John Kuntz cleveland.com

Browns running back Nick Chubb had this franchise-record 92-yard touchdown run against Atlanta, but his ability to turn 2-yard runs into 12-yarders is something that has raised the productivity of the Cleveland offense in a meaningful way.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio - During the 2018 offseason, the Browns paid Duke Johnson top-10 NFL running back money, and signed former hometown Buckeye, and fan favorite, Carlos Hyde, yet they still invested a valuable pick on Nick Chubb out of Georgia.

With the depreciating value of the running back across the modern NFL, some questioned the Browns use of an early second-round pick on Chubb -- especially considering the amount of commitment already placed in the position before the draft.

With the focus on Hyde and Johnson, the Browns clearly had the long-game vision for Chubb. Through the first six weeks, Chubb garnered all of 16 carries, but buried in those 16 carries were two long touchdowns, a rookie of the week award, and a 10.8 yards per carry number.

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Between Todd Haley and Hue Jackson, the Browns refused to give Chubb the carries he rightfully deserved, despite his abilities popping on each snap.

Things changed before Week 7 as the Browns shipped Carlos Hyde and his 3.35 yards per carry number to Jacksonville to open the door for Chubb.

Since taking the reins in Tampa Bay, Chubb has produced 406 yards on 78 carries-- good for 5.2 yards per carry. He has shown a propensity to flash the tools scouts raved about before the draft: power, balance, patience, change of pace.

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However, the trait that Chubb has displayed weekly -- the one that separates him from his predecessors in Hyde, Isaiah Crowell, and Trent Richardson -- is his ability to use vision to set up his runs.

Chubb's ability to manipulate blocks, see schemes unfold before they move, and make defenders to make them incorrectly commit has led to some explosive runs for the Browns offense.

I won't recap the runs we have all seen broken down several times, the long runs in Oakland and the franchise record run against Atlanta.

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But there are several examples weekly where he turns a short run into 10 to 20 yards. Those are the runs to appreciate -- the types of runs that keep your offense on schedule, and keep defenses on their heels.

Let's take a look at four examples over the course of the Browns' last three games that can display just how effective Chubb's vision can be.

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EXAMPLE NO. 1

An excellent complement to inside zone, middle zone and duo is outside zone, and the scheme is one of the Browns' go-to plays.

Outside zone does exactly what the name indicates: puts pressure on the defense laterally. Where the inside zone is about creating vertical movement, the outside zone is all about moving laterally to outflank the defense and pin defenders inside.

Here's how the scheme is taught and instructed by coaches: Offensive linemen begin the play by stepping laterally to the play side and attempting to reach the outside shoulder of their designated defender.

If the lineman is successful in getting to the outside shoulder, he pins the defender inside (rip). If the lineman has not reached the defender by the third step, he switches gears and looks to run the defender all the way to the sideline (run).

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As this play unfolds, you will notice that Pittsburgh sends Jon Bostic (No. 51) on an A-Gap blitz, and it is picked up well by J.C. Tretter. Kevin Zeitler turns his 2-tech defensive tackle to seal the alley, and the key cut and vision is when Chubb turns into the hole above.

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Instead of pushing laterally, he feels the backside guard, Joel Bitonio, coming for the scraping linebacker, Vince Williams (No. 98), and allows him to be pushed by before accelerating upfield to gain 12 yards.

The patience and vision for the drive-by block is what springs this run for a bigger gain. If Chubb fails to see the drive-by coming from Bitonio, this run ends for about 3 yards.

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EXAMPLE NO. 2

Split Zone has become one of the Browns' go-to schemes involving their blocking tight ends. They use it with each tight end on the roster, and it is the perfect scheme to get them involved and allow each to get a head start in momentum.

In split zone, all linemen take a play-side zone step: They step with their play side foot first toward where the run is designed to go.

The end man on the line of scrimmage is left unblocked by the offensive line as the backside tackle climbs to the inside linebacker.

However, the quarterback is not making a read on this defender. In this case, the tight end will come across the formation for a kickout block. In doing so, it looks similar to a trap, and it allows the natural cut-back lane to appear for the running back's path.

Pay specific attention to the "ACE" block by the playside guard (Zeitler, No. 70), and center (Tretter, No. 64).

Here is the scheme as it is universally known by coaches:

"ACE" is generally the call for a combination block between the guard and the center. It is usually dependent on the defensive lineman. Generally if the D-lineman steps toward the center, he is the center's responsibility, and the guard will chip and go to the second level.

If the defensive lineman steps into the guard, the center will chip block him, then go to the second level and let the guard take the lineman. The guard will make the call.

LION is the call for a combination block with the left guard and RAM is the call for the combination block between the right guard and center. The center will specify the side to let the other blocker know.

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Initially, Chubb reads the rear end of Zeitler at right guard and sets his path to push to the B-gap. After Tretter realizes Zeitler has the 3-technique defensive tackle handled, he works to climb to the second level.

As Chiefs MIKE linebacker Anthony Hitchens (No. 53) reads the initial path Chubb chooses, he directs outside. This path then sets Chubb up to use his vision to his benefit.

The commitment he forces from Hitchens allows his one-cut to the A-gap to set up beautifully for a downhill attack with angles for his lineman. He finishes this run with power, as you will see an in-hole stiff-arm of Chiefs big defensive tackle Xavier Williams (No. 98) to push this run to 18 yards.

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EXAMPLE NO. 3

The Browns come back to split zone here in Week 10. The schematic set-up is almost identical to the Chiefs the week prior. The same "ACE" block will be needed by the front side to secure the path for Chubb. Chubb's success on this play is based entirely on reading Atlanta's MIKE linebacker Bruce Carter (No. 55).

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Off the snap, the Falcons' linebackers shift laterally with the high motion fake, and it creates some confusion up-front. The Falcons defensive line uses an "Angle" stunt away from the formation strength, sending the lineman on stunts to the offense's left.

This leads to Tretter taking the 3-tech defensive tackle on his own, and leaving right guard Zeitler without a man to block.

The key work is done by Bitonio working to cut off and turn the 1-technique defensive tackle-- a tough task. He does it beautifully here, and Tretter works to turn his man to create an alley. The problem is that Bruce Carter (No. 55) above is left unblocked due to the "Angle" stunt.

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What Chubb is able to do so well is that he can see Carter is unblocked before his first cut.

He uses an outside cut to work back to his left, the puts his left foot in the ground as we see above to work back to the alley created after he gets Carter to commit when he initially pushed back left. This sort of one-two cut is so tough to accomplish, but he makes it seem effortless and turns a play Atlanta had schemed perfectly with an unblocked man into 20 yards.

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EXAMPLE NO. 4

Although not zone-based, Duo carries some similar looks at the point of attack. Duo is a popular scheme in the modern NFL. Its name originates from the concept of double teams, and it is a popular choice of Browns offensive line coach Bob Wylie.

The scheme aims to achieve two double teams at the point of attack, while your running back will "read" the usually unblocked MIKE linebacker and make his cut off his path to the line of scrimmage.

Duo is simply getting as many double teams at the point of attack as possible, getting four legs on two legs, create vertical movement, and displacing defenders.

The Browns get two initial double teams above from Bitonio and Tretter, plus Zeitler and right tackle Chris Hubbard.

Many people will confuse Duo and Inside Zone. They look very similar, and the backfield action is very similar, but beyond that, the reads and the nature of the double teams are different compared to inside zone.

The key differences between the two are in Duo, the double teams are working away from the point of attack, while in zone, the double teams work toward the point of attack.

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Joel Bitonio does a great job of removing himself from his initial double team to pick up the Falcons' WILL linebacker blitzing off the snap.

The Browns also motion Jarvis Landry (No. 80) in to take care of the presnap overhang issue, but the Falcons bring an extra man off the edge, and it catches Chubb by surprise off his initial cut to his right on his read.

The second cut that he is able to make to totally redirect his course and push back to the left is elite. He quickly bounces from jump-cut to his right to jump-cut to his left without a single piece of wasted motion to push back the opposite way, beat the collapsing backside end, and turn a play that could have been over at the line of scrimmage into 10 yards and a first down.

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Final Thoughts

The Browns pushed up the timeline for Chubb, and it was clearly the right move for this offense.

Chubb has not only shown an unexpected burst in the second level with his speed, he also has performed much better in pass protection lately, recording his two best Pro Football Focus grades in that area the last two weeks.

Chubb has also found a way to pitch in through the passing game, as he chipped in six catches for 48 yards and a touchdown in his four-week time frame as the starter.

A bulk of the throws out of the backfield will continue to go to Duke Johnson, as they should, but Chubb has proven himself to be more than capable in that aspect of the position.

Chubb is young at just 22 years old, but he has the vision and patience of a seasoned veteran. The Browns' plan didn't call for either Chubb or Baker Mayfield to be seeing important action this early in their careers, but the two are gaining valuable experience in a league that calls for experience to find your stride over the long haul.

The duo is pushing for a debut season of 3,000 yards passing, 1,000 yards rushing, and it would be on par with some of the best backfield rookie numbers the NFL has ever seen.

Although drafting running backs in the first two rounds is becoming taboo in the modern NFL, the Browns clearly made the right choice for their franchise and found the ideal running mate for their franchise quarterback.