Isaiah Crowell

Isaiah Crowell averaged almost five yards per carry over the Browns final four games of the regular season is poised for a big season.

(Joshua Gunter, Cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hue Jackson had two great reasons for not using any of his 14 draft picks on a running back: Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell.

"Those 2 guys are as good as I've seen in a while,'' Jackson said on the Browns draft review show Tuesday night that aired on 92.3 The Fan. "Their talent is extreme."

Jackson acknowledged that not selecting a back -- in a draft in which some thought the Browns might land Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott -- has drawn some heat.

"I've been getting so much mail or phones calls with people saying, 'Well wait a minute, why don't you guys have a running back?''' he said. "I really think Isaiah Crowell is a really good running back. I think he's going to have a sensational season, I really do."

Crowell, signed by the Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2014 out of Alabama State, led the team with 185 carries for 706 yards (3.8 yard per carry) and four TDs in 2015. But the Browns didn't commit to the run until late in the season, and Crowell was under-used in the first 12 games. In those outings, he rushed for 397 yards -- compared to 309 in the final four games.

He carried the ball 20 times or more on only one occasion -- in the 13th week of the season against San Francisco. Not surprisingly, it also marked his lone 100-yard performance of the season, a 145-yard effort.

In studying Crowell's film, Jackson sees a bellcow who can carry the load. The 5-11, 225-pounder didn't always find the holes quickly enough last season, but Jackson is confident that will change this year.

"Obviously Isaiah is very explosive," he said. "He's got quick feet, he's fast in the hole, he runs with good pad level.''

In Johnson, Jackson sees an elusive runner and dynamic receiver in the mold of Cincinnati's Gio Bernard, who rushed for 730 yards (4.7-yard average) and two TDs, and caught 49 passes for 472 yards and no TDs.

Johnson (5-9, 210) finished second to Crowell with 104 carries for 379 yards (3.6-yard average) and caught 61 passes for 532 yards, both of which were third on the team. He was also tied for third with two touchdown catches, and will be continue to be featured in the passing game.

"I think he's going to have a great year as well," Jackson said. "Duke has suddenness and quickness and he can go catch the ball with anybody. He does so many different things that gives your offense a boost.''

In addition to Crowell and Johnson, the Browns have Glenn Winston, Raheem Mostert and Terrell Watson, the former Bengals practice squad member who set Division II records at Azusa Pacific University.

"We haven't put the pads on yet and they have to do it, but I believe that we have the potential to be very good at that position." Jackson said. "I'm very comfortable with our group. I think we have some really good players there."

On draft weekend, Jackson stressed that the current group impressed him enough to stand pat at the position.

"It says that I'm very happy with the guys that are here," Jackson said.

The Browns finished 22nd in the NFL in rushing last season, and languished near the bottom until they averaged 160 yards in the final four games. The Bengals, meanwhile, finished 13th, and the Browns can expect to be more in that neighborhood in 2016.

"That's one of the things that once I got here that I wanted to take a strong look at,'' he said. "From top to bottom, I think we have some good candidates here."