Terrance West is currently among the NFL’s top 10 rushers after week 1 of the regular season. I’m not crowning anybody anything at this point but both he and fellow rookie Isaiah Crowell are off to very strong starts. This is a credit to their abilities as runners just as much as it is to the outstanding blocking they received vs. the Steelers, especially along the right side. By my calculations 78.5% of the runs by our running backs executed went to the right side on Sunday.

During the first half our running backs ran right 6 times and left 3 times. During the second half 90% of our running backs’ runs went to the right side (18 times) and out of all their running plays in the second half, 94% came while in 12 personnel (1 RB, 2TE, 2WR) and while 72% were ran from the pistol formation. Of our second half running plays, 18 were run out of a no huddle vs. a first half where we so zero no huddle plays. The difference between the halves was evident, namely in yards and points with the Browns scoring 0 TD’s in the first half while rushing for 75 yards and then rushing for 2 TD’s and 111 yards in the second half.

Kyle Shanahan picked a weakness and kept exploiting it and the team kept executing. So much so that both Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell were able to average 6.5 and 6.0 YPC, respectively. West touched the ball 16 times and was able to rip off (2) 20 yard scampers for 100 total yards on the ground. West looked like the running back we saw from his highlights at Towson, showing great one cut ability, vision and burst through the hole. West also showed some wiggle and ability to make tacklers miss and initiate contact after the LOS.

Meanwhile Crowell touched the ball 5 times and achieved a first down 60% of the time (3 touches) for 32 total rushing yards. Crowell was hard to stop in the red zone, receiving 2 touches and earning 2 TD’s in this area of the field. The undrafted rookie did leave a third potential TD on the field due to the miscommunication on the play call at the end of the 2rd quarter, which would have been a key play for the Browns, bringing the score margin within 3 points going into the fourth quarter.

Both backs showed why they were coveted by the Browns. In the post game interview, head coach Mike Pettine mentioned that (paraphrasing from clevelandbrowns.com) -- “Crowell was never in the game plan, it was always going to be Tate and West. He (Crowell) obviously prepared like a professional and was ready to play”. I really liked hearing that because of the questions that swirled around his attitude coming out of both Georgia and then Alabama State. I have felt all along that he is our most talented RB and he appears to be seizing his opportunity.

First NFL Touchdown!

His 1st TD was created by Kyle Shanahan setting up the Pittsburgh defense by coming out for the first three plays of the third quarter under center and in 12 personnel. Then once on the 35 yard line he used the pistol formation field in both run and pass plays, including this TD run by Crowell, his first touch of the game.

12 personnel, pistol formation.

Mack is going to chip the NT here and press him with his left hand toward Bitonio as he makes his way to Shazier. Both Thomas and Bitonio are going to pick up the RDE and the NT, respectively. Meanwhile, Barnidge is going to block Jarvis Jones; Gabriel is preparing for Polamalu; and Dray is tasked with their LOLB. Schwartz and Greco are sealing the LDE and the ILB.

Mack is approaching the second level and is pressing the NT toward Bitonio as Crowell gets the ball. Both Bitonio and Thomas are on their man and have a decent push off the LOS. Meanwhile blocking looks solid for Gabriel and Dray on the bottom of the screen. The linebackers for Pittsburgh appear to be over pursuing to the right here.

Crowell makes his first actual cut left here. The pistol allows the offense to disguise the direction of the run until the last minute and here Crowell’s vision tells him that the pile is going to keep moving to his right, freeing up the lane outside Thomas’ left shoulder (what would have been the pre-snap A-gap).

This is a thing of beauty. The stereotypical “plants his foot in the ground and gets up field” narrative. The burst out of this cut was fun to watch.

Following Crowell’s first cut, you can see him running behind his pads towards pay dirt. Thomas has pushed his man behind the NT. Meanwhile Bitonio has leverage and is about to seal his man inside, thus ensuring the lane is open for business.

Hard to see here because it’s a little blurry, but Crowell burst past Jarvis Jones and into the end zone for his first TD.

Here’s the Vine video:

Missed TD at End of Third Quarter?

This run was also set up by no huddle offense featuring the pistol in both facets of the game. This is more a question and is subjective, but if you noticed how well the line blocked on this drive, and take into account both the vision Crowell had already shown in combination with burst and power, I feel this could have been another TD. While it’s purely speculation without knowing the play-call, it seems like neither Crowell nor Hoyer got the right play call and that this was a designed hand off and not a pitch.

22 Personnel

Here you can see Barnidge sealing his man to the outside and the lane that was clearly intended along with the point where Crowell should have approximately received the handoff.

Had Crowell taken the handoff vs. stepping out for the pitch, the three questions become: 1) could Crowell have beaten the DB coming around the block of Barnidge? 2) Can Agnew seal the edge and the linebacker tracking to his left? 3) With Bitonio about to clear through the trash and get a block on Palomalu, could Crowell have then beaten the ILB (#51) to the goal line?

Not the way you want to end the third quarter.

Big scamper to the right

This play was once again set up by no huddle offense and the pistol formation. Hoyer had just passed to Hawkins; then handed the ball off to West who ran right for 8 yards; then threw an incomplete pass, again from the pistol and in a hurry up situation.

12 Personnel; pistol formation

Crowell has the ball in his hands at this point, he can see Dray has his man sealed and is beginning to move him outside and he can also see the Miles Austin is free in the distance. It appears as though Schwartz is also in control of his man and Bitonio is releasing into the second level.

Boom. Crowell makes his cut, Dray has his man sealed. Bitonio is running with his man and is in position with inside leverage and a mismatch in size. Schwartz is also getting a good push with his man back inside.

Here you can better see the block from Schwartz allowing Crowell to turn up the lane untouched. Again Bitonio is running his man towards the sideline with leverage and Austin is up ahead waiting to block his man.

This is a very nifty piece of running from Crowell. The way he jump cuts back inside without losing balance or speed is quite remarkable --- all while keeping his eyes up field.

Austin has finally engaged his man and has position on his outside shoulder allowing Crowell to make one last cut towards the sideline and the first down.

Love how he protects the ball here and “runs behind his pads” with good level and finishes this play be initiating the contact and falling forward for 3 more yards.

Here’s the Vine video:

Crowell’s 2nd Touchdown Run

This run shows such great vision, speed and once again Crowell’s ability to cut once and get up field in a hurry. He follows his blocks, is patient and then bursts into the lane. Another fun play to watch.

12 Personnel; pistol formation

Crowell’s vision is apparent here. It doesn’t seem like he’s worried about what his OL is doing, he senses immediately that they are in a good position with their push off the snap. Schwartz has inside leverage. Dray also has leverage and you can see the lane opening up where Barnidge is running into. Crowell actually appears to be watching what the SS and DB are doing. He knows Barnidge is running up to meet the DB and that Gabriel is free on the outside to attack the Palomalu. He also knows that Greco is pulling from inside out to seal the LB at the top of the lane.

Here you can begin to see it all come together, this is all happening as he is getting the ball. Mack has his man sealed, Greco is making his way inside of Schwartz, Barnidge is looking at the DB and Gabriel is now tracking Troy.

Crowell still hasn’t cut yet, just watching the blocking unfold. . .

Here you can see Greco and Schwartz switching blocks, maintaining the top of the lane while Mack is still pushing his man backwards. Barnidge continues towards the DB.

Crowell still hasn’t made a cut yet, he’s just patiently following his blockers and running straight ahead at the same angle he took the handoff. Greco actually is falling backwards here and ‘boxes out” his man and pins him against Mack’s man, causing them to lose balance and knocking them both out of the play. Schwartz is now in position to seal the line backer as he follows the runner back up the field. Gabriel is engaged with Palomalu and Barnidge is in line to meet the DB.

Boom, there’s his initial cut up the field.

Crowell finishes his initial cut here. All the blocks have gone as planned. Worilds is the only man that is getting free from his block. Jarvis Jones and their RDE from the backside are in pursuit. Everyone else is sealed and a huge lane has opened and Crowell is attacking it.

Crowell cuts back outside to evade Jarvis Jones and the approaching DB then finishes the play with speed and power. TD!

Here’s the Vine video: