ERIK DROST-FLICKR
Cleveland, it may be NFL Season-eve but I have not forgotten about you. There has been so much going on in the NFL, it gets hard to keep up. With that said, let’s look at what recently happened. You have a shaky running back situation as is and now you’ve traded away what could’ve been your starter to the Tennessee Titans for a conditional pick? Shaking my head (yes, I spelled it out).
Head coach Mike Pettine said Isaiah Crowell has the edge over Terrence West for the starting RB job. Nowhere in the words did he say “clear winner”. He said edge. Mary Cabot had this to say on twitter prior to the trade
“Neither player has had a particularly exciting preseason, but Crowell is the more talented runner with the higher ceiling. Both players should get carries against the Jets Week 1, and Duke Johnson (concussion) will be in the mix as well once he returns. This backfield will once again be difficult to project week to week.”
With that type of statement, wouldn’t it be sensible to keep West in house to let him battle it out, rather than trade him to the Titans? It’s not like Duke Johnson is the answer. He is going through NFL concussion protocols and even when he returns the team has not seen nearly enough to throw him into the action.
I believe West will be happier with the trade simply because he is stepping into a more talented offense than the Browns had. Ken Whisenhunt will make sure that he and Bishop Sankey set the tone on the ground in order to open up the passing game for rookie Marcus Mariota.
I guess the real question about this trade is “is Duke ready”? From what I could see, he adds a great deal of excitement to the backfield but how will that translate to the NFL? His videos made him appear to be a man amongst boys and that is what got him to this stage with his 595 touches for 4238 yards and 30 touchdowns during his collegiate level play. Pettine according to yahoo.com also followed with saying:
“Duke could still play a big week one role against the Jets”
I still see Duke as nothing to get too excited about especially while he sits as number 2 on the depth chart being Crowell.
According to fansided.com there are also reports of the Browns closing in on a deal with Montee Ball but even if they do, he will not be ready to play until next week. I wonder what the depth chart look like after they sign him? It’s not like he’s a premiere back either. There a reason he’s currently unemployed.
This backfield has just about as many problems a Roger Goodell has with discipline issues around the league. Good luck Cleveland trying to figure this out in an already tough AFC North Division.
Jermaine Lockett is a Writer and CEO for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on Facebook or twitter.