By Mike Hoag Jr. (Correspondent) on February 25, 2012
The Cleveland Browns front office is split between re-signing Peyton Hillis and drafting Trent Richardson, according to CBS Sports NFL Insider Mike Freeman.
Questions that immediately springs to mind are who are Freeman’s sources and what are their motivations?
Let’s take a look at the Browns running back position, without secret sources and speculation.
First, the ongoing Hillis saga is something worth considering when delving into uncertainty of the future of the Cleveland Browns backfield. After a breakout 2010 season, Hillis spent most of 2011 on the injury report. His season was shrouded in one controversy after another.
An alleged holdout and a lingering hamstring injury plagued the fourth-year player out of Arkansas.
Unfortunately for Hillis, 2011 was the end of his current contract. Showing the Browns and the league he was not a “one-hit wonder” should have been paramount to him.
Hillis, though, was victim of a media imposed “Madden Curse.” That “curse” is a phenomenon you should take with a grain of salt. The speculation, rumors and drawn-out media frenzy surrounding Hillis’s contract situation exacerbated what should have been written off as just another football injury.
With all of those things in mind, forget them. Peyton Hillis has been one of the bright spots in an otherwise bleak string of losing football seasons in Cleveland. Forget what you’ve been fed from a majority of the media and look at some of the tangible factors heading into the 2012 season.
A very pertinent realization you must come to is the simple fact that the Browns employ the West Coast Offense. Now, what, if any, questions are there about Hillis and his compatibility within that scheme?
If you have any doubts about Hillis fitting, you should promptly leave them at the door.
Hillis’s rare size, strength and ability to extend plays are exactly what are needed from a running back in the Browns’ version of the WCO. Single-back formations require a back with the ability to block, catch and make plays to sustain drives.
Hillis, Hillis and Hillis.
As I said before, any perceived notions that Hillis is not a fit for Shurmur’s offense should be dropped immediately.
On another hand, the Cleveland Browns have a multitude of other needs that are higher up in the echelon of the Mike Holmgren style of football. Defensive end, cornerback and offensive tackle are all glaring holes on the Browns roster.
General Manager Tom Heckert has expressed his interest in those positions with the Browns' top picks. He cited the difficulty in finding elite players at those positions and the need to find them early on as opposed to running back, wide receiver and even quarterback.
Haven’t the Browns already agreed to a contract with Hillis?
As of right now, there are no official reports confirming any form of contract has been signed between the two parties. However, rumors are circulating that an agreement has been reached but the details are still being hammered out.
What if the Hillis signing rumors and common sense both fail? Does losing Hillis guarantee Trent Richardson will be the Browns' pick with the No. 4 overall selection?
Are there any options other than both Hillis and Richardson?
The mid-rounds of the upcoming NFL draft include several intriguing options for the Browns. Oregon running back LaMichael James is a projected third-round selection and could be a very effective complement to the power running style of Hillis and other current backs on the Browns roster.
Another high-impact running back that could be obtained towards the end of the first round and beginning of the second round is Miami University standout Lamar Miller. Miller's elusive ability and speed would also complement Hillis and add a dynamic feature to the Browns' offense.
If they choose to upgrade the position, free agency is also another viable avenue for the Browns. There is a vast sea of available rushers in this year’s free-agency pool. If the Browns are so inclined, they could definitely make a play for Matt Forte, Michael Bush, Ryan Grant, Marshawn Lynch or Cedric Benson. In my opinion, any of those, and perhaps some other free agents available, would be able to come into Cleveland and make an impact in the rushing game.
Again, that is only if the Browns front office sees a need to make a move at the position.
Existing players within the Browns organization may be capable of performing with an improved offense around them. Second-year running back Armond Smith, a practice squad player in 2011, could be ready to emerge as the shifty, change-of-pace back that the Browns have been looking for.
Montario Hardesty has not shown he has the ability to be an every down player in the NFL. His shaky hands and low yards per attempt in 2011 were very disheartening to those expecting explosiveness out of the former second round pick. If Hardesty can improve on fundamentals and fully rehabilitate his injured knees, there may be a continued role for him in the Browns backfield.
Chris Oggbonaya was signed from the Houston Texans practice squad (he played behind Ben Tate, Arian Foster and Derrick Ward on the Houston Texans depth chart). He came into a decimated backfield and performed consistently in relief of the injured Hillis and Montario Hardesty.
There is also former Green Bay Packers running back Brandon Jackson. Jackson, if you remember, was signed during the 2011 offseason and suffered a season-ending injury in preseason. He showed the necessary skills it takes to be effective in the West Coast Offense during his tenure in a similar system in Green Bay. His rush vision, blocking and catching are all ideal of the skill-set of a WCO running back.
The Browns' running game has been in various stages of disrepair since the expansion Browns took the field in 1999. The implementation of the WCO, Tom Heckert’s stated draft preferences, rumors of Hillis and the Browns coming to an agreement and the Browns’ ability to acquire a talented player such as James later in the draft suggest Richardson will not be the No. 4 overall pick in April's NFL draft.
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