want to rush for 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“That’s the plan,” Crowell said. “Both of us want the ball and I think both of us have what it takes to play in the NFL for a long time. I’m happy he’s with me. We plan on doing some big things.”

The offensive goals are becoming loftier in Cleveland because of what offensive coordinator John DeFilippo has planned for the unit. Crowell said the offense is generally similar to last season’s scheme, but there will be distinctions.

Two hints from Crowell: The pass protection is different and we will see him more as a receiver out of the backfield.

We’re still more than four months away from an NFL regular season game, so Crowell will have time to become a master of the playbook. And, in the meantime, he dropped a little bombshell of his own: He’s been working on a touchdown celebration.

“You will see a dance this year,” Crowell said, with an emphatic roar of laughter. Clevelandbrowns.com

Loved the part about him talking to kids about second chances. Just love it.

I'll keep it short and a continuance from last year... JUST FEED THE CROW!

I love the thought of having 2 1000 yard rushers (again) and both with 10+ TDs. Mack & Byner v2.0...

Is this the year we'll actually be able to run a competent screen play?

Show me.

Don't you mean "continue to show me"?

Without a competent passer teams will load up to stop Crow and West if they can get 1,000 yards while facing that they are 2 of the best backs in the league... I think will see a drop in their production this year...

JMHO

Yes, teams will dare us to beat them through the air.

I think we are in for a rough season. I hope I am wrong.

Best case scenario is Manziel emerges from the ashes to be a competent QB. That's what I am hoping for.

There are 5000 QB threads, I would kinda like to keep one about our 2 young stud backs. I am very excited to have both returning and do feel they will benefit with a bit more inside running. I also think getting these 2 out in the passing game will be of huge benefit. Forces teams to account for them especially with the hands that West has and the open field ability of Crow.

Keeping our RB coaches and OL coaches was huge.

These two kids were pretty good last year. My hope is they continue to grow.

+1

I think we have the case of thunder and lightning with West and Crow. A perfect combination. IMO, both those guys can and will only get better. I feel West has got the one cut and go down.

Memo to Flip, scrap all those stupid inside toss plays. If I see another one, I may go insane.

Didn't Crow have some fumbling issues last season? Would throwing him the ball really be the best idea?

I don't see those two things as related much at all. His problem was being loose with the ball after he already had it.

On a side note, what's up with West's new 'do? Grew up in Baltimore, plays for the Browns, sporting the Steelers colors? (Towson colors, maybe) Definitely an... interesting look.

I love both of them and cannot wait to see what they do in year two. I loathed the fact that Shanahan didn't utilize them in the passing game, or even throw them screens for that matter. Crowell seems like a guy you HAVE to get out in space. People wanting Gurly picked at #19 kind of blow my mind. I feel like running back should be LAST on the list of needs this team has.

Crow will be fine.

Just focus on not putting the ball on the turf like last year.

I recall him and West both had a few clutch fumbles near the end of the season. Crowell fumbled in the 2nd quarter against the Texans just as we were marching in to take the lead, and then West fumbled in Buffalo leading to a defensive touchdown. Rookie mistakes are made when you ask them to carry an offense. I think overall they did a great job, I wouldn't say that either of them had a "fumbling problem". I remember reading a scouting report last year that said West has really soft hands and would be great coming out of the backfield on a regular basis.

Crow lost 2 fumbles, West lost 1.

West, however, had a bunch of close calls. He kept reaching for an extra yard as he was being tackled and was really loose with the ball.

I guess that's easier to correct than a bad running style.

Towson colors, definitely.

Crowell had a bunch of close calls, too. That will get fixed with maturity. They're both young and hungry- and were out to prove themselves.

I've heard countless backs say that it took them some time before they learned to "take what was given" and wait for the next play.

I expect these kids to get it, too.

No. I have to add that I apologize if my views aren't clear as I haven't posted nearly as frequently given the current state of the board.

I remember when TRich almost had 1,000 yds rushing and a whole bunch of receiving. There was a bunch of optimism there, but it failed.

Crowell now came off what was a SOLID rookie season, and I do think he has a lot more potential than TRich. Much better vision and a better burst combined with results behind a line without its second best player.

BUT, he's shown his cards now. An ambitious goal to reach that we've heard of so many times in the past that never came close to fruition. 2 rushers reaching 4 digit yards and double digit touchdowns. Show me. Show me that you can even come close to that goal. I'm sick of the ambition. I want to see results.

Usually, when a guy has a REAL problem with Fumbles, I remember it. And I don't. But I remember Wilbert Montgomery fumbling all the time when he was an Eagle LOl

I know at least one was on a dumb inside running toss play if my memory serves me. The inside toss plays need to be scraped and forgotten about.

Just me, but I'd not be concerned with fumbles with either baby back. Rookie stuff they likely have already been dedicated on correcting this offseason.

West's hair is meant to be the browns orange. It faded to a yellow but recently he re-dyed it to the new bright orange. Looks kinda cool lol

I guess I see it just a little differently. Early in the year Tate was taking away carries from both backs. With only 148 carries, the Crow amassed 8td's. With Tate gone, it only stands to reason that getting 10td's with more carries looks pretty reachable. He also averaged 4.1 yards per carry. With that type of average, the deciding factors to a 1000 yard season is how many times he's called on to carry the rock.

So if he simply "continues" what he's been doing, his goals look pretty reasonable to me.

IMO, calling them the next Byner and Mack is really stretching it.

I'm not sure either of the two will ever be 1,000 yard rushers.

Crow needs to learn how to hold on to the football and West needs to get his attitude adjusted.

Crow needs to learn balance.

Never seen a RB that talented that couldn't balance himself while running. Left a lot of yards on the field.

He'll never be a 1000 yard back if he doesn't get that solved.

I'm not sure West will ever be a 1000 yard back. I just don't see anything in his game to get excited about.

I guess people see what they want to see. For me West is just as talented as Crowell. West has already displayed ability in pass pro that Crow hasn't. West, although given only a handful of pass catching opportunities has shown that he's capable there as well. Crowell is more decisive through the whole but West is more creative and has shown more wiggle once on the the second level. West needs to be more decisive making an initial cut but once he's in space he's a good mix of power and shiftiness.

All of this continual talk as if they should have come into the league completely proficient in the pro game is at least weird and quickly moves to irritating for where I sit. This is the best RB tandem this team has had since Byner and Mack. I only expect them to develop more skills but also mentally become more professional also.

As for the screen game. In the last couple of years we've gotten better with the WR screen. With a new offense this year we might be able to execute the RB screen with more success.

He had pretty much a 4 yard per carry average and over 670 yards splitting the reps. I think early to close to the midway mark, he stopped trying to dance and do the horizontal ordeal and started to plant the foot and do the one-cut north and south in which I thought he started looking good in. My biggest knock on West is the clear attitude issues that Pettine had indicated. Which hopefully those got corrected before last season ended, we'll see.

With Alex Mack back and hopefully a similar run/zone blocking scheme via Flip, I'm oh so anxious to see our team get back to running the ball.

Lol

well at least the browns are always on the top of his head

I like Crow. He was the guy I chose last year in the Sleeper thread. He runs w/a forward lean and think Rish is confusing that w/a lack of balance. He has quick feet, good vision, and cuts quickly. He has a nice little burst and typically falls forward after contact.

West is okay. He's strong and can punish guys.

Together, they are pretty good.

I really don't think we should ignore the QB, WR, and TE issues though. Teams WILL stack the LOS and most fans will blame the blocking, the RBs and the play calling, when in reality, that is not the case.

Crowell will do great.. not a huge fan of West.. Need to see more from him.

I'm of the opinion that having a good line goes a long way in making a good back. If ours stays healthy and we have halfway competent QB play, I don't see any reason our young backs can't reach their goals. The AFC North D's aren't as intimidating as they used to be. No Ngata, Polamalu, I'm not sure who Pitt has at OLB anymore, Ravens OLBs are on the back nine of their careers, etc. Cincinnati might have the best D in the division. Heck, we could have the best D in the division if we can stay healthy.

Hopefully some of our new offensive players will allow our new offensive coordinator to be more creative than our offensive coordinator last year. This would allow us to get other team's base defenses off the field, which would in turn allow us to run the ball more successfully. Mack being back will also obviously help.

Crowell was much better than West last year. I was not impressed by West at all and I am kind of upset that we used a third round pick to select him.

I don't think creativity was the problem. I think Shanahan called plays to our imagined strengths (i.e, Manziel's running ability) rather than our actual strengths (Running stretch zone behind the left side of the line or at least away from whichever DT was blowing by our replacement center and play action off it). I think Shanahan got too cutesy/creative with his inside pitch towards the weakest part of our makeshift line. I think simplifying what we did would have been more effective with our replacements than trying to change things and find some imaginary magic answer.

I didn't think West was the second coming of Barry Sanders or anything, but he was much better than Trent Richardson, so at least our running back picks are trending in the right direction. Even better if you look at it as we got West and Crowell for that 3rd round pick.

Crowell often tripped without being touched or just barely being touched. It was a common theme throughout the season. Pettine or Shanny or Farmer also commented that they wanted to work with him on it. Balance was an issue for him.

Cfrs, I agree. I don't see anything special in West and am also bummed that we used a 3rd on him. And traded up for him. And to top it off he's apparently a pretty big d-bag.

Everyone is better than Richardson (almost literally).

We ran the ball against opposing teams' base defenses more than any other team. That means the other teams knew what was coming. Either they were really good at guessing or our play-calling was not very good (for a multitude of reasons).