Browns preseason game No. 2 viewing guide: Nick Chubb-Kareem Hunt combo comes to forefront
By Nate Ulrich
Posted Aug 16, 2019 at 3:38 PM
INDIANAPOLIS — With Kareem Hunt returning to team drills this week after a groin injury kept him sidelined for most of training camp, the Browns received a sneak peek of the tandem the NFL's 2017 rushing champion can form with starter Nick Chubb.
The Indianapolis Colts got a taste of the dynamic running back duo Wednesday and Thursday in their joint practices with the Browns at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Indiana.
Hunt is now expected to make his preseason debut with the Browns when they face the Colts in the second exhibition game for both teams at 4 p.m. Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Because of Hunt's physical altercations with a woman in downtown Cleveland and a man in Put-in-Bay last year, he'll serve an eight-game suspension from the NFL and won't be eligible to play in the regular season until Nov. 10 against the Buffalo Bills.
The Browns are already thinking about the boost they will get from Hunt, provided he stays out of trouble, in Week 10.
"All I know is the season's long, right?" wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. said after Thursday's joint practice. "And to have somebody who's of that caliber coming in, in the back end of the season fresh — you know what I'm saying."
Hunt is thinking big, too. Two years ago, the Willoughby South High School graduate led the NFL with 1,327 rushing yards and made the Pro Bowl as a rookie third-round draft pick with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs cut the University of Toledo product last year when a surveillance video surfaced showing him shoving and kicking a woman. John Dorsey, the former Chiefs General Manager who holds the same title with the Browns, threw Hunt a lifeline by signing him on Feb. 11.
Now Hunt insists he "definitely" believes the Browns can be as explosive on offense as the Chiefs, whose star playmakers include quarterback Patrick Mahomes, receiver Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce.
"We've just got a number of receivers, running back talent, a great quarterback, the same thing K.C. has," Hunt said. "So there's similarities.
"It's a lot of big pieces to this offense. It's hard to really find or point out a weak spot on this team, offensively and defensively."
As much as Beckham is excited about Hunt, the reverse is true as well. Hunt views Beckham as a downfield complement akin to Hill.
"[Hill has] tremendous speed," Hunt said. "I don't think I've ever seen speed like that before. It's just great, great talent. Odell is another guy who can just make big plays all the time."
Hunt had never previously been paired with a running back as formidable as Chubb, though. As a rookie second-round pick last year, Chubb didn't start until Week 7 but still finished with 996 rushing yards.
"No drop-off [from me to Chubb]," Hunt said. "He's definitely a great running back, and I consider myself one, too."
Beckham watched Chubb play at the University of Georgia.
"I think he's got great vision," Beckham said. "I think he's a great back. I'm definitely happy to have him."
But Beckham's scouting report was flawed. The superstar admits he didn't realize Chubb possesses elite breakaway speed. Chubb reminded everyone again Thursday, when he busted loose for a 65-yard touchdown run against the Colts, who employ Darius Leonard, an All-Pro linebacker and last year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Coach Freddie Kitchens explained the Browns became believers in Chubb's home-run ability in the buildup to last year's draft.
"During the evaluation process, you saw the speed and you saw the agility," Kitchens said. "He has one of the best jump cuts I've ever seen. I'm not claiming I have seen every jump cut, so I'm sure I'm going to offend somebody with that. He has a good jump cut in the hole. He has great body control, balance and all the characteristics and skill sets that good running backs have."
Catching passes out of the backfield is a facet of the game Chubb has focused on this offseason.
"Nick is going to work his tail off," Kitchens said, "and he has really put a lot of time into that, and I think that it's showing. He feels more comfortable. A lot of it's just the comfort level. He feels more comfortable doing those things now, and he's pretty consistent catching the ball."
Kitchens declined to disclose how much Chubb, quarterback Baker Mayfield and the rest of the starters will play Saturday. The first-team offense and defense played a series in last week's preseason opener, a 30-10 win over Washington at FirstEnergy Stadium. This weekend, though, Chubb and Hunt should both be in action for the Browns on a game day for the first time.
Front four
The No. 1 defensive line of the Browns is expected to make its preseason debut as a group. End Myles Garrett and tackle Larry Ogunjobi played in the opener, but end Olivier Vernon and Sheldon Richardson sat out with minor injuries. All of them practiced this week, plus a key backup, edge rusher Genard Avery, returned from injury, too.
"[We're learning] how we play off each other, the things that we're doing, rushing, stopping the run," Ogunjobi said. "It's cool just being able to feel the guys out and understand this is what Myles does or Olivier, Sheldon, and then work off each other from there."
Although the Browns won't get a chance to sack four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Andrew Luck because he's injured and being replaced by Jacoby Brissett, the Colts should provide a good measuring stick because they have one of the better offensive lines in the league.
On the other hand, Colts coach Frank Reich has said All-Pro left guard Quenton Nelson likely won't play Saturday because he's working his way back from an ankle injury. Nelson sat out practice Wednesday and returned Thursday in a limited capacity.
Time to shine
With starting tight end David Njoku missing time with a knee injury, backup Demetrius Harris took center stage against the Colts. Harris became a frequent and reliable target of Mayfield in the joint practices. He'll look to maintain his momentum Saturday in a bid to receive more playing time in the regular season than he might have gotten otherwise.
"He was coming on before he went down with a concussion [earlier in camp]," Kitchens said, "and he looks like he picked up where he left off and is continuing to get better."
In the battle for a roster spot or two in the back end of the receiving corps, Jaelen Strong and undrafted rookie D.J. Montgomery strengthened their cases in the joint practices.
Kitchens has acknowledged their progress but stressed he wants them to become more consistent.
On the offensive line, rookie sixth-round selection Drew Forbes has worked his way into the competition at first-team right guard. Eric Kush is atop the depth chart, but Forbes took a few reps with the No. 1 offense Wednesday and Thursday.
Under the microscope
The kicking duel between incumbent Greg Joseph and rookie fifth-round pick Austin Seibert remains an important point of interest.
Both of them went 5-of-5 on field goals in the first joint practice Wednesday. There wasn't a field-goal period in Thursday's session.
Joseph has been better than Seibert throughout camp. In the preseason opener, Joseph made his lone field goal but went 1-of-2 on extra points. Seibert didn't attempt a field goal and went 2-of-2 on extra points.
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