Ranking the Running Game Pt. 22: Cleveland Browns

Part 22 of a 32 part series, a running back position analysis of each franchise. There is a tremendous amount of optimism in Cleveland about the Browns this off-season and probably as much since their return to Cleveland. Yes, the 2007 Browns missed the playoffs, but they won more games than the ’02 Browns, the only postseason entrant in the “new” franchise history. That’s the good news and now the bad news; the only team the Browns beat that finished with a winning record was the NFC West Champion Seattle Seahawks at 10-6. What’s more, six of their victims—the Dolphins, Jets, Rams, 49ers and Ravens twice—finished with a combined record of 23-73. This is serves as proof that fixing the defense is critical. Only 11 teams allowed more points than the Browns in 2007, but none finished better than 8-8. The process of improving the defense has begun in free agency with the dual signing of former Packer Corey Williams & former Lion Shaun Rodgers that adds size ... (link)